Tim’s Diary.
Ballymore People of the Year 2010.
In these days of doom & gloom it is heartening to announce that Naas Credit Union will sponsor the People of the Year Awards for this year.
We are delighted with their support.
A special award will be presented on the night in memory of the late
Des Kennedy, community activist & Credit Union director.
The awards will take place in the Resource Centre
on Saturday February 6th 2010 at 8 pm sharp.
Our Christmas wishes are shown elsewhere in this edition. I would personally like to send good wishes to anyone on duty over the festive season. Gardai, the Fire Service, Hospital personnel and other public servants. I hope that whenever you get your festive fare that you will enjoy it all the more.
A special thank you to everyone who does any sort of voluntary work in our community. A lot of these unsung hero’s and heroines go about their tasks with little fuss or acclaim. SVP, meals on wheels, church groups and many, many others. Thank you all.
Jeepers, what about Tiger Woods. A holier than thou image comes a cropper.
What a wonderful production of Ballymore Eustace - Portrait of a Village. Everyone I know is wallowing in nostalgia. The photo’s are brilliant. I think the History Society will have to publish a book every year.
And finally, to the Student Princess…. Happy Christmas and a New Year filled with Distinction(s)
Friday, February 12, 2010
The village Green Garden Club Notes
At the November Club night our guest speaker was Billy Moore from the Alpine Garden Society of Ireland. Billy has travelled extensively throughout the world studying, lecturing and searching for Alpines. Billy brought us on a tour of Turkey and its vast range of wonderful plants. We travelled with him from the eastern city of Trabzon on the coast of the Black Sea exploring the wonderful landscape and its flora. We then moved to the interior, down through the mountains to Sivas, where some of the rarest of all Alpines such as the orchid Epipactis veratrifolia, and the Phynchocoris stricta, an even rarer plant are found. Their whereabouts is a closely guarded secret amongst the plant people population. Members of the club went home with a list of plants all native of Turkey, most of which can be grown very successfully in this climate. Many of these plants are closely related to our own native species found in the Burren. The next Club night is on Dec 17th 2009 when our guest speaker will be Enda Carmody from Mimosa Flowers in Blessington. This demonstration will take place upstairs in the Ballymore Inn commencing at 7.30.sharp. Happy Christmas to all our club members past and present. As usual, there will be no Club night in January 2010. The next Club night will be on Thursday 25th Feb 2010. New members welcome
THANK YOU!!The Memorial Concert for Hughie Byrne, late of "Wellfield",
which was held in the Ardenode Country House Hotel
on 3rd December was a huge success!
At time of going to print, we have raised over €20,000 for "Aware"
- far exceeding our wildest expectations.
- We couldn't have done it without the tremendous support of our neighbours and friends and all those who helped sell tickets and who donated wonderful raffle prizes.
-
Please accept this ad as a token of our eternal gratitude,
and we wish you and your families a very Happy Christmas.Mairead MasonTom ByrneEllie Dundon
At the November Club night our guest speaker was Billy Moore from the Alpine Garden Society of Ireland. Billy has travelled extensively throughout the world studying, lecturing and searching for Alpines. Billy brought us on a tour of Turkey and its vast range of wonderful plants. We travelled with him from the eastern city of Trabzon on the coast of the Black Sea exploring the wonderful landscape and its flora. We then moved to the interior, down through the mountains to Sivas, where some of the rarest of all Alpines such as the orchid Epipactis veratrifolia, and the Phynchocoris stricta, an even rarer plant are found. Their whereabouts is a closely guarded secret amongst the plant people population. Members of the club went home with a list of plants all native of Turkey, most of which can be grown very successfully in this climate. Many of these plants are closely related to our own native species found in the Burren. The next Club night is on Dec 17th 2009 when our guest speaker will be Enda Carmody from Mimosa Flowers in Blessington. This demonstration will take place upstairs in the Ballymore Inn commencing at 7.30.sharp. Happy Christmas to all our club members past and present. As usual, there will be no Club night in January 2010. The next Club night will be on Thursday 25th Feb 2010. New members welcome
THANK YOU!!The Memorial Concert for Hughie Byrne, late of "Wellfield",
which was held in the Ardenode Country House Hotel
on 3rd December was a huge success!
At time of going to print, we have raised over €20,000 for "Aware"
- far exceeding our wildest expectations.
- We couldn't have done it without the tremendous support of our neighbours and friends and all those who helped sell tickets and who donated wonderful raffle prizes.
-
Please accept this ad as a token of our eternal gratitude,
and we wish you and your families a very Happy Christmas.Mairead MasonTom ByrneEllie Dundon
Profile of Mrs. Margaret Doyle
Photo of Margaret (on right) taken on October 26, 1968 with her sister, Katie O’Byrne, on left and her sister-in-law, Nan McGee, in the centre
This month our team visited one of our well-known ladies in the parish, Mrs. Margaret Doyle (nee McGee) of Ivy House. She was born in Bishophill in 1904 and attended Ballymore National School until she was 14 years of age. Lord Roberts was the teacher at that time, and the earliest priest she can remember was Father McCarthy. The Church floor as she recalls was made up of 2 ft. square slabs. When Canon Curran died, he left a sum of money to the Archbishop of Dublin, and some of this money was returned to the parish for a new floor.
She recalls her father curing pigs in the yard and McGee's bacon was well known. In her day, knitting socks for the British Soldiers was an enforced rule for schoolgirls. She was 12 years old at the time of the 1916 rising, which came in the midst of the 1914 -1918 War. She remembers Redmond's Volunteer's drilling in what we know today as, St. Brigid's Park. With the coming of the "Big 'Flu" in the following years, the death toll was great. Many of her closest friends were victims.
Margaret was one of the youngest to join Cuman Na mBan. Other members who joined with her were Bridie Nugent, Margaret Whelan, Brigid Miley, Elizabeth Doran and Agnes McGrath. She said she would never forget the morning her brother Paddy was arrested by the British Army and taken to Hair Park - the first internment camp on the Curragh – and later transferred to Roath Camp. On visiting various prisoners, smuggling was part of her game; on one occasion, she managed to get in a bottle of Whiskey to Nicholas Toomey of Ballysize!
Food was scarce and she remembers selling eggs for 5/ - a dozen. She married John Doyle in 1930, who was lucky to have a job in Dublin that paid 30/- per week. In 1933, they moved into Ivy House, her present home. Here she farmed for many years with her husband and together they built the first dairy in the area. She sold milk to all the people in the village and many of them also bought a turnip or two for a penny. One of our team can remember getting his can of milk in the mornings over 25 years ago. When milk was plentiful her homemade butter was much in demand.
She remembers the first gardai in Ballymore staying in the old Factory, as the Barracks was damaged as was the Court House (now Greg Byrne's Garage). The streets were in a terrible state and on Fair Days, on the first Tuesday of every month, the people put boxes outside their doors to keep the cattle and dirt away. She remembers Padraig 0'Connaire, the famous poet strolling down Bishophill smoking his pipe. He lived in the back lodge at Russborough. She recalls the second Parochial House, where our new P.P. now resides, being donated by Keoghs of Lugadowden.
Conditions improved all around with the coming of the E.S.B. in 1939. The Poulaphuca scheme then got under way giving more employment to the locals. The pubs never closed while the job lasted. The locals hadn't time to sow their gardens.
When asked for her opinion on her life, and times, she said, "instead of fighting for Ireland people should get out and work for it". To her the biggest disappointment was the closing of the woollen factory in the mid-twenties.
She says that she never travelled herself but her children went everywhere. She said that "young people of today are too well off and don't appreciate anything. Give me a book anytime instead of television. People don't read enough". This woman has worked hard all her life and is still content to do so. She has seen the two sides of life.
(Ballymore Echo August 1977)
Jack and Margaret were big figures in the Ballymore Eustace of my growing up years. Here we all got our milk. Jack died on October 21, 1969 aged 68 while Margaret died on October 22, 1987, aged 83. Their family consisted of one boy and six girls namely the late Jim, Kathleen, Joan, Clare, Gay, Ann and the late Patricia.
Margaret loved and never forgot her grandchildren and always remembered to give them presents on special occasions.
I gather Padraig O'Conaire lived for about six months (about 1921) in Dragoon Hill in John Farrington's house, which was owned by Dinny Farrington when Hollywood published its history in 1990. In response to my recent query regarding Peader Kearney, Clare Doyle told me that Padraig O’Conaire once lived at Bishopland where the late Paddy Monaghan lived.
© Matt Purcell (December 8, 2009)
Matt’s Memories
Anniversaries
The Anniversaries for the weekend of September 27 included Maisie Deegan (mother of the Deegans of Oliver Plunkett Road), Paddy Clarke (Foylaree), John O’Brien (Horsepasstown – for many years Jack was one of our Postmen), Mary Murphy (Coughlanstown – Mary was the wife of the late John and lived where Johnny now lives), Tom and Ellen Slattery, Peter Flanagan (Peter was very much involved in our CDA), Daniel Finn and Paddy McGlynn (Month’s Mind).
On the weekend of October 25, the following were remembered: Kathleen Grace (wife of the late Mick of Ballybough); Michael O’Sullivan; Patrick Corrigan; Alice Flood; Mona Nugent (Month’s Mind), Patrick Wolfe (Paddy was in England for a long time, returning home he worked with Kildare County Council and he was our Sacristan); Tom Marshall (like Paddy, Tom was in England for a long time before retiring and returning to Ireland); Madge Bowden and Thomas and Catherine Lawlor.
Ullard Cottages Dog Kennels
Aisling Redmond, daughter of George Redmond, runs a dog kennels just outside Monasterevin. While I knew George for a long time, I only discovered Aisling’s interest in dogs recently.
Who Was He?
For twenty minutes or so he stood around Ballymore Eustace and nobody knew him. That’s not quite correct; Ann Burke (Ann McGuire – to use her married name) recognised him. Claire Doyle also recognised him. Eventually he joined our group consisting of my brother James, Pat and Olive Hilliard, John O’Donnell (Moone) and myself and I called him Jackie. It wasn’t actually Jackie, but his brother, Declan. Declan is the second youngest of the Byrne family and has lived outside Ballymore Eustace for a long time now. He was an excellent musician and a dental technician. Recently, Jackie visited family in America. On a more serious note, Declan had a quadruple bye-pass a few years ago but despite that, he was looking very well but has given up playing music.
Cecil
Cecil O’Neill works with Martin Kelleher of Kelleher Trees. Cecil was the youngest of the late Arthur O’Neill’s nine children. Because of Martin’s involvement in hurling, I assumed he had Kilkenny roots only to discover he had, in fact, Cork connections.
The People I meet….
Recently I met Mark Doyle for the first time since his wife, Maureen died. I saw a familiar couple at Mass recently but just couldn’t place them. Afterwards the couple came over to me and the lady kindly said her name was Betty and straightaway, I realised I was talking to Betty Nugent and her German husband who were attending the Month’s Mind of Betty’s mother, Mona. Betty had a lovely verse in the November Bugle in memory of Mona.
Harvest Festival
Everyone was loud in their praise of Mary Campbell and her team of helpers for the great job they did to the Catholic Church for the Harvest Festival on October 24 and 25.
On the same weekend, Claire Doyle and her sister Gay, were busy collecting for REHAB at the Church Gate.
Bowman
In a recent article on The Embankment I referred to Mick McCarthy whom it seems hailed from Listowel as the Radio Programme “Bowman” on Sunday October 4 interviewed Mick’s brother in a dedicated programme to Brian McMahon, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Brian’s birth. (Brian lived to be 89).
Presentations
Kieran Pyne, Senior Executive Solicitor with South Dublin County Council, received a Presentation on October 8 to mark his retirement, which took place on September 4. Adrian O’Gorman, the Law Agent with South Dublin County Council, received a Presentation on October 28 to mark his retirement.
One To One
Watched the One To One TV Programme on October 19 in which Mary Wilson interviewed the writer, Joseph O’Connor. Joseph is a brother of the singer, Sinead. His best-known work is called “Star of the Sea”, a book I haven’t got around to reading yet.
Deaths
Al Byrne who was a Broadcaster in Canada died recently and I recall him being interviewed by Marion Finucane a while ago. Al was the eldest brother of Gay who compered the “Late, Late Show” for so long.
Johnny Murray of Wexford and late of Ardenode died on November 12, 2009 aged 87 R.I.P. Johnny was a bookmaker and spent most of his life in Ballymore Eustace. His wife Kitty, his family, grandchildren and relatives survive Johnny. Johnny’s remains are interred in Hollywood Cemetery.
Johnny was a good hardball player and contemporary of Bobby Grattan, late Jim Bolger, late Bill Lawlor, Liam Evans and late Paddy Monaghan. Those I met at Johnny’s funeral included John Lynam who took over from the Murrays at Ardenode and Dinny Toomey and his wife both of who used to help out at the Ardenode.
Ballymore Eustace Market House
When was the Ballymore Eustace Market House demolished and by whom?
Christmas 2009
With Christmas 2009 approaching, I would like to wish all the best for the festive season to our readers and I would like to thank all those who helped me with my articles during the past year.
© Matt Purcell (December 8, 2009)
Photo of Margaret (on right) taken on October 26, 1968 with her sister, Katie O’Byrne, on left and her sister-in-law, Nan McGee, in the centre
This month our team visited one of our well-known ladies in the parish, Mrs. Margaret Doyle (nee McGee) of Ivy House. She was born in Bishophill in 1904 and attended Ballymore National School until she was 14 years of age. Lord Roberts was the teacher at that time, and the earliest priest she can remember was Father McCarthy. The Church floor as she recalls was made up of 2 ft. square slabs. When Canon Curran died, he left a sum of money to the Archbishop of Dublin, and some of this money was returned to the parish for a new floor.
She recalls her father curing pigs in the yard and McGee's bacon was well known. In her day, knitting socks for the British Soldiers was an enforced rule for schoolgirls. She was 12 years old at the time of the 1916 rising, which came in the midst of the 1914 -1918 War. She remembers Redmond's Volunteer's drilling in what we know today as, St. Brigid's Park. With the coming of the "Big 'Flu" in the following years, the death toll was great. Many of her closest friends were victims.
Margaret was one of the youngest to join Cuman Na mBan. Other members who joined with her were Bridie Nugent, Margaret Whelan, Brigid Miley, Elizabeth Doran and Agnes McGrath. She said she would never forget the morning her brother Paddy was arrested by the British Army and taken to Hair Park - the first internment camp on the Curragh – and later transferred to Roath Camp. On visiting various prisoners, smuggling was part of her game; on one occasion, she managed to get in a bottle of Whiskey to Nicholas Toomey of Ballysize!
Food was scarce and she remembers selling eggs for 5/ - a dozen. She married John Doyle in 1930, who was lucky to have a job in Dublin that paid 30/- per week. In 1933, they moved into Ivy House, her present home. Here she farmed for many years with her husband and together they built the first dairy in the area. She sold milk to all the people in the village and many of them also bought a turnip or two for a penny. One of our team can remember getting his can of milk in the mornings over 25 years ago. When milk was plentiful her homemade butter was much in demand.
She remembers the first gardai in Ballymore staying in the old Factory, as the Barracks was damaged as was the Court House (now Greg Byrne's Garage). The streets were in a terrible state and on Fair Days, on the first Tuesday of every month, the people put boxes outside their doors to keep the cattle and dirt away. She remembers Padraig 0'Connaire, the famous poet strolling down Bishophill smoking his pipe. He lived in the back lodge at Russborough. She recalls the second Parochial House, where our new P.P. now resides, being donated by Keoghs of Lugadowden.
Conditions improved all around with the coming of the E.S.B. in 1939. The Poulaphuca scheme then got under way giving more employment to the locals. The pubs never closed while the job lasted. The locals hadn't time to sow their gardens.
When asked for her opinion on her life, and times, she said, "instead of fighting for Ireland people should get out and work for it". To her the biggest disappointment was the closing of the woollen factory in the mid-twenties.
She says that she never travelled herself but her children went everywhere. She said that "young people of today are too well off and don't appreciate anything. Give me a book anytime instead of television. People don't read enough". This woman has worked hard all her life and is still content to do so. She has seen the two sides of life.
(Ballymore Echo August 1977)
Jack and Margaret were big figures in the Ballymore Eustace of my growing up years. Here we all got our milk. Jack died on October 21, 1969 aged 68 while Margaret died on October 22, 1987, aged 83. Their family consisted of one boy and six girls namely the late Jim, Kathleen, Joan, Clare, Gay, Ann and the late Patricia.
Margaret loved and never forgot her grandchildren and always remembered to give them presents on special occasions.
I gather Padraig O'Conaire lived for about six months (about 1921) in Dragoon Hill in John Farrington's house, which was owned by Dinny Farrington when Hollywood published its history in 1990. In response to my recent query regarding Peader Kearney, Clare Doyle told me that Padraig O’Conaire once lived at Bishopland where the late Paddy Monaghan lived.
© Matt Purcell (December 8, 2009)
Matt’s Memories
Anniversaries
The Anniversaries for the weekend of September 27 included Maisie Deegan (mother of the Deegans of Oliver Plunkett Road), Paddy Clarke (Foylaree), John O’Brien (Horsepasstown – for many years Jack was one of our Postmen), Mary Murphy (Coughlanstown – Mary was the wife of the late John and lived where Johnny now lives), Tom and Ellen Slattery, Peter Flanagan (Peter was very much involved in our CDA), Daniel Finn and Paddy McGlynn (Month’s Mind).
On the weekend of October 25, the following were remembered: Kathleen Grace (wife of the late Mick of Ballybough); Michael O’Sullivan; Patrick Corrigan; Alice Flood; Mona Nugent (Month’s Mind), Patrick Wolfe (Paddy was in England for a long time, returning home he worked with Kildare County Council and he was our Sacristan); Tom Marshall (like Paddy, Tom was in England for a long time before retiring and returning to Ireland); Madge Bowden and Thomas and Catherine Lawlor.
Ullard Cottages Dog Kennels
Aisling Redmond, daughter of George Redmond, runs a dog kennels just outside Monasterevin. While I knew George for a long time, I only discovered Aisling’s interest in dogs recently.
Who Was He?
For twenty minutes or so he stood around Ballymore Eustace and nobody knew him. That’s not quite correct; Ann Burke (Ann McGuire – to use her married name) recognised him. Claire Doyle also recognised him. Eventually he joined our group consisting of my brother James, Pat and Olive Hilliard, John O’Donnell (Moone) and myself and I called him Jackie. It wasn’t actually Jackie, but his brother, Declan. Declan is the second youngest of the Byrne family and has lived outside Ballymore Eustace for a long time now. He was an excellent musician and a dental technician. Recently, Jackie visited family in America. On a more serious note, Declan had a quadruple bye-pass a few years ago but despite that, he was looking very well but has given up playing music.
Cecil
Cecil O’Neill works with Martin Kelleher of Kelleher Trees. Cecil was the youngest of the late Arthur O’Neill’s nine children. Because of Martin’s involvement in hurling, I assumed he had Kilkenny roots only to discover he had, in fact, Cork connections.
The People I meet….
Recently I met Mark Doyle for the first time since his wife, Maureen died. I saw a familiar couple at Mass recently but just couldn’t place them. Afterwards the couple came over to me and the lady kindly said her name was Betty and straightaway, I realised I was talking to Betty Nugent and her German husband who were attending the Month’s Mind of Betty’s mother, Mona. Betty had a lovely verse in the November Bugle in memory of Mona.
Harvest Festival
Everyone was loud in their praise of Mary Campbell and her team of helpers for the great job they did to the Catholic Church for the Harvest Festival on October 24 and 25.
On the same weekend, Claire Doyle and her sister Gay, were busy collecting for REHAB at the Church Gate.
Bowman
In a recent article on The Embankment I referred to Mick McCarthy whom it seems hailed from Listowel as the Radio Programme “Bowman” on Sunday October 4 interviewed Mick’s brother in a dedicated programme to Brian McMahon, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Brian’s birth. (Brian lived to be 89).
Presentations
Kieran Pyne, Senior Executive Solicitor with South Dublin County Council, received a Presentation on October 8 to mark his retirement, which took place on September 4. Adrian O’Gorman, the Law Agent with South Dublin County Council, received a Presentation on October 28 to mark his retirement.
One To One
Watched the One To One TV Programme on October 19 in which Mary Wilson interviewed the writer, Joseph O’Connor. Joseph is a brother of the singer, Sinead. His best-known work is called “Star of the Sea”, a book I haven’t got around to reading yet.
Deaths
Al Byrne who was a Broadcaster in Canada died recently and I recall him being interviewed by Marion Finucane a while ago. Al was the eldest brother of Gay who compered the “Late, Late Show” for so long.
Johnny Murray of Wexford and late of Ardenode died on November 12, 2009 aged 87 R.I.P. Johnny was a bookmaker and spent most of his life in Ballymore Eustace. His wife Kitty, his family, grandchildren and relatives survive Johnny. Johnny’s remains are interred in Hollywood Cemetery.
Johnny was a good hardball player and contemporary of Bobby Grattan, late Jim Bolger, late Bill Lawlor, Liam Evans and late Paddy Monaghan. Those I met at Johnny’s funeral included John Lynam who took over from the Murrays at Ardenode and Dinny Toomey and his wife both of who used to help out at the Ardenode.
Ballymore Eustace Market House
When was the Ballymore Eustace Market House demolished and by whom?
Christmas 2009
With Christmas 2009 approaching, I would like to wish all the best for the festive season to our readers and I would like to thank all those who helped me with my articles during the past year.
© Matt Purcell (December 8, 2009)
*All Good Things Come to an End; A Brief History of the Eustaces of Ballymore:* *Part I; By Ronald F. Eustice in Savage, Minnesota*
For nearly five centuries the Eustace family --- after the FitzGeralds --- was the second most powerful in Kildare. Eustace lands were scattered from Confey in the north, southward to the townlands of Castlemore and Newstown near Tullow in Carlow, and from the Dublin and Wicklow mountains in the east to Athy and Newbridge in the west. The triangle which included Naas, Ballymore Eustace and Old Kilcullen was almost one large family estate ; * Criche-Eustace* or *Cry-Eustace* it was called.
Eustace castles, especially those at Ballymore Eustace, Harristown, Castlemartin and Clongowes Wood, guarded the Pale for several centuries, and only fell at last to the guns of Ormonde and Cromwell. It was rare for a jury of county gentlemen to contain no Eustace, and on at least one occasion in 1537, Eustaces formed a majority of seven upon a panel of twelve1. The family produced many of the great men of Kildare and several held the highest positions in the Government of Ireland. There were two Lords Deputy named Eustace, three Lords Chancellor, two Lords Treasurer and the High Sheriff of Kildare on at least forty-five occasions. We will meet several of the most notable Eustaces in future issues. In Archbishop Allen’s Register2 it is recorded for the period 1256-66, that “Eustace, son of Godfrey” paid wax rent, with a note by the Archbishop “*perhaps for Barrettstown*.” If this person is a member of the family he is the earliest family member identified in records. The Justiciary Rolls3 of Edward I and II, in items dealing with Cos. Kildare and Meath, contain references to the names Eustace and FitzEustace. These include: Richard, a Burgess of Kells, 1291 ; Richard and John, son of John, 1305; Richard, a Juror, 1306; Geoffrey and John concerned in events near Castlemartin, 1308 and 1310; Sir Richard, a Juror, 1310/12; and Thomas murdered by Nicholas Aunsell, tried at Naas, 1313. * * *Sir Eustace LePoer*, Baron of Kells was Justice Itinerant in 1285, and invaded Scotland in 1296, 1301 and 1303. According to the Book of Howth4, he entered Scotland with a great power of men. The Book of Howth states that the *Eustacys* descended lineally of the second son of the foresaid L. Eustas which were very noble men in those days of Knighthood and ability. He died in 1311, and his son Arnold, seems to have assumed the name FitzEustace which was borne by his descendants until changed to Eustace soon after the introduction of surnames in 1465. By 1317, *Arnold FitzEustace LePoer* owned Castlemartin and the neighboring townlands of Kilcullen, Brannockstown and Nicholastown, all just south of the Liffey5.
In 1326, *John Fitz Eustace* held from the Archbishop two carcurates6 in Dowdenstown. John FitzEustace founded the Dominican Priory at Naas in 1356, with its church being dedicated to St. Eustachius. The priory served as a house of worship until all Irish monasteries were surpressed by order of Henry VIII during in 15407. Four years later John, his eldest son had custody of Cradockstown during a minority. In 1373, Nicholas probably a younger son, was granted by John Halle, the lands of Donore; northwest of Naas, and Blakestown, County Wicklow. Sometime before 1330, a FitzEustace (perhaps Robert FitzEustace who was Lord Treasurer of Ireland in 1327 or Oliver, son of Robert), was settled at Castlemartin. Roland FitzOliver, of the next generation was living at Castlemartin in 1383. It is possible that Thomas FitzOliver of Ballycotelan who was appointed Constable of Ballymore Eustace in 1373, was his brother8. In 1355, Geoffrey FitzEustace and the Sheriff of Kildare were ordered to inspect and report upon Ballymore Castle and other defenses of the Pale. The castle at Ballymore was situated at a vital crossing of the Liffey and thus considered to be one of the most important forts on the English Pale. In 1361, the head rents of Dowdenstown and Tipperkevin were granted by the Archbishop to William Greuett, who sold them in 1401 to Nicholas Eustace of Dublin who had connections in Confey. At that time the lands were held by Richard, grandson of John FitzEustace 9. As early as 137310, we find *Thomas, son of Almaric (Oliver?) FitzEustace*, appointed by Thomas, Lord Archbishop of Dublin, constable of the castle of Ballymore, with a salary of *£*10 per annum, provided he live there with his family. For the next five generations the FitzEustaces (later Eustace) held the Castle of Ballymore which protected the territory from intrusions by the native Irish septs that lived in the vastness of the Wicklow Mountains, who had been dispossessed in the 12th and early 13th centuries. The sons and grandsons of the Castlemartin FitzEustaces gradually spread north, south and east, for we soon find the following prominent members of the family well established on their various estates11: *Robert of Craddockstown*, High Sheriff of Kildare in 1375, · *John of Newland*, alive in 1377 and High Sheriff in 1434, · *Sir Maurice of Ballycotelan* (Coghlanstown), High Sheriff of Kildare · and of Dublin, and died about 1402, *Sir John of Blackhall* · (Calverstown), High Sheriff of Kildare and died in 1405.
Attempts to link these and other known FitzEustaces living in the fourteenth Century, with the main Castlemartin branch would be largely conjectural, therefore in future issues we shall treat the families as separate branches, but of a common stock 12. With a few notable exceptions the Eustaces have nearly disappeared from Kildare, and their name has become somewhat rare in Ireland itself. In future issues, I will recap some of the events that caused the departure of this once great family from County Kildare. Notes & Citations: 1. An Inquisition was held in Dublin in the year 1537, to ascertain what the heirs-general of the Earl of Ormonde held of the King in the Kildare Manors of Castelwarnyng (Castlewarden), Owghterad, and Clinton’s Court. The twelve jurors belonged to the County Kildare and out of that number just over half of them were Eustaces. Their names are given thus ; William Eustace, of Moone, Gent, Maurice Eustace, of Castlemartin Gent, John Eustace, of Newlande, Gent, Roland Eustace of Molaghcashe, Gent ; Richard Eustace, of Cradockstown, Gent , Richard Eustace, of Kerdeston, Gent, Richard Wogan, of Rathcoffee Gent, James ffitzGerald, of Ballysonan, Gent, Gerald ffitzGerald, of Clane, Gent, Edmund Eustace, of Miloteston,Gent, James fitzMoryshe, of Blackhall, Gent, Patrick Whit, of Miloteston, Gent. [Dublin Exchequer Inquisition, No. 80 of Henry VIII., Dublin, August, Henry VIII., 29th Year; W. FITZGerald. 2. Tickell, Sir Eustace F; Journal of the Kildare Archeological Society; Vol. XIII, No 8 (1958), Page 388. 3. Tickell, Sir Eustace F; Journal of the Kildare Archeological Society; Vol. XIII, No 7 (1958), Page 307. 4. Tickell, Sir Eustace F; Journal of the Kildare Archeological Society; Vol. XIII, No 6 (1955), Page 272. There are many references which link Eustace LePoer to the Power family of County Waterford. *Note that Y-chromosome DNA testing of male members of both the Eustace and Powers families do not show similar profiles. Perhaps the connection between Eustace and LePoer is from a marriage of a LePoer daughter to a Eustace who is believed to have been among the original Norman Knights who came with Henry II in 1182.* 5. Tickell, Sir Eustace F; Journal of the Kildare Archeological Society; Vol. XIII, No 6 (1955), Page 273. 6. A carcurate was 100-120 acres (say 160-200 statute), but excluded woodland, pasture, and bog. The Dowdenstown townlands are now 447 acres statute and Tipperkevin is 280 acres. Head-rents were 10/- in 1326 and 57/- in 1361. 7. We shall learn in future articles, Thomas Eustace, (1480-1549) 1st Viscount Baltinglass benefited greatly from Henry’s dissolution of the monasteries and was granted New Abbey as well as Baltinglass Abbey in Wicklow. It is reported that upon his death he owned half the lands in Wicklow. 8. Tickell, Sir Eustace F; Journal of the Kildare Archeological Society; Vol. XIII, No 6 (1955), Page 273- 275.
9. Ibid 10. Murphy, Reverend Denis, S.J; Journal of the Kildare Archeological Society; Vol I, (1893), Page 117. 11. Tickell, Sir Eustace F; Journal of the Kildare Archeological Society; Vol. XIII, No 6 (1955), Page 273. 12. Ibid, Page 274; Tickell states that it is very probable that Sir Maurice of Ballycotelan, Thomas FitzOliver (Constable of Ballymore in 1373) and Roland FitzOliver of Castlemartin were brothers. If correct, this would provide the link between the FitzEustaces of Castlemartin and the powerful Ballycotelan family.
For nearly five centuries the Eustace family --- after the FitzGeralds --- was the second most powerful in Kildare. Eustace lands were scattered from Confey in the north, southward to the townlands of Castlemore and Newstown near Tullow in Carlow, and from the Dublin and Wicklow mountains in the east to Athy and Newbridge in the west. The triangle which included Naas, Ballymore Eustace and Old Kilcullen was almost one large family estate ; * Criche-Eustace* or *Cry-Eustace* it was called.
Eustace castles, especially those at Ballymore Eustace, Harristown, Castlemartin and Clongowes Wood, guarded the Pale for several centuries, and only fell at last to the guns of Ormonde and Cromwell. It was rare for a jury of county gentlemen to contain no Eustace, and on at least one occasion in 1537, Eustaces formed a majority of seven upon a panel of twelve1. The family produced many of the great men of Kildare and several held the highest positions in the Government of Ireland. There were two Lords Deputy named Eustace, three Lords Chancellor, two Lords Treasurer and the High Sheriff of Kildare on at least forty-five occasions. We will meet several of the most notable Eustaces in future issues. In Archbishop Allen’s Register2 it is recorded for the period 1256-66, that “Eustace, son of Godfrey” paid wax rent, with a note by the Archbishop “*perhaps for Barrettstown*.” If this person is a member of the family he is the earliest family member identified in records. The Justiciary Rolls3 of Edward I and II, in items dealing with Cos. Kildare and Meath, contain references to the names Eustace and FitzEustace. These include: Richard, a Burgess of Kells, 1291 ; Richard and John, son of John, 1305; Richard, a Juror, 1306; Geoffrey and John concerned in events near Castlemartin, 1308 and 1310; Sir Richard, a Juror, 1310/12; and Thomas murdered by Nicholas Aunsell, tried at Naas, 1313. * * *Sir Eustace LePoer*, Baron of Kells was Justice Itinerant in 1285, and invaded Scotland in 1296, 1301 and 1303. According to the Book of Howth4, he entered Scotland with a great power of men. The Book of Howth states that the *Eustacys* descended lineally of the second son of the foresaid L. Eustas which were very noble men in those days of Knighthood and ability. He died in 1311, and his son Arnold, seems to have assumed the name FitzEustace which was borne by his descendants until changed to Eustace soon after the introduction of surnames in 1465. By 1317, *Arnold FitzEustace LePoer* owned Castlemartin and the neighboring townlands of Kilcullen, Brannockstown and Nicholastown, all just south of the Liffey5.
In 1326, *John Fitz Eustace* held from the Archbishop two carcurates6 in Dowdenstown. John FitzEustace founded the Dominican Priory at Naas in 1356, with its church being dedicated to St. Eustachius. The priory served as a house of worship until all Irish monasteries were surpressed by order of Henry VIII during in 15407. Four years later John, his eldest son had custody of Cradockstown during a minority. In 1373, Nicholas probably a younger son, was granted by John Halle, the lands of Donore; northwest of Naas, and Blakestown, County Wicklow. Sometime before 1330, a FitzEustace (perhaps Robert FitzEustace who was Lord Treasurer of Ireland in 1327 or Oliver, son of Robert), was settled at Castlemartin. Roland FitzOliver, of the next generation was living at Castlemartin in 1383. It is possible that Thomas FitzOliver of Ballycotelan who was appointed Constable of Ballymore Eustace in 1373, was his brother8. In 1355, Geoffrey FitzEustace and the Sheriff of Kildare were ordered to inspect and report upon Ballymore Castle and other defenses of the Pale. The castle at Ballymore was situated at a vital crossing of the Liffey and thus considered to be one of the most important forts on the English Pale. In 1361, the head rents of Dowdenstown and Tipperkevin were granted by the Archbishop to William Greuett, who sold them in 1401 to Nicholas Eustace of Dublin who had connections in Confey. At that time the lands were held by Richard, grandson of John FitzEustace 9. As early as 137310, we find *Thomas, son of Almaric (Oliver?) FitzEustace*, appointed by Thomas, Lord Archbishop of Dublin, constable of the castle of Ballymore, with a salary of *£*10 per annum, provided he live there with his family. For the next five generations the FitzEustaces (later Eustace) held the Castle of Ballymore which protected the territory from intrusions by the native Irish septs that lived in the vastness of the Wicklow Mountains, who had been dispossessed in the 12th and early 13th centuries. The sons and grandsons of the Castlemartin FitzEustaces gradually spread north, south and east, for we soon find the following prominent members of the family well established on their various estates11: *Robert of Craddockstown*, High Sheriff of Kildare in 1375, · *John of Newland*, alive in 1377 and High Sheriff in 1434, · *Sir Maurice of Ballycotelan* (Coghlanstown), High Sheriff of Kildare · and of Dublin, and died about 1402, *Sir John of Blackhall* · (Calverstown), High Sheriff of Kildare and died in 1405.
Attempts to link these and other known FitzEustaces living in the fourteenth Century, with the main Castlemartin branch would be largely conjectural, therefore in future issues we shall treat the families as separate branches, but of a common stock 12. With a few notable exceptions the Eustaces have nearly disappeared from Kildare, and their name has become somewhat rare in Ireland itself. In future issues, I will recap some of the events that caused the departure of this once great family from County Kildare. Notes & Citations: 1. An Inquisition was held in Dublin in the year 1537, to ascertain what the heirs-general of the Earl of Ormonde held of the King in the Kildare Manors of Castelwarnyng (Castlewarden), Owghterad, and Clinton’s Court. The twelve jurors belonged to the County Kildare and out of that number just over half of them were Eustaces. Their names are given thus ; William Eustace, of Moone, Gent, Maurice Eustace, of Castlemartin Gent, John Eustace, of Newlande, Gent, Roland Eustace of Molaghcashe, Gent ; Richard Eustace, of Cradockstown, Gent , Richard Eustace, of Kerdeston, Gent, Richard Wogan, of Rathcoffee Gent, James ffitzGerald, of Ballysonan, Gent, Gerald ffitzGerald, of Clane, Gent, Edmund Eustace, of Miloteston,Gent, James fitzMoryshe, of Blackhall, Gent, Patrick Whit, of Miloteston, Gent. [Dublin Exchequer Inquisition, No. 80 of Henry VIII., Dublin, August, Henry VIII., 29th Year; W. FITZGerald. 2. Tickell, Sir Eustace F; Journal of the Kildare Archeological Society; Vol. XIII, No 8 (1958), Page 388. 3. Tickell, Sir Eustace F; Journal of the Kildare Archeological Society; Vol. XIII, No 7 (1958), Page 307. 4. Tickell, Sir Eustace F; Journal of the Kildare Archeological Society; Vol. XIII, No 6 (1955), Page 272. There are many references which link Eustace LePoer to the Power family of County Waterford. *Note that Y-chromosome DNA testing of male members of both the Eustace and Powers families do not show similar profiles. Perhaps the connection between Eustace and LePoer is from a marriage of a LePoer daughter to a Eustace who is believed to have been among the original Norman Knights who came with Henry II in 1182.* 5. Tickell, Sir Eustace F; Journal of the Kildare Archeological Society; Vol. XIII, No 6 (1955), Page 273. 6. A carcurate was 100-120 acres (say 160-200 statute), but excluded woodland, pasture, and bog. The Dowdenstown townlands are now 447 acres statute and Tipperkevin is 280 acres. Head-rents were 10/- in 1326 and 57/- in 1361. 7. We shall learn in future articles, Thomas Eustace, (1480-1549) 1st Viscount Baltinglass benefited greatly from Henry’s dissolution of the monasteries and was granted New Abbey as well as Baltinglass Abbey in Wicklow. It is reported that upon his death he owned half the lands in Wicklow. 8. Tickell, Sir Eustace F; Journal of the Kildare Archeological Society; Vol. XIII, No 6 (1955), Page 273- 275.
9. Ibid 10. Murphy, Reverend Denis, S.J; Journal of the Kildare Archeological Society; Vol I, (1893), Page 117. 11. Tickell, Sir Eustace F; Journal of the Kildare Archeological Society; Vol. XIII, No 6 (1955), Page 273. 12. Ibid, Page 274; Tickell states that it is very probable that Sir Maurice of Ballycotelan, Thomas FitzOliver (Constable of Ballymore in 1373) and Roland FitzOliver of Castlemartin were brothers. If correct, this would provide the link between the FitzEustaces of Castlemartin and the powerful Ballycotelan family.
Ballymore Ladies GFC
Happy Christmas from Ballymore Ladies
Ballymore Ladies would like to wish all their supporters and sponsors throughout the year a very Happy Christmas. A Big Thank You to the committee members and management team for the work put in during 2009.Here’s hoping that 2010 will be a successful year for all involved.
Merry Christmas!
Deirdre & Sharon
Ballymore Ladies GFC PROs
A.G.M
The A.G.M was held on the 10th December in the Resource Centre. One of the best turn-outs in recent years gave a good indication that the club will be a success in 2010 and beyond. There was big change in personnel for the running of the club with plenty of fresh faces which can only mean good things for everyone associated with Ballymore Eustace GAA in 2010. Our new officers for 2010 are:
Chairman: Johnny Murphy
Vice Chairman: Tom O’ Rourke
Presidents: Jim Clarke & Eddie Hubbard
Vice Presidents: Mrs Daly, Eugene Gilroy, Tom Quinn & Nuala Hubbard
Patron: Fr. Walters
Secretary: Mark McCarville
Treasurer: Tim Duggan
PRO’s: Michelle Water’s & Natasha Halpin Graham
County Board Delegates: Tom O’ Rourke, Eoin Barrett & Mark McCarville
Delegates to Convention: Tom O Rourke & Tadhg Grace
Player Representative: Tadhg Grace
There were thirteen members nominated to the committee and on behalf of everyone within the club id like to wish Johnny and his team the best of luck for 2010. Also special thanks to the out-going officers and everyone who contributed and supported the club throughout 2009
Club Winners for 2009
Congratulations to our club winners for 2009. The Senior Player of the Year went to Eoin Kavanagh who was prolific in front of goal this year. Our Young Player of the Year winner was Steven Dwyer who improved immensely as the year went on. Finally our Clubman of the Year went to Jarleth Gilroy. Jarleth got the senior team back on track this year and has been an incredible clubman throughout his playing and coaching days. Well done to our three winners.
Membership
Membership has been set at €30 for adults and €20 for Students and O.A.P’s. Family membership is also available at €80. Ballymore has one of the lowest membership numbers in the county and this has to change for the benefit of the club. Anyone who uses the pitch facilities for any reason is urged to become a member while players who do not pay membership will not be allowed to tog out for the club.
Birthday
A special presentation was made at the A.G.M to our golden girl Mrs Daly who turned 30 no sorry 40 no sorry she turned 50 recently give or take a few years. Happy Birthday to you and don’t forget to wash the jerseys!!!
Monthly Draw Winners
Monthy Draw Winners for November: Barry Ward €150, Sadhbh Gilroy €50, Nancy Clarke €50, Simon Murphy €20. Congratulations to all
Walkers
A reminder to the walkers to drop a few euros into the box just off the track beside the dressing room for the use of the track, its signposted……. Thank you!!!
Ballymore GAA On-line
Check out the club website on http://www.kildare.ie/ballymoreeustacegaa or become a fan of Ballymore GAA on Facebook for all the latest news and events.
The Club would like to wish everyone associated with the club near and far a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
William O’ Donoghue
Out-going PRO
Happy Christmas from Ballymore Ladies
Ballymore Ladies would like to wish all their supporters and sponsors throughout the year a very Happy Christmas. A Big Thank You to the committee members and management team for the work put in during 2009.Here’s hoping that 2010 will be a successful year for all involved.
Merry Christmas!
Deirdre & Sharon
Ballymore Ladies GFC PROs
A.G.M
The A.G.M was held on the 10th December in the Resource Centre. One of the best turn-outs in recent years gave a good indication that the club will be a success in 2010 and beyond. There was big change in personnel for the running of the club with plenty of fresh faces which can only mean good things for everyone associated with Ballymore Eustace GAA in 2010. Our new officers for 2010 are:
Chairman: Johnny Murphy
Vice Chairman: Tom O’ Rourke
Presidents: Jim Clarke & Eddie Hubbard
Vice Presidents: Mrs Daly, Eugene Gilroy, Tom Quinn & Nuala Hubbard
Patron: Fr. Walters
Secretary: Mark McCarville
Treasurer: Tim Duggan
PRO’s: Michelle Water’s & Natasha Halpin Graham
County Board Delegates: Tom O’ Rourke, Eoin Barrett & Mark McCarville
Delegates to Convention: Tom O Rourke & Tadhg Grace
Player Representative: Tadhg Grace
There were thirteen members nominated to the committee and on behalf of everyone within the club id like to wish Johnny and his team the best of luck for 2010. Also special thanks to the out-going officers and everyone who contributed and supported the club throughout 2009
Club Winners for 2009
Congratulations to our club winners for 2009. The Senior Player of the Year went to Eoin Kavanagh who was prolific in front of goal this year. Our Young Player of the Year winner was Steven Dwyer who improved immensely as the year went on. Finally our Clubman of the Year went to Jarleth Gilroy. Jarleth got the senior team back on track this year and has been an incredible clubman throughout his playing and coaching days. Well done to our three winners.
Membership
Membership has been set at €30 for adults and €20 for Students and O.A.P’s. Family membership is also available at €80. Ballymore has one of the lowest membership numbers in the county and this has to change for the benefit of the club. Anyone who uses the pitch facilities for any reason is urged to become a member while players who do not pay membership will not be allowed to tog out for the club.
Birthday
A special presentation was made at the A.G.M to our golden girl Mrs Daly who turned 30 no sorry 40 no sorry she turned 50 recently give or take a few years. Happy Birthday to you and don’t forget to wash the jerseys!!!
Monthly Draw Winners
Monthy Draw Winners for November: Barry Ward €150, Sadhbh Gilroy €50, Nancy Clarke €50, Simon Murphy €20. Congratulations to all
Walkers
A reminder to the walkers to drop a few euros into the box just off the track beside the dressing room for the use of the track, its signposted……. Thank you!!!
Ballymore GAA On-line
Check out the club website on http://www.kildare.ie/ballymoreeustacegaa or become a fan of Ballymore GAA on Facebook for all the latest news and events.
The Club would like to wish everyone associated with the club near and far a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
William O’ Donoghue
Out-going PRO
Ballymore Singing Festival
Where else would you find such richness in music as Ballymore? Singers from all over the country and even outside the country singing such a variety of songs about love, betrayal, war, emigration, chariot races, financial recessions, unionist politicians, Napoleon, birds, animals, washerwomen and lots more.
This was the 8th year of the Ballymore Singing Festival, the most low key (pun intended) festival you could imagine. It usually takes place in the middle of October a few weeks after the Music under the Mountains Festival in Hollywood. Ballymore’s festival concentrates on traditional singing and is spread around some of the pubs with Mick Murphy’s being the principal standard bearer. It was great to see Headon’s open again for the weekend. In the early years we were graced with the singing as well as the wisdom and stories of the late great Frank Harte. This year traditional singers came from all over, from Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales and France and beyond to sing songs whose great value is in their words and music and not in the slickness of their arrangement and backing accompaniment. The songs may be old or new but the style is traditional. All over Ireland there are traditional singing clubs where such songs are kept alive or, in the case of new songs, given their first outing. We have a group of such enthusiasts in Ballymore who meet in Mick Murphy’s once a month. Someone said that if songs are not sung they will die. For that reason singing festivals and singing clubs exist. This year the visitors included Rosie Stewart, formerly singer of the year with TG4. She launched her latest CD on the Sunday at a lively session which included George Henderson and Alan Stout of the Bray Singers. Over the 3 days we were entertained by regular visitors Jerry O Reilly, Ron Kavana, Annie Armstrong, Phil Brennan, Mick Scanlon, Dick Hogan, Barry Gleeson, Tommy Mc Carthy and Mick Fowler. Among the local singers who contributed were Phil Callery, Larry Roddy, Ita Roddy, C J Darby, Denis and Deirdre Doyle, Siobhan Murphy, Brenda Lyons Liam Lawler, Liam and Maureen Downey. And there were many others who just sang and whose names passed me by. Songs were exchanged, explained and their origins examined. Occasionally, in good natured banter, singers also had their own origins questioned. Both singers and listeners moved between the various venues. The organisers were delighted with the turnout and with the local support. I can hardly wait until next year.
Liam Lawler
Breast Cancer Research Fund The organizers of the recent Breast Cancer Research fundraising events wish to sincerely thank everyone for their support. We are very grateful to Ger & Kay O'Rourke of Country Kitchens for allowing us to use their beautiful showrooms and to Karen Finnerty of Kal Ireland for her amazing cookery demonstrations. We are also very grateful to the local Art Group for their generous support and to Barry & Georgina O'Sullivan and their staff at the Ballymore Inn for all their help to us in running the raffle and auction at the recent exhibition. Finally, we want to say a huge thank you to the people of Ballymore Eustace for coming out and supporting these events. Unfortunately, breast Cancer is all too common in our area, and all funds generated are being used to research into the genes responsible for breast cancer, particularly in younger women. This is an ongoing research project being coordinated by Mr. James Geraghty, Breast Cancer Consultant at St. Vincent's Hospital in Dublin which will directly impact on women in Ballymore Eustace and Co. Kildare. Unfortunately there is no government funding for this vital research so we are sincerely grateful for your support in helping us raise Euros 4,910 so far towards keeping this vital work going.
Aileen and Janet
Billy Hillis Presentation.
I went along to the presentation to Billy Hillis in Pet Murphy’s this month.
Tim Dooley praised Billy for his dedication to public office and his service to the people of Ballymore. Tom Carberry was fulsome in praise for Billy’s dealings with Council officials. Bernard Durkan paid tribute to Joise and Billy’s family as the unsung supporters of public representatives. Mark Headon spoke of his difficulties in filling Billy Hillis shoes as he succeeded him on the council. I made a presenation on behalf of the Bugle.
If it was a retirement do it was a “Frank Sinatra” party as I think Billy Hillis will be making a comeback before too much longer.
TR
Wine tasting at Fogarty’s Quikpick in aid of Barrettstown Gang Camp.
It was a p%^&ing wet night when ace snapper, Mark Darker and myself darted in to cover this novel event. Mark Funston of Barrack Street with Niall Tubridy showed a selection of mainly new World Wines. Beneath the canopies and surrounded by Christmas trees if we had snow instead of rain it would have been perfect. Host, Sean Fogarty is building up his expertise in the wine field according to his sister Phil O’Brien. We also met genial Damien Reynor of Hampton Property Lettings who was upbeat about an upturn in the country for 2010. Sean has a fine selection of wines available. MD & myself could not partake but WE WILL be back
TR
Where else would you find such richness in music as Ballymore? Singers from all over the country and even outside the country singing such a variety of songs about love, betrayal, war, emigration, chariot races, financial recessions, unionist politicians, Napoleon, birds, animals, washerwomen and lots more.
This was the 8th year of the Ballymore Singing Festival, the most low key (pun intended) festival you could imagine. It usually takes place in the middle of October a few weeks after the Music under the Mountains Festival in Hollywood. Ballymore’s festival concentrates on traditional singing and is spread around some of the pubs with Mick Murphy’s being the principal standard bearer. It was great to see Headon’s open again for the weekend. In the early years we were graced with the singing as well as the wisdom and stories of the late great Frank Harte. This year traditional singers came from all over, from Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales and France and beyond to sing songs whose great value is in their words and music and not in the slickness of their arrangement and backing accompaniment. The songs may be old or new but the style is traditional. All over Ireland there are traditional singing clubs where such songs are kept alive or, in the case of new songs, given their first outing. We have a group of such enthusiasts in Ballymore who meet in Mick Murphy’s once a month. Someone said that if songs are not sung they will die. For that reason singing festivals and singing clubs exist. This year the visitors included Rosie Stewart, formerly singer of the year with TG4. She launched her latest CD on the Sunday at a lively session which included George Henderson and Alan Stout of the Bray Singers. Over the 3 days we were entertained by regular visitors Jerry O Reilly, Ron Kavana, Annie Armstrong, Phil Brennan, Mick Scanlon, Dick Hogan, Barry Gleeson, Tommy Mc Carthy and Mick Fowler. Among the local singers who contributed were Phil Callery, Larry Roddy, Ita Roddy, C J Darby, Denis and Deirdre Doyle, Siobhan Murphy, Brenda Lyons Liam Lawler, Liam and Maureen Downey. And there were many others who just sang and whose names passed me by. Songs were exchanged, explained and their origins examined. Occasionally, in good natured banter, singers also had their own origins questioned. Both singers and listeners moved between the various venues. The organisers were delighted with the turnout and with the local support. I can hardly wait until next year.
Liam Lawler
Breast Cancer Research Fund The organizers of the recent Breast Cancer Research fundraising events wish to sincerely thank everyone for their support. We are very grateful to Ger & Kay O'Rourke of Country Kitchens for allowing us to use their beautiful showrooms and to Karen Finnerty of Kal Ireland for her amazing cookery demonstrations. We are also very grateful to the local Art Group for their generous support and to Barry & Georgina O'Sullivan and their staff at the Ballymore Inn for all their help to us in running the raffle and auction at the recent exhibition. Finally, we want to say a huge thank you to the people of Ballymore Eustace for coming out and supporting these events. Unfortunately, breast Cancer is all too common in our area, and all funds generated are being used to research into the genes responsible for breast cancer, particularly in younger women. This is an ongoing research project being coordinated by Mr. James Geraghty, Breast Cancer Consultant at St. Vincent's Hospital in Dublin which will directly impact on women in Ballymore Eustace and Co. Kildare. Unfortunately there is no government funding for this vital research so we are sincerely grateful for your support in helping us raise Euros 4,910 so far towards keeping this vital work going.
Aileen and Janet
Billy Hillis Presentation.
I went along to the presentation to Billy Hillis in Pet Murphy’s this month.
Tim Dooley praised Billy for his dedication to public office and his service to the people of Ballymore. Tom Carberry was fulsome in praise for Billy’s dealings with Council officials. Bernard Durkan paid tribute to Joise and Billy’s family as the unsung supporters of public representatives. Mark Headon spoke of his difficulties in filling Billy Hillis shoes as he succeeded him on the council. I made a presenation on behalf of the Bugle.
If it was a retirement do it was a “Frank Sinatra” party as I think Billy Hillis will be making a comeback before too much longer.
TR
Wine tasting at Fogarty’s Quikpick in aid of Barrettstown Gang Camp.
It was a p%^&ing wet night when ace snapper, Mark Darker and myself darted in to cover this novel event. Mark Funston of Barrack Street with Niall Tubridy showed a selection of mainly new World Wines. Beneath the canopies and surrounded by Christmas trees if we had snow instead of rain it would have been perfect. Host, Sean Fogarty is building up his expertise in the wine field according to his sister Phil O’Brien. We also met genial Damien Reynor of Hampton Property Lettings who was upbeat about an upturn in the country for 2010. Sean has a fine selection of wines available. MD & myself could not partake but WE WILL be back
TR
Suffer Little Children…..
These are extracts from the Murphy Report into Clerical child sex abuse in the Dublin Dicoese.
There are reproduced without comment.
The full report is available for download at http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/JELR/Pages/PB09000504
The commission received information about 172 named priests. They concluded that 102 were within their remit.
Statistican ( Dr. Theresa Brannick of UCD) compiled a list of 47 spread over three decades.
Documentary research reduced this number by one to 46.
Of these 46,11 are/were members of religious organizations 4 of these are dead.1 belongs to a UK diocese.
34 priests in Dublin Diocese. 10 are dead, twenty are out of ministry and four continue to minister.
Of the twenty out of ministry 11 are supported by the diocese.
Of these 46 only 11 had pleaded guilty or were convicted.
One clear case of false accusation. Two where no complaints were received.
The ratio in the 320 complaints is 2.3 boy to 1.0 girl.
The following were the main people who dealt with complaints of child abuse.
Archbishops.
McQuaid. 1940 -1972 Dead.
Ryan 1972-1984 Dead.
McNamara 1985-1987 Dead.
Connell 1998-2004. Retired. Made Cardinal in 2001
Martin 2004 – present.
Auxilary Bishops.
Carroll. 1968-1989. Dead. Two periods as administrator, 1984/85 & 1987/88.
Comiskey 1980-1984. Ferns 1984. Resigned 2002.
Drennan. 1997-2005 Currently Bishop Galway.
Dunne 1946-1984. Dead.
Field. 1997- present
Forristal 1980-1981. Ossory1981. retired 2007.
Kavanagh 1972.1988. Dead
Moriarity. 1991-2002. Currently Kildare & Leighlin.
Murray 1982-1996. Currently Limerick
O’Mahony 1975-1996. Retired 1996. Also Chancellor 1975 – 1981.
O’Ceallaigh 1994-present
Walsh 1990-present Dean Clonliffe 1977 – 1985, Priest Sec. to A/Bishop 1985-1990, Administrator 2002 – 2006.
Chancellors.
Sheehy. O’Mahony ( as above) Stenson & Dolan.
Director of Child Protection Service.
Garland. 2003-present.
A number of others obviously held in high regard by McQuaid and asked to investigate allegations include.
Glennon, McMahon, Curtin & O’Regan, all Monsignors.
The treatment centres used were organizations of Church authorities.
Eight were treated in Stroud by the Servants of the Paracletes.
Twenty five by the Granada Institute. ( Hospitallier Order of St. John of God)
The List.
James McNamee.
1917- 2002. Ordained 1946. Retired 1979. 21 complaints. Rolestown. Arran Quay. Harrington Street. Crumlin.
Edmondus.
1931 - . Ordained 1957. Faculties withdrawn 1997. Number of complaints.
Chaplain to our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children. Crumlin. & various other appointments.
Phineas.
Served in the diocese in the 1960’s/1970’s.
Vidal.
Ordained in the 1960’s. Seved in the diocese in the 1960’s/1970’s.
Laicised in. Died 2004.
Patrick Maguire. 1936- . Ordained 1960. Convicted Child abuser.
In 1997. admitted the following abuses:
1963-1966. Abused 3 boys in Japan.
1967. 6 or 7 boys in Ireland.
1968-1972 2 boys.
1973. 10 boys in Japan. 10 boys in Ireland.
1974-1975. 8 boys in Ireland.
1976-1979. 8 boys and 1 girl. Set up network of victims he could abuse.
1984. 3 boys.
1984-1989. 2 boys. Continued with network.
1992-1994. 1 vulnerable adult.
1996. Grooming.
He told the Commission that this list is not complete.
Ioannes
1927 - . Ordained 1953.
Various locations in the diocese 1953-1988. USA 1988-1993. No ministry since 1993.
Tyrus.
Ordained in 1960’s. Laicized in 1978.
UnNamed.
Served in Pro Cathedral. Brought altar boys to Eadestown or Punchestown for beagling.
The details are mostly blank. Monsignor John Wilson recalled a conversation between the then Archbishop Ryan with Bishop Mark Hurley of Santa Rosa California as to Fr. ‘s personal difficulties. An exemplary Garda enquiry was stifled by senior interference. It came to an end in 1988 when it was established that this man was no longer in the country.
Horatio.
Born in the 1940’s Ordained in the 1960’s. Served in a number of parishes and eventually as Parish Priest. Canonical precept imposed October 2005.
Donal Gallagher.
1936 – 1994. ordained 1962. Vincentian.
Phibsborough 1975 – 1979. Teacher/Chaplain 1980 – 1983. Phibsborough 1983 - 1994. chaplain to School for the deaf.
Hugo.
1909 – 1988. Ordained in 1935.
Various appointments including Drimnagh promoted to Parish priest in Blessington
Ivan Payne.
1942 - . Ordained 1967.
Unofficial chaplain to Our Ladys Hospital Crumlin 1968 – 1974. Dublin Regional Marriage Tribunal 1976 – 1995. Conviceted serial child sex abuser. 31 accusations. Bishop O’Mahony had a big role in the investigation. Laicized in 2002. Moved to UK in 2003.
Donato.
1940 - . Ordained in 1970 for foreign diocese. Due to gambling problems returned to Ireland 1977. Married in 1998 without being laicized. Laicized in 2007.
Harry Moore.
1936 - . Ordained in 1960. Chaplain Artane 1960 – 1967. Ringsend, Kilquade, Assistant priest in a Catholic youth organization. Admitted to John of God for alcohol treatment 1977. Edenmore 1977. Glasthule 1980. Bayside 1983. Francis St. 1985. Chaplain Boys school 1986.
Septimus.
Ordained in 1950’s. Number of parishes in the diocese.
William Carney.
1950 - . Ordained 1974. Various postings until 1899. Dismissed from clerical stae in 1992. Serial sexual abuser of children, male and female. Ballyfermot Vocational school 1974. Wanted to foster children in 1977.
Tom Naughton.
Ordained 1963 for Kiltegan fathers. Returned home and appinted to Aughrim Street 1976. Valleymount 1980. Donnycarney 1984. Ringsend 1996.
Cicero.
1939 – 2002. Ordained 1963 for Ossory. 1970’s appointed to Dublin Regional Marriage Tribunal.
Clemens.
Born in 1960’s. Ordained in 1980’s.
Dominic Savio (John) Boland
1930 - . Ordained 1966. Teacher, school chaplain and hospital chaplain. Convicted serial child sex abuser.
Quinton.
1935 - . Ordained 1960.
Marius.
Ordained 1950’s. Number of postings in the Diocese.
Noel Reynolds.
Ordained 1959. Chaplain girls Schools. Kilmore Road. East Wall. Island parish in the diocese of Tuam. Bonnybrook. Saggart. Glendalough. Chaplain National Rehabilitation Hospital.
Daryus.
Ordained in 1950’s Died 1990’s. Various postings in Dublin.
Terentius.
Born in 1930’s. Ordained 1960’s.
John Kinsella.
Born 1948. Ordained 1973. Enniskerry.
Laurentius.
Born 1935. Ordained 1966. Chaplain to a vocational school in Dublin 1973 – 1983. Not allowed any public ministry since 1996.
Klaudius.
1957 - 2005. Ordained 1985. Hospital & prison chaplain. Teacher and assigned to parish.
Francis McCarthy.
Born 1950. Ordained 1974. Dunlavin, Enniskerry, London, Ballyfermot and Howth.
Classmate of Bill Carney.
Sergius.
Ministered in 1970’s, 1980’s, 1990’s.
Dante.
Born 1946. Ordained 1973. Several appointments in diocese.
Cassius.
1910 – 1975. Ordained 1934.
Giraldus
Born 1940. Ordained 1970. Incardinated to Diocese 1980.
Aquila.
Ordained 1960’s.
Blaise. Unindentified by Gardai.
Benito.
Born 1960’s. Ordained 1980’s.
Magnus.
Inappropriate behaviour towards a vulnerable young adult on a Lourdes pilgrimage.
Jacobus.
1916 – 2006. Ordained 1944. Member of religious order served in Diocese from 1970 to 1983.
Guido.
Ordained 1990’s. No allegations of abuse but suspicions and concerns.
Rufus.
1898 – 1974. Harold’s Cross, High Street, Arran Quay. Died before complaints could be investigated.
Ignatio.
1914 – ordained 1941. Member of religious order.
Cornelius.
1913 - . Ordained 1937. Various postings in diocese.
Ricardus.
Ordained in 1960’s. Falsely accused and complainant charged.
Agustus.
Difficulty with vow of celibacy. Laicized.
Ezio.
1893 – 1977. Ordained 1921.
“The Church failed us. They failed us as Catholics. They failed me as a human being. They took my soul. “
This was how one of the complainants who gave evidence to the Commission described his viewpoint some 32 years after the event about which he had complained took place.
Tim Ryan. December 2009.
These are extracts from the Murphy Report into Clerical child sex abuse in the Dublin Dicoese.
There are reproduced without comment.
The full report is available for download at http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/JELR/Pages/PB09000504
The commission received information about 172 named priests. They concluded that 102 were within their remit.
Statistican ( Dr. Theresa Brannick of UCD) compiled a list of 47 spread over three decades.
Documentary research reduced this number by one to 46.
Of these 46,11 are/were members of religious organizations 4 of these are dead.1 belongs to a UK diocese.
34 priests in Dublin Diocese. 10 are dead, twenty are out of ministry and four continue to minister.
Of the twenty out of ministry 11 are supported by the diocese.
Of these 46 only 11 had pleaded guilty or were convicted.
One clear case of false accusation. Two where no complaints were received.
The ratio in the 320 complaints is 2.3 boy to 1.0 girl.
The following were the main people who dealt with complaints of child abuse.
Archbishops.
McQuaid. 1940 -1972 Dead.
Ryan 1972-1984 Dead.
McNamara 1985-1987 Dead.
Connell 1998-2004. Retired. Made Cardinal in 2001
Martin 2004 – present.
Auxilary Bishops.
Carroll. 1968-1989. Dead. Two periods as administrator, 1984/85 & 1987/88.
Comiskey 1980-1984. Ferns 1984. Resigned 2002.
Drennan. 1997-2005 Currently Bishop Galway.
Dunne 1946-1984. Dead.
Field. 1997- present
Forristal 1980-1981. Ossory1981. retired 2007.
Kavanagh 1972.1988. Dead
Moriarity. 1991-2002. Currently Kildare & Leighlin.
Murray 1982-1996. Currently Limerick
O’Mahony 1975-1996. Retired 1996. Also Chancellor 1975 – 1981.
O’Ceallaigh 1994-present
Walsh 1990-present Dean Clonliffe 1977 – 1985, Priest Sec. to A/Bishop 1985-1990, Administrator 2002 – 2006.
Chancellors.
Sheehy. O’Mahony ( as above) Stenson & Dolan.
Director of Child Protection Service.
Garland. 2003-present.
A number of others obviously held in high regard by McQuaid and asked to investigate allegations include.
Glennon, McMahon, Curtin & O’Regan, all Monsignors.
The treatment centres used were organizations of Church authorities.
Eight were treated in Stroud by the Servants of the Paracletes.
Twenty five by the Granada Institute. ( Hospitallier Order of St. John of God)
The List.
James McNamee.
1917- 2002. Ordained 1946. Retired 1979. 21 complaints. Rolestown. Arran Quay. Harrington Street. Crumlin.
Edmondus.
1931 - . Ordained 1957. Faculties withdrawn 1997. Number of complaints.
Chaplain to our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children. Crumlin. & various other appointments.
Phineas.
Served in the diocese in the 1960’s/1970’s.
Vidal.
Ordained in the 1960’s. Seved in the diocese in the 1960’s/1970’s.
Laicised in. Died 2004.
Patrick Maguire. 1936- . Ordained 1960. Convicted Child abuser.
In 1997. admitted the following abuses:
1963-1966. Abused 3 boys in Japan.
1967. 6 or 7 boys in Ireland.
1968-1972 2 boys.
1973. 10 boys in Japan. 10 boys in Ireland.
1974-1975. 8 boys in Ireland.
1976-1979. 8 boys and 1 girl. Set up network of victims he could abuse.
1984. 3 boys.
1984-1989. 2 boys. Continued with network.
1992-1994. 1 vulnerable adult.
1996. Grooming.
He told the Commission that this list is not complete.
Ioannes
1927 - . Ordained 1953.
Various locations in the diocese 1953-1988. USA 1988-1993. No ministry since 1993.
Tyrus.
Ordained in 1960’s. Laicized in 1978.
UnNamed.
Served in Pro Cathedral. Brought altar boys to Eadestown or Punchestown for beagling.
The details are mostly blank. Monsignor John Wilson recalled a conversation between the then Archbishop Ryan with Bishop Mark Hurley of Santa Rosa California as to Fr. ‘s personal difficulties. An exemplary Garda enquiry was stifled by senior interference. It came to an end in 1988 when it was established that this man was no longer in the country.
Horatio.
Born in the 1940’s Ordained in the 1960’s. Served in a number of parishes and eventually as Parish Priest. Canonical precept imposed October 2005.
Donal Gallagher.
1936 – 1994. ordained 1962. Vincentian.
Phibsborough 1975 – 1979. Teacher/Chaplain 1980 – 1983. Phibsborough 1983 - 1994. chaplain to School for the deaf.
Hugo.
1909 – 1988. Ordained in 1935.
Various appointments including Drimnagh promoted to Parish priest in Blessington
Ivan Payne.
1942 - . Ordained 1967.
Unofficial chaplain to Our Ladys Hospital Crumlin 1968 – 1974. Dublin Regional Marriage Tribunal 1976 – 1995. Conviceted serial child sex abuser. 31 accusations. Bishop O’Mahony had a big role in the investigation. Laicized in 2002. Moved to UK in 2003.
Donato.
1940 - . Ordained in 1970 for foreign diocese. Due to gambling problems returned to Ireland 1977. Married in 1998 without being laicized. Laicized in 2007.
Harry Moore.
1936 - . Ordained in 1960. Chaplain Artane 1960 – 1967. Ringsend, Kilquade, Assistant priest in a Catholic youth organization. Admitted to John of God for alcohol treatment 1977. Edenmore 1977. Glasthule 1980. Bayside 1983. Francis St. 1985. Chaplain Boys school 1986.
Septimus.
Ordained in 1950’s. Number of parishes in the diocese.
William Carney.
1950 - . Ordained 1974. Various postings until 1899. Dismissed from clerical stae in 1992. Serial sexual abuser of children, male and female. Ballyfermot Vocational school 1974. Wanted to foster children in 1977.
Tom Naughton.
Ordained 1963 for Kiltegan fathers. Returned home and appinted to Aughrim Street 1976. Valleymount 1980. Donnycarney 1984. Ringsend 1996.
Cicero.
1939 – 2002. Ordained 1963 for Ossory. 1970’s appointed to Dublin Regional Marriage Tribunal.
Clemens.
Born in 1960’s. Ordained in 1980’s.
Dominic Savio (John) Boland
1930 - . Ordained 1966. Teacher, school chaplain and hospital chaplain. Convicted serial child sex abuser.
Quinton.
1935 - . Ordained 1960.
Marius.
Ordained 1950’s. Number of postings in the Diocese.
Noel Reynolds.
Ordained 1959. Chaplain girls Schools. Kilmore Road. East Wall. Island parish in the diocese of Tuam. Bonnybrook. Saggart. Glendalough. Chaplain National Rehabilitation Hospital.
Daryus.
Ordained in 1950’s Died 1990’s. Various postings in Dublin.
Terentius.
Born in 1930’s. Ordained 1960’s.
John Kinsella.
Born 1948. Ordained 1973. Enniskerry.
Laurentius.
Born 1935. Ordained 1966. Chaplain to a vocational school in Dublin 1973 – 1983. Not allowed any public ministry since 1996.
Klaudius.
1957 - 2005. Ordained 1985. Hospital & prison chaplain. Teacher and assigned to parish.
Francis McCarthy.
Born 1950. Ordained 1974. Dunlavin, Enniskerry, London, Ballyfermot and Howth.
Classmate of Bill Carney.
Sergius.
Ministered in 1970’s, 1980’s, 1990’s.
Dante.
Born 1946. Ordained 1973. Several appointments in diocese.
Cassius.
1910 – 1975. Ordained 1934.
Giraldus
Born 1940. Ordained 1970. Incardinated to Diocese 1980.
Aquila.
Ordained 1960’s.
Blaise. Unindentified by Gardai.
Benito.
Born 1960’s. Ordained 1980’s.
Magnus.
Inappropriate behaviour towards a vulnerable young adult on a Lourdes pilgrimage.
Jacobus.
1916 – 2006. Ordained 1944. Member of religious order served in Diocese from 1970 to 1983.
Guido.
Ordained 1990’s. No allegations of abuse but suspicions and concerns.
Rufus.
1898 – 1974. Harold’s Cross, High Street, Arran Quay. Died before complaints could be investigated.
Ignatio.
1914 – ordained 1941. Member of religious order.
Cornelius.
1913 - . Ordained 1937. Various postings in diocese.
Ricardus.
Ordained in 1960’s. Falsely accused and complainant charged.
Agustus.
Difficulty with vow of celibacy. Laicized.
Ezio.
1893 – 1977. Ordained 1921.
“The Church failed us. They failed us as Catholics. They failed me as a human being. They took my soul. “
This was how one of the complainants who gave evidence to the Commission described his viewpoint some 32 years after the event about which he had complained took place.
Tim Ryan. December 2009.
on passing by- again
I am indebted to Tom O’Keeffe for the bones of the following, which I thought was too good not to share.
Derivative Markets: an easy explanation.
Sean owns a pub in Naas. As time goes on he realises that virtually all of his customers are unemployed alcoholics, and as such are no longer able to afford to patronise his bar with the frequency he would like. In an effort to safeguard his business Sean comes up with a new marketing plan that will allow his customers to have their drink now, buy pay later. He keeps track of the drinks consumed in a ledger, thereby in effect granting loans to all his customers.
It doesn’t take long for word to get around about Sean’s “ drink now, pay later” marketing strategy and as a result increasing numbers of customers flood into Sean’s pub.
Very soon Sean has the largest sales volume of any pub in Naas. By providing his customers with freedom from immediate payment demands, Sean gets absolutely no resistance from customers when, at regular intervals, he substantially increases his prices for wine and beer, the most consumed beverages. As a result of these increases Sean’s gross sales volume increases massively.
A young and dynamic manager at Sean’s local bank branch recognises that these customer debts now constitute valuable future assets and offers to increase Sean’s borrowing limit. The bank manager sees no reason for any undue concern as he has the debts of the unemployed alcoholics as collateral.
At the banks corporate headquarters notice is taken of Sean’s position and expert traders transform the customer loans into DRINKBONDS, ALKIBONDS and PUKEBONDS. These bonds, or as they now are, securities, are bundled and then traded on international security markets. Naive investors don’t really understand that the securities they are spending their money on are actually the debts of all Sean’s unemployed alcoholics. Nevertheless, the price of the bonds continues to climb, and as well as attracting ordinary investors they soon become the hottest selling items for some of the countries leading brokerage houses.
One day, however, even though the bond prices are still climbing nicely, a risk manager at the original bank branch decides that the time has come to demand payment on the debts incurred by the drinkers at Sean’s bar. He so informs Sean. Faced with this demand Sean is forced to demand payment from his alcoholic customers, but being unemployed alcoholics they are not in a position to pay back their debts. As Sean cannot now fulfil his loan obligations the bank forces him into bankruptcy. The pub closes and the eleven employees lose their jobs.
When this happens the value of the original DRINKBONDS, ALKIBONDS and PUKEBONDS drop in value by over ninety per cent overnight. The collapsed bond asset value destroys the liquidity of the bank, thus preventing it from issuing new loans, thus freezing credit and economic activity in Naas. Because Sean’s business had been going so well his suppliers had all given him generous payment extensions. Not only that but some of them had even invested their firms pension funds in the bonds. Now they suddenly find themselves faced with having to write off all Sean’s bad debts, and with losing over ninety percent of the presumed value of the bonds. Sean’s wine supplier is also forced into bankruptcy, closing the doors on a family business that had endured for three generations. Sean’s beer supplier, now also facing ruin, is taken over by a competitor who promptly closes the local plant and lets go 150 workers.
So, disaster all round. Well not quite all round. Fortunately enough the bank, the brokerage houses and all their high flying executives are saved and bailed out by a multi billion euro, almost no strings attached, loan from their dear friends in Government. Ah, I hear you ask, how can we afford all this. It’s actually quite simple. The Government will obtain the funds for the bailout from new taxes levied on employed, middle class, non drinkers who have never even been in Sean’s pub.
See, it’s really really easy to understand.
I had intended to bring you an update on the KTK committee after the meeting on December 9th. Unfortunately I have nothing new to report as the meeting has been, yes you’ve guessed it, postponed.
However there is one thing I wanted to point out. I haven’t seen the minutes of the CDA AGM but one item in last month’s Bugle report referred to the non movement on KTK funds and said that funds which had been promised had not been forthcoming despite a lot of effort being made. As a member of the Liaison Committee and having attended all the meetings I am unaware of funds ever having been promised for this application. I do know that there was a lot of toing and froing over many months trying to get proper costings etc and there were some delays due to a change of personnel on the CDA. Earlier in the year I wrote to a member of the CDA after they had contacted the Council saying they had been told that getting the funding was a formality to assure them that I was not aware of this. Hopefully the new year should see some progress on their application.
I haven’t really had time to properly digest the Budget but I was definitely expecting it to be a lot worse then it appears on the surface. Most of what was in it seems to have been well flagged in advance. I am at a loss to understand how FAS need more millions considering the amount of money they were able to waste when we had full employment. As per usual the devil will be in the detail and I am sure there will be a few little surprise stealth taxes in the small print. My main worry would be that Mr Lenihan hasn’t gone far enough and we will have an even bigger problem this time next year. People had geared themselves up for a really hard hitting budget with the expectation that we would take this one massive hit and then we would start to see some progress but if this is not enough what happens then. His assertions that we are on the way out of recession ring a bit false to those who have lost their jobs, or are looking at large drops in their earnings, especially as most of these people had little or nothing to do with the reasons for our current troubles
Finally I would just like to wish all of our readers, contributors and advertisers a very Happy Christmas and a better New Year.
All for now. Mike Edmonds Dec 09.
I am indebted to Tom O’Keeffe for the bones of the following, which I thought was too good not to share.
Derivative Markets: an easy explanation.
Sean owns a pub in Naas. As time goes on he realises that virtually all of his customers are unemployed alcoholics, and as such are no longer able to afford to patronise his bar with the frequency he would like. In an effort to safeguard his business Sean comes up with a new marketing plan that will allow his customers to have their drink now, buy pay later. He keeps track of the drinks consumed in a ledger, thereby in effect granting loans to all his customers.
It doesn’t take long for word to get around about Sean’s “ drink now, pay later” marketing strategy and as a result increasing numbers of customers flood into Sean’s pub.
Very soon Sean has the largest sales volume of any pub in Naas. By providing his customers with freedom from immediate payment demands, Sean gets absolutely no resistance from customers when, at regular intervals, he substantially increases his prices for wine and beer, the most consumed beverages. As a result of these increases Sean’s gross sales volume increases massively.
A young and dynamic manager at Sean’s local bank branch recognises that these customer debts now constitute valuable future assets and offers to increase Sean’s borrowing limit. The bank manager sees no reason for any undue concern as he has the debts of the unemployed alcoholics as collateral.
At the banks corporate headquarters notice is taken of Sean’s position and expert traders transform the customer loans into DRINKBONDS, ALKIBONDS and PUKEBONDS. These bonds, or as they now are, securities, are bundled and then traded on international security markets. Naive investors don’t really understand that the securities they are spending their money on are actually the debts of all Sean’s unemployed alcoholics. Nevertheless, the price of the bonds continues to climb, and as well as attracting ordinary investors they soon become the hottest selling items for some of the countries leading brokerage houses.
One day, however, even though the bond prices are still climbing nicely, a risk manager at the original bank branch decides that the time has come to demand payment on the debts incurred by the drinkers at Sean’s bar. He so informs Sean. Faced with this demand Sean is forced to demand payment from his alcoholic customers, but being unemployed alcoholics they are not in a position to pay back their debts. As Sean cannot now fulfil his loan obligations the bank forces him into bankruptcy. The pub closes and the eleven employees lose their jobs.
When this happens the value of the original DRINKBONDS, ALKIBONDS and PUKEBONDS drop in value by over ninety per cent overnight. The collapsed bond asset value destroys the liquidity of the bank, thus preventing it from issuing new loans, thus freezing credit and economic activity in Naas. Because Sean’s business had been going so well his suppliers had all given him generous payment extensions. Not only that but some of them had even invested their firms pension funds in the bonds. Now they suddenly find themselves faced with having to write off all Sean’s bad debts, and with losing over ninety percent of the presumed value of the bonds. Sean’s wine supplier is also forced into bankruptcy, closing the doors on a family business that had endured for three generations. Sean’s beer supplier, now also facing ruin, is taken over by a competitor who promptly closes the local plant and lets go 150 workers.
So, disaster all round. Well not quite all round. Fortunately enough the bank, the brokerage houses and all their high flying executives are saved and bailed out by a multi billion euro, almost no strings attached, loan from their dear friends in Government. Ah, I hear you ask, how can we afford all this. It’s actually quite simple. The Government will obtain the funds for the bailout from new taxes levied on employed, middle class, non drinkers who have never even been in Sean’s pub.
See, it’s really really easy to understand.
I had intended to bring you an update on the KTK committee after the meeting on December 9th. Unfortunately I have nothing new to report as the meeting has been, yes you’ve guessed it, postponed.
However there is one thing I wanted to point out. I haven’t seen the minutes of the CDA AGM but one item in last month’s Bugle report referred to the non movement on KTK funds and said that funds which had been promised had not been forthcoming despite a lot of effort being made. As a member of the Liaison Committee and having attended all the meetings I am unaware of funds ever having been promised for this application. I do know that there was a lot of toing and froing over many months trying to get proper costings etc and there were some delays due to a change of personnel on the CDA. Earlier in the year I wrote to a member of the CDA after they had contacted the Council saying they had been told that getting the funding was a formality to assure them that I was not aware of this. Hopefully the new year should see some progress on their application.
I haven’t really had time to properly digest the Budget but I was definitely expecting it to be a lot worse then it appears on the surface. Most of what was in it seems to have been well flagged in advance. I am at a loss to understand how FAS need more millions considering the amount of money they were able to waste when we had full employment. As per usual the devil will be in the detail and I am sure there will be a few little surprise stealth taxes in the small print. My main worry would be that Mr Lenihan hasn’t gone far enough and we will have an even bigger problem this time next year. People had geared themselves up for a really hard hitting budget with the expectation that we would take this one massive hit and then we would start to see some progress but if this is not enough what happens then. His assertions that we are on the way out of recession ring a bit false to those who have lost their jobs, or are looking at large drops in their earnings, especially as most of these people had little or nothing to do with the reasons for our current troubles
Finally I would just like to wish all of our readers, contributors and advertisers a very Happy Christmas and a better New Year.
All for now. Mike Edmonds Dec 09.
News from over seas . . .
Sprouts!
‘It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas – everywhere you go!’ Yes, folks! Once again we find ourselves enmeshed in the Holiday Season, that very special time of year when we join with our loved ones in sharing centuries-old traditions such as trying to find a parking space at the shopping centre. We traditionally do this in my family by driving around the car park until we see a shopper emerge from the shopping centre, then we follow her, in very much the same spirit as the Three Wise Men, who 2,000 years ago followed a star, week after week, until it led them to a parking space.
But don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love Christmas. I love everything about it. I love getting together with family, decorating the house like I’m hosting the Blackpool illuminations, giving and receiving Christmas cards, wrapping and unwrapping Christmas presents - the list is endless. One thing I especially love about Christmas, though, is brussels sprouts. Lovely green, round, soft sprouts in a big pile on my plate with turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce, Yummm!
Sprouts are a funny vegetable, because you either love them or hate them. For every person who loves them there’s probably ten others who think Ughhh! When I was little boy everybody had to have at least one brussels sprout with their Christmas dinner in our house. It was usually the last thing rolling around your plate or, if you were very clever, you would hide it under a bit of leftover mash. “You’ve got to eat your greens and you’ll grow up tall and strong and it’ll keep you regular!” my mum would say. Strong! Maybe? But tall? I’m not sure it worked mum! And regular – well, no comment!
Some things in life you either love or hate. I love Marmite but you may not. I love butter but you might love margarine. I love chocolate but I have a 5 year old who doesn’t (how weird is that!) We all have different tastes. Sometimes, Christmas can be like that too. I love getting last minute bargains but some people I know have already bought and wrapped all their Christmas presents by the end of June. I hate writing Christmas cards at the last minute but Catherine hates writing them to early. One Christmas we forgot to write Christmas cards so at the last minute we rushed round to the supermarket and bought the last two packs on the shelf. We quickly signed them and posted them three days before Christmas only to find out, after we posted them all, that the message inside the card said, “This is just to say a gift is on its way!”
However we celebrate Christmas, I hope we remember that Jesus came into the world, not to be an afterthought, like a brussels sprout that gets a look in only after we’ve enjoyed the turkey and potatoes on our Christmas dinner. Jesus came to give us hope in a hopeless and hurting world. The Bible says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good.”
Well, better go. I’ve got some last minute Christmas cards to write and 3kgs of sprouts to peel. It may be a windy Christmas at the Vicarage this year!!!
Catherine, Joshua, Amelia, Bethany and Madeline join me in wishing you
all our friends a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.
With love, Kesh x
Off The Cutting Edge
By Pastor Robert Dunlop
LIGHT AT THE TURN OF THE YEAR
It is a happy arrangement that New Year comes immediately after Christmas.
Traditionally New Year is a time for making resolutions and looking for fresh beginnings. These aspirations are easier made in the light of the revelation disclosed at Bethlehem. Christ is the Light of the world, Christians are the light lighted.
Crossing into a fresh year with the assurance that Emmanuel (“God is with us”) is more than empty sentiment makes the transition more attractive. While it means serious business it does not have to be gloomy or desolate.
The renowned parliamentarian and social reformer, William Wilberforce was noted for his sense of inner joy. He worked for the abolition of the slave trade and eventually for the abolition of slavery.
The poet Robert Southey said “I never saw any other man enjoy such a perpetual serenity and sunshine of spirit. In conversing with him you feel assured that there is no guile in him, that if ever there was a good man and happy man on earth, he was one”.
In 1818 Dorothy Wordsworth, sister of the romantic poet, William, concurred..”Though shattered in constitution and feeble in body, he is a lively and animated man…his sense of humour and delight in all that was good was unmistakable”.
Although we may feel called to make more modest resolutions than Wilberforce, if we approach our tasks with his disposition then the future will be better than the past. Light will come not only at the turn of the year but illuminate every nook and cranny of our ongoing pilgrimage. This will enable us to journey in gladness and with an irrepressible hope.
Christmas Message from Leonard.My name is Rev. Leonard Ruddock and I am the Rector of St. John’s Church, Ballymore Eustace. I am delighted to have this opportunity to extend best wishes and Seasons Greetings to you all from everyone in St. John’s. As a parish we greatly appreciate the support and help that is so generously given to us by everyone in Ballymore Eustace.
When you pick up a Newspaper or listen to some T.V. programmes these days you could be forgiven for thinking that you had woken up in a different country, and that you now lived in a secular society, where matters of faith and trust in God were a thing of the past. It seems to me though, that now, more than ever, a faith and trust in God would be a help and comfort to people. We are about to enter the season of Advent when we prepare to welcome the Christ child. Lets try to focus on what is meaningful and lasting this Christmas, for our families, and our Community. Long ago the Prophet Isaiah said ‘The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness- on them light has shined.’ May the light and peace of the Christ child shine in all our hearts this Christmas.
Sprouts!
‘It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas – everywhere you go!’ Yes, folks! Once again we find ourselves enmeshed in the Holiday Season, that very special time of year when we join with our loved ones in sharing centuries-old traditions such as trying to find a parking space at the shopping centre. We traditionally do this in my family by driving around the car park until we see a shopper emerge from the shopping centre, then we follow her, in very much the same spirit as the Three Wise Men, who 2,000 years ago followed a star, week after week, until it led them to a parking space.
But don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love Christmas. I love everything about it. I love getting together with family, decorating the house like I’m hosting the Blackpool illuminations, giving and receiving Christmas cards, wrapping and unwrapping Christmas presents - the list is endless. One thing I especially love about Christmas, though, is brussels sprouts. Lovely green, round, soft sprouts in a big pile on my plate with turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce, Yummm!
Sprouts are a funny vegetable, because you either love them or hate them. For every person who loves them there’s probably ten others who think Ughhh! When I was little boy everybody had to have at least one brussels sprout with their Christmas dinner in our house. It was usually the last thing rolling around your plate or, if you were very clever, you would hide it under a bit of leftover mash. “You’ve got to eat your greens and you’ll grow up tall and strong and it’ll keep you regular!” my mum would say. Strong! Maybe? But tall? I’m not sure it worked mum! And regular – well, no comment!
Some things in life you either love or hate. I love Marmite but you may not. I love butter but you might love margarine. I love chocolate but I have a 5 year old who doesn’t (how weird is that!) We all have different tastes. Sometimes, Christmas can be like that too. I love getting last minute bargains but some people I know have already bought and wrapped all their Christmas presents by the end of June. I hate writing Christmas cards at the last minute but Catherine hates writing them to early. One Christmas we forgot to write Christmas cards so at the last minute we rushed round to the supermarket and bought the last two packs on the shelf. We quickly signed them and posted them three days before Christmas only to find out, after we posted them all, that the message inside the card said, “This is just to say a gift is on its way!”
However we celebrate Christmas, I hope we remember that Jesus came into the world, not to be an afterthought, like a brussels sprout that gets a look in only after we’ve enjoyed the turkey and potatoes on our Christmas dinner. Jesus came to give us hope in a hopeless and hurting world. The Bible says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good.”
Well, better go. I’ve got some last minute Christmas cards to write and 3kgs of sprouts to peel. It may be a windy Christmas at the Vicarage this year!!!
Catherine, Joshua, Amelia, Bethany and Madeline join me in wishing you
all our friends a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.
With love, Kesh x
Off The Cutting Edge
By Pastor Robert Dunlop
LIGHT AT THE TURN OF THE YEAR
It is a happy arrangement that New Year comes immediately after Christmas.
Traditionally New Year is a time for making resolutions and looking for fresh beginnings. These aspirations are easier made in the light of the revelation disclosed at Bethlehem. Christ is the Light of the world, Christians are the light lighted.
Crossing into a fresh year with the assurance that Emmanuel (“God is with us”) is more than empty sentiment makes the transition more attractive. While it means serious business it does not have to be gloomy or desolate.
The renowned parliamentarian and social reformer, William Wilberforce was noted for his sense of inner joy. He worked for the abolition of the slave trade and eventually for the abolition of slavery.
The poet Robert Southey said “I never saw any other man enjoy such a perpetual serenity and sunshine of spirit. In conversing with him you feel assured that there is no guile in him, that if ever there was a good man and happy man on earth, he was one”.
In 1818 Dorothy Wordsworth, sister of the romantic poet, William, concurred..”Though shattered in constitution and feeble in body, he is a lively and animated man…his sense of humour and delight in all that was good was unmistakable”.
Although we may feel called to make more modest resolutions than Wilberforce, if we approach our tasks with his disposition then the future will be better than the past. Light will come not only at the turn of the year but illuminate every nook and cranny of our ongoing pilgrimage. This will enable us to journey in gladness and with an irrepressible hope.
Christmas Message from Leonard.My name is Rev. Leonard Ruddock and I am the Rector of St. John’s Church, Ballymore Eustace. I am delighted to have this opportunity to extend best wishes and Seasons Greetings to you all from everyone in St. John’s. As a parish we greatly appreciate the support and help that is so generously given to us by everyone in Ballymore Eustace.
When you pick up a Newspaper or listen to some T.V. programmes these days you could be forgiven for thinking that you had woken up in a different country, and that you now lived in a secular society, where matters of faith and trust in God were a thing of the past. It seems to me though, that now, more than ever, a faith and trust in God would be a help and comfort to people. We are about to enter the season of Advent when we prepare to welcome the Christ child. Lets try to focus on what is meaningful and lasting this Christmas, for our families, and our Community. Long ago the Prophet Isaiah said ‘The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness- on them light has shined.’ May the light and peace of the Christ child shine in all our hearts this Christmas.
A Christmas Present
With the festive season coming up fast its time to drop all talk of recession and other matters gloomy! Children small, and not so small, will not be thinking about the coming budget, but thinking about what they might get for Christmas, especially those who are still small enough to expect a visit from Santa. One of these presents, very often requested, comes in the shape of a small lively kitten that from day one demands your constant attention. The following tale concerns one such animal. We didn’t get him for Christmas and he wasn’t a present: he was more or less a rescue operation. I first wrote briefly about him twelve years ago and how he became one of us, a very small bundle of yellow fur deserted by his mother Sitting in a doorway in the yard he was yowling his head off letting all and sundry know that he was cold, hungry, and deserted. The Missus introduced him to a saucer of milk, which he dispatched with gusto then settled down for a sleep.
Perhaps at this stage I should explain as to how we chose his name. When picking a name for a pet we have always tried to pick one that corresponds to some world event, that way it’s easy to remember their age. Hurricane Floyd had raged across the southern States at the time we got Tyson, so Floyd was the first choice though we didn’t like it much. As a small kitten he spent a lot of his time on my shoulder if I was at the computer. He would sleep there for ages then wake up and start playing with my ear lobe; then one day he bit it, hence the name Tyson after the boxer. Tyson Floyd seemed to run smoothly, so we settled on that!
We had another house pet at the time, a Jack Russell called Scud, and it was obvious that introductions would have to be done with great care for Jack Russell’s are snappy little animals and don’t take prisoners if annoyed, especially by nosy little kittens, so I cobbled up a wire door on a tea chest, put in a piece of blanket plus scratch tray and feed dish, and it became Tyson’s abode. He took to it like a duck to water and when it became time to leave the door open he would retire into it for a sleep, which was often. Scud usually slept in an armchair! They quickly became acquainted and when Tyson was big enough to jump into a chair he usually chose the one that Scud occupied. There they would curl up together until the next feed time! It was an unusual acquaintanceship to say the least.
Scud reached the ripe old age of seventeen before he passed on to his happy hunting ground: Tyson was now on his own. All cats and dogs in their wild state are pack animals and so it is with domesticated ones, and if they cannot hook up with their own kind they’ll settle for the next best thing, humans. It was at this stage that Tyson became family; in short, he adopted us on his terms. He would have nothing to do with the cats in the yard, treating them with utter distain and contempt. Independent creatures that they are he laid down the ground rules, but nevertheless we always thought of him as a programmed creature, or put another way he followed a routine. When we got up he got up, same at bedtime, and he followed us everywhere. If the Missus was gardening he sat nearby watching her every move. When very small she made a pouch for him, popped him in it, and slung it round her neck. From time to time he would take a peek just checking on his whereabouts. If I was doing something in the workshop he hopped up on the workbench and watched proceedings, except when operating the angle grinder or welder. As a young animal he had a passion for tree climbing. Like all cats he was adept at climbing, but coming down was a different matter and many’s the time a ladder and me had to come to his rescue. I fitter a cat flap for him in a window and he caught on in double quick time using it at night time when he went hunting. In the small hours we would sometimes hear it go clip clap, and a few seconds later wet whiskers would be pushed into your face seeking the warmth and comfort of a warm bed. Once he brought in a live mouse and let it go on the bed. There was all Hell to pay! He was a timid little cat and hardly ever meowed; if he wanted something such as grub in his dish he just sat beside it and gazed at you hoping you’d get the message. He was not a lap cat, and if picked up would wriggle free and settle on your shoulder, or the back of the chair you sat in; independence personified.
Exactly a year ago was the first signs of trouble; he was finding it difficult to pass urine. We took him to the vet who was very honest and told us that an operation was about 50/50 chance of success. We gave him the go ahead to operate, but as time passed it became clear that the vet was fighting a losing battle, and we were holding on for our own selfish reasons. It was time to think of Tyson and his welfare. Last month we made the big decision and Edward his vet took him out of his misery. He is buried beside his pal Scud, and if perchance there’s a happy hereafter for animals I’ve no doubt they have got together and are making up for lost time!
To conclude, I would appeal to all parents to impress on their kids that all small furry animals be they puppies or kittens will grow into full grown adult animals but nevertheless will require the same care and attention for the duration of their lives. Cats or dogs, if properly cared, for will leave paw prints on our hearts! Jeffers.
With the festive season coming up fast its time to drop all talk of recession and other matters gloomy! Children small, and not so small, will not be thinking about the coming budget, but thinking about what they might get for Christmas, especially those who are still small enough to expect a visit from Santa. One of these presents, very often requested, comes in the shape of a small lively kitten that from day one demands your constant attention. The following tale concerns one such animal. We didn’t get him for Christmas and he wasn’t a present: he was more or less a rescue operation. I first wrote briefly about him twelve years ago and how he became one of us, a very small bundle of yellow fur deserted by his mother Sitting in a doorway in the yard he was yowling his head off letting all and sundry know that he was cold, hungry, and deserted. The Missus introduced him to a saucer of milk, which he dispatched with gusto then settled down for a sleep.
Perhaps at this stage I should explain as to how we chose his name. When picking a name for a pet we have always tried to pick one that corresponds to some world event, that way it’s easy to remember their age. Hurricane Floyd had raged across the southern States at the time we got Tyson, so Floyd was the first choice though we didn’t like it much. As a small kitten he spent a lot of his time on my shoulder if I was at the computer. He would sleep there for ages then wake up and start playing with my ear lobe; then one day he bit it, hence the name Tyson after the boxer. Tyson Floyd seemed to run smoothly, so we settled on that!
We had another house pet at the time, a Jack Russell called Scud, and it was obvious that introductions would have to be done with great care for Jack Russell’s are snappy little animals and don’t take prisoners if annoyed, especially by nosy little kittens, so I cobbled up a wire door on a tea chest, put in a piece of blanket plus scratch tray and feed dish, and it became Tyson’s abode. He took to it like a duck to water and when it became time to leave the door open he would retire into it for a sleep, which was often. Scud usually slept in an armchair! They quickly became acquainted and when Tyson was big enough to jump into a chair he usually chose the one that Scud occupied. There they would curl up together until the next feed time! It was an unusual acquaintanceship to say the least.
Scud reached the ripe old age of seventeen before he passed on to his happy hunting ground: Tyson was now on his own. All cats and dogs in their wild state are pack animals and so it is with domesticated ones, and if they cannot hook up with their own kind they’ll settle for the next best thing, humans. It was at this stage that Tyson became family; in short, he adopted us on his terms. He would have nothing to do with the cats in the yard, treating them with utter distain and contempt. Independent creatures that they are he laid down the ground rules, but nevertheless we always thought of him as a programmed creature, or put another way he followed a routine. When we got up he got up, same at bedtime, and he followed us everywhere. If the Missus was gardening he sat nearby watching her every move. When very small she made a pouch for him, popped him in it, and slung it round her neck. From time to time he would take a peek just checking on his whereabouts. If I was doing something in the workshop he hopped up on the workbench and watched proceedings, except when operating the angle grinder or welder. As a young animal he had a passion for tree climbing. Like all cats he was adept at climbing, but coming down was a different matter and many’s the time a ladder and me had to come to his rescue. I fitter a cat flap for him in a window and he caught on in double quick time using it at night time when he went hunting. In the small hours we would sometimes hear it go clip clap, and a few seconds later wet whiskers would be pushed into your face seeking the warmth and comfort of a warm bed. Once he brought in a live mouse and let it go on the bed. There was all Hell to pay! He was a timid little cat and hardly ever meowed; if he wanted something such as grub in his dish he just sat beside it and gazed at you hoping you’d get the message. He was not a lap cat, and if picked up would wriggle free and settle on your shoulder, or the back of the chair you sat in; independence personified.
Exactly a year ago was the first signs of trouble; he was finding it difficult to pass urine. We took him to the vet who was very honest and told us that an operation was about 50/50 chance of success. We gave him the go ahead to operate, but as time passed it became clear that the vet was fighting a losing battle, and we were holding on for our own selfish reasons. It was time to think of Tyson and his welfare. Last month we made the big decision and Edward his vet took him out of his misery. He is buried beside his pal Scud, and if perchance there’s a happy hereafter for animals I’ve no doubt they have got together and are making up for lost time!
To conclude, I would appeal to all parents to impress on their kids that all small furry animals be they puppies or kittens will grow into full grown adult animals but nevertheless will require the same care and attention for the duration of their lives. Cats or dogs, if properly cared, for will leave paw prints on our hearts! Jeffers.
A GOOD CHRISTMAS READ
As ever there are so many marvellous books out they’re this Christmas and there is nothing like browsing around a bookshop, I find it really relaxes the mind. I am sure everyone will be delighted to know that in Naas, Joan, formerly of Nas na Riogh bookshop has just reopened a small and friendly shop on Friary Place. She has a super stock and will try and get hold of anything she doesn’t have for you, if you ask. It is actually such a refreshing change to browse in there from the often frenetic atmosphere I n the larger stores- you can sort of absorb the passion for books that the owner brings? Anyway check it out, either for Christmas presents or f to spend your book tokens…..All the books features in this review were found in Joan’s shop.
Lot of people seem to like to get a new cookery book for Christmas and I spotted two really charming and old-fashioned ones amidst all the glamour of Jamie and Nigella. “Brother Anselm’s Glenstal Cookbook” (12.99) looked wonderful, as does the old favourite, republished form many decades ago: “Full and Plenty- Classic Irish cooking” by Maura Laverty (14.99). Just beside them I spotted a beautiful tome I had heard discussed on the radio back in October – “Echoes of Memory” by John O’Donohue (13.99)- some of his poetry form here was read out on air by his brother and it was tremendously moving- a lovely present for any poetry lovers.
Nest I spotted another one of my old favourites: “Love of the world- Essays” by John McGahern (20.99). I am a great follower of his, although I did hear from a reliable source that this particular new publication is a little “heavy”, so be warned…In a more biographical but possible lighter form I noticed the Mitch Alblom ( famous author of the wonderful “Tuesdays with Morrie”) had his new autobiography on the shelf : “Have a little faith” (14.99)- I haven’t had chance to read it yet, but I am pretty sure that like Alblom’s other work it will be thought-provoking and authentic.
There were seemingly shelves and shelves full of thrillers, but Joan reckoned the read of the year was porobabaly”The girl with the dragon tattoo”, by Steig Larson- (8.99) first part of a trilogy which is really gripping and well written. Nearby I saw “The Lyrics of Leonard Cohen” (15.60), a must for either poetry or music lovers, and another interesting source of escape was beside it: “The road less travelled” edited by Bill Bryson (27.99), which was a sumptuously illustrated book of less common travel destinations)
The b Naas bookshop has a great collection of children’s books, as it always did and the gorgeous hardback “The Usborne Book of Poetry” (23.99) would make a lovely keepsake present for a child. The Irish illustrator PJ Lynch always draws me to a book and I saw “The Snow Queen” (7.99) and “The Gift of the Magi “ by O’Henry (3.20), both good gift ideas. Fr older kids Joan has the whole series of the “Twilight “ books by Stephanie Meyer and as an alternative to the classic Guinness Book of Records I saw “Ripley’s believe it or not” (20.99), which looked like a good read, especially for reluctant young male readers.
The sports section was huge and Joan’s son Oisin helped me focus on one or two books that might be more interesting (as I don’t have a clue about sport….) “Working on a dream- a year on the road with the Waterford footballers” by Damian Lawlor, (16.99) actually looked temptinf- I liked the title…I also think Dinal Og Cusack’s autobiography looked very interesting: “Come what may “ (15.99).
Phew, only a tiny selection forms a lovely shop and SO many to choose from! Enjoy your Christmas reading by the fire!
ANGIE RUANE
As ever there are so many marvellous books out they’re this Christmas and there is nothing like browsing around a bookshop, I find it really relaxes the mind. I am sure everyone will be delighted to know that in Naas, Joan, formerly of Nas na Riogh bookshop has just reopened a small and friendly shop on Friary Place. She has a super stock and will try and get hold of anything she doesn’t have for you, if you ask. It is actually such a refreshing change to browse in there from the often frenetic atmosphere I n the larger stores- you can sort of absorb the passion for books that the owner brings? Anyway check it out, either for Christmas presents or f to spend your book tokens…..All the books features in this review were found in Joan’s shop.
Lot of people seem to like to get a new cookery book for Christmas and I spotted two really charming and old-fashioned ones amidst all the glamour of Jamie and Nigella. “Brother Anselm’s Glenstal Cookbook” (12.99) looked wonderful, as does the old favourite, republished form many decades ago: “Full and Plenty- Classic Irish cooking” by Maura Laverty (14.99). Just beside them I spotted a beautiful tome I had heard discussed on the radio back in October – “Echoes of Memory” by John O’Donohue (13.99)- some of his poetry form here was read out on air by his brother and it was tremendously moving- a lovely present for any poetry lovers.
Nest I spotted another one of my old favourites: “Love of the world- Essays” by John McGahern (20.99). I am a great follower of his, although I did hear from a reliable source that this particular new publication is a little “heavy”, so be warned…In a more biographical but possible lighter form I noticed the Mitch Alblom ( famous author of the wonderful “Tuesdays with Morrie”) had his new autobiography on the shelf : “Have a little faith” (14.99)- I haven’t had chance to read it yet, but I am pretty sure that like Alblom’s other work it will be thought-provoking and authentic.
There were seemingly shelves and shelves full of thrillers, but Joan reckoned the read of the year was porobabaly”The girl with the dragon tattoo”, by Steig Larson- (8.99) first part of a trilogy which is really gripping and well written. Nearby I saw “The Lyrics of Leonard Cohen” (15.60), a must for either poetry or music lovers, and another interesting source of escape was beside it: “The road less travelled” edited by Bill Bryson (27.99), which was a sumptuously illustrated book of less common travel destinations)
The b Naas bookshop has a great collection of children’s books, as it always did and the gorgeous hardback “The Usborne Book of Poetry” (23.99) would make a lovely keepsake present for a child. The Irish illustrator PJ Lynch always draws me to a book and I saw “The Snow Queen” (7.99) and “The Gift of the Magi “ by O’Henry (3.20), both good gift ideas. Fr older kids Joan has the whole series of the “Twilight “ books by Stephanie Meyer and as an alternative to the classic Guinness Book of Records I saw “Ripley’s believe it or not” (20.99), which looked like a good read, especially for reluctant young male readers.
The sports section was huge and Joan’s son Oisin helped me focus on one or two books that might be more interesting (as I don’t have a clue about sport….) “Working on a dream- a year on the road with the Waterford footballers” by Damian Lawlor, (16.99) actually looked temptinf- I liked the title…I also think Dinal Og Cusack’s autobiography looked very interesting: “Come what may “ (15.99).
Phew, only a tiny selection forms a lovely shop and SO many to choose from! Enjoy your Christmas reading by the fire!
ANGIE RUANE
Page 4
FULL HOUSE FOR HISTORY BOOK LAUNCH
The X Factor wouldn’t have filled the function room in Poulaphouca as much as the recent launch of “Ballymore Eustace - Portrait of a Village”. It was great to see a full attendance and feel the anticipation as people waited to buy their copy. I’m leaving it to the expert, Ger McCarthy to give a full review on the book but if you haven’t already got a copy, then you should. This publication should be on every local kitchen dresser and taken down every now and then as a reference or simply, to see if you can identify any “AN Others” featured within.
When I arrived home with the book, my daughter Sharon and I ‘dived’ into it, dying to see which of the family, if any, was included. Well, initially we were disappointed – but as we went through it, and again the following morning, and after the X Factor Saturday night, we spotted my late mother, Ivy, in an ICA photo; Uncle Gerry with the handballers; Auntie Marie in a school photo and Paul in a GAA photo.
The only one of us no longer living in Ballymore and he gets a half page photo… My sister in law, Frances Kavanagh, nee O’Donoghue, is in two photos with the accordion band and I am in one of them… spot the shine of glasses and Ivy-Butchered Fringe…just a glimpse, I think I could be Margaret Cowley (P 85). And look at Biddy Sammon (Meade) in the same photo on the right, so cute – isn’t Cian a ringer for her!
We spotted Ken in a First Holy Communion Photo (dated 1981, he would have been 19!); then Nanny Frances as a child in a school photo taken in the 1930s (P 109). Every time I go through the book, I recognise someone else, Kathleen O’Rourke and Mary Edgeworth, the Marshall sisters in the Irish dancing photos and a very young Tommy Dwyer, no wonder he went on to be a cobbler.
As for some of the handball and sporting photos from Chapter 8 – definitely the ‘hairy era’, dig those sideburns and heavy mops of hair. (Jedward, all is forgiven). As for the picture of F-Troop on page 91, isn’t Jimmy Pearse a ‘babe’ and what about John Kelly and Eamonn Deegan, hot stuff…
I think Clare Doyle and Marie Marshall will have to fight it out as for the female babe title – weren’t they gorgeous? Wasn’t the late Paddy Monaghan handsome? No comment, Tom O’Rourke, on your matching vest and shorts, p 138…
Readers, on a serious note, this is a first-class publication. I keep picking it up again and again, with something new to find or learn every time. Margaret Pearse asked me to note that some date and name changes were missed in the second proofing of the book. If you haven’t bought the book yet, do so before Christmas. When all the film repeats are on, you can escape to a quiet corner and enjoy ‘people spotting’or reading the excellent editorials.
If you didn’t make this edition, don’t worry, you’re just too young – you’ll make the next one!
Rose B O’Donoghue.
GER McCARTHY - “PORTRAIT OF A VILLAGE”
“I feel honoured to be asked here tonight to launch your book and I thank Margaret and the committee for extending me the honour. The title of the book “Portrait of a Village” is most appropriate because the book is an historical canvas of your village, in pictures, historical articles and stories.
When I got home after collecting a copy from Margaret, my brother Damian called in and thumbed through the book while I was making tea. He commented this was a smashing book and a credit to all involved. And that, it surely is. Photographs such as Mona Nugent with children, p 31; back of Byrnes Hotel, c 1880,s p 40; Jimmy Gregory’s waste disposal transport system, 1940s-50s, p 45 and Poulaphuca Bridge and Waterfall, p 60 are excellent.
When driving in the area some years ago, I spotted a Bench Mark cut into the parapet of the bridge. I had intended to return with my camera to photograph same but I never got the chance to - a week later, a truck crashed into the bridge and the Bench Mark finished up in the Liffey river below!”
Other photos Ger noted were John Kelly & the Texas Showband, p 89; Art Doran’s pub (Paddy Murphy’s) with the windows shot out by the Black & Tans, 1922, champion handballers, Mick Leahy and Tom O’Rourke, p137; GS & W railway poster re 8th&14th Hussars Regimental Steeplechase over Mullaboden Course - the Train leaves Kingsbridge at 11.15am and arrives at Harristown Station at 12.20pm, p144.
Of further interest were: Shake Hands with the Devil, p 93, with James Cagney and our own Noel Purcell; Race Cards for Ballymore Eustace Gymkhana, p143; Tug of War Team c. 1915 – look at the size of the rope - p149; Rev. Boulter, Rector of Ballymore Eustace & Hollywood, p171; history of Wolfe Tone Brass & Reed Band founded 1875; heritage objects from the area including the Old Forge at Tipperkevin – “Thank God, they have survived the Celtic Tiger” noted Ger.
“The Roll of Honour of locals who fell in the Great War including members of the Deegan family, is an important chapter; Sir John De Robeck commanded the ill-fated Dardannells fiasco in WWI; Sir Brian Mahon who led the relief of Mafeking during the Boer War and the wonderful McGee collection of photographs.
The directory of Ballymore Eustace under the headings of House, Present and Previous Occupiers is important, as is the front cover sketch by Gabriel Beranger of Ballymore Castle, although no evidence remains of its existence
Your book, “Portrait of a Village” is a record of the social and photographic history of Ballymore Eustace from the closing years of 19th century through the 20th century. It is so timely in this, the opening decade of the 21st century, as so many of the names of people in the book are still in living memory. Their names and faces are now recorded for future generations. I congratulate all involved; I’m sure every house in Ballymore Eustace and indeed, far beyond will have one”.
- Ger McCarthy
FAMILIAR FACES AT HISTORY BOOK LAUNCH - Matt
The local History Society had a very successful launch of its book on November 27. Professor Jim Lydon was to perform the official launch but could not do so due to illness (not too serious, we were assured) so Ger McCarthy from Naas ably took his place. Our own Mick Kelly, Briencan, did an excellent job on opening the launch.
Those I recall being present were: Eamonn Deegan; Noel, Kay and Lynda Headon; Anthony and Mary Campbell; the Doyles (formerly of Ivy House); Margaret McDonald and her daughter Cheryl; Anne and Paul Dennison; John Queally; Tim Grace; Billy Hillis; Jack Wall, TD; Rose B. O’Donoghue; Tim Ryan and Colette Hempenstall; Michael Ward; Bernie and Fergal Toomey and John and Simon Murphy. Peter Kavanagh, his wife Marie and brother Michael all came from Wexford to attend the launch while Patsy Feeney and her brother, Tommy Conway travelled from Dublin.
Denis Doyle kindly helped me to bring my copies to my car. Denis previously lived at Barrack Street but now resides on Truce Road where Mrs Loughnane used to live.
I met Fr John Wilson, our new P.P. and spoke with former P.P., Fr McGowan and Fr Prenderville of Hollywood, who were also present. Rita Malone, proprietor, was there to ensure everything ran smoothly.
A lovely photo of Patsy and Mai (Mary) Murphy and their surviving family at the time of Patsy and Mai’s Golden Wedding Anniversary appears on p 44 of the book.
Aidan Cruise, his wife Tina and relatives attended. The night before Aidan had launched his book: “The Dublin and Blessington Steam Tram” at the Tallaght Civic Offices Library. In 1895, that line was extended to Poulaphouca before the line was discontinued at the end of 1932. In one of Aidan’s chapters, the views of our own late Monsignor Maurice Browne, on the tram are set forth. Monsignor Browne had previously served as a curate in Valleymount. © Matt Purcell
THANK YOU
The Committee of the Society would like to thank all who attended the launch of our publication "Ballymore Eustace - Portrait of a Village" in Poulaphuca House Hotel.We were delighted with the turnout and the interest shown in our historical collection. Sales to date have exceeded our expectations, and makes all the work producing the book worthwhile. We would like to thank The Malone Family for facilitating the event and their attentive service on the night. Our thanks also to Ger McCarthy for performing the official launch and to Kildare County Council KTK Community Fund for helping with sponsorship.
Thank you all again and may we wish you a very Happy Christmas and New Year.While the interest is still to the fore we would be delighted, if over the Christmas period, you could look up old photos as we plan to have another photographic and artefacts exhibition in the future. We will scan these photos and return them immediately as we appreciate the value to people of their treasured photographs. Everybody must have lots of photos in the "Shoebox on the Dresser".- Margaret Pearse, Secretary
FULL HOUSE FOR HISTORY BOOK LAUNCH
The X Factor wouldn’t have filled the function room in Poulaphouca as much as the recent launch of “Ballymore Eustace - Portrait of a Village”. It was great to see a full attendance and feel the anticipation as people waited to buy their copy. I’m leaving it to the expert, Ger McCarthy to give a full review on the book but if you haven’t already got a copy, then you should. This publication should be on every local kitchen dresser and taken down every now and then as a reference or simply, to see if you can identify any “AN Others” featured within.
When I arrived home with the book, my daughter Sharon and I ‘dived’ into it, dying to see which of the family, if any, was included. Well, initially we were disappointed – but as we went through it, and again the following morning, and after the X Factor Saturday night, we spotted my late mother, Ivy, in an ICA photo; Uncle Gerry with the handballers; Auntie Marie in a school photo and Paul in a GAA photo.
The only one of us no longer living in Ballymore and he gets a half page photo… My sister in law, Frances Kavanagh, nee O’Donoghue, is in two photos with the accordion band and I am in one of them… spot the shine of glasses and Ivy-Butchered Fringe…just a glimpse, I think I could be Margaret Cowley (P 85). And look at Biddy Sammon (Meade) in the same photo on the right, so cute – isn’t Cian a ringer for her!
We spotted Ken in a First Holy Communion Photo (dated 1981, he would have been 19!); then Nanny Frances as a child in a school photo taken in the 1930s (P 109). Every time I go through the book, I recognise someone else, Kathleen O’Rourke and Mary Edgeworth, the Marshall sisters in the Irish dancing photos and a very young Tommy Dwyer, no wonder he went on to be a cobbler.
As for some of the handball and sporting photos from Chapter 8 – definitely the ‘hairy era’, dig those sideburns and heavy mops of hair. (Jedward, all is forgiven). As for the picture of F-Troop on page 91, isn’t Jimmy Pearse a ‘babe’ and what about John Kelly and Eamonn Deegan, hot stuff…
I think Clare Doyle and Marie Marshall will have to fight it out as for the female babe title – weren’t they gorgeous? Wasn’t the late Paddy Monaghan handsome? No comment, Tom O’Rourke, on your matching vest and shorts, p 138…
Readers, on a serious note, this is a first-class publication. I keep picking it up again and again, with something new to find or learn every time. Margaret Pearse asked me to note that some date and name changes were missed in the second proofing of the book. If you haven’t bought the book yet, do so before Christmas. When all the film repeats are on, you can escape to a quiet corner and enjoy ‘people spotting’or reading the excellent editorials.
If you didn’t make this edition, don’t worry, you’re just too young – you’ll make the next one!
Rose B O’Donoghue.
GER McCARTHY - “PORTRAIT OF A VILLAGE”
“I feel honoured to be asked here tonight to launch your book and I thank Margaret and the committee for extending me the honour. The title of the book “Portrait of a Village” is most appropriate because the book is an historical canvas of your village, in pictures, historical articles and stories.
When I got home after collecting a copy from Margaret, my brother Damian called in and thumbed through the book while I was making tea. He commented this was a smashing book and a credit to all involved. And that, it surely is. Photographs such as Mona Nugent with children, p 31; back of Byrnes Hotel, c 1880,s p 40; Jimmy Gregory’s waste disposal transport system, 1940s-50s, p 45 and Poulaphuca Bridge and Waterfall, p 60 are excellent.
When driving in the area some years ago, I spotted a Bench Mark cut into the parapet of the bridge. I had intended to return with my camera to photograph same but I never got the chance to - a week later, a truck crashed into the bridge and the Bench Mark finished up in the Liffey river below!”
Other photos Ger noted were John Kelly & the Texas Showband, p 89; Art Doran’s pub (Paddy Murphy’s) with the windows shot out by the Black & Tans, 1922, champion handballers, Mick Leahy and Tom O’Rourke, p137; GS & W railway poster re 8th&14th Hussars Regimental Steeplechase over Mullaboden Course - the Train leaves Kingsbridge at 11.15am and arrives at Harristown Station at 12.20pm, p144.
Of further interest were: Shake Hands with the Devil, p 93, with James Cagney and our own Noel Purcell; Race Cards for Ballymore Eustace Gymkhana, p143; Tug of War Team c. 1915 – look at the size of the rope - p149; Rev. Boulter, Rector of Ballymore Eustace & Hollywood, p171; history of Wolfe Tone Brass & Reed Band founded 1875; heritage objects from the area including the Old Forge at Tipperkevin – “Thank God, they have survived the Celtic Tiger” noted Ger.
“The Roll of Honour of locals who fell in the Great War including members of the Deegan family, is an important chapter; Sir John De Robeck commanded the ill-fated Dardannells fiasco in WWI; Sir Brian Mahon who led the relief of Mafeking during the Boer War and the wonderful McGee collection of photographs.
The directory of Ballymore Eustace under the headings of House, Present and Previous Occupiers is important, as is the front cover sketch by Gabriel Beranger of Ballymore Castle, although no evidence remains of its existence
Your book, “Portrait of a Village” is a record of the social and photographic history of Ballymore Eustace from the closing years of 19th century through the 20th century. It is so timely in this, the opening decade of the 21st century, as so many of the names of people in the book are still in living memory. Their names and faces are now recorded for future generations. I congratulate all involved; I’m sure every house in Ballymore Eustace and indeed, far beyond will have one”.
- Ger McCarthy
FAMILIAR FACES AT HISTORY BOOK LAUNCH - Matt
The local History Society had a very successful launch of its book on November 27. Professor Jim Lydon was to perform the official launch but could not do so due to illness (not too serious, we were assured) so Ger McCarthy from Naas ably took his place. Our own Mick Kelly, Briencan, did an excellent job on opening the launch.
Those I recall being present were: Eamonn Deegan; Noel, Kay and Lynda Headon; Anthony and Mary Campbell; the Doyles (formerly of Ivy House); Margaret McDonald and her daughter Cheryl; Anne and Paul Dennison; John Queally; Tim Grace; Billy Hillis; Jack Wall, TD; Rose B. O’Donoghue; Tim Ryan and Colette Hempenstall; Michael Ward; Bernie and Fergal Toomey and John and Simon Murphy. Peter Kavanagh, his wife Marie and brother Michael all came from Wexford to attend the launch while Patsy Feeney and her brother, Tommy Conway travelled from Dublin.
Denis Doyle kindly helped me to bring my copies to my car. Denis previously lived at Barrack Street but now resides on Truce Road where Mrs Loughnane used to live.
I met Fr John Wilson, our new P.P. and spoke with former P.P., Fr McGowan and Fr Prenderville of Hollywood, who were also present. Rita Malone, proprietor, was there to ensure everything ran smoothly.
A lovely photo of Patsy and Mai (Mary) Murphy and their surviving family at the time of Patsy and Mai’s Golden Wedding Anniversary appears on p 44 of the book.
Aidan Cruise, his wife Tina and relatives attended. The night before Aidan had launched his book: “The Dublin and Blessington Steam Tram” at the Tallaght Civic Offices Library. In 1895, that line was extended to Poulaphouca before the line was discontinued at the end of 1932. In one of Aidan’s chapters, the views of our own late Monsignor Maurice Browne, on the tram are set forth. Monsignor Browne had previously served as a curate in Valleymount. © Matt Purcell
THANK YOU
The Committee of the Society would like to thank all who attended the launch of our publication "Ballymore Eustace - Portrait of a Village" in Poulaphuca House Hotel.We were delighted with the turnout and the interest shown in our historical collection. Sales to date have exceeded our expectations, and makes all the work producing the book worthwhile. We would like to thank The Malone Family for facilitating the event and their attentive service on the night. Our thanks also to Ger McCarthy for performing the official launch and to Kildare County Council KTK Community Fund for helping with sponsorship.
Thank you all again and may we wish you a very Happy Christmas and New Year.While the interest is still to the fore we would be delighted, if over the Christmas period, you could look up old photos as we plan to have another photographic and artefacts exhibition in the future. We will scan these photos and return them immediately as we appreciate the value to people of their treasured photographs. Everybody must have lots of photos in the "Shoebox on the Dresser".- Margaret Pearse, Secretary
Bits ‘n Bobs with Rose
Who Invented “Assignments”?
Assignments is the ugliest word in the English language. As a full-time student, my life revolves around assignments – assessing the brief, research time, writing up - I’ve forgotten what spare time was. And my time management needs a good shake-up. It was never my strongest point, but too many nights at 2am printing out a final draft only to find the cartridge has run out of ink, is not good for blood pressure.
As for housekeeping… what housekeeping? The time I used to spend on ironing and cleaning is consumed by assignments. My window boxes are gone to seed. My dogs have an accusatory stare: “You used to play with us…” My partner thinks I’ve gone mad… My children know I’m mad so there’s no issue there, just a smug, “Now you know what it’s like, Ma!”
But you know what, it’s great! The energy and cockiness of my fellow students keeps me going; their gut reaction and opinion has not been stunted by life’s responsibilities or experience – I feel like I’ve been locked in a stuffy room for years and I’ve just stepped out into fresh air.
Mind you, there’s no hair, beauty or dining out allowance within the student budget. I’m horsing garlic tablets and cod liver oil into me – beats the hideous, orange-flavoured tonic my late mother dosed into me as a child and I don’t have to go through the daily – and very painful – hair-brushing ritual that resulted in two pigtails and white bows!
With the healthy diet, you’d expect there to be weight loss; alas, no - not when I’m horsing Tayto and snacks into me whilst working on assignments. New Year Resolutions: Eat less, Budget Better, Always Carry a Student Card and Keep a Spare Ink Cartridge in the computer room.
De Perfectos in Pirate’s Cove
Seein’ as we had a quiet Punchestown, De Perfectos decided to head off to Jackie and John O’Neill’s bed and breakfast, “Pirate’s Cove”, for a ‘Night of Networking and Informative Exchange of Issues Facing the Modern Woman”.
Would you believe it, they had a confidentiality clause written out for me to sign on my arrival. The good news, Readers, is that I didn’t sign it; the bad news is: rather than be thrown over the cliffs into the sea on my next visit, I’d better not tell you what passed between De Perfectos that weekend, they’re a sweet bunch but vicious as scorpions when riled. I can tell you though that a product called “For Her” will cure everything and anything that’s wrong with you – if the Two Brians had been taken that for the past year, think what a brilliant budget we’d have. (Alternatively, two bottles of wine will make you forget creakin’ knees and all your other ailments albeit the effect is shortlived). O’Neill’s B&B has the most fabulous views, overlooking the beaches of Brittas Bay, spectacular location.
Happy Christmas Ladies, and I look forward to the next “Networking” event.
Eilís on the Money
Speaking of perfect women, isn’t Eilis Quinlan playing a blinder lately?
We’ve had Eddie Hobbs, David McWilliams and George Lee all make their name in recent years as financial advisors. Only Jill Kerby has been flying the female flag but now our own Eilís is becoming something of a money-talkin’ media star. More luck to her, write a book, Eilís and make a killing.
Eilís has been a longtime supporter of Kildare Network Women in Business, Business Networking Ireland (BNI) and is now chairperson of ISME, the organisation representing small businesses in Ireland.
Political Correspondence
Apologies to Bugle Readers but I’ve mislaid 2 communications from Sean Power TD, one which was in answer to a query on the bollards along the Church Wall and the second, confirmation of monies allocated to Brannockstown Primary School. Sean further wished his constituents in Ballymore Eustace a Very Happy and Safe Christmas. Hopefully, I will find the correspondence relating to bollards and include in January edition.
Season’s Greetings from Jack Wall, TD, and Cllr Mark Wall to the residents of Ballymore Eustace and environs. Jack complimented the quality of “Ballymore Eustace – Portrait of A Village” and stated that it was a superb production and vital for small communities to record the social and economic changes experienced over several decades.
Cllr Willie Callaghan has placed an advert wishing his constituents a Happy Christmas elsewhere in this edition but Willie reminds readers that he is available by appointment and also, if any persons or groups wish to enquire about the KCC KTK Community Levy Fund, contact him at 086 234 1009.
Cllr Martin Heydon is delighted to be nominated and confirmed as a Fine Gael candidate for the next general election; if successful, then Billy Hillis would come back out of ‘semi-retirement’ and contest the seat won by Heydon in the last council election.
Bond Wit
I heard veteran Roger Moore interviewed on the Ryan Tubridy Programme recently and here’s a couple of gem replies the former 007 delivered, much to the delight of the interviewer and audience:
Ryan: “What age are you, Roger?”
Roger: “82.”
Ryan: “Gosh, you don’t look it! How old do you feel?”
Roger: “82”.
And another:
Ryan “At 82, are you likely to act again?”
Roger: “Did I ever?”
Who Invented “Assignments”?
Assignments is the ugliest word in the English language. As a full-time student, my life revolves around assignments – assessing the brief, research time, writing up - I’ve forgotten what spare time was. And my time management needs a good shake-up. It was never my strongest point, but too many nights at 2am printing out a final draft only to find the cartridge has run out of ink, is not good for blood pressure.
As for housekeeping… what housekeeping? The time I used to spend on ironing and cleaning is consumed by assignments. My window boxes are gone to seed. My dogs have an accusatory stare: “You used to play with us…” My partner thinks I’ve gone mad… My children know I’m mad so there’s no issue there, just a smug, “Now you know what it’s like, Ma!”
But you know what, it’s great! The energy and cockiness of my fellow students keeps me going; their gut reaction and opinion has not been stunted by life’s responsibilities or experience – I feel like I’ve been locked in a stuffy room for years and I’ve just stepped out into fresh air.
Mind you, there’s no hair, beauty or dining out allowance within the student budget. I’m horsing garlic tablets and cod liver oil into me – beats the hideous, orange-flavoured tonic my late mother dosed into me as a child and I don’t have to go through the daily – and very painful – hair-brushing ritual that resulted in two pigtails and white bows!
With the healthy diet, you’d expect there to be weight loss; alas, no - not when I’m horsing Tayto and snacks into me whilst working on assignments. New Year Resolutions: Eat less, Budget Better, Always Carry a Student Card and Keep a Spare Ink Cartridge in the computer room.
De Perfectos in Pirate’s Cove
Seein’ as we had a quiet Punchestown, De Perfectos decided to head off to Jackie and John O’Neill’s bed and breakfast, “Pirate’s Cove”, for a ‘Night of Networking and Informative Exchange of Issues Facing the Modern Woman”.
Would you believe it, they had a confidentiality clause written out for me to sign on my arrival. The good news, Readers, is that I didn’t sign it; the bad news is: rather than be thrown over the cliffs into the sea on my next visit, I’d better not tell you what passed between De Perfectos that weekend, they’re a sweet bunch but vicious as scorpions when riled. I can tell you though that a product called “For Her” will cure everything and anything that’s wrong with you – if the Two Brians had been taken that for the past year, think what a brilliant budget we’d have. (Alternatively, two bottles of wine will make you forget creakin’ knees and all your other ailments albeit the effect is shortlived). O’Neill’s B&B has the most fabulous views, overlooking the beaches of Brittas Bay, spectacular location.
Happy Christmas Ladies, and I look forward to the next “Networking” event.
Eilís on the Money
Speaking of perfect women, isn’t Eilis Quinlan playing a blinder lately?
We’ve had Eddie Hobbs, David McWilliams and George Lee all make their name in recent years as financial advisors. Only Jill Kerby has been flying the female flag but now our own Eilís is becoming something of a money-talkin’ media star. More luck to her, write a book, Eilís and make a killing.
Eilís has been a longtime supporter of Kildare Network Women in Business, Business Networking Ireland (BNI) and is now chairperson of ISME, the organisation representing small businesses in Ireland.
Political Correspondence
Apologies to Bugle Readers but I’ve mislaid 2 communications from Sean Power TD, one which was in answer to a query on the bollards along the Church Wall and the second, confirmation of monies allocated to Brannockstown Primary School. Sean further wished his constituents in Ballymore Eustace a Very Happy and Safe Christmas. Hopefully, I will find the correspondence relating to bollards and include in January edition.
Season’s Greetings from Jack Wall, TD, and Cllr Mark Wall to the residents of Ballymore Eustace and environs. Jack complimented the quality of “Ballymore Eustace – Portrait of A Village” and stated that it was a superb production and vital for small communities to record the social and economic changes experienced over several decades.
Cllr Willie Callaghan has placed an advert wishing his constituents a Happy Christmas elsewhere in this edition but Willie reminds readers that he is available by appointment and also, if any persons or groups wish to enquire about the KCC KTK Community Levy Fund, contact him at 086 234 1009.
Cllr Martin Heydon is delighted to be nominated and confirmed as a Fine Gael candidate for the next general election; if successful, then Billy Hillis would come back out of ‘semi-retirement’ and contest the seat won by Heydon in the last council election.
Bond Wit
I heard veteran Roger Moore interviewed on the Ryan Tubridy Programme recently and here’s a couple of gem replies the former 007 delivered, much to the delight of the interviewer and audience:
Ryan: “What age are you, Roger?”
Roger: “82.”
Ryan: “Gosh, you don’t look it! How old do you feel?”
Roger: “82”.
And another:
Ryan “At 82, are you likely to act again?”
Roger: “Did I ever?”
PAGE 2
Direct Bugle email -
for acknowledgements, births, anniversaries, wedding photos, birthdays etc, send them to:
ballymorebugle@eircom.net
DECEMBER Birthdays -
Happy birthday to Bugle folders, Mary and Julie Ann, Bugle editor, Tim H R, who dazzled us with an Irish rendition of “Deliliah” at our Christmas Party (didn’t match Tom Jones for the pivotal hip movements) - maith an fear, mo cheol thú, Tim! Birthday greetings also to Mrs Lila Curley, Rita O’Rourke, Laura Barrett and Gill Dwyer.
BIG Birthdays
Happy 21st Birthday to Shane Kavanagh; 50th Birthday Wishes to Noel Thompson and Matt Dooley but biggest birthday of all goes to Eithne Daly, who celebrated her 90th this month. A special presentation was made to Ethna at the recent GAA AGM, as Mrs Daly has been washing the club’s jerseys for over forty years and is one of their most loyal supporters, on the sidelines for underage, ladies and gents football. She’d give Kim a run for her money in “I’m in the Jungle – Get me Outta Here!”
(Photo Mrs Daly)
Congratulations to Gemma Swords who was conferred with a Qualification in Higher Diploma in Arts in Primary Education ecently. Gemma will be departing from Kildare County Council shortly.
Greetings overseas
Best wishes to some overseas’ residents: Michael Fitz in Vancouver, Canada; Lizzie O’Loughlin in Germany; Jason McDonald and family, Thomas O’Rourke, Daragh Meade and Tim Gorman “Down Under”. To the Piper Family in Somerset and especially to Danielle who got married recently. And to all our friend across many seas: Des & Brigid Byrne, Finn Gallagher, Betty Morris, Eddie & Mai Whelan,,
Ron Eustice, Kesh & Catherine and all the elves, all the BME Aussie Kavanaghs, and, recently retired, Bill Ryan.
Welcome home to Lynsey O’Reilly, due back the week before Christmas
BABY NEWS Double Celebrations in the Gill family with baby Tara, born to Sarah (Hudson) and Brian Gill christened alongside first cousin, baby Mary Kate, daughter of Amanda (Nolan) and Michael Gill.
And another ‘babe’ to ‘come out of the woods’ in the past week was baby, Nuadha Caoilte, born to Fiona (Woods) and Chris Breslin – no relation to the Tiger fella who has eclipsed Jedward in the tabloids recently
baby Holly, born Dec 8th at 7lb 5oz daughter to Conor and Rachel Cullen (nee Swords). Brother to Ryan and Grandaughter to Liz Swords.
All in boxed adverts:
PANTO TIME!
Snow White
& The Seven Dwarfs
What do you get when you put
Carmel Moylan, Gaye Stephens, Sean Murphy,
Marcus Bradshaw and Larry Burke Hayes
on stage together?
Yes, you got it – a pantomime!
Thank God, lovely Jenna Laming is taking
the lead role this year to put
a bit of style into them…
Coming to you in February 2010
Children interested in joining are welcome
For group and village scenes
___________________________________
Josephine Hardiman
Artist and Calligrapher
Punchestown, Naas
Original Art
& Edition Prints
- the ideal Christmas Gift
On sale at Puchestown Studio,
Inniscara Gallery, Rathcoole And River Café, Lucan
Or by appointment in December
_______________________
With a Christmas Pudding graphic?
NAAS COUNTRY MARKET
Town Hall, Naas
Every Friday, 9.45am-12pm
Christmas Market
Tuesday 22nd December
9.45am-12pm
See Full Range of
Delicious Christmas Fayre,
Home Cooked and locally prepared,
Local Crafts and Giftware
Come Early!
Season’s Greetings from your
Market Traders and Thank You
For your Continued Support
Direct Bugle email -
for acknowledgements, births, anniversaries, wedding photos, birthdays etc, send them to:
ballymorebugle@eircom.net
DECEMBER Birthdays -
Happy birthday to Bugle folders, Mary and Julie Ann, Bugle editor, Tim H R, who dazzled us with an Irish rendition of “Deliliah” at our Christmas Party (didn’t match Tom Jones for the pivotal hip movements) - maith an fear, mo cheol thú, Tim! Birthday greetings also to Mrs Lila Curley, Rita O’Rourke, Laura Barrett and Gill Dwyer.
BIG Birthdays
Happy 21st Birthday to Shane Kavanagh; 50th Birthday Wishes to Noel Thompson and Matt Dooley but biggest birthday of all goes to Eithne Daly, who celebrated her 90th this month. A special presentation was made to Ethna at the recent GAA AGM, as Mrs Daly has been washing the club’s jerseys for over forty years and is one of their most loyal supporters, on the sidelines for underage, ladies and gents football. She’d give Kim a run for her money in “I’m in the Jungle – Get me Outta Here!”
(Photo Mrs Daly)
Congratulations to Gemma Swords who was conferred with a Qualification in Higher Diploma in Arts in Primary Education ecently. Gemma will be departing from Kildare County Council shortly.
Greetings overseas
Best wishes to some overseas’ residents: Michael Fitz in Vancouver, Canada; Lizzie O’Loughlin in Germany; Jason McDonald and family, Thomas O’Rourke, Daragh Meade and Tim Gorman “Down Under”. To the Piper Family in Somerset and especially to Danielle who got married recently. And to all our friend across many seas: Des & Brigid Byrne, Finn Gallagher, Betty Morris, Eddie & Mai Whelan,,
Ron Eustice, Kesh & Catherine and all the elves, all the BME Aussie Kavanaghs, and, recently retired, Bill Ryan.
Welcome home to Lynsey O’Reilly, due back the week before Christmas
BABY NEWS Double Celebrations in the Gill family with baby Tara, born to Sarah (Hudson) and Brian Gill christened alongside first cousin, baby Mary Kate, daughter of Amanda (Nolan) and Michael Gill.
And another ‘babe’ to ‘come out of the woods’ in the past week was baby, Nuadha Caoilte, born to Fiona (Woods) and Chris Breslin – no relation to the Tiger fella who has eclipsed Jedward in the tabloids recently
baby Holly, born Dec 8th at 7lb 5oz daughter to Conor and Rachel Cullen (nee Swords). Brother to Ryan and Grandaughter to Liz Swords.
All in boxed adverts:
PANTO TIME!
Snow White
& The Seven Dwarfs
What do you get when you put
Carmel Moylan, Gaye Stephens, Sean Murphy,
Marcus Bradshaw and Larry Burke Hayes
on stage together?
Yes, you got it – a pantomime!
Thank God, lovely Jenna Laming is taking
the lead role this year to put
a bit of style into them…
Coming to you in February 2010
Children interested in joining are welcome
For group and village scenes
___________________________________
Josephine Hardiman
Artist and Calligrapher
Punchestown, Naas
Original Art
& Edition Prints
- the ideal Christmas Gift
On sale at Puchestown Studio,
Inniscara Gallery, Rathcoole And River Café, Lucan
Or by appointment in December
_______________________
With a Christmas Pudding graphic?
NAAS COUNTRY MARKET
Town Hall, Naas
Every Friday, 9.45am-12pm
Christmas Market
Tuesday 22nd December
9.45am-12pm
See Full Range of
Delicious Christmas Fayre,
Home Cooked and locally prepared,
Local Crafts and Giftware
Come Early!
Season’s Greetings from your
Market Traders and Thank You
For your Continued Support
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