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Listen to a weekly roundup of Irish views and stories presented by Brian Byrne and Trish Whelan which is broadcast from Vancouver on the Celtic Voices programme carried by Canada's largest independent radio network, Fairchild. You can stream it at 28k or 56k, or download to listen to later. Changed every Sunday.

Pat Black is new FF face on town commission electoral joust

NEWBRIDGE, 15 May 1999: by Brian Byrne. A new face was shown for Fianna Fail this week in Newbridge when the party's candidates for the town's commission were presented to the public and press. Pat Black, though, is not new to local Fianna Fail, having worked for the party much longer than he'd care to detail. Now he's going ‘out front’, joining in the coming fray with outgoing commissioners Colm Feeney, Ray O'Brien, Fiona O'Loughlin and John O'Neill.

His particular interests as outlined at the function in the Eyre Powell Hotel are traffic management, town development, and the 'need to make new people feel a part of the community'. "We also need to get local voluntary organisations into a position where they feel they have a part in the decision-making that affects them," he told an audience who included several representatives from such organisations.

Colm Feeney gave particular attention to the possible social fallout if a significant number of people found themselves unable to fund their mortgages on their homes, at a time when no new house in Newbridge is selling at less than £100,000. "I'm not trying to be alarmist, but we'd be on course for serious social unrest in the near future if it happens," he said. "The Government should be prepared to provide relief in the event. People on the average industrial wage, and even teachers, have no way to buy houses at these prices."

Ray O'Brien noted that the commissioners had very little real power given their budget of £80,000 a year. "I could turn that over selling four cars in a morning," he said. "It's a situation in stark contrast to the German town we're twinned with, which has a smaller population and an annual budget of £8 million." But he warned that if Newbridge ever achieved UDC status, that its business people could be faced with funding a 'huge' debt because the County Council would demand payment for infrastructures put in place. "Whatever our future status is, we will not pay for what the Department of the Environment has put in with our already-paid taxes," he said.

Fiona O'Loughlin said that as a teacher she daily came into contact with children and parents and was very aware of their needs and problems. "There are almost 3,000 children under the age of nine in Newbridge and there's no playground for them, for instance," she said. "Yet, the best way for new young families to meet and interact is through their children, and they have nowhere to do this." She also highlighted that fact that there is no centre in Newbridge for young people to meet apart from those involved in sports, which are well catered for."

The longest-serving member of the commission, John O'Neill, concluded the presentations by the candidates, recalling how much Newbridge had improved since he first took his seat 35 years ago. "I remember when it was a town of 5,000 people solely dependent on Irish Ropes," he remarked. "Now Irish Ropes employs about 60 people, and Newbridge is one of the most powerful towns in the county, if not in Leinster. We have achieved an awful lot without having urban status, and what we have achieved has been done with enormous help from Kildare County Council."

He finished by saying that the party had won five seats before on the commission, and if it 'works as a team' is in with a good chance of doing so again.

The meeting was chaired by the party's MEP candidate Jim Fitzsimons.

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KNN is a completely INDEPENDENT professional news service for County Kildare, with no affiliations to any network, authority, group, party or other organisation. The service is operated by Telling Tales Ltd, Naas, Co Kildare, under the editorial direction of Brian Byrne and Trish Whelan. It is our policy to report accurately and fairly on any subject, and we offer right of reply to anyone who has differing opinions to those expressed in any story. Any such opinions published on KNN are not necessarily the views of KNN's proprietors or any network on which we are hosted or to which we may be linked.

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Local authorities 'are biggest polluters' of River Liffey - Dardis

KILDARE GENERAL, 15 May 1999: by Trish Whelan. Senator John Dardis has welcomed the EU-funded Three Rivers Report on the Rivers Suir, Liffey and Boyne, as ‘a step in the right direction’. The project will monitor the water quality in the three rivers and was launched. However, he predicted that its conclusions in three years time would suggest that local authorities are the biggest polluters of the River Liffey and the Osberstown Treatment Works is the ‘single largest source of pollution to the river’.

“We have had a dispute as to the quality of the water downstream from Osberstown," he said. "The Fisheries Board say the water is polluted while the County Council say it is not. But it is a matter of observation to the angling club that there are very large trout coming out of the river below Osberstown Sewerage Treatment Plant ... whose development could be due to oestrogen in the water ... and you could speculate as to the origin of those oestrogens.".

Senator Dardis praised students from the Cross and Passion College in Kilcullen who ‘properly’ tested the water from the River Liffey in their catchment area. “Those young people had to go to the local Lions Club for some of the money for their project. It seems ridiculous that we have to rely on a report by students that should be done by the local authority or by central Government,” he said.

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Fianna Fail says 'thank you' to Jimmy O'Loughlin

RATHANGAN, 14 May 1999: by Brian Byrne. Fianna Fail members, and friends of Cllr Jimmy O'Loughlin's from every political hue, and even of none, turned out this week in Rathangan's Community Hall to see him honoured for his 25 years of service to public life in County Kildare.

The evening was particularly special because the guest of honour was Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, the first holder of the office to visit Rathangan. After recalling how he himself knew well the headaches of politics at grass roots - the election work, the meetings, the 'local arguments and hassles' which had to be dealt with, he commended Jimmy for 'a dedicated voluntary service' which only provided the reward of 'a personal satisfaction with a job done to help one's community'. "I don't know how he did all he did and raised a family and earned a crust in the real world," he concluded, "but if Jimmy wants something to do in his spare time, I could suggest that he give courses in time management for our TDs."

Recalling some aspects of his quarter of a century in local politics, a continuation of the work of his own father who was a founder member of Kildare County Council 100 years ago, Jimmy O'Loughlin used the occasion to remind the Taoiseach that 'the best hope for the country in the long term is the strengthening of its community'. "My one message to you, Taoiseach, is that any resources which can be put to bringing together the community - in a time when such resources are available - will pay rich dividends for the quality of life of the country."

He admitted that he had nurtured ambitions to go to Dail Eireann, but after 10 years realised this was not to be. "I then established two new ambitions," he noted, "to eat a Chinese meal with chopsticks, and to learn to play golf. I managed the chopsticks ..."

The evening was also a tribute from his family, and for his wife Mary who had supported him through a lifetime in politics. "As we grew up in the area we would hear him sometimes called 'Councillor O'Loughlin' and sometimes 'Jimmy' or 'Mr O'Loughlin'," his daughter Fiona (pictured on left with the Taoiseach) said. "But to 13 of us, he was simply called 'Dad'."

And Dad and family, and all their friends, had a whale of a night in Rathangan.

 

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THINKING OF RETURNING TO IRELAND?

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The Naas twinning trip to Dillingen - full stories are here

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FAS 'rebalance' will hit schools

NEWBRIDGE, 14 May 1999: by Brian Byrne. The imminent loss of Community Employment jobs in Newbridge under the scaling down of the FAS scheme will particularly affect the schools of the parish, who have come to depend on the scheme to have 'extra hands' in administration and maintenance, as well as in the classroom.

The current 22 people on the scheme will be cut to 17 under the 'review of balance' currently being undertaken by FAS, and will mean less people available for secretarial, caretaking and classroom assistant duties in the Patrician Primary and Secondary schools, the Holy Family secondary school, the Vocational School and in the Parish Office.

According to FAS Community Services Manager for Dublin and West Kildare Pat Kelly Rogers, the review has been caused by 'the significant improvement in the labour market and the reduction in the number of unemployed persons'. "Many employers have job vacancies which they are currently unable to fill," he said in a response to representations by the principals of the affected schools. "In order to quickly improve the ability of unemployed persons to avail of these jobs, FAS is providing increased training opportunities and slightly reducing the funding for Community Employment during 1999."

"I suppose it was inevitable," says Sr Collette Keegan, principal of St Conleth's Infant School, which will lose a classroom assistant. "But it seems rather unfair that when we provided opportunities for the scheme in 'the bad days' that we should lose these people in good times, when we have come to depend on their availability."

Mr Kelly Rogers says 'there can never be an assumption by any sponsor of continuity over an extended period' in the scheme. He also noted that reductions will only be implemented over time, and all current participants will receive their allotted time on the scheme.

For the affected schools, the bottom line is that the Community Employment Scheme gave them the opportunity to have 'vital' extra personnel when resources to have them were not being provided by the Department of Education. "Now we're losing these people, who not only provided 'extra hands' but also good ideas in their work with us," says Sr Collette, "and we're not, even in these 'good times' getting the extra resources to employ them ourselves."

FAS has invited sponsors of the Scheme to a meeting soon in Keadeen Hotel, for a presentation and discussion of the situation.

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Calling Baldwins and Orfords

ATHY, KILCULLEN & NORTH CAROLINA, 14 May 1999:

Dear Editor,

My name is Margueritte Germaine Orford (formerly Baldwin). I was born at in 10 Woodstock Street, Athy, in 1922. I lived in Athy until 1939 at which time I moved to England. I am looking for any information on the Baldwin family of Cork or Dublin. Or the Orford family of County Kildare who may have lived in Athy or Kilcullen. My father’s name was Joseph Orford and my mother’s name was Mae Baldwin.

Any information however small would be greatly appreciated. I lost all contact with my family due to immigration to the US after WW2. If you have any information please contact me through my daughter at Biondo@surfnet1.net or by post to Maggie Biondo, 78 Alexander Rd, Havelock NC, 28532 USA. I will be happy to compensate your postage.

Thank you, Margueritte.

 

Children welcoming Kosovars turned away by security firm - refugee agency chief apologises

KILDARE, 13 May 1999: by Brian Byrne & Trish Whelan. Kosovar refugees arriving at the former Magee Barracks in Kildare town this afternoon were very much welcome as far as local people are concerned ... but they might not have known it because security people at the gates told up to 50 local secondary schoolchildren to leave the area.

The youngsters were just responding to a radio appeal from local parish priest Fr Carbury to ‘come out and meet the Kosovars at the gates and show them they’re welcome’. But an employee of Kennedy Security, the company which has the contract for security at both redundant Army barracks in the county, told their teachers to take them away ... after they had been waiting for at least half an hour.

“They can’t be standing around out there,” he confirmed his stance unapologetically to a query from KNN. “They’re not supposed to be around the gates, and anyway the people organising the refugees say that the Kosovars will take offence if they see people watching them arrive.”

Local representative Cllr Sean O Fearghaill (pictured below with the youngsters just before they left reluctantly) was among a group of local people waiting to show a welcome to the visitors, who are being housed in mobile homes on the former Army property. “I would have thought they’d have liked to see people welcoming them,” he said.

When a new group of schoolkids arrived (below), this time primary students from Scoil Bhrid Naofa, the security people tried to keep them too from the area. But they stayed, determined to smile and wave their balloons of welcome to their fellow children from war-torn Kosovo.

Afterwards, the director of the Irish Refugee Agency, John O’Neill, told KNN that this should not have happened, and that no instruction had been issued to keep people away, except that there would be no public access into the centre itself until people had settled down. “I would like to apologise to the young people who were turned away ... this was not our intention. Indeed, when we arrived on the buses to the gates and met with the little ones and their balloons, the refugees were delighted to see them.”

THINKING OF RETURNING TO IRELAND?

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The Naas twinning trip to Dillingen - full stories are here

CHAPMANS OF KILDARE

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Fulsome praise for Joe as he bows out after a quarter of a century

NEWBRIDGE, 13 May 1999: by Brian Byrne. Newbridge Town Commissioner Joe Kearns broke convention this week by making his 'bow out' speech early - thanks to some sage advice from former Kildare county manager Gerry Ward.

"He advised me not to wait until the last meeting because what I'd say would be lost in every thing else that would be happening," the retiring FG Commissioner said with a grin. "So I slipped it in early." The ploy caught his fellow commissioners by surprise, but that didn't stop them heaping fulsome, genuine and deserved praise for a colleague who had given 25 years of service to the town, carrying on a tradition begun by his grandfather. "Joe is one of the best commissioners this town has ever had," FF representative John O`Neill said. "He always thought through what he was intending to say and what he wanted to get done."

"Joe was always a guiding hand and always supportive of any project," said FF Cmmr Fiona O'Loughlin. "I know he has still a lot to give to the town in some way and I'm sure he will." FF Cmmr Ray O'Brien said the contribution by Joe Kearns had been exemplary and he was a man of great heart with a genuine love for his town. Joe's FG colleague Spike Nolan was the only one who seemed to be - uncharacteristically - lost for words and was visibly overcome. "We've gone through a lot together," he said. "And one thing about Joe is that 99 per cent of the time we all came to agree with him. He was always level-headed and a great adviser and the town of Newbridge is the better for his service."

Town Manager Terry 0 Niadh Said Joe Kearns was responsible for his 'knowing every pothole in Newbridge by its first name'. "But more than that he showed vision, and his concept of and pitching to get the County Arts Centre to Newbridge was a vision thing. If we were in England, he would now be in line for a place in the House of Lords." Town clerk Charlie Talbot said Joe Kearns had taken on his family tradition as something very important to him. "I came to think of him as a kind of 'proprietor' of the town, a wise old owl to whom I could come for advice and to 'take the local temperature'."

THINKING OF RETURNING TO IRELAND?

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The Naas twinning trip to Dillingen - full stories are here

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Choir from Wales to perform this weekend

NAAS, 13 May 1999: St David’s Church in Naas and the Standhouse on The Curragh are the two County Kildare venues for performances by the Cor y Brythoniaid Welsh Choir, winners of the Stena Line Choral Festival in Llandudno in 1998.

The choir will sing at St. David’s Church, Main Street, Naas on Saturday, May 15 at 6pm and at the Standhouse on Sunday May 16 at 3pm. The tenor with the group is John Eifion, who was the Welsh national Eisteddfod winner last year.

They will also appear in The Royal Hospital Concert Hall on Friday, May 14 at 7.30pm.

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New Newbridge bus services will link Kilcullen

KILCULLEN & NEWBRIDGE, 13 May 1999: by Brian Byrne. Two bus licences which have been granted to Kenneally Bus include an hourly service from Kilcullen to Newbridge starting at 7.30am and running until 7pm (from Newbridge). The other service will run in Newbridge itself during the same hours.

The Kilcullen service will start from Avondale Drive and run to Dunnes Stores via Athgarvan, and including 16 stops in Newbridge itself, from Wyeth on the north end of town to The Oaks on the south. The internal service will run from the IDA Park to Roseberry Stores, with 19 scheduled stops.

The granting of the licences was welcomed at the recent meeting of Newbridge Town Commission, though Cmmr Colm Feeney suggested that ‘it would have implications’ for the hackney driver business in the town.

And one shopkeeper in Kilcullen has expressed concern that the service linking the two towns will ‘take shoppers out of Kilcullen, where business has already been badly affected by the by-pass some years ago’. KNN undertands that the bus company is preparing an advertising campaign at the moment and the services are due to start in mid-summer.

The most delicious of gifts from our finest Irish chocolates range are selling around the world from here.

 

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Art for fun exhibition draws crowds ... and admiration

NAAS, 12 May 1999: by Trish Whelan. A group of friends who paint for fun recently decided that it would be even more fun to put the fruits of their labour on show, and invited some of their friends from all over the country to join in. The result was an exhibition which is running this week in Naas Library gallery and which is drawing attention ‘beyond all expectations’ according to one of the exhibitors, Phil Coonan from Killeen, Sallins, who has four paintings on show including a show stopping ‘Trotting Nellie’.

Pictured above on the opening night are Jane Begley, Pat and Caroline Farrell, Gaye Ashford, Monica and Dan Corry, while on the left are Ellen O’Flaherty and Eileen Murphy. The show was officially opened by Fergus O’Farrell and the artists received a great boost when over a third of the works displayed red ‘sold’ stickers on Day 1. “The original idea was just to see our work hanging and we planned the exhibition two months ago to give everyone time to get their works finished. Some people have never exhibited before and have sold tonight. It’s great encouragement,” Phil said. But she said plans to make it a yearly event were still ‘in the melting pot’.

A large doll’s house, completely furnished and ‘lived in’ proved a big attraction on the night, but sadly was not for sale. It was made by Peter Osborne and furnished by his daughter Gaye Ashford. Other exhibitors included Phil’s husband Ted Coonan, and her sisters, Eileen Corry (Naas) who exhibited in oils, watercolours and mixed media) and Mary Pelin (Athy) who had five watercolours on display. Photographs by Eileen’s daughter Caroline Farrell included pictures of Timahoe Round Tower and Ballyadams Castle.

A special limited edition presentation pack of six prints. ‘Fianna of Ireland’ by professional Naas hypnotherapist and holistic healer Adrian Doyle (16 South Main Street), also proved popular. “I always had the gift of drawing and was nicknamed The Sketcher at school,” he said. His parents ran a restaurant in the building now occupied by J F Dunne’s insurance company on Main Street.

Other artists included Eileen Downey (Corban’s Lane), and Eilis Forde; Julia Keenaghan, Dr Brian Maguire, Eileen Murphy, Ellen O’Flaherty, Eileen McKeown, Carmel McInerney, Michelle Nolan O’Driscoll, Pat Ryan, Tony Osborne, Anne Osborne, Liz Osborne, Elinor O’Dwyer, Annette Quin, Una Archer, Mark Ashford, Fiona Beaumont, Jackie Bergin, Sr Paul Cosgrave, Dorren Doyle, Irene Duggan, Deirdre Flynn, Hilda Ferguson, Joan Keating, Essie Kenny, Aisling Hassett, and Margaret Gleeson. Looking after the sales are (on left below) Mary Pelin, Athy, Orla Flynn, Athy, and Phil Coonan, Sallins. Also enjoying the exhibition (on right below) were Rosaleen Booth (Woodlands, Naas) and her sister-in-law Eileen McKeown (Ashgrove, Naas).

 

Specialist travel operators to Cheltenham, Aintree, and other major international racing venues. Phone 01 2958901; Fax 01 2958902; Email leoptour@indigo.ie

The Naas twinning trip to Dillingen - full stories are here
 

Specialist travel operators to Cheltenham, Aintree, and other major international racing venues. Phone 01 2958901; Fax 01 2958902; Email leoptour@indigo.ie

CHAPMANS OF KILDARE

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'Remember our unmarked dead', pleads Charlie Byrne

NAAS, 12 May 1999: by Trish Whelan. “In another few years, nobody will remember who they were.”

That comment from Naas UDC councillor Charlie Byrne sums up a situation in Naas’s St Corban’s Cemetary where literally hundreds of graves are unmarked, and unrecognisable - even of people buried in the last year or so. Cllr Byrne wants the situation addressed as a really worthwhile Millennium Project for the UDC, but he said a motion on the matter proposed by him at their last meeting resulted only in a commitment ‘to establish the extent of the problem’.

“People are walking on graves that they don’t even know are there,” he said last week. “While some graves are beautifully maintained - and this includes the travellers’ section - others have run wild. But the really sad part is that so many of them do not have any indication of who is in them. I want the UDC to provide markers for these graves ... the names are available in the graveyard Register. Some of these were people we knew, many with Naas connections, but for whatever reason their last resting places have not be marked up to now. I think it would be one of the most fitting ways to mark the Millennium that we provide crosses and names so that people in the ‘Millennium generation’ might know who they were.”

Cllr Byrne also criticised the state of the graveyard, blaming the local authority for not providing adequate resources to maintain it properly. “I’m not in any way blaming the caretaker, who does his absolute best with what’s made available to him. But in one of the wealthiest towns in the country, it seems totally wrong that not enough money is allowed for the looking after of its dead - people who in their lifetimes all made their own contribution to what Naas has become today. There is also an employment potential here - two or three people could be made available to help the caretaker with the work that needs to be done.”

 

THINKING OF RETURNING TO IRELAND?

ARTHUR E MACMAHON, solicitors in Naas, can represent you in all your legal, conveyancing, and commercial needs with professionalism and confidentiality. Email us or phone +353 (0)45 897936; fax +353 (0)45 897615

The Naas twinning trip to Dillingen - full stories are here

 

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Benefit night for orphaned children

NAAS, 12 May 1999: A Benefit Night in aid of the Curtis children of Naas who were tragically bereaved when their parents died in a car crash outside the town, will be held in Tougher’s, Naas, tomorrow (May 13) from ‘9 till late’.

Timmy Conway, a trustee with Seamie Moore and Jimmy Burke, hopes as many people as possible will attend the function to support this worthy cause. “I am very honoured to be a trustee. I knew their mother, Gabrielle, very well. She was a wonderful person and a great mother,” he said. The children are now being cared for by their grandparents, Martin and Angela Curtis of Sarto Road.

A fund account has been opened for the children at First Active Bank- account no. 0010723930/0101 and Timmy Conway has urged those who can to contribute. Or, contributions left in to his accountancy office at Basin Street in Naas, will be passed on to the fund.

The most delicious of gifts from our finest Irish chocolates range are selling around the world from here.

 

CHAPMANS OF KILDARE

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OAP fuel allowance 'not sufficient' - Cllr Browne

KILDANGAN, 12 May 1999: Health minister Brian Cowen TD is to bring up the matter of the level of the present OAP fuel allowance with the finance minister, Kildare North TD Charlie McCreevy. This follows a request from Cllr Francis Browne who says the low level of funding is causing distress to many OAPs who simply cannot afford rising fuel costs. He wants the present allowance of £5 a week for the winter months to be raised in line with the cost of briquettes and coal. Cllr Browne told KNN that when the allowance was increased from £3 to £5 a bale of briquettes was 68p but this has now doubled.

A motion which called for the allowance to be increased in line with fuel costs was put by Francis Browne to a meeting of Kildare County Council in 1997, and was supported by all members of the authority.

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'Wait till we're finished' - Lakelands park advice from UDC

NAAS, 11 May 1999: by Brian Byrne. Naas UDC has asked residents of Lakelands and Sunday’s Well to ‘reserve judgment’ on the linear park being constructed between the two estates and wait until it is finished before deciding whether it will cause problems.

Town clerk Declan Kirrane was responding to suggestions that the walkways currently being constructed along the site of the old railway line ‘were too wide’ and would invite use by cars and motorbikes. He said the walkway is designed for pedestrians only, but it must be wide enough ‘to facilitate two buggies’.

“All necessary provisions will be taken to keep cars and caravans off the walkways when the work is complete,” he told KNN. “Motorbikes are a different problem, because we have to leave access wide enough for buggies, but we’ll find some solution.”

Work began on the project two months ago and the earthworks are expected to be completed in another six weeks. Discussions are taking place this week with landscapers.

The concerns arose when Cllr Willie Callaghan went on local radio last Friday saying he had responded to residents’ concerns and asked the local authority to cease work on the project pending a review of the situation. But (up to Monday morning) he had not been asked officially for any such cessation, Mr Kirrane said yesterday.

 

THINKING OF RETURNING TO IRELAND?

ARTHUR E MACMAHON, solicitors in Naas, can represent you in all your legal, conveyancing, and commercial needs with professionalism and confidentiality. Email us or phone +353 (0)45 897936; fax +353 (0)45 897615

The Naas twinning trip to Dillingen - full stories are here

 

Specialist travel operators to Cheltenham, Aintree, and other major international racing venues. Phone 01 2958901; Fax 01 2958902; Email leoptour@indigo.ie

 

Too few councillors in Kildare?

KILDARE GENERAL, 11 May 1999: by Brian Byrne. Kildare could have too few councillors when the number per head of population is checked against the ratio in many other local authority areas. While the neighbouring council in Carlow has one member per 2,017 people, Kildare has more than twice as many people per representative at 5,400. At other ends of the scale are Leitrim at 1,139 and South Dublin at 8,413 per councillor.

“Kildare could be losing out because of lack of representation,” says Kildare area FF candidate Fiona O’Loughlin. “As councillors make up the majority of the electorate of the Seanad, this obviously gives certain areas better representation than others when it comes to electing the Upper House of the electorate. Also, in terms of arguing for funding for local development, it is easier where there are more local representatives to put the case.”

Cllr O’Loughlin says there is a need for a set ratio of councillors to population along the lines of that set out for Dail elections.

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Residents suffering from 'anti-social behaviour'

MAYNOOTH, 11 May 1999: A completely new design for three converging rights of way is the only way to stop residents in three Maynooth estates from being exposed to anti-social behaviour, according to local FG councillor Senan Griffin. The affected areas are Parklands, Rockfield and Railpark, and residents are also suffering from ‘late night activity’ and a continuing litter problem.

“The original design, while laudable at the time, is now of extreme annoyance to and nuisance,” he says. “The problem will not be resolved solely by building a wall ... and it is obvious that the council should discontinue the idea of extending the use of right of ways for any future developments within the county.”

TIM CONWAY & CO - ACCOUNTANTS

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Something happening in your community that's bothering you? Or do you simply want to share the news from your village or town in County Kildare? You can, by emailing us at KNN

 

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Planning groups criticise tardy acknowledgement of protests

NAAS, 11 May 1999: by Trish Whelan & Brian Byrne. Planning lobby groups in Naas have criticised Kildare County Council for ‘failing to acknowledge’ more than 700 letters of objection deposited with the council against the proposed rezoning of 244 acres at Piper’s Hill for industrial development.

The Naas Planning Alliance (NPA) and the Sallins Road Action Group (SRAG) say they lodged the objections on April 26 but have not yet heard from the council. And both groups have also criticised a lack of consultation between Kildare County Council and Naas UDC on the matter.

“An Taisce has said that what it calls a ‘basic lack of consultation’ between Naas UDC and Kildare County Council has major implications for the Naas Draft Development Plan,” says Mary McCarthy, chairperson of the Sallins Road Action Group. “It seems incredible that the county council could rezone 568 acres in the environs of Naas for industrial development without consultation with the elected members of Naas UDC.”

And she noted that if all the industrial rezoning around Naas goes ahead, the total of 788 acres compares starkly to the total of 408 acres rezoned in the same way for the much larger Galway City. “The Naas Planning Alliance and 700 of the electorate who objected to the rezoning are aware of what is being prepared by Kildare County Council. But are the ‘silent majority’ of Naas people aware?” she asks.

Meanwhile, the NPA is to decide this Thursday on who the organisation will field as candidates in the Naas UDC elections. KNN understands that there will be four people standing on the planning ‘platform’ in the election, and the first fundraiser for the campaign will be a Table Quiz in the Town House Hotel on 19 May, at which the candidates will be introduced to the public.

CHAPMANS OF KILDARE

Main Rover, Land Rover and Volvo dealers, Kildare town. Phone 045 521203; Fax 045 521785. See our selection here.

 

 

 

Waiver for OAPs demanded on remedial works costs

NEWBRIDGE & KILDARE GENERAL, 10 May 1999: by Trish Whelan.Old Age Pensioners should not have to pay the 50% share of costs normally required for remedial works to homes under the local authority tenant purschase scheme. That’s the emphatic view of Fianna Fail councillor John O’Neill, who says that some in Newbridge have been asked to find up to £7,000 for such work. And he also criticised the fact that costs for certain work in Newbridge had ended up substantially greater than anticipated, which resulted in tenant purchasers having to pay up to £2,000 more than had been initially believed.

“People were told before the work started that it would cost a certain amount and that they would have to pay half,” he says. “But with rising costs, due in part to the success of the ‘Celtic Tiger’, many tenants who had previously been quoted £5,000 found they now had bills of £7,000. For old age pensioners, this means serious difficulty ... some wouldn’t be able to pay even the £5,000. I want a waiver for the pensioners.”

Assistant county manager Terry O Niadh says a 15-year loan is available for tenant purchasers and private owners of local authority housing who need to have renovations carried out, but Cllr O’Neill says that this is ‘out of the question’ for pensioners, many of whom are over 80.

In relation to the unexpected rise in costs, particularly in connection with the Dara Park area of Newbridge, Mr O Niadh said this was because some of the works had been finished at different times.

Cllr O’Neill’s stance has been supported by Cllr Paddy Power, who says such increases were ‘dramatic’ for OAPs, and Cllr Sean O Fearghaill who says the houses concerned were ‘sub-standard in the first place’. “We should apply to the Department of the Environment for the extra money for the renovation, as that was where the original funding to build the houses came from.”

THINKING OF RETURNING TO IRELAND?

ARTHUR E MACMAHON, solicitors in Naas, can represent you in all your legal, conveyancing, and commercial needs with professionalism and confidentiality. Email us or phone +353 (0)45 897936; fax +353 (0)45 897615

The Naas twinning trip to Dillingen - full stories are here

 

Too many tulips in Newbridge?

NEWBRIDGE, 10 May 1999: This is the roundabout at the Naas end of Newbridge which has been criticised at Newbridge Town Commission because the ‘flowers are too high and interfere with motorists’ vision’.

(EDITOR's Note: Too many tulips? We don’t think so ... let us know if you have a view ... oops!.)

The most delicious of gifts from our finest Irish chocolates range are selling around the world from here.

 

CHAPMANS OF KILDARE

Main Rover, Land Rover and Volvo dealers, Kildare town. Phone 045 521203; Fax 045 521785. See our selection here.

 

 

 

Offers of accommodation turned down

NAAS, 10 May 1999: A number of people who were offered accommodation in the 28 New Row apartments built by Naas Urban District Council have decided not to take up the offers, Naas Town Clerk Declan Kirrane has confirmed. He said in some cases it was because of people’s preference to live in a house rather than in an apartment, though some cited ‘medical reasons’ for refusing.

He said that 20 people have taken up the offer and some of the apartments are already occupied. It had been hoped to have tenants in by last Christmas, but difficulties in getting craftspeople to complete the work had caused delays.

TIM CONWAY & CO - ACCOUNTANTS

Basin Street, Naas

We offer all accounting services including financial advice, taxation, company information etc. Contact 045 876492 or email at timmyconway@tinet.ie

LOOKING FOR PROPERTY IN LEINSTER?

MICHAEL MCWEY & ASSOCIATES, Auctioneers & Valuers in Kildare town can locate private, commercial and industrial property to suit every requirement

Phone +353 (0)45 521714; Fax +353 (0)45 520186 Email mmcwey@tinet.ie

 

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COMMUNITY NOTICES

13-16 YEAR OLDS - WANT TO BECOME A LIFEGUARD? - If so, go along to Naas Swimming Pool on Saturdays from 7-8pm (6 weeks - £10). Boys and girls, no previous experience necessary. Kildare Water Safety.

LEARN TO DANCE - Take to the floor every Friday evening in the CBS Secondary School Naas. Salsa 7pm; Jive and Rock and Roll 8pm; Ballroom 9pm. Further details from Kieran & Breda Kelly at 866083.

KILDARE SUICIDE BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP - KSBSG is a team of people who have been specifically trained to help those who have been bereaved by suicide or by tragic sudden death. It is a non-denominational service. A rota of trained facilitators are available to conduct group or one-to-one sessions at the Parish Centre in Ballycane (tel. 895629) every Thursday evening from 8pm. Alternatively, an appointment may be made in confidence by contacting tel. 086-8554852.

UDC SKIPS IN 1999 - Naas Urban District Council will provide skips to Housing Estates to assist with their estate maintenance/management during this year. Applications will be considered on a first come first served basis and should be made by Residents Associations in writing to the Town Clerk's Office, Naas UDC, Town Hall, Naas. There will be a limit of one skip per estate at present but an extension of the scheme may be announced later.

 

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