Gambling Regulation Bill threat to Irish racing media rights

By Dan Walsh

Wexford’s Minister James Browne is under attack from Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) after he criticised its decision to sanction a €47 million media rights deal for Irish racing.

The lucrative deal with Racecourse Media Group and Sports Information Services was confirmed in May, with five of the country’s 26 tracks belatedly signing up to the offer a month later. This ensured all live coverage of Irish racing would continue to be broadcast on Racing TV until 2029.

In an interview on RTE Radio 1’s Morning Ireland on Thursday, Minister Browne, who is Minister of State in the Department of Justice and responsible for drafting the Gambling Regulation Bill legislation, condemned HRI for completing the deal when it was clear the impending bill was to introduce a gambling advertising ban between 5.30am and 9pm. Racing TV and Sky Sports Racing have stated that the bill will render the broadcasting of their channels “economically unviable” in Ireland.

Browne said: “I don’t accept that [Irish racing will lose coverage], that’s certainly the message that has been attempted to put out there by some people in the industry, but the legislation is crafted in such a way that anything you can see regarding horseracing on live television, you will be able to see after this legislation passes. It is only the hard advertising in between races that is being banned.

“The contract that is being referred to that puts at risk, if you like, the showing of horseracing was entered into last May by HRI long after the stated government policy and long after the Dail had set out its intentions in relation to supporting this advertising ban. So, I’m kind of surprised that the contract was entered into in the face of government policy but there is certainly no reason and no inhibition from showing horseracing as it is today, only hard advertising.”

Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) chief executive Suzanne Eade rebutted the minister’s assertion by clarifying that the sales process began 12 months prior to the contract being signed, while the preferred bidder status was awarded in October 2022 before the threat became apparent.

Ms. Eade said: “Minister Browne and his officials have previously been made aware that the only options available for Irish racing were both UK-based companies –Racing TV and Sky Sports Racing –and therefore two media companies already operating under a different set of gambling regulation than is being proposed in Ireland.

Broadcaster, former politician and bookmaker, Ivan Yates from Enniscorthy, is among those questioning the logic behind the exclusion of the lottery from the upcoming Bill which has been in the final report stage in Dail Eireann since July 12th.

On August 9th last, WexfordLocal.com reported, with the sanction of the Irish Racehorse Trainers’  Association, that; “Over 40 horse trainers and point-to-point handlers currently operating in Co. Wexford are calling on Wexford-based Minister for State at the Department of Justice with responsibility for law reform, James Browne TD, expressing concerns around the future broadcasting of Irish race meetings and the gambling advertising watershed ban which is proposed in the Gambling Regulation Bill.

Last Friday the Paddy Power organisation announced that it was to cease trading at 21 of its outlets across the country, including New Ross, and impacting on 78 staff.

It should also be noted that Racing TV has the media rights for Wexford racecourse and transmits pictures throughout Ireland the UK and further afield.

500th winner for Colin Bowe

By Dan Walsh

COLIN BOWE enjoyed his 500th point-to-point success today.

First timer Ridin Solo took the five-year-old geldings maiden race at Loughrea, Co. Galway today (Sunday) giving current and nine times champion handler Colin Bowe from Kiltealy his 500th point-to-point winner and a second success leaves him on the 501-winner mark tonight.

Ridin Solo in the Milestone Bloodstock Ltd colours won by one and a half lengths and contributed to the first leg of a double on the day for rider Rob James.

Bowe’s double was completed when first timer Wallace Onlinger, owned by Brian Acheson, who led most of the way and ran on gamely for a 50 lengths success under Sophie Carter in the geldings maiden race for six years old and over and confined to novice riders.

Rob James was given the leg up on La Vega Moon by John ‘Shark’ Hanlon, Bagenalstown, in the Winner of One Race and the combination came home 12 lengths to the good.

Next Sunday’s local point-to-point is the Shillelagh & District Hunt fixture at Fairwood, Tinahely. First race at 2pm. Entries close on Tuesday.

Michael Goff trains his 75th winner

By Dan Walsh

MICHAEL GOFF who trained his 75th career winner at Toomebridge

Five of the runners in the opening mare’s maiden race for four-year-olds at Toomebridge, Co. Antrim, today (Saturday) were from Wexford stables and victory went to Peggy’s Rock from Michael Goff’s Clondaw, Ferns, stables defeating Colin Bowe’s Kiltealy Park in a short head verdict.

In the Milestone Bloodstock Ltd colours Kiltealy Park was the long-time leader in the hands of Barry O’Neill, but Mikey Sweeney persisted on Peggy’s Rock, running in the colours of Caitriona Goff and stole victory on the line. Peggy’s Rock, who was Goff’s 75th career winner as a handler now in his 11th season, is for sale.

Matthew Flynn O’Connor, who is based at Ballycrystal, near Kiltealy, supplied the third placed Hay Baby in the opening race, but was compensated with a four lengths victory with the Brian Lawless ridden Caughinyourtrance in the maiden race for four-year-old geldings.

Colin Bowe and Barry O’Neill made today’s journey worthwhile when Isholo Du Vivien scored by eleven lengths in the maiden race for five-year-old geldings.

Blackwater wins Tidy Towns again!

BLACKWATER wins County Wexford SuperValu award for 2023. (File Pic).

By Dan Walsh

Blackwater were the County Wexford winners followed by Wexford and Duncormick, gold medals for Blackwater and Wexford, a silver medal for Enniscorthy, bronze medals for New Ross and Gorey and Bree secured an Endeavour Award at the Supervalu Tidy Towns Awards announced at a ceremony in Croke Park, Dublin, today.

Blackwater have been County winners for the past three years and once again topped the marks amongst the 31 entries from Co. Wexford while it must be acknowledged that the four major towns scored impressively and were worthy medal winners.

“It was this adjudicator’s first visit to Blackwater and first impressions were indeed very encouraging. At the well-presented Church and community building, including playground and bring centre, facilities were nicely grouped and conveniently located. The village itself retains a significant number of thatched houses, and indeed buildings which were formerly thatched. In addition, there are a good number of commercial buildings which retain a unique, vernacular scale and character, some having pitched roofs and others with barrel-vaulted roofs. It would be a well worthwhile undertaking, in this village of architectural importance, to contact Wexford County Council for assistance in preparing a strategic framework plan with a view to protecting, developing and conserving this unique heritage. Easter Cottage, The Blackwater Coffee Company and developments at The Blackwater Community Hub exemplify this agenda and set a high standard for others to emulate. The architectural conservation plan could also embrace the comments of the first round adjudicator relating to hedgerow and tree planting. All were visited and much admired.”

The awards ceremony was addressed by Heather Humphreys TD, Minister for Rural and Community Development who said that the awards are a “huge event for community groups up and down the country”.

SuperValu Tidy Towns Awards 2023 marks for WEXFORD. Category A; Foulksmills (346), Duncormick (359), County Wexford 3rd. Ballyduff (353), Askamore (310).

Category B; Kilmuckridge (340), Bridgetown (289), Carrig-on-Bannow (286), Ballycullane (284), Oylegate (278), Blackwater (373), County Wexford 1st and Gold Medal, Bree (358), Endeavour Award, Clonroche (356), Kilanerin (345), Monageer (327), Ballymurn (321), Hollyfort (310), Killanne (308), Coolgreany (307), Marshalstown (299), Wellingtonbridge (280), Courtnacuddy (283), Campile (240), Ballindaggin (210).

Category C; Rosslare Strand (353), Rosslare Harbour (352), Bunclody (308), Ferns (345).

Category E; New Ross (346), Bronze Medal.

Category F; Enniscorthy (356), Silver Medal, Gorey (353). Bronze Medal.

Category G; Wexford (363), County Wexford 2nd and Gold Medal.

Howlin bids farewell to the Dáil

By Dan Walsh

BRENDAN HOWLIN TD (Pic; Oireachtas.ie)

Long serving Wexford TD of 36 years Brendan Howlin has announced that he will not be contesting the next General Election.

A school teacher from Wexford town, the popular Labour Party deputy has represented Wexford in Dáil Éireann since 1987.

In a statement issued this morning, Deputy Howlin said; “It has been and remains the privilege of my life to have represented my beloved Wexford in nine consecutive Dáileanna. I am forever grateful for the support I have received for almost four decades from the Wexford people and the wonderful members of the Labour Party. I remember those friends and comrades who have passed on down the years whose loyalty and fellowship I will always treasure.

“I have been most fortunate to have held many public offices. I have been Leader and Deputy Leader of my party. I have served as a Cabinet Minister in three governments and witnessed the positive transformation of our country, both economically and culturally. I have had the opportunity to introduce into law many important and transformative pieces of legislation.”

Funding for Cumas Centre in New Ross

Pictured at the Cumas Centre, New Ross were (left to right) Back Row; Rita Kavanagh, Board Member, Cllr Michael Sheehan, Mary Murphy, Board Member. Front Row; James Browne TD, Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Anne Rabbitte TD, Minister of State at the Department of Children, Disability, Equality, Integration and Youth, and Sinead Foskan, General Manager, Cumas Centre New Ross.

By Dan Walsh

The Cumas Centre at Butlersland Industrial Estate in New Ross is to benefit from the provision of €140,000 as part of core funding from 2024 onwards.

Cllr Michael Sheehan told WexfordLocal.com that he and Anne Rabbitte, Minister of State at the Department of Children, Disability, Equality, Integration and Youth were acutely aware that this funding, which was approved as a one-off payment for 2023 earlier this year, will give Cumas additional capacity in facing challenges related to their services.”

Fianna Fáil representative for the New Ross Municipal District, Cllr Sheehan, who is also a serving Board Member for the Cumas Centre, said; “Significantly, Minister Rabbitte and I recognised the benefits of Cumas’s special project in assisting school leavers to secure post-school placements appropriate to their needs and level of dependency.

“With Pobal’s support for the project coming to an end, I’m delighted to confirm that the HSE will now agree the details related to the core establishment of the Cumas New Ross School Leaver Programme. The HSE core funding will amount to €250,000 every year,” concluded Cllr Sheehan.

Calls for alternative to pesticides

By Dan Walsh

Uisce Éireann is encouraging the public in Wexford to consider the environment and alternatives to pesticides when gardening, farming and maintaining sports grounds and in turn improve the quality of local drinking water for homes and businesses.

While there has been significant progress nationally in recent years in reducing the impact of pesticide use on drinking water sources, Uisce Éireann’s compliance expert Thomas Gibbons and Teagasc’s Mary Roache told WexfordLocal.com that the lessons already learned should apply to supplies right across the country.  

“There were 48 pesticide exceedances in public drinking water supplies in Ireland in 2022 and these were detected as part of Uisce Éireann’s public water supply monitoring programme from a total of more than 35,000 samples. We all need to consider the vulnerability of our local drinking water supplies to pesticide contamination and the importance of these supplies to our homes and businesses,” said Mr Gibbons.

“While Uisce Éireann’s consultation with the HSE has concluded that the levels of pesticides being detected in water supplies do not represent a threat to public health, they are still however undesirable in drinking water and it is therefore imperative that users of pesticides are mindful of best practice when using herbicides or pesticides and seek out alternatives,” explained Thomas Gibbons. 

Teagasc’s Mary Roache’s said awareness is key to keeping our water supplies safe. “Some farmers and contractors may not have been aware that a tiny amount of pesticide spray in the water can be easily detected as far as 30km downstream and cause a breach of the limits.

“When I visit farmers the first question I ask is ‘do you need to use pesticide spray at all?’. My job is to make farmers think about what they are doing, why they are doing it and if there is an alternative. The advice given is individual to every farmer and completely confidential. Sometimes a small change in behaviour is all that is required. If they are still set on spraying their land, then I go through current regulations and the best practices with them so they can help protect water quality,” concluded Ms. Roache.

Weekend train services to Dublin

By Dan Walsh

Irish Rail through Enniscorthy tunnel (File Pic)

Engineering work will disrupt railway services serving the Rosslare Line and Wicklow, including DART on Saturday and Sunday, October 8th and 9th, so commuters are asked to take note.

Both Dart and Commuter services will be affected by the work and will increase travel times. Irish Rail have posted the following details related to travel during the work:

Northbound rail services will operate between Rosslare Europort and Bray. A bus transfer will operate from Bray direct to Dublin Connolly. A second bus transfer will operate from Bray direct to Dun Laoghaire. Dublin Pearse and Tara Street stations will not be served by bus transfers.

Southbound: A bus transfer will operate between Dublin Connolly direct to Bray. A second bus transfer will operate between Dun Laoghaire direct to Bray. Rail services will operate between Bray and Rosslare Europort. Dublin Pearse and Tara Street stations will not be served by bus transfers.

DART: Services will operate between Malahide, Howth and Dun Laoghaire only. No service will operate between Dun Laoghire and Greystones. Sandycove & Glasthule, Glenageary, Dalkey, Killiney and Shankill, stations will be closed for rail services. Dublin Bus and Go Ahead Ireland will accept valid tickets within affected area.

Boy (14) injured in Ferns road collision

By Dan Walsh

ENNISCORTHY GARDA STATION

A 14 year’s old boy is in Temple Street Children’s Hospital in Dublin tonight following a road traffic collision at Ballylough on the R772 road between Scarawalsh and Ferns which occurred shortly before 2pm today (Tuesday).

It is reported locally that the boy, who is from the immediate area, had dismounted from a tractor when he was struck by a passing car.

Emergency services were quickly on the scene where paramedics with the National Ambulance Service (NAS) made the decision to seek the assistance of the NAS Air Corps 112 Air Ambulance.

Tonight, the teenager’s injuries are understood to be “serious” but “non-life threatening.”

The R772 between Scarawalsh roundabout and Ferns village remains closed overnight while a forensic investigation takes place. Diversions are in place.

Any witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage of the incident are asked to contact Enniscorthy Garda Station on 053 9242580.

Winning start for Bowe and O’Neill

By Dan Walsh

BARRY O’NEILL and COLIN BOWE began the new season with a double on Sunday.

The 2023-’24 point-to-point racing season kicked off at Castletown-Geoghegan under the auspices of the Westmeath Foxhounds yesterday (Sunday) and the reigning champions handler Colin Bowe and rider Barry O’Neill made their mark with a double on day one.

Emily’s Choice in the colours of Brendan Murphy prevailed by a neck in the maiden race for five- and six-year-old mares – the second race on the card.

Success was easier for Agent Tequila in the Milestone Bloodstock Ltd colours – 14 lengths to spare – in the maiden race for five- and six-year-old geldings.

First action of the new season in this region comes to Fairwood, Tinahely, on Sunday, October 15th and six fixtures in the south-east region before the end of December.