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.
AUGHNAGLOWER BRIDGE on the R735 Adamstown-Clonroche road has reopened for traffic.
By Dan Walsh
The R735 regional road link between Adamstown and Clonroche has reopened to traffic having caused severe local access inconvenience since closure following the excessive rainfall that fell on Christmas Day.
Aughnaglower Bridge, known locally as Chapel Bridge, was washed away completely in the floods. Wexford County Council has acted swiftly in reopening the road with a new layout and temporary crossing and while care is necessary the roadway is open again.
Many bridges were damaged across Co. Wexford in the Christmas Day downpour and engineering inspections have been conducted with a view to repairs or replacement as quickly as possible.
Killanne rider Rob James was in brilliant form over the weekend winning six point-to-point races – three at Kirkistown in North Down on Saturday – and another treble at Comea, Co. Tipperary today.
James got off the mark in the maiden race for four-year-olds on first timer Willmount, trained at Kiltealy by Colin Bowe for Milestone Bloodstock Ltd, winning by two and a half lengths.
ROB JAMES wins six races in two days.
He followed up on Barnaleen for Patrick Ryan in the maiden race for five-year-olds plus confined. Just a length advantage at the finish.
James’ third winner on the day was Step Up Son by six lengths in the maiden race for six-year-old geldings and older for John ‘Shark’ Hanlon. Second success in two days for the Bagenalstown handler.
Colin Bowe and Milestone Bloodstock Ltd enjoyed a double success in the maiden race for four-year olds at Knockanard, Co. Cork where newcomer Captain Teague raced home by eight lengths with Barry O’Neill up. Both of Bowe’s Sunday winners are bound for the sales.
The state of play at the top of the National Point-to-Point Riders’ Championship shows Barry O’Neill just one winner ahead of Rob James, O’Neill on 27 (672 career total) and James 26 (261 career total).
State of Power was also a winner at the Cork track for owner/handler Harley Dunne, training at Rathfardon, Clonroche, in the five-year-old geldings maiden race. Tiernan Power Roche, Tomhaggard, took the mount as Harley Dunne was riding in the cross-country race at Punchestown.
Racing was also scheduled for Oldtown, Co. Meath, today, but heavy overnight rain caused the meeting to be abandoned and re-scheduled for next Saturday. The entries stand.
Barry O’Neill’s lead in the National Point-to-Point Riders’ Championship were narrowed down to three (26-23) today after Killanne rider Rob James rode a treble at Kirkistown in North Down.
James enjoyed an eighteen lengths victory on Beyondapproach for the Monbeg Syndicate and Donnchadh Doyle team in the mares Winner of Two race.
He also scored on Value Till Dawn trained by John ‘Shark’ Hanlon at Bagenalstown in the five and six year old maiden race by four lengths and added his third victory of the day for David Christie, Fermanagh, bringing home Some Man by twenty lengths in the Open Race.
An amazing record €5,812,989 has been made available for the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme in Co. Wexford and allocated to seventy-one clubs and organisations.
On social media, public representatives have been celebrating with their local successful applicants across the county and speaking to WexfordLocal.com Fine Gael TD, Paul Kehoe has welcomed the announcement and supplied a list of those benefitting from the funding.
“Sport plays an incredibly important part in our communities throughout the county and there will be widespread scope for improvement to the facilities available for everyone,” said Deputy Kehoe, who added; “The last couple of years have been tough for sports clubs but have also demonstrated the importance of sport in our lives. This funding will help to further develop access to sports and continue to make our towns and villages better places to live.”
“As well as grants to local clubs, there is also €887,000 awarded to three projects deemed to be of Regional significance, which will see the development of two full size artificial pitches in the County and a community gym/multisport facility.
“We have also seen a wide variety of sports funded today – as well as the major field sports, grants have been awarded for tennis, swimming, golf, boxing, handball and rowing clubs, as well as funding for community and multi-sport facilities.”
WexfordLocal.com haslearned that that any unsuccessful applicants will afforded the opportunity to appeal the Department’s decision and information on the appeal process will issue to relevant organisations in the coming weeks. €6 million has been set aside to cover successful appeals under this process.
Enjoying the cycle in Gorey. (File Pic by Joe Dixon).
The grants for Co. Wexford are as follows;
GAELIC GAMES
St Abbans Adamstown GAA Club (floodlighting) €140,000.
Bannow-Ballymitty GAA Club (facility upgrade 2021) €124,910.
Buffers Alley GAA Club (gym and squash court) €70,207.
Castletown Liam Mellows GAA Club (gym update) €8,515.
Clongeen GAA Club (club development plan) €112,500.
Cloughbawn GAA Club (development and equipment 2021) €923,981.
Davidstown-Courtnacuddy GAA Club (pitch requirements) €103,535.
Faythe Harriers Hurling and Camogie Club (net repairs, new sports wall) €140,000.
Ferns St Aidan’s GAA Club (pitch development) €46,000.
Glynn Barntown GAA Club (dugouts and gym development) €27,400.
Kilanerin Ballyfad GAA Club (new changing room facilities) €150,000.
Kilmore GAA Community Complex (synthetic pitch and hurling wall) €148,973.
Kilrush Askamore GAA Club (pitch development) €120,480.
Monageer Boolavogue GAA Club (floodlight full size pitch) €146,605.
Our Ladys Island GAA Club (all weather training facility) €145,000.
Oylegate Glenbrien GAA Club (astro turf) €130,000.
Rathgarogue Cushinstown GAA Club (multi-purpose area and astro turf including a ball wall) €40,455.
Sarsfields GAA Club (indoor sports area) €150,00.
Shelmaliers GAA Club (disability lift and solar power panels) €40,980.
St Mary’s Rosslare GAA CLUB (floodlighting) €81,001.
St. Martin’s GAA Club (walking track and tennis court lights) €57,575.
St. Mary’s Maudlintown (lighting and fencing and goalpost back stops) €113,000.
St. Patrick’s GAA Club Ballyoughter (floodlights for training pitch) €113,000.
Taghmon Camross GAA Club (Astro turf training area and ball stop fencing) €128.310.
Tara Rock Community Field Trust (gym equipment) €6,990.
SOCCER
Ajax AFC (Patrick Mernagh Park Development) €29,544.
All Blacks AFC (pitch drainage) €26,766.
Bree United Soccer Club (goal stops Astro training area) €14,715.
Bridge Rovers (sports equipment and machinery) €18,407.
Camolin Celtic (fencing and equipment) €2,674.
Corach Ramblers (all weather pitch) €125,050.
Courtown Hibernian AFC (application for sports equipment) €22,421.
Crossabeg AFC (pitch drainage) €30,000.
Curracloe United Trust Co. Ltd (development of natural playing surface) €93,330.
Forth Celtic AFC (artificial surface replacement and natural pitch drainage) €72,181.
Killenagh Wanderers (floodlighting) €25,240.
Moyne Rangers AFC (sports equipment) €27,580.
New Ross AFC (upgrade Astro turf pitches) €43,000.
North End United AFC (equipment only) €36,090.
St. Joseph’s FC (safety fence, mower, netting and goal posts) €34,735.
Shelbourne United AFC (equipment) €722.
St. Leonard’s FC (all weather fully lit Astro turf) €147,000.
St. Cormac’s AFC (new equipment) €22,815.
Tombrack United AFC (equipment grant) €9,600.
Wexford Albion Schoolboys FC (sports equipment) €16,820.
Wexford Celtic FC (pitch development and ride-on mower) €4,700).
GOLF
Courtown Golf Club (driving range practice area development) €96,310.
Enniscorthy Gold Club (green and bunker works, junior netting equipment) €104,134.
Rosslare Golf Club (changing rooms showers and toilets) €48,600.
RUGBY
Enniscorthy Rugby Football Club (compact tractor and ball stop netting) €51,500.
Gorey Rugby Football Club (showers, disabled toilet, heating upgrade) €51,030.
New Ross Rugby Football Club (LED floodlights on main pitch) €79,000.
Wexford Wanderers Rugby Football Club (Project 2024- Phase 1) €145,280.
BOXING
Enniscorthy Boxing Academy (portable heating system) €10,000.
SWIMMING
Enniscorthy Swimming Pool and Leisure Centre (fitness disability) €80,431.
HANDBALL
Ballymitty Handball Club (court development) €50,092.
MULTI-SPORT
Askamore Muintir na Tire Community Project (gym facility) €20,000.
Co. Wexford Community Workshop Enniscorthy (resurfacing artificial playing surface) €150,000.
FCJ Secondary School Bunclody (artificial playing surface) €150,000.
Fethard Community Development Association (lighting at Ashgrove Community Park) €14,750.
Rosslare Community Development Association (track lighting and sports equipment) €21,020.
The EDUCENA FOUNDATION (astroturf playing pitch) €150,000.
Wexford County Council (fitness studio) €41,820.
Wexford County Council (2021 Rosslare Bowling Green Replacement) €133,720.
Wexford County Council (upgrade sports facilities in Pearse Park) €21,700.
TENNIS
Hillbrook Lawn Tennis Club (surface replacement) €68,260.
Wexford Harbour Boat and Tennis Club (upgrades to courts and boats pontoon section) €145,250.
ROWING
1st Wexford New Ross (improved access to River Barrow) €43,805.
SEAN DOYLE officially launched the new exhibition The Fabric of Wexford; Industry and Innovation at Enniscorthy Castle tonight.
By Dan Walsh at Enniscorthy Castle
A newly curated exhibition of textiles and designs located in Enniscorthy Castle entitled The Fabric of Wexford: Industry and Innovation was launched officially this evening by Mr Sean Doyle, Chairperson of Enniscorthy Castle and the National 1798 Rebellion Centre Committee.
Mr Doyle who is a former member of Wexford County Council and Enniscorthy Town Council is also renowned for his knitting and was displaying a purple and gold scarf of his own creation. “Knitting is my favourite hobby,” he quipped.
Mr Doyle welcomed the exhibition to Enniscorthy and spoke about the history of textiles and designs and encouraged large numbers of people to visit the exhibition in the castle over the coming weeks. He paid tribute to the people who conceived the idea. He also gave a formal welcome to the newly appointed Manager of Enniscorthy Castle and the 1798 Centre, Ms. Mico Hassett. “We wish her well in her new post,” he added.
Ms. Hassett thanked her staff for putting the exhibition together. “This is a home-grown exhibition – we did it entirely ourselves – and we are really pleased to share it with you here tonight.”
She explained; “The larger room explores the history of the textile industry in Wexford with key pieces loaned from the Wexford County Archives and Mount Carmel Lace sitting alongside contemporary examples by local creative industries from Ros Tapestries, Ceadogán Rugmakers to Emblem Weavers. The Wexford County Archives through Grainne Doran has generously loaned the Castle examples of needlepoint, lace and embroidery, as well as an early woollen Irish Tricolour flag and an embroidered Irish dancing dress.”
At the exhibition launch at Enniscorthy Castle; Bernie Quigley, Acting Manager, Enniscorthy Municipal District Council, Sean Doyle, who opened the exhibition, Cllr Cathal Byrne, Cathaoirleach Enniscorthy Municipal District Council, Mico Hassett, Manager Enniscorthy Castle and the National 1798 Rebellion Centre, and Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy, Cathaoirleach Wexford County Council.
The exhibitions smaller space features local contemporary makers in textiles, including embroiderer Tess Reynolds, weaver Terry Dunne, fibre artist Nicola Browne, multi-media fibre artist Gráinne Kenny along with showcasing the 2021 Junk Couture winning piece designed by Enniscorthy Coláiste Bride secondary school student Alicia Rostermundt.
AUDIO ADDITION; CLLR CATHAL BYRNE, Cathaoirleach Enniscorthy Municipal District Council speaking at the Enniscorthy Castle launch.
The exhibition runs until April 24th and entry is included in the castles’ general admission tour ticket which at €6 per adult (€5 student /seniors) or only €15 for up to a family of five, is super value. Enniscorthy Castle is open Monday- Friday 9.30am- 5pm (with last tour 4.30pm) and on weekends Saturday and Sunday 12noon to 5pm.
Wexford’s Deputy Johnny Mythen (Sinn Féin) used Dáil Éireann Question Time on Thursday to raise the urgent need for increased Government funding for Wexford County Council to deal with the critical situation of the chronic structurally distressed roads within the county, as verified in a report by the Local Government Audit Service.
JOHNNY MYTHEN T.D.
Deputy Mythen said; “The report states that since the start of measurements in 2014 Wexford has ranked bottom of the list for road conditions. A study by the National Oversight and Audit Commission in 2020 found that 31% of primary roads and 44% of secondary roads in County Wexford were structurally distressed and a cause for serious concern. As can be deducted from these figures, County Wexford is genuinely in need of emergency assistance on this matter. Will the Tánaiste consider the National Oversight and Audit Commission findings and examine the case for additional funding for Wexford County Council to deal with this serious situation?”
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar thanked Deputy Mythen for his question and replied; “The Minister for Transport will shortly be making allocations for the maintenance and restoration of local and regional roads. There will be an increase in the budget on last year, but I do not know how much of it will go to Wexford. There is a formula as to how that is determined. I appreciate the point the Deputy makes, and I will make the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, aware that he raised the issue in the House today.
WexfordLocal.com 