WexfordLocal.com wishes all our loyal readers and followers a HAPPY CHRISTMAS 2022.
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St,. Peter’s Square, Wexford, in festive mood for tomorrow night’s Carols in the Square event. All are welcome.
By Dan Walsh
The Christmas spirit is alive and well in Wexford town and Santa Claus will make a final public appearance before setting out from the North Pole on Christmas Eve at the Carols in the Square celebration on Friday evening.
The illuminated Christmas tree will be the centrepiece for the festive event featuring the Wexford Fife and Drum Band, and a collection of fantastic local musicians including Daithi Kavanagh and Rory Kavanagh, Martina Byrne, Anthony ‘the Virginian’ Bates, Ibar Quirke, Imelda Kehoe and many more, playing festive music and singing Christmas Carols in St Peter’s Square, Wexford, tomorrow night from 6pm.
Santa Claus will be in the Square and there will be hot chocolates to keep you warm!
There will be a collection for Wexford People Helping People’s Christmas Appeal, helping them to continue to help those in need.
For those who can’t make it tomorrow night, collection buckets will be set up in Red Books all day tomorrow.
Remember, 6pm start in St. Peter’s Square and the message is ALL ARE WELCOME. Tell your friends and bring them along for a truly ‘ding-dong merrily on high’ festive occasion.
ENNISCORTHY TOWN CENTRE; Market Square (File Pic).
By Dan Walsh at Enniscorthy Municipal District Council Meeting
The ambitious Enniscorthy Town Centre First Plan, believed to be the first of its kind in the country, was first discussed ‘in committee’ and later members demanded that it be favoured by the members before being made public, however, it was adopted at last Monday’s meeting of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council held in the Presentation Centre Chamber.
Printed draft copies were available to members and officials but were not made available to the press in attendance despite requests. Consequently, this reporter cannot summarise some of the main points of the plan.
In the Planning Monthly Report to Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal Report presented at Tuesday’s meeting there is a reference to the Enniscorthy Town Centre First Plan. It claims that the Enniscorthy Plan “is a comprehensive and ambitious plan for the regeneration of Enniscorthy town centre.”
“It sets out a series of regeneration strategies and identifies a number of redevelopment packages which will serve as the catalyst for regeneration of the town centre and Templeshannon area,” says the report, and adds, “The plan will be finalised following feedback from the members this year (which presumably is a reference to the decision taken at Enniscorthy’s December meeting.”
There was zero detail released at Monday’s meeting. The adoption of the plan was proposed by Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy and seconded by Cllr John O’Rourke, the same members that ensured a special meeting some days earlier be held in ‘in committee’ and the invited Press be excluded!
At Monday’s meeting there was a positive acceptance of the plan, however, there was a cowering call for the support of Enniscorthy’s three members of Dáil Éireann. They were not named but Minister Browne and Deputies Paul Kehoe and Johnny Mythen will add their support!
Cllr Cathal Byrne called on the three TD’s in the town to support the plan, especially Market Square and the old Murphy-Flood’s site (which Cllr Jacker referred to “as the greatest eyesore in any town in Ireland”) and Templeshannon with a view to accessing government funding.
Cllr Kathleen Codd-Nolan referred to “a downturn in the economy” and she accepted that the plan was “very ambitious.”
Cllr Jackser Owens was disgusted that “nothing is being down in the Templeshannon area of the town despite so many promises and plans over the years” and he described the old Murphy-Flood’s site as “an eyesore”, however, he stated that “the plan is good for the town and good for the people,” and he fully supported it.
Cllr John O’Rourke said it was a positive news story and “putting the best foot forward for the people of Enniscorthy,” and he added; “All we need to do is draw down on the funding.”
Cathaoirleach, Cllr Aidan Browne, also added that “it is a very positive news story.” He thanked everyone involved in drawing up the plan and felt it could be “a game changer for Enniscorthy.”
A Gorey-based Garda is recovering from shoulder and arm injuries after being hit by a stolen car and dragged some distance in an incident in the town in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Gardaí are investigating an incident of endangerment and the theft of a car from a residential premises in Gorey, late Monday evening.
GOREY GARDA STATION (File Pic)
Gardaí located the vehicle and its occupants in the early hours of this morning, parked in the Willow Park estate in Gorey.
Gardaí approached the car on foot, at which point the driver drove the stolen vehicle away. A member of An Garda Síochána attempting to stop the car was carried by the vehicle for a distance before falling.
The male Garda member was taken to Wexford General Hospital for treatment of shoulder and arm injuries.
The stolen vehicle and suspects were located a short time later.
Two men aged in their 20s and late teens were arrested and taken to Gorey Garda Station where they are currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.
The injured Garda member is receiving support from his colleagues and local Garda Management and the wider Organisational supports of the Peer Support Service, Chief Medical Officer and 24hour counselling service will be provided, to him and his colleagues, as required.
There was outright condemnation of anti-social behaviour that is threatening the future of local bus services and Gardaí are investigating a recent incident on the Enniscorthy to Bunclody route, members heard at today’s (Monday) monthly meeting of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council held in the Presentation Centre Chamber.
The matter was raised by Cllr Kathleen Codd-Nolan who complained of anti-social behaviour on the Local Link bus where the driver and other passengers were threatened by alcohol fuelled passengers on the Enniscorthy to Bunclody route. She wondered what can be done and concluded “People need to be safe.”
Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy said those involved were not children or teenagers “but adults on holidays for the Christmas season.” She feared that the public service could be discontinued if this doesn’t stop, and the driver should not be doing their job in fear.
District Manager Ger Mackey said that anti-social behaviour is a big issue. He said that anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated, and the Council is meeting with the Gardaí to help stamp it out. “It needs to be nipped in the bud,” he concluded.
The live Christmas Animal Crib returned to Enniscorthy today following a break due to the Covid interruption and it proved a huge hit with families turning out in record numbers.
There was a presence of animals at the crib including two-week-old lambs and their mother, an alpaca, Jacob sheep and mother and son donkeys. They patiently endured a four-hour stint being patted, spoken to, requested to share in selfies and generally soaking up the admiration in rainy conditions, but they all appeared to enjoy the experience away from the farm environment for a few hours.
Animals at today’s Animal Live Crib in Enniscorthy (Pic; Aidan Browne)
Organised by Wexford IFA (Irish Farmer’s Association) it was a fundraiser for St. Patrick’s Special School, Enniscorthy, and took place at the Farm Centre on Mill Park Road.
Chairperson of the IFA Farm Family and Social Affairs Committee, Alice Doyle, told WexfordLocal.com; “It has been a brilliant day. We are overwhelmed by the numbers and may have to run over closing time to facilitate everyone. We will have a nice cheque for St. Patrick’s Special School, which is great, and I’d like to compliment all our volunteers who did great work in setting it up and supervising over a few days.”
The animals were a big attraction, especially with the little folk, but Santa Claus was also busy throughout the afternoon and there were music sessions, a children’s concert, plenty of food, and displays of farm produce and a fun endurance test with Macra Na Feirme.
“We’re absolutely delighted to be back in action,” Chairman Wexford IFA, Jer O’Mahony, said, and he added “The central location of the Farm Centre building in Enniscorthy makes it an ideal venue to host the event which is supported by Wexford County Council.”
Amongst the public representatives in attendance (while I was there) included Cllr Aidan Browne, Cathaoirleach, Enniscorthy Municipal District Council, Senator Malcolm Byrne, Cllr Bridín Murphy and Cllr Jim Codd.
In conclusion, Alice Doyle said, “It is fantastic to have the live crib back. It’s traditional in Ireland. It is also great to see the urban/rural mix.”
Ballindaggin’s Donnchadh Doyle is having a great point-to-point season and is amongst the top handlers going into 2023 and he maintained his good run of form when he supplied the only Wexford winner today when saddling Speed Davis at Boulta, Co. Cork.
First time out, French-bred Speed Davis, in the Monbeg Syndicate colours, won the maiden race for four-year-old geldings by eleven lengths to give Doyle his ninth winner of the season.
It was the third winner of the season for Tinahely rider James Walsh and his 65th career winner.
A pedestrian in his 80s has died following a road traffic collision on the N25 at Killinick. It occurred yesterday (Friday) just before 5pm.
It is understood the deceased may have been returning to his home after shopping locally when he was struck by a van.
The man was taken to Wexford General Hospital where he died from his injuries. The driver of the van was not injured in the incident.
Gardai are appealing for witnesses and any road users who were travelling in the area at the time and may have camera footage are asked to make it available to Gardaí.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Wexford Garda Station on 053 9165200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.
A new sensory garden proposed for Enniscorthy will be one of the largest in the country and it becomes a step closer with the allocation of €234,000 from the latest round of Town and Village Renewal funding announced yesterday (Wednesday).
An artist’s impression of the proposed Wellbeing and Activity Garden coming to Enniscorthy.
Wexford TD and Minister of State for Law Reform James Browne TD has confirmed that €234,000 will go towards a new Enniscorthy Wellbeing and Activity Garden which will be one of the largest sensory gardens in the country.
Minister Browne said; “The exact location within the town has yet to be confirmed,”, but Deputy Paul Kehoe, speaking on South East Radio stated that the location would be on the St. John’s Hospital site on Munster Hill?
Deputy Paul Kehoe said; “The aim of this project is to fully enhance the newly designed green space in order to encourage greater use and enjoyment of this sizeable and currently very underutilised space.”
Cllr Aidan Browne, Cathaoirleach of Enniscorthy Municipal District, stated; “Enniscorthy Wellbeing and Activity Garden will be a special and safe place for people with sensory challenges to be able to fully participate in our community.”
It has also emerged that €100,000 has been allocated towards the improvement of streetscapes in Enniscorthy, which is earmarked for improvements to shopfronts in the town centre area. It is understood that the funding will be spent in Castle Street!
€500,000 funding from the Town and Village Renewal Scheme has been allocated to Duncannon for the restoration and development of the historic Duncannon Fort.Work is expected to begin in early 2023.
Minister James Browne and Cllr Michael Whelan at Duncannon Fort
Minister James Browne welcomed the news, and he expressed thanks to Cllr Michael Whelan, who, he said; “has been working on this project for several years.”
Duncannon Fort is an impressive presentation of a bastioned fortress perched on the Wexford side of the stunning Hook Peninsula, and part of Ireland’s Ancient East. This historic structure has gathered countless intriguing and awe-inspiring stories over its 450-year history and holds one of the best vantage points to take in the beautiful Waterford Estuary.
Duncannon Fort, built in 1588, used to incorporate a maritime museum, and was open for guided tours in the past.
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