New Coffee Bar area in An Tearmann

For those of you who have the time to spend watching the world go by in our lovely coffee shop An Tearmann, we've just had fitted a new coffee bar / seats.

Clever brain child of Deirdre and Jo and the handiwork of Sean and Ciaran - another great team effort.

Villager Holiday to Liverpool and Chester

This is the time of the year when the Villagers go on holidays. A few of us have just got back from a visit to Liverpool and Chester. Great fun!

2015 Mini Project Day

We had a brilliant 'Mini Project Day' on 2nd June - planting flowers, creating a raised bed in the shape of St Bridget's cross, harvesting rhubarb, etc. Followed by a BBQ behind Isserin. Here is a flavour of the day in pictures.

Dublin Mini Marathon

So proud of our guys who who took part in the 2015 Dublin Mini Marathon. They battled through heavy rain, never loosing heart! Sirka did a magnificent 6 kilometers!

'Beating the Bounds' on Palm Sunday

On Palm Sunday we always 'Beat the Bounds' at The Bridge. This year was no exception. Despite a fairly cold a windy morning we followed the bread cockerels to each corner of our land and sang a song. Great fun!

The Bridge St Patrick's Day snake rides again

Although the Kilcullen St Patrick's Day was sadly cancelled this year, the Community got together during the evening to mark the day with a meal, followed by music and a quiz. We also gave our famous St Patrick's Day snake a little outing:

2 internships in An Tearmann coffee shop / bakery

We are advertising 2 Internships for Coffee Shop / Bakery assistants via 'Job Bridge' Ireland and would love to hear from you if you think you or a friend fit the bill. Check out:

http://intern.jobbridge.ie/Default.aspx

If you enter 'Kildare' under location and then 'Hotel and Catering' under Categories, you should find the details

Coffeeshop/Bakery Assistant

Based in KILCULLEN

Ref. INTE-916115

Description

The intern will gain practical experience in cooking, waitressing, stock taking, ordering supplies, Haccp, and food preparation. The intern will receive formal/informal training in the following, Manual Handling, food preparation to Haccp standards and customer service. Safeguarding for Adults with special needs and any other relevant training necessary. On completion the intern will have attained skills in customer service, food hygiene and preparation, and working alongside adults with special needs. 

Skills Requirements

An awareness and interest in disability issues. The ability to work alongside adults with special needs, and volunteers while meeting the agreed developmental goals. Possess cultural awareness and sensitivity. Be highly flexible, honest and trustworthy. Excellent people, communication and problem solving skills. 

Please Note:

This is an Internship. An allowance of €50 per week will be paid in addition to your current Social Welfare payment.See eligibility criteria above.

Department

Coffeeshop/BakeryAssistant

Mentor

The Organisation will assign a mentor to support you during the Internship.

Duration.                         9 Months 

Number of Positions.    2

Contract Type.               Other

Days, Hours & Start Date.  Days per week: To be Advised 


Hours per day: Not specified
Hours per week: 30
Start Date: TBC 

Experience Required:         No Experience Required


Education Requirements:  Intermediate Certificate - None required


How to Apply

Email - Cv and letter of motivation to the Ben Gamble at the Bridge Community email address: thebridgecommunity@gmail.com 

Contact arrangements must be followed exactly as stated by the employer as they are the preferred method of contact.

Employer

Bridge Camphill Community
The Bridge Camphill
Main Street
Kilcullen
Co Kildare


Phone.  045 481597

Email.   bridgecommunity@gmail.com

Dissapointing News: A Kilcullen Diary: No St Patrick's Day Parade this year

A Kilcullen Diary: No St Patrick's Day Parade this year:

Wednesday, March 04, 2015

No St Patrick's Day Parade this year  ;-(

It looks like there won't be any St Patrick's Day Parade in Kilcullen this year, as Kilcullen Scouts have no plans to organise it, writes Brian Byrne.

The Scouts inaugurated and have run the very successful parade for the last two years, but have opted out this year because they're not in a position to handle it.

"It's very disappointing," says Mischa Fekete of the Bridge Camphill Community, whose St Patrick and an accompanying 'snake' have been a popular feature among the many local business and clubs floats which entertained hundreds of Kilcullen people and visitors on each of the previous two parades.

"We had just started practicing a new drums performance to add something different to the event, but now we'll have to rethink. It would be great if another organisation or club in the town would take over the parade's operation."

Both recent parades attracted a very strong support from all clubs and other groups in Kilcullen, and last year ended with music from local bands and outside musical groups.

A plan to provide a topical film show for children after this year's parade was also in train. That may still go ahead anyhow. But there's no doubt that there will be disappointment that such a promising annual event might disappear so soon after its beginning.

"It'd be a pity for the town if it slips away," one local publican told theDiary today. "It brings people around."

A Kilcullen Diary: Get the boots out, for Camphill

A Kilcullen Diary: Get the boots out, for Camphill:
Right, it's the beginning of March and winter hibernation is officially over, writes Brian Byrne, and maybe it's time to polish up the walking boots again.

And a couple of walks that might be worth considering to help fundraise for Camphill Communities of Ireland are available.

The first, and closest to home, is trek along The Wicklow Way, either 10km or 17km depending on how you figure you might more easily manage. It's on 19 April, and the cost is €100.

The CCoI is also working up a trek along part of the Camino De Santiago to take place in October. If you're interested in either event, email Joe Lynch joelynch@camphill.ie or call 045-483735. A sign-up page for the Wicklow Way Challenge will shortly be available on mycharity.ie.

In Kilcullen we're very aware of the very good work that the Camphill organisation does for people with special needs. Across the country in 17 locations, that work is replicated for some 275 people in a range of ages.

It's work that requires funding, despite the very high volunteer element of the Camphill model.

So, have a think about one or other of the above. Both promise to be fun events too. 

Long term voluntary life-sharers needed

We are looking for long term voluntary life-sharers

Are you looking for a life change? Do you feel energised by supporting others? Are you looking for an authentic lifestyle where people can live and grow together?

We are currently seeking couples or families or individuals who would like to join our community as long term life-sharers. Maybe you know someone else who might be interested?

Working and living at the Bridge Camphill Community alongside people with special needs is a uniquely rewarding and challenging role. In the heart of picturesque Ireland we are an inclusive community that aims to work and live alongside one another to support each other in living purposeful and meaningful lives.

We are about 40 people living together of whom half have learning difficulties situated in the centre of the small town of Kilcullen, 30 miles from Dublin. We live in 5 houses on a 9 acre farm site which includes a popular local nature trail. We also run a coffee shop, weavery workshop and organic grocers. We grow a range of fruit and vegetables using organic principles and rear livestock and poultry.We are looking for a couple or family or individuals who would like to live with us. They may have a special interest, or would like to experience a simpler yet richer way of life, working with and for people with learning difficulties.

Responsibilities will include:

# Developing a family home and community environment that is inclusive, well run, safe, welcoming and enables all individuals to feel at home and have a voice in decision making.

# Working alongside people with special needs in the workshops such as gardening, cooking, coffee shop, house-keeping, weaving, bread-making, animal husbandry.

# Working with people with special needs and their families to identify and develop areas of interests, aims and goals.

# Supporting other volunteers in developing best practice in the work and life of the community. This may be in the areas such as inclusion, communication, training, financial management and health and well-being.

# Contributing to the cultural life of the community, organising events, workshops, outings and festivals.

Ideally applicants may have had experience working or living with vulnerable people and show flexibility, patience and empathy as well as a willingness to learn.

For more details about The Bridge Community and the voluntary opportunities here please visit our website:

http://camphill.ie/thebridge/Longterm-Vacancies

or phone Ben Gamble on 00353 45481597 for an informal discussion

New Bird Boxes for the Nature Trail

Work has been progressing on installing new bird boxes around our Nature Trail. Started last summer by the Co Workers who put together their own bird boxes as part of the Mini Difference Day, more boxes have created in the last few weeks. As Spring is now well under way, these are now appearing all around the site; indeed some have already been seen with birds in them. We hope that we will hear the sound of baby birds in the coming months!

The pigs grow up and take it easy

The pigs that were born last April started out as energetic bundles of fun:

Have now reverted to type:

They are clearly enjoying their teenage years!

New Facebook page for The Bridge community

We've launched a new Face Book page about the community:

https://www.facebook.com/thebridgecamphill

Why not check it out and 'like' us!

A Kilcullen Diary: A little rain never stopped Santa ...

A Kilcullen Diary: A little rain never stopped Santa ...: It

Beautiful photographs by a professional photographer of Bellringing at An Tearmann

https://www.facebook.com/thebridgecamphill/posts/566930946772200

Have a look at these amazing Black and White photographs of our Bell Choir ringing in An Tearmann on Christmas  in the morning.

Bell ringing on Christmas Eve 2014

Bike Workshop goes from strength to strength

It's been an exciting time in the bike workshop since we began in January. We have managed to overhaul and sell on a number of bicycles and have purchased several new bikes for use in the community including a tandem and addition tricycle which is great for the residents here who do not feel very confident on a normal two wheeler. 

James and Kevin the regular mechanics have been improving their skills in mechanical work and can identify correct tools as well as complete simple jobs with some assistance. Mark, one of the day attendees, is also enjoying stripping bikes for spare parts.

The community enthusiasm can be seen with the daily use of tricycles by Justine and Kevin. This has also led to Kevin and the Livesey family taking a cycling holiday along the Westport Greenway for a few days using the new tricycle kindly purchased by donations from An Tearmann.

We also have a contractual agreement with Silliot Hill Recycling Centre to receive unwanted bicycles to use for spare parts or renovate.

In the new year we will be starting to involve local volunteers in repairing and building bikes and hopefully start weekly cycling activities for residents.

A Kilcullen Diary: Bus shelter petition handed in

A Kilcullen Diary: Bus shelter petition handed in: The members of the Bridge Camphill-organised Transitional Training Programme who have been working on a project to gain a bus shelter for ...

Bellringing in An Tearmann on Christmas Eve

Santa's sleigh is coming to town