Themed calendars have gained in popularity in recent times and well-known Wexford folklorist Michael Fortune has launched his latest publication – The Irish Dresser and Folklore Calendar 2022.
MICHAEL FORTUNE and The Irish Dresser and Folklore Calendar 2022 recently launched and in the bookshops.
Speaking from his den of creativity at Curragraigue, Michael told WexfordLocal.com; Following the success of last year’s publication, I have decided to produce this 2022 edition featuring new dressers, stories and folklore dates. It features forty-six dressers from counties Tipperary, Carlow, Wexford, Waterford, Mayo, Galway, Clare, Wicklow, Cork and Limerick, and there is a pull-out feature on dressers from County Cork and abandoned dressers from around the country.
Michael has been researching and documenting images and stories on dressers since 2015 and has become an expert on dresser folklore and this year took on a new collection of over fifty homes in Cork and interest in dresser folklore is on the increase.
“My work focuses on collecting and sharing folklore, I have included folkloric dates to promote particular festivals and customs that are relevant to us in Ireland. All these little things get us through the year and I’m glad you are coming on this calendar journey with me,” concluded Michael.
Calendars are already available in “all good bookshops” as the slogan goes or contact Michael Fortune/folklore.ie
Michael Fortune will be speaking with Dan Walsh about 2022 dresser and folklore calendaron Mid Week Voices (South East Radio, 95.6 and 96.4FM) on Wednesday at 8pm.
A number of clubs and individuals were honoured at a Civic Recognition Evening as guests of Cllr Cathal Byrne, Cathaoirleach, and members of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council, in the Riverside Park Hotel, Enniscorthy, last night.
Cllr Byrne said the aim of the occasion was “to honour people from the town and district who have done us proud” and he complimented and congratulated them as each one reached the podium to receive a framed certificate of recognition.
AND THE WINNERS ARE; Cllr Cathal Byrne presented to the Woodsmen Horsehoe Club (Brendan Earle, John Joe Byrne and Noel Redmond) on winning their 10th All-Ireland Horseshoe Championship; Bree ICA was represented by recently elected County President, Breda Cahill, on celebrating the guild’s 60th birthday; Johanna Wickham accepted the award for the Bree Macra Na Feirme FBD National Capers competition success in 2020; and Willie Wickham, Johanna Wickham and James Byrne represented Bree Macra Na Feirme branch on celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2020.
Cllr Aidan Browne presented awards to Aidan O’Brien, Chairman, Enniscorthy Pitch & Putt on behalf of Dylan Hudson, Ruairi Fortune, Murt O’Neill, Dean Grannell, Dale Donohoe and Glenn Fortune.
CLLR CATHAL BYRNE and BREDA CAHILL, BREE ICA Guild.CLLR JOHN O’ROURKE and LOUISE DOBBS, champion dancer.
Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy made a presentation to Enniscorthy Rugby Club and present were Niall Wall (President), Aidan O’Brien (coach) and Tomás Stamp (captain) and the occasion was their achievement in reaching the AIL League in 2020. Cllr Murphy also presented local media Frank Corcoran of Slaney News on celebrating ten years in business.
Kathleen Codd-Nolan nominated Jason Rackard, winner of the Mullingar Scratch Cup (Golf) in 2020; the County Wexford Pool team (Tyler O’Connor, Barry Sinnott, Alan Maher and Benjamin Doyle), winners of the under-25 All-Ireland Pool Championships in 2021.
Cllr John O’Rourke nominated Enniscorthy-born UK-based flat race jockey Pat Dobbs. He presented to Louise Dobbs, winner of the under-11 All-Ireland Irish Dancing championships in 2019, and also nominated Jake Cox, winner at the All-Ireland Youth Boxing Championships in 2018.
The under 25 All-Ireland Pool Champions 2021 – Tyler O’Connor, Barry Sinnott, Alan Maher and Benjamin Doyle – receive their award from Cllr Kathleen Codd-Nolan at the Civic Recognition Evening organised by Enniscorthy Municipal District Council and held in the Riverside Park Hotel last night.
Cllr Byrne complimented the staff of the Municipal Council who organised the event including Bernie Quigley (Acting District Manager), Carolyne Godkin (Director of Services), and Mary Clince (Staff Officer).
The pleasant occasion was somewhat low key due to Covid-19 guidelines which resulted in a reduced attendance and there was a backlog in the number to be honoured, however, the Council is planning to catch up in the New Year and more Civic Recognition honours are planned.
Two persons have been arrested after Chloromethcathinone and Herbal Cannabis with an estimated value of €118,450 was seized by Revenue Officers during a search of a premises in the Enniscorthy area.
ENNISCORTHY GARDA STATION
Under ‘Operation Tara’ as part of ongoing investigations targeting persons suspected to be involved in organised crime in the Enniscorthy area, earlier this morning, a joint intelligence led Operation was conducted by the Revenue Customs Service, the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, the Wexford Divisional Drug Unit and the Detective Unit at Enniscorthy Garda Station.
The Operation resulted in the search of a premises in the Enniscorthy area where Chloromethcathinone and Herbal Cannabis with an estimated value of €118,450 was seized by Revenue Officers.
Gardaí arrested a 46-year-old male and a 47-year-old female in relation to Drug Trafficking offences. Both are detained under the provisions of Section 2 of the Criminal Justice Drug Trafficking Act, 1996.
Irish Water and Wexford County Council has issued a statement this evening notifying customers on the Gorey Public Water Supply that following the completion of remedial measures and the receipt of satisfactory monitoring results, the Boil Water Notice which has been in place is lifted with immediate effect. This decision follows consultation undertaken with the Health Service Executive.
GOREY WATER TREATMENT PLANT AT CREAGH
Regional Operations Lead, Ronan Walsh said; “We would like to thank the people and the business community of Gorey for their patience as we and our colleagues in Wexford County Council worked as quickly as we could to lift this Boil Water Notice. As we have previously announced, we have secured additional funding in principle for further works on the Creagh plant, so we will continue to improve the water treatment plant that supplies Gorey and our commitment to safeguarding the water supply in the town remains resolute.”
All consumers on the Gorey Public Water Supply can now resume normal use of the water supply for drinking, food preparation and brushing teeth.
Irish Water and the Local Authority/Health Service Executive Water Liaison Group will continue to meet and will review ongoing process control, monitoring and testing of the drinking water supply.
The Irish Water Customer Contact Centre (1800 278 278) is available to answer customer queries in relation to this water notice. Further information is available on www.water.ie.
Irish Water and Wexford County Council acknowledge the patience, co-operation and assistance of the public during the period of the boil water notice and greatly regrets any inconvenience caused to householders and the business community.
Eamonn Hore, Director of Water Services at Wexford County Council has issued a statement this morning updating the situation regarding Boil Water Notices in Wexford town and Gorey.
The Boil Water Notice for Wexford town has now been lifted following consultation with Irish Water and the HSE. The notice in place since October 30th impacted approximately 25,000 people connected to the public supply in Wexford, Barntown, Taghmon.
“Extensive sampling was carried out in the network and at the plant to ensure that we were satisfied to recommend the lifting of the notice,” said Mr. Hore, who added; “The network was also scoured extensively, and water supply is now back to normal and safe to drink and use as normal.”
The Boil Water Notice for Gorey impacting approximately 7,500 people remains in place for now. Irish Water are monitoring treatment plant performance since the upgrades to the sand and the plant controls were carried out last week.
To date over €100,000 has been invested in upgrading the plant. All network sampling has been clear of bacteria and chlorine results in the network are compliant.
“We are hopeful that there will be positive movement on the lifting of this notice in the coming days,” concluded Mr Hore.
Minister for Housing and Local Government Darragh O’Brien T.D. and Cllr. Barbara-Anne Murphy, Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council, in a virtual event, signed a UN Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) designating the High Performance Building Alliance (HPBA) as a designated UN Centre of Excellence in Enniscorthy at the recent COP 26 Climate Change Conference.
The initiative signals Ireland’s commitment to the sustainable and energy efficient development of buildings in an initiative led by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe outlined by Olga Algayerova, Executive Secretary and Scott Foster, Director of Sustainable Energy at the UNECE.
Wexford County Council (WCC) and Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board (WWETB) worked together to establish the centre of excellence as the first local authority provider of NZEB social housing and the first Education and Training Board to provide NZEB training nationally with over 1,000 people trained to date at the WWETB NZEB training centre in Enniscorthy.
Cllr. Barbara Anne Murphy-Chair addressed the COP 26 event and outlined how the High Performance Building Alliance aims to be a leader and champion of high performance energy buildings and to increase knowledge, capacity and demand for low carbon emissions buildings. In particular the HPBA will advance innovation and lead in the use of sustainable solutions through collaboration with the global Network of Centres of Excellence.
The UN Centre of Excellence at Enniscorthy is already named as a key driver in reducing carbon emissions in the built environment and providing training for the construction industry in the National Development Plan. The UN status now elevates the HPBA to represent not just Ireland but to be a global leader working in collaboration with UN centres from other Nations.
Pictured at the UN virtual signing at Government Buildings of the High Performance Buildings Alliance in Enniscorthy as a Centre of Excellence at COP 26. From left; Tony Larkin, Deputy Chief Executive Wexford County Council, Liz Hore, Head of Enterprise & Economic Development Wexford County Council, Minister James Browne, Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy, Chairperson of High Performance Building Alliance and Wexford County Council, Minister Darragh O’Brien, Paul Kehoe TD, Michael O’Brien Innovation and Development Manager at Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board and Kevin Lewis Chief Executive of Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board. Photo: Mary Browne.
The built environment and construction sector is central to tackling climate change, with buildings consuming as much as 70% of the electricity generated globally and accounting for 40% of Co2 emissions. High performance buildings are designed to use minimal amounts of energy for heating, cooling, lighting and ventilation with a range of benefits for both the environment and the people who live and work in them.
Providing education and training and other critical resources the centres will support their local industries to move forward in line with the UN framework guidelines for Energy Efficiency Standards in Buildings.
The WWETB flagship Enniscorthy training centre model funded by SOLAS, is now being rolled out by the Irish government to four other regional centres in order to ensure the industry has trained and skilled staff in working in the delivery of energy efficient buildings both new and retrofit.
Wexford County Council are currently recruiting a new Chief Executive for the HPBA and establishing the HPBA headquarters with the UN centre in Enniscorthy.
The Board of the HPBA involves a number of key stakeholders, government departments, state agencies, NGO’s and Industry including Tomas O’Leary from Mosart architects, an Enniscorthy native who is an industry leader in energy efficient buildings in Ireland.
It is expected in 2022 that the HPBA initiative will host an international event to launch the UN centre in Enniscorthy and to showcase international speakers on how the built environment can address climate change while providing warmer, and better homes for people.
Liz Hore, Head of Enterprise and Economic Development at Wexford County Council gave a comprehensive presentation on the UN MoU at last Monday’s monthly meeting of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council held in the Presentation Centre, Enniscorthy.
The Boil Water Notice on the Wexford Town Public Water Supply since October 30th is “now lifted with immediate effect.”
A statement issued this afternoon said; “Irish Water and Wexford County Council wishes to notify customers on the Wexford Town Public Water Supplythat following the completion of remedial measures and the receipt of satisfactory monitoring results, the boil water notice which has been in place is now lifted with immediate effect. This decision follows consultation undertaken with the Health Service Executive.
All consumers on the Wexford Town Public Water Supplycan now resume normal use of the water supply for drinking, food preparation and brushing teeth.
Irish Water and the Local Authority/Health Service Executive Water Liaison Group will continue to meet and will review ongoing process control, monitoring and testing of the drinking water supply.
The Irish Water Customer Contact Centre (1800 278 278) is available to answer customer queries in relation to this water notice. Further information is available on www.water.ie.
Irish Water and Wexford County Council acknowledge the patience, co-operation and assistance of the public during the period of the boil water notice and greatly regrets any inconvenience caused to householders and the business community.
Plans for the Centenary Programme was controversial amongst members at today’s monthly meeting of Gorey-Kilmuckridge Municipal District Council held in the Upton Court Hotel, Kilmuckridge, where Cathaoirleach Cllr Pip Breen was on hand to calm matters.
Prior to the meeting, Cllr Fionntán Ó Súilleabhain claims he contacted his Council colleagues seeking their support for a cross-party motion which read; “That we produce a mural as one part of our Centenary Programme to honour local figures such as Liam Mellows, Seán Etchingham and Máire Comerford”.
Cllr Ó Súilleabháin told the meeting that while viewing the online agenda last night he felt disappointed, but not at all surprised to see that Fianna Fáil as a group had withdrawn their support for the proposal despite having agreed to their names on the cross-party motion when it was submitted.
An historic stone memorial in Gorey Town Park. Is there room for another?
“It was done in a spirit of co-operation for what should be a non-party political approach to these centenary events,” he stated.
He could not understand why murals were not suitable despite “having several beautiful murals on other subjects in the district, which they had praised and fully supported and with which they were delighted to pose for photos.”
Cllr Diarmuid Devereux praised the three major historical figures associated with the Gorey area,
“We are the only town in Leinster, that I am aware of, that has three significant leaders, one an executed leader of the War of Independence, that are buried within a four-five mile radius of the town – we have Máire Comerford, a world renowned feminist, Liam Mellows who is commemorated annually and Sean Etchingham, who was the first Cathaoirleach of Cumann Lúth-cleas Gael Loch Garman.
Cllr Willie Kavanagh believed “a mural won’t be there for all time.” Cllr Anthony Donohoe asked if murals were “putting a ball and chain around Councils in twenty or thirty year’s time when they would have to be replaced,” he felt maybe a memorial in Gorey Town Park might be the best approach. He favoured a “more classier piece of art or something like that.”
Cllr Donal Kenny said he was not in favour of a mural. He supported Cllr Donohoe and claimed “they are alright for a couple of years, they need maintenance and they don’t get it.”
Cathaoirleach Cllr Pip Breen said “we are all in agreement that we need a memorial, whether it is a mural or a stone, and he suggested putting a sub-committee together to liaise with the County Librarian, when Cllr Donohoe interjected and claimed that 1798 was blighted with stone memorials, in 2016 we put up stones, and he felt that something more thoughtful be considered.
Cllr Mary Farrell asked if the removal of the word ‘mural’ from the proposal would help? Cllr Joe Sullivan told the meeting that there were numerous talented artists around Gorey and he suggested setting up a committee to look at the various options and come up with a fitting memorial to 1922.
There is a strong demand for tickets to the Gorey One-Act Drama Festival taking place from Wednesday to Saturday, inclusive. Three plays each night in Gorey Little Theatre.
Kilmuckridge Drama Group’s A Family Affair and Kilrush Drama Group’s Red Carnation are the Wexford performers on the opening night along with Gaggin Drama Group from west Cork with Lucy in the Sky.
On Thursday night, Camross Drama Group presents Semblance of Madness, Balally Players will perform Bedbound, and concludes with Something Unspoken by Martello Productions.
Friday night’s line up is as follows; The Christmas Tree by Blue Transit Theatre, Galway, A Night With The Stars from Coolgreany Drama Group and Lucan Drama Group, Dublin, presents Contractions.
Adjudication takes place after Saturday night’s three plays; Normal from Navan Theatre, A Kind Of Alaska by Pic Players from Clara, Co. Offaly, and the concluding presentation is The Fat Lady Sings in Little Grimley by the Clondalkin Drama Group.
Tickets for the drama festival in Gorey will be available on the door or online at http://www.gr8events.ie, Prices are €12 per night, or €40 for a Patron’s Ticket for all four nights.
Audience members must wear face masks in the theatre, with refreshments served at intervals. Covid Certs and ID are also required.
Today’s monthly meeting of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council chaired by An Cathaoirleach, Cllr. Cathal Byrne and held in the Presentation Centre, Convent Road, learned that an application was submitted to the Department of Rural and Community Development for works at the River Walk south of the town.
The project would involve the resurfacing of the entire riverside trail –about three kilometres – and resurface a track by the River Urrin up to St. John’s Bridge consisting of a 600-metre loop.
Municipal Administrator, Bernie Quigley, claims in her report that this work will allow wheelchairs and disabled users access around the Urrin footbridge.
A grant allocation of €200,000 is available and funding allocations is expected to be announced in December or January.
The installation of water fountains at The Promenade, which is the pathway to the River Walk, along with installations at Bunclody, Bree, the Twenty-One Steps at Templeshannon, and Doyle’s Corner, The Duffy is imminent and should be complete by the end of December.
There was also support at today’s meeting for the laying of a footpath from Cherryorchard to The Still. Members agreed and suggesting that it would be “another leisurely walk on the outskirts of the town and families could admire the ducks in The Still Pond.” The project will be advanced when funding becomes available.
The Promenade leading to the Enniscorthy River Walk seen from the Urrin Footbridge.
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