Celbridge

Parade prizes

Prizes for participants in the St Patrick’s Day Parade were awarded last Thursday night at a special event in the Castletown Inn.

In the Community Section the Overall Prize and Perpetual Shield was awarded to The Celbridge Community Council. Second prize went to the Insight Theatre Group and third to the local Boxing Club.

In the Business Section Party Mad were the First Prize winners, followed by Castletown House and Excel Gym in second and third place. The Spirit of the Parade Award went to St. Raphael’s and the Shop Front Prize was won by Conway’s Butchers. A special Commemorative Shield was presented to each of the local schools which took part in the Parade.

Sponsorship for St Raphael’s

St John of God, Kildare Services St. Raphael’s is a residential and day-care centre which caters for 420 persons with an intellectual learning and/or physical disability.

They are looking for Ladies to take part in this year’s Ladies Mini Marathon in June in aid of the service users, who will be competing in 2012 Soccer Community Cup in Belfast.

For some of the service users at St Raphael’s this will be a trip of a lifetime, as they will stay over-night and they will need a new soccer kit to take part. Due to budget restrains the Centre would welcome some support. Please contact Anna Byrne Sports Co-Ordinator or phone 087 6594812 for a t-shirt and sponsorship card

The Big House conference

The Tenth Annual Historic Houses of Ireland Conference will take place on the 10 and 11 May in the Callan Hall, South Campus, NUI Maynooth.

The conference dinner will be held in The Long Gallery, Castletown House on the evening of May 10.

The title of this year’s conference is “The Country House and its Visitors: Past, Present and Future”. Further details are available from Catherine at 01-7086706.

The full programme and a booking form are available at www.historicirishhouses.ie.

Places at the conference and dinner are limited and booking forms must be returned by 23 April.

Pilgrimage to Lourdes

Fr. Paul Taylor P.P. will lead the Parish Pilgrimage to Lourdes this year.

The Pilgrimage will last for five nights, departing on August7 and returning on August 12staying at The Hotel Solitude. Cost is €699 per person sharing. Full board.

Cost may be paid weekly from now until mid- July. Deposit required when booking. Contact Liam White on 086 0487010.

Tidy Towns Table Quiz

Celbridge Tidy Towns are running their annual inter-estates Tale Quiz on Thursday April 5 at 8.30pm upstairs in the Kildrought Lounge. The subscription for a table of four is E40. If you haven’t got a team, come along anyway and the organisers will create teams on the night.

Population statistics

According to figures released by the Central Statistics Office last week the Census 2011 Census indicates that the Celbridge Electoral Area has a population of 15,323. This represents an increase of 2.6 per cent over the last Census figures for 2006.

Witty Knitters

The local knitting club, “Witty Knitters” meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month upstairs in the Mucky Duck at 7pm. Beginners welcome. Contact Caroline at 086-3380746 for more details.

Golf Classic for Care of Aged

Celbridge Community Council is planning its first Annual Golf Classic in aid of Care for the Aged in Celbridge, Ardclough and Straffan. Players will tee off at the Smurfit Course in the K-Club on April 27. Entry fee is E320 which will include the green fees and dinner. For registration and times phone Maureen Abbott at 01-6288894 or 086-3165870.

Creative writing

Celbridge Library will be organising Creative Writing for Adults starting on

Tuesday May 29 from 10.30am - 12.30pm. This session will take place on the last Tuesday of each month. As this is likely to be very popular, early booking is essential

Phone 01 6272207 or email celbridgelib@kildarecoco.ie

Local St Vincent de Paul

The St. Wolstan’s Conference of St Vincent de Paul, Celbridge/ Straffan, meets every Tuesday in Celbridge. On request they visit parishioners and Celbridge residents.

The local conference provides advice, counselling, a sympathetic ear and financial assistance to those in need of help. Confidentiality is assured. Contact: 01 8550022.

Mentors needed

Le Chéile is looking for volunteers in County Kildare to work as mentors with young people or their parents.

Le Chéile is a child-centred, not-for-profit organisation which recruits and trains volunteers from local communities to work with young people and their families.

The young people are to some level involved in the justice system. Mentors come from all walks of life and often have no previous experience, just a genuine interest in working with people.

You can e-mail Helen@lecheile.ie for an information pack or log on to www.lecheile.ie for more information.

All training and full support is provided for new volunteers.

Wellspring Art

An Art Group meets in the Wellspring Centre on the Main Street each Monday from 10am- 12 noon. The Wellsprings Centre is run by the Sisters of the Holy Faith.

Friendly soccer

The Sports Centre at the Mill is planning to start casual friendly indoor soccer sessions on Monday nights at 8pm. If you are interested in taking part, please leave your name at Reception.

Castletown House

Castletown House and The Courtyard Cafe have re-opened for the 2012 season. The visitor reception is open between 10am and 5pm, Tuesday to Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays. The Castletown parklands are open to enjoy and explore during daylight hours throughout the year.

Markets and Craft Fairs

The Castletown Markets and Craft Fairs will take place in the recently restored Stable Wing and Courtyard on the last Sunday of the Month between May and October from 11am-5pm. The first market will be on Sunday May 27.

If you are interested in taking a stall in the markets/craft fairs, please e-mail the Castletown events officer: caoilfhionn.murphy@opw.ie or telephone 01 628 8252 for more information.

Day Care Club Activities

The Celbridge Day-care Club for senior citizens is open on Tuesdays 2-5pm and Thursdays 10am-1pm in the Kate Walsh House in the Mill Community Centre. Come along for light exercise, music sessions, indoor bowls, bingo, card games, spring planting plus arts and crafts. There are also outings and other fun activities. Other services provided include chiropody and information mornings. A taxi service is available when required Light refreshments are served. For further information call 01-6275518

Basketball

Boys aged 7-9 can improve their basketball skills at the Liffey Celtics Basketball Club which meets in Scoil na Mainistreach each Saturday from 2.30pm. New players are welcome at any time. Contact Siobhan at 087633563.

Bereavement support

The Bethany Bereavement Support Group has been established to help those who are bereaved or grieving. It offers one-to-one support, or group support and home visits. Meetings are held in the St Eustace Centre in Celbridge on Wednesday evenings at 8pm and are confidential and free of charge. Call Teresa at 01-6270153 or Maura at 6279795 for further information.

North Star Club

Volunteers are urgent needed to support people with disabilities at the North Star Club which meets at the swimming pool at St. Raphael’s on the Clane Road each Sunday from 2.30-4pm. This volunteer activity is suitable for the Gaisce Award. Call Valerie at 086-3612855.

Whist

The long established Celbridge Whist Club meets in the Mill Community Centre every Monday night at 8.45pm. Admission is E5, which includes raffle tickets and the interval refreshments. New players and beginners are especially welcome. Call Mary at 01- 6288174 for more details.