News and Sport and Events that matter across County Wexford.
By Dan Walsh
A man in his mid-fifties has died on a farm at Ballycrystal, near Kiltealy.
The incident occurred around 9am and emergency services were quickly on the scene.
The body has been removed to University Hospital Waterford where a post-mortem will take place.
The scene has been sealed off and the Health and Safety Authority have been notified and are carrying out an investigation.
By Dan Walsh
€100,000 in new funding has been announced for Enniscorthy businesses to upgrade building facades, artwork, murals, lighting, street furniture and canopies.
The Streetscape Enhancement Initiative will provide retail and property owners in Enniscorthy with grants they can use to give their business a facelift. The primary aim is to make Enniscorthy more attractive places to live, work or visit.
Speaking today Fine Gael TD, Paul Kehoe said; “Ensuring our towns are vibrant places to live and work is needed as we recover economically post-pandemic. Streetscapes offers businesses a new lease of life and the opportunity to get creative.
“Our local authority will manage the initiative and will begin advertising for applications in the coming weeks”, Deputy Kehoe concluded.
Minister Heather Humphreys added; “I want as many businesses and property owners to get involved over the next few weeks and to avail of this funding.
“You may wish to give the front of your shop a new lease of life and repaint it in bright, vibrant colours. Perhaps you want to cover your window sills with flowers and plants or purchase street furniture, canopies for your customers to enjoy. Or maybe you have an even bolder idea. This time round, I’m encouraging neighbouring businesses to submit a joint application to their local authority if they have a more ambitious proposal.”
Deputy Kehoe was speaking after Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, announced funding of €2.6 million for 26 towns selected for funding with each local authority to receive €100,000 as part of the initiative.
By Dan Walsh
Some Camolin residents are offering €2,000 for information that would lead to the conviction of whoever were involved in a substantial fly-tipping incident on Priest Lane, close to the village, last Thursday night.
A sizeable quantity of electric cable casing was indiscriminately dumped on lane. The casing is useless, but the extracted copper is valuable as scrap metal and is sold to scrap yards.
In the local community Camolin Alive post on Facebook tonight the public is asked for “information to convict the culprits, someone must know where this came from, we cannot have this going on or continuing to happen, so if anyone has information that may lead to a conviction, please pm this page (Camolin Alive).
Anybody with information can also contact Gorey Garda Station on 053 9430690, the Garda Confidential line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.
By Dan Walsh
Chilly nights will soon arrive and in comes a new warm mattress and out goes the old mattress that has served the bedroom so well, but what happens the mattress that has worn out and is no longer considered an advantage to the household?
Sadly, many of them end up in the wrong places; beauty spots, over bridge parapets or on the side of the public road! To combat such anti-social activity, it has been the gift of Wexford County Council to facilitate a Mattress Amnesty and the 2022 details have been announced.
Wexford County Council will accept mattresses for recycling from households – commercial premises are excluded – at four Household Recycling Centres across Co. Wexford and here are the list of dates and locations;
Tuesday, September 6th to Friday, September 9th; Holmestown, Wexford Recycling Centre.
Tuesday, September 13th to Friday, September 16th; New Ross Recycling Centre.
Tuesday, September 20th to Friday, September 23rd; Gorey Household Recycling Centre.
Tuesday, September 27th to Friday, September 30th; Enniscorthy Recycling Centre.
The opening hours of the Recycling Centres are 8.15am to 12pm and 1pm to 4pm, Tuesday to Friday.
For further information, please contact Wexford County Council on 053 919 6000 or at customerservice@wexfordcoco.ie.
By Dan Walsh
The death has taken place of editor, journalist, author and founding editor of the Kilmore Parish Journal, Hilary Murphy.
A native of Tilladavins, Tomhaggard, his ancestry is rooted in Screen-Curracloe, Hilary began his journalistic career with The Free Press in Wexford town before joining The People Newspapers Group in 1965 and worked as a staff reporter for The Wicklow People in the Arklow-south Wicklow area and was also area correspondent for the national media.
In 1977, he published The Kynoch Era in Arklow, returned to the Wexford head office of The People as a sub-editor and he became a contributor and editor of the Kilmore Parish Journal, a position he held for 40 years before retiring in 2012.
His interest in local history was supplemented by his genealogical knowledge and he commenced the popular family names feature in the weekly Ireland’s Own magazine in 1976.
Arguably, Hilary’s everlasting legacy and greatest contribution to Wexford writing was the publication of Families of Co. Wexford, published by Geography Publications, in November 1986.
In the Foreward, Wexford-born, the late Richard Roche wrote; “Hilary Murphy has formed a credible task in collating this collection. And vital to the success of this book is that Hilary’s collection brings family histories in the county right up to date, with references to prominent and well-known members of families recently or currently in the public eye.”
FAMILY NOTICE; NICHOLAS (HILARY) MURPHY, Parklands, Wexford/Wicklow. Peacefully at Knockeen Nursing Home. Beloved husband of the late Bernadette. Brother of Willie, Jack, Betty (Roche) and the late Paudie and Mattie. Father of Anne (Carberry), Declan, Brendan, Kilian and Breifini (Perkins). Grandfather to Patrick, Peter, Matthew, Aidan, Owen, Tiarnan, Fintan, Madison and Eliza.
Great-grandfather to Éala. Hilary will be sadly missed by his loving family, sons-in law Pat and Dom daughters-in-law: Jody, Jackie and Aisha, extended family, his many friends and neighbours. May His Gentle Soul Rest In Peace
Reposing at Mackens Funeral Home, Distillery Road, Wexford today Friday from 3.30pm with removal at 6.30pm to Rowe St Church, Wexford, arriving for 7pm. Funeral Mass on Saturday at 12 noon with burial afterwards in Kilmore Cemetery.
By Dan Walsh in New Ross
The ancient deck of the Dunbrody Famine Ship, showpiece of New Ross tourism, was the appropriate setting for the launch of the 16th New Ross Piano Festival this evening by Senator Malcolm Byrne. The festival runs September 21st-25th and will bring large numbers to the town.
Senator Byrne spoke about the importance of music to get everyone back to festivals again, he described the New Ross Piano Festival as a wonderful event with a superb programme that should appeal to audiences and said it was an honour to formally launch the festival and he wished it well.
Artistic Director and pianist Finghín Collins thanked Senator Byrne for his “very wonderful words so eloquently expressed” and he saluted Malcolm for fighting so much for the arts during the awful time that was Covet! “He agitated strongly for the reopening of the arts that lagged behind other forms of community living and it was great to have a voice in the Senate,” he concluded.
Festival Administrator Connie Tantrum welcomed invited guests to the outdoor launch on board the Dunbrody Famine Ship and thanks was expressed to Cllrs Bridín Murphy and John Fleming, New Ross District Council officials, sponsors and loyal supporters of the festival.
Ms. Tantrum also offered remembrance of the late Jimmy Fitzgibbon who passed away this week and was the first Chairman of Music for New Ross. Sympathy is extended to his family and friends.
Following a pleasant reception and launch speeches guests were treated to short piano performances from Alexandra Keane and Finghín Collins.
The New Ross Piano Festival runs September 21st-25th in St. Mary’s Church featuring renowned pianists Máire Carroll, Finghín Collins, Dmytro Choní, Tamara Licheli, Jonathan Plowright, Francois-Xavier Poizat and Craig Taborn with the Albion Quartet and Origin Story.
Tickets are for allocated seating except for Wednesday evening and Friday noon concerts. Tickets will also be available for each concert at the venue. Call St. Michael’s Theatre Box Office on 00353 51 421255 or book tickets online – www.newrosspianofestival.com
By Dan Walsh
An Emergency Humanitarian Support Scheme to assist small businesses, sports clubs, community and voluntary organisations, unable to secure flood insurance and affected by recent flooding events in New Ross has been opened.
Deputy Paul Kehoe said; “I contacted the Tánaiste as soon as I was aware of the impact of the flash floods in New Ross and I received his assurance that a fund would be opened as a matter of urgency. I welcome this move and hope that it serves to mitigate the damages caused by this weather event.
“I hope this funding will go some way towards helping those businesses get back on their feet. After what has been a really tough couple of years, managing flood damage is the last thing they need. We want to help them get back up and running as quickly as possible,” concluded Deputy Kehoe.
As with similar weather events in the past the Irish Red Cross Society will administer and make payments under the Scheme on behalf of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The funding is targeted at small businesses (up to 20 employees), sports clubs and community and voluntary organisations and will have two stages:
1. The first stage will commence immediately and will provide a contribution of up to €5,000, depending on the scale of damage incurred. It is anticipated that this will meet the needs for the majority of those affected. The intention is to process payments as fast as possible.
2. In the event, that the premises have incurred significant damages above €5,000, businesses can apply for additional funding, following an assessment by the Irish Red Cross. The total level of support available for both stages combined is capped at €20,000.
Applications forms for support will be available on the Irish Red Cross Society website.
By Dan Walsh
This summer marks 175 years since a lifeboat service was first established in Kilmore Quay and the distinguished occasion will be celebrated with an exhibition curated by local author and historian, John Power, this weekend on Saturday and Sunday in the Stella Maris Centre, Kilmore Quay.
In 1846 the Royal National Lifeboat Institution was asked by Inspector General Dombraine to provide a lifeboat for Kilmore Quay. The Institution sent a lifeboat on the 28 July 1847. It was put under the care of the Coastguards stationed in Kilmore Quay at the time and so began 175 years of voluntary service to save lives at sea.
John Power is an authority on local maritime history and has published three volumes on the subject – A Maritime History of County Wexford, Vol. 1 (1859-1910); Vol II (1911-1960) and Vol. III (1961-1998), as well as the book Above and Beyond the Call of Duty, a tribute to local rescue services published in 1993. This will be John’s 12th exhibition.
Speaking about the upcoming exhibition, John Power said told WexfordLocal.com; “A lot of material has been collected for this Exhibition through photographs, artefacts, and models of some of the lifeboats that served at the station, including many of the rescues carried out over that period. Hon secretaries, coxswains, engineers and lifeboat crews, volunteers and fundraisers will be features and many more surprises’
Kilmore Quay RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, John Grace added; “The RNLI lifeboat service is an integral part of Kilmore Quay, and we are thrilled with the exhibition that John has put together and incredibly grateful to him for all his effort. We hope everyone can come down and enjoy the story of how it all started through to today’s modern service and see the tremendous commitment of our volunteer crews through the years.’
The exhibition will open at 6pm on Friday with the official launch taking place at 7pm. The exhibition will be open on Saturday from 11am to 5.30pm and on Sunday from 11am to 6pm. Admission is free.
By Dan Walsh
Wexford Rose Joy Quigley from Ferns was the final interviewee on last night’s televised International Rose of Tralee Festival, and she gave a masterful performance with lots of laughter and banter with host Daithí Ó Sé.
“I am so much a hugger,” Joy told Daithí and she continued; “I just love a hug. I love affection. It is certainly my love language. People’s love language is usually touch, but mine is hugging.”
Joy had a great appearance on the show and acknowledged the presence of her parents in the audience, Linda and John, and other relatives and friends who supported Joy from Ferns to Tralee.
Eighteen Roses were featured and the final fifteen will appear on RTÉ television tonight (Tuesday) and the winner of the 2022 Rose of Tralee will be announced soon after 11pm.
By Dan Walsh
Enniscorthy-born actor Fintan Kelly is writer and director of an exciting new play ‘Farsiders’ and the world premiere takes place in the Presentation Arts Centre on Tuesday night, and there are also performances on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and Saturday.
Fintan told WexfordLocal.com; “I’m delighted that the premiere night is all sold out. It is in memory of Joe Doyle who died during Covid when we were under lockdown and we didn’t get a chance to say a proper farewell, so this is a celebration of Joe Doyle’s life.” Joe was a tremendous supporter of Enniscorthy Drama Group and all proceeds are going towards the Wexford branch of Cystic Fibrosis Ireland.
‘Farsiders’ is an original play by Fintan Kelly set in a ‘dole’ (unemployment) office in 1981, featuring seven characters on stage, exploring love, tragedy and events that were part of life at the time with particular focus on the social weekend events and the the way we were back then!
The play was launched recently at a pleasant reception held at Enniscorthy IFA Farm Centre by local broadcaster and journalist Jimmy Gahan.
Jimmy said he was privileged that Fintan asked him to launch his play. “Apart from being a wonderful actor and theatrical personality” Fintan is a wonderful and successful person that has appeared in many plays and film pieces, including Fair City (RTE 1). Gahan gave a detailed outline of his progress and success, and he wished him well with the world premiere of Farsiders which marks his debut as a playwright.
Liam Doyle, Chairman of Enniscorthy Drama Group thanked Fintan Kelly for writing the play “because without a play we couldn’t have any great cause to be here,” and he complimented Fintan for giving his time to produce and direct the play as well, and he thanked the cast and committee in producing this play.
Tickets are still available for shows towards the end of the week and full details are available at www.presentationcentre.ie
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