Wide angle view on CCTV plans

By Dan Walsh

At today’s monthly meeting of Wexford County Council held in ‘The Street’ at Carricklawn headquarters an interesting discussion centred on approval of applications for authorisation of Community CCTV in accordance with Section 38 of the Garda Siochána Act 2005.

Cllr George Lawlor wondered why twelve cameras were proposed for Gorey Town Park on fourteen acres and only four cameras were deemed enough for Min Ryan Park in Wexford town which comprises eighteen acres. “Are the people in Gorey deemed more photogenic?” he suggested.

David Minogue, County Secretary and Data Protection Officer, told the members that the meeting was seeking approval for CCTV extension in Wexford town and Bunclody CCTV system and that Gorey, who has applied for twelve cameras is waiting approval, and Enniscorthy must be be discussed at district level.

MAIN STREET, BUNCLODY

Cllr Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin noted that CCTV was badly needed at Gorey Town Park and alluded to anti-social behaviour at the weekend that witnessed two portable toilet units smashed to pieces. Cllr Andrew Bolger wondered when will the five cameras are switched on at Gorey Town Park, it is black dark there at night?

Regards a proposal to place more CCTV in Enniscorthy, Cathaoirleach of the Municipal Council Cllr Cathal Byrne suggested that the proposal should come before Enniscorthy Council first.

Approval was agreed to amend the Wexford Town Community CCTV system with the addition of twelve cameras. The proposed locations were selected following extensive consultations with An Garda Siochána in Wexford to include South Main Street, Min Ryan Park and Redmond Park.

Ownership of the Bunclody Town CCTV system, installed ca-2010 and comprising of 13 CCTV cameras, are to be retained with three new locations to be added to the overall system which will require an additional five cameras.

Mr Minogue informed the members that the total projected cost of new equipment added to the existing system is €45,000. “The Council has made provision for the necessary funding in addition to the Department of Justice support funding to a maximum of 60%, subject to a maximum grant of €40,000 per scheme.”

Every track’s a winner for Kiltealy team

By Dan Walsh

Point-to-point action was located north and west this weekend and the Barry O’Neill and Colin Bowe team from Kiltealy were successful at both tracks.

COLIN BOWE

Today’s fixture was at Loughrea, Co. Galway where Kansas City Star in the Milestone Bloodstock Ltd colours had a clear 15 lengths to spare for O’Neill and Bowe at the end of the Maiden race for four year olds.

Diese Des Bieffes who was once in the Paul Nicholls stables and was successful at Monksgrange recently did the business again for Monbeg Farm Partnership and Ballindaggin handler Cormac Doyle with Jack Henrick registering his 18th career winner ‘between the flags’. This was in the Open Race and the margin was ten lengths.

The first fixture north of the border took place yesterday (Saturday) at Moira, Co. Down, but yielded only one Wexford winner.

Sweet Auburn, a faller at Monksgrange on her first outing two weeks ago, made no mistake this time in the maiden race for five and six-year-old mares and won by four lengths for the Ruby Ann Syndicate, handler Colin Bowe and rider Barry O’Neill.

Next Sunday’s races are the Shillelagh & District Hunt fixture at Fairwood, Tinahely. Six races – for four year olds, five year old geldings and mares, a Mares Winner of One, the Open Race and the maiden race for six year olds and upwards – and the first is off at 2pm.

Some banks are not open on Monday

By Dan Walsh

Eighty-eight Bank of Ireland branches nationwide will not open their doors on Monday morning, the day before the 2022 Budget announcement in Dáil Éireann. Customers who were so proud of supporting their local branch service in rural parts of the country are disappointed and feel betrayed at losing another integral part of rural villages.

The bank has ceased services at more than a third of its locations as part of significant changes to its branch network and local banking services. The move was first announced on WexfordLocal.com last March.

Two branches are permanently closed in Co. Wexford at Rosslare Harbour and Taghmon. But other closures also affect customers who do their banking outside the Wexford border at Carlow where Tullow and Borris are closed and Bank of Ireland branches in Carnew, Rathdrum and Tinahely in neighbouring Co. Wicklow.

Banks services, such as cash withdrawals and lodgements, will now be available through the post office network.

  • ROSSLARE HARBOUR
  • TAGHMON

In the footprints of Wexford history

By Dan Walsh

A centenary series of “War of Independence and Civil War Tours in County Wexford” is taking place in the coming weeks. Talks will be given by Barry Lacey, Historian-in-Residence at Wexford Libraries focussing on events and incidents that occurred in Bunclody, Enniscorthy, Wexford, Gorey and New Ross between 1916 and 1923.

The War of Independence and the Civil War were pivotal periods in the history of Ireland that shaped the country as we know it today!

During October and November, Barry Lacey will be exploring both periods via a series of walking tours through the towns of the county. Many of the streets, roads and buildings people pass everyday were scenes of various incidents and events during the revolutionary period. The aim of these walks is to create an awareness of what occurred locally during this era.

Each tour will take approximately one hour, starting at 10:30am sharp from the entrance of each respective library branch. Advanced booking is required and can be made by contacting the relevant library.

DATES AND LOCATIONS OF THE WALKS;

BARRY LACEY, Historian-in-Residence, Wexford Public Libraries

Saturday, October 16; Bunclody.

Saturday, October 23rd; Enniscorthy (War of Independence Focus).

Saturday, October 30th; Enniscorthy (Civil War Focus).

Saturday, November 6th; Wexford.

Saturday, November 13th; Gorey.

Saturday, November 20th; New Ross.

If you wish to book a place on any of these tours, please contact each library directly:

Bunclody Library: 053 9375466

Enniscorthy Library: 053 9236055

Wexford Library: 053 9196760

Gorey Library: 053 9483820

New Ross Library: 051 421877

Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy commented; “As Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council, I am happy to be offering free historical walking tours of our towns. By exploring events that happened one hundred years ago in each town, Barry (Lacey) will raise awareness of Wexford’s involvement in the events that shaped the formation of the State. Wexford’s rich history is for everyone.”

Kids workshops at Hook Lighthouse

Wexford County Council in partnership with Creative Ireland and Dig It Kids are offering free workshops for children in Hook Lighthouse next Sunday, October 10th, however, places are limited.

HOOK HEAD (File Pic)

The workshops will comprise of Dig it Kids usual magical mixture of fun facts (including Dad jokes of course), inventive and satisfying crafts, and engaging stories. They will be looking at the Anglo-Norman Invasion of Ireland and the Greatest Knight, Sir William Marshall. And will be making models of the oldest, fully operational, original lighthouse in the world – that’s right, the Hook!

“We are delighted to be able to run an in-person events but we will still be very mindful of Covid-19 safety measures. We will be running the 90-minute workshop three times (10.30am – 12pm, 12.30pm to 2pm and 2pm to 4 pm) with a maximum of 20 children (and four adults) per workshop,” said a spokesperson for Wexford County Council, who added; “There are three times to choose from, with a maximum of four tables per workshop – places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.”

Wexford entries welcome for sport awards

By Dan Walsh

The Texaco Support for Sport awards takes place again this year and is open to sports clubs across the 26-counties, irrespective of sporting discipline, size, membership, age, cultural appeal or gender – including clubs that may have made an unsuccessful application previously – the initiative sees a fund of €130,000 being set aside for distribution to sports clubs on a twenty-six, county-by-county basis.

Last year, the successful county winner to receive a €5,000 award was Kilmore United FC who applied under the scheme for funding to ‘carry out further development of its Abbie Troy Park grounds’.

Pictured at the launch is former Irish rugby international, broadcaster and Texaco Support for Sport ambassador, Donncha O’Callaghan with young supporters Jack Whelan (6) from Tallaght and Grace Kelly (11) from Ballyfermot.

Launching the scheme this year, James Twohig, Director of Ireland Operations, Valero Energy (Ireland) Limited said:; “At a time when many sports clubs have had to weather difficulties and limitations of one kind or another, the Texaco Support for Sport initiative opens up an avenue to funding for those that need it most.”

Leading the adjudication process once again is Texaco Support for Sport ambassador, acclaimed broadcaster and former Irish rugby international, Donncha O’Callaghan.

Information and rules governing the operation of the scheme can be viewed online at www.TexacoSupportforSport.com, the most important requirement being that applicant clubs be properly constituted and hold a valid Games & Sports Number (GS Number) issued by the Office of the Revenue Commissioners and featured on a recent list published by them on June 30th 2021.

Open for applications from now until December 31st, adjudication will take place in January 2022.

Valero Energy (Ireland) Limited – the company that markets fuel in Ireland under the Texaco brand – supports the Texaco Support for Sport initiative.

€2.4m worth of cigarettes seized at Rosslare

By Dan Walsh

Revenue officers seized over 3.3 million cigarettes at Rosslare Europort yesterday (Tuesday). Cigarettes branded ‘JPS Red’ have an estimated retail value of approximately €2.4 million representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of almost €1.9 million.

ROSSLARE EUROPORT (File Pic)

The illegal cigarettes were discovered when Revenue officers stopped and searched a Polish registered road train, and its accompanying trailers, that had disembarked a ferry from Dunkirk, France.

The search, which was carried out with the assistance of Revenue’s mobile x-ray scanner led to the discovery of the cigarettes concealed within the load.

A polish national in his 40s was questioned.

Investigations are ongoing.

This seizure is part of Revenue’s ongoing operations targeting the shadow economy and the supply and sale of illegal tobacco products.

If businesses or members of the public have any information regarding smuggling, they can contact Revenue in confidence on free phone number 1800 295 295.

Funding for community and home energy projects

By Dan Walsh
The Government has allocated significant funding through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) for multiple community and home energy projects, according to Fine Gael TD Deputy Paul Kehoe has said. “While it is not possible to quantify the exact amount of the grants allocated in Wexford as many of the projects cross county borders it is clear that this is a major step forward in this area,” Deputy Kehoe told WexfordLocal.com.

Along with funding for retrofit and upgrade of dozens of home energy projects across the county, examples of the grants for Wexford include:

GOREY FIRE STATION

Enniscorthy Fire Station and Bunclody Fire Station are proposing PV panel installs.

Whitemills County Depot in Wexford is proposing lighting and heating upgrades.

Gorey Library is proposing lighting upgrades. New Ross Municipal Depot, Wexford Fire Station Headquarters and Gorey Fire Station are proposing fabric insulation upgrades and drying facilities in Gorey Fire Station.

Wexford County Council is proposing light upgrades to three specified estates in Wexford.

Ballingly Joinery (Wexford) Ltd, Timber manufacturer Wellingtonbridge, is proposing lighting upgrade.

John Pettitt Wexford Ltd (SuperValu), Co. Wexford are proposing refrigeration upgrade;

Dockrells Vegetable Farm, Enniscorthy.

Ire-wel Pallets Ltd, Wells, Gorey, is proposing lighting upgrade and PV.

Deputy Kehoe said recipients of the grants, administered by the SEAI include public sector projects, sports facilities, community buildings and local businesses and homes.

Minister for The Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan TD, announced 83 community and home energy projects to receive grant funding of €57 million under the Community Energy Grant Scheme. This substantial government investment supports projects that will achieve energy savings which will amount to €156 million, or 25,000 MWh, each year.

Deputy Kehoe said: “This important Government investment will deliver energy upgrades to dozens of homes and community and commercial buildings throughout the country. Recipients will benefit from warmer buildings that are better for their health as well as more efficient buildings that will ensure lower energy bills. The projects will also deliver significant employment benefits here in County Wexford”, Deputy Kehoe concluded.

Karina’s new book tells story of Wexford Festival Opera

By Dan Walsh

Seventy years ago in 1951, the first Wexford Opera Festival took to the stage of the old Theatre Royal on Wexford’s High Street, inspired as an informal gathering of friends listening to gramophone music, and developed into one of Europe’s leading classical music events.

It was the brainchild of T.J. Walsh, a medical doctor by profession and an amateur musician, whose novel idea it was to start an opera festival from such humble beginnings. The comprehensive story of seven decades of survival is told by Karina Daly in The history of Wexford Festival Opera, 1951-2021, now available in local bookshops.

Author KARINA DALY and her latest book ‘The history of Wexford Festival Opera, 1951-2021, at the National Opera House, Wexford.

This book traces the history of the Festival, from its establishment up to the present day. The uneasy shift from amateur status to becoming a more professional body characterised much of the early life of the Festival. The book looks at the spectacular success of what T.J. Walsh had achieved and follows the story through the difficult period in the 1960s when Walsh felt that the Festival was taking a different direction than had been intended from its inception. He never fully reconciled with the new regime and bowed out to leave way for the growing professional outfit.

This difficult transition continued throughout the seventies and into an even more difficult financial period in the 1980s. The core focus however remained on producing an impossibly high standard of opera. The next chapter in the Festival’s incredible journey saw the replacement of the original Theatre Royal with a purpose built, state-of-the-art opera house, now Ireland’s National Opera House.
Wexford Festival Opera remains a truly unique cultural event. That it has managed to survive so many significant challenges over 70 years and continued to flourish is a testament to the incredible efforts of those at the helm and the spirit of resilience that is synonymous with the Wexford community. 

This is Karina Daly’s second book detailing the Wexford Festival Opera. She published her first book in 2004 – Tom Walsh’s Opera – The History of the Wexford Festival, 1951-2004. She was appointed to the Board of Wexford Festival Trust in 2018.

The history of Wexford Festival Opera, 1951-2021, is a new edition from Four Courts Press, Dublin, 360 pages, full colour illustrations, large format and available at the National Opera House, Wexford and The Book Centre, Wexford, but will be available internationally.

An official launch is planned for October 29th with renowned Enniscorthy-born writer Colm Toibín.

AUDIO ADDITION; Karina Daly outlines the beginnings of the Wexford Festival Opera as set out in her new publication.

An extended interview with author Karina Daly will be broadcast on Mid Week Voices (South East Radio, 95.6 FM, 96.4 FM) on Wednesday, October 6th at 8pm.

Kilmore and Rosslare feature on BBC 2

By Dan Walsh

Volunteer RNLI lifeboat crews from Kilmore Quay, Rosslare Harbour and Dunmore East will feature in the popular BBC 2 television series Saving Lives at Sea on Tuesday, October 12th.

Real life rescue footage gives a frontline view of how the charity’s lifesavers risk their own lives as they go to the aid of those in danger at sea and strive to save everyone.

Now in its sixth series, the 10-part documentary highlights the lifesaving work of the RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crews from around Ireland and the UK. The series is on BBC Two on Tuesdays at 8pm as well as being available on BBC iPlayer following broadcast.

Real rescue footage is accompanied by emotive interviews from the volunteer lifeboat crews alongside the people they rescue and their families.

Next Tuesday’s episode shows Kilmore Quay, Rosslare Harbour and Dunmore East RNLI, along with Rescue 117, conduct a joint rescue operation off the Wexford coast.

The Lily, a 100-metre general cargo vessel with nine crew onboard and carrying 4,000 tonnes of coal on board and destined for New Ross, lost all power two nautical miles from Hook Head last October. Conditions on scene were Force 8 with severe Force 9 gusts and wave heights between eight and ten metres. The Lily was drifting and in danger of striking rocks on Hook Head or capsizing in the heavy seas.

The scene off Hook Head in October last year features Kilmore Quay and Rosslare Harbour lifeboats part in this dramatic sea rescue event.

The 12-hour service in challenging conditions saw multiple attempts by the lifeboat crews involved to establish a tow between the casualty vessel and the lifeboats. With the crew of the Lily B unable to stay on deck for long in the poor conditions and with language difficulties, two of the lifeboats were eventually successful in passing a rope on deck by using a rocket line and pulling the cargo vessel clear of the rocks. The lifeboat tow was maintained for three hours with waves continually crashing over the decks until the tug vessel Tramontine from Waterford Port arrived on scene and assumed the tow. The three lifeboats stayed with the Lily B until they reached the safety of the Waterford Estuary. The rescue operation was stood down after 12 hours at sea for the lifeboat crews.

The three lifeboat crews involved are now to receive gallantry awards from the RNLI for their role in the rescue.