“Missed opportunity for Enniscorthy”; Cllr Browne

By Dan Walsh at Enniscorthy Municipal District Council meeting

Cathaoirleach of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council, Cllr Aidan Browne, told today’s monthly meeting that he was “very disappointed at a missed opportunity” for Enniscorthy after Wexford County Council refused a planning application for an Agri-Tourism Development proposed by Slaney Farms Produce Ltd at Templescoby, approximately six kilometres from the town centre.

CLLR AIDAN BROWNE, Cathaoirleach Enniscorthy Municipal District Council.

The planning authority had cited more than one reason to reject the application, but the reason that surprised Cllr Barbara Anne Murphy was that “it would prejudice the future vitality and viability of Enniscorthy Town Centre” and she pointed out that it was “an Agri-Tourism project and would have nothing to do with the town centre.” Cllr Kathleen Codd-Nolan voiced her agreement with Cllr Murphy’s summary of one of the reasons quoted in full here;    

“The proposed development for an out-of-town destination restaurant, café, visitor centre and distillery in an unserviced rural area as considered, would prejudice the future vitality and viability of Enniscorthy Town Centre and would set a precedent for further such developments in such rural areas. It is considered the proposed development would threaten the future growth and attractiveness of Enniscorthy to attract future such commercial and retail developments into the town centre and is considered contrary to the policies of the County Development Plan 2022-2028, namely Section 7.6.2 and Objective TM19 and TM43 and is therefore contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the rural area.”

Permission had been sought for an Agri-Tourism Development comprising of (a) The erection of 18,940 sq. metres of plastic tunnels for on-site fruit production together with a 223 sq. metre farm machinery shed, two 14.4 sq. metre storage containers, two portable staff toilets, staff parking area, bored well water supply and 45,000 litre water storage tank. (b) The erection of a 940 sq. metre barn type building comprising fruit packhouse, visitors farm shop with cafe/dining area and associated kitchen and toilet facilities, a potato gin micro distillery visitor’s education experience, together with access road, parking area, sewage treatment system and all other ancillary site works.” 

Denis Murphy on the double at Tinahely

By Dan Walsh at Fairwood Park, Tinahely

Two winners for handler Denis Murphy of the Ballyboy Stables, The Ballagh, were the highlights of today’s point-to-point action at Fairwood, Tinahely, where the weather defied “a terrible forecast” and escaped with a scattered shower and no wind of any consequence.

DENIS MURPHY speaking with the media following a double success at Tinahely point-to-point this afternoon.

Murphy saddled up French-bred The Same in the maiden race for six-year-old geldings and a 29 lengths victory under rider Harley Dunne. This was followed in the Winners of One race and a 23 lengths success for Chatshow Host ridden by Luke Murphy (no relation) from Inch who was recording his 65th career success.

Sean Doyle, Monbeg Stables, Ballindaggin, enjoyed six and a half lengths success with Sous Les Rose in the maiden race for five-year-old mares ridden by Jamie Scallan from Tomhaggard. It was Sean Doyle’s 120th career victory as a handler.

Local handler Philip Rothwell won the maiden race for six-year-olds with Legacy Of Dreams confidently ridden by Phidelma Elvin, a native of Kildare now living in Carnew and working at the Rothwell stables. “It was a good day, but could have been a great day,” said Rothwell afterwards, a reference to a fine effort by Agirlcalledchloe, also ridden by Elvin, in the mares maiden race earlier in the afternoon.

Barry O’Neill was reunited with Samcro in the Open Lightweight Race and the Camilla Sharples owned and Gordon Elliott trained gelding gave an exhibition of class and ability to sail home 32 lengths clear of the opposition.

Samcro (then trained at Kiltealy by Colin Bowe) and Barry O’Neill won their maiden at Monksgrange in April 2016, he was then sold and competed at the highest level and finished 11th in the 2022 Aintree Grand National won by Noble Yeats. Now 10 years old, Samcro is certainly a force to be reckoned with in the open races this point-to-point season and, possibly for many seasons to come if he stays healthy.

Veteran rider Derek O’Connor teamed up with Enda Bolger, who trains at Bruree, Co. Limerick, to win the maiden race for four-year-olds with Kilballyowen, beating the Colin Bowe trained Ihandaya (Barry O’Neill) by one and a half lengths.

The Island Hunt races next Sunday, October 23rd at Ballycrystal, Kiltealy.

Codd defends the lady champions

By Dan Walsh

Aontú member Cllr Jim Codd has reacted to the recent ‘storm in a teacup’ controversy surrounding the Irish Women’s football team singing Celtic Symphony after qualifying for the World Cup having beaten Scotland.

CLLR JIM CODD

Speaking on local radio, Cllr Codd said; “I find the comments condemning these fine young sports stars to be disgusting and an aggressive form of misogynism. Once more the easily offended are throwing out the vilest attacks. Attacks on our Republic. Attacks on our patriotic history. And attacks on a group of young athletes who have given us something to cheer about during the very worst of times.”

“These women are role models and an inspiration to thousands. They bring something wonderful to the world that the sniveling revisionist talking heads and scurrilous social media bullies will never equal or even understand,” said Cllr Codd, who concluded: “Well done to our great international lady footballers.”

Jordan Gainford wins American Grand National

By Dan Walsh

Twenty-one years old Wexford jockey Jordan Gainford from Caim, Enniscorthy, has won the American Grand National at Far Hills, New Jersey, last night on Hewick, who earlier this year won the Galway Plate in July,

JORDAN GAINFORD pictured after a win at Wexford races.

Bought for just €800 and trained in Bagenalastown, Co. Carlow, by John Joseph Hanlon, better known as ‘Shark’ won last night’s big race taking his career winnings to close to €500,000.

Speaking to RTÉ News after Hewick’s win, Mr Hanlon said he has never seen anything like the horse’s success. “It is something you dream of. It normally doesn’t happen to me, but it happened today. It’s an unreal horse,” he added.

PS; WexfordLocal.com has seen after race interview with Jordan Gainford, unfortunately, it is embedded and we are not legally permitted to publish it here. However, it is available on Facebook as is a recording of the race.

€165k drugs discovered in New Ross

By Dan Walsh

Drug Detector Dog Flynn was on duty in New Ross recently. (Pic; Revenue)

Cocaine and Cannabis to the value of €165,000 was recovered following a search of a residence in New Ross.

A male was charged and brought before the District Court where he was remanded in Custody.

Gardaí from the Wexford Divisional Drug Unit along with members from the Detective and Uniform Units from New Ross supported by the Revenue Officers and Drug Detector Dog, Flynn conducted a search of a residence in New Ross recently.

€765k drugs discovered in spare tyres

By Dan Walsh

A man has been arrested following the seizure of herbal cannabis concealed in spare tyres and worth over €765,000 at Rosslare Europort yesterday (Friday).

During routine operations yesterday Revenue officers, with the assistance of their mobile x-ray scanner and detector dog Jasper, seized over 38kg of herbal cannabis.

The illegal drugs were discovered concealed in spare tyres when a Polish-registered articulated lorry and trailer that had arrived on a ferry from Cherbourg, France was stopped and searched.

Drugs concealed in spare tyres at Rosslare Europort (Pic; Revenue)

The drugs were discovered concealed in spare tyres

A man in his 30s was arrested by Gardaí and taken to Wexford Garda Station for questioning.

The seizure is part of Revenue’s ongoing operations targeting the shadow economy and smuggling.

If businesses, or members of the public, have any information regarding smuggling, they can contact Revenue in confidence on Confidential Phone Number 1800 295 295. 

Three winners for Barry O’Neill

By Dan Walsh

Today’s point-to-point action was at Portrush, Co. Derry where champion rider Barry O’Neill notched up a treble success for three different handlers. There was also a victory for Rob James.

O’Neill took the opener for four-year-old maidens with first timer Zefiro Dodville by one and a half lengths. The winner will have a career on the track.

BARRY O’NEILL and COLIN BOWE were amongst today’s winners

The same verdict gave O’Neill his second success of the day, half an hour later, when Castle Daragh from Paul McAleese stables took the maiden race for five-year-old geldings.

And winner number three on the day for O’Neill was aboard Vaucelet by half a length for Fermanagh handler David Christie in the Open Race.

Rob James had an easier time winning by eight lengths on Beauty To Behold for owner Gearoid Doyle and handler Sean Doyle in the maiden race for five year old mares.

The first point-to-point races of the new season in the South-East takes place tomorrow (Sunday) under the auspices of the Shillelagh and District Foxhounds at Fairwood, Tinahely.

First race at 2pm, 71 entries, and an interesting entry in the Open Race is Samcro from the Gordon Elliott stables!   

Injured motorcyclist dies

By Dan Walsh

A father of three from Campile has passed away following a motorcycle accident that occurred on July 30th 2022.

STEVEN MALONE (Pic; Vikings MC Ireland)

Steven Malone, 33, from Campile sustained serious injuries in a motorcycle collision at the roundabout at Davidstown, (junction N11 and R744) a few miles from Enniscorthy on July 30th.

Following the incident Steven was rushed to University Hospital Waterford and placed in a coma before transfer to Cork University Hospital and The Mater Misericordiae University Hospital in Dublin.

Stephen leaves behind his wife Jenny, who he only married in September 2021, and their three children; Lorcan (aged 4), Dia (8) and PJ (11), other relatives and friends.

A Go FundMe page had been set up for Steven which raised in excess of €3,300 to fund his treatment.

Tributes have poured in for the motorcycle enthusiast with his much-loved Viking Motorcycle Club honouring on social media last night.

They posted; “Vikings MC Ireland regret to announce with sadness the loss of our brother Steven 1% who joined our brothers in the Valhalla Chapter yesterday. Our thoughts and condolences go out to his wife and family. Ride free brother and take your place in the hall of Valhalla.”

Funeral arrangements have yet to be announced. R.I.P.

Gorey to get new water mains

By Dan Walsh

Irish Water and Wexford County Council, this week commenced the replacement 580 metres of problematic water mains in Ramstown Lower, Gorey, which will improve water quality for the community and forms part of Irish Water’s National Leakage Reduction Programme. 

The works also involve laying new water service connections from the public water main in the road to customers’ property boundaries and connecting it to the customers’ water supply.  

CLLR ANDREW BOLGER welcomes Irish Water works in Gorey.

Cllr Andrew Bolger has welcomed the developments in Gorey and told WexfordLocal.com today; “I’m glad to see this work being granted for Gorey. This pipe had to be repaired on a number of occasions and caused outages for Gorey Town.  Improvement’s to water quality is an issue that I have been raising for quite some time now and I have raised the need for this pipe to be replaced at the Transport and Water Special Policy Committee Meetings.” 

The works, being carried out by Shareridge Civil Engineering on behalf of Irish Water, will take place on the Fort Road and are expected to be completed by the end of November.

Outlining the benefits the mains replacement will bring, Joe Carroll from Irish Water, explained: “Replacing these old and problematic pipes in Ramstown Lower, that have a history of bursting, will reduce the drinking water lost by leakage and will bring an all-round improvement to water quality for the local community. 

Mr Carroll  added; “To facilitate the safe delivery of the upgrades, there may be some traffic management in place, however, local and emergency access will be maintained at all times. 

“Works will be limited to short sections to minimise any impact on customers.  During this project there may be some short-term water outages and the project team will ensure that customers are given a minimum of 48 hours notice before any planned water outages.

 “We understand that road works and water outages can be inconvenient, but our crews will make every effort to minimise disruption to local communities as we continue to improve the water supply in Wexford and progress the National Leakage Reduction Programme.”

Irish Water’s customer care helpline is open 24/7 on 1800 278 278 and customers can also contact us on Twitter @IWCare with any queries. For updates please visit the Water Supply Updates section of the Irish Water website or set your location on our website www.water.ie

For more information on reducing leaks visit National Leakage Reduction Programme page.

A divided political Wexford?

A tranquil scene by the River Slaney with Enniscorthy Bridge as the perfect backdrop.

By Dan Walsh

There is some speculation that owing to a growing population in Co. Wexford and a review by the Boundary Commission that Wexford, currently a five-seat constituency could become a six-seat constituency, in reality, divided into two by three seats for election to Dáil Éireann.

The options would appear to be a county divide – Wexford North and Wexford South – or part of Wicklow added to Wexford?

The possibility of Wexford coming two three-seat constituencies is a real challenge and is being considered by political parties, however, we are in ‘no comment’ mode at the moment!

Meanwhile, the most recently released Central Statistics Office data indicates that some 1,814 Ukrainian nationals are currently in Wexford.

The number of individuals and percentage population per district is as follows;

ROSSLARE DISTRICT. 390 (1.68%) +48.

NEW ROSS DISTRICT. 547 (1.82%) +46.

ENNISCORTHY DISTRICT. 331 (1.13%) +62.

GOREY DISTRICT. 210 (0.68%) +25

WEXFORD DISTRICT. 217 (0.69%) +36

KILMUCKRIDGE DISTRICT. 119 (0.65%) +42.

This indicates an increase of 259 in six weeks since CSO Series 5 data was issued on August 19th.

Several new accommodation centres have come on stream in recent weeks.