One hundred and fifty-one entries were received for the Bree Hunt point-to-point which takes place at Monksgrange, Rathnure (Eircode Y21 PT85) tomorrow (Sunday) with the first of six races off at 2pm.
Taking a fence at Monksgrange in April 2019.
The latest information on the ‘going’ says; “Good, good to yielding in places, watering took place on Friday and Saturday and parts of the track will be aerated.”
Monksgrange has been host to the Bree Hunt races since 2008 and the organisers are hoping for a big attendance as all restrictions over the past two years have now been lifted and normal action has resumed.
Racing took place at Lisronagh, Co. Tipperary, today (Saturday) and one Wexford winner – Kalanisi Flash by 15 lengths for the Inish Stables Partnership, handled at Rathangan by Brian Jordan and a 15th career winner for Cleariestown rider Barry Stone in the maiden race for five-year-olds and over.
Also Saturday point-to-point at Portrush, Co. Antrim, and a winner for champion rider Barry O’Neill on David Christie’s Vaucelet by eight lengths in the open race.
A new boundary wall has been built at the old St. Senan’s Hospital graveyard at Killagoley, Enniscorthy.
By Dan Walsh
Remnants of a fallen stonewall boundary featured in the website WexfordLocal.com in July 2021 has been replaced by a newly built pre-stressed concrete wall that adds privacy and security to the ancient St. Senan’s Hospital graveyard at Killagoley, on the outskirts of Enniscorthy.
Members of the local community drew attention to the poor state of the graveyard to WexfordLocal.com and requested public awareness as they feared nothing may be done to preserve and respect the burial grounds and it would become forgotten and overgrown.
Those same proud community people have welcomed the work and complemented the replacement of the boundary wall and it is now hoped that the graveyard will be protected and, perhaps, the annual Patron will soon be restored on the site.
Nobody knows the numbers buried there and nobody knows their names! Some small white crosses were placed by a boundary wall, and a larger cross stood in the middle. But there are no names and nothing to mark individual graves.
The cemetery at St Senan’s was in use until the 1940s and became operational shortly after the asylum was opened in 1868. It is unknown how many people were buried there.
Those laid to their eternal rest from St Senan’s Psychiatric Hospital were remembered by staff and patients, and for about 30 years or so a Patron had been held at the cemetery each summer.
St. Senan’s Hospital closed in 2013, some medical services continued there until 2015, and late in 2017 site and land were bought for development by a consortium of local business interests.
The burial grounds is located just outside the walls of the St. Senan’s lands beside a public road between Gimont Avenue and Salville and public access is open.
St. Senan’s Hospital graveyard in July 2021 when featured in WexfordLocal.com
A female was arrested and charged with theft and handling stolen property after Gardaí recovered €3,000 worth of property under ‘Operation Thor’ as part of an ongoing investigation into organised thefts across Co. Wexford.
GOREY GARDA STATION (File Pic).
Gardaí from the Detective and Uniform Units in Gorey recently conducted a search under warrant of an address in the town. During the search, property valued at over €3,000 was recovered, this property is suspected to have been stolen from retail businesses across Wexford.
One female was arrested and detained under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. She was later charged with the offence of theft and handling stolen property. She was detained in custody to appear at the District Court.
Coastal matters were raised at last Tuesday’s monthly meeting of Gorey-Kilmuckridge Municipal District Council where members were keen to be fully prepared for the tourism season. A range of relevant topics were aired in the Chamber.
CLLR MARY FARELL
Cllr Mary Farrell had questions about the beach and dune restoration programme at Morriscastle. She said the boardwalk needs a clean up and raised concerns about fly-tipping. “People are randomly dumping. I was told of four mattresses dumped in one area this morning. The countryside is not given to dumping,” she claimed.
Cathaoirleach Cllr Pip Breen agreed with Cllr Farrell and recalled seeing twenty 6-inch blocks (40ks in weight) dumped where someone had knocked down a ditch. He felt it was time for ‘naming and shaming’ the culprits through the courts.
District Manager Philip Knight said CCTV had been installed and he recalled a situation where someone had torn the name and address from an envelope and thrown it away at a location between Gorey and Wexford.
BALLYCONNIGAR BEACH (File Pic)
Cllr Oliver Walsh said the replacement of Balyconnigar Bridge was badly needed. It had been washed away in the floods. Cllr Walsh said the damage at Ballyconnigar cut off the walkway to Raven Point on the south side and Kilmicheal on the northern end. “It is important to get the coastal path rectified as it is a great benefit, but people can’t get past Ballyconnigar at this time of the year.” He felt the Council might get working on a long-term solution.
Cllrs Joe Sullivan and Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin referred to the toilets at Ballymoney. Cllr Ó Súilleabháin requested the toilets be “open full-time” and noted that even in the off-season the location is quite busy.
Cllr Sullivan also asked that the Ballymoney beach parking situation be looked at and Cllr Anthony Donohoe agreed. He said North Wexford have great beaches but every summer there are parking problems on approach roads and a danger that emergency vehicles may not be able to get through if there were a serious incident.
Cllr Donohoe suggested that car parks be provided, like in Brittas Bay, “with an entry fee of a euro to park.” Cllr Donal Kenny agreed and added that “a couple of euro for parking charges could be got from visitors.”
Cllr Diarmuid Devereux alluded to the cost of car parks and the limited number of days in use and suggested that private landowners could be involved. Cllr Breen said that private lands had been used last year at Morriscastle and Cahore and the arrangement worked well. Cllr Joe Sullivan pointed out that the coastal area is heavily populated during the summer months.
It was confirmed at last Tuesday’s monthly meeting of Gorey-Kilmuckridge Municipal District Council that the ruins of St. Waleran’s House at Ballytegan, on the outskirts of Gorey, and the associated out-buildings have been demolished.
St. Waleran’s was destroyed in an outbreak of fire in June 2018 and the site of the ruins on 75 acres of zoned lands at Ballytegan was later acquired through NAMA by Wexford County Council.
Facing north, the architectural description of St. Waleran’s describes “A five-bay, two-storey, plus basement, plastered house, built 1868, with a hallow-pitched, shallow-eaved, hipped roof and four plain chimney stacks.”
ST. WALERAN’S HOUSE in its former glory. (Pic; National Inventory of Architectural Heritage).
HISTORY OF ST. WALERAN’S HOUSE The original building situated in Ballytegan dates before 1824 when it was first occupied by Colonel Loftus Owen. Renowned Dublin based architect John McGurdy redesigned and modernised the house for Isabella (née Newcombe) and Lieutenant General John Christopher Guise in 1868.
Isabella leased St Waleran’s and surrounding land to Patrick Walsh in 1901, after the death of her husband Major Guise in 1895, and then to Eliza Valentine in 1911. Other occupants included District Justice John Fahy, Patsy McCartan, Molloy’s and Gorey Educate Together. St Waleran’s House was reconstructed for Lieutenant General John Christopher Guise by architect John McGurdy of Leinster Street, Dublin.
Major Guise was a British Army officer and English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Major Guise won a Victoria Cross saving a captain with the aid of a Sergeant Samuel Hill during the Indian Mutiny, specifically at Secundra Bagh Palace Lucknow, India. He died in February 1895, aged 68, there is a memorial to his memory in Christ Church, Gorey, and he is interred in the adjoining graveyard. After his death, his wife Isabella leased St Waleran’s House and surrounding lands to Patrick Walsh in 1901, followed by Eliza Valentine in 1911. It was recorded in the early 1900s in the Census that there was a total of 27 windows in St Waleran’s. Many of the windows were sealed up with concrete by Isabella due to ‘window tax’. In the 1940s, District Justice John Fahy and his wife moved into St Waleran’s. Mrs Fahy passed away in 1946.’ Afterwards Patsy McCartan moved into the house where he had a thriving timber business. After McCartan’s time in St Waleran’s, the Molloy Printing Group moved into the premises. They had a contract with Calor Gas where they spray painted and designed majority of their gas products. Molloy’s sold the premises for €5 million in 2006 to Damien Stapleton, who leased it to Gorey Educate Together. The school vacated the premises in 2008 when they moved to Kilnahue Lane, off the Carnew Road. St Waleran’s House was vacant when it was destroyed by an outbreak of fire in June 11th 2018, leaving nothing but a shell.
The smoking ruins of ST. WALERAN’S following the devastating fire in June 2018. (File Pic)
Arklow RNLI came to the aid of two people on Monday following a call out request at 3.45pm from the Irish Coast Guard to assist a vessel which had lost propulsion some miles south of Arklow.
In fair seas with a light easterly breeze, the all-weather Trent class lifeboat made its way to the reported position and was on scene a short time later.
A crew transfer vessel from the local offshore windfarm also went to render assistance.
Once on scene, it was confirmed the casualty vessel with two people aboard had suffered engine failure.
A tow line was set up and the casualty vessel was towed back to the nearest safe port at Arklow where all hands came ashore safely.
A male pedestrian in his 80s has died following a road traffic collision involving a car at Knockavilla, New Ross, around 7.30pm yesterday.
He was taken to University Hospital Waterford, where he later died. No other injuries were reported in the incident.
The road is closed for a technical examination and local diversions are in place.
Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses, particularly any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling in the Knockavilla area or in the Ring Road area of New Ross between 7.15pm and 7.30pm yesterday.
Contact New Ross Garda Station on 051 426030, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
Due to a lack of resources at Wexford County Council the members of Gorey-Kilmuckridge Municipal District Council, at yesterday’s (Tuesday) March meeting, unanimously agreed to a three-year time frame extension to the Gorey Local Area Plan.
Senior Planner at Wexford County Council, Diarmuid Houston, addressing the meeting in Gorey Chamber via zoom, asked the members to consider extending the current Gorey Local Area Plan under the current County Development Plan. He promised “to make sure the Plan is consistent” and assured there is no change to zoning. “Everything would stay the same. I know this is not the best news, but it is the best for the town,” he added.
Planner Deirdre Kearns, also appearing via zoom, said the Gorey Plan is consistent with the County Development Plan. “You can vary or revoke the Plan at any time if an issue arose, but the fear is that the Plan would expire and there would be no plan for Gorey,” she concluded.
CLLR JOE SULLIVANCLLR ANTHONY DONOHOE
Ms Kearns felt that “three years would be realistic” and Cathaoirleach Cllr Pip Breen was in the process of confirming that he “would be happy to accept the request” when Cllr Anthony Donohoe questioned the statement “revoke the Plan” and he asked what goes in its place? Ms Kearns answered that to revoke the Plan – there would be no Plan – and a new Plan would have to be prepared.
Cllr Joe Sullivan said a lot of work was going on in Gorey and there was extended pressure on projects undertaken. He formally proposed that the Gorey Local Area Plan be extended for three years in compliance with the County Development Plan.
Cllr Donohoe seconded Cllr Sullivan’s proposal “if the planners were open to the zoning issues.” There were no dissenting voices. Mr Houston thanked the members for promptly complying with his request in such a brief amount of time.
The death has occurred of Nicholas ‘Nicky’ Furlong, (93), Drinagh, Wexford, who enjoyed a distinguished career as an author, historian, playwright, lecturer and journalist, to name a few of his lifetime’s involvement.
NICHOLAS FURLONG
Born in 1929, and an only son, Nicky grew up on his family’s farm at Mulgannon and Kellystown, Drinagh, with his father also owning a pub on Wexford’s Main Street, where the stories he heard and the many characters he met during the 1950s, 60s and 70s, inspired much of his later writings as a newspaper columnist, author of many books, and playwright and scriptwriter for radio and television.
Amongst his achievements were 19 books including the ‘County Wexford in the Rare Oul’ Times’ series. Nicky himself was immortalised as the subject of ‘The Wexford Man – Essays in honour of Nicky Furlong’ edited by Bernard Browne and published by Geography Publications in 2007.
His writing career started as a freelance journalist in the late 1950s. He became a columnist with the People Newspaper Group under the pen name Pat O’Leary, a weekly column that was hugely popular. In 1995, he became a weekly contributor to the former Echo Newspaper Group, writing the Furlong at Large column.
He was also a columnist with The Irish Press and Irish Farmers Journal and a contributor to Biatas, the Journal of Irish Sugar Company. He wrote three plays on the Irish revolution directed by the great Tomás Mac Anna of the Abbey Theatre in the 1960s. He wrote television scripts for Hall’s Pictorial Weekly with Frank Hall on RTE television.
Nicky was renowned as an historian and he wrote, lectured and broadcast on all aspects of the 1798 Rebellion and was prominent in the organising of commemorative events in 1998 – the bicentenary of the Rising.
Nicky Furlong’s contribution to the preservation and promotion of Wexford’s history, heritage and existence is immeasurable. Thanks for the memories, Nicky; and we are all so grateful that the writings of a legend will live forever in the archive and the libraries and in the homes of so many families across the world.
AUDIO ADDITION; NICKY FURLONG talking to DAN WALSH at the New Year’s Day launch of 1798-1998 at Enniscorthy (Dan Walsh Audio Archive)
FAMILY NOTICE; Furlong Nicholas (Nicky) – (Drinagh, Co. Wexford), March 21, 2022, beloved husband of the late Mairead and brother of Ina; sadly missed by his sister, nephew Patrick, nieces Blaithin, and Trudy, grand-nephews, grand-nieces, nephews-in-law, nieces- in-law, relatives and friends. Rest in Peace
Reposing in Mulligan’s Funeral Home, The Faythe, Wexford on Thursday from 6 o’clock until 9 o’clock. Removal from the Funeral Home on Friday at 10.15 am to St. Martin’s Church, Piercestown for Funeral Mass at 11am. Burial afterwards in Piercestown Cemetery.
Irish Water working in partnership with Wexford County Council has notified consumers that following the completion of remedial works on this supply and receipt of satisfactory monitoring results, the boil water notice which has been in place for the Wexford Town Public Water Scheme since March 11th is now lifted with immediate effect.
This decision follows consultation undertaken with the Health Service Executive.
All consumers on the Wexford Town Public Water Supply Scheme can now resume normal use of the water supply for drinking, food preparation and brushing teeth.
Irish Water and the Wexford County Council – Health Service Executive Water Local Liaison Group will continue to meet and review ongoing process control, monitoring and testing of the drinking water supply.
Irish Water and Wexford County Council acknowledge the patience, co-operation and assistance of the general public during the period of the boil water notice and greatly regrets any inconvenience caused to householders and the business community.
The Irish Water Customer Contact Centre (1800 278 278) is available to answer customer queries in relation to the lifting of this notice. Further information is available on our website at www.water.ie.
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