County Kildare News

The Higher Education Student Grant Application Form 2007/08 and accompanying notes are available from the Corporate and Cultural Affairs Department of Kildare County Council at this address:

Kildare County Council, Áras Chill Dara, Devoy Park, Naas, Co. Kildare. 
Phone: 045-980200;      Fax 045-980240; Website www.kildare.ie/countycouncil
Emergency Number (Outside Office Hours) 1890 500 333; Help Text 087 7714666

Applicants should note that the application form must be completed in full and accompanied by all required documentation, (as listed in the application form).  Incomplete applications will be returned.

Fully completed applications must be submitted to the Corporate and Cultural Affairs Department no later than Friday, 31 August, 2007 by 4 p.m.

World Heart Day is Sunday 30th September 2007 and the Irish Heart Foundation is marking World Heart Day by asking you to get involved by organising a walk in your community or workplace. This national walk campaign is the final activity of Irish Heart Week 2007. 

If you register your walk on the Irish Heart Foundation website, you will recieve,

• A helpful guide for organising your walk
• Organiser tee-shirts and balloons
• Information on Slí na Sláinte walking routes to help you   choose your walk
• Temporary Slí signs to mark and advertise your route
• A regular newsletter with tips and ideas
• World Heart Day posters and certificates

Slí na Sláinte is a walking programme for your community that has everything from signs to show you how far you have walked, to walking leader training.

For a list of Slí na Sláinte walking routes in Kildare, see the Irish Heart Foundation Website

Guided Walking Tours are free for the month of August only!

 Discover this historically Irish Town and learn about the mythology of Fionn MacCumhaill and St. Brigid, patroness of the Gaels.

Key stops along the route include st Brigid's cathedral, a Norman tower
house, the site of the Turf Club, and the thirteenth century
Franciscan abbey.

Tour Times:
11am on Saturdays, 1pm on Sundays, 11am on Mondays.

Departure point is Kildare Town Heritage Centre, Market Square,
Kildare. Please assemble at the Heritage Centre fifteen minutes
before the commencement of the tour.

For more information contact:

Kildare Town Heritage Centre 045 530672 or

Kildare Village 045 520501.

David Campbell won both the 800m and 1500m titles at the National Senior Track & Field Championships in Santry last weekend. The last person to achieve a similar feat was Eamonn Coughlan in 1981.

The Maynooth man's time for the 800m was 1.49.45. He has run 1.46.05 at this distance, but taking a National Title is a fantastic achievement for an athlete who has been showing great form recently.   

In the 1500m, David finished strongly to beat Colm Rooney of Clonliffe Harriers and Liam Reale of Limerick A.C. in a time of 3.45.21. He was delighted with the historic double. His personal best at this distance is 3:41.81 which he ran earlier this year.

David trains in Maynooth and runs for St. Coca's A.C.
His win at the weekend guarantees his place on the Irish team for the World Athletics Championships in Osaka, Japan where he will run in the 800m. The 11th IAAF World Championships take place in the Nagai Stadium, Osaka from August 25 to September 2, 2007.

Further information:
Athletics Association of Ireland - www.athleticsireland.ie
Osaka 2007 - www.osaka2007.jp

The Ballymore Inn, Ballymore Eustace, has won the 2007 Féile Bia Award. The award is presented by Georgina Campbell's Ireland - The Guide. The internationally acclaimed hospitality guide caters for travellers and diners who seek quality restaurants and food establishments.

The Ballymore Inn has great food, a stylish bar, and is famous for its speciality pizzas, excellent steaks and Slaney lamb. Top quality ingredients are at the heart of their food and this includes Penny Lange's locally grown organic vegetables and specially-selected beef and lamb from quality assured Irish farms.

With recent renovations the Ballymore Inn has never looked better.
Drop by for a delightful meal in a relaxed ambience in this award winning restaurant.
The award was sponsored by Bord Bia.

Contact the Ballymore Inn
Tel: +353 45 864 585
Website: www.ballymoreinn.com

Heritage Week @ Athy Heritage Centre & Museum

Saturday 25th August to Sunday 2nd September 2007

• Heritage Week opens on Friday 24th August at 3.30 p.m. with the Presentation of Prizes in both our children and adult Heritage Week Art Competition.  The theme for this year’s competition was the “Nimrod Expedition” The winning entries will be on display for the whole of Heritage Week. They will also be on display during our 7th Ernest Shackleton Autumn School which is held on the October Bank Holiday.
• On Saturday 25th from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.  a  Military Medal  Fair will take place in the Heritage Centre-Museum
• Thursday 30th August the at 7 p.m. the  official  Opening of Jacinta Crowley-Long’s Art Exhibition ‘Lost and Found’ This exhibition will run until  Friday September 14th.
• Friday 14th September 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. “Women’s Integrate Network Craft Exhibition” 
• Also Daily Exhibitions and audio visual focusing on Ernest Shackleton, Gordon  Bennett 1903 Motor Race, WWI, the Canals among others can be seen.               
  

Athy Heritage Centre-Museum
Emily Square
Athy
Co. Kildare

Tel: 0598633075

Email: athyheritage@eircom.net

Website: www.athyheritagecentre-museum.ie            

The theme of this year’s competition is ‘The Nimrod’
Shackleton’s 1907 Expedition.

Open to both Children and Adults

Children’s Categories
4-7, 8-13, 14-18.
Prizes will be awarded to 1st 2nd and 3rd in each.

Adult Category is over 18 and will be judged this year. The winner will be awarded the perpetual trophy and a local piece of craft, which they will be allowed to keep.

All Entries should be sent or handed into:    

Athy Heritage Centre-Museum.
Art Competition - Heritage Week
Emily Square
Athy,
Co. Kildare

Inquiries to: 059 8633075
Email: athyheritage@eircom.net

Please write your name, date of birth and phone number on your entry.
Closing date for entries is Wednesday 15th  August 2007 before 5 p.m.

The Library, Rathangan, Co. Kildare. Friday 3rd August at 7.30 pm

 www.rathanganlughnasafestival.com

Films Showing:

The Carbon Connection (Scotland/2007/40 mins) Director: Norman Philip

A co-operation between The Irish Language Drop-in Centre  (www.ionad.org)and The Local Planet (www.thelocalplanet.ie). 

The Last Penguin (Ireland/2007/5 min).

The Last Penguin is an animated film illustrating the effects of global warming on the Penguin colony in the Antarctic region.  The Last Penguin remembers what life was like before the onset of global warming.  This film depicts dreams of happier times in the penguin’s life, when eggs hatched and colonies of penguins swam and splashed in cool, Antarctic waters.  The film shows the new born chicks and the fun and laughter of young penguins as they fish in freezing, bountiful waters.  The Last Penguin tears drip and drop as ice melts and the face of the Antarctic changes as a result of the curse of global warming.

The Last Penguin was created by the children from Fifth Class in Sacred Heart School, Portlaoise.  Whit the help of their teachers, they planned the animation, designed and created the models and set.  They carried out the camera work and editing in their animation studio.  They enhanced their animation with music, voice over and a variety of effects.   www.sacredheartschool.ie

 Peak Oil – Imposed by Nature (Norway/2005/52 mins).   Director: Amund Prestegaard

Dr. Colm Campbell, based in Ballydehob, West Cork is a founder of ASPO (www.peakoil.ie).  He is a world experienced oil geologist and warns us of imminent change to our lifestyles – due to terminal decline of fossil fuels.  We have to act now to reduce our dependence on private transport, flights, etc.

The Carbon Connection  (Scotland/2007/40 min) Director; Norman Philip

Two communities affected by one new global market – the trade in carbon dioxide. In Scotland a town has been polluted by oil and chemical companies since the 1940s. In Brazil local people's water and land is being swallowed up by destructive monoculture eucalyptus tree plantations. Both communities now share a new threat. As part of the deal to reduce greenhouse gases that cause dangerous climate change, major polluters can now buy carbon credits that allow them to pay someone else to reduce emissions instead of cutting their own pollution. What this means for those living next to the oil industry in Scotland is the continuation of pollution caused by their toxic neighbours. Meanwhile in Brazil the schemes that generate carbon credits gives an injection of cash for more planting of the damaging eucalyptus tree. The two communities are now connected by bearing the brunt of the new trade in carbon dioxide. The Carbon Connection follows the story of two groups of people from each community who learned to use video cameras and made their own films about living with the impacts of the trade in carbon. From mental health issues in Scotland to the loss of medicinal plants in Brazil, the communities discover the connections they have with each other and the film follows them on this journey.   (www.sustainable.ie/powerdown)

Irelands first ever Japanese Performance Car and Motorsport show, Jap-Fest, will take place in Mondello Park on September 9th 2007. The show will be a joint promotion between Irelands premier Motorsport venue Mondello Park and the country's most successful Modified Car Show organisers Xtreme Promotions.

Jap-Fest will feature the best of Japanese motorsport with Irelands top Jap car tuners competing for supremacy not only in the Mondello Park Drag Sprint, but also over a full lap in the first ever Mondello Park organised 'Time Attack'. The 'Drag' and 'Time Attack' competitions will be joined on the bill by a challenge event for Irelands top sixteen drift competitors which will be the highlight of the day for the growing band of Irish drifting fans.

There will be a lot more to Jap-Fest than the on-track competitions, as the usual blend of show cars, motor clubs and trade stands will fill the Mondello Park paddock, but this time with a twist as the event will highlight the growing interest in Japanese performance cars and tuning.

All of the Japanese specialist car clubs are expected to display their cars, attracted by their first opportunity to take their cars on-track as part of an Irish car show. Track sessions for individual makes and clubs are being organised at the circuit on the morning of the event prior to the competitive track action getting underway and these will be a great opportunity for followers of each of the Japanese makes to either drive their cars on track or watch a track full of their favourite models in action.

Despite only being formally announced this week Jap-Fest is already causing a stir among modified car enthusiasts who have previously had to travel to the Uk for a show of this kind. The limited slots on the entry list for the track competitions and road car sessions are already starting to fill up and with trade interest running high Jap-Fest is expected to easily outstrip the success of previous modified shows at Mondello Park.

Jap-Fest has its own mini web site where all of the latest news and information on the show is available. This site can be accessed through the home page of the Mondello park web site at www.mondellopark.ie

We hold classes in Kilcullen on Saturdays for boys and girls aged 3 up to 18. We also run summer camps during July.

Classes in singing, dancing, acting and musical theatre are taught to students in a fun filled and exciting atmosphere. We hold classes in Kilcullen Community Centre.

The 20th International Hopkins Festival promises to be the best yet.

Internationally, it will offer its widest range of visitors with 24 countries represented from Japan to Slovenia, Russia to Sardinia.

Best also in its range of activities:

Our Art Exhibitions are a special feature and this year will include works by Brian Bourke, John Behan, Edward Navone (USA), and others. 

The Classical Music Concert will take place in Moore Abbey and feature the piano of John McCormack.

The Traditional Irish Evening this year will feature a group led by exciting new talent, Malachy Bourke.

We are the only Summer School to offer a specially tailored Youth Programme geared to students. Some scholarships are still available. Apply immediately.

A special feature of the Hopkins Festival is its emphasis on Workshops in the area of Creative Writing, Writing Songs and Music and Translation. Each activity is led by noted experts in the field. Early application advised.

Lectures by internationally acclaimed speakers including Ian Ker (Oxford), Aleksandra Kedzierska (Poland), Lucas Carpenter (USA)  etc.

Poetry Readings include noted writers from around Europe and some leading Irish namessâ?

There will be Field Trips to Newbridge, Dublin and Maynooth University.

One of the highlights will be the presentation of the O’Connor Literary Award to Japanese scholar, Hikaru Kitabayashi. This will take place at a special celebratory Banquet hosted by Newbridge Silverware.

Add to all the above the Festival Club every evening with performances, plenty of singing  and the opportunity to get to know other participants over
a convivial drink or two.

The Gerard Manley Hopkins International Festival is unique both for the quality of its participants over a wide range of activities – and for its special atmosphere
in the context of the  beautiful small Irish town which the great English poet, Hopkins (1844 – 1849) described as "one of the props and struts of
my existence".

Download the 2007 Programme

info@gerardmanleyhopkins.org

www.gerardmanleyhopkins.org

Members of Soroptimists International North Kildare presented a cheque for 4,000 to Teach Tearmainn womens refuge group in Newbridge. This was the proceeds of a concert given by the Baldonnel Singers in Kilcullen Theatre on 19th May. We enjoyed a selction of melodies, from classical to popular and gospel music. This was followed by a wine reception and Raffle sponsored by Soroptimists Members. Last Summer oroptimists raised over 4,000 for Teach Tearmainn from a garden Party held in Straffan by one of their members. The fundraisers were held to assist Teach Tearmainn in continuing their work in providing a safe haven for women and children are are victims of domestic violence.

Pictured [front row, left to right] Kay Brophy [incoming National President Ireland] Lorna Mooney, President, Kitty Manzor, Jacinta Carey, Teach Tearmainn, Mary McInerney, Treasurer, Patricia Horan, Social Committee. [back row, left to right] Moya Murhy, Josephine O'Connell, PRO, Yvonne Malone, and Mary Carroll.

2006 was a very fruitful and important year for KYS.  More children and young people than ever before participated in clubs and groups across the county.  “We in KYS are very proud” said Liz O’Sullivan, Regional Director, “that we have continued to provide quality youth work opportunities, youth counselling, mentoring, family support and information to thousands of young people and adults in County Kildare through out 2006.”  This would not have been possible without the dedication and support of 236 volunteers, board members, staff, partner agencies and donors” Liz O’Sullivan said.

There were new developments a plenty in 2006, new youth clubs and groups were affiliated to KYS   such as : Ballymore Eustace Youth Club, Young Gay and Lesbian Group (18-25 year olds), Kildare Traveller Action, Scooters Club Rathangan, and  Naas Club 4 U.   The Kildare Town Youth Project has flown from the nest and had a very productive first year.   Work with young Travellers in Maynooth/Leixlip; development of a youth café in the Curragh and expansion of the Youth Counselling Service to include Maynooth and Celbridge were some of the other highlights.  There has been an array of training for young people and adults in 2006.  Many young people took up opportunities to improve their  IT skills in several of our youth centres.  98 Volunteer leaders, young and old, completed training in basic and advanced youth leadership, corporate governance and issue based training last year. 

KYS’s Family Support project work and the Tracking and Mentoring for young early school leavers, continued to be well utilised by those that are more vulnerable and in need of a particular type of support.

2006 saw KYS at a new cross road, the implementation of the final year of the Strategic Plan, the reviewing of the previous six years and setting the scene for Strategy Plan 2007-2012.  Many young people and Kildare agencies played an important role in this regard. 

“Youth Participation has been the focus of our developments and consciousness in 2006” continues Liz- “This is where young people developed and designed the types of youth programmes that they wanted to take part in, with the professional support from youth workers and leaders”. There has been much learning for all those that took part.
New initiatives included:

• Youth Production team at Goffs
• Youth Research -966 Young peoples researched for - Our Views Anyone Listening,
• Youth Leadership Training
• Issue based programmes such as- Development Education and Justice, Drugs and Alcohol awareness, Voting rights and citizenship, Anti- Bullying, Stepping Stones-transferring from primary to secondary school and Equality and racism awareness.

KYS also in 2006 gave opportunities to young people to participate on interview panels for new youth worker posts- to make sure that they have a real input into the type of workers that will work with them in the future. KYS in 2006 supported youth people in being representatives at the Dail na Nog and the Ombudsman’s for Children’s Office, Youth articles in the Newspapers and young people identifying and lobbying for change for their peers in the community.

All in all it has been a very successful 2006, this was made possible with the financial support of the following Kildare agencies and many community groups: Kildare County Council and Town Councils, Co. Kildare VEC, HSE, FÁS, The Kildare Community Partnership, KELT, OAK Partnership, The Defences Forces, An Gárda Síochána, Department of Social and Family Affairs, Regional Drugs Task Force and Kildare Sports Partnership,  Naas Lions Club, AIB Better Ireland.

Kildare Youth Services are currently running extensive summer programmes and camps, with volunteers and agencies in the communities, where many younger children are participating and are having great fun.

If you would like to become a volunteer,, set up a youth club in your area or would like more information on KYS just log on to www.KYS.ie or contact Mike at 045-897893

Image taken from KYS Strategic Plan 2002-2006 which you can download from the KYS website

 The recent Barretstown Serious Fun Day was a great success thanks to everyone  involved. The Barretstown bandana flew off the shelves in Smyths Toystores and other stores around the country. 
The event organisers are still counting up the donations and ask that anyone that anyone that needs more help with forwarding  money contact the fundraising team on 045 864115. 

Barretstown, at Ballymore Eustace, Co Kildare, was opened in 1994 and provides a unique programme of ‘therapeutic recreation’ for children with cancer and other serious illnesses. Barretstown was founded by Hollywood actor Paul Newman and is part of the Association of Hole In The Wall Gang Camps.


For more information go to www.barretstown.org and LoCall donation line 1850 500 123 ( Republic of Ireland only), or 00 353 45 864115 (outside Republic of Ireland)

For the first time ever fans of Irelands premier motor racing series, the Dunlop Supercar Championship will be treated to three championship encounters in the one event at Mondello Park this Sunday, 22nd July 2007.

The ever popular saloon series will not only race three times in the one day but will also do so with the biggest grid in its history as seventeen cars take to the track led by championship leader Rod McGovern. McGovern won two races at the last Mondello Supercar outing and currently leads the series by ten points from Johnny Whelan with David O'Brien and John Farrelly the only other drivers still in contention for the title. The series is bolstered this weekend by entries for returning drivers JJ Riordan and Michael Leonard Jnr.

The unusual nature of the race meeting goes further than the Supercar triple header as it also features the first ever Irish sportscar endurance races. Two forty five minute races are scheduled and entry to these races is limited to open cockpit, closed wheel sportscars. The race format allows for driver changes and re-fuelling with a mandatory pit stop of a minimum length. Each cars pit stop duration will be controlled in order to equalise the performance of cars with one driver to those with two, and those which need to re-fuel to those that don't.

Another new aspect of Sunday's event is that it will feature two historic car classes for the first time at Mondello. The Irish historic racing car class has been expanded to include cars built before 1979 and these cars will compete in separate race from the existing pre 1974 cars. The new class not only admits the younger cars but also allows kit cars, modified saloons and modsports of either vintage to compete.

The nine race programme is completed by the traditional Formula Libre double header and gets underway with the first of the endurance races at 11:10 on Sunday morning.

Leixlip Community Library has recently expanded their public access information technology to include assistive technology for people with disabilities in the community.

The equipment now available in the library was provided both by Kildare County Council and the Department of the Environment and Local Government through the National Disability Strategy Funding. As part of Kildare Library Service’s continued commitment to providing access to,  and participation in all library services, all of the equipment purchased was recommended by the National Disability Authority and  in consultation with the local disability sector and library users with disabilities.

The assistive technology includes:

• Kurzweil 1000 and 3000 software


• Jaws software


• Magic software


• Plustek Optic Book Scanner


• Touch Screen Monitor


• CCtv Magnifier


• Big Keys Keyboards


• 42" Plasma Touch Screen


• Mobile Hearing Loop for events and meetings


• Induction Loop at the desk

The staff of Leixlip Library would also like to offer an open invitation to all disability groups and individuals with disabilities in Kildare to visit the library.

Leixlip Community Library Captain’s Hill, Leixlip.

Executive Librarian: Gillian Allen

Ph: 01 6060050

Email:

leixliplib@kildarecoco.ie

Website:

www.kildare.ie/library

A Digital Photography and Visual Design Workshop by artist Tim Durham will be held in Riverbank Arts Centre on 27th & 28th July and 3rd & 4th August. The workshop is about Seeing, Visual Design and using your camera.

The workshop includes two days of instruction, photography and reviewing your digital creations in a friendly and inspirational atmosphere.

All equipment is supplied, including camera if you don’t have your own.

Maximum Group size: 12

Price: €80

FOR Bookings Call 045 448333

Calling all witches, wizards and squibs, something magical is set to happen in Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge on 21st July to coincide with the launch of JK Rowling's final Harry Potter installment ‘The Deathly Hollows'.

You can enjoy a day of Harry Potter fun with the Harry Potter Movies and the new book ‘The Deathly Hollows’ on sale. This is the release day of the final book world wide.

You can get a copy of the final Harry Potter book and enjoy a day looking back on Harry’s journey so far, taking on dragons, Dementors and Lord Voldemort, and there are bound to be a few witches and wizards about on the day!

If you are a fan of harry potter there really is no better place to be on the 21st. For Bookings Call 045 448333.

The Kildare Screenwriters' Guild was formed by a committed group of budding writers who initially met on a screenwriting introductory course provided by the Kildare Arts & Libraries Service.

Such was the success of the course that follow-on workshops were held and members continue to meet on a monthly basis, to offer mutual support and advice.

An additional workshop is currently being funded by the Kildare Arts & Libraries Service, providing the group with a masterclass in script editing and scene analysis by Michael Kinirons, held at the Riverbank Centre, Newbridge, on the first and third Wednesday of each month.

Each session examines a participant's script in detail and guides the group through the process of analysing scenes, structure and dramatic content.

Anyone interested in sitting in on a session can contact Lissa Oliver at 059 8626304.

 Fr Andrew's leaving party. Pic Brian Byrne/Kilcullen Diary' 

Fr Andrew O'Sullivan is leaving Kilcullen after serving the parish for seven years. Many tributes have been paid to him.

There was a large turnout on Thursday night 12th July to wish Fr Andrew O'Sullivan well before he leaves to study in Rome. The event included a Thanksgiving Mass and presentation function afterwards in the Parish Centre which he was the prime mover in establishing

The mass was concelebrated with Fr Michael Murphy PP and a number of Fr Andrew's
friends in the priesthood. Beginning the celebration Fr Andrew noted that it was a 'large turnout for a Thursday evening'.

Athy Rowing Club, established in 1997 was awarded Є12,500 from the 2007 Sports Capital Programme which is managed by the Department of Arts Sports & Tourism. In addition to this the club will also receive an additional Є3,750 from The Department of Community Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs under the RAPID Leverage Scheme.

The club also received Sports Capital funding in the 2005 programme.

The application for the funding was submitted in October 2006 and the announcements were made in March 2007.

The total funding now available to the club is Є16,250. Over Є4,000 has been raised by the club as the total cost of the equipment is almost Є21,000. An amount of Є16,900 was sought from the Department so this was an excellent result. It is also an indication of the quality and completeness of the application. The club received a lot of support to prepare the application both from RAPID and the Kildare Sports Partnership.

The then RAPID Co-ordinator, Linda Mulhall, met with us regularly while we were developing the proposal and provided advice, liaison with other agencies and finally supported the application at RAPID AIT endorsement stage. This is a very important process for groups in RAPID areas in terms of the Department’s general assessment of the proposed project and is also part of the qualifying criteria for the additional funding from the RAPID Leverage Scheme.

Kildare Sports Partnership ran a practical information workshop in Athy when the fund was advertised. Two members of the club attended the workshop and got a lot of ideas on how to approach the application process. The KSP were also available for continued support following the workshop and fully supported our application.

We are delighted that we can now go ahead and purchase new equipment including:
2 single rowing boats
1 Safety Launch

Between the two grants from the Sports Capital Programme and RAPID and other grants from Kildare Sports Partnership and the Regional Drugs Task Force, the club can now boast a good coaching programme delivered with high spec equipment. Our membership has increased and our younger members, in particular, are rowing very competitively at national level.

 Training Sessions are held at Rathstewart opposite Bachelors every Saturday and Sunday mornings 10 am untill 12 :30, all welcome.

The Group 1 Darley Irish Oaks will take place at the Curragh this weekend, Sunday 15th July. First Race is off at 1.55pm.

The race card includes:

• The Dubai Duty Free Anglesey Stakes (6f 63 yds)
• The Emirates Airline Minstrel Stakes (7f)
• The Thalgo Ladies Derby Handicap (1m 4f)
• The Kilboy Estate Stakes (1m 1f).
  

Check the Curragh Racecourse website for more details.

The Saturday Race Meeting has been cancelled due to heavy rainfall and a poor weather forecast for Friday, and to ensure Sunday's Meeting can go ahead. Two races have been transferred to Sunday's Irish Oaks Race Meeting.

For an outstanding days classic racing drop into the Curragh Racecourse this Sunday afternoon. Admission €20 with Under 15s Free accompanied by an adult

Kildare were eventual winners over Roscommon in a tightly contested match in Hyde Park last Saturday afternoon, 7 July.

Louth will also prove to be difficult opponents but Kildare will be hoping to extend their run in this year's Championship Qualifiers this Saturday 14 July at 7pm.

Captain John Doyle is a key player and was inspirational last Saturday, scoring 1-8 from a total of 2-13. Pádraig O'Neill got the crucial goal with just over 5 minutes to go and Kildare held on despite an onslaught from Roscommon in injury time.

Louth come into this game on the back of a 0-14 to 0-13 win over Limerick last Saturday.

Come early to avoid delays and watch what will be a very tight and competitive game.

Everyone will have their own highlights, but the main stage acts Muse and The Killers played storming sets to finish each night. Other highlights included Kings of Leon, Daft Punk, Arcade Fire, Bloc Party and Snow Patrol.

REM frontman Michael Stipe, actor Josh Hartnett, supermodel Helena Christensen and Susan Sarandon & Tim Robbins were among the 80,000 fans who enjoyed the varied line up over the weekend.

Music promoters MCD emphasise that the vast majority of fans were well behaved and thoroughly enjoyed the feast of music. The Gardai will investigate any complaints made.

There was a total of 94 arrests from a festival capacity of 80,000.
There were over 200 Garda officers and over 2,000 security personnel at Oxegen.

This years line up and schedule is:

Thur 12 July
8.30pm, Carlton Abbey Hotel, No CC
Patuxent Partners [Washington]; Woodbine [Athy];

Fri 13 July
2.00pm, Heritage Centre, No CC
Acoustic Grass

4.00pm, Carlton Abbey Hotel, No CC
The Niall Toner Band [Carlow]

8.30pm, Carlton Abbey Hotel, €20
Patuxent Partners [Washington]; Red Wine [Italy]; Gary Ferguson & Dave Miner; Woodbine [Athy]; The Sullivan Brothers [Athy]

----------------------------------------
Sat 14 July
2.00pm, Heritage Centre, No CC
Tennessee Hennessee

2.00pm, Clancy's Bar, No CC
Pickin' Session

3.00pm, Smuggler's Bar, No CC
Tin Box Company

3.00pm, Andersons Bar, No CC
Northern Exposure

4.00pm, Carlton Abbey, No CC
Gary Ferguson & Dave Miner

8.30pm, Carlton Abbey Hotel, €20
Patuxent Partners [Washington]; Red Wine [Italy]; The Niall Toner Band [Carlow]; Tennessee Hennessee    

10.30pm, Pat Dunne's Bar, No CC
Northern Exposure

----------------------------------------
Sun 15 July
2.00pm, Carlton Abbey Hotel, €20
Patuxent Partners [Washington]; Red Wine [Italy]; Northern Exposure [N. Ireland]

Weekend Pass - €50
Free Gig Trail on Fri & Sat Afternoon

Check the Athy Bluegrass Music Association website - www.athy-bluegrass.com - for more details.

This year's festival is sponsored by Albert Dunne, Car Sales.

The Kildare Volunteer Bureau have posted a number of volunteer opportunities for a Nursing Home in Athy. Volunteer positions include Musician, Readers and Hand Massage volunteers, each requiring only one hour a week. For more information and to volunteer, go to the Volunteer Kildare website www.volunteerkildare.ie

The Irish Blood Transfusion Service will visit Celbridge, Leixlip and Newbridge in July in an effort to make up the 3,000 donations that are needed in Ireland every week. Details on the mobile clinic locations in Co. Kildare during the month of July are listed below.

Celbridge, St. Raphaels
Date: Thu, 19 Jul 2007
Time: 3:00pm - 4:45pm and 7:00pm - 9:30pm
Date: Fri, 20 Jul 2007
Time: 12:00 - 4:00pm

Leixlip, Springfield Hotel Old Lucan Road
Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2007
Time: 3:00pm - 4:45pm and 7:00pm - 9:30pm
 
Newbridge, Holy Family Secondary School
Date: Mon, 30 Jul 2007
Time: 4:30pm - 9:00pm
Date: Tue, 31 Jul 2007
Time: 4:30pm - 9:00pm


The Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) organise and administer the processing or supply of blood derivatives or other blood products, including blood group and other tests in relation to specimens of blood received by the Board.
The primary objective of the IBTS is to provide sufficient quantities of the highest quality blood components to hospitals.

Contact Details
IBTS National HQ, National Blood Centre, James's St. Dublin 8
Tel: 01 4322800
Fax: 01 4322930
Email: info@ibts.ie
Website: www.ibts.ie

For information about donating, call the IBTS Donor Infoline: 1850 731 137

The information featured here is the copyright of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service.
Visit their website - www.ibts.ie - for more information

Heritage Week 2007 will run from 25th August to 2nd September.  A range of activities have been organised across the county to coincide with National Heritage week.

Co. Kildare Archaeological Society have organised an illustrated lecture on Gery Abbey (pictured right), Kildare, by Archaeoloist Ms Emer Dennehy, which will take place on 2nd September in the Kildare Shopping Village.

Other events taking place around the county during the week include free guided tours of Maynooth Castle, daily radio talks about Kildare history and heritage on KFM, and an illustrated talk on Leixlip by John Colgan, author of  'Leixlip, Co. Kildare' which will take place in Leixlip Community Library on 30th August.

For event details and a list of all events taking place during Heritage week in County Kildare see the kildare.ie events page and the Heritage week website www.heritageweek.ie 

A “Get to Know Your Neighbour” Picnic Party is being held at the Waterways in Sallins Saturday 14th July from 12pm to 3pm.

The casual but fun filled meet and greet event will be held on the green of the estate. Residents will be treated to a performance by Paul H. Tubb, a resident of the Waterways, and children’s comic poet, humorist and singer/songwriter.

The event will be held come rain or shine; just be sure to bring an umbrella and picnic blanket.

As the Waterways is a new development there is an increased need for residents to get out and get to know each other. Not only are the residents of The Waterways in Sallins new to the newly built estate, but many residents are also new to County Kildare and Ireland itself.

The event is being staged in conjunction with the National “Know Your Neighbour Weekend” organized by Macra na Feirme and sponsored by ESB.

The Waterways Picnic Party is being organized by Daria Walsh, resident and local photographer and writer. She and her husband moved to the Waterways last year from Cork and noticed immediately the difficulties in getting to know their new neighbours. Seeing the potential in the Waterways for a friendly, community spirit, Daria has taken the lead from Macra na Feirme to get the ball rolling.

The hope is that the event will make neighbours out of residents and plant the seed for a great community atmosphere at The Waterways. Hopefully more of The Waterways residents will be encouraged to organize additional events and meeting groups.

For information on Macra’s “Know Your Neighbour Weekend” please phone 01-426-8915 or see the website at www.knowyourneighbour.ie. For additional information on The Waterways Picnic Party please contact Daria at 087-742-7342 or e-mail at dmarieaw@yahoo.com

The Health Service Executive provides a national information service, the HSE infoline,
which offers everyone in Ireland easy access to information on over 110 health and social service topics, all for less than the cost of a local call.

Call the the HSE infoline at Callsave 1850 24 1850

The service can provide confidential information on:

• Medical Cards


• GP Visit Cards


• European Health Insurance Card


• Drugs Payment Scheme


• Long-Term Illness Scheme


• Back to School Clothing and Footwear Scheme


• Home Help Services


• Nursing Home Subvention


• Health Promotion literature

The HSE Infoline can also advise on health services, entitlements, eligibility,
application forms and contact details for services across the country.

Information is also made available via email or fax, and the infoline offers a
sigma text-pad facility for people with a hearing impairment.

The HSE Infoline operates from 8.00am to 8.00pm Monday to Saturday.

You can contact the HSE Infoline on:
Callsave: 1850 24 1850
Fax: (041) 685 0330
Email: info@hse.ie

Billed as "The Greatest Rock n Roll Weekend of the Year", Oxegen 2007 will take place in Punchestown, County Kildare this weekend.

Many of the world's biggest acts including The Killers, Muse, Queens of the Stone Age, Snow Patrol, Arcade Fire, Kings of Leon, and Bloc Party will perform on six stages beginning on Saturday 7th July at 1230pm and finishing late on Sunday evening 8th July. The festival is completely sold out.

Acts confirmed for Saturday 7th July include

Main Stage: Muse, Snow Patrol, Scissor Sisters, Kings Of Leon, The Fratellis, The Goo Goo Dolls, and Avril Lavigne.

Stage 2: Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Interpol, Maximo Park, Mika, The Gossip,
Biffy Clyro, and The Twang

Green Room: Queens Of The Stone Age, Editors, Jet, Ocean Colour Scene, Enter Shikari, The Bravery and The Maccabees

Pet Sounds: Wutang Clan, Air, Tori Amos, Badly Drawn Boy, Brian Jonestown Massacre, and David Kitt

New Band/Futures: I'm From Barcelona, The Noisettes, Junior Boys, The Horrors, and The Wombats

Dance Stage: Felix Da Housecat, 2 Many Dj's, Tiga, Booka Shade, Justice, Digitalism
Laughter Lounge: Joe Rooney, Michael Mee, Carol Tobin, Jarlath Regan, Colum Mcdonnell, Robbie Bonham and John Lynn

Acts confirmed for Sunday 8th July include

Main Stage: The Killers, Razorlight, Arcade Fire, The Kooks, Bloc Party and James Morrison

Stage 2: Daftpunk, My Chemical Romance, Amy Winehouse, Babyshambles, CSS, and
Gogol Bordello

Green Room: James, Klaxons, Jamie T, Satellite Party, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Dizzie Rascal, and Long Blondes

Pet Sounds: Brian Wilson, Rufus Wainwright, Bright Eyes, Cold War Kids, Sinead O'Connor, and Albert Hammond Jr

New Band/Futures: The Sounds, The National, The Hours, New Young Pony Club, Jason Mraz, Howling Bells, Air Traffic, and Ghosts

Dance Stage: Erol Alkan, Deep Dish, Frankie Knuckles, Dj Shadow V Cost Cutchemist, and Cedric

Laughter Lounge: David Mcsavage, Sue Collins, Reuben, Damien Clarke, Anne Gildea, Kevin Gildea, and Andrew Stanley

Irish acts performing at the festival include Director, Delorentos, The Blizzards, The Sawdoctors and The Thrills.

Two Kildare bands will also perform at the festival, having won the Platform II, Oxegen '07 Battle of the Bands competition in association with Naas Town Council and MCD

My OK Hotel will perform at 1pm on Saturday 7th July on the New Band/Futures stage.
Miracle Bell will perform at 12 noon on Sunday 8th July on the New Band/Futures stage. Check the Oxegen website for exact times.

My OK Hotel: www.myokhotel.com
Miracle Bell: -miraclebell-.bebo.com

The K Club  in Straffan, County Kildare, is the venue for the 30th Smurfit Kappa European Open this weekend. Europe's top golfers will compete for a prize fund of over €3.56m.

Competing at this year's event will be local favourite Padraig Harrington, New Zealand's Michael Campbell, Paul Lawrie, Sandy Lyle and Colin Montgomerie of Scotland, and England's Lee Westwood, Paul Casey, David Howell, and Kenneth Ferrie, the winner in 2005.

Also competing will be US Open champion Angel Cabrera, who was second in this event in 2000. Stephen Dodd of Wales will defend his European Open title.

The Irish challenge will include Paul McGinley, Graeme McDowell, Michael Hoey, Peter Lawrie,  Damien McGrane, Gary Murphy and Philip Walton.

The event begins on Wednesday July 4 with the Pro-Am tournament and finishes on Sunday July 8. Admission is free to all spectators on Wednesday and large crowds are expected. There is also no admission charge on Thursday, day one of the tournament.
Competing in the Pro-Am will be Gianfranco Zola, the former Chelsea football star, Hurling Legend DJ Carey, Sunderland Chairman and former Irish International Niall Quinn, and Eddie Jordan, former owner of Jordan Grand Prix.

The K Club was the venue for last September's Ryder Cup in which the Europeans triumphed over the United States by 18½ to 9½ points.

The Kildare Football team will travel to Dr Hyde Park in Roscommon on Saturday, 07 July at 3pm. Having been knocked out of the Leinster Championship by Meath on Sunday 20^th May in Croke Park, Kildare will be looking for a good run in this year’s qualifiers.

After a strong performance in the National Football League in the Spring, where they eventually lost the the NFL Semi-Final to eventual winners Donegal by 2 points, it seemed that Kildare would be a strong contender for Leinster Championship honours.

But manager John Crofton will now want to progress to the latter stages of the Qualifiers in order to live up to the early optimism his team acquired from their National League campaign.

Dermot Earley is back in training with the Senior Panel and may play some part in Saturday’s game.