The centuries-old tradition using a bow and arrow takes place on New Year’s Day at the 800-year-old Hook Lighthouse as the Dunbrody archers re-enact the amazing traditional ‘arrow ceremony’.
Cathaoirleach of New Ross Municipal District Council CLLR ANTHONY CONNICK.
Commencing at 1pm The Dunbrody Archers and the Cathaoirleach of New Ross Municipal District Council, Cllr Anthony Connick, will participate in the ceremony.
The age-old tradition dates back to 1687 when the Mayor and the corporation of New Ross Town Council claimed their authority over the Tower and waters by travelling to the point of the Hook and shooting an arrow into the sea from Hook Head Lighthouse.
On New Year’s Day 2024, The Dunbrody Archers will assist the Mayor of New Ross in an ‘arrow ceremony’, and demonstrating his Robin Hood skills, the Mayor will cast an arrow into the sea symbolising the Ports’ authority over the estuary.
Members of the public are invited to come and watch the free historical event on New Year’s Day.
Please ensure you arrive early as parking is limited on the Lighthouse grounds, if spectators chose to park outside the Lighthouse grounds, please ensure you park safely and not obstructing any area of the road.
We are now in the fading days of 2023 and trying to discover a reason to get 2024 off to an exciting start! Well, how about bravely dipping into the sea this weekend by adding joy and support to two deserving charities.
WexfordLocal.com has been informed of two challenges coming up this weekend that could fit nicely into the new diary!
Why not make a Big Splash for Little Heroes by taking a dip at Old Bawn Beach, Ballygarrett, on Saturday, December 30th at 11am in aid of the Laura Lynn Hospice. Donations are welcomed and appreciated, please see link; https://www.idonate.ie/fundr…/BigSplashforLittleHeroes2023.
The annual New Year’s Day Swim with Cahore Inshore Rescue Service takes place on Monday, New Year’s Day, at Cahore Pier, starting at 1pm.
The annual Christmas racing festival kicked off today (St. Stephen’s Day) with three fixtures countrywide at Leopardstown, Limerick and Down Royal and the Wexford flag was flying successfully with doubles for jockeys Sean Flanagan and Sean O’Keeffe and one win each for jockey JJ Slevin, Philip Rothwell and Davidstown, Enniscorthy, trainer Paul Nolan.
Paul Nolan saddled the promising grey four-year-old Joyau De Thaix (7/1) to a one- and three-quarter lengths victory in the maiden hurdle at Limerick ridden by Sean Flanagan, Palace East, Clonroche.
SEAN O’KEEFFE, St. Stephen’s Day double at Limerick.
Flanagan recorded a double on the Gavin Cromwell trained The King of Prs (10/3) by two and a half lengths in the novice chase.
Sean O’Keeffe, Harveystown, Taghmon, enjoyed a double, both from the Willie Mullins stables, newcomer Bunting (2/5 fav) by eight lengths in the maiden race for three-year-olds and Loughglynn (9/4 fav) by one length in the Grade 2 novice hurdle.
Philip Rothwell was also amongst the winners at Limerick. The Fairwood Stables, Tinahely, trainer saddled Phil’s Choice (9/1) with Sam Ewing up and the came home first in the handicap hurdle.
JJ Slevin, Kiltrea, Enniscorthy, turned up at Leopardstown and rode a televised race winner on Ataboycharles (17/2) for Meath trainer Edward Cawley.
Former Irish rugby international, Donncha O’Callaghan has been in contact with WexfordLocal.com to issue a reminder to sports clubs in Co. Wexford that the closing date for applications for a €5,000 award under the Texaco Support for Sport initiative is January 31st.
Former Irish rugby international, Donncha O’Callaghan has issued a call to all sports clubs reminding members that the countdown is on to the January 31st closing date for applications for a €5,000 award under the Texaco Support for Sport initiative.
Noting the benefit to be gained by the award, the popular broadcaster and adjudicator confirmed that “entry is open to all clubs irrespective of sporting discipline, size, membership, age, cultural appeal, or gender, including those whose application may have been unsuccessful previously.”
This is its fourth year, the annual initiative has already seen funding of €385,000 distributed to clubs across the 26 counties, of which €15,000 has come to Co. Wexford with successful applicants including Kilmore United FC (2021), Menapians Athletic Club (2022) and Aspire Gymnastics Academy, Kiltealy (2023) each receiving €5,000.
WexfordLocal.com wishes all our loyal readers and followers a HAPPY CHRISTMAS 2023.We areyour e-newspaper covering local news, sport and events that matter across Co. Wexford since June 2020.
This is your first search for all the breaking news and coverage of local events as they happen in the community where you work, rest or celebrate.
WexfordLocal.com wishes to thank everybody who have co-operated in generating news stories, those who generously share their press releases, the photographers, and those thoughtful supporters who always send us in the right direction to cover a breaking story, and, of course without readers there would be no point in keeping the local news and events on the front page! Our loyal readers are ‘gold dust’ in the survival of the evolving media industry.
Quality production is an important ingredient, and we applaud our universal publisher WordPress for the high standard of production and technical support always provided.
HAPPY CHRISTMAS2023 to readers and followers everywhere.
Regards.Dan Walsh, member of National Union of Journalists, Managing Editor, WexfordLocal.com. Always available by email at WexfordLocal@gmail.com
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Pictured at the presentation of prizes to Heavenly Café were (left to right); Edel Nolan, Enniscorthy Municipal District Council, Jimmy Gahan, Enniscorthy District Chamber of Commerce, Claire Lawless, District Manager, Enniscorthy Municipal District Council, Cllr John O’Rourke, Cathaoirleach Enniscorthy Municipal District, Anastasija Liadova, award -winning owner and Alberto Frongia. Pic; Rocket Science Media.
By Dan Walsh at Enniscorthy
Heavenly Café on Wafer Street is the winner of the Enniscorthy Christmas Window Display competition and the proud owner, Anastasija Liadova, received first prize of an award-winning handmade glass by artist Biana Divito and €500 worth of Enniscorthy District Chamber of Commerce vouchers.
Enniscorthy Municipal District Council sponsored the competition and Cllr John O’Rourke, Cathaoirleach, presented the prizes. “I am delighted to see so many businesses getting involved in the competition, and I wish to congratulate the Heavenly Café on their magical Christmas window display,” said Cllr O’Rourke.
Out of the 27 businesses (21 from Enniscorthy and six from Bunclody) who entered the ‘most imaginative Christmas window display’ competition in both Enniscorthy and Bunclody, the esteemed judges Michael Dunbar and Annette Wall Dunbar chose the Heavenly Café as the overall winner. The standard for the competition was very high, and the following were highly commended by the judges: Bernie’s Florist, Ryland Rd, Bunclody, Darcy Blinds, old Dunnes Carpark, Enniscorthy, and Evolv Healthcare, Castle Hill, Enniscorthy.
Jimmy Gahan of Enniscorthy District Chamber expressed his “delight at the success of this inaugural competition as it highlighted the many attractions shopkeepers in Enniscorthy and Bunclody have to offer at Christmas. “I hope that Enniscorthy Municipal District Council will continue to sponsor the event in the future, and I wish to thank them for their generosity this year and the many other people associated with the competition.”
Pictured at the Christmas Decoration Competition awards ceremony at County Hall were; Front Row (left to right); Freddie Hammel, Screen National Screen, Adel Ahmad Muhammad, Mercy School, John’s Rd, Wexford, Hannah Rae, Kilrane National School, Stephen Rea, Kilmyshal National School, Sarah Goddard, St Garvan’s National School, Caroreigh. At the rear, Cliona Connolly Environment Section, Wexford County Council and Cllr John Fleming, Cathaoirleach, Wexford County Council.
By Dan Walsh
The Wexford County Council sponsored 2023 Christmas Decoration Competition have been announced at Cllr. John Fleming, Cathaoirleach, presented the awards at a special ceremony in County Hall, Wexford on Thursday.
Cllr Fleming said; “The Christmas decoration competition for schools has been an annual tradition in Wexford since 2004. Each year the decorations get more innovative and creative and show how items that normally end up as waste can be given new life through reuse. Those who have participated in this competition have shown us all how to reduce waste by making unusual Christmas decorations from everyday household waste materials. The decorations displayed today show great imagination and are an inspiration to us all.”
Hundreds of children around the county participated in the Christmas Decoration Competition which was open to all primary and secondary school children.
Cliona Connolly, Environment Education Officer with Wexford County Council, explained that “The aim of the competition is to encourage children to make creative Christmas decorations with waste materials, fostering the ethos of reuse wherever possible.”
Ms Connolly added that amongst this years’ submissions were nutcrackers, Christmas owls, Christmas trees, penguins, snowmen, angels, Christmas village scenes, wreaths, Rudolf, and lots of tree decorations.
All 171 decorations received were displayed in County Hall and received great praise. The People’s Choice award proved to be a great success again this year where members of the public voted for their favourite decoration on display.
Annie McGuire, Kilymshall National School secured this award with her decoration ‘Reindeer Head’. A group category proved to be a huge success again this year as it encourages children to work together to make amazing decorations from as young as junior infants.
The overall primary school winner was created by Niamh O’Connor, St Fintan’s National School, Taghmon. Niamh made the winning decoration entitled ‘The White Angel’ by simply using a soap bottle, a foil tray, old ping pong ball and milk cartons. The overall runner-up was an entry entitled ‘Christmas is Magic’ by Shona Larkin, 1st class, Mercy School, John’s Road, Wexford. Other winning decorations included ‘Mr. Cool Christmas’ by Luke Murphy, Junior Infants, Ballyduff National School; ‘Snownmen and Snowflakes’ by Ava Lewis, Senior Infants, St Mary’s National School, Enniscorthy; ‘Angel’by Mia Wall, 1st Class, Scoil Naomh Bríde, Blackwater; ‘Snowflake’ by Orrin Murphy, 2nd Class, Danescastle National School; ‘Santa’s Sleigh 2023’ by Roxie Copeland, 3rd class, Gorey Central School; ‘Hannah’s Christmas Wish’ by Hannah Rea, 4th Class, Kilrane National School: ‘The Gingerbread House’ by Karina Tokarska, 5th class, Scoil Mhuire Rosslare; ‘Human SizedNutcracker’ by Ethan O’Byrne 6th class, Scoil Mhuire Barntown. ‘Santa’s Sleigh’ by Tommy O’Leary and Martel Saluveer, St Peter’s College Wexford.
Primary school group categories winners included ‘Santa Got Stuck in the Chimney’ by Millie Franks, Sophie Doyle and Tara Hegarty, Mercy School, John’s Rd., Wexford; ‘Christmas Village’ by pupils of Our Lady of Fatima School Wexford. Congratulations to all participants.
As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ this year, our hearts are moved by the images of small children that we have seen over the past few months. The terrible tragedy of Israel and Gaza, the ongoing war in Ukraine and the persistent and life-destroying famine in East Africa, are all the more shocking when we see their impact on the lives of children. The terror of hunger, fear or maiming should be far from every child’s life and yet we see it daily in our media. It is right to reflect on these matters as we prepare to celebrate the birth of the baby who was God himself.
The world into which Jesus was born was as destructive to childhood as ours in many similar ways: hunger, homelessness, seeking and being refused refuge and being the victim of political leaders’ power struggles. There was no social media to carry the instant story and yet, the events of Bethlehem and Nazareth have echoed down the years, changing people’s hearts from stone to flesh, their lives from hatred to love. As we prepare for Christmas this year, let us pray that the telling of the Christmas story will give us a new impetus to leave aside hatred, jealousy, judgmental attitudes and allow us to see the life-changing effect of letting love in.
BISHOP GER NASH, Bishop of Ferns.
The Christmas story began with Mary and her acceptance of her place in God’s plan. Human, like the rest of us, she could not see all that it would entail of joy and sorrow, but at the moment of the Annunciation she was willing to let God’s love work through her. She was truly faithful in the sense that she trusted God and felt that great things could happen if she said yes.
As we prepare to celebrate Christmas, the challenge given to us is much smaller but no less significant. Can we say yes over the holiday period to children, to the elderly and to the lonely or recently bereaved? Not just by giving material things but also by giving people our attention – the gift of noticing them and making them feel visible and loved in the world.
Throughout his life, Jesus welcomed the outsider, the marginalized and assured them that being included was God’s plan for them. We will have plenty of opportunities to do this over Christmas and the year ahead. It is in small things, kind words, a welcoming smile, a helping hand that the Kingdom of God is found and our chance to build God’s Kingdom is when we take the opportunities to do that.
Throughout the Diocese, the year has been a busy one with many gatherings to plan and to ponder what God is calling us to in these years. These meetings have resulted in a great number of people offering to participate in training and planning for the future. It is truly a sign of God at work in our Diocese at this time and we should take great heart from it.
We are at a time of great change in the church – as Pope Francis calls it, a change of era – but we can look forward with hope to God doing great things in all our lives. With that thought in our hearts and minds, let us see in Mary, God’s mother, a model for journeying in faith without knowing where the journey will take us.
I wish all who see this message the Hope and Joy of Christmas, the confidence to see that God is at work in every person and the courage to fearlessly bring about change in the time and place where we live.
By Dan Walsh at Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District Council meeting
Historic BALLINATRAY BRIDGE, once known as the Courtown Viaduct, was one of the highest stone bridges in Ireland. (File Pic).
The completion work on the Gorey-Courtown footpath was back on the agenda at last Tuesday’s December meeting of the Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District Council held in the Civic Centre, Gorey, and the proposal received the full support of members… however, there is one major obstacle in the way… crossing the historic Ballinatray Bridge!
Some members were furious at the suggestion that the footpath would be facilitated by a ‘STOP/GO’ operation on the bridge. “No way. That cannot happen, We cannot have a STOP/GO system on such a busy road in and out of Courtown” stated Cllr Anthony Donohoe, who received strong support from his colleagues.
It was agreed that the completion of the Gorey to Courtown footpath is a priority, a topographical survey is in progress, crossing the bridge will be actively addressed and a fresh presentation is anticipated at the January meeting.
WexfordLocal.com reported that “plans were previously discussed at the May 2018 meeting of the Gorey-Kilmuckridge Council when the course of the footpath was discussed in detail and faced a narrow passage over the historic Ballinatray Bridge over the Ounavarra River about a mile from Courtown Harbour.
For many years now the elected representatives have been strongly campaigning for the completion of a footpath between Gorey and Courtown which is being developed in stages, is more than half-way completed to date and is extremely popular and well used by the public.
WexfordLocal.com had seen draft plans by Wexford County Council that would see a spectacular new footbridge and it proposed to purchase private lands from the new owners of Courtown Woods to complete the scheme, however, it appears such plans came to nothing and are no longer active.
HISTORY; A work relief scheme organised by Lord Courtown in 1846 for the benefit of the starving poor consisted of drainage and the construction of a road southwards from Ballymoney crossroads to join Gorey and Courtown Harbour road. In 1847, the present three-arch bridge at Ballinatray, once known as the Courtown Viaduct and at the time, was the highest stone bridge in the country. Ballinatray Bridge is a 19th century civil engineering feat designed by James Barry Farrell, (1810-1893), who was the County Surveyor, and other similarly amazing works by him can be admired at Carrigmannon, (1844), near Killurin, and Corbally Bridge (1854) on the Enniscorthy to Oulart Road. And for the record, Farrell was involved in the design of St Senan’s Hospital, near Enniscorthy, built in the 1860’s and now closed as a hospital and in private ownership.
Mayor of Wexford Cllr John Hegarty and Cllr John Fleming, Cathaoirleach Wexford County Council were amongst those at the planting of ‘The Rocks’ in Maudlintown.
By Dan Walsh
A small forest of 1,325 native trees have been planted on ‘The Rocks’ at Maudlintown on the southern side of Wexford town as part of the ‘100 Million Trees Project’ launched last year.
The attendance included Cllr John Fleming, Cathaoirleach Wexford County Council, Cllr John Hegarty, Mayor of Wexford Borough District, Cllr George Lawlor and Cllr Garry Laffan. Also present and who carried out trojan work in planting the 1,325 trees were community volunteers from St Mary’s GAA Club, Mauldintown, The Rocks Walking Trails and Southend Family Resource Centre.
Cathaoirleach Cllr John Fleming welcomed all and said he was “delighted to support this project and thanked most especially the volunteers who helped plant the trees but who also care and maintain this unique amenity known as ‘The Rocks’.”
Mayor John Hegarty stated that “this project will provide so many benefits for biodiversity, but it also creates a positive legacy for future generations to enjoy.”
Richard Mulcahy stated; “We were absolutely thrilled to meet our launch objective of planting 20,000 trees in year one, but this year, we have much greater ambitions and aim to deliver over ten times that amount in 2024. By next April, we aim to have, 200,000 to 250,000 new young native tree varieties planted in the ground at over 75 different sites around the country.”
WexfordLocal.com 