News and Sport and Events that matter across County Wexford.
By Dan Walsh
The body of a male was removed from the River Barrow at New Ross this afternoon.
Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene of an incident at approximately 1.35pm.
The male was pronounced deceased at the scene and has been taken to University Hospital Waterford where a post mortem examination will take place in due course.
“No further information is available at this time. Investigations are ongoing,” said the Gardaí in a statement.
By Dan Walsh in Wexford town
Wexford-born singer/songwriter Pierce Turner said it was “a great honour” when he performed the official launch of the fifth edition of the Wexford Bohemian at Red Books, Wexford, on Saturday night.
Described as “Wexford’s journal of art, culture and literature”, the latest publication is edited by Alanna Hammel and Pierce Turner expressed his support in the foreword. It has twenty-five contributors; the vast majority are published for the first time and the content is laden with variety and original poems and short stories.
Editor Álanna Hammel acted as master of ceremonies and the pleasant function featured readings from Conor Lyons, Amy Redmond, Mick O’ Callaghan, Stephanie Hanley-Baird, Éire Nì Fhaoláin, Katherine Alabama, Meg Lowney, Lulu Sinnott, Heidi Bowe and Martina Byrne.
They all have their submissions published in the latest edition of Wexford Bohemian, issue 5, along with Jess Mannion, Paul Hennessy, Annette Condon, Deirdre O’Connor, Polly Chapman, Fionntáin Ó Suilleabháin, Shawn O’Ceallaigh, Dooroslawa Staszewska, Aoife Byrne, Garry Farrelly, Christina Hession, Gar Cullen, Frankie Lowney, Emie and Chulainn Ó Fhaoláin.
Wexford Bohemian, issue 5, edited by Álanna Hammel is available at Red Books, St. Peter’s Square, Wexford or http://www.theirishbookshop.com, but, beware copies are selling fast and once they’re gone, they’re really gone!
By Dan Walsh at Ballycrystal
Barry O’Neill was performing on his home territory at Ballycrystal today and he put on a mighty show for the large crowd booting home four winners – two of them for local handler Colin Bowe. Both champions are top of the leader board tonight with nine winners each since the new season began at the beginning of October.
Inspired by the Harry Potter character Leaky Cauldron came home first by five lengths for the O’Neill-Bowe team in the maiden race for four-year-olds. “He was very professional and jumped very well,” said Bowe afterwards, and was followed home by Donnchadh Doyle’s Cave Article and Denis Murphy’s Jackstell.
The O’Neill-Bowe double came in the maiden race for five-year-old geldings and a two and a half lengths advantage for Big John Wayne in the Milestone Bloodstock Ltd colours.
Win number three for O’Neill came aboard Weir Lane for handler David O’Brien, Piltown, Co. Kilkenny, in the colours of Mike Allen in the maiden race for five- and six-year-olds.
O’Neill’s fourth success of the afternoon saw Aidan Fitzgerald’s Commander of Ten cheered across the finish line two and a half lengths clear in the maiden race for six-year-olds and upwards.
Rob James was in action at Umma House today and missed seen Rossbridge get the best of a close finish for the Matchmaker Syndicate and Duncormack rider Eoin Staples in the four-year-old maiden auction race.
The Open Lightweight Race was confined to lady riders and the reigning champion, Susie Doyle from Thurles, was on the six lengths winner – Lifetime Ambition handled by her father, Pat Doyle, who intends sticking to a similar route during the season.
It was a pleasant afternoon’s point-to-pointing and everything ran safely and smoothly under the watchful eye of the Island Hunt, the weather was glorious for October, ground conditions were safe and suitable for the horses, and the large crowd was noticeable family groups and younger punters which is a good omen for the sport.
There were also point-to-point races at Umma House in south Westmeath and two Wexford stables were victorious. Harley Dunne saddled first timer Piper Park in the four-year-old mares maiden race and secured victory by two lengths with Tiernan Power Roche from Tomhaggard in the saddle.
Daryl Deacon, Belmont House, Clonroche, who was present at Ballycrystal, received the brilliant news that Dollar Collar gave him a five lengths success in the mares’ maiden ridden by Derek O’Connor.
The fixture list is as follows: Sunday, November 12th; Wexford Hunt Races at Knockmullen House, New Ross. Sunday, November 19th; Wicklow Hunt at Fairwood, Tinahely. November 26th; Killinick Harriers at Lingstown, Tomhaggard. Sunday, December 3rd; Carlow Farmers Hunt at Borris House.
By Dan Walsh
The popular point-to-point track at Ballycrystal, near Kiltealy, has a fine covering of grass and has been described as “good to yielding” ahead of tomorrow’s (Sunday) races run under the auspices of Island Hunt.
There are 84 entries, the first race is at 2pm, and the forecast is for “a mainly dry day.” A good day’s racing is anticipated, and the organisers would like a good-sized attendance.
Colin Bowe and Barry O’Neill made the long journey to Loughanmore in East Antrim today (Saturday) and supplied the only winning favourite on the six-race card, Wallace Onlinger who had five lengths to spare when winning the Winner of Two Race for owner Brian Acheson.
A seventh win of the new season for Bowe, which places him on top of the leader board, Wallace Onlinger has enjoyed a second success in two weeks following on from a 50 lengths victory at Loughrea on October 8th.
By Dan Walsh
Priests are reflecting upon drafts of a pastoral plan for the Diocese of Ferns and the parishioners in the Diocese will be given further information in their newsletters at Masses this weekend.
As part of the universal Church’s ongoing journey of synodality, the priests of the Diocese of Ferns met together for three days.
The assembly of priests worked with facilitators on pastoral development, Scripture, lay ministry, collaboration, synodality, pastoral area formation and leadership.
The work of the facilitators especially the lay participation was deeply appreciated. This work complements the synodal meetings of the wider Diocese.
Priests also reflected upon the first drafts of a pastoral plan for the Diocese, which is being developed by representatives from the Council of Priests and Diocesan Pastoral Council and grew from the synthesis of communal discernment that concluded Stage 1 of the Irish Synodal Pathway. This plan looks at ways of empowering people, priests and religious to work more closely together in the proclamation of the Good News.
“As we continue to discern together the way forward in a time of change for parishes, we pray that Parish communities within pastoral areas continue to work together to reflect a reinvigorated communion amongst clergy and laity, an outward pastoral reach and a renewed evangelising mission,” said a statement from the Communications Office at the Diocese of Ferns.
By Dan Walsh
Cllr John Fleming, Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council has expressed his delight with progress in establishing a new University Campus in Wexford and today’s announcement that the local authority has successfully moved to the final stages of the CPO for the land acquisition with the Notice to Treat stage for the parcel of land for the university’s ambitious expansion plans.
Cllr Fleming said; “Our commitment to the delivery of a new Wexford University Campus remains unwavering and will provide a legacy for future generations as one of the most strategic investments for County Wexford’s future. We are proud as the local authority to have played a key role in collaboration with our partners at SETU on this exciting investment project”.
Tom Enright, Chief Executive, stated that “this strategic land acquisition marks a crucial step in the South East Technological University’s commitment to providing students with state-of-the-art facilities, fostering enterprise and innovation, addressing the educational imbalance by increasing third level participation and providing a skilled workforce attracting inward investment as part of our economic development strategy. He went onto highlight that “the university campus will also facilitate opportunities to provide a multi shared sports complex.”
Mr. Enright paid tribute to the elected members of Wexford County Council for their commitment and support to the establishment of the new university campus in Wexford town and was keen to emphasise that the local authority had played a key role to deliver on the shared vision of a strong university presence for Wexford.
The next phase will see Wexford County Council working closely with SETU to develop a master plan for the university incorporating several strands including the university, sports facilities, and housing.
Mr. Enright stated; “We have advertised a tender process for the masterplan for SETU and will following assessment in the coming weeks expect to have a contract tender appointed next month. The acquisition of lands to facilitate the new SETU university Wexford campus is one of the most transformational infrastructural projects that will impact on the future lives of citizens in Wexford and regionally.”.
President of SETU (South East Technological University), Prof. Veronica Campbell welcomed the news that “following my recent meeting this month with Wexfod County Council, the CPO is now nearing its final steps and this will enable SETU to provide enhanced university facilities in Wexford in accordance with SETU’s strategic plan, Connecting for Impact.
By Dan Walsh
Over 130 female entrepreneurs, women in business and female-led businesses from all over County Wexford gathered in Newbay House Hotel, Wexford, yesterday (Thursday) to celebrate the 16th National Women’s Enterprise Day 2023.
Wexford town-native Theresa Grant OBE led the panel of homegrown and international speakers and shared her story of delivering high-value outcomes for communities and local governments across the UK. Generating a positive organisational culture through leadership and teamwork has led Ms. Grant to be recognised with an OBE from the Queen for her work in 2021. Sharing how she has worked for major sporting events including the Commonwealth Games and the Sydney Olympics, as well as for government bodies, Prime Ministers and parliamentarians made for a compelling and inspirational morning.
Pauline Dunne of Killowen Farm was this year’s National Women’s Enterprise Day Ambassador for Wexford also spoke at the event. An NWED Ambassador is a business who has come through Local Enterprise Office services and have proven themselves to be an inspirational ambassador, leader and mentor for other female-led businesses and entrepreneurs.
Ms. Dunne’s story of growing a small family dairy farm to a major producer of both yogurt and cream cheese, who produce 4000 jars of their signature yogurts per hour gave inspiration and encouragement to businesses of all sizes in the room.
Deborah Brock of Nua Fertility explained how her business came from personal experience and how both people and science have played such a crucial role in her business journey.
Paying tribute to female entrepreneurs and businesswomen everywhere, Breege Cosgrave, Head of Enterprise at LEO Wexford, who this year is the joint National Chair for NWED, described the event as “a celebration of female entrepreneurship, leadership and empowerment by women who are both innovation and strategic in their thinking.
“Women are intuitively innovative, adaptable and forward thinking – these are the skills that we need to harness now to secure a strong economy where female entrepreneurship is allowed to flourish,” said Ms. Cosgrave, who added; “Businesses are facing growing energy costs, a shortage of labour and skills, climate change and increasingly uncertain global security and women are well equipped to deal with these challenges.”
By Dan Walsh at Wexford County Council Buildings
Wexford County Council and Wexford Arts Centre in partnership with the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) tonight (Thursday) launched Irish Gothic, a solo exhibition by Patricia Hurl in ‘the Street’ at Wexford County Council headquarters at Carricklawn, Wexford.
Liz Burns, Wexford Arts Officer, said the exhibition was selected from a major retrospective hosted by the IMMA last year, and presents one of Ireland’s most accomplished artist, Patricia Hurl, whose work is by its nature political and traverses the disciplines of painting, multimedia and collaborative art practice.
Cllr John Fleming, Cathaoirleach Wexford County Council welcomed the exhibition to Wexford, complimented the artist and all who helped get it on display, and he hoped large numbers will drop into County Hall and view the exhibition over the coming weeks.
The exhibition was officially opened by writer, academic and activist, Ailbhe Smyth, who spoke passionately about Patricia Hurl and their mutual affection and friendship and an overview of her achievements. “While dealing with a range of difficult topics, humour is often deployed,” said Ms. Smyth, who added; “Sketchbooks, diaries, magazines, and newspaper cuttings are central to Hurl’s practice and an integral part of her process, a selection of which is included in the exhibition.”
Ms. Hurl, originally from Dublin and winner of the Norah McGuinness award for painting in 1984, was given a rousing welcome to Wexford by tonight’s invited attendance and stated that she appreciated the support and was delighted to have her exhibition available to the public in Wexford.
The Irish Gothic exhibition can be viewed at Wexford County Council Buildings, Wexford, until November 19th.
By Dan Walsh at Enniscorthy Municipal District Council meeting
Enniscorthy’s proposed 600-metre loop extension at the Urrin Bridge on the Riverside Walk or Country Walk beside the River Slaney, which was granted €200,000 funding in 2021, has to go direct to An Board Pleanála for planning because it is in a special area of conservation, and nothing has happened to date.
The matter was raised at last Monday’s monthly meeting of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council where Cllr Jackser Owens requested an update on developments, or lack of progress, and passionately claimed that “wheelchair users are denied access to the country walk and have never seen it”, and he wondered when the work will be completed?
Mr. Rory O’Mahony from the Environmental Section of Wexford County Council told the meeting of plans to extend the Riverside Walk and complete the 600-metre loop and confirmed the funding of €200,000, said there was “a good landowner agreement, but the plans were expensive, and the work must go to consultants because the Wexford County Council has no ’in-house’ staff to prepared the plans.
In reply to a contribution from Cllr Aidan Browne, Mr. O’Mahoney admitted that the proposed 600-metre loop has not yet gone to planning. He confirmed Cllr Browne’s comments that “it is no ordinary planning process” and must go to An Bord Pleanála, which could delay the project by years! Cllr Browne asked for a commitment to spending the allocation and suggested that, perhaps, the Blackstoops to Island Road walkway could be progressed in the meantime.
The planned project, known as the 600m loop, will provide users with an alternative route around the River Urrin footbridge to get access to the lower Country Walk trail. Users would avoid the footbridge by following a 600m loop path along the northern bank of the Urrin, crossing over at St. John’s Bridge and return along on the southern bank which used to provide an old rail link into Davis Mills, cross the road, and into the foundry until the 1960s. A redundant Irish Rail underpass could be used to re-connect the loop to the existing country walk.
Established as the Country Walk in 2010, the popular trail is a 6km round trip scenic walk along the western bank of the River Slaney south of Enniscorthy town. The trail starts along the promenade walk at the southern end of the town and heads past a playground, crosses a footbridge at the River Urrin and follows a gravel path through a semi-wild meadow and is part of an extensive Special Area of Conservation.
By Dan Walsh at Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District meeting
Wexford County Council’s Draft Budgetary Plans setting out the General Municipal Allocations (GMA) for 2024 have been presented to all districts and remains at the same level as 2023 at €1,832,000 and the final presentations were made at Enniscorthy (yesterday) and Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District Council at today’s meeting held in the Council Chamber, Gorey Civic Centre.
The allocations to the districts are as follows; WEXFORD €407,000, ROSSLARE €257, 000, ENNISCORTHY €364,000, NEW ROSS €339,000 and GOREY KILMUCKRIDGE €465,000.
Gorey Kilmuckridge voted unanimously to support the Draft Budgery Plan, however, it was felt in the chamber that Gorey Kilmuckridge were “short changed” considering that Gorey and Kilmuckridge are two districts amalgamated.
Cllr Andrew Bolger activated the debate when he claimed that Gorey Kilmuckridge LEA (Local Electoral Area) received the least amount of money per electoral area – €232,500 per local area less than any other district? “We have been short changed,” he added.
Cllr Joe Sullivan stated that Gorey was behind Enniscorthy and Cllr Anthony Donohoe agreed that Gorey Kilmuckridge was not getting its fair share and “was lumped in as one municipal district. Cllr Donal Kenny claimed that “the figures don’t add up” and it was a case of the Council “throwing the toys out of the cot.”
Cllr Mary Farrell pointed out that Kilmuckridge was “very rural”, Cllr Willie Kavanagh asked how much was in it for Kilmuckridge and that leaves less for Gorey.
Cllr Diarmuid Devereux proposed adoption of the Budgetary Plan (Cllr Kavanagh seconded) and reminded members of “spending money we don’t have” as the “county is going to struggle and is already €4 million behind the curve.”
Linda Leacy, Acting Head of Finance, told the meeting that the GMA for 2024 “have again been prepared against a backdrop of uncertainty in terms of the financial capacity of Wexford County Council to deliver a balanced statutory budget for 2024.”
“The war in Ukraine triggered a massive shock to the global economy, especially to energy markets, squeezing supply and pushing up prices to unprecedented levels,” stated Ms. Leacy, who added; “This economic crisis continues to see inflation and energy costs spiral with no clear end in sight.”
Ms. Leacy concluded that “the lack of a real and sustainable source of income for local government will continue to present challenges for the Council as we try to deliver annual budgets in an environment of unprecedented cost pressures caused by the impact of back-to-back economic crisis since 2020.”
WexfordLocal.com 