SPECIAL FEATURES ON KNN

Cottages celebrate their centenary

NAAS, 1 September 1999: by Trish Whelan. The picturesque artisans cottages on the Newbridge Road in Naas (above) are this year celebrating 100 years in existence. With their counterparts on the Caragh Road they represent probably a uniquely complete section of the town’s streetscape from the turn of the century.

More

Fun at Robertstown Festa 99

by Brian Byrne and Trish Whelan

There was a good turnout to the recent Robertstown Festa, which brought good family fun to the banks of the canal.

(More)


Thoughts on an imminent death

by Brian Byrne

Kilcullen as we know it is on the way to its grave.

OK, so nobody, or no thing, lives forever. But we should be aware of impending death, at least. Not to stop it - because this is not possible in most things in life and especially its end - but to be prepared. Being prepared takes the sting out of death.
(More)


Annual blood donor clinic marks end of an era

NAAS, 20 July 1999: by Trish Whelan & Brian Byrne. The annual summer blood donor clinic being held in Naas this week marks the end of an era for the service, as for the first time locally-born journalist Chris Glennon is not involved. He recently handed over the organisation of the Naas clinics to former UDC councillor Teresa Scanlon, ending a 42-year association with the operation. (More)


St Fiachra's Garden, The Irish National Stud's latest gem

St Fiachra is the patron saint of gardeners. A descendent of the high kings of Ireland, he died in France in 670ad.

The garden, in the National Stud grounds, was designed by Professor Martin Hallinan, award-winning designer of the Irish Garden in Osaka. (More)


New faces in local elections

The 1999 Local elections in Kildare were noted for the number of new faces they brought to local authorities in the county. Part of the real interest, though, was the inescapable fact that planning issues in Kildare were finally coming to the state where voters made a particular statement.

KNN's coverage is here. Results are here. Candidates details are here.


Dillingen twinning completed

NAAS & DILLINGEN, BAVARIA, 13 April 1999: by Trish Whelan. The return visit of the official twinning of Naas with Dillingen in Germany took place last weekend when a delegation of councillors and the Naas Twinning Committee visited Dillingen for the official signing ceremony. The first signing took place in Naas last October.

Pictured are Naas UDC cathaoirleach Paddy Behan with the Mayor of Dillingen, Bürgermeister Hans-Jürgen Weigl. (more)


Retirement of Brian Keyes NT

KILCULLEN, 13 March 1999: by Brian Byrne. Recently retired Kilcullen school principal Brian Keyes was given a surprise 'This is Your Life' last evening in the Assembly Hall of the Cross and Passion College. Several hundred people came to celebrate his 42 years as teacher in Scoil Bhride NS, and members of his family, former pupils and many others with whom he had been associated in his work and community life also turned up to add to the surprise.

More pictures from the event are available here (caution: there are 30 of them, so downloading of the page may take some time).


Wall on Curragh cemetary to be restored

THE CURRAGH, 4 March 1999: by Brian Byrne. The Department of Defence has invited tenders for the supply of materials and work to restore the wall of the Old Military Cemetary on the Curragh plains. The cemetary was opened in 1869 and used for the burial of Britih soldiers and their families who were garrisoned on the Curragh Camp.


Scouts mass for Naas troop

Pictures from the unit mass for the 4th Kildare Scout Unit which was held in the Church of the Irish Martyrs in Ballycane on January 24