Kilcullen Diary

On this day in 1903, the Gordon Bennett Cup motor race took place on a route where my home town of Kilcullen in County Kildare was pivotal. Produced and presented by Brian Byrne.

On this day in 1908, an enormous explosion over the Tunguska River in sparsely populated east Siberia, flattened some 80 million trees over an area of more than 2,000 square kilometres. Generally believed to have been an air-burst of a meteoroid, it was the largest impact event on Earth in recorded history. Produced by Brian Byrne.

A review of some of the main stories covered on Kilcullen Diary to the week ending Sunday 28 June 2020. Produced and presented by Brian Byrne.

On this day in 1914, a young Serb nationalist, Gavrilo Princip, assassinated Archduke Ferdinand of Austria and his wife Sofia in Sarajevo. Those shots are widely considered to have been the spark that exploded World War 1. Produced and presented by Brian Byrne.

The Kilcullen Community Cntre has been closed for three months since the coronavirus restrictions were introduced. A week ago some outdoor activities began, and from next Monday the main Sports Hall and other parts of the building will be open for certain use. Centre manager Enda O'Neill talks about the precautions that have been taken. Produced by Brian Byrne.

For the last 17 years, a vintage tractor rally which started off small in Cannycourt, near Kilcullen, has raised a total of almost half a million euros for the Irish Cancer Society. This year it has to go virtual because of the coronavirus. Trish Sully tells about the plan. Produced by Brian Byrne.

A roundup of the main news on Kilcullen Diary for the week ending Sunday 21 June 2020. Produced and presented by Brian Byrne. Some of the content: The return of the Kilcullen pump. The lighting of the bridge with candles for Pieta House. Summer camps, restaurants, sports clubs, and hairdressers reopening. The launch of Kilcullen Before our Time. Mac and Norman go virtual. Roy Thompson and another...

On this day in 1264, the first recorded session of an Irish Parliament sat in Castledermot, Co Kildare. Produced and presented by Brian Byrne for Kilcullen Diary. Some of the content: The event had been called to determine if the Archbishop Fulk de Sandeford had the rights to hold court and dispense justice. He was in contention with the then lord of Ireland, Prince Edward, son of Henry III. The C...

This is International Men's Health Week. Mick Osborne, a community support worker with the Kildare Leader Partnership, says there is an expectation that men should try to be like heroes and role models, but the reality is that the only person we can be is ourselves. He reminds us men that we need to take care of ourselves too, in all aspects of our health. Produced and presented by Brian Byrne.

On 16 June 1904, Dublin writer James Joyce walked out for the first time with Nora Barnacle, who became his life partner and eventually his wife. Produced and presented by Brian Byrne for Kilcullen Diary. Some of the content: Joyce's novel Ulysses, published in 1922, was set on the same date. The epic work describes a day in the life of one Leopold Bloom, as he walks around Dublin, and drives with...

A roundup of the main news on Kilcullen Diary for the week ending 14 June 2020.

One year on, Paul Leighton talks about the progress of the Pollinator Project undertaken by Kilcullen Community Action. Produced by Brian Byrne for Kilcullen Diary.

On this day in 1862, Violet Florence Martin was born in Connemara, the youngest of 16 children to the landed Martin family in Ross. She was to become with Edith Somerville the author of many novels about Anglo Irish life, under the names Somerville and Ross. Produced and presented by Brian Byrne for Kilcullen Diary. Some of the content: Violet met up with a second cousin, Edith Somerville in 1886,...

The news this week that Evelyn O'Sullivan was going to close her studio on Hillcrest was probably a surprise to many. But it is just one example of the way Covid-19 has changed and continues to change the way we run our lives, and our businesses. Produced by Brian Byrne for Kilcullen Diary.

On this day in 1934, Donald Duck appeared in his first movie, The Wise Little Hen cartoon animation. Produced and presented by Brian Byrne for Kilcullen Diary. Image is used to visually identify Donald Duck in the infobox of the podcast Donald Duck under Fair Use of US copyright law..

A roundup of the main news of the week ending 7 June 2020 on Kilcullen Diary. Produced and presented by Brian Byrne.

Tomorrow, 8 June 2020, Woodbine Books reopens, in the easing of the coronavirus restrictions. Produced by Brian Byrne for Kilcullen Diary.

Kilcullen Librarian Julie O'Donoghue talks about how Kilcullen Community Library will be reopening on a limited service from Tuesday next, under the Phase 2 of the easing of the Covid-19 restrictions. Produced by Brian Byrne for Kilcullen Diary.

Shirley Kavanagh Hallion talks about the reopening of her Secret Kloset ladies boutique in Phase 2 of the reopening of Ireland's businesses beginning on Monday 8 June. Produced and presented by Brian Byrne for Kilcullen Diary.

On 5 June 1968, Robert F Kennedy was fatally shot in the kitchen of the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. Produced and presented by Brian Byrne.

On 4 June 1913, the suffragette Emily Davison was hit by King George V’s horse Anmer, after she had walked onto the racetrack during the Epsom Derby. Produced and presented by Brian Byrne for Kilcullen Diary.

On 3 June 618, St Kevin of Glendalough died. Produced and presented by Brian Byrne.

On 2 June 1989, China's leadership authorised the use of force to clear student protestors from Beijing's Tiananmen Square. Produced and presented by Brian Byrne. Photo by 蔡淑芳@sfchoi8964. Used under under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Generic license.

A round up of the news of the week ending 31 May 2020 on Kilcullen Diary. Produced and Presented by Brian Byrne.

On 29 May 1953, Sherpa Tenzing and Edmund Hillary became the first people to reach the summit of Mt Everest. Produced and presented by Brian Byrne for Kilcullen Diary.