Anna from Ferns recommends engineering

Anna Brosnan always loved Maths and Science. She attributes her love of Maths to a teacher she had in Coláiste Bríde in Enniscorthy, Sister Ella McGuinness. While she went to an all-girls’ school, engineering was not typically a career that students were encouraged to consider, but Anna said her Maths and Science teachers really brought the subjects to life for her. 

Anna said, “I knew that I wanted to do a professional degree and be a ‘something’ at the end of it. With my love of Maths and Science, engineering seemed like a good fit.”

Not knowing which discipline of engineering to go into, Anna studied general engineering for her first two years in Trinity College Dublin and chose Civil Engineering for the final two years of her degree course. 

“I liked the idea of building things; buildings, roads, bridges. Looking back on my childhood, I had always enjoyed construction related toys like Lego and Meccano. Civil engineering just felt like the right fit for me. During my third year in college, I spent the summer in London working on a bridge building site. I spent many days doing concrete slump tests to make sure the quality of the concrete was correct. I recognised then that the buzz of working in construction really appealed to me.

“After college, I was offered a job at WS Atkins Consulting Engineers and worked for their Water and Public Health section in Epsom, Surrey, England. I worked with them for 5 years and for 2 of those years, I was seconded to Thames Water Utilities Limited, where I worked on site as a tunnel engineer on the London Ring Water Main Project.”

“My role included surveying the tunnel and making sure that it was being built to the right line and level. The tunnels, up to 3m in diameter and 45m in depth, were built using concrete segments to form a ring. While the tunnels were under construction, we travelled underground in ‘locos,’ which are small train carriages, which also transported excavated materials, tunnel segments and other supplies to and from the tunnel face.”

ANNA BROSNAN from Ferns; “Absolutely, there is a great sense of achievement in working as an engineer. There are loads of opportunities and you can go in many directions. Engineers have the ability and opportunity to protect, shape and improve our world. (Pic; Irish Water).

Anna’s husband is a miner and she met him on that project. 

During her time with WS Atkins, Anna also worked on other interesting projects, such as the investigation into the Heathrow tunnel collapse. She was then offered a site-based job directly with Thames Water Utilities. 

Anna loved working on site, “There is a great sense of job satisfaction and the team approach of working on site really appeals to me.”

One of the site offices Anna worked in was in the residential cottages of an Old Treatment Works site. Back in the 19th Century, when the treatment works was built, cottages were also built for the staff who worked there. They lived in the cottages with their families and operated the treatment works. The cottages were long since abandoned, but one of them was used as a temporary site office and was believed to be haunted!

Working with Irish Water since 2013, Anna’s main motivation for working in the wastewater area is the protection of our environment. Being from Ferns in Co. Wexford, a coastal county, Anna grew up near some great beaches and developed a respect for the sea environment as well as land-based watercourses. 

Anna now lives in Co. Limerick with her husband Steven and 3 teenagers. She is a chartered member of Engineers Ireland and is a keen supporter of STEM subjects for students through involvement in ‘Limerick for Engineering’ and other engineering related events. 

When she isn’t working, Anna enjoys spending time with family and friends and relaxes by walking with her dogs in the Glen of Aherlow and at Lough Gur. She also loves reading, craftwork and is known to enjoy a good jigsaw, all very pandemic compatible pursuits. 

When asked if she would recommend a career in engineering, Anna said, “Absolutely, there is a great sense of achievement in working as an engineer. There are loads of opportunities and you can go in many directions. Engineers have the ability and opportunity to protect, shape and improve our world.

The best advice is to find your niche, what you’re good at and really go for it. It’s so important to enjoy what you’re working at, as life is short.”

Tricolor unfurled on Vinegar Hill again

By Dan Walsh on Vinegar Hill

It was cold and windy on Vinegar Hill this afternoon where Enniscorthy Municipal District Council hosted a flag raising ceremony to commemorate the 174th anniversary of the first time the Irish Tricolor were flown from the famous Enniscorthy landmark.

The short ceremony was lead by Cllr Cathal Byrne, Cathaoirleach, Enniscorthy Municipal District Council, who spoke briefly about the event while Bernie Quigley, Acting District Manager, welcomed the invited gathering.

The Tricolor was raised by 2nd Lieut. Zara Bolger and Sgt. John Cooney from the Irish Defence Forces.

The attendance included Cllrs Jackser Owens, John O’Rourke and Kathleen Codd-Nolan, Minister James Browne, Deputies Paul Kehoe and Johnny Mythen, Garda Superintendent Denis Whelan, Garda Sergeant Colum Matthews, Mr Sean Doyle, Chairman of Enniscorthy Castle and Irish National 1798 Rebellion Centre Committee and members of the Enniscorthy Historical Re-Enactment Society.

Raising the Tricolor at today’s commemoration ceremony held on Vinegar Hill.

Speaking at the brief ceremony, local historian Brian Cleary told the gathering that in February 1848, there was again revolution in Paris and the Second Republic was born. “Revolution spread to much of Europe and tricolurs of various colours were appearing in several countries. Thomas Francis Meaghar and William Smith O’Brien were in Paris to observe the strategy of the revolutionaries, As they prepared to return home, a group of French ladies made them a tricolor advocating peace between the religious persuasions in Ireland, symbolised by the Green and Orange with the White in between.”

Mr Cleary recalled his days in Enniscorthy CBS in 1958 and remembers “the late lamented and deservedly revered Micheál Tóibín telling us that the Irish Tricolor was unfurled publicly in Enniscorthy in 1848.”

“We have solid evidence for this statement,” said Mr Cleary, who added; “as the flag featured in a public parade in the town (Enniscorthy) on the same evening it was unfurled in Waterford – Tuesday, March 7th 1848.”

Contemporary newspaper reports said “Enniscorthy was a scene of splendid rejoicings. Numerous crowds paraded through the streets, with tar-barrels burning and a tri-color flag up for the occasion. There were also several tar-barrels burning on Vinegar Hill. There fires were on the highest rocks. Everything was conducted with order and regularity.”

AUDIO ADDITION; Cathaoirleach Cllr Cathal Byrne speaking with Dan Walsh on Vinegar Hill today.

Good racing at first Wexford fixture

Jockeys in the parade ring for racing at Bettyville Park in Spring conditions this afternoon.

By Dan Walsh at Bettyville Park

A good standard of racing, but no local winners, was the order at the first race meeting of 2022 held at Bettyville Park, Wexford, today before a good size crowd in Spring sunshine.

Champion trainer Willie Mullins saddled a double with Arctic Warrior (5/2) and Egality Mens (8/15 fav) and had two ‘seconds’, the most interesting being Dancing City in the bumper beaten half a length by Gordon Elliott’s Three Card Brag, a bay gelding bred in Wexford by Roland Rothwell. It was a frantic race up the straight and both contestants got ‘close together’ near the finish, a lengthy enquiry, ensued, by the result stood.

As stated, no Wexford winners but Paul Nolan’s Saga Aravis running in the colours of the Buzzer Racing Syndicate was runner-up to Donnrua Dream (7/2) from Gavin Cromwell’s stables in Meath. A bit of ‘a political interest here,’ Cllr Jacker Owens from Enniscorthy is part of the Buzzer Racing Syndicate and Tipperary TD Jackie Cahill is part of the Green Grass Syndicate associated with the winner.

The day’s Tote aggregate was up on last year – €124,877 (today) compared with €96,224 when run on St. Patrick’s Day in 2021 behind closed doors due to the Covid-19 guidelines.

The next races at Bettyville Park is on Friday, April 1st.

There were three point-to-points around the country today and Wexford winners emerged at each meeting. Champion rider Barry O’Neill took the short distance to Borris House for the Carlow Farmers’ fixture and clocked up two victories.

O’Neill got off the mark in the maiden race for five-year-old geldings with Demandrivingduvet for Mary Ellen Doyle’s Coolgarrow Stables, near Enniscorthy by eleven lengths and completed a double in the five-year-old plus adjacent race on Moonlight Symphony for local handler Aidan Fitzgerald.

Denis Murphy enjoyed a training double. At Borris House The Ballyboy Stables handler saddled Peaky Boy to win the maiden race for four-year-olds under Simon Cavanagh. Five lengths the verdict. Meanwhile, at the West Waterford races, Murphy saddled Givehimthehonour and with Luke Murphy up, got home by three-quarters of a length. Both were newcomers. Yesterday, the Murphy’s shared a winner at Tyrella so a fine weekend for Denis (three winners) and Luke (two winners),

Also at the Waterford track, Rob James scored on Stellar Story for Donnchadh Doyle by one and a half lengths in the maiden race for five-and-six- year-old geldings.

And there was a fairytale victory in the Open Race where A Rated won by a neck making a first ride a winning one for Josh Berry, (17), a 5th year student at St. Peter’s College, Wexford, handled by his father Johnny Berry at Lingstown, Tomhaggard.

At Ballycahane, Limerick, Ballymitty handler and former amateur rider Garrett Murphy saddled his first winner when Cassie Parle’s newcomer Affordable Fury won by two lengths in the maiden race for four-year-old geldings. The successful rider was Shane O’Rourke, Foulksmills.

Sunday racing at Bettyville Park

By Dan Walsh

The going is officially ‘heavy’ for the opening fixture of 2022 at Bettyville Park, Wexford, tomorrow. The first of seven races is off at 2.10pm. Good crowd expected. The card is as follows;

BETTYVILLE RACECOURSE

2.10pm; Wexford Mares Maiden Hurdle, Two miles (17 runners).

2.45pm; BetVictor Supporting Irish Racing Maiden Hurdle, Two miles (12 runners).

3.20pm; M2 Construction Wexford Novice Handicap Hurdle. Two miles (14 runners).

3.55pm; Micheal Ó Murchadha Memorial Handicap Hurdle. Two miles (7 runners).

4.30pm; BetVictor Supporting Irish Racing Beginners Chase. Three miles one furlong and 100 yards (6 runners).

5pm; BetVictor Supporting Irish Racing Mares Beginners Chase. Two miles (11 runners).

5.30pm; Irish Stallion Farms EBF Auction (Pro/Am) Flat Race. Two miles (8 runners).

Saturday’s point-to-point was at Tyrella in East Down and two Wexford trained winners.

First timer Jet Of Dreams achieved a three and a half lengths success in the maiden race for four year olds for handler Denis Murphy and rider Luke Murphy.

Rob James teamed up with Donnchadh Doyle for a fifteen lengths victory on Gentle Slopes in the maiden race for five- and six-year-old geldings.

The Barry O’Neill-David Christie partnership added a Winner of Two race to their impressive form sheet with Handy Headon making it home ten lengths ahead of everythingelse.

Sunday’s point-to-point is at Borris House for the Carlow Farmers with the first of six races off at 1pm. Entries total 133.  

Ferns Pilgrimage to Lourdes revived

By Dan Walsh

The 52nd Ferns Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes is taking place this year after a two-year gap due to the Covid pandemic and was launched via a Pastoral Letter from Bishop Ger Nash read at all Masses across the Diocese of Ferns.

However, the Diocesan with responsibility for the pilgrimage are being extra cautious and a number of changes should be noted!

BISHOP GER NASH launched the Ferns Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes.

The pilgrimage will be over four nights, instead of the usual five, departing on June 20th and returning on June 24th. There will be no invalid section as it would not be possible to guarantee a safe and happy experience for them. Likewise, there will be no Youth Section as their role is helping with the invalids.

Bishop Nash said; “For many people, the Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes was an eagerly awaited event each year. The Lourdes Pilgrimage gathers people across the Diocese (of Ferns) and makes them friends as they travel together. This travelling together has been one of the marks of pilgrimage all down the centuries of Christianity and is even more relevant this year.”

In his Pastoral Letter Bishop Nash added; “As we take our first tentative steps to normality, it is good for us to remember that we have lost people over the past two years who were familiar faces who were familiar faces on the Diocesan Pilgrimage. Some of them travelled regularly as pilgrims and some were former volunteers and helpers. They have completed their earthly pilgrimage and we pray they are enjoying the happiness of eternal life.”

€55,000 worth of alcohol seized at Rosslare Europort

By Dan Walsh

Revenue officers seized approximately 13,000 litres of beer, 225 litres of Asti Martina and seven litres of Polish Mead at Rosslare Europort, yesterday, following the search of an Irish registered truck that had disembarked a ferry from Dunkirk, France. 

The smuggled alcohol has an estimated retail value of more than €55,000, representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of over €26,000. 

Investigations are ongoing.

These seizures are part of Revenue’s ongoing operations targeting the smuggling of illegal goods. If businesses, or members of the public, have any information regarding smuggling, they can contact Revenue in confidence on Confidential Phone Number 1800 295 295.

Writers condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

COLM TÓIBÍN

By Dan Walsh

Enniscorthy-born writer Colm Tóibín is amongst several Irish writers among one thousand signatories who have signed a letter condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

According to The Irish Post newspaper in London, PEN International, the literary and free expression organisation, released the letter over the weekend expressing solidarity with writers, journalists, artists, and the people of Ukraine, condemning the Russian invasion and calling for an immediate end to the bloodshed.

“We, writers around the world, are appalled by the violence unleashed by Russian forces against Ukraine and urgently call for an end to the bloodshed,” the letter reads.

“We stand united in condemnation of a senseless war, waged by President Putin’s refusal to accept the rights of Ukraine’s people to debate their future allegiance and history without Moscow’s interference.

“We stand united in support of writers, journalists, artists, and all the people of Ukraine, who are living through their darkest hours. We stand by you and feel your pain.”

They said all individuals have a right to peace, free expression and free assembly, and that Putin’s “war is an attack on democracy and freedom not just in Ukraine, but around the world.”

“We stand united in calling for peace and for an end to the propaganda that is fuelling the violence.

“There can be no free and safe Europe without a free and independent Ukraine.”

Colm Tóibín is the new Laureate for Irish Fiction, the Arts Council announced recently, for a three-year term.

The role seeks to acknowledge the contribution of fiction writers to Irish artistic and cultural life by honouring an established Irish writer of fiction, encouraging a new generation of writers, promoting Irish literature nationally and internationally and encouraging the public to engage with Irish fiction.

On his appointment, Colm Tóibín said; “I am honoured to be appointed Laureate. I am proud to follow Anne Enright and Sebastian Barry in establishing a public role for a writer of fiction in Ireland. I will do what I can to work with a community of readers so that fiction continues to enrich our lives, allow us to see the world more clearly, or with a deepened sense of mystery. I will also work with fellow writers and aspiring writers to enhance the role novels and stories play in Irish life.”

South Wexford Christmas Day floods raised in the Dáil

By Dan Walsh

Wexford Deputy Paul Kehoe questioned An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, about “a wall of silence from the Minister (of Agriculture)” in relation to the extensive flooding of lands in south Wexford following torrential rainfall on Christmas Day.

Deputy Kehoe was speaking during the Questions on Promised Legislation in Dáil Éireann on Wednesday.

Deputy Kehoe said; “The Taoiseach will be very much aware of the devastating flooding in County Wexford on 25 December. In south County Wexford, hundreds of acres of cereals were destroyed. At the time, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine committed to look into this issue and seek the names of the farmers and lands involved. To date, absolutely nothing has happened. There has been a wall of silence from the Minister and the Department. Can the Taoiseach bring some clarification to this issue?”

In reply, An Taoiseach promised to discuss the matter with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Charlie McConalogue TD). “I hear the points the Deputy made in respect of that issue. The Minister is actively considering this and we are working on it,” concluded An Taoiseach.

Local Cllr Jim Codd surveys the thousands of acres of land flooded in south Wexford following the Christmas Day torrential rainfall.

Enniscorthy Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Enniscorthy & District Chamber – public meeting on Friday to co-ordinate Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal. All are welcome.

By Dan Walsh

A public meeting will be held at the offices of Enniscorthy & District Chamber of Commerce, Portsmouth House, Templeshannon, next Friday at 7pm to co-ordinate the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal. All are welcome.

All members of the public are invited to participate in the collection of goods and a storage depot has been secured. Also, a lorry has been sourced to transport goods to the Poland/Ukraine border.

Preferred items include bandages, guaze, anti-septic gels, masks, disposable gloves, kitchen towels, paper plates and cups, hygiene products, sanitary pads, non-perishable foods, blankets, footwear, knee pads, roll-out mats etc.

A collection depot will open in Enniscorthy next week in the Chamber of Commerce offices. 

€250,000 for Enniscorthy heritage

Templeshannon heritage building set for €250,000 ground floor renovation

By Dan Walsh

Deputy Paul Kehoe has today welcomed the announcement of €250,000 in funding to renovate the ground floor of a significant heritage building in Templeshannon, Enniscorthy, into a food and community hub under the Historic Towns Initiative.

This funding follows a similar grant under the same scheme last year for the renovation of Slaney Street.

Deputy Kehoe said; “Enniscorthy is a town with massive potential and huge historical significance. These funding initiatives will help to bring the historic buildings and areas back to their former glory, while ensuring that they play a role in today’s day to day life of the town.

These grant awards will help to provide jobs through heritage-led regeneration and will aid the rebuilding of local economies with heritage as a focal point.  

“A new aspect of this year’s initiative was a call for proposals that encourage the specific re-use of historic buildings which we will see with the transformation of one of the historic buildings in Templeshannon,” concluded Deputy Kehoe.

In addition to this individual grant, €40,000 in funding has been awarded Wexford County Council for heritage-led regeneration plans, which will inform future applications for conservation funding in Wexford.