By Dan Walsh at Enniscorthy Castle
Last evening’s Civic Awards Night ceremony was planned for the roof of Enniscorthy Castle, but a weather alert caused the pleasant occasion to switch indoors, which was a good move as a thunderstorm hit the region and torrential rain lashed the town for a number of hours and Met Éireann predicts that it is going to last until at least 3.30am!
District Manager, Claire Lawless commenced proceedings with words of welcome and said; “The Civic Awards Evening is where the elected members of the Enniscorthy Municipal District recognise and reward the outstanding achievements of individuals and groups within the District.”
The protocol is that the elected member who backs the nomination makes the presentation on the night! This year there was a new award. The Council commissioned Pauline Quigley Glass Design from Caim and the first recipients received a fine award that captures the silhouette and backdrop of Vinegar Hill.
First up was Cathaoirleach of Enniscorthy Municipal District, Cllr John O’Rourke with three nominees; The Legends Horseshoe Club, based in Bunclody, who won Division Two at All-Ireland level in 2023. The award was collected on their behalf by John Connors ; Robert Brady on behalf of Wexford A team for winning the All-Ireland 8-Ball Pool championships last year; and Abbie Doyle from Ballymackessey who won a Gold Medal in the All-Ireland Athletics Final in the under 18 Triple Jump. Abbie missed the presentation as she is currently part of the Lourdes Diocesan Pilgrimage Group and the award was accepted on her behalf by her proud parents, Paul and Edel.
Next up was Cllr Jackser Owens with three nominations. Ann Redmond on behalf of the Wexford Ladies Darts Team, winners of the 2024 All-Ireland championship. Ann is the captain and other team members include Mary Burke, Marie Cash and Marie Kehoe. This was the 4th time for the ladies to win this title following on from 2018, 2019 and 2020.; The Woodsmen Horseshoe Club, formed in Bunclody in 1980, were Division One winners in All-Ireland horseshoe pitching in 2023. Receiving the award were Michael Redmond, Liam Bond and Paddy Connors; Charlie Dixon won the 65kg All-Ireland boxing title in 2024. The 13-year-old boxed in the National Stadium and won his first national title. He missed the presentation but was represented by his family who accepted the award on the champion’s behalf.
Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy had four nominees. Sean Nolan won the World Handball title in 2019 and 2023, won five European titles, including the French and UK Open, and Sean aspires to compete in the Olympic Games in 2028! Bunclody Kilmyshall Drama Group were third in the All-Ireland One Act Drama Finals in 2023. An amazing feat for first time Director Michael Dunbar and the cast of Josephine Byrne, Lisa McCann and Margaret Farrell and lights and sound designer and operator Grace Dunbar. Chairman Rory Kinsella and Sinead O’Gorman accepted tonight’s award; Dannan Long from Kiltealy and a member of Enniscorthy Athletics Club had an outstanding season nationally and internationally in 2023 and was a European finalist in the under 20’s men’s relay; Shauna Kearney won at the National Elite Boxing Championships. A busy mother of two young children and a member of Bunclody Boxing Club.
Cllr Aidan Browne nominated three boxers beginning with Evan Thorpe who won the 38.5kg All-Ireland title and is a member of St. Aidan’s Boxing Club, Ferns; and two from Sacre Couer Boxing Club, Enniscorthy, Oisin Goff, winner of the Boy’s 52kg All-Ireland title, and a three times Irish champion and son of Mick and Caitriona from Monageer; and Sean Kelly, winner of the Boy’s 43kg, three times Irish champion, from Bunclody and son of John Kelly who is a coach with Sacre Couer club.
Cllr Cathal Byrne congratulated two winners; Michael Dolgilevics from Bellefield Springs, Enniscorthy, winner of the Boy’s 54kg All-Ireland title in his first-year boxing, and Oscar Mordaski on winning the Boy’s 29kg All-Ireland title. He is from Kilmyshal. Both Michael and Oscar are members of Sacre Couer Boxing Club,
The final recipient was Maria Nolan, nominated by Cllr Kathleen Codd-Nolan, who will attend her final meeting of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council next Monday after 20 years’ service as she is not running in the forthcoming local elections. Maria Nolan was honoured through the publishing of three books and two short films and for her membership and leadership of Enniscorthy Historical Re-enactment Group and for her voluntary work with numerous community groups in her native Enniscorthy.
WexfordLocal.com 