KNN KNN News for month of November 2001

Seeks support in Athy for Special Olympics

ATHY, 19 November 2001: by Trish Whelan. The fact that Athy has been chosen as a Host Town for the 2003 Special Olympics has been warmly welcomed by Cllr Mark Dalton,

Athy will welcome a delegation of 57 athletes and coaches from the South American country of Chile. The delegation will stay in the town for the three or four days prior to the opening ceremony in June 2003.

In welcoming the announcement, Cllr Dalton - who is also chairman of the Host Town Committee for Athy - has called for cross-community support to ensure that the occasion is a success.

"We will need accommodation and training facilities to cater for the athletes and I would ask for support from sporting organisations, community groups and individuals in the town to support this unique event," said the councillor.

Garda Willie thanked for services

Garda Sgt Mick Murphy, Garda Willie Connor, Garda David Webb, Garda Brian Jacob and Garda Philip Farrell at Willie Connor's farewell do in The Ambassador Hotel, Kill.

KILL, 18 November: by Michael Freeman. Garda Willie Connor was recently transferred to Rathangan Garda Station district after 20 years of service to the communities of Kill and Eadestown and surrounding environs. But he returned to his old beat to receive accolades and thanks from his old Garda colleagues and community leaders where he once served. Full story

Last Tuckmill Exhibition in Lawlor's 'long room'

Martina Phipps of the Tuckmill Gallery, presenting a bouquet to Mary Glennon, who opened the2001 Tuckmill Annual Exhibtion of Fine Arts held in Lawlor's Hotel last weekend.

NAAS, 16 November: by Trish Whelan. The last Tuckmill Art Exhibition to take place in the venue used since its inception took place last weekend, and attracted a large crowd of artists and art lovers. Full Story.

One-way system imposed on 'gridlock' road

NEWBRIDGE, 15 November: by Brian Byrne. A one-way system is to be implemented on Cutlery Road in Newbridge every Saturday between now and Christmas. Full Story.

Council asked to impose restrictions on trucks

COUNTY HALL, 15 November: by Brian Byrne. Naas-based county councillor Mary Glennon has asked that trucks going to waste facilities in Silliot Hill be restricted to travelling between midnight and 7am through Naas and Kilcullen.

She handed a petition to Kildare County Manager Niall Bradley this week, representing 1,800 people who are concerned about the danger and congestion posed by trucks going through the town.

Last weekend, several hundred people marched through Naas to protest about the situation. The march was prompted by the most recent death related to a traffic accident involving a pedestrian and a truck. Full Story.

Ground broken on latest Kilcullen development

KILCULLEN, 14 November: by Brian Byrne. Ground was broken yesterday on the latest of Kilcullen's green spots to become a housing estate - what was formerly known as Jim Byrne's Field. Full Story.

Newbridge athlete hit by coach's death

NEWBRIDGE, 13 November: by Arran Hussey. Newbridge international athlete Andrew Walker will have been hit hard by the sudden death of his coach Kim McDonald. It is the second time in three years that the 1500 metre runner has lost a mentor - then coach Noel Carroll collapsed and died in 1998 whilst Walker and he were jogging in UCD.

McDonald, who was on holiday alone, was found dead on Friday in Brisbane, Australia at the age of 45. It is suspected he died due to a heart attack. As well as coaching track stars, McDonald was also one of the leading athletics agents in Europe. Two-time Olympian 800 metres runner David Matthews from Leixlip was a former client; numerous others were current or former clients, including prominent names such as Sonia O'Sullivan.

Councillors swipe An Taisce

COUNTY HALL, 12 November: by Trish Whelan. Kildare councillors lined up last week to take swipes at An Taisce which is objecting to every planning application to build a single new house in rural Kildare.

In a stinging rebuke for the heritage people, Deputy Sean Power said An Bord Pleanala should treat their objections as 'vexatious'. He said such objections would clog up the whole planning process and annoy genuine applicants. He suggested they invite An Taisce to the Council Chamber to discuss this policy 'as a matter of urgency'. Full Story.

Naas residents protest over trucks traffic

The anti-truck march in Naas on Saturday

NAAS, 12 November: by Brian Byrne . A substantial number of people, many of them parents with children, turned out on Saturday for a protest march against truck traffic through Naas. The protest was organised by two local councillors in the wake of the most recent death involving a truck at the Murtagh's Corner area. Full Story.

KCC Corporate Plan aims at making county 'first choice

COUNTY HALL, 11 November: by Trish Whelan. Kildare County Council has produced its second Corporate Plan 2001-2004 which sets out its main objectives and how to achieve them. Its vision is to make Kildare the first choice as a place to live, work, visit and do business. Full Story.

Wants info on Leixlip band

Dear Editor,

I wonder if any of your readers know anything of the Leixlip-based fife and drum band which once played in the area in the early 1900s? Who the members were, where they practised, who set it up, who led it? Do they know where any photographs of the band or its members are? Or the whereabouts of any uniforms worn by them?

I would be especially interested to hear from readers, or about persons readers may know, who could provide answers to some of these questions, so that I can make a record for posterity about the band and its members. I can be contacted by telephone at 01 6244631 and email on enquiry.

Yours sincerely,

John Colgan
The Toll House,
Leixlip.

Naas company completes major Tesco order

Store Manager Tesco Newbridge Brian Moran; Managing Director Tesco Ireland Maurice Pratt; Minister for Finance Charlie McCreevey TD and Managing Director of Toughline Manufacturing Ltd Brendan Ronan 'celebrate' Toughline's contract to supply Tesco Irieland with 62 trailers.

NAAS, 9 November: by Brian Byrne. Naas based Toughline Manufacturing Ltd has recently completed a contract to supply Tesco Ireland with 42 road trailers. The contract follows a previous order for 20 similar Toughline trailers and completes a £1.65 million supply contract. Full Story.

Maynooth Development Plan is adopted

MAYNOOTH & COUNTY HALL, 8 November: by Brian Byrne . The Amended Draft Maynooth Development Plan 2001 was adopted unanimously at the Kildare County Council Meeting on 5th November. It was proposed by Cllr John McGinley and seconded by Cllr Paul Kelly. Full Story.

Protest march over trucks for Naas

Wreaths mark the spot where Mrs Kathleen Brennan died.

NAAS, 6 November: by Brian Byrne . A protest march about the heavy level of truck traffic through Naas is to be held next Saturday, following the latest traffic fatality in the town involving a truck. Full Story.

Monasterevin Railway Station reopened

MONASTEREVIN, 5 November: by Stephen O’Rourke. Monasterevin Railway Station was officially reopened on Friday by Minister for Public Enterprise, Mary O'Rourke. A large crowd of locals and dignitaries were in attendance, one attendee of note was Michael Connolly the last surviving person to work in the old station. Full Story.

Cllr Kelly refutes 'misrepresentation' suggestion

KILDARE NORTH, 5 November: by Brian Byrne . Leixlip-based county councillor Paul Kelly has hit back at suggestions by Cllr Catherine Murphy that he ‘shamefully misrepresented’ the proceedings of a recent Area Committee meeting in relation to the Maynooth Development Plan.

And he has also restated his position that fellow councillor Emmet Stagg TD made allegations of ‘bribery and corruption’ at the last meeting of Kildare County Council. Remarks by Deputy Stagg led to the adjournment of the council meeting, which resumes this this afternoon. Full Story.

Bookweek in Athy 'a huge success'

ATHY, 2 November: by Trish Whelan . Athy Community Library celebrated the annual National Children's Bookweek in style with a host of exciting activities and competitions providing fun and entertainment for all the children. Full story.

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