Tales, Traditions & Folklore of Wexford is the latest publication to come from the pen of prolific Wexford writer, Liam Gaul, and it is a real stocking filler for Christmas.
Described by the author as “a dip-in- and out” style of reading the content is made up of snippets from the history pages. Wexford town in 1902 emerges through the surviving film when the Mitchell and Kenyon cameras came to town.
Wexford author LIAM GAUL with his latest publication; ‘Tales, Traditions and Folklore of Wexford, Vol. 2
The Mitchell & Kanyon film company was a pioneer of early commercial motion pictures based in the Lancashire town of Blackburn in England, in the early days of the 20th century. Liam Gaul’s work is enhanced by the discovery in 1994 of film negatives that were restored.
Eighteen hundred rolls of nitrate film remained sealed in barrels the basement of a shop in Blackburn, for 70 years, and when investigated they contained valuable film from Wexford town. What a discovery? It forms the backbone of Liam Gaul’s latest work.
Plenty of other interesting tales in this fine book which is a great stocking-filler, and the proceeds are in aid of Wexford Women’s Refuge and Wexford Lions Club.
LIAM GAUL talking to DAN WALSH about his latest book, ‘Tales, Tradition and Folklore of Wexford. Vol. 2
Tales, Traditions & Folklore of Wexford, Vol. 2, Compiled by Liam Gaul, A40 size, illustrated, 64 pages.
The spirit of Christmas present faded at 8 o’clock tonight when the early closing time called for restaurants, bars and cafés came into effect as part of the new restrictions aimed at assisting the health service cope with the spread of the Omicron variant.
Other restrictions include indoor events scheduled earlier in the day limited to attendance of 50% of capacity or 1,000 people, whichever is lower and outdoor events are also limited to half capacity, to a maximum of 5,000 people.
An Taoiseach Micheál Martin said this will help the country get to the other side of the current wave as safely as possible.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan has said the new restrictions will substantially cut the volume of total social contact across society if people follow “not just the letter but the spirit” of the guidelines.
Dr Holohan told RTE News; “it is now down to people individually” to confine social engagements to small groups of people and not to meet up with multiple groups of people over Christmas time. He added people should look to cut out discretionary contacts and that there are no plans to introduce stricter measures before Christmas.
Wexford’s Henrietta Street. Almost deserted. A sad sight. No Christmas cheer for 2021.(File Picture)
However, he said that NPHET will continue to monitor the situation over Christmas and is available to give more information to the Government if need be.
The restrictions do not apply to takeaway or delivery services. Religious services are exempt. The measures will remain in place until January 30th.
The brave and competitive Kinsella family from Marshalstown have become the second Wexford winner of Ireland’s Fittest Family and are €15,000 richer following tonight’s final shown on RTÉ 1 television.
The team comprised of Dad Patrick (49) and the kids, Michael (21), David (18) and Caoimhe (15). They showed an amazing display of strength, resilience and determination in the television series featuring families competing in different adventure races and fitness challenges.
The Kinsella family from Marshalstown, winners of Ireland’s Fittest Family, with coach Anna Geary. (Pic; Courtesy of RTÉ).
The final had viewers across the country, and particularly in Co. Wexford, biting their nails and on the edge of their seats with a Cinderella twist, with Caoimhe Kinsella losing her shoes going through the final cargo net. “Take off your socks!” coach Anna Geary yelled at Caomhe as she steels herself for the final ramp. There were two centimetres in it, it was so close.
It was down to the two dads at the end, but it was Michael Kinsella who was hauled up a couple of seconds before Aidan McIntyre. It was a Wexford success for the first time in the nine years of the competition.
“We have been watching the show since the first season but had to wait for Caoimhe to get to 15 to be able to apply,” said Patrick, who added; “All the children have won awards for under-age boxing but I reckon Caoimhe was ‘the secret weapon’.
Each year, the competition begins with a group of 15-20 families, all of whom will be put through extreme endurance challenges in new locations around the country competing for the chance of winning €15,000 and the title of Ireland’s Fittest Family.
The event was decided over eight weeks and tonight’s final featuring four families was filmed at the To Hell and Back Hub at Kilruddery, Co. Wicklow.
Already on social media messages of congratulations and pride in the well-earned victory for the brave Kinsella family from Marshalstown, near Enniscorthy, are pouring in and bound to make the front pages of the Christmas edition of the local press.
Wexford Pantomime Society has announced the postponement of its January 2022 production Aladdin.
NATIONAL OPERA HOUSE, WEXFORD.
“There have been a number of different factors to this decision,” the Society said in a press release, and added; “Mainly the national public health advice about reducing social contacts and the spread of Covid within the community, in addition, the unknown Omicron variant and uncertainty regarding restrictions in the entertainment industry were also considered.
Looking to the future, the Society stated its plans to stage Aladdin with the current cast, chorus, and choir in the first half of 2022 and are currently liaising with the team at the National Opera House, Wexford, seeking new dates.
In conclusion, the Society asks “to bear with us as we work on this, and we’ll inform you about these new dates as soon as possible. All tickets purchased will be transferred to the new dates and refunds will be available if the new dates do not suit you.”
Minister of State at the Department of Health Mary Butler has launched a report of the findings from an innovative telehealth pilot which set out to provide a 12-week telehealth intervention to 50 patients in Wexford with a chronic illness.
Telehealth refers to the use of electronic and telecommunication technologies to support healthcare at a distance from the patient. This year in County Wexford a telehealth pilot project was undertaken by a multi-agency Stakeholder Group (Wexford County Council-Age Friendly Programme including the Wexford Older Peoples Council, Age Friendly Ireland, HSE, Wexford General Hospital, including Consultant Geriatrician and Clinical Nurse Specialists and Tunstall Emergency Response).
This pilot project set out to provide a 12-week telehealth intervention to 50 patients with chronic illnesses including Chronic Heart Disease, COPD and Diabetes. The project was independently evaluated and monitored by Waterford Institute of Technology and their research report, including their findings and recommendations was launched in Wexford by Minister Mary Butler.
MINISTER MARY BUTLERTOM ENRIGHT CEO WEXFORD COUNTY COUNCIL
Telehealth can be used to support older adults to self-manage their health conditions within their own homes. Depending on the health condition being monitored, patients were provided with specific equipment. The patients with COPD were asked to use a blood pressure monitor, pulse oximeter and thermometer.
Those with CHF used the blood pressure monitor, pulse oximeter and scales, while the patients with diabetes recorded their blood pressure, weight and could also if they wished manually input their blood glucose readings. The patients input their readings daily into a tablet and this information was transferred to clinicians at Wexford General Hospital, with an alarm system in place if the readings were outside of limits set by the medical team.
Speaking at the launch, Mr Tom Enright, Chief Executive of Wexford County Council said; “The Joint Departmental Housing Options for Older People set out a clear objective of how assistive technology can support older people to age in place. Throughout the pandemic the need for adaptive technology solutions has never been more important. I am delighted that Wexford County Council, through its Age Friendly Programme is actively engaged in working with Age Friendly Ireland to address the emerging needs that this report is highlighting here today, and I look forward to the next phase of this project’.
Minister Butler said; “With a rapidly increasing population of older adults in Ireland, the enhancement of community supports and health interventions that will enable the realisation of care as close to home as possible has never been so important. As Minister, I am committed to maximising the use of virtual and telehealth services to enhance access to supports for individuals and their families.”
This Wexford telehealth pilot is very timely in the context not only of an ageing population but also in the context of Covid 19. Phase Two of the Telehealth project will see it expanding to other counties and is an indication of the success of Phase One.
Gardaí are seeking the public’s assistance in tracing the whereabouts of 13 years old Scarlet Bright, who was last seen in Wexford town at 4pm, yesterday (Wednesday).
SCARLET BRIGHT
Scarlet is described as 5’ 5” in height, of strong build with shoulder length black hair. When last seen she was wearing all black casual clothing.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Wexford Garda station on 053 9165200, the Garda confidential line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.
A North Wexford company were fined €175,000 at a sitting of Wexford Circuit Court, before Judge Martin Nolan, following an investigation into a fatal accident that occurred on April 1st, 2016. Faser Court Limited pleaded guilty to a charge under Regulation 54(2) Safety, Health & Welfare at Work (Quarries) Regulations 2008 Contrary to Section 77(2)(c) Safety, Health & Welfare at Work Act 2005.
The case arose following an investigation by the Health and Safety Authority into an incident that occurred on April 1st, 2016 that resulted in an employee, Mr Peter Byrne, sustaining fatal injuries. Mr Byrne was employed as a machine operator by Faser Court Limited (also known as Casey’s Quarry and Casey Concrete) at Coolishall Quarry, Gorey, Co. Wexford.
On April 1st, 2016, a quarry face blast was carried out at Coolishall quarry. The blasted face was checked and given the ‘all clear’ by the explosive supervisor prior to the commencement of digging out the blasted rock. The incident occurred approximately 20 minutes after the blast. Mr Byrne was operating an excavator and was loading a dumper when the quarry face above him suddenly collapsed burying the excavator he was operating. Another operator received minor injuries while Mr Byrne received fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The quarry face was approximately 62 meters in height.
Mark Cullen, Assistant Chief Executive with the Health and Safety Authority said that this tragic incident arose from not ensuring that all the necessary assessments were carried out on the quarry face in advance of the works proceeding and there was no Geotechnical Assessment carried out prior to work commencing.
This case is a stark reminder to quarry operators of the necessity to have all the necessary surveys and pre-planning done prior to commencing work on any quarry face.
Over 99.5% of samples taken in 2020 across Ireland’s 740 public drinking water supplies are compliant for microbiological and chemical standards producing water that is safe to drink according to the latest Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Drinking Water Report. This work continued throughout 2021, with an additional six supplies removed so far this year, benefitting over 660,000 people.
Since 2014, Irish Water has been working in partnership with Wexford County Council, to address water quality issues across the county. “We have built new drinking water infrastructure in towns and villages across the county, improving water quality and benefitting local communities.
The RIVER SOW at beautiful Edenvale, Castlebridge.
“By building this new infrastructure we have improved drinking water for over 11,000 people and facilitated the removal of the Sow Regional Water Supply Scheme from the EPA’s Remedial Action List.
“Irish Water, working in partnership with Wexford County Council, are progressing works for the delivery of the Gorey Regional Water Supply Scheme. The project provides for a new water treatment plant (WTP) and reservoir at Ballyminaun Hill, upgrades to an existing reservoir at Ballyminaun Hill and associated interconnecting infrastructure. Works are due to be completed by the end of this year. The existing scheme is operating at maximum capacity. This project will increase capacity to the area and facilitate growth and development. This project will benefit businesses and residents of Gorey and the surrounding area through improvement of security of water supply.”
Progress has been made in other projects and programmes including the Wexford Disinfection Programme.
“We’re investing €65 million to upgrade and standardise disinfection systems across the country. The programme involves over 864 water treatment plants, pumping stations, and reservoirs across the country.
“Delivering clean, safe drinking water is our top priority. Disinfection is an important part of the water treatment process. The disinfection progress kills disease-causing organisms in water.
“Irish Water is upgrading Water Treatment Plants across Wexford as part of the National Disinfection Programme. This programme has resulted in upgrades and standardisation of disinfection systems at 25 water treatment plants, pumping stations and reservoirs across the county.
To date, upgrades have been completed in Ballindaggin, Boolavogue, Bree, Carrickduff, Castledockrell, Clonroche, Coolgreaney, Davidstown, Vinegar Hill, Killagooley, Edermine, Ballygarron, Kiltealy Ballycrystal, Ballinellard, Newtown, Woodview Drive Adamstown, Monagear-Moin Rua, Camolin, Chestnut Grove, Raheen, Terrarath, Creagh, Glynn and Carrickbyrne Water Treatment Plants.
A symbol of the past. An old water pump preserved in Kilmyshall.
The report also refers to Irish Water’s lead programme which involves the replacement of lead service connections in the public network. There are an estimated 180,000 lead service connections in Ireland and Irish Water has replaced over 35,000 to date.
Commenting on the report, Eamon Gallen, General Manager of Irish Water, said: “Irish Water acknowledges the report. Overall, in 2020 public water supplies were 99% compliant which is a world class level of compliance with the drinking water regulations. Given the size and scale of the legacy issues and continued need to upgrade plants and the network, Irish Water is delighted to achieve a 99% compliance rate.
“The report is clear, however, that much more remains to be done. The building, repair and upgrading of Irish Water’s water treatment plants, wastewater treatment plants, water and sewer network will require a multi-billion euro investment programme over many years.
Gardaí in Thomastown are renewing their appeal for witnesses following a fatal road traffic collision that occurred on the N25 at Gaulstown in Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny, on Wednesday evening December 1st, 2021.
The incident occurred at approximately 6.30pm and involved two cars. The driver of one of the cars, a Wexford woman in her 40s, was pronounced dead at the scene. Three women, two aged in their 20s and one in her late teens, were taken to University Hospital Waterford to be treated for serious injuries.
Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this collision to come forward. Any road users who were travelling on the N25 in Glenmore on Wednesday, December 1st, 2021 between 6.15pm and 6.40pm and who may have camera footage (including dash cam) is asked to make it available to Gardaí.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Thomastown Garda Station on 056 7754150, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
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