WexfordLocal.com

Tributes paid to Ballythomas victim

By Dan Walsh

The brave Wexford County Council worker who lost his life in a freak accident at Ballythomas, on the Wexford-Wicklow border last Friday has been named locally as William ‘Billy’ Kinsella, (59), from Ballythomas Hill. Many tributes have been paid.

Billy and his work colleague Jimmy Stanley were clearing debris and fallen trees following Storm Eunice in the Ballythomas area. It is believed that the men were using a chain saw to cut up fallen trees when, unexpectedly, another tree fell over onto the road fatally injuring Mr Kinsella. The incident occurred within a mile of his residence which makes the tragedy even more poignant.

Emergency services were quickly dispatched, but sadly, Mr Kinsella was pronounced dead at the scene. The Health and Safety Authority and An Garda Siochána are carrying out separate investigations into the incident.

North Wexford and the County Council community has been traumatised by events and sympathy is been extended to his family and friends.

FAMILY NOTICE; Beloved husband of Rita and loving father of Conor, son of the late Paddy and Bridie, brother of Patrick, Elizabeth, Shay, Sean and Aileen. Deeply regretted by his loving wife and son, his brothers and sisters, aunts, brothers-in-law, nephews, nieces, cousins, grandnephews, grandnieces, extended family, relatives, neighbours, work colleagues and friends. May He Rest In Peace.

Reposing at his home on Tuesday from 4pm to 8pm. Funeral arriving to The Church of Our Lady of the Nativity, Ballyfad, on Wednesday for Funeral Mass at 3 p.m. followed by Burial in the adjoining cemetery.

New railway bridge at Rosslare Strand

**The railway bridge at Station Road, Rosslare Strand, is soon to be replaced by a modern 6-metre carriageway.**

By Dan Walsh

The single lane bridge over the Dublin-Rosslare Harbour railway line at Rosslare Strand is to be demolished in the coming months and replaced by a 6-metre road carriageway.

This announcement was made by Cllr Ger Carthy today who told WexfordLocal.com; I’m delighted to announce that railway bridge on the Station Road, Rosslare Strand, will be demolished in the coming months. It will be replaced by a 6-metre-wide road carriageway with a footpath and cycle access for safe movement of the local community and tourists alike.

This project is a substantial investment by Iarnrod Eireann and Wexford County Council, believed to cost in the region of €0.5 million and will address the road safety issues on that bridge dating back decades.

It is a hump-backed single lane bridge with no clear vision of oncoming traffic until the summit is reached, but has served the community since the 1870’s.

Cllr Carthy added; “We’re working hard on a similar solution to Mauritiustown Bridge in Rosslare. That is a work in progress.” That project would be further down the line!

Battle of the elements at Ballycrystal

By Dan Walsh

The wet and windy conditions at Ballycrystal today were tough going but some close finishes and competitive racing was the order of the afternoon.

Colin Bowe sent out a 1-2 in the opening maiden race for four-year-olds with the hot favourite Sleeping Satelitte and Barry O’Neill getting home two lengths ahead of the appropriately named Puddlesinthepark with Jimmy Kenny up.

The five- and six-year-old maiden race ended in a hard-fought finish with Rock The Hill in the colours of the Coolbawn Stables Partnership scoring for local handler Robert Tector, saddling his third winner of the present season and the 25^th career winner for Mayglass rider Jack Hendrick. Three-quarters of a length separated Rock The Hill from Some Woman taking the runner up spot for the Donnchadh Doyle-Rob James team.

Eoin Middleton from Birr had his first winner on the family owned Well P in the five-year-old maiden geldings’ race. The successful handler was Mary Ellen Doyle from Coolgarrow Lane, Enniscorthy.

The Winner of One race went to Waterford when the Vincent Halley trained Mizuma came home three quarters of a length ahead of the field to record a double on the day for champion rider Barry O’Neill.

Delgany rider Brian Lawless won the last two races to bring his career total to 35, ten of them this season. He won the mares open race on Ifeoinly for Limerick handler Eoin McCarthy (two and a half lengths the verdict) and was aboard Red Ford Lad in the colours of the Glen of the Downs Syndicate and trained by his father, Gerard, who was first time out and won by four lengths in the maiden race for six-year-olds and over.

Rosslare Road closed following crash

By Dan Walsh

The N25 Rosslare Road south of Ashfield Cross roundabout is closed to traffic tonight following a two-vehicle road traffic collision earlier this evening.

The collision involved a car and a truck and emergency services were alerted just before 6.30pm. Ambulance paramedics, fire service crews and An Garda Siochána rushed to the scene.

A female driver suffered serious injuries while the truck driver was uninjured. Both casualties were taken to Wexford General Hospital.

Traffic is being diverted between Killinick and Tagoat to allow a forensic examination of the scene.

Tree falls on van at Murntown

By Dan Walsh

This morning a driver had a lucky escape when a tree fell from a ditch onto the commercial vehicle he was driving at Murntown in south Wexford in windy conditions during Storm Eunice.

Emergency services were quickly on the scene, but it took almost an hour to free the man who was trapped in his vehicle.

He was treated at the scene by paramedics before taken to Wexford General Hospital for further treatment for his injuries which are described as “not life -threatening.”

Alternative water supply in Wexford town

By Dan Walsh

In a statement issued this evening Irish Water working in partnership with Wexford County Council is advising customers who are supplied by the Newtown Water Treatment Plant that power outages continue to cause supply interruptions in certain parts of Wexford town.

An alternative water supply is available at the following locations; Coolcotts Lane, Clonard Church, Barntown Church and St Joseph’s Community Centre. The areas affected in the town are Carricklawn, Hill St, Georges St, Rowe St, Wygram, Ard Carmen, Coolcotts, Barntown, Clonard, Whitemills and Townparks.”

Speaking about the supply interruptions, Irish Water’s Regional Operations Lead, Ronan Walsh said; “The power outage continues to delay the return of normal water supply and means that production at the Newtown Water Treatment Plant has stopped and with water levels being so low, we are not producing adequate supply to meet the demand.

“We expected power to be restored by this afternoon, but we may still have ongoing issues as the reservoir levels are quite low. Our colleagues in Wexford County Council will be providing an alternative water supply and this water must be boiled when brought home as a precautionary measure. We thank customers for their patience and cooperation as we work to resolve the issues as quickly and as safely as we can.”

Irish Water understands the inconvenience water supply interruptions can cause and thanks customers for their patience while we work to restore normal supply to 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.

Power failure in Bunclody

By Dan Walsh

A power failure is impacting the Water Treatment Plant in Bunclody, however, there are no supply interruptions in the area and the ESB has an estimated power restoration this afternoon.

Irish Water’s Regional Operations Lead, Ronan Walsh said; There are no customers without water in Bunclody at the moment so we would expect less interruption there. We thank customers for their patience and co-operation as we work to resolve the issues as quickly and as safely as we can.”

Irish Water understands the inconvenience when a burst occurs and thanks customers for their patience while we work to restore normal supply to 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.

Workplace death at Ballythomas

By Dan Walsh

An employee of Wexford County Council has been fatally injured while attending the scene of a fallen tree caused by Storm Eunice at Ballythomas in North Wexford. The accident occurred around mid-day.

In a statement issued by Wexford County Council; “It is with deep regret and sadness that Wexford County Council confirms that one of our employees was fatally injured earlier today in a workplace accident. The accident occurred as the employee attended the scene of a fallen tree in the North Wexford area. Our thoughts and prayers are with the employee’s family, work colleagues and friends at this very difficult time.”

The employee’s family, An Garda Síochána and the Health and Safety Authority have been informed.

Wexford town water supply interruption

By Dan Walsh

Irish Water customers in Wexford Town who are supplied by the Newtown Water Treatment Plant are experiencing power outages causing supply interruptions in certain parts of Wexford Town. Customers in the Rowe Street, Hill Street and George’s Street areas of Wexford town are currently experiencing loss of supply or pressure issues. An estimated restoration time of 3pm is identified for a return of power with water supply returning in the hours following.

Irish Water’s Regional Operations Lead, Ronan Walsh said; “We had been monitoring Newtown Water Treatment Plant all week as the reservoir levels were quite low, but Storm Eunice has exacerbated the issues. The power outage means that production at the plant has stopped and with water levels being so low, we are not producing adequate supply to meet the demand. We expect power to be restored by 3pm but we may still have ongoing issues as the reservoir levels are quite low.

Kilrush Drama back on the stage

By Dan Walsh

Kilrush Drama Group is back on stage presenting the amateur premiere of Class by Iseult Golden and David Horan as their 2022 festival production and the play will be performed in St. Brigid’s Hall, Carnew on this Friday and Saturday, February 18^th and 19^th, and again next Thursday and Friday, March 3^rd and 4^th, commencing at 8pm.

Twice All-Ireland winning Director, Pat Whelan is Director for Class. Pat directed the Kilrush 2020 play The Salvage Shop which had been performing very well on the 2020 circuit before it was abandoned due to Covid. Michael Dunbar is playing the role of Brian Costello. Joining Michael in the cast is Catherine Stafford who along with Michael was in The Salvage Shop in 2020 and played the role of Valerie in the Weir. Catherine is playing Donna and James Whelan in the role of Ray McCafferty (the teacher) in Class.

Following their Carnew performances the cast and crew of Class will go on to take part in the Open Section of the All-Ireland Drama circuit, travelling to festivals in Castleblaney, Gorey, Kilmuckridge, Portadown, West Waterford, New Ross, Wexford and Carnew. Stage Manager, Tommy Kavanagh is overseeing the stage construction crew who are building the set. Sound for the play will be provided by Paddy Byrne, Dougie Doyle Nick Whelan and Kevin McEvoy is once again the lighting engineer.

For the first time ever Kilrush Drama Group will have two plays taking part on the Festival Circuit, with Mick Byrne directing Little Gem, a comedy by Elaine Murphy.

Little Gem is a heart-warming comedy about love, sex, birth, death and salsa classes with Amber, played by Caitlin Clauson, Lorraine played by Margaret Nolan and Kay played by Mary Earle, three generations of North Dublin women who find themselves suddenly facing the unexpected. All three actresses have acted many times with Kilrush both at home and on the festival circuit. Welcome Mary Earle back on the circuit, as she was an award-winning actress who has not taken part for many years.

For one night only the play will be staged in St. Brigid’s Hall, Carnew on Sunday February 27^th commencing at 8pm. (NB. Adult content with explicit sexual references.) The play will then be travelling the country on the festival circuit, partaking in the Confined section of the All-Ireland Drama.