WexfordLocal.com

Pearse Rd water project starts on Tuesday

By Dan Walsh

Work will commence on Tuesday at Pearse Road in Enniscorthy, where Irish Water, working in partnership with Wexford County Council, begins the replacement of ageing backyard water mains and providing new service connections.

The section of works will take place along Pearse Road from its junction with Parnell Road as far as the entrance to St. Patrick’s Park, taking in the associated roads to the residential areas

These latest water mains replacement follow hot on the heels of crews who were in St. John’s Villas in May, where over 270 metres of new water mains were constructed along the public road, bringing a safer and more reliable supply to residents there.

Outlining the benefits the Backyard Service Replacement Project will bring, Joe Carroll from Irish Water, explained; “Replacing these old and problematic pipes in Pearse Road 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: “In partnership with Shareridge Ltd and Wexford County Council, we have been engaging with the residents and aim to complete the works with as little disruption as possible. However, the works may involve some short-term water outages, but our project team will ensure that customers are given a minimum of 48-hours’ notice prior to any planned water outages.

“Where watermains are being constructed, traffic management may be in place. Parking spaces may be temporarily closed to complete works; however, local and emergency traffic will be maintained at all times.”

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

Death of popular publican Barney

By Dan Walsh

The death has occurred of Barney Murphy, Como Lodge, Castlebridge, who spent a lifetime in the licensed trade and is a former President of the Vintners Federation of Ireland.

**BARNEY MURPHY (Pic; WexfordLocal.com)**

A native of Castlebridge, Barney was a very successful businessman, but best known for his popular presence behind the family bar known as Barney’s in Castlebridge village for close on four decades.

He had a long association with Wexford Racecourse where he managed the bar facilities on the track on racedays and in 2020 was honoured by Wexford Racecourse Supporter’s Club on his retirement after half a century of service.

Barney loved the chat and banter that went with the bar scene and loved to chat about community happenings, sporting activity and what was making the news amongst his customers. He was immensely popular, and messages of sympathy are expressed to his family on their sad loss.

FAMILY NOTICE; Barney Murphy, ‘Como Lodge’ Castlebridge. Past President of the Vintners Federation of Ireland. Beloved husband of the late Margaret. Loving father of Jackie, Sandra, Barry, Claire, Orlagh, Sile and Padraig. Brother of Geraldine, Claire and the late Noel, Brian, Val, Joan and Irene. Will be sadly missed by his daughters, sons, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, sisters, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, partners, nieces, nephews, extended family, neighbours and friends. May He Rest In Peace Reposing at his home on Sunday from 2pm to 7pm. Removal on Monday, June 6^th to St. Ibar’s Church, Castlebridge for Funeral Mass at 11am with burial afterwards in Castlebridge cemetery. House private on Monday morning, please. Family flowers only, donations, if desired, to Wexford Hospice Homecare.

Sunday Book Fair in Gorey

By Dan Walsh

The Old School House beside Christ Church at the top of Gorey’s Main Street is the place to visit on Bank Holiday Sunday (11am-5pm) for the Gorey Book and Collectibles Fair.

About a dozen book sellers and buyers from across Ireland will be in attendance, offering books for every taste and free valuation for antiquarian books.

It will be an opportunity to buy, sell or evaluate individual or collections, and, of course, books don’t have to be too ancient to be available. It is also an opportunity to make enquiries about rare or out-of-print books of interest, and even though they may not be available on the day, it is possible to set up a search.

Kieran O’Brien, one of the Fair organisers, told WexfordLocal.com that “We will have books of every genre for everyone; children’s books, antiquarian tomes, collectible works, out-of-print classics, local books and comics. There will also be coins, antiques, china, postcards, ephemera and much more…”

The Gorey Book and Collectibles Fair takes place this coming Sunday from 11-5pm in the Old School House, Christ Church, Main Street, Gorey. €2 entry fee. Children go free.

Taps are safe in Enniscorthy again!

By Dan Walsh

The Boil Water Notice issued on May 23^rd has been lifted with immediate effect and all consumers on the Enniscorthy Public Water Supply can now resume normal use of the water supply for drinking, food preparation and brushing teeth.

Irish Water, working in partnership with Wexford County Council, made the announcement this evening and following the completion of remedial measures and the receipt of satisfactory monitoring results, the boil water notice is now lifted with immediate effect. This decision follows consultation undertaken with the Health Service Executive (HSE).

The notice was originally issued due to the detection of cryptosporidium found at the Vinegar Hill Water Treatment Plant supply.

**Boiled Water Notice for Enniscorthy is lifted with immediate effect.**

Irish Water operations and compliance experts worked with colleagues in Wexford County Council to carry out the necessary works to enable the notice to be lifted as quickly as possible.

Ronan Walsh of Irish Water told WexfordLocal.com ; “We successfully completed remedial works on first filter, and we plan to carry out works on filters two and three in the coming weeks. Whilst we have been able to lift the boil water notice today, there is the possibility that we may have to re-issue the notice in the coming weeks to facilitate these works. Our customers’ health is our number one priority and we, along with Wexford County Council and the HSE, will continue to review ongoing process control, monitoring and testing of the drinking water supply.

“We continue to progress our long-term plans for a significant investment in the water infrastructure. This includes a project to upgrade to upgrade intake at Clonhaston, raw water main replacement and significant investment at the Vinegar Hill Water Treatment Plant itself to increase capacity. The project is at design and planning phase, with works programmed to start construction in 2024.”

“Irish Water and Wexford County Council thanks everyone for their patience, co-operation and assistance during this boil water notice and greatly regret any inconvenience caused to homes and businesses in the community.”

The Irish Water Customer Contact Centre (1800 278 278) is available to answer customer queries in relation to this water notice. Further information is available on www.water.ie.

Music LIVE at Wells House this weekend

By Dan Walsh

Music from Lord of the Rings, a classical cocktail of Mozart and Shostakovich and an evening of Wexford music making are among the headline events at this year’s Live from Wells House and Gardens across the June Bank Holiday weekend.

The mini-festival in the heart of rural Wexford will feature a mixed programme of the classical and the contemporary by the celebrated chamber collective, Musici Ireland, and invited guests such as singer-songwriter Gavin Glass and Wexford composer Liam Bates.

Spanning three days (June 4^th -6^th), the performances will take place in the Victorian Wells House against a backdrop of hundreds of acres of woodland and garden walks.

“Our programme both embraces Musici Ireland’s roots as classical musicians and musical crossover by including well known film scores like Star Wars,” said Artistic Director Beth McNinch.

“It is exciting to present such a diverse programme which I hope will broaden the appeal of classical music,” added Beth, who is from Blackwater. “We welcome first time concert goers, families, and regulars alike to come and immerse themselves in this musical journey we will take them on!”

With the rise of streaming services in lockdown, more people turned to classical music and its rise in popularity is reflected in the Gala Concert on June 5th. Alongside original work by multi-instrumentalist Gavin Glass and soulful Wexford singer Rachel Grace, Musici Ireland will also perform music by Liam Bates, Arvo Part, Jessie Montgomery and Phillip Glass.

Founded in 2012, Musici Ireland is a female led chamber collective that takes pride in presenting interesting and evocative programmes, and is planning ground-breaking projects, including site-specific and multi-disciplinary performances. “The emphasis will be towards making classical music more accessible to audiences by being less impersonal and more interactive.”

**Beth McNinch, Rachel Grace and Gavin Glass will perform at Live From Wells House and Gardens on the June Bank Holiday Weekend.**

AUDIO ADDITION; Beth McNinch, artistic director and violist, talks about the June Bank Holiday entertainment at Wells House.

Live from Wells House Programme:

Saturday, June 4^th 8 p.m.: String Quartet music by Mozart, Florence Price, Shostakovich, and Dvorak, featuring Ioana Petcu-Colan and Lynda O’Connor (violins), Beth McNinch (viola) and Katie Tertell (cello).

Sunday, June 5^th 11 am: A concert of harp music by CPE Bach, Gabriel Faure and Pearl Chertok; Sunday, June 5^th 8 pm: Gala Concert – Musici Ireland joined by special guests Gavin Glass and Rachel Grace and including compositions by Liam Bates, Arvo Part, Jessie Montgomery, and Phillip Glass;

Monday, June 6^th 3pm.: A family concert of music from the movies: a great opportunity to be up close and personal with a string quartet as they play famous soundtracks from Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Pirates of the Caribbean and many more.

For further information: contact 085 179 2901

Tickets from: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/musici-ireland-live-from-wells-house-337899

Road incident victim Karl will be laid to rest on Friday

By Dan Walsh

The man who died in a road traffic incident last Sunday evening on the R744 at Clonhaston, on the Enniscorthy-Oulart road, has been named as Karl ‘Chalky’ Cullen, (30), from Rockfield, Milehouse, Enniscorthy, and his funeral will take place on Friday.

Mr Cullen was the single occupant of a car that allegedly struck a ditch before bursting into flames around 7.30pm last Sunday evening. Intense investigations are taking place to establish the cause of the horror incident which has evoked overwhelming sympathy for his family and friends.

Mr Cullen was a well-known and respected businessman and in 2015 he started his own business – Karl Cullen Fitted Kitchens – and featured on the popular RTÉ programme Room To Improve with Dermot Bannon and featured in the DIY-SOS The Big Build programme.

He was a very talented craftsperson specialising in building and installing custom made kitchens and interiors.

Karl was also a talented GAA player and Enniscorthy Shamrocks GAA Player who paid tribute on social media; “Not only was Karl, or Chalky as he was commonly known, a fantastic sportsman who represented both clubs in our town, he was also a fantastic person. A friend to each and every member, with a thriving business that is known nationwide.”

FAMILY NOTICE; KARL CULLEN, Rockfield, Milehouse, Enniscorthy. Beloved son of Karl and Annette and loving brother of Darren and Diarmuid. Sadly missed by his heartbroken family, uncles, aunts, cousins, extended family, friends and work colleagues at Karl Cullen Fitted Kitchens. May He Rest in Peace.

Reposing at his residence today (Thursday) from 5pm to 9pm. Removal on Friday morning to St. Senan’s Parish Church, Enniscorthy, for Funeral Mass at 12 noon. Burial afterwards in Enniscorthy Cemetery. House Private Friday morning please.

Progress on Enniscorthy water scheme

By Dan Walsh

Irish Water working in partnership with Wexford County Council has confirmed that repairs to a burst water main close to the reservoir at Vinegar Hill has been completed and that water supply is set to return in Enniscorthy town and its environs over the course of this afternoon or this evening, to higher ground premises.

Water may be discoloured for a short period of time as it returns. Customers are reminded to continue to boil their water before consumption as the Boil Water Notice remains in place.

Crews were quickly mobilised quickly yesterday, working to repair the burst main and restore water supply to the town and the catchment area as quickly as possible.

Speaking about the issue, Irish Water’s Ronan Walsh said; “The burst has been repaired now and the water supply was returned to most areas this morning. We are currently working on building up reservoir levels and a further outage will be in place over tonight to help replenish the reservoirs.

“The reservoir is backfilling since last night, but we will only see a normal water supply restored this afternoon/evening due to the reservoir levels had been significantly depleted. The town is on a Boil Water Notice and we are carrying out works separately to resolve that issue.

“We continue working on the replacement of the filter media at Vinegar Hill Water Treatment Plant, with a view of lifting the Boil Water Notice as soon as it’s safe to do so. We regret any inconvenience to the residents and businesses and ask them to be mindful of their water usage over the next few days, as much as possible.”

**ENNISCORTHY Town Centre with famed Vinegar Hill in the background (File Pic)**

Brave lifeboat volunteers honoured

**Coxwains Eugene Kehoe (Kilmore Quay), Roy Abrahamsson (Dunmore East) and Eamon O’Rourke (Rosslare) at the RNLI Awards Ceremony at St, James Palace, London, last Friday. (Pic; RNLI/Nathan Williams)**

By Dan Walsh

Coxswains of three Irish lifeboats in the South East -Eamonn O’Rourke (Rosslare RNLI), Eugene Kehoe (Kilmore Quay RNLI) and Roy Abrahamsson (Dunmore East RNLI) were amongst lifesavers from across the British Isles and Ireland invited to join His Royal Highness (HRH) The Duke of Kent at St James’s Palace, London, last Friday to be presented with awards for the 27 lives they saved at the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) awards ceremony.

Messrs. O’Rourke, Kehoe and Abrahamsson were each presented with Bronze Medals for Gallantry for their roles in a rescue in October 2020 that saved nine lives and prevented a 100-metre cargo vessel, carrying 4,000 tonnes of coal, from hitting rocks at Hook Head.

Coxswain Eamonn O’Rourke will also be accorded a Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum for a rescue in 2017 in conditions described by the crew as some of the worst they had ever witnessed. The crew battled 10-metre seas in force 12 conditions to save three lives.

RNLI Castletownbere’s Coxswain Dean Hegarty was presented with a Bronze Medal for Gallantry for the dramatic rescue of a fishing crew in October 2018. In challenging conditions, the crew saved the lives of six fishermen.

The Duke – the RNLI’s President – attended a lunch for the 16 volunteers and employees and their partners, including lifeboat crew from Castletownbere, Rosslare Harbour, Kilmore Quay, Dunmore East, Portrush, Trearddur Bay, Salcombe, and Hayling Island, along with RNLI lifeguards from Mawgan Porth in Cornwall.

A total of 12 RNLI Medals for Gallantry were presented to crew and lifeguards by The Duke and six crew were accorded Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum.

Mark Dowie, RNLI Chief Executive said: “First awarded in 1824, RNLI Medals for Gallantry are the highest honours bestowed by the charity. They are awarded for saving life at sea and celebrate the courage, skill and dedication shown by our charity’s lifesavers.

“To receive their awards at St James’s Palace from The Duke of Kent is an honour and as the charity’s chief executive, I am humbled and proud of all our volunteers and employees that make up this incredible institution. Every one of them and their families give so much to the charity and our purpose of saving lives at sea.

Upgrade at Vinegar Hill Water Treatment Plant fast tracked

**Entrance to the Vinegar Hill Water Treatment Plant at Enniscorthy**

By Dan Walsh

Water tankers are available at Mr Price, Clonhaston; Ross Road Recycling Centre and Enniscorthy Cemetery, Blackstoops. Water from tankers should be boiled before use.

Irish Water have taken a decision to fast-track essential works at the Vinegar Hill Water Treatment Plant at Enniscorthy with a view to lifting the Boil Water Notice as soon as possible.

To resolve issues at the plant, Irish Water has fast-tracked funding to carry out essential operational and maintenance works. A long-term, multi-million plan for the upgrade of the plant is already in train with a significant upgrade of the Enniscorthy Water Supply Scheme planned.

That proposed plan includes upgrades to the intake at Clonhaston, raw water main replacement and significant investment at the Vinegar Hill Water Treatment Plant itself. The project is at design and planning phase, with works programmed to progress to tender in 2022 and construction to commence in 2023.

Speaking about the immediate challenges faced with the supply and the Boil Water Notice, Irish Water’s Ronan Walsh said; “We have taken the decision to fast-track these essential works this week with a view of lifting the Boil Water Notice as soon as possible if all goes to plan. We began by replacing the filter media on Monday morning. There are three of these filters and they do take some time to remove the media and then put them back in place. Once we have the first filter complete, we will test and monitor the supply. This will inform us if we can continue to work on the other two filters while lifting the Boil Water Notice.

“There is an also additional challenge now in terms of water availability. Yesterday (Tuesday) a major burst water main resulted in a widespread outage which will leave a significant amount of people without water. This will also delay the commissioning of the first filter and we will assess the impact over the next 24-hours.

“We understand that this is a big weekend for businesses and the general community, with festivals and events planned. I would like to reassure everyone that this is being prioritised by Irish Water and would like to thank them for their patience and co-operation. We are working as hard as we can, with our colleagues and partners in Wexford County Council to get this Boil Water Notice lifted as soon as possible. I must add however, that as public health is Irish Water’s number one priority, we will only lift the notice once it is safe to do so, and in consultation with the HSE.”

Last Friday, May 27^th, Irish Water, working in partnership with Wexford County Council reminded residents and businesses of Enniscorthy that the Boil Water Notice, which was first issued on May 23^rd would remain in place. The community of Enniscorthy and its environs are again reminded to continue to boil their water before consumption as the Boil Water Notice is still in place.

The notice was issued to protect the health of approximately 11,187 consumers supplied by the Enniscorthy Public Water Supply scheme following the ongoing detection of cryptosporidium found at the Vinegar Hill Water Treatment Plant.

The Irish Water 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.

Water tankers sent to Enniscorthy

**The River Slaney at Enniscorthy (File Pic)**

By Dan Walsh

A major burst on a water main close to the reservoir is likely to cause a widespread water supply outage in Enniscorthy and its environs this afternoon.

It has just been announced that water tankers will be deployed at Mr Price, Clonhaston; Ross Road Recycling Centre and Enniscorthy Cemetery, Blackstoops, after 7pm. People using water from tankers are requested to boil the water before use.

Crews have been mobilised quickly and are working to resolve the issue and restore normal water supply to the town and the catchment area.

Speaking about the issue, Irish Water’s Ronan Walsh said; “A major burst on one of our main water mains that brings water supply to the town burst earlier today and it is likely that a significant portion of the town and surrounding areas will be affected. The town is on a Boil Water Notice and we are carrying out works separately to resolve that issue.

“We anticipate that the repair will continue into this evening, and maybe tonight. We regret any inconvenience to the residents and businesses and ask them to conserve the water they have as much as possible.

“We are working as hard as we can with our colleagues in Wexford County Council to get the issue resolved as soon as possible. Alternative water supplies will be available, details of the locations to follow.”

Vulnerable customers who have registered with Irish Water receive direct communications from us for planned and unplanned outages lasting more than four hours.

Irish Water understands the inconvenience when bursts occur and thanks customers for their patience while we work to restore normal supply to all impacted customers. The Irish Water 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.