By Dan Walsh at Enniscorthy Castle
Dialogue around the ‘twinning or sister relationship’ between Vinegar Hill in Wexford and Vinegar Hill in Australia has taken a step forward today when Enniscorthy Municipal District Council hosted a civic reception for Deputy Mayor Cllr Brad Bunting of Blacktown, Australia, at a pleasant function held in Enniscorthy Castle.
The aim of the visit was to acknowledge the common historical link between Enniscorthy and Blacktown, that being the Battle of Vinegar Hill.
Leas-Cathaoirleach Cllr Cathal Byrne, deputising for the Cathaoirleach Cllr Aidan Browne, presided and welcomed Mayor Bunting, his wife Norma, and brother-in-law David, saying that a civic reception is the highest honour the town can bestow, and it is our distinguished privilege and “we look forward to increase links between our town and your city.”
Mayor Bunting thanked Enniscorthy for “putting together a fantastic day”, he said that discussions had been going on for some time regards “twinning or a sister relationship” and he felt that talks had moved along, and he also appreciated the tours and the civic relationship.
Jacqui Hynes, joint-editor (with Dr Ronan O’Flaherty) of the award-winning publication Vinegar Hill – The Last Stand of the Wexford Rebels of 1798, gave a short talk on the rebellion and outlined that the results of the recent archaeological dig are contained in this comprehensive account. A copy of the book was amongst the presentations made to Mayor Bunting to mark his visit to Enniscorthy.
The civic reception was attended by Cllrs Cathal Byrne, Jackser Owens, John O’Rourke, Barbara-Anne Murphy and Kathleen Codd-Nolan.
Mayor Bunting was given a tour of the National 1798 Rebellion Centre with guide Derek Meyler, he was also afforded the spectacular views from Vinegar Hill and aspects of the battlefield site were explained.
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