BALLYCOGLEY PLAYERS are celebrating following success at the Kilmuckridge Drama Festival which closed last night.
By Dan Walsh
Ballycogley Players in the Open section and Kilrush Drama Group in the Confined section are the winners from the 65th Kilmuckridge Drama Festival which concluded its 8-night successful run in the KMH last night (Saturday).
It was an exciting result for Ballycogley Players and their play Out of Order and they also picked up four awards; Pat Whelan (Best Director), Catherine Stafford (Best Costumes), Pat Mernagh (Best Actor) and Sean Carthy (Best Supporting Actor).
Kilrush Drama Group are in celebratory mood having been chosen by adjudicator Geoff O’Keeffe as winners in the Confined Section with their play Hooked directed by Niall McGrath.
RESULTS; OPEN Section; 1st, Ballycogley Players; 2nd, Bridge Drama; 3rd, Balally Players. CONFINED Section; 1st, Kilrush Drama Group; 2nd, The Wayside Players Drama Group; 3rd, Kilmuckridge Drama Group.
A new Chief Executive of Wexford County Council will be appointed later this year when the public appointments service completes a competitive recruitment process.
Whilst that process is underway, Eddie Taaffe, Director of Services will serve as Interim Chief Executive at the local authority.
With outgoing Chief Executive Tom Enright gone from the role after a decade, his successor has been appointed, albeit on a temporary basis.
EDDIE TAAFFE Acting Chief Executive at Wexford County Council
Having only returned to Wexford last year following a three- year secondment with the National Housing Delivery Office in Dublin, Eddie Taaffe has been promoted from Director of Services to Acting Chief Executive of Wexford County Council.
A native of Rossbercon, New Ross, Mr Taaffe first started working with the local authority back in 1997, working in the environment section, roads, as an engineer on the Courtown Main Drainage Scheme and as Borough Engineer in Wexford along the way, among other roles.
In 2020, he was selected to head up the newly established National Housing Delivery Office, a role which he only returned from late last year.
Since then, as well as his role as Director of Services, he also took on the role of Chairperson of the Fleadh Executive Committee ahead of Wexford town hosting Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2024.
Next Friday, March 8th, is Polling Day (7am to 10pm) and Irish citizens will be asked to vote in two Referendums on Family and Care to change the Constitution. Every household should have received an information booklet in the post.
Gorey based Cllr. Andrew Bolger, a practicing Barrister, weighs in on the Referendum in a statement issued to WexfordLocal.com this evening.
CLLR ANDREW BOLGER
Cllr Bolger said; “I think the family amendment is a positive change. Originally, the family was viewed as a marital family with the father as the provider and the woman as the caregiver. We know ‘old Ireland’ and this was the view at the time in the 1930s and it stems from the idea that the family has always been there and having it in our Constitution is merely recognising it, not establishing it.”
Cllr. Bolger was asked what a ‘durable relationship’ is? His reply; “I would say that this is the ‘modern family’, we know these families and presently in society, we don’t see them as any less than being a family. Should this question come before the Courts they will consider what our intention was at the time of voting. The commentary around the Referendum may very well become important at a later stage. Essentially, it is a family based on different types of committed and continuing relationships other than marriage.”
Cllr. Bolger was keen to stress that the Constitution will continue to say that the State pledges itself to guard with special care the institution of Marriage.
The second amendment is the Care amendment. This has been referred to as the ‘women in the home’ Referendum. “It’s the care that will be valued rather than the so-called ‘duties of a woman’. Once again, we must look back to 1937 when the Constitution came into being. The social norm at this time means that the wording ‘woman’ actually means ‘mother’ in the Constitution.”
Cllr Bolger continues; “In the proposed amendment women are not being demoted. It’s accepting that care in the home doesn’t fall to women and women alone. When the Courts are applying the value of care in the home, they seem to be ahead of the game. They already apply the value of the care in the home as being equal across both genders. Essentially, should this amendment pass, it will reflect what is already happening in practice.”
TOM and NOREEN ENRIGHT on his final day as Chief Executive of Wexford County Council.“We wish Tom and his family a future filled with fulfilment, and happiness.” (Pic; Wexford County Council)
By Dan Walsh at Wexford County Council Headquarters, Wexford
Last Friday marked the end of Tom Enright’s tenure as Chief Executive of Wexford County Council. It was an historic occasion marking the end of a decade of progress and launching into a vision of sustainability and continuation towards more progress and prosperity for the future of the county in the years and decades ahead.
Mr. Enright, a Waterford native but now fully adopted as a ‘Wexfordian’ held the position of Chief Executive since 2014, one of only six people to hold the post since it was created under the County Manager’s Act in 1940.
Glowing tributes were paid by the elected representatives, colleagues, and friends, on his departure. His tenure as Chief Executive over the past decade has been described by many as “transformative” and his strategic foresight had
been instrumental in shaping Wexford’s future, from spearheading infrastructure projects in all five municipal districts – Gorey Kilmuckridge, Enniscorthy, New Ross, Wexford Borough and Rosslare – to championing economic initiatives, leaving a legacy that will benefit generations to come.
At the February meeting of Wexford County Council the elected representatives (see article “We worked together to make Wexford better; Tom Enright” on WexfordLocal.com paid tributes as did the officials, but on Mr. Enright’s final day in the office the staff and a huge gathering in County Hall where the departing message was; “We wish Tom and his family a future filled with fulfilment, and happiness.”
Revenue officers seized over 25,000 litres of beer at Rosslare Europort last Monday.
ROSSLARE EUROPORT (Pic; WexfordLocal.com)
The illicit alcohol branded ‘Stella Artois’, ‘Carlsberg’, ‘Perla’, ‘Kestrel’, ‘Kronenbourg’ and ‘OJ Strong’, has a retail value of over €100,000, representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of approximately €47,000.
The consignment had arrived in an accompanied trailer that had disembarked a ferry from Dunkirk, France. The driver of the load has been questioned and investigations are ongoing.
These seizures are part of Revenue’s ongoing work targeting smuggling and shadow economy activity. If businesses, or members of the public, have any information regarding smuggling, they can contact Revenue in confidence on 1800 295 295.
Revenue officers were granted two three-month cash detention orders by Judge John Cheatle at a sitting of Gorey District Court yesterday (Wednesday).
This followed two seizures of €10,210, in cash, and a small amount of foreign currency at Rosslare Europort. The discovery was made because of risk profiling when Revenue officers searched a van which was scheduled to board a ferry to Cherbourg, France.
Two men in their 20s were questioned in relation to these seizures.
If businesses, or members of the public, have any information regarding smuggling, they can contact Revenue in confidence on 1800 295 295.
Former Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Services at Wexford County Council, Tony Larkin is one of four new directors appointed to the Board of Irish Heritage Trust following the unveiling of its 10-year Strategic Plan.
TONY LARKIN (Pic; WexfordLocal.com)
The Enniscorthy native spent all his working life with Wexford County Council, apart from a short 18 months’ stint with Bray Urban District Council many years ago. He availed of retirement in March 2022. It is estimated he attended over 400 County Council meetings.
Established in 2006, Irish Heritage Trust are now a leading national organisation with four landmark heritage properties currently in its care: 11 Parnell Square, Dublin, where the Trust has its headquarters; Fota House, Arboretum & Gardens, Cork; Johnstown Castle Estate, Museum and Gardens, Wexford and Strokestown Park & The National Famine Museum, Roscommon.
Irish Heritage Trust Chairperson, Clare McGrath welcomed Mr. Larkin and the new directors; “The Irish Heritage Trust is immensely fortunate to be enriched by the profound knowledge and expertise of our dedicated board members, who generously contribute their time on a voluntary basis. We are delighted to refresh our board by welcoming a host of new talent and experience to the Trust as we expand our heritage portfolio, working collaboratively with public and private partners.”
Minister Malcolm Noonan T.D., Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform at the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage, congratulated the board on the appointment of the new directors; “Whether they are tour guides or board directors, the more than 300 volunteers who work with the Irish Heritage Trust make an invaluable contribution to its work. and I am sure the newly appointed directors will help sustain this great progress. I wish them all the best in their new positions.”
Three people, two men and a woman, have been taken to hospital following a two-car collision on the R772 about 700 metres north of the Tinnock Roundabout on the M11 north of Gorey this evening. The extent of their injuries is unknown currently.
The collision occurred around 7.10 pm and emergency services were quickly on the scene.
The R772 road from the Tinnock Roundabout to Bakers Cross, Inch, is currently closed until forensic investigators visit the scene. Diversion routes are signposted.
New Ross ‘Save Our Post Office’ rally on February 15th
By Dan Walsh
The people of New Ross have been resolute in their loyal support for the ‘Save Our Post Office on Charles Street’ campaign to retain the services in the building owned by An Post and serving the community since 1904. But matters have become complicated and confused over the weekend, or have they?
Ahead of last Saturday’s second planned rally outside the New Ross Post Office, on Friday evening, Enniscorthy-based Minister James Browne informed the organisers that he had left a meeting in Dublin, attended by Minister Jack Chambers TD, Minister of State, attending the Cabinet, in the Department of Transport and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, and the Chief Executive Officer of An Post, David McRedmond- where a decision was reached “that the service will be maintained in the current building in the town at Charles Street.”
In a statement recently, An Post said; “In line with the ongoing transformation of the national post office network An Post has announced that its office in New Ross will become a contractor run post office. New Ross joins the mainstream of national post offices of which more than 95% of the country’s 900 plus offices which are run by contractors. Fewer than 40 post offices nationally are run directly by An Post.
I haven’t seen a statement or being officially informed of matters pertaining to New Ross Post Office over the weekend, but my informed and reliable sources tell me that at Friday’s meeting An Post announced that the contract for the post office will be advertised early next week. “We have, however, given a commitment to work with the local authority or local development bodies on future usage of the post office building,” said An Post.
The plan is that the new Postmaster, when appointed, will be working from the current building on Charles Street, until the future use of the building is secure. An Post says there is ‘no question’ of any reduction in postal or other services as a result of any change.
According to a report by RTÉ South Eastern correspondent, Conor Kane; “Other areas where An Post followed a route now being pursued in New Ross and Tipperary include Phibsborough, Rathmines and Tallaght in Dublin, and Roscommon. Meanwhile, in Cashel, Co Tipperary, post office front desk services are being relocated next month from the existing base on Main Street to the SuperValu. Here, the service is already run by a contractor and there have been assurances that the move will not affect existing jobs.
Point-to-point action at two venues today (Sunday) and the Wexford raiders to the Tipperary track at Lisronagh fared best.
The Benny Walsh and Jenny Walsh team from Crossgales, Tomhaggard, sent out the newcomer Settle Down Jill in the maiden race for four-year-old mares and were victorious by three lengths under popular rider Barry Stone, Cleariestown, who rode his 30th career winner.
LUKE MURPHY successful at Lisronagh today.
Luke Murphy from Gorey was the handler and rider of newcomer Think It Through who beat off all the opposition in the mares’ race for five and six-year-olds. Four lengths the winning margin.
Rob James, like Ellen Doyle was having his second winner in as many days, and he was associated with Jo Koko from Ian McCarthy’s Kildare stables and the team in the winners enclosure at Punchestown yesterday (Saturday). It was a close finish – only half a length in it – and the runner-up was Epic West (Alan Harney up) for Donnchadh Doyle’s Ballindaggin stables.
Ellen Doyle’s Coolgarrow stables, near Enniscorthy, fine run in the maiden races for four-year-olds continued today (Sunday) at Kildorrery, Co. Cork, when she saddled newcomer mare Magic Boum who came home two and a half lengths ahead of the field with Brian Dunleavy in the saddle.
WexfordLocal.com 