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.
The first of 12 race meetings during 2024 at Bettyville Park, Wexford, kicks off on St. Patrick’s Day (Sunday) with the first race of seven races off at 1.57pm.
The celebrity status of the occasion will be boosted by the presence of Cheltenham winning jockeys Rachael Blackmore, Paul Townend and Patrick Mullins, while winning trainers this week at the Cheltenham Festival – Willie Mullins and Henry de Bromhead – have entries from respective stables in neighbouring counties Carlow and Waterford.
The going will be heavy after a week of heavy rain. Horse Racing Ireland confirmed to WexfordLocal.com that Going will be “Heavy. Following 30mm of rain since entries. Unsettled with up to a further 10mm of rain prior to racing. Monitoring the situation. Hurdle track is 19 yards off innermost line and Chase track is 3 yards off innermost line.”
Met Éireann is predicting “Showers. High of 13 degrees Celsius. Chance of rain 50%” for Sunday in the south-east.”
It promises to be a great day’s sport with a good social dimension, and the chance to pick a few winners. Wexford racecourse would like to welcome all the loyal supporters and some new to the track to get the 2024 racing season at Bettyville off to the perfect start.
Six men and one male juvenile discovered hidden in a truck trailer at Rosslare Europort around 6am this morning (Friday) was detained by Gardaí for alleged immigration offences.
They received medical attention at Wexford Garda Station and all were deemed to be safe and well.
The six men were refused leave to land and are now expected to leave the jurisdiction tonight on a return ferry to the country they arrived from.
The juvenile is currently in the care of Tusla’s Unaccompanied Minors Unit.
Gardaí said investigations are ongoing alongside the relevant international stakeholders.
Last January 14 people-nine men, three women and two young girls- were discovered hidden in a refrigerated trailer at Rosslare Europort and arrested for alleged immigration offences.
They were later released, and a man was arrested later in connection to a human trafficking investigation. He was later released.
From next Tuesday Uisce Éireann will commence works to install over 3.5km of watermains in Mayglass to increase the water supply capacity, reduce the risk of interruption to water supply and support sustainable growth and development.
Programme Manager at Uisce Éireann, Lisa Cogan told WexfordLocal.com today; “We are delighted to be progressing this project for the people of Wexford and would like to thank the local community for their support and co-operation as we carry out this work. Once completed, the project will deliver a more resilient and reliable water supply and benefit the local community for decades to come.”
To safely facilitate works, road closures will be in place from Mayglass Water Treatment Plant to Mulrankin. The first road closure will be in place from Tuesday March 19th at L3045-1/2/3 and L3046-4 at Tanner Hill, from its junction with the R739-4 at Walshestown to its junction with L-7094-3 at Cregg.
Alternative routes will be clearly signposted. Local and emergency access will be maintained. To minimise disruption, the road closure will be carried out in rolling stages. “We understand that this type of work can be inconvenient and works crews will make every effort to minimise any disruption these necessary works cause,” said Ms. Cogan, who added; “Standard working hours will be in place from 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.”
These works are being delivered as part of Uisce Éireann’s Growth and Development Programme. Coffey Construction Ltd. will carry out the works on behalf of Uisce Éireann, and they are expected to be completed in the final quarter of 2024.
The Board of Enniscorthy Swimming Pool and Leisure Complex Limited (trading as The Waterfront Pool & Leisure Centre) at Templeshannon has confirmed the operational transfer of the Pool & Leisure Complex to Wexford County Council. (Pic; WexfordLocal.com)
By Dan Walsh
The Board of Enniscorthy Swimming Pool and Leisure Complex Limited (trading as The Waterfront Pool & Leisure Centre) at Templeshannon has confirmed the operational transfer of the Pool & Leisure Complex to Wexford County Council.
Discussions with the Council have been ongoing for several months and concluded this week with a formal transfer process.
Following the centre’s successful 24-year operating period, a review was undertaken by the Board in 2023 in terms of succession planning. Arising from this review, the Board entered discussions with the Council about taking the Centre under the custody of the local authority – with the expressed intention of ensuring the complex continues to serve the people of Enniscorthy and District into the future.
Cllr John O’Rourke, Cathaoirleach Enniscorthy Municipal District Council said; “The Waterfront Pool & Leisure Centre is a valuable and much-used amenity for the people of Enniscorthy District. I am pleased that Wexford County Council recognises the importance of the facility to the town in stepping in to take over operations.”
Cllr O’Rourke also acknowledged the significant voluntary contribution made by the original committee and Board members since 1995, “that has brought us to where we are today” and he is looking forward to many more successful years of operation.
Carolyne Godkin, Director of Services for Enniscorthy Municipal District, told WexfordLocal.com; “I am delighted to confirm the transfer process of The Waterfront Pool & Leisure Centre, Enniscorthy from the current Company Directors to the Council was completed this week. On behalf of Wexford County Council, I wish to formally thank the previous committee members and outgoing Board members, whose vision, ambition and resilience for Enniscorthy resulted in the opening of a state-of-the-art centre in 1999, in the heart of the town.
“The outgoing Board members, Dan Kickham, Noeleen Redmond, together with Management Committee members Mary Carroll- Murphy and David Murphy have contributed an immeasurable amount of time as volunteers and have operated a twenty-five-year success story for the town,” concluded Ms Godkin.
It is envisaged there will be no significant changes for staff or current users of the pool. The ex-Board members and Wexford County Council will work together during the next number of months to help ensure a smooth operational handover.
The death has occurred of Danny O’Neill, Hollybrook House, Myshall, Co. Carlow who was a legend in his own lifetime, carried on the bonesetting tradition in his family for more than 60 years, and his name is universally known, and he regularly featured in television documentaries and print articles. He was in his 94th year.
Danny continued his bonesetting practice up to the Covid 19 virus outbreak where he was forced to retire on medical advice.
DANNY O’NEILL
The O’Neill bonesetting gift goes back throughout the generations. Old timers in the Myshall area during the 1960s speculated that the gift was with the O’Neill’s for up to 400 years. In living memory, Danny’s grandfather Johnny O’Neill and his uncle Pat O’Neill were bonesetters.
Born into a farming background, Danny farmed for the best part of five decades on a mixed holding, and since his retirement in 1999, the farm has been managed by his son Jimmy.
Danny O’Neill has dealt with fractures, displaced bones and probably the full range of ailments relating to the 302 bones in the human body over a working life, providing relief from pain for people young and old ‒ men, women and children.
FAMILY NOTICE; Danny O’Neill, Hollybrook House, Myshall, Co. Carlow, passed away peacefully on March 13th, 2024.Predeceased by his beloved daughter Olivia and son-in-law Peadar. Danny beloved husband of Tess and much-loved father of Dan, Mary, Jimmy, Gretta, Claire and Treasa. Deeply regretted by his wife, sons, daughters, sons-in-law Fursey, John, Gerry and Kevin, daughters-in-law Bernie and Natalie, grandchildren Danny, John, Aíne, Joe, Marie, Therese, Maria, Danielle, Tess, Charlie, Daniel, Donal, Seana, Daire, Sean, Peter, Jack, Shane and Grace, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives, kind neighbours and his many friends. May Danny’s Gentle Soul Rest In Peace.
Reposing at his home on Thursday from 12 noon concluding with prayers at 8pm. Requiem Mass on Friday at 2pm in the Church of The Holy Cross, Myshall, followed by burial in Lismaconly Cemetery, Myshall.
JJ SLEVIN rode his third winner at the Cheltenham Festival today. (File Pic).
By Dan Walsh
Day one of the famous Cheltenham Festival got underway today (Tuesday) and Wexford jockey JJ Slevin rode Lark In The Park (9/1) to a fine success in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.
Trained by Slevin’s cousin Joseph O’Brien at Piltown, Co. Kilkenny, Lark In The Park was held up towards the rear and made good headway before three out, before taking up the running on the turn for home and staying on strongly to win comfortably by two lengths.
“I was worried big time about the rain. He’s been getting stuck in the ground at home all winter so we were worried, but I had a spin around on Colonel Mustard in the Champion Hurdle earlier on and after that I thought it wasn’t quite as bad as it walked. It’s Cheltenham and we had to let him take his chance,” said Slevin afterwards.
It was the third Cheltenham festival victory for JJ Slevin, from Kiltrea, Caim, Enniscorthy, having previously won the same race with O’Brien on Band Of Outlaws in 2019, while two years earlier he landed the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle on Champagne Classic for Gordon Elliott.
WexfordLocal.com 