By Kim O'Leary

Kildare will benefit from a ten-year €1 billion Programme of Investment in Flood Relief Measures, Fine Gael TD, Martin Heydon, has said.

It is understood that 118 new flood relief schemes were announced in Athlone by An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Minister Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran last week which include measures for Athy, Castledermot, Newbridge and Suncroft.

The Flood Risk Management Plans published allows the Government to build on significant investment on previous flood defence schemes around the country.

Deputy Martin Heydon said: “This is great news for people in Newbridge, Athy, Castledermot and Suncroft. I’m delighted to see the Government have listened to the people here in Kildare and a plan for flood relief schemes has been announced for these areas. The measures proposed for Castledermot and Suncroft can be carried out under Minor Works with the remaining schemes awaiting funding decisions. "

Deputy Heydon confirmed that he would continue to  liaise with Minister Kevin Boxer Moran and his officials to ensure the works are progressed as soon as possible. "We all know that flooding can have an appalling impact on our families and businesses, through these state of the art flood defences we will be able to give people some piece of mind," added Deputy Heydon.

Meanwhile, a new website  www.floodinfo.ie has been launched where people can view the community risk and measures in place and now proposed to tackle flood risk in Newbridge and Athy, as well as the rest of the country.

An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar sai:“I want to pay tribute to the OPW, local authorities, communities and all those organisations who worked together to develop these Flood Risk Management Plans. They are a testament to how this Government takes informed decisions on investment for major capital projects - by targeting investment against a strong evidence base.  The Government is committed to the delivery of these Plans for the benefit of businesses and communities nationwide."

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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 evening two men are under questioning at Lucan Garda Station suspected of being part of an organised criminal network involved in international fraud and money laundering activities.

As part of an ongoing operation by the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau, two men aged 24 and 25 were arrested in Lucan, Co. Dublin today. Both men are currently detained under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at Lucan Garda Station.

A Spanish company was deceived into transferring significant amounts to an Irish Bank Account being operated under a company name by the arrested persons. The vast majority of this money has been recovered.

Additionally, a third man, aged 25 was arrested in Dublin City centre today. He is suspected of deceiving an Irish company into transferring a significant amount to an account he controlled. All of this money has also been recovered. He is currently detained under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at the Bridewell Garda Station

Assistant Commissioner, Special Crime Operations, John O’Driscoll said:"Today’s arrests by the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau of those involved in the fraudulent theft of money from businesses both here in Ireland and abroad is extremely significant. A quick reaction by An Garda Síochána is critical to success in combatting this type of organised fraud.  Today’s operations underline the importance of cooperation between An Garda Síochána, our policing colleagues internationally and financial institutions. It is particularly satisfying to recover money that was stolen and could have resulted in companies, both at home and abroad, going out of business had it not been recovered.”

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EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum in Dublin is seeking stories from people who have lived overseas and returned to Ireland, as well as those with emigrant family members or ancestors.

As part of a special Europe-wide project, the interactive museum in Dublin’s Docklands is inviting people to come along on the weekend of 26 and 27 May to share their stories of migration.

People are encouraged to bring along one or more objects that are part of their own or their family’s migration story. They can be any sort of object: letters, postcards, photographs, tickets, diaries, artworks, items of clothing, recipes, books, footage, mementos, badges, or songs.

Jessica Traynor, Deputy Museum Director of EPIC said: “The Irish are a nation of emigrants – our history and identity has long been shaped by the comings and goings of people – we all know someone who has moved to the UK, US, Australia, Canada or further afield. But emigration is no longer the one-way journey it was in the past, and many of us have lived overseas and returned. As a digital museum, we want to preserve these stories for future generations.”

EPIC’s Story Collecting Weekend will be on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 May from 10am-5pm. The stories will then become part of the online Europeana Migration Collection, as well as featuring on EPIC’s website. Europeana Collections is Europe’s digital library, museum, gallery and archive. The project aims to show how the flow of people and ideas adds to the richness of culture.

She said:“We are encouraging young and old to share their story with us. On the day, we will listen to your story and photograph your objects so you can take them home again. What you bring just needs to have special meaning or memories attached to it – it doesn’t need to be worth a lot."

As part of the project, collecting events are taking place during 2018 in Belgium, the Netherlands, Hungary, Wales, Croatia, Luxembourg, Latvia and Serbia. 2018 is the European Year of Cultural Heritage and the theme is ‘Our Heritage: Where the Past Meets the Future’.

Two further Story Collecting Weekends will take place during 2018 at EPIC. On August 18-19, the focus will be on New Irish Communities, while on November 24-25 stories of Women Migrants will be collected.

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A Co Kildare TD is advising any woman in Kildare who is concerned about their smears to talk to their GP and call the helpline set up by the HSE.

Deputy Fiona O’Loughlin, TD for Kildare South has commended Vickey Phelan for using her voice to stand up for women across Ireland and highlighting the false results given.

She said:  “Some 6, 000 women have called the helpline since May 2 and many women I have spoken to in Kildare have said the helpline is not being answered, messages are not being picked up and cases where people were told they’d get a call back have not yet received a return call. I have been informed that additional clinical staff have now been provided to the helpline. However, the whole thing has been a shambles up to now."

She said:"Any woman concerned about past and future smears should talk to her GP or call the helpline set up. There is a new type of testing going to be introduced by the end of this year which will see the recommendations of HIQA being introduced. The HPV test, which is going to be introduced, is done on a sample of cells collected from the cervix. Women would experience no change in how the cervical screening sample is collected”.

Deputy O'Loughlin said: “CervicalCheck is prioritising those women who were part of the audit and have advised that all calls will be returned to those concerned women. It is essential that women still continue to have smear tests when called and for anyone concerned about their past smears, take up the free smear being provided."

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Co-ops are being urged to continue supporting Co Kildare farmers and those nationwide following challenging weather conditions.

IFA National Dairy Chairman Tom Phelan recently wrote to all co-ops Chairmen and CEOs on behalf of the Committee.

The letter, which the Committee requested be read at the next board meeting, expressed appreciation of the support provided thus far by most co-ops, but stressed that the crisis is not over yet, and farmers need continued support.

Mr Phelan said: “Farmers need the co-ops to stand behind them in this difficult period. The best way they can demonstrate this support is through the milk price they pay."

He said:“Our Committee members voiced their strong views that co-ops must continue to back farmers despite challenging markets.Dairy farmers have just gone through their eighth month of winter this April, which started early for many last September. Soil and air temperatures have been slow to rise, and many farms are still struggling to keep cows out day and night over a month later than normal."

He said :“Milk cheques have been depressed by price cuts, but also by lower volumes and constituents.  Feed costs have increased massively as farmers have had to cope with the fodder crisis. The workload has not eased after the intensely busy calving period, and this is further compounded by labour shortages on many farms."

Mr Phelan said: “Farmers are stressed, exhausted, worried about their ability to meet their financial commitments, and facing burn-out.  Some co-ops are so aware of this that they have included the contact details of the Samaritans in their newsletters."

He said:“This is why it is vital that co-ops would find ways, this month again, to support their suppliers by minimising any further adjustment to the payout on April milk supplies."

He said: “I urge the management and board of every co-op, when deciding the April milk price, to take due account of the exceptional circumstances and the unprecedented levels of stress being experienced by dairy farmers this spring."

https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help-you/contact-us

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This morning  Revenue officers seized half a kilo of cannabis with an estimated street value of €10,000 and a quantity of cocaine with an estimated street value of €5,000 at a house in Tallaght.

The joint intelligence  operation involved Revenue’s Customs Service, the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, and Gardaí from the Drugs Unit in Tallaght and was part of ongoing joint investigations targeting drug importations in West Dublin.

A 28 year old Irish woman was arrested by Gardaí and is detained at Tallaght Garda Station under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.

Investigations are continuing.

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Eadestown   3-5

Leixlip            2-20

Joe Mallon SFC round one replay

After these two sides couldn’t be separated in an entertaining tie on Sunday afternoon, Leixlip proved more adept at making the quick turnaround in three days as they finished strongly to see off Eadestown in an entertaining tie in Hawkfield.

The victors scored 12 points in a row before the final whistle, keeping Philip Wolfe’s men scoreless for the last 20 minutes of this game as they eased over the line in superb style.

For the second time in four days the Leixlip administration stuck two fingers up to those in Kildare GAA who put the programmes together by failing to carry out the entirely simple task of placing the right numbered jerseys on their players. When asked about this on Sunday one official on the line from Leixlip stated ‘we’re only amateurs’ as the reason behind the jersey mix-ups. No other team in the opening round of the championship had a similar problem, however.

The rain cleared from around Hawkfield about an hour before throw-in, and that allowed for an excellent first half of football as it allowed both sides to play an open and expansive game, with the pace of Eadestown revelling in the fine conditions.

They were lightning quick out of the blocks, and it was Kildare stalwart Emmet Bolton who opened the scoring following a powerful run, before younger brother Cian fisted over a point a minute later. The game’s first major arrived after just four minutes when Eoin Woods took off down the right wing, and while he may have been going for a point, his looping shot deceived Leixlip ‘keeper Kyle Costigan and dropped into the top corner.

That seemed to wake Leixlip up as they finally enjoyed some territory in the Eadestown half, and a Jack Barrett point settled them into the tie. Some good work by Ronan Fitzsimons to set up Paddy Meagher for his opening point doubled their tally, and Eamonn Murphy soon chipped in with a tidy score of his own as they closed to within two points of their opponents.

The north Kildare side then hit the net when Eoin Molloy powered through to set up Padraig Mulrennan to fire past Glen Higgins, pushing Leixlip into the lead for the first time. They built on that through scores from Meagher and Ciaran Masterson, pushing Eoin Dunne’s men into a 1-5 to 1-2 lead after 15 minutes.

Eadestown wrestled momentum back for the next 10 minutes as they drove forward in waves, with Leixlip stopper Costigan having to pull off a fine save to deny Padraic Tuohy, before Bolton smacked the rebound wide. Bolton would rustle the net soon after however, with Tuohy provided the assist as he skinned his man on the wing and fisted it across goal for the veteran to palm in.

A fine ’45 from Niall Cummins pushed the blues back into the lead, but Leixlip would enter the turnaround with a 1-8 to 2-3 advantage thanks to points from Murphy, Meagher and Tommy Moolick in quick succession.

Eadestown began the second half as they started the first, racing out of the blocks to score 1-1 in the space of 90 minutes. Johnny Deane showed great trickery to create an opening and angle home a goal after 30 seconds, before Bolton swerved over a long range point shortly afterwards.

Leixlip hit back through a Tommy Moolick penalty after Shane Dunne fouled Fitzsimons in the square, but Deane responded at the other end with a point to level the game once again. Leixlip were immense after that however, and four points in the space of six minutes set them up for their victory.

Fitzsimons delivered two of those with exceptional efforts off the outside of the right, while Meagher and Molloy also chipped in with impressive scores of their own.

Leixlip were superb for the remainder of the game as they dominated possession in a calm and composed manner, and Eadestown never looked like getting back into the game. John Roche got in on the act with a stunning point from distance, while Rob Tone, Murphy and Molloy all added scores to increase the margin of victory.

Scorers for Eadestown: C Bolton 1-2, J Deane 1-1, E Woods 1-0, C Bolton and N Cummins (’45) 0-1 each.

Scorers for Leixlip: P Meagher 0-5, E Muprhy0-4 (2f, 1’45), T Moolick 1-1(1-0pen), R Fitzsimons 0-3, P Mulrennan 1-0, E Molloy and C Masterson 0-2 each, J Barrett, J Roche and R Tone 0-1 each.

Eadestown

Glen Higgins; Adam Fitzsimons, Eoin Cummins, Shane Dunne; Eddie Conroy, Emmet Bolton, Eoin Woods; Pat O’Sullivan, Barry Lawlor; Padraic Tuohy, Niall Cummins, Johnny Deane; Conor McCarthy, Cian Bolton, Ronan Slattery.

Subs used: Paul Hyland for Eoin Cummins BC 38mins, Sean Hynes for Dunne 49mins, Cian Malone for McCarthy 49mins.

Leixlip

Kyle Costigan; John Roche, Ryan Doyle, Kevin Conneelly; Brian Gibbons, Tom Gibbons, Ciaran Fadian; Eoin Molly, Tommy Moolick; Ronan Fitzsimons, Ciaran Masterson, Padraig Mulrennan; Eamonn Murphy, Paddy Meagher, Jack Barrett.

Subs used: Rob Tone for Barrett HT, Cathal Melville for Doyle 31mins, Cormac O’Toole for Masterson 42mins, Ivan Clancy for Mulrennan 45mins, C Masterson for O’Toole 58mins.

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By Kim O'Leary

This tastefully decorated and modern semi-detached property in Celbridge is sure to resonate with buyers seeking the chance for future expansion in a lovely quiet area, and this property comes with a conservatory, garage and a mature site which provides ample expansion opportunity with an asking price of €535,000.

Coonan Estate Agents Ltd are pleased to present as it enters the market “Alderwood”, Ardclough Road, Celbridge, Co Kildare, and Modern detached 4 bedroom residence is situated in a quiet rural area with plenty of local amenities with the residence featuring to a large, mature site.

Inside the main property consists of 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms (including master en-suite), an entrance hallway, sitting room, a large kitchen/dining room, a spacious conservatory/sunroom which makes the best of the Summer months, a utility/store room, as well as a garage.

Outside the house is approached via an electric gate ensuring privacy, there is a cobble-lock driveway with ample parking for cars to the front, side and rear of the property, and the gardens are large and spacious especially to the rear of the property with a cobble-lock area and green lawns as well as a great opportunity for future expansion subject to relevant planning permission.

“Alderwood” is located in an exclusive area 1.2km outside of Celbridge town with access to local schools, shops, restaurants/cafes and other leisure facilities to cater to everyone’s tastes.

Early viewing of this property is highly recommended, for more information and 18 images visit http://www.daft.ie/kildare/houses-for-sale/celbridge/alderwood-newtown-ardclough-road-celbridge-kildare-1705581/

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Train services in Kildare are operating as normal this morning following a serious incident on the rail line at Kildare Train Station last night.

Commuters using the service were severely disrupted last night after Gardaí closed the line in the Kildare Town area following a serious incident, and there were a number of Garda units and vehicles from the Kildare Fire Service at the scene last night.

Services were suspended on the line and a large number of commuters had to contend with delays that last for over an hour while Gardaí dealt with the incident.

Services currently suspended through Kildare at the request of Gardai. Update to follow

— Iarnród Éireann (@IrishRail) May 9, 2018

Trains began moving once again last night, but there were delays of up to 90 minutes on many of the services.

Irish Rail are operating as normal this morning following the incident.

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Gardaí have launched an appeal for help in tracing the whereabouts of a missing Dublin teenager who hasn't been seen for two days.

The public have been asked to share any information they may have on missing 16-year-old Megan Forde, who was last seen on Monday May 8.

Megan was last seen at Connolly Train Station at approximately 6:05pm. She is described as 5ft with long black hair. She was last seen wearing black leggings and a grey jumper with a "STATE" logo on the front.

Anyone who has seen Megan or who can assist in locating her is asked to contact Raheny Garda Station on 01-6664300, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.

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After yesterday delivered an afternoon of highly mixed weather conditions, today is set to bring something similar, although there will likely be less rain than there was yesterday in Kildare.

Sunny spells and scattered showers today. In the west showers will be most frequent while the east will stay mainly dry. Top temperatures 11-14 degrees. Moderate southwest winds will increase strong and gusty southerly along Atlantic coasts late in the day.

Tonight will be mainly dry at first. Rain will develop in the west after midnight. Lowest temperatures of 5-8 degrees. South to southeast winds will increase fresh to strong overnight and will reach gale force on west and southwest coasts by morning.

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Photo by Jack Birchall

Seven games down and one to go in round one of the Senior Championship, and for all the entertaining football that was played, there will not be many who will be able recall what happened last weekend when it gets to the business end of the season.

The new structure of the championship has left the first round of the competition almost meaningless, and aside from the licking of wounds following beatings last weekend, no side will be too downtrodden having lost.

The new structure has been designed to create more games and to get the fairest balance possible in the championship, yet the group stage could potentially, for example, pit Athy, Celbridge, Carbury and Confey in a group together following last weekend’s results. There is also the potential for a much weaker group than that to be formed, though it is all dependent on the luck of the draw.

When it does come to the group stages there is a chance that a team that hasn’t won a game all year could make it to a championship quarter-final playoff. A third place finish in the group sets teams up for a playoff against second-placed teams to decide who makes the quarter-finals, and just one draw could secure third place if other results allowed that to happen.

The management and players from around the county certainly aren’t fully on board with the new structure yet.

“I’m surprised it is in in the first place, but it’s here now,” was how Moorefield manager Ross Glavin described it.

“It’s here now so I’m only going to be positive about the performance of my players. Again, every team that went out this weekend wanted to play and make a statement.”

The reaction from followers of each club seemed rather indicative of the new structure, with numbers appearing to be quite low at almost every Senior Championship game aside from Moorefield’s Sunday evening win over Carbury. When there is practically nothing on the line, does the first round of the championship mean any more than a run of the mill league game?

Celbridge manager Trevor O’Sullivan summed it up perfectly when saying it doesn’t have a huge amount of relevance, and it has even come at an inopportune time as Kildare prepare for their Leinster Championship opener in three weeks’ time.

“The way they’ve restructured the championship now, it’s like it doesn’t have a huge amount of relevance, but at the same time everyone wants to win the game, nobody wants to go out and lose it,” O’Sullivan told the Kildare Post.

“You could argue that there was a 12-week gap between the first and second round previously. I liked the previous system really because every match was relevant, and you could argue there are relevant games in this section, but I’m not sure it’s the same. I liked the fact that it was do or die before and that has gone out of it a little. But at the same time, the system is what the system is and you just have to get on with it.”

Once Sarsfields and Raheens play in the final game of round one on Saturday evening the first round of the 2018 Kildare Senior Football Championship will have been consigned to the past, and few will have any memories of what results were achieved on the first weekend in May when the real championship action starts at the end of the summer.

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Transport providers Bus Éireann have announced that they will be creating almost 200 new jobs acorss the country as part of the expansion of their current network.

The jobs will be created in 10 different counties, though the company have not indicated that there will be any roles opening up in Kildare.

The upgrade to the network means there will be 190 new driver positions and additional mechanic jobs, to service the ongoing expansion of the national network.

These roles will be required in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Mayo, Waterford, Wicklow, Navan, Drogheda, Limerick and west Clare. Suitable candidates are being sought across Ireland and abroad. The recruitment campaign includes radio, digital and print adverts and commences today.

The new staff positions are required for an expansion and enhancement of services on a number of Bus Éireann routes nationwide under contract to the National Transport Authority (NTA), and some additional enhancement of services on Expressway routes.

These service enhancements are planned for regional city networks, town services and several Expressway intercity routes.

This service expansion will be introduced over the next four to six months.

Bus Éireann CEO Ray Hernan said he was delighted to announce such a significant number of new roles:

“After a challenging few years at the company, it is great to move into a new growth phase. The majority of this service expansion will be delivered on behalf of the NTA for Public Service Obligation routes - and when introduced, will greatly benefit our customers and should incentivise more people to make the switch to public transport.

“Much change and progress has been delivered across Bus Éireann and Expressway, since the acceptance of a new Labour Court Agreement by staff last year. We are continuing to transform our business to deliver an enhanced experience for our customers.”

National Transport Authority CEO Ann Graham said: “Bus Éireann’s recruitment campaign is very welcome and the NTA looks forward to working with the company to improve and increase services for customers around the country.”

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More positive steps are being made in the project to deliver an extensive refurbishment to a national school in Naas.

It was confirmed by Kildare North Labour representative Emmet Stagg that the project brief for the refurbishment and extension to St Corban's NS has been finalised and the schedules of accommodation have been issued to the Patron of the school. The Minister for Education, Richard Bruton, further advised that his Department would be in further contact with the school in due course in relation to the appointment of a design team.

Last year it was decided that the school would be extensively refurbished rather than rebuilt, with Kildare County Council deciding to undertake renovation works rather than build new structures.

The project is now progressing and with the appointment of a design team in the near future it will be nearing a stage where planning applications can be submitted.

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The death has occurred of Patrick (Paddy) BRIEN, St. Corban`s Place, Naas, Kildare

Peacefully, in the tender care of the staff of St. Brigid's Hospice. Monasterevin. Beloved father of Tommy, Michelle and John, sadly missed by his loving family, his partner Josie, John's partner Martin, sister Rosie, brothers Tommy, Jack and Joe, son-in-law Michael, daughter-in-law Fiona, sisters-in-law Theresa and Betty, grandchildren Stephen, Alan, Megan, Hannah and Gareth, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Reposing at his home on Thursday from 4pm with prayers at 7pm. Removal on Friday morning at 9.20am arriving at the Church of Our Lady and St. David, Naas, for Funeral Mass at 10am, followed by burial in St. Corban's Cemetery, Naas.

Family flowers only please. Donations, if desired, to the Friends of St. Brigid's Hospice. Donation box in Church.

The death has occurred of Philip (Phil) O'DONNELL, St. Dominic’s Park, Newbridge, Kildare

Formerly of Sligo Town. Peacefully at Naas Hospital.

Sadly missed by his loving wife Eileen, sons Barry, Philip, Eamonn and Darren, daughters Siobhan and Helen, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, brother, sisters, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and friends.

Reposing at his son Barry’s residence, Allenview Heights, Newbridge from 4pm on Thursday and all day Friday. Rosary at 8pm on Friday.

Removal on Saturday morning at 10:30amto arrive at Cill Mhuire Church, Ballymany for Requiem Mass at 11am

Cremation afterwards in Mount Jerome Crematorium Harolds Cross at 1:30pm. Family flowers only please. Donations, if desired, to Suncroft Lodge Nursing Home. Donations box in church.

The death has occurred of Michael KEOGH, Cardenton, Athy, Kildare

Son of the late Mick and brother of the late Nicola. Deeply regretted by his loving mother Marie, sisters Louise and Lorraine, brother John, brothers-in-law, sister-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Reposing at his residence from 12 noon on Thursday with Rosary at 8pm. Removal by Rigney's Funeral Directors at 10.30am Friday morning to arrive at St. Michael's Parish Church, Athy for Requiem Mass at 11am. Burial afterwards in Churchtown Cemetery.

The death has occurred of Karen CROSS (née Connolly), Lullymore, Rathangan, Kildare / Newbridge, Kildare

Formerly of Dara Park, Newbridge. Peacefully at St. Brigid's Hospice, Moore Abbey surrounded by her loving family. Sadly missed by her husband Liam, son Josh, mother Emma, brothers, sisters, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and friends.

Reposing at Glennon‘s Funeral Home, Newbridge from 5 PM on Thursday with rosary at 8 o’clock. Removal on Friday morning at 10:15 AM to arrive at the Church of the Holy Trinity, Allen, for Requiem Mass at 11 o’clock. Cremation afterwards in Mount Jerome Crematorium, Harold’s Cross. Family flowers only please. Donations, if desired, to the friends of Saint Brigid's Hospice, Moore Abbey. Donations box in church.

The death has occurred of Karen (Karie) COONEY (née Bowes), Mulhuddart, Dublin / Leixlip, Kildare

COONEY (née Bowes), Karen (Karie) (Mulhuddart, Dublin 15 and formerly of Leixlip, Co. Kildare) May 8th 2018 (suddenly) at her home. Beloved wife of Darren, devoted mother of Hannah and Luke, daughter of Denis and Annette, sister of Denise and David and daughter-in-law of Mary. Sadly missed by her loving family, brother-in-law, aunts, uncles, cousins, relatives and friends.

Reposing at Cunninghams Funeral Home, Clonsilla Village on Thursday evening from 6pm to 8pm. Removal to the Church of St. Luke the Evangelist, Mulhuddart on Friday morning arriving for Requiem Mass at 10am.

The death has occurred of Ivan COOKE, Mullaghmoy Suncroft R56FY75, Curragh, Kildare

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The Local Link bus service that serves Athy, Kilberry, Kildangan, Nurney, Kildare town, Milltown and Newbridge has been extended to run over weekend hours.

The news was confirmed today by local TD Martin Heydon, who requested the extension of the service last autumn to Transport Minister Shane Ross.

The route currently operates four times each day, but it will be extended to the evening times on Thursday, Friday and Saturday under the new pilot scheme.

"This extension of the local bus route is good news for local people along the route who may want to travel to their local towns later in the evening," stated Deputy Heydon. 

“This route is one of 50 that have been confirmed by the NTA over 19 counties to tackle issues of social isolation.  Following a funding call for applications to all 17 Local Link Offices to deliver a range of trial evening and night time services, the NTA received 50 proposals from 12 of the Local Link Offices.

Deputy Heydon stated that there will be an additional 188 trips provided by Local Link each week nationwide, and the services will be provided on a six month trial basis. 

“These 188 additional weekly bus runs will bring people into their local towns and villages in the evening times, driving economic activity in those areas and allowing people to gather for whatever activity they wish, from a visit to the cinema or to dance, play card games, view a GAA match, or visit a pub or restaurant. Communities and local businesses will be able organise new activities to attract residents into their town or village once they know that those residents will have this evening bus service available to them. 

“Beyond this extensive pilot, which I believe highlights the massive potential of our rural transport network, I wish to see a change in how we as a State approach public transport in rural areas. Policy formation in this area has often been an after-thought rather than an integral part of overall public transport policy. 

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A one-acre plot of land zoned for residential which is valued at €400,000 was due to go to auction yesterday.

The site is located on the Green Road only a short walk from the Curragh Plains and Town Centre.

The land is zoned residential under the Newbridge Local Area Plan 2013 – 2019.

Planning Permission previously for a development of 13 apartments but it has since lapsed.

The area is a well-established residential location with adjoining developments including Beechmount and Curragh Grange.

A public auction was due to go ahead in the Keadeen Hotel yesterday.

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ŠKODA Ireland has launched a competition that will give soon-to-be newlyweds the opportunity to tick an important part of their big day, off their to-do list.

 ŠKODA Ireland are giving a minimum of five lucky couples the opportunity to arrive in style on their wedding day, by winning two of their very own ŠKODA SUPERB Laurin and Klement edition wedding cars, complete with a ŠKODA SUPERB chauffeur and complimentary champagne.

The Laurin & Klement edition of the ŠKODA SUPERBis the most luxurious edition of the SUPERB range and perfectly suited to special occasions.

One of the 2017 winning couples was Sarah and Michael Walshe, who tied the knot in Powerscourt, Co. Wicklow last year.

Speaking about her ŠKODA wedding day experience, Sarah Walshe said:

“We were over the moon when we received a call from the ŠKODA team to say Michael and I were one of the winning couples. The journey to the wedding venue is one of the only moments you have to yourselves, as a newly married couple, on your wedding day. The ŠKODA SUPERB was just perfect for that moment and our driver couldn’t have been nicer. The ŠKODA team really added to our wedding day experience and I would encourage anyone who is in the process of planning their wedding to enter this great competition.”

  ŠKODA Ireland PR Manager, Mark Mulvaney, said: “Having recently gotten married myself, I know all too well the stresses and strains that come with organising your big day.

"You may have a to-do list the length of your arm, but it’s also one of the most enjoyable periods of your life.

"We have been running the annual ŠKODA SUPERB wedding competition since 2016 and it is always so well received. Contacting the winning couples to let them know we will be looking after them, on their big day, is heartwarming.

“We are delighted to be bringing the competition back this year and giving soon-to-be newlyweds peace of mind on one aspect of their wedding day planning. The ŠKODA SUPERB Laurin & Klement edition is the most luxurious in the SUPERB range. It is also one of the most spacious cars on the road, so the winning couples and their guests will have the utmost comfort, as they sip champagne en route to their chosen venue.”

To be in with a chance to win, simply visit www.superbweddings.ie and enter your details before Friday, 1st of June.

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.

Leixlip handball star Leah Doyle claimed another major title.

Leah bagged herself her third major title this year by winning the prestigious 17 and under National One Wall title in Breaffy Co Mayo over the weekend.

Leah powered her way through the rounds outclassing her opponents with her skill and athleticism.

Her winning form continued to the end beating Caitlin Conway Tyrone in the final with a score line of 25. 12.

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.