Maynooth Newsletter Nuachtlitir Mha Nuad 30th Anniversary Issue December 2004 MAYNOOTH 9 7 7 1 64 9 3 4 0 0 1 7 1 2 €5 Editorial Road Interchange, in 1994 led to major changes that In this Special Edition of The Maynooth Newsletter some may have forgotten about and which those who we are looking back over the past 30 years and the arrived since then would not be aware of. The Straffan changes that have taken place in our town. Road then was only a glorified lane, barely able to take We are indebted to all of those who have worked on two cars, and with no footpaths. Its hard to believe the Editorial Board of The Newsletter during this that ~ullen Bridge was worse than Bond Bridge. The period, particularly those who started The remains of the Old Straffan Road can still be viewed Newsletter in the '70's, Liam Bean, Ted Kelly and between the new road and the Harbour Field. While John Read. They did not have the benefit of FAS we still complain about traffic jams in Maynooth, the support and had to use the typewriter instead of the M4 means that we no longer have to queue from the computer, nevertheless they still produced a regular Carton Demesne gate on the Dublin Road every edition of The Newsletter. evening. Yes, it was that bad. Population Growth More Recent Changes Most of the changes that have taken place in the At both ends of the town we are seeing major town are a fOllow-on from the massive population developments. gro~h in that period. Since 1971 the population has Increased by 739% as follows: On the Dublin Road the delightful O'Brien's 1971 1979 1981 1986 1991 1996 Supermarket is gone. It later became Quinnsworth 1,374 3,191 3,388 4,768 6,027 8,528 and it is now Tesco. The major expansion of Tesco has r~sulted in the demOlition of Doyle's Mart. Sadly 2002 we Will no longer see the farmers driving the cattle 10,151 there every Monday. The provision of the commuter train service in the On the Kilcock Road Kavanagh's Mill is no more and early '80's facilitated this population growth. For while it gave good employment over the years it was those of us who had to commute prior to that not the most pleasant building to look at. Hopefully the travelling to or from Dublin even way back then wa~ new building will look as good in reality as it does on a nightmare. the website. Gone But Not Forgotten In between, on Main Street, all of the public houses have undergone major face lifts. While the newly "The Thing" in The Square, O'Brien's Supermarket renovated pubs are nice some would say that they lack Doyle's Mart, Old Straffan Road and Mullen Bridge: the charm of the old ones. Other premises have also the Potholed Footpaths and Overhead Wires on undergone major surgery and in most cases the Main Street, Coonan's Field (now The Glenroyal transformation has enhanced the Main Street. The Moyglare Manor Hotel Maynooth Complex), the Old Pubs, Kiernan's Shop, Barton's ~IB bank building is now rated as a building of local Shop and Petrol Pumps, Kavanagh's Mill. Importance and hopefully the other banks will follow their example. "The Thing" in The Square Those residents who came to live in Maynooth after The last ten years has seen more changes in Stay or Dine the summer of 1995 would not know much about Maynooth than the previous fifty years. the ugly public toilets building that we had in The This 30th Anniversary Newsletter will give you an The Restaurant for that Special Meal. Square up until then. This building became known opportunity to re-live that period. as "The Thing" and a long campaign for its Lunch every day except Sunday demolition came to a successful conclusion in July Thanks 1995. The centre of the town was not a pretty sight Dinner every night. in the '90's when apart from "The Thing", we had Great thanks is due to the original Editorial Board and potholed footpaths, a massive litter problem with those who have served on the Editorial Boards since very little street cleaning, utility poles with overhead then, particularly Kay McKeogh, Peter Connell Extensive Set Menu wires, cars parked on footpaths and buildings in Muireann NiBhrolchain and Susan Durack. ' bad need of repair. Groups, large or small catered for. The removal of "The Thing", the undergrounding of Without the support of FAS through the Community wires and the laying of new footpaths resulted in a Employment Scheme there would be no Community Early-Bird menu starting in the New Year major transformation in the town centre. It enabled Council Office and therefore The Newsletter would us to enter the Tidy Towns competition without fear become history. Hopefully FAS will continue this Telephone:Ol 628-6351 Facismile: 01 628-5404 of an embarrassing score. support for the community into the future. E-mail<[email protected]> http://www.moyglaremanor.ie The Motorway By-Pass The opening of the M4 Motorway, with the Straffan 1 Contents 80 & 81 Muintir Ma Nuad-Geroid McTernan April 1995 82,83, Page 84&85 The Special Olympics Report 3 Cover of the 1st Newsletter 1975 July 2003 4 Foot & Mouth "A Personal View" 1975 86 Tributes to Mary Buckley Fitzgerald 6 The Last Newsletter 1999 88 Muintir Ma Nuad-Dinny Carroll 1992 8&9 O.N.E. "One for All" 1998 90 The Late Hanah Flood 11 Edel Minogue 91 Tribute to Eugene Fitzpatrick 12 Editorial 1979 92 Maynooth Dancers Travel to Slovakia 13 Past Newsletter Staff June 2002 14 Maynooth Honours it Patriots of the 93,94 1916 Rising 1991 &95 The Redevelopment of Carton 16 Leinster Arms Darts Club 1979 96 Recipes from the Olden Days 17 Points of View 1991 January 2000 18 Maynooth Boys Scouts March 1976 97 Local Security Force ICA Hall 20 Band Bulletin July 1993 98 Tae Kwon Do 1996 21 First Holy Communion 1968 99 First Communion Day 2001 22 &23 Tony Mooney-Maynooth Fire Station 101 First Communion Day 2002 2004 102 Maynooth Folklore 24 Old Photos of Maynooth 103 The Spirit of Christmas-Brigid 25 Muintir Ma Nuad-Phil Bray SEPTEMBER 1975 No.1 Published by Maynoath Community Council. Saults December 1995 PRICE TEN PENCE. 28 I.CA Notes 106 Report of Leinster Cup Final 1936 29 Features May 1994 .. 108 Muintir Ma Nuad-Tommy Ashe 30 Features November 1997 110 Features January 2000 32 & 33 St. Marys Band March 1991 New Children's 112 Maynooth ICA News [ammunitv aunlil 34& 35 President Takes Tea with the Old 113 Pope John Paul II October 1979 Playground almost Folks 114 Maynooth Golf Society completed 36 Mahers School of Irish Dancing 116 Muintir Ma Nuad-Bridie O'Brien 38 End of an Era-Maynooth Livestock neWS I Work on the new £4,000 children's 118 The Year of the Great Jubilee 2000 playground in Maynooth is now almost Sales May 2002 This is the first opportunity, the Council has had, for communicating 120 What's in a Name May 2000 completed. This project, which is the 39 Muintir Ma Nuad-Phil Burke with you. It is our ~ ntention to keep you informed at all times. 122 Features Scoil Ui Fiaich & Party first stage of the development of the November 1991 Political Let it be said riaht away, that while this newsletter is the product Harbour Field by Maynooth Development 40 &41 Jimmy McMahon Retires at the Top 124 Confirmation Day 2002 of the Council, it i; essentially your newsletter. To this end, all articles, Association is a monument to community February 1995 126 Muintir Ma Nuad-Mrs. Margaret stories, ads big and small, news and letters, are very welcome. These can effort. The project was part-financied by 42 &43 Maynooth Town AFC Trip to the proceeds of a public collection and Walsh 1991 be sent to any Council member. Do not be afriad to criticise anything you Llandudno May 1994 exhibition of the play equipment in the 128 Servants, Labourers and Traders of feel warrants it, but let your criticism be constructive. 44 From Maynooth Castle to Carton square in Maynooth. The County St. Patrick's College 1911 At this stage, it would seem appropriate, to give a sincere vote of thanks November 1997 Council gave a grant of £500 for which 129 Tribute to Mrs. Brigid Saults to Ted Kelly, for the effort he has made over the years, to produce th.e 46,47 we must be grateful but at the same time , 130 Maynooth Swimming Club July 1998 old newsletter. This effort will not be lost to the communIty as Ted IS was not overtly generous when the &48 Community Council Notes July 1983 131 Kingsbry 7 -a-side very much involved with the new Council and newsletter. total cost of the project is considered 50& 52 The Years in Maynooth 1920-1960 132 Confirmation Day 2002 Some people are still not fully aware of the role of the Communi~y and the saving to the ratepayers in the 53 First Communion Day June 1994 133 Bridie O'Brien-An Appreciation Council. Our function is to promote the social, cultural and economic future. 54& 55 Party Political April 1992 134 Maynooth GAA Club-Leinster welfare of the whole communitv. That is to say, that if a worthwhile 56 Maynooth ICA celebrate their 50th A spokesman for the Development Leader Cup Winners project is brought to our notice: we will give our wholehearted support, Anniversary Association said that the Association 136 Tribute to Pearse O'Connell June physically, morally and as far as possible, financially.