Tim’s Diary
Brought to you this month by AA Roadwatch as they love Ballymore Huistis as they call it.

Punchestown reveled in five days of top quality racing, great crack and most of all fine and clement weather. I hope that you took full advantage of the wonderful festival. It far exceeded my expectations and I look forward to next year. The Breener was a casualty of the strong English raiding party when “Raise your Heart” went down gamely to ”I hear a Symphony” on the Friday. Billy Doyle, king of the silversmiths was delighted with the coverage that J.R. and Sue-Ellen from Dallas and said it was a great Kildare welcome. When the Dallas theme was played in Punchestown it was only punters of a certain vintage that turned to towards the stage. It went straight over the heads of the younger patrons.Bill looks forward to moving into Cnoc Avon in the middle of July and has promised us access to the first party.

Myself and the Guard were honorary Naas Traders for a day on Thursday. We had a great crack. Thanks to Kevin O’Ryan from At the Races for the free bets!!
A colleague of Colette’s, Aileen Fallon, who is based in the Bridewell introduced us to Lisa Murphy and, she is really a cracker, but very down to earth.
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AA Roadwatch had a new take on pronunciation of the village when telling everyone of a diversion due to the closure of the Naas/Blessington road to go through Ballymore Huistis. Lucky there are no rindabytes to contend with.

Sunday 4th of May is designated World Communication Day by the Catholic Church. This year the theme was “The media: at the crossroads between self-promotion and service. Searching for the truth in order to share it with others.”
The Sunday Indo of the same day certainly had the scoop on this with a headline
“The World’s sexiest Catholic – Eva Longoria.” Good service guys. A lot of thought went into that one.

As AA were busy diverting the traffic through the village the path works were continuing merrily. A great piece of scheduling there…

Fourty Acers the Greg Lawlor bred popped up at Uttoxeter recently. Now in the charge of David Pipe he won by at least half a mile under Tom Scudamore.

The Premiership finally came to an end this month with the Red Devils coming out on top. It was a good season overall for the Irish interests with the exception of Reading with a combination of poor results and poor discipline saw them sink. Sunderland held steady after a bad run and live to fight another year. Closer to home Kildare County finally got off the floor of Division One of the Eircom League. Having got a severe beating 6-0 at the feet of Dundalk before coming good 4-0 against Monaghan.

Hedgehunter was paraded at Puchestown following his retirement. Happily there is a hedge hunter who has NOT retired.


The Parish had a consultation with its members during March. The result was an overwhelming majority requested to be allied with Blessington parish. For some reason the powers that be in the Deanery decided that Ballymore should be in a group of four parishes combined with Kilcullen, Dunlavin and Eadestown. Now I am sure that this makes perfect sense to someone,somewhere, but I am baffled by the decision. The populace of Eadestown also wanted a link with Blessington because of geographical and historical considerations. I am sure that you will be kept informed of subsequent developments.




It was ten years ago…..


Your 50 pence Bugle headlined with the two hundredth anniversary of the 1798 rebellion and the part played by the Ballymore rebels in the event. Containing eyewitness accounts of the happenings on the 23rd and 24th of May in Ballymore, Naas and Dunlavin it is a well crafted piece. Some young fella called Jeffers made his debut with a piece about his fox hound called “Fencer.” It is a lovely yarn without a bit of giving out. !!! The review of the Punchestown Festival of 1998 carries a great photo of the late John Headon. Rose also describes the floats, the drama group portraying the Flintstones, Liz’s Hair Salon depicting the Simpsons, with the overall winners The Thatch. That great traditional music competition of that year is well reviewed. On Saturday 23rd of May 1998 the FBD Milk Ras was due to finish in Ballymore. It was a busy week as the annual Field Day was due on the following Sunday with the Leinster Tug O War Championships as it’s feature event. With GAA News of the u-10’s contesting the divisional final, the Minor team going well, a very successful boxing tourney in poulaphouca with the highlight being Paul Douglas’s win over Micahel Joyce it was hectic sporting month. If you wanted a rest you could have gone to the Anvil to hear Joe Burke, “Ireland’s greatest accordion player”, 99 pence would have bought you a pound of collar bacon, a jar of Old Time Irish Marmalade or FIVE cans of beans! Keay headon told us all that the Irish Kidney Association raised £345.56 for Forget-me-not week. Geraldine Lawler was raising funds for Bosnia, an Ann McLaughlin had raised £2000 for the India Polio Fund.Ballymore Eustace Parish Pilgrimage to World Youth Day, Sydney

20th April 2008 Raffle Results

Prize Winner

Punchestown Tickets Joe Murphy, Ardenode

Punchestown Tickets Michael c/o Teresa Evans, Bishopslane

Luxury Hamper Sean Fogarty

Dinner For 2, Ballymore Inn Teresa Evans, Bishopslane

4 Ball, Tulfarris Paul O’Sullivan, Rathmore N.S

Galway Crystal Bowl John Brennan Jnr, Vallymount

Newbridge Silver Clock Jenny Conway, Bishopslane

Wine and Chocolates Christine Hughes, Blessington

Box of Chocolates Kieran McNamara, Rathcoole