By Kim O'Leary

It was a night in at the movies at the weekend on “Dancing With the Stars” as the competitors had to dance to tunes from well-known films, and 24-year-old model Alannah Beirne, who is from Eadestown, and her dance partner Vitali Kozmin danced to a song from blockbuster La La Land to great acclaim winning a spot on the show next week.

Eadestown native Alannah and Vitali wowed the three judges and the audience with their performance of an American Smooth to “City of Stars” from La La Land.

Alannah wore a beautiful summery yellow dress while Vitali looking dashing in a white shirt and tie with trousers, both channelling La La Land’s stars Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. The duo were flawless in their delivery and brought the magical number to life for an Irish audience, and their perfectly synchronised twists and turns would have made Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone proud.

The judges praised the talented duo’s performance, with judge Julian Benson saying that Alannah is a “natural born dance star” and that they were a “beautiful unit” on the dance floor.

However, Alannah and Vitali were knocked off their position as top points scorers following on from last week as while they scored an impressive 26 points this week, Anna Geary and partner Kai topped the scoreboard with 27 points from the judges following their rendition of “Let It Go” from Frozen complete with Elsa costume.

The second pair of dancers to leave the competition after the public vote were Tómas O’Leary and dance partner Giulia Dotta who scored 16 points with their performance of Paso Doble the classic Led Zepplin tune Immigrant’s Song from the movie Thor: Ragnarok.

Speaking to presenters Nicky Byrne and Amanda Byram, Alannah said that this week’s dance routine was challenging but they had “really enjoyed it” although they did feel the pressure having to perform last they didn’t disappoint the Kildare fans at home.

On Friday last, Alannah and Vitali visited Alannah’s hometown and they enjoyed a pint at Grace’s Pub as well as meeting some excited fans at Jennie Brady’s dance school in Naas. Speaking to KildareNow on Friday 26 January , Alannah said that it was a nice feeling to visit her familiar haunts in the town. She said: “It’s lovely to be back in Naas, I wanted to show Vitali around, too. We’ve gotten a warm welcome.”

Alannah and Vitali need as much support as possible as they continue their journey on the show and Kildare viewers to help support them when they next appear on the show "Dancing With the Stars" this coming Sunday 4 January at 6.30pm on RTE One by calling 1513717107 or text "Alannah" to 53125 or visit www.rte.ie/dwts

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Crowds at race meetings across Ireland were down 3% last year, partly due to the €65m redevelopment of the Curragh Racecourse.

A 6,000 attendance limit was fixed for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby and the Irish Champions Weekend at the Kildare venue.

A total of 18,244 flocked to the Derby in 2016 while the Champions Weekend attracted over 9,000.

Horse Racing Ireland said overall total attendance and average attendance were both similarly down in 2017 - 3% (1.28-million) and 2.8% (3,589) respectively.

Looking ahead to 2019

HRI Chief Executive Brian Kavanagh said: “The attendance figures reflect the reduced numbers at The Curragh, in particular the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby and day two of the Longines Irish Champions Weekend.

“We look forward to the completion of the redevelopment in 2019, when The Curragh will have facilities to match the world-class action on the track.”

Prizemoney

Prizemoney and sponsorships were up last year: prizemoney climbed 7.6% to €61.1-million, while commercial sponsorships were up 3% to €4.94-million and EBF sponsorships were up 15.8% to €1.98-million.

Kavanagh concluded, “Horse racing generates a very significant return to the rural economy in Ireland and positive international profile for our country.

"The industry contributes €1.84-billion to the Irish economy, supporting directly and indirectly almost 29,000 jobs."

Other statistics:

• 2017 represented a seventh consecutive year of growth in sales, with the value of Irish bloodstock sold at public auction being €175.6-million, up 7% on the 2016 figures.
• Irish-bred horses continued to dominate at the highest levels internationally and the value of Irish-foaled exports sold at public auction was €268.1-million, with clients from 31 different countries investing in Irish bloodstock.”
• The number of horses in training was down just 1% at 8,488, while active owners were also down a touch (0.6%) at 3,687. New owners were down 2.7% to 686. All of these areas had, however, enjoyed growth in 2016.
• Total tote betting was up 7.2% to €103.8-million last year; however, total on-course betting was down 6.2% to €83.1-million.

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A man told Naas Court that he did not pay a fine for holding a mobile phone while driving because he did not receive the fixed penalty notice.

At Naas District Court, evidence was heard how on June 23, 2017, at Prosperous, the accused was charged with holding a mobile phone while driving.

Defence Solicitor, Conal Boyce, outlined how the accused did not pay the fixed penalty because he did not receive it.

The court heard how the accused became separated from his wife and the time. and moved from the Tullamore address.

Judge Elizabeth Mac Namara ordered that the charges would be struck out.

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Kildare Co Council has granted planning permission for 207 new homes in Kildare Town.

Greyabbey Investments Limited received the go-ahead for the project, on a 10 hectare site off the Nurney Road near Kildare Village.

The developer firm is based in Dublin and was only established three years ago.

Its two directors are Robert McCarthy and Michael McCarthy who are aged in their 40s and have Dublin addresses.

The application also includes a two-storey childcare facility.

The proposed homes will include:

• 6 five-bed two storey (including balcony at first floor level and all semi-detached)
• 81 four-bed two storey houses
• 120 three-bed two storey houses (111 semi-detached and 9 mid-terraced)
• two-storey childcare facility (305.8sqm gross floor area).

The development consists of an increase of ground levels at the site by up to c.1.9m. facilitated through the importation of approximately 100,000m3 of infill material.

Photo: Aishling Conway

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A 4-bedroom detached house has come on the market with a price of just €125,000.

The property is set in the picturesque village of Geashill, Co Offaly which is 20 minutes from the Co Kildare border and 25 minutes from the M7.

The home has views over the Village Green in Geashill and is directly opposite the Church.

The 4-bed, which is a perfect restoration project for the right buyer, has been brought to the market by Matt Dunne Auctioneers in Portarlington.

This fine property was built in 1880, and the original single-storey cottage remains at the front.

There is a two-storey extension added at the rear with various outbuildings and sheds.

The total floor area is 1,380 square feet and includes entrance porch, living room, dining room, kitchen and scullery and utility/store room.

There are two ground floor bedrooms to the front of the house, ground floor bathroom and WC and rear hall, with two large bedrooms to the rear first floor of extension.

The house has open fires and oil-fired central heating via a large AGA converted oil cooker.

Many interesting features are retained including sash windows and shutters and under window insert panels to the front.

There is also a timber panel main door with side-light windows, original tiled floors to hallway, cast iron and tiled fireplaces and high ceiling to front rooms.

Externally to the rear there is a large rear garden with outbuildings.

More information and 14 photos are available here:

http://www.daft.ie/offaly/bungalows-for-sale/geashill/church-view-geashill-offaly-1626827/

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A man who told the court he bought a new car on the same day he was charged by Gardaí  has been banned from driving for two years.

The accused pleaded guilty to not having a driving licence and insurance on March 22, 2017, at Sallins.

Evidence was given that the accused had seven previous convictions, including dangerous driving, drink driving and public order.

The court heard that on the day that the accused was arrested, he had just purchased the car.

Defence Solicitor,Cairbre Finan, outlined that the landscape gardener by trade has now stopped driving.

Judge Elizabeth Mac Namara ordered that the accused was convicted and fined €100 for not having a driving licence and €150 for non insurance. He was given eight months to pay

Judge Zaidan imposed a two years driving ban.

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Emergency services and Gardaí are at the scene of an accident tonight in Co Kildare.

A crash  has taken place on the N7 southbound between J6 Castlewarden & J7 Kill, in the middle & right lanes.

Gardaí  are directing traffic.

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ESB Networks are recruiting young men and women from today - February 1st - for Apprentice Electrician/Network Technician roles nationwide.

People are invited to register their interest now so they don’t miss out.

Applicants must be 16+ by the 1st June 2018 and the Apprenticeships start in September 2018.

As an Apprentice Electrician/Network Technician with the ESB you will get on the job learning as well as classroom based learning.

You will benefit from varied work experience, working both indoors and outdoors.

You will learn a variety of electrical and practical skills and you will obtain a QQI Advanced Level 6 Electrical Trade Certificate with a World Class Utility Company.

ESB Networks DAC serves 2.3 million domestic and business customers in Ireland providing a safe and reliable electricity supply.

Apply here: https://www.esb.ie/careers/apprenticeships

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A Judge dismissed charges made against a man today at Naas District Court stating that Gardaí had 'carried out a search without lawful authority.'

Today a man appeared before Naas District Court in relation to charges connected to the theft of €120 worth of Levi jeans, to the value of €120, from a car parked at Carton House, Maynooth, on August 24, 2o15.

In court, the owner of the car gave evidence how on the day he had been shopping and left the jeans in the car while he went for a walk.

He told the court how when he returned, the car had been broken into and his Levi jeans were gone.

Detective Garda Ronan Kelly outlined how on August 24, 2o15, at about 8.30pm, on the Maynooth Road, he saw a car with a 2005 reg, that had gone off the market in 2001.  He told the court how there were three men in the car, including the accused.

As part of the search, Levi jeans were found.

Judge Brian O'Shea dismissed the charges.

He said: "Gardaí carried out a search without any lawful authority."

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The death has occurred of John (Sean) CASSIDY
St. Martin's Avenue, Naas, Kildare / Ballyconnell, Cavan

Beloved husband of the late Maureen and loving father of Tom, Tim, Anne and John. Sadly missed by his loving family, son-in-law Brian, daughters-in-law Gillian, Olivia and Adrienne, grandchildren Sarah, Sarah, Clodagh, Lauren, Rachel and Hannah, great-grandson Cameron, brother Aidan, sisters Margaret and Terese, sisters-in-law, brother-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and friends.

Reposing at The George Mullins Funeral Home, Kilcullen Road, Naas on Sunday from 2pm. Removal on Sunday afternoon at 4.30pm to arrive at the Church of Our Lady and St. David, Naas at 5pm. Funeral on Monday after 10am Mass to St. Corban’s Cemetery, Dublin Road, Naas.

“May He Rest In Peace”

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Gardaí have arrested one man and seized a quantity of drugs in Kilkenny today.

As part of ongoing joint investigations targeting drug importations, an operation was conducted by the Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau, Kilkenny Drugs Unit and Revenue’s Customs Service, at a house in the Dunmore area of Kilkenny.

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The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) Trolley Watch Figures, showed that 12,201 people waited on trolleys in Emergency Departments or on additional beds placed throughout hospitals, during the month of January.

This is an 18% increase over the numbers last January, which themselves were a record high and is a 128% increase on the numbers recorded in 2007.  The most overcrowded hospital in the Eastern region was St Vincent’s University Hospital with 559 people waiting on trolleys and 1,003 were recorded for the Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Limerick, the highest outside of Dublin. Children’s University Hospital, Temple Street, Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin and National Children’s Hospital, Tallaght recorded an additional 192 children, waiting on trolleys, during January.

Speaking today, Phil Ni Sheaghdha, INMO General Secretary said: “This is an incredible level of overcrowding and the appalling conditions experienced in Emergency Departments are now beyond anything we have ever seen. It now amounts to a humanitarian crisis for patients and a risk rich environment for those trying to work in such chaotic conditions”.

 In February 2016 the employer agreed with the INMO that when one-third of ED trolleys were occupied by in-patients, this was their indicator to take action to protect the health and safety of staff.

Nurses in Emergency Departments and throughout hospitals are now working in appalling conditions and according to Ms Ni Sheaghdha: “Health employers have completely fallen down on their statutory obligation to provide a safe place of work.”

Ms Ni Sheaghdha also pointed out that Section 8 of the Safety Health and Welfare at Work Act requires employers to carry out risk assessments and put in place mitigating measures to avoid those risks.  Section 11 specifically describes the duties of the employer in relation to emergencies and serious and imminent dangers to their staff.

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Kildare North Labour Representative Emmet Stagg has called on Kildare Co. Council to seek funding for the construction of a New Liffey Bridge for Celbridge under the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund which saw an additional €62 Million allocated to the Scheme in Budget 2018.

The Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund stated Mr. Stagg saw grants of €15,375,000 provided for the Naas Inner Relief Road and Maynooth Eastern Relief Road last March.

Mr. Stagg has now been advised by the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government that a second call for proposals under LIHAF will issue to local authorities before the end of March and it will be open to all local authorities to submit new projects or resubmit previous projects for consideration at that time. The Minister further advised that it is expected that approved projects will be announced in Quarter 3 of 2018.

A New Liffey Bridge in Celbridge was included in the last application for funding by Kildare Co. Council but was unsuccessful.

With further funding now available Kildare North Labour Representative Emmet Stagg is calling on the Council to include the New Liffey Bridge in Celbridge as its priority project under the second call this year, to once and for all deal with the traffic congestion in Celbridge.

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Fiona O’Loughlin, TD for Kildare South has expressed her frustration once again over Kildare County Councils response as to when work would be carried out at the Oaks, Newbridge.

Deputy OLoughlin said: “The Council committed to resurfacing the road outside the Oaks in Newbridge back in November and still the work has not been carried out. This road is extremely busy and the resurface will improve the journey for many road users in Newbridge”.

She said"The most recent response I received from the council mentioned an issue with surface water drainage that needs to be addressed before resurfacing can commence. The disappointing aspect of this is that there is no time scale as to when these works will take place so we are left in limbo.”

O’Loughlin concluded, “Many residents of the Oaks have been in contact with my office and other residents of Newbridge that use the road regularly and are frustrated with the condition of such a primary road in the town. I have begun to engage with Irish Water to ensure progress is made with these works as soon as possible”.

If you have a story or want to send photos or videos to us please contact the KildareNow editorial team. via our Facebook, via our email at content@kildarenow.com or on 045 409350 during office hours.

The death has occurred of John (Sean) CASSIDY
St. Martin's Avenue, Naas, Kildare / Ballyconnell, Cavan

Beloved husband of the late Maureen and loving father of Tom, Tim, Anne and John. Sadly missed by his loving family, son-in-law Brian, daughters-in-law Gillian, Olivia and Adrienne, grandchildren Sarah, Sarah, Clodagh, Lauren, Rachel and Hannah, great-grandson Cameron, brother Aidan, sisters Margaret and Terese, sisters-in-law, brother-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and friends.

Reposing at The George Mullins Funeral Home, Kilcullen Road, Naas on Sunday from 2pm. Removal on Sunday afternoon at 4.30pm to arrive at the Church of Our Lady and St. David, Naas at 5pm. Funeral on Monday after 10am Mass to St. Corban’s Cemetery, Dublin Road, Naas.

“May He Rest In Peace”

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in Co Kildare today will be mostly dry and sunny to start. However, there will be a lot of frost in the morning.

Winds will be light and temperatures will reach 6 or 7 degrees.

There will be scattered showers in the evening.  Winds will be light northwesterly in direction, backing westerly and later southerly in direction, increasing in advance of the wind.

If you have a story or want to send photos or videos to us please contact the KildareNow editorial team. via our Facebook, via our email at content@kildarenow.com or on 045 409350 during office hours.

This morning there are reports of an 'incident' in Dublin city with Gardaí at the scene.

It is understood that there has been an incident on Patrick St in the left lane after Dean St Junction.

Inbound traffic is blocked.

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Co Kildare Gardaí are warning motorists not to leave their cars running outside their homes while unattended  with two cars stolen this morning in the county.

The thefts occurred in the Naas District.

Gardai are urging motorists to be vigilant and remain with their cars when defrosting the windows.

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Concerns are mounting for people in Co Kildare who are not being covered by medical cards for blood tests.

Fiona O’Loughlin, TD for Kildare South is calling on the government to act on amending the terms of the current GP contracts for patients with medical cards. At present there are no terms under the GMS contract that requires a GP to provide blood tests for free.

Speaking on this issue Deputy O'Loughlin said:"I received confirmation from the Minister for Health through Parliamentary Question that there are currently no provisions under the GMS P contract scheme with GPs to provide blood tests for patients with medical cards for a reduced cost. At present the decision is at the discretion of the individual GP even though the HSE has requested for the treatment to be free of charge.”

She said:“I submitted this question to the Minister as I was contacted by a number of older constituents in 2017 with complaints that they were unable to afford the costs of blood tests in their local GPs . Some of the constituents that were complaining were paying for blood tests weekly and the cost was taking its toll on them.”

Deputy O'Loughlin said: “The government must tackle this issue with the highest priority. The patients most affected by this are the ones most vulnerable in our society and it is the government’s duty to ensure that these people have access to basic medical services. I am calling on the government to fast track the GP contractual review process that is currently underway so that action can be taken, Concluded O’Loughlin.”

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Above: Eadestown Under 16 team

Eadestown GAA has applied for planning permission for a one and a half storey extension (3,24m2) to the front of existing clubhouse.

Also being proposed is 20-metre-high flood lighting incorporating six poles to the perimeter of the main pitch.

A new wastewater treatment system is also in the designs.

Kildare Co Council planners have two months to decide on the application.

Founded in 1884, Eadestown claims to be based in the smallest parish in the diocese of Dublin.

Previously, Ballymore Eustace and Eadestown fielded a combined Minor team under the name Oliver Plunkett's. However, since 2012, Eadestown have fielded their own Minor team.

The Club was recently awarded €41,000 in Sports Capital Grants announced by Minister of State with responsibility for Sport Brendan Griffin.

The funds will go towards upgrading the walking/jogging track and maintaining pitch surfaces.

 More than 70 other club in Co  Kildare also benefited from the Grants. 

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