‘Great Weekend’ promised at Gorey Festival.

Great weekend of music and entertainment for all the family at Gorey Market House Festival (Pic; Joe Dixon Photography)

By Dan Walsh at Gorey Civic Centre

“We’re going to have a great weekend. We are really looking forward to it. It is something that we have been missing for the last few years,” said Cllr Donal Kenny, Cathaoirleach of Gorey-Kilmuckridge Municipal District Council, and Chair of the Festival Committee speaking at the launch of the Gorey Market House Festival in Gorey Civic Centre this afternoon.

Cllr Kenny thanked the organising committee, the local Council, sponsors and everybody who have been associated with the revival of the festival which opens tomorrow (Friday) night and continues over the weekend. “It is great to have the festival back and we are really looking forward to it and hoping that everyone has a great time,” added Cllr Kenny.

Philip Knight, Gorey District Manager said; “I am excited that the Market House Festival is going ahead this year. This will be my first festival as District Manager in Gorey and I hope that people will enjoy the weekend that we have in store for them. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the Festival Committee for all the hard work they have put in.”

This year’s Gorey Market House Festival promises to be the best yet with music and events suitable for the whole family and an eclectic mix of music, arts and events happening throughout the town.

The weekend will be filled with free music on the Main Street from artists including Ireland’s best Queen tribute act Qween, Zooropa (U2 Tribute), Live Forever (Oasis Tribute), Beatles for Sale (Beatles Tribute), Dave Clark and Matt McManamon (The Dead 60s) to name a few. This year, we are delighted to welcome back Tan and Sober Gentlemen (North Carolina) who entertained the crowd in 2019.

Friday sees the return of Qween, who rocked the town in 2019. On Saturday, Tan and Sober Gentlemen will get the crowd ready for Zooropa, Ireland’s Ultimate U2 Tribute Band. And, on Sunday, there will be live music on the street to get the crowd in the mood for Beatles For Sale followed by Live Forever. 

This year the festival promises to be action packed for all the family with various events happening throughout the weekend across the town including the ever-popular Play Day, which will take place in Gorey Town Park on Saturday from 12.30pm to 5pm, showcasing fun for the whole family with DJ Liam Sharkey, Puppet Shows, Magicians and Face Painting. 

AUDIO ADDITION; DAN WALSH talking to CLLR DONAL KENNY at today’s official launch of the Gorey Market House Festival at the Civic Centre.

The Annual Busking Competition in association with Making Music will also take place on Saturday with €1000 worth of vouchers up for grabs for budding musicians. On Sunday afternoon there will be a craft market on the Main Street with music from Stratus, Matt McManaman, Cian Fitz and Turas followed by The Pucas with Liam Byrne, Beatles For Sale and Live Forever.

Pictured at the launch of the Market House Festival – Cllr Pip Breen, Liz Hore, Director of Services, Cllr Donal Kenny, Chair of Gorey-Kilmuckridge Municipal District Council and Chair of Gorey Market House Festival Committee, Inspector Pat Cody, and Philip Knight, District Manager.

Gorey Market House Festival 2022 takes place over the August Bank Holiday Weekend, Friday to Sunday inclusive, with music, arts and events suitable for the whole family. For more information on the festival, please visit LoveGorey.ie or Gorey Market House Festival on Facebook.

Irish Water Enniscorthy back yard project

DUFFRY HILL area of Eniscorthy along with Redmond St. and Ross Road to benefit from Irish Water back yard service replacement project.

By Dan Walsh

Low water pressure due to leaks will soon be a thing of the past for Enniscorthy homes as Irish Water’s neighbouring customers on Redmond Street, Ross Road and Duffy Hill will all benefit from a back yard service replacement project. 

In the coming weeks, the ageing back yard water mains will be decommissioned, new service connections installed, and 220 metres of new water mains constructed along the public road.

Irish Water’s Programme Delivery Lead, Joe Carroll explained the benefits of the works; “Ageing pipework is a significant source of leakage which in turn causes a reduced level of service for our customers. Detecting and repairing leaks in these old backyard service connections can be very difficult. By replacing the mains and installing new connections residents will have a more reliable supply.” 

The works will put a stop to high levels of treating drinking water lost into the ground. 

Shareridge Limited, carrying out the works, will contact each customer to discuss surveys to assess the current water connection arrangement. 

The essential works may require some short-term water outages, but the project team will ensure that customers are given a minimum of 48 hours’ notice prior to any planned water outage. 

Traffic management may be required where water mains are being constructed but local and emergency traffic will be maintained at all times. 

“We understand that this type of work can be inconvenient, but we assure local residents that every effort will be made to minimise disruption,” said Mr Carroll.

Customers with questions about the project can call Irish Water on 1800 278 278 or contact on Twitter @IWCare. For further updates please see the Irish Water website www.water.ie For more information on the Leakage Reduction Programme please visit www.water.ie/reducingleaks 

Jordan Gainford wins the Galway Plate

By Dan Walsh

The Galway Plate is one of the legendary steeplechases first run in 1869 and the 2022 renewal was won this evening on day three of the Galway racing festival by Hewick (16/1) ridden by 21 years old Wexford jockey Jordan Gainford.

JORDAN GAINFORD (File Pic)

Always travelling well and fighting off the presence of a loose horse in the closing stages Gainford held on confidently by half a length much to the delight of Bagenalstown trainer John ‘Shark’ Hanlon.

Gainford from Caim, Enniscorthy, enjoyed a big race success in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown in April on Hewick (16/1) and recorded a big race victory on The Shunter at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Gainford was successful on the point-to-point circuit when with Colin Bowe at Kiltealy before turning professional during Covid 19 and is associated with the Gordon Elliott stables. Actually, he rode the first winner of the Galway festival on Monday evening for Elliott on Royal Eagle (18/1) in a novice hurdle.

Jordan Gainford will be aboard Vina Ardanza, at overnight odds of around 18/1, for Gordon Elliott in tomorrow’s big race – the Galway Hurdle – and he faces the challenge in top form.

There was another Wexford winner at Galway this evening. Outback Flyer (11/1), home-bred by owner Jonathan Deacon, Clonmore House, Bree, and a winner at Wexford in April, won the mares handicap hurdle.

Enniscorthy set for Rockin’ Festival

ENNISCORTHY plays host to the Rockin’ Food and Fruit Festival over the August Bank Holiday.

By Dan Walsh

The Rockin’ Food and Fruit Festival is the perfect cocktail of everything that is brilliant about the summer with food, music and lots of family events, and it returns to Enniscorthy over the August Bank Holiday.

The programme includes a huge range of free events such as Artisan Food and a Craft Market, a Food Marquee and a superb line-up of celebrity chefs, including Kevin Dundon, Zack Gallagher, Paul Hynes and Trudy Power from Trudie’s Kitchen, to name a select quartet, with tastings and special guests.

The Live Outdoor Stage at Market Square will be booming all weekend with special guest dancers who are the heart and soul of the festival.

The Rock and Roll Town Gig Trail provides a huge choice of live music at 14 venues around town and at the Rockshore Main Stage in Market Square.

The Midnight Crawlers and The Due-Tones are arriving in the shadow of Vinegar Hill from the UK, Memphis Lee and the Creepers are a five-piece band from south Wales, Barry Darcy is an Ireland’s Got Talent finalist, Irish Elvis is one of Ireland’s multi-award winning tributes to the King- Elvis Presley, and many others.

The advice from the organising committee is to take a stroll through the medieval streets of Enniscorthy and savour the very best of both local and national produce as chefs and food producers have the finest fare of offer.

For full details touch base with www.rockinfoodandfruitfestival.ie     

Investigation into Forth Mountain fire

By Dan Walsh

Officers at Wexford Garda Station have launched an appeal for information to assist their investigation into the malicious fire at Carrigfoyle car park on Forth Mountain, near Barntown.

The scene of destruction following a malicious fire at Carrigfoyle.

A wooden structure unit which included disabled toilet facilities was completely destroyed and reduced to a pile of ashes.

Gardaí believe the incident occurred between 9.30pm on Saturday night and 8am on Sunday morning. They are keen to speak with the owner of a silver vehicle (approximately ten years old) seen the area that night.

If anyone has any information, however, insignificant it might seem, please make contact in confidence at Wexford Garda Station 053 9165200.

William (58) missing from Gorey

By Dan Walsh

Gardaí are appealing to the public for assistance in tracing the whereabouts of 58-year-old William Ralph who is missing from his home in Gorey, since Monday.

WILLIAM RALPH

William is described as approximately 5ft 10” inches in height, of athletic build, with short grey hair and green eyes.

When last seen, William was wearing a teal polo shirt and beige chinos. Gardaí and William’s family are concerned for his well-being and are appealing for assistance in locating him.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Gorey Garda Station on 053 9430690, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.

Vandalism strikes on Forth Mountain

By Dan Walsh

The community in the Barntown area are devastated and heartbroken following an act of vandalism in which the toilets at Carrigfoyle visitor attraction were burned to the ground last night.

The fire occurred sometime during the night and was only discovered this morning. “It was still smouldering this morning when I went there”, said local Cllr Garry Laffan, who added; “This is heart-breaking for the people who put so much work into the area. We will just have to raise funding and rebuild it.”

The public toilets at Carrigfoyle on Forth Mountain – BEFORE (left) AFTER (right).

Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council Cllr George Lawlor said; “We need to catch the mindless thugs who did this. Years of work by Wexford County Council and endless hours of volunteering from Barntown Heritage Group to make Carrigfoyle the wonderful place it is and this is the response from those with little to offer their community.”

Mayor of Wexford Cllr Maura Bell described what happened at Carrigfoyle as “mindless vandalism. These facilities and area are used every day. Lucky the forest is still there!”

Cathaoirleach of Rosslare Municipal District Cllr Lisa McDonald told WexfordLocal.com; “No words this morning. A despicable act of vandalism which is desperately sad to see. So much effort has been put in to improve the mountain in both the Rosslare District and Wexford Borough District areas and this is how some people treat it.”

Cllr Leonard Kelly said; “Heart-breaking to see how little regard some amongst us have for our public spaces.”

In a statement posted this morning, Barntown Heritage Group stated; “An unbelievable sight to see on a Sunday morning. This is such a loss to so many people who use these facilities each day. Why would anyone go out of their way to destroy amenities used by so many? If this had been the days prior the surrounding forestry would have been lost.

“We would ask anyone who has information on this, to please contact the Wexford Garda Station on 053 9165200.“

Lone boatman struggling in The Windy Gap

By Dan Walsh

A lone boatman was observed struggling to make ground with oars whilst being blown away from the shore and the Irish Coast Guard requested the launch of Fethard RNLI at 3.30pm yesterday (Friday).

Fethard RNLI on exercise (File Pic; RNLI/Nigel Millard)

Fethard RNLI’s inshore lifeboat was launched at Fethard Dock and headed to area a half a mile off The Windy Gap. The weather was good, with good visibility and a force 4 South-Westerly wind.

The lone boatman took his flat-bottomed punt to check on a bigger vessel that was moored, when the wind overpowered the small craft. Upon arrival at the casualty vessel, the crew assessed the situation, brought the casualty on board the lifeboat, established a towline and towed the vessel to the safety of Fethard Dock.

Commenting about the call out Mick Roche, Volunteer Helm said; “Today’s shout highlights the huge importance of always having a means to call 999 or 112. It also should encourage all members of the public engaging in water activities to know the local tides and weather, in particular the direction of the wind, and if an offshore wind is blowing.”

“A huge influx of camper vans”

By Dan Walsh

As we head into another warm weekend and busy times at the seaside resorts the usual litany of complaints will re-surface. “Cahore was bedlam over the weekend. There was a huge influx of camper vans. They appear to have migrated from Curracloe to Cahore as people got a taste for the beach in the fine weather,” said Cllr Pip Breen.

Cllr Breen was addressing the issue at last Tuesday’s monthly meeting of Gorey-Kilmuckridge Municipal District Council when seasonal seaside sanity pressures were up for discussion.

However, Cllr Mary Farrell said the camper vans were tourists. “We need to welcome tourists and encourage them,” She added that there may be a few motor homes that will not comply completely, but she pointed out that they do spend money and that is important for local tourism.

Cllr Oliver Walsh said that camper vans often get a bad name and he suggested options of parking beside the beach and gave Graiguenamanagh as an example where camper vans are welcome.

Scene One – Cahore Beach last Tuesday evening around 6pm.

Cllr Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin said the nettle needs to be grasped and toilet facilities brought into the 21st century. He also sought a community warden for Ballymoney, Courtown and Cahore and wondered if they could be rostered Thursday to Monday as their normal working week!

Scene Two – Cahore Pier around 6pm last Tuesday evening.

Cllr Joe Sullivan witnessed jet ski’s, about 12 in number in the water at Courtown last Monday. He said the barriers were a waste of time as tape had been placed over the sensors and the barrier remained up!

Cllr Mary Farrell referred to a barrier at Cahore providing an obstruction to the launch of 8-10 boats by the Sea Angling Club at Cahore and she asked that the system to changed to allow them operate efficiently and safety.

Engineer Gerry Forde thanked the landowners for providing extra parking spaces at Morriscsatle. Regards toilets, he explained that a new style of portable toilet was being trialled at Vinegar Hill in the coming weeks!