Kinvara Community Alert

29/09/2026

The Dunguaire Gathering: Wednesday 30 September, 11.45am

This Wednesday marks three years since Dunguaire Castle's gates were chained shut. Since 30th September 2023 it has stood locked on the edge of the village, and for a lot of us, it hurts every time we see it as we drive past or walk to it. We are now entering the fourth year of closure.

On this sad anniversary, we're gathering at the castle to show it hasn't been forgotten.

We are so pleased that Eugene Lambe, one of Ireland's best-known and -loved uilleann pipers, will open proceedings at 11.45am, piping people in as they arrive. Eamonn Coy of Kinvara Community Council will give an update on the situation with the castle, and we'll be joined by Fran O'Reilly of Kinvara Heritage Group together with students from Seamount College. Closing the gathering will be Maeve Cairney, a voice many in the parish will know from St Colman's, where she's cantor. Maeve trained at the Bel Canto School of Singing and has sung with the Lyric Opera Chorus at the National Concert Hall. From 2007 until the castle closed, she sang at the Dunguaire banquets every night, and every night she sang Sally Gardens. On Wednesday she'll sing it one more time, but this time at the closed gates of the castle.

Media have been invited, so a good turnout from the village really matters. It shows people this is a community that wants its castle back. Come along, bring the family, bring the dog, and bring anyone who has a memory of the place.

Join us to call for a clear timetable and commitment to reopen Dunguaire Castle, and for the land opposite the castle to be secured for Kinvara and Dunguaire's future.

To find out more or add your voice to the campaign, visit savekinvaracastle.com, or email [email protected].

We look forward to seeing you there.

Save Kinvara Castle group.

Dunguaire Castle, one of Ireland's most iconic and photographed landmarks, has remained closed to visitors since 2023. While thousands of tourists continue to arrive at its gates each week, the castle remains inaccessible because responsibility for its future has become caught between the public bod...

16/09/2026

Dear Members of the Community,

We understand that the National Transport Authority (NTA) will soon be reviewing the timetables for Bus Routes 350 and 351. This is an important opportunity for everyone in our community to make their views known and to ask for improvements to services that many people rely on every day.

We strongly encourage anyone who uses these services — and particularly those who would use public transport more often if the timetable better suited their needs — to contact the NTA directly by email or phone and share their experiences.

There are four important issues that we believe need to be addressed.

1. A significant gap between 17:10 and 19:34 towards Galway

There is currently no bus between the 17:10 and 19:34 services towards Galway.

This makes it particularly difficult for people working normal 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or 5:30 p.m. hours in Galway. The 17:10 bus is too early for many workers, while the 19:34 bus is too late.

The 19:34 service also arrives in Galway after many evening cultural events have already started. This means that people who want to attend concerts, theatre performances, films or other events often cannot use public transport to get there at a reasonable time.

We really need an additional service between the 17:10 and 19:34 buses.

2. Another significant gap between 18:15 and 20:30 from Galway

There is also a substantial gap in the opposite direction, with no 350 service from Galway towards Ennis/Kinvara between 18:15 and 20:30.

This creates a similar problem for people travelling home from Galway. Someone finishing work, an appointment or an activity in the city during the early evening may have no suitable bus for almost two hours.

The evening timetable should work in both directions. We need an additional service between 18:15 and 20:30 from Galway, so that people can travel home at a reasonable time rather than having to wait until 20:30.

3. The last bus from Galway is too early

The last bus currently leaves Galway Bus Station at 22:15.

This is too early for many people attending concerts, theatre performances, films and other cultural events.

Galway has a busy cultural and entertainment programme throughout the week. Many events finish at or after 22:15, while others finish so close to the last bus that it is not realistically possible to get from the venue to Galway Bus Station in time.

This means that people are often left with a choice between driving to Galway or not attending an event at all.

A later evening service, ideally around midnight, would make it possible for people from our community to participate in Galway's cultural and social life while using public transport.

4. Overcrowding and passengers being left behind

Another serious issue is overcrowding. People are regularly being left behind at bus stops because buses are already full when they arrive.

There also appears to be no reliable mechanism for recording how many passengers are unable to board because a bus is full. If these passengers are not being counted, the true level of demand for the service may not be reflected when the NTA reviews future timetables and capacity.

This is important because a bus completing its scheduled journey does not necessarily mean that it has met the demand for that service. People who were waiting but could not board are effectively invisible in the figures.

We encourage everyone to contact the NTA with their own experiences.

If you have been left behind because a bus was full, tell them where and when it happened.

If you cannot use the 17:10 service because of your working hours, explain this.

If the 19:34 service is too late to allow you to attend events in Galway, tell them.

If you have been affected by the 18:15–20:30 gap when trying to get home from Galway, tell them.

And if you would use a later bus from Galway, make that clear too.

Specific examples are particularly valuable.

The NTA needs to hear directly from the people who use these services and from those who would use public transport more often if the timetable better reflected their needs.

How to contact the NTA

📧 [email protected]

📞 01 879 8300

📞 TFI Customer Service: 0818 294 015

Suggested email subject: Timetable Review – Bus Routes 350 and 351

Please take a few minutes to contact the NTA and make your experience known.

This is an important opportunity to secure a better evening service for our community. We need to make the case for additional buses in both directions, a later service from Galway, and greater capacity where passengers are regularly being left behind.

Kind regards,

Maeve Kelly
Kinvara Community Center

10/06/2026

Hello everyone,

As Tidy Towns adjudication is now underway, we would like to ask for everyone's help over the coming weeks.

If you have erected posters or event notices, please ensure they are removed once the event has taken place as soon as ye can. We would also ask that any sellotape, cable ties, staples or other fixing materials used to display posters are fully removed, leaving poles, signs and other surfaces clean and tidy.

For events taking place during the next six weeks, we would greatly appreciate it if signage could be kept to a minimum and limited to key locations where possible. Reducing visual clutter helps present our town at its very best during the adjudication period.

Thank you to all community groups, businesses and residents for your continued support and cooperation. Every small effort makes a difference and helps showcase the pride we have in our beautiful village ❤️

Typically visits are completed by mid July. They are also unannounced.

Thank you all 🙏

Your Tidy Towns Team😀

10/06/2026

20/04/2026

Hi Everyone,

It’s hard to believe, but the Fleadh na gCuach is now just two weeks away!

We’re really looking forward to welcoming the community back for another fantastic weekend of traditional music, workshops, and family-friendly events. This year’s programme is packed with something for all ages, and we’re excited to see the village come alive once again.

As always, the festival relies on the generosity and support of volunteers to help everything run smoothly. If you can spare even an hour or two over the weekend, it would make a huge difference. Whether it’s helping with set-up, stewarding events, or simply being an extra pair of hands, every bit of help is genuinely appreciated.

If you’re interested in getting involved, please send us an email at [email protected] or a text message to 087 670 0448, and we’ll be in touch.

Thanks so much in advance for your support—we couldn’t do it without you.

Hup!!!

Best wishes,

The Cuckoo Committee

05/04/2026

KB TreeGang:
Fancy a few hours volunteering in our young woodlands? We are always looking for
people to join us in planting and caring for our trees. Meitheal mornings are usually at the weekends, but
some weekdays also. No experience needed and tea and goodies provided. It’s a lovely way to meet up and
spend time with nature. Contact Finola 0872279071, or follow us on FB/insta kbtreegang.com

05/04/2026

Reminder April 6th Deadline - After School Enrolment.
Kinvara Community Children’s Centre – September 2026 Enrolment Update
ECCE Enrolment: We are delighted to share that Kinvara Community Children’s Centre will have a
limited number of ECCE (9:00am–12:00pm) Year 1 places available for September 2026.
If you would like your child to be considered for one of these places, please get in touch with us at
[email protected] — we would love to hear from you.
After school Enrolment Reminder - Enrolment for our afterschool programme will open on March 28th
and remain open until April 6th.
Following this period, spaces will be allocated and offers will be sent via email.
Junior Room Demand - Due to very high demand, our junior rooms currently have waiting lists in excess
of two years. While early application is strongly advised, please note that a place cannot be guaranteed.
A sincere thank you to our wonderful community