Enniscorthy period residence on the market

MAYFIELD HOUSE, Enniscorthy, is being offered for sale by public auction.

By Dan Walsh

It is one of Enniscorthy’s most iconic architectural heritage sites. Passing Parnell Road one is struck by the urban appearance of the modern Garda Station while on the opposite side, a decorative display of iron railings supported by square concrete piers converge into a curved entrance leading onto an avenue where 1.087-acres of mature trees, hedges and shrubs in blossoming gardens transforms urban into the peace and tranquility of a remote rural experience.

Into view emerges the Victorian semi-detached period residence with an architecturally attractive porch entrance and the three-bay two-storey façade approached by a slight climb of granite steps. This is Mayfield House, built in 1870, and associated with influential commercial family names who contributed to the growth and prosperity of Enniscorthy over generations.

Step onto a beautiful mosaic floor on arrival, pass through the doors where a long spacious hallway offers a heritage welcome while an easy-to-climb stairs lead to ten bedrooms.

Mayfield House is large with well-appointed reception rooms and high ceilings embellishing the heritage of the surroundings while the marble fireplaces are fit for royalty. The east facing edifice is embellished by a three-side bow window beneath a flat roof and complementing the main building which has a low hipped roof. Local lore recalls that the roof timbers were cargo from a ship which was wrecked in Bannow Bay!

The house was built in 1870 by Peter Joseph O’Flaherty, who had a legal practice in the adjoining property and died December 27th 1895, and his wife, Annie departed on October 31st 1893.

The O’Flaherty’s were solicitors and Bernard J. O’Flaherty was one of the first directors of The Echo and South Leinster Advertiser newspaper first published on May 16th 1902 in Abbey Square, but moved to Mill Park Road in 1904.

In the 1901 Census, Bernard, Kate, Owen Kavanagh, Mary Keane and Margaret Keane occupied the O’Flaherty residence on Lemington (census spelling) Road.

In the 1911 Census, we have Bernard and Frances, Peter, Anne Dempsey, Margaret Kelly and Mary Harris and the O’Flaherty residence is returned as Parnell Road.

In Thom’s 1938 Commercial Directory of Enniscorthy the business traded under P.J. O’Flaherty & Son, Solicitors. The legal practice was active from 1830 until 1970.

Michael Phelan acquired Mayfield House from the O’Flaherty family in 1953, and in 1971 John and Marian Roche removed from Camolin to make it a family home up to the present day.

The property is being brought to the market by Sherry Fitzgerald O’Leary Kinsella and is being offered for sale by public auction on Thursday, May 26.

The auction will take place at 4 pm in the auctioneer’s offices in Gorey and also online. Those interested in registering for the auction are asked to do so before Tuesday, May 24th.

The magic of Hook lights up the pages…

LIAM RYAN (Editor) promoting the On The Hook Magazine which is available.

By Dan Walsh at Fethard-on-Sea

The Hook peninsula region of south-west Wexford is a place of history, heritage, shipwrecks, the flashing light of Hook Lighthouse and the haunting stories of Loftus Hall and the lifeboat heroics of the crew of such brave ships as the Helen Blake and it is also a fascinating region for holiday breaks and tourism.

The magic of the Hook lights up the pages of the 37th edition of ‘On The Hook’ andthe latest edition has gone on sale locally. “We don’t have a launch, we just tell people that the magazine is in the shops and they flock in and buy it,” editor Liam Ryan told WexfordLocal.com.

All the local happenings are included in print and colour photography and there is “an emergence from the lockdown” appearance around the publication. It is important to keep school and community happenings in the archive and this is achieved with dignity and professional presentation.

On the bigger scale it is the history and heritage that extends further than the parish boundaries. Fethard Castle is undergoing a preservation and through pictures and words the restoration stages are given strong coverage.

The Saltee Islands get notice. Loftus Hall is being transformed into a top-class hotel. The Colclough family and the famed Wall Garden and Tintern Abbey in Wales is feeding the visitors, and down memory lane – the last public pistol duel between John Colclough of Tintern and William Congreve Alcock of Wilton Castle fought at Ardcandrisk, near Wexford, on May 30 1807 is revived to satisfy a new audience.

It is a wonderful publication. If you belong the Fethard-on-Sea area you will appreciate your local history, but if you reside further afield and hold an interest in general history, then, you may dive into a treasure trove of stories in this publication.

ON THE HOOK Parish Magazine, Vol. 4 No. 7, June 2022; 164 pages, illustrated, EDITOR Liam Ryan, EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Eileen Cloney Kehoe, Sinead Kidd-Neville, Tom Byrne and Bryan Hanton. Price €13. Available at Dillon’s Fethard-on-Sea.

LIAM RYAN (Editor) speaking about the 37th On The Hook magazine .

Barry O’Neill rides 700th winner

By Dan Walsh

National champion point-to-point rider Barry O’Neill, who celebrated his 33rd birthday yesterday was still in celebratory mood today at Ballindenisk, Co. Cork today where he rode three winners and reached the 700th career point-to-point winner mark in fine style.

BARRY O’NEILL has ridden 700 point-to-point winners

Colin Bowe saddled both ‘division’ winners in the maiden race for four-year-olds with Ballabawn in division one ridden by James Kenny by two and a half lengths and Barry O’Neill began his treble in division two aboard Luner Contact who did the business by a neck! This double was Bowe’s 40th winner of the season as he heads for another championship crown.

O’Neill had winner number two for Carlow handler William Murphy as Miss Mae West took division two of the maiden race for mares aged five years or over by two and a half lengths.

Number 700 came up for O’Neill with his third success of the day – Some Man for David Christie by two lengths – in the Open Race. This is a milestone for the affable Ballindaggin rider who will be crowned champion rider for the sixth successive season in a few weeks’ time.

Also point-to-point races at Stradbally, Co. Laois today with doubles for Bertie Finn, Oulart, who has six wins to his credit – all during the 2021-2022 season – and Sean Staples, Duncormick. who has a total of 19 career winners.

Finn won the first two races on the card starting with Old Page by four lengths for handler Peter Flood in the maiden race for five-year-old geldings and then aboard Good Source for handler David O’Brien by eight lengths in the Winner of Two race.

Staples scored on Clatterbridge for Louise Jones by three lengths in the five-year-old adjacent maiden and made it a double on The Forge Hill for Sean Doyle, Ballindaggin, who came home alone in the Mares Open Race.

Bunclody runners-up in drama finals

PADRAIG D’ARCY and MAIRÉAD CONNAUGHTON in a scene from The Good Father …All -Ireland finals runners-up.

By Dan Walsh

Bunclody-Kilmyshall Drama Group’s performance of The Good Father are runners-up at the RTÉ All-Ireland Drama Festival Gala Awards announced tonight by adjudicator Michael Poyner ADA. The overall winners are Ballyduff Drama Group, Waterford, with Rabbit Hole.

The Good Father by Christian O’Reilly featured two actors Pádraig D’Arcy and Mairéad Connaughton and the director was Kieran Tyrell.

Bunclody-Kilmyshall were also winners of the Best Stage Setting award for Chris Atkinson and Kieran Tyrell.

Also amongst the nine national finalists who performed in the Dean Crowe Theatre, Athlone, were next parish neighbours Kilrush Drama Group with Class directed by Pat Whelan, nominated in a number of categories, but the winner was Kevin McElroy for Best Lighting.  

Champions in Wexford winning form

By Dan Walsh

The summer arrived at Bettyville Park racecourse in Wexford today and while there was no success for Wexford stables the respective champions, trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Paul Townend, shared a double.

Authorised Act (9/2) set the ball rolling with four and three-parts of a length to spare in the Poolcourt Related Hurdle and Ganapathi (1/1fav.) added the Freddie Doyle Memorial Novice Chase.

Jordan Gainford was the only Wexford jockey to get on the scoresheet. He was aboard Junior Bee, (13/8 fav) for Tipperary owner/trainer Mark Molloy in the Boylesport Handicap Hurdle hung on by a short-head in a thrilling battle to the line.

Brian Hayes and Philip Fenton won the Wexford Racecourse Mares Maiden Hurdle with Good As Hell (2/1 fav) beating Sean Flanagan on Its’aleader.

Waterford runner Robyndeglory (25/1) created a bit of a shock for the punters in the handicap hurdle for trainer/jockey Declan Queally. Philip Rothwell, Tinahely, filled the third place spot with Prince Zaltar ridden by Camolin jockey James O’Sullivan.

The last two races on the card went to Meath. Clonguile Way (17/2) for Thomas Reilly and John C. McConnell won the Jim Ryan Racecourse Handicap Chase with Seamus Neville’s Brideswell Lad (J.J. Slevin filling third spot for the locals and the bumper when to the Harvey family – trainer David and amateur jockey Ben – with Beyond Ambitious (15/8) who deprived Willie Mullins of a treble with champion Patrick Mullins beaten a length on Walk In The Brise.

There was a fine attendance and a great atmosphere. The jackpot pool was €256.58, not won and goes to Naas on Sunday. The Tote was €90,802. 79 (7 races) compared with €137,311.02 (8 races) last year.

Next fixture at Bettyville is on Wednesday, May 25th and it’s an evening event.

Punchestown double for James Kenny

By Dan Walsh

Craanford rider James Kenny enjoyed a double success at the Kilare Hunt point-to-point races at Punchestown today beginning with the Colin Bowe trained Chosen Hero by five lengths in the maiden race for four-year-old mares.

JAMES KENNY… double at Punchestown today.

He followed up with winner number two in the first division of the maiden race for five- and six-year-olds geldings with Lock Out, running in the colours of Thomas Brennan, and trained by his father, Liam Kenny. Five lengths the verdict.

Division two went to another Wexford stables when Captains Road, owned and handled by Denis Murphy at Ballyboy Stables, The Ballagh, won by two lengths with Harley Dunne in the saddle.

Barry O’Neill celebrated his 33rd birthday with victory on Alpha Male for Kildare handler Peter Maher in the Quinns of Baltinglass Farmers Hunt Open Race. The verdict was four lengths.

Newcomer Ittack Blue running for Matthew Flynn O’Connor, Ballycrystal, Kiltealy, in the maiden race for four-year-old geldings was a 16 lengths winner in the hands of Brian Lawless.

Songs of Praise in Gorey Church

CHRIST CHURCH, GOREY

Christ Church Parish Gorey are holding a Songs of Praise Service on Sunday, May 15th at 7pm in Christ Church Gorey and all are welcome to attend.

The service is being held so that anyone who was bereaved during the pandemic or those unable to attend funerals due to the restrictions will be able to come and support the bereaved and pay their respects in their own way. All are welcome.

Another 8 years before M11 traffic reaches Rosslare?

By Dan Walsh at Wexford County Council Meeting

The Oylegate to Rosslare Harbour extension of the M11 was under discussion at the recent Wexford County Council meeting with Cllr Willie Kavanagh, who lives and works in Oylegate, remaking that “it could be another eight years before we see traffic travelling on it.”

CLLR WILLIE KAVANAGH

Cllr Kavanagh also highlighted a scenario that trucks were pulling in on the hard shoulder and staying overnight with no facilities and local concerns are brought to the TII for attention.

Cllr George Lawlor expressed concerns having read that the TII (Transport Infrastructure Ireland) are currently reviewing projects they might not be able to afford nationwide given inflation and rising costs. “I know they have committed to Rosslare Europort access road, but I believe there are major concerns over the road from Oylegate to Rosslare Harbour,” he added.

Eamonn Hore, Wexford County Council’s director of roads stated; “We have no great control over what happens and we will need all our elected members to keep the pressure up” and, he added: “the project is currently at the design and evaluation phase, we have funding to continue and we’ll continue with that.”

On Tuesday, in Dáil Éireann, Deputy Verona Murphy, who attended Monday’s meeting of Wexford County Council, drew the attention of An Taoiseach. Micheál Martin, T.D. to weekend reports in national newspapers concerning a review by the TII (Transport Infrastructure Ireland) of roads infrastructure under Project Ireland 2040 and the National Development Plan.

“One of the roads infrastructure projects that greatly concerns me is the final stretch of the M11 from Oylegate to Rosslare. The Taoiseach knows it is going to the most strategic port in the country and it would complete the eastern corridor from Belfast to Rosslare. Can he assure people that this project will not be long-fingered?

In reply, An Taoiseach told Deputy Murphy “the Government has invested very heavily in Rosslare and will continue to do so. Rosslare is enjoying a significant renaissance in that respect. It is an ill wind that blows nobody good and Brexit has certainly created opportunities for Rosslare. The investment there is positive and we want to maintain that. I accept the point about the M11 and that last phase of the road. There is a national development plan. I will certainly have a look to see what we can do to make sure it progresses.”

Ógra seeks date with Minister Butler

By Dan Walsh

Chairperson of Wexford Ógra Fianna Fáil, Ruairí Ryan has submitted correspondence supported by many county councillors’ seeking a meeting with the Waterford-based Minister for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler T.D.

Minister Butler is invited to visit Co. Wexford to discuss the problems with mental health services with young people and to see the effects the lack of services is having in the Wexford community. 

MINISTER MARY BUTLER

“The pandemic has had a massive effect on many people both young and old’s mental health and wellbeing. Missing out on two years of meeting friends, family and even interacting with people on a regular basis, especially for young people experiencing emotional based anxiety issues, the need for support addressing emotional based anxiety issues is greater than ever. In Co. Wexford we require more mental health support as we leave the pandemic and progress towards normality.”

Anyone wishing to get involved should use the email; wexfordografiannafail@gmail.com. 

Courtown looks to holiday season

By Dan Walsh

As the lucrative holiday season fast approaches pressure is being applied for swift action from Wexford County Council relating to the hoarding in Courtown, which is blocking off one side of the Main Street, allegedly blocking a footpath in breach of EU and UN Disability Laws.

The issue was high on the agenda at the recent public meeting called by Courtown Community Council with public representatives held in Ballycanew Resource Centre, but the issue gained further traction at last Monday’s monthly meeting of Wexford County Council where Cllr Fionntán Ó Súilleabhain called for the matter to be addressed on behalf of the Courtown community. Cllr Ó Súilleabhain described the Bayview site as “an eyesore” and referred to the negative impact it has as Courtown embarks on a new season as the one of the South East’s premier holiday resorts.

Chief Executive Officer, Tom Enright confirmed that the developer has been asked to take down the hoarding and prepare site as temporary carpark pending planning for development.

COURTOWN MAIN STREET looking busy in the night light. (Fil Pic).

At the Courtown Community Committee it was alleged that “the village has been held to ransom for 15 years by one developer. The derelict Bayview site has been there for three years. Vacant site/derelict site fines should be imposed. Can a CPO, compulsory purchase order, be used? CPO the site and then sell it on to a developer who will develop it sympathetic to the character of the village and mindful of community needs.”

It is believed locally that a CPO on the Bayview site is certainly an option for elected representatives to pursue, however, it also believed locally that short term measures are needed immediately. “At least clean up the site, make it safe and draw back the hoarding. The responsibility is on the site owner and the matter should be brought to the attention of Wexford County Council to force the matter, mentioning they have the full support of local representatives,” stated a spokesperson.