Tributes to well-known Wexford businessman

By Dan Walsh

Many tributes are being paid to the well-respected, well-known and successful Wexford town businessman, Michael Tierney, who passed away on Friday morning following a brave battle with Motor Neurone Disease.

Mr Tierney and his family owned many landmark businesses in Wexford town, including The Centenary Stores, which opened in October 1988, The Riverbank House Hotel, The Yard and T. Morris on Monck Street.

Leading the tributes, the Mayor of Wexford, Cllr Maura Bell, said; “Michael Tierney was a massive employer. He will never be forgotten in Wexford town, and he shouldn’t be!”

MICHAEL TIERNEY

“I first encountered Mick Tierney over 30 years ago. He had come to town to establish The Centenary Stores after opening it at the former Paddy Lee’s bar. In the intervening period Mick became one of the most hardworking, progressive yet understated business people in his adopted town,” said Cllr George Lawlor, Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council, who added; “He never lost his humble almost shy demeanour throughout his time here but his often razor sharp wit was never too far away. He will be fondly remembered by all those he employed and indeed the thousands of customers who frequented his premises over the years but most of all he will be greatly missed by his loving family.”

With his wife Adrienne, Michael opened The Centenary Stores back in 1988 and gained an unrivalled reputation as one of the South East’s favourite nightlife spots.

Mr Tierney purchased The Riverbank House Hotel in 1998 and he transformed what was little more than a guesthouse into a popular hotel and a landmark for quality hospitality and tourism overlooking Wexford Harbour at Ferrybank.

He also owned and managed The Yard Restaurant and T Morris but the businesses were closed and sold off some time ago.

Michael Tierney will be remembered as a vital employer in Wexford town, particularly when the country was going through difficult times. Many of his staff were extremely long serving, some putting down more than 20 years’ service, testimony to his ‘work family’ ethic, and he was always hands-on and available to staff and customers.

FAMILY NOTICE; MICHAEL TIERNEY, Belmont, Newtown Road, Wexford, and Cuffesgrange, Co. Kilkenny. Beloved son of Bridget and the late Michael Tierney, loving husband of Adrienne and loving father of Robert, Jennifer and Alison. Sadly missed by his loving wife, son, daughters, mother, son-in-law, Ruben, daughter-in-law Eva, granddaughter Tess, his brother, sisters, brother-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, extended family and many friends. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Funeral arriving to church of The Immaculate Conception, Rowe Street, Wexford, on Monday evening at 6.30pm for evening prayers. Funeral Mass will take place on Tuesday morning at 10 o’clock followed by burial in St Ibar’s Cemetery, Crosstown. House Private please.

Arrows in the air at Hook Head

HOOK HEAD… SITE OF THE TRADITIONAL ARROW CEREMONY ON NEW YEARS’ DAY.

By Dan Walsh

The ancient traditional ceremony of loading the bow and sending arrows through the air into the Irish Sea symbolising the ports authority over the estuary takes place on New Year’s Day at 1pm and it is a free event with appeal to young and old alike.

Leading the challenge will be Cllr Michael Sheehan, Cathaoirleach of New Ross Municipal District Council with the assistance of the Dunbrody Archers, founded in 2004.

Apparently, the tradition dates from 1687 when the Mayor and the corporation of New Ross Town Council claimed their authority over the waters by travelling to Hook and shooting an arrow into the sea from Hook Head Lighthouse.

Lorraine Waters at Hook Lighthouse said; “This is always an incredible occasion, and we are delighted to have a full return for the first time since 2019 and to continue the ancient tradition, right here on the cornerstone of Ireland’s Ancient East.”

Hook Lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse in Europe and is open for guided tours. Interest in Ireland’s lighthouses has gained momentum in recent times with the remarkable award-winning television documentary series which reproduced incredible history and heritage in print and pictures.

Calling all Wexford sports clubs

By Dan Walsh

Former Irish rugby international, Donncha O’Callaghan has issued a call to sports clubs in Wexford reminding members not to overlook January 31st next, the closing date by which application for a €5,000 award under the Texaco Support for Sport initiative must be made.

Former Irish rugby international, Donncha O’Callaghan has issued a call to sports clubs reminding members not to overlook January 31st next, the closing date by which application for a €5,000 award under the Texaco Support for Sport initiative must be made.

Noting the benefit to be gained by the award, the popular broadcaster and adjudicator confirmed that “entry is open to all clubs irrespective of sporting discipline, size, membership, age, cultural appeal, or gender, including those whose application may have been unsuccessful previously.”

Held annually, the scheme has already seen funding of €260,000 distributed to clubs across the 26 counties, of which €10,000 has already come to Co. Wexford with successful applicants Kilmore United FC (2021) and Menapians Athletic Club (2022) receiving €5,000 in each case.

Further information can be viewed online at www.TexacoSupportforSport.com

Two ships in port ‘incident’ at Rosslare

View from the bridge wing of the outbound vessel Stena Europe showing the inbound vessel Connemara passing approximately 100 metres clear on the morning of March 16th 2022. (Image; Marine Casualty Investigation Board).

By Dan Walsh

Two large passenger ferries had to take evasive action to avoid a collision near the entrance to the port of Rosslare Harbour on the morning of March 16th, 2022.

Details have been published in a report by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) of what was described as a “close quarter incident” when two vessels passed within 100 metres of each other outside the harbour breakwater.

The MCIB said both vessels had to take evasive action to avoid a collision. The incident involved the “Connemara” operated by Brittany Ferries which was arriving from the Spanish port of Bilbao and Stena Line UK’s “Stena Europe” which had just left Rosslare Harbour on a sailing to Fishguard.

Both vessels are under the management of different companies within the Stena group. The MCIB report said Connemara had arrived at the port around 45 minutes ahead of its scheduled arrival time of 8.15am.

However, it said the ship did not follow instructions issued by Rosslare Port Control to wait outside the harbour and proceeded instead towards the breakwater. The crew of Connemara claimed they had no option but to maintain speed due to a strong northerly breeze.

Meanwhile, Stena Europe had been given permission to sail and had departed its berth unaware that Connemara was approaching the breakwater. At 7.27am, an officer on the bridge of Stena Europe was recorded saying: “He is right in the way” before the ferry turned its rudder hard to starboard.

The MCIB said the failure of the Brittany Ferries vessel to carry out the advice of the port authorities to wait outside the harbour was a causative factor of the incident as was the failure of Rosslare Port Control to ensure its instructions were followed.

The report observed that Rosslare Port Control did not attempt to clarify the intentions of either vessel or highlight the possibility of a close-quarter situation even when it was clear such an incident had become inevitable. It found the port controller had at least six minutes to clarify with Connemara about its intentions but did not do so.

The report said poor bridge team management and inappropriate VHF radio procedures were a contributory factor. 

The MCIB said the incident could have been avoided if both vessels had complied with the International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea that a proper lookout must be always kept by all available means. It noted Stena Europe’s bridge team were not monitoring traffic but relying on port officials.

The report also highlighted how the port controller had no maritime qualifications or maritime training. “The lack of training and maritime experience made it very difficult for the port controller to fully appreciate the potential consequences of allowing a close-quarter situation to develop,” it added.

In response to a series of recommendations made by the MCIB, Stena said the bridge team of Connemara had been sent on a bridge management course.

Stena’s own investigation into the incident concluded that the vessel had not followed the advice from the port controller due to a lack of communications between the bridge team. Stena said it also informed crews that the safety of the vessel takes priority over rigidly adhering to its schedule.

The MCIB said the Minister for Transport should also consider introducing legislation to ensure personnel working in safety critical roles in harbour control had suitable training and qualifications.

WexfordLocal.com wishes all loyal readers MERRY CHRISTMAS 2022.

CHRISTMAS 2022 AT THE MARKET HOUSE, GOREY.

WexfordLocal.com wishes all our loyal readers and followers a HAPPY CHRISTMAS 2022.

WexfordLocal.com is your e-paper covering news, sport and events that matter across Co. Wexford since June 2020.

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We would like to thank everybody who have co-operated in generating news stories, those who generously share their press releases, those thoughtful supporters who always send us in the right direction to cover a breaking story, and, of course without readers there would be no point in keeping the local news and events to the forefront.

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WexfordLocal.com is available to readers worldwide and, using the most recent figures (December 24th), the following is the Top 10 readership worldwide; Ireland 113,911; United Kingdom 7,380; United States 5,167; Australia 1,120; Norway 658; Canada 476; Spain 465; Germany 372; Netherlands 362, and France 337.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS

Dan Walsh, Managing Editor, WexfordLocal.com

Carols in the Square on Friday

St,. Peter’s Square, Wexford, in festive mood for tomorrow night’s Carols in the Square event. All are welcome.

By Dan Walsh

The Christmas spirit is alive and well in Wexford town and Santa Claus will make a final public appearance before setting out from the North Pole on Christmas Eve at the Carols in the Square celebration on Friday evening.

The illuminated Christmas tree will be the centrepiece for the festive event featuring the Wexford Fife and Drum Band, and a collection of fantastic local musicians including Daithi Kavanagh and Rory Kavanagh, Martina Byrne, Anthony ‘the Virginian’ Bates, Ibar Quirke, Imelda Kehoe and many more, playing festive music and singing Christmas Carols in St Peter’s Square, Wexford, tomorrow night from 6pm.

Santa Claus will be in the Square and there will be hot chocolates to keep you warm!

There will be a collection for Wexford People Helping People’s Christmas Appeal, helping them to continue to help those in need.

For those who can’t make it tomorrow night, collection buckets will be set up in Red Books all day tomorrow.

Remember, 6pm start in St. Peter’s Square and the message is ALL ARE WELCOME. Tell your friends and bring them along for a truly ‘ding-dong merrily on high’ festive occasion.

Enniscorthy Town Centre Plan?

ENNISCORTHY TOWN CENTRE; Market Square (File Pic).

By Dan Walsh at Enniscorthy Municipal District Council Meeting

The ambitious Enniscorthy Town Centre First Plan, believed to be the first of its kind in the country, was first discussed ‘in committee’ and later members demanded that it be favoured by the members before being made public, however, it was adopted at last Monday’s meeting of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council held in the Presentation Centre Chamber.

Printed draft copies were available to members and officials but were not made available to the press in attendance despite requests. Consequently, this reporter cannot summarise some of the main points of the plan.

In the Planning Monthly Report to Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal Report presented at Tuesday’s meeting there is a reference to the Enniscorthy Town Centre First Plan. It claims that the Enniscorthy Plan “is a comprehensive and ambitious plan for the regeneration of Enniscorthy town centre.”

“It sets out a series of regeneration strategies and identifies a number of redevelopment packages which will serve as the catalyst for regeneration of the town centre and Templeshannon area,” says the report, and adds, “The plan will be finalised following feedback from the members this year (which presumably is a reference to the decision taken at Enniscorthy’s December meeting.”

There was zero detail released at Monday’s meeting. The adoption of the plan was proposed by Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy and seconded by Cllr John O’Rourke, the same members that ensured a special meeting some days earlier be held in ‘in committee’ and the invited Press be excluded!

At Monday’s meeting there was a positive acceptance of the plan, however, there was a cowering call for the support of Enniscorthy’s three members of Dáil Éireann. They were not named but Minister Browne and Deputies Paul Kehoe and Johnny Mythen will add their support!

Cllr Cathal Byrne called on the three TD’s in the town to support the plan, especially Market Square and the old Murphy-Flood’s site (which Cllr Jacker referred to “as the greatest eyesore in any town in Ireland”) and Templeshannon with a view to accessing government funding.

Cllr Kathleen Codd-Nolan referred to “a downturn in the economy” and she accepted that the plan was “very ambitious.”

Cllr Jackser Owens was disgusted that “nothing is being down in the Templeshannon area of the town despite so many promises and plans over the years” and he described the old Murphy-Flood’s site as “an eyesore”, however, he stated that “the plan is good for the town and good for the people,” and he fully supported it.

Cllr John O’Rourke said it was a positive news story and “putting the best foot forward for the people of Enniscorthy,” and he added; “All we need to do is draw down on the funding.”

Cathaoirleach, Cllr Aidan Browne, also added that “it is a very positive news story.” He thanked everyone involved in drawing up the plan and felt it could be “a game changer for Enniscorthy.”

Gorey Garda injured on duty

By Dan Walsh

A Gorey-based Garda is recovering from shoulder and arm injuries after being hit by a stolen car and dragged some distance in an incident in the town in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Gardaí are investigating an incident of endangerment and the theft of a car from a residential premises in Gorey, late Monday evening.

GOREY GARDA STATION (File Pic)

Gardaí located the vehicle and its occupants in the early hours of this morning, parked in the Willow Park estate in Gorey.

Gardaí approached the car on foot, at which point the driver drove the stolen vehicle away. A member of An Garda Síochána attempting to stop the car was carried by the vehicle for a distance before falling.

The male Garda member was taken to Wexford General Hospital for treatment of shoulder and arm injuries.

The stolen vehicle and suspects were located a short time later.

Two men aged in their 20s and late teens were arrested and taken to Gorey Garda Station where they are currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

The injured Garda member is receiving support from his colleagues and local Garda Management and the wider Organisational supports of the Peer Support Service, Chief Medical Officer and 24hour counselling service will be provided, to him and his colleagues, as required.

Investigations are ongoing.

ASBO threatens local bus service

By Dan Walsh

There was outright condemnation of anti-social behaviour that is threatening the future of local bus services and Gardaí are investigating a recent incident on the Enniscorthy to Bunclody route, members heard at today’s (Monday) monthly meeting of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council held in the Presentation Centre Chamber.

The matter was raised by Cllr Kathleen Codd-Nolan who complained of anti-social behaviour on the Local Link bus where the driver and other passengers were threatened by alcohol fuelled passengers on the Enniscorthy to Bunclody route. She wondered what can be done and concluded “People need to be safe.”

Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy said those involved were not children or teenagers “but adults on holidays for the Christmas season.” She feared that the public service could be discontinued if this doesn’t stop, and the driver should not be doing their job in fear.

District Manager Ger Mackey said that anti-social behaviour is a big issue. He said that anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated, and the Council is meeting with the Gardaí to help stamp it out. “It needs to be nipped in the bud,” he concluded.

Animals on show at Enniscorthy

By Dan Walsh at Enniscorthy

The live Christmas Animal Crib returned to Enniscorthy today following a break due to the Covid interruption and it proved a huge hit with families turning out in record numbers.

There was a presence of animals at the crib including two-week-old lambs and their mother, an alpaca, Jacob sheep and mother and son donkeys. They patiently endured a four-hour stint being patted, spoken to, requested to share in selfies and generally soaking up the admiration in rainy conditions, but they all appeared to enjoy the experience away from the farm environment for a few hours.

Animals at today’s Animal Live Crib in Enniscorthy (Pic; Aidan Browne)

Organised by Wexford IFA (Irish Farmer’s Association) it was a fundraiser for St. Patrick’s Special School, Enniscorthy, and took place at the Farm Centre on Mill Park Road.

Chairperson of the IFA Farm Family and Social Affairs Committee, Alice Doyle, told WexfordLocal.com; “It has been a brilliant day. We are overwhelmed by the numbers and may have to run over closing time to facilitate everyone. We will have a nice cheque for St. Patrick’s Special School, which is great, and I’d like to compliment all our volunteers who did great work in setting it up and supervising over a few days.”

The animals were a big attraction, especially with the little folk, but Santa Claus was also busy throughout the afternoon and there were music sessions, a children’s concert, plenty of food, and displays of farm produce and a fun endurance test with Macra Na Feirme.

“We’re absolutely delighted to be back in action,” Chairman Wexford IFA, Jer O’Mahony, said, and he added “The central location of the Farm Centre building in Enniscorthy makes it an ideal venue to host the event which is supported by Wexford County Council.”

Amongst the public representatives in attendance (while I was there) included Cllr Aidan Browne, Cathaoirleach, Enniscorthy Municipal District Council, Senator Malcolm Byrne, Cllr Bridín Murphy and Cllr Jim Codd.

In conclusion, Alice Doyle said, “It is fantastic to have the live crib back. It’s traditional in Ireland. It is also great to see the urban/rural mix.”