Another sunny day is anticipated in Co Kildare. However, it will not be as warm and clear as yesterday. There will be clouds and later thundery showers will develop.

Tonight will be humid. Temperatures will reach 21 degrees in Co Kildare later today.

Currently it is 14 degrees in Naas.

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 death has occurred of Kathleen CODY
Butterstream Lawn, Clane, Kildare

Cody, Kathleen, Butterstream Lawn, Clane, Co.Kildare, June 9th 2016, peacefully surrounded by her loving family at St. Francis Hospice, Blanchardstown. Deeply regretted by her loving husband Paul Duggan, sons Conor and Daniel, father Owen, mother Clare, sisters, brother, relatives and friends.

Rest in peace

Reposing at Reilly's Funeral Home, Clane from 4pm to 8pm on Sunday with rosary at 8pm. Removal on Monday at 10:30am to Clane Parish Church, arriving for 11am funeral mass, followed by private cremation at Newlands Cross crematorium. Family flowers only please, donations if desired to St. Francis Hospice, Blanchardstown.

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 CSO confirmed today that the annual increase in motor insurance hit a record 35.5% in May of this year spurring a South Kildare TD to slam the increase as 'horrendous.'

Fianna Fail Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin is  supporting a party motion  for the re-establishment of the Motor Insurance Advisory Board for a time limited basis, greater disclosure around policy renewal notifications, action on the settlement of cases and dealing with false and exaggerated claims.

Deputy O’Loughlin added the key to curtailing the spiralling increase in motor insurance is the establishment of a taskforce to examine all the underlying factors contributing to the rise. The motion includes a number of practical measures which I believe can be undertaken, alongside the work of the Motor Insurance Advisory Board.

The proposals include the establishment of a motor insurance database, enhanced disclosure around policy renewal notifications, ensure greater consistency in court awards in personal injury cases, robust action on false and exaggerated claims and legislation to clearly define the roles of Motor Insurance Bureau of Ireland and the Insurance Compensation Fund.

Deputy O'Loughlin said:“I call on all my Dáil colleagues to support this motion and put an end to the ever increasing hikes in motor insurance premiums”.

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.

Plans valued at €110 million are now  in place for an M7 upgrade at Naas .

Kildare County Council has issued a tender for construction  of three linked M7 up-grades.

A contractor is being sought to widen to three lanes of the M7 between the Ball at Naas and the M9.

It wants the same contractor to build the M7 Osberstown Interchange and the Sallins by-pass.

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 Newbridge pensioner who was celebrating 48 years of marriage had to be physically removed from a Co Kildare pub.

The 68-year-old accused, residing at a halting site, told the court that he 'can't remember anything.'

Inspector Ger Egan outlined how the man 'became intoxicated' and refused to leave when the bar staff asked him to.

The court heard how the pensioner had to be 'physically removed.'

Defence Solicitor Conal Boyce said that the accused was married 48 years that day.

Judge Desmond Zaidan said: ''When man takes alcohol, alcohol takes the man."

The court heard that he had no previous convictions, he was given the probation act.

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 mother of five children appeared at Naas District Court facing charges of having a false tax disc.

Inspector Ger Egan outlined to the court how the tax disc was from a different car,she had no previous convictions.

Defence Solicitor Tim Kennelly, outlined how the 45- year-old accused had purchased the car on Done Deal.

He said: "She met the man who sold the car to her, she thought that the tax was part of the package."

Defence added that the accused is unemployed.

Judge Desmond Zaidan ordered that she pay €400.

She opted to pay it as a lump sum.

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 South Kildare TD had a welcome visit from the pupils of her native Rathangan yesterday.

Fianna Fail Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin was joined by her niece Emma who visited along with her Scoil Bhride classmates.

Deputy O'Loughlin said: "They were very interested in today's Dail debates and the workings of the Dail. Plenty of upcoming politicians within the ranks"

The pupils met US Ambassador Kevin O'Malley who promised to visit Rathangan.

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.

Sallins Business Association Expo and Family Fun Day will be taking place this Saturday at Reilly's Supermarket, The Waterways.

There will be lots of entertainment from 2pm to 5pm, including facepainting, talent competitions and much more.

Members of Sallins Business Association will be there to meet you and inform you of what services and traders are available on your doorstep in Sallins.

Chairman Martin Joyce extended a hearty welcome to everyone to come and enjoy the afternoon, with no admission charge.

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.

A dog died after being left in the car for more than three hours as his owner attended Bloom garden festival last weekend.

The animal was left in the car at 11am and was found to be “extremely ill” upon its owners return to the vehicle at 2.30pm.
The dog was brought to a local vet where he had to be put down.

Gardai at Blanchardstown are now investigating the owners who left the dog unattended in a designated car park as temperatures soared to over 22 degrees last Friday.

The owner is believed to have been extremely distressed on discovering the animal’s condition.

A spokesperson from the DSPCA said: “A greater awareness needs to be paid to the dangers of leaving an animal unattended in a car for long periods of time."
The spokesperson advised owners to be more conscious of their parking if they should have to leave their dog in the car.

“Owners should perhaps focus on finding a shaded area or even underground car parking. Ideally a person should be in the car with the dog so a window could be left open. Dogs should not be spending significant periods of time in cars on their own. We get a lot of calls in winter too about distressed animals in cars during extremely cold weather.”
“Pet owners should also take note of the time. It’s so easy for five minutes in a shopping centre to turn into an hour during which a car could become a very uncomfortably hot place.”

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 first matchday of Euro 2016 is finally here, and all across Ireland there are camper vans, spacewagons and even the odd decorated Transit van departing service stations for their trek to France.

These five men from Kilcullen hit the road this morning for the daunting trip to Paris in their Kia Sedona, nicknamed the 'Green Machine'.

Pictured left to right in the photo are Boys In Green fans Ross Haughton, Cormac Burke, Warren Gavin, Colin Kavanagh and Shane Collins.

The people carrier is well decorated with the well known COYBIG slogan, while there are also tributes paid to Roy Keane and Jack Charlton on various stickers around the vehicle.

The green machine is on the road to Paris from Kilcullen, Co.Kildare! Thanks @corakavanagh #RTEsoccer #COYBIG pic.twitter.com/jSYghzYDuy

— RTÉ2 (@RTE2) June 10, 2016

There are hundreds of other groups like the Kilcullen quintet who are travelling to Paris via road and ferry rather than flight, and it is a journey that looks pretty daunting on paper.

Google maps says that the trip will take exactly 13 hours and 11 minutes from the Kilcullen junction on the M7, though we would be surprised if there aren't more than a few pit stops along the way for refreshments and rest.

People travelling by car and ferry will be boarding in Dublin before taking the ferry to Holyhead, which takes just under three hours, and driving half the length of the United Kingdom to the Channel Tunnel near Dover in the south of England. After setting the tyres on French soil at the other end, it is a mere two-and-a-half hour journey to the French capital. They will be well due a large glass of red wine after all that!

If you know of anyone travelling to France for the European Championships this week please get in touch with KildareNow. Any funny news items and pictures are always welcome by email to content@KildareNow.com or @kildarenow on Twitter.

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 in Porlaoise, Co. Laois are investigating a single vehicle road traffic collision that occurred at  Kiloughan, Stradbally, Co. Laois on the Stradbally to Abbeyleix Road (R427) this morning.

The stretch of road is located just a few miles from the Kildare border and the town of Athy.

The collision occurred at approximately 11.15am when a male(69) motorcyclist collided with a pole. He was pronounced dead at the scene and his body has been removed to the morgue at Portlaoise General Hospital. No one else was injured in the collision.

The road is currently closed pending the completion of an examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators and local diversions are in place.

Witnesses are asked to contact Portlaoise Garda Garda Station on 057 8674100, The Garda Confidential Telephone Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.

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 is illegal dumping of rubbish 'on a daily basis' in a rural part of Co Kildare, a councillor said.

Councillor Martin Miley called on Kildare Co Council to investigate the problem at Lughill - about 4km south of Monasterevin.

The Fianna Fail politician will raise the issue at a meeting of Athy Municipal District on June 20.

He said: "There is large-scale illegal dumping on a daily basis on a site at Lughill, Monasterevin."

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.

Gardaí believe Yasmin is known to frequent the Athy area.

Anyone who has seen Yasmin or who can assist in locating her is asked to contact Navan Garda Station on 046-9036100, The Garda Confidential Telephone Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.

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.

It was good while it lasted, but this being Ireland, the fine weather was always going to come to an end. It won't be so much of a crashing halt that leads into terrible weather, but more of a gentle easing back into the norm of the Irish rain.

Friday will see scattered showers throughout the evening in different areas of the country, although Kildare should get away without seeing the worst of those. There will be a mixture of sunshine, cloudy weather and some light rain for most of Leinster, and it will be another relatively warm evening.

Tonight will be dry and humid once again, with temperatures ranging from 12-15 degrees.

There will some patches of sunshine to begin with on Saturday morning, though showers will gradually make their way down from the north-west and will become heavier and more persistent as the day goes on. Temperatures will remain high though, with values of around 18-22 degrees in the afternoon.

The rain will die out later on in the evening, and Saturday should be a generally pleasant night with little or no wind. Again, it will be warm overnight as temperatures range from 11-14 degrees.

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.

Kildare South TD Fiona O'Loughlin has slammed the addition of three extra Minister of State jobs to the new government.

Enda Kenny and his Fine Gael party downgraded the number of Minister of State positions to just 15 when they took charge in 2011, but the economic recovery of the last number of years led to the Taoiseach appointing 18 ministers in such roles this year.

O'Loughlin, who was speaking on an Irish Times podcast with Fine Gael TD Kate O'Connell, blasted the new establishment for creating jobs when there was no real need to.

"It seems that there was no lessons learned, and I would be inclined to agree with Kate in relation to this, because now there appears to be possibly more drivers being employed by the State than there are actual TDs," stated Deputy O'Loughlin.

"One has to wonder about that, and I think that while there was the increase in Minister of State positions, we still didn't see environment featuring very strongly, or indeed certain aspects of the arts as well."

"I think that in terms of the divvy-up, areas that should have received prominence didn't. I certainly would have rather seen a situation where we would have stuck with the status quo at 15.

The Fianna Fáil representative also spoke expressively about the hard time that women face in politics, and that the gender quota that was introduced had little bearing on her election into government.

"I always said if there was an opportunity to put my name forward I would, as an electable candidate first, and as a woman second. In my own particular situation, I wasn't a quota candidate," she explained.

"We had a convention, and when it was decreed that there would be only one candidate chosen I always felt that there was the potential for two, so I absolutely contested that. I was beaten by just five votes at that particular time, so I knew 48% of people that voted at the convention wanted me to run. I just had to keep up the pressure."

"I was quite a late addition coming into the election, but I was happy that I was able to prove the critics wrong, prove that there was room for myself to represent the people and also that Fianna Fáil, in Kildare South could have one of the strongest victories and performances."

"I come from a situation where I was for many years the only woman on Newbridge Town Council with eight other men. That was a very strong learning experience for me," she continued.

Deputy O'Loughlin explained that once she was recognised for being a good politician, rather than a good female politician, she began to feel more comfortable in her role on the town council.

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.

2FM DJ Tracy Clifford has been announced as a guest judge for the Newbridge Busk and Food Festival,  which takes place next Saturday June 18 on the streets of Newbridge. Clifford, who presents the popular Tracy Clifford show daily from 1-4pm on 2FM, is looking forward to the festival.

She said “I had heard lots about the success of this new festival last year and had seen some of the amazing performances online. I’m so excited to be asked to judge this year, to see the buskers perform live and to be part of this growing festival in Newbridge”.

Over twenty acts have already registered for the busking competition, varying from solo performers, to bands, to dance acts.  Included in the line-up are last year’s winners SOS, John Crofton, Lauren McCarthy and Caoimhe Gately, Elva McGowan, Just Two Guys, and Brendan Webb, to mention but a few. The winning busker will bag themselves a cool €2,000 while the next runner up will be awarded €1,000 with tickets for the races for third place.  Apart from the cash, the winning busking act will also be given the opportunity to play to racegoers over the Derby weekend in the Garden Enclosure at the famous track.

The busking competition commences at 1.30pm, and the entrants will perform along both sides of the main street, from the Bank of Ireland down to the Permanent TSB, and also along Georges Street. The acts will be judged throughout the day by a panel of judges, headed by 2FM DJ Tracy Clifford, Aileen O’Brien representing sponsors Dubai Duty Free, and Trisha Byrne of the Curragh Racecourse.  Fiona McLoughlin Healy, Chair of the Newbridge Busk and Food Committee said, “We are very excited to have Tracy Clifford, 2FM DJ on board our team of judges representing sponsors Dubai Duty Free and the Curragh Racecourse.  Tracy has lots of experience judging music festivals and is great fun. We promise lots of talented musicians, and tasty local produce”.

The Festival kicks off at 12noon, with performances throughout the day from Newbridge Concert Band, Newbridge Gospel Choir, Stage Academy Newbridge, and the Philippine Community.  KFM Radio will be broadcasting live from Georges Street, and for all you soccer fans, there will be a big screen on Market Square with live coverage of the Ireland v Belgium match at 2pm!

Festival goers will also be treated to an array of fresh, tasty food from local food producers and suppliers at the mini food village along George’s Street.  Food stalls include The Ivy Cookery School, Gibneys Garden Jams, Food School, The Cake Fairy, Kildare Country Market, ICA, Open Arms Group, alongside the regular Georges Street traders, An Chistin, Il Punto Nuovo, Klare Asia Food Store and Salamander Coffee House.

So get yourself down to the Newbridge Busk and Food Festival, kindly sponsored by Dubai Duty Free this Saturday 18^th June – a fun filled day for all the family.

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 death has occurred of Sheila POWELL (née Brennan), Brook Court, Naas, Kildare

At Beaumont Hospital after a short illness surrounded by her loving family. Predeceased by her darling Benny. Deeply regretted by her loving sons Leo, Sean and Brendan, daughters Suzanne and Michelle, sons-in-law Kieran Morrin and John Weld, daughters-in-law Eileen, Liz and Rachel and her 11 grandchildren, her sister Margaret, brothers and sisters-in-law, extended family and friends.

Reposing at George Mullins Funeral Home, Kilcullen Road, Naas on Saturday from 6pm until Prayers at 8pm. Removal on Sunday morning to arrive at St. Peter's Church, Twomilehouse for Requiem Mass at 11am. Burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.

The death has occurred of Teresa HUTCHINSON (née McFadden), No. 4 Retirement Village. Clonmullion, Athy, Kildare

Reposing at her home from 7pm today, Friday, with Rosary at 8pm. Removal on Saturday at 10.30am to arrive at St. Michael's Parish Church, Athy for Requiem Mass at 11am. Burial afterwards in St. Michael's (old) Cemetery, Athy.

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.

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.