Enhanced bus service will link Dunlavin and Kilcullen with Newbridge

A new TFI Local Link Kildare South Dublin bus service from Dunlavin and Kilcullen to Newbridge will commence on Tuesday 7 May 2024, writes Brian Byrne.

Route 892, formerly route 129, will now extend to Dunlavin and will operate eight daily return services between Kilcullen and Newbridge, with four daily return services extending to Dunlavin, Monday to Saturday. There will be seven Sunday daily return services between Kilcullen and Newbridge, with three daily return services extending to Dunlavin.

"We have been working on this service for over a year and I’m delighted today with confirmation that the new seven day service will commence after the bank holiday weekend," says Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer. "This is a new service and I would encourage users to give me their feedback so that after the service settles in we can look at possible tweaks that might need to be made. Please try out the new service, give it a chance to settle and pass in your feedback." 

The route will offer enhanced connectivity to villages and areas such as Dunlavin, Brannockstown, Kilcullen, Athgarvan, Newbridge Town Centre, Newbridge Train Station, Rosconnell, College Farm, & Newbridge College.

"I would like to sincerely thank Local Link, the staff in NTA who I have “hounded” over the past year and to Minister Martin Heydon for his support throughout this project," Cllr O'Dwyer added. "We will continue to work for and support rural communities in any way we can."

For route and timetable information visit locallinkkildaresouthdublin.ie or call 045 980281.

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Stellar performances in 'Skull in Connemara'

After a week's run, the Kilcullen Drama Group's presentation of Martin McDonagh's A Skull in Connemara finishes this evening with the Gala Night, writes Brian Byrne.

Sold out, the night is in aid of the Relay for Life team organised by Kilcullen Gospel Choir. (Some walk-in tickets may be available if there are cancellations, but there's no guarantee. You can also try phoning 087 4707652 during the day.)

The Diary is hoping to be there tonight and see the full show, but in the meantime here are a few scenes from the second act.

Stellar performances from Maurice O'Mahony, Siobhan Murphy, Alan Clarke and Josh Kelly have won standing ovations from the audiences to date. The play is directed by Eilis Phillips.

More photos here.

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The passing of Celine Garvey

The Diary has learned of the death of Celine Garvey of Naas, and Kilcullen, peacefully on 23 April 2024, after losing her battle with cancer, in the company of her loving family while in the care of the wonderful staff at Naas General Hospital.

Predeceased by her father Noel, Celine will be very sadly missed by all, by her loving daughter Elanor, mother Josie, brothers Robert (and partner Emilie), Mark (and wife Claire), sister Linda (and partner Karl), her nephews and nieces, all the extended family and her very wide circle of friends.

Celine will be reposing at The George Mullins Funeral Home, Kilcullen Road, Naas (Eircode W91 CD0K) on Friday from 5pm to 7pm.

Her funeral will be on on Saturday with Requiem Mass at 10am in Church of Our Lady and St David, Naas.

A full service to celebrate Celine’s life will take place at The Temple, Newlands Cross Crematorium at 12:30pm (Eircode D24 EP83).

Family flowers only, please.

May her gentle soul rest in peace.

Full moon over Gilltown

A nice full moon shot taken at Gilltown on Tuesday night by Herbert Sheehan.

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Naas Lions Spring Concert

An evening of music and song in Naas on Saturday 16 May will bring together the wonderful talents of soprano Celine Byrne, tenor Paul Linehan and the Baldonnel Singers choir.

The venue for the Naas Lions Club Spring Concert will be Our Lady & St David's Church on the Sallins Road, with the show beginning at 8pm sharp.

The music will include light opera, songs from the musicals, and traditional Irish favourites.

Tickets at €25 may be booked at Eventbrite here. 

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The passing of Paddy Byrne

The Diary has learned of the death of Paddy Byrne, Kilcullen, formerly of Hollywood/Ballymore Eustace, Co Kildare, peacefully at Mill Lane Manor nursing Home, Naas, in the company of his loving family. 

Much-loved father of Pat and Mary, father-in-law of Sinéad and grandfather of Caolán and Aodhán, Paddy was predeceased by his wife May. He will be dearly missed by his family, sister-in-law Lily, nieces, nephews, extended family, relatives, neighbours and very many friends.

The family would like to extend the gratitude and heartfelt thanks to all the staff in Mill Lane Manor for their wonderful care during Paddy's time there.

Funeral arrangements later.

Rest in Peace.

Do 'Tourist Route' signs mean anything today?

A question as to whether the South Kildare Tourist Route signs on the approach roads to Kilcullen are still relevant was raised at the April open meeting of Kilcullen Community Action, writes Brian Byrne.

The matter came up when the meeting heard that signs with an image of the bronze medal won by Kilcullen in the Supervalu Tidy Towns 2023 competition have been offered to the town by Kildare County Council. Noel Clare said the signs would be erected by the Council if the offer was accepted, probably at the approach roads.

He said KCA can suggest locations, but the town engineer will have the final say. He asked members to have a think about possible locations before the next meeting.

A suggestion on the evening was that the signs could possibly replace the old South Kildare Tourist Trail ones, which were described as shabby, and the question was asked if such a Tourist Trail is still in existence?

The matter will be discussed again at the May open meeting.

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