Newpark Senior's Alliance Group

The beauty of nature. A wonderful display of nature's colour and life that greeted me when I arrived home recently. We think we are on the top step of evaluation, but yet we are the only species that creates an environment that is toxic to our own existence. We must stop destroying our planet before it's too late.

"And so the end is near” With only seven days left for the big 60th anniversary of the Newpark Housing estate the launch of the “ Newpark History ….. Its People and its life” was launched in the Newpark Resource Centre on Friday 2nd September by Pat O’Neill the Mayor of Kilkenny City. Among the large crowd was the vice Chairperson of the Kilkenny County Council Mr Pat Fitzpatick, three ex Mayors in Andrew and John McGuinness and Joe Malone. The most important guest were the members of the community. Sitting proudly as they listen to the stories about their estate where all had spent their Adult Family lives. Among them was a great greyhound man Mr Joe Daly who is only 93years young. Peggy Walsh of the Golf links rd, Eileen Cleere, Babs Foley, John Bergin and John and Mary Kelly were all in attendance which also included the organising committee. Pat Shortis was there whistling away the morning. I believe his is practicing for the day as Freeman of the city he can heard a flock of sheep up high street as now is his right. The People of Newpark thought me the difference between right and wrong. John Kelly always told me it was wrong to rob an orchard too early! As the right thing to do was to rob it in the Autumn when the apples were sweeter. An important lesson in what was right and wrong. Mike Brophy comment how wonderful the pictures were and he hoped to be able to replicate this year’s photo again next year. He looked fresh enough so I say he should be ok. I had the honour of MC on the day and I could have been forgiving to thinking I was launching a Rap CD with all the Bling of the Chains of office that were on display. The thought crossed my mind to take out my St Christopher Medal I received for my 21st but Christy prefers The Gospel Choir CDs. First to his feet was the Author of the book Donie Butler and thanked everyone for their time and effort that put in to making this booklet the success it will be. The gathering crowd were commenting how gr

Better Days for Family life ? Sixty years ago this year the keys were given to the young couples as they started out on the unknown journey of married life in a new home and housing estate on the outskirts of the marble city. The housing estate in question is Newpark . This wonderful estate with beautiful large gardens, which one would never see in our current planning as houses per acre is the target rather than the comfort of the days of yore. For all who grew up in Newpark and other such estates people will have fond memories of a garden full of fresh home grown vegetables, fruit and in some cases even a chicken hut to provide eggs for the breakfast table and cooking on the ranges which was standard in all the Houses of the Day. Now that we are in a fast moving lifestyle of living to work rather than working to live, are we losing all the family way of living and the art of being as self-sufficient as possible.? The sowing and harvesting of your own produce for the family table. The art of Jam making from the fruits and berries in that small patch that always had rhubarb with the leaves that would have looked more at home in an sci fi film about life on a far away world. Where cars were rarely a problem for the boys who played games, and dreamed that they just scored the winning goal in the World Cup or, an All-Ireland Final, and girls who skipped and hop scotched the day away on the empty car free streets. The greens were always full of children playing, bikes lying idle on the paths and not an ipod or mobile phone in sight. Everyone talked not text. When a love one moved to Dublin it would be similar to them moving to Australia or the states today. A life time away and possibly gone for ever. Can we rescue this way of life? As the residents of these estates get older and some of the gardens become less attended too, could the skills of a better time be passed on to the new residents and their children? The arts of a bygone era and learn from their elders where

A few photos from our recent coffee morning in O'Loughlin Gaels Club House. Photo's courtesy of Michael Brophy. 1) Senior Residents, Committee and friends of Newpark & Golf Links Rd pictured at O'Loughlin Gaels at launch of Newpark 60th Anniversary Reunion: Front L-R; Molly Lawless, Lil Malone, Pat Shortis, Joe Daly, John & Mary Kelly, John Bergin & Bridget O'Driscoll. 2nd Row L-R: Eileen Cleere, Mary Lanigan, Teresa Bergin-Butler, Babs Foley, Mary Shortis-Wong, Catherine Maher (visitor), Mary Bergin, Marian Cuggy-Brennan and Christene O'Driscoll. Back Row; L-R Mary McCormack-Molloy, Mick Cantwell, Peggy Walsh, Joan & Mick Lennon, Frank Cody, Donie Butler, Martin Brett (visitor) and Murty Brennan. Absent Ann Hickey-Murphy, Canice Hickey & Jimmy Brennan. 2) Organising Committee members of Newpark 60th Anniversary Reunion with the 1839 Ordnance Survey Map of the Civil Parish of St Mauls including the townland's of Newpark Upper & Lower. L-R Mary McCormack-Molloy, Teresa Bergin, Frank Cody, Mary Shortis-Wong, Donie Butler, Murty Brennan, Mary Lanigan and Marian Cuggy-Brennan. Absent Ann Hickey-Murphy, Canice Hickey and Jimmy Brennan

“Boys From The Hood” Year after year and day by day we always have characters that can tell us stories about something that may, or may not have happened but there could be some truth hidden among the imagination of the story teller. Now we not are saying the writer of these stories is playing with the reader’s imagination but sometimes everyone may from time to time may add a little bit here and even lose a bit there. Now every estate has their Houses of the mysteries and of course the Houses of the characters. Who can forget the house where we thought all the animals from Noah’s Ark lived when we heard the rendition of “Old Mc Donald”. Now the most popular time for to hear the Animals of McDonalds Zoo, as couldn’t be called a farm as to best of my knowledge the original farm hadn’t got a Hyena in the barn, that said, we did hear a few screeches from Sundown’s every now and then, was usually around 2am after the game keeper had had one or two wee tipples in the waterhole at the cross roads at Lenehan’s and Pat Carroll’s. With a whoof whoof here and a Moo Moo there within 5 minutes we heard fecking whoofs whoofs here! and every fecking where! around the whole of the estate. It would take 5 or so more minutes for the Serengeti to settle down and become nice, quiet and peaceful again with a gentle breeze blowing through the open window on the hot summer nights of the seventies ……..until there would be another feckin whoof whoof here! and a whoof whoof there!........ or worst still the early rising cock a doodle doo!....... up before the sun had even woken to raise the hackles of every mongrel, cat, and whatever animal lived in the wild bushes of the gardens only divided by the car road or “Lane” that gave us access to the large back gardens that if they were sites today you could easily get Patsy O’ Brien to put in a whole housing estate ,or two. Now at the entrance to one of these back lanes was the house that had more trees in it t

All Paths led to "The Gaels"

All Paths led too “The Gaels” As the Newpark housing estates 60th Anniversary is getting closer the Organising committee under the Chairmanship of Donie Butler have been working away behind the scenes to ensure a great night for all the current and past members of this tight knit community. To date some great events have been organised to bring the senior members that have been living here since they received their front door keys to start their family lives together in 1956. Coffee mornings have been a great success where the long-time neighbours came together to recall stories of the days now distant memories for some, an incredible History lesson for others, about the going ons in this famous estate which has given Kilkenny City two Mayors. The late great Joe Cody of the Labour party was the first. He gave up his time to serve others as public representatives are supposed to. Get the work done for the benefit of the communities he served and not for the now so sought after photo opportunity to clap themselves on their own back and fulfilment of their egos. Then came Martin Brett of the Fine Gael Party. He made himself available every hour of everyday to serve his constituents and help solve many of their queries and worries behind the scenes away from the glare of the photographers flashing cameras. The organising Committee are hopefully that maybe when this great event is over, and it too has become a memory for the all generations of Newpark, that a strong residences group might be another result of their efforts over the past twelve months. One of the issues that has raised serious concerns is the very bad state of the footpaths. In some places a patchwork of repairs has taken place where some of our utility firms have covered over the pipes the once laid. In places the Tarmac has sunk by up to three inches leaving an uneven surface that is a health and safety issue for the citizens, some, in the early nineties, as the stroll around the block of houses t

The ART of the Estate. So Newpark has some ART? What are we talking about? The Music and Arts has played a major part in the lives of all who lived in Newpark. There were musicians, actors and of course a fair few street entertainers. Pat Shortis and his family turned out on 26th of December playing the Sax and when that wasn’t close to his lips he whistled till even the Blackbirds put something in the kitty. At the time, little did Pat know the trend he had started. Now we see it as a fashion statement where young ladies of today head to the shops in their PJs and slippers. Pat you are a trend setter! John Kelly would make your eyes water when he played the Culiann on the tenor banjo. Christy Grace could do the same! When he sang his version of an Elvis hit as we laughed all the way while he tried to bringing us from Newpark to Gracelands. Ger Cody who now controls the happenings in the Watergate staring in shows like “The Kings of the Kilburn High Road” and directed the likes of “Moll”and Paula Drohan acts the parts she is casted, But little do his fellow thespians know that he started his acting career on “The Corner” as the big Man from the North Mr Paisley. Oh many tales have been told of the days spent in school where on Newpark “Actor” was asked by the Christian Brother “Why ae you in 2B young man”? only to get the reply “Cause there’s no 2C sir” In fact we all had the skill to act. This was never more true than during our schooldays, when we could convince our Fathers, not so much our Mothers, that we had no homework and the following morning try to convince the Brother, before he reddened your Arse and Hands, that the dog really did eat your homework! Or tell him you were” thinking about doing Sir” but didn’t and your Mother always told you“ Its thought that counts Sir” . That rarely worked. The Pipes could be heard coming from the Bergins beside the top green. You even knew they were practicing before you heard t

The Club House” Sport, Sport, Sport ……. When you grew up in Newpark Sport was always part of your life and never far away. There were games available for all the talents the residences processed. In previous tales of “Newpark’s Growing Pains” we recalled the street games , hop scotch, running, kerbs and many more that we played on the estates three greens and streets. We were also blessed to have the “organised” games people played. O Loughlin Gaels gave us all an opening to play our national games and carry on the tradition that Satanta started back in the times of the Gaels and Celts were Brodan the Viking slayed the greatest High King of all, Brian Boru, as he knelt in prayer having watched his son die on the battle field of “ The Battle of Clontarf” The sons and daughters of the great elders of Newpark showed their skills in the white and green of the Gaels where many a team came only to see their dreams lie dead and in tatters and their championship ambitions consigned to the graves like all the lost souls of our loved ones of family and friends who now rest next door to O’ Loughlin Gaels Club house in ST Kieran’s Cemetery. The Newpark families showed great support to the Gaels. The Bergins, Cleeres and Deegans and of course the Graces where the Head of the house Paddy served the County Board as secretary for many years leading to our once a year traffic jam as the scramble for All Ireland Tickets with the day and night callers to “Esker” his home on the Golf links Road. One thing for sure the Newpark supporters got their tickets for the big day. Where two tickets could get the family of four in. When you travelled up on the train, as child you were handed into Croker over the turnstile to sit on your fathers knee and experience the atmosphere of your first All Ireland final. A day and atmosphere of which you’ll never forget or equal again no matte

Goggle Box Today when we walk around the housing estate, where we all grew up, we will see an array of saucers on the side, front and chimneys of the 1956 houses. Satellite dishes that were once seen only on Star Trek on a Tuesday night just before John boy and Mary Ellen told us about the going ons with the Walton Family during the depression in the states. If a teenager was told now that back then we only had the one channel, with the ST Bridget’s cross in its Logo RTE, they would say “OMG like how did you live like” . Today we often hear it said “There’s nothing on telly” and yet they have hundreds of channels catering for every taste of interests. When we said there was nothing on, we meant there was nothing on the one channel we had! No need for a remote control. the only button was the on and off switch. The switch was used twice. At six to turn it on for the call to prayer and off after we heard the priest tell us to behave before we went to bed on outlook. Obviously it didn’t work looking at the number of brothers and sisters we have. Today with a TV in every room of the house including the bedroom. Maybe Gaybo need not have got himself in trouble with the Bishops of Ireland for talking about condoms on the late late as today the TV is the best birth control of all as its left on till both the Partners have fallen asleep without even the compulsory goodnight peck on the cheek. Oh Bring back the rolls in the hay in Sundown’s barn or for others who never got the invite the meadow down the aptly named “Lovers Lane” . When the TV arrived in Newpark it was like a major occasion of another comment by Donald Trump on the Presidential Campaign ,but at least when we heard a house had a Telly we knew it was a sarcastic remark but it meant what it said on the tin. No17 has a telly. Suddenly there was a rush to get the best spot on the wall to stand looking in through the sitting room window at the spec of multi colours of the grey light in the co

Games People played As we live in now in days were most of our children’s games are interactive on Computers, Laptops, and now even on our phones as we walk to school, on the odd day that the family car is not available for the school run. Who forget the games people played when all you had what was at hand and more importantly free. These were days when the streets were clear of cars. We used them as playgrounds that gave us hours upon hours of fun and laughter, and in a unique way kept us fit, trim, and slim. Greens were always full. Playing the games we saw on TV or heard on the radio where we had to use our imagination to visualise the picture of the game that now we take for granted on the colour 52inch TV that is the focal point of every family room of today’s homes. These were the days all you needed was a piece of Chalk a good flat stone and you had the ingredients for the game “Hop scotch” All we did was draw the squares of the game and off we went hopping up and down the squared grid, picking up our little flat stone and back to start and take you place in line as the number of children playing was not restricted but for all who ventured out that day to play a game that was used by the Romans to improve their balance and strength for the battles they fought. From a game that began with a string and the fruit of the Trees, of which we had plenty, came the game of conkers. Boring a small hole through the centre of the conker and sliding a string, usually a shoe lace from an old worn out shoe that was stored under the stairs just in case there might be one more ware left in that paper thin sole. Now you had all you needed to join the rest of the gang who had done the same to play the game of the day. Most of the conkers came from the trees of the HB at the top of the Golf links road and the junction of Lovers lane. Now Lovers lane was the place where once a year the colourful caravans and the Horses parked up for a fortnight. These were the real Tink

Christmas is coming. Christmas has different meanings and memories for us all. For some it’s a very happy time and for others it can be a time of sadness and silent reflection as we remember our loved ones who are no longer with us, or those who just can’t make it home. Christmas begins earlier every year these days with the adverts of glossy shiny toys and games of all sorts and sizes for every boy and girl in the audience. Now, in the days of yore our Christmas kicked off when we got the holidays from school. The putting up of the decorations and the tree meant the big day was getting nearer. The tree with its beautiful coloured lights went in the corner of the hall, on display to one all who called or through the window that for these few days would be minus the net curtains that were all the fashion of the time. Unlike today the number of sockets were limited, and definitely none in the halls of our Newpark homes. So how did we light the tree? Easy, we just changed the lead so we could plug into the ceiling light socket. Hit the hall light switch! hey presto! and the reflection of the shining lights was there to be seen in the eyes of the youngest child of each house before they alone had the honour of putting the angel, which they usually made in their last day at school before the break, on the top of the now fully lit and decorated tree. A few days before the big day, unlike today, a real Turkey would be collected or delivered to the house. The big bird was plucked and hung by its legs on the back door to let blood flow to its head. Eventually to have its head and claws chopped off by the sharpest tool in the house ready for the big day. For some reason or other it seems the Christmas period was always colder and dryer than today festive season, and when you took a big inhale of the crisp frost air you could feel the coldness hit your lungs. Maybe it’s just our minds playing tricks on us or global warming is taking hold. It was now time to