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.

16 Wexford community centres share €338,011

MINISTER HEATHER HUMPHREYS speaking at the opening of the High Hill Norman Gardens at New Ross recently. Minister Humphreys announced the successful projects under Category 1 of the Community Centres Investment Fund today.

By Dan Walsh

Sixteen community centres’ in County Wexford will receive funding of €338,011 to upgrade facilities which will benefit users of all ages, according to Fine Gael TD, Paul Kehoe.

Deputy Kehoe was speaking after Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys announced the successful projects under Category 1 of the Community Centres’ Investment Fund.

Deputy Kehoe told WexfordLocal.com; “I am delighted that my colleague Minister Humphreys has made this funding available to Wexford community centres given the vital work that staff and volunteers there do and the invaluable services they provide.

“Fine Gael is working to build stronger safer communities and today’s funding allocation is the latest in a long line of initiatives and supports aimed at making our towns, villages and cities more attractive places to live and visit.

“The Community Centres Investment Fund was launched by Minister Humphreys in April 2022 with funding of €15m available under three categories. The key theme of the fund is to support community groups with the upgrade and development of their Community Centre facilities.      

“Community centres which will receive funding include;

Group / OrganisationAmount awarded
12th Wexford Scouts€25,000.00
Ballycanew-Ballyoughter Community Development Association Company Limited By Guarantee€10,627.83
Camross Hall CLG€13,030.37
Davidstown Courtnacuddy GAA Club€25,000.00
Ferns Community Centre€20,878.32
Hollyfort Development Association€23,381.00
Kilmore GAA Club€17,000.00
Kilmore Quay Community Development Association Company Limited By Guarantee€25,000.00
Kiltealy Hall Development Committee€22,243.00
Marshalstown Community Centre Company Limited By Guarantee€15,387.50
Raheen Community Centre (Raheen Parish Committee)€25,000.00
Rathnure St. Annes Hurling & Football Club€25,000.00
St Marys Hall€21,702.20
Taghmon Camross GAA Club€25,000.00
Templeshannon Community and Childcare Centre Company Limited By Guarantee€25,000.00
The May Byrne Trust, Coolgreany€18,761.55

“Community centres are valued shared spaces and are very much at the heart of Wexford towns and villages. I hope this funding assists in making them even better in the provision of services to people all across Wexford.”

Minister Humphreys said: Through ‘Our Rural Future’, I want to support locally led, ground-up projects in local communities across the country. This funding is all about giving a helping hand to our local groups and clubs, which have continued to serve their community.” 

Enniscorthy road traffic victim dies

By Dan Walsh

A man who was seriously injured and airlifted to a Dublin hospital following a two-vehicle road traffic collision on the R772 at Blackstoops, Enniscorthy, on Thursday, September 29th, has lost his fight for life and died on Saturday.

Scene at Blackstoops, Enniscorthy, on September 29th (Pic; WexfordLocal.com)

He is Shay Rossiter, in his seventies, from Clough, Gorey, and formerly of Aughabeg, Corries, Bagnelstown, Co. Carlow. He was a popular member of the community and news of his death has evoked great sadness over a wide area.

Mr Rossiter was seriously injured in a collision on the R772 (the old N11) between the roundabouts at Scarawalsh and Blackstoops on the northern outskirts of Enniscorthy town which occurred around 12.30pm.  

Emergency vehicles were quickly on the scene including the Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 117 which conveyed Mr Rossiter to Beaumont Hospital, Dublin where he sadly passed away on Saturday, ten days later.

Any witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage of the incident are asked to contact Enniscorthy Garda Station on 053 9242580.

FAMILY ANNOUNCEMENT; Shay Rossiter Hillview, Clough, Gorey, Co. Wexford and formerly of Aughabeg, Corries, Bagnelstown, Co. Carlow. Died 8th October 2022 due to an accident. Beloved husband of Theresa and loving brother of John, Rita and the late Michael. Deeply regretted by his loving wife, sister, brother, sisters-in-law, mother-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives, friends and neighbours. May He Rest In Peace.

Shay Rossiter will be reposing at Flood’s Funeral Home, McDermott Street, Gorey (Y25E8D4) on Thursday, October 13th, from 4pm to 8pm. Removal will take place on Friday at 11.15am to the Church of The Sacred Heart, Ballyoughter, Gorey for Funeral Mass at 12 noon. Burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery. Family flowers only, donations, if desired, to The Richmond Ward ICU Beaumont Hospital.