80 years ago: Nazi warplanes over Newbridge as bombs hit Ballymany
Historian Liam Kenny recalls how a stray German aircraft triggered a diplomatic war when it unloaded bombs near the Curragh racecourse in January 1941
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It was a New Year’s gift as unwelcome as it was unexpected. In the early hours of January 2, 1941, as the people of Newbridge slept under the thin security blanket of Irish neutrality, a stray Nazi plane droned overhead and unleashed a torrent of bombs to the west of the town.
High explosive projectiles plunged earthwards, scouring craters in the ground on the edge of the Curragh racecourse and in the pastures of Ballymany Stud.
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Three Kildare Defence Forces members receive top awards
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Three Defence Forces members from Kildare were recognised as Defence Forces Values Champions in a ceremony presided by Chief of Staff Vice Admiral Mark Mellett DSM, in Baldonnel recently.
RSM Philip Hayden, Comdt Michael Cullen and Sgt Paul Halpin were all honoured at the national awards.
Speaking at the event, Vice Admiral Mellett said; We have continued to build on our values as we strive for our vision to ‘Strengthen the Nation by inspiring pride and leading excellence’. Our values of moral courage and physical courage, respect, integrity, loyalty and selflessness serve as a framework for all our professional decision making and actions, but also for everyday life - and that is only right because our values have equal application when we hang up our uniform at the end of the day.
Curragh primary schools amalgamation consultation
Proposal
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A consultation process is underway on the proposed amalgamation of the two primary schools in the Curragh Camp.
A letter seeking feedback has been sent out to the parents of pupils attending Scoil Naomh Pádraig (formerly Curragh Boys National School) and the Curragh Girls National School.
In his letter, chairperson of the boards of management, Fr PJ Somers said the boards had asked the joint patrons Bishop Denis Nulty of Kildare and Leighlin and Brigadier General Dave Dignam to support a consultation process with the staff, parents and members of the wider community.