By Dan Walsh
The Ahare River and Biodiversity Group met at the entrance to Clone Beach, Castletown, where it launched the National Heritage Week ” Castletown River and Nature Festival ” for 2026.
It happens from Friday, August 21st to Sunday, August 23rd, so that is the weekend for your diary.
There will be an exciting line up for year’s events with a Bat Walk and bat box making workshop on Friday and is our ” Wild Child ” event.
On Sunday will celebrate ” Water Heritage ” with a Family Funday on Clone beach. There will be some nature seashore exploring and lots of fun and games for all the family.
Cathy Lee, Chairperson of The Ahare River and Biodiversity Group told Wexford Local.com; “At last year’s Water Heritage event, it was very disappointing when we had to tell people that the festival was not wheelchair accessible or suitable for those with mobility issues.
“While small children were able to be lifted on to the beach an elderly wheelchair bound gentleman got stuck in the sand on his approach to the beach.
“Recognising the man’s distress, four people from the event came forward and lifted the gentleman on and off the beach, which enabled him to enjoy the festival atmosphere,” stated Ms. Lee.
To address beach access going forward, a meeting has taken place involving Wexford County Council and The Ahare River and Biodiversity Group on Clone Beach in the presence of Enda Brennan and Conor Kinsella from the Coastal Team along with Caroline Horan, ability officer from Wexford County Council.
Cathy Lee and Natalie Lytovka represented the river group, and they raised the access concerns of the community and together explored possible solutions.
Cathy Lee responds; “We are delighted that with the support of Wexford County Council the pedestrian bridge over the estuary will be reinstalled with ramp access aligning with the existing path to the beach. This will involve a mixture of ground works and beach mats.
“This not only enables wheelchair users to access the beach but also people with mobility issues and families with young children and buggies. A beach wheelchair will also be made available for the festival weekend courtesy of Wexford County Council.”
Local woman Niamh Walsh who was present at the launch and who is also wheelchair bound said she was so excited to be able to attend this year’s festival as she had not been on Clone since she was a child.
The Ahare River and Biodiversity Group extends a “big Thank You” to the team at Wexford County Council for their great support, not forgetting Matthew McGrath who campaigned tirelessly to gain access to his local beach at Ballymoney.
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