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.
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.
The Bullring, Wexford.
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.
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 18th and 19th, and again next Thursday and Friday, March 3rd and 4th, commencing at 8pm.
MICHAEL DUNBAR
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 Shopin 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 Classwill 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 Gemis 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 onlythe play will be staged in St. Brigid’s Hall, Carnew on Sunday February 27th 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.
ROSE FITZGERALD KENNEDY BRIDGE on the N25 New Ross Bypass will be closed from midnight as a safety measure.
By Dan Walsh
As Storm Eunice progresses towards the south and east of Ireland overnight it has just been announced that the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Bridge over the River Barrow and the N25 New Ross Bypass will close from the Glenmore Roundabout to the R733 Junction from midnight tonight.
From 5am on Friday morning until 11am the same day, a status orange wind warning will be in place for counties Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Waterford, Galway, and Wexford.
The public water supply is turned off in parts of Enniscorthy until approximately 11pm tonight to facilitate emergency repairs to a water leak.
The households affected are from Ross Road to Carley’s Bridge and includes Andy Doyle Close, Riverwood, Urrin Valley, Middlesbrook, Daphne View and Slí Na Sláine.
Wexford Young Fine Gael (YFG) have issued a call for new members between the ages of 15 and 35 to join the group founded over 40 years ago by then Taoiseach, Garret FitzGerald TD to act as a voice for young people from all over Ireland.
Currently Wexford local Steven Murphy (24), a primary school teacher from Screen, sits on the YFG National Executive as the Leinster Regional Organiser.
STEVEN MURPHY sits on the YFG National Executive as the Leinster Regional Organiser. (Pic; Wexford Young Fine Gael Facebook).
Wexford YFG members will be travelling to attend the YFG Cosgrave Weekend taking place in the Sheraton Hotel, Athlone on Friday, 11th March – Sunday 13th March. The YFG Cosgrave Weekend will be the first in-person national event in over two years since the COVID-19 measures came into place, and features policy debates, training workshops and opportunities to meet like-minded young people in a fun setting.
Steven Murphy said; “I have made several great friends over the years from all over the country through YFG and have some outstanding memories from conferences, elections and campaign wins.
“YFG is a welcoming place with varied special interest groups such as the YFG Coiste na Gaeilge, YFG Second-Level Network, YFG Agriculture and Rural Affairs group, and the YFG Women’s Network which focuses on mentoring young women, running leadership skills workshops and policy areas that particularly affect women in Ireland.”
Wexford YFG has a proud track record of working closely with all Fine Gael elected representatives including Paul Kehoe TD, Cllr Bridín Murphy, Cathaoirleach of New Ross Municipal District, Cllr Cathal Byrne, Cathaoirleach of Enniscorthy Municipal District, and Cllr Jim Moore, Cathaoirleach of Rosslare Municipal District. Recent campaigns saw Wexford YFG participate in reform of the Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) Grant Scheme, the extension of trading hours for nightclubs and bars and calling on Minister Stephen Donnelly to provide universal access to free contraception for all women.
Wexford YFG has been frequently meeting online during the pandemic. Their first in-person activity will be meeting with Deputy Paul Kehoe at his constituency office in Enniscorthy on Saturday, 26th February for a leaflet drop, chat and refreshments. For more information on joining check out the Wexford Young Fine Gael Facebook page, or email steven.murphy@yfg.ie.
Sea, sand, scenery and the natural environment on the Kiltennel-Courtown Walking Trail. (Pic; Courtown Community Council).
By Dan Walsh
Courtown Community Council are delighted to announce the Courtown/Kiltennel Walking Trail has received official accreditation from Sport Ireland following two years in development.
This unique coastal heritage trail is one of the countries only wooded dune systems in Ireland and is therefore a site of ecological importance. National Parks and Wildlife have designated this site a Natural Heritage Area. The Courtown Kiltennel Trail will form part of the Slí Charman Coastal Trail Rehabilitation Works which began back in the early 90s. The trail has now been added to the National Trails Register and will appear on the Sport Ireland website.
Courtown Community Council continues to work closely with Wexford County Council, Wexford Walking Trail and National Parks and Wildlife Service in the areas of maintenance, restoration and conservation.
Linda Sinnott of Courtown Community Council told WexfordLocal.com today; “In collaboration with The Irish Coast Guard and Wexford Walking Trail we are delighted to introduce a numbered emergency locator marker system along the trail to help trail users identify their location should an emergency arise.
“We are delighted to see so many people enjoying the trail already. Walking Trails have proved hugely popular since the beginning of the pandemic. There is no better way to immerse yourself in nature than to spend some time ambling throughout Courtowns extensive walking trail network,” she concluded.
Walkers are being encouraged to join Wexford Walking Trail on April 2nd and go that extra mile for a ‘Climb With Charlie’ walk along the scenic route – 16.4km return – from Kiltealy village to the summit of Knockroe Hill in the Blackstairs Mountains.
The challenge begins at 10am and the task is to walk with RTE legend Charlie Bird raising valuable funds for two deserving charities – the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association and Pieta House.
The start and finish is at Kiltealy Community Centre and the route will take participants via Cullentra to Sculloge Gap, up Shannon’s Lane and on to the summit of Knockroe (4,964 ft) and the organisers advise that “a good level of fitness is required for the challenge and this walk is not suitable for buggies or families with children.”
Online registration is essential – go to Wexford Walking Trails – and all information about terrain, what to wear, what to bring etc. is all there.
CHARLIE BIRD
HISTORY; Knockoe is famous in World War II history. On New Year’s morning, 1941, three members of the Shannon family were killed in their beds when a German aircraft dropped bombs on their home.
The German bomber dropped eight bombs on the Mount Leinster-Blackstairs Mountain range, The third bomb scored a direct hit on Shannon’s house.
Wexford County Council has been informed of its 2022 allocation of €23,749,787 for regional and local road funding for Co. Wexford and included is €4 million under the category ‘severe weather’ which will cover some of the damage to roads and bridges in the Christmas Day flooding weather event.
Minister for Transport, Environment, Climate Change and Communications, Eamon Ryan, today announced details of a €597 million investment programme for 2022 for regional and local roads. Overall funding will increase by over 4% this year. The funding package will allow approximately 3,100kms of roads to be maintained and 2,550kms to be strengthened.
Minister Ryan stated: “The main priority in 2022 continues to be the protection and renewal of the existing regional and local road network. Last year I introduced a climate change adaptation grant for works on roads at risk due to the impact of climate change and severe weather events. I am pleased to say that this funding will continue in 2022 with €15 million being allocated for 355 climate change adaptation projects.”
Minister Ryan added: “Specific provision of €4 million has been made to assist Wexford County Council with road repair works arising from the flooding event that occurred in Wexford on Christmas Day.”
“”I would also explain that these grants supplement local authorities’ own resources expenditure on regional and local road projects and do not represent the total investment in regional and local roads for this year,” concluded Minister Ryan.
KILTILLY BRIDGE was allocated €28,000 under Rehabilitation Works in Wexford County Council’s allocation, but since it was damaged in the Christmas Day floods more funding will be needed. This picture published by WexfordLocal.com on January 21st shows local resident Jimmy Lancaster and Cllr Donal Kenny surveying the damage.
Condolences are expressed to Wexford Independent Deputy Verona Murphy and family on the loss of their mother, Breda Murphy, Ramsgrange.
VERONA MURPHY TD
Mrs Murphy’s Funeral will arrive on Wednesday to St. James’ Church, Ramsgrange, for Funeral Mass at 11am followed by burial afterwards in Ramsgrange Cemetery.
Members of Wexford County Council at Monday’s meeting and Gorey-Kilmuckridge Municipal District meeting on Tuesday expressed sympathy to Deputy Murphy.
Also, condolences were expressed to Cllr Joe Sullivan on the recent passing of his mother, Margaret Sullivan, Durrow, Co. Offaly, in her 102nd year and to Cllr Maura Bell, on the recent loss of her mother, Emma Bell, Coolcotts, Wexford town.
WexfordLocal.com 