Council row may cost Enniscorthy €9m!

By Dan Walsh at Enniscorthy Municipal District Council meeting

At last Tuesday’s Enniscorthy Municipal District Council meeting, elected members clashed with officials over the exclusion of the Templeshannon Regeneration Project from Wexford County Council’s funding application to the new Towns and Cities Regeneration Investment Fund.

Cathaoirleach Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy and all her colleagues strongly criticised the exclusion of Templeshannon from the next major funding application. The closing date for application is May 1st.

Sean Meylar, Special Projects told the meeting that the Market Square and Castle projects are more or less shovel-ready and therefore Wexford County Council should concentrate on those as they have a good chance of funding of around €9 million under Category 1B which “will support the delivery and construction of ready-to-progress capital regeneration projects”.

Cllr Aidan Browne went berserk and raising his voice with each syllable; “I can’t stand over the project unless Templeshannon is included. It is unacceptable,” he added.

Cllr Jackser Owens agreed with Cllr Browne. “Templeshannon is a priority with us,” he stated. Cllr John O’Rourke said Templeshannon gets nothing, regeneration is needed there, and he promised no support without Templeshannon, which he added is forgotten!

Cathaoirleach Cllr Murphy said it is “unacceptable to leave Templeshannon behind”.

Cllr Pat Kehoe said there was five weeks to May 1st – application date – and felt that the matter could be sorted by then, however, Ms. Godkin replied that “it is not within local control.”

Mr Meylar reiterated that the application is to get €9 million for Enniscorthy. There are two projects – the Town Centre and Castle Quarter. Templeshannon is some time away.

Cllr Owens told the officials that the elected members should be treated with respect, and have their decisions listened to, and he threatened to leave the meeting. Director of Services Carolyne Godkin reminded him that shouting at staff is the height of disrespect and she suggested he apologise!

In conclusion, Wexford County Council officials agreed to take the Enniscorthy Municipal members’ criticisms on board, see what could be done, and report back to the April meeting before the funding application deadline of May 1st, 2026.

The Enniscorthy Town Centre First Plan was published in 2023 and outlined three major areas for regeneration – Market Square, Castle Heritage Quarter, and Templeshannon.

A plan for the Market Square has received planning permission and is ‘shovel ready’. A plan for the Castle Quarter is proceeding through the speedy ‘Part 8’ planning process and is expected to be approved shortly.

Page 5 of the Enniscorthy Town First Plan reads; “There is no established or defined boundary for the Town Centre. However, there is a shared understanding in the local community that the Town Centre is distinctive and largely reflects the established core of the town.

“Enniscorthy is not unusual in having two functional centres split by a river, in this case the Slaney. The area most commonly referred to as ‘the Town Centre’ on the west bank of the river is clearly dominant. It is centred on Market Square and the Castle. Templeshannon is on the east side of the river. Although of lesser scale, it is nonetheless, an important functional centre and significant element of the structure and character of Enniscorthy.”

Locals dominate at Bree Hunt races

Handler GARRETT MURPHY, rider SHANE O’ROURKE and family celebrate following the success of KELLS BAY at Monksgrange this afternoon. (Pic; WexfordLocal.com)

By Dan Walsh at Monksgrange

Barry O’Neill achieved his 30th win of the season with a treble at the Bree Hunt point-to-point races in Monksgrange today (Sunday), putting him at the top of the National Point-to-Point Riders’ Championship table as he pursues his 10th title.

O’Neill was sporting the famous Dawn Run colours of Benjamin Hill, on whose lands the races were run, when bringing the Colin Bowe trained Royal Response home by eight and a half lengths in the second division of the maiden race for four-year-old mares.

BARRY O’NEILL in the famous Dawn Run colours enjoyed a treble at the Bree Hunt point-to-point races. (Pic; WexfordLocal.com)

O’Neill then went on to share a double with Colin Bowe when Heron Hill won the second division of the maiden race for four-year-old geldings by eight and a half lengths.

Barry O’Neill’s third victory of the day came in the ‘older maiden’ race on Heartbreak Weather in the colours of Robbie Ennis sand trained at Moone, Co. Kildare by Tara Lee Cogan.

The Matchmaker Syndicate and trainer/rider Rob James also enjoyed a double on their home patch. Treasure Valley came home two and a half lengths to the good in the maiden race for five-year-old geldings and half an hour later Gambling Echo clocked up a ‘head’ victory over Payslip (Luke Murphy) in the maiden race for five-year-old and upwards mares’ where only two of the nine runners finished.

Shane O’Rourke, (36), rode his 80th career winner on Garrett Murphy’s Kells Bay, the well backed favourite in division one of the maiden race for four-year-old mares’.

Sean Doyle paid tribute to rider Jamie Scallan who won the first division of the maiden race for four-year-old geldings on Wordfromhome. It was Scallan’s 100th career success.

Leon Cullen, (17), from Piercestown won his second race on Supreme Force for the Robert Tector stables at Coolbawn, Rathnure, in the Cooney Furlong Winners of Two Race confined to novice riders. Two lengths the verdict.

LEON CULLEN was a winner at Monksgrange. (Pic; WexfordLocal.com)

It was a great day’s racing. Two races divided making it an eight-race card and while the ground was testing the track rode very well. Bree Hunt have been holding its fixture here since 2008 – 18 years!

Colin Bowe made it a treble success on the day when saddling Goodbye Earl to win the geldings’ maiden race at Oldcastle, Co. Meath. First victory of the season for Oulart rider Bertie Finn.

There was also point-to-pointing at Liscarroll, Co. Cork today (Sunday) yielding two Wexford trained winners. Jonthan Fogarty, Gaynestown Stud, Clerariestown, won the maiden race for four-year-olds with newcomer Whereweallbelong by an impressive 35 lengths ridden by Finian Maguire.

Matthew Flynn O’Connor from Ballycrystal saddled Sir Topham Hatt, ridden by Brian Lawless, the nine lengths winner of the Winner of One race.

Gorey man found safe and well

UPDATE; Sunday, March 29th; Rajath Kashyap has been found safe and well. No further action is required. An Garda Siochana thanks the media and public for their help.

Gardaí are appealing for the public’s assistance in locating Rajath Kashyap, (31 Years), who is reported missing from his home in Gorey, Co. Wexford, since Saturday 28th March 2026.

RAJATH KASHYAP

Rajath was last seen in Gorey on Friday 27th March 2026 at approximately 8.30pm.

Rajath is described as being 5 foot 8 inches in height, with a lean build, green eyes and and black hair.

When last seen, Rajath was wearing jeans and a grey/green Jipper top.

Rajath is believed to have access to a 152-W Reg Mercedes Benz car.

Gardaí and Rajath’s family are concerned for his wellbeing.

Anyone with information about Rajath’s whereabouts is asked to contact Gorey Garda Station on (053) 942 1222, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.

Big entry for Bree races on Sunday

By Dan Walsh

A large entry of 160 has been received for the annual Bree Hunt point-to-point races at Monksgrange, Rathnure tomorrow (Sunday).

BARRY O’NEILL (File Pic; WexfordLocal.com)

Weather forecast is mainly dry. First race at 2pm.

Going will be ‘soft’. There will be some alterations to the track relating to the position of the winning post and the final two fences, but there is a good covering of grass and the track is in great order.

Racing today (Saturday) took place at Portrush, Co. Antrim where Eamonn Doyle saddled newcomer Lutece Borget, a winner by seven and a half lengths under Jamie Scallan in the maiden race for mares aged five or plus.

Barry O’Neill rode Winged Leader to his record 37th career victory in the Open Race for Fermanagh handler David Christie. The verdict was a neck.

New footpath halts at river crossing

By Dan Walsh at Gorey Kilmuckridge Council meeting

The footpath from Gorey to Courtown has finally reached Ballinatray Bridge, and the Council discussed how to cross the Ounavarra river at last Tuesday’s Gorey Kilmuckridge meeting. Cllr Donal Kenny was in the chair.

I will provide an update later in this report, but currently, the Council seems unsure of the next steps. All suggestions have previously been discussed, but no decision has been taken and the river crossing to be progressed.

A STOP/GO system on the bridge has received no support. Continuing the footpath over the bridge and reducing the road to one lane is strongly opposed, especially by Cllrs Joe Sullivan and Anthony Donohoe.

Attaching a footbridge to the exterior of the existing bridge is a non-runner because it is a heritage building and a protected structure!

Courtown Woods is owned by Active Travel and Coillte. A steel bridge over the river is a popular idea but may be difficult to implement. The saga goes on and on…

BALLINATRAY BRIDGE over the Ounavarra river. (File Pic; WexfordLocal.com)

THE STORY SO FAR; At a meeting in March 2024 the Director of Services with responsibility for roads and Deputy Chief Executive at Wexford County Council, Eamonn Hore, addressed the meeting and outlined very detailed plans for the completion of the footpath in the wake of a topographical survey that focussed on the footpath crossing the bridge.

Mr Hore outlined three options; (1) construction of a new bridge, (2) a cantilever deck (“an attachment to the exterior of the existing bridge”) and (3), a surface traffic control or STOP/GO system on the existing roadway. Then there is the matter of cost which would be estimated at around €2 million and in the region of €300,000 of that would be eaten up by consultants before any physical activity on site!

The councillors were totally against the STOP/GO system, so no change then from the last time the matter had been discussed at the December 2023 meeting. Cllr Anthony Donohoe stated that a STOP/GO system was, using racing parlance, a non-runner. He suggested maybe a suspension bridge would solve the problem, but Mr Hore reminded the meeting of the exorbitant cost that would involve.

Cllr Joe Sullivan felt a 60km speed limit would increase safety measures along the footpath.

Cllr Devereux suggested bringing the existing footpath through the woods “down brickyard hill or to the Ballymoney turn off.” There was some support for taking the Courtown Woods route, but some expressed ‘safety’ fears.

So, definitely no support for the STOP/GO suggestion as it was generally felt that it would cause considerable congestion. Mr Hore suggested to the members that the footpath be completed to the Ballymoney turn-off this year to ensure funding and to explore ways of crossing the Ounavarra River or Ballinatray bridge or explore more alternatives afterwards. This was agreed by the Cathaoirleach Cllr Pip Breen and the members.

HISTORY; A work relief scheme organised by Lord Courtown in 1846 for the benefit of the starving poor consisted of drainage and the construction of a road southwards from Ballymoney crossroads to join Gorey and Courtown Harbour road.
In 1847, the present three-arch bridge at Ballinatray, once known as the Courtown Viaduct and at the time, was the highest stone bridge in the country.
Ballinatray Bridge is a 19th century civil engineering feat designed by James Barry Farrell, (1810-1893), who was the County Surveyor, and other similarly amazing works by him can be admired at Carrigmannon, (1844), near Killurin, and Corbally Bridge (1854) on the Enniscorthy to Oulart Road.

Teenager missing from Barntown

Gardaí are seeking the public’s assistance in tracing the whereabouts of Sarah Louise Doyle (16), who was reported missing from Barntown, Co. Wexford since Wednesday 25th March 2026.

Sarah Louise is described as being approximately 5 foot 7 inches in height, with a slim build, blonde hair and blue eyes.

SARAH LOUISE DOYLE

When last seen, Sarah Louise was wearing light grey tracksuit trousers and a black hoodie top.

Gardaí and Sarah Louise’s family are concerned for her well-being.

Anyone with any information on Sarah Louise’s whereabouts is asked to contact Wexford Garda Station on (053) 9165200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.

Enniscorthy retail goes digital

Pictured at the launch of the Enniscorthy Digital Retail scheme at Enniscorthy Castle were (left to right); Cllr Pat Kehoe, Claire Lawless, Enniscorthy District Manager, Cllr Joe Sullivan, Cathaoirleach Wexford County Council, Stephen Hallahan, CEO Tap Retail, Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy, Cathaoirleach Enniscorthy Municipal District Council, Matt Ronan, Enniscorthy Digital Retail Village member, Breege Cosgrave, Head of Enterprise & Economic Development Wexford County Council and Cllr Trish Byrne. (Pic; WexfordLocal.com)  

By Dan Walsh at Enniscorthy Castle

The formal launch of Enniscorthy Digital Retail Village scheme took place in Enniscorthy Castle last night.

District Manager Claire Lawless welcomed the invited attendance and stated that over the past three months retailers have been engaging and learning, and most importantly, growing. “This event is a chance to highlight the progress, to increase awareness and to hear from Tap Retail who are driving it,” said Ms. Lawless.

Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council, Cllr Joe Sullivan said he was delighted to launch the Enniscorthy Digital Retail Village scheme and acknowledged the attendance of Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy, Cathaoirleach of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council, Cllrs Pat Kehoe and Trish Byrne, Breege Cosgrave, Head of Enterprise & Economic Development at Wexford County Council, Stephen Hallahan, Founder and CEO, and Barry Moylan and the team from Tap Retail.

Cllr Sullivan said the scheme unites local businesses on a single digital platform and allows customers to buy from multiple local shops in one single transaction, gives the local businesses the tools they need to grow and offer shoppers new ways to discover and support local retailers. He concluded by encouraging everyone to support local businesses and shopping.

Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy said; “We do everything on our phones and now people are doing a lot of shopping on the phone and having Enniscorthy in the forefront using Tap Retail to be able to use an app to support local businesses and jobs, and to be able to get what you want delivered from a premises here in Enniscorthy is wonderful.”

“It is the way forward and the only thing that is going to keep our towns vibrant,” said Cllr Murphy, who added; “I can’t envisage a town that doesn’t have shops or retail or footfall and the only way forward for people who don’t come into town is to give them the apps to buy online.”

Stephen Hallahan, CEO Tap Retail said; “the vast majority of products that you are looking for online can actually be sourced within the town.” He outlined details of the Tap Retail scheme and claimed; “This is something that is really unique.”

He continued; “This is a market place that makes shopping a little easier for people who have mobility challenges, people who just generally don’t want to get out or people who can’t make it into the town, and the ability to buy from more than one shop.”

Matt Ronan owner of Evolv Health Store and a member of Enniscorthy Digital Retail Village said it has been a great experience working with Stephen and the Tap Retail team. “It could have been stressful, because technology generally brings a lot more stress than it is advertised, put the experience was so positive from day one. Enniscorthy is certainly leading the way and that’s a headline for Enniscorthy in itself.”

In conclusion, Mr Ronan said; “Irish towns are facing a lot of challenges, I do not dismiss that for a moment, however, I do believe that Irish towns have a future. Everything is changing, but we have become customer centric.”

Fourteen businesses have signed up for the scheme, namely Stafford’s Butchers, Evolv Health Store, Gillen’s Café, My Sport, Mahady Breen’s shoe shop, Authentic European Food Shop, Prep and Go, Reid’s Off-Licence, General Office and School Supplies, Meet Brazil, Eason’s Toy Department, Meraki Greek Café, Londis and Pet Depot.

 

Heritage signage on Vinegar Hill

By Dan Walsh

This week, two heritage signs, designed in the style of the 1916 information sign located opposite the Seamus Rafter Bridge, were officially unveiled on Vinegar Hill.

The signs have been awaiting delivery for some time now and the news was welcomed by members at Tuesday’s monthly meeting of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council held in the Chamber at the Presentation Centre.

The 1998 bicentenary monumental display continues to serve as a public information source and venue for annual wreath-laying ceremonies.

A brief extract from the signage informs visitors to Vinegar Hill that; “On the morning of 21 June, (1798) there were approximately 10,000 Crown Forces in position. The Crown Forces were well armed with cannons and muskets, in comparison to the Rebels who had meagre weapons such as pikes.

“The Rebels’ position ahead of the battle was further weakened by the absence of Edward Roche and re-enforcements from Wexford town, who had yet to arrive. Furthermore, in the weeks leading up to the Battle of Vinegar Hill, the Rebels had made no attempt to make the hill a formidable defensive position.”

“On June 21 at 3 am, the battle commenced. General Johnson commenced artillery bombardment on the Rebel positions on the outskirts of Enniscorthy town, while General Lake commenced artillery bombardment of the Rebel positions on Vinegar Hill. Following intense artillery bombardment Rebel leaders positioned on the outskirts of the town retreated towards the Duffry Gate.

“At 7 am, Lake’s forces commenced infantry assault on the Rebels on Vinegar Hill. By this time the Rebels in the town were engaged in intense house to house fighting with General Johnson’s troops. The Rebels based in the town pulled back over Enniscorthy Bridge and a stalemate ensued. During the stalemate the Rebels and Crown Forces inflicted heavy casualties upon each other.”

For more information contact the National 1798 Rebellion Centre on Parnell Road for exhibits, artefacts and stories. Opens 9.30am.

Repair crews in safety scare

Horrendous road surface conditions at Esmonde Road. Repairs are prevented by intimidation. (Pic; WexfordLocal.com)

By Dan Walsh at Enniscorthy Municipal District Council meeting

A section of the road surface on Esmonde Road at Killagoley, Enniscorthy, remains severely damaged following flooding seven or eight weeks ago, and the matter was raised at today’s Enniscorthy Municipal District Council meeting.

The meeting was shocked to learn that road workers assigned to repairs faced physical threats and abuse. Cone signs vanished, and intimidation was reported.

Work crews were withdrawn from the location due to safety concerns.

Despite its worsening condition, the road is still open to traffic.

The Council is investigating and may pursue legal action.

Yacht in trouble off Kilmuckridge

ROSSLARE HARBOUR RNLI

By Dan Walsh

Rosslare Harbour RNLI has come to the assistance of a lone sailor who alerted the Irish Coast Guard that his yacht was in difficulty off the Kilmuckridge coast.

Arriving on scene it was discovered that the yacht had developed engine trouble and, fortunately, the crew were able to fix the problem, and the yacht was able to continue to its destination.

Weather conditions were calm with good visibility at the time.

Speaking following the call out, Jamie Ryan, Rosslare Harbour RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager Jamie Ryan complimented all involved: “We would like to commend the sailor for contacting the Coast Guard when they knew they were in difficulty and for having all the necessary safety and communication equipment on board,” he stated.