The Week Ahead
Grey week ahead, but not particularly cold. Thursday looks like it’ll be the driest day. Ground is soft and saturated after the last few weeks. But - spring is coming. The daffodils are fighting their way up and by the end of this week, the sun won’t set before 6pm again until 25th October!
Mon 23 ☁️🌧️ | Tue 24 ☁️ | Wed 25 🌦️☁️ | Thu 26 ☁️ | Fri 27 ☁️🌧️ | Sat 28 ☁️🌦️
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Local Artist Capturing Kildare’s Colours
If you've ever wished you could bottle the feeling of a good walk along the Liffey or a lazy afternoon pint in Leixlip, Marion might be the next best thing.
Based in Leixlip, Marion is the artist and illustrator behind Explore With Marion — a one-woman creative studio that turns everyday Irish scenes into art prints, travel posters, cards, stickers and keyrings. Originally from Brittany in France, she's been living in Ireland since 2017 and moved to Leixlip with her partner a few years ago, finding the town an immediate source of inspiration.
Marion trained as an interior architect and brings that multidisciplinary background to everything she does. In March 2021 she launched the studio, combining her experience in architecture, design and illustration into something that works across a lot of different scales — from a A4 prints to a full wall mural. She travels across Ireland capturing landscapes, towns, cosy cafes and traditional pubs, then brings it all back to her home studio and turns it into something you can hang on your wall. She does custom illustrations too — your favourite local pub, the town you grew up in, a great gift for a loved one.
Beyond the prints and cards, she also paints murals for cafes, restaurants and homes — indoor and outdoor — and runs creative workshops for private groups and company events. If your workplace is looking for something a bit different for a team day, it's well worth a look. If you've been to the farmers markets in Maynooth or Celbridge, there's a good chance you've already walked past her stall without realising it. Marion says meeting people at markets has become one of her favourite parts of the job — swapping stories about favourite shared corners of Kildare.
You can browse the shop at explorewithmarion.com, find her on Instagram and Facebook at @explorewithmarion, or email her at [email protected].
And while we're at it — Marion recommends Collie Flower Designs for anyone with a dog in the house!
What’s Happening
🚧 Roads & Rail
R405 Hazelhatch Road — closed from today until end of August. Uisce Éireann pipeline works, Loughtown Road to Athgoe Road. Signed diversion in place but if that's yourr daily route to Dublin, might be worthwhile finding a different route.
Kellystown Road (L1015) in Leixlip — still closed until 13 March. Pipeline works, diversions in place.
Castletown Drive, Celbridge — rolling closure until 11 May. The works section moves around so keep an eye.
Irish Rail doing overnight works all week — 10pm to 6am on the Maynooth line, at Hazelhatch, and near Adamstown. Daytime trains grand — but if you're traveling late be sure to check.
Late train warning for Saturday 28 Feb — the 11:10pm Heuston to Kildare is only going as far as Hazelhatch, buses from there.
Free Travel paper passes stop working on Sunday 1 March. You'll need a valid, in-date Public Services Card from then or you're paying the full fare unfortunately.
📰 Local News
€20m confirmed for Kildare roads in 2026 — works near Leixlip and Maynooth, R148, R407 Sallins Bypass, 17 safety sites.
€28.5m for 1,100+ new healthcare college places nationally — Minister Lawless over to Maynooth University's new School of Nursing for the announcement. Nursing students already in.
Full Council meeting today — motions on accessible parking in Celbridge, more traffic wardens, community wardens countywide, active travel on Maynooth Main Street, and a flood monitor for the Liffey at Clane.
🏫 Schools
Schools back today — mid-term's done, traffic will be busy again in the mornings. Back to the routine.
SNA cuts hitting Kildare schools — eight posts gone across two schools. National protest at Leinster House this Wednesday 25 Feb at 5pm, with local Kildare demonstrations happening too.
Maynooth Educate Together enrolment for 2026/27 is open — Junior Infants places.
🏉 Sport — last week's results
Mens Rugby - England 21 - 42 Ireland at Twickenham — record Six Nations win, Athy's Jeremy Loughman started at prop.
Mens Rugby - Ireland U20s beat England in Bath too — MU Barnhall's Sean Walsh and Luke Fogarty both in the squad.
Athletics - Leixlip's Patricia McLoughlin & Clane’s Terry Shanley selected for Ireland at the Anglo Celtic Plate 100km on 21 March — representing the country at ultramarathon level.
GAA - Kildare footballers beat Offaly 3–17 to 0–17 in Newbridge — solid day out in Division 2.
Hurling - Kildare hurlers lost to Clare 0–14 to 3–27 in Newbridge — Clare came from behind. Away to Wexford this Saturday at 5pm.
Mens Soccer - Maynooth University retained the Collingwood Cup — beat UL 2–0 in the final, third title overall, first team in a decade to back it up.
Mens Soccer - Celbridge Town AFC: U17s won a cracking cup tie 4–3 vs Dunboyne — Sunday seniors lost 1–2 to Swords Celtic and U15s lost 3–4 to Bohemians on Saturday.
📅 Local Upcoming Fixtures
Womens Rugby - MU Barnhall Women — two away Leinster League games, Sun 1 Mar, 1pm — 1st team vs Wicklow J1, 2nd team vs Kilkenny.
Ladies Football - Kildare Ladies vs Meath, NFL Div 1 — Newbridge, Sat 28 Feb, 4:30pm
Soccer - Celbridge Town Girls 12.1 vs Firhouse Carmel — Leixlip United vs Beechwood — Leixlip Amenity Centre, Sat 28 Feb, 10am
Soccer - Leixlip United vs Beechwood — Leixlip Amenity Centre, Sat 28 Feb, 10am
Soccer - Mark Travers in goal for Everton vs Man United tonight at 8pm — and vs Newcastle Saturday at 3pm. Mad to have a Maynooth lad in the Premier League.
🎉 Things To Do
Grá Pizza Popup in Rye River Brewery on 28th Feb
This is the best pizza I’ve every had - would highly recommend!
Leixlip Laughs Comedy Gig in on March 6th in The Salmon Leap, Leixlip
Free quiz at McMahons Bar, Maynooth — Tue 24 Feb (9:30pm)
Quiz at The Roost, Maynooth — Thu 26 Feb (9:30pm)
Ireland Reads wraps up Saturday 28 Feb — Kildare Libraries
Celbridge Historical Society talk — Celbridge Library, Mon 2 Mar (7:30pm)
That’s it for this week.
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Thanks,
Dave