Protect water supply in freezing weather

By Dan Walsh

With the cold snap expected to continue for the next few days, Irish Water is reminding customers in Co Wexford that there are some simple steps they can take to protect against frozen pipes and bursts – and stay safe, warm, and comfortable this winter.

The sub-zero temperatures in recent days have increased the number of frozen water pipes and bursts. Crews on the ground are working in partnership with local authorities nationwide to maintain essential water and wastewater services. Irish Water are also liaising with the National Emergency Co-ordination Group and other key utilities to ensure an appropriate response to the ongoing weather conditions.

Customers can also do their bit to help avoid expensive repairs and a disrupted water supply at home or in their business/farm by taking a few easy preventative measures.

These include checking outside pipes that can become frozen and burst during periods of cold weather and, if possible, turn off water supply to these areas or to any unoccupied premises. Alternatively, if the water system is left operational, you may consider setting the heating to come on periodically at a lower temperature. This allows warm air to circulate and will help prevent pipes and tanks from freezing in the cold weather.

People are also advised not to leave taps running as this will not necessarily prevent pipes from freezing and can impact on the local water supply. 

Ronan Walsh, Operations Lead with Irish Water offered this advice; “With the temperatures dipping below minus-five-degrees in some areas this week it is important to continue the regular maintenance of your property, protect outside taps and farm troughs, and check empty premises. It also a good idea to familiarise yourself with your own internal water system and particularly how to turn off your supply at the stopcock so that you can protect your property in the event of a burst pipe. 

“We also recommend that people don’t run taps continually as this is not an effective way of preventing frozen pipes and can cause other problems such as frozen drains. It also puts further pressure on water supplies that are already challenged by the freezing conditions. For example, we recently saw an example of where a single hosepipe left running overnight resulted in 60 people being without water.

“To help people avoid issues like this and stay safe, warm and comfortable during the cold snap you can get lots of helpful advice on the website www.water.ie/winterproofing. There is also advice on general winter readiness at www.winterready.ie 

The Irish Water Customer Care Team is also available to help 24/7 on 1800 278 278 and there is lots of advice on being winter ready on Twitter @IrishWater.

Mary Lou calls for 32-county Irish Republic

DEPUTY MARY LOU McDONALD, Leader of Sinn Féin, speaking at the 100th Liam Mellows Commemoration at Castletown on Sunday.

By Dan Walsh at Castletown

Deputy Mary Lou McDonald, Leader of the Opposition in Dáil Éireann and President of the Sinn Féin Party was guest of honour at the 100th Liam Mellows Commemoration held in Castletown graveyard yesterday afternoon where she delivered the oration.

AUDIO ADDITION; DEPUTY MARY LOU McDONALD addressing the Liam Mellows 100th Commemoration at Castletown, near Gorey, on Sunday.

Deputy McDonald told the large attendance; “The yard in Mountjoy Gaol is sacred ground. A century on, its walls reverberate still with the echo of the shots fired by the Free State soldiers that ended the lives of four Irish patriots; four volunteers who bravely stood by the republic. 

In the early hours of December 8th, 1922 – Joe McKelvey, Rory O’Connor, Dick Barrett and Liam Mellows were woken from their cells and told that were to be executed. 

There would be no trial, no pleas, no pretence of legality.

The Free State Government openly described its execution order as one of reprisal for the killing of Seán Hales TD the day before.

They were not the first republicans to be executed by the Free State, nor would they be the last.”

Speaking of his local association, Deputy McDonald pointed out; “Though his family had hoped that he would transcend the class barrier that had prevented his grandfather and father from becoming officers in the British military, Mellows chose a different path.

“The seeds of his republicanism were planted when, as a child, he went to live with his mother’s family in Wexford.

“This was the time of the centenary of the 1798 rebellion, and Liam absorbed the stories of the Croppies, Father Murphy, and the heroic stand at Boolavogue.

“In Mountjoy Gael, as the firing squad readied the rifles, in his final hours, Mellows wrote a last letter to his beloved mother. He asked that he be laid to rest ‘in some quiet place’ here in Castletown, stated Deputy McDonald.

And she continued; “And so here we are. And so here we stand. We, the generation that Mellows foretold, stand at his quiet place. Here we stand for Irish Freedom, For equality, For Unity, For the Republic.

Here we stand to write the next chapter in our long struggle for full nationhood.” 

Deputy McDonald said that Republicans are leading change right across Ireland. “We are living in the end days of partition, on the pathway to reunification in our time and the achievement of thirty-two county Irish Republic.”

Cllr Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin acted as master of ceremonies and there was great usage of ‘as Gaeilge’ during the speeches.

Enniscorthy Historical Re-enactors Society gave a balanced military history to proceedings held in winter sunshine at zero temperature conditions.

Sinn Féin members from Dublin and other parts of the country attended. The local attendees included Johnny Mythen, T.D., and Cllr Tom Forde from Wexford town, and noted was the presence of Aengus Ó Snodaigh T.D. for Dublin-South Central.

A colour party and marching band led the parade from Castletown crossroads to the cemetery where Liam Mellows is resting. Wreaths were laid, songs were sung including a well-received version of Boolavogue from Ger Sheehan. Grace Sheehan sang too! The dignified event ended with the playing of the National Anthem.

Another four-timer for Rob James

By Dan Walsh

Today’s point-to-point fixture at Borrsi House survived three inspections, the latest at 8am, attracted a large entry, three races were divided to make it an 8-race card and Killanne rider Rob James won four of them equalling his amazing success at Lingstown recently.

JACK HENDRICK rode his 40th career winner at Borris House today.

The maiden race for four-year-old mares was divided; Sanda Rena, ridden by Luke Galligan for Sean Doyle, Ballindaggin, took the first division with two lengths to spare and the judge repeated the winning margin for division two where Miss Oreo triumphed for Rachel O’Neill and John ‘Shark’ Hanlon, Bagenalstown, to give Rob James his first taste of success on an extremely cold afternoon.

Another ‘divide’ in the maiden race for four-year-old geldings and Rob James was aboard both winners for Ballindaggin handler Donnchadh Doyle. Iorangi De L’Isle sailed in by two lengths in division one and Welcom To Carties did it much easier, by sixteen lengths, in division two. James didn’t need to change his silks, both sporting the familiar colours of the Monbeg Syndicate.

James consolidated his four-timer on the Colin Bowe trained Clody Flyer by two and a half lengths in the first division of the maiden race for five- year-old geldings. James has now ridden 10 winners in three racing days and is on the 15-winner mark, five below the champion Barry O’Neill.

Robert Tector who trains at Coolbawn, Rathnure, saddled Killybegs Jet Lady in the mares five-year- old maiden race and the George Murphy owned mare won impressively by 18 lengths with Jack Hendrick, Mayglass, in the saddle. It was Hendrick’s 40th career winner.

The Noeleen and Liam Kenny team from Craanford also got their names on the results sheet when Gray Rock came home five lengths to the good in the six-year-old and upwards race. Another well deserved success for Inch, Gorey, rider Luke Murphy.

Peace is precious; Bertie Ahern

By Dan Walsh at Castletown

“Peace is precious and my fervent hope for the next generation of politicians on this island is that we consign for ever to the dustbin of history polarised politics so that debate will focus on social, economic and climate issues and securing a better, more prosperous and sustainable future for all our children and grandchildren,” former Taoiseach and architect of the Good Friday Agreement, Bertie Ahern, said at today’s Liam Mellows Centenary Commemoration in Castletown.

“As we look to the future and the second century of our independent statehood, we honour all those who fought and died for their vision of a free Ireland that they wished to shape. But we should also hold firm to the conviction that in our mature, democratic society, we have now arrived at a point in our history where no-one needs on this island to fight and die to protect their national identity, their liberties or freedoms.”

BERTIE AHEARN, former Taoiseach, speaking at the Liam Mellows Commemoration in Castletown today.

Mr Ahern recalled; “Ernie O’Malley said affectionately of Mellows that he was “our greatest loss. One thought of him as a clear flame, steadfast, burning of its own strength” while Robert Briscoe described him as “a bright golden flame of conscience and courage.” Perhaps, the biggest tragedy and lesson we should take from our Civil War is that the country lost so many of its “best and brightest” leaders – Mellows, Collins, Cathal Brugha, Arthur Griffith, Erskine Childers, Sean Hales, Liam Lynch and many more – at a time when they were badly needed to build up our new State.”

Mr Ahern thanked Lorcan Allen and the local committee for inviting him to speak in Wexford and was pleased to be here in Wexford to address this commemoration in honour of a revered Irish patriot.

AUDIO ADDITION; BERTIE AHERN speaking at the Liam Mellows Commemoration in Castletown today.

Mr Ahern recalled; “In December 1923, addressing the first Liam Mellows commemoration, a year on from his tragic execution, an extrajudicial killing, which seriously departed from the rule of law, Countess Markiewicz said of Liam Mellows that he was “one of Ireland’s most loyal and honoured commandants, a great soldier, as brave as could be found, and a man worthy of the people’s gratitude.” 

Today’s attendance included Minister James Browne, Jim O’Callaghan T.D., Billy Kelleher MEP, Senator Malcolm Byrne, Cllrs Donal Kenny, Pip Breen, Joe Sullivan, Andrew Bolger, Barbara-Anne Murphy, John Fleming, members of Enniscorthy Re-enactment Historical Society, musician Mark Redmond and others.

Former TD Lorcan Allen welcomed everybody and acted as master of ceremonies and the parade was led by a piper, a lament was played, and the event concluded with the National Anthem. Refreshments were provided afterwards in the Golden Anchor, Castletown.

Mary Lou McDonald comes to Gorey

By Dan Walsh in Gorey

The Leader of the Opposition in Dáil Éireann and President of Sinn Féin, Mary Lou McDonald, T.D., will deliver the keynote address at the Liam Mellows 100th Committee commemorations at his graveside in Castletown Cemetery tomorrow (Sunday).

MARY LOU McDONALD T.D.

Participants will parade from the junction at the Golden Anchor in Castletown to the church grounds commencing at 2pm where Deputy McDonald will address what is termed ‘a national commemoration’. All are welcome to attend.

Afterwards, a reception will be held at Breen’s in Gorey where Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin will launch his new book ‘Liam Mellows and the Unfinished Revolution’ at 4pm. Music afterwards with The Púcas.

Earlier in the week commemorative stones and young oaks were laid and planted at schools in Castletown and Coolgreany to mark the centenary of the execution of Liam Mellows.

Liam Mellows Commemoration Weekend

At the Liam Mellows Commemoration in the Ashdown Park Hotel, Gorey, tonight; (left to right – Cllr Pip Breen, Cllr Donal Kenny, Paddy Mordaunt, Jim O’Callaghan, T.D., who delivered the presentation, and Cllr Joe Sullivan.

By Dan Walsh in Gorey

The Liam Mellows Commemoration Committee in North Wexford began the official commemoration marking the centenary of his death and invited Jim O’Callaghan, T.D., to deliver the official address in the Ashdown Park Hotel, Gorey, tonight.

Deputy O’Callaghan said that at the time of his execution on December 8th, 1922, Liam Mellows had been a prisoner in Mountjoy Prison for five months, having been arrested and imprisoned as one of the leaders of the anti-treaty IRA Garrison in the Four Courts.

He was executed by firing squad alongside Rory O’Connor, Joseph McKelvey and Dick Barrett. Their executions by the Free State Government were in reprisal for the killing of Seán Hales T.D. by the IRA on December 7th, 1922. Even though none of them could have any involvement in Hales’ killing, the four were representatives of each of Ireland’s provinces.

“We know that Fianna Fáil was founded four years after Mellows’ death by people who shared his belief that imperialism had inflicted grave damage on the Irish people,” said Deputy O’Callaghan, who added; “They believed that the Irish people should be entitled to determine their own governance and their own future free from external influence and the societal hierarchy imposed by imperialism.”

Tomorrow (Sunday) the annual Liam Mellows Commemoration takes place at his grave in Castletown where the centenary oration will be delivered by former Taoiseach and key architect of the Good Friday Agreement, Bertie Ahern.

The current organising committee under the Chairmanship of former Fianna Fáil TD Lorcan Allen have a poignant and dignified event planned to mark this important historical event and all are welcome to attend.

The commemoration will commence with Mass ‘as Gaeilge’ at 11 am in St. Patrick’s Church, Castletown, followed by the commemoration ceremony at the graveside where Mr. Ahern will present the keynote address.

51st Kilmore Parish Journal launch

Seamus O’Keeffe, Breda Hayes and Seamus O’Brien (editor) with their copies of the latest Kilmore Parish Journal at the launch in the Stella Maris Centre, Kilmore Quay, last night.

By Dan Walsh at Kilmore Quay

The 51st Kilmore Parish Journal was launched in the Stella Maris Centre, Kilmore Quay, last night by Ruairí Ó Cuív, Public Arts Manager with Dublin City Council, who has discovered the beauty of the south Wexford region at Neamstown and Sarshill.

A grandson of the founder of Fianna Fáil and President of Ireland, Eamon de Valera, Mr Ó Cuív paid tribute to the editor (Seamus O’Brien) and the list of contributors and advertisers for producing “a really important social and historical record of the whole area for a very special people.”

“Please keep it going,” pleaded Mr Ó Cuív who spoke fondly about his association with the parish and stated how proud he was to be asked to launch the 51st Kilmore Parish Journal.

Editor Seamus O’Brien is standing down after ten years “to make way for new blood” and he received a special presentation for his “dedication and excellent work in putting all the contributions together into a first-class publication.”

Breda Hayes acted as Master of Ceremonies for the pleasant launch and acknowledged the work of getting the work printed and having the first ‘in person’ launch in three years although the publication was virtually launched during the covid years. “It is very much a team effort,” concluded Ms. Hayes.

The attendance included Teasy Murphy (née White), the only surviving member of the original Parish Journal Committee from 1972, who was honoured by cutting the birthday cake, Cllr Jim Moore and Fr. Pat Mernagh, parish priest.

KILMORE PARISH JOURNAL No. 51, 2022-2023, 150 pages, illustrated, ISSN 1649 284 will be appearing in all good bookshops in the coming days and would make an excellent Christmas present for parishioners at home or abroad.

Bertie Ahern to deliver centenary oration at Liam Mellows grave in Castletown

LIAM MELLOWS (1892-1922)

By Dan Walsh

Today (December 8th) marks the centenary of the execution of Liam Mellows in Mountjoy Jail and the annual Liam Mellows Commemoration takes place next Sunday at his grave in Castletown where the centenary oration will be delivered by former Taoiseach and key architect of the Good Friday Agreement, Bertie Ahern.

The current organising committee under the Chairmanship of former Fianna Fail TD Lorcan Allen have a poignant and dignified event planned to mark this important historical event and all are welcome to attend.

The commemoration will commence with Mass at 11 am in St. Patricks Church, Castletown, followed by the commemoration ceremony at the graveside where Mr. Ahern will present the keynote address.

BERTIE AHERN TD

On a weekend of commemorations, the local committee have also arranged a talk by Jim O’Callaghan TD on Saturday, December 10th at 7.30pm in the Ashdown Park Hotel. Gorey. An interesting talk is assured, and all are welcome to attend.

Jim O’Callaghan TD and Fianna Fail Justice spokesperson has made notable and thought-provoking contributions to the high profile and warmly received Irelands Future events and recently delivered a paper on Irish reunification at Cambridge University.

JIM O’CALLAGHAN TD.

Liam Mellows was an important and hugely significant republican leader, being first involved in Na Fianna Eireann in 1911. He played a leading role in the fight for freedom across the 1916 to 1922 period.

Prior to his execution of which he only received a few hours’ notice, he wrote a series of letters, primary among them was his letter to his mother Sarah (nee Jordan). In this letter he asks to be laid to rest alongside his grandparents and among his people in Castletown.

After his execution he was buried in Mountjoy, however his final wish was honoured when he was reinterred in Castletown in 1924. However, this grave remained unmarked for several years until on the initiative of his former colleagues of Fianna Eireann, a memorial committee was formed to raise funds to place a fitting memorial for this brave and splendid Gael.

This committee under the Chairmanship of local Fianna Fáil TD, Dinny Allen included Tom Brennan TD, Bob Moran, Member County Council, TD Sinnott (long standing Wexford County Manager), Michael Kirwan and Pádraig Toibín, journalist with the Enniscorthy Echo newspaper and uncle to renowned award-winning author Colm Toibín, along with representatives of the National Association of Old Fianna.

The Headstone was officially unveiled by Eamon de Valera in 1945 and fittingly marks the final resting place of this important son of Wexford who has many close relatives in the North Wexford and South Wicklow area.

It is an honour to have such an important historical figure rest in our midst.

Comedy in Craanford

The cast of Pretend Sick on stage at Craanford Community Centre this weekend.

By Dan Walsh

Craanford Drama Group are back on stage at Craanford Community Centre with their chaotic comedy ‘Pretend Sick’ last night and tonight (Thursday) with two more shows still to come on Saturday and Sunday nights at 8pm.

The play will see Deirdre Malone in the role of Katie Logan – a woman who spends her days pretending to be a crippled and decrepit old lady so that her daughter Mary (Margaret Nolan) won’t leave her living alone. However as soon as Mary’s back is turned, Katie is running around the house like a spring chicken, plotting and scheming to make Mary’s life a misery.

Meanwhile, Katie’s son Sean (Patrick Lennon) squanders the family farm, spending every penny on the demon drink with his giddy pub buddies and flighty party girls played by Seamus Burnell, Brendan Doyle Caitlin Clauson and Priscilla Mullen. The loved-up next door neighbours – Tracey (Clodagh Kenny) and Jack (Oliver Doran) – are full of the joys of newly married life, which makes Mary realise that it’s time for her to wave goodbye to boyfriend Martin Puddler (Ger Doran) for the more sophisticated well-spoken Matt (Denis Eivers).

Directed by Brendan Doyle, this fast-paced comedy ‘Pretend Sick’ can be enjoyed in Craanford Community Centre on Saturday and Sunday, December 10th and 11th at 8pm nightly. Admission costs €10 for adults and €5 for children and tickets are available on the door.

Over €1m for 12 community groups

By Dan Walsh

Twelve community groups in Co. Wexford will share funding of €1,014,151, announced this morning. The funding will be used to upgrade, renovate and refurbish Community Centres, Parish Halls, Scouts Clubs, Youth Hubs, Family Resources Centres and Sports Complexes across the country.

WEXFORD ARTS CENTRE before refurbishment.

Funding for Co. Wexford is as follows;

Castlebridge Community Hall €19,337.50.

Terrerath Muintir na Tire Community Council €25,000.00.

Ferns Diocesan Youth Service €82,190.48.

St Joseph’s Community Centre €80,500.95.

Bree Community Development Group €61,375.68.

Wexford Arts Centre €100,000.00.

Barntown Community €100,000.00.

Kilmuckridge Memorial Hall Community Enterprise €28,975.00

Our Ladys Island Community Development €100,000.00

1st Wexford (New Ross) Sea Scouts €178,755.35

Taghmon Integrated Local Development Team €107,391.40

Rosslare Community Development Association €130,625.00

Welcoming the Funding, Deputy Paul Kehoe said; “Fine Gael in Government has showed time and again that we’re committed to community development.  This ground-breaking investment in community centres will bring real improvements to the heart of communities across Wexford and will further accentuate the millions of euro of investment already put into facilities in Rural Ireland.”