Glanbia acquires full ownership

By Dan Walsh

Glanbia Co-operative Society Limited (“Glanbia Co-op”) has last Friday (April 1st) confirmed the completion of the transaction to acquire full ownership of Glanbia Ireland DAC.

This follows the overwhelming approval of the proposed transaction by Glanbia Co-op shareholders at a Special General Meeting on December 17th 2021.

Glanbia Ireland previously operated as a strategic joint venture, 60% owned by Glanbia Co-op and 40% owned by Glanbia plc.

Ireland’s leading dairy processor, Glanbia Ireland, is a €2 billion, integrated agri-food and nutrition business, with world-class dairy and grain processing assets and an award-winning portfolio of brands including Avonmore, Kilmeaden and GAIN Animal Nutrition.

John Murphy, Glanbia Co-op Chairman. Picture Dylan Vaughan.

John Murphy, Chairman of Glanbia Co-op, said: “I am very pleased to confirm to Glanbia Co-op members that we have successfully completed our acquisition. Last December, our members voted overwhelmingly in favour of taking 100% ownership of the world-class processing assets closest to our farmers’ interests. The new ownership model will support Glanbia Co-op’s ambitions to build one of Europe’s leading Co-ops, with greater flexibility to support members, pursue new opportunities and add value to our farmers’ high quality milk and grain through innovation.”

Jim Bergin, Chief Executive of Glanbia Co-op said; “We are very ambitious for this great business and are excited by the opportunities presented by this natural evolution to a pure Co-op model, with the added dimension of our investment fund.  

“Our excellent workforce and leadership team are looking forward to launching our new identity, logo and branding later this year. I believe that this is an exciting opportunity to position our Co-op strongly as a new ambitious organisation on global markets.”

Rob James wins Scottish Grand National

By Dan Walsh

Leading amateur jockey Rob James from Killanne rode the winner of the Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr today on Win My Wings (13/2 co-fav) by seven lengths for Welsh trainer Christian Williams.

ROB JAMES rode the winner of the Scottish Grand National today.

James has ridden 264 winners in point-to-points and some races on the track, but his only previous winner in Britain was aboard Milan Native for Gordon Elliott in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Amateur Steeplechase at the 2020 Cheltenham Festival.

He is one of the leading amateur riders and part of the highly successful Colin Bowe team at Kiltealy, and in recent seasons has begun training at nearby Tomona. He was able to take advantage of a claim designed for inexperienced riders who had ridden fewer than 20 winners because his successes had not come under rules. This was his 13th success.

ITV Racing presenter Mick Fitzgerald, a former jockey whose father was from The Harrow, said afterwards: “For Rob James the jockey, it’s a huge day for him. It’s a real compliment to his ability. It’s like stealing. Him having a seven-pound claim is like theft because he’s so experienced. He was looking around for dangers going to the last.”

The last Wexford-born jockey to win the Scottish Grand National was P.J. McDonald, Taghmon, on Hot Weld (2007) trained by the late Ferdy Murphy, Forrestalstown, Clonroche, who had a great record with three wins in the race and also won it with Paris Pike (2000) and Joe’s Edge (2005) while training in England.

Good day for locals at Wexford races

By Dan Walsh at Bettyville Park

The first evening meeting of the season took place at Bettyville Park where a seven-race card yielded a few local winners and a double success for jockey Danny Mullins.

Sadie’s Pride (12/1) sprinted up the straight in impressive style to take the Tomcoole Farm Ltd Maiden hurdle by five and a half lengths under a confident ride from amateur jockey James Kenny, trained by his father, Liam Kenny at Craanford for well-known Gorey businessman Paddy Redmond.

Owners Jonathan and Janice Deacon from Clonmore House, Bree, enjoyed their first winner with Outback Flyer (7/2) coming home four and three-quarter lengths to the good in the Slaney River Mare’s Maiden Hurdle. The home-bred bay mare carried jockey Kevin Sexton to victory in the ‘purple and pink spots’ once familiar on horses owned by the late Godfrey Deacon, who was well-known in racing and hunting circles.

Afterwards winning trainer Peter Fahey said; “I’m delighted for the owners Johnny and Janice (Deacon) who are local and it’s the first horse they have had with me. She’ll stay tipping away. She struggled during the winter and may find easier targets over the summer. She’s big enough to jump a fence as well.”

Charlie O’Dwyer, son of former Cheltenham Gold Cup winning jockey turned trainer Conor O’Dwyer, who was born a few fields from Bettyville Park, enjoyed his first Wexford winner aboard R’evelyn Pleasure (3/1) in the Arctic Tack Stud Veterans Handicap Chase.

Jockey Danny Mullins recorded an almost 33/1 double on Recite A Prayer (11/4) for his uncle, champion trainer Willie Mullins in the novice chase and followed up with Fox Watch (8/1) for his father, Tony Mullins, in division two of the Ire Wel Pallets Ltd Handicap Chase.

The Tote aggregate was €120,651.71, slightly higher than last year’s figure of €118,638. The next race meting at Bettyville Park takes place on Saturday, May 24th.

No HGV parking while waiting for the ferry!

By Dan Walsh

Rosslare Europort has issued an information statement requesting truck drivers and hauliers not to park their vehicles in neighbouring villages while waiting for access to Rosslare Europort for ferry departure deadlines.

“The villages (presumably a reference to Kilrane and Tagoat) are residential and are not available for parking day or not,” says the information leaflet that is endorsed by TFI (Transport for Ireland) and Iarnród Éireann.

It is suggested that drivers waiting for a ferry departure should park their vehicle at Gorey Service Station, Ballyellin, on the M11, or at Barntown Service Station, at Larkin’s Cross near Wexford town!

In further news, Cllr Ger Carthy has announced works that are about to commence or be completed within the next two weeks. They include;

Installation of water filled barriers between the entrance to Murphy’s Supermarket and St Marys Terrace.

Installation of the double yellow lines on the opposite side of the road from St. Marys Terrace. Burning off existing road markings on Kilrane Link Road and paint the new line marking to facilitate temporary HGV parking x 20.
Temporary corriboard signs will be erected to alert HGV’s that there is parking available on the link road. These will be made permanent as time allows. Further works in addition to those above will also be carried out with outline details of these works becoming available in the coming days.

Local concerns about wind turbines?

Wind turbines working near Castledockrell this afternoon..
AUDIO ADDITION ; The sound of working wind turbines near Castledockrell at 4pm today. Recording taken from the public road.

By Dan Walsh at Wexford Council Chamber

A notice of motion by Cllr John Fleming regards the Draft Plan and wind turbines was eventually withdrawn following a discussion at Monday’s March meeting of Wexford County Council at Carriglawn.

Cllr Fleming was calling to amend Section 5.7 of Volume 10 energy contained in the Draft Plan to require that wind turbines be located a minimum of 400-metres from an adjoining landholding and a minimum of six times the tip height of the wind turbine or 900-metres, whichever is the greater, from a residential property.

Cllr Fleming cited the reason being; “To minimise impacts on adjoining residences and properties in the interest of proper planning and development of the area.” He alluded to wind turbines along the River Boro and felt they should be offshore,” while Cllr Bridín Murphy agreed, she queried the effect on existing wind farms!

Executive County Planning Officer Diarmuid Houston said he was “totally against the motion” and if the wording was to end up in the County Development Plan it would lead to delays and “it is completely contrary to the national policy and would have a legal impact on existing wind farms even after public display.”

Cllr Pat Barden said Cllr Fleming lived in the same area and he referred to a 180ft high tower and one hundred people living in that area.

Cllr Barden mentioned the effects on families, and children with autism needed safeguarding. Cllr Mary Farrell said; “we need to be clear regards our future” and she questioned evidence of children living with autism. She outlined a situation known to her where a mother said; “her child lives in the calm of the turbines.”

Cllr Jacker Owens pointed out the importance of good mental health and offered support for the motion.

Cllr Jim Codd said wind turbines at sea impacted on fishers. “They would have a sizeable portion of their fishing grounds taken away as trawlers do not travel where there are turbines.”

Cllr Davy Hynes added that if “the vote ends up NOT legal it would be better to defer the motion until we get more information,” and Cllr John Hegarty believed changes could have lengthy considerations for the County Development Plan.

Cllr Oliver Walsh expressed concerns about the implications for existing wind farms where people were perfectly happy to live.

Cllr Fleming asked Mr Houston about the possible delays in dealing with the Plan and said he did not want a lengthy delay, and he was happy to withdraw the motion. Mr Houston indicated that there would be power at the end of the process to gain advice on the environmental side of things.

Wexford students compete for Art Awards

By Dan Walsh

Following in the footsteps of leading Irish artists who took part during their early lives – renowned figures such as Graham Knuttel, Robert Ballagh, Dorothy Cross and Bernadette Madden – young artists who submitted entries to this year’s Texaco Children’s Art Competition, including a number from Co. Wexford, are currently having their works evaluated as the judging process gets underway.

Pictured is adjudicator, Seán Kissane, holding two of the entries received from Co. Wexford this year – a work entitled ‘Let’s face it’ (left) by a pupil from Bunclody Vocational College, and another entitled ‘Outside Dancing’, by a pupil from St. Anne’s National School, Rathangan.

Winners in the seven age categories, including one exclusively for artworks by young artists with special needs, will be announced in late May.

Currently in its 68th year, the Texaco Children’s Art Competition is the longest-running art sponsorship in Ireland. First held in 1955, it is hosted by Valero Energy (Ireland) limited – the company that markets fuel in Ireland under the Texaco brand. 

63rd Kilmuckridge Drama Festival

The cast of Kilmuckridge Drama Group in this scene from The Playboy of the Western World in Carnew recently.

By Dan Walsh

The stage is set for the 63rd Kilmuckridge Drama Festival which opens on Friday night in the KMH (Kilmuckridge Memorial Hall) and runs for seven nights. The adjudicator is Pauline Byrne and curtains up each night at 8pm.

THE LINE UP IS AS FOLLOWS; Friday, April 1st – OPEN SECTION- Ballycogley Players Drama Group presents The Beacon by Nancy Harris.

Saturday, April 2nd – CONFINED SECTION – Kilmuckridge Drama Group presents The Playboy of the Westren World by John Millingon Synge. Note; It looks like this play will be in the All-Ireland finals later in the month, so take note!

Sunday, April 3rd – CONFINED SECTION – Skibbereen Theatre Society presents Brighton by Jim Nolan.

Tuesday, April 5th – OPEN SECTION – Brideview Drama Group presents The Beauty Queen of Leenane by Martin McDonagh.

Thursday, April 7th – OPEN SECTION – Kilrush Drama Group presents Class by Iseult Golden and David Horan.

Friday, April 8th – CONFINED SECTION – Camross Drama Group presents The Kings of the Kilburn High Road by Jimmy Murphy.

Saturday, April 9th – OPEN SECTION – Kilmeen Drama Group presents Conversations of a Homecoming by Tom Murphy.

Tickets available at the door. Season Tickets €50, Adults €12, Children €5. Visit the website kilmuckridgedramafestival.com for a synopsis of the plays.

Two new Canons installed

The Reverends Ian Cruikshank and Nicola Halford were installed as Chancellor and Treasurer, respectively, at a ceremony in St. Edan’s Cathedral, Ferns, last Sunday.

CANON NICOLA HALFORD

Dean Paul Mooney installed both Canons to fill these dignities in the Cathedral Chapter in Ferns in the presence of Bishop Michael Burrows, diocesan clergy and laity.
Unfortunately, Canon Ian Cruikshank was unable to attend the service and so he was installed by proxy with the Reverend Margaret Sykes standing in for him on the occasion.

Bishop Michael Burrows spoke a few words about the appropriateness of gathering in the Ferns diocese “Mother Church” on Mothering Sunday and paid tribute to the two new Canons who were installed.
Canon Nicola Halford said she was honoured to have been asked to join the chapter in Ferns and looks forward to a close relationship with St. Edan’s Cathedral and the other members of the chapter. The Ferns diocesan choir was gathered by the Reverend Leslie Crampton and provided wonderful singing on the evening.

Refugees at Rosslare Harbour

By Dan Walsh

Chief Executive Officer Tom Enright gave an update on refugees arriving at Rosslare Harbour and he gave the figure at 1,171 with more expected on two sailings into the port later in the week. “One-third of those arriving are under 18 years old,” he told Monday’s monthly meeting of Wexford County Council.

Mr Enright said Rosslare could be accepting up to 200 per sailing at the volunteer centre with support from the State agencies. He added that the OPW has started temporary accommodation (large marquee) for all parts of the country.

TOM ENRIGHT, CEO Wexford County Council

He spoke about a Community Response Programme and the need for holiday homes and vacant hotel places. “We are facing a challenge from Easter and accommodation is critical,” he added.

He said the real work will be in education, transport and language supports as they settle into the county. “This crisis is not going to be sorted quickly,” concluded Mr Enright who promised to continue to brief the members on the situation.

Cllr Ger Carty outlined the logistics of the humanitarian efforts and he thanked Rosslare Harbour Friends of Ukraine (RHFU) for their volunteerism and any assistance is welcome. “They have already spent €14,000 over 14 days,” he concluded. There was also support for RHFU volunteers from Cllr George Lawlor and other members.

Ballindaggin water is good again!

Dan Walsh at Wexford Council Chamber

On March 9th WexfordLocal.com were informed by Irish Water that heavy rainfall led to the deterioration in water quality at the water treatment plant in Ballindaggin and a Boil Water Notice was issued with immediate effect to protect the health of 193 consumers. No more was heard!

At Monday’s meeting of Wexford County Council Cllr Cathal Byrne asked for “an update on the Ballindaggin Boil Water Notice issued 18 days ago” and was told by Director of Services, Eamonn Hore, that “the Boil Water Notice for Ballindaggin expired six days ago (March 22nd).”