Report from Dan Walsh at Enniscorthy
Minister Heather Humphreys, TD, Department of Rural and Community Development was in Enniscorthy this morning to officially launch the Geodesic Dome Training Centre and Sensory Garden at the Enniscorthy Allotments at Gort na Gréine where proceedings were forced indoors due to heavy rain.
Minister Humphreys was very impressed at what she described as “very innovative, never saw anything like that before, but it is ground breaking in terms of what you are doing,” and she commended the work of Wexford County Council, the hard work of the community in Enniscorthy, and expressed the delight of her department in placing the funding into such a worthwhile project and she wished all the best with the project going forward.
Chief Executive Tom Enright said today’s event marks the culmination of years of hard work by many people in the local community and pointed out that; “From the outset this project has been led by the Enniscorthy Community Allotments Group, which is an exemplar amongst community groups” and he added; “The result we see here today is a fantastic community resource for everyone to enjoy, and I wish and congratulate them on behalf of myself and all the staff at Wexford County Council.”
Mr Enright also pointed out that the Ukraine Response Unit at Wexford County Council continues to assist in placing displaced Ukrainian families in properties across County Wexford, both in rural and urban areas and ensuring that the necessary support services are provided. “To date over 3,000 Ukrainian nationals have been located here in County Wexford,” concluded Mr Enright.
There were contributions from Cllr John O’Rourke, Cathaoirleach Enniscorthy Municipal District Council, Michael Devereux, Chairman of Enniscorthy Allotments Committee Group, who said the allotments started in April 2021 and officially opened in 2022, and once again has been nominated for an upcoming awards ceremony. Laura Cassin, SETU Horticultural Programme and Kildalton College Training Programme also welcomed the project.
Claude Clancy from the Community Development section at Wexford County Council acted as master of ceremonies. The attendance included Minister James Browne, Deputy Paul Kehoe, Cllrs Kathleen Codd-Nolan, Barbara-Anne Murphy, Jackser Owens and Aidan Browne, Claire Lawless, Enniscorthy Municipal District Manager and Carolyne Godkin, Director of Services, and Annmarie Laffan, Wexford County Council.
The availability of Government and local funding is the lifeblood of community development, as many of the speakers acknowledged, and funding supports for the Enniscorthy project includes the Community Recognition Fund, the Sláinte-Care Healthy Ireland Fund, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, the Community Enhancement Programme, the Community Centre Investment Fund and LEADER.
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