KILDARE design student, Clara Traynor, has been selected as one of 20 finalists in the Nokia Young Fashion Designer Award 2010.
The design from the final year Naas native was chosen from thousands of designs submitted by design college students across Ireland.
“I wasn’t expecting it at all,” Clara beemed to Kildare Post.
Clara is currently a student at the Limerick School of Art and Design based her design on locomotion and the movement of the human body, dubbing it ‘Do the Locomotion’.
However, having spent time deciding her design, Clara says in the end she was left with just two weeks to put it together. With “thousands and thousands” of beads incorporated in the design, the bubbly student says “there was about a week of all night sowing. There’s 15 metres of fabric covered in sequence.”
Clara’s design will be in the Nokia Young Fashion Design Award exhibition on Wednesday, 24th March. This year the format of the event is changing to an exhibition, which will be open daily to the public from Thursday, 25th March to Sunday, 28th March, so fans of design and fashion in Kildare why not pop along and support your local talent! As each entrant had to pick a piece of music for the final show to support their design, Clara picked a piece that she feels is very close to her roots. With her cousin Karen McCarthney having just released a single with band Cowboy X, “the electro and techno beat which is kind of part of Nokia sounds perfect for it.”
All finalists will be judged by a panel of industry experts including some leading figures in Irish and international fashion. Judges include Autograph designer at Marks and Spencer, Marc O’Neill, Irish designer, Aideen Bodkin, ASOS Buying Director, Caren Downie and Creative Director of Avoca, Amanda Pratt. Judges will be looking for original, imaginative and inspired designs that make people sit up and take notice, an expression of individuality and fun.

COUNCILLOR Suzanne Doyle raised the issued of sheep accessing the old N7 between Kildare and Newbridge at a meeting of Kildare area committee last week. Cllr Doyle asked that the matter be looked at by Kildare County Council with a view to eliminating access for the sheep to the road due to reported disturbances by local residents and motorists as well as posing a risk of accidents and injury on the roads.
A spokesperson for the Council said that the matter is an ongoing issue. Adding that it is related to a number of factors including: “Ballymany Interchange – the area office has experienced difficulty in cleaning the grids at this location. During the cold spell water in the grids froze which allowed sheep to cross the grids. This grid has since been cleaned at considerable cost; Colgan’s Cut – the fencing and grid is in a state of disrepair at this location. The fencing and gates were replaced late 2009. To replace the metal grid it will cost in excess of €10,000. Based on the 2009 budget the area office did not have funding available to carry out the works; Privately owned fencing – there are vast kilometres of fencing in the Curragh Area. Sheep will find any weakness in fencing to gain access.
“It should be noted that in 2006 a report indicated 26 grids were required to seal off the Curragh to sheep. Currently there are nine sheep grids installed. It costs approximately €25,000 to €30,000 to install a new grid including fencing, lighting and signage. It should also be noted the maintenance of the grids is high. Recently the area office spent over €2,500 and considerable man hours cleaning one grid. The area office does not get additional funding to maintain the grids.”

COUNCILLOR FIONA O’ Loughlin asked at a meeting of Kildare area committee last week that the Council half the amount charged for pay parking in Newbridge “in order to better support business” and also to half the fine penalty.
In replay to the question, a spokesperson for the Council said they are “anxious to do whatever it can to better support business, however, it should be noted that there are substantial ongoing costs relating to the enforcement of pay parking in Newbridge, i.e. costs associated with the parking contractor and legal costs. Furthermore, the proceeds of pay parking are dedicated to a prioritized list of works that the members have agreed.
“In addition, it should be noted that the cost of parking on Main Street in Newbridge is in line with other towns in the county with the exception of Naas town where the hourly rate has risen to €1.50 per hour. Compliance levels in Newbridge are consistently high with the vast majority of drivers complying with the pay parking bye laws.
“Having regard to all of the above, I would be reluctant to accede to the councillor’s request in the absence of some evidence that the cost of parking is discouraging drivers from parking in Newbridge.”

TALKS look finally set to take place between Green Isle and irked striking engineering employees.
In a dispute that has been ongoing since last August, over three employees who were dismissed by the company, months of picketing at the entrance to the company appears to have done little in terms of furthering negotiations for the group.
As a result, last week one man, Jim Wyse who has worked with the company for the past 13 years went on hunger strike.
Speaking to the Technical, Engineering and Electrical Union, chief negotiator Eamon Devoy says: “We’re still waiting to engage with the company.”
If a settlement isn’t reached, the 58 year old grandfather will continue on hunger strike in a caravan at the entrance to the site, while he will be joined by another striker next Wednesday and another one every Wednesday for the next few weeks until agreement can be reached.
Mr Wyse’s daughter, Rebecca says: “He’s very positive. It’ll go on until the bitter end. It’s very annoying that it has taken this for it (talks with Green Isle) to happen.”
The Clane man, who is married with five children and four grandchildren is one of 13 engineers who continue to strike because of what they call was an “unfair dismissal” of three of their colleagues last summer. An online Facebook petition is gathering momentum with hundreds of signatures to date.
Unless agreement is reached before the weekend a protest march will take place from Storm Cinema in Naas to Green Isle at 12pm on Saturday.

THE AUNT of a young boy diagnosed with leukaemia is working hard to raise funds to make his dream of a trip to Disneyland come true.
Cormac Doyle from Kildare town was told initially he had an infection in his leg last September, after he found himself unable to walk one day while out playing at his home. When mum Serena took him to Crumlin hospital, he was put on a course of antibiotics. However, after almost six weeks, doctors realised there was something further wrong and so began to run tests.
A short while later the family was told that little Cormac actually had leukaemia and had to be begin treatment straightaway to prevent it from spreading to his spine. Since then, Cormac has been in and out of hospital.
Getting chemotherapy since then, Cormac is set to get his first hour long session of it this week, which is to continue for a number of weeks. The sessions will mean Cormac will lose his hair over the next few weeks, his mum says. The little fighter was brought into hospital last week, after getting an infection so his family hope he will be well enough to get treatment this week.
With an older brother, six-year-old Adam and one-year-old Scott, mum Serena is working around the clock to ensure Cormac gets the care he needs.
Serena says however, that she is trying to keep life as normal as possible for Cormac and has learned to administer much of his daily medicine to him. Because he has to wear a “duck mask” when in public for fear of infection”, Serena says his school in The Curragh, sent letters to parents “asking them to keep their child at home if they are sick so as to help Cormac because his immune system is so low.” A move which she says she is very thankful for.
Cormac’s aunt Linda has been working hard to raise funds for the trip of a lifetime for her nephew for the past number of weeks. Having held two fundraisers in Larkins and Connelly Mezz, Linda is due to hold an event in An Goban Saor on 27th March ’10. Linda says the support has been “really good” to date. With lots of local businesses having donated spot prizes, Linda will be hosting a head shave and wax, raffle and auction on the night. “I also have a pool cue donated from Ken Doherty, a signed photo of Johnny Murtagh (jockey), Johnny Murtagh trousers and if we could get someone to frame them for us, that would be brilliant.”
To donate to the cause the details are: BOI 90-11-67 A/C no. 42194894.

A LOCAL schoolgirl was commended for her efforts recently on road safety in a competition run by the Road Safety Authority (RSA).
Zoe Tobin from Primrose Hill National School in Celbridge received an award in the ‘Hi-Glo Silver’ competition by the RSA. Zoe, who was accompanied by her teacher Marie Costello, was presented with her award by Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey TD at the annual RSA ‘Seatbelt Sheriff’ and ‘Hi-Glo Silver’ prize-giving ceremony.
Over 265 schoolchildren and their teachers from ten primary schools attended the ceremony at Dublin Castle to receive awards for their projects on road safety.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Minister Dempsey said: “I am delighted to be here today to present these awards to children whose creativity and imagination greatly helps us with our job of educating people on how to behave safely on the roads. And last year, more and more people paid attention to our message and changed their behaviour as a result.”
The competition, which has been running since 2004, encourages primary school children to get involved in saving lives on the road by educating them on the importance of buckling up and wearing high visibility clothing. Children in first class become ‘Seatbelt Sheriffs’ by taking a pledge to wear their seatbelts and making sure that everyone else in the car is buckled up too. Once they become ‘Seatbelt Sheriffs’, they can flash their sheriff’s badge so that everyone they’re travelling with knows that they must wear their seatbelts.

THE DECISION to uphold planning permission for a new €75 million development in Athy has been welcomed by locals, though work is unlikely to begin this year.
An Bord Pleanala gave the go ahead last week to Tegral Group to build a new state of the art production facility at Shrowland, three kilometres from Athy town centre on the Monasterevin road. The company is currently the largest employer in South Kildare employing 369 staff.
A spokesperson for the company said: “The Tegral Group welcomes the decision by An Bord Pleanála to uphold planning permission, which was granted by Kildare County Council.”
Adding however: “The company will now evaluate the planning conditions, but in the current market climate, work on the new site is unlikely to commence until next year at the earliest.”
The proposed development comprises production facilities for Tegral Building Products to manufacture fibre cement roof slates and import other roofing and building cladding products and Tegral Metal Forming to manufacture metal roofing and cladding products including composite panel and structural sections.
The development includes a 24,500sqm production facility for Tegral Building Products and a 16,500sqm production facility for Tegral Metal Forming. Also included in the plans are administration buildings, car-parking, storage facilities and silos, surface water management systems, a waste water treatment plant and ESB sub-station.
David Graham, Tegral Group’s Managing Director said: “The new development will bring the most up-to-date technology into world-class production facilities, ensuring the highest standards of production and the delivery of quality products to our customers. This project will also considerably enhance the working conditions for our employees and the environment in which Tegral operates.”
Deputy Jack Wall remarked: “Considering the down turn in the construction industry in Ireland in the past number of years, a commitment from Tegral to build such a modern plant would send out the right signals to the industry and once again put the Athy facility on the map.”

HOUSEHOLDERS are being warned not to leave their car keys where burglars can get easy access to them, following a spate of burglaries in North Kildare over the weekend.
“They popped the barrels on front or back doors with the sole purpose of taking keys,” says Srg Willie Hughes in Leixlip.
Two houses were burgled in Maynooth, one in Celbridge and one in Kilcock between Friday night and Sunday morning.
“When you’re locking up at night we’re urging people to put on their alarms, and not to leave keys of cars in accessible places.
“We’re satisfied that some of them (intruders) are securing keys to high powered vehicles.”
One car has already been located and gardai. Anyone who may have noticed anything suspicious is asked to contact gardai in Leixlip Garda Station on 01 666 7800

A LOCAL racecourse has announced plans to invest €300,000 in facilities.
Punchestown is to put €150,000 into their ‘Dobbins Food Hall’, building a trackside festival reserved enclosure for the first time, giving the public bar a revamp, and examining festival start times. The work is to take place in advance of the 2010 Irish National Hunt Festival.
General Manager Dick O’Sullivan remarked: “Value for money is the name of the game and in order to meet, and hopefully exceed the public’s expectations we are focusing on the key areas of food, drink and surroundings. We are confident that the thousands who come through the Punchestown gates will be impressed with the improvements and will have a great Festival experience at the right price.”
The revamp to the food hall will include both front and back of house with new catering equipment, a streamlined service area and complete renovation of the 200 seater dining area.
In addition the display and preparation areas will be improved to further facilitate the area.
The trackside enclosure will undergo much work. Elsewhere on the track the various public bar facilities will also benefit from upgrades with decor, furnishing, efficient service and clearer signage being a priority.
Following on from the success of last year’s later start times the first race during the festival will go to post at 3.30pm and final race at 7pm (Tuesday to Thursday) and 7.30pm on Friday with eight races on the card. Saturday’s Family Day will commence at 2.30pm with the now famous Diageo Punchestown Private Sweepstakes race bringing down the festival curtain in fitting fashion.
The Punchestown Festival takes place from Tuesday, 20th to Saturday, 24th April.