'Tread warily' about giving Curragh trees the chop THE CURRAGH, 12 May 2000: by Brian Byrne. Anyone seeking to have trees on and around the Curragh cut down because of claims that trees are ‘not native’ to the plains should ‘tread warily', a meeting of local Curragh interests was told this week. Paddy Gleeson, a member of the Curragh Golf Club, said that many of the trees which had been planted have enhanced the area, and if they were removed there is a danger of creating a ‘very open, windswept landscape’. He was responding to a discussion in the SRUNA group, an EU-backed initiative which is aimed at assessing and planning for the sustainable recreational use of natural assets. The Curragh is one of a number of pilot projects in the Dublin Region under the initiative, and the local project has been managed by Kildare County Council’s Planning Department. In a previous meeting, participants had suggested that trees ‘are alien’ to the Curragh and came to a consensus that the management of golf clubs and the military should come together and agree on a strategy for the management and removal of trees. It was also proposed that no more trees be planted on or around the plains and that fines be imposed on anyone who did so. Lieut-Col Con McNamara told the meeting that the army had brought in a consultant to the Curragh Camp about taking out some of the trees in the camp area, and that work will be starting on Monday on thinning out a number of these. “The trees in the camp are mostly unsuitable,” he said. “The tree surgeon also told us that the trees along the road from Donnelly’s Hollow to the camp (above) are ‘totally unsuitable’ for the area.” Paddy Gleeson said that such statements made him ‘very jumpy’ and noted that one expert’s opinion can be very different from another’s. He suggested that lime trees which had been planted near Lumville, and in the camp itself, had enhanced their situation, though he would agree that poplars should be taken down. Poplars line the road that divides two parts of the Curragh Golf Course. The report being prepared under the SRUNA initiative will be a discussion document which may eventually be considered when formulating Kildare County Council policies and plans. Main Rover, Land Rover and Volvo dealers, Kildare town. Phone 045 521203; Fax 045 521785. See our selection here. And read Brian Byrne's review of the new Rover 75.

Kildare has many authors of both fiction and non-fiction. We have a special page available to promote their work, which you can access here. Please support those of your county people who travel the long and often lonely road of the pen and typewriter to tell you stories.

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Commissioner claims council 'deal' on Roseberry land NEWBRIDGE, 12 May 2000: by Brian Byrne. Kildare County Council says it ‘cannot comment’ on claims that it has agreed to buy 35 acres of land at £1,000 an acre in the Roseberry area of Newbridge, from the owner of property which will be the subject to a material contravention vote by councillors. Local town commissioner Spike Nolan (pictured above) claims the application by James Kelly for outline permission to build 304 houses on a 34-acre section of his land at Rickardstown and Roseberry is just the start of a ‘piecemeal’ development with ‘no overall plan’. And he says he’s concerned that a deal has been done with the council which will allow them to build over 300 social or affordable houses in the area, which is ‘against all promises’ made that ‘there would be no more Dara Park-type’ large local authority housing estates in Kildare. Cmmr Nolan points out that there will be ‘major traffic problems’ on the existing roads in the Roseberry area, and that no amenity facilities have been proposed, such as schools, shops, parks and playgrounds. A number of residents in the area have expressed concern, and a meeting was held this week to air their worries about security and devaluation of their property. Cmmr Nolan raised the issue at this week’s monthly meeting of Newbridge Town Commission, and he has asked Kildare County Council to ‘come clean’ on whether they have already ‘done a deal’ with the developer. He also questioned whether a 10-inch sewer main recently brought to the area was adequate for the likely level of development.

Kildare has many authors of both fiction and non-fiction. We have a special page available to promote their work, which you can access here. Please support those of your county people who travel the long and often lonely road of the pen and typewriter to tell you stories.

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Monasterevin goes online MONASTEREVIN, 12 May 2000: by Brian Byrne. The Monasterevin Newsletter Project has established the town’s official web pages, Monasterevin Online. The project was sponsored by the Community Council and FAS, and the developers will maintain the site, which includes local news, a background to Monasterevin, a page on local ‘wild geese’ and other matters. “While Monasterevin does feature on the Web, some businesses, the Railway Action Committee and the fine Manley Hopkins web site to name but a few, it is hoped that this site will act as a kind of portal to all things to do with Monasterevin,” the organisers say. “It is not the Project’s intention to completely control the web site for the town but to facilitate this very important resource. The Project has the resources to maintain the web site and will be pleased to cooperate with clubs and groups to help them to have a presence on the site. It is with this in mind that all suggestions are welcome.”

PROFESSIONAL COUNSELLING Noreen McCabe, MNAPCP Anxiety, depression, loss, phobias, childhood trauma, eating disorders, relationships, personal growth, coaching for work-related stress. Strictly confidential. Moorefield Clinic, Newbridge. Phone (045) 432111 or call Noreen at (045) 431936; mobile 086 2496823; email dmccabe@tinet.ie

Corporate Magazine Publishing - Business Writing - Journalism & Broadcasting Training - Internet Marketing Consultants - Web Site Design - Book Writing Telling Tales Ltd, PO Box 106, Naas, Co Kildare. Phone 045 481090, 086 8267104; Fax 045 481091; Email tellingtales@yahoo.com

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Castledermot poised for 'major' growth CASTLEDERMOT, 12 May 2000: by Trish Whelan. Castledermot is set to develop as a major town with the agreement by Kildare councillors to proceed with the Part X process for the Castledermot Regional Water Supply Scheme, which was proposed by local Cllr Martin Miley. He said some 42 houses are due to be constructed in the town, with a further 80 in the pipeline awaiting the sewerage scheme in Castledermot to come on line. Cllr Miley said the local school would also benefit from the anticipated increased population of the area. Meanwhile, Kildare County Council intend to consider deciding to grant Outline Permission to Pat Meaney for 20 new domestic dwellings on serviced sites and associated site works at Knockbane, Castledermot. Such development would contravene materially the County Development Plan. Details of the development may be inspected at the offices of Kildare County Council, St. Mary’s Naas, Co Kildare during office hours. Any objections or representations received not later than 2nd June 2000 will be duly considered.

THE LEINSTER PRINTMAKING STUDIO THE OLD CONVENT, CLANE Artists' resource, Training, Gallery sales. Phone Margaret Becker 045 868168 or 087 2310114

Concerns at development encroachment on Curragh THE CURRAGH, 11 May 2000: by Brian Byrne. The speed at which residential development is encroaching on the edges of the Curragh is one of the most important issues relating to the future preservation and use of the 2,000-year plains, a national heritage area unique in this country. That was the consensus view of the fourth meeting of people interested in the area, held last night under the EU-sponsored SRUNA initiative aimed at assessing and planning for the sustainable recreational use of natural assets. The Curragh is one of a number of pilot projects in the Dublin Region under the initiative, and the local project has been managed by Kildare County Council’s Planning Department. Recent public discussions have included representation from the key current users of the plains - local residents, the horse industry, the Department of Defence, and sheep farmers who have grazing rights on the plains. The end result will be a report containing recommendations which have effectively been arrived at by consensus. Though the report will not have a statutory base, it is expected that its contents will be ‘taken into consideration’ when the next County Development Plan is being formulated, according to Kildare executive planner Michael Kenny (left). “I think it will have an importance,” he told KNN last night. “We can take it into various committees of the council, and look at it in terms of plans by the council in the future. I would also see the process as a model which could be used in the future for some planning projects.” Although the group involved in the discussions would like to see some form of management committee set up for the area, that will be the call of the Curragh Task Force set up in 1998 to ‘examine the ongoing threat to the integrity of the plains’. The Task Force’s report will go on public display in the next 10 days. Issues affecting the Curragh which have been discussed in the SRUNA meetings include traffic, parking, damage by those who use the area as a working environment, historical and cultural heritage, litter, environmental pollution, tree planting, and residents’ rights. In terms of getting people together to discuss their own concerns and requirements, the project has been a success, according to Hazel McCarthy (right), who led its operation with John Desmond from Kildare County Council. “Normally this level of public consultation does not happen, and it has been very worthwhile to get so many different interests together in relation to something like the Curragh, which has been something of a ‘high tension’ area. For many of them, it’s the first time they’ve sat down and listened to each other’s views, and they’ve found that a lot of what they’re saying, they all have in common.” Pictured below are Hazel McCarthy, Michael Kenny and John Desmond. Main Rover, Land Rover and Volvo dealers, Kildare town. Phone 045 521203; Fax 045 521785. See our selection here. And read Brian Byrne's review of the new Rover 75.

Kildare has many authors of both fiction and non-fiction. We have a special page available to promote their work, which you can access here. Please support those of your county people who travel the long and often lonely road of the pen and typewriter to tell you stories.

Motoring News, Views and Reviews here

Car of the Week Hyundai Coupe

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Leixlip Waste Initiative launch LEIXLIP, 11 May 2000: by Brian Byrne. The Leixlip Integrated Waste Initiative (LIWI) will be launched by the town’s commissioners next Saturday with an open day in San Carlo Senior School. The event will provide information on waste reduction, reuse and recycling, and the organisers hope there will be stands from companies involved in bottle, can, clothes and paper recycling. Kildare County Council, Kilcock Integrated Waste Initiative, and Sunflower Recycling will also be represented at the Open Day, and the Irish Earthworm Company are offering as a prize a worm composting kit valued at £140. During the afternoon there will be discussions with people involved in involved in various aspects of recycling or waste management. Since the organisers are hoping to target young people particularly, there will tee shirts, and competitions for kiddies and teenagers with Pokémon prizes and record vouchers. “We don’t have all the answers,” says Cmmr Paul Kelly (right), one of the strong promoters of changing local attitudes to waste disposal. “But we will do our best to provide as much information as we have gathered so far. And we will be listening to suggestions from people who turn up who might have their own ideas on how to tackle this problem. We will draw up a list of those interested in being involved in our initiative to reduce waste in Leixlip so that as projects are developed, we can let them know.” Cmmr Kelly says everyone can make a positive difference by thinking about how they shop, saying ‘no’ to unwanted bags, bringing their bottles and cans to the banks, and considering composting. “In other words, taking responsibility for the world we live in and the environments we make for ourselves and our children.”

PROFESSIONAL COUNSELLING Noreen McCabe, MNAPCP Anxiety, depression, loss, phobias, childhood trauma, eating disorders, relationships, personal growth, coaching for work-related stress. Strictly confidential. Moorefield Clinic, Newbridge. Phone (045) 432111 or call Noreen at (045) 431936; mobile 086 2496823; email dmccabe@tinet.ie

Corporate Magazine Publishing - Business Writing - Journalism & Broadcasting Training - Internet Marketing Consultants - Web Site Design - Book Writing Telling Tales Ltd, PO Box 106, Naas, Co Kildare. Phone 045 481090, 086 8267104; Fax 045 481091; Email tellingtales@yahoo.com

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Waterways opportunities conference DAINGEAN, 11 May 2000: by Brian Byrne. A conference planned for 13 June in Tullamore is aimed at raising awareness on the development opportunities available to communities and the private sector on the Grand Canal. ‘Offaly and Kildare Waterways, Realising Our Potential’ will include such speakers as Cartan Finnegan from Heritage Ireland, Alan Hill from Shannon Erne Promotions Ltd, Heather Thomas from Celtic Canal Cruisers, and angler Pat Morrissey. Topics at the conference, which will be announced today, are Strategic Marketing, The Challenges and Opportunities for private sector development, The canal as a leisure and amenity resource, and The involvement of the wider community in the regeneration process. A spokesman for the organisers, Offaly and Kildare Waterways, says it will create a forum for effective discussions on the regeneration of the inland waterways by drawing on individual experiences and collectively planning for the future. “A number of workshops focussing on the conference themes will be facilitated to formulate a number of key actions for the area’s canal. These applications will be applicable to all areas and will create a model of best practice for the regeneration of inland waterways. Further information can be got from Patricia Keenan (left), waterways regeneration officer, at 087 2336894. Offaly and Kildare Waterways is a cross-county steering committee whose member organisations include the county councils of both counties, OAK Partnership, ASK, Offaly Leader II Company and KELT.

THE LEINSTER PRINTMAKING STUDIO THE OLD CONVENT, CLANE Artists' resource, Training, Gallery sales. Phone Margaret Becker 045 868168 or 087 2310114

Council fails wild life (and people) at Ryston NEWBRIDGE, 10 May 2000: by Brian Byrne & Trish Whelan. The swan was happy on one of the most scenic parts of the Liffey in Newbridge, on the river bend just below Ryston. Then it hit the oil. Or something like it. And was later found in a very distressed condition. A family of otters also faces danger from the same source. And a heron that regularly fishes in the area. And these are just the ones we know about. Kildare County Council has known about the problem for a long time. And for some reason, doesn’t seem able to do anything about it. The swan can’t complain. Nor can the otters or the heron. But local representatives, normally only concerned with human constituents, are now taking up the case of the abused and threatened wildlife. Two Newbridge town commissioners say they are prepared to personally fund an investigation into what appears to be diesel spillage into the river, if Kildare County Council doesn’t do what it is supposed to under pollution legislation. Pat Black (FF) and Brian Maginn (FG) (pictured above) last night put down a cross-party motion at Newbridge Town Commission calling on Kildare County Council to investigate the cause of the pollution and to take appropriate action to prevent it happening again. The issue was raised several times over the last year in the Council Chamber by Senator John Dardis (PD), without success. “We’re hoping enough people will take notice now, and with the backing of the Town Commission, will take it seriously,” Commissioner Pat Black told KNN yesterday. He promised that, if necessary, he and Commissioner Maginn will, ‘with others,’ fund an investiation to determine the cause. Commissioner Black added that, naturally, they are also deeply worried about the dangers to people swimming and paddling in the water downstream of the pipes from which the outflow is being discharged, which service mainly industrial areas in various parts of the town. But at least they can be warned of the danger. Which is more than can be done for the wild life. (©brianbyrnetrishwhelan2000) (Above is another nearby pipe where more pollution appears.) Main Rover, Land Rover and Volvo dealers, Kildare town. Phone 045 521203; Fax 045 521785. See our selection here. And read Brian Byrne's review of the new Rover 75.

Kildare has many authors of both fiction and non-fiction. We have a special page available to promote their work, which you can access here. Please support those of your county people who travel the long and often lonely road of the pen and typewriter to tell you stories.

Motoring News, Views and Reviews here

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KILCULLEN ESSO AND XL STOP 'N' SHOP Open 7am-10pm for Fuel, Groceries, Toiletries, Flowers, Newspapers, Deli Food, Fresh Coffee and more.

Maynooth heading for online presence MAYNOOTH, 10 May 2000: by Tom Moore. Maynooth is currently finalising preparations for the launch of its comprehensive web site. The project, which has a joint initial community and tourism focus, is being organised by Maynooth Action Strategy and has been underway since November of last year. The site will become an integral part of the town's community infrastructure and will create channels of communication for the clubs and organisations in the town. Each club will have their own page which they can maintain with simple tools. This will allow them publish fixtures and results, notices and so on. There will also be a notice board which individual members of the community can use in a similar way. On the commercial front, the site will be expanded to include an e-commerce facility as the public acceptance of Internet trading grows. The site will feature a free directory of the local businesses and services. Local information such as bus and train timetables, church services, critical phone numbers, and details on organisations such as the Community Council and the Chamber of Commerce will be incorporated also. Links will be provided to the National University of Ireland, Maynooth and the Saint Patrick's College sites. The site will also have a strong tourism focus, with content coveringitems of interest in the town and the region, accommodation, eating out and leisure activities. The town's monuments and places of interest have been researched and Maynooth's story has been built around them. MAS believes this can be a critical factor in the promotion of the town as a quality tourist attraction. MAS has applied to Kildare County Council for Maynooth.ie as a domain name. Control of place names in this context has only recently passed to the Councils and it is expected that the procedures will be established and approval given by the end of this month. The site will go live at that point. Funding for the project came from Eircom's Information Age Town project. Two local business are providing the technical expertise. Innovate, the Maynooth based Web company, are providing the site development expertise and Liz Stoll is providing the graphic design. (Tom Moore is a member of the MAS Taskforce.)

PROFESSIONAL COUNSELLING Noreen McCabe, MNAPCP Anxiety, depression, loss, phobias, childhood trauma, eating disorders, relationships, personal growth, coaching for work-related stress. Strictly confidential. Moorefield Clinic, Newbridge. Phone (045) 432111 or call Noreen at (045) 431936; mobile 086 2496823; email dmccabe@tinet.ie

Corporate Magazine Publishing - Business Writing - Journalism & Broadcasting Training - Internet Marketing Consultants - Web Site Design - Book Writing Telling Tales Ltd, PO Box 106, Naas, Co Kildare. Phone 045 481090, 086 8267104; Fax 045 481091; Email tellingtales@yahoo.com

To Advertise on KNN, call 086 8267104, fax 045 481091, or email tellingtales@yahoo.com Advertising rates here

Meath plan makes Kilcock rezonings 'excessive' - Cllr KILCOCK, 10 May 2000: by Bill Trapman. Kildare County Council is to be asked to vary the residential zoning figure for Kilcock in the 1999 County Development Plan because proposals in the Meath County Development Plan envisage rezoning 120 acres on the Meath side of the town for residential use. Deputy Emmet Stagg says Kildare accepted a population target of 4,600 for Kilcock by 2006, and rezoned 120 acres to allow for this. But now there’s a situation where 240 acres around the town will be zoned residential between both local authorities, and this could mean an increase of 6,000 new residents by 2006. “We are in effect back where we started in 1996 with these excessive rezonings proposed for Kilcock,” he says. He has put down a motion asking for a variance of the county plan by reducing the zoning amount to 60 acres on a phased basis over six years, and suggesting that Kildare County Council notify its Meath counterpart that services provided from County Kildare will be limited to accommodate a population of 1,000 people on the Meath side of the town.

THE LEINSTER PRINTMAKING STUDIO THE OLD CONVENT, CLANE Artists' resource, Training, Gallery sales. Phone Margaret Becker 045 868168 or 087 2310114

Corporate Magazine Publishing - Business Writing - Journalism & Broadcasting Training - Internet Marketing Consultants - Web Site Design - Book Writing Telling Tales Ltd, PO Box 106, Naas, Co Kildare. Phone 045 481090, 086 8267104; Fax 045 481091; Email tellingtales@yahoo.com

Planning alliance supports former county planner's views KILDARE GENERAL, 9 May 2000: by Brian Byrne The Kildare Planning Alliance says it strongly supports taxation charges on development land which were proposed by the Irish Planning Institute at its conference last weekend, during which the IPI’s president, Philip Jones (left), said it was necessary to separate the right of owning property from the ‘so-called right’ to develop it. Mr Jones was until last year senior executive planner with Kildare County Council. He is now a senior inspector with An Bord Pleanala. He posed the question as to whether current planning was for the development of communities or for landowners and developers? The institute’s proposals suggest an 80% tax on rezoned land, with the revenue generated being returned to local communities to fund local facilities and amenities. “Were funds available from the sources suggested by the Irish Planning Institute, they would enable the provision of infrastructure and facilities other than by deals and agreements, which is the present practice,” the Kildare Planning Alliance says. “It is these deals and agreements which have done so much to discredit some councillors’ role in the planning system.” Other recommendations from the IPI include the need for submissions from all parties to be held in public open session, a requirement that 75% of councillors would be needed to support a rezoning proposal, and the use of an independent inspector to assess rezoning submissions in advance of councillors’ decisions. “Such proposals would lead to greater transparency and independence in the process and would be strongly supported by us,” the alliance says. “They constitute a major contribution to reforming planning practices in Ireland.” The Kildare Planning Alliance says it strongly urges political action to incorporate the proposals of the IPI in the forthcoming Planning Bill. Main Rover, Land Rover and Volvo dealers, Kildare town. Phone 045 521203; Fax 045 521785. See our selection here. And read Brian Byrne's review of the new Rover 75.

Kildare has many authors of both fiction and non-fiction. We have a special page available to promote their work, which you can access here. Please support those of your county people who travel the long and often lonely road of the pen and typewriter to tell you stories.

Motoring News, Views and Reviews here

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No more 'quid pro quo' planning discussions - Cllr NAAS, 9 May 2000: by Trish Whelan. Decisions made by councillors against the advice of their officials are going to come under the scrutiny of the Flood Tribunal all over the country, says Naas-based Cllr Mary Glennon. And she says that Naas UDC should not enter into any discussions with third party developers on ‘quid pro quo’ proposals until ‘we see what way the wind blows’ with the Tribunal. She was commenting on a proposal made at a recent meeting of the UDC by chairman Seamie Moore, which suggested that the Council instruct its officials to immediately commence such discussions with ‘third parties’ about advancing development of the Caragh Road area, including the acquisition of a new canal bridge. “Talking in a very wide sense, I feel that a lot of developers will come to the attention of the Tribunal,” Cllr Glennon said. “I think that in view of the amount of land that was rezoned in the last town plan, it’s a bit premature to start talking to anybody just now.” She made it clear that she was not naming any developer in particular, or that she had any developers in mind. During discussion on Cllr Moore’s proposal, Cllr Glennon also took issue with his statement that the town manager had advised against the UDC providing finance itself for a new bridge in Jigginstown. She said that the manager had advised that they apply for funding from the Dept of the Environment before considering taking out a loan to build it themselves. This application is currently before the DoE. The motion was not put to a vote and was deferred. Later, Cllr Moore told KNN that his intention had been to take away from councillors the onus of initiating discussions with such third parties. “If I proposed that there was somebody out there that would build a bridge providing we gave them some housing or something like that, it would come from the wrong angle, and give a wrong presentation,” he said. “I wanted the councillors to allow the officials to go out and pull together some kind of agreement with landowners and such third parties, and to come back with proposals that there could be finance available for a bridge from some source and tell us what we must do to get it.” (©trishwhelan2000)

THE LEINSTER PRINTMAKING STUDIO THE OLD CONVENT, CLANE Artists' resource, Training, Gallery sales. Phone Margaret Becker 045 868168 or 087 2310114

Corporate Magazine Publishing - Business Writing - Journalism & Broadcasting Training - Internet Marketing Consultants - Web Site Design - Book Writing Telling Tales Ltd, PO Box 106, Naas, Co Kildare. Phone 045 481090, 086 8267104; Fax 045 481091; Email tellingtales@yahoo.com

To Advertise on KNN, call 086 8267104, fax 045 481091, or email tellingtales@yahoo.com Advertising rates here

Undergraduates 'should do research earlier' MAYNOOTH, 9 May 2000: by Bill Trapman. Maynooth University's dean of research and postgraduate studies has called for undergraduate students to be encouraged to work on College research projects long before they graduate. According to Dr Tom McCarthy, this is the way to attract bright students into the research area, while waiting until their final year may be too late. In an interview with the EL supplement to the Irish Times, Dr McCarthy says Ireland produces excellent researchers, comparable with those in the top British universities, despite a more than doubled pupil/teacher ratio here of 23:1 (UK = 10:1), but Irish students are missing out on international itineraries because of a lack of funding. He noted that Maynooth University has this year committed £350,000 to research activities, including financial support for individuals and for teams of academics and postgraduates. The funding also supports research with business and community groups. The university has spent £25 million since 1993 in improving its physical infrastructures for science, which includes a new Science Building (above).

PROFESSIONAL COUNSELLING Noreen McCabe, MNAPCP Anxiety, depression, loss, phobias, childhood trauma, eating disorders, relationships, personal growth, coaching for work-related stress. Strictly confidential. Moorefield Clinic, Newbridge. Phone (045) 432111 or call Noreen at (045) 431936; mobile 086 2496823; email dmccabe@tinet.ie

Corporate Magazine Publishing - Business Writing - Journalism & Broadcasting Training - Internet Marketing Consultants - Web Site Design - Book Writing Telling Tales Ltd, PO Box 106, Naas, Co Kildare. Phone 045 481090, 086 8267104; Fax 045 481091; Email tellingtales@yahoo.com

Against 'paved paradise and parking lots' NAAS, 9 May 2000: Dear Editor, In proposing the building of a car park at the swimming pool field (above), Cllr Pat O’Reilly claimed that it would provide a safe place for the unloading of children to attend the schools. Evidently, in his haste to build to paved paradise and put up a parking lot (to quote the song), he hasn't looked at the site and the area he proposes to service from it. The primary school these days is built around a courtyard, the entrances encircled by classrooms. If this parking lot was constructed he would also have to construct a bridge to get the kids over the buildings and into the school yard. The secondary school playing field would have to have part of it paved to allow access from this side. Given this lack of looking at the site one wonders is this the real reason that he wants the car park? In your report you quote Mr O'Reilly as stating that his proposal for building a car park on the swimming pool field would make it more difficult for the minister for sport & recreation, Jim McDaid, to sell it off. The UDC has had no difficulty in selling off other parts of the ‘town silver’ in selling the two carparks in the town. Why should this be any different? (What does the record show was Mr O'Reilly's attitude to the cut-price selling off of publicly-owned car parks in the town of Naas?) I would be very slow to reduce the size of the town’s green areas, especially as reduction in size of green areas would diminish protection possible under the Planning Acts existing and proposed. This could start a snowball effect. If Mr O'Reilly is so determined to stop the sell-off he should lobby the FF members of the council to ensure the pro-developer FF party stop the selling of our town's and county's assets. A late member of the same party, and father of a current member of the UDC, was particularly active in pushing Naas people to pay for the building of this pool. The people’s money is in this pool. Will they be consulted on the sell-off of their asset? Eddie Marum was one of the business people that made significant donations to the building of this pool. I wonder will Minister McDaid return the contributors’ share of profits from any sell-off. I doubt it. John Kavanagh PS: With reference to your recent report on the naming of an estate ‘Cyber Plains’, I wonder did the people who named Station Road in Newbridge or Kildare have the same problem in the last century? Personally I think all housing estates in North Kildare should have the suffix .COM added to their names reflecting their overpriced nature ! Some other possible estate names: Photocopier View, Celbridge - an estate of 350 houses every one the exact same; Toner Mews, Celbridge - a select development of brightly coloured houses, except for the one at the end which is streaked; Pentium Heights, Leixip - a fast-moving upmarket estate where everything moves at the speed of light.

PROFESSIONAL COUNSELLING Noreen McCabe, MNAPCP Anxiety, depression, loss, phobias, childhood trauma, eating disorders, relationships, personal growth, coaching for work-related stress. Strictly confidential. Moorefield Clinic, Newbridge. Phone (045) 432111 or call Noreen at (045) 431936; mobile 086 2496823; email dmccabe@tinet.ie

Naas GAA may challenge validity of Town Plan rezoning NAAS, 8 May 2000: EXCLUSIVE by Brian Byrne & Trish Whelan. The rezoning of Oldtown Estate in the 1999 Naas Town Development Plan may be invalid, according to a spokesman for Naas GAA, who says that a deal with the developer to relocate the club at Oldtown is 'no longer on the table'. And the club is experiencing great difficulty in getting a meeting with Naas UDC on the issue. The difficulty hinges on the fact that the developer, Lehmex International, seems no longer enthusiastic about providing the promised 16.34 acres at Oldtown for the club, and instead is offering it an alternative site on Keredern Stud lands (above) owned by a principal in Lehmex. "The developer has told us now that the original deal we made for Oldtown is off the table," Naas GAA's Padraig MacManus, a member of the negotiation team, said last Friday. "The Keredern site is agricultural land with no zoning or planning permission. We've told the developer that we're quite prepared to discuss the new location, but only in the context that if we don't get planning permission within a reasonable time, then we revert to the original agreement." Mr MacManus noted that this move would be the third time the offer has been changed - in the initial negotiations on the development plan, they were being accommodated on a site beside a proposed hotel at Oldtown. "Then we were asked to move to one further out from town, which we did. Now they want us to move again." The club's anxiety about the situation stems from the lack of suitable zoning at Keredern, and clear indications from several individuals and groups concerned with the canal as an amenity that they'll 'fight every inch of the way' against any attempt to rezone the Keredern land. "We want to meet the councillors now because there is an application for planning permission on Oldtown before the council, and the view we are taking is that if we're not moving there, there has to be a question about the zoning of Oldtown. There is nothing in the plan saying that we are to move there, but the whole town knew that it was one of the conditions on which rezoning was granted. If the deal is no longer on the table, we would call into question the validity of the zoning." The club wrote to Naas town clerk Declan Kirrane around 20 March, requesting a meeting with the councillors. "We received a reply about three weeks ago, asking for further information, which we gave the next day," Mr MacManus says. "We've heard nothing further. We simply want to know if we're going to be accommodated with a meeting. If they don't want to meet us, then they should tell us." (©brianbyrne/trishwhelan2000) Main Rover, Land Rover and Volvo dealers, Kildare town. Phone 045 521203; Fax 045 521785. See our selection here. And read Brian Byrne's review of the new Rover 75.

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GAA club's development draw launched KILCULLEN, 8 May 2000: by Brian Byrne. Given its population, Kilcullen is unique in the number of sports stars it has produced, the town’s GAA stalwart Christy Howard said at the launch of a fundraising initiative on Friday night (audio here). Noting that the club was just one of several sports organisations in the town, he paid tribute to those who had helped in the operation of boxing, canoeing, soccer and rugby clubs in the town, and noted that a number of internationally-recognised sports people had come from some of those clubs. (Pictured above at the launch are club president Billy Aspell, chairman Brian Fox, president Pat Lynch, and development committee chairman Christy Howard. Pictured above right are Paddy Nugent, Herbie Sheehan and Pat Dunlea.) Kilcullen GAA Club is one of the oldest in the country, and Christy was giving details of a club Development Draw which will be limited to 800 tickets and for which the grand prize is a Nissan Micra car. “We hope to make up to £60,000 with the draw, which will go towards our £600,000 club development project,” Christy told KNN. “We have already developed our pitch, and our clubhouse is due for completion in October of this year.” Other prizes in the draw include a holiday to the value of £3,500, a computer, and a range of consumer goods. There will also be a special ‘early bird’ draw for those who pay the £100 total cost of the ticket at once. There will be five monthly draws for a weekend away for two. Christy Howard also paid tribute to those who had worked to refurbish the old Town Hall in Kilcullen, where the launch had taken place, saying it was a wonderful facility for the community of Kilcullen. (©brianbyrne2000)

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Naas pool sale 'over my dead body' NAAS, 8 May 2000: by Trish Whelan. Cllr Mary Glennon says that any attempt to sell off Naas pool to private enterprise will be done ‘over my dead body.’ She was reacting to a comment by Cllr Pat O’Reilly that his proposal for building a car park on the swimming pool field would make it more difficult for the minister for sport & recreation Jim McDaid to sell it off, as he is on record as planning to do with local authority pools all over the country. “It’s the people of Naas who own that pool and not the minister or anybody else,” she said recalling how as a child she had helped collect money for the pool. Naas pool was built with the help of a major local contribution from families, as was required at the time when public funds meant that not every town could have one. The successful collection by local people in Naas ensured that the pool was built there rather than Newbridge. Mary Glennon said a public authority pool ‘was a necessity' to provide competition with all the private enterprises springing up as not everyone could afford to pay membership fees. Cllr Seamie Moore said if the pool was sold, the field was likely to be sold off as well. The pool will be closed for major refurbishment works for a year from January 1, 2001 and UDC officials said as a result, the grounds around it will not be available for any use until the work is completed. (©trishwhelan2000)

PROFESSIONAL COUNSELLING Noreen McCabe, MNAPCP Anxiety, depression, loss, phobias, childhood trauma, eating disorders, relationships, personal growth, coaching for work-related stress. Strictly confidential. Moorefield Clinic, Newbridge. Phone (045) 432111 or call Noreen at (045) 431936; mobile 086 2496823; email dmccabe@tinet.ie

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