Kildare's women entrepreneurs show their business enterprise NEWBRIDGE, 29 October 1999: by Trish Whelan. The seminar and exhibition organised by the Kildare branch of the women in business organisation Network this week was an outstanding success, with more than 70 people coming along to hear the speakers and look at some of the enterprises set up by members. The event was held in the Red House. Naas woman Sarah McGuinness (left) is hoping the slumber suits she makes for babies will help reduce the high percentage of cot deaths in the country. Officially in business since September, Sarah operates her Slumber Suits enterprise from her home in Oldtown on the Sallins Road. The baby sleeping bags are widely used throughout the continent and reduce the risk of cot deaths because the baby cannot slip beneath the covers. Sarah maintains that a high percentage of cot deaths are linked to covers going over a baby’s head. She also says the fact that babies can’t kick off the blankets means they stay warm all night as well as helping to develop a bedtime routine. They’re available in a variety of fabrics and sizes “It’s early days yet. I’m hoping to market the suits to new mothers in maternity hospitals, but in the meantime they’re available from mail order,” she says. Sarah can be contacted at 045 - 866242 or email her at slumbersuit@oceanfree.net With the approach of the Christmas festive season and all that means Mary Murphy from Clonmoyle House in Rathangan is a woman with a particularly entertaining flair in cake design and decoration. You couldn’t not look at her display and smile. Decorations range from kiddies in their bed awaiting the arrival of Santa Claus to top hats and wedding hat style confections. Mary’s company ‘Good Taste Catering’ also caters for dinner parties, receptions and buffets. You can contact her at 045 - 524313 or 087 2307174 or by email at clonmoyl@indigo.ie Wondering what to send friends or family abroad for Christmas? Well look no further than The Kildare Hamper Company, based at The Barnstore, Loughanure in Clane run by Brenda McNulty (Celbridge) and Colette Healy (Clane). Their sumptuous hampers, full of guaranteed Irish goods, are being shipped all over the world, not just for Christmas, but throughout the year. The ‘Flavours of Ireland’ range comes colour coordinated in the colours of Ireland, green, white and gold. “Everything is insured but we have never had a loss,” Brenda says, and all hampers are sent by SDS courier service. The company, set up almost three years ago, is marketed through trade fairs and by word of mouth. “In fact, customer satisfaction has been so high that we had 100% repeat orders for last Christmas,” Colette told KNN. Hampers are also marked through Viking Direct, who offer mail order office supplies. Hampers can also include small producers’ wines from around the world. The piece de resistance, the Millennium 2000 Celebration Box at just £70.25, is designed in gold, mandarin and midnight blue and contains a special edition Millennium Champagne as well as a keepsake night light by Ger Dunne Pottery, based outside Kildare Town. Orders to 045 - 868425, fax 045 - 861441 .... or simply call to the Barnstore in Clane. People in Straffan are in for a treat when Indian lady Cauvery Madhavan (left) moves to live there next week to open her own catering business specialising in gourmet and Indian foods. She plans to cater for dinner parties, buffets, etc. from her home at Oakvale Lodge in the village and can deliver direct to homes, or other venues as the case may be. “I think there are lots of people who love Indian food and would like to entertain with Indian food at home,” she says adding that her food would be quite different from that served in restaurants. “With Indian food, a variety of foods are served on each plate to allow everyone taste a number of dishes.” While she has catered for up to 60 guests at a time, she believes 20 to be an ideal number. She also plans to start cookery classes in peoples’ homes, or through ladies clubs, where guests get to sample the food. Cauvery has been living in Ireland for almost 12 years and has joined the Kildare County Enterprise Board Women in Business initiative. Also exhibiting her range of toiletries and beauty aids was Tara Murphy (above) from Celtic Milled Beauty Products, based in Templemills, Celbridge.

Ireland's Daily National News Looking for something?

Clane society's open night rolls in the membership CLANE, 29 October 1999: by Trish Whelan. Clane Musical Society’s recent open night in the Abbey proved a terrific success for all concerned. Mary Power Cooney, director and musical director, Brian Brady, encouraged everyone with a show outline - so much so that no one slipped through the membership net! The society’s now much larger 'family' meet each Wednesday night for rehearsals in the Girls Old School on the Main Street in Clane. Anyone interest should call in during rehearsals or should telephone Anne Noonan at 045 - 868735. For those too shy to tread the boards, but who would like to become involved - keep an eye out in March for ‘Sweet Charity’ - a show not to be missed by all accounts. Clane Musical Society are asking for support for their annual Quiz Night next Monday, November 1, at 8.30pm in Manzor’s Pub at £12 a team. It’s promised to be a great night out. The society wish to thank Seamus Manzor for his continuing sponsorship.

Ireland's Daily National News Looking for something?

General Council of County Councils holds historic meeting in Kildare KILL, 28 October 1999: by Trish Whelan. Members of the General Council of County Councils were welcomed to County Kildare this morning by Kildare’s first citizen, chairman of Kildare County Council, P J Sheridan. It was the organisation’s first business meeting in its hundred-year history to be held in Kildare and came at the invitation of councillor Sheridan. It took place at the Ambassador Hotel in Kill. (Pictured at the meeting are Cllr Anthony Lawlor, Kildare County Council cathaoirleach P J Sheridan, Chairman of the GCCC Patsy Treanor, Cllr John O'Neill, Director of the GCCC Liam Kenny, and Cllr JJ Shortt of Leitrim CC.) The Kildare representation included county manager Niall Bradley, county secretary Tommy Skehan with three local GCCC representatives, councillors John O’Neill, Martin Miley and Anthony Lawlor. In his welcoming address the chairman councillor Patsy Treanor (from Monaghan County Council) recalled the Lawlor family’s long tradition of involvement in the GCCC as Tony Lawlor’s late mother, Patsy, had been a member for many years. Councillor Sheridan added that she had been chairperson at the time of the General Council’s annual conference in Newbridge in 1982. He believed it was only fitting that her son, Tony, should be present as her successor. He marked the visit by making presentations of Timolin pewter to the GCCC chairman and its director general, Naas man Liam Kenny, and was himself presented with a plaque to mark the occassion. County manager Niall Bradley spoke of the challenges facing local government, which he said is all about people. He expressed his sincere appreciation to all members of local government, without which he said the population would not be receiving the public service to which it is entitled. He said all should work together to make things happen ‘for the people and with the people’ in a positive way. “We all can learn from each other .... nobody has a monopoly on wisdom’. He said whether the people of the future can benefit and rear the next generation, ‘will in large measure depend on the people in this room, and the organisations they represent’. (Pictured below are Kildare County Secretary Tommy Skehan and County Manager Niall Bradley receiving copies of From Ballot Box to Council Chamber, a guide to Ireland's town and county councils from the chairman of the GCCC. The book was researched and edited by Liam Kenny, the director of the GCCC.)

Specialist travel operators to Cheltenham, Aintree, and other major international racing venues. Phone 01 2958901; Fax 01 2958902; Email leoptour@indigo.ie Ireland's Daily National News Looking for something?

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

GARDA PATROL ADVICE OF THE WEEK Motorists who use their front or rear foglights while driving in non-foggy conditions are both breaking the law and cousing acute discomfort to oncoming drivers. In addition, the lighting pattern from foglights in normal conditions doers nothing to improve the illumination for the driver using them. Please don't use foglights except in heavy fog.

'Winner' DJ dropped abruptly by CKR FM KILDARE & CARLOW, 28 October 1999: by Brian Byrne. A local radio DJ who only last month told a large national newspaper audience that he was ‘working for a winner’ with CKR FM has been given a sudden ‘ticket to ride’ by his employers. Tommy McCabe came back from his holidays and found that he had, in his own words, been ‘very abruptly axed’. Tommy has worked for CKR for five years, headlining the ‘Drivetime’, ‘Nighttime’ and most recently the ‘Bigger Breakfast’ shows. He told KNN that he was shocked on the recent morning he arrived back to work to find that his contract had been ‘terminated’. McCabe is only the latest of a number of key presenters who have been dumped by the station in the last few years - Christy Walsh and Tommy Greene were also let go, while other very popular presenters like An Bothar Eile’s Ann Conway also resigned. The station’s head of news, Jarlath Judge, also departed recently, leaving the full-time news staff of CKR now down to just two people - Caroline O’Brien and Sally McEllistrim. A number of former staff members who took legal action against the station following their dismissals have reportedly received substantial, but confidential, settlements from CKR. Other similar cases are pending. In a major spread on the Irish News of the World newspaper on September 12, Tommy McCabe was billed as a ‘top CKR FM DJ’ who has ‘always been a winner’ on the DJ circuit. He spoke of his other ambition to become a winning jockey on horseback. “I’m already working with one winner,” he said of his radio station at the time. But now he’s no longer in that particular winner’s enclosure. Station manager Terry Martin, who this week has fronted the breakfast programme himself, yesterday declined to comment on the axing of McCabe, saying that it was a ‘personal matter’ between the station and the former presenter. However, KNN understands that McCabe was told that ratings of the breakfast programme over the 12 months June 1998-June 1999 were ‘unsatisfactory’. “That doesn’t make a lot of sense,” an industry expert told KNN last night. “Tommy had only been on the breakfast slot for two-and-a-half months, and everyone in this business knows that it takes at least six months for a presenter to make his own mark on a programme slot, and more likely a year.” CKR’s ratings lifted by 6% in the last official listenership figures, but it still remains at the bottom of the league of local radio market shares. Earlier this year, chief executive of two years Hugh Brown abruptly resigned. The station also subsequently closed a studio and office it had opened last year in Leixlip. [KNN NOTE: As a matter of clarification, writer of this piece Brian Byrne is a former head of news at CKR. He resigned two years ago.]

A Great Tradition of Hospitality Killarney Parknasilla Rosslare Galway Shannon Dublin Ireland's Daily National News Looking for something?

Corporate Magazine Production & 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

'Alarming' amount of development levies outstanding LEIXLIP, 28 October 1999: by Brian Byrne. Almost £15 million is outstanding to Kildare County Council from £24 million in development levies charged for water, roads, open spaces, car parking, footpaths and public lighting. This is the conclusion of a second report on the matter provided to Leixlip-based councillor Catherine Murphy. Describing the situation as ‘alarming’, Cllr Murphy has criticised the attitudue taken by the council on the matter, saying it ‘contrasts sharply’ with the approach taken on the domestic water rates issue some years ago. She also said that the detail in the report is still ‘deficient’ for the councillors to take a supervisory role in the matter, and she will be seeking a breakdown of the names of developers who have still not paid the council. “The construction industry is in a purple patch at the moment and there are no excuses for much of this money to remain outstanding.” she said, calling also for a ‘coherent approach’ to be taken in the spending of such levies. “The public are keenly aware that these levies are built into the cost of their new houses or industrial/commercial venture ... they want to see new footpaths and the development of open spaces on a planned basis in the areas where the levies are collected.”

Ireland's Daily National News Looking for something?

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

Call for litter prosecution of travellers amid fears they'll return NAAS, 27 October 1999: by Trish Whelan & Brian Byrne. A Naas resident has called on the UDC to pursue travellers who dumped their refuse in the canal and prosecute them under the Litter Act. John Kavanagh of Kingsfurze says that such a case would be a ‘landmark’ against ‘commercial’ travellers who have ‘desecrated’ sites at the entrance to Naas, Kill, Newbridge and at the weighbridge at Rathcoole in the past and most recently left the green area in St Gabriel’s Place in a ‘filthy’ state. “The same vehicles have been involved in a number of these incidents, and the council and thus the taxpayer/ratepayer has been left to foot the bill for these,” he says. “It is a shame to see an open area being destroyed by these agitators. There are decent people amongst the travelling community, but these aren't some of them.” Mr Kavanagh also notes that if the play facilities on the St Gabriel’s site had been left in place or upgraded as needed, then there wouldn't have been a vacant lot for these ‘non tax-paying (ie non contributing) businesses’ to move into. Meanwhile, as a number of the caravans illegally parked at St Gabriel’s Place were taken away by their owners over the weekend on foot of a Circuit Court injunction granted to Naas UDC, a councillor has called on the authority to put up a fence immediately to make sure the situation doesn’t occur again. Cllr Evelyn Bracken also wants the full rigours of the law used, including committal orders if necessary, to remove those remaining. “It’s so unfair to the people of the area,” she told KNN. “The ones who’ve left have told people of the area that they’ll be back.”

Ireland's Daily National News Looking for something?

Corporate Magazine Production & 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

Redundancy gave chance for building own business ALLENWOOD, 27 October 1999: by Trish Whelan. Two women made redundant only last year are already reaping the benefits of setting up in business and taking on established firms in the competitive print management business. Grace Dunne, from Meadowcourt estate in Naas, joined forces with her friend Miriam Keogh (Rathcoole) to form their own company G & M Print Management, having worked for 16 years with a major labelling company before it shut last year. “The customers were left in a bad way when the plant closed, so we took the bull by the horns, set up on our own and soon had a group of very good suppliers behind us,” Grace recalls. “We realised we had a good thing going by the time we had to go to an accountant.” While their core business started off as self adhesive labels contracts, clients began to look for all kinds of print work to be sourced by the two women and this led them to expand their own business brief. Most current clients are in the food and dairy industries and come to G & M from all over the country. “I suppose print management is kind of new and the labelling industry is very competitive at the print end,” says Miriam, adding that it’s also renowned for being predominantly male orientated. While initially working from a box room in Grace’s home, both realised the need for proper office space and last month moved into the new Allenwood Enterprise Park. “Travelling out here is a pleasure, with no traffic jams,” Grace says. "It’s just brilliant. You wouldn’t get the likes of this in the city, or in Naas. Anything we saw there was way beyond what we could afford. This place is a great opportunity for people starting out in business." Allenwood Enterprise Park will be officially opened on Friday afternoon by the Minister for Finance, Charlie McCreevy TD.

Ireland's Daily National News Looking for something?

GARDA PATROL ADVICE OF THE WEEK Motorists who use their front or rear foglights while driving in non-foggy conditions are both breaking the law and cousing acute discomfort to oncoming drivers. In addition, the lighting pattern from foglights in normal conditions doers nothing to improve the illumination for the driver using them. Please don't use foglights except in heavy fog.

Prosperous goes psychic this weekend PROSPEROUS, 27 October 1999: by Brian Byrne. Some 30 psychics, healers and other therapists will be taking part in the Third International Psychic Fair being held in Prosperous this coming weekend. The event will be held in Hillview Therapy & Development Centre on Saturday and Sunday. More than 1,000 people are expected at the fair, which features Fergus Gibson, Adam Higgs, and angel expert Margaret Neylon (right). Also involved will be dream interpretor Pat Wright. Spirit medium and clairvoyant Lorraine Collins will give a public demonstration on Friday 29 October, prior to the weekend. Angel brooches and cards, Native American art, and stones and crystals will be on sale during the event. Further information can be got from Moira Allen.

Ireland's Daily National News

Corporate Magazine Production & 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

More volunteer ambulance drivers needed NAAS, 27 October 1999: by Trish Whelan. Naas Order of Malta Ambulance Unit is looking for more drivers. The requirement is a D1 licence and the ability to give a few hours of time each week, according to Unit OC Lt John Loughran. “We’re one of the busiest units in the country from April to August with a lot of events and race courses in the area,” he says.” The Naas Unit supplies seven ambulances and 30 personnel for big events and we cover Mondello Race Track and most Sundays have to supply at least four ambulances. We call in Newbridge, Monasterevin and a Dublin unit to help out.” The Naas Unit operates a mini bus and its own ambulance, and two four-wheel drive vehicles which belong to the Kildare unit. Former and present members of the Order of Malta in Naas came together recently for a weekend of celebrations on the 900th anniversary of the Order’s founding. Members are pictured above marching to the parish church for a special Mass, led by standard bearer Lt John Kelly.

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

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

UDC votes against Planning Bill proposals NAAS, 27 October 1999: by Trish Whelan. Naas UDC has voted by 5-4 that the council should oppose certain provisions in the new Planning Bill on the length of time a new Development Plan should go out on public display and that objectors to a planning application be charged a fee. Explaining the motion he had put forward, councillor Pat McCarthy (left) said a fee was ‘unfair and undemocratic’ and that the vast majority of objections are valid. “£20 would be a lot of money for an old age pensioner on £70 a week. We all have a right to object and there shouldn’t be a fee to do so,” he said. He was against any reduction in the normal three month display period. Councillor Anthony Egan said a reduction to the proposed six weeks period would restrict the public’s right to express an opinion and received support in this from councillors Mary Glennon and Timmy Conway who said the involvement of the public has to be allowed. Town manager Terry O Niadh (left) said that the objection process was being used to stop developments and the fee was to ensure people had sufficient interest to pay the £20. However councillor Mary Glennon retorted: “There are already quite sufficient fees at appeals level.” Councillor Pat O’Reilly believed six weeks to be enough time for any plan saying he ‘didn’t see too many people concerning themselves with the development plan - except for a small minority’. However, chairman, councillor Seamie Moore, explained the Minister had said that the modest fee was to pay administration costs involved.

A Great Tradition of Hospitality Killarney Parknasilla Rosslare Galway Shannon Dublin Ireland's Daily National News

Safety work for Celbridge CELBRIDGE, 27 October 1999: by Brian Byrne. Kildare County Council is to undertake a number of safety measures related to the new St Wolstans School at Ballymakealy, Celbridge. They include the provision of a footpath from the Setanta Hotel, public lighting along the Clane Road, and a footpath and public lighting from the new school entrance to Killeenlea Cross. The council, in conjunction with the Department of Education, will examine the possibility of removing the wall along the new school, or the lowering of the wall and the installation of railings. The move follows an on-site inspection by health and safety officer Sean Connolly. Welcoming the plans, Deputy Emmet Stagg reiterated the importance of completing the Celbridge Relief Road as the proper solution of safety issues at present causing concern to parents, pupils and teachers alike.

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

Corporate Magazine Production & 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

Road alignment plans 'crazy' MOONE-TIMOLIN, 27 October 1999: by Trish Whelan. Plans for a ghost island to accommodate cars exiting from the new N9 at the Moone junction for the villages of Moone, Timolin, Athy or West Wicklow, should be replaced by a slip road to the bridge over the new road, according to local area councillor Rainsford Hendy, who has asked Kildare County Council to have another look at the situation. He said a 24-hour survey conducted by MATHS, had showed over 13,000 vehicles passing through the villages of Moone/Timolin and not the 7,000 as stated by the Council. The findings are to be presented to the National Roads Authority and Kildare County Council. “To erect something like alignment - given these figures - is crazy,” councillor Hendy said. Councillor Martin Miley agreed saying it would be ‘suicide’ to put an island there. “There should be a slip road. It would be a major ‘slip up’ by the designers if it doesn’t happen.” The three local area councillors are to discuss the matter with the Roads Design team.

A Great Tradition of Hospitality Killarney Parknasilla Rosslare Galway Shannon Dublin

Paddy Coleman leaving the trade he followed for 46 years NAAS, 26 October 1999: by Trish Whelan & Brian Byrne. “In the old days, nobody retired. Publicans, drapers, shopkeepers - they just kept on working and often died behind their counters.” That bit of memory from Naas men’s outfitter Paddy Coleman counterpoints his own decision to retire now from the business to which he has given 46 years of working life, as apprentice, commercial traveller and owner of his own shops. “There comes a time when you realise that you’re not going to live forever, and you might as well enjoy the remaining years,” he said last week after he’d put out the ‘retiring from business sale’ signs. Paddy served his time to the drapery business first in Hederman’s general drapers, which was located where the County Shop is now. Then he moved to The Man’s Shop, where he worked under Mick Keenan until the early seventies, then went out on the road selling. His own first shop, in Corban’s Lane, was opened 18 years ago. Since then he moved twice - first to a premises beside the Ulster Bank, and then 10 years ago to his current shop across the road from there. “The biggest change in the business has probably been colours,” he recalls. “In the old days suits were navy, black or grey, and shorts were white, blue or cream. Now you have every colour under the sun - men aren’t conservative any more.” Nor are they as conscious about money, he’s noticed. When somebody comes in to buy an item now, money is not the key consideration. “When I was working as a drapery assistant, they’d haggle over a sixpence ... there simply wasn’t any spare money around then.” And it was usually the mothers who shopped for their children, without even bringing them in to make their own choice - Paddy remembers that for youngsters, pairs of shoes and trousers and jackets were simply bought and brought home to them. “Now the youngsters all come in and do their own shopping.” Another difference today is the number of ‘strangers’, leading to a quite different lifestyle for shopkeeper and customer alike. Paddy used to know everybody who came into the shop. “We could chat about what was happening around town. Now it’s all business, in and out,” he says. A mainstay of his business then, in a much smaller Naas as the county town of a rural region, was the farming community. “I had to make sure there was a good stock of Wellingtons ... and I still do stock them.” As he prepares to leave, Paddy still believes it’s a business where, even with the advent of the specialist shops and superstores, there is enough custom for somebody who offers the kind of personal service that he was trained to and which has been a key element of the way he has catered to the people of Naas and its surroundings for all those years. What he’ll spend his time at from now on, when his ‘retiring from business sale’ is over and he closes his doors, he’s not sure. “But I’m looking forward to a rest, and to whatever comes after that.”

Ireland's Daily National News Looking for something?

GARDA PATROL ADVICE OF THE WEEK Tradesmen and contractors should take power tools out of their vans at night, gardai in Naas have warned. The theft of tools from vehicles has reached epidemic proportions and they have appealed for people to take this simple precaution.

Clane man gets key new KCC position COUNTY HALL, 26 October 1999: by Trish Whelan. The new director of Community and Enterprise at Kildare County Council is William Carroll, who has been director of the Dublin Regional Authority since 1994. Originally from Mountrath in Co Laois, his previous positions included working in Irish local government service (in Tallaght with Dublin County Council, South Dublin County Council and before that with Dun Laoghaire Corporation) and dealing with local economic and community development initiatives, unemployment, relations with community and voluntary organisations and EU affairs. He was a founder member of one of the most sucessful local enterprise agencies, Get Tallaght Working, and more recently the Dublin Employment Pact. His extensive knowledge and experience of the voluntary sector, came from his service as Chairman of the Kildare Youth Services, the National Youth Federation and President of one of Europe's largest youth organisations, the European Confederation of Youth Clubs, for six years. He is an executive member of the Irish Council of the European Movement and was presented with the Robert Schuman Award (1983) from FVS Foundation (Hamburg) for involvement in European Affairs.

Ireland's Daily National News Looking for something?

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

Driving the barren distance DARWIN, AUSTRALIA, 26 October 1999: SPECIAL FEATURE SERIES by Susan Cunningham. We are now leaving the east coast and are prepared for a road trip that even Eddie Irvine might think twice about. The Cairns to Darwin route is long and barren. It is to be feared for its distance, and respected for what is out there. Only the very harshest of fauna grows there and the most deadly of creatures live there. With all this in mind, and a large cylinder of water, we set off from Townsville for the first leg of our journey. After a morning skydiving from 10,000 feet we feel invincible. For this trip we are joined by two friends. Their vehicle, like our own is old, - a 1976 Toyota Hi-Ace. This, of course, makes the trip all the more challenging. First impressions of the outback are good. It is vast and empty, unlike anything we have experienced. No man lives here because the land is hard and hungry. No matter how far we drive we appear to be in the same spot. The mind does not wander, it stagnates. Local authorities promote the stop, revive, survive campaign and they are serious. At times we found ourselves in awe of such a land. Flora is scarce but the very harshest of animals find this land habitable. On our way across we saw the real McCoy. Yes, a kangaroo, lurked along the stretch of never ending road. We stopped. Once the engine of our car was switched off all we could hear was the deadly silence of the real Australia. The whistle of the wind through the scorched grass. The movement of the creatures that inhabit this wilderness. We were in the middle of nowhere and for a moment six people who thought all they had stared death in the face when they decided to jump from the heavens at 10,000 feet earlier that day knew that this was even more terrifying. This so peaceful land was all too terrifying, and in that beautiful. The journey took us three days in total. Outback Australia is worth the drive if only to say you made it. We did. Against all the odds we reached Darwin. The journey has been made all the more special because one of us, Trish Scanlon, was born here in Darwin in 1974. That year, on Christmas Eve, a cyclone hit this town, flattening it to the ground and killing some 60 people. Soon after this terrifying experience, the Scanlons returned to Ireland. Today the city stands rebuilt and reinforced, but that Christmas Eve is very much in the minds of those who live here.

More than 100 estates waiting for taking in charge COUNTY HALL, 26 October 1999: by Trish Whelan. A total of 118 housing estates around County Kildare were waiting to be taken in charge, county engineer Jimmy Lynch (left) told councillors at this month’s meeting of Kildare County Council. Of these, he said 50 were almost ready to be taken over, and he recommended 19 be taken over. A further 50 are dependent on the developers undertaking remedial works and he anticipated this would take about a year to achieve. However, he said 18 ‘very difficult estates’ in the final group related to infrastructural faults and could cost up to £1m to put right as the bonds in question ‘have gone’. Councillor Senan Griffin wanted to know if levies have been collected from developers about to hand over estates to the Council while Councillor Martin Miley told of a number of unfinished estates in his area. He felt a set time limit for completion of estates should now be put in place, and if not adhered to, the Council should resort to taking legal action.

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

Corporate Magazine Production & 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

Glen Ding sale to be probed GLEN DING, 26 October 1999: by Brian Byrne. The ‘bargain’ sale of Glen Ding Wood to Cement Roadstone Holdings in the late eighties is to be investigated by the Moriarty Tribunal. The sale of the land has been controversial because it was arranged when the chairman of CRH was the late Des Traynor, financial adviser to Charles Haughey. The value of the property at the time has been put at £48m, considerably less than the amount paid by CRH, but the company has insisted that ‘all proper procedures’ were followed when it bought the land for sand and gravel extraction. Prior to beginning his tribunal, Judge Moriarty said he would not investigate CRH because of a perceived conflict of interest. He afterwards sold shares he held in the company, and Attorney General Michael McDowell has recently been consulting with party leaders about the possibility of the tribunal inquiring into Glen Ding. Former Kildare councillor Sean English has been one of many local people who have objected to CRH work near the woods, which are an amenity to people both in East Kildare and West Wicklow.

A Great Tradition of Hospitality Killarney Parknasilla Rosslare Galway Shannon Dublin

KildareNet News is the INDEPENDENT internet news service for and about Kildare, located on the County Kildare Community Network. Site best viewed with NETSCAPE browser. All content © Telling Tales Ltd. Phone 045 481090 or 086 8267104; Fax 045 481091; Email tellingtales@yahoo.com SCROLL for CURRENT stories. EARLIER stories and ARCHIVES KNN Special FEATURES Visit our flagship sponsor For audios get free REALPLAYER KNN-KildareNet News was awarded three shamrocks by Doras 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

Stories for week ending 23 October 1999 are here Stories for week ending 16 October 1999 are here Stories for week ending 9 October 1999 are here Stories for week ending 2 October 1999 are here Stories for week ending 25 September 1999 are here Stories for week ending 18 September 1999 are here Stories for week ending 11 September 1999 are here Stories for week ending 4 September 1999 are here Stories for week ending 28 August 1999 are here Stories for week ending 21 August 1999 are here Stories for week ending 14 August 1999 are here Stories for week ending 7 August 1999 are here Stories for week ending 31 July 1999 are here Stories for week ending 24 July 1999 are here Stories for week ending 17 July 1999 are here Stories for week ending 10 July 1999 are here Stories for week ending 3 July 1999 are here Stories for week ending 26 June 1999 are here Stories for week ending 19 June 1999 are here Stories for week ending 12 June 1999 are here Stories for week ending 5 June 1999 are here Stories for week ending 29 May 1999 are here Stories for week ending 22 May 1999 are here Stories for week ending 15 May 1999 are here Stories for week ending 8 May 1999 are here Stories for week ending 1 May 1999 are here Stories for week ending 24 April 1999 are here Stories for week ending 17 April 1999 are here Stories for week ending 10 April 1999 are here Stories for week ending 3 April 1999 are here Stories for week ending 27 March 1999 are here Stories for week ending 20 March 1999 are here Stories for week ending 13 March 1999 are here Stories for week ending 6 March 1999 are here Stories for week ending 27 February 1999 are here Stories for week ending 20 February 1999 are here Stories for week ending 13 February 1999 are here Stories for week ending 6 February 1999 are here Stories for week ending 30 January 1999 are here Stories for week ending 23 January 1999 are here Stories for week ending 16 January 1999 are here Stories for week ending 9 January 1999 are here Stories for week ending 2 January 1999 are here Stories for week ending 26 December 1998 are here Stories for week ending 19 December 1998 are here Stories for week ending 12 December 1998 are here Stories for week ending 5 December 1998 are here Stories for week ending 28 November 1998 are here Stories for week ending 21 November 1998 are here Stories for week ending 14 November 1998 are here Stories for week ending 7 November 1998 are here Stories for October 1998 are here