Quacks of fun in Kilcock on St Patricks day

Brucette from Bruce Betting

The Kilcock Business Association has come up with a novel idea to raise funds for the community while providing a fun family day out in Kilcock on St Patricks day. The business association are running the inaugural duck race on the canal when the St Patricks Day parade is finished at approx 2.30pm. Ducks are for sale for €5 in numerous outlets in Kilcock including Mick the Barber, John Ryan Butchers, Bruce Betting, Dorothy’s Hair and Beauty Salon, Harmony Holistic Health, Doolan’s Centras and Kilcock Service Station.

Each duck is numbered and you may choose to take your home if you wish. While we would encourage a diet of healthy eating and some natural nutritional supplements the Duck Race committee will forfeit any ducks that have been mechanically (or genetically) altered. Perfectly acceptable accoutrements for your duck would include painted feathers, ribbons, crocheted hats, etc. You must ensure that your duck’s entry number is clearly visible. All ducks must be brought to ‘Mick the Barbers’ shop before 10.30am on the big day (or any day before hand). Unfortunately we cannot except duckies that are not in place by this time so please ensure you get your entrant ready in time! Of course you can simply purchase your duck and leave him/her in the care of the duck seller. There are generous prizes with winning duck owner will be awarded with €300, €150 for 2nd prize and €50 for 3rd prize.

The local schools have also been involved with a colouring competition for the primary schools and a poster design competition for the secondary school. The entrants will be on display in businesses throughout the village so call into your local shops and have a look at all the artwork by our local artists.

Also on the day there will also be a childrens disco in St Josephs Hall with face painting run by the Kilcock Musical and Dramatic Society. The committee are also working on some great surprises so you never now what you will see or who you will meet in Kilcock on St Patricks Day.

We are delighted with the response to the duckrace and art competitions that we are running. There is a great feeling of excitement and community spirit in the village with everyone talking about the duck race and how they are going to decorate their ducks. They are planning on making a day of it by coming to watch the parade, cheer on their ducks, leave the littlies in the kids disco and do a bit of shopping or go for a coffee. A huge thank you to the St Patricks Day Committee for forging ahead and running the parade which will be even more successful than previous years. With all that is going on in Kilcock on St Patricks day, there will be something for everyone.

Since the formation of the Kilcock Business Association, the efforts of the committee are starting to show with extra parking being provided in the square, the publication of the Kilcock Business Directory which will be circulated to all the houses in the district in the very near future and with the duck race on St Patricks Day. The committee have also being liasing with the Kildare County Council and the contractors for the sewerage works to make sure that the village is effected as little as possible. The contractors are due to finish up in the next couple of weeks and Kilcock will be open for business better than ever.

Tara Lane is the PRO of the Kilcock Business Association.