Over the fences at Fairwood Park, Tinahely. (File Pic; WexfordLocal.com)
By Dan Walsh
There will be no point-to-point action at Fairwood Park, Tinahely, tomorrow (Sunday).
The popular Tinahely track was found to be unfit for racing on this (Saturday) afternoon, and with an unfavourable weather forecast for Saturday night and Sunday morning, with a status yellow Low Temperature / Ice warning from Met Éireann, the decision was made to cancel the fixture.
Meanwhile the final fixture of 2025 took place at Dromahane, Co. Cork last Tuesday and two Wexford trained winners emerged.
Newcomer Golden Current had a 12 lengths victory in the hands of Barry Stone for Jonathan Fogarty, Gaynestown, Cleariestown, in the maiden race for four-year-old geldings.
Gorey rider Luke Murphy who won his first point-to-point in the saddle eight years ago, registered his 80th career success aboard Wilton Mills Trier for the Blackhall Stables of Paul Martin Pierce at Killurin in the five and six-year-old mares maiden race. It was Pierce’s 45th winner as a handler and newcomer Wilton Mills Trier now heads for the sales.
The Arrow Ceremony, a tradition since 1687, is held at Hook Lighthouse every New Year’s Day.
At 1 pm today, January 1st, the Dunbrody Archers, joined by Cllr John Dwyer, Cathaoirleach of New Ross Municipal District, will be part of the ceremony when biodegradable arrows will be shot into the sea to symbolise the Port Authority’s jurisdiction over the local estuary.
The event, free and open to the public, offers a rare chance to witness this evocative tradition.
Larry Colgan, General Manager at Hook Lighthouse, highlighted the lighthouse’s important role in local heritage and its ongoing connection to maritime history.
Visitors can also enjoy a tour of the lighthouse, which includes a climb to the top for panoramic views and an immersive experience of its history.
For more details on the event and to plan your visit, please visit www.hookheritage.ie.
Helicopter R117 arriving at Castletown today. (Pic; Courtown/Arklow Coast Guard)
By Dan Walsh
Helicopter Rescue 117 from Waterford base was called to Castletown this afternoon after a young lady was injured in a fall from her horse. It is understood that her injuries are not life-threatening.
Courtown/Arklow Coast Guard were tasked to prepare a landing zone for Rescue 117 and assist with a casualty at Castletown and once on scene were able to assist in transferring the casualty on board the aircraft to Beaumont Hospital, Dublin.
“It’s our second such incident in a week and shows how important our training with the helicopters is,” said a spokesperson for the Coast Guard.
On St. Stephen’s Day a man in his 30s injured while playing in an indoor soccer tournament in Craanford was taken to Beaumont Hospital, Dublin where his condition is described as “on the road to recovery.”
Remember if you see someone in difficulty on or near the water, dial 112/999 and ask for the Coast Guard.
The scene at the Clogh Bridge rail accident. (Pic; Broken Rails)
By Brian Mac Aongusa from his book Broken Rails
Around 9.30am on New Year’s Eve 1975 – exactly 50 years ago today – an excavator on the back of a lorry struck Clogh Bridge, some five kilometres south of Gorey in Co. Wexford, dislodged its granite masonry and buckled the railway just minutes before the 8.05am Rosslare Harbour to Dublin was due.
In spite of frantic efforts to stop the train, it hit the bridge at an estimated 60mph causing a terrible accident in which five people were killed and thirty injured. It was the worst rail crash in CIE’s history until that time.
The casualty figures would have been considerably higher only that the first two carriages were closed and empty, as they were intended for use by passengers joining the train further along the line. These leading vehicles, as well as a luggage van were completely shattered when the train jumped the rails at the damaged bridge.
Most of the injured were in the third carriage, but five people were killed in the fourth carriage when it was penetrated by the coach behind it and came to rest spanning the gap in the line.
Driver Joseph O’Neill from Rosslare Harbour, who had been in the left-hand seat of engine No B132, had a miraculous escape. Deeply shocked and with a back injury, he managed to crawl out after his engine overturned and tumbled down an embankment into a field.
Christy Hill, a local man, was driving his car nearby when he was stopped by the lorry driver and told the bridge had been damaged. Almost simultaneously he heard a train siren in the distance. Describing how he ran through a field and up on to the railway embankment to a point about 50 metres from the buckled rails, Christy Hill continued; “I waved frantically at the driver to stop. But the driver blew for me to get out of the way, and I could then hear the brakes going on. I ran to my house, but the phone was not working. I managed to get a phone that did work and rang the gardaí in Gorey.”
Rescue work began at once in bad conditions of heavy rain. A fleet of ambulances, doctors and nurses, fire brigade personnel, gardaí and volunteer workers converged on the scene from Gorey, Enniscorthy and Wexford, but h had a very difficult task in disentangling the wreckage. The impact had been extremely severe; coach bodies being smashed and wheel-bogies and underframes badly twisted.
Rescuers had to spend about two hours trying to extricate the dead and the injured from the wreckage.
Volunteer helpers who earned high praise included Wexford County Council staff, mechanics from garages in the area and people from various businesses throughout North Wexford.
This account of the Clogh bridge rail accident by Brian Mac Aongusa comes from his book, Broken Rails; Crashes and Sabbotage on Irish Railways, first published by Currach Press, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, in 2005. Copies are still available in second hand bookshops.
AUDIO ADDITION – On December 12th, 2005, Brian Mac Aongusa (1935-2023), who was Controller of Programmes, RTÉ Radio 1, travelled to the studios of South East Radio where he was interviewed by Dan Walsh on the popular Mid Week Voices programme. We have saved an edited version of that interview with references to the Wexford railway networks.
It isn’t every day that an amateur jockey commands the racing headlines but Rob James from Killanne had a most enjoyable day at Limerick races today (Monday) where he recorded a double success.
James got off to a flying success aboard No Cure (5/1) for Kiltealy owner and trainer Gearoid O’Loughlin in the maiden hurdle before landing the Listed handicap hurdle race on Its Bilbo (9/2) for Waterford trainer Henry de Bromhead.
Jordan Gainford had his fourth winner in as many days. He won at Down Royal on Friday, had a victory each day on Saturday and Sunday at Limerick, and today (Monday) he won for Gordon Elliott on Lynches Knock (6/1) in a hurdle race at Leopardstown.
Liz Doyle has been successfully training horses at Kitestown, Crossabeg for almost 25 years, but her biggest training achievement to date was celebrated at Limerick yesterday (Sunday) when she saddled her first Listed Race winner.
Liz’s challenger Ballybawn Belter (6/1) in the champion owner JP McManus colours floored the opposition by 11 lengths for an emphatic victory in the Campion Insurance Tim Duggan Memorial Chase (Listed) ridden by Simon Torrens.
There was a dramatic incident in the race when Conyers Hill (Paul Nolan/Jordan Gainford) crashed out at the second last fence while in contention leaving Ballybawn Belter to come home impressively in a competitive race that was shown live on RTÉ television.
There was compensation for the Nolan/Gainford team as they won the handicap hurdle with Joyau De Thaix (25/1)
This was the third success of the Christmas racing festival for Jordan Gainford. The Caim jockey won on Cumberland River (14/1) at Limerick on Saturday and on Slanagaibhgoleir at Down Royal on Friday. Both were trained by Gordon Elliott.
Sean Flanagan rode a double at Limerick on Friday – Starting Fifteen (7/4 fav) for Eric McNamara and Cousin Kate (9/4 fav.) for Denis Hogan in the handicap hurdle while Sean O’Keeffe, Taghmon, added to the Wexford tally with a victory on Betutea (7/4 fav.) for Willie Mullins.
Duncormick jockey Eoin Staples was also amongst the winners at Down Royal on Friday. He was aboard Boycetown (6/4 fav.) for Gavin Cromwell.
So a good weekend for Wexford racing connections, and more winners are possible as the Christmas racing festival continues today (Monday) at Leopardstown and Limerick.
Tributes are being paid to popular Gorey businessman Joe Funge. (Pic; LoveGorey.ie)
By Dan Walsh
The death has taken place of well-known and highly respected Gorey businessman Joe Funge who served as a public representative and was dedicated to a lifetime of community service.
In 1960, Joe learned his trade in Arnott’s, Dublin, before joining the family business on Gorey’s Main Street. The family business was enlarged and embellished from 1973 when it transferred from a family business to a registered company under the title ‘Funges of Gorey’.
Joe was also a public representative and in 2004, Cllr Funge stepped down after 25 years of public service, which began on the retirement of his father Tomás, who served on Gorey Town Commissioners for 45 years.
Joe was first elected in 1979 as a representative of the Traders’ Association before he joined Fianna Fáil. He served on the Town Commissioners and the Town Council and held the chain of office on four occasions.
Deputy Brian Brennan called Joe Funge “a true gentleman” in his tribute. On a personal note, I had a long and successful relationship with Joe through the media, and he was particularly helpful and supportive when I worked as a journalist with The Gorey Echo.
Joe was deeply involved in his hometown and friendly with all. His lifelong contributions will be recognised, and his absence will be deeply felt within the community. May Joe Rest in Peace.
FAMILY NOTICE; The death has occurred of JOE FUNGE, Hollyfort Road, Gorey, (and formerly Funge’s, Main Street, Gorey). Joe died peacefully at home on December 26th.
Dearly loved husband of Anne and loving father of Kieran, Colm, Fergal and Eilish, brother of Michael and the late Paul. Will be very sadly missed by his wife, sons, daughter, grandchildren Clodagh, Ali, Cáelán, Darragh, Aaron, Anna, Tom, Eve, Lucy, Joseph and Michael, daughters-in-law Robin, Moira and Sonia, son-in-law Walter, sister-in-law Lynn, extended family, relatives, neighbours and friends.
Reposing at Murphy’s Funeral Home, The Avenue, Gorey on Sunday, December 28th from 4 pm until 7pm. Removal from Murphy’s Funeral Home on Monday at 11.30am to St. Michael’s Church Gorey for Funeral Mass at 12 noon followed by Burial in St. Michael’s Cemetery Gorey.
By Dan Walsh at Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District Council
At the December meeting of Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District Council it was reported that following a meeting on the site of the proposed Riverchapel Community Complex with the appointed design team last summer further discussions have taken place regarding the final design and costs which have increased since funding was approved.
It was reported that several meetings have involved the architects in Special Projects and the District Manager.
Artists impression of Riverchapel Community Complex, April 2024. (WexfordLocal.com)
A meeting has been arranged by relevant stakeholders for the project in early January 2026 to move the project forward.
In other news from this part of North Wexford, a new Creative Ireland project for 2026 will see a socially engaged artist and creative aim to create a sense of cohesion between the communities of Courtown and Riverchapel.
Running from February to October 2026, the community art project will build on already established links between the two villages, working with a range of local community groups, including the Town First Team.
The project will support the consolidation of the town centres, helping the communities to find ways to meaningful connect trough creative activity.
Taking a community-based approach, the project will celebrate relationships and togetherness and reimagine the identities of the once separated villages as one.
An open call for the artist/creative has issued with a deadline of January 4th 2026.
This morning, St. Stephen’s Day, helicopter Rescue 117 touched down at the Craanford GAA Club pitch to help transfer a patient to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin.
At 11.53am the Courtown/Arklow Coast Guard Unit were tasked to assist with a medical transfer where they secured and prepared the landing zone on the adjoining pitch in a multi-agency incident involving, Courtown/Arklow Coast Guard, the National Ambulance service and Rescue 117.
Remember if you see someone in difficulty on or near the water dial 112 or 999 and ask for the Coast Guard.
This is a modern depiction of Christmas appearing in the Dick Joynt Memorial Garden in Bree village. Dick Joynt (1938-2003) was a renowned sculpture artist. (Pic;WexfordLocal.com)
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