On the M50 southbound, traffic is slow exiting at J10 Ballymount. Northbound traffic is moving well.

Red Line services are operating as normal following an incident on Mayor St Lwr which has been cleared.

A stop/ go system is in place until further notice on the Caragh/ Prosperous Rd (R409) at Cock Bridge following an incident on Sunday (20th).

If you have a story or want to send a photo or video to us please contact the Kildare Now editorial team. Between 9am and 5pm Monday to Sunday please call 045 409350. Between 5pm and midnight please call or text 086 729 0010. Or you can email content@kildarenow.com at any time.

A man has died after falling from a building in Waterford City last night.

The man fell from his apartment on Jail Street which is located at the side of the Garda Station in Waterford City.

He sustained head injuries in the fall which happened at 9.20pm.

Gardai were unable to revive him.

The man who was originally from Dublin was taken to University Hospital Waterford where he was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.

If you have a story or want to send a photo or video to us please contact the Kildare Now editorial team. Between 9am and 5pm Monday to Sunday please call 045 409350. Between 5pm and midnight please call or text 086 729 0010. Or you can email content@kildarenow.com at any time.

The Luas Red Line has returned to full services after a collision between a cyclist and tram in Dublin's IFSC this morning.

Red Line services only ran between Tallaght/Saggart and Connolly after the incident on Mayor Street Lower.

It is understood the cyclist was taken to hospital after the collision, which occurred just before 8am.

If you have a story or want to send a photo or video to us please contact the Kildare Now editorial team. Between 9am and 5pm Monday to Sunday please call 045 409350. Between 5pm and midnight please call or text 086 729 0010. Or you can email content@kildarenow.com at any time.

The tragic deaths of five young men in the Newbridge area over the past month has raised fears of a possible suicide cluster in the town, the Irish Times is reporting today.
The deaths, four in the town and one nearby, has caused shock in the area. Three were in their 30s, and one was in his early 40s.
No obvious link between the deaths has been established, though two of the men were related and two lived on the same estate in Newbridge.

The most recent death was a young father a week ago.

Local independent councillor Paddy Kennedy described the deaths as “a very sad situation”. “Five is just unbelievable,” he said. “I wish I had an answer but I don’t.”
Paul Kelly, chief executive of suicide prevention agency Console, said it was aware of what appeared to be a cluster of deaths.

He described the development as “very disturbing” but said it was not the first time this had happened.

Mr Kelly said such events were traumatising not just for the families but for the whole community.
A number of young men died by suicide in a nearby town last year, he said, and there was also a cluster of deaths of young girls in north Kildare/Dublin in 2009.
Console operates a 24-hour helpline for people with suicidal thoughts or people aware of others at risk. Other suicide-prevention agencies have offices in Newbridge and have responded by providing counselling.

Mr Kelly urged people with concerns about others to seek advice. “We’d say to people to be vigilant and mindful if they know someone who is having a tough time, and to watch out for signs they are in trouble.”
A recent report found suicide clusters, particularly among younger people, were becoming a worrying issue.

The report by Prof Kevin Malone found up to 10 per cent of suicide deaths in Ireland may be part of a cluster.
A separate report by the National Suicide Research Foundation found 13 deaths in a 23km area of Co Cork over a three-month period in 2011.

There were a further seven suicides in a neighbouring 28km zone. About 500 people take their lives in Ireland each year and the rate of youth suicide is among the highest in the EU.

Console’s 24-hour helpline is 1800-247247.

If you have a story or want to send a photo or video to us please contact the Kildare Now editorial team. Between 9am and 5pm Monday to Sunday please call 045 409350. Between 5pm and midnight please call or text 086 729 0010. Or you can email content@kildarenow.com at any time.

Irish Rail has postponed its plans to run Darts every 10 minutes due to what it described as the “intransigence” of unions.

Siptu has denied that the issue is due to the union’s actions.

The proposed 10-minute frequency for DART services had been planned to commence on 10 April.

If you have a story or want to send a photo or video to us please contact the Kildare Now editorial team. Between 9am and 5pm Monday to Sunday please call 045 409350. Between 5pm and midnight please call or text 086 729 0010. Or you can email content@kildarenow.com at any time.

Naas Gardai are renewing appeals for motorists to have their cars in roadworthy condition.

Last night  Gardai in Naas stopped a car with extremely worn tyres.

Yesterday Garda stopped a van towing another van with a trailer. There were no stop lights, indicators or registration plate on the trailer.

If you have a story or want to send a photo or video to us please contact the Kildare Now editorial team. Between 9am and 5pm Monday to Sunday please call 045 409350. Between 5pm and midnight please call or text 086 729 0010. Or you can email content@kildarenow.com at any time.

Social media tributes have been pouring in mourning the closure of a renowned Newbridge business.

After 40 years serving the people of Newbridge,Yvonne's Shop has closed its doors.

Many people are describing their sadness this morning at the loss of 'lovely staff' and a 'lovely shop.'

If you have a story or want to send a photo or video to us please contact the Kildare Now editorial team. Between 9am and 5pm Monday to Sunday please call 045 409350. Between 5pm and midnight please call or text 086 729 0010. Or you can email content@kildarenow.com at any time.

A young Co Kildare sportsman expressing his sympathies to five families impacted by suicide in Newbridge over the past few weeks says, 'it could easily have been me.'

Senior footballer for Athy, Daniel O'Keeffe, is 26- years-old. He first became depressed at the age of 16.

At the age of 19, he was contemplating suicide. After a number of suicide attempts, last year, was the final one.

He said: "I reached out to a friend, I got help, I decided to stand my ground and fight it."

The renowned DJ in Athy is appealing for people to stay away from marijuana. He is adamant that the drug exacerbated his depression.

Mr O'Keeffe said: "I never knew what was wrong with me. I was never good at school, there I put on a brave face, I was the showman. When I was 16, I remember, I started to cry and I did not know what was wrong."

After completing school, Mr O'Keeffe stayed living in Athy and pursued his career as a DJ.

He said: "I lived for the weekend, I was big into football, so I did that during the week. I was going through the motions. I just was not happy."

It was around this time that he turned to marijuana.

Mr O'Keeffe said: "It does not make you feel good. It is a massive depressant, it made me feel very down. I have been off it for two years now. When I gave it up, I had to live in my own head. I felt depressed so I would smoke weed, I was living in a bubble, you don't have to think about what you are feeling."

He became very anxious and was unable to hold down a full-time job.

Following the latest suicide attempt last year, Mr O'Keeffe took action.

He spent ten days in hospital, and from there to Pieta House.

At Pieta House, he received counselling and still gets it.

He said: "I tried antidepressants for a while but they did not suit me. I did not find them helpful.I do a lot of meditation.

A healthy mind is a healthy body. I am now back playing for Athy, there were weeks when I would not turn up for training. I am feeling a lot better, it can be done, it is  a hard road, I got a lot of support from my family and friends."

For further information on PietaHouse go to www.pietahouse.ie or ring 01 / 6010000.

If you have a story or want to send a photo or video to us please contact the Kildare Now editorial team. Between 9am and 5pm Monday to Sunday please call 045 409350. Between 5pm and midnight please call or text 086 729 0010. Or you can email content@kildarenow.com at any time.

Gardai are investigating the theft of two cars from a home in Straffan in the early hours of this morning.

They were stolen from The Beeches estate.

One, a blue Range Rover, was found a couple of hours ago in Celbridge village.

The second, a black BMW X1, registration, 12 C 7855, has yet to be recovered.

Meanwhile Gardai are appealing for car owners to be vigilant about the escalating level of car thefts in Co Kildare.

Gardai are urging people to manually check that their cars are locked before walking away.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Gardai at Celbridge on 01 628 8222

If you have a story or want to send a photo or video to us please contact the Kildare Now editorial team. Between 9am and 5pm Monday to Sunday please call 045 409350. Between 5pm and midnight please call or text 086 729 0010. Or you can email content@kildarenow.com at any time.

A man is recovering from 'minor injuries' following an assault in Naas.

The incident happened at 3.20am on Monday morning at John Devoy Road.

The man was set upon by several other men and sustained what Gardai describe as "minor injuries".

Anyone who noted anything suspicious in the area at that time is asked to contact the Gardai at Naas on 045-884-300.

If you have a story or want to send a photo or video to us please contact the Kildare Now editorial team. Between 9am and 5pm Monday to Sunday please call 045 409350. Between 5pm and midnight please call or text 086 729 0010. Or you can email content@kildarenow.com at any time.

A woman who was hanging out her washing had her home burgled during that time yesterday.

Gardai in Kilcullen are investigating how a woman, returning to her kitchen from the back yard saw a man.

He fled through the front door.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Kilcullen Gardai on 045 / 481212.

If you have a story or want to send a photo or video to us please contact the Kildare Now editorial team. Between 9am and 5pm Monday to Sunday please call 045 409350. Between 5pm and midnight please call or text 086 729 0010. Or you can email content@kildarenow.com at any time.

Rory McIlroy and his charitable foundation, the Rory Foundation, yesterday announced three children’s charities in the Kildare-Dublin region who will benefit from this year’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open. The three charities are Barretstown, the Jack & Jill Foundation and LauraLynn Children’s Hospice. The Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, hosted by the Rory Foundation, will be held at The K Club from the 19th to the 22nd of May.

“I am delighted my Foundation is again hosting this year’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open. This is a great platform to showcase what we do for children’s charities. I’m honoured to support three very worthy charities all based close to The K Club. To give a little something back is very important to me, especially when I can offer support to help children and their families. I can’t wait to get back to Ireland and raise as much money as possible for Barretstown, the Jack & Jill Foundation and LauraLynn Children’s Hospice.” said McIlroy.

Barry Funston, Chief Executive of the Rory Foundation said; “We will raise money for the charities selected by Rory’s Foundation in a number of innovative ways. A percentage of all ticket sales for this year’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open will go to the Foundation and I would encourage golf fans throughout the Island to buy their tickets soon. In addition we are hosting an evening with Rory in the Convention Centre Dublin on Tuesday 17th May with proceeds going to the Foundation."

"We intend selling a limited edition number of Rory’s Dog driver head cover in the tented village at the tournament and Rory will be donating his prize fund. We are confident all these initiatives will enable us to reach our target and help the three wonderful charities selected as beneficiaries,” he concluded.

The Irish Open takes place at the K Club from 19-22 May, and although there hasn't been any official confirmation on the line-up for this year's tournament as of yet, there is expected to be some of the biggest names in golf in attendance.

Such an event is sure to attract hundreds of thousands of spectators over the course of the four days, and Jonathan Irwin, CEO and Founder of the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation, said he was delighted that the Jack & Jill Foundation would be benefiting from the tournament.

"On behalf of the 300 children with severe disabilities across the country, whose families receive home nursing care hours from Jack & Jill, I want to say a huge thank you to the Rory Foundation.  To be one of the three chosen charities for the Irish Open is such a great honour and every €16 raised for Jack & Jill will fund one hour of home nursing care for a sick child, in a partnership that is as important for awareness raising as it is for fundraising," he said.

"The journey of caring for a sick child is a challenging one, I know that, with parents and siblings often feeling isolated and overwhelmed just trying to get through the day.  Knowing that the highly prestigious Irish Open in The K Club in May, and the whole team from the golfers to the spectators and the organisers, are behind us, well that really extends a hand of friendship to our families.  We can’t thank you enough for supporting Jack & Jill and for reaching out to our families and reminding all of us that we never walk alone.”

If you have a story or want to send a photo or video to us please contact the Kildare Now editorial team. Between 9am and 5pm Monday to Sunday please call 045 409350. Between 5pm and midnight please call or text 086 729 0010. Or you can email content@kildarenow.com at any time.

Teachers who entered the profession from February 2012 have had their starting pay reduced by 21.7% compared to those appointed prior 2011, the union has stated.

General secretary of the TUI, John MacGabhann, said the situation is intolerable.

He said: ""People doing the same work, before the same students, in the same schools, for the same time, with the same range of challenges and opportunities - except that the opportunity does not extend to having equal pay."

If you have a story or want to send a photo or video to us please contact the Kildare Now editorial team. Between 9am and 5pm Monday to Sunday please call 045 409350. Between 5pm and midnight please call or text 086 729 0010. Or you can email content@kildarenow.com at any time.

An investigation has been launched after a mother died shortly after giving birth at St Luke’s Hospital in Kilkenny earlier this week.

Tracey Fitzpatrick (36) died after giving birth to a son on Easter Monday.

She gave birth to a healthy baby boy, Max, but died moments later as she was being taken into theatre for surgery.

Married just 17 months ago, she lived with her husband Bernard and their two other boys in Templepeter,Co Carlow.

If you have a story or want to send a photo or video to us please contact the Kildare Now editorial team. Between 9am and 5pm Monday to Sunday please call 045 409350. Between 5pm and midnight please call or text 086 729 0010. Or you can email content@kildarenow.com at any time.

If you have a story or want to send a photo or video to us please contact the Kildare Now editorial team. Between 9am and 5pm Monday to Sunday please call 045 409350. Between 5pm and midnight please call or text 086 729 0010. Or you can email content@kildarenow.com at any time.

There's an incident at the bottom of the M50 southbound off-ramp  at J13 Ballinteer blocking the left lane. Take care on approach.

Traffic is slow southbound at J10 Ballymount and then from J12 Firhouse to J13. Northbound traffic is moving well.

If you have a story or want to send a photo or video to us please contact the Kildare Now editorial team. Between 9am and 5pm Monday to Sunday please call 045 409350. Between 5pm and midnight please call or text 086 729 0010. Or you can email content@kildarenow.com at any time.

Dog owners and breeders must comply with new laws to have all dogs microchipped and registered by tomorrow.

As part of the new legislation, dog owners must also have a certificate to prove microchipping and registration. The chip must be registered on a Government database.

It will be illegal to pass a dog to another person, even if there is no payment, without the dog being microchipped.

It is hoped that the new Bill will have animal welfare benefits, both for dogs and for farm animals, such as sheep and cattle.

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There's a crash inbound on the N7 Naas Rd between J4 Rathcoole and J3 Citywest blocking the right lane and causing delays from before J7 Kill.

There's a crash on the M50 northbound before J13 Sandyford. It's in the hard shoulder but there are delays on approach from J15 Kilternan. There are no major issues on the M50 southbound.

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The Chairperson of Co Kildare's  Policing Committee is concerned that over 1,000 burglaries annually is 'extremely substantial.'

Fianna Fail Cllr Martin Miley is appealing for additional Garda resources in the wake of the latest CSO figures revealing that 1,380 burglaries were reported in the county last year.

According to Cllr Miley, Chairperson of Kildare Joint Policing Committee, the drug culture in the county is largely adding to the level of crime.

He said: "Burglaries are a violation of a person's private space, the Garda resources are extremely thin on the ground. They are doing over and above what they should be. But four to five burglaries every day in Co Kildare is not acceptable.  Drug addiction in the county is leading to a lot of burglaries, the addicts are robbing to feed their habit."

14 burglaries last year were aggravated, which means that violence was involved, or the threat of it.

Nationally there was a significant rise in kidnapping, murder threats and sexual offences in the last three months of 2015, according to new figures.

If you have a story or want to send a photo or video to us please contact the Kildare Now editorial team. Between 9am and 5pm Monday to Sunday please call 045 409350. Between 5pm and midnight please call or text 086 729 0010. Or you can email content@kildarenow.com at any time.

Co Kildare Gardai are appealing for people to control their dogs when An Post staff visit.

Speaking on KFM, Garda Jonathan Ryan, Naas, is urging  people to have their dogs on a lead.

According to Garda Ryan, there has been a number of reports of people being attacked by dogs and mentioned the postal delivery staff.

He said: "All dogs must be under control."

If you have a story or want to send a photo or video to us please contact the Kildare Now editorial team. Between 9am and 5pm Monday to Sunday please call 045 409350. Between 5pm and midnight please call or text 086 729 0010. Or you can email content@kildarenow.com at any time.