IMELDA McDONAGH (Adjudicator) and members of the South Wicklow Drama Festival Committee with members of Ballycogley Players at St. Brigid’s Hal, Carnew.
By Dan Walsh
Ballycogley (Open Section) and Kilrush (Confined Section) have been named as winners at the South Wicklow Drama Festival which ran for eight nights in St. Brigid’s Hall, Carnew, and finished tonight (Saturday). The adjudicator was Imelda McDonagh.
OPEN SECTION; 1st, Ballycogley Players with Out of Order by Ray Cooney; 2nd, Bridge Drama with The Wake by Tom Murphy; 3rd, Bunclody/Kilmyshall Drama Group with The Lonesome West by Martin McDonagh.
CONFINED SECTION; 1st, Kilrush Drama Group with Hooked by Gillian Grattan; 2nd, Clodiagh Players with Trad by Mark Doherty; 3rd, Kilmuckridge Drama Group with I Do Not Like Three Dr. Fell by Bernard Farrell.
Confined Section:
Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Eddie Condon as Fr. Rice in ‘Trad’, Clodiagh Players
Best Actor in a Major Role – John Redmond, in ‘Hooked!’, Kilrush
Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Kay Cahill as Mary in ‘Hooked!’, Kilrush
Best Actress in a Major Role – Erin Hogan as Lydia, in ‘Hooked!’, Kilrush
Best Director – Niall McGrath – ‘Hooked’, Kilrush
Open Section;
Best Supporting Actress – Catherine Stafford as Pamela Willey in ‘Out of Order’, Ballycogley
Best Supporting Actor – Ken Murphy as Finbar in ‘The Wake’, Bridge
Best Actress – Mairéad Ryan as Vera in ‘The Wake’, Bridge
Best Actor – Fr. Pat Mernagh as Richard Willey in ‘Out of Order’, Ballycogley
Best Director – Pat Whelan – ‘Out of Order’, Ballycogley
Adjudicator Award 1 – Tom Kennedy & Kris Mooney, for lighting design, Balally
Adjudicator Award 2 – Joseph Sunderland, Bridge
Adjudicator Award 3 – Mag Clooney for window work, Ballycogley
Best Comedy Performance (Jim Tighe Trophy) – Sean Carthy as George in ‘Out of Order’, Ballycogley
Magic Moment in Theatre (Pat Connaughton Award) – The fight scenes in ‘The Lonesome West’, Bunclody-Kilmyshall
Audience Cup (Altura Credit Union Award) – ‘Out of Order’ – Ballycogley Players
Killanne rider Rob James is sharing second place with Derek O’Connor (18 each) behind Barry O’Neill (26 wins) in the 2023-’24 National Point-to-Point Riders’ Championship following a double at Portrush, Co. Antrim, today.
DONNCHADH DOYLE trained his 270th winner today at Portrush.
James teamed up with handler Donnchadh Doyle aboard Michael Murphy’s Lucky Lioness in the maiden race for -year-olds and over that happily ended in a three lengths victory. The 270th career winner handled by Donnchadh Doyle.
Donnchadh’s brother, Sean Doyle saddled newcomer Banter At the Bar, the two and a quarter lengths winner of the opening maiden race for four-year-olds ridden by Jamie Scallan, Tomhaggard.
Rob James completed his double aboard Winged Leader for David Christie by an easy 15 lengths in the Open Race.
Point-to-point action tomorrow (Sunday) at Lisronagh, Co. Tipperary – lots of Wexford stables have entries – and the annual Bree Hunt point-to-point takes place at Monksgrange on Easter Sunday.
Supporting the Green Schools programme are (left to right); Rachel from Ramsgrange Community School Wexford, Taylor from St. Michael’s Finglas and ZuZa from St. Patricks Celbridge. (Pic; Uisce Éireann).
By Dan Walsh
Uisce Éireann has announced its ongoing partnership with An Taisce’s Green-Schools programme for the 11th consecutive year. This collaboration aims to support 519 schools across Ireland as they work towards achieving a Green Flag for water conservation.
With 120,000 students actively participating, including Ramsgrange Community School in Co. Wexford, the grassroots sponsorship focuses on changing behaviours, enhancing education, and fostering an understanding of the vital role that water plays in our daily lives.
Geoffrey Bourke, Head of Customer Operations at Uisce Éireann told WexfordLocal.com; We are helping the next generation realise the importance of conserving and protecting water is a key part of our role in safeguarding Ireland’s water supply. We are delighted to be teaming up with An Taisce again this year for the Green-Schools Water Theme. There are so many small actions we can take to make a difference. We can change simple habits like fixing leaking or dripping taps, reducing shower time and not running the tap while brushing teeth. There are great tips on www.water.ie/conservation.”
Wexford County Council has announced that 20 Festivals throughout the county have been awarded funding in 2024 through the Arts Office Small Arts Festival Fund and Fáilte Ireland Festival Scheme. This amounts to a total investment of €50,000 in local communities.
This year the Grant Scheme was broken into two strands: Strand 1 – Small Arts Festival Grant Total Fund €25,000; This grant supports a diverse range of small arts festivals or experimental artistic events throughout Co. Wexford. The focus is on festivals of artistic quality and have a strong emphasis on public engagement.
Strand 2 – Fáilte Ireland Festival Grant Total Fund €25,000; This strand supported by Fáilte Ireland aims to support festivals that drive domestic tourism, help to improve the visitor experience in Co. Wexford, focusing on historic festivals, traditional culture festivals and festivals promoting food culture.
A total of 20 festivals were awarded funding of between €1,000 – €3,000 each, out ofa total of 37 applications. These include The Gap Arts Festival 2024; The Gorey May Bush Féile 2024; Flow Youth Dance Festival – a two-day festival of dance workshops and a live dance performance in New Ross aimed at young people; New Ross Guitar Festival; FuddleFest in the rural environment of Fuddletown Farm, Killinick; Jazz at Johnstown Castle; ‘Write By The Sea’ Literary Festival in Kilmore Quay; ‘SpringMoves’ Dance Festival, in partnership with the National Opera House; One Voice Festival: Wexford Reflections 1974-2024 – A festival celebrating new playwrighting voices in Wexford, culminating in eight short monologue plays, performed over a series of evenings in Wexford Arts Centre; The Wexford May Bush Festival 2024; Coolcotts Halloween Fest 2024, a festival of music, magic, opera and extreme rhythm for young people in Wexford town.
Fáilte Ireland Awarded Festivals 2024. Rockin’ Food & Fruit Festival Enniscorthy; Leo Carthy Weekend in Our Lady’s Island; Rosslare Harbour Festival 2024; North Wexford Traditional Singing Féile; The Eugene O’Neill International Festival of Theatre at New Ross; Blackstairs Blues Festival 24 at Enniscorthy; Festival of Ferns; Kilanerin Food & Heritage Festival; Rebellion Day & 1798 Summer School with a programme of special guest lectures and guided tours at the National 1798 Rebellion Centre, Enniscorthy Castle and Vinegar Hill focused on theevents of 1798.
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.
WexfordLocal.com 