Community Magazine

February 2018 No. 362

EDITORIAL CALENDAR

Clane Community Council was established Thursday 1st February in 1973. March 27th will be the 45th anni- Meeting of ICA in Kare Centre. versary of the public meeting which took place in Clane Hall, now the Youth Club Tuesday 6th February premises on the Road, and at Return of Evergreens after Christmas break which it was decided to set up a Communi- Saturday 10th February ty Council of the Muintir na Tíre model. Clane & Community Games Following a local election, the first meeting Swimming Competitions will be held at the of C.C.C. took place on the 16th May in K Leisure Pool between 5.30pm and the Convent School on the Main Street. 6.30pm. (Be at the Pool for 5.00pm.) Re- In the first the members were as turn your completed form and €2 to your follows (26 elected and 7 co-opted from school by Wednesday 7th Feb. See p. 12 local groups):- Fergal Lee (Chairman), Tony McEvoy Wednesday 14th February (Secretary), Jackie (Treasurer), Ken Clane Local History Group present a talk Besson (P.R.O.), Liam Burke, Joe Bracken, on A.E. Russell, writer, mystic, poet, artist, Mary Chatten, Mick Conneff, Fran Connol- publisher and Irish nationalist, who was a ly, Ted Coonan, Sean Cribbin, Fr. Crowe, contemporary of Joyce and Yeats. The talk S.J., Peter Gartside, Archdeacon Handy, will be given by guest speaker Jimmy Con- Maurice Hannigan, Mick Hennessy, Eliza- way from Lurgan, who is a well-known beth Holligan, Fr. Hughes, P.P., Sr. Louise, local historian and is involved in cross- Pat Lynch, Martin McCormack, Tom community activities in Co. Armagh. McDonald, Tony McKenna, Christina Mur- The talk takes place in Clane GAA phy, Chris Musgrave, Charles O’Neill, Club, on the Prosperous Road, at 8pm on Daphne Siggins, Anne Smith, Michael Wednesday 14th February. Admission is Walsh. free and all are welcome. See p.5 In the first issue of News Letter in January ‘74 (later Le Chéile) we read: Monday 26th February “Our first meeting was held on May 16th. Monthly meeting of Clane Community Since then our achievements have been Council in the Abbey Community Centre at quite a few. Our membership is 33 and we 8pm. meet in the Convent School. Our aims are briefly the social, cultural and economic welfare of Clane, and to represent the com- munity in dealings with statutory bodies and in seeking technical, financial and oth- er assistance in the promotion of the com- mon good.” EDITOR’S DEADLINE We celebrated a number of significant The deadline for receipt of material for the anniversaries over the years , including the March issue of Le Chéile is 40th, by planting trees, installing lights, etc. Monday 19th February The 45th anniversary is unquestionably ’significant’ but it follows in the shadow of To 142 Loughbollard please. the 50th, which is up-coming in 5 years Tel. 045-868474. time! Go mbeirimíd beó ag an am sin ! E-mail: [email protected]

Get Le Chéile on www.clanecommunity.ie

2

Maureen Spain (PRO)

THE EVERGREENS I.C.A.

Sometimes one wonders if there’s never an Hope that 20180 is treating everyone kind- end to Winter, but cheer-up we are into ly so far, despite rumbling storms and Spring and how lovely it is to see the days mixed-up downpours. Our guild is unfold and life and nature emerging to “easing” back into activities once more and gladden our hearts -yes it is uplifting. Re- drawing-up plans for the coming months. ally as from now on the evenings will be Last year concluded with the Annual Sen- longer and the mornings so much brighter. ior Citizens Christmas Party on Sunday Nature is really wonderful and isn’t it December 10th, which was hosted in the heartening to look around at people’s gar- G.A.A. Club. We were delighted to wel- dens and see daffodils, primroses, crocuses come 100+ guests, who mingled and made and even cerise cyclamen all peeping merry for the afternoon. Sincere thanks to above ground and very soon there will be Management and Staff for producing a carpets of these blossoms everywhere, comfortable venue and all the facilities -to even in hedgerows, all to welcome glori- all the willing volunteers, including the ous Summer. pleasant students from Scoil Mhuire. Our February in indeed quite an im- jovial faithful Santa -Peter Gibbons- dis- portant month. Take the feast of St. Brigid, tributed the gifts with a cheery greeting for which is the 1st Feb., and the Presentation all. Richie Hayden got the festive spirit of the Lord on 2nd. There is one special going and kept all the folk bobbing and date which provides us with a focus for our twirling, with his lively tunes, -which they prayer -the feast being World Day of the didn’t want to see ending. Sick, celebrated on the 11th coinciding Many thanks also to all who sup- with the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, ported the Annual Raffle and donated spot which is of great importance. prizes. The Raffle was held on December We Evergreens are due back Tues- 7th. The Winners were -Peter Morrison, day 6th February after our Winter break. Paul Smith, Una Duffy, Dermot Moore and We are looking forward to it and to resum- David Kidney. ing our activities, projects, outings and the The February meeting was held on budding artists among us will be eager to Thursday 1st in the Kare Centre. For infor- all the knowledge from lovely Fiona, our mation (on I.C.A. matters) please contact Artist supreme, who so greatly imparts her Hon. Sec. Eileen O’Brien (086.3447803) talent of art weekly. Best wishes to all for health and Yes the St. Patrick’s Day activities happiness throughout the remainder of are well under way now thanks to Mary 2018. Dunne and her hardworking dedicated team. The theme for this year is ’The P.R.O. M. O’Connor Swinging 60’s.’ What could be a more apt or better theme than that? The Festival is CLANE ST. PARICK'S DAY running from the 9th to 19th March for FESTIVAL 2018 young and old alike. So there’s no need to feel left out, there’s something for every- one. So see you on this great Day. Lá Plans are almost finalised now for our St. Fhéile Pádraig fe shonas dhibh go léir agus Patrick's Day Festival, 2018. The theme tá súil agam go mbeidh gach éinne ag for the Clane St. Patrick's Day Festival, céilúradh an lá. 2018 is THE SWINGING 60's. The Rath Dé oraibh agus beir búa agus Festival will run from 2nd - 19th beannacht igcónai. March with something for everyone. Lots 3 of events are being planned for the 2018 Parade Entry Form can be picked up in Croi Festival. Laighean Credit Union, Clane, in Bob and Kates, Clane or by downloading from our PLEASE NOTE: We have a new Parade website. Route this year. Parade starts from the Industrial Estate on the Kilcock Road, down Check out our Facebook page in the coming the main street and will finish at the GAA weeks for all updates of events. Grounds. All Walking groups will leave from Reillys Car Park at the back of Centra. Anyone is welcome to join our committee and get involved in the organising of the Important Message: We are organising Festival. New members are always wel- something very special to celebrate our 2018 come. Clane St. Patrick's Day Festival. Theme: THE SWINGING '60's. We have decided to Mary Dunne, Chairperson. have a Reunion of all families who lived in the locality through the 1960's era. We are planning a very special Afternoon Tea NCBI Charity Shop in Clane in need Dance/Reunion. Mick Dunne will be enter- taining us. Our Special Guest Mary Byrne of volunteers will be singing the 60's music to get us into the mood of that era. Want to be part of this? Admission is free but prebooking is essential The NCBI Charity shop in Clane is currently for the party. Early booking is also very im- seeking volunteers. The shop is located on portant as tables will be limited. It promises Main Street, Clane. The shop offers quality to be a very nostalgic and memorable after- second hand clothes, books and other items noon and will take place in The Westgrove to raise funds for the support and services Hotel on Sunday 11th March, 2018. provided by the charity to 2,112 people with Time: 3.30 to 6.30pm. Gather your school sight loss in county . friends, family and neighbours to talk about NCBI must raise €4 out of every €10 it old times. To book your table spends on services. Its 97 charity shops e'mail: [email protected]. around the country make a vital contribution to its fundraising efforts. Our Annual Table Quiz and Launch Night NCBI’s services include emotional support will take place in Manzors of Clane and counselling, low vision solutions like at 9pm on Friday 2nd March. magnifiers, assistive technology advice and On Tuesday 13th March, we are having a training, rehabilitation training (including Family Fun event in Croi Laighean Credit independent living skills and using a long Union, Clane. This event is very kindly cane), a large print, audio and Braille library. sponsored by Croi Laighean Credit Union The organisation also has an online shop who are generously supporting our Festival with lots of practical solutions. If you would this year. like join the volunteer’s team in the Clane On Friday 16th March, The Kilfenora Ceili shop contact Debbie on 0871394378. Any Band will perform in Clane time you can give no matter how small GAA. Dancing 9pm to 12am. Tickets are would be hugely appreciated. 12 euro each and can be purchased from Bob & Kates Shop, Clane. CLANE GOLF CLUB Fossett's Circus who are celebrating their 130th Birthday will be coming to Clane too Notes for February edition of Le Cheile. to entertain us all. Well, we certainly have had a very uncom- fortable weather-start to our 2018 Golfing year. Because of the inclement weather, only 4 the brave and foolhardy golfers have taken to Wednesday 14th February. Admission is free the fairways & the winners of recent compe- and all are welcome. titions are as follows: Best 2 x 8 hole Stableford Competition IWA CENTRE, CLANE (18th Dec. – 4th January) First: Ted Murray H/C 21 41 Pts. (last 8) Second: Tommy Ca- rew H/C 10 41 Pts. The Clane IWA are looking for a volunteer Best 8 Hole Stableford Competition (W/E to assist in our Bio-Diversity Garden at the 5th January) First: Eamonn Howlin H/C 15 Centre in Clane? Just a few hours a week at 19 Pts. Second: Sean Byrne H/C 15 18 Pts. their convenience. A bit of experience would 9 Hole Stableford Competition (W/E 12th be beneficial but not essential. January) First: Anthony Dunne H/C 18 23 Pts. Second: Ted Murray H/C 21 22 Pts. Interested persons could contact Vicki Third: John McAndrew H/C 13 21 Pts. O’ at the John Sullivan Centre in Latest news: Teams for the Spring League Clane. are on the notice board & website. Subs for 2018 are now due & latest date for pay- CLANE ATHLETIC CLUB ment is 31st January. Details are also post- ed on Notice Board & website. Forthcoming events: 2018 Members’ Hand- Clane AC in partnership with Order of Malta, book is with printers & should be available in are delighted to announce the 7th Annu- early February. al Clongowes 5km to be held on: Sunday 25th February 8.00 a.m. Mass Sun 25th March 2018 @ 11am. for deceased Members, followed by Cap- In this years race we again proudly honour tain’s (Mr. William Lacey) Drive-in & 9 the memory of one of our founding members, Hole Scramble. Pat Maleady. Saturday 24th March- Away Outing to Pat was a wonderful sportsperson & hugely G.C. respected throughout . He New members are welcome- Please contact loved athletics & we were privileged to bene- Secretary, details below. fit from his vast experience and knowledge. In honour of his memory, we are including a Eamonn Howlin enile category to our event. The first male Hon. Secretary and female U18 will receive a specially com- Phone: 087 1215 396 missioned trophy in Pat’s memory. Registration is open online now on www.popupraces.ie or on the day, if CLANE LOCAL HISTORY GROUP it is not sold out, from 9am at Clongowes school. There will be plenty of parking at the Clane Local History Group will present a race HQ, please adhere to the instructions of talk on A.E. Russell, writer, mystic, poet, the stewards on the day. artist, publisher and Irish nationalist, who was a contemporary of Joyce and Yeats. Rus- sell was born in Lurgan, Co. Armagh, but Cash prizes for first 3 male & female seniors spent his life in . The talk will be giv- & masters (040’s) en by guest speaker Jimmy Conway from Refreshments will be provided after the Lurgan, who is a well-known local historian event. and is involved in cross-community activi- The event takes place on a fast course and is ties in Co. Armagh. open to walkers and runners of all abilities. The talk takes place in Clane GAA This race continues to go from strength to Club, on the Prosperous Road, at 8pm on strength and has become a popular race fix-

5 ture for runners of all abilities. The evening for details Membership is now open Clongowes 5k is an Athletics Ireland permit- to end March 2019. Junior Coaching for all ted race. ages has just commenced on Wed. and Fri- day evenings and Saturday mornings up to Many thanks, end March. We have 5 teams of 6 players in Caroline Mullally Dublin Winter League which commenced Clane AC - 087 760 0068 Sun. 28th and a great start with all of our teams winning so best of luck over the next 5 weeks. Our annual Monster Table Quiz will be held in Manzors Fri. 23rd . February and we ask for your support. Many thanks to SCOIL BHRIDE NOTICE all who supported our Annual Supervalu Christmas Packing which raised over €900. Scoil Bhríde opened a special class for chil- Look us up on Facebook for all information. dren with Autism in September of this Liam Burke school year. Some of our children travel to Clane from outside areas on a taxi paid for by the Department of Education. Some of these children are only in Junior Infants so need a bus escort to accompany them on the journey to and from school. Scoil Bhríde are looking for a bus escort to accompany a child to and from school on school transport. Pick up at Scoil Bhríde at 8am to return to school for 9 am. Pick up at school again at 1.30 pm to return at 2.30pm. Rate of pay is €11.98 per hour. This would run for the school year. This position would be subject to Garda vet- ting. Please contact the school on 045 8686814 if interested.

CLANE TENNIS CLUB

We hope that 2018 will be one of the most successful years in the history of the club. THE ANNUAL REPORT GIVEN BY We have been allocated €105,000 from Sports Capital Programme and over the next CCC’s SECRETARY, JOHN KEN- 2 years improvements will include - 2 Midi NEDY, AT THE 44TH AGM AND Courts for 6-8yrs., resurfacing 3 courts and AGREED AS GIVING A DETAILED extension to Clubhouse to include indoor AND ACCURATE ACCOUNT OF games. This will be completed in 3 phases. We wish to thank all our local politicians for THE WORKS UNDERTAKEN IN assisting us over the past 5 years in securing THE PAST 12 MONTHS. this allocation and special word of thanks to th – Bernard Durkan, Padraic McEvoy and This is 44 AGM of Clane Community Brendan Weld. When this project is com- Council, 29th January 2018. (The first Coun- pleted, Clane will have a top class tennis cil was elected 45 years ago in May 1973) club which will be a huge benefit to the all sections of our community. Everyone inter- Introduction to 2017 ested are welcome to come along any Tues. The 43rd AGM of Clane Community Coun- 6 cil was held on Monday 30th January 2017 effect and defining the future development in the Abbey Community Centre. The of Clane. minutes of the meeting have been presented. The new plan also indicates various The Council of 25 members elected a new roads and junctions in and around Clane that are to be upgraded. Later in the year Clane executive as follows: Community Council made a submission to · Chairperson: Paul Carroll regarding proposed modifications to the junction of the · Vice-Chairperson: Nick Fitzgerald Ballinagappa Road with Main Street. · Secretary: John Kennedy · Asst. Secretary: Pádraig McEvoy · Treasurer: Martine Grogan ’s Day Parade – 2017 · Asst. Treasurer: Niamh Fitzgerald The Community Council entered the Clane · PRO: Marion Doolan Saint Patrick’s Day Parade with a float en- · Asst. PRO: Tony McEvoy couraging people to be super-heroes for Clane. The float was accompanied by a pri- The Community Council held nine Council mary-school comic book and a colouring meetings during 2017. The executive met competition that received over 225 entries. several times during the year and the Coun- A sincere thank you to Power Food Tech- cil’s sub-committees were active through- nology and the Drumm Family for their gen- out. These meetings and subcommittees erous support and sponsorship of this pro- drove the Council’s pursuit of a wide range ject. Everyone’s efforts were recognised by of activities during the year. the entry being awarded Best non- Commercial Float in the parade. Clane Local Area Plan 2017-2023 The Clane Local Area Plan is a formal docu- Finance ment produced by Kildare County Council Our treasurer is detailing the finances of that describes how Clane is to develop over Clane Community Council in a dedicated the coming years. It analyses the infrastruc- report. However, it should be noted that the ture required to meet the needs of the resi- Community Council received generous fi- dents, business people, and visitors to Clane, nancial support from Kildare County Coun- and defines what and how land is zoned for cil, the Department of Rural and Communi- development. ty Development, Intel Ireland’s Matching Grants Programme, and numerous local In February 2017 Kildare County Council businesses and the community at large published their Proposed Material Altera- tions to the Clane Local Area Plan 2017- through events such as Church Gate Collec- 2023 which included numerous adjustments tions and our key fundraiser, the Golf Clas- reflecting the submission from Clane Com- sic – again kindly sponsored by Larchfield munity Council during 2016. It also includ- Park Nursing Home and organised by our ed a number of alterations that went against golf-classic subcommittee led by Des the advice of the County Kildare Chief Ex- Drumm. In 2017 we also started to receive ecutive and Planning Department. Four of monies from the Court’s Service. Our sin- these were of concern to the Community cere thanks to all who have helped finance Council. We lobbied relevant County Coun- our activities during the year. cillors against these proposed material alter- ations, registering our activities Regarding the funding from Intel, I note that on lobbying.ie. The Councillors finalised the the Intel Involved Matching Grants process Clane Local Area Plan in June 2017 with a slim majority voting three of those altera- is now being run through a system called Brevity and continued participation may tions through. The finalised plan is now in 7 require the Community Council to obtain sity Week in May and Heritage week in Au- their own Charity Number from the Charity gust. They also ran the Award-Winning Es- Regulator and their own CHY number from tates and Best-Presented Premises competi- Revenue. The new Executive will need to tions. Congratulations to the 2017 Award- investigate this further and present any rec- Winning estates Liffey Lawns, Capdoo Park, ommendations to the wider Council in the Brooklands, Central Park and Churchfield, coming months. Otomy Estate, and Park View, and to the estates judged to be outstanding in 2017: Abbey Community Centre College Grove and Abbey Park. Congratula- The Abbey Community Centre remains a tions too to Jones’ Bar, winner of the Best- key amenity for the people of Clane. The Presented Premises award 2017. Evergreens and Clane Musical and Dramatic Society are two key users of the building. The Tidy Towns team prepared a detailed Ongoing maintenance and cleaning contin- Application and Plan for the National Tidy ues. During 2017 the stage and back-stage Towns Competition, and Clane’s efforts area received a significant upgrade with gen- were rewarded with a Bronze Medal, achiev- erous sponsorship from Power Food Tech. ing 306 points out of a possible 450, an in- crease of 7 points on last year. There are however some fundamental chal- lenges with the fabric of the building, and Clane Tidy Towns are also thinking strategi- recently the roof of the extension to the Ab- cally, and were successful in securing a bey had to be covered in plastic sheeting in Community/Local Property Tax grant of an attempt to reduce ingress of rainwater. It €1200 from Kildare County Council for a is clear that significant work with profes- Strategic Biodiversity and Landscape Plan sional input will be required to improve the for Clane. This project is currently progress- facilities over the coming years. Community ing with a broad community consultation to Council members attended a number of begin in the coming weeks. It is intended workshops and information sessions on Kil- that this plan will produce a list of projects dare LEADER Programme 2014-2020, and that will complement each other over time, an expression of interest to fund a strategic maximising the impact of Clane’s Tidy plan for the Abbey was submitted, deemed Towns efforts. appropriate, and we have now been invited to make a full application. Subject to approv- Clane and Rathcoffey Community Games al, this process will result in a comprehen- The Clane and Rathcoffey Community sive long-term plan for the Abbey and will Games subcommittee had another busy pro- set us up to tackle prioritised work in a con- gramme of events during 2017. There were 132 entries on Track and Field day on May sistent and coordinated way as funding op- th portunities arise. 15 – a notably lower participation rate than in good years - but 43 athletes qualified for Clane Tidy Towns County Finals in June. Congratulations to all Clane Tidy Towns launched their 2017 cam- of those who participated, in particular the paign on April 8th with their big Spring Camogie and Football teams who won their Clean for Clane. Under chairperson Helen County Finals, the Hurling team and Under O’Flaherty they held regular clean-ups on 12 Girls Football teams who won Silver in Tuesday evenings through the summer, and their County Finals, and Matthew Walsh project work on numerous Saturdays. They Hussey who won Bronze in the National hosted local nature walks for both Biodiver- Swimming Finals. 8

A successful Church gate collection was ed on Kildare Public Participation Network. held in early May. During 2017 we also voted for the KPPN representative to the Kildare Joint Policing Congratulations to Martina Healy who was Committee. County Kildare’s nomination to the 2017 Community Games Golden Jubilee Volun- Website teer awards. Our website ClaneCommunity.ie continues to serve as our primary internet presence. It Friary & Abbey Graveyard: is maintained and patched regularly and This sub-committee continues to maintain backed-up offline annually. The content is the Friary and Abbey Graveyard to a high updated with events and notices as they are standard despite the lack of Tús workers received, and over the last 12 months it has available to contribute to the upkeep. The received on average 527 visitors a month. The map of Clane annual cemetery mass and blessing of the on www.openstreetmap.org is also being graves was held on the 21st June. updated regularly so it can be used to locate any business, amenity or house number in Heritage Clane. This map is used by countless web- Heritage activities in 2017 included updat- sites and apps, including ClaneCommuni- ing the historical maps section of our web- ty.ie. We also maintain lists of email ad- site to indicate the routes of historical roads dresses: approximately 190 email addresses in and around Clane. receive our community news updates. These are issued approximately once a month, of- The sub-committee also published online ten accompanying the online publication of the report into the Sunday’s Well by Clane Le Chéile, our community magazine edited motte in the grounds of the Cois Abhainn by Tony McEvoy. Containing updates from apartments. This report was commissioned numerous community groups, each issue of in 2016 with the support of Kildare County Le Chéile in 2017 received between 100 and Council. 160 views.

Plans are afoot to construct a stone wall near Christmas Lights & Claonadh Award 2017 Alexandra Bridge on which the remaining Building on the success of the Christmas Heritage signage can be installed. Lights in 2016, Clane Community Council applied for and was awarded a grant of Clane Watch €2600 for Christmas Lights by Kildare 2017 was a significant year for ClaneWatch. County Council under the Community/Local In partnership with an Garda Síochána, Property Tax Scheme. This money was in- Muintir na Tíre and Kildare County Council vested in additional lights, and avoided the the Loughanure Area Text Alert scheme was need for additional fundraising. launched. Seven signs have been erected in the area and the system is now live. With the support of local businesses and property-holders, the lights were installed by An initiative to install CCTV in key loca- a team of volunteers during November, with tions around the village is currently being new features including lighting at Ab- explored in conjunction with an Garda Sío- beylands shopping Centre, the Abbey Wall, chána and Kildare County Council. and the trees in the Church grounds on Main Clane Community Council remains affiliat- Street. ed to Muintir na Tíre, and is also represent- The big switch-on was held on December 9

3rd, a delightful occasion with Clane Parish Council’s vision in the years to come. Choir singing a selection of carols, Doolan’s providing refreshments, and the people of Yours Sincerely, Clane delivering the count-down. John Kennedy, Secretary, The 2017 recipients of the Claonadh Award Clane Community Council. were also announced at this event. Fr. Conor Harper SJ and Cáit Cullen were recognised for their continuous efforts in promoting Fr. John Sullivan, beatified in May 2017. INVITATION TO RESIDENTS AS- Nominations for Council 2018-2019 SOCIATIONS TO NOMINATE REP- The membership of Clane Community RESENTATIVES FOR CO-OPTION Council is renewed every two years. The ON C.C.C. campaign for nominations for Council 2018- 2019 included posters on Main Street, Residential Estates or areas, not rep- emails, and following-up of personal con- resented already are invited to nomi- tacts. The following 27 individuals were nate representatives for co-option. A nominated to the Community Council for representative should attend the 2018-2019. March or subsequent meeting with a letter of recommendation from the Paul Carroll, Des Drumm, John Kennedy, association. John Power, Rita Mahon, Tony McEvoy, Marion Doolan, Martina Healy, Maurice Austin, Nick Fitzgerald, Peter Kirwan, John Daly, Tom McCreery, Anne Noonan, Pa- draig McEvoy, Henry Lowry, John WHAT’S IN A NAME? McDonagh, Nellie Dillon-, Martine Grogan, Niamh Fitzgerald, Robert Mahon, The implication is “not very much”. Our Eamonn Lynch, Paul Edwards, Owen Bren- local place-names belie the notion that place nan, Karen Egan, Michael Quirke, Tony -names can be uninteresting. Did you know, McKenna. for example that one of the longest place- names in Ireland is Newtownmoneenlug- A special welcome to Karen Egan who has gagh, which lies to the north of Ballagh joined the Council for the first time, and a Cross? Moneenluggagh means little uneven warm welcome back to Michael Quirke and bog. It has one letter more than Newtown- Tony McKenna who rejoin the Community mountkennedy. Most place-names through- Council after some time off. out the country are in Irish, being the last To Conclude part of a language to disappear. However there is a great danger that place-names This report has attempted to summarise all which are not marked on the map will be lost of the activities of Clane Community Coun- before the present generation has passed. cil during 2017, and I hope it does some justice to the hard-work of the volunteers on Three examples that come to mind in the immediate vicinity of Clane are the the Community Council and the various sub- committees I referenced. Please excuse any “Locán” (about 300 yards up the Ballinagap- omissions. It has been my pleasure to serve pa Road), “Coiseanna Hill” (the site of the Council as Secretary over the past year, Clane Hall) and the hill known as “Crocán” and I look forward to helping progress the 10 on Capdoo Lane. These names were com- monly used by the boys when the writer was ence to a Cruachán Claonta, (Slanted Hill) at school. A name which disappeared much which had magical powers and where the earlier is “Moneen Bán”, the old name for -men used assemble before going Central Park, which is recorded on a map of into battle. There are strong indications that 1752. this was covered over by the Normans when The following is a list of interesting they remodelled it to form the Motte in place-names and their possible meanings. Clane. It was accompanied by a thermal We invite further examples from readers. spring, which never froze. Damage done by AGHAPAUDEEN: (near Digby Bridge) JCB about 40 years ago revealed clear indi- Paudeen’s field. cations of the slanted hill. BALLYNABOOLEY: Baile na Buaile. The Also possibly Claon Ádh. The slanted ford. pasture district (milking quarters). CLONAUGH: The meadow of the horse. BALLYNAGAPPA: Baile na gCeapach CLONGOWES WOOD: Coill Cluana Place of the tillage plots. “Cappock” on map Gabhann, the Wood of the Smith’s Meadow. of 1650. COISEANNA: Beside the marsh or swamp. BETAGHSTOWN: Baile an Bhiatigh (Place Coiseanna Hill, Cnoc Coiseanaigh. of the almshouse). Under the Brehon Laws CROCÁN: Cnocán, a small hill (on Capdoo alms houses were were established at certain Lane). CROCKAUN: (on Prosperous/ Mil- places where roads crossed. To each was licent Road -location of the Millenium attached a tillage and a pasture district for Cross) a small cross. supplies. COOL MUCKS: Cúil na mucos, the place of BOHERHOLE: Bóthar Coll (road of the the rose hips (now the site of The Elms Es- hazel) tate). BORABRIDE Bóthar Bríde. The old road by : Dómhnach Déagh, the church the Scouts Den leading to Butterstream and of God or of Caoide, a disciple of St. Patrick Loughanure. Commonly known as Nancy’s Lane. (Originally the road to ). GOLLAMOCHY: Gabhal a’mhacha The river fork in the pasture land (see map of BUTTERSTREAM: Bóthar an tSrutháin, the 1837). road by the stream. LOCÁN: Lochán, a roadside pond or tur- CAPDOO: Ceapach Dubh. Dark soiled till- lough which disappeared from the side of the age area. Moory in places. Ballinagappa Road after the laying down of CAPPAGH: The tillage land. (original name the public sewer. for Meadow Court). LOUGHANURE: Loch an Úr, the lake of CARRIGEEN: The little rock . Site of an the yew tree. ancient group of stones known as St. Brig- LOUGHBOLLARD: Loch Bealach Árd, id’s Table, Chair and Thimble. A further flat the lake by the high path. (along the high esker ridge). stone was said to bear the imprints of her MAINHAM: Mainham has two possible feet. They were located beside an old quarry origins; one that it derived its name from the on the Moat Commons Lane between the Irish word for a plain or open space (magh Millicent and Naas Roads, along the branch as in ) or from St. Maighnam of which used lead to the ancient ford on the Kilmainham, who is said to have settled Liffey. there in the 6th century. CASTLESIZE: Casán na Soillse, the ford MÓNEEN BÁN: white bog or fen (white where the light is hung. Across the Liffey when the grasses and sedge wither) . Old name for Central Park. from Millicent House. RATHCOFFEY: Ráth Cobhtaigh, the forti- CLANE: Claonadh. The slant or slope. The fied dwelling place of the Coffeys. Annals of Mac Firbhis (1643) make refer- 11

RATHMORE: A large rath or fortified form and no late entries will be accepted on dwelling place. the day. TOBERNAMÓNA: The marshy well: a well originally in a roadside drain in the playing Students must be still in the specified age field of Scoil Phadraig, a short distance back group on 31st July 2018. This is to ensure from its boundary with Scoil Mhuire. CLOTACOLLAIR: The quarry shelter, a that they will be still within their age group small field (now a house site) on the right for all local, county and national competi- hand side where the Moat Commons Lane tions. joins the Millicent Road. Here the Carrigeen Quarry workers used to release their horses to graze while they were quarrying stone.

CLANE & RATHCOFFEY COMMUNITY GAMES SWIMMING

The Clane & Rathcoffey Community Games Swimming Competition is sched- uled to be held in the K Leisure Pool off the Road into Naas on Saturday 10th February between 5.30 and 6.30pm . Participants should be at the Pool at 5.0pm for registration and chang- ing .

Entry forms will be distributed at the five schools of the area served on Monday 5th February. That is Scoil Bhríde, Scoil Phadraig, Scoil Mhuire, Hewetson School and Rathcoffey School. Forms should be completed, signed by parents and returned to the schools by Wednesday 7th. It is im- portant that participants should be resident within the accepted area. A map showing the limits of the accepted area will be provided to each school.

In the case of any student being resident within this area but attending a school out- side of it he or she may obtain an entry form from Susan Galbraith at 086-2369356 or Tony McEvoy at 045-868474. A few forms will also be available at the Parish Office in the Main Street for such students.

Only one student may be entered on each 12