Gorey Town Park nominated for national award?

GOREY TOWN and DISTRICT PARK will be nominated for a national ward in 2024. It was quiet in the park today due to winter conditions.

By Dan Walsh at Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District Council meeting

Gorey Town and District Park, which officially opened in August of this year, will be nominated for a national award in 2024, Director of Services Liz Hore told members at the December meeting of Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District Council held in the Council Chamber at Gorey Civic Centre on Tuesday.

The District Manager’s report from Philip Knight stated that “2023 was a particularly busy year for the Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District and saw the completion of several public realms works, the opening of several new resources, the expansion of existing services and the staging of several festivals and events.”

The Gorey Town District Park project won support from all members with its rich community attractions including a new playground, outdoor gym, sensory garden, playing pitch, changing spaces unit, biodiversity garden and pocket forest. Sinead and Eoin Cullen, who served from a coffee van in the park for eight months won the tender to operate the Coffee Pod Café and they were delighted to be part of the opening ceremony and continuing to expand their services.

Cathaoirleach Cllr Pip Breen said; “The Town Park is an outstanding success and is a credit to everybody who got the project over the line.”

Cllr Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin said the park was a great success, he suggested maybe a holding a market there and he also asked the Director of Services if it was possible “to do some planting in the corner?” He was asking for a landscaping plan for the Commemorative/Reflective corner where Peter Kavanagh is installing a stone with the 1916 Proclamation. “I’vd been suggesting that it’s planted this winter to have developing next Easter similar to the Kilmuckridge Commemorative Garden,” he added.

Cllr Diarmuid Devereux congratulated the Council on completing the Town Park making it a good year for Gorey. “Everything worked out well,” he added.

Cllr Joe Sullivan said the most outstanding aspect of the park was the Coffee Pod and he complimented the people running it (Sinead and Eoin Cullen). “There is a nice atmosphere that enhances the experience” for people using the facilities.

Director of Services, Liz Hore told the meeting that Gorey Town District Park will be nominated for a national award next year, a comment that was greeted with universal approval.

Other projects mentioned in the District Manager’s “end of the year” report included the Riverchapel to Courtown Walking Trail, the community centre at Gorey Family Resource Centre, Gorey Men’s Shed, the playground in Oylegate, in conjunction with Slainte Ireland; Boolavogue renovated community hall and garden, the Remote Digital Hub and community shop in Craanford; the public realm works in Ballycanew, and the upgraded CCTV system in Gorey town. The latter was recently completed and “we now have a state-of-the-art system,” concluded Mr. Knight.

Old Murphy Floods Hotel site soon to be demolished

The changing face of Enniscorthy town centre. An artists impression of the replacement buildings on the old Murphy Floods Hotel site which is due for complete demolition in the coming months. (Image; Wexford County Council).

By Dan Walsh at Enniscorthy Municipal District Council meeting

Eighteen years since fire ravaged Enniscorthy’s much loved and successful Murphy Flood’s Hotel and ongoing negativity about the abandoned site, Enniscorthy Municipal District Council, at its December meeting held today (Monday) in the Council Chamber, Presentation Centre, were informed that complete demolition is planned for the early part of 2024. Cllr John O’Rourke, Cathaoirleach, chaired the meeting and there was a full attendance of members.

The Planning Department at Wexford County Council, in collaboration with Special Projects has developed a strategic plan for Enniscorthy town centre, which was adopted at the Enniscorthy Municipal District meeting a year ago in December 2022.

David Whitty from Special Projects gave a detailed presentation around regeneration works to the Market Square, Enniscorthy Castle Quarter and Templeshannon areas of the town.

Wexford County Council has recently acquired the former Murphy Floods Hotel site, and adjacent derelict properties, in Enniscorthy Town Centre. The Council now seeks to advance a proposal to redevelop this vacant plot, which has previously secured Part 8 consent in July 2022. O’Connor Sutton Cronin Consulting Engineers were appointed in May 2023 to undertake full stage design services for the demolition and site preparation elements of the scheme. A tender competition to appoint a works contractor for the demolition works is ongoing. Tender assessment is underway, with phase 1 works anticipated to commence on site in the first quarter of 2024.

Delays with legal issues and complaints by elected representatives regards “the eyesore in the town centre” has blighted the derelict site for many years, and at recent meetings locally and at county level questions were tabled as to when the old Murphy Floods site would be redeveloped.

Murphy Floods Hotel was gutted by fire in 2005 and has remained static ever since. In March 2023 the site and adjoining property was acquired by Wexford County Council who announced an €8 million plan to develop a new library building, retail units, 18 apartments and underground parking. The next step is to demolish the existing buildings and commence the new development.

Also at today’s meeting it was stated that the Part 8 process for Market Square and town centre street enhancement commenced recently on October 4th and was designed by Moloney O’Beirne Architects & Roughan & O’Donovan Consulting Engineers. Preliminary design work on the Enniscorthy Castle Quarter project has now also commenced and it is intended to submit a Part 8 planning application for this in the early months of 2024. 

ODKM Architects have been appointed to undertake concept master planning design services for the Templeshannon Regeneration Project.

It looks like Enniscorthy will be transformed in 2024!

Cocaine seizure at Rosslare Europort

By Dan Walsh

A man in his 50s was arrested by Gardaí following a seizure of approximately 12,5kgs of cocaine with an estimated value of €876,000 at Rosslare Europort on Saturday.

The illicit drugs were discovered when Revenue officers stopped and searched an accompanied freight unit that had disembarked a ferry from Cherbourg, France.

A man in his 50s was arrested by An Garda Síochána and is currently detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996 at a Garda Station in County Wexford.

Investigations are ongoing.

This seizure is 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. 

Fears for loss of R117 over Wexford?

By Dan Walsh

There are serious concerns across Co. Wexford that the Coast Guard Waterford Airport-based Rescue 117 helicopter service may be stood down for up to six months to facilitate new training regimes as a new tender has been accepted to take charge of operating the national search and rescue service.

In a statement on social media Wexford Deputy Verona Murphy has announced that she is supported by fellow Independent Deputies Matt Shanahan, Michael Lowry and Cathal Berry in writing to the Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan TD to confirm and ensure that Rescue 117 will not be stood down!

The Irish Examiner (January 24th, 2022) reported “the fear is that the base (Waterford) will be lost under a new contract worth hundreds of millions of euro for the renewal of aviation services for the Irish Coast Guard. The current bases from which these search and rescue helicopters launch are in Shannon, Sligo, Dublin, and Waterford. However, the tender for the €800 million contract states that there should be a “minimum” of three helicopters included in the new deal; this has prompted fears that Waterford could lose its helicopter base, which would have ramifications for the south and south-east region.”

DEPUTY VERONA MURPHY

The R117 helicopter operates out of Waterford, and its crews had a busy year in 2021; typically it responds to around 700 calls a year but that increased to more than 900 last year. The service covers the south-east and the large coastal area around Co. Wexford from Courtown to Rosslare and the Hook Head area and it would be catastrophic if the region was to lose this vital service.

In response to a query from the Irish Examiner, the Department of Transport said the Government agreed to begin the formal procurement process for a new Coast Guard aviation service. 

“The existing helicopter service contract with CHCI commenced on July 1st 2012, for a period of 10 years, with an option to extend for a further three years. The contract has since been extended to July 2024.”

1798 book relaunched at The Gap

By Dan Walsh

A revised and reprinted version of Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin’s book detailing events around 1798 in North Wexford entitled Towards the Mountains of Liberty was launched in The Gap Pub, Ballythomas, Gorey, tonight (Saturday).

The official launch was performed by Michael Fortune of folklore.ie who delivered a synopsis and anecdotes from the publication. The verbal was supplemented by the visual with video from 1998 showing pike groups from Askamore Gorey Kilanerin and many others. Kieran O’Brien acted as master of ceremonies.

“Launched by the late Ulick O Connor in Gorey in 1998, this revised edition of “Towards the Mountains of Liberty” brings our ancestors inspirational story to a new generation. We are taken into the battles of Ballyellis, Ballygullen, Tubberneering and Arklow and witness the heroic deeds of the Catholic Miles Byrne if Monaseed, the Protestant Anthony Perry of Inch, and numerous other unsung heroes.”

FIONNTÁN Ó SÚILLEABHÁIN launching his book Towards the Mountains of Liberty at the Gap Pub, Ballythomas, Gorey, tonight.

Author Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin told the gathering he was so happy to see so many turn up on the night he thanked them all, especially Michael Fortune and and Wally and Kieran from Red Books.

Originally launched in 1998 for the bicentenary of the rebellion, the new publication contains a lot more information and colour photos and was revised and reprinted by the now famous Red Books of Wexford, who recently opened a bookstore in Gorey, under the stewardship of Kiaran O’Brien and Wally O’Neill.

Towards the Mountains of Liberty by Fionntán Ó Súilleabhain is a limited edition retailing at €15. It is on sale at Red Books, Peter’s Square, Wexford, and Gorey.  

Éire’s poetry ‘Tuigim’ launches in Gorey

Éire Ní Fhaoláin reads from her debut collection of poetry Tuigim at the launch in the Book Café, Gorey, last night. (Pic; John Ó Faoláin).

By Dan Walsh in Gorey

It was an occasion of poetry, celebration and song as Gorey teenager Éire Ní Fhaoláin, (17), who is a 6th year student at Meánscoil Gharman, Enniscorthy, launched her first Irish language poetry collection, called ‘Tuigim’ at a pleasant launch held in the Book Café, Gorey, last evening (Friday).

The official launch was performed in front of ‘a packed house’ by well-known local poet and traditional singer Máire Ní Bhriain who sang the praise of Éire’s exceptional talent at a very young age and praised her gift of contribution to the Irish language and congratulated her on a wonderful achievement in publishing her first collection of poetry.

Éire acted as master of ceremonies and concluded by reading the longest poem in the book, and the title poem, Tuigim. She thanked everybody who helped along the way from teachers, family, close friends and, especially, all who attend her launch.

Contributors on the night, who read their favourite poems from Éire’s collection included Colm Brennan, Stephen James Smith, Álanna Hammell, Rachel Uí Fhaoláin and Culainn Ó Faolain. A traditional music session followed.

The cover, design, layout and illustrations for Tuigim are all the work of talented Éire Ní Fhaoláin and the book is available at The Book Centre, Wexford town, Eason branches at Wexford, Enniscorthy and Gorey, Red Books, Wexford and Gorey, and the Irish National Heritage Park, Ferrycarrig. The book is also available through Dublin’s main Irish language bookshop, An Siopa Leabhair, located in Conradh na Gaeilge’s premises on Harcourt Street.

Rosslare family in RNLI Christmas Appeal

Rosslare Harbour lifeboat volunteer Sean Cullen, (18), holding photographs of his great-great grandfather James Wickham and his great-grandfather Jack Wickham, both former lifeboat coxwains. (Pic; RNLI/David Branigan).

By Dan Walsh

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has launched its annual Christmas fundraising appeal, with a focus on the generations of families who have volunteered their time and commitment 24/7, 365 days a year, to ensure the charity’s lifesaving service has continued for nearly 200 years.

The charity has highlighted the dedication of one such family in Rosslare, through their Christmas campaign, who can trace their lifesaving back five generations to the 1800s.

The Wickham family from Rosslare in Wexford have an incredible record of service, having five generations serve on the lifeboat, from Thomas Wickham in the late 1800s, who was the Lifeboat Coxswain, followed by his sons Edward and James, both of whom also became Coxswains. Then Jack Wickham, James’s son, was second Coxswain and Mechanic on the lifeboat, while his son Matt became station mechanic. Matt’s cousin Fergus Wickham was also lifeboat coxswain and his brothers Brian and Billy were volunteer crew members. The current generation have also become lifeboat crew with Matt’s grandson, Sean Cullen, becoming a lifeboat volunteer, along with his cousin Ronan Hill.

The family have also received recognition for their callouts, including the Mexico rescue in 1914, which took place over three days, the Mountblairy in 1927, where a crew of five jumped from their wreck onboard the lifeboat and the rescue of seven people in November 1954, when the tanker World Concord broke in half during a storm of exceptional violence in the Irish Sea. Matt’s first callout was to the Tuskar Rock tragedy in 1968.

Matt Wickham is now retired as Rosslare Harbour RNLI Lifeboat Mechanic and crew member and features with his grandson, lifeboat volunteer Sean Cullen (18) in the RNLI’s Christmas campaign, which celebrates the families that have given generations of service to the lifeboats.

Matt’s daughter Mag Wickham is again sharing a home with a lifeboat volunteer as she watches her 18-year-old son, Sean, volunteer for the lifeboat. Trained as a nurse in Dublin, Mag couldn’t follow family onto the lifeboat, but she now raises funds for the station, following in her own mother and grandmother’s steps. Mag commented; “I wasn’t tempted to the join the lifeboat crew but my cousin Pamela was a lifeboat volunteer for a while. I knew that Sean would volunteer the minute he turned 17 years of age.”

“With volunteering, everybody can do it and the funds raised make it all possible. If you want to help and commit, you’ll be shown how. You’ll be trained, provided with the correct equipment and what you get back, is that feeling of being able to save somebody, with the best people around you. With the RNLI, when someone calls for your help, they really need your help and when you stop and think about that, you realise it is just massive,” concluded Mag.

RNLI lifeboats launch throughout the year, including Christmas day, whenever and wherever they are needed. Whatever weather winter throws at them, RNLI crews are ready to battle the elements to save lives at sea and on inland waters. These rescues, and others, all year round, are only made possible by the RNLI’s generous supporters, helping to fund the essential kit, training and equipment needed by lifeboat crews.

To donate to the RNLI’s Christmas Appeal, and enable the charity to continue its lifesaving work, please support your local lifeboat station or visit RNLI.org/Winter Appeal.

250 attend Age Friendly Awards

By Dan Walsh

Cllr John Fleming, Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council welcomed over 250 people from across Ireland to this year’s National Age Friendly Recognition and Achievement Awards ceremony held in Clayton Whites Hotel, Wexford.

At the National Age Friendly Awards in Clayton White’s Hotel, Wexford were; (left to right); Caroline Horan, Access Officer Wexford County Council, Dymphna O’Connor, S.E.O. Community Section, Cllr Ger Carty, Chairman Our Lady’s Island Community Development Committee, Annette Dupuy, Healthy County Co-ordinator; Lorraine Burke, Our Lady’s Island Community Development Committee. (Pic; Browne’s Photography).

The awards recognise and reward, groups and individuals who have put significant time and effort into ensuring projects become a reality to make a difference to the lives of the older generation.

Tom Enright, Chief Executive, had a special welcome for the Minister for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler TD. Mr Enright said; “Wexford County Council is delighted to be hosting these National Awards which recognise the contribution made across the country to enhance the lives of older people.”

This was the seventh annual awards ceremony for Age Friendly Ireland since 2014, presented by Age Friendly Ireland, a shared service function of Local Government in Meath County Council and was hosted by Wexford County Council, which has been an Age Friendly County since 2013.

18 new houses on the way at Tagoat

Turning the sod on the new housing scheme at Tober Cormaic, Tagoat (left to right); Cllr Ger Carthy, Cllr Lisa Mc Donald, Cllr. Jim Moore, Cathaoirleach of Rosslare Municipal District and Cllr Frank Staples.

By Dan Walsh

Cllr Jim Moore, Cathaoirleach Rosslare Municipal District has turned the sod on an 18-unit social housing scheme at Tobar Cormaic, Tagoat.

“This new social housing development is much welcomed by the elected representatives from the Municipal District of Rosslare and the people living in our uniquely rural District,” said Cllr Moore, who added; “The continued delivery of social housing units is of critical importance to the sustainability of our rural communities.”

Eddie Taaffe, Director of Services for Capital Development said; “This scheme in Tagoat represents the latest project in Wexford County Council’s programme of social housing construction. 

Mr Taffee continued; “Together with our partners in the Approved Housing Bodies, over 400 new dwellings have been delivered since the start of 2022 and a further 700 will be completed by 2026. The Housing Construction team is working hard to develop more projects and increase the amount of social housing construction delivered by Wexford County Council and we hope to exceed our targets set under the Government’s Housing for All plan.

The Tober Cormaic scheme is funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage under ‘Housing for All’ the national housing plan, will help to address the demand for social housing in the area. It will comprise of modern and energy efficient homes designed to meet the needs of individuals and families. The development consists of two by 2-bedroom single storey houses, six 2-bedroom Duplex apartment units, two 1-bedroom Duplex apartment units, one 2-storey 4-bedroom house and two 3-bedroom houses.

Kevin Thorpe Ltd (KTL Construction), Newtown, Adamstown, have been appointed by Wexford County Council for the construction works, with the development expected to be completed and occupied by early 2025.

Minister supports Enniscorthy jobs

Pictured in Enniscorthy today were (left to right); Ed Murphy (Platinum Homecare), Dermot Bolger (Platinum Homecare), Minister for Finance Michael McGrath TD and Charlotte Reilly (Platinum Homecare). (Pic; Slaney News).

By Dan Walsh

Minister for Finance Micheal McGrath TD was in Enniscorthy today with Platinum Homecare at the Peare Campus, Old Dublin Road, for an important jobs’ announcement.

Founded in February 2023 by two entrepreneurs with a strong Co. Wexford background, Ed Murphy and Dermot Bolger, and supported by Charlotte Reilly, Platinum Homecare has put together a team of skilled care and business professionals nationwide. At present the company has created six jobs in Enniscorthy and that number is expected to grow to around 20 by the end of 2024.

Platinum Homecare is forecasting an additional 250 new carer, care and regional manager positions across Ireland within the next 12 months, contributing to the economy while addressing the critical need for enhanced home care services.

Minister McGrath stated; “Platinum Homecare’s ambitious plan to create 250 new jobs in Ireland is a testament to their commitment to transforming home care services in our country. This initiative will benefit our economy, the healthcare system, and, most importantly, the families who need these services. By enabling individuals to age gracefully in their own homes, Platinum Homecare is not only empowering our aging population but also reducing the strain on our healthcare facilities.”

Ed Murphy, founder and Chair of Platinum Homecare, stated; “Our goal is to fundamentally change the home care model, making it more effective, personal, and technology driven. We are proud to play a vital role in the evolution of home care services in Ireland.”