Wexford County Council hopes to install 10 new CCTV cameras at eight locations within Bunclody town centre and plans are available for public inspection.
The purpose of this is to provide a deterrent to crime and anti-social behaviour and improve public safety. The proposals have been agreed with An Garda Siochana.
Plans and particulars of the proposed scheme will be available for inspection during normal office hours (9am – 5pm) at Enniscorthy Municipal District Office, Market Square, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, Y21 W2V4 and Enniscorthy Library, Lymington Road, Enniscorthy.
Submissions or observations with respect to the proposed scheme may be made in writing to Claire Lawless, District Manager, Enniscorthy Municipal District, Market Square, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford or on the Consultation Portal not later than 4pm on August 30th.
Wexford County Council is advising that ‘Do Not Swim’ notices have been issued for Carne Beach after testing conducted as part of the Council’s normal monitoring of bathing water quality showed elevated levels for E. Coli and Intestinal enterococci bacteria.
Following consultation with the HSE, ‘Do Not Swim’ warning notices are issued in accordance with the Bathing Water Quality Regulations 2008 and in the interest of public health.
Further samples have been taken today and results are expected on Saturday, August 19th, at which stage the bathing prohibition notices will be reviewed. The Council’s Environmental Technical Team are investigating the matter.
Wexford County Council advises members of the public visiting Carne Beach to please abide by the public notices advising against swimming.
A decline in vocations, reduced numbers and the ageing profile of serving clergy is at crisis point in the Diocese of Ferns and an invitation by Pope Francis and the expressed wishes of the people of the diocese is inviting women and men to participate in new lay ministry roles in the church.
Bishop Ger Nash has issued a Pastoral Letter outlining details which will be read at Masses and printed in parish newsletters across the diocese this weekend.
“In the autumn of this year, I will be inviting people to participate in developing the faith life of the families, parishes and pastoral areas of the diocese. We will be encouraging a renewal of mission from committed lay people to prepare for and take up specific roles which in the past were undertaken by ordained ministers,” stated Bishop Nash.
BISHOP GER NASH… Bishop of the Diocese of Ferns.(File Pic)
His Lordship continued; “After a series of consultations with people and priests on the kinds of training that will be needed to facilitate the future flourishing of faith in the diocese, it has been agreed that we need several different strands of training. These will suit different people with different interest areas and with different amounts of time to participate. The consultation for this training was thorough as required by our call to Synodality.”
To quote Pope Francis; “We need lay people who are formed well, animated by a clear and sincere faith, whose lives have been touched by a personal and merciful encounter with the love of Jesus Christ. We need lay people who take risks, soil their hands, who are not afraid of making mistakes, who move forward. We need lay people with a vision of the future.” (Pontifical Council for the Laity 2016).
Bishop Nash said; Here in Ferns, following Pope Francis’ invitation and the expressed wishes of the people of the diocese, we will be inviting women and men, to be formed as:
• Catechists, to work with families and children in the parish who are preparing for the three great sacraments of welcome – Baptism, First Holy Communion and Confirmation;
• Pastoral Care Workers, to work with the sick and the housebound and to assist families in the time around funerals and bereavements;
• Leaders of Parish Prayer with scripture, to build up their capacity to lead communities in prayer and Liturgy;
• Parish Administrators and Leaders who will ensure the continuation and viability of the individual parish communities of the diocese when they will not have a resident priest;
• Facilitators with Accord, to help couples prepare well for the Sacrament of Marriage and for their life together.
“In September, we will be sending information to each parish, and this will be followed by information evenings to provide further details on courses. In September, I invite you to keep an eye on your parish newsletter or you can contact the Diocesan Office directly after September 1st to get the dates of the information evenings,” said Bishop Nash, who added; “In the meantime, I ask that you continue to pray for the diocese, that the decisions we make in the months and years ahead will draw us closer to Christ and his Kingdom.”
A secret room in the 800-year-old gothic-revival Johnstown Castle, near Wexford town, has been discovered during conservation works and the story is generating massive public interest.
As restoration works continue the Castle and gardens through 2023 a brand-new discovery was made on Sunday, August 13th by a carpenter who was working on window conservation in the castle itself. The contractors from National Gates and Joinery Company broke through a section of wall only to uncover a hidden room which had remained untouched.
Manager at Johnstown Castle Brenda Comerford says “this room has been covered up for a very long time. It is part of one of the towers and looking around it, on initial inspection we think it was most likely a small turret bedroom.
“There is quite a tragic family history associated with Johnstown Castle, so this room could have been sealed off due to a tragedy, which would have happened in times past, who knows. We will need to investigate this further.”
Ms. Comerford added; “Just last year we discovered a room under the tower at the lake which could only be accessed by boat. We’re discovering secrets all the time here at Johnstown Castle and that’s mainly thanks to the support of our visitors, our members at the Irish Heritage Trust and the Department of Heritage who provide the funding so we can carry out these restoration works and secure the future of the castle.”
The ‘SECRET ROOM’ DISCOVERED AT JOHNSTOWN CASTLE (Pic; Irish Heritage Trust).
Anne O’Donoghue, CEO of the Irish Heritage Trust, told WexfordLocal.com; “This is a really incredible discovery. It is highly unusual to find additional hidden treasures in heritage properties and this is the second time that this has happened at Johnstown Castle following our discovery of a secret room under the tower at the lake just last year.
“The Trust’s mission is to care for the properties and work towards making them financially sustainable, this is done through several different ways, such as, welcoming visitors to our sites, philanthropy, and competitive grants. In the case of the windows here in Johnstown Castle the work is being completed with support from the Dept. of Heritage”, said Ms. O’Donoghue.
Dating back over 850 years to the Norman times in Ireland, Johnstown Castle was in private hands for centuries and went through a few aristocratic families before coming into public ownership in the late 20th century.
In 2018 the Irish Heritage Trust took over the care and management of Johnstown Castle in Co Wexford and the Estate underwent a €7.5 million makeover, which included conservation of the castle itself, the construction of a new visitor centre and the restoration of an 86 metre underground servants’ tunnel.
The Irish Heritage Trust will now assess the room to see how it can unlock the potential of the wonderful new space and understand how it can be used to the benefit of the castle and visitor experience. It’s not the first secret that Johnstown Castle has turned up in recent times either.
The beautiful neo-Gothic Castle is set on a 120-acre estate with three lakes and extensive walking trails in the Southeast corner of Ireland aptly within Ireland’s Ancient East. For more details on the gardens, events and tours, visit johnstowncastle.ie
As part of the programme for National Heritage Week, Monksgrange Archives are hosting lecture programme Heritage Afternoon at Monksgrange, Rathnure, next Sunday starting at 2pm, where most focus is reserved on the opening of the archive’s new Map Room displaying the large plan chest funded last year by the Heritage Council.
The MAP ROOM at Monksgrange House
The lecture series commences with the launch by Professor Seán Duffy, Trinity College, Dublin, of an index to the letters of Goddard Orpen. This index will provide ease of access for scholars of the medieval period to the content of some 2000 letters by the historian and author of Ireland under the Normans; the letters themselves are held in the archive.
Prof. Duffy specialises in the history of medieval Ireland and writing about Orpen he noted: “His work has not been surpassed, and it cannot be superseded because it is the fons et origo of the professional historiography of Anglo-Norman Ireland.”
Lesley Whiteside, consultant archivist, will talk about the strategy and working methods she engaged in compiling ‘by hand’ this exacting indexing task.
Jeremy Hill will report on the opening of the archive’s new Map Room displaying the large plan chest funded last year by the Heritage Council. He will then give a short and whimsical, illustrated address on the name of an ancestor – Obadiah Tomalin.
Guided visits to the Map Room will be accommodated from 2-2.45pm and from 4.30-5pm.
Tickets at €10 can be purchased on-line through Eventbrite Monksgrange Archives.
At the official opening of the Ballybrittas Dolmen (left to right); Cllr. Cathal Byrne, Betty Kelly Bree Tracks & Trails, Colm Moriarty Archaeologist, Rory O’Mahony Wexford County Council, Shelia Moriarty Bree Tracks & Trails, Madeline Quirke and Michael Delaney Wexford Walking Trails. (Pic; Betty Kelly).
By Dan Walsh
The Ballybrittas Dolmen Trail, located on Bree Hill was officially opened last Sunday by Cllr. John O’Rourke, Cathaoirleach of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council.
The dolmen dates from the neolithic period (4000 – 2500 BC) and is probably Wexford’s oldest standing structure.
The Tomb consists of two large portal stones and a backstone that supports a substantial roof stone. In addition, the dolmen has two side stones and a sill stone, the latter located at the tomb’s east facingentrance. Together, these elements enclose a small rectangular chamber in which burial remains would have been placed. This form of burial monument is known as a Portal Tomb.
There are only two known dolmens in the county which makes the site at Ballybrittas very rare and has the protection of the National Monuments Act.
The trail was funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) grant and by Wexford County Council. The walk is 3kms / 45 minutes to the site and starts at Bree Community Centre which has ample parking.
Wexford RNLI responded to two call outs back-to-back last Sunday.
The lifeboat crew were first tasked with assisting two people whose boat suffered engine failure inside Wexford Harbour at 1.08pm. The lifeboat crew arrived on scene at 1.18pm and after assessing the situation, they decided the safest option was to secure a tow to the casualty vessel and bring the people safely ashore. At 1.53pm, just as Wexford Lifeboat was a few hundred metres from shore, the Irish Coast Guard tasked them to reports of two girls in the water off Rosslare Strand. The lifeboat crew were able to bring the people ashore before turning around to be en route to Rosslare, within minutes of the tasking. Conditions at the time were good, with a South Westerly force three wind and rising tide. Rosslare Harbour RNLI were also tasked to the incident. While on way to Rosslare point, Wexford RNLI were informed that another paddleboard user had assisted in the rescue and the girls were safely ashore. Rosslare Harbour Lifeboat was asked to search and recover the lost paddleboard in case it was spotted later and reported again. Wexford Lifeboat crew were then stood down and returned to station at 2.27pm.
Speaking following the call out, Wexford RNLI Helm Damien Foley said; “Both incidents resulted in good outcomes. If anyone sees a person in difficulty on or near the water, please dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.”
An ancient cast iron water fountain on the route of the celebrated Enniscorthy-made film Brooklyn, written by local scriptwriter Colm Toibín, located on Friary Hill with the junction of Lower Church Street was damaged recently.
It looks like the old fountain, one of the few surviving in the town and located on the edge of the footpath, was nudged sideways by a vehicle and is in a distressed state.
It is part of the town’s history and heritage and WexfordLocal.com is asking Enniscorthy Municipal District Council to investigate the damage and, hopefully, restore it as a precious piece of natural street furniture recalling times past.
During the greater part of the 19th century the townspeople relied on their water supply on spring wells, a goodly number of which were situated in the town and its environs.
This source was supplemented in the 1830s when pipes were laid down bringing water from Sheil’s Well in Templeshannon to the west side of the town- across the River Slaney at the same time when the old stone bridge was widened and lowered.
Three fountains were supplied from these pipes. Later two pumps and three fountains, supplied from other sources, were supplied from these pipes. Unfortunately, we are not privy to the location of these pipes.
Following construction of the railway tunnel underneath the town, some of the spring wells were closed and replaced by new fountains. In 1891, Enniscorthy Town Commissioners erected the new reservoir at Drumgoold, costing £2,800, and it is reasonable to assume that the old fountain on Friary Hill belongs to this era. It would have been in use until the late 1950s or early 1960s!
KILMORE QUAY RNLI Lifeboat Killarney returning from Ballyhealy Beach on Saturday (Pic; RNLI/Elaine Walsh)
By Dan Walsh
A concerned member of the public made a call to the Irish Coast Guard on Saturday afternoon after three people on a 3-metre RIB were noticed anchored approximately 100 metres off Ballyhealy Beach and Kilmore RNLI Lifeboat was launched immediately.
The weather was sunny but with a strong south westerly breeze blowing Force 6 to 7 causing large waves to form close to the shore.
The lifeboat arrived on scene at 3.30 pm. The crew quickly established that the three people on board were safe and well, transferring them to the lifeboat for passage back to Kilmore Quay. A towline was established to the RIB and the lifeboat was soon under way to Kilmore Quay.
Arriving back in the harbour at 4:50 pm, the casualty vessel was secured alongside the marina assisted by the Kilmore Quay unit of the Irish Coast Guard who also took care of the three casualties when they disembarked from the lifeboat. The lifeboat returned to its berth and was made ready for service again by the crew.
Speaking following the call out, Kilmore Quay RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager John Grace, said: “Thankfully, today was a good outcome. The people involved had the good sense to stay on board the boat until help arrived. I would strongly urge anyone heading out to sea to tell someone where you are going and when you will be back, and most importantly carry a reliable means of communication, VHF or a mobile phone in a waterproof case, in case you need to call for help. I would also like to thank the Kilmore Quay Coast Guard unit for their assistance today.”
Local Wexford Rose BRÓNAGH HOGAN with CLAIRE LAWLESS, District Manager, Enniscorthy Municipal District Council, and members of St. Colman’s Ballindaggin Pipe Band at Market Square, Enniscorthy, today for the Rose Tour Enniscorthy.
By Dan Walsh in Enniscorthy
Enniscorthy’s Market Square opened its friendliness for music, luscious red strawberries, and a warm welcome on the final day of the Wexford Rose Tour today (Sunday) and it was a festive occasion to match many of the memorable times in the town centre.
Thirty-two Irish and international Roses were made welcome by Cllr Jackser Owens, Leas-Cathaoirleach of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council, who enjoyed a rock n’ roll dance with the Texas Rose and countless hugs and smiles from many others.
The bus rolled into town just after mid-day and after a photo shoot at Enniscorthy Castle they were marched to Market Square by the members of St. Colman’s Pipe Band, Ballindaggin, where a large crowd greeted them and Liam Sharkey was joined by members of Enniscorthy Rock ‘n’ Roll Club dancers, Martina Leacy’s talented group and the junior scouts for an entertaining session. The Roses joined in from the stage and the craic was mighty during the one-hour long stay.
It was the final day of the Wexford Rose Tour and it began with a walking tour through the laneways of New Ross discovering the town’s Medieval murals before heading for Enniscorthy. However, there was a special stop in Clonroche village the home of Wexford Rose Brónagh Hogan who was serenaded by the locals, got the kiss of good luck in the Rose of Tralee competition from her Granny, and carries the good wishes of local Cllr John Fleming, Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council.
CLLR KATHLEEN CODD-NOLAN gives her best wishes to the Wexford Rose BRÓNAGH HOGAN at today’s tour in Enniscorthy’s Market Square.
Speaking during Friday’s Wexford Town Tour, Cllr Fleming said; “We congratulate and celebrate with the Rose of Tralee International Festival who will celebrate 63 years as a family-friendly, world-class festival.”
International Festival Director Anthony O’Gara told WexfordLocal.com; “We are forever grateful for the way that everyone involved – lead by our sponsors Wexford County Council and hospitality partner the Ashdown Park Hotel – has delivered such an incredible experience for this year’s Roses. The smiles on the Roses’ faces while they toured County Wexford and the way that the tourism and hospitality industry came together with the local community in each town shows why County Wexford is such a popular tourism destination.”
The last stop on their exciting itinerary was Bunclody Golf and Fishing Club today (Sunday) where they enjoyed a Taste Wexford lunch before taking to the green for golf tips from members. Some were lucky enough to view the stunning golf course from the golf buggies!
The Rose of Tralee International Festival will be broadcast live on RTÉ One at 8pm on Monday and Tuesday, August 21st and 22nd. For more information on the Wexford Rose Tour 2023 as well as the full itinerary, click on Rose of Tralee International Festival roseoftralee.ie
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