Lucy, herself, is passionate about camogie and rightly believes that these young players are the future of camogie at St. Laurence’s G.F.C. Every Tuesday evening at Oldgrange she puts them through their paces from 7 - 8pm and is adamant that none of them can venture on to the field without a helmet so that right from the beginning they are protected. But Lucy has one problem; she has no jerseys for her “little uns” and she believes that properly toggged out these young players would gain an extra sense of pride in their club.

They recently played Nurney when players as young as five years of age gave a great account of themselves. One of the goals came from Dervla Byrne, who is six years old while Amy Dunne scored the second. Every member of the team played her heart out and foe some of them it was the first time they had ever played in a match. Lucy was delighted with the result, it was a great game and despite the win by Nurney she is delighted with the performance of her tiny tots.

She reminds all players and aspiring players that there’s less than three weeks to go to the Camogie Blitz and she wants all of you to come along to St. Laurence’s G.F.C. Oldgrange for the next few Tuesdays to prepare for what should be a great event.

Meanwhile if anyone out there would like to sponsor a set of jerseys Lucy would be delighted to hear from you as she has been borrowing football jerseys for her “little’uns” for the past three years! Contact Lucy at 0507/36637.

SPECIAL GREETINGS:

I have been asked to extend best wishes to Scott Browne and David Byrne who both celebrated their twelfth birthdays last week. They are very faithful walkers for the “Walkaround 2002” group every Monday evening when they keep everyone laughing with great jokes and dry jokes! They’re always in good humour and really liven up the walk. Scott is son of Tom and Dolores and grandson of Sean and Mary Corcoran, Kilmead, while David, who lives in Kildare, is the grandson of Jim Flood, Fontstown.

REMEMBERING THE DEAD: Continuing with the tradition of annual cemetary Masses, Fr. Colm O Siochru visited Glassealy graveyard on Friday, August 9, to celebrate Mass there. Despite the fact that the crowd was small it was a very moving experience for those in attendance. One lady informed me that, in what was one of the sunnier evenings of “dismal Summer 2002” the midges were out in force! She was also struck by the number of crows wheeling over their heads throughout the Mass. Glassealy is set in a very picturesque part of Kilmead and is kept in immaculate condition, thanks to the FAS workers. Fr. Colm thanked Jim Cassidy, Christopher Heffernan and Noel Flood for preparing so well for this annual ceremony.

Mass will be celebrated at the graveyard adjoining St. Ita’s Church this Saturday, August 17, at 7pm (weather permitting), otherwise it will be celebrated in the church.

QUINN DOUBLE:

Deirdre Quinn had lots to celebrate last weekend, her twenty first birthday and her graduation from the University of Liverpool as a radiographer. A party for family and friends at her home, “Cul le Grein” was thoroughly enjoyed by Deirdre, who is also a very faithful member of the choir at St. Ita’s Church. Music, song and dance were the order of the night when Deirdre, her parents, Eileen and Jer and brother, Damien, looked after everyone really well. Congratulations Dee!

SILVER GREETINGS:

Plenty of congratulations this week in Kilmead and this time they’re sent down Booleigh way. Lilian and Tommy Molloy recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary and best wishes are sent from all your friends in the Kilmead community.

MOL AN OIGE: Some time ago the Kilmead Notes brought readers news of the Kilmead Figure Dancers annual day out when we hoped that some of them might write an article about event. So this week, in the slot devoted to the writings of young people in our community, I am delighted to bring you an account of the Kilmead Irish Figure Dancing Class tour, as written by two of the dancers, Nadine Behan and Edwina Bradley.

The girls write as follows: “At ten o’clock Wednesday, July 3, 30 children were accompanied by nine adults, Marian Watchorn, Jacinta Murphy, Ursula Watchorn, Anne Behan, Lucy O’Neill, Maura O’Brien, Geraldine Meade, Nuala Doyle and Cindy Walsh, for the Kilmead Irish Figure Dancing Class tour. The Dancing Class were brought to the Leisureplex, Tallaght by bus. The driver was Lucy O’Neill. We arrived in the Leisureplex at a quarter past eleven. For the older children they got to enjoy Quasar and afterwards Bowling and for the younger children they got to enjoy a play area. We left Leisureplex at one o’clock and arrived in The Square Shopping Centre at a quarter past one. The smaller children were split into four groups with two members of the committee to be taken shopping and some of the older children went to the cinema. We left The Square at 5.30pm and arrived back in St. Ita’s Part, Kilmead at 6.40pm. We all enjoyed the day.”

Thanks for that report girls and didn’t they take great note of the time all during the day!

BUDDING ENTREPRENEUR: The Kilmead Notes always rejoices in a new business venture and recently I visited David Whelan just down the road from me at Booleigh Cross. David has a pottery workshop and showroom where he displays his lovely ceramics. He calls his business “Willow Ceramics” where, unlike the tree, there was nothing weeping about this venture! A smiling David told me it was going from strength to strength and this week a group from Kilmead are starting a Pottery Course so we look forward to hearing of their progress. Congratulations David and every success with your business.

AUSSIE RESULTS: Right now Aaron Flood, vice captain of the Irish Australian Rules Football Team, should be right in the middle of the campaign “down under”. His mother, Mary, has gone to Melbourne to cheer him on but Aaron’s grandfather, Mick Grufferty, gave me the results of the Fundraising Draw which Mary, had organised and the following were prizewinners: Kevin Byrne,Kilberry; Ann Gorman, Calverstown; Daragh Corcoran, Kilmead; Phyllis Fennin, Churchtown; Bernie Mackey, Ardreigh, Athy; John Cusack, Athy; Alan Roulston, c/o Booleigh Pub; Tina Darcy, Youngstown; Geraldine Redmond, Ardnagrass; and Mary McLoughlin, Peck’s Lane, Castleknock. Mary would like to convey her sincere thanks to everyone who supported the draw.

JACKIE’S DAY: A few weeks ago I was asked by members of the FAS team to send best wishes to Jackie Nolan, Ballitore, on the occasion of her wed-ding. Jackie had worked in Kilmead where her wonderful talents as an artist are treasured in the bi-centenary booklet. At the time I could not contact Jackie or her mother, Bridie, to get all the news of her special day but this week I succeeded, and right from the bride herself! Jackie married Michael O’Rourke, Geraldine, a union that proved that “love stories begin at Telfords” as that is where Jackie and Michael met, Telford’s, Athy where they both work. The wedding took place at the Church of Ss. Mary and Laurence, Crookstown where Jackie was attended by her bridesmaid, Carmel Nolan. Bestman for Michael was Ger Dalton. Fr. Colm O’Siochru conducted the marriage ceremony, at which Adele Whelan sang. The Dolmen Hotel, Carlow, was their choice for the wedding reception and then the bride and groom, together with the whole family headed off to Wexford for the honeymoon! Jackie explained that many of her family and Michael’s had come home from abroad and they all wanted to spend time together so the honeymoon turned into the mother of all holidays! Jackie’s brother, Leo and his wife Carol travelled from Colorado while sister Helen and her partner Paul came over from New York. Brother P.J. and Lisa arrived from Sussex, England. Mick’s brother and sister came over from the Isle of Man and Manchester so the wedding had a truly international flavour. We extend best wishes to Jackie and Mick for a long, happy and healthy life together.

LARRIES LORE: And so the story of St. Laurence’s G.F.C. goes on … For the under 10’s and u-8s training continues on Saturdays from 11am to noon until further notice; both boys and girls are welcome. With the football blitz coming up later in the month (August

24), every child can be assured of a game. This is the final u-8s South Board blitz when around twenty teams will take part. All the young players are needed and the advice from Phil Brown and Majella Mulreid is to please remember to wear your St. Laurence’s shorts and socks and lots of sun lotion as they are hoping the sun will shine on the day! Contact Phil Brown at 0507/26267 or Majella Mulreid at 045/526846 if you are willing to help.

A reminder also that the 100 tickets for the big draw on September 28 are available from any committee member.

LARRIES LADS: Martin Heydon tells me that the minor championship semi -final takes place this Sunday, August 18, atSarsfields grounds at ll.30am when St. Laurences play Confey. Best of luck to the lads and your support would mean a lot. The date for SFC match between St. Laurences and Moorefields will be staged at the County Grounds in Newbridge on Sunday, August 25, at 7pm. Again, we wish the lads good luck and hope to see a huge contingent of supporters.

LARRIES LOTTO: How is it so difficult to predict three numbers? Amazingly, the jackpot now stands at 3,400 and would-n’t this just do the trick to chase all those Summer blues away! At the draw on August 5th nobody had the lucky winning combination of 1, 16, 33 but as a consolation the following receive 20: Seamus Noud Kilrush c/o Mick O’Toole, Rose Walsh, Booleigh, Maura Broughall c/o Tony Kelly, Michael Kealy Wood Rd., Leona Donovan c/o M. O’Brien.

FINANCE MEETING:

Fr. Colm O Siochru invites members of the all important Finance Committee to a meeting at the Parish Office on Monday, August 19, at 8pm.

HOLY DAY MASS: This Thursday, August 15, is a holy day of obligation. There will be no Vigil Mass on Wednesday. Mass on Thursday at 10am only.

BEAUTIFUL WOOD:

Mahon’s Woodturning which is situated at Burtown Cross had the great distinction of winning first prize for their display at the Kildare County Show. The work of Michael Mahon and his son is magnificent and they have a huge array of beautiful woodturned bowls, goblets, trinket boxes, lamps etc. This Saturday and Sunday, August 17 and 18, you will have an opportunity to see all this for yourselves as they are holding a display and sale at Susie’s Montessori School from 10am to 6pm each day.

GARDEN PARTY:

Congratulations to everyone involved in the Garden Party held in the beautiful sheltered garden adjoining Fr. Vincent’s Dempsey’s residence. It was great to see Fr. Vincent looking so well after his eleven month stay in Israel and the U.S.A. My fellow correspondent, Kay Byrne, has a full account in her Ballitore Notes which we will all enjoy reading. Meanwhile, Bea Hendy reminds Kilmead people of the Harvest Lunch in aid of Narraghmore and Timolin Parish which will be held at Blackhall Castle, Calverstown, the beautiful home of Naomi White, on Wednesday, August 28, at 12.30pm. Tickets cost 15 and include wine. Contact Bea at 0507/36518.

TIDY TOWNS: A meeting of the group took place at the Parish Office on Tuesday, August 5, where discussion centred around the forthcoming Tidy Towns’ results. Judging has now taken place and, despite the dismal Summer, Kilmead is awash with colour with plenty of window boxes, hanging baskets and carefully tended flowerbeds. During the rare fine days the Moat of Ardscull has been visited by lots of families who enjoyed picnics and walks around this majestic area. Currently the Tidy Towns group is investigating the possibility of erecting a seat on the grassy bank adjoining St. Ita’s Church which could be used for photographs during weddings, First Communion and Confirmation. We have succeeded in attracting a few new members to the Tidy Towns Group but would still welcome a few more. Next meeting will take place after the announcement of the Tidy Towns’ results 2002.

LOUGH DERG: For the third consecutive year Fr. Colm O Siochru will lead a pilgrimage to the holy island. The date chosen is Saturday, September 21, and the cost is 53. Only eleven places remain to be filled and a deposit of 20 will secure your seat.

FAREWELL TO PATRICIA: The very heavens themselves seemed to be weeping as mourners stood in the pouring rain outside St. Ita’s Church on Thursday evening, August 8, to await the arrival of the remains of Patricia Doyle Conway who had died the previous day at St. Brigid’s Hospice, The Curragh. The terrible grief was in sharp contrast to the joy of the previous Saturday when twenty four years old Patricia had married Mark Conway. This beautiful young woman, from Moat View, had been suffering from a genetic disorder for some time, the same dis-ease that took her father, Parkey, eighteen months previously.

As the choir sang “Be not Afraid” her coffin was borne up the Church followed by her husband, mother, six sisters, granny, other relatives and friends. She had walked up the same aisle many times; this was the Church in which she was baptised, received her First Holy Communion and Confirmation, served as an altar server and where she married Mark. Fr. Colm O Siochru and Fr. Vincent Dempsey, P.P., were there to receive her when Fr. Colm placed the Crucifix and a bible on her coffin. Placed there also was a photograph of Patricia which showed a beautiful dark haired girl whose smile gave a promise of a life yet to be lived but sadly this was not to be.

Her funeral next day was, once again, attended in large numbers but this time the sun shone, making an unbearable situation a little easier. Fr. Colm O’Siochru spoke of the devastation for Mark at losing the mother of his three young children as he recalled the happiness for them of the previous Saturday. Patricia was buried beside her father, Parky, at the adjoining graveyard. She is survived by her husband Mark, her two sons Tristan and Nathan, her daughter Brianne, her six sisters, mother, granny, relatives and friends to whom the sympathy of the entire community of Kilmead is extended. 

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