WexfordLocal.com

€897,416 for Co. Wexford outdoor projects

By Dan Walsh

Wexford County Council is to receive €897,416 for three outdoor recreation projects in Co. Wexford. The funding goes to Coolgreany, Carne and Wellingtonbridge.

€197,416 has been approved for the installation of a footpath from Coolgreany village to the entrance of Ballyfad Woods in North Wexford.

Chairman of Wexford County Council and member of Gorey-Kilmuckridge Municipal District Council welcomed the news. “This is a project I have worked tirelessly on for the past number of years. I would like to pay tribute to the Wexford County Council officials who supported this application and Dr Yvonne O’Byrne who prepared the application along with local man Sean Lenehan and the Road Safety Group in the area,” said Cllr Sullivan, who added; “I also wish to acknowledge the contribution of local Cllr Nicky Boland who was supportive of the project.”

Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin contacted WexfordLocal.com and said; “Great news for those who use the beautiful Ballyfad Woods, especially walkers from Coolgreany.

He suggested future funding for “the first 600 metres with a second round of funding in 2026 and hoped to complete the pathway on the approach to the woods.

“I have a particular love for Ballyfad Woods, and it’s essential that people can access them safely,” said Deputy Ó Súilleabháin, who added; “Huge credit to the Wexford County Council officials involved, including Rory O’Mahony. Also, Dr Yvonne O’Byrne, who prepared the application along with Seán Lenehan spearheading the local Road Safety Group in the area, the local community and local councillors,” concluded the Sinn Féin deputy for Wicklow-Wexford constituency.

€500,000 is provided for the construction of a roadside path from the Lobster Pot to Carne thus completing the link from Our Lady’s Island to Carne. Cllr Ger Carthy and Senator Cathal Byrne has welcomed this news.

€200,000 will be spent on the construction of a one-kilometre trail between Wellingtonbridge village and Little Sea Viewing area. Cllr Ger Carthy welcomed the news and he also welcomed the Coolgreany-Ballyfad funding.

During a visit to Clare Island in Co. Mayo, Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, has today (Monday, November 3^rd 2025) announced €16.5 million to deliver 63 projects nationwide through the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS).

Gorey teenager located safe and well

By Dan Walsh

UPDATE; November 7th 2025; Owen Kennedy (19) who was reported missing from Gorey, Co. Wexford since Saturday, 1st November 2025, has been located safe and well.

Gardaí would like to thank the media for their assistance. No further action is required.

Gardaí are seeking the public’s assistance in tracing the whereabouts of Owen Kennedy (19) who was reported missing from Gorey since Saturday, 1st November 2025.

Owen is described as being approximately 6 foot 1 inch in height, of slim build with brown hair and blue eyes.

When last seen Owen was wearing a dark-coloured tracksuit.

Gardaí and Owen’s family are concerned for his well-being.

Anyone with information on Owen’s whereabouts is asked to contact Gorey Garda Station on (053) 9421222, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.

It’s a wrap at the Opera 2025

**Curtains up at the 2025 Wexford Festival Opera**. (Pic; *Pádraig Grant*).

By Dan Walsh

The 74th Wexford Festival Opera came to a glorious close on Saturday night after 16 incredible days and nights.

Wexford Festival Opera asked WexfordLocal.com to reflect its appreciation. “A very special thank you to everyone who joined us; whether you came for one performance or immersed yourself in the full line-up, we hope you enjoyed every moment – and we hope we’ll see you again next year.

“We are so grateful to the supremely talented conductors, directors, singers, dancers, designers and musicians who gave everything to their craft, as well as to the dedicated staff, volunteers, and crew who worked tirelessly behind the scenes. Their enthusiasm and passion made each moment on stage – and beyond – truly unforgettable. Special thanks also to our funders, donors, friends and supporters who make the festival possible.

Now it is time to look forward to Wexford Festival Opera – the 75^th anniversary festival!

Next year’s 75th Anniversary Festival is an incredible milestone and a very special birthday for Wexford, and for our Wexford Festival Opera family all around the world. Taking place over 17 days from 15th October to 31st October, it is built around the theme The Best of: one for the head, one for the heart, one for fun.

Tickets go on sale for Friends of the Festival from 22 April and general booking opens 6 May.

Some operas planned for 2026 include The Rose of Castile (Michael William Balfe, 1857) which was the first opera in Wexford’s Theatre Royal in 1951, and another interesting production is The First Festival (Alberto Caruso with Libretto by Colm Tóibín, 2026)

We look forward to seeing you in Wexford in 2026 as we bring these legendary stories to the stage. More updates to come!

Robert Tector amongst the winners

By Dan Walsh

Robert Tector saddled Valtteri Its James (Finian Maguire up) in the maiden race for four-year-olds at Damma House, Kilkenny, today (Sunday) and enjoyed an eight lengths victory over Colin Bowe’s King Of Westeros (Bertie Finn).

Entering his seventh season as a handler at Coolbawn, Rathnure, Tector was saddling his 20^th career point-to-point success.

**ROBERT TECTOR in winning form at Kilkenny** (Pic; *WexfordLocal.com*)

Colin Bowe was compensated in the next race -the maiden race for five-year-old geldings – when Barry O’Neill won by ten lengths on Double Indemnity.

Rob James teamed up with Donnchadh Doyle to enjoy a ten lengths success with Catalani in the Winner of Two Race.

There was also racing at Rathcannon, Co. Limerick today (Sunday) where the four-year-old maiden race was won by newcomer Majestic Horizon by two lengths ridden by Sean (S.M.) O’Rourke beating The Gem State handled by Garry Murphy ridden by Shane (S.E.) O’Rourke from Horetown, Foulksmills. This was the third winner for Sean O’Rourke from Ballybeg, Ferns.

Saturday’s point-to-point took place at Lisronagh, Co. Tipperary, and just one Wexford winner when Midnight In Tokyo provided the Blackhall Stables Partnership and Killurin handler Paul Martin Pierce with a photo-finish success under rider Luke Murphy.

The verdict was a neck and the runner-up was Matthew Flynn O’Connor’s newcomer Sporting Gerard with Brian Lawless up in the maiden race for four-year-old geldings. A Wexford stables 1,2 there!

Wexford Hunt races will take place at Knockmullen House, New Ross, next Sunday, November 9^th. Entries close on Tuesday.

Proceeds from crime allocated to Enniscorthy funding

**ENNISCORTHY** (File Pic; *WexfordLocal.com*)

By Dan Walsh

Enniscorthy Community Alliance will receive over €142,000 from the Community Safety Fund, supporting 42 safety projects nationwide.

The Community Safety Fund returns crime proceeds seized by the CAB (Criminal Assets Bureau) and An Garda Siochana to local communities.

Minister for Housing, Local Development and the Environment, Enniscorthy’s James Browne TD has welcomed the news. “I am pleased to see a significant tranche of funding be allocated to Enniscorthy Community Alliance, who do brilliant work that we want to see continue in the local area. Their project entitled ‘Empowering Voices for Safer Communities’ is critical and has received €142,408.”

Enniscorthy Community Alliance is currently involved in many projects around the town such as The Shannon Way project and the refurbishment of the Captain Wafer Hall.

Minister Browne added; “The Community Safety Fund is an important and effective element in achieving stronger, safer communities. It ensures that the proceeds of crime seized by CAB and An Garda Síochána are re-invested back into communities to enhance safety and security in those communities.

It demonstrates that the efforts of our Gardaí and law enforcement bodies can not only disrupt and seize the proceeds of crime but can directly contribute to building stronger and safer communities.”

Plans for 1.7km pedestrian and cycle route

By Dan Walsh

Wexford County Council is developing a new scheme to improve road safety and enhance walking and cycling routes along Beechlawn and Clonard Avenue in Wexford Town.

The proposed scheme will comprise of the formalisation of pedestrian linkages and the provision of cycling and pedestrian infrastructure.

The scheme, funded by the National Transport Authority, will also include a number of pedestrian crossings and traffic calming measures.

The proposed scheme is approximately 1.7km in length and will connect with the Newtown Road Active Travel Scheme.

This pedestrian and cycle route will form a spine across the west side of Wexford Town and provide links to a number of schools in the area. It will also serve one of the main residential areas in the town.

In advance of the submission of a Part VIII Planning Application, a drop-in information session will take place on Thursday, November 6^th in County Hall, Carricklawn between 3pm and 7pm.

The proposed drawings will be on display and staff will be on hand to explain the design and answer any queries.

Man (58) from New Ross located

By Dan Walsh

UPDATE; Gerard (Gerrry) Lynch has been located safe and well.

Gardaí are seeking the public’s assistance in tracing the whereabouts of 58-year-old Gerard (Gerry) Lynch who is reported missing from his home in New Ross, since Monday 27th October 2025.

Gerard (Gerry) was last seen on Sunday at approximately 9.15am. Gerard (Gerry) is described as approximately 5 foot 9 inches in height, with a slim build, grey hair and green eyes. It is not known what Gerard (Gerry) was wearing when last seen.

Gerard (Gerry) is believed to have access to a 142DL-reg Nissan X-Trail car.

It is believed that Gerard (Gerry) may have travelled to the Arranmore Island area of Donegal, or to the Belfast area.

Gardaí and his family are concerned for his well-being.

Anyone with any information on Gerard’s (Gerry’s) whereabouts is asked to contact New Ross Garda Station on (051) 426030, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.

Fr Billy Swan to serve in dicastery

By Dan Walsh

**FR. BILLY SWAN** (Pic; *Diocese of Ferns*)

The Holy See, through the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Clergy, has asked Bishop Ger Nash of Ferns to assign Fr Billy Swan to serve in that dicastery for five years.

A dicastery is a department in the Roman Curia that assists the Pope in governing the Catholic Church worldwide.

The Dicastery for the Clergy oversees issues concerning diocesan priests and deacons, supporting Bishops to ensure effective pastoral ministry.

Bishop Ger has agreed to this request and Fr Billy has agreed to serve the mission of the Universal Church and to be at the service of the Holy Father.

A native of the parish of Glynn, Fr Billy Swan was ordained at St. Peter’s College, Wexford, on June 7^th 1998.

On behalf of all his colleagues and the people of Wexford Town and the Diocese of Ferns, Bishop Ger thanks him for his work over the past years in many different roles and wishes him every success in his new and important role. “We look forward to having him back with us again when his time of service to the Universal Church is completed,” said Bishop Nash.

Wexford weekend water repairs planned

By Dan Walsh

Uisce Éireann has issued a notice regarding a scheduled water outage that may affect customers in certain areas of Wexford Town and nearby regions over the weekend.

Customers in Carricklawn, Hill Street, Wygram, George’s Street, Rowe Street and surrounding areas may experience some disruption to their supply on Sunday, 2 November from 10am until 4pm.

The outage is necessary to facilitate critical water main repairs at the water treatment plant in Newtown and connection works in the area.

As part of these works, a section of aged water main from the 1950’s will be replaced with new pipe work, which will lead to a more resilient water supply for the community.

Uisce Éireann’s Padraig Lyng said; “We understand the inconvenience caused by an interruption to supply. These works are taking place out-of-hours on Sunday in an effort to minimise the impact to the wider community. We would like to thank our customers in advance for their patience and co-operation.”

Following the completion of the works, it can take two to three hours for the normal water supply to return as water refills the network, particularly for those properties on higher ground or at the end of the network.

Beautiful Blackwater keeps the ‘tidy’ title

**The R742 brings locals and visitors through the beautiful village of Blackwater every day.** Pic; *Blackwater Tidy Towns’*)

By Dan Walsh

Beautiful Blackwater has been Wexford’s tidiest town so many times that the records have been lost? Well, my research failed to get a total since they first dominated the title in the mid-1960s.

Blackwater retained the ‘Tidiest Town’ title in Wexford at last Friday’s Croke Park ceremony, earning 394 points -11 more than last year -thanks to the ongoing efforts of local volunteers. Amazing consistency and dedication rewarded.

The Adjudicator’s Report states; “It was a privilege to visit Blackwater for the second-round adjudication for the Supervalu Tidy Towns Competition 2025. What a superb village Blackwater is and it is evident there is a strong Tidy Towns team of members and volunteers caring for Blackwater.

“This was happening before my eyes on arrival, seeing the volunteers and village people who were out tidying, tending to and caring for the village streets and plantings. There were also holiday makers and visitors enjoying the uniqueness and charm that Blackwater has to offer.

“Blackwater is set in a natural beautiful location with surrounding small green hills and the pleasantness and the freshness of the sea air from the nearby beach.

“You are a highly motivated village, and this can also be seen with the signs and plaques that adorn the village with your past achievements.

“You get a lot of support from the County Council and other public bodies you work with, along with the various businesses within and connected to the village. As a community, you engage and partner with your school and with your transition year students, who by their participation, receive a wonderful education in aspects of Citizen Science and Environmental Awareness.

“You have unique heritage, traditional buildings and bridges that adorn your village and with a great effort by many people to keep them in good repair, whilst respecting their architecture. There are charming, thatched cottages and beautifully faced stone work on some of the homes in the village. Blackwater Lodge looks very appetising, and Saucer’s Bar looks very tempting with its eccentric colourful painting.

“The village is very tidy and well cared for. The recycling area is in good order with clean facilities in use, with the green roof an added feature. A discreet little information sign on this feature could be considered. However, some light littering in the recycling area was observed.

“The visit to Blackwater was very pleasant and enjoyable. As an organisation you are doing magnificent work for Blackwater maintaining it as a premier category Tidy Town for the benefit of all,” concluded the Report.