The final fixture of the 2021-22 Northern Ireland point-to-point season took place at Broughshane in Antrim yesterday (Saturday) and Wexford rider Rob James made the road trip worthwhile with two winners bringing his seasonal total to 24 weeks with only a handful of fixtures before the season ends.
ROB JAMES… a double yesterday.
James was aboard Some Man for David Christie in the Open Race and the distance was two and a half lengths. In the final race, for geldings aged six and over, James scored by two lengths on Royal Juniper by two lengths. The Killanne rider will be runner-up to Barry O’Neill in the National Point-to-Point Riders’ Championship having enjoyed a great season with the Scottish Grand National in April being the highlight.
Matthew Flynn O’Connor who trains at Ballycrystal, Kiltealy, had his seventh success of the season, his best in five years of training, when A Man Of Her Own won the mares maiden race (five years and over) for rider Brian Lawless.
The northern region riders’ championship title was won by Barry O’Neill with 17 winners for the season.
Kilrush Drama Group’s production of Class by Iseult Golden and David Horan and directed by Pat Whelan and featuring Michael Dunbar, Catherine Stafford and James Whelan will be performed in the RTÉ All—Ireland Open Drama Finals on Wednesday May 11th in the Dean Crowe Theatre in Athlone.
Following last week’s performance in the National Opera House in Wexford there will be two performances in St. Bridget’s Hall Carnew on the Sunday and Monday, May 8th and 9th.
Michael Dunbar, Catherine Stafford and James Whelan in Class heading for the RTÉ All-Ireland drama finals in Athlone next week.
THE TEAM; Pat Whelan (Director) spent a number of years acting and like many amateur participants gave a contribution to lighting, set design, sound and general dogsbody. When he got the opportunity to direct in 2005 it became his passion. Pat treasures the National awards he won, including awards for Best Lighting at the All-Ireland Confined Finals in 2009, Best Director at the RTE All-Ireland Finals in Athlone 2013, Best Director again in the All-Ireland Finals of 2016 and for the design of the Best Set for ‘Lost in Yonkers’, also in the 2016 Finals.
Michael Dunbar started his acting career with Enniscorthy Theatre Group and was part of the group when they won the Open All Ireland finals in 1996 with ‘Boor Beast in the Rain, with Moonshine in 1997 and with the Cripple of Inishmaan 1999. The group were British All Winners in the Drama finals from 1997 to 1999.
Michael has directed many of Carnew Musical Society’s musicals since 1996 and is a long-time member of Kilrush Drama Group, Michael won Best Actor award for his role in KDG’s Steward of Christendom in the Open Drama All Ireland in 2019.
Catherine Stafford played many roles with Kilrush Drama Group, including the role of Rita Shanahan in The Salvage Shop in 2020,she also played the the role of Valerie in the Weir. Catherine has been a long-time member of Carnew Musical Society and won an AIMS Best Supporting Actress Award for her role as Katy Brown in Carnew Musical Society’s production of Calamity Jane.
James Whelan is a schoolteacher by day, who caught the acting bug while in Australia, after a chance encounter led him to working as an extra on a couple of films and TV shows, including Home & Away. On his return to Ireland James trained at the Bow Street Academy in Dublin. He is currently studying with voice and acting coach Helena Walsh and hopes to pursue a career in acting.
Kilrush Drama Group sent best wishes to both Kilmuckridge (All-Ireland winners) and Camross Drama Groups participating in the Confined All-Ireland Drama Finals in Ballyshannon recently.
Near neighbours Bunclody/Kilmyshal Drama group who have also qualified for the Open All-Ireland Drama Finals in Athlone and take to the stage tomorrow night (May 7th).
Recently, members of Courtown Community Council attended the Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District meeting to make a presentation of past achievements, current concerns and future projects within the Courtown/Riverchapel Area.Following on from this presentation the Courtown group has invited all ten councillors of the Municipal District to attend a meeting with local community group representatives.
That public meeting takes place in Ballycanew Resource Centre on tomorrow night (Thursday) at 7.30pm and anybody arriving at 7pm can enjoy some tea and coffee. “As we have no councillor in our area, this is an important opportunity to highlight these and other pressing issues that our councillors may be voting on in the near future. We encourage you to have a your say at this meeting and the on the future of the Courtown/Riverchapel area,” said Linda Sinnott, Chairperson. Ballycanew Resource Centre is the venue because Riverchapel Community Centre is undergoing some roof repairs. There is limited parking at Ballycanew Resource Centre, however, parking is available along Ballycanew National School lay-by.
Bishop Ger Nash delivered the homily for the State Commemoration Service in Arbour Hill, Dublin, today, where he prayed; “In the words of today’s Gospel, the 1916 leaders where a grain of wheat which produced a great harvest.”
“Since my boyhood experience of the 1966 commemoration, 1916 took its place in my mind. Now, many years on from 1966 I have been living and ministering in Wexford for the past eight months. It has been one of learning, but it has also been a time of reconnecting with the 1798 story in Wexford – that other significant Irish rebellion.
BISHOP OF FERNS GER NASH
“The statues of pikemen in various places function as reminders of 1798, but what strikes me more as I travel about is seeing place names that resonated in song and story throughout my own school days – Boolavogue, Vinegar Hill, The Harrow, Geneva, and so on. All of them are reminders that we have inherited a love and a yearning for freedom. And there is no doubt that Fr Murphy and the Rebels of Wexford were in many ways, inspirers of the 1916 rebels whom we remember today.
Bishop Nash said; “In the words of today’s Gospel, they were the grain of wheat which produced a great harvest. Their place in history has in ways removed them from the ranks of ordinary people. When people stand at the hinge point of a nation’s story as the 1916 leaders did, we easily forget they too had an ordinary beginning and a vision of life in their youth which did not encompass the circumstances that brought them to this place. They were the men like my elderly neighbours in Tulla, Co. Clare, but unlike them they were not allowed to grow old.
“The 1916 executions deprived your families of beloved sons, husbands, breadwinners, and dearly loved fathers. Some of the most poignant stories of the post Easter time in 1916 are the stories of the visits of children to their condemned fathers and their final goodbyes. These losses were the sacrifices that your families made as a life-giving gift to our nation,” concluded the Bishop of Ferns.
Revenue officers seized approximately 15,000 litres of beer and five litres of wine at Rosslare Europort, following the search of an Irish registered truck that had disembarked a ferry from Dunkirk, France, last Friday.
The smuggled alcohol has an estimated retail value of more than €61,000, representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of over €28,000.
Investigations are ongoing.
This seizure is part of Revenue’s ongoing operations targeting the supply and sale of illicit alcohol products in the shadow economy. If businesses, or members of the public, have any information, they can contact Revenue in confidence on Confidential Phone Number 1800 295 295.
Irish Water, working in partnership with Wexford County Council, is replacing ageing backyard water mains and providing new service connections for customers in St. John’s Villas in Enniscorthy.
The project, which commences this week, involves the replacement of water connections, typically made of iron or lead, that were installed in the back gardens of some older housing estates. The pipework, due to age and deteriorating condition, are a significant source of leakage and reduced levels of service.
Backyard services are usually shared, running through several neighbouring properties, making it difficult to detect and repair leaks. Since all properties share a connection, leaks and bursts affect all properties; usually resulting in low pressure.
These works in St. John’s Villas, Enniscorthy also involve the decommissioning of ageing back yard water mains and the delivery of over 270 metres of new water mains constructed along the public road.
JOE CARROLL from IRISH WATER
Outlining the benefits the Backyard Service Replacement Project will bring, Joe Carroll from Irish Water, explained: “Replacing these old and problematic pipes on St. John’s Villas 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 in order to complete works. 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 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 the website www.water.ie
Fethard RNLI’s inshore lifeboat crew were attending the Shine A Light Festival at Hook Lighthouse where the crew were offering sea safety advice to the locals and visitors in the area, when Irish Coast Guard requested their assistance on Sunday at 3pm.
IRISH COAST GUARD HELICOPTER RESCUE 117
Fully prepared with shore crew and boat crew, they proceeded straight to Duncannon launching the lifeboat from Duncannon strand. Conditions were good with a force 4 south-westerly wind and a flood tide.
The lifeboat proceeded to the vessel in difficulty and established that the crew of the casualty vessel were all safe. Irish Coast Guard Helicopter, Rescue 117, stood by overhead until Fethard lifeboat crew carried out an assessment of the situation. The lifeboat crew then established a tow line, brought the yacht to deeper safe water, where the yacht made its way under its own power.
Speaking about the incident Fethard’s Volunteer Helm Eoin Bird said; “We’d like to thank the member of the public who dialled 999 or 112 to raise the alarm with the Coast Guard. As a general reminder, as this year’s leisure boat season gets underway, it is recommended to those taking to the water, to ensure that their maritime charts are up to date, that they have relevant tide tables, at least one means of communication and that all equipment on their vessel is fully operational and in date. And most importantly, that all crew on board always wear a lifejacket.”
Champion rider-elect for the sixth consecutive season Barry O’Neill enjoyed his 50th victory of the 2021-’22 point-to-point season at Muskerry, near Blarney, Co. Cork this afternoon.
O’Neill was aboard newcomer Royal Defender for Colin Bowe in division one of the maiden race for four-year-old geldings and the partnership triumphed by ten lengths.
DONNCHADH DOYLE… two wins at Cork today.
Donnchadh Doyle and the Monbeg Syndicate scored a double with Thermusa by four lengths in the maiden race for five-year-old mares and Heros De Moutiers by half a length in the maiden race for five-year-old geldings. Both were ridden by Brian Lawless. The also had a runner-up in Guntier missing out on a treble by three and a half lengths.
Newcomer Slade Steel carrying the colours of the Hook Head Syndicate from Pierce Power’s stables was a two lengths winner in division two of the maiden race for four-year-old geldings ridden by Sean Staples, Duncormick.
Two point-to-point fixtures yesterday (Sunday) and the Wexford stables were in fine form with Harley Dunne and Denis Murphy recording a fine rider/handler double at East Galway.
DENIS MURPHY… double at East Galway yesterday.
They got off the mark with Take No Chances who won the maiden race for four-year-old mares by one length and had ‘a distance’ to spare when Moodofthemoment romped home in the maiden race for five-year-old geldings. Harley Dunne brought his career total of winners to 95.
Colin Bowe and Barry O’Neill shared a winner – newcomer Chapeau De Soleil by five lengths in the maiden race for four-year-old geldings. Bowe’s 35th winner of the season.
Josh Berry, (17), is enjoying a great run of success with A Rated, running in the colours of his parents Shirley and Johnny Berry, Tomhaggard, and recorded three wins in-a-row with a seven lengths victory in the Open Race for novice riders.
And the day ended at the Galway track with a victory for Rob James. He was aboard Ultimate Optimist for Donnchadh Doyle in the maiden race for six-year-olds and over and won by six lengths.
Sunday action at Dromahane also and a dead-heat involving Wexford stables brought an exciting conclusion to the maiden race for four year olds. Marty McFly from the Paul Martin Pierce stables at Blackhall, Killurin, ridden by Sean Staples, and Donnchadh Doyle’s Pride of Erin (Brian Lawless) crossed the line together and the judge couldn’t separate them.
Master Splinter was a winner for Mary Ellen Doyle, Coolgarrow Lane, Enniscorthy, in the maiden race for five-year-old geldings. Brian Dunleavy was the victorious rider, and the verdict was ‘a neck’.
Jonathon Fogarty from Cleariestown saddled Pougne Aminta in the maiden race for five-year-old mares and she ran out an eight and a half lengths winner under Conor Moore. Tenth career winner for Moore from Kilmore Quay, five of them this season.
MARGO WHELAN (played the role of Pegeen Mike), ANGELA DEVEREUX (PRO and crew member), RICHARD DEVEREUX junior (cast) and ANTHONY O’CONNOR, winner of the Best Director prize and Director of the All-Ireland winning play The Playboy of the Western World pictured at the homecoming in Kilmuckridge this evening.
By Dan Walsh in Kilmuckridge
The newly crowned All-Ireland drama champions Kilmuckridge Drama Group were afforded a hero’s welcome on return from Donegal this evening and were cheered through the village and were proudly paraded through the village aboard a large truck.
Award-winning Director Anthony O’Connor and his cast and crew were given a great reception. “It was absolutely brilliant coming back to our own village and our own parish with the trophies. I could not believe it, drove down the street and the crowds on both sides of the street. It was absolutely stunning!” said an almost emotional Mr O’Connor.
Liam Buttle, Chair of Kilmuckridge Drama Festival, offered congratulations to the cast and crew and stated how proud the people are to have the All-Ireland title back in Kilmuckridge again.
John Hearne, who played the part of Michael John Flaherty in the play, acted as master of ceremonies for the homecoming and he extended congratulations and appreciation to everybody associated with the All-Ireland success, but he didn’t forget many who played a role in promoting and supporting the drama group over many years.
Trophies won by Kilmuckridge Drama Group at the All_Irelands
The celebrations commenced immediately in Hammels Lounge in the village and it may be months before they end! The community is proud of its champions.
Kilmuckridge Drama Group won the Claregalway Perpetual Trophy and the Premier Award for their production of The Playboy of the Western World by John Millington Synge. They also picked up the Ray Leonard Memorial Trophy for ‘Best Presentation’, Anthony O’Connor won ‘Best Director’ and Richard Devereux was adjudged ‘Best Supporting Actor’ as Old Mahon.
Kilmuckridge Drama Group was reformed in 2007 and has taken part each year on the three-act circuit and later on the one-act circuit. The group reached the three-act confined finals from 2008 to 2012 and were first crowned winners of the confined finals in 2014.
In 2015 and 2018 the group reached the three-act All-Ireland finals of the Open Section. The group returned to the confined section in 2019 winning many awards and reaching the three-act confined finals in 2019. In 2022 Kilmuckridge Drama Group are winners at the Bostik All-Ireland Confined Drama Finals held at Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal.
All-Ireland winning cast and crew at the homecoming reception in Kilmuckridge this evening.
AUDIO ADDITION; ANTHONY O’CONNOR describes his feelings on the homecoming reception this evening.
WexfordLocal.com 