ArtLinks is a partnership of the four Local Authority Arts Offices in Wexford, Carlow, Kilkenny and Waterford, supported by the Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon. The bursaries for emerging and professional artists provide professional development opportunities and supports for artists who are resident in the four counties.
DEBORAH REIDY (Visual Arts). (Pic Wexford Arts Office).
The recipients of the €30,000 bursaries from the Arts Office, Wexford County Council are: Bernadette Doolin – Visual Art; Josephine Whitmore – Visual Art/Textile; Mayumi Nakabayashi – Visual Art; Cillian Byrne – Music; Caroline Busher – Literature; Ciana Fitzgerald – Visual Arts; Vivian Brody Hayes – Dance; Aileen Lambert – Traditional Arts; Brendan Fahy – Circus; Deborah Reidy – Visual Arts; Alec Moore – Visual Arts; Keli-Ann Masterson – Opera; Mirona Mara – Visual Arts, and Serena Caulfield – Visual Arts.
In thanking all the ArtLinks members who submitted applications, Liz Burns, Arts Officer, Wexford County Council said: ‘I am pleased that the Local Authority could support so many artists in the development of their arts practices and careers. The competition in Wexford was very high in2024 with 46 applicants in total. Out of an increased fund of €30,000 the assessment panel awarded 14 Bursaries in total to Wexford based artists across art forms of Visual arts, Literature, Music, Drama, Film and Street Arts”.
Candidates of the new Wexford Independent Alliance pictured at the launch in the Riverside Park Hotel, Enniscorthy. (Back row); Jimmy Fleming (Gorey), Marty Murphy (New Ross), Raymond Shannon (Wexford), Nicky Boland (Gorey), Cyril Wheelock (Enniscorthy), Cllr Pat Barden (New Ross) and Jack Barden (Rosslare). (Front row); Michelle O’Neill (Wexford), Deputy Verona Murphy, Majella Wall (Enniscorthy) and Paddy Kavanagh (Kilmuckridge).
By Dan Walsh at Riverside Park Hotel, Enniscorthy
It was standing room only in Riverside Park last night (Wednesday) as more than 700 people gathered to support ten candidates from the Wexford Independent Alliance who will contest five districts in the Local Elections on June 7th.
Deputy Verona Murphy told the gathering that the new political movement, Wexford Independent Alliance are committed to making a change for the County of Wexford and the people who call Wexford home.
“We have unveiled a total of ten candidates who will contest the local elections on June 7th in each of the five districts, candidates who are prepared to listen and work hard to bring about change,” said Deputy Murphy, who added; “The Alliance will offer the people of Wexford a real alternative to the current party politics that is not working for our county. Party politics must be challenged at local level to ensure stability and prosperity for people alongside sustainability for communities throughout Co. Wexford.
AUDIO ADDITION; VERONA MURPHY TD speaking at the WIA launch in Riverside Park Hotel, Enniscorthy, last night.
The guest speaker was Senator Michael McDowell, SC, a former Minister for Justice who called for the return of local politics and power to the local authorities instead of being dictated from Dublin. The attendance included Galway’s Noel Greelish TD and Waterford’s Matt Shanahan TD. Former Wexford TD and broadcaster Ivan Yates was master of ceremonies.
MEET THE CANDIDATES
JIMMY FLEMING (Gorey). A businessman from Riverchapel and boss of Paddy Blues in Gorey. Between 2002 and 2012 he was elected to serve on Gorey Town Commissioners and represented both Sinn Féin and Fianna Fail on different occasions.
NICKY BOLAND (Gorey). Over 40 years in business and well-known in North Wexford, he has never had his name on a ballot paper before. Looking forward to the challenge and is hoping to get a large share of the ‘town vote’.
PADDY KAVANAGH (Kilmuckridge). A former member of Enniscorthy UDC and Enniscorthy Town Council and member of Wexford County Council he feels “a voice is needed for rural Ireland.” Chairman of Enniscorthy Dog Track and well-known in IFA circles.
CYRIL WHEELOCK (Enniscorthy). His name is synonymous with strawberries, served as Chairman of Enniscorthy Strawberry Fair Committee. He treats lame cows. In recent years he set up The Village at Wheelock’s at Finchogue and is interested in bringing more tourism to the area.
MAJELLA WALL (Enniscorthy). Six years in business and runs the J’Dore boutique on Rafter Street. Involved with the Capital Development at Bellefield. Would like to see the rejuvenation of Enniscorthy town centre and bring in more business.
RAYMOND SHANNON (Wexford). From George’s Street, Wexford town, second youngest in a family of 10, and single Dad of four, and a pioneer of mental health locally. Believes that Wexford needs 24/7 mental health services. If elected, he hopes to make Wexford a better place for all.
MICHELLE O’NEILL (Wexford). A mother, an artist and an international World Cup and FIFA referee her mottos is “people before political parties.” She believes that “to see the change you have to be that change.” Very well-known as a sporting icon and community activist.
CLLR PAT BARDEN (New Ross). From Adamstown and five years a member of Wexford County Council, well-known for his hurling and football skills. Would like to be Chairman of Wexford County Council one day! Keen on developments in Adamstown village and would like to see the iconic Adamstown Hall signed over.
MARTY MURPHY (New Ross). A dairy farmer and Chairman of the Co. Wexford Milk Producers from the Ballyhack/Campile area ofsouth-west Wexford. Promises to work for farming, fishing and tourism. Has a happy motto; “Forget the Party. Vote for Marty.”
JACK BARDEN (Rosslare). Brother of Cllr Pat Barden and affectionately described as “one of life’s characters and a skilled salesman.” Promises to deliver for the people mainly in the areas of Bannow, Ballymitty and Taghmon. He feels that Taghmon is a forgotten place that has the potential to be a flourishing place.
Independent TD for Wexford, Verona Murphy will unveil a team of Independent candidates in all of the five Wexford districts for the upcoming local elections in June at a public meeting tonight in the Riverside Park Hotel Enniscorthy. The event is open to the public to attend.
Speaking to WexfordLocal.com from her New Ross office this Wednesday morning, Deputy Murphy said; “Since my election in 2020, I have sat at many County Council meetings, at these meeting sitting councillors represent their party policies rather than representing the people who elected them, decisions are made at local level by directives sent down by political party administrators in Dublin with little or no regard for the people affected by these decisions.
DEPUTY VERONA MURPHY (File Pic; WexfordLocal.com)
“That status quo of decision making must change. Wexford deserves more respect than the political parties are willing to give it. I ask anyone who is looking for a change to the political landscape to come along tonight and meet their local Independent candidates”, stated Deputy Murphy.
“Independently and collectively as a group of like-minded individuals, We are forming the Wexford Independent Alliance (WIA). I will be the Oireachtas member who will support the Alliance members. Our common aim is to ensure that local politics works for local people by having Independent candidates across the county elected who will promote and bring in policies that will put the prosperity of County Wexford first. It must be about the people and not the party,” concluded Deputy Murphy.
The public meeting takes place tonight (Wednesday) in the Riverside Park Hotel Enniscorthy tonight at 8pm. The event is open to the public to attend. MC on the night will be Ivan Yates and guest speaker is Independent Senator Michael McDowell SC.
Last Monday Wexford Gardaí conducted searches of a yard in Gorey and recovered approximately 2.4 million cigarettes. This seizure was made as a result of a joint operation conducted by Revenue’s Customs Service and An Garda Síochána.
The cigarettes, branded ‘Richmond’, have a retail value of approximately €2,010,000, representing a potential loss to the exchequer of more than €1,582,000.
GOREY GARDA STATION (File Pic).
Revenue Customs Officers have seized the cigarettes which have now been taken for further examination.
Four men were arrested at the scene and conveyed to local Garda stations. The four men were released and one of the men was subsequently arrested by Revenue Officers.
The man, aged in his 40s, has been charged by Revenue Officers and is scheduled to appear before Gorey District Court this morning (Wednesday).
This investigation is ongoing.
This seizure is part of Revenue’s ongoing work targeting the sale and supply of illegal cigarettes and tobacco in the shadow economy. If businesses or members of the public have any information, they can contact Revenue in confidence on Confidential Phone Number 1800 295 295.
Leas-Cathaoirleach of Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District Cllr Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin represented the Council in the absence of Cathaoirleach, Cllr Pip Breen, who was in Savannah with a Wexford delegation, at last Sunday’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade through the streets of Gorey.
CLLR FIONNTÁN Ó SÚILLEABHÁIN in his role as Leas-Cathaoirelach of Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District Council performed the official opening of the Eco-toilets at Cahore Beach, but he was denied the honour of wearing the chains of office. See our story.
Cllr Ó Súilleabháin was wearing a chain of office hastily “loaned from Wexford” and Cllr Diarmuid Devereux is asking “Why did the Gorey chain leave Gorey?”
“Why isn’t a suitable replica not available. The chain worn by the Leas-Cathaoirleach at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Gorey was brought from Wexford. It should never have left,” declared Cllr Devereux.
Cllr Devereux is determined to raise the matter of protocol surrounding the Gorey chain of office at next weeks monthly meeting of Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District Council.
Meanwhile, WexfordLocal.com is aware of instances where Cllr Ó Súilleabháin has been deputising at events and has been denied the honour of wearing the chain of office in the absence or unavailability of the Cathaoirleach. The most recent was last week at the Eco-toilet scheme at Cahore. Local elections are starting to buzz.
By Dan Walsh, the only member of the Press in person at the Council Chamber Gorey today.
Allegations of skullduggery and sabotage filled the tense atmosphere at “the meeting that never took place” in the Council Chamber in the Civic Offices, Gorey, this afternoon. Adding to the tension were many questions; Was the meeting scheduled to take place? Claims that some members were informed and others weren’t. A best play ever seen in Gorey Little Theatre just down the street could never compete with the dialogue, drama, the intrique and suspense witnessed in the Chamber today.
The ’meeting’ opened promptly at 2.30pm with Leas-Cathaoirleach Cllr Fionntán Ó Suilleabháin in the chair. It was billed as “the monthly meeting of Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District”. It lasted approximately 15 minutes.
CLLR FIONNTÁN Ó SUILLEABHÁIN, Leas-Cathaoirleach Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District Council (File Pic; WexfordLocal.com
Cllr Anthony Donohoe immediately put down a motion to defer the meeting for a week to discuss the vitally important 3-year Capital Plan, which must be decided before the April meeting of Wexford County Council and to discuss future plans and funding for the Courtown Road and footpath and called for the meeting to be held on March 26th at 2.30pm.
Cllr Donohoe added that it would be unfair to discuss these important issues in the absence of a Director of Services (Liz Hore is in Savannah, Georgia, as part of a Wexford delegation celebrating St. Patrick’s Day and includes the Cathaoirleach of Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District Council Cllr Pip Breen) and stated that Eamonn Hore, Director of Roads Services is invited to attend next week’s meeting.
Cllr Donal Kenny seconded Cllr Donohoe’s proposal and said he only found out about today’s meeting “by accident” and that certain members had asked for it to go ahead. He felt this was unfair as there were people who can’t turn up.
Opposing the motion, Cllr Joe Sullivan referred to “messing going on all week” and admitted that he was aware of today’s meeting being “deferred or called off.” He described matters as “a sabotage meeting” and proposed that the meeting go ahead. “There is plenty of work we can get out of the way today,” he told the members.
Cllr Donohoe interjected again and referred to a serious discussion on the Capital Programme and “how little Gorey is getting out of it.” Cllr Sullivan wondered “am I expected to have confidence in this Council” and proposed a motion “don’t defer” which was seconded by the Leas-Cathaoirleach Cllr Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin – a display of Sullivan solidarity!
Cllr Kenny stated that he was happy to meet the Director of Services next week and he wanted answers regards the Ballytegan road. There were exchanges with the District Manager Philip Knight about who knew what regards the meeting going ahead or not. Cllr Diarmuid Devereux told the Leas-Cathaoirleach that he was not party to stopping him from chairing the meeting. He said the Capital Programme was crucial for Gorey for the next decade and the Courtown road is not finished.
Cllr Ó Súilleabháin assumed that the meeting was going ahead. “I found out by accident. Nobody called me,” he said, and referred to “skullduggery” and “a slight of hand.” He referred to things happening outside of the meeting and “a lack of respect.”
Cllrs Willie Kavanagh and Oliver Walsh were on zoom. Cllr Kavanagh didn’t favour the meeting going ahead. He supported the Ballytegan residents and felt the Director of Services should be present. Cllr Oliver Walsh had a busy week, he wasn’t party to the talks but stated that the Capital Budget is too important to ignore. Cllr Donohoe added; “We need to discuss the Capital Programme and the fact that Gorey is getting peanuts.” Cllr Mary Farrell informed the District Manager that she felt the meeting was off and arranged another meeting today and could not attend.
The decision to defer the meeting won the day, 5 votes to 2, FOR; Cllrs Devereux, Donohoe, Walsh, Kavanagh and Kenny. AGAINST; Cllrs Sullivan and Ó Súilleabháin.
The next meeting of Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District Council takes place in the Civic Centre next Tuesday, March 26th at 2.30pm.
PAUL WALSH (Director), FINTAN KELLY (Actor) and Evelyn O’Sullivan (Adjudicator) with a delighted group of award winners at the South Leinster Drama Festival on the final night at Gorey Little Theatre Group. (Pic; Amateur Drama Council of Ireland).
By Dan Walsh
Wexford Drama Group in the Open Section and Kilrush Drama Group in the Confined Section were the winners at the 67th South Leinster Drama Festival that concluded last Saturday night after eight great nights of drama at Gorey Little Theatre. The adjudicator was Evelyn O’Sullivan.
RESULTS; OPEN SECTION; 1st, Wexford Drama Group, How I learned To Drive by Paula Vogel; 2nd, Bridge Drama The Wake by Tom Murphy; 3rd, Ballyduff Drama Group, The Ferryman by Jez Butterworth.
CONFINED SECTION; 1st, Kilrush Drama Group Hooked by Gillian Grattin; 2nd, The Wayside Players On Raftery’s Hill by Marina Carr; 3rd, Kilmuckridge Drama Group I Do Not Like TheeDr Fell by Bernard Farrell.
The South Wicklow Drama Festival is taking place all this week in St. Brigid’s Hall, Carnew. It ends on Saturday night and the adjudicator is Imelda McDonagh.
Businesses interested in trading at this year’s Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, to be held in Wexford Town August 4th-11th, should submit their applications from Wednesday, March 20th.
The event offers a unique opportunity for traders, from food vendors adding unique flavours to the Fleadh, to craft makers infusing the town’s streets with creative flair. Applications can be made via the event’s official website.
Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann is the world’s largest annual celebration of traditional Irish music, language, song, and dance. It provides a platform for traders to showcase their products to a diverse and enthusiastic audience from all around the world.
The event, organised by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and hosted by the local Fleadh Executive Committee, is expected to draw over 500,000 visitors to the ‘Sunny South East’.
Due to the high level of interest, only successful applicants will receive responses. Further information will be provided directly by the event organisers to the successful candidates. The closing date for applications is April 19th.
Interested traders may apply through the the link here. For more information and to stay updated on Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2024, click here.
Today’s winning combination were the Monbeg Syndicate, Donnchadh Doyle and Rob James who scored a treble success at Ballyragget, Co. Kilkenny point-to-point today (Sunday). Jack Hendrick added to the Wexford tally with a double.
ROB JAMES scored a treble success at Ballyraggett, Co. Kilkenny today.
The Monbeg team took the four-year-old geldings maiden race with newcomer Mossy Fen Road by four lengths; got number two on the board with Small Town Kid by one and a half lengths in the mare’s maiden race for five-year-old and over; and completed the hat-trick with Milo Miller by an impressive 20 lengths in the adjacent maiden race for five-year-olds plus. Rob James is now on the 16-winner mark for the 2023-’24 season.
Jack Hendrick enjoyed the first leg of a double at the Kilkenny track with Hay Meadow by ‘a neck’ for Mayglass owner and handler, Billy Codd, in the mare’s maiden race for four-year-olds.
Hendrick enjoyed an easier eight lengths victory on newcomer Scar Bridge in the mare’s maiden race for five-year-olds plus for owner Brian Jordan and handler Thomas Byrne, Kilmore.
There was also point-to-point action at Knockanohill, Co. Cork today (Sunday) where Sean Doyle, brother of Donnchadh, won the maiden race for four-year-olds with Parish Quiz in the Monbeg Partnership colours. Jamie Scallan was on the winning mount by ‘a head’ beating Person of Interest (Barry O’Neill up) for Colin Bowe.
Cleariestown rider Barry Stone was in winning point-to-point form today (Saturday) at Streamstown, Co. Laois, where he recorded a double success in testing conditions.
BARRY STONE
Riding for Waterford handler Paul Power, Stone got off to a winning start to the day aboard Gilespie Road, a one length winner of the maiden race for four-year-olds beating Three Zambezi’a handled by Mark Scallan and ridden by Tiernan Power Roche.
The double for Stone was achieved when Nellies Magic, in the colours of Michael Reck, and trained by John Martin Walsh, Cleariestown, won by 11 lengths in the maiden race for mares aged five years or older.
Whispering Dancer handled by Michael Goff, Clondaw, Enniscorthy, and ridden by Mikey Sweeney, beat Good Cody (Jack Hendrick up) from the Cormac Doyle stables in the maiden race for five-year-old geldings. The verdict was one and a half lengths.
There were nine entries for the Open Race, but Cash Out was given a ‘walk over’ for the father and son combination of John Edward Walsh and James Walsh, Preban, Tinahely. To paraphrase the legendary Willie Mullins following his Champion Hurdle success at Cheltenham last Tuesday. “You have to turn up to win.”
Point-to-point action locally on Sunday is the North Kilkenny fixture at Ballyraggett. First race at 1.30pm.
WexfordLocal.com 