Time of the Olives 2 by Manus Walsh from Kilcock Art Gallery

On Friday 23rd September, locals and visitors across Ireland will enjoy the unique experience of Culture Night (http://www.culturenight.ie/), a free night of entertainment, discovery and adventure taking place in a record 30 towns, cities, counties and islands in Ireland. Museums, galleries, churches, historic houses, artists’ studios and cultural centres will open their doors late into the evening welcoming people of all ages to taste and sample their cultural delights for free on the evening.

Get some culture in Kilcock!

Kilcock Art Gallery will host an evening of art and music from 6 – 8pm.  Refreshments and welcome on the evening for everyone
Culture Night is a night (and day) of entertainment, discovery and adventure country wide. Now in its second year in Kildare, the Culture Night programme is packed with tours, talks, performances, Art and Music. Every event is listed and free of charge.

Details of all the events from the Library in Kilcock and also the

Kilcock Art Gallery
Breda Smyth, Kilcock Art Gallery
School St., Kilcock.

Tel: +353 1 6287619
mobile 086 2578283
Email:  info@kilcockartgallery.ie
Web: www.kilcockartgallery.com

Angels Pining for Their demons by Michael Flaherty

Another gorgeous exhibition is opening this Saturday at the Kilcock Art Gallery.

“A series of snow paintings which began last year when we had a heavy snowfall – an unusual event down here on the Dingle Peninsula. While the mountaintops are often white in winter, to have snow down to the sea has not happened since I was a child.” Michael Flaherty

The Micheal Flaherty Exhibition at the Kilcock Art Gallery is being opened by Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport, Mary Hanafin TD on Saturday 22nd May at 3pm. The exhibition will continue until 12th June.

More on Michael Flaherty’s work:

“Michael Flaherty is best known for his landscapes, spontaneous, lyrical compositions that bring to mind aspects of the work of artists as diverse as Vincent Van Gogh, Paul Henry and Sean McSweeney” . Influenced by the expressionists, he doesn’t subscribe to their movement but empathises with their style. The apocalyptic power of nature in his unpopulated landscapes evokes memories of Emil Nolde but he is doing it in a highly personal style and indeed like the German expressionists his “pictures have a kind of frenetic emotional intensity”

Read more about Michael >>

Meet the Cluckers

By Sylvia Thompson (The Irish Times, May 1, 2010)

The Complete Poultry and Vegetable Show will be held in Larchill Arcadian Garden, Kilcock, Co Kildare, next Saturday, May 8th, from 11am to 5pm. Experts will give advice on breeding and rearing chickens, and there will be chances to buy and sell hens, geese, ducks and other more exotic fowl. There will also be opportunities to find out about bee-keeping and growing your own vegetables, and to buy tools, trendy chicken houses, herbs and fruit trees.

Admission is €7 (children free), which includes entrance to the beautiful gardens, with their exotic collection of fowl, emus and llamas. See larchill.ie or telephone 01-6287354.

New beginnings at Kilcock Art Gallery for artist Trevor Geoghegan

By Kim Mullahey (Liffey Champion, page 18)

Prolific artist Trevor Geoghegan returned to his roots last Sunday week (18^th April) with the launch of a new exhibition of his most recent work at Kilcock Art Gallery. Known since 1978 in the School Street gallery for his still life and landscapes primarily in acrylic, Mr Geoghegan has broken with tradition in this new exhibition in colour palate and media.

“There was a plateau in my work and I am getting back into it,” said Trevor Geoghegan. “I made a conscious decision in change of colour; and I am back into drawing and maybe more so in the future”. Mr Geoghegan has moved to brighter colours in oil on canvas and panel in his vividly expressed landscapes and still life studies.

However; the former National College of Art and Design, Dublin (NCADD) teacher marks a return to the basics of art in exhibits of compressed charcoal drawings and mixed media on different weights of cartridge and watercolour paper. “It gives you a basis for working out your intensions which can totally lead to something else,” Mr Geoghegan explained.

Trevor Geoghegan’s price guide of between €750 and €4,000 defines not only his rich and productive career spanning over 30 years with his art in private and public collections around the globe; his long-standing association with gallery Directors, Breda and Carina Smyth also has been joint creative venture.

“Trevor was one of the first artists to show with me,” said Breda Smyth of Kilcock Art Gallery. “He was teaching at the NCADD and was one of the first to exhibit for me.” Selected works by Trevor Geoghegan can be viewed on the Kilcock Art Gallery website at www.kilcockartgallery.com.

Email the gallery at info@kilcockartgallery.ie, or contact Directors Breda and Carina Smyth on 086-2578283. The exhibition by Trevor Geoghegan extends until Saturday, 8^th May.

Historic step sees NUI Maynooth moving into primary teacher training

By Peter Kelly (Liffey Champion, page 3)

In a first for an Irish university, the National University of Ireland, NUI Maynooth, is to offer the full range of teacher training courses within three years. NUI Maynooth and Froebel College of Education have announced plans to establish a Froebel Department of Early Childhood and Primary Education.

The teacher education college will transfer to NUI Maynooth in September 2013 with all student teachers from Froebel College moving to the north Kildare university campus. The move will result in NUI Maynooth being the only Irish university offering the full spectrum of teacher education on campus, from primary and secondary through to adult and community.

Announcing the move, the President of NUI Maynooth, Professor John Hughes said he was delighted Froebel College would be joining the university. “It is an ideal match. Froebel has developed and an outstanding reputation for its unique, high quality approach to teacher education over the last 67 years,” said Professor Hughes.

“NUI Maynooth is also renowned for excellence in this area and Froebel will compliment and enhance the full teacher education facility we offer.” The President of Froebel College of Education, Marie McLoughlin said the move represented an exciting new departure for the college.

Ms McLoughlin said: “This will be the first occasion in which primary teacher education will be entirely carried out on a university campus. “This initiative establishes a new model of primary education, which combines the rich tradition of Froebel with the multi-disciplinary opportunities which can only be obtained on a university campus.

“Furthermore, students will gain a greatly enriched academic and social experience on a campus of 8,000 students, whilst retaining their identity within a newly designated Froebel Department of Early Childhood and Primary Education.”

NUI Maynooth Vice President for External Affairs, Professor Tom Collins, said the mix of university campus life with primary teacher education would be a unique offering for students. “This places early childhood and primary teaching right at the heart of the university education agenda and is an extremely significant announcement for both institutions, given our long, proud histories in the provision of teacher education, added Mr Collins.

A dedicated Froebel Centre is to be built at the university and it is envisaged that students will share many modules with other education and arts students. All Froebel College employees will transfer to NUI Maynooth.

The students applying to Froebel College this year; to start in September; will be the first group who, on the completion of their degrees, will be NUI Maynooth graduates. This year’s applicants will undertake their first three years of study in Blackrock before moving into their fourth year on campus at NUI Maynooth. Those affected will be advised of the plans in writing this week.

Therese Brady is a local aspiring writer and writes mainly about food, fiction – novels and short stories, restaurant, movie and book reviews and I have my own website www.theresebrady.com and blog called Writer’s Cramp. This is where I keep my creative juices flowing during those down moments of writer’s block. I’ve completed one novel and am currently working on the second. Find me on Twitter.

(Many thanks to the Liffey Champion, Leinster Leader and their reporters for providing us with these local stories)

80-foot section of new Kilcock sewage pipes will have to be relaid

By Henry Bauress (Leinster Leader, 07 April 2010)

A section of sewage pipe in Kilcock – 80 metres long – was found not to have been laid in accordance with the drawings and will have to be relaid, Clane area councillors have been told.

The members were told that work on this would begin right after Easter and take three weeks with a further week for reinstatement.Director of Services, Joe Boland, told the meeting on 23 March that they were meeting shortly with consultants and the area engineer over the reinstatement.

In a report to members, Mr. Boland thanked them and the public for their “forebearance” during the period work has been carried out. “There is an end in sight,” he said. Mr. Boland said the work was essential to the orderly future development of Kilcock. He explained that some work was done by tunnelling and other work by an open-cut method. The latter method had disadvantages because of the local water tables.

Tunnelling had its advantages but there were risks, he said, before going on to explain that an 80-metre sewage pipe was not laid in accordance with the drawings and would have to be relaid using the open-cut method, a move he described as “regrettable.” Cllr. Padraig McEvoy produced photograph of broken surface and what he described as “fairly extensive road damage throughout the town.”

A lot of work was substandard. “I’m surprised at the level of road failure in Kilcock,” he said. “I realise the frost is an issue but in other towns and counties the roads seem more resilient. Are we doing everything in our grasp to get this right,” he asked. Cllr. Liam Doyle said the people of Kilcock are “very patient.” He said it was unfortunate the new road plan did not work and had to be done by open-cut.

Cllr. Doyle said he believed the Courtown Road and Church Street are finished but posed the question about the finality of the work. “The last thing we need is for them to be dug up again soon. Are there any plans for work there by telecom or gas companies.” Mr. Boland said they would liaise with the area engineer who has been in touch with service providers. “There will be a co-ordinated approach,” he said.

Kilcock St. Patrick’s Day Prize Presentation

By Carrie Bermingham (Liffey Champion, Page 14)

The Kilcock St. Patrick’s day committee prize presentation took place in Kilcock GAA last Sunday week (27^th March). Staring at 9.30pm approximately 70 people attended the3  ceremony for the prizes based on the successful Kilcock St. Patrick’s Day Parade theme of ‘Our Kilcock’.

Brendan Macken gave the introduction speech before the ceremony began and the awards were presented by Tom O’Doherty, treasurer of the St. Patrick’s Day committee. Callaghy’s pharmacy managed to secure the best shop window prize. They accepted the Glór na Gael cup for their impressive window display with pride.

Accepting the cup for the best non-motorised float was Liam Farrell from the Kilcock Scouts. And the Camogie cup was accepted by Alic3 Kennedy. The Kilcock Celtic was presented to James Cotter. Spirits were high when the prize for best school float was presented to Schoil Uí Riada. The principal Seamus Ó Muirithe proudly accepted it on behalf of the school and students.

Tommy Simms delighted everyone when he dressed up as a Leprechaun for the day. And best individual prize was handed over to hi’m without hesitation. The best fun float of the day turned out to be NAMA Gold, and it was accepted by Seán Barron. The best non-commercial float was won by Scoil Chóca Naofa.

The Musgrave Cup was awarded to Lyons & Burton for the best commercial float and it was accepted by Karen Keenan. But it was the local Girl Guide group of young brigins and cygnets who took home the David Powderley award for best overall float. Accepted by Terry Faber the girls were ecstatic that their hard work had been recognised.

After the presentation the band ‘Johnny Go Easy’ entertained the crowd for the night and finger food was served.

Trevor Geoghegan for Kilcock solo exhibition

By Carrie Bermingham

The Trevor Geoghegan Solo Exhibition, ‘Renewal, New Beginnings’, is opening in Kilcock Art Gallery on Sunday, 18^th April with a reception from 3pm to 5pm.

The exhibition will consist of landscape paintings and still life paintings, with a light and colourful palette. Oil paintings will be on display; such as ‘Still life-with Silver-Bowl, Fruit & Gold Leaf’.

The Art Gallery is situated on School Street and is open Tuesday to Friday from 10am to 4pm. It also opens Saturday from 2pm to 4.30pm.

Therese Brady is a local aspiring writer and writes mainly about food, fiction – novels and short stories, restaurant, movie and book reviews and I have my own website www.theresebrady.com and blog called Writer’s Cramp. This is where I keep my creative juices flowing during those down moments of writer’s block. I’ve completed one novel and am currently working on the second. Find me on Facebook and Twitter.

By Vincent Sutton (page 15, Liffey Champion)

The death took place of the old footballer Davy Dalton at this home on Courtown Road, Kilcock on Sunday (7^th March). He is best known as the man who captained Kildare to Leinster Senior Championship success in 1956, an achievement the county was not to repeat for another 42 years.

Born in 1927, he came to Kilcock from Sallins to work in Kelly’s Bakery, then one of the biggest employers in north Kildare. He became a central figure in the towns golden era of Gaelic football, a period that saw it win three Senior Championships, two league crowns and send several talented footballers on to the county team.

The player, who at 5’5” was once described as the ‘diminutive Dalton’, was one of these and he was to be one of their best. He made his debut as a substitute, coming in at corner back against Dublin in a National Football League game on 5^th March 60 years ago.

Dalton was in time to become the Lilywhites’ tried and trusted left corner-forward and it was in that position that he led them to the Leinster crown, beating Wexford in the final in 1956. Micheál Ó Muineog, in his excellent ‘Kilcock GAA – A History’, notes that Davy forgot to collect the cup and had to be reminded of it by another Kilcock Legend, Tommy Kelly.

Aged 83, Davy died peacefully at his home on Sunday at about 1pm, while looking forward to listening to radio commentary of the Kildare v Donegal game in the National Football League that afternoon. And while he had not been at the best of health in recent months, his passing was somewhat unexpected and deeply regretted.

On Tuesday, footballers old and young, team mates and fellow club members came to form guards of honour as he was taken down Courtown Road to the church in the heart of Kilcock. Juvenile members formed a guard of honour along the road, while club members walked alongside the hearse.

Davy’s death is deeply regretted by his loving wife Annie, daughters Theresa, Eileen, Ann, Jane, Stephanie, Gemma, Fiona and sons Davy, Colm and Paul. He is survived also by 29 grandchildren, his sister Breda, brothers-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and his many friends and even fans who saw him play and cheered him on all those years ago.

May he rest in peace.

County ready to drown the shamrock – Organisers announce details of parade events around the county

10 March 2010 (Leinster Leader – Online)

Kildare is gearing up to celebrate St Patrick’s Day next Wednesday, March 17, and parades will take place right across the county. The circus is coming to town as part of the Newbridge parade. Fossetts Circus have confirmed that they will join the parade which will start from Tesco’s car park at 12 noon. Cllr. Paddy Kavanagh who is on the festival committee said that there has been great interest in this year’s parade.

“The viewing stand will be at the Town Hall and this year there will be barriers the whole length of the town for safety reasons. There will also be great street entertainment on the day,” he said.

If you would still like to partake in this year’s festival please contact Cllr Kavanagh on 086 1705199.

This year’s St Patrick’s Day parade in Clane which will begin at 3pm and will have ‘The Sound of Music’ as its theme. The leaders of the local scout troop will provide the grand marshall. The parade terminates at the Clane GAA Club and the organisers provide food and entertainment free of charge for all participants and spectators. The event also features a St. Patrick’s Day Window Display Competition, St. Patrick’s Day Music Quiz and free on-street entertainment. Down south, preparations for this year’s Athy parade are being finalised by the Athy Town Promoters group.

The organisers have been working closely with the Cromaboo Vintage Club. The parade will commence at 2.30pm from Kilkenny Road and proceed along William Street, Duke Street and Leinster Street. The assembly point for floats and participants is 1.30pm at Athy Business Park. Enquiries should be directed to: Athy Heritage Centre-Museum at 059 8633075.

The Monasterevin parade will be held at 2pm instead of after 12 o’clock mass which had been the practice in previous years. The Grand Marshal of the parade is the Monasterevin Person of the Year, Christy McEvoy, leader of the Monasterevin Scout Troop.

The assembly point for the various clubs and organisations will be at St. Peter and Paul’s Church from 1.15 pm on. Floats will assemble from the corner back in the direction of the High Bridge and the positions in the parade will be on a “first come, first served” basis.

The parade will proceed up by the Harbour and then down the Main Street which will be closed to all traffic for the afternoon. The reviewing stand will be situated at the Fire Station.

The Kilcock parade will start at 1.30pm from Spin Bridge just down from Musgrave’s and travel down through the

Don't forget the Duck Race post-Parade!

village and into the Square. Entry fees are the same as last year – for businesses the fee is €80 and for clubs, schools and voluntary groups it is €40. The theme this year is ‘Our Kilcock’. Organisers are still accepting entries from local business, schools and clubs are expected to take part, as well as three bands – the Blanchardstown Band who will be playing on the stage in the square, St. Mary’s Maynooth Brass and Reed Band and the Vincent Lalor Pipe Band.

The annual Maynooth parade will start from the Greenfield Shopping Centre at 11am and is expected to be in the town centre around midday. Maynooth parade organiser, Cllr. John McGinley, said they had the highest number of floats since the year of the foot and mouth disease.

Meanwhile, the St. Patrick Foundation, a group set up up to promote a humanitarian non-denominational vision of St. Patrick, is running a Prayer Breakfast in the Glenroyal Hotel (8.30-9.30am). The cost is n10.

There will be no parade in Celbridge, which has been traditionally organised by a separate committee to Celbridge Community Council. Insufficient funds to pay for public liability insurance has been cited as a reason but the committee plan to meet earlier next year.

Nude life drawing workshops at Kilcock Art Gallery

By Sarah Egan (Liffey Champion, page 18)

Learn the Art of life drawing at Kilcock Art Gallery

Life drawing workshops, the only one of their kind in Co. Kildare, are going to take place in Kilcock Art Gallery on Sunday, 11^th April. Artist Michael Rowley is going to facilitate the workshops, which are the first such artist/gallery initiatives outside Dublin and the only such venue in the County of Kildare where students can be taught the traditional artist’s skill of drawing and painting the nude model from life.

All of the specialised equipment is available to the participants on the day and the models will be professional artists’ nude models. Michael Crowley initiated the Life Drawing Course at UCD in 2004 and his dynamic style has been highly regarded there so he is a much sought after life drawing teacher. The first workshop at Kilcock Art Gallery will focus on exploring the possibilities of the line in drawing the human figure using pencil and fine line pens.

Participants need to bring their own materials. The five hour workshop costs €60 and a non-refundable deposit of €30 is required to book a place.

There are four more workshops following this, on Sunday, 16^th May, Sunday, 13^th June, Sunday, 18^th July and Sunday, 15^th August. To book a place contact Michael on 087-7534986 or email rowleymj@tcd.ie or Breda Smith at Kilcock Art Gallery on 01-6287619 or email info@kilcockartgallery.ie.

• Breakfast: There are plenty of cafes to choose from so treat yourself to a delish breakfast and coffee
• Pop into the Art Gallery: The Kilcock Art Gallery is hosting their Winter group show – looks fab so pop in and take in the paintings and sculptures on display
• Carol Singing: The Kilcock Musical & Dramatic Society will be singing carols in the village from 11am until 1.
• Christmas Shopping… Locally! The are loads of shops to buy Christmas gifts in Kilcock – wander around the village and discover a new place to shop.
• Warm up: Finish off the outing with hot toddy in one of our 5 pubs!
• Finally! Pick up something in one of our local butchers (also do a great range of vegetables) and that’s dinner sorted too (you could try this recipe from Aisling for a gorgeous winter dinner).
]]> http://ourkilcock.ie/2009/12/this-saturday-in-kilcock/feed/ 0 http://ourkilcock.ie/2009/12/kilcock-art-gallery-winter-group-show/ http://ourkilcock.ie/2009/12/kilcock-art-gallery-winter-group-show/#comments Sat, 12 Dec 2009 09:02:06 +0000 Heidi Jermyn http://ourkilcock.ie/?p=435 The Kilcock Art Gallery is hosting it’s Winter Group Show 2009 alongside the Liam Jones exhibition until Christmas. There are a variety of artists on show and there are some wonderful painting on display. Pop in and take a look and lift your spirits are little. The gallery is open: Tuesday – Friday 10am – 5pm and on Saturday from 2pm – 5pm.


Mischief by Bob Quinn



White horse, girl in blue by Patrick Cahill

]]> http://ourkilcock.ie/2009/12/kilcock-art-gallery-winter-group-show/feed/ 1 http://ourkilcock.ie/2009/11/liam-jones-kilcock-art-gallery/ http://ourkilcock.ie/2009/11/liam-jones-kilcock-art-gallery/#comments Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:37:39 +0000 Heidi Jermyn http://ourkilcock.ie/?p=341


Liam Jones - Grazing Co. Kerry

The Kilcock Art Gallery has an exhibition of Irish Landscape paintings by Liam Jones opening on the 14th of November with a reception from 3-5pm. It’s an exhibition The exhibition continues daily to 5th Dec.


The Kilcock Art Gallery is always worth a visit so pop and down and check out the show and other gems from Irish artists.


Kilcock Art Gallery, School Street, Kilcock, County Kildare, Ireland.

Phone: +353 (0)1 628 7619 / +353 (0)87 637 4721 / +353 (0)86 257 8283

Gallery hours: Tuesday – Friday 10am – 5pm, Saturday 2pm – 5pm and by appointment.
]]> http://ourkilcock.ie/2009/11/liam-jones-kilcock-art-gallery/feed/ 0 http://ourkilcock.ie/2009/08/summer-exhibition-definitely-worth-a-look/ http://ourkilcock.ie/2009/08/summer-exhibition-definitely-worth-a-look/#comments Fri, 28 Aug 2009 13:06:41 +0000 Heidi Jermyn http://ourkilcock.ie/?p=220 The Kilcock Art Gallery’s Summer exhibition is in full swing and continues until the 5th of September. There are over 200 works on show from an impressive selection of artists including: Rose Stapleton, Eugene Conway, Josephine Grant, Michael Gemmell, James English RHA, Bob Quinn and John Brobbel.


Michael Flaherty - The Puzzle of the Colour Blue



Josephine Grant - Limoges and Embroidery



Eugene Conway - Mt Leinster

The Kilcock Art Gallery is on School Street and is open Tuesday to Friday 10-5pm and Saturday 2-5pm. Check out www.kilcockartgallery.com for more information.

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