By Dan Walsh at Wexford County Council meeting
Twelve Irish flags flying from the Seamus Rafter Bridge over the River Slaney have disappeared from their masts since last Friday and Cllr Jackser Owens is demanding to know ‘who removed them?’ and he is disgusted at such treatment of the tricolour! “They should be left there”, he insisted!
The drama unfolded at Monday’s monthly meeting of Wexford County Council held at Carricklawn when Cllr Owens put the question of the missing Irish flags to the meeting and the top table were completely lost. They looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders in unison but could offer no explanation.
Director Services Eamonn Hore failed to understand what Cllr Owens was talking about and suggested he make contact with the Enniscorthy District Manager, Claire Lawless, and she may be able to help.
Cllr John O’Rourke gave some support to his Enniscorthy district colleague and said the flags go up for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and remain for Easter, Fleadh events, the longest day on Vinegar Hill, June 21st, festivals and give a good image to the town.
Of course, the Rafter Bridge is earmarked for demolition in 2027 if the Enniscorthy Flood Relief scheme progresses on time!!!
So, what happens next? Well, the next meeting of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council takes place next Tuesday and the ‘missing flags’ mystery will be on the agenda.
I’ve been researching the problem since Monday and a few ideas are floating.
1). The umbrellas were taken down from Slaney Street last Friday, possibly as routine maintenance ahead of winter weather that could damage decorations. The storage season has arrived!
2). Another theory suggests that Enniscorthy’s changing culture has led to diminished respect for the national flag in republican terms, with anticipation of a new form of representation.
3.) Or does the removal of the flags fall under the same remit as the removal of billboards from Rafter Street and the town centre?
The Athenaeum Hall, home of the 1916 Rising in Enniscorthy, has a tall flag pole, but no flag – the last one was torn to shreds and removed after members of the public complained.
There is a tricolour on a private premises on Slaney Street. It was there last night!
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