WexfordLocal.com

Wexford fights to contain the sea!

By Dan Walsh

The challenging fight against coastal erosion continues and Wexford County Council CEO Tom Enright presented some updates to members at the monthly meeting in October.

A new emergency beach exit is installed at Ballinamona beach, near Kilmuckridge, and local Cllrs Oliver Walsh, Pip Breen and Mary Farrell have been praising the engineers for their valuable work. Rock armour has been installed to protect against the elements at this picturesque beach located in a secluded setting.

**New rock armour to protect coastal erosion at Ballinamona beach.**

Tenders for consulting engineers are being assessed this month (October) and an appointment will follow assessment for the Rosslare Coastal Erosion and Flood Relief Scheme.

At St. Helen’s Bay a preliminary coastal erosion risk a management study has been assigned consultant engineers to assess risk to assets including twenty-three properties.

Consulting engineers have been appointed to design a suitable coastal protection scheme and beach access at Seaview, Kilmore.

An Bord Pleanála has granted planning permission for the Lady’s Island Water Level Management Structure. A foreshore licence application is lodged and is under consideration by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

At Grange, Fethard-on-Sea tender documents have been finalised on works to protect sections of the public road from coastal erosion.

The Morriscastle Sand Dunes are marked for restoration and the project involves fencing and maram grass planting “to restore and manage the dune system at the main branch entrance.” Works are underway.

Call to identify human remains

By Dan Walsh

Gardaí at Enniscorthy are renewing an appeal to the public for assistance in identifying human remains discovered on a beach in Co. Wexford in December 1995.

On the morning of 12th December 1995, Gardaí were alerted following the discovery of a badly decomposed body at Ballinamona beach, near Kilmuckridge.

Local Gardaí attended the scene, and the remains were removed to the mortuary at Waterford Hospital. Following a post-mortem examination foul play was ruled out.

The pathologist reported the remains to be a female aged between 25 and 40 years, approximately 176cm in height who had undergone a lot of dental treatment including a brace fitted on her bottom teeth.

At the time of her discovery, she was wearing a pair of blue ‘Lee’ jeans (sized 33/31) and brown laced shoes (size 39) with white socks. Two Volkswagen keys were recovered in the pocket of the jeans.

In April 1996, the then State Pathologist Dr Harbison carried out an examination of the body. There was no evidence of foul play disclosed and suspected drowning was deemed to be the cause of death.

Despite exhaustive enquires at the time via international policing channels, including Interpol and Missing Persons Organisations, the deceased was never identified.

The deceased was interred at Crosstown Cemetery, Wexford in May 1996.

In November 2007, an exhumation was carried out a DNA sample was harvested from the remains before re-burial. This profile has since been uploaded onto the Interpol database for comparison with profiles from missing persons worldwide but to date there have been no matches identified.

Investigating Gardaí are renewing their appeal to the public for assistance in identifying the deceased and in bringing this case to a conclusion. Anyone with information is asked to contact Enniscorthy Garda Station (053) 924 2580, The Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.

Wexford Town water supply restored

By Dan Walsh

Irish Water and Wexford County Council wish to notify over 25,000 customers on the Wexford Town Public Water Supply that following the completion of remedial measures and the receipt of satisfactory monitoring results, the boil water notice which has been in place is lifted with immediate effect.

All consumers on the Wexford Town Public Water can now resume normal use of the water supply for drinking, food preparation and brushing teeth.

This decision follows consultation undertaken with the Health Service Executive.

Following consultation with the Health Service Executive, Irish Water and Wexford County Council issued a boil water notice on the Wexford Town Supply last Thursday.

Irish Water and the Local Authority/Health Service Executive Water Liaison Group will continue to meet and will review ongoing process control, monitoring and testing of the drinking water supply.

Irish Water and Wexford County Council acknowledge the patience, co-operation and assistance of the public during the period of the boil water notice and regrets any inconvenience caused to householders and the business community.

The Irish Water Customer Contact Centre (1800 278 278) is available to answer customer queries in relation to this water notice.

Enjoyable day at Wexford races

By Dan Walsh

Mild conditions, close finishes and a good Bank Holiday Monday attendance were the ingredients that made Bettyville Park a good place to be today for the final race meeting of the year.

For the second year in succession Wexford’s only Listed Race – the BetVictor M.W. Hickey Memorial Chase – was won by the Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore combination with Eklat De Rire. A year ago they won with Minella Indo who went on to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup last March. It was Blackmore’s first success since returning from injury.

**JORDAN GAINFORD… three wins in two days at Wexford**

It was the first leg of a double for the Waterford trainer. He also saddled Fangio De Vassy (Hugh Morgan up) to win the maiden hurdle.

Michael Mulvaney from Kells saddled the winners of the first two races, both ridden by Wexford jockeys. In From The Cold and Sean Flanagan scored in the opening maiden hurdle and Jordan Gainford was aboard Barnacullia, winning at Wexford for the second time this year, in a tight finish to the novice hurdle. This win rounded off a wonderful weekend for Jordan Gainford with four winners, three of them on his home track and the other at Cheltenham.

John Flaven from Tramore saddled Clarens for the Miracle Racing Syndicate in the opportunity handicap hurdle and recorded a one and a quarter lengths success for jockey Jack Foley.

Take All won the beginners chase for the Cleary family and a second winner for Monasterevin trainer Seamus Fahey (he won with Cullaghs Star yesterday in the maiden hurdle) and Kevin Sexton was on board.

Champion Patrick Mullins has made a habit of winning the bumper over the years and no change there. He partnered Fameafterglory for Meath trainer Gavin Cromwell.

The jackpot pool was €273.84, no winners and it will be carried to the Curragh on Tuesday. Tote aggregate €63,153.84. €59,423 last year.

Next meeting at Bettyville Park will be on Sunday, March 6^th 2022.

Sea search off Baginbun Bay

By Dan Walsh

Fethard RNLI launched its inshore lifeboat on Friday afternoon last to conduct a sea search after a concerned member of the public out kayaking reported seeing an object floating in the sea off Baginbun beach.

An extensive sea search of Baginbun Bay was carried out by Fethard RNLI lifeboat, with Rescue 117 assisting from the air. Fethard Coast Guard ground units carried out a shoreline search.

**Fethard Lifeboat searching in Baginbun Bay (Pic; RNLI/Mark Brennan)**

Weather conditions at the time were good with a light south-westerly breeze, calm sea conditions and good visibility.

After two hours, the search was stood down by the Irish Coast Guard, when nothing was found.

Speaking after the call out, Pete Barry, Fethard RNLI Deputy Launch Authority said; “Even though the call turned out to be a false alarm, we would like to commend the member of the public who did the right thing by calling 999 to report what they saw. We would rather launch to investigate what was seen and put everyone’s mind at ease. This call also highlights the importance of always carrying a means of communication when involved in water activities by the sea.”

The multi-agency response involved Fethard RNLI, Fethard Coast Guard, the National Ambulance Service, An Garda Siochana and Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue 117.

Rob James adds another double

By Dan Walsh

Rob James is riding out of his skin with seven wins over the last three point-to-point racing days and a double at Curraghmore, Co. Waterford today brought his seasonal total to eight.

James got the leg up on Blade Runner for Donnchadh Doyle in the maiden race for five-year-old geldings and scored by two and a half lengths. Half an hour later following the maiden race for five-year-olds and older mares he returned Kitty’s Fashion to the winners’ enclosure for Waterford handler Robert Widger. Three lengths to spare.

Donnchadh’s brother Sean Doyle also got on the scoresheet. Is A Real Champ had a four lengths victory in the maiden race for geldings aged six or over with Tomhaggard rider Jamie Scallan doing the steering.

**LUKE MURPHY had winner today in Co. Meath**

There was also point-to-point action at Tattersalls, Co. Meath, today, and another brace of Wexford winners. Chasing Fire was a winner for Denis Murphy, The Ballagh, and Inch rider Luke Murphy in the maiden race for four-year-old geldings. First time out Chasing Fire had six lengths to spare at the finish.

Cormac Doyle, another of the Ballindaggin clan, saddled Chato Santana in the maiden contest for five-year-old geldings and with Jack Hendrick, Mayglass, in the saddle, took the first prize in a close finish – a neck was the judges’ verdict.

Brilliant weekend for Jordan Gainford

By Dan Walsh at Bettyville Park

Local jockey Jordan Gainford who landed a victory on Definite Plan for Gordan Elliott in a Grade 2 handicap chase at Cheltenham on Saturday followed up with a double at Wexford this afternoon and recorded the 50^th winner of his career.

The magic 50 came on the Paul Nolan trained Dympnas Well in thewww.horsehappyvets.com Handicap Hurdle. Afterwards Nolan said; She was a bit disappointing the last day in Listowel. Jordan gave her a great ride and he is just an exceptional talent. Today was the first day we claimed off her and that helped as well.”

**JORDAN GAINFORD after success at Wexford today**

Jordan Gainford rode his 51^st winner before the day was out following a pulsating finish to the Jim and Kay Whitty Memorial Handicap Chase getting Cushinstown’s Finest, owned and bred by Liam Carty of New Ross, home first for Kiltealy trainer Colin Bowe.

Afterwards Gainford said; “She is a real stayer, but on that ground and with the stiff finish it suited her today. It’s great for her owner Liam Carty who is a big supporter of the yard. I’ve three winners left now on my 5lb claim.”

JJ Slevin and Jordan Gainford grew up a few fields away from each other and both were in the winner’s circle. JJ Slevin won the mares hurdle on Linar Display, the first in a double for Carrick-on-Suir trainer Joseph O’Brien. Shane Fitzgerald rode Fire Attack to victory in the beginners chase to give the O’Brien stable a double.

Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy were successful with Rodaniche in the maiden hurdle. Seamus Fahey from Monasterevin saddled Cullaghs Star (Simon Torens up) to win the Michael Moore Car Sales maiden hurdle. And Kicking Princess ridden by Gar Noonan for Eoin McCarthy, Limerick, took the spoils in the bumper.

Heavy overnight rain left the track on the soft side, but there were no complaints and the fixture was run off safely in front of a fine crowd with a strong family presence.

The Tote aggregate was €89,623.98 compared with €61,573.00 last year.

Bettyville Park first opened seventy years ago – October 15^th 1951 – and the final meeting of 2021 takes place tomorrow – Bank Holiday Monday – with the first of seven races off at 1.10pm.

The feature race is the BetVictor MW Hickey Memorial Chase, worth €22,500 and the richest race run at Wexford, won last year for Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore with Minella Indo who went on to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup last March. Weather indications is that it is going to be a pleasant dry day for October.

€300,000 of drugs seized in Bunclody area

Approximately €300,000 worth of cannabis and cocaine (subject to analysis) was seized in the greater Bunclody area yesterday.

Gardaí from the Detective and Drug Units from Gorey and Enniscorthy investigating the distribution and sale of controlled drugs in the county conducted a search of a house in the greater Bunclody area.

One person was detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996.

Wexford stable share a double

By Dan Walsh

Rider Rob James, handler Donnchadh Doyle and owner, Monbeg Syndicate shared a double at Loughanmore point-to-point in East Antrim today (Saturday).

Success came in the opening maiden race for four-year- old mares by five lengths for first timer Smiling Getaway.

Victory flashed a second time with another first timer Galia Des Liteaux scoring by six lengths in the mare’s maiden race for five-year-olds and over.

Bank Holiday Boil Water Notice for Wexford town

By Dan Walsh

The Boil Water Notice affecting 25,000 in Wexford Town will continue over the October Bank Holiday weekend and is unlikely to be lifted until a scheduled inspection takes place on Tuesday morning.

Heavy rain last Wednesday caused problems to arise at the Newtown Road treatment plant where an alarm system worked efficiently causing correct action of a filter shut down for a few hours.

Following consultation with the Health Service Executive (HSE), Irish Water and Wexford County Council a Boil Water Notice was issued with immediate effect to protect the health of consumers supplied by the Wexford town public water supply.

Initially about 21,000 consumers were affected on the Coolree raw water source including Wexford Town, Forth Mountain, Taghmon and Holmestown.

A short time later 4,000 residents in the Ferrybank and Ardcavan scheme on the River Sow source on the eastern side of Wexford Harbour were added to the Boil Water Notice.

A spokesperson for Irish Water told WexfordLocal.com that the situation will be reviewed over the weekend and a meeting between Wexford County Council and the HSE will be held on Tuesday.

**BEAUTIFUL EDENVALE ON THE RIVER SOW… source of the water supply in the Ferrybank and Ardcavan areas of Wexford town. (File Pic)**

Vulnerable customers are reminded that the water is safe to consume once boiled.

Water must be boiled for:

Drinking;
Drinks made with water;
Preparation of salads and similar foods, which are not cooked prior to eating;
Brushing of teeth;
Making of ice – discard ice cubes in fridges and freezers and filtered water in fridges. Make ice from cooled boiled water.

If any customer is unsure on whether or not the Boil Water Notice applies to their area, please visit www.water.ie or alternatively, customers can contact the Irish Water customer care helpline on 1800 278 278.