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Whorehouse to open in Clane
CLANE, 6 March 1999: by Brian Byrne. Clane Musical Society's production for 1999 will be The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and they're presenting it in The Abbey, Clane, for the week 21-27 March. It's the society's 16th show and tells the tale of how a TV evangelist zealot comes to town to close down the Chicken Ranch bawdy house that has been an institution for 150 years.
"It's essentially a fun story with a serious side to it and an ending that's rather sad," says Director/Choreographer Mary Power Cooney (pictured left with musical director Brian Brady and leading man Art McGauran). There's a 37-strong cast and a large cohort of 'backstage' workers. Art McGauran, who plays the part of Sheriff Ed, protector of the whorehouse and otherwise upholder of the law, is in his first production with the society. "I started amateur musicals when I was 17 and haven't been able to shake off the bug since," he says, failing to mention that he has been in more than 70 productions since and has received an AIMS award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Jud Fry in Oklahoma!
It's Mary Power Cooney's fourth show with Clane, and she says that while doing two jobs is a bit difficult, it suits her 'because it means I'm in control and I'm a bit of a control freak'. The society has commissioned an hour-long promo tape of the production which is being played in various supermarkets and other public places during the weeks preceding the show, and this year there will be a 'show club' upstairs at Manzors of Clane during the run.
First Active building society is among the major sponsors, and the launch reception in Manzor's last night was courtesy of AIB. Wine for the evening was sponsored by Leinster Merchants Wines. Pictured below at the launch (left) are Brendan Drumm and Ethel O'Connell of First Active; and (right) Mary Farrell and Frances Carroll. Tickets for the show can be bought in the Centra Foodmarket and Marron's Chemists in Clane, Cahill's Sports Shop in the Caspo Centre, Naas, or by telephoning society chairperson Anne Noonan at 045 868735.
RealAudio: Mary Power Cooney talks to Brian Byrne.
Big Macs a-building in Newbridge
NEWBRIDGE, 5 March 1999: Work is proceeding on the site for the new McDonalds restaurant in Newbridge, on the site of the former Suzuki car dealership. The project was granted planning permission by An Bord Pleanala despite strenuous objections from members of Newbridge Town Commission and Kildare County Council.
Presentation plan for teacher of 42 years
KILCULLEN, 5 March 1999: A special public presentation is to be made to Kilcullen man Brian Keyes, who retired recently after 42 years as teacher and principal at Scoil Bhrid in the mid-Kildare village. The event will take place next Friday in the Assembly Hall of Cross and Passion College in Kilcullen.
Brian Keyes has contributed to community life in Kilcullen in more than teaching ... he was a founder of the local Credit Union, editor of The Bridge community magazine for many years, a chairman and member of Kilcullen Community Council during its most productive years, one of the team who developed the village's Valley Park in the early 70s, and a dedicated researcher and publisher of local history and heritage information.
He also has trod the boards as a member of Kilcullen Drama Group, battered the floor as a member of Kilcullen Set Dancing Group, and has served on the local conference of the St Vincent de Paul. All are welcome to the presentation.
'Whistle-blowing' councillor not finished yet
NAAS, 4 February 1999: byTrish Whelan and Brian Byrne. The Naas UDC member who 'blew the whistle' this week on national radio about abuses of conference attendance by councillors (see previous story below) says she has 'absolutely no regrets' about her stance. And Cllr Teresa Scanlon also warns that there are 'other matters' about which she will speak publicly before her term of office ends on June 9. Her interview with Pat Kenny on Tuesday has attracted an 'amazing reaction' she told KNN, with calls from all over the country in support of her criticisms about junketeering. "All of them were in favour of what I had done, and there are people calling who have stories of their own. There wasn't one call against my speaking out, though none of the messages or phone calls were, as far as I know, from councillors."
But despite what seems to be a strong groundswell of support in Naas itself, Cllr Scanlon is adamant that she will not run for a local authority position again. "I ran five years ago on the basis of 'freedom and transparency', mainly as a result of the water contamination issue here in Naas at the time. I said I would not join the 'cosy club' of Naas UDC, and I have not done so. I went in there to represent the people, but if I continue going against the majority in council on various issues, I wouldn't even get a seconder for any motion I might want to bring forward myself. I feel I have done what I set out to do, and now that we have the Freedom of Information Act, much of what has been hidden before is now available for public scrutiny."
She said she had spoken out about blatant abuse of conferences because she was 'very, very annoyed' when she saw what went on. "When conference organisers go to the trouble to get really eminent contributors, it's just not right that they get a small proportion of those who signed in as an audience. In relation to the Bantry conference, a Southern Health Board official told me it was happening all the time, but if they started getting at the councillors, they'd get nobody at all to their conferences."
Cllr Scanlon has been approached by national newspapers and independent radio stations from as far away as Donegal to tell more. "I'm a person who likes to speak my mind ... I'm not happy if I can't. You could have a great life as a councillor if you go along with things, but that's not for me."
Wall on Curragh cemetary to be restored
THE CURRAGH, 4 March 1999: by Brian Byrne. The Department of Defence has invited tenders for the supply of materials and work to restore the wall of the Old Military Cemetary on the Curragh plains. The cemetary was opened in 1869 and used for the burial of Britih soldiers and their families who were garrisoned on the Curragh Camp. Poignant features of the cemetary include a significant number of children's graves, many of whom presumably died during epidemics of ailments which today are no longer automatic killers, including influenza ... and a section devoted to soldiers killed in th Great War of 1914-18.
Orchestra off to Wales
DUNLAVIN, 4 February 1999: The Dunlavin Youth Orchestra is heading for North Wales over the St Patrick's Day holiday, following a very successful performance at the recent Youth Orchestras Festival in the National Concert Hall. The orchestra has many members from mid-Kildare, and they'll be playing with Welsh school orchestras in Llangefri and Colwyn Bay over their four-day trip, which will also include trips to Snowdon Mountain and the Llechwess Slate Caverns.
The orchestra is directed by Dorly O'Sullivan of Grangebeg, Dunlavin, and the trip has been made possible by donations so far totalling almost £2,000.
Naas councillor scathes 'abuse' of conferences
KILDARE GENERAL, 24 February 1999: by Brian Byrne. Councillor delegates to conferences shouldn't be given their expenses until they have submitted reports on the conferences, a member of Naas UDC suggested yesterday in an interview with Pat Kenny on the national airwaves. And Cllr Teresa Scanlon said notes should not be given out at the conferences, so that delegates would have to attend all sessions in order to be able to make those reports. Cllr Scanlon, who is not running for her independent seat in the coming elections, said she had first-hand knowledge of 'widespread abuse' of mileage and accommodation payments by delegates at such conferences, ranging from just signing in and leaving to 'packing in' to cars and hotel rooms and then claiming individually for full expenses. "It's a big industry out there," she said. "Seasoned councillors make money out of it."
She provided Pat Kenny with experiences from a Southern Health Board conference in Bantry which she attended, and detailed how a significant number of delegates only turned up 'for the weekend' and a boat trip which was a feature of the social side of the event. "To be fair, a lot of people do attend diligently, but a lot of others don't." She said officials sent by their authorities normally attend properly, because that's their job, and that abuse is mostly by councillor delegates. Cllr Scanlon also said the responsibility for the whole situation was with the minister for the environment, but he was 'compromised' because if such perks were taken away or rigidly policed, there would be no 'party hacks' to work on the ground during elections.
Cllr Scanlon also criticised some twinning committees on local authorities as 'circles for the few' who use them to have 'annual holidays'. She said she had always intended that she would only be a councillor for one session, because otherwise she would have to be 'looking over her shoulder' and 'compromising herself' over supporting colleagues looking for nominations to what Pat Kenny called the 'more lucrative' committees. "You have to be in the 'in circle' to get on these committees," she noted.
The presenter commented that he had no doubt such practices could be 'the beginnings of corruption'. "If you are getting money under false pretences in this way it is engendering a dishonesty ... it may be a giant step from this to taking a brown paper envelope, but in some cases it may be a small step indeed," he said.
Local councillors welcome UR proposals
COUNTY HALL, 3 March 1999: by Trish Whelan. Athy needs commercial development more than any other town in County Kildare, with its high rate of unemployment, according to local area councillor Rainsford Hendy. While he welcomed the announcement that Athy and Kildare towns are to benefit under the recently-announced urban renewal plan, he said it was 'regrettable' that it only related to residential developments, as commercial incentives have yet to be approved by the EU Commission.
Welcoming the good news for Kildare town, Cllr Sean O Fearghail said 'it's one of the best pieces of news we've got regarding the southern part of the county.' However he was saddened that only four of the 10 sites identified in Kildare town for UR had been included. Cllr Paddy Wright said he 'half welcomed' the situation. Referring to the total of 78 applications nationwide for UR, Senator John Dardis quipped 'our batting average was pretty impressive in getting two towns included'. Kilcock had also been recommended by KCC for inclusion in the scheme. Cllr Spike Nolan wished the two towns the same good fortune as Newbridge has experienced with Urban Renewal.
Frustration at KCC information provision
COUNTY HALL, 2 March 1999: by Trish Whelan. "People are so frustrated in trying to get basic information," acting chairman P J Sheridan told officials at this month's meeting of Kildare County Council. He was speaking on a motion by Cllr Catherine Murphy seeking details in relation to General Development Levies collected from January 1995 to date, on a town-by-town basis. She wanted to know where those levies have been spent, and what amount remains. The motion had first been tabled 18 months ago.
At the meeting she said she will have to take legal advice as to what options are available to her to get this information. Cllr Sean O Fearghail said he could understand the pressure on staff because of the volume of work before them but stressed 'when the council indicates it needs information in order for it to do its business, that effort should be prioritised.'
Cllr Murphy told KNN that householders who pay development levies believe the money will be spent on improvements in their areas, but the money goes into the council's Capital Account. She asked that the motion be left on the agenda.
Fab 14 goes on the air
LEIXLIP, 2 March 1999: by Liam Cahill. Events like the 'The Lark in the Park' and institutions like 'The Floozy in the Jacuzzi' will pale into insignificance this week with the broadcasting of 'The Ramp on The Radio'. It's a two-part documentary on the ramping of Intel Ireland's Fab 14 manufacturing facility in Leixlip, County Kildare - from greenfield site to product out (and everything in between) - made by BBC Radio 4. It's being broadcast on Wednesday 3 March and the following Wednesday, 10 March, at 9pm.
BBC Radio 4 broadcasts in the UK on FM92.4-94.6 Mhz and is receivable in Ireland on Long Wave at 198Khz. The programmes will later be broadcast on BBC World Service. BBC presenter Peter Day and producer Neil Koenig have been tracking the ramping of the fab over a very long period through interviews with lots of people on the Intel site, as well as sound 'pictures' of the many activities that culminate in a successful fab ramp.
President opens Robertstown centre
ROBERTSTOWN, 2 March 1999: History supervisor Cathy Armstrong showing President Mary McAleese, her husband Martin and Liam Hartford, chairperson Robertstown Development Association, the workings of a model of a traditional barge and lock gates, when the president officially opened Robertstown Heritage Centre during her recent visit to County Kildare. Photo © Adrian Melia
Pat makes it a Kilcullen double
KILCULLEN & NAAAS, 2 March 1999: Kilcullen man Pat Goulding has been elected to be the second person from Kilcullen Credit Union to be the chairman of Chapter Seven of the Irish league of Credit Unions. The previous Kilcullen holder was Christy Sheridan, who retired recently from the Garda Siochana.
Pat has been involved in the Credit Union movement since 1984, and his new position puts him in the forefront of an area which encompasses 19 CUs in Kildare, Laois, Wicklow and Carlow. Pat operates a very successful hardware and home improvement business in Naas, part of which is now located on the site of the former St Johns Hall.
High cost of parking for last family on a Naas road
NAAS, 1 February 1999: by Trish Whelan and Brian Byrne. The last family living on Friary Road have had to pay more than £300 in parking fines because there's no place they can park their car during the day within a reasonable distance of their home. And a doctor who has a surgery across the road from them has to leave his car and his emergency bag at his home in The Sycamores for the same reason. Now Martin and Marie Cowley and Dr Matthew Fay want Naas UDC to make provision for 'residents only' parking at their end of the road. Three parking spaces outside Lawlor's car park should be restricted for use by people who live or work on their section of the road, they say.
The Cowleys have no side or rear access to their house, which is currently under developmental 'siege' from an apartments/shops project on one side and a planned major redevelopment of Lawlors Hotel on the other. Martin, the third generation of his family to live in the same house on Friary Road, also points out that 'practically every night cars are parked outside our front door while we have nowhere to park our car'.
"You cannot park on a regular basis on Friary Road," said Dr Fay. "It would normally be quite a distance away from the surgery and this could lead to a delayed response time to an urgent call."
Martin Cowley said the parking situation is worsened during the three days of the Punchestown Festival with a no-parking policy in force on Friary Road. "It's a long way from my childhood days when we could play football on the street with our jackets as goal posts and rarely have to pick them up to let a car go by," he says ruefully.
Both the Cowleys and Dr Fay have been trying for a considerable time to get something done about their predicament but have been met only with a figurative shrug of the shoulders from Naas officialdom.
Tony McEvoy to run in elections
CLANE, 1 March 1999: Clane community activist Tony McEvoy is stepping down from his position as secretary of the Kildare Planning Alliance in order to stand in the forthcoming elections as an Independent Community candidiate. He has been a member of Clane Community Council for over 25 years and taught science at Scoil Mhuire in Clane for the past 31 years.
Mr McEvoy is a founder member of the Kildare Planning Alliance, and was closely involved in the organisation's successful legal challenges to the Clane and Kill plans over the past three years.
12th Gerald Manley Hopkins school
MONASTEREVIN, 1 March 1999: Details of the 12th International Summer School organised by the Gerald Manley Hopkins Society in Monasterevin were recently announced. The theme will be 'Hopkins and his Contemporaries' and the programme will include art exhibitions, poetry, calligraphy workshops, lectures and special events.
The school, to be held this year from Saturday 24 July to Friday 30 July, will also feature a concert by the classical Trio Bulgaria presented in the baronial hall of Moore Abbey, the former home of the tenor Count John McCormack. Further information from Richard O'Rourke at 045 525416, or from the society's website.
Naas Easter Parade to be biggest yet?
NAAS, 1 March 1999: The Naas Easter Parade looks like having more entries than last year according to Naas UDC member Willie Callaghan, organiser of the event. Last year there were 83 entries, making it one of the biggest in the country. Any businesses or clubs who have not already made arrangements to take park should contact Willie at 045 875565, 086 2341009 or email wcallaghan@tinet.ie
Representations on Monasterevin roads
MONASTEREVIN, 1 March 1999: Fine Gael deputy for Kildare South, Alan Dukes TD, has urged Kildare County Council to have remedial works carried out as soon as possible to streets and footpaths in Monasterevin. In particular he has made strong representations about the deterioration of road surfaces at Main St, Togher Road, and the link street between Main St and Drogheta St, and he says there is a 'general deterioration' of footpaths throughout the town.
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