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.

Rob James is rider/handler winner

By Dan Walsh

Cheltenham winning rider Rob James has got off to a winning start in the 2021-’22 point-to-point season with a photo-finish success on first timer Secret She Keeps, whom he also trains at Killanne in the colours of the Matchmaker Syndicate, in the four-year-old maiden race at Castletown-Geoghegan, Co. Westmeath today.

ROB JAMES

It was a short-head finish with James’ mount getting the verdict over the Colin Bowe trained first time Essential Jaco, ridden by Barry O’Neill.

The O’Neill-Bowe partnership were compensated later when Red Vision gained a ten lengths victory in the maiden race for six-year-olds and upwards.

Barry O’Neill had a second victory when partnering Ballyadam for Downpatrick handler Brian Hamilton, one and a half lengths success, bringing his seasonal total to seven and only two weekends into the season.

Robert Tector, (27), Rathnure, had a memorable success with Sevenofus in the five- and six-years old mares maiden race. Owned by Neil Tector, this was Robert’s first winner as a handler and the successful rider was Jamie Scallan. One length was the verdict.

Courtown Harbour prepares for winter

By Dan Walsh

Courtown Harbour and seaside village owes its popularity to the tourism and visitor attractions mainly between May and August, and, on occasions if the weather is favourable the season enjoys a bonus extension.

Yachts and pleasure craft has been removed from the harbour in preparation for the winter season, but all will be back, bigger and better hopefully, next Spring.

However, Courtown will continue to function as a lively village for the locals and visitors are most welcome even if the days are chilly and the sunshine is on holiday.

There are a variety of accommodation types such as bed and breakfasts, guesthouses, and caravan and holiday parks.

Pleasure craft is removed from Courtown Harbour and taken into shelter for the winter months.

The name ‘Courtown’ dates back to 1278,but the harbour was not built until the mid-1800s as a response by Lord Courtown to the Great Famine, and cost £25,000 to complete.

Courtown was by then already well known for its beaches, but the presence of the harbour made it popular as a fashionable destination, with people from Dublin and beyond frequenting the village and beaches. Its popularity as a summer holiday resort for Dublin people increased after 1863, when the railway line from Dublin reached Gorey.

Laptop hotspot in all Wexford’s libraries

By Dan Walsh

Wexford County Council has launched the eduroam Wi-Fi in all five libraries – Wexford, Enniscorthy, New Ross, Gorey and Bunclody – in County Wexford as part of the eduroam everywhere   initiative.

A new word – eduroam stands for education roaming. It provides secure and easy-to-use Wi-Fi access in thousands of locations across more than 100 countries. 

Students whose college/university participates in eduroam can simply open their laptop or mobile device within an eduroam hotspot to have immediate internet connectivity.

Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council, Cllr. Barbara-Anne Murphy said; “eduroam is another important addition to the IT services provided by Wexford Library Service. We encourage third level students to visit their local public library in County Wexford where they will be able to access eduroam and link seamlessly into their college networks while in their own home county.”

Ronan Byrne, HEAnet’s CEO, said; “We are delighted to welcome Wexford Libraries as an eduroam participant. We would like to thank everyone who contributed to making this happen, together we are working towards improving the learning experience of students in County Wexford and reducing the digital divide.

eduroam in Ireland is pioneered by HEAnet, Ireland’s National Education and Research Network. HEAnet has helped enable over 200 eduroam hotspots in universities, institutes of technology, libraries, healthcare settings, town centres, retail outlets, sporting venues and many others. 

At the eduroam launch are: Patricia Keenan, Senior Executive Librarian; Eileen Morrissey, County Librarian; Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy, Cathaoirleach Wexford County Council and Jarlath Glynn, Executive Librarian.

Any interested organisations can get in touch by emailing eduroameverywhere@heanet.ie.“


Taoiseach’s visit, but no cheque book!

By Dan Walsh

An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin was in the South East region of Wexford today with visits to Rosslare Europort and Rosslare Community and Sports Centre at Rosslare Strand, however, there were no new announcements.  

An Taoiseach said he was delighted to visit Rosslare Port today to witness the impact of investment, and the significant expansion of port traffic, jobs and passengers – as well as the exciting plans for development in the near future.

Minister James Browne said it was a pleasure to receive an important briefing alongside Taoiseach Micheál Martin regards plans for Rosslare Europort from the General Manager Glenn Carr.

“The port has become a vital asset in the Government’s response to Brexit and continued investment will support the local economy and add more jobs,” said Minister Browne.

Cllrs Lisa McDonald and Ger Carthy from the Rosslare Municipal District were pleased to meet with An Taoiseach on their home patch and discuss community issues.

Cllrs Ger Carthy and Lisa McDonald with An Taoiseach Micheál Martin at Rosslare Europort.

Independent Deputy Verona Murphy described the Taoiseach, government officials and elected representatives visit to Rosslare Europort as “very disappointing for Co. Wexford.” She lamented the fact that there was “no announcement, no government cheque book.”

“It (the Taoiseach’s visit) did not deliver the €200 million required to upgrade the port and create 2,000 jobs for the people of Wexford,” concluded Deputy Murphy.

Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council, Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy, Deputy Paul Kehoe, Senator Malcolm Byrne and Chief Executive of Wexford County Council Tom Enright were also amongst the invited attendance.

Water woes in Gorey again!

By Dan Walsh

Discolouration of drinking water has featured on social media in the Gorey town area today.

Water quality at Millands today at 9am

Wexford County Council text alerts say that discolouration of water may be experienced in Millands and surrounding areas.

Water mains flushing is taking place at Millands from 2.30pm to 5pm.

A number of investigations are in progress following a major incident at the Gorey Water Plant when unsafe drinking water entered the public supply and 52 people were reported ill during August.

Truck driver convicted of M11 drink driving

By Dan Walsh

An Garda Siochána has told WexfordLocal.com that they would like to thank a motorist for making a call and reporting a convicted driver who may have prevented a serious road traffic collision.

M11

On August 8th last at approximately 9.20am on the M11 near Gorey, a motorist contacted Gardaí to report an articulated truck driving dangerously and veering across lanes on the motorway.

A Roads Policing Unit (RPU) nearby intercepted the truck and observed similar driver behaviour. With the assistance of an RPU. motorcycle unit the truck was escorted off the motorway, where the driver was arrested for intoxicated driving, his urine sample concentration was 323mg/100ml, the minimum limit for a specified driver is 28mg.

The driver who was not resident in Ireland was charged to Court and remanded in custody. At Gorey District Court on the August 9th the driver pleaded guilty to the charge and received a one month prison sentence and was disqualified from driving for three years.

Anyone observing poor or erratic driving on our roads should contact Gardaí on 999 or 112.

Irish Water upgrades at Tagoat and Wellingtonbridge

By Dan Walsh

Twenty-one additional wastewater treatment plants have been selected for upgrade as part of the Small Towns and Villages Growth Programme, including two in Co. Wexford.

In Wexford, two settlements are set to benefit from the programme. In Wellingtonbridge, an upgrade of Wastewater capacity to provide for growth will be catered for and in Grahormac, Tagoat, an upgrade for the Wastewater Treatment Plant will provide additional capacity for growth.

Irish Water’s Regional Operations Manager, Jim Fitzgerald, said; “The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien recently announced the Housing for All plan, and this is one of Irish Water’s key initiatives in supporting the delivery of this plan. Irish Water can confirm that the green light has been given for projects which will improve wastewater treatment capacity in Wellingtonbridge and Grahormac, Tagoat. This will unlock growth and development in this area by ensuring the treatment infrastructure is in place to meet the needs of the area.”

Irish Water has announced these projects now to enable Local Authorities to make plans on housing and development into the short and medium term supporting their regional and local development plans.

The announcement today was made possible after Irish Water’s planning team finalised their reviews of all submissions with a focus on the right sized projects for the right town or village at the right cost. The project will now continue through the next stages including design, detailed planning, procurement and approvals.

Further updates on the budget and timelines for delivery will be provided in due course. Looking forward, Irish Water anticipates that this programme will continue in the next capital investment programme delivering further upgrades to cater for growth.

Irish Water is responsible for public water and wastewater infrastructure and is committed to providing a safe and reliable water supply, Irish Water is investing €5.2 billion in the period from 2020-2024 in drinking water and wastewater quality and capacity and new infrastructure.