WexfordLocal.com

Cllr Bridín is building bridges

By Dan Walsh

Cllr Bridín Murphy from Clonroche is the new Cathaoirleach of New Ross Municipal District taking over from Cllr Pat Barden and one of her immediate priorities is to liaise with Council officials and engineering staff for the quick restoration of bridges damaged by the torrential Christmas Day rains across a terrain that stretches from Killanne to the Hook, New Ross to Adamstown and lots of townlands in between.

Cllr Murphy has been checking on the bridges in her district and amazingly two of them are on her doorstep. She has been speaking with the roads engineer who have been updating the position at present.

**CLLR BRIDÍN MURPHY surveying the damage to Aughnaglower Bridge on the R735 linking Adamstown and Clonroche.**

The road likely to take priority as ‘a regional road’ is the R735 linking Adamstown with Clonroche and on towards Enniscorthy. “This is Aughnaglower Bridge, more commonly known as Chapel Bridge which was badly damaged. The road has completely disappeared as has the bridge,” she added.

Just over the road is Raheen Bridge linking Clonroche with Bree. “The damage is quite deceptive. The bridge is completely washed away underneath. The damage is not visible from the road, and it will take an assessment to determine how to proceed with this.

“Just across the M25 close to Taghmon, Little Cullenstown Bridge has been completely swept away. And the road from Assagart to Little Cullenstown is impassable now.” concluded Cllr Murphy.

AUDIO ADDITION; CLLR BRIDÍN MURPHY tells DAN WALSH about the damage to bridges in the New Ross Municipal District.

Communities have been cut off. Farms are split, and some unfortunate farmers must travel long round distances to care for animals and continue normal business. Some inconvenience for some time but public safety is a priority at this time and Cllr Murphy and her fellow members in New Ross Municipal District will be keeping on the pressure and seeking a fair share of the repairs to the damage that is felt across Co. Wexford since Christmas Day.

**RAHEEN BRIDGE between Clonroche and Bree via Ballybrennan where the top of the road is mostly intact but the underneath has been swept away.**

Roadside dumping is back

By Dan Walsh

It looks like a child has grown up but the adults have not! While driving at Kiltrea between the N30 and Caim I came upon the contents of a child’s bedroom sitting on the side of the road in the winter sunshine. They were in good condition but totally abandoned!

It is understood that the owner can have them back. They may have accidentally fell from some vehicle and recovery would be a good news story!

**The scene on a country road at Kiltrea, near Caim this afternoon.**

Apparently, this road is popular for indiscriminate dumping and the contents of the nursery were not the only rubbish thrown here in recent times. It is a quiet narrow road, well maintained, and the residents deserve the respect to have it stay that way.

“I have reported dumping many times,” one local resident out for a walk told WexfordLocal.com, and he added; “In fairness the County Council have come out and cleaned the place up, but they don’t seem to be able to catch the culprits. It’s all that GDPR stuff.”

One week into the New Year and the old problems have not gone away. Indiscriminate dumping remains a blot on the landscape and is firmly back on the agenda for Wexford County Council.

Death of well-known Enniscorthy publican

By Dan Walsh

The death has taken place of John Doyle, (87), of Doyle’s Bar, The Duffry, Enniscorthy, who was a well-known member of the Licensed Vintners’ Association.

John grew up in the famed licensed premises of his parents, Joe and Brigid Doyle, and worked at Enniscorthy Post Office for many years, but when his father passed away John and his sister Mary ran the pub and on reaching retirement John concentrated fully on running of the popular meeting place for generations of customers.

There was always a strong family and customer relationship within the premises where sports and family celebrations were occurring on a regular basis. Strangely, it was always referred to locally as ‘Joe Doyles’.

FAMILY NOTICE. Beloved husband of Ann, dearly loved and loving father of the late Joseph and cherished brother of Bessie, Anne, Mary, Patrick and the late Breda. Sadly missed by his loving wife, brother, sisters, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends. May he Rest in Peace

Reposing at Browne’s Funeral Home, Enniscorthy today (Monday) from 7 o’ clock to 9 o’ clock for family and friends. Removal from Browne’s Funeral Home on Tuesday morning to St. Aidan’s Cathedral arriving for Funeral Mass at 10 o’ clock. Burial afterwards in St. Mary’s Cemetery.

Oylegate winner at Cork races

By Dan Walsh

A small Wexford contingent descended on Ballindenisk, Co. Cork for this afternoon’s point-to-point races but there was a Wexford trained winner as first timer Joe’s Turn took up the running before two fences out and lead the field home in division two of the maiden race for six year olds plus.

**Point-to-point action (File Picture)**

Ridden by Harley Dunne, Blackwater, Joe’s Turn was in control from two obstacles out and ran on gamely for a New Year’s victory by three lengths success for Richie Rath whose stables are located at Ballybawn, Screen.

A bay gelding by Jet Away out of Mileshogue Queen, Joe’s Turn is bred and owned by Laurence O’Brien, Oylegate. So a true Wexford victory for the competitive team.

Craanford mother dies in Meath crash

By Dan Walsh

One of the three people killed in a horror head-on road traffic collision on the N52 beside the M3 Motorway in Kells, Co. Meath on New Year’s Eve at around 4.25pm has been named as Julieanne Kehoe, a native of Craanford, near Gorey.

Ms Kehoe, a mother of three in her mid-20s, who was due to get married this year was travelling to Cavan where she is building a house.

Three children who were travelling in her car – a 12 year old boy and two baby girls – were taken to hospital where the boy’s condition is said to be ‘serious’ and the girls injuries were described as ‘not life-threatening’.

Tributes are pouring in as the tragic news is breaking in North Wexford where Julieanne is fondly remembered and her families are well-known and respected. Cllr Donal Kenny said; “She was a great mother. It is an unspeakable tragedy. We are hoping and praying the kids will be okay.”

Gardaí are appealing to witnesses, particularly any road users who were travelling in the area at the time and who may have camera footage, including dashcam, to contact Kells Garda Station on 046 9280820 the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.

5,000 lose water supply

By Dan Walsh

About 5,000 customers were without a water supply this afternoon caused by a power outage at the Killmallock Water Treatment Plant on the River Sow.

Districts affected included Ballymurn, Glenbrien, Curracloe, Oylegate, Crossabeg, Oulart and The Ballagh. The matter has been resolved.

In North Wexford there will be a water outage affecting Ballymoney and Tara Hill tomorrow (Sunday) as Wexford County Council staff repair a burst watermain at Ballymoney close to the booster pump station.

Wexford winners at Cork

By Dan Walsh

The final point-to-point fixture of 2021 took place at Dromahane, Co. Cork on Thursday with an extended nine-race card due to super entries and Wexford raiders made the journey and collected some well-deserved prizemoney.

**MICHAEL GOFF enjoyed a Christmas/New Year success in Cork.**

Barry O’Neill won the Open Race on Mighty Stowaway for Gordon Elliott with four lengths to spare and the four-times champion rider embarks on 2022 with 22 victories, five ahead of his neighbour Rob James who is on the 17 winner mark.

Monageer handler Michael Goff brought his handling career total to 60, five of them this season, in his nine years of training when Rouge de L’Quest scored by two and a half lengths with Tom Hamilton up in division two of the maiden race for five-year-old geldings. The winner carried the familiar colours of Caitriona Goff.

John C. Byrne, who is based in the Kilmore area, was owner and handler of Young Darleen, who led from two out to take the maiden race for five- and six-year-old mares. This was the twelfth career winner for Cleariestown rider Barry Stone, three of them coming in the current season.

The 2022 point-to-point scene is unsettled following the difficulty in securing insurance cover following the withdrawal of underwriters from the market and already two planned fixtures at Tinahely on January 9^th and Ballycrystal on January 16^th have been cancelled.

Man airlifted from Clonroche crash

A man in his 30s was airlifted from the scene of a road traffic collision on the N30 Clonroche-New Ross road near the junctions for Palace and Poulpeasty.

The single vehicle incident occurred around 12.30pm today and the sole occupant was taken by Air Ambulance to the trauma centre at Tallaght Hospital, Dublin. His condition was described as “serious but stable.”

**The scene of a single vehicle road traffic collision at Palace on the N30 Clonroche-New Ross road which occurred earlier today.**

Emergency services from the National Ambulance Service Wexford, New Ross Fire Service, New Ross Gardaí and the Air Ambulance Helimed 92 from Cork attended the scene.

The road was closed this afternoon and diversions were in place to allow forensic investigators examine the scene.

New flooding fears from overnight rain

By Dan Walsh

It has been raining steadily for most of today and is still falling tonight and reports have reached WexfordLocal.com that the road from Baldwinstown to Bridgetown is now heavily flooded and the canal is rising quickly in Bridgetown.

Cllr Jim Codd said Council response teams are already on site with sandbags. They will continue to closely monitor the situation in Bridgetown and Duncormick over the night. ““There is a lot of surface water and flooding in places so please drive carefully and avoid unnecessary travel. Please avoid driving in the area if at all possible,” he said.

Excess water is reported on the Duncannon line in places and flooding occurring on the Murrintown to Bridgetown Road, Murrintown village, Longridge, the Mill Lane in Bridgetown, Larkins Cross to Taghmon, Twelveacre to Killinick, Kilcavan, Duncormick to Rathangan, Dunphys Bridge in Rathangan and Bridgetown to Baldwinstown.

Serious damage to property in the south Wexford areas of Bridgetown, Kilmore Quay and Rathangan was caused by the Christmas Day deluge and several loaded skips of personal and household belongings have been taken away as householders and businesses count the cost.

Cllrs Jim Codd, Tom Forde, Fionntán Ó Súilleabhain, Leonard Kelly and Jackser Owens have called for a Special Meeting of Wexford County Council under Section 4 of Standing Orders to discuss the worst flooding in living memory in south Wexford. The request has been granted and is scheduled for next Wednesday afternoon.

**CLLR JIM CODD looks out over the canal and adjoining submerged lands at Lakelands, Kilmore Quay, last Tuesday evening.**

Thousands of acres of land adjoining the canal were flooded and hundreds of acres of winter cereal crops were destroyed. Deputy Paul Kehoe and Cllr Jim Moore met with local landowners, President of the IFA Tim Cullinan and Wexford County IFA personnel at the flooding site in the Kilmore area.

Deputy Kehoe said; “I spoke with the Ministers for Agriculture Charlie McConologue TD and Martin Heydon TD. I will be continuing to fight to get some compensation package.”

In case of an emergency call Wexford County Council Emergency line on 1890 666 777.

Tales from historic Kilcarbery

By Dan Walsh

Road closure measures have been enacted by Wexford County Council following the destruction of Kilcarbery Bridge during the infamous Christmas Day flooding episode which also damaged properties in the area.

The final road bridge on the River Boro on its way to the Slaney, Kilcarbery has a long and distinguished industrial history and the old mill buildings are prominent landmarks in a valley near Enniscorthy.

**Flood damage at Kilcarbery Bridge over the River Boro.**

**Part of the stone parapet crashed into the river.**

The earliest known history of Kilcarbery Mills is that they existed as far back as 1610 and belonged to the Sparrow family. Before Thomas Sparrow died in 1837 the property were purchased by Francis Davis who reorganised the property and commenced an expansion programme.

In 1826, a double wing was added, six stories high used for flour dressing and further extensions took place in 1855, but the prominent square stone-built edifice with the immortal stone tablet inscription ‘F.D. 1875’ completed a complex of milling activity.

When the Davis family moved its milling operations to Enniscorthy the Mills were sold to the committee of Enniscorthy Asylum (later St. Senan’s Hospital) in the late 1890’s and supplied electricity until the Electricity Supply Board took over in the 1930s. The Kilcarbery water powered turbines produced voltage carried across the River Slaney to supply power.

Later Kilcarbery Mills were rented to Col. Lofus Bryan of Borrmount Manor and a successful tobacco rehandling station operated until the Department of Agriculture ordered the suspension in 1939.

In 1945 the Davis name was back in Kilcarbery when the property was sold by Wexford County Council and it was used by the Co. Wexford Beekeepers Co-Operative Society at a time when four fifths of Ireland’s honey supply was produced in Co. Wexford who had 600 beekeepers at the time.

Kilcarbery Mills is privately owned and is a great landmark with an amazing industrial past. And the adjoining River Boro was once a haven for local anglers with seasonal quantities of salmon and trout caught and cooked to feed families in poor times.