https://www.kildarenow.com/section/1005/contact-us All the latest breaking local news from Kildare and county Keep up to date with the latest sports news Read all the latest Irish news and updates from around Ireland Find whats happening in and around Kildare and Leinster Enjoy our award winning photos and picture galleries taken in Kildare and Leinster Catch up on all the latest business news in Kildare and Leinster Read about the latest properties available in Kildare and Leinster Enjoy our latest and up to date motoring review and news in Kildare and Leinster Kildare and Leinster Met Eireann Weather Forecast Recent death notices and obituaries from Kildare and Leinster Latest environmental and climate change news in County Kildare Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter Support our mission and join our community now you can subscribe for as little as €0.50 per week which will also give you access to all of our premium content and archived articles Thank you for supporting Ireland's best local journalism Kildare Laura Dunlea goes past Meath Aoibhin Cleary to set up an attack during the Leinster LGFA TG4 Senior Football Championship Round Three game played at Cedral St Conleths Park Kildare came agonisingly close to booking a place in next Sunday's LGFA TG4 Leinster senior final coming up just a point short after a tremendous late burst of scoring that saw them cut back a nine point deficit on forty minutes to that single point It was a game Meath held the upper hand after a first half goal from Emma Duggan on 16 minutes and a second green flag from Sarah Waall just before half time saw The Royals lead 2-6 to 0-6 at the break Meath extended that lead 2-11 to 0-8 on 47 minutes before a few changes from Kildare manager Pat Sullivan put life into the Kildare attack Ellen Dowling (2) a few frees from Alannah Prizeman and that Ciara Wheeler goal Meath hit back with two points but The Lilies were not done yet and points from Mia Doerty Róisín Byrne and Neasa Dooley left one in it that coming in the 66 minute but time ran out for Kildare as final whistle arrived Meath winning 2-14 to 1-16 and will now take on Dublin in Next Sunday's Leinster final now have four weeks to prepaer for the All-Ireland series Subs: Katie Birmingham for Orlaith Sheehy (43 minutes); Amy Gaffney for Megaan Thynne (50 minutes); Megan Collins for Kerrie Cole (51 minutes); Ciara Lawlor for Marion Farrelly (60 minutes) Subs: Lara Gilbert for Ruth Sargent (26 minutes); Lia Reilly for Ciara Moran (40 minutes); Gillian Wheeler for Aoife Rattigan (42 minutes); Ellen Dowling for Síofra Galvin (44 minutes); Ciara Price for Lauren Murtagh (61 minutes) " + $(".testo_articolo").html().replace(//g please subscribe and support local journalism Subscribing will allow you access to all of our premium content and archived articles To continue reading this article for FREE,please kindly register and/or log in Registration is absolutely 100% FREE and will help us personalise your experience on our sites You can also sign up to our carefully curated newsletter(s) to keep up to date with your latest local news Photo courtesy of An Garda Síochána Kildare Outside Naas courthouse are: Susanna Cawley House of Hearing's experienced audiologist Matt Allen Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman and our staff operate within the Code of Practice of the Press Council Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie Dublin U16 manager Ciarán Pollock has named his team and match day squad for this bank holiday Monday’s Leinster Championship final versus Kildare The action gets underway at 14:00pm at Johnstown Bridge GAA club, Co Kildare. Tickets for the game remain on sale from www.universe.com Kildare had a comfortable win over Dublin in the opening round of the competition Since then Dublin have responded well with victories over Westmeath and Meath The young Dubs are fully intent on retaining their provincial crown by overturning their previous result against the lilywhites Wishing all the players and their management team the very best of luck Action from the Leinster U16 Championship Rd 1 meeting of Dublin & Kildare Dublin vs Kildare: Laura Walsh (Castleknock) Dublin panel vs Kildare: Ava Dockerell (Ballyboughal) Christina Lehane Pascual (Kilmacud Crokes) © Copyright Dublin GAA Board, Parnell Park, Donnycarney, Dublin 5. Made by Together Digital MEATH will face Dublin in the TG4 Leinster Senior Football Championship final at Croke Park after holding off a spirited Kildare side Meath’s Kerrie Cole and Kildare’s Roisin Byrne traded early scores before Byrne hit a second point on the seventh minute The Royals later found the target with Vikki Wall and Orlaith Sheehy and the Lilies responded with contributions from Neasa Dooley  and Alannah Prizeman Another free courtesy of Prizeman moved Kildare two points in front and  Emma Duggan found the net on  17 minutes Duggan and Niamh Gallogly also split the posts from distance  during the opening period — and Meath were in the driving seat when Sarah Wall rattled the net on 30 minutes But a late Prizeman point reduced Kildare’s deficit to 2-6 to 0-6 before the interval Duggan later bolstered her tally with a two-point salvo, while Prizeman did likewise for Kildare. Lilies sub Ellen Dowling then cancelled out a Marion Farrelly point for Meath before Prizeman hit her sixth. Duggan added another white-flag score to move the Royals eight clear.  Dowling and Prizeman then cut the gap to two before Meath replied with scores from Smyth and Duggan Kildare still refused to throw in the towel with Mia Doherty Byrne and Dooley all scoring in stoppage time Concerns are growing for the wellbeing of Andrei Puflea who was last seen in Leixlip on Saturday morning Gardaí are seeking the public’s assistance in tracing the whereabouts of a 30-year-old man who has been reported missing in County Kildare they say Andrei Puflea from Leixlip has not been seen since Saturday morning He is described as being approximately 5 foot 10 inches in height It is not known what Andrei was wearing when he went missing and gardai say both they and Andrei’s family are concerned for his wellbeing READ NEXT: 'People make Punchestown' - Curtain falls on record-breaking festival at Kildare venue Anyone with information on Andrei’s whereabouts is asked to contact Leixlip garda station on (01) 6667800 the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111 GARDAI have launched an urgent plea for the public's help - in a bid to find a man who went missing in County Kildare Andrei Puflea was reported missing from his home in Leixlip, Co. Kildare yesterday The 30-year-old is described as being 5’ 10 with a heavy build It’s not known what Andrei was wearing at the time he went missing Cops and his family are both “concerned for his well-being” A garda spokesperson said: “Gardai are seeking the public’s assistance in tracing the whereabouts of Andrei Puflea, 30, who is reported missing from his home in Leixlip, Co. Kildare since earlier today, Saturday 3rd May 2025. “Andrei is described as being approximately 5 foot 10 inches in height, with a heavy build, black hair and brown eyes. “It is not known what Andrei was wearing at the time. “Anyone with information on Andrei’s whereabouts is asked to contact Leixlip Garda Station on (01) 6667800 gardai are also seeking the public’s assistance in tracing the whereabouts of a man who has been missing for weeks James Aherne was reported missing from his home in Dublin 8 on March 31 The 53-year-old man is described as being approximately six foot in height and of slim build He has closely shaved mousey brown hair and brown eyes James was last seen at Grand Canal Place in Dublin 8 black trousers and black and white runners James' family and gardai are both concerned for his well-being Cops are asking anyone with information on Jame's whereabouts to make contact with them A garda spokesperson said: “Anyone with information on James whereabouts is asked to contact Kilmainham Garda Station on 01 666 9700 the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 30-Year-Old  Andrei Puflea missing from Leixlip since Saturday morning 03 May 2025 Gardai have not provided any further details An Garda Síochána would like to thank the the public for their assistance with this matter t/a Kfm Radio - Company No: 355494 - Registered Office: Kfm Broadcast Centre Kfm is licenced by Coimisiún na Meán as a local sound broadcaster for Co Kildare FT Score Dublin 2-07 (13) Kildare 5-15 (30) Dublin relinquished their Leinster U16 championship crown to a superb Kildare side this afternoon The Lilywhites were convincing winners following a dominant display of football produced before a large crowd at a sun-drenched Johnstown Bridge GAA club The home side totally dominated the opening period of the contest Kildare led at the break by 4-13 to Dublin’s 1-01 Aoife Treacy and Sinéad Shine were in superb form for Kildare both from play and free kicks despite the best efforts of defenders Emma Manning and Maggie Foley With Kildare dominating possession Dublin found it extremely difficult to break down their strangle hold on the game When Dublin did get on the ball their movement up front was excellent however their efforts were not reflected on the scoreboard Dublin’s resolve was rewarded in the 20th minute when centre forward Leyla Abkary finished off a lovely series of passes with a fine shot to the back of the Kildare net Aoibhín Malone tapped over a free two minutes after the goal Both scores lifted the Dublin supporters at the venue On the restart Kildare picked up where they had left off as Aoife Treacy added another point to her tally Soon after Sinéad Shine was on target again with Kildare’s fifth goal Dublin to their credit continued to show great resolve despite the mountain of a challenge before them The Dubs were rewarded for all their hard work and determination when half time substitute Líadh Gargan tapped over a fine point from play Two minutes later the industrious Leyla Abkary hit the back of the Kildare net to claim her second goal of the game Although the result of the game was gone from Dublin Aoibhín Malone Laura Casey and the aforementioned Abkary kept the Dublin scoreboard ticking over as both teams played out the contest When the final whistle blew it signalled the end of Dublin’s season while newly crowned champions Kildare will turn their focus to preparing for an All-Ireland semi-final Dublin's Aoibhín Malone (Clann Mhuire) in action vs Kildare in todays Leinster U16 Final Dublin subs: Líadh Gargan for Hannah O’Neill Kildare's Siofra Galvin takes on Meath's Aine Sheridan Photo: Sean Brilly Trailing by eight points inside the last quarter Kildare staged a dramatic late fightback, outscoring Meath, 1-6 to 0-2, but it wasn’t enough and they bowed out of the TG4 Leinster LGFA SFC by the slenderest of margins at a breezy Cedral St Conleth’s Park, Newbridge on Sunday afternoon. Instead, it is Meath, managed by former Kildare goalkeeper and Allenwood man Shane McCormack, who go forward to face Dublin in the final next weekend.  While Kildare scored that late 1-6 it was the concession of 2-3 without reply in the second quarter which gave the Lilywhites a mountain to climb as they trailed by six points, 2-6 to 0-6, at half time. Despite playing against the stiff breeze in the first half Kildare took the game to the Royals and led 0-5 to 0-3 by the 15th minute. Róisín Byrne, with two points, and Neasa Dooley exchanged early points with Kerrie Cole, Vikki Wall and Orlaith Sheehy to see the sides level on three occasions in the opening eleven minutes before two Allanah Prizeman frees for fouls on Byrne gave the Lilywhites that two points advantage at the end of the first quarter. The second quarter belonged to Meath though as they turned the game in their favour thanks to goals from Emma Duggan and Sarah Wall as Kildare’s only response was a Prizeman point from play in first half injury time. Meath stretched the six point half time lead out to eight points early in the second half through Duggan and Ciara Smyth points and at one point in the third quarter they led by nine points but Kildare kept the scoreboard ticking over with Prizeman frees and a point from play from substitute, Ellen Dowling. Kildare Nationalist Newsletter delivered directly to your inbox A Fianna Fáil TD for Kildare North has asked the Minister for Social Protection to state the number of schools in county Kildare that are now eligible to receive hot school meals Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the question in the Dáil on Thursday and further asked the Minister to make a statement on the matter stated that the objective of the School Meals Programme is to provide regular nutritious food to children to support them in taking full advantage of the education provided to them The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement He added: “Following my announcement on the 11 April 2025 there are 2,850 primary schools now participating in the Hot School Meals Programme for the current academic school year Hot School Meals will be extended to all remaining primary schools in 2025 meaning that there will be 3,200 eligible schools in respect of 550,000 children from September 2025 “The total number of schools eligible for Hot School Meals in County Kildare is 85 I would encourage any primary schools in Kildare not currently part of the Hot School Meals programme to apply for the programme.” READ NEXT: Motorist caught driving at double the speed limit in Kildare TeamVulcan from Confey Community College celebrating their victory (Front row L-R) Sahas Sawant Following two intense days of competition in the CanSat Ireland National Finals, a team of students from Confey Community College, Kildare has today clinched the coveted national title The CanSat Ireland competition is an ESERO Ireland collaboration co-funded by the European Space Agency and Research Ireland and coordinated by MTU Blackrock CastleObservatory The victory marks the end of a campaign that began in September 2024 All participants in this year’s competition have displayed incredible technological prowess with judges lauding the expansive expertise on display from the teams of young scientists A CanSat is a simulation of a real satellite developed in the size and shape of a soda can the competition fosters an interest in STEM (Science and Maths) careers by offering students a hands-on experience of a space-themed project The multidisciplinary nature of the project ensures students areexposed to industry standards in a broad array of potential career paths regional competitions have taken place across Ireland in partnership with the Technological Universities in Dublin ALSO READ: You won't believe the transformation of this Kildare home. and launched their mini-satellites in rockets to a height of over 350 metres these national finalists presented their analysis recordings and flight patterns to the judging panel consisting of experts from a range of STEM fields project coordinator for CanSat Ireland said: “Confey College can’t be praised enough for this achievement Winning the National Final of the CanSat competition is no small feat the STEM literacy of the participating students seems to increase as rapidly as the technology they’re working with The technical competency displayed by teams all over the country continues to surpass the expectations of the judges "These students represent Ireland’s STEM future and I think it’s safe to say we’re in very good hands .”The students from Confey have been invited to attend the celebratory event at the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) in The Netherlands The students will have the opportunity to explore ESTEC facilities and laboratories and present their work to a panel of experts The CanSat competition will re-open in September 2025 Students or teachers interested in competing in the next iteration of the project are encouraged to visit the CanSat project page at esero.ie Kildare County Council has announced an exciting programme of events for National Bike Week which takes place from Saturday May 10 to Sunday May 18 2025 Bike Week is a celebration and promotion of the benefits of cycling including the opportunity for physical exercise enjoying our local natural and historical heritage and contributing towards sustainable transport Kildare County Council in collaboration with the National Transport Authority have organised an action-packed week of events which will be held throughout the County to celebrate Bike Week 2025 Details of the upcoming events are listed below People from all cycling disciplines are welcome to come along and get involved back to Donadea Road and return to Donadea for refreshments History of Barrow Navigation Cycle at Glenaree/Cloncurry: 2pm- 4pm Cloncurry and along the Barrow Blueway/Navigation towards Rathangan with discussion about the engineering heritage of the Barrow Navigation and return for refreshments Mondello Park Student Cycle Event: 9am- 1pm Monasterevin Family Cycle Event: 6.45 pm- 8.45 pm Monasterevin Town Centre to Barrow Blueway along the Blueway to Fisherstown for refreshments and return to Monasterevin Castletown House entrance along the R405 Maynooth Road to the R449 Shackleton Road with discussion of the local heritage of Celbridge and returning to Celbridge Town Centre for refreshments Naas Sports Hub via the Canal Road to Sallins Bypass Refreshments will be provided at the Cycle Events for cyclists who have registered in advance by emailing Activetravel@kildarecoco.ie Kildare County Council staff will attend all Cycle Events during Bike Week 2025 For information on National Bike Week 2025 visit: https://www.transportforireland.ie/getting-around/by-bicycle/bikeweek please visit the Road Safety Authority website: https://www.rsa.ie/road-safety/road-users/cyclists  READ NEXT: Driver tests positive for cannabis at Kildare garda checkpoint https://www.leinsterleader.ie/section/1240/advertise-with-us All the latest breaking local news from Kildare and Leinster County Read the latest crime and court news from Kildare and the surrounding areas Gardaí in Kildare have provided an update in relation to missing person, Andrei Puflea, 30 years old, Leixlip, County Kildare Andrei had been reported missing from his home on Saturday the 3rd of May 2025 Read Next: Improved financial performance by Kildare brewer of McGargle brand Andrei Puflea (30) who is reported missing from his home in Leixlip An Garda Síochána would like to thank the media and the public for their assistance with this matter https://www.limerickleader.ie/section/1195/advertise-with-us weather & more in Limerick and County Limerick All the latest breaking local news from Limerick and County Limerick Find whats happening in and around Limerick and County Limerick Enjoy our award winning photos and picture galleries taken in Limerick and County Limerick Catch up on all the latest business news in Limerick and County Limerick Read about the latest properties available in Limerick and County Limerick Enjoy our latest and up to date motoring review and news in Limerick and County Limerick Limerick and County Limerick Met Eireann Weather Forecast Recent death notices and obituaries from Limerick and County Limerick Naas Roads Policing Unit apprehended a motorist travelling at double the speed limit on the L1009 Donadea, Kildare over the May bank holiday weekend gardai discovered that apart from dangerous driving the motorcyclist was a learner driver who had no insurance or tax (which expired nine years previously) and was not wearing a fluorescent tabard as required by law Naas Roads Policing Unit took swift action arresting the driver for dangerous driving and impounding the motorcycle Read Next: 'No sign of rainfall' - Glorious Ireland weather update as temperatures back on the rise The driver will now face charges in court. An Garda Síochana Kildare's Facebook page stated: “It’s a stark reminder of the importance of road safety and following regulations. “Speeding and dangerous driving not only endangers the driver but also puts other road users at risk. Hopefully, this serves as a lesson for others to be more responsible on the roads. “Road safety is everyone's responsibility.” " + $(".testo_articolo").html().replace(//g, ' To continue reading this article, please subscribe and support local journalism! Subscribing will allow you access to all of our premium content and archived articles. To continue reading this article for FREE,please kindly register and/or log in. Registration is absolutely 100% FREE and will help us personalise your experience on our sites. You can also sign up to our carefully curated newsletter(s) to keep up to date with your latest local news! Michael Sweeney, managing director at Select Forest Ltd Join Slimming World Ireland and donate your clothes to charity when you lose the weight! Buy the e-paper of the Donegal Democrat, Donegal People's Press, Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles. Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm. This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice of the Press Council. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at www.presscouncil.ie, Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie. The Cemex site has been empty since 2007, derelict since a fire gutted most of it in 2012 As reported in the Kildare Nationalist recently that this was likely, it could only be described as “unconfirmed” – until now. “As a member of An Taisce myself, I am very happy that they have seen the light and withdrawn their appeal,” said long-time campaigner on the issue, and chair of Naas Tidy Towns, cllr Bill Clear. “We’ve worked for years to try and get this site developed and not left as a ghetto,” he said. “It’s been derelict now for 15 years, and on the Council’s Register of Derelict Sites (since 2019), but in fairness to Applegreen, they have submitted a substantial plan,” he said. “When I first raised the issue of this on Tik Tok I got 175,000 views, which just goes to show just how much interest there is in the site. “At this stage, I am reliable informed that demolition will begin as early as May, but at the end of the day I just want the thing flat." He added: ”It’s been a blight on the town for too long, and should never have been allowed to go on this long. “I have seen a lot of sites like this in towns across the Midlands that local authorities have turned a blind eye to, until one local voice starts raising concerns." The decision to develop this almost 20-year eyesore of a former cement plant was granted to Petrogas — the parent company of Applegreen — on 7 March, however within a month An Taisce – the Irish National Trust – chose to appeal this to An Bord Pleanala. What the new facility is expected to look likeThe €17m plan was build a motorway services and distribution warehouse on the 1.49Ha (3.67a), to include Ireland’s largest EV hub, with 36 spaces, and is expected to provide up to 400 local jobs during construction and subsequent operation. All this on a site that has been empty since 2007, derelict since a fire gutted most of it in 2012, and where the parent company first applied to the council to re-develop for something similar in 2015. This was granted in early 2016 but the company subsequently withdrew this application after an appeal against the €750,000 development levy failed at An Bord Pleanala, as Applegreen argued their responsibilities in this area should have been just €127,000. Petrogas applied again, and though were initially opposed by Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE), the council eventually granted the permission in March. Peacefully, at Beech Park Nursing Home, Kildare. Beloved husband of the late Mary and loving dad of Aideen, Ronan, Sean T and Neil. Very sadly missed by his loving children, grandchildren Keane, Emma, Jade, Kai, Finbarr and Evan, great granddaughter Julia, daughters-in-law, sons-in-law, sisters-in-law, brothers-in- law, extended family, neighbours and friends. Reposing at the George Mullins Funeral Home, Kilcullen Road, Naas (Eircode W91CD0K) on Tuesday 6th May, from 5pm to 7pm with prayers at 6:30pm. Funeral on Wednesday, 7th May, with Requiem Mass at 11am in the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary and the Guardian Angels, Sallins, followed by burial at St. Corban’s Cemetery, Naas. To leave a message of condolence for John’s family please click on the Condolences button below. Funeral Service.css-h76uj{display:inherit;margin-right:-4px;margin-left:8px;}Date Published: CondolencesDonate to CharityWould you like to mark a birthday memorial mass or anniversary for a Loved One?You can now create a family notice on RIP.ie to remember your loved one Uisce Éireann has published a schedule of planned water supply disruptions set to take place in Kildare this week mains repair works may cause supply disruption to St Evin's Park Works are scheduled to take place from 10am until 2pm new connection works may cause supply disruptions to Prosperous Road Works are scheduled to take place from 9am until 4pm Uisce Éireann advises locals to allow an additional 3 to 4 hours after the estimated restoration time for water supply to fully return Don't be fooled by the exterior of this property Prosperous has been magnificently restored Nestled on a private site on the edge of Prosperous Village this two bed home is certainly one of a kind Use the Arrows < > above to go through the gallery New programme for instructors in the Defence Forces in Kildare Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, Simon Harris today confirmed the introduction of a payment to Officer Instructors in the Defence Forces in Kildare and elsewhere.  which is currently at an advanced stage of design will act as leading contributors to cultural change in the organisation and will assist in creating a modern Defence Forces.”The Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces Lieutenant General Seán Clancy added: "This initiative reflects the value we place on our personnel and the personnel engaged in training and upskilling the next generation of Óglaigh na hÉireann."Military Instructors are responsible for the preparation and delivery of essential courses and exercises They are a valued and key enabler of the Defence Forces who ensure that inducted personnel are trained to the highest standards and that serving personnel have the opportunity to learn new skills which in turn ensures the operational effectiveness of the Defence Forces."The Tánaiste acknowledges the role of the Minister for Public Expenditure NDP Delivery & Reform and his officials in bringing this important measure to fruition.Professional Instructors Programme ·         A new Professional Instructors Programme being progressed in line with the strategic objectives identified in the Commission on the Defence Forces report is in the final stages of design;·         This new programme will further professionalise the instructor cohort and provide a strong organisational ability to recruit and train the required personnel  These instructors who will also act as leading contributors to cultural change in the organisation and will assist in creating a modern Defence Forces An Garda Síochána Kildare's Naas Roads Policing Unit conducted a checkpoint in Kilcock over the May bank holiday weekend which saw the apprehension of two drivers in particular attempted to avoid the checkpoint but was quickly stopped Gardai found the driver had no insurance or tax The driver was arrested for intoxicated driving with a court appearance to follow for multiple offences a Skoda driver stopped at the Kilcock checkpoint turned out to be an unaccompanied learner driver The driver was issued with a €280 Fixed Charge Penalty Notice (FCPN) and two penalty points READ NEXT: Great news as some officers in the Defence Forces in Kildare are set for pay rise Jean Dooley (Longest serving care giver) and Sarah Murphy launch Dovida in Newbridge on April 30 Dovida is a private provider of home care services which has recently rebranded from Home Instead Congratulations also to David Wolahan who was also awarded a Gold Medal in the People Category Aontú candidate for Kildare North has called for urgent action on Phase 3 of Naas General Hospital who gained over 2,000 first preference votes in the recent general election has said that"the silence is deafening” regarding the future development of the hospital planning permission for Phase 3 was originally granted in2014 but as no progress was made the permit was extended for a further five years permission expired in December 2024 due to lack of progress “There appears to be no intention by HSE or Hospital Management to advance the project we see a hotch-potch of prefabs taking up any available space” “The building known as the “temporary morgue” – another prefab – is jammed alongside unsightly hospital utilities and has been in situ for the past 24 years Families facing the dreadful task of identifying their deceased have to walk past a forty-foot shipping container and two large refuse skips with noisy compaction units which are in regular use.” Ms O'Connor stated that inside the hospital family rooms attached to the three main wards – Moate Ward Allen Ward and Curragh Ward – have been repurposed as ad-hoc extensions to the wards with three additional beds in each She said that staff have stated that these rooms are not suitable as wards due to lack of bedside oxygen supply visitors to very sick patients are left standing in corridors and landings where previously they could gather with dignity in the family rooms Ms O’Connor said: “When canvassing for the general election numerous people brought to myattention the lack of privacy or comfort when accompanying their loved ones through critical illness The outstanding work and commitment by hospital staff is undermined by the dismal state of hospital infrastructure “Management are just reacting with sticking plasters – a prefab here They lack the requisite ambition for the third phase “I have asked my Oireachtas colleagues in Aontú to bring this matter to the Minister’s attention A Parliamentary Question has been lodged to uncover the status of the planned extension which isbadly needed and long overdue.” Kildare County Council Arts Service is currently seeking Expressions of Interest from both artists and the wider community for this year’s Culture Night this is your opportunity to get involved and highlight what you do we are particularly interested in projects that reflect the cultural richness of Kildare and the diversity of all communities living in the county and initiatives that specifically engage younger audiences between 18-35 We are committed to projects that Pay the Artist and those that consider equality READ NEXT: Agri Aware's Healthy Eating Week comes to Kildare primary schools next week Applications from new participants who represent all of Kildare’s communities are particularly welcome. In line with our commitment we intend to provide some financial support to participating individuals/groups towards event costs Stipends of up to €300 are available for individuals community groups and artists for eligible events Culture Night is an annual island-wide public event a national moment that shines a light on all aspects of culture creativity and the arts. It seeks to actively promote the belief that this rich and varied culture is alive The programme is delivered nationwide in cities villages and rural locations as well as online and through Culture Night’s media partners. On Culture Night, doors are open from 4pm till late with special and unique events specifically programmed at participating locations All activities are available to the public free of charge to allow audiences the opportunity to celebrate and fully engage with a variety of cultural activities and to benefit from the pleasure and rewards they bring.  This is your chance to join in with the thousands of groups and individuals who participate in Culture Night the length and breadth of the county To provide assistance to any new event organisers, the Culture Night National Office will hold a webinar on Thursday May 1,  providing insights and information as well as answering questions on the National Open Call. Please fill in your details at the following link if you wish to attend: https://forms.gle/ibwj5eB8wETsmaCF8 To request an Expression of Interest application form for Culture Night in Kildare or for any other enquiries, please contact Culture Night Kildare Coordinator, Sheena Malone at culturenightkildare@gmail.com The deadline to submit your project/event for the County Kildare Culture Night programme is Wednesday 18th June 2025, 5pm Applicants will be notified of decisions during the week starting Monday 23rd June Culture Night is brought to you by the Arts Council / An Comhairle Ealaíon in partnership with local authorities and cultural organisations throughout the island of Ireland The death has occurred of Kathleen Bracken (née O`Rourke), Dun Masc, Portlaoise, Laois / Athy, Kildare (nee O`Rourke) Dun Masc Portlaoise and formerly Athy and London Reposing at Keegans funeral home on Tuesday evening from 6.30 pm till 8 pm with rosary at 7.30 pm Removal on Wednesday to arrive at SS Peter and Pauls Church for 11 am requiem mass Interment will follow in SS Peter and Pauls Cemetery Portlaoise Webstream: https://www.portlaoiseparish.ie/webcam/ The death has occurred of Kathleen Burns (née Beirne) Peacefully after a short illness in the loving care of the Staff at Mountpleasant Nursing Home sadly missed by her loving husband Brendan Funeral Mass at 11.30am on Tuesday in the Little Chapel Kilcock (W23 KD70) followed by private cremation The death has occurred of Mary (Molly) Darmody (née Grainger) Mary (Molly)-(Née Grainger)- (Bayview Drive beloved wife of the late John (retired sergeant of An Garda Siochana) and loving mother of John and Maria Noel and Stephen; sadly missed by her family The death has occurred of Andrew (Andy) Sargent peacefully in the tender care of the staff of Mount Pleasant Lodge Nursing Home Clane, (W91YPX4) on Tuesday from 5pm - 8pm Removal from the Funeral Home on Wednesday at approx The Funeral Mass can be viewed live in the "webstream" section below Oliver Reilly Funeral Directors accept no responsibility for any live webcam interruptions or issues please Donations if desired to a charity of your choice please contact Oliver Reilly Funeral Directors on (045) 868230 Webstream: https://www.claneparish.com/webcam/ Sullivan (Celbridge and formerly of Ballyfermot) – May 4 Stephen and Lauren; Sadly missed by his loving son Reposing at his home on Tuesday from 4pm to 7pm Removal on Wednesday to Newlands Cross Crematorium arriving for 2.30pm Service Enquiries to Ramon Massey & Son Funeral Directors Celbridge Ph: 01 455 5121 The Cremation Service can be viewed by clicking on the following link: https://mcn.live/Camera/newslands-cross-cemetery-crematorium The family would like to express their sincere thanks to the staff at Our Lady’s Hospice Harold’s Cross for the kindness shown to Joe during his time with them The death has occurred of Michael (Mike) Carroll Michael (Mike) will be sadly missed by his beloved wife Rosemary He will also be fondly remembered by his daughter in-law Mary former colleagues and members of the Civil Defence Reposing at the George Mullins Funeral Home Naas (Eircode W91CD0K) on Sunday May 4 from 1pm until 3pm Removal on Monday morning at 9.30am to the Church of Our Lady and St Cremation service at 1.45pm in the Victorian Chapel Your presence and support are what matter most Funeral service: https://www.naasparish.ie/our-parish/naas-webcam/ Cremation: https://www.mountjerome.ie/victorian-chapel-service/ The death has occurred of Judy Coyne (née Sullivan) Peacefully at Larchfield Park Nursing Home.Sadly missed by her loving children Tommy Allenwood from 4pm on Sunday with Rosary at 6pm.Removal on Monday afternoon to arrive at Christ The King Church Cooleragh (W91TX0W) for Requiem Mass at 2pm Glennons Funeral Directors accept no responsibility for any live webcam interruptions or issues. For all enquiries please contact Glennons Funeral Directors on 045 860110 Webstream: https://cooleraghstaplestownparish.com/webcam/ A Clane man who passed recently has been fondly remembered as 'a true gentleman.' Andrew (Andy) Sargent, Firmount, Clane, Kildare and fomerly of Caureen passed peacefully on May 3 2025 in the tender care of the staff of Mount Pleasant Lodge Nursing Home Tributes paid to Andy on RIP.ie this week included the following: “Condolences to Eileen and all the family And: “Our deepest sympathy to you Eileen & extended Sargent family on the passing of Andy While another mourner wrote: “Deepest sympathy to Lill and family on Andy's passing And another added: “I recall delivering post to the Sargent household on the Caureen Hill in the summer of 1976 READ NEXT: 85 Kildare schools eligible for School Meals Programme, Dáil hears Punters have flocked to the Kildare racecourse in their thousands all week with Friday seeing the highest-ever single day attendance of more than 43,000 people The role offers an attractive package for the right candidate Kilgallen and Partners Consulting Engineers Ltd is an established consulting engineering practice The Foster & Allen '50 Years Of Hits' concert will be filled with all the songs that made them worldwide famous "I cannot look back at 2024 without thanking all of those who supported me in the European elections last June." Local News LADIES LEINSTER SFC PREVIEW Shootout with Kildare to determine who advances Meath Ladies have the opportunity to join their male counterparts and book their Leinster SFC final spot with a victory over Kildare in Newbridge this Sunday Meath manager Shane McCormack has had some ups and downs against his native Liliwhites over the last 12 months Meath were comfortable winners over Kildare 12 months ago in the Leinster Championship Kildare stunned Meath in Abbotstown with a 2-7 to 1-5 win Kildare have made serious strides over the last 12 months and during a fruitful NFL campaign showed that they can be competitive at the highest level They also defeated Dublin in round two of the NFL but the current Leinster champions turned that form around last weekend with an emphatic win against Pat Sullivan's side It's hard to know what to read the form of the Liliwhites heading into this contest after a disastrous couple of games midway through the league appeared to have turned a corner and they will certainly be favourites on Sunday Meath finished out their league with a good win over a talented Armagh outfit and there was certainly a lot of positives for McCormack to take away from their defeat to Dublin in round-one A strong Dublin defence held firm against Meath that day but for the Royals it wasn't for lack of trying that they failed to break the Dubs down Meath have serious talent up front and the likes of Emma Duggan Ciara Smyth and Marion Farrelly will surely have more success against a relatively weaker Kildare defence Kildare's attacking options are a threat to Meath's defence and if the likes of Alannah Prizeman Roisin Byrne and Aoife Rattigan are dangerous However if Meath can keep it tight at the back especially in the early stages and build a bit of momentum they should be able to book their ticket to Croke Park the following Sunday for another crack at the Dubs and make it a day to remember Meath Chronicle is part of Celtic Media Group which includes: The Anglo Celt Westmeath Examiner and Westmeath Independent| © 2021 Meath Chronicle and Celtic Media Group Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open You are visiting us because we have something you value Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more. A NEW VINYL record pressing plant has opened in Clane as vinyl sales in Ireland continue to rise is now pressing records across two machines and will initially employ around a dozen people It’s the only vinyl record factory in Ireland; the last remaining company The factory will plug a noticable gap in the Irish music market – vinyl sales here reached 397,000 units in 2024 with sales steadily increasing each year since Anthem Vinyl says it will offer a full range of pressing options and work with independent and major labels The company will handle fulfilment in-house including orders placed through Bandcamp and artist websites “We’re pressing records this month across two pressing machines,” said spokesperson Chris Keena “Each shift we’ll be able to produce almost a thousand records.” Singer-songwriter Declan O’Rourke is the plant’s first customer His Record Store Day edition of his album Since Kyabram is also the factory’s first release in the Smart Vinyl format – a vinyl record with a QR code linking to additional digital content “It obviously sounds the way we want it to I think they’ve done a great job,” O’Rourke said “There’s something beautiful about it — it’s something tangible He also welcomed the re-introduction of vinyl record production to Ireland but it’s guaranteed Irish this time,” O’Rourke said “It’s nice to put the big green tick on it!” The plant is also a registered chart-reporting centre meaning artists selling directly through their websites can count those sales toward Irish chart figures Anthem says it will make the space available to artists who want to film content or sign records before they’re shipped is held every April in independent music shops around the world Special vinyl and CD releases are made exclusively for the day Most Irish record stores are expected to take part Access to the comments facility has been disabled for this user Create an email alert based on the current article It's the final day of this year's Punchestown Festival and once again thousands of punters have made their way to the Kildare racecourse amid sunshine and warm weather CLICK NEXT OR USE THE ARROWS TO SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM PUNCHESTOWN punters have flocked to the Kildare racecourse in their thousands with Friday seeing the highest-ever single day attendance of more than 43,000 people READ NEXT: PICTURES: Sunshine and shades again as thousands attend final day of Punchestown 2025 SBK Festival Finale Day is a fitting finale to the jump racing season in Ireland and is packed with celebrations of the season as champions are crowned.  Outside Naas courthouse are: Susanna Cawley, James Morrin, Richard Wixted BL and Andrew Coonan This photo is used for illustrative purposes only Cllr Tracey O’Dwyer questioned whether Kildare County Council has engaged with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) on the development of a slip road off the M9/M7 to serve the growing town. In response, Daragh Conlan, Acting Senior Engineer with the Transport, Mobility and Open Spaces Department, confirmed that while the Kildare County Development Plan 2023–2029 has identified the upgrade of this junction as a key objective, the project is not currently included in the council’s Capital Programme for 2025–2027. Cllr O’Dwyer said: “I don’t think my question has been answered. Can I take it that the council has not engaged with TII about this?”  A council representative clarified: “It’s not in the pipeline at the moment. This wouldn’t even be in consideration. Michael (Mike) will be sadly missed by his beloved wife Rosemary, his cherished sons Michael and Brian, adored grandchildren Shauna, Eoin, Jamie, and Ailbhe, and his great granddaughter Kyra. He will also be fondly remembered by his daughter in-law Mary, Susan, extended family, dear friends, former colleagues and members of the Civil Defence. Reposing at the George Mullins Funeral Home, Kilcullen Road, Naas (Eircode W91CD0K) on Sunday 4th May from 1pm until 3pm. Removal on Monday morning at 9.30am to the Church of Our Lady and St. David to arrive for Requiem Mass at 10am. Cremation service at 1.45pm in the Victorian Chapel, Mount Jerome, Harold's Cross (Eircode D6W HY98). Your presence and support are what matter most. In lieu of flowers donations if desired, can be made to Oscar’s Kids Ireland. Those who would like to leave a message of condolence for the family may do so in the 'Condolence' section below. Funeral Service.css-h76uj{display:inherit;margin-right:-4px;margin-left:8px;}Cremation / BurialDate Published: If you would like to make a donation to the chosen charity please click on the button below. Rip.ie, The Irish Times Building, 24-28 Tara Street, Dublin 2, Ireland Monnisha Nimma, 27, Sai Radhika Kavuri, 32, and 34-year-old Sri Ravikiran Garimella, each with an address at Station Walk, Newbridge Monnisha Nimma, 27, Ms Sai Radhika Kavuri, 32, and 34-year-old Sri Ravikiran Garimella, each with an address at Station Walk, Newbridge pleaded guilty on Friday to stealing from the furniture chain’s Ballymun outlet on three dates in January. Detective Garda Anthony Galbraith told Judge Patricia Cronin at Dublin District Court that on 11, 18 and 25 January, the two female defendants and Mr Garimella, and two others, who have not been identified, “took a large quantity of materials and failed to pay for same”. They left the store twice with €1,350 worth of property and goods valued at €852 the next time. Following enquiries, the detective went to their shared home on 16 February and searched the property, recovering a significant portion of the loot. One person was arrested and made full admissions. Detective Garda Galbraith said the other two later came to Ballymun station with more stolen goods. The detective said most of the property, valued in total €3,526, was recovered and in a saleable condition. He added that they were cooperative, “held their hands up and made admissions”, and he said that was unusual. Judge Cronin noted that the three defendants, who did not address the court, had no prior convictions and had never come to Garda attention before. The court heard that, but for the quantity, the three housemates could have been eligible for an adult caution instead of a court prosecution. Their solicitor, Carol Slattery, said that her well-educated clients were from India and came to Ireland about five years ago. The court heard the defendants, who are on bail, had work visas and were full-time software engineers. Ms Slattery described them as young and ambitious with good future job prospects who wished to become Irish citizens, and this case could have a severe impact on that. The solicitor said they realised the seriousness of their situation and the consequences they faced, were apologetic and would take any opportunity to rectify this wrong. Ms Slattery said that they had no reasonable explanation other than "foolishness of the highest order". However, the solicitor submitted that they were unlikely to reoffend and pleaded with Judge Cronin to consider a restorative justice approach given their lack of previous convictions, the guilty pleas and their cooperation. The detective confirmed he had already discussed that with Ikea; the firm was agreeable to participate, having previously engaged in the restorative justice process in similar prosecutions. Detective Garda Galbraith said Ikea was more than happy to do so again in this case. Judge Cronin remarked that that was helpful because few victims wish to be involved. She adjourned the case until July for a probation report on their suitability for inclusion in the programme, which, if completed, can spare first-time offenders a criminal conviction. The curtain has closed on the 2025 Punchestown Festival marking the conclusion of the biggest annual festival ever on record at the County Kildare venue which saw temperatures hit the mid-20s on Wednesday and Thursday played its part enticing an all-time record-breaking overall attendance of 136,651 over the five days Attendance figures were up on all five days of the national hunt racing festival with Ladies Day on Friday attracting the greatest numbers when 42,138 attendees turned out in their finery for the annual social and sporting highlight of the season READ NEXT: PICTURES: Sunshine and shades again as thousands attend final day of Punchestown 2025 Ballymore Family Day on Saturday saw 33,158 junior racegoers socialisers and racing fans descend on the track compared with 25,396 on the same day last year Commenting following the conclusion of this year's festival CEO of Punchestown said: “The glorious weather ensured another beano festival here at Punchestown Whether you’re 5 or 95 there has been something for everyone here at Punchestown this week and that’s what it’s all about "People make Punchestown and we’re so grateful to our sponsors many stakeholders and everyone who came along to support us This (Saturday) afternoon I’m most proud of our remarkable team their unwavering commitment and hard work has been rewarded and I’m delighted for everyone who played a part in making it such a great success."   READ NEXT: PICTURES: Do you feature in our latest gallery from Day 5 of Punchestown 2025? the Ballymore Champion 4 Year Old Hurdle went to post at 4.50pm with the UK representative Lulamba justifying favouritism to land the final Grade 1 of the season in great style for trainer Nicky Henderson and Jockey James Bowen All champions for the 2024/2025 Irish National Hunt season were announced at Punchestown on Saturday afternoon The Champion Conditional title was an extremely close contest with Tiernan Power Roche and John Shinnick fighting it out right up to and including Saturday Tiernan Power Roche came out on top to join Champion Owner JP McManus Fisheries and the Marine on the podium.  READ NEXT: Pints or Prosecco? The important questions answered as punters flock to Punchestown Festival Reims and the Bollinger Estate and a year’s supply of Champagne Bollinger.  The BritVic Fruit Shoot Inter School Art Competition concluded the off-track competitions at Punchestown this week The popular initiative boasted entries from no less than 17 local schools  The senior art competition was won by 6th Class Hanly’s 2nd Class at Caragh NS won the juniors category with Isabelle Nixon from Rathmore NS and Donnacha Dooling from Ballymore securing second and third prizes consecutively Children of all ages flocked to meet the stars of the turf took lots of selfies and chatted with junior racegoers and their families on the final day of the busy Irish National Hunt Season at Punchestown.  The total attendance for the week was 136,651 compared with 118,318 in 2024 an increase of 15.5% READ NEXT: PICTURES: Glamour galore at Ladies Day of the Punchestown Festival The 2026 Punchestown Festival will take place between Tuesday, April 18 and Saturday, May 2. For a limited time only, a flash sale on 2026 tickets is live online now at Punchestown.com We've been out and about at Punchestown Racecourse in Kildare this Saturday for the final day of this year's Festival which has been one of the best-ever Were you one of the punters in Punchestown this Saturday - did we snap you A chainsaw was among the tools stolen by the perpetrators Gardaí have launched an information appeal after tools worth an estimated €2,000 were stolen from a vehicle in North Kildare The incident was discussed by Garda Brian Carroll of Newbridge when he appeared on a KFM radio programme on April 30 last He explained that the crime took place at approximately 7.30am in the Ballygoran View estate, which is located in Celbridge He concluded by calling on anyone with information about this crime to contact Celbridge Garda Station on 01 628 8222 When asked by the Leinster Leader about the incident a garda spokesperson responded: "Gardaí are aware of an incident of theft from a vehicle that occurred on April 23  The spokesperson concluded: "Investigations are ongoing."  READ NEXT: Kildare gardaí probing criminal damage by fire incident on the Leixlip Road This is truly a wonderful event for nature and music lovers, walkers, children and families. This incredibly popular event , whilst being free of charge, raises money for the RYARC Community Centre in Rathangan and pays for the insurance, light and heating for this invaluable service in Rathangan as well as other local charities. Main organiser Cllr Brian O’Loughlin said, “We are looking forward to another super event this year and we have a great line up of 20 different musical offerings”. “Over the years we raised over €100,000 for the RYARC Community Centre. More importantly though it’s an opportunity for people and families to gather in our lovely woods and enjoy nature and culture.” The money is raised through €5 parking, thanks to the Judge and Brouder families, and the tea and coffee stall and BBQ. Local Senator Fiona O`Loughlin said: “ It’s incredible to think that 12 years later , we are looking forward to gathering together once again to celebrate our wonderful Killinthomas woods, great entertainment and also to remember those who are no longer with us. “We are very lucky to have the help of our local Scouts who manage the giant BBQ, the women’s shed who are helping with the tea and cake stall, the men’s shed for their help with parking and marshalling, the Kildare Civil Defence and of course our wonderful musicians and entertainers. Thank you to Kildare Co Council, local Gardai, Lullymore heritage centre and Coillte for their help and support." The Bluebells will be in full bloom next weekend and will be a wonderful setting for this year's Bluebells and Buskers event. This event gets more popular every year so head out to Killinthomas Woods on Sunday, 4 May for brilliant music, food and fun. Food will be served from 1pm and the musicians will start from 2pm. Car parking charge will be €5 per car. The Park & Bark dog park is committed to creating welcoming, fun, and safe spaces for dogs and their owners Travellers with their beloved canine companions now have a new reason to look forward to their journey.  Junction 14 Mayfield is proud to announce its grand opening, offering a dedicated, secure space for dogs to rest, recharge, and play during their road trips.  Designed with both pets and their owners in mind, the park provides a safe and welcoming environment where dogs can stretch their legs and enjoy a well-deserved break. Featuring a spacious, enclosed area, the park ensures peace of mind for pet owners while their furry friends indulge in some fun and exercise. To keep your dog active and entertained, the park is equipped with a specially designed obstacle course.  This engaging feature allows dogs to burn off energy and stay stimulated, making every stop a positive experience for your pet. It's the final day of this year's Punchestown Festival which has been one of the best-ever - on and off the racecourse READ NEXT: WATCH: Belfast woman Ciara crowned Best Dressed on Ladies Day at Punchestown The first of an eight-race card goes to post at 2.30pm this Saturday Gardaí are seeking the public’s assistance in tracing the whereabouts of a 30-year-old man who has been reported missing in County Kildare READ NEXT: 'People make Punchestown' - Curtain falls on record-breaking festival at Kildare venue A driver who attended Punchestown Races in Kildare this week certainly increased his chances of getting caught when he turned up with no insurance The driver was duly detected by an eagle-eyed Naas Roads Policing Unit member on point duty A court appearance will follow for this high risk driver who Naas gardai say is now “odds on favourite” to receive a driving disqualification and a fine of up to €5,000 READ NEXT: Kildare primary schools awarded at 2025 Intel Mini Scientist Competition It's the final day of this year's Punchestown Festival and once again thousands of punters are making their way to the Kildare racecourse amid sunshine and warm weather ALSO SEE: Glamour galore on Best Dressed Day at Punchestown. Kildare captain Kevin Feely during the Leinster Senior Championship quarter-final match between Kildare and Westmeath at Cedral St Conleth's Park Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile Kildare will host Leitrim in the first round of the Tailteann Cup The Lilies were sent into the second-tier after their Leinster SFC semi-final loss to Louth Brian Flanagan's side have also been drawn alongside Sligo and Tipperary for the 2025 Tailteann Cup READ NEXT: Dogged Sash turn over Naas at home Kildare Senior Women's team suffered a narrow defeat to Meath at Cedral St.Conleths Park today Meath edged the game with a final score of Meath 2-14 Despite a strong performance and a late push from Kildare Meath's two goals proved crucial in separating the sides in what was an exciting match The Kildare women footballers are in action in the Leinster Championship this afternoon Pat Sullivan's side play Meath in Cedral St Conleth's Park A win for Kildare would put them into the Leinster final against Dublin Throw-in is at 2 o'clock and Kfm will have live updates with Tara Byrne There are four more games to be played in the Premier League today Three games get underway at 2 o'clock with Brentford against Man United Brighton against Newcastle and West Ham versus Spurs Co. Kildare FM Radio Ltd. t/a Kfm Radio - Company No: 355494 - Registered Office: Kfm Broadcast Centre, M7 Business Park, Newhall, Naas, Co. Kildare. Kfm is licenced by Coimisiún na Meán as a local sound broadcaster for Co Kildare. Directors: Anna May McHugh (Chair), Clem Ryan (Executive), Catherine Wall (Secretary), Seán Ashmore. All rights reserved. Russell Crowe as gladiator Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, father to a murdered son and husband to a murdered wife. Whether he ever had his vengeance, in this life or the next, is debatable The research presents compelling skeletal evidence of a human victim attacked by a large carnivorous animal, likely within the context of Roman-era spectacle combat. It was conducted by an international team of archaeologists and osteologists, led by Tim Thompson, professor of anthropology and vice-president for students and learning at Maynooth University. While images of gladiators being bitten by lions have appeared in ancient mosaics and pottery, this is the only convincing skeletal evidence using forensic experiments anywhere in the world of bite marks produced by the teeth of a large cat, such as a lion. The findings centre on a single skeleton discovered in a Roman-period cemetery outside York in England, a site believed to contain the remains of gladiators. The individual’s bones exhibited distinct lesions that, upon close examination and comparison with modern zoological specimens, were identified as bite marks from a large feline species. Lesions on the left iliac spine of the gladiator whose skeleton was uncovererd at a Roman-period cemetery outside YorkThe bite marks on the pelvis of the skeleton represent the first osteological confirmation of human interaction with large carnivores in a combat or entertainment setting in the Roman world. Lead author Prof Thompson outlined the significance of the discovery: “For years, our understanding of Roman gladiatorial combat and animal spectacles has relied heavily on historical texts and artistic depictions. This discovery provides the first direct, physical evidence that such events took place in this period, reshaping our perception of Roman entertainment culture in the region.”  The research, published in the international journal of science and medical research PLOS One, is a collaboration between leading institutions including Maynooth University, Cranfield University, Durham University, the University of York, King’s College London, York Archaeological Trust, now known as York Archaeology, and York Osteoarchaeology. It highlights the brutality of these spectacles and their reach beyond Ancient Rome’s core territories. The study contributes a vital new dimension to our knowledge of Roman Britain, reinforcing the region’s deep connection to the empire’s entertainment traditions. These findings offer new avenues for research into the presence of exotic animals in Roman-period Britain and the lives of those involved in gladiatorial combat. Despite this archaeological breakthrough, academics have yet to find any evidence of battle rhinos, as fought by Maynooth man Paul Mescal in Gladiator II – but surely this can only be a matter of time! Culture Night returns to Kildare this September This is offering creatives the opportunity to showcase their work in this national programme, and Kildare County Council Arts Service is currently seeking expressions of interest from both artists and the wider community for this year’s Culture Night. “If you are a Kildare-based artist, performer, organisation or community group, this is your opportunity to get involved and highlight what you do,” said a spokesperson for the council. “We would love to hear your ideas and proposals for this celebration of culture in all its forms." This year, the council are particularly interested in projects that reflect the cultural richness of Kildare and the diversity of all communities living in the county. In particular, the council are seeking initiatives that specifically engage younger audiences between 18-35. The council are committed to projects that pay the artist and those that consider equality, inclusion, accessibility and diversity. Applications from new participants who represent all of Kildare’s communities are particularly welcome. In line with our commitment, within budgetary limits, we intend to provide some financial support to participating individuals and groups towards event costs, with stipends of up to €300 available for individuals, groups, community groups and artists for eligible events. Culture Night is an annual island-wide public event, a national moment that shines a light on all aspects of culture, creativity and the arts.  It seeks to actively promote the belief that this rich and varied culture is alive, treasured and nurtured in people’s lives, today and every day. Culture Night hosts special and unique events specifically programmed at participating locations, and all activities are available to the public free of charge.  Disclaimer / Privacy Statement