Athy Civic Trust to be set up this evening

EYE ON THE PAST This evening (Tuesday 24 September) at 8pm, the AGM of Athy Historical Society will take place in the Community Arts Centre.

It will be followed immediately by a second meeting, open to all, to learn of the setting up of the Athy Civic Trust.

The purpose of the trust is to make advance preparations for the possibility of public ownership of the endangered built heritage of the town.

That built heritage includes the White Castle, Woodstock Castle, the medieval church in St Michael’s Cemetery, the Courthouse and several other important buildings.

The White Castle is in private ownership, and we must respect the owner’s rights, while at the same time not losing sight of our ambitions to have this historic building held in public ownership.

Woodstock Castle is presently in the ownership of Kildare County Council but regrettably the council has displayed little interest in protecting and preserving what is our oldest building dating back to the early medieval times.

The county council executives have shown a remarkable lack of initiative and foresight over the years in response to the many opportunities presented to acquire the White Castle.

It’s interesting to recall that in the 1950s the then owner of the White Castle, Miss Norman, offered to give the castle to the town council in return for a council house. The offer was the subject of several meetings which were attended by representatives from Bord Failte, but the offer came to nought.

Since then, within the past 20 years, the castle has come on the market on three occasions. Pressed to purchase it, Athy Urban District Council and later Kildare County Council, did nothing to procure the Castle for public ownership.

The present owner has good intentions as regards the protection and preservation of the castle, but the cost involved is maybe far greater than anticipated. My hope is that the castle may eventually be transferred into public ownership, which is why Athy Historical Society is establishing the Athy Civic Trust so if needs be it can be in a position financially and otherwise to be one of three possible public ownership bodies, i.e. civic trust, Kildare County Council or Office of Public Works.

Public ownership would allow the castle to be developed as a town museum, highlighting its links with the Earls of Kildare and the Dukes of Leinster. It would be a great addition to the town’s attraction and with the Shackleton Museum could make Athy a tourist destination.

The Civic Trust Memorandum of Association states that the main objectives for which the trust is to be established are to promote public awareness and appreciation of the architectural, cultural and historical heritage of Athy for the benefit of the public along with encouraging the conservation and use of the architectural, cultural and historical heritage of Athy. Aims also include to manage properties of architectural, cultural and historical heritage in Athy and to participate with organisations active in the development of tourism in Athy.

Seven persons will sign as subscribers the Articles of Association of the Civic Trust and these are: Clem Roche, Chairman of Athy Historical Society; Seamus Taaffe, Solicitor and the five municipal councillors for Athy Municipal Council.

The trust will be a company limited by guarantee, limiting the subscribers’ liability in the event of liquidation of the Civic Trust to a payment of €1.00 each.

Following the registration of the Civic Trust an application will be made to have it granted charitable status. It is also intended to set up a ‘Go Fund Me’ page in the name of the Athy Civic Trust.

The setting up of the trust will be discussed following the AGM on Tuesday night and any questions in relation to the trust will be dealt with by Seamus Taaffe, solicitor as unfortunately due to illness I am not in a position to attend.

The civic trust meeting is open to the general public.

On 1 October John Alcock’s ashes will arrive in St. Michael’s Church for a memorial Mass at 1pm. His daughter Margaret Pugh will have travelled from the North Island of New Zealand where John had lived for many, many years, having left Athy for London in 1949 and responding to a New Zealand government advertisement he took up employment in that country in 1955.

His brother George and sister Sheila also emigrated to New Zealand. I met John for the first time a few years ago. He was then 90 years of age and had returned to his hometown to recall treasured memories of his young years in the local Christian Brothers School and four years spent in the moulding department of the Asbestos Factory.

His parents, George and Mary Alcock, lived in No. 1 Dooley’s Terrace. John had eight brothers and sisters but two of his sisters, Brid and Margaret, died young. His journey to Athy was a pilgrimage of remembrance and John recalled those young men and women he shared life experiences with, but who were no longer alive to meet the visitor from New Zealand.

He recalled in particular his uncles, Frank and Thomas Alcock, who joined the Royal Dublin Fusiliers during World War I and who died as young men in that War. Two years after that first visit John returned for what was his last visited to his beloved home town.

He died some months ago and in accordance with his wishes, his ashes will be returned to his beloved home town to be buried with his parents and one of his brothers.

I was saddened by the recent passing of Rainsford Hendy and Martin Mullins, both of whom made substantial contributions to the business and community life in South Kildare.

Rainsford and I shared a common interest in the yearly Daffodil Day collection which he organised in Athy. His death at a time when I am availing of the services he and I supported is a reminder of the importance of involvement and supports for volunteerism within our community.