WexfordLocal.com

Enniscorthy site facing demolition?

By Dan Walsh at Enniscorthy Municipal District Council meeting

Cllr Cathal Byrne said he welcomed “the demolition of the old Murphy Flood’s Hotel site” in Enniscorthy town centre and Cllr Jackser Owens described the existent appearance of the site as “an eyesore” at Tuesday’s meeting of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council held in the Council Chamber at the Presentation Centre.

Cllr Byrne described the site as “a strategic location” and he is optimistic about “using the location as a large retail store site.” Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy was enthusiastic about the rejuvenation of the town centre and making the right decision for traffic movements. However, it was pointed out that the Enniscorthy Town Centre First Plan and the proposals for the old Murphy-Flood’s site are separate plans and the funding is totally unrelated.

However, there could be a spanner in the works as Carolyne Godkin, Director of Services told the members at Tuesday’s meeting that “the Murphy Flood’s site is going to be costly” (€8m was the original estimate). She also indicated that the library service may not be interested in providing funding for the proposed library on the site, a different Part 8 may be required, and Ms Godkin also hinted at the challenges of getting investors and developers involved in future plans for the old Murphy-Flood’s site!

Murphy Floods Hotel was gutted by fire in 2005 and has remained ruinous ever since. In March 2023 the site and adjoining property on Irish St. and Barrack St. was acquired by Wexford County Council who announced an €8 million plan to develop a new library building, retail units, 18 apartments and underground parking. The next step is to demolish the existing buildings and commence the new development.

Last December, WexfordLocal.com reported that Enniscorthy Municipal District Council were informed that complete demolition is planned for the early part of 2024. The Council were reported as seeking to advance a proposal to redevelop this vacant plot, which has previously secured Part 8 consent in July 2022. O’Connor Sutton Cronin Consulting Engineers were appointed in May 2023 to undertake full stage design services for the demolition and site preparation elements of the scheme. There were also delays with legal issues and complaints by elected representatives.

A tender competition to appoint a works contractor for the demolition works on site has been completed and a works contract awarded to John Tinnelly & Sons. Phase 1 works will commence on site in August 2024, according to Council sources.

There are fears locally that following the demolition of the overgrown site, “a hole in the ground” may be the legacy for a long time to come?

**What the proposed new Murphy Flood’s Hotel site may look like????** (*artist’s impression)*.

Gorey Market House Festival this weekend

By Dan Walsh

Traditionally the popular Gorey Market House Festival attracts the crowds on the August Bank Holiday weekend, but the 2024 renewal happens next Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 19^th-21^st with a promise of three days of family friendly music, crafts and events throughout the town with something for everyone.

Philip Knight, Gorey District Manager told WexfordLocal.com; “I am excited for this year’s Gorey Market House Festival. The Committee has worked incredibly hard to put together a strong music line up and events that will provide “something for everyone”. The Family Fun Day promises to be a day of delights for all the family. I would like to thank the Councillors and businesses that are supporting the Festival and I look forward to seeing everyone there.”

Locals and visitors alike can expect a jam-packed schedule of entertainment and events, including free live music on the Main Street every night with artists including Paddy Casey, Buffalo Soul, Mack Fleetwood, Soul Cowboys, Los Wexicanos, Conmor, Frankenstein Bolts,Aoife Doyle, Lucy June and Dr. Jim’s Acoustic Revue to name a few.

The Gorey Market House Festival has always been about the community and the organisers are delighted to announce the return of The Family Fun Day in Gorey Town Park on Saturday from 1pm, An Arts and Crafts Market on Gorey Main Street on Sunday from 10am, The Superhero Fun Run in Gorey Town Park on Sunday from 11am; The Annual Busking Competition in association with Making Music on Saturday, July 20^th and entry forms are available from Making Music and Loch Garman Arms.

700 poles and signs coming to rural roads

By Dan Walsh at Enniscorthy and Gorey meetings

The National Speed Limit Review legislation became law on April 12^th last and the provisional commencement for rural local roads is November and elected members were briefed on the changes at two meetings today (Tuesday); Enniscorthy Municipal District Council and Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District by Wexford County Council Chief Technician, David Codd.

2,993 km of non-national country roads will be assessed, that is 83.14% of Co. Wexford’s total road network consisting of 865km of Local Primary; 1,428km of Local Secondary and 646km of Local Tertiary. Approximately 700 poles and signs will be erected across the county. No reference to surface conditions or the cost!

It is proposed to reduce the existing default 80km/h on all rural non-national country roads to 60km/h, while all regional roads will continue to have an 80km/h default speed limit. Stage one will be an assessment, such as road paved width and stage two will look at geometrics such as horizontal and vertical alignment, traffic collision data, speed data, traffic volumes, seasonal peaks and attractions, the number of junctions and access etc.

There is lots more to follow, but the elected representatives were mostly puzzled by the new 60km/h sign which is “a circle with four diagonal lines at 60 degrees”? (See example attached).

Cllr Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin wondered aloud as to why the existing 60km/h sign would be replaced by the new ‘four diagonal lines’ sign? Cllr Anthony Donohoe was of the view that it makes no difference because the speed limits are unenforceable on rural roads.

So why go for the four diagonal lines as the replacement for the clear 60km/h sign? Wait for it! Because the 60km/h sign is regarded by many drivers as a ‘target’ rather than a guideline and the new sign takes that notion out of the drivers’ mind! It is accepted that education on the new signs will require the holding of a National Awareness Campaign.

Local authorities will be able to change the new default limits and the Department of Transport is to develop a specific training course for elected members in relation to speed limits.

No Gorey Show this year

By Dan Walsh

There will be no Gorey Agricultural Show this year. The Committee of Gorey Agricultural Show have made an announcement “to make unenviable decision and cancel our 2024 show.”

A statement issued yesterday (Monday) states as follows; “Despite the best efforts of The Irish Shows Association to allocate us a new date, none of the dates were suitable. July and August are very busy months for our area and unfortunately, we have not been able to find a date that suits everybody. It has proven more difficult to postpone/cancel the show than run it!

“Most of our suppliers are booked year on year and most cannot service a new date, as they are fully committed elsewhere. It is most unfortunate for all exhibitors and competitors also as we had a very full schedule of entries, and Gorey Agricultural Show is the first show for a lot of show people.

“However we are confident we made the correct decision on health and safety grounds, this year has been very testing for the farming community, we absolutely could not take any risks with regard to the safety of our competitors, traders, volunteers and our landowners.”

Next year’s show will be held on Saturday, June 21^st 2025, and the organisers “hope to see you all then.”

Busy weekend for Kilmore Quay RNLI

**KILMORE QUAY RNLI Lifeboat completes another successful rescue mission on Saturday evening.** (Pic; RNLI/*Elaine Walsh)*

By Dan Walsh

It was an exceptionally busy weekend for Kilmore Quay RNLI who responded to three separate requests for help from the Irish Coast Guard for assistance to people on vessels with engine failure off the Wexford coast.

On Friday morning, the crew responded to a request from the Irish Coast Guard to assist four people on a 24-metre fishing vessel with engine failure approximately 18 kilometres south-west of Kilmore Quay. Launching at 6.45am, the lifeboat was quickly on scene. Owing to the vessel being unable to make safe progress, the crew made the call to set up a tow and bring those on board safely back to Kilmore Quay where they arrived at 9am.

The volunteer crew were launched at 9pm on Saturday to assist a person on a 4-metre leisure craft suffering engine failure one kilometre south of Kilmore Quay harbour. The person on board was safe and well. With the boat unable to make safe progress and daylight fading, the lifeboat crew quickly established a towline and brought the casualty vessel back to Kilmore Quay arriving at 9.30pm.

Earlier that day, the crew responded to a request from the Irish Coast Guard to assist four people on a 24-metre fishing vessel experiencing issues with its engine approximately 12 kilometres south-west of Kilmore Quay. The lifeboat crew established a towline and brought the casualty vessel safely back to Kilmore Quay arriving at 10.30am.

Weather and sea conditions were good on each occasion.

Speaking following the call outs, Kilmore Quay RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, John Grace, told WexfordLocal.com; “Even the best maintained vessels can sometimes have something go wrong, so it is important to always be prepared for when it does happen as these people were. These tows were essential to ensure those on board could make safe onward journeys. All involved here did the right thing in calling for help when they did.

“We would urge anyone heading out to sea always carry a reliable means of communication, VHF, or a mobile phone in a waterproof case in case you need to call for help and always wear a life jacket. If you do get into difficulty or see someone else in trouble, dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard,” concluded Mr Grace.

Gardai investigating Wexford town assault

Gardai in Wexford town are investigating an assault that happened around 9pm last night (Sunday) in the Wolfe Tone Villas area of the town.

A male in his 30’s was taken to Wexford General Hospital for treatment to ‘non-life threatening’ injuries.

A male in his 40’s was arrested and detained at a Garda Station in the Eastern region under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

Helena Codd wins Best Dressed competition

Best Dressed winner at Wexford races, Helena Codd with Michelle Gordon, New Mood Boutique, Ursula Sinnott, Managing Director at Wexford Racecourse, Patsy Mulqueen, New Mood Boutique and celebrity judge Marietta Doran. (Pic; *Patrick Browne*).

By Dan Walsh at Wexford Racecourse

Last Saturday’s race meeting at Bettyville Park, Wexford, was Ladies Day and attracted a large attendance in pleasant weather conditions, where Helena Codd, 41 years old mother of two, was crowned winner of the Best Dressed Competition.

The competition was sponsored by New Mood Boutique, Cornmarket, Wexford and Wexford Racecourse and the celebrity judge was Marietta Doran. Helena Codd was the clear winner, and the other finalists were Alison Walsh, Ann-Marie Blake, Catherine Byrne and Veronica Walsh.

Interviewed in the parade ring, Helena told Marietta Doran; “I am wearing a blue ensemble, 8 Sign dress, shoes from Dune and a headpiece that I picked up yesterday morning only. So very last minute.com from Theresa in Hats Life.’

Helena, who works in financial services is married to her husband Martin, with whom she shares two children – Annabelle, (8), and Cian, (9). It’s her first time winning a best dressed competition and her first time back to the races with her husband in about 12 years.

Helena confessed that she loves makeup and fashion but said she has gone through a style evolution over the years, choosing more ‘classic’ and ‘elegant’ pieces as she turns 30.

Good racing and local success at Wexford

By Dan Walsh at Wexford races

Despite the unsettled summer weather, they were watering the track at Bettyville Park all week and they raced on ‘good’ ground today where the pace was fast and furious. It was Ladies Day and the largest attendance for this year were entertained by good racing and local success in pleasant conditions.

**Donnchadh Doyle, JJ Slevin (jockey) and Sean Doyle pose for the cameras following Monbeg Park’s success in the beginners’ Chase at Wexford today** (Pic; *WexfordLocal.com)*

Monbeg Park (11/4) was a popular local winner of the beginners’ chase providing Ballindaggin-based trainer Sean Doyle with a one and three-quarter lengths victory in the colours of the trainer’s brother, Donnchadh Doyle.

Ridden by JJ Slavin, Caim, Enniscorthy, the gelding tracked the leaders in the closing stages but put in a big bold jump over the final fence and overhauled the front runner Caesar Rock to loud cheers from a large attendance at the track. Speaking afterwards, Sean Doyle said; “He is made for fences, he jumped very well today and JJ was always happy with him. I still think there is a big race in him, so we won’t over race him. It’s grand to get his head back in front and it’s great to have a winner at the local track.”

The feature race was the Micheal Ó’Murchadha Memorial Handicap Chase and victory went to the nine-year-old Railway Hurricane (7/1) for the Gavin Cromwell stable and confidently ridden by Conor Stone-Walsh from Cleariestown. There was a Wexford trained runner-up, Flash de Touzaine trained by Liz Doyle and ridden by Sean O’Keeffe and the 3/1 favourite The Short Go filled third place with Caim jockey Jordan Gainford up.

Racheal Blackmore was in the winners’ enclosure after Nouvotic (13/8 favourite) took the opening maiden hurdle for Waterford trainer Henry de Bromhead. Conor Stone-Walsh was third on the Colm Murphy trained Nels Son.

There was a happy ending to division two of the Tote sponsored handicap hurdle where Getaway Harry (33/1) ridden by Donagh Meylar provided Danny O’Leary with his first ever winner under rules. Afterwards O’Leary said; “That’s my first winner and I only have one horse. I have the licence about five or six years, and we were due a winner.

“My father and uncle always had racehorses at home, we are farmers though and this is kind of a hobby. We are based in Tullylease on the Cork, Limerick border near Kanturk. He had been working well at home and we were hopeful today. He is family owned and my sister Christina bred him.”

Racing returns to Bettyville Park on Wednesday, July 24^th with an evening meeting on the following day, Thursday, July 25^th and three fixtures in August so plenty of quality racing to enjoy in the sunny South-East.

Wexford Bus has free seats to the Fleadh!

By Dan Walsh

Wexford Bus has been revealed as the Official Travel Partner of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2024 and in celebration of the partnership, Wexford Bus announced it will be operating the Wexford Bus Connect Town Services (Route WX1 and WX2) free of charge for the duration of the Fleadh. In addition, the Wexford Bus timetables will be extended to include extra night-time services to facilitate visitors attending the Fleadh.

Brendan Crowley, Managing Director of Wexford Bus commented: “As a Wexford company we are very proud to welcome Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann to Wexford. We are excited to announce this partnership and really look forward to bringing visitors to our beautiful town and county for this incredible event. We are delighted that the Fleadh is committed to encouraging visitors to use public transport to travel to and within Wexford. In support of this, our services within Wexford town namely Route WX1 and WX2 will be free of charge for the duration of the Fleadh.”

During the Fleadh, there will be several road closures in place that will impact Wexford Bus and other public transport services. The longer distance services including Route 740 and 740X: Wexford to Dublin City and Airport, Route 340: Wexford to Waterford and Route 376: Wexford to Carlow will serve all regular stops on the routes.

Brendan Crowley, Managing Director of Wexford Bus and Eddie Taaffe, Chief Executive of Wexford County Council and Chairperson of Fleadh Executive Committee making an important announcement for travel arrangements to and around Wexford town during next month’s Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann.

Wexford Bus will be adjusting several local bus routes as the Quay and Wexford Bridge will be closed to vehicles, including public transport from 10am daily. Information will be regularly updated on http://www.wexfordbus.com coming closer to the event.

“This partnership is very timely for Wexford Bus, we have launched two new routes this year including the 740X direct service between Wexford and Dublin City and Airport and the new 884 Route between Wexford and Gorey which travels on the R741 via Ballycanew and Oulart. We are delighted to be able to support this event and give something back to the people of Wexford who have been loyal supporters of Wexford Bus since we started.

Eddie Taaffe, Chief Executive of Wexford County Council and Chairperson of the Fleadh Executive Committee told WexfordLocal.com; “Wexford Bus operates the most extensive network of bus services within the county so having Wexford Bus on board as the Official Travel Partner of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2024 is a natural fit. We are delighted that Wexford Bus is offering free travel to all passengers on the Wexford Bus Local Town Services (Route WX1 and WX2) for the duration of the Fleadh as it will enable more people to visit the town and leave their cars at home. This is another example of the warm Wexford welcome that is being extended to visitors and I would like to thank Wexford Bus for their generous contribution.

“Where possible, Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann encourages visitors to travel to Wexford by public transport and consider walking, cycling and using the local buses while in the town. Travel emissions contribute to the Fleadh’s carbon footprint, if travelling by public transport is not an option, visitors are asked to car share,” concluded Mr Taaffe.

For more information please visit http://www.wexfordbus.com and http://www.fleadhcheoil.ie

NEWS UPDATE; Ferns Boil Water Notice remains in place

By Dan Walsh in Ferns

Uisce Éireann is reminding customers supplied by the Ferns Public Water Supply that the Boil Water Notice issued late last month will remain in place until further notice.

This notice was issued as a precautionary measure to protect the health of approximately 1,723 customers due to the detection of cryptosporidium in the water supply.

Sampling has commenced and will require several clear tests at appropriate intervals relevant to the water treatment plant process. The sampling and results will be reviewed by process experts in consultation with the HSE to lift the notice as soon as possible.

Jim Fitzgerald, Uisce Éireann Assets Operations Manager, told WexfordLocal.com this evening (Friday); “Public health is Uisce Éireann’s number one priority and we would like to assure customers that the notice has been put in place to protect their well-being. Our compliance and operations experts are on site and are working to lift the notice as quickly and as safely as possible. We understand the impact a Boil Water Notice (BWN) has on the local community and apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

Uisce Éireann’s drinking water standards, as per EU Drinking Water regulations, are strict and include wide safety margins. Where risks to water quality are identified through Uisce Éireann’s enhanced testing and monitoring programme, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is consulted, and Boil Water Notices are issued to protect public health. In all instances immediate action is taken to address the cause of the issue to enable the lifting of the notice as quickly as it is safe to do so, in agreement with the HSE.

All consumers affected by this notice must boil their water before drinking.