Naas school to move to 'green field' site NAAS, 19 May 2000: EXCLUSIVE by Trish Whelan & Brian Byrne. St Patrick’s Community College in Naas will be moving to a new location if current negotiations by Co Kildare VEC are successful. KNN has learned that the VEC is looking at a number of ‘greenfield’ sites around the town, including one on Oldtown Demesne. VEC committee member Cllr Michael Fitzpatrick (left) says they need to find an alternative site of about 10 acres on which to build a modern school. Funding has been put in place to upgrade the existing school, which was built in 1968/69 and was extended in 1979 and 1994. Cllr Fitzpatrick says refurbishing the existing buildings to the required standard would be ‘prohibitive’. “I understand they are looking at greenfield sites in Naas and that one of them is Oldtown,” he confirmed yesterday, stressing that he is not personally involved in the negotiations. The existing site on the Limerick Road, which is about four acres in size, is not big enough to provide the ancillary facilities required in a modern school, but is a prime site which would be very saleable to a developer if the school location was changed. It could figure in some form of ‘swap’ arrangement for a new site if the zoning was changed as part of a deal. At Monday’s student awards presentation (top picture) in the school, finance minister Charlie McCreevy TD said he ‘was looking forward to a big announcement’ concerning the future of the school, to be made in ‘two weeks’ time’. School principal Tom Keegan (right) said September 2002 was the target date for ‘proper facilities’ for the school and he hoped for support to bring this to fruition. He spoke of a vision of a ‘thriving community college on 10 acres of land with up-to-date facilities’. Speaking afterwards to KNN he said the school was just going over the limits of its current capacity, and that it needed upgrading to meet the needs of the first 20 years of the new century. “The Department of Education has received an excellent return from its investment in the existing buildings, but there’s a need to upgrade now to meet the demands of secondary education in Naas. Within four or five years I would expect the school capacity to be in the order of 650 pupils, and we want to be able to offer extra-curricular activity on a much wider scale than at the moment.” The matter was also raised at Monday’s meeting of Naas UDC when Cllr Charlie Byrne asked if there was any truth in rumours that the school was to move. He was told that there was not, and that he was ‘a great man to hear rumours’. It seems he's also good at hearing the truth. (©2000trishwhelanbrianbyrne.) 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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20 May 2000: Naas Moat Club wins All-Ireland ... waste initiative launched in Leixlip ... St Patrick's Community College to move. This is a KNN broadcast production in RealAudio. (©2000trishwhelanbrianbyrne.)

Opening concert for Kildare's historic cathedral KILDARE, 19 May 2000: by Martin Dempsey. Dúchas Chill Dara 2000 - Kildare International Folk Arts Festival will be held from 24-27 August 2000. The festival is organised by Kildare Town Twinning Association in conjunction with The Institute For International Cultural Exchange (IICE). The official opening will be held in Kildare Cathedral (above). Participants will include international groups from Hungary, France, Croatia and Spain, who will perform alongside Irish folkdance groups and bands, including many groups from Co Kildare. IICE was founded in 1985. Since then groups have visited Kildare from France, Portugal, Germany, Belgium, Finland, Italy, Poland, Estonia and the Celtic Nations - Brittany, Cornwall, Isle of Man and Wales. The interaction between international groups, Irish groups, local people and visitors to Kildare who attend the festival, is what the event is all about. This year's festival will consist of a series of parades, concerts, recitals, seminars, workshops and pub sessions throughout the weekend. A European Union Seminar will be hosted by Kildare Town Twinning Association on Saturday 26 August, followed by a Music & Dancing Workshop in St Joseph's Academy. All local dancers and musicians are invited to take part. On the evenings of Friday 25 and Saturday 26 August, international and Irish folkdance and music groups will take part in a series of Open Air Concerts at Market Square. On Sunday the festival parade will take place after noon mass in the Carmelite Church to Market Square, where participating groups will give their final performances. The organising committee are interested in hearing from other community groups who are interested in playing a role in this year's festival, by taking part in the festival parade, staging their own event during the festival or providing personnel to act as stewards. For further information contact Dúchas Chill Dara, Enterprise Centre, Melitta Road, Kildare. Phone 045 521190. Fax 045 521198. Email mdassociates@eircom.net or visit the website

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Naas GAA 'delighted' with meeting offer NAAS, 19 May 2000: by Brian Byrne. Naas GAA say they are 'delighted' that they have at last secured a meeting with Naas UDC, to express concerns they have about a proposed move to a location on Oldtown Estate. The meeting, for next Tuesday, was announced at this week's monthly public session of the UDC, following a somewhat heated earlier discussion 'in committee'. During that discussion, Cllr Mary Glennon asked for a suspension of Standing Orders to allow a delegation from the club who were waiting outside to meet with the council there and then. In a vote, she achieved a majority, with Cllr Pat O'Reilly abstaining. However, Cllr O'Reilly then pointed out that such a suspension required a three-quarters majority, and the motion failed. "We will be outlining our position on the matter and asking for the councillors' support," Padraig MacManus told KNN as they left the public gallery following the announcement during the subsequent public session. Last week, Mr MacManus detailed how the club had been seeking a meeting for some time, because they are worried about the implications of a 'third relocation' proposal from Oldtown to Keredern Stud lands bordering the canal. The relocation of the club to Oldtown was a part of proposals which resulted in Oldtown being rezoned during the finalising of the 1999 Naas Development Plan.

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Coal sales to be banned NAAS, LEIXLIP & CELBRIDGE, 19 May 2000: by Trish Whelan. The sale and use of bituminous fuels in Naas, Leixlip and Celbridge is to be banned from October of this year. This follows a pilot project in Arklow, Drogheda, Dundalk, Limerick and Wexford in 1998 which, according to minister of state at the Department of the Environment and Local Government Dan Wallace, resulted in a ‘significant’ improvement in air quality. The minister says his officials will be consulting with the relevant Kildare local authorities to establish the boundaries of the new ‘smokeless’ zones. He also said that an additional £3 a week will be given to certain social welfare payment recipients to offset costs of buying more expensive smokeless fuel. Dublin was made a smokeless zone in 1990. Other areas in the latest extension of the programme include Galway and Waterford.

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'Mooney live' from mill on Sunday NAAS, 19 May 2000: by Brian Byrne. The popular Radio 1 nature show, Mooney Goes Wild on One, will be broadcast live from the Old Mill in Naas this Sunday to highlight a jackdaw breeding project currently running under the direction of Wild Ireland, a web-based nature and environmental company. Nest Watch 2000 has been featured daily on the Pat Kenny Show and involves reports on the progress of a number of nestling jackdaws in a nest on the site. World wide web coverage by a live 'webcam' (between 12-1pm Irish time only) allows those interested in jackdaws from all over the world to monitor their progress. St last count, and with National Geographic also actively covering this Jackdaw story, over 300,000 different individuals are watching the 'Jackdaw Soap' unfold. Archive footage is available here.

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Concert for Camphill and Baptist Church BRANNOCKSTOWN, 19 May 2000: by Bill Trapman. Eurovision-winning songwriter and singer Charlie McGettigan will join a group of artists for the Sounds in Summertime concert to be held in Dunshane House, Brannockstown, on Thursday 8 June. The programme will feature a selection of songs, hymns, country and gospel numbers and the team of musicians and singers will include Rev William Beare, dean of Lismore Cathedral; Sam Bargewell from Bray; and St Mark’s Gospel Choir from Pearse St, Dublin. The proceeds of the concert will be divided between the Camphill Community at Dunshane and Brannockstown Baptist Church. Charlie McGettigan wrote the tune for Pastor Robert Dunlop’s (above) millennium hymn, ‘God of all the Years’ and he will include it in his repertoire. Tickets for the concert are £8 and may be obtained in advance from Dunshane (483628) or at the door. Refreshments will be available in the courtyard during the interval.

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Notes ... Notes ... Notes ... ATHY: Youthreach Athy trainees provided a special healthy lunch for local public health nurses this week as part of the promotion of Healthy Eating Week. The fare included pork casserole, fresh vegetables and mash, followed by a raspberry and pear crumble with yoghourt topping. The Youthreach programme offers early school leavers the opportunity to learn skills including catering, craftwork, gardening and sports. It also has a reading and writing programme and basic maths for those lacking such skills. KILCULLEN & BALLYMORE: Kildare County Council is to spend £7,500 for repairs of footpaths in Kilcullen, and a similar amount for the same purpose in Ballymore. The work will be carried out early next year. NAAS: Stig Junker and Kate buy a ticket (above) for a bike from Chris McDonald of Naas Cycling Club during their recent fundraising event outside Naas Town Hall. Chris cycled from Naas to Crookstown to take part in an athletics race the same day. NAAS: Now enrolling for summer water safety courses for the public at Naas Pool. Courses start on Saturday, 13 May. Evening classes from 7-8pm and Monday 15 May, night classes 9-10pm. All aspects of water safety from throwing a ring buoy to CPR resuscitation. Open to all ages and abilities from non-swimmers to advanced. Contact Leo at 879747 or 086 8526400. LEIXLIP: The manual street sweeping arrangement in Leixlip will be reinstated, following a heated debate at the recent Leixlip Area Committee meeting, during which the Engineer was informed a public commitment was made that the mechanical street sweeping machine would be additional and not a replacement. Engineer Des O’Connor had told the committee the street sweeper was deployed doing road works because of a shortage of labour. Cllr Catherine Murphy pointed out that Leixlip got virtually nothing in the Road Grants he was speaking about and it was a 'lose lose' situation for the town. She added that it was also a smoke screen for the low level of staffing in the electoral area and was 'simply not acceptable'. NAAS: Tom Keenan of Naas Cycling Club going nowhere fast (right) as he helped to raise funds for the club by cycling from 10am to 6pm recently on a sweltering hot day outside Naas Town Hall. Naas Cycling Club meet at 10am every Saturday morning at Quinnsworth. There are approx 30 members in the club, divided into a touring and a racing section. LEIXLIP: Disc Parking will commence on 6th June in Leixlip and a warden will be in place then. A number of outlets have agreed to sell discs and signage/road markings will be in place by that date. NAAS: The Nas na Ri Singers present: ‘A Summer Concert’ in Coire na Soillse, Dunshane on Saturday next, May 20, at 8pm. Guests include Geraldine O’Doherty (Harpist) and St Mary’s College Choir (Director is Maire Mannion). Tickets at £8 are available from Nas na Riogh Bookshop. KILCULLEN: The Department of the Environment has approved £212,000 for the provision of four homes for the elderly in Kilcullen at St Brigid’s Park. The units will accommodate 1/2 people each and the news has been welcomed by Senator John Dardis. NAAS: Pictured above at a Telethon fundraiser in Naas Town Hall were Johnnie Dwyer, the chairman of Naas UDC Seamie Moore, Miriam Probst (from Dillingen, Bavaria), Hal Sisk, Waterstown, Sallins; Celia Alvarez (also from Dillingen). Dillingen is twinned with Naas town and Miriam's mother, Michaela, is the coordinator of the twinning committee of Dillingen. MONASTEREVIN: The case for the reopening of Monasterevin Railway Station is 'weak' according to an Iarnrod Eireann report says. The report was a review of the services in the greater Dublin area and the consultants said the situation should be 'kept under review'. GENERAL: The Kildare Telethon effort may reach its target of £200,000, according to preliminary figures. All of the money will be used for charitable purposes in the county.

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Leixlip launches waste initiative LEIXLIP, 18 May 2000: by Brian Byrne & Trish Whelan. A project aimed at encouraging households to do more for themselves about reducing waste was launched in Leixlip at the weekend. Leixlip Integrated Waste Initiative (LIWI) is modelled on the one set up by Kilcock during the campaign against the proposed incinerator there. “Basically, we’re trying to identify for people other things they can do with their waste,” says Cllr Paul Kelly (right, with Leixlip town clerk Mary Foley), one of three town commissioners heading the initiative. “There are simple things, like refusing plastic bags in shops, thinking of home composting, recycling bottles and cans. This is not a high tech thing ... everybody can go home and start now.” The initiative was launched at an Information Day in Scoil San Carlos by Irish Olympic athlete David Matthews, and the event included displays and discussions from various interests in recycling, including Bernie Walsh of Sunflower Recycling in Dublin’s inner city, Colette Nolan of the Irish Earthworm Company, John McDonagh from KIWI in Kilcock, and Dara Wyer of Kildare County Council, who is working on the Local Agenda 2000 programme for sustainable development. “We have to start in the home, to educate ourselves and our children,” Cmmr Breege Lynch (pictured right with Cllr Catherine Murphy) said. “We have to be aware of our environment, because we cannot live without our environment ... are we going to destroy it or are we going to protect it?” Cllr Catherine Murphy said there ‘is a crisis out there’ in waste management terms, and that she herself has come to the conclusion that the real solutions are low-tech ones. “The reaction to the proposed incinerator in Kilcock was very educational, and as councillors we’re also aware of the problem in relation to our landfill site at Silliott Hill. The reality is that we’ve got to do things differently. We have to realise that this is all about people individually responding to this crisis, and the local authority has got to approach it from a ‘bottom-up’ perspective. “There are targets for recycling in our Draft Waste Management Plan, but it’s not enough to put it in a document. There has to be a more energetic approach taken, and we want to see the council and other people taking on board initiatives like this.” Dara Wyer (pictured right with some of those attending the day) said his focus at community level was partly to set up lines of communication so that people knew what was happening. “The partnership approach is the way to go. If people know in advance what these kind of things are, and the good they can do for a community, they’ll be more likely to accept them.” "For people who want to hear more about LIWI and who couldn’t come along last weekend, they can phone myself at 6243624 or the Town Clerk at 6245777 and we’ll make sure they are kept informed of what’s happening,” Cllr Kelly says. "We had to compete with really good weather and local first Communions and we were a little disappointed with the turnout, but those who came along were really enthusiastic and that’s what we were looking for. There was a great buzz there and we bear the motto ‘From little acorns, big forests grow’ in mind.” There were competitions all day for both adults and children - Ann Hoare of Glendale Meadows won the worm composting kit donated by the Irish Earthworm Company, Noel Canning of Elton Court won a meal voucher worth £50, Áine Foley of River Forest won a record voucher in a Calligram competition, Paul Noonan of River Forest View won a quiz for Pokémon cards and a Pokéman keyring, and his brother Kevin Noonan won the colouring competition for an art set. (©2000brianbyrnetrishwhelan.) 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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UDC chairman denies conflict of interest query NAAS, 18 May 2000: by Brian Byrne & Trish Whelan. Naas UDC chairman Seamie Moore has denied that there might be a conflict of interest if he chairs a meeting of the council with Naas GAA next Tuesday. At this week’s monthly meeting of the UDC, Cllr Mary Glennon suggested that because the meeting involved a situation between the GAA and the developers of Oldtown Estate, Lehmex International Limited, ‘for propriety’s sake’ it might be better if the vice-chairman, Cllr Pat O'Reilly, chaired the session. When Cllr Moore queried Cllr Glennon's reasons for her suggestion, she asked the chairman if he was involved with the developers in any fiduciary way. Cllr Moore replied that he had 'no fiduciary interest' in Lehmex International or Millennium Park. Cllr Glennon said that it ‘appeared from literature he himself had circulated’ that Cllr Moore was employed by a principal of Lehmex. Eventually Cllr Moore declared emphatically that he ‘did not work for a principal of Lehmex'. Cllr Glennon then said she ‘had to accept his word’ for it. When the meeting ended, Cllr Moore refused to comment further on the issue, answering repeated queries only by saying 'ask her', pointing to Cllr Glennon. According to documents in the Companies Registration Office, Gerald Conlan, of 23 Thornbrook, Naas, became a director of Lehmex International Limited on 23 December 1998. Among his other current directorships he listed Oakchurch Limited, of West Bank House in Newbridge. Oakchurch has a business address at Tully Road, Kildare. In a letter (below) to a potential customer at the end of last November, Seamie Moore describes himself as sales manager of Oakchurch Limited, a company selling mature trees. The letter lists the directors of Oakchurch as P Conlan and G Conlan. In the Oakchurch accounts for the year ended 31 March 1999, lodged at the Companies Registration Office on February 10 2000, Gerard (sic) Conlan is recorded as having retired as a director during the year, leaving Patrick Conlan and Helen Conlan as current directors. Lehmex is the primary developer of Oldtown Estate and of the planned Millennium Park, though various aspects of the development are currently being progressed by a number of other companies, including Quando Ltd and Bandenberry Ltd. Both properties benefited from rezoning in the 1999 Naas UDC Development Plan. Cllr Moore supported the plan, which was adopted after a 6-3 vote in the council. Cllr Glennon and fellow independent Cllr Anthony Egan, along with Labour's Cllr Pat McCarthy, were elected to Naas UDC in 1999 on policies based in opposition to the Naas Development Plan. Between them they polled more than 50% of the total vote cast in the election. As reported by KNN last week, Naas GAA have been trying for some time to have a meeting with the full council to discuss concerns about a proposed move to a site at Oldtown, which was part of the negotiations for the rezoning of the demesne formerly owned by Major John de Burgh. After an unusually extended ‘in committee’ meeting of the council last Tuesday prior to the public session, Cllr Moore announced that the members of the UDC would meet with the club’s representatives next Tuesday. (©2000brianbyrnetrishwhelan.)

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Bridge to be enhanced in new funding NEWBRIDGE, 18 May 2000: by Brian Byrne. Funding has been approved for the refurbishment of St Conleth's Bridge (above) at Newbridge, which will involve the replacement of the solid concrete walls with a balustrade design, affording easier views of the scenery on both parts of the River Liffey which it crosses. The funding was announced this week by Deputy Sean Power, who also noted that funds are to be provided for all-weather playing pitches and a children's playground on the grounds of Newbridge Sports Centre. The total funding figure has not yet been clarified, but KNN understands that it is a substantial six-figure sum. The news has been warmly welcomed by Newbridge town commissioner Pat Black (above), who has been strongly involved for many years in the Tidy Towns organisation in Newbridge. "This funding news is a big boost in terms of the town's environment and for people who are dedicated to the enhancement of Newbridge and the provision of the best facilities for its youngsters," he said.

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Revised valuations list COUNTY HALL, 18 May 2000: by Bill Trapman. Kildare County Council has received lists of decisions from the Commissioner of Valuation in regard to revisions of valuations which have been made by him for the area administered by the said Council. The list will be open for public inspection at the offices of the Council, between the hours of 9.30am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm on each normal working day until 31st May 2000. An owner or occupier of a property included in the list may, on payment of the appropriate fee, appeal to the Commissioner through the relevant Council by notice in writing. Such notice, together with the fee, must be submitted to the Council not later than 7th June 2000. The Notice of Appeal should contain a statement of the specific grounds of appeal. The appeal fee, which should be made payable to the Secretary, Valuations Office, is as follows: Less than £25: £ 50; £25 to £99: £100; £100 to £499: £150; £500 and over: £225.

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Councillor lodges objection to Oldtown housing application NAAS, 17 May 2000: by Brian Byrne & Trish Whelan. A Naas Urban District councillor has lodged a personal objection to a planning application for 310 homes on the Oldtown Estate (above) which is currently before her council. Cllr Mary Glennon (right) says the application by Quando Homes Ltd, along with other applications already lodged with Naas UDC, would 'almost surpass' the 22,000 population cap in the 1999 Naas five-year Development Plan after just one year of it being in place. She also suggests that the Quando application alone would result in over 1,000 extra people living on the Sallins Road, which already has serious traffic congestion that affects adjoining roads and estates. In a letter to Naas town clerk Declan Kirrane, Cllr Glennon - the poll topper in last year's local elections to the UDC - also notes what she sees as flaws in the application, including the fact that Quando have apparently taken in an extra 3.5 acres in their application over that for which they received rezoning in the 1999 plan. "The criteria are for parkland and landscaping to be included in the total acreage rezoned and being applied for," she writes in her objection. "Quando are breaching the regulations by assuming that they can use unrezoned land for their parkland and landscaping allocation, thus in my opinion making their application null and void." Cllr Glennon takes issue also with the fact that the consultants for the project, Brady Shipman Martin, have devised the strategic planning guidelines for the area and are 'in effect wearing two hats'. The objection also suggests that Naas is getting 'yet another injection' of expensive houses centred on an area that is 'already seriously overdeveloped and lacking in amenities'. "It is plain to everyone living there that the area can take no more in the way of development until some infrastructure is put in place," Cllr Glennon says, adding that the rezoning of the de Burgh estate at Oldtown was predicated on the GAA pitches, a nursing home, hotel, and leisure centre also going there. "None of these have materialised," she said at last night's monthly meeting of the UDC. "When I sat in the public gallery last year during the debates on the Town Plan, all these were promised, and last on the list was 'provision for housing'. Now all we have before us from that rezoning is an application for houses." During a debate on a motion from chairman Seamie Moore (right) condemning the Department of Education and the minister for 'protracted delays' on the promised school on the Sallins Road, Cllr Glennon put down an amendment that 'no development on the Oldtown site would be accepted until a planning application for the school had been submitted and accepted by Naas UDC'. But the amendment fell when Cllr Moore withdrew his original motion after a discussion that at times became very heated. 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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Kilcock plan delay is criticised KILCOCK, 17 May 2000: by Brian Byrne. A delay by the minister for the environment in approving the Kilcock Town Renewal Plan has raised the ire of Deputy Emmet Stagg, who says it is simply ‘unacceptable’. The deputy says the redevelopment plan was submitted last November and there had been a commitment that a decision would be made in April. “The minister now says approval will not be forthcoming until mid-summer,” the North Kildare public representative says. “We could end up with a litany of broken time promises on this vital scheme, which will greatly enhance the town centre and greatly improve the services available to the community.” Under the scheme, property owners who upgrade, restructure or rebuild houses, or build new premises in vacant lots within the renewal area, will be entitled to tax breaks.

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Criticism of proposed Curragh Authority THE CURRAGH, 17 May 2000: by Brian Byrne. A local representative of An Taisce has hit out at proposals for a statutory authority for the Curragh plains area (above), saying that those with environmental interests ‘have been pushed out completely’. Sean English (right) says the proposals have ‘turned poachers into gamekeepers’ because the only organisations with a place on the proposed body are those he says have been responsible for the damage to the area in the first place - the Department of Defence, the sheep farmers with local grazing rights, and the horse industry. “These are the people who have been causing the problem, and they all have vested interests,” he told KNN. “Under the plan we can only make submissions to them as an advisory group. We’re not getting a look in and we’re very unhappy about the situation.” The proposed Authority is among the key recommendations of the Curragh Task Force set up by the Government in 1998 and whose report will be published within the next week. The CTF suggests a management structure should include a director and staff, along with a Consultative Advisory Council made up of representatives from the current primary users.

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Alcohol bye-laws soon for North Kildare towns MAYNOOTH & CELBRIDGE, 17 May 2000: by Brian Byrne. Bye-laws to control the consumption and possession of alcohol in public places will be in place in Maynooth and Celbridge by July 1, following their expected passing by Kildare County Council on May 29. The regulations will make it an offence to consume or possess alcohol in green areas, along footpaths or public roads, and in cemeteries within the boundaries of the towns. They have been drawn up primarily to deal with the problem of youths drinking openly in public areas. A delay in implementing the bye-laws, which were due to come into effect last November, was due to the realisation that they would cause difficulties for residents associations holding organised parties on their green areas. This has been solved by inserting a provision that such organisations can apply to the council for permission to hold parties. Cllr Catherine Murphy says the delay in concluding the legal issues, of more than a year, was ‘unacceptably long’ given that similar regulations for Leixlip were mooted after those now going into effect for the other North Kildare towns. “They are up and running already,” she says. “Lessons should be learned about how long it is taking to do things. I originally tabled the motion under the old Celbridge Area Committee three years ago, asking for an investigation of how to develop these bye-laws.” Cllr Senan Griffin (left) said the matter of consumption of alcohol by young people had been one of ‘grave concern’ to many residents associations, and the new regulations should resolve some of the problems. The implementation of the bye-laws has also been welcomed by Deputy Emmet Stagg. Offenders under the regulations face a £50 fine.

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Rugby Club plans major improvements NAAS, 16 May 2000: by Trish Whelan. A Naas UDC grant of £60,000 has been sanctioned for Naas Rugby Club this year, and will be used to progress a major strategic plan for the club which is aimed at helping it to ‘spread its wings’ in a growing town. Speaking during a civic reception for the team which last month became only the second Kildare team to make AIL status, club president Gerry McGrath (above, receiving a scroll from UDC chairman Seamie Moore) said this year had been a big one for the club, putting it right up with the major players. “Over the next few years we hope to move on to even better things,” he said, noting that the club is currently extending its dressing rooms with a National Lottery grant of £30,000. “We have other plans to extend the clubhouse and the general infrastructure, and we’re developing an all-weather training area the size of two pitches. These will be used for training purposes, ensuring that out pitches remain in good condition.” Mr McGrath thanked Naas UDC for its interest and financial support. He also thanked all in the club, including club captain David Nevin, the mentors, and players, for a ‘great effort’ which had resulted in their being given the civic reception. And he noted that it was a double celebration as that same day full-back Steve Malone had been awarded the title ‘Leinster Player of the Year’. Steve is pictured above with his trophy, accompanied by Gerry McGrath and a group of his fellow players. Pictured below are Bill O'Brien, Ronan O'Malley, Tim Ronaldson and Dave Walsh. UDC chairman Seamie Moore presented Gerry McGrath with a set of UDC cufflinks. A UDC tie was presented to each player. Team members present were Andy Kenny, Mark Cuddihy, Ronan O'Malley, Conor Brophy, Mark Fitzgerald, Steve Minogue, Willie Sheehan, Damian Ward, Johnny Sheehan and David Walsh. Missing, due to exam pressures, were Gavin Roberts (New Zealand), Ross Murphy, Ian Kelly, Emmet Dalton, Mark Waldron, Gareth Butler and John Corbett. 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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'No cancer link' from SO2 levels - health board LEIXLIP, 16 May 2000: by Brian Byrne. Apparently high Sulphur Dioxide readings in Leixlip have ‘no relation’ to cancer deaths in the town, a South Western Health Board representative has assured local councillors. At the recent Leixlip Area meeting, David Molloy said he wasn’t sure if the last published readings - three times higher than normal - were due to faulty equipment, but new monitoring stations should provide a more accurate picture of the position. Reports from them will be available in two weeks. Mr Molloy told the councillors that Leixlip traditionally had a high level of SO2, and figures showed an upward trend, with readings usually higher in winter when coal was being burned. It was a high summer reading which had caused the health board to enquire further this year. A new sampling station has been installed at Newtown House (left), with other sampling equipment around the town, including the Celbridge Road. Cllr Senan Griffin requested that that an interim report be circulated to councillors in advance of the updated survey. Cllr Catherine Murphy restated that it was the west side of Leixlip where people were most concerned, and it was essential that there was regular monitoring there. Sampling has been done in Leixlip since 1991. High levels of SO2 results in lung disorders such as asthma and bronchial constriction, but councillors were told that the levels they have apparently been experiencing are just a fraction of what would be necessary to cause serious health problems.

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Call for representatives to SPCs COUNTY HALL, 16 May 2000: by Brian Byrne. Kildare County Council has invited all organisations in the county involved in the environment, conservation, culture, community, voluntary and disadvantaged to submit names of representatives to the recently-approved Strategic Policy Committees. The five committees will assist and advise on the drawing up of Council policy and will be composed of members of the County Council, representatives of Urban District Councils and Town Commissioners together with nominees of a wide range of sectoral interests. The sectoral membership of each committee is as follows: Economic Planning & Development: Business and Commercial, Development and Construction, Community and Voluntary and Disadvantaged. Transportation: Business and Commercial, Development and Construction, Community and Voluntary and Disadvantaged. Environment and Services: Environment and Conservation and Culture, Business and Commercial, Agriculture Farming. Housing and Social Inclusion: Development and Construction, Community and Voluntary and Disadvantaged. Local Urban and Rural Development: Agriculture and Farming, Business and Commercial, Community and Voluntary and Disadvantaged. In accordance with guidelines issued by the Department of the Environment and Local Government, representatives from the various sectors will generally be appointed through the respective national organisations and pillars. The exceptions to this are the Environmental and Conservation and Culture Sector, and the Community and Voluntary and Disadvantaged Sector. In these cases, the County Kildare Forum will appoint representatives for the Community and Voluntary Sector (Previously entitled County Kildare Platform). All organisations in County Kildare falling into the above two categories (Enviornmental and Conservation and Culture and Community and Voluntary and Disadvantaged) are now invited to register with the Forum if they wish to be part of the County Kildare Forum and the decision-making process for the appointment of representatives to the SPCs. Organisations previously registered with the Forum in the course of the recent County Development Board process do not need to re-register. It is recommended however, that such organisations confirm that they are included on the register. Further details of the SPCs and Forum Registration process are available from: Secretary, Kildare County Council, St Marys, Naas, Co Kildare. Telephone No: 045-873800, Fax No: 045-876875, Email: secretar@kildarecoco.ie The closing date for registration of interested organisations is Wednesday, 24th May, 2000.

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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Survey of Cherry Blossom problem to be undertaken LEIXLIP, 16 May 2000: by Trish Whelan. A recommendation from the Leixlip Area Committee has sought to have pruning of trees carried out in estates in the town. Cllr Catherine Murphy said the Area Committee had discussed the damage caused by certain types of trees. She said Dublin councils had taken a decision to ban Cherry Blossom trees as their roots do damage to footpaths, forcing them up. “We should take some of these out. By now doing it we’re going to shore up problems in the future. If you prune trees, you limit the roots,” she told a recent meeting of Kildare County Council. Officials said it was a very ‘significant’ problem throughout the county and will have to be addressed in the provision of resources in the next estimates. Cllr Senan Griffin said if Cherry Blossoms are taken out, they should be replaced with suitable trees. A suggestion by chairman Cllr PJ Sheridan that a survey be carried out to determine the problem around the county, met with unanimous approval.

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Naas drama club win All-Ireland title NAAS, 15 May 2000: by Trish Whelan & Brian Byrne. Naas Moat Drama Club won the All-Ireland Drama Festival in Athlone on Saturday night with their production of Marina Carr's 'By the Bog of Cats'. It's the third time the club has taken the All-Ireland title, the last being 21 years ago with Arthur Miller's 'The Crucible'. "The depths of the play were truly brought to the surface and the rhythms were superbly in touch with the author's intent," adjudicator Pat Burke said in his summing up. "The director remained very faithful to the author's creation and had her finger on the pulse of the play." The adjudicator also said acting across the board was 'superb' and they all displayed a 'rarely-seen rapport' throughout the production. Director Barbara Sheridan said the play itself was 'dark and bleak' and that the players gauged their performance by the silence when the curtain came down. "There was a kind of audible silence before the applause, if you know what I mean," she told KNN last night. "We knew when they were stunned into silence that it was working. It wasn't exactly an entertaining night out, but people respected the writing and what we did with it." She paid particular tribute to Ann Delaney, who played the main part of Esther Swain, and her daughter in real life, Josie, who played her daughter on stage. "One of the biggest difficulties was to stage the murder scene where the mother killed her child, but with mother and child playing the parts, there was a special bond." Padraig Broe, who played the lead male role of Esther's lover Carthage, said the win 'came at the right time' with the club's plans to develop a new theatre and arts centre, and it would 'keep the interest going' in terms of retaining members and gaining new ones. He said the route to the All-Ireland had been 'a tough trail', particularly for the backstage crew. "We went to many nominating festivals, including Cavan, Monaghan, Wexford and Kildare, and they'd be down at the venue the night before so they could put up the set on the day, and then be demounting again up to 2am after the performance before heading home to do a day's work again. It's not easy, but we love it." As well as winning the Ericsson Trophy for best production, the performance received nominations for Best Director (Barbara Sheridan), Best Supporting Actor (Pat Sheridan and Conal Boyce), Best Actress (Ann Delaney), Best Supporting Actress (Maura Murphy). Others in the cast and crew included Natalie Bhogal, Francis T Kirk, Moll Fullam, Barry Goodwin, Ger O'Shea, Anne Hurley, Stan Hickey, Fergus Smith, Des Murray, Ollie Keenan, Cathy Fullam, Ruth McLoughlin, Doreen Ryan, Padraic Clince, Laura Purcell and Stanley Purcell. Brindsley Sheridan, president of the club, constructed the black swan which was used in the play. "We had a really broad spectrum of ages in the production, from 10 years old to my father at 80," Barbara Sheridan said during a celebratory evening in The Forge last night. 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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Management authority proposed for the Curragh THE CURRAGH, 15 May 2000: by Brian Byrne. A full-time Authority for the management of the Curragh plains area is among the key recommendations of the Curragh Task Force set up by the Government in 1998 and whose recommendations will be published within the next week. The management structure should include a director and staff, along with a Consultative Advisory Council made up of representatives from the current primary users - the Department of Defence, the bloodstock industry, and sheep farmers who have grazing rights on the plains. The report will also ask for an Environmental Policy Statement to be prepared ‘as soon as possible’, along with detailed archaeological and ecological surveys, and a review of all existing use of the plains. In particular, the Task Force says no further lands should be licenced or leased to sports clubs, and where developments have taken place that are considered inappropriate, ‘efforts should be made to rectify the situation’. The authors of the report say the existing vesting arrangements dating from the early sixties, when the Curragh Lands were transferred to the minister for defence, ‘do not require changing’. They say that the Curragh Lands ‘are under very real and sustained threat’ and that existing legislation relating to the area is ‘outdated and inadequate’. Implementing the proposals would cost about £600,000 in the first full year of operation.

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Donadea statement 'a fudge' DONADEA, 15 May 2000: by Brian Byrne. A statement by the minister for the marine & natural resources, Frank Fahey TD, that the future use for Donadea Forest Park ‘is a day-to-day operational matter’ for Coillte is a ‘fudge’, according to Deputy Emmet Stagg, who has repeatedly asked for the park to be transferred to Duchas. Deputy Stagg said his request had been put off for more than 10 months pending a report on the future of Coillte as a state-owned body. “Now that the report is published and recommends no change in the ownership of Coillte for at least five years, the minister has a chance to clear up the issue. Instead of making a clear and unequivocal statement, he now says it has ‘nothing to do with him’. The deputy said he would continue to raise the issue with the minister. “If he wanted to, he could clear up a lot of uncertainity that is out there, not only in relation to Donadea but other parks throughout the country.” In a reply to a Dail Question from Deputy Stagg, the minister said the consultants’ report had been circulated widely to sectoral interests for their comments, and he would ‘consider it further’ in light of comments received.

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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Naas garda is president of GRA NAAS, 15 May 2000: by Trish Whelan. Naas-based Garda Greg Fogarty is the new president of the Garda Representative Association (GRA). He was elected to the post at the Garda Annual Delegate Conference held in Westport last week and is the third president of the Association from the Kildare/Carlow Division since it was formed in 1978. Garda Fogarty joined the force in November 1972 and was first based in Harcourt Terrace before serving at other locations, including Kill. He came to the Naas station in 1989 where phone callers have become very familiar with his ‘Good Morning’ or ‘Good Afternoon’ when he answers their call. Not a man to blow his own trumpet, Greg nevertheless served for over five years in the Garda Band as a tuba player. Greg has been involved in the GRA for almost 16 years and was elected to the Central Executive Committee in 1995. He was one of four who went forward for the presidency this year. He will hold the position for two years and the work will require him to travel around the country. He is married to Vina and they have seven children.

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