Many roads and bridges in the Enniscorthy district are marked for inspection and survey following the torrential rain that fell on Christmas Day and Executive Engineer Neil Dempsey updated members at last Monday’s monthly meeting of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council held under Covid-18 guidelines at the Presentation Centre, Enniscorthy. Cathaoirleach Cllr Cathal Byrne presided.
Mr Dempsey said work has started at the bridges of Kilcarbery and Finchogue and will commence at Ballybrennan in a week or two. At Ballybrennan the Ballinavary Bridge, which is open to traffic, will be inspected but a substantial portion of the wall at the road junction was swept away. There are also enormous amounts of debris in the river area including an extra-large tree across the River Boro opposite the old quarry complex.
A large section of a wall and entrance to a field at Ballybrennan was completely swept away in the Christmas Day floods.
Mr Dempsey added that the Council had meetings with the fisheries and bridge engineers and work on clearing the debris has started. A preservation order has been submitted to the Department in relation to Kilcarbery and Wilton.
Mr Dempsey assured members that progress is taking place, but it is a slow process and water levels are still quite high and hampering works like under bridge inspection.
Cllr Kathleen Codd-Nolan noted the importance of inspecting all the bridges in the district. “Some are not in great nick and potentially dangerous,” she concluded.
Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy thanked the Council workers for responding to the appalling conditions that befell the district on Christmas Day and their commitment to the public in the days that followed, and she hoped that the district would get “a really good allocation” to complete repairs to roads and bridges.
In other matters relating to poor road conditions. Cllr Jackser Owens reported the situation at Peg’s Lane in Ballyboy, Ferns, and he also noted weeds overgrowing at Killagoley. “There is no footpath now and the area is dangerous for pedestrians,” he added.
Cllr Aidan Browne drew attention to the “poor performance of some street lights” and the engineer agreed to pursue the matter future.
BALLINAVARY BRIDGE has been connecting the parishes of Bree and Davidstown since 1865 and it continues to serve that important purpose.
HISTORY ADDENDUM; Today I visited Ballinavary Bridge, an area I would have been familiar with while growing up in Bree, and, using modern technology managed to decipher the barely legible stone plaque that reads; ‘Ballinavary Bridge, 1865’.
It is an impressive single arch, and a short distance away is a smaller arch that used to carry the millrace to serve Wilton Mills. It still carries water having separated from the River Boro at Ballybrennan Bridge on the road past the grotto to Ballymackessey, however, I’m told that it no longer continues towards Wilton Mills, but rejoins the River Boro short of the ruins.
Wilton Mills, although in the townland of Ballinavary, built as a flax mill by Charles Pounell in the mid-1800s. It was never an enormous success and was sold to the Kennedy family who used it to grind corn and saw timber and it later passed to the Murphy family. Power was served by a waterwheel that was eventually sold for scrap.
The five-year (2022-2026) Housing For All Plan is being presented to District Councils across the county and the members of Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District were given details at the monthly meeting on Tuesday.
The policy has four pathways to achieving housing for all; supporting home ownership and increasing affordability, eradicating homelessness, increasing social housing delivery and supporting social inclusion, increasing new housing supply and addressing vacancy and efficient use of existing stock. It is a complicated document.
The minimum target distributed by gross demand is 1,150 houses comprising of Enniscorthy (253), Gorey Kilmuckridge (297), New Ross (168), Rosslare (96) and Wexford (336).
Geographical distribution of social housing demand and approved delivery for the Gorey Kilmuckridge District (i.e, the number of households on SSHA ‘social housing assessment) is 363, broken down as follows; Ballycanew/Ballygarrett/Camolin/Craanford (17); Ballymurn/ Glenbrien/Oylegate (12), Blackwater (9); Boolavogue/Monageer (7); Coolgreany (7); Gorey (249); Hollyfort/Kilanerin (6); Kilmuckridge (14); Monamolin (4); Oulart/The Ballagh (14); Riverchapel/Courtown (24).
MAIN STREET, GOREY, looking towards Tara Hill. (File Pic).
Some of the constraints and challenges facing the Plan includes the availability of mains water and wastewater in some areas of the county; limited existing land bank and the ability to acquire good sites in the right location; availability and capacity of contractors (It is stated that Housing for All will require a further 27,500 construction workers (nationwide?); the cost of raw materials and availability; a buoyant private market in terms of demand and limited turnkey options for Local Authority and AHB’s, and, of course, there is also Covid uncertainty.
Cllr Andrew Bolger told the meeting “It is easier to buy property in Dublin than in Gorey.” He added that it was a serious issue and called for a radical housing programme for Gorey.
Cllr Fionntán Ó Súilleabhán called for a Council led development and claimed the private market was the problem. “When it comes to affordable rent there is nothing in Gorey”, said Cllr Ó Súilleabháin, who repeated his call for the Council to build social housing.
Cllr Willie Kavanagh wondered when the 27 houses at The Ballagh will be allocated?
Cllr Diarmuid Devereux explained how nobody can built a house in Camolin and it was “choking the life out of the community – the Church of Ireland parish, the Roman Catholic community, the school, the GAA and other sports and community organisations – because Irish Water is protected by the government and political system. He added that there are seven new houses coming to Ballyoughter. Cllr Devereux mentioned that it can take seven years from buying the land and progressing through the planning and tendering progress before people can live in a house.
There was mention of holiday homes empty for 9-10 months, Cllr Joe Sullivan referred to 75 acres at St. Waleran’s and land at Rathínculain owned by the Council. Cllr Donal Kenny felt that there were several parcels of land available, and Cllr Anthony Donohoe said that Irish Water was under-funded when handed over.
There was a general consensus that Gorey Kilmuckridge needs housing and the villages should be provided with small housing schemes like in times past, but, delivery is going to be a major challenge due to rising costs and regulation and restrictions on fresh water and wastewater services.
Gorey’s historic Market House on the Main Street should be prioritised for development during 2022 and there was strong support from members at today’s monthly meeting of Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District Council held under Covid-19 guidelines in Gorey Courthouse this afternoon.
Cllr Joe Sullivan suggested that the Market House be placed in the middle of plans for Gorey in 2022. “In the seven years that I have been on the Council the Market House and Esmonde Street have been under discussion and I want developments be brought to fruition,” he stated.
Cllr Donal Kenny said the Market House could be “a game changer for Gorey” and he asked that the CEO, Tom Enright, be invited to the Market House swiftly and see can progress be made.
Cllr Anthony Donohoe stated that in his seven and a half years on the council “the Market House was on the books” and he hoped “2022 could get something moving.”
Cllr Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin reminded the members that the historic chamber room was “falling into disrepair” and he hoped it could be restored to display “priceless objects.”
Executive Engineer Larry McHale updated members on the Enniscorthy Flood Relief Scheme at today’s monthly meeting of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council held under Covid-19 guidelines at the Presentation Centre, Enniscorthy.
Referring to the most recent flooding Mr McHale described “a serious event” that brought Minister Patrick O’Donovan, who has responsibility for the OPW, from his home and family in Limerick to Enniscorthy on St. Stephen’s Day where he met with members and officials and witnessed for himself the importance of the scheme.
Minister O’Donovan promised to meet with the members and discuss the delays in progressing the scheme and that special meeting took place on January 5th.
The meeting with Minister O’Donovan was described as “very positive” and that funding is secure for the scheme, and “it is very important for people to hear that.” There are problems with court challenges, but the Council is awaiting approval and the contract documents are ready for signing.
River Slaney burst its banks and spilled onto the roadside at Enniscorthy on St. Stephen’s Day 2021.
Cllr Jackser Owens told the meeting he had met the Minister, who he described as “frank and honest”, and he was assured that “the money is there.” Cllr Owens made reference to objections to the scheme and wondered if there were a time limit on legal objections.
Cllr Codd-Nolan said it was “a very positive” meeting with the Minister and she was relieved that “the money is there” for the scheme, but she questioned the legal agreements and consultants on huge money holding up the scheme.
Cathaoirleach, Cllr Cathal Byrne, reported that the Minister confirmed that the money for the Enniscorthy Flood Defence Scheme is ringfenced with his Department but that he is awaiting approval of the Enniscorthy Flood Defence Scheme from Minister Michael McGrath and the Department of Public Expenditure who are currently reviewing the environmental surveys and impact assessments as part of a legal approval process. “I again raised the need for this process to be sped up so that the works can start, he added.
Senator Malcolm Byrne has been urging that clarity be provided for this year’s students since last summer and today he reiterated his call that a hybrid model of predicted grades and sat exams be used again for this year’s Leaving Certificate class.
“Those in this year’s Leaving Cert experienced as much disruption to their learning as the Leaving Cert Class of 2021 and provision needs to be made for that. In some cases, it can be through adapted exam papers, but I think the hybrid model that worked well last year should also operate for the Class of 2022. It is also important that a decision is reached soon in order to provide certainty,” he stated,
SENATOR MALCOLM BYRNE
Senator Byrne confirmed to WexfordLocal.com that he has spoken to groups of students in County Wexford “and the overwhelming majority of students favour the hybrid model.”
“I have raised this with the Minister, and she has not made a decision, but is listening to all the partners in education. The student representatives are strongly supporting the hybrid model, but the executives of the teaching unions want to see the traditional exam this June.”
Senator Byrne has highlighted that there are “more higher and further education places provided than ever before and so more options for those sitting exams.” He also asked that allowances be made for, and certainty given to students due to sit the Junior Certificate.
Community growing provides a range of health benefits including physical activity, mental wellbeing, and social connection. The ‘Seeds to Success’ series is an online ‘seed share’ of knowledge and learned experience from six growing communities of diverse types and stages of development across County Wexford.
The hope is sharing these growing experiences will inspire other Wexford communities to get digging, planting and producing in their own locality.
Community Growing projects featured in the series are Castlebridge Community Garden, Askamore Community Garden, New Ross Allotments, Blackwater Tidy Towns, Grantstown Priory and ARC Family Resource Centre Community Gardens.
CLLR JOHN HEGARTY, Chair of the Healthy County Committee.
Speaking of the initiative Cllr John Hegarty, Chair of the Healthy County Committee said; “I would encourage communities everywhere to watch this series. It is inspirational to see not only the work and effort of communities but the obvious health benefits that community growing provides to participants. Wexford’s Healthy County Committee are delighted to been able to facilitate the development of this demonstrative series.”
Commenting on the rollout of the online videos over the coming season, Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy, Cathaoirleach, of Wexford County Council added; “The variety in the series is amazing, showing how community growing can be of benefit for all ages. The mix of more established gardens and newer developments provides both aspiration and realism and I can see the series being of benefit to communities’
The ‘Seeds to Success’ series visits newly established gardens and ones that have been around awhile. It looks at the diverse types of community growing and gives a chance to meet some of the growers themselves and find out what they get out of the growing experience. Just as they seed-share in the gardens, these growers share their knowledge and experience with us; giving tips for others who are interested in developing community growing.
The series premieres online at 8pm on Thursday 27th January via Healthy Wexford YouTube and on Healthy Wexford Facebook page. Running for six weeks, one episode published per week, releasing at 8pm each Thursday evening. View our series promo online from this week by searching Healthy Wexford Seeds to Success or visiting our Healthy Wexford social media.
Two point-to-point fixtures today at Carrigarostig, Co. Cork, and Turtulla, Co. Tipperary and six Wexford winners emerged with handlers and riders from south Wexford enjoying the lion’s share of the success.
Barry O’Neill and Colin Bowe were successful in division two of the maiden race for five-year-old geldings at the Cork venue with a ten lengths victory for Senior Chief in the Milestone Bloodstock Ltd colours. O’Neill went on to record a double and bring his seasonal tally to 25 when winning the Open Race by 16 lengths on the consistent Gordon Elliott trained Mighty Stowaway.
Division one of the maiden race for five-year-old geldings went to the newcomer Western Diego running in the colours of Mary Claire Neville, handled at Cleariestown by Mark Scallan and ridden by Tiernan Power Roche from Tomhaggard. The winning verdict was five lengths.
SEAN DOYLE was amongst the winners at Tipperary today.
Earl of Desmond gained a two-length victory in the maiden race for six-years- plus geldings in the colours of Basil Hollan handled at Mayglass by Billy Codd, father of veteran amateur champion rider Jamie Codd. Local lad Jack Hendrick was in the saddle.
At the Tipperary track, Jenny and Benny Walsh from Tomhaggard took the maiden race for five-year-old mares with Autumn Return with one length to spare in the hands of Barry Stone, Tomhaggard.
Another son of Tomhaggard Jamie Scallan was also amongst the winners. He partnered Great Name That for Sean Doyle and the Monbeg Partnership by eight lengths in division one of the maiden race for five year old geldings.
Rob James trained and rode Top Of The List for the Matchmaker Syndicate and was six lengths to the good crossing the finish line in division one of the maiden race for ‘older’ maidens.
While there were no point-to-point last weekend the action returned at Aughabullogue, Co. Cork, this afternoon and it was a memorable occasion for Conor O’Keeffe, (27), who rode and handled his first winner -Meetuatnine by one length in the maiden race for five- and six-year-old mares.
Owned by Sean McCabe and running in her third race Meetmuatnine is for sale having provided Conor O’Keeffe, Harveystown, Taghmon with a day to remember.
SEAN O’KEEFFE
Conor is the older brother of top jump jockey Sean O’Keeffe who had a double at Fairyhouse this afternoon on Autumn Evening (7/2) for Jessica Harrington and Daily Present (9/4) an eight and a half lengths victory in a maiden hurdle for Paul Nolan’s Toberona stables near Enniscorthy.
The champion pair of Barry O’Neill and Colin Bowe were also successful at Cork as El Rojo Grande ran out the five lengths winner of the maiden race for five-year-old geldings.
As regular followers of the point-to-point scene will know the sport has been running into difficulty regards insurance cover, however, the good news is that I have it from a reliable source that a UK company may be about to enter the insurance market and cover for country sports should soon be restored. Negotiations are progressing well and an official announcement is expected soon.
It was announced yesterday (Friday) that the Episcopal Electoral College for the United Dioceses of Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe, meeting in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, has elected the Rt Revd Michael Burrows, Bishop of Cashel, Ferns and Ossory, as the Bishop of Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe.
Bishop Burrows succeeds the Rt Revd Patrick Rooke (formerly Bishop of Tuam, Killala and Achonry) and the Rt Revd Dr Kenneth Kearon (formerly Bishop of Limerick and Killaloe) who both retired at the end of October 2021, at which time the two dioceses were united.
He has served as Bishop of Cashel, Ferns and Ossory since 2006, and was previously Dean of Cork, Rector of Bandon, Church of Ireland Chaplain at Trinity College Dublin, and Curate in Douglas with Frankfield.
Rt-Revd BISHOP MICHAEL BURROWS
The Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson, Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland, said: “Bishop Michael Burrows has served the Church of God and the Church of Ireland assiduously as deacon, priest and bishop. The clergy and people of Cashel, Ferns and Ossory have been greatly enriched by his commitment, compassion and energy. He will readily invest all these qualities in the life of Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe. I wish him all that is best in his new diocese under God.”
The Bishop-elect said: “I am grateful to the Electoral College for their affirmation and trust. I leave a diocese which I have greatly loved after nearly 16 years, having learned so much from them, but clearly it is a time to embrace the new challenge of a new diocese and I look forward to working to cement the new United Dioceses of Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe and serving God’s people there.”
Following the ratification of the election by the House of Bishops, the Bishop-elect will be translated from the United Dioceses of Cashel, Ferns and Ossory to the United Dioceses of Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe on a date to be determined.
Elected members of Wexford County Council today at a special meeting held in ‘the Street’ at Carricklawn, Wexford, under Covid-19 guidelines, considered a submission by the Chief Executive Officer, Tom Enright, and accepted the findings of a report by the Standards in Public Office (SIPO) Commission and decided to take no further sanctions in relation to the matter.
In a submission circulated to the elected members, Mr Enright said that SIPO “has found in sending two e-mails to South East Radio on 29th and 30th August 2019, I failed to maintain proper standards of integrity, conduct and concern for the public interest and breached the Code of Conduct for Local Authority employees. I thank the elected members for today’s opportunity to provide clarity and context to the reasons why I sent these e-mails.”
TOM ENRIGHT, CEO WEXFORD COUNTY COUNCIL
Mr Enright stated categorically that “I acted at all times in good faith and in the interest of Wexford County Council. I re-state that I regret the tone of my e-mails. However, I do not regret standing up for the Council against unfairness by South East Radio. I believe I was doing my job.”
Mr Enright apologised for “any embarrassment that I have caused to the Council” and he assured elected members that the SIPO findings “will not deter me from the important work of this Council that needs to be done.”
When the discussion were put to the floor of the meeting Mr Enright received overwhelming words of support from the elected members.
Speaking on behalf of the Fine Gael group on Wexford County Council, Cllr Oliver Walsh, said “we are here to discuss the findings and decide on a way forward. “Tom acted in good faith at all times. We have no questions.”
Fianna Fáil’s Cllr Pip Breen said his group accepted that the CEO was acting in the best interests of the Council and called for no formal sanctions.
Sinn Fein’s Cllr Tom Forde described Mr Enright as “a good man” but he objected to correspondence sent to Oireachtas members and felt legal advice should be coming from Wexford County Council members and not Oireachtas members!
Labour’s Cllr George Lawlor described Mr Enright as “a person of the highest integrity” and added; “The work of his team is exemplary and since the arrival of Tom Enright the actions of Wexford County Council have completely transformed the town (Wexford) and county.”
Cllr Ger Carthy said his family has been 57 years on Wexford County Council and he described Mr Enright as “one of the most progressive County Managers (old term for CEO)” and said he was delighted to sign his three-year extension when in the role of Cathaoirleach and he offered thanks for all he had done and wished him well.
Cllr Davy Hynes said he always found Tom Enright to be an excellent CEO. “He comes out on top when it comes to defending the Council,” he added.
Former Mayor of Wexford Cllr Leonard Kelly said Mr Enright was “a man of absolute integrity who stands up for the people of this county.”
Cllr Mary Farrell said; “Tom Enright acted in good faith” and she agreed with the other speakers regards his professionalism and progressive nature.
Cllr Jim Codd (Aontú) stated that while the media must remain free, and he accepted the SIPO findings he stated “to err is human” and Mr Enright’s work far outweighs any need for sanctions. “It is a learning curve for us all,” stated Cllr Codd, who concluded; “I have great respect for Tom Enright.”
Cllr John Hegarty spoke about working beside the CEO when he was Cathaoirleach and described him as “hardworking and diligent and in every action he had Wexford at heart.”
Cllr Pat Barden said was not present in a personal capacity but to represent the 1,900 people who voted for him and lamented that he was given seven days to consider a report of nearly 700 pages and he felt seven days was not enough to consider and discuss a report of this magnitude.
Cllr Oliver Walsh stated it had been a tough time for Tom (Enright) and his family and he asked that a line be drawn under the matter – note the findings, no sanctions, he proposed. Cllr Pip Breen agreed and seconded Cllr Walsh’s motion. “No further sanctions are warranted,” he added. There was no counter motion.
Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy, Cathaoirleach, put the motion to the elected members which read simply “Note the findings of the Report. No further sanctions” There was a roll-call and the following members replied YES ; Cllrs Maura Bell, Andrew Bolger, Pip Breen, Aidan Browne, Cathal Byrne, Ger Carthy, Jim Codd, Kathleen Codd-Nolan, Diarmuid Devereux, Anthony Donohoe, Mary Farrell, John Fleming, Tom Forde, John Hegarty, Davy Hynes, Willie Kavanagh, Leonard Kelly, Donal Kenny, Garry Laffan, George Lawlor, Lisa McDonald, Jim Moore, Barbara-Anne Murphy, Bridín Murphy, John O’Rourke, Michael Sheehan, Frank Staples, Joe Sullivan, Oliver Walsh and Michael Whelan. Cllr Pat Barden ABSTAINED and apologies for absence were accepted on behalf of Cllrs Anthony Connick, Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin and Jackser Owens. The motion was CARRIED.
An emotional Mr Enright said he welcomed the decision of the Elected Members of Wexford County Council who today decided that no action will be taken in relation to the findings in the SIPO report published last week.
“I wish to state again that I regret the tone of the two e-mails sent to South East Radio. However, I was standing up to the radio station who were shown to have breached the Broadcasting Act and who I was informed were acting in a deliberately biased manner against the Council.
“I am very passionate for the work that Council staff and Councillors do to make County Wexford a better place and some of that passion overflowed into these two e-mails.
“I cannot thank people enough for their support during this time. I have been overwhelmed and humbled by the large outpouring of support. Hundreds of messages of support, many from people I don’t even know and have never met.
“The Council should have a good and constructive working relationship with our local radio station and we intend to look to put a Service Level Agreement in place with South East Radio to facilitate an improved relationship into the future.
“I am pleased that I can now draw a line under this matter and concentrate fully on leading the important work and priorities of the Council including the delivery of essential public services, social and affordable housing, supporting communities in the fight against Covid-19 and the continued roll-out of our ambitious community and economic development programme,” concluded Mr Enright.
WexfordLocal.com 