Community & GAA Notes

New Mural

Coláiste Abhainn Rí Transition year students and Bunscoil McAuley Rice 5th and 6th class have been busy painting a large-scale hoarding on Lower Bridge Street this week. The public artwork is a collaboration by artist Paul Bokslag, the two local schools, Nicola Teehan, Callan Tidy Towns and Town Team member Etaoin Holahan curator of Fennelly’s of Callan.

“The focus of the Streetscape Enhancement Measure is to improve the facades and streets in the town of Callan. Callan Tidy Towns applied for a grant to rebuild the hoarding which was in disrepair and covering a derelict building site. The idea was to make this area safer and brighten up this part of Lower Bridge Street while Kilkenny County Council plan the future for this derelict site”, said Nicola Teehan an active Callan Tidy Towns and Callan Town Team Member.

“I was aware that Etaoin Holahan, and Callan-based artist and designer Paul Bokslag had been working on a project called Wayfinders with Coláiste Abhainn Rí and Bunscoil McAuley Rice. The students had been enjoying creative workshops, exploring the biodiversity of Bridge Street. Luckily, Etaoin and I decided to join the resources of both groups together for this creative Bridge Street public art project collaboration”, Teehan explained.

Callan Tidy Towns used their funding from the Streetscape Enhancement Scheme to replace the old hoarding, preparing it for project Wayfinders to create the design. The paper cuts reflected the young people’s ideas about the town’s bio and social diversity. The students have been very imaginative with their visions of the future of our shared spaces on Bridge Street,” said Etaoin Holahan. The mural’s final design by Paul Bokslag was agreed in advance by Mary Butler, Arts O icer Kilkenny County. The students and Paul’s designs are now being painted for this largescale public artwork.

Bridge Street Mural Art project was generously supported by an award from The Arts Council of Ireland, a Begin Together Arts Fund - Bank of Ireland and support from Kilkenny County Council, Callan Heritage Society, Callan Town Team and Callan Tidy Towns. This new mural will really enhance this area of the town. The particular corner has been in severe dereliction for many years, when a new development was le unfinished. On the old site was the famous Myles Pub which was later owned by Chrissy and Paul Clarke. When the Clarkes retired they closed the bar and the licence was sold. Over the years the building fell into disrepair until a developer purchased the site but as mentioned already in the article a development was never completed.

The new mural will certainly brighten the area and with the forthcoming redevelopment of both upper and lower Bridge Street pending, hopefully it will help to totally rejuvenate the old street. When Neil Jordan was looking for the best place to make his cult movie ‘Breakfast on Pluto’ on visiting Callan he fell in love with Bridge Street, because of the wonderful buildings in the little narrow street and also particularly loved Margaret Fennellys old bar and grocery as well as Keoghs Bakery building, both of which were extensively used in the movie which starred, Liam Neeson, Cillian Murphy, Stephen Rea, Ruth Negga and Brendan Gleeson. Here is to a wonderful new and rejuvenated Bridge Street and well done to all who have created a beautiful modern mural.

Bypass News

Since the opening of the Callan Bypass in 1996, the road has opened up so many developments around the town. In those 27 years the town has witnessed many changes with multiple housing developments. Of course that increase in housing also increased the population which also larger volumes of cars in and out of the town. We all know how di icult it can be sometimes trying to get on to the bypass or N76 which is the proper name for the road. A large number of accidents have happened on the road, particularly so at the Aldi exit. These for the most part were down to motorists exiting the junction too quickly without due care as well as speed of tra ic on the road. Recently Councillor Joe Lyons informed this column that the speed limit of the bypass will be reduced to 8o kilometres from the present 100 kilometres speed limit. This change will certainly help in reducing risk of more accidents and no doubt with that reduction will certainly bring more attention from mobile camera vans, which is something most locals would welcome, because the speed of vehicles especially from the Clonmel direction can be frightening sometimes.

ROADWORKS

Councillor Joe Lyons also inform us this week that new resurfacing works are to commence on the Callan Bypass this summer. The N76 comes under the direction of the TII ( Transport Ireland Infrastructure) which have allocated the funds for the upgrading. This will be welcome as it has been a long time since a major resurfacing has happened on the road. These roadworks will lead to major disruptions but with the TII directing the operation it will be completed very quickly. On completion of the works Mr. Lyons also said that he has requested new sign posting at junctions o the bypass. This is badly needed as there is still major confusion at the Bretts and Haggartsgreen exits as they still do not indicate that there is no access to the town from that side, since the one way system came into being during the early part of the pandemic.

Callan First Responders

On Saturday 6thMay 2023, the Callan cardiac first responders were delighted to activate the community public access defibrillator / AED. It is located on the wall outside Supervalu, Green Street, beside the post box. This is a prominent location in the town, fully accessible 24/7 and monitored by CCTV. This is most welcome as now there can be a quicker reaction for the unit, if in the case there is an emergency. Sudden cardiac arrest can strike suddenly anytime, anyplace, anywhere, even if they appear healthy. In the case of an emergency, call 999/112, start CPR and get an AED. It can be accessed via the security code on the door The Callan First Responders wish to sincere thanks to the local businesses and the community for all the donations towards this life saving piece of equipment for the town. Fundraising has been on-going in the community so the AED is “To the community from the community”. It is up to all of to protect this most valuable piece of equipment and protect it from vandalism. With cameras in place, this should be a major deterrent. Callan First Responders in particular wish to thank Dermot McCabe of Supervalu for his support with fundraising, as well as facilitating the installation. Also to Stephen Walsh manager at Top Shop West Street, for his on-going support with fundraising through-out the year. Lynch Fencing sponsored the AED Cabinet, we are so grateful for everyone’s assistance. The Callan First Responders will hold regular CPR demos and encourage businesses to contact us for training. If you would like to enquire about training or joining as a volunteer you can contact us on Facebook or email us at callanfirstresponders@ gmail.com. Callan First Responders are always recruiting for new members. They are currently responding to Cardiac / Chest pain and Stroke calls & need extra volunteers. Ambulances can be delayed & response times vary. We can be with you within minutes, until they arrive, communicating with paramedics on route. Training is fully certified by PHECC (Pre-Hospital Care Council) and free of charge to volunteers. Full driving license is essential as they respond to calls within 5 km of Callan. For more information you can watch a video on www.becomeacfr.ie or send an email to callanfirstresponders@gmail.com.

KILBRIDE MASS; Kilbride Cemetery Committee and Callan Parish Priest Fr. Willie Dalton have announced this year’s Blessing of the Graves and Cemetery Mass will be celebrated at the earlier time of 7.30pm. It will, as usual, be held on the last Friday of June, 30th that evening. You can notify your Family and friends, particularly those travelling from other counties and countries.