Revenue officers at Rosslare Europort seized almost 9.9 million cigarettes with an estimated value of approximately €8.3 million, representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of €6.5 million.
The illicit cigarettes, branded ‘Superkings’ and ‘Winston’, were discovered on Tuesday night when Revenue officers stopped and examined an accompanied freight unit which had disembarked a ferry arriving from Dunkirk, France.
A man has been questioned in relation to these events and investigations are ongoing.
This seizure is part of Revenue’s ongoing operations targeting the sale and supply of illegal cigarettes and tobacco in the shadow economy. If businesses, or members of the public, have any information regarding smuggling, they can contact Revenue in confidence on 1800 295 295.
Corra O’Donovan, Scott O’Reilly, Grace Murphy and John Roche pictured on the stage of the Wexford Opera House pictured at the launch of this year’s Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann. The event, organised by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and hosted by the Wexford Fleadh Executive Committee, is expected to draw over half a million visitors to the Sunny Southeast. Pic; Andres Poveda
By Dan Walsh
An Garda Siochána and Wexford County Council have announced comprehensive details of the traffic management plan in operation for Wexford town during the eight days of Fleadh Cheoil nah Éireann from August 4th-12th. Speaking to WexfordLocal.com, Eddie Taaffe, Chairperson of the Fleadh Cheoil Executive Committee, said today; “Wexford County Council extends a warm welcome to all visitors and hopes everyone enjoys the vibrant culture and community spirit of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann. To ensure everyone’s safety, we kindly request that all visitors travel safely and follow traffic management plans.”
Also speaking to WexfordLocal.com, local Superintendent Jarlath Duffy said; “Throughout the Fleadh, Gardaí will be making sure that the extensive traffic plan, which will be in place from late Saturday night, will run smoothly and efficiently. We aim to keep disruption for locals to a minimum and appreciate people’s patience as we work to get the many thousands who will be visiting, in and out of the town safely.”
The proposed road closures contained within this Traffic Management Plan were the subject of a separate order under Section 75 of the Roads Act 1993 (Temporary Closing of Roads).
Yellow Route – Traffic travelling from Dublin/Northern Route (*N80)
Traffic travelling from Dublin/M50 will travel southbound to the M11, merging with the N11 at Junction 17, signposted Southbound/Wexford N11.
Traffic will continue on the M11 to Scurlocksbush Roundabout, signposted Wexford/Rosslare N11.
Traffic will enter the roundabout and take the first exit and continue towards Oilgate Village.
Traffic will continue on the N11 through Oilgate Village to Wexford.
(*Traffic travelling on the N80 will join the Yellow Route at Oilgate Village.)
Parking:
Patrons on the Yellow Route will follow the Yellow Route Signage directing them to the designated Yellow Park and Ride areas.
Blue Route – Local traffic travelling from Gorey
Traffic travelling from Gorey will travel on the R741 to Castlebridge.
Traffic will continue through Castlebridge on the R741 and follow the signposts for Wexford.
Parking:
Patrons on the Blue Route will follow the Blue Route Signage directing them to the Blue Route Park and Ride Areas.
Please Note: Wexford Bridge is closed to vehicular traffic from 10am to 4am daily.
Brown Route – Traffic travelling from Passage East/Duncannon
(*Please Note: Park & Ride directions change for Sunday 4th and Monday 5th August 2024 as detailed below)
Traffic travelling from Passage East/Duncannon will travel on the R733 to Wellingtonbridge.
Traffic will continue through Wellingtonbridge on the R733, signposted Wexford.
Traffic will continue on the R733 to the Duncannon Road Roundabout.
Traffic will enter the roundabout and take the first exit, signposted Waterford/Dublin.
WEXFORD BRIDGE
Parking:
Patrons on the Brown Route will follow the Brown Route Signage directing them to the designated Brown Park and Ride areas.
*Please Note: Brown Route Park and Ride Facilities for Sunday 4th and Monday 5th August 2024 Only
Traffic travelling on the Brown Route will enter the Duncannon Road Roundabout and will take the third exit, signposted Rosslare.
Traffic will continue to the Rosslare Road Roundabout and take the first exit, signposted Wexford R730. This will take patrons to the Orange Route Park and Ride areas.
Parking:
Patrons on the Brown/Orange Route will follow the Orange Route Signage directing them to the designated Orange Park and Ride areas.
Orange Route – Traffic travelling from Rosslare
Traffic travelling from Rosslare will travel on the N25 signposted Wexford.
Traffic will continue on the N25 to the Rosslare Road Roundabout.
Traffic will enter the roundabout and take the second exit, signposted Wexford R730.
Parking:
Patrons on the Orange Route will follow the Orange Route Signage directing them to the designated Orange Park and Ride areas.
Purple Route – Traffic travelling from Limerick/Waterford/Cork
Traffic travelling from Limerick/Waterford will travel on the N25 following signposts for Wexford/Rosslare/New Ross.
Traffic will continue to the Glenmore Roundabout signposted Wexford/Rosslare N25.
Traffic will enter the roundabout and take the third exit onto the New Ross Bypass N25, signposted Wexford/Rosslare.
Traffic will continue across the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Bridge and continue on the N25, signposted Wexford/Rosslare.
Traffic will continue to the Ballymacar Roundabout signposted Wexford/Rosslare N25.
Traffic will enter the roundabout and take the third exit onto the N25 signposted Wexford/Rosslare.
Traffic will continue on the N25 towards Barntown, Wexford.
(*Please Note: additional parking on designated dates as outlined below).
Parking:
Patrons on the Purple Route will follow the Purple Route Signage directing them to the designated Purple Park and Ride Areas.
Please Note: *Additional Park and Ride Facilities will be available at Wexford Racecourse and patrons on the Purple Route will be directed to this area on Sunday 4th, Monday 5th, Tuesday 6th and on additional occasions when capacity allows as follows:
Patrons will be directed to the New Ross Road Roundabout and will follow the Purple Route Signage directing them to the designated Purple Park and Ride Area.
Park and Ride Facilities
A regular shuttle bus service will operate from each park and ride car park transporting patrons directly to and from Redmond Square, Wexford Town from Sunday 4th of August to Sunday 11th of August. Patrons are encouraged to utilise the park and ride facilities as there will be no parking available in Wexford Town.
Electric Car Charging
There will not be electric car charging facilities in the park and ride car parks for the event.
Street Closures & Access
Road Closures within Wexford Town will be in place from Sunday 4th of August 2024 to Sunday 11th August 2024. Parking is limited to permit parking only.
Campsite
An official campsite has been established at Wexford Rugby Club and Park Charman GAA Grounds.
The campsite is situated on the R730.
The campsite is serviced by a regular shuttle bus service throughout the Fleadh Cheoil event and transport patrons directly to and from Redmond Square, Wexford Town. Patrons may also choose to walk from the campsite to Redmond Square, taking approximately 20 minutes.
Taxi Pick Up
There will be a designated Taxi pick-up point on Spawell Road, Wexford Town.
Additional Information
Public transport is available to transport patrons to and from the event. Please check relevant schedules in advance.
Note the colour of your park and ride facility in order to find it easily on your return.
Follow the directional signage for your specific route to the designated park and ride facility.
Please display your vehicle pass/permit clearly on your windscreen to avoid delays.
Allow additional time driving to the event due to the increase in traffic volumes.
Traffic updates will be available on Garda social media channels, @aaroadwatch, Fleadh Cheoil and Wexford County Council social media sites.
Phil Murphy, Anne Mercipill, George O’Connor, Betty Connors, John Roche, Grace Murphy, Scott O’Reilly and Corra O’Donovan pictured at the launch of this year’s Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann. Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann is kindly supported by Wexford County Council, Fáilte Ireland, and Wexford Credit Union. RTÉ and TG4 will once again act as broadcast and live broadcasting partners, respectively. Pic; Andres Poveda
Be Aware
Please expect traffic delays if travelling by private vehicle or public transport.
Be Prepared
The Fleadh Cheoil is a wonderful family event and will be worth the wait. Make sure you have a full tank of fuel and electrical vehicles charged.
Supt. Jarlath Duffy concluded; “Gardaí will also be out and about on the streets and at each of the events being held over the course of the eight days. Be sure to stop any one of us if there is anything that you need or any assistance that we give to help. If anyone should find themselves in an emergency or immediate danger, we always advise to call 999/112. This is a wonderful occasion for our town and we’re looking forward to helping ensure that everyone, local residents and all those coming into the area, have a safe and enjoyable time.”
The Kilmuckridge Sunflower Field, a heartwarming community project aimed at raising funds for the Daffodil Nurses of Ireland through the Irish Cancer Society and other local community groups, is preparing for its much-anticipated launch at the beginning of August.
The official launch date will be announced soon, contingent on the blooming of the sunflowers, which are already showing promising signs of becoming a stunning display. The field is located at the back of The Crosses Pub in the village of Kilmuckridge, or use Eircode Y25 V0Y1
Once the sunflowers are in full bloom, the field will open to the public, inviting visitors to pick their own sunflowers. In exchange, visitors are encouraged to donate to support this worthy cause. To facilitate contributions, honesty boxes and donation buckets will be placed throughout the field, and there will also be an online option for those who prefer to donate digitally.
“The Kilmuckridge Sunflower Field is more than just a beautiful display of nature,” said Cllr Mary Farrell, Project Co-ordinator of the Kilmuckridge Sunflower Field project. “It symbolises the strength and resilience of our community, and it’s a beacon of light and hope for those who have been affected by cancer. We invite everyone to visit, enjoy the beauty of the sunflowers, and support the vital work of the Daffodil Nurses and the Irish Cancer Society.”
The community-driven project is expected to attract numerous visitors, each contributing to the cause and helping to make a difference in the lives of those battling cancer.
The extension of parent’s leave and benefit from seven weeks to nine weeks is a major step in support and welcome relief to families across Wexford, according to North Wexford-based Cllr Darragh McDonald.
“Fine Gael have again increased parent’s leave to acknowledge the difficulties faced by families with young children,” Cllr McDonald told WexfordLocal.com, and he added; “Under these new measures, you can now claim nine weeks’ parent’s leave if your child is under the age of two on August 1st, 2024, or if your adopted child has been placed with your family less than two years on 1st August 2024.”
CLLR DARRAGH McDONALD
“Fine Gael introduced this leave in 2019 and it is great to now see it expanded further. This is a major support for many families so they can better balance work with family commitments which can be so challenging in today’s working environment.
“This measure will be available to both mothers and fathers and will apply to all future parents. Evidence shows that children benefit from being cared for and spending time with their parents when they are very young. From a parent’s perspective it’s clear that having that bit more time with a young child is incredibly beneficial.”
“Parent’s leave also gives an opportunity for fathers to take this leave in addition to their 2-week paternity leave, to have a total of 11 weeks off to be involved in the earliest stages of their child’s development.”
“Fine Gael knows parents are working hard, and we will continue to work to make life easier for families,” concluded Cllr McDonald.
Kilmore Quay RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat was launched on Sunday at 1.42pm to assist in a search for a kayaker that had become separated from a group kayaking to the small Saltee Island.
Weather and sea conditions were good at the time. The Irish Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue 117 also joined the search and within minutes located the kayaker who had navigated to shore east of Kilmore Quay at Ballygrangans.
Speaking following the call out, Kilmore Quay RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, John Grace said: “The kayaker is safe and well,” and he added; “We urge that all those going to sea at any time of year, to make sure to check weather and tides before going out. If you are not familiar with the area, talk to local people familiar with the tides, wear a life jacket or suitable flotation device, and always carry a means of communication. Should you get into difficulty, dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.”
Last January Minister of State for Nature Malcolm Noonan TD announced that the new Seas off Wexford SPA (special protection area) would be designated under the EU Birds Directive, will cover more than 305,000 hectares of marine waters for a range of bird species and give protection to 20 species, including puffins.
This news was first published on WexfordLocal.com under the heading ‘Seas off Wexford safer for the birds’ on January 13th and is available online.
A spokesperson for the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) said the new SPA for seabirds off the coast of Co. Wexford could help to safeguard the puffin population on the uninhabited Saltee Islands.
It is believed that the number of puffins nesting on the islands five kilometres off the Irish coast has begun to rise again after years of decline. The breeding season usually starts in late March or early April, finishing in July or August.
The spokesperson said: “A recent series of counts of puffin at the Saltee Islands earlier this year indicate that the breeding population across these islands, which experienced a pronounced decrease at the turn of the century, is now increasing.
“While the population increase is good news, there are challenges for puffin in its nesting habitat. Puffin nest in colonies, at some locations such as the Great Saltee Island, the nests are mostly in old burrows, but the NPWS has addressed a previous problem of predation through a rat eradication programme.
“The main concern for puffin now is the level of recreation pressure on the island, with numbers of daily visitors to the island increasing significantly in recent years.”
Dr Mark Jessopp, senior lecturer in zoology at University College Cork, said: “The SPA designation ensures that additional measures are put in place to ensure that the vulnerable seabird populations in the area, including puffins, are fully considered when it comes to any future developments.
Dr Jessopp said the main limitation of the SPA was that it did not put many restrictions on fisheries. He said the main threat to puffins on the islands is land-based predation and disturbance.
Dunmore East RNLI lifeboat returns to harbour Pic; RNLI / Karen Harris.
By Dan Walsh
An 11-metre sailing vessel, with two persons on board, that sent out distress signals when approximately three nautical miles south-east of Hook Head was towed to safety by Dunmore East RNLI lifeboat yesterday.
The vessel had lost all power and called the Irish Coast Guard for emergency assistance. The Dunmore East RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew were alerted at 6.16pm, the lifeboat was promptly launched and made best speed to the reported location.
Conditions at sea were described as moderate with one metre swell and winds at a Force 3-4.
The boat was towed to the nearest safe port at Dunmore East Harbour. Once the safety of the vessel and its crew was established back at port, the lifeboat was washed down and ready again for service by 9.30pm.
Liz Power, Lifeboat Operations Manager with Dunmore East RNLI said; “Today’s shout was a good reminder of the importance of being able to stay in touch by VHF radio or phone when you go out on the water. You never know when something can go wrong and you may need to call for help. If you get into difficulty or see someone in difficulty in the water, please dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.”
This week, the INHSC (Irish National Hunt Steeplechase CLG) who is responsible for the governance and administration of point-to-points in Ireland announced the 2024 Autumn Point-to-Point fixture list.
Point-to-point racing at Fairwood, Tinahely (File Pic; wexfordLocal.com)
South East fixtures are as follows;
Sunday, October 20; Island Hunt at Ballycrystal, Kiltealy.
Sunday, October 27; Shillelagh & District at Fairwood, Tinahely.
Sunday, November 10; Wexford Foxhounds at Knockmullen House, New Ross.
Sunday, November 17; Wicklow Foxhounds at Fairwood, Tinahely.
Sunday, November 24; Killinick Harriers at Lingstown, Tomhaggard.
Sunday, December 1; Carlow Farmers at Borris House, Borris.
Sunday, December 8; Ballinagore Harriers at Ballycrystal, Kiltealy.
Between Sunday, August 4th and Sunday, August 11th, most scheduled services between Dublin Connolly and Rosslare Europort will operate between Dublin Connolly and Wexford only, with bus transfer arrangements in place for customers travelling to/from Rosslare Strand and Rosslare Europort.
This is to facilitate the Garda and event organisers event plan, which will see thousands of people on Wexford Quay, through which the railway line runs unprotected.
Arrangements for travel to/from Rosslare Strand and Rosslare Europort are as follows from Sunday to Sunday, August 4th-11th, inclusive:
On Sunday 4th August, 09:40hrs Rosslare Europort to Dublin Connolly operates as normal
All other scheduled Rosslare Europort to Dublin Connolly services will commence from Wexford. Bus transfers will operate from Rosslare Europort and Rosslare Strand to Wexford (before 10:00hrs) and to Enniscorthy at all other times. After 10:00hrs, those travelling from Rosslare Europort and Rosslare Strand to Wexford can avail of TFI LocalLink Route 387 each day.
All scheduled Dublin Connolly to Rosslare Europort services will operate from Dublin Connolly to Wexford only. Bus transfers will operate from Wexford to Rosslare Strand and Rosslare Europort.
Scheduled Dublin/Gorey and Dublin/Wexford services will operate as normal, with the evening 22:10hrs Gorey to Connolly extended to commence from Wexford at 21:30hrs.
The opening of Gorey Art Circle’s 50th annual exhibition took place in the Freemason Hall, The Avenue, Gorey last night and celebrated its longevity with an impressive exhibition of paintings which will be open daily until August 5th.
An internationally respected painter and art enthusiast Paul Funge (1944 – 2011), who was a founder member and director of Project Art Centre in Dublin in 1967, felt it was important to bring art into local communities and decided to start in his native Gorey.
Gorey Art Centre was established in 1970 by Paul Funge together with many others including Joe Browne, Rita Stokes, Betty O’Loughlin and the first Gorey Arts Festival was held in 1970 introducing the Gorey area to various forms of art including music, drama, painting, photography and sculpture.
Founder member of Gorey Art Circle, Mr Joe Browne, who officially opened the 50th exhibition and Margaret O’Morchoe, Chairperson of Gorey Art Circle at the opening in the Freemason’s Hall, Gorey, last night.
The Gorey Art Circle evolved from this group. The first ever exhibition of the Arts Circle was held in the lounge of Browne’s pub and it is very special for The Art Circle to had Mr. Joe Browne to officially open its exhibition on this its 50th anniversary.
The Art Circle went on to exhibit in the Market House, initially, in the Council Chamber upstairs and later it held its exhibitions at street level in the Market House for many years.
Margaret O’Morchoe, who spoke eloquently on the opening night, has been the chairperson of the Arts Circle Committee for many years and has provided leadership and guidance to the group.
The Gorey Art Circle has 42 members who come together to exhibit their paintings. These exhibitions provide the opportunity for individual artists to display a diversity of work in oil, watercolour, charcoal or mixed media. The group also engage in activities such as visits to galleries, gardens, historic buildings and other places of interest to gain inspiration for their work.
Exhibitors include Iwona Blasi, Ann Breen, Margaret Carroll, Elsie Foley, Máirín Graham, Adri Harnett, Avis Horn, Marie Louise Hayden, Paul Hayes, Barbara Jameson, Siobhán Kenny, Claire Lacey, Madge McDonald, Sheila MacNally, Maria O’Callaghan, Margaret O’Morchoe, Lisa Popplewell, Pat Power, Diane Quillinan, Venis Reilly, Una Stack, Deborah Stedmond, Phyllis Stedmond and Liam Van Nickerk.
Located in the Freemason Hall, The Avenue, Gorey, the exhibition is open daily, including Sundays, 11am to 5pm until Monday, August 5th. Gorey Art Circle invite visitors to donate to a selected charity and also the exhibitors this year will donate a percentage of all painting sold to this year’s charity which is the The Hope Cancer Support Centre, Enniscorthy, which is the nearest such service centre to Gorey.
WexfordLocal.com 