MARSGHALSTOWN NATIONAL SCHOOL celebrates its 50th anniversary on Thursday.
By Dan Walsh
Marshalstown National School will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its opening next Thursday, June 20th, with Bishop Ger Nash as the chief celebrant at 7pm Mass followed by a visit to the school, and afterwards there will be tea in the Community Centre,
It is an open event, and the school management would like to extend a warm invitation to all present and past pupils, their parents, friends, all parishioners, and the wider Marshalstown community to celebrate this great occasion.
Marshalstown National School (Scoil Íosaf Naofa) has about 200 pupils on the rolls and the Principal is Michelle O’Neill.
Pupils and teachers, Maurice Lyons, Mrs Kinsella and Mrs Lyons, moved into the new Marshalstown school on October 1st, 1973, after it was built on a two acre site in a location known locally as “the Priest’s Field.” It has been significantly enlarged and modernised within the passing decades. (History Source; Marshalstown & Castledockrell Parish Journal, pub. 2003).
The parish priest of Bree, Fr. Michael Byrne celebrated the Golden Jubilee of his ordination at a special Thanksgiving Mass in Bree Church where the chief celebrant was the Bishop of Ferns Ger Nash.
FR. MICHAEL BYRNE, PP, BREE
It was an occasion of celebration in the parish and after Mass large numbers gathered in Bree Community Centre to congratulate Fr. Byrne and appreciate his contribution to the betterment of health and happiness shown to the parishioners and to partake in refreshments.
Fr Michael expressed a desire for donations to St Patrick’s Missionaries, Kiltegan mission work in the Amazon Basin in lieu of any personal gifts.
BIOGRAPHY; Michael Byrne was born in 1951 in Foulksmills, attended Clongeen National School, educated at St. Peter’s College, Wexford, St. Peter’s Seminary and the Pontifical Liturgical Institute, San Anselmo, Rome, and was ordained at St. Peter’s College on June 7th, 1974.
Fr. Byrne was appointed to the staff of St. Peter’s Seminary in 1976 and was transferred to Gorey in September 1977. He joined the Ferns Mission to Brazil in 1980 and on his return, he was curate at Clonard from 1987 until his return to San Paulo, Brazil, in 1994. He took sabbatical leave in the United States, 1999-2000, and was appointed parish priest of Davidstown in September 2000. He took leave of absence in 2005 and was replaced by Fr. Jim Nolan PP. He returned and was appointed parish priest of Cushinstown in 2006.
Fr. Byrne succeeded Fr. Frank Murphy as parish priest of Bree in August 2014 and in 2022, assumed the pastoral duties of Ballyhogue and Galbally.
Pictured at the launch of the Rosslare Harbour Festival in the Garden Café this evening were (left to right); Leo Coy, Chair and Organiser of Rosslare Harbour Festival; Cllr Jim Moore, Cathaoirleach Rosslare Municipal District, who performed the official launch; Madeleine Quirke, Vice-Chair Rosslare Harbour Development Board; and Cllr Aoife Rose O’Brien. (Pic; WexfordLocal.com)
By Dan Walsh at Rosslare Harbour Festival launch
The 3rd annual three-day Rosslare Harbour Maritime, Heritage, Art and Music Festival takes place this weekend and the official opening of the festival was performed by Cathaoirleach of Rosslare Municipal District, Cllr Jim Moore, at a pleasant function held last evening at the Garden Café in Rosslare Harbour.
Cllr Moore said he was delighted to be asked to open the festival and he thanked the organisers for the work they put into the role of community initiatives to develop culture and unveil the curiosity of coastal communities wondering what is beyond the horizon! “Rosslare district has 100kms of coastline,” he concluded.
Newly elected Cllr Aoife Rose O’Brien thanked the organisers for the great welcome received and she pledged her support for initiatives in the district and stated she was “delighted to be part of it.”
Madeleine Quirke, Vice-chairperson of Rosslare Harbour Development Board had a warm welcome for guests at the launch and spoke passionately about the relationship between Ireland and France and the boost it gives to tourism and the hospitality sector, mentioned several ongoing projects in the area, and rejoiced at the strengthening connection that has developed between Rosslare and Europe.
Leo Coy, Chairman of the Rosslare Harbour Festival Committee and organiser of the festival, paid tribute to the generous sponsors and those who have contributed to getting the programme together and he thanked them all.
Saturday’s programme commences at 11am in the Maritime Heritage Centre and features a Cruinnia na nÓg workshop followed by a performance of ‘Echoes of the Sea’ by Rosslare National School pupils; a talk on the Wexford Zorro by author Eoin Christopher McAuley; and a talk on the Port of Cherbourg by Dr Michel Aumont, Normandy.
From 2pm Uileann Pipers, KRH Tops and guests, Sarah Deevy, Craobh Loch Garman Group and Carrig Ban Group will perform in the Memorial Garden. Night sessions include The Allabair Trio and Melanie O’Reilly’s Jazz Quartet in the Railway Social Club and there is also music in Kilrane Inn and Culleton’s Kilrane.
Sunday’s fare begins at 11am with a 4k sponsored walk from The Viewing Point. Crab fishing the blessing of boats ceremony by Fr. Diarmuid Desmond P.P, Crab fishing lines up and the Wexford Sailing Cots Race for the Jim Wickham Cup takes place at the Lagoon.
Sunday afternoon events are in the Memorial Garden and included is the Rosslare Harbour Lifeboat Wreath Laying at 1,30pm; Music with Mark O’Connor, the Competition Prize Presentation with DJ Pat and the High C’s Shanty Group will make for a memorable festival for all the family and the organising committee have a ‘cead mile fáilte’ and a warm welcome for everyone enjoying the festivities in Rosslare Harbour over the next few days.
ST. HELEN’S BAY and BEACH … ‘Do Not Swim’ notices have been lifted (Pic; Visit Wexford)
Wexford County Council is advising the public that the “Do Not Swim” notices issued for St. Helen’s Beach, Rosslare, on June 10th has now been lifted, following clear resampling and consultation with the HSE.
Bathing water quality results for 19 Wexford beaches sampled over the 2024 to date bathing season, have been mainly excellent as published on the EPA operated website http://www.Beaches.ie
Pictured at the 80th Anniversary of the D-Day landings at Ballineskar Beach (l-r): Catherine McPartlin, Treasurer, Wexford Normandy Cultural Association (WNCA); Leo Coy, Chairperson, WNCA; Lorcán Kinsella, President, County Wexford Chamber; His Excellency Vincent Guerénd, Ambassador of France to Ireland; and Melanie O’Reilly, Secretary, WNCA. (Pic; Larry Dunne)
By Dan Walsh
Some extraordinary links between France and Ireland emerged as Melanie O’Reilly, Secretary of Wexford Normandy Cultural Association was special guest at the 80th anniversary of the D Day Landings ceremonies in Saint Lo recently.
Ms. O’Reilly who relates the atmosphere of the historic occasion exclusively in an audio presentation on WexfordLocal.com (see Audio Addition on this page) had a brief meeting and handshake with President Emannuel Macron of France, who said; “We are friends with Ireland.”
But there are other connections too. The Red Cross and a nurse from Wexford, the role played by Rickard Donovan of Ballymore, Camolin, and, of course, the beach at Ballineskar used to recreate the scenes of Omaha beach in the Steven Spielberg movie Saving Private Ryan.
AUDIO ADDITION; MELANIE O’REILLY, Secretary of the Wexford Normandy Cultural Association tells DAN WALSH of WexfordLocal.com about recent events happening around D-Day commemorations.
A poignant ceremony marking the 80th anniversary Commemoration of the D-Day landings took place at Ballineskar Beach, hosted by the Wexford Normandy Cultural Association where wreaths were laid, including one by Ambassade De France En Irelande Vincent Guérend.
Ballineskar Beach was the location for the filming of scenes for the film Saving Private Ryan and the wreaths were in honour of all those who lost their lives on June 6th, 1944.
That was the day that the Allied Forces stormed the beaches in Normandy, France, a day which was recreated to spine chilling effect in Steven Spielberg’s 1998 war epic.
Some upcoming events related to the D-Day include Saturday, June 15th; Melanie & guests: Rosslare Harbour Festival. Railway Club at 8.30pm.
Wednesday, June 19th; La Fête de la Musique at 2pm; Melanie O’Reilly Jazz Trio with special guest Brewen Favreau at Wexford Arts Centre,Presented in association with l’Ambassade de France en Irlande, and Wexford Normandy Cultural Association.
Friday, June 21st, at Sigginstown Castle, 8pm; The Allabair Trio: The Last of the Irish Bards. Saturday, June 29th at Jazz at Johnstown Festival, Johnstown Castle : Summer Song Trio at 4.15pm
Wexford-born Independents4Change MEP Mick Wallace has lost his seat as the lowest-placed candidate after the 20th count in the Ireland South constituency.
Independent Michael McNamara, Sinn Féin’s Kathleen Funchion and Fianna Fáil’s Cynthia Ní Mhurchú have taken the final three seats. They will join Fine Gael’s Seán Kelly and Fianna Fáil’s Billy Kelleher as MEPs for the constituency.
68 years old Wallace is a native of Welingtonbridge and served as a Wexford constituency member of Dail Éireann from 2011 to 2019, when he was elected a member of the European Parliament.
Attendees at beach clean at Burrow Beach, Kilmore, including Cllr. Jim Moore, Cathaoirleach of Rosslare Municipal District, Laura Brien, CEO of MARA, officials from Wexford County Council and MARA and members of Tomhaggard Clean Coasts Group and the local community. (Pic; Rocket Science Media)
By Dan Walsh
European Maritime Day and World Ocean Day was celebrated by Wexford County Council, the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA), Tomhaggard Clean Coasts Group and the local community who came together to carry out a community clean at the Burrow beach in Kilmore Quay last Friday.
Eddie Taaffe, Chief Executive, Wexford County Council said; “the event highlights the importance of our coasts for our life and planet, and we are delighted to collaborate with MARA and local volunteers to celebrate our wonderful beaches and coastline. Our recent membership of KIMO International further demonstrates the Council’s commitment to cleaner seas and a more sustainable environment.
“The people of Wexford take enormous pride in their localities, and this has been reflected in the number of individuals, tidy towns groups and clean coast groups who give up their time to help clean their local communities. I would like to thank all the groups and volunteers who undertake clean ups all year round, you are all a credit to your local community,” concluded Mr Taaffe.
Laura Brien, CEO of MARA added; “At the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority we are deeply committed to the health and sustainability of our oceans. Partnering with Wexford County Council, Tomhaggard Clean Coasts and the local community here in Kilmore today for this beach clean to mark both European Maritime Day and World Ocean Day underscores our dedication to protecting marine environments.”
Cllr. Jim Moore, Cathaoirleach of Rosslare Municipal District, at what was one of his final engagements prior to his retirement at the end of this Council’s term, noted; “Here in Wexford we have 260 kilometres of coastline and 100 kilometres in the Rosslare Municipal District. We locally realise the value of our coastline and the need to be mindful of the care and attention that is required to maintain these very important biodiversity resources and all that it offers us as community members.”
ROSSLARE HARBOUR Lifeboat towing the yacht (Picl RNLI/Nuala McAloon)
By Dan Walsh
Rosslare Harbour and Kilmore Quay RNLI came to the aid of two crew aboard an 8-metre yacht which was in danger of breaking up in a force 7 to 8 north-easterly gale in Rosslare Port on Monday morning.The Rosslare Harbour all-weather lifeboat was launched at 8.15 am following a call from The Irish Coast Guard.
The yacht had developed engine failure earlier and its crew were forced to tie up at The Fisherman’s Wall in Rosslare Port. However, the yacht was fully exposed to the strong gales and was in danger of breaking up. Due to the adverse conditions at Rosslare Harbour, it was decided to attach a tow line and bring the vessel to the nearest available safe shelter which was Kilmore Quay marina.
The RNLI crew at Kilmore Quay launched and arrived on scene at Carnsore Point at 10.15am. The crews worked together to transfer the tow to the second lifeboat, relieving the Rosslare Harbour lifeboat crew to return to base. The boats made their way back to Kilmore Quay arriving just after midday without further incident.
The seas were rough in a force 7/8 North-Easterly gale. There was no rain. Visibility was good.
Last Thursday evening at Leopardstown 18-year-old apprentice jockey Gabriella Hill celebrated the first winner of her career when the Jim Bolger trained Glor Tire (11/8 fav.) won a handicap mile race.
From Monksgrange, Rathnure, the talented teenager was keeping a family tradition going, as she is the great-granddaughter of the late Charmian Hill, owner of the legendary mare Dawn Run, winner of the 1984 Champion Hurdle and 1986 Gold Cup.
GABRIELLA HILL riding her first wionner on Glor Tire at Leopardstown.
Hill had gone close earlier on the card when second on Bolger’s Bold Approach in the 1m5f apprentice handicap but got off the mark on her 14th mount.
Hill, who had her first ride last September, told the racing media; “I started at Coolcullen last year and I asked Mr Bolger (who is a native of Oylegate) to sign me on. I got my licence in late September. I had a couple of rides after that and this year it is really kicking on for me.”
She added; “We always had a couple of horses at home and we’ve a few in training at the minute. I’ve always been riding. I started with a local point-to-point trainer down the road at weekends. I got a taste for it then and got my licence. I’m really enjoying it.”
The annual Gorey Agricultural Show planned for next Saturday at Ashton, Ballycanew has been postponed due to “difficult ground conditions and a worsening weather forecast” and the organisers say “a new date will be set in due course”
In a statement issued this morning reads;“The Committee of Gorey Agricultural Show have had to make the very difficult decision to postpone our 2024 show due to difficult ground conditions and a worsening weather forecast. In the interest of health and safety and out of respect for our landowners it would be irresponsible to continue with preparations. Public Safety is our number one priority and all decisions made by our committee are reflective of this. We would like to thank our landowners, our sponsors and our exhibitors for their continued support. Please be patient with us,”
A new date for the Gorey Agricultural Show will be set in due course.
WexfordLocal.com 