By Dan Walsh
A large portion of the signage on the roof at the entrance of the National 1798 Rebellion Centre at Enniscorthy has come crashing to the ground.
The unprecedented incident happened last week ahead of the busy Easter period at the Centre, however, the soothing news is that the Centre continues to welcome visitors and the café is open for business.
The news comes just days before the €287,864 Historic Towns Initiative funding announcement for Enniscorthy, although since the ’98 Centre is less than three decades in existence it is unlikely to qualify under the heritage banner.
The National 1798 Rebellion Centre was built on the site of the CBS Monastery in 1998 to commemorate and mark the bicentenary the 1798 Rebellion.
There was controversy in 2020 when Wexford County Council decided not to proceed with the sale of the National 1798 Rebellion Centre in Enniscorthy after conceding that it would probably not get the support of councillors.
In an email sent to councillors, the Council said a Section 183 notice, which would allow for the sale to a private company will not now proceed.
The sale of the centre was due to come before councillors at their monthly meeting on Monday.
It was intended to attract more than 100,000 visitors annually. However, at the meeting of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council, Council official Carolyne Godkin said the number of visitors to the centre “didn’t cover the cost of the electric”.
It was planned for the 1798 exhibits to be rehoused in the castle.
Local Enniscorthy Cllr Cathal Byrne said the original decision to sell the centre “came as a bolt out of the blue” and he welcomed the change of heart.
“The proposal was met with shock by the entire Enniscorthy community. I have been inundated with constituents dismaying their shock at the proposal.
“The sale of the 1798 Rebellion Centre would have represented a hammer blow to the town at the worst possible time,” said Cllr Byrne who is currently a member of Seanad Éireann.
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