Many issues raised at Enniscorthy meeting

By Dan Walsh at Enniscorthy Municipal District Council meeting

There was a broad range of issues raised at Monday’s monthly meeting of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council held in the Council Chamber at the Presentation Centre. Cathaoirleach Cllr John O’Rourke presided.

Cllr Cathal Byrne would like to see the Local Link bus service through Bree and Ballyhogue extended to serve Galbally and he asked the roads engineering department to address potholes at Bellevue Court and the poor condition of the road from Ballymorris to Galbally.

Cllr Aidan Browne raised issues about the forest trail at the Ringwood and the poor conditions endured by residents.

It was confirmed that repairs to the bridge at The Still Pond is to receive attention.

Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy raised ongoing issues in the Bunclody area, especially at Abbeydown and Coolmeelagh, Cllr Kathleen Codd-Nolan  mentioned the traffic management situation at Ballycarney crossroads, and Cllr Jackser Owens suggested the need for a ramp to control the traffic flow at Bohreen Hill in Enniscorthy.

The TANYARD LANE leading onto Rafter Street is to get public lighting. (File Pic; WexfordLocal.com)

The roads report gave an insight into District Development Projects 2024 which are dependant on a budget of €150,000. Pedestrian crossings are high on the agenda.

A pedestrian crossing on Church Road, Bunclody, which cost €30,000 is completed and waiting for a power supply; A section of footpath in Kiltealy village is completed at a cost of €15,000 and works have started on the provision of public lighting at Tanyard Yard, between old Dunnes Stores car park and Rafter St., in Enniscorthy at a cost of €5,000.

A €60,000 pedestrian crossing on the R772 at the bottom of Springvally, near the Rafter Bridge, which is earmarked for demolition going forward, at Enniscorthy is “at the design stage,” so too, plans for line marking, signs and bollards at Pearse Road, Enniscorthy, and various schools and the invoice commences at €9,000.

Granite paving at St. Mogue’s Well in Ferns will cost €5,000 and works are expected to commence shortly, May 2024.

€26,000 is earmarked for a pedestrian crossing at St. Mary’s Cemetery at Blackstoops, Enniscorthy, and they are waiting until the contractors finish other works at Bohreen Hill.

The report says that general maintenance is ongoing, such as pothole repairs, gully cleaning and inlet works around the Enniscorthy Municipal District.

Woman’s body found in Castlebridge

By Dan Walsh

Gardai in Wexford are investigating an incident where the body of a woman in her mid-50s was found outside a house at Mill Park, Castlebridge.

Investigators believe a fatal incident involving a vehicle happened between 11.30am and 12 noon.

The body remains at the scene.

Forensic collision investigators are in attendance and a section of the Mill Park estate is closed to traffic.

Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the incident or who may have camera footage to contact them.

Anyone with information in relation to this incident can contact Wexford Garda Station on 053 9165200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.

Enniscorthy Forum hosts buildings action summit

Group photo on the roof of Enniscorthy Castle at Enniscorthy Forum Buildings Action Coalition Reception.

By Dan Walsh

Enniscorthy Forum hosted the second summit of its Buildings Action Coalition with the theme “Metrics of Success: Securing Real Progress Toward Sustainable Buildings”, bringing together officials and staff from both national and international government, policy experts, and leading building practitioners to explore how to decarbonise buildings and create more resilient livable communities.

The Enniscorthy Forum was established to support the United Nations’ sustainable development agenda, focusing on Buildings and the Built Environment, Energy, Diplomacy, Health, and Education.

In his opening remarks, the Minister for Housing, Local Government, and Heritage Darragh O’Brien noted; “The overall objective of the Enniscorthy Forum’s Buildings Action Coalition, to achieve high performance in buildings and the built environment rapidly and at global scale, strikes at the heart of the critical challenges we face. It is essential that all these efforts lead to improved quality of life – that is, improved health, better economic, social, and environmental resilience, social justice, better levels of comfort, affordability, indoor and broader urban air quality. We are pleased to see Ireland take a leading role in advancing these principles globally.” 

For various times over the course of three days, 150 participants joined the summit either in person or online to consider issues and opportunities related to buildings and the built environment.

Jack Chambers, Minister of State at the Department of Transport and Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, observed that “Nearly 40% of greenhouse gas emissions are a result of the energy services that buildings require, services such as heating, cooling, and ventilating. We can add to that figure all the embedded carbon in the materials that go into buildings and all of the transport emissions that are a consequence. 

Barbara-Anne Murphy CEO, Enniscorthy Forum, Tomas O’Leary and Art McCormack from MosArt signing Letter of Intent with Enniscorthy Forum Buildings Action Coalition.

  One of the key objectives under the vision of the Buildings Action Coalition is to change the culture of the buildings industries. Enniscorthy Forum is undertaking to achieve that shift in culture not only through its networks of academia and centres of excellence, but also through engagement with youth organisations and use of the creative and performing arts to both teach and inspire youth on the principles of high performance. 

One of the highlights of the summit was a gathering at Senan House, the first high performance commercial building in Ireland, for a presentation of technology innovations emerging from Trinity College of Dublin’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre. Participants then decamped to Enniscorthy Castle for a ceremony signing in new members of the Buildings Action Coalition. In addition to the letters of intent signed with the YSL, new members included MosArt Passive House Architects based in County Wicklow and Centre for Energy Efficiency EnEffect based in Sophia, Bulgaria. 

In her concluding remarks, Barbara-Anne Murphy, CEO of Enniscorthy Forum, noted “Getting buildings and the built environment right is the one thing that can deliver important, impactful results in a relevant timeframe. We don’t need to wait for nuclear fusion – we have the technology, we have the capital, and we have the know-how to make a real difference in the performance of buildings.” 

Fire at old Ballycarney post office

Fire crews from Bunclody and Enniscorthy fighting a fire at the old post office in Ballycarney this morning. (Pic; Barry Lacey).

By Dan Walsh

Two units of County Wexford Fire Service from Enniscorthy and Bunclody responded to an outbreak of fire at the Old Post Office in Ballycarney this morning.

The appliances arrived promptly at the scene and succeeded in containing the fire and prevented it from spreading while the interior of the building escaped damage.

In a post on social media, Barry Lacey thanked the efforts of the fire service and added; “We would also like to thank our neighbours and friends and people in the local community. Within 10 minutes of the smoke being first reported people ascended on the scene with ladders, buckets and banded together to help contain the fire from spreading.

“In the following hours more people arrived to help with the clean-up and turned what would have been a day’s work into only few hours,” said Mr Lacey who extended “a huge thank you to everyone who helped today and while this event was unfortunate it certainly showed what a strong community exists here in Ballycarney. The fire slowed us down but didn’t stop us and we’ll see you all for tea and a chat soon!!

Owned by father and son Sean and Barry Lacey, the restored thatched cottage situated on Ballycarney village crossroads served the community as a post office, 1891-1938. Currently, it is used by Ballycarney Development Group for gatherings enjoying songs and stories and available to community groups in a traditional cottage setting beside the River Slaney.   

30 Wexford schools to get hot meals

By Dan Walsh

Children in 30 schools in Wexford are to benefit from a further extension to the Hot School meals Programme, said Deputy Paul Kehoe, who added; “Any remaining primary schools in Wexford who have not yet joined the scheme can now express an interest to participate in the Hot School Meals Programme with effect from September.

DEPUTY PAUL KEHOE

Deputy Kehoe said: “I am delighted that Taoiseach Simon Harris and Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys TD, have announced this further support to schools, which means an additional 150,000 children will benefit from nutritious hot meals, with many of those in Wexford.

“The Hot School Meals Programme was introduced in 2019 as a small pilot of 30 schools. Minister Humphreys has grown the programme significantly in recent years and over 2,000 primary schools are now eligible to receive a hot meal with plans to include additional schools later this year.

“Last year, Minister Humphreys signalled her intention to rollout the Hot School Meals Programme to all primary schools,” recalled Deputy Kehoe, who added; “Wexford schools that are currently not getting funding for hot school meals will now be able to express their interest in participating from September and I would strongly encourage them to engage in that process as soon as possible.”

3 Wexford drama groups in All Ireland

By Dan Walsh

BALLYCOGLEY PLAYERS…One of three Co. Wexford groups in the All Ireland Open Drama Finals 2024.

The draw for the Open All Ireland RTÉ Amateur Drama Finals 2024 taking place in the Dean Crowe Theatre, Athlone, took place today (Sunday) and with three of the nine finalists having qualified from Co. Wexford the dates are important.

And they are as follows;

Thursday, May 2nd, the opening night of the festival; Bridge Drama and The Wake by Tom Murphy; Friday, May 3rd, Wexford Drama Group How I Learned to Drive by Paula Vogel; and Thursday, May 9th, Ballycogley Players Out Of Order by Ray Cooney.

Barry and Rob are neck and neck

By Dan Walsh

Neighbouring riders Barry O’Neill and Rob James are ‘neck and neck’ at the top of the national point-to-point riders’ championship, and they had a winner apiece at Castletown-Geoghegan, Co. Westmeath, today (Sunday) and are 27-26 at the top of the table with about six weekends to go until the end of the 2023-’24 season.

James drew level with champion O’Neill when he partnered newcomer Drop A Threat to a 12 lengths victory for the Monbeg Syndicate and Donnchadh Doyle in the maiden race for five-year-old geldings. But an hour later and Barry was back on top again with an 8 lengths victory on Deravarra Rose for local Mullingar handler Ciaran Murphy with Rob in the runner-up spot on Notnoweve for David Christie in the mares’ maiden contest.

SEAN DOYLE and JACK HENDRICK enjoyed success with On The Bayou at the point-to-point in Castletown-Geoghegan today. (File Pic; WexfordLocal.com)

Sean Doyle initiated the first leg of a double with newcomer On The Bayou, running in the Monbeg Partnership colours and ridden by Jack Hendrick, Mayglass, in division two of the maiden race for four-year-olds in which only two finished at the Westmeath track.

Doyle made it a double on the day at Dromahane, Co. Cork, when saddling Dawn Miss, the 12 lengths winner of the maiden race for five and six-year-old mares and ridden by Jamie Scallan, Tomhaggard,

Another Tomhaggard rider Tiernan Power Roche teamed up with Cleariestown handler Mark Scallan and the partnership enjoyed a double at the Cork venue. Newcomer Captains Speech in the colours of Denis Hayes scored by five and a half lengths in the second division of the geldings four-year-old maiden race and Laura Scallan’s Always A Reason made it a double for the rider/handler partnership by four lengths in the maiden race for five-year-old geldings. 

Rob James bags three at Ballycrystal

Peadar Mordaunt, Luke Murphy (rider), John Murphy (handler) with Committee Meeting following success in division one of the Goffs Punchestown Sales race at Ballycrystal point-to-point this afternoon.

By Dan Walsh at Ballycrystal

The national point-to-point riders’ championship is really hotting up following today’s Island Hunt fixture at Ballycrystal where Rob James rode a treble and is now only one winner (26-25) behind the reigning champion Barry O’Neill in the 2023-’24 championship race. There were also doubles for local handlers Donnchadh Doyle and Matthew Flynn O’Connor who saddled his 25th career point-to-point winner.

The four-year-old mares maiden race was divided and the 16 lengths success of Fruit De Mer was the first leg of a double for the Donnchadh Doyle/Rob James team. Only two of the eight starters finished with Colin Bowe’s Paul Collins (Barry O’Neill up) filling the runner-up position.

The sale race was also divided and division one went to Committee Meeting for the father and son team of John and Luke Murphy from Inch, Gorey. Division two was the first leg of a double for local handler Matthew Flynn O’Connor when Rucker Road ridden by Brian Lawless took advantage by four lengths.

Flynn O’Connor and Lawless were in the winners’ enclosure half an hour later with Je Viens Du Large who had an amazing 56 lengths success as only two finished in the Winners of One race.

Peggy’s Rock (Michael Goff/Mikey Sweeney) led throughout the Open Lightweight Race confined to mares but made a mistake at the final obstacle and was caught at the finish by Millie Supreme – half a length in it – to complete a double for Donnchadh Doyle and Rob James.

The largest field of the day -15 – turned out in the maiden race for five and six-year-old maidens and victory for Cloonainra for handler David O’Brien from Piltown, Co. Kilkenny, and third winner of the afternoon for Rob James.

Derek O’Connor, who won the Foxhunters at Aintree on Thursday, scored on Kara Sacre for the Tipperary handler Sam Curling in division two of the maiden race for four-year-old mares. Six lengths the verdict.

Mickthesoldier was an eight lengths winner of the maiden race for six-year-olds for Denis Ahern of Dungourney, Co. Cork. This was a second point-to-point victory for Michael Kenneally, who had a spell as a flat jockey in the United Kingdom.

It was a good day’s racing, two divides, an 8-race card, the going was ‘soft to heavy’, a nice Saturday crowd and the Aintree Grand National was screened and enjoyed thanks to the Island Hunt team.

Fierce Wexford interest in today’s Aintree Grand National

PAUL HILLIS brought the Aintree Grand National Trophy to Wexford Racecourse following success in 2023. Seen here with track manager MICHAEL MURPHY. Will the trophy be back in the winners’ enclosure at Wexford following today’s big race? (Pic; WexfordLocal.com)

By Dan Walsh

The world famous Aintree Grand National takes place today with the big race off at 4pm and there is fierce Wexford interest from the Wexford-bred Corach Rambler attempting to win the race for the second time in a row while several Wexford-born jockeys will be lining up for what could be the greatest sporting day of their lives.

This year’s favourite is Corach Rambler (7/1, jockey Derek Fox), a winner a year ago, named after a well-known local soccer team by the River Corach, near Wellingtonbridge, the 10 year old son of Jeremy bred by Paul Hillis, from the Bannow Ballymitty area of south Wexford, who is a partner with three Scottish enthusiasts in a winning syndicate known as The Rambler.

Last year Corach Rambler succeeded in the world’s toughest steeplechase to a great reception and wearing the favourites tag, but the runner-up also had a Wexford connection. Vanillier was ridden by Sean Flanagan from Robinstown, New Ross. Vanillier (10/1) will line up this afternoon again with Flanagan in the saddle.

Other Wexford jockeys in action in the big race this afternoon includes Jordan Gainford, Caim, who takes the mount on front runner, Coko Beach (22/1); Panda Boy (10/1) is the mount of JJ Slevin, Caim, Enniscorthy, who won his second Irish Grand National a few weeks ago at Fairyhouse; and Sean O’Keeffe, Harveystown, Taghmon, is on the 50/1 outsider Adamantly Chosen.

London-based property millionaire and amateur jockey David Maxwell, 45, rides Ain’t That A Shame (40/1) trained by Henry de Bromhead in the neighbouring county of Waterford and he has very close Wexford connections. He is son of Judy Maxwell (née Spring), formerly of Ballinadara House, Enniscorthy, who was my neighbour in our school days, who married and settled in Downpatrick, Co. Down, a long number of years ago. Judy’s Dad, Julian Spring (1922-1987) was Master of the Bree Hunt for many years and he also hunted the Wexford’s and The Island.  

RNLI 200 Concert in the National Opera House

Pictured at the launch of RNLI 200 Concert; A Celebration of Volunteers, Their Families and the Community taking place in the National Opera House, Wexford, on May 23rd. (Pic; RNLI/Lorraine Galvin).

By Dan Walsh

RNLI 200 Concert is a special commemorative event marking the 200-year legacy of the RNLI and pays tribute to the brave volunteers who crew the boats, their families who make sacrifices, and the communities that support them. It takes place in the National Opera House, Wexford, on May 23rd next.

RNLI 200 promises to be an unforgettable journey through history, showcasing the courage and dedication of RNLI volunteers. The one night only spectacular will feature a diverse range of performances, including song, dance, spoken word, and video presentations.

Audiences will be treated to stories ranging from the foundation of the RNLI to epic rescues carried out by RNLI crews along the South East of Ireland, namely Courtown, Wexford, Rosslare Harbour, Kilmore Quay and Fethard RNLI.

Local talents such as George Lawlor, Tony Carthy, Chris Currid, The Craic Pots, Wexford School of Ballet and Performing Arts, and Dara Pierce Ballet Academy will grace the stage alongside nationally recognised artists like renowned piper Mark Redmond and tenor Glenn Murphy.
Under the baton of composer Liam Bates, the evening promises to be a symphony of emotion and celebration. Adding to the star-studded line-up, Celtic Thunder star Ryan Kelly and Celtic Woman star Chloe Agnew, and fresh from their sell out performance at the National Concert Hall, The Sea of Change Choir, will make a special guest appearance, with more surprise guests to be announced in the coming weeks.

RNLI 200 is set to captivate audiences with its blend of entertainment and heartfelt tribute. Proceeds from the event will go to the RNLI. Tickets for RNLI 200 are priced at €30 each and are available for purchase from www.nationaloperahouse.ie.