Aside from one of the nicest men on the radio winning it, the highlight of “Failte Towers2 was the guest appearance of Tom and Jean Browne, from Ardenode.
Tom who brought years of hotel management to the programme is well versed at looking after demanding guests was able to reverse the process.

Two of the mentioned horses in the last issue have obliged again. Paddy Quinlans polo pony got up by two lengths in Cork in a maiden hurdle, the Breener’s Show Blessed triumphed by six in a handicap hurdle in Naas at a topping price of 7/1.

Grania Glancy tells me that St. John’s Church are having their Harvest Thanksgiving on Sunday October 5th at 8 p.m.
All are welcome and there will be refreshments afterwards in the Band Hall.

Mary Campbell’s talents will decorate the Church of the Immaculate Conception a fortnight later, October 18th and 19th for Harvest Thanksgiving. A coffee Weekend will run on these dates to provide new robes for the Altar servers.

Meeting of the Co. Wicklow Committee on Policing Avon Ri, Blessington Weds. 28th Sept. at 7 p.m.
Details from Lorraine Gallagher. 0404 20100.

Children’s Masses as part of the preparation for Holy Communion. All 11.30 Masses.
28th September. 19th October. 23rd November. 21st December.

Wonderful to see the street cleaning crew from Kildare County Council in full swing during the week, I had a rare day off so I saw lots of things I should and some I shouldn’t.

The Garda presence in the village has increase dramatically with two gardai working opposite shifts under the control of Naas Station. Next month we will have a piece on the lads and list out the opening hours etc.

The Lilywhites got a good run out of the Championship this year after a slow start. Not soo poor Kildare County who are languishing at the bottonm of the Eircom league Division One. A move to Friday night football has meant that I wasn’t there much this year. A defeat to John Gill’s Dundalk, their latest outing. Giller has even given up slagging me about their performances.

Wonderful to see Eddie & Mai Whelan celebrate a big Anniversary milestone recently. Eddie is one of nature’s gentlemen. Long and happy years to you both.

I got a brilliant reception in both the Darker and the Jeffers households when I called to let them know that they were prizewinners in our competitions. Conor has bragging rights over big brother Mark now while Trudie reckons that she has earned more per word than author husband, Dick, ever did.

It is so strange to see sand bags outside of Mick Murphy’s and The Thatch following the recent horrendous rains. As a fella in work says it’s easier to say when it’s not raining than when it is.

My sympathies to Anne, Chris, David, Paul and Catherine on the death of their Mam, May Dennison. May head great discussions and comparisons with my late uncle Kevin about her roses and other horticultural matters. Her funeral service was great, if there is such a thing as a great funeral. May she Rest in Peace.

The parish newsletter, The Bell, is three years in existence this month. The Breener, for a man of his years is a great driving force and ideas man, he is not too well at the moment but I am sure he will be back spinning around in his swish new-ish VW Golf soon.

Bill Delaney, whose manitas de plata have provided drawings to adorn the pages of The Bugle for many a year now, is taking a break for a little while. Bill, I hope that it will be little and that your drawings will grace the Bugle again soon.

Get well soon Noel, as the lads say, hope to see you back up the ladder soon!


It was ten years ago this month…..
A picture of Oonagh Deegan,with TWO remote controls, adorned the front page of the Bugle of Sept. 1998. See page three, some things never change! The headline was, of course, Kildare’s Victory in the Leinster Championship Final. The planning issue was in full swing with large signs appearing on approach roads to the village. Jeffers was talking about the makeup of the Taoiseach. No, the paint and powder make up.
Patricia Donnelly won a Dinner Service and June Grace a toaster in the Mace raffle. Mick O’Dwyer had the cup in Paddy Murphy’s ( all the young faces!)
Harry & Bill had two winners in Shelbourne, one after the other, one of them, Braveheart Hero, owned by the late Tommy Nolan. And finally, Sean & Margaret Fogarty started trading in the Square. It’s hard to believe that you have been in Ballymore ten years lads, Happy Anniversary.!!!