Clane Community Council’s new Heritage sub-committee is planning a key workshop to help discuss and debate how best to preserve, promote and get the most value of our heritage and cultural interests in the coming years.
Currently at a planning stage, all interested parties and individuals are invited to register their interst with the sub-committee. For more information please see our Heritage Workshop Invitation.
Mayor of Kildare Cllr. Weld, and local budding photographers Jessica Doran and Stephen Doyle unveil one of the two new wildlife signs at Clane Liffeyside Nature Park.
Clane Community Council and its Tidy Towns Sub-Committee marked International Biodiversity Day, Sunday 22nd May, in style with the official opening of its Liffeyside Nature Park and the unveiling of its two new “Wild About Clane” information panels.
The showers blew over and the sun came out just in time for the evening’s events.
Supported by experts Niall Tierney and Deirdre Moran from Birdwatch Ireland Kildare Branch, Terry Walsh from Clane Trout and Salmon Anglers Association, and Philip Strickland from Moths Ireland, John Kennedy from Clane Tidy Towns led the enthusiastic crowd on a guided nature walk. People were introduced to the variety of native trees, wildflowers, birds, insects, fish and animals present in and around the park. They were also treated to a glimpse of a kingfisher that bolted out from under Alexandra Bridge, and to stories of otters seen lying on their back in the river, feasting on freshwater mussels picked from the riverbed.
Terry Walsh, Chairman Clane Trout and Salmon Anglers, treating the locals with stories of otters lying on their back in the Liffey feasting on freshwater mussels.
The nature walk was followed by the official opening ceremony, with the crowd addressed by Chairman of Clane Community Council Mr. Nick Fitzgerald, coordinator of the project John Kennedy from Clane Tidy Towns, and special guest Mayor of Kildare Cllr. Brendan Weld.
After describing the 15 year history of the project, the individuals and groups that had contributed to the park, the signs and the day’s events were all sincerely thanked. The importance of biodiversity was also highlighted. The park was then officially opened by Mayor Weld and the two local children whose photographs featured on the signs: Jessica Doran and Stephen Doyle.
The celebrations moved on to the Westgrove Hotel for some refreshing teas, coffees and finger food. This was followed by the final event of the day: a batwalk down by the Liffey. Tina Aughney from Bat Conservation Ireland provided a fascinating insight into these surprisingly small insect-eating mammals, and thanks to Tina bringing a supply of bat detectors, everyone was able to listen in to the clicks and calls of the three species of bats that were identified on the walk.
John Kennedy, Clane Community Council, pointing out some Butterbur - a plant traditionally used to wrap butter.
A great evening seemed to be had by all, with people commenting that all the hard work may have turned the former sewage works into not just a wildlife refuge, not just a wonderful amenity for the people of the town, but an important attraction for visitors to Clane too.
Why not take a walk down by the park yourself. We hope you find the new signs helpful in introducing the beauty of the natural world…
…Wild About Clane.
For more information please see our press release. To print out your own copy of the signs you are welcome to download the high resolution posters from the Wild About Clane section of this website.
Our thanks to John Power for supplying all the photographs…
Sunday May 22nd is International Biodiversity Day and this year Clane will be celebrating it in style. Clane Community Council and its Clane Tidy Towns committee are delighted to announce the grand opening of Clane Liffeyside Nature Park and the unveiling of its brand new wildlife signs…
Buzzard over North Kildare (T. Byrne)
…Why not come along and enjoy the evening with us. There will be wildlife experts available from 6:30 pm to help point out and explain some of the plants and animals that are “Wild about Clane“.
The opening and unveiling ceremony will happen at 7:30pm, and will be followed by a guided nature walk.
The day will be rounded off with a bat walk where you can learn about, see and even hear some of our most remarkable inhabitants. The walk will depart from the Abbeylands Shopping Centre Car Park at 9:30 pm.
Willow Catkins by Alexandra Bridge (J Kennedy)
The Liffeyside Park is beside the Alexandra Bridge on the Sallins road. The nearest car park is at the Abbeylands Shopping Centre. All are welcome…we hope to see you there!
What a glorious spell of weather we are having. Thankfully it is that time of the year again and the birds are busy singing, and settling into nests.
This year it happens to be the last year of the enormous Bird Atlas project between the RSPB in the UK and Birdwatch Ireland here. It is a four year project attempting to record the distribution of every species of bird in these islands. Volunteers have been busy scouring the countryside, but there are still plenty of gaps in the data. This is the last chance to close the gaps: perhaps you can help.
For the 10km square that Clane is in, the following species have been recorded as probably breeding, but their breeding has not been confirmed. Almost everyone recognises the magpie…is it possible there are no magpie nests around Clane, Prosperous or Naas?
If you have seen any of these species breeding around Clane – either an occupied nest, or young being fed by adults – your sighting could be valuable.
Please send an email with details to wildaboutclane@gmail.com and we will follow up with you. Alternatively feel free to log your record yourself on http://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/birdatlas.
If you know about a nest but are not 100% sure about the species, no problem. Contact wildaboutclane@gmail.com and if possible we will call out and let you know what it is (without disturbing the nest).
An Taisce and Alupro Ireland are holding a ‘Love Where you Live’ photo competition with closing date June 30th. For details see http://www.lovewhereyoulive.ie/. If you have a photo that shows how much you love where you live, why not send it in? Separate categories for under 18s, over 18s and schools.
Congratulations to Clane St. Patrick’s Festival Committee for organising a fantastic set of events this year. Clane Community Council entered a float, and also organised an eye in the sky (or thereabouts). Here are a selection of the pics taken…enjoy…
Having tackled various ceanup projects over the winter, and with the successful Clane Spring Clean event on April 2nd, Clane Tidy Towns are now looking forward to launching their 2011 activities in earnest on April 16th.
All are welcome to join in. Plans include preparing the street flower tubs and the approach signage for summer planting. The group will gather by the Stream park across from the Abbey on Saturday April 16th at 10AM – all equipment will be provided – we hope to see you there!
On Saturday April 2nd Clane Tidy Towns held the annual Spring Clean for Clane, armed with a National Spring Clean kit from An Taisce, and the support of Kildare County Council and Clane Community Council. With some volunteers getting a head start earlier in the week, by the end of the day a substantial mound of rubbish had been cleared from our approach roads, country lanes, Liffey-side park, streams and rivers.
Some of the rubbish gathered during Clane Spring Clean 2011
The weather was kind, fresh air was enjoyed, and friendships were made and renewed. There were some surprises on the day too, including close encounters with some lobster-like animals – White-Clawed Crayfish – in the River Liffey!
Although two tonnes of general material had to be collected by Kildare County Council and sent to landfill, this year a substantial amount of the rubbish collected was metal and was segragated and is being sent to a scrap metal merchant. Similarly, the timber reclaimed has been kept for recycling.
Congratulations to all the volunteers who helped make Clane Spring Clean 2011 a success, and thanks to Cllr. Pádraig McEvoy for arranging the support and his hands-on help on the day.
Some more of the rubbish gathered during Clane Spring Clean 2011
Please help us keep Clane beautiful, and report any dumping you may observe to the local Gardaí or the Kildare County Council litter warden.
If you have some time during the week and would like to help Clane look its best this summer, why not come out and lend a hand with Clane Tidy Towns. They are kicking off their 2011 programme with a cleanup on Saturday April 16th, meeting at 10:00 AM at the Stream Park outside the Abbey. All are very welcome.
During the National Spring Clean on April 2nd some volunteers were cleaning up along the banks of the Liffey. When pulling out some rubbish they came across perhaps one of the most unusal animals living in Clane: the White-Clawed Crayfish. Check out our Wild About Clane White-Clawed Crayfish article to see some pictures, a video and find out more about these remarkable animals.
The daffodils are in flower and the trees beginning to bud: it’s time to give Clane a Spring clean. This Saturday April 2nd at 10:00 AM everyone is invited to gather where the Capdoo Road meets the Kilcock Road to help and play their part. Clane Tidy Towns and Community Council will organise small teams to go out and tackle key spots in and around the town. Our thanks to An Taisce and Kildare County Council for supporting this event.
Clane Community Council held its AGM on January 31st last. Reports were presented by Mr. Nick Fitzgerald, Chairman, Mrs. Anne Noonan, Secretary, and Mr. Paul Carroll, Treasurer, after which officers were elected for the year 2011…
You have probably heard of Donadea Forest Park, but did you know there is a lovely quiet lake nearby too? Ballynafagh lake is just north of Prosperous. Find out more under “Place to Explore” – and why not visit them some day soon?
Did you know we have a Slí na Sláinte route in Clane? It’s signposted and over 4.1km long. There is a also an accessible 2km Abbeylands Slí. For more details have a look under the “Places to Explore” menu above… then when not grab a coat and enjoy it!!
Your Clane Community Council is holding its AGM on Monday January 31st at 8pm in the Abbey, Clane. Please come along and find out all about our progress in 2010, and help us plan for 2011.
Community Games for Clane and Rathcoffey are in the starting blocks for 2011. Are you ready? Get set!
The following is the list of up-coming events which will be considered, by what date they must be applied for and who to contact. Details are also posted in the local schools.
The Clane Friary sub-committee have received good news regarding the Friary gates and official recognition.
Thanks to Kildare County Council and to Cllr. Padraig McEvoy for his great help in this regard, a grant has been confirmed towards new gates to replace the “temporary” gates that have been there for the last few years. The design has been agreed and Joe Horan will make them. We had hoped to have them up by Christmas, but given current conditions it is likely to be late January now.
Tony McEvoy has brought good news too from the Kildare County Council Historic Monuments Committee. The Friary has been added to the list of Kildare’s Historic Monuments and a sum of money will be given towards a professional survey of the ruins.
The Blessing of the Graves was held on November 7th and was very well attended indeed. Thanks to everyone who came for their great support. Thanks also to all the Sub-Committee for helping to have the graveyard looking so well and especially to Mark Moffatt, our “sound man” on the day, and to McKenna’s Hardware for providing the generator. Fr. Paul O’Boyle once again officiated with his usual good humour and relaxed style.
Des Drumm, Friary Sub-Commitee
All are encouraged to attend the annual Clane Community Games AGM to be held on Tuesday November 16th at 8pm in the Abbey. Come along to find out about the success of this years Community Games, and help shape plans for 2011.
The K Club in Straffan is hosting a Halloween bat talk and walk this Friday October 29th at 7pm for young and old alike to find out more about these mysterious nocturnal animals. If you have any questions about bats why not go along and get the answers from the experts. They’ll have bat detectors so you can hear the local bats out chasing insects. For non-members of the K Club there is a €3 fee. Places are limited so be sure to book a place in advance – click here for the full details from the K Club.
If you can’t make the event, but would be interested in a bat walk and talk being held here in Clane, please let us know below and we will look into organising a similar event.
Clane Tidy Towns was delighted to be awarded second prize by Kildare County Council in the Clane Electoral Area Tidy Towns competition. At the recent awards night in Aras Cill Dara the committee received a generous prize that will be put towards our Tidy Towns efforts in 2011.
Thanks to all in Clane who contributed to our Tidy Towns efforts in 2010 – and here’s to a wonderful 2011.
On Monday 18th October Clane Tidy Towns and Clane Community Council held their annual awards night in Manzor’s, Clane. It was a packed night, with some of our leading young sports men and women recognised, and the winners of the Clane Tidy Estates competition, Best Presented Premises, and Clane Person of the Year were all announced… Continue reading