HELEN KEARNEY, Chairperson Askamore Community Council and JOE DUFFY at tonight’s launch of the Askamore Art Exhibition.
By Dan Walshat Askamore Community Centre
Renowned RTÉ broadcaster Joe Duffy was guest of honour at Askamore Community Centre tonight (Wednesday) where he performed the official opening of the 5th Askamore Art Exhibition before a packed attendance.
The exhibition features 31 local artists and 98 pieces of work and has seen huge growth in the numbers exhibiting, the quality of the work and local support for the event.
Chairperson of Askamore Community Council, Helen Kearney acted as master of ceremonies, introduced Joe Duffy, thanked all the artists for exhibiting their works and showed appreciation for all who brought the exhibition to fruition and invited everybody to visit the exhibition over the next few days.
Artists whose work is on display includes Susan Crampton, Alison Hayden, Kay Kinsella, Mary O’Toole, Eilish Kilbride, Anne-Marie Sweeney, Miriam Henshaw, Margaret Kenny, Breda Byrne, Jackie Christian, Mary Doran, Barry O’Sullivan, John Hempenstall, Theresa Hogan, Naoise Hennessy, Grace Hennessy, Una White, Barbara Jameson, Alison Bayne, Joan Byrne, Cloida Morris, Shannon O’Bracken, Mica Warren, Thomas Patchell, Mary Stacey, Breda Moynihan, Robyn Stephens and Dave Pearson.
Tributes were paid to the excellent efforts and organisational ability of the Art Exhibition Committee consisting of David and Alison Bayne, Anne Bernie, Dave Pearson, Jackie Christian and Jim Tomkins.
The Exhibition is open to the public daily from Thursday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm. All are welcome.
Essential overnight water restrictions are necessary for customers supplied by Enniscorthy Town Water Supply to ensure daytime supply for the community according to Uisce Eireann, working in partnership with Wexford County Council.
The restrictions will be put in place tonight (Tuesday) and tomorrow night (Wednesday) from 11pm until 6am, to help reservoir levels recover after essential repairs were carried out over the weekend.
The areas affected include Enniscorthy Town and surrounding areas.
Some customers may experience reduced pressure while others may experience water outages during these times. Water levels are being reviewed daily and the restrictions will be in place until Thursday morning.
Uisce Éireann’s Jim Fitzgerald told WexfordLocal.com; “We understand the impact restrictions have on a community, but they are essential to allow reservoir levels to recover overnight and maintain a consistent supply of drinking water for customers during the day. We thank the community for their support and ask them to consider their water usage in the days ahead.”
The Uisce Éireann customer care helpline is open 24/7 on 1800 278 278 and updates are also issued via WexfordLocal.com.
By Dan Walsh at Wexford County Council monthly meeting
A €250 million Master Plan for the SETU Campus, schools, housing, large scale sports and community facilities at Killeens and Clonard on the outskirts of Wexford town was presented to members by Chief Executive Tom Enright at yesterday’s (Monday) monthly meeting of Wexford County Council.
The Strategic Land of over 120 acres will also provide over 600 social, affordable and private homes, two new schools and community facilities.
TOM ENRIGHT Chief Executive Wexford County Council
“Following the signing of documents for the compulsory purchase of the lands for a new Southeast Technological University (SETU) campus in January of this year the process is now at an advanced stage,” said Mr Enright, who continued; “The Campus will serve as a National Centre of Excellence with Wexford County Council leading the preparation of the Master Plan with SETU determining the faculties.”
The Council also purchased an additional 55 acres of land adjacent to the Loreto School at Killeens from a Receiver.
Also announced were proposals for new €20 million Multi-Purpose State-of-the-Art Sports and Community Facilities to serve the Community, the new University and Schools.
This includes a significant proposal to facilitate the relocation of Wexford FC Stadium and facilities from Ferrycarrig Park to new high-quality facilities in Killeens as it is expected that the planned M11 Olygate to Rosslare Harbour major road scheme will bisect the existing facilities at Ferrycarrig.
Speaking of the Transformational Change Project, Mr Enright said; “This is a really important development, we don’t just want a state-of-the-art University in Wexford, but we want state-of-the-art large scale sporting facilities as well. The facilities being proposed will be available to clubs but also to the university and the schools and to the wider community.”
Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council, Cllr John Fleming welcomed the proposals which when completed will be transformational for Wexford Town, County Wexford and the South East Region. “This is a very important day for Wexford and we must have the ambition to provide educational and sporting facilities on a par with other locations which already have a Technological University Campus and large-scale sporting facilities.”
The developments will require the full backing of Council members who were universally very positive and supportive of the Master Plan presentation.
Cllr Ger Carthy said; “This will be a game changer for Co. Wexford with the construction of the campus, sports facilities and housing developments and will need the full resources of Wexford County Council.” “An extremely exciting day for Wexford, the county and the region and Wexford County Council will be in the driving seat for the Master Plan,” stated Cllr George Lawlor.
Cllr Jackser Owen was excited that “our children can go to our own college”; Cllr Leonard Kelly praised the vision of grouping the sports clubs; Cllr Oliver Walsh described the plan as “a most ambitious and exciting programme; Cllr Michael Sheehan said it was “a good proposal” and he wished it well; There was support from Cllr Lisa McDonald; Cllr Jim Codd, who has been teaching in the Rosslare district for the past 30 years spoke of “a great day for Wexford.”
Cllr Jim Moore described the project as “ambitious and visionary and transforming, not just the region, but the town and county” and he was delighted at “the integration of all other facilities.” However, Cllr Moore reminded the members “we should not forget what we have got and managing the changes is a significant challenge.” There were also words of support from Cllrs Aidan Browne, Willie Kavanagh, Cathal Byrne and Pip Breen.
Ferrycarrig Park will soon fade the floodlights and hang up its boots on soccer games and Wexford FC will find a new home in Wexford town following compulsory purchase to facilitate the extension and completion of the M11 between Oylegate to Rosslare Harbour.
Details were provided at today’s (Monday) meeting of Wexford County Council by Chief Executive Tom Enright who said that Wexford FC were pressurised to secure an alternative home or risk losing the club’s League of Ireland status and following discussions and agreement Wexford County Council will provide a new site at Killeens on a reasonable long-term lease.
“This announcement is not just great news for Wexford FC, but it’s great news for Wexford football as a whole,” said Wexford FC CEO Tony Doyle, who added; “These facilities will be there for everyone – the Wexford Football League, the Women’s League and Wexford FC as the League of Ireland club. It’ll be a game-changer across all strands of our game.”
“We’re really looking forward to working with Wexford County Council, SETU (South East Technological University) and the FAI to deliver this great sporting project for Wexford,” said Mr. Doyle, who added; The FAI support has been vital as they negotiated the early stages of this move and will continue to be going forward.”
The Calendar Guys; (left to right). Dymphna O’Connor, Senior Executive Officer, Community, Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council, Cllr. John Fleming, and Carolyne Godkin, Director of Services.
By Dan Walsh at Wexford County Council meeting
The Community Team at Wexford County Council launched its first Community Calendar for 2024 at Wexford County Council HQ today (Monday) and the first calendar was presented to Cathaoirleach Cllr John Fleming.
Cllr Fleming said; “Whether you are interested in arts and culture, sports and recreation, education and training, or community development and support you will find something in the calendar that suits your needs and interests.”
Carolyne Godkin, Director of Services with responsibility for Community said; “We are proud to share this, our first calendar, that showcases some of our work and celebrates our Wexford communities,” and Dymphna O’Connor, Head of Community added; “Our calendar is more than just a collection of dates and events, it is a reflection of our passion, dedication, and diversity as we serve the people of Wexford in various ways.’
The Community team includes work under the brands of Wexford LCDC, Healthy Wexford, Sláintecare Healthy Communities, Wexford Age Friendly and Sports Active Wexford.
The calendar includes local photos and includes key messages and dates each month which the team hope will act as a further support to communities and citizens across County Wexford.
Calendars will shortly be available for free across County Wexford at local Municipal District Offices, at County Hall and through our Wexford Public Libraries. The Community Team will also be distributing in the course of their work over the next few weeks.
A commemorative plaque erected in memory of all those from Enniscorthy and district who fought and died during the Great War, 1914-1918, has ‘disappeared’ from the wall where it was fixed at the Orchard Peace Park in Enniscorthy.
Speaking to WexfordLocal.com at today’s monthly meeting of Wexford County Council Cllr Jackser Owens said only the screws fixing the plaque to the wall remained when members of Enniscorthy Historical Re-enactment Society arrived at the location to lay a wreath to mark Remembrance Day.
Cllr Owens is appealing for the plaque to be returned. “The Council don’t know anything about the plaque going missing, so I am asking whoever has taken it to please return it,” he added.
Ray Murphy from Enniscorthy Historical Re-enactment Society said that when the group approached the location, they first noticed that the plaque was missing. “We don’t know how long it has been missing,” stated Mr. Murphy, who added; “I hope that it will be returned as it is of no use to anyone.”
The plaque was erected by Enniscorthy Municipal District Council in 2018 to mark the centenary of the end of the Great War and remember those from the town and district who fought and died during the period, 1914-1918.
The Orchard Peace Park has been targeted in acts of vandalism and anti-social behaviour since it opened to the public and Gardaí have been keeping a close eye on developments while Enniscorthy Municipal District Council has condemned those who abuse the facilities and are investing in more CCTV coverage.
The proposed visit of Darragh O’Brien, T.D. Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to Gorey and Enniscorthy this morning (Monday) has been cancelled due to the red weather warning that is in place for 15 counties, including Wicklow, but excluding Wexford.
Minister O’Brien planned to visit the St. Joseph’s Social Housing Construction site at Wexford Street, Gorey, the 20 Affordable Housing site at Ramsfort Park, which is at the tender assessment stage and the St. Waleran’s site on the outskirts of Gorey.
Afternoon Minister O’Brien was due to visit Market Square, Enniscorthy, to view the old Murphy-Flood’s site and hear about plans for Templeshannon.
SEPTEMBER 3rd 2021; Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien and Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy display plans for St. Waleran’s, on the site at Balytegan, Gorey. Also in photo (left to right); Carolyne Godkin, Director of Services, Wexford County Council, Tom Enright CEO, Cllrs Donal Kenny, Joe Sullivan and Andrew Bolger, Minister James Browne, Diarmuid Heuston, Senior Executive Planner, Wexford County Council, Cllr Pip Breen, Cathaoirleach Gorey-Kilmuckridge Municipal District Council and Senator Malcolm Byrne. (Pic; Patrick Browne).
Bunclody Kilmyshal Drama Group have qualified for the All-Ireland One-Act Drama Finals with their play ‘Dead Man’s Bells’
They will join their Wexford neighbours Coolgreany Amateur Dramatic Society (Open Section) and New Ross Drama Workshop (Confined Section) and are the first three groups to qualify.
The All-Ireland One-Act Drama Finals take place in Castleblaney, Co. Monaghan from Friday, December 1st to Sunday, December 3rd.
Rider JAMIE SCALLAN and handler SUSAN O’GORMAN holding Bright Sunrise and supporters following victory at Knockmullen House today.
By Dan Walsh at Knockmullen House
November sunshine made life pleasant for the attendance at today’s Wexford Hunt point-to-point at Knockmullen House, New Ross, where a good afternoon’s racing took place in heavy conditions.
The opening maiden race for four-year-olds concluded with the closest finish of the day; only a neck separated the Colin Bowe handled Wednesday Addams ridden by Rob James from Denis Murphy’s Santapietra and Jack Hendrick up. Jonathan Fogarty’s Aldaira and Barry Stone led by a big margin in the race until the partnership ended at the ninth fence.
Bright Sunrise proved a popular local winner of the maiden race for mares aged five years and upwards winning by fifth lengths in the familiar purple and gold colours of owner and breeder Jim Mernagh of Coolamurray Stud, Davidstown, who wasn’t present to enjoy the success. Ridden by Jamie Scallan, Tomhaggard, who was riding his 35th career winner, Bright Sunrise is handled by Susan O’Gorman, Kellystown, Adamstown, who was celebrating her 4th victory and is in her fifth year as a handler.
All other races at Knockmullen House went outside the county with handler/rider Declan Queally from Dungarvan recording a double; Artic Lane scored by eight lengths in the maiden race for four-year-old geldings and Beau’s Candle doubled the winning distance in the Winners of One Race and was clear by 16 lengths at the finish.
Hannah Phillips from Fethard. Co. Tipperary enjoyed her second career victory on Jimmybrien, owned and handled by Michael Phillips by three-quarters of a length in the geldings’ race for novice riders. Claire ‘Connell travelled from Meath and took the maiden race for five-year-olds ridden by John Barry.
There was another point-to-point fixture at Dromahane, Co. Cork, where Barry O’Neill recorded a double success. Moon Over Mexico dead-heated in the maiden race for five-year-old geldings for Colin Bowe and Barry O’Neill and afterwards O’Neill teamed up with David Christie and they were eight and a half lengths winners of the Open Race with Ferns Lock.
Garrett Murphy from Ballymitty saddled newcomer Northern Air in the maiden race for four-year-old mares and with Shane O’Rourke, Foulksmills, in the saddle success was achieved by four lengths.
Next Sunday’s local point-to-point is the Wicklow Hunt meeting at Fairwood, Tinahely. First race at 12.30pm and entries close on Tuesday.
The cancelled two-day Bank Holiday races at Wexford have been given a rescheduled date – it happens next Friday, November 17th. Free admission. And the annual general meeting of Wexford Racecourse Supporter’s Club takes place in the Farm Centre, Enniscorthy, on Friday, November 24th at 8pm. All are welcome.
Rathangan Bar was packed on Friday night for the launch of a new sports biography named ‘Sportsman Mick; A Lifetime in Local Sports” by local man Mick Carty that gives an intriguing insight into the often exciting and controversial world of local GAA, soccer, pool and skittles.
“Everything I’ve written about is the truth as I recall it,” said Mick who commenced writing during Covid 19 lockdown, and he declared; “Some people won’t like it and I suppose that’s the nature of sport, it brings people together but can also prove very divisive at certain times.
“I’ve been involved with several GAA and soccer clubs in South Wexford, and in pool and skittles for the past forty years. Some people think that these games are just past times, but they’re wrong. We take it very serious and sometimes we can fall out,” concluded Mick whose launch was held in “the front row before the home crowd.”
Author Mick Carty, Cllr Jim Codd and publisher Wally O’Neill at the launch in Rathangan Bar last Friday night.
Speaking at the launch, local Cllr Jim Codd paraphrased Patrick Kavanaghs poem ‘Epic’, stating that “Homer made the Iliad from local feuds such as these” and what Mick Carty has done in this book is like what great men like PJ McCall and Dick Lambert done before him, the chronicling of our local area, customs and characters. It’s great to see larger than life members of our community who have passed on, like Frank Jordan, being recorded here. I’m sure that fifty years from now, elderly men and women will gather around battered old copies of this book and say, God, remember all those characters and those times.”
This is the 39th publication by Red Books Press, the publishing arm of Red Books in Wexford’s St Peter’s Square and owner Wally O’Neill said that he was proud to be able to publish a book from his longtime friend Mick Carty.
“There are probably Mick Carty’s in every parish in Ireland, people who sacrifice all for the love of their sports, so this book has a universal appeal. I’ve known Mick for over twenty years and one thing that has never changed in that time is his unwavering enthusiasm and energy for sports,” concluded Wally.
Local musical personality John Wickham, who acted as MC for the launch, praised Mick as a man who might fall out with you, but who never carried that ill-will off the pitch or out of a meeting. He said that he had been there at many of the events that Mick had written about. Everything must start somewhere, and this book gives a rare peak into how much of what we now take for granted was won and established in this parish.”
“Sportsman Mick: A Lifetime in Local Sports” can be purchased now at Red Books in St Peters Square, Wexford, local shops in the Rathangan area, and at www.theirishbookshop.com.
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