The key achievement of the ISP has been the drawing together of the multiple strands within a geographic region, such as the business, public and community sectors along with facilitating a high degree of local area solidarity. The ISP does this by driving an inclusive, action focused process and delivering numerous tangible outcomes over its current form of existence. The expansion of the programme into North Kildare builds on the work to date in Kildare Town.

In order to launch the ISP in Kilcock Local Area Research must be undertaken to identify the social, cultural, economic, recreational, educational, tourism and any other need appropriate to Kilcock. A Community Participation Strategy will also run concurrently. We are delighted to announce the County Kildare LEADER Partnership will fund this process.

Burtenshaw Kenny & Associates have been engaged as researchers. The findings will inform the development of an action plan in conjunction with Project Implementation team (PIT) members.  PIT members will include senior staff from HSE, FAS, Garda Siochana, VEC, Department of Social & Family Affairs, Kildare County Council, County Kildare LEADER Partnership, South Western Regional Drugs Task Force and the business and community sectors in the town.

A Community Participation Strategy is a key element of the programme and will be developed and implemented by Elevate Project Management & Consultancy who has the expertise in community development.

Burtenshaw Kenny & Associates and Elevate Project Management & Consultancy will be engaging in the Kilcock area in the coming weeks. A schedule of consultations is currently being agreed and will be advertised in the local area. Honor Griffin as ISP Coordinator, North Kildare will oversee the management of the Research and the development of the Community Participation Strategy. Please contact Honor at 087 7828928 or email honor@countykildarelp.ie for more information.

By Peter Kelly (Liffey Champion, Front Page)

Fianna Fail TD for Kildare north Michael Fitzpatrick is vowing to carry on in public office after he confirmed his recent diagnosis with motor neurone disease.

He is determined to stay in Dáil Eireann as long as he possibly can but will not contest the next General Election. Fitzpatrick says that “physically and mentally , I feel fine at the moment.”

The former County Councillor first noticed there was something wrong over Christmas when his arm began to give him trouble.  After going for tests he was diagnosed with the disease two weeks ago. He is still attending hospital and having treatment and has received tremendous support from his family, constituents, former fellow councillors in Kildare County Council and from other TDs in Dáil Eireann.

“I’m coping with it” says Fitzpatrick. “I know what the end result is. It’s a terminal illness but you can last a long time.  I’m on treatment and I’m hopeful that treatment can slow down that process. I know what it is and I can live with it.”

Drunk driver crashes on the motorway at Kilcock

By Sarah Egan (Liffey Champion, Page 4)

A drunk driver crashed his car on the M4 near Kilcock last Friday night (19^th Feb) after hitting the verge and losing control of his car. No other vehicles were involved in the incident.

Leixlip Gardai arrived at the scene of the accident at 8.45pm and fire brigades from Maynooth and Leixlip were called out to get the man out of the car. When they arrived he had already gotten himself out of the car.

He was taken to Connelly Hospital by ambulance with minor injuries and while at the hospital his blood alcohol level was found to be over the legal limit.

He was then charged with drink driving.

Entries being sought for Kilcock St. Patrick’s Day Parade

(Liffey Champion, Page 15)

Entries for this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Kilcock are now being accepted by the committee.

Anyone who would like to take part but who has not received an entry form yet should contact Caroline on 087-2312455 to get one.

All of the businesses, community groups and organisations are welcome to enter a float.

All-Ireland bid by Kilcock School

By Henry Bauress (Leinster Leader, Feb 18^th)

Eleven volleyball players from St. Joseph’s Boys School in Kilcock are to travel to Limerick on 9^th March to try and lift an All-Ireland title. They’ve beaten five school teams in Kildare and five in Leinster to make it to the final where they will play Mary Immaculate School in Limerick.

Last year the group reached the Leinster final and hope to go one better this time around.  The team plays a modified form of volleyball called ‘Spike Ball’ under the guidance of their teacher Ms. Orla Fitzsimmons.

Everyone here at ourkilcock.ie wish the team the very best of luck in the final.

The team: Jason Gibbons, Kevin Costello, Patrick Bermingham, Barry Redmond, Nathan Murphy, Daniel Kyne, Matthew Capley, Sean Eves, Danny Coss-Heneghan, Rory O’Brien, Gavin Tyrell.

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.

Confidence over Progress on Kilcock town centre site

By Peter Kelly  (Liffey Champion, Page 2)

Kilcock Residents may be hearing about developments at The Old Monastery site in the town centre very soon. Little has been heard over the last two years about the site but at the recent Clane Area Committee meeting on 9^th February), Cllr. Liam Doyle (FF) said that there may be some move on plans to bring the site back to use in the not too distant future after meeing with Kildare County Council earlier in the day. He said that the meeting was a good one and he is now waiting on a report on it. However, Cllr. Doyle would not be pressed any further on the issue as the meeting drew to an end.

John Bruton to speak at the Maynooth/Kilcock Lions Club charity presentations

By Aideen Sutton (Liffey Champion, Page 9)

John Bruton

Former Taoiseach and retired EU ambassador to the USA, John Bruton, was to speak at a Maynooth/Kilcock Lions Club Presentation ceremony at 6pm on Thursday 18^th February.

The event was to take place at the club’s sheltered housing development, Nagle Court on the Dunboyne Road in Maynooth and afterwards Mr. Bruton was to meet the residents and members of the Lions Club.

Funds for various local causes were to be presented at the event also. These causes include school book funds for Maynooth Post Primary and Scoil Dara in Kilcock, Alzheimer respite care and the campaign for a new parish hall.

When the state budgets were cut, funds in schools for book supply were no longer supported by grants so the Lions Club stepped in and offered help from funds raised from the community through various projects. The 2 secondary schools were to each receive €2000.

More Suicide Prevention workshops planned for north Kildare

By Sarah Egan ( Liffey Champion, Page 5)

A new ‘Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention sub group for north east Kildare’ has been set up to tackle the issue of suicide in the area. Further mental health and suicide prevention seminars are being planned for 2010 following the success of last year’s seminars in Maynooth.

Deirdre Cullen, member of the sub group, has said that they are looking at the issues of young people and they are hoping to do an evening of talks for parents and teenagers soon. She added that there are 17,000 young people and 8,000 NUI Maynooth Students in the area which is why it’s so important to provide help and support to a group which makes up and third of the population.

The sub group caters for Maynooth, Celbridge, Leixlip, Kilcock and the surrounding area and has membership from the HSE, Kildare Youth Service, Mental Health Ireland, Leixlip Town Council and the Community Councils in Maynooth, Celbridge and Kilcock.

http://www.suicide.ie/

http://www.aware.ie/

http://www.mentalhealthireland.ie/

Haiti collections bring in more than €70,000

By Peter Kelly (Liffey Champion, Page 6)

More than €70,000 was raised last week by parishioners at masses across north Kildare and Lucan to help the people of Haiti. It follows the devastating earthquake which struck the poorest country in the Northern Hemisphere 5 weeks ago.

The Parish Priest of Kilcock and Newtown, Fr. PJ Byrne, praised people for their generosity and support they have shown towards the Haitian people. This follows recent collections that were taken in Clane and Rathcoffey Parish where €5,568 was raised and in Cooleragh and Staplestown where €5,540 was raised. The Justice and Peace Group in Lucan also raised €18,000 last month.

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.

Taking Part in the Parade

All businesses, sporting organisations and community groups are invited to take part in the parade – the theme of this year’s festival is “Our Kilcock” (blush!). The St Patrick’s Day committee and the Kilcock Business Association (who are presenting the Duck Race) are hoping the this year’s festival is the biggest and best in years. Business entries are €80 and club, school or voluntary groups are €40. If you haven’t been involved why not take part this year? There is a minimum of 2 cars per float and further details are can be downloaded: Kilcock St Patrick’s Day Information (PDF).

The parade starts 1.30pm on the 17th March. There are several prize categories for best entries and there is a presentation night in the Kilcock Gaa Club on Saturday 27th March 2010 at 9 pm where all prizes will be presented to all winners.

Volunteers Required

The St. Patrick’s Day committee meets on Monday nights at 8pm in the GAA club if you would like to go along and assist in preparations. The are also very much in need of volunteers to help with stewarding the parade and the Duck Race. Please get in contact with Michael Minogue, the Chairman on 087 3142292 if you can assist.

Stay tuned for more news on the Duck Race…

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