The woman who collapsed and died while swimming at Ballymoney Strand near Gorey, last Tuesday, has been named locally as Maria Falls (née Cummins), (63), from Leany, Ardattin, Co. Carlow.
MARIA FALLS
Ms. Falls, a former officer with the British Navy, was on the beach with a friend when she got into difficulties shortly after 8pm.
She was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency services. Her remains were taken to University Hospital Waterford.
Predeceased by her husband George, father Richard, mother Eileen and brother Sean. Maria will be sadly missed by her close family, neighbours, friends and her pets. R.I.P.
Reposing in Byrne’s Funeral Home Crablane (Eircode R93 PW29) on Friday from 2pm-8pm. Removal on Saturday morning at 11.30am, to Mount Jerome Crematorium Dublin, for cremation service at 1.30pm.
Courtown RNLI’s fundraising committee are to host a family fun day next Sunday on the North Pier in Courtown.
Blessing of the boats and a short ceremony recognising and remembering those who lost their lives at sea will commence at 2pm. This will be followed by an afternoon of fun for all the family. There will be lots of stalls selling plants, books, bottles and cakes, strawberries and cream. There will be music in front of the boat house and face painting for the children, plus a monster raffle with all proceeds going to the RNLI. Tickets will be €5 for three strips and the raffle will take place in the Taravie Hotel at 5pm. Courtown RNLI’s fundraising committee and volunteer crew look forward to welcoming everyone to their family fun day. All proceeds raised will go to Courtown RNLI Lifeboat station.
Moving in at the old St. Joseph’s school site on Gorey’s Wexford St. where a 30-unit housing development is planned.
By Dan Walsh
There is good news coming from Gorey with the development of 30 housing units commencing on the old St. Joseph’s school site on Wexford Street in the town centre.
The contractor Mythen Construction from Foulksmills, Co. Wexford, is on site and engaged in the preparatory work.
Commenting to WexfordLocal.com Cllr Joe Sullivan is relieved. “This is a development that I have worked hard on for the past five years, and will I believe go some way towards addressing the chronic housing need we have in north Wexford and indeed nationwide while bringing new life and vibrancy into an old and historical area of Gorey on Wexford Street with Centenary Place just across the road.”
FR JOHN MURPHY (David Hughes) leads the march to Ballygullen 1798 Memorial site this evening.
By Dan Walsh at Ballygullen
It must have been a terrifying and bloody laneway between Holyfort and Craanford two and a quarter centuries ago – to the very day – but the 1798 battle site at Ballygullen was resurrected in commemoration and remembrance with a pike march, wreaths laid, and prayers recited, this evening (Tuesday).
Thundery showers made for unpleasant weather conditions across North Wexford, but there was an eerie reverence at Ballygullen as the heavy clouds separated to allow a proud community honour those who fought for freedom in 1798 with dignity and pride.
The march to Ballygullen was led by David Hughes dressed in the priestly attire of Fr. John Murphy aboard a beautiful white horse. Renowned Gorey piper John Cullen followed ahead of pike groups from Boolavogue, Monageer, the host group Craanford-Monaseed, and Enniscorthy Historical Re-enactment Society.
At the memorial erected in 1940, Rev. Brian Whelan from Craanford read the prayers and Very Rev. Felix Canon Byrne from Monaseed laid a wreath. Wreaths were also laid by two young people, Richie and Paudie Doyle.
Historian Barry Lacey recalled some of the history, Padraig Kenny sang Boolavogue and John Cullen played Amhrán na bFiann on the pipes and another chapter in the history of Ballygullen and the 1798 Rebellion dissolved quietly to a close.
The master of ceremonies was Cllr Donal Kenny who offered a warm welcome to everyone, thanked the participants and the organisers, he made special mention of Richard ‘Dick’ O’Sullivan who put endless energy in arranging the commemoration and the sun set with refreshments for everyone in Craanford Community Centre afterwards.
Laying the wreath at the 1798-1998 memorial at Kilmore Quay were Cllr Lisa McDonald, Cathaoirleach of Rosslare Municipal District Council with the historians/speakers who participated in the Summer School, Bernard Browne, Ray Corish and Eamonn Barrett. (Pic; Seamus O’Keeffe).
By Dan Walsh
A series of events have taken place in Kilmore Quay to commemorate the 225th anniversary of the 1798 Rising commencing with an impressive oration delivered by Cllr Lisa McDonald, Cathaoirleach of Rosslare Municipal District, who outlined how “the ideals of the United Irishmen of 1798 are so relevant and meaningful to this day.”
The Cathaoirleach also laid a wreath at the memorial stone commemorating the bicentenary of the 1798 rebellion at Kilmore Quay.
The wonderful day began with music by the Danescastle traditional group in the sunshine with the Saltee Islands as the poignant background.
There followed the Last Post and Reveille performed to perfection by trumpet soloist Anthony Nolan, the raising of the United Irish Flag and the playing and singing of Amhrán na bhFiann.
It was next into the Stella Maris Centre for refreshments before settling to listen and take part in what turned out to be a magnificent Summer School based on the theme of Three Landlords, Three Castles, Three Leaders which examined the roles played by Beauchamp Bagenal Harvey, Cornelius Grogan and Dr. John Colclough in the rising of 1798.
Wonderful words were spoken by historians Ray Corish dealing with Beauchamp Bagenal Harvey, Bernard Browne informing the audience of Dr John Colclough and Eamonn Barrett’s thoughtful insight into Cornelius Grogan. These were all landed gentry who gave their lives for their ideals and deserve to be honoured and remembered.
Later the attendees travelled to the cemetery in Mayglass where a wreath was laid at the grave of Beauchamp Bagenal Harvey and a poem was read by the Bard of Mayglass, Fintan Murphy.
The Summer School played to a full audience where the master of ceremonies, Cllr Jim Moore acknowledged the participation of his fellow Cllrs Ger Carthy and Frank Staples, District Manager Nóirín Cummins, Wexford County Council, the musicians and all who helped to make the event so successful, not least the three excellent speakers.
Paying tribute to the Rebellion of 1798 in Mayglass graveyard were Fintan Murphy, Bernard Browne, Cllr Frank Staples, Cllr Lisa McDonald (Cathaoirleach), Cllr Jim Moore, Anthony Nolan and Noirín Cummins (District Manager). Pic; Seamus O’Keeffe.
ROSSLARE HARBOUR RNLI with the yacht under tow into the harbour (Pic; RNLI/ROSSLARE HARBOUR).
By Dan Walsh
Rosslare Harbour RNLI was requested by the Irish Coast Guard to assist two people on board a 12-metre sailing yacht with a fouled propeller half a mile from the Splaugh Buoy on Saturday morning.
The lifeboat was launched at 9am and reached the scene off Greenore Point fifteen minutes later.
The yacht’s crew were wearing flotation devices and were safe and well.
The sea was calm in a force 2 to 3 wind. The weather was fair, and visibility was good.
A decision was made to tow the vessel to Rosslare Harbour, a tow line was secured, and the vessel was safely berthed alongside the fisherman’s wall at 10.12am.
Speaking to WexfordLocal.com, Tony Kehoe, Rosslare Harbour Deputy Launching Authority said; “We commend the yacht’s crew for wearing their flotation safety devices and for carrying communication equipment. It is essential that sailors contact the Coast Guard when in difficulty. We also commended a local fisherman for his crucial intervention in ensuring a safe, speedy, and safe conclusion to the service.”
The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien has launched a campaign to create awareness of the improved grant available to remove lead pipes from homes.
The Domestic Lead Remediation Grant Scheme provides funding for 100% of the approved cost of works to replace lead pipes, up to €5,000.
The grant is administered by local authorities and is not means-tested. The removal of lead pipes is the most effective way to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water and the available grant has the aim of replacing lead pipes with healthier, modern alternatives in the interests of public health.
Older housing stock built before the 1980s may contain lead pipes which in turn causes lead – which can be harmful to health – to enter drinking water.
A Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage advertising campaign across print, broadcast and digital media will encourage affected homeowners to avail of the scheme.
Minister O’Brien told WexfordLocal.com; “Through this campaign we are encouraging people to consider replacing old lead pipes with the support of the funding. We are committed to removing remaining lead piping entirely from our drinking water supply and this campaign seeks to raise awareness of the Government supports available for householders. The campaign follows from improvements to the grant that we made late last year meaning more households should now be able to avail of this grant.”
People can find out if their homes contain lead pipes by checking the pipe running from the water main to your kitchen tap and looking for the point where the water supply pipe enters your house. Unpainted lead pipes are dull grey in colour and the joints appear to be ‘swollen’. They are also soft and scraping the surface with a coin will reveal a shiny, silver metal beneath. A registered building professional can also check the type of pipework in your home.
The grant to remove lead pipes from the private site of your property complements Uisce Éireann’s Customer Opt-In programme. This scheme replaces lead pipes on the public side of your property free of charge. To qualify you must have replaced your lead private supply pipe.
Further Information on the Wexford County Council page; Lead Piping Remediation/Wexford County Council. (wexfordcoco.ie).
The 225th 1798 Rebellion commemorations are ending as the events have moved on from Boolavogue and Oulart, Ballymurn and Killanne, The Three Rocks outside Wexford town on Forth Mountain, the Battle of Ross and the internationally famous Vinegar Hill as the survivors who fought for their freedom exited the county into neighbouring counties Carlow and Wicklow and into the Midlands.
But there are still a few commemorations to go! On Tuesday, on the exact anniversary of the Battle of Ballygullen, so famously documented in the Memoirs of Miles Byrne from Monaseed – July 4th 1798 – a commemoration will be held from 6.30pm.
Baile Ó gCuilinn – the town of the Ó Cuilinn’s, in the civil parish of Leskinfere and the barony of Gorey – will host its commemorations at the memorial erected by the local community in 1940.
The Battle at Ballygullen was the last battle of the 1798 insurrection in Co. Wexford as the insurgents exited the county and many, including Fr. Michael Murphy participated in the Battle of Arklow, where a memorial on the Main Street remembers the history.
Anyone with an interest is welcome at Ballygullen, near Craanford, on Tuesday evening. There will be a parade of pikemen to the memorial, Cllr Donal Kenny will lay a wreath, historian Barry Lacey will give a summary of events in the area during 1798, a blessing by a local clergyman, Padraig Kenny will give a rendition of Boolavogue, Amhrán na bFiann will be played to conclude the ceremonies.
The organisers extends a warm welcome and say that everybody is welcome to attend or participate and refreshments will be served afterwards at Craanford Community Centre.
There is deep sadness in Gorey town and district at news of the passing of Malachy Travers, (88), from Ramstown, Gorey, In a statement on social media tonight, Naomh Éanna GAA Club extends sympathy to his family and friends and outlines his lifelong contribution to the GAA. In the statement it says;
“Malachy was a lifelong Gael who was passionately interested in all things to do with Naomh Éanna GAA club. Before the foundation of Naomh Éanna GAA club, Malachy played with Gorey Blues, Young Emmets and Wolfe Tones. He also played with the County Wexford minor footballers in 1953. Throughout his club playing days, he played in 13 county finals but lost in all of them.
“After he concluded his playing days, he got back involved with coaching alongside Ger Hogan (RIP) and they coached the Under-14 and Under-16 teams together. Some of the teams coached by Malachy featured his talented sons, Malachy Jnr and Brendan. He also managed the club’s Under-21s alongside Bernard Crosbie and John Nangle, a spell which resulted in the club winning the Premier Football and Roinn One Hurling championship titles in 1997.
MALACHY TRAVERS
“Malachy was a dedicated umpire for many referees including Patrick Sheil (RIP) and Joe Kelly. He was a committed steward for Wexford GAA. He was also involved in coaching GAA teams in Gorey Community School down through the years.
“Malachy played in the first match that was held in Páirc Uí Síocháin, which was then a Wexford GAA County Board grounds. Over the years, he has been one of the most frequent visitors to the field. His jeep was a familiar sight turning into the clubgrounds of a weekday evening. May we conclude this tribute to a true Gorey Gael, Malachy Travers Snr, with his own words.” Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal.
FAMILY NOTICE; MALACHY TRAVERS, Ramstown, Gorey. Beloved husband of Marie and loving father of Agnes, Malachy Jnr., Aoife and Brendan, brother of Patrick (Pat) and the late Ed and Matthew (Matt). Deeply regretted by his wife, sons, daughters, brother, grandchildren Caoimhin, Grace, George, Ben, Bobby and Kate, son-in-law Eamon, daughters-in-law Elizabeth and Ceara, Aoife’s partner John, brothers-in-law Michael, Gerard and Brendan, sisters-in-law Angela, Eileen, Carmel, Joan and Mary, niece Carmel, extended family, relatives, neighbours and friends. May He Rest in Peace.
Reposing at Murphy’s Funeral Home, The Avenue, Gorey, on Sunday July 2nd from 3pm. to 7pm. Funeral arriving to St. Michael’s Church, Gorey, on Monday for Funeral Mass at 12 noon followed by burial in St. Michael’s Cemetery.
WexfordLocal.com 