WexfordLocal.com

Gorey Town Park ‘open for anti-social behaviour’

By Dan Walsh

Years of frustration on the length of time taken to complete Gorey Town Park re-development and the escalating cost of the project exploded into anger at today’s monthly meeting of Gorey-Kilmuckridge Municipal District Council held under Microsoft Teams Covid-19 protocols where members were vociferous in calling for a completion of the work.

New Cathaoirleach, Cllr Pip Breen, who replaced Cllr Joe Sullivan in the chair took charge. The new Leas-Cathaoirleach is Cllr Fionntán Ó Suilleabhain following the annual general meeting held earlier today.

In the District Manager’s Report, Liz Stanley referred to the Gorey Town Park re-development and stated that the current date for completion of external works is July 9^th assuming weather conditions permit and assuming one or two supply issues are resolved by the contractor.

A large shutter for the café building coming from Germany will not now arrive until the week commencing July 15^th and it was stated that the contractor advises that completion of the building is now expected during the week commencing July 22^nd!

The members were not impressed at the Town Park update. Cllr Diarmuid Devereux said; “There are children up there drinking and it’s a construction site and they are not supposed to be in there,” but like Cllr Sullivan mentioned, “anytime I go in there the work seems to be like a Yoga class – everybody is waving their arms – but there is no dust being generated and I don’t see any progress being made from one week to the other.”

Cllr Andrew Bolger felt “we need to finish it up. I don’t know what pressure we can put on and I know there is frustration about bringing the matter up at every meeting but we have a right to represent the people on behalf of the Town Park and I want to see the work wound up as soon as possible. Disappointed to see that it is being pushed out once more,” he concluded.

Cllr Joe Sullivan said he was up there recently in the early night and it wasn’t a nice environment and then he went up during the day and there were a few workmen up there but he didn’t see a lot going on. “Somebody got a contract and they haven’t done it,” added Cllr Sullivan.

Newly elected Cathaoirleach, Cllr Pip Breen quipped that the Town Park will be open someday! He felt it would happen “in this quarter – (mid-August?) and he referred to the delay of material coming from Germany. There was an exchange between Cllr Sullivan and Director of Services, Amanda Byrne. Ms Byrne said everyone was frustrated by the situation. “We should be there – we should have been there a year and a half ago, but we just have to work with where we are. We are almost there.”

Cllr Devereux returned to the debate. “The Park is open. All you must do is walk up to the gate with your slab of cans, walk in and pick your spot, “All it is short of is you, Chairman, turning up with your chain of office to cut the ribbon!”

Cllr Devereux claimed there was a recent clean up and he understands that up to a dozen sacks of cans were taken away. “It is open for anti-social behaviour and any other purpose you want to put it to, but what we are asking is when is it going to be open to the stage that someone walks up there with a chain of office and a scissor in their hand and cuts a ribbon and we can get it off our agenda?

Regional Hockey Centre for Enniscorthy

By Dan Walsh

Hockey Ireland and Enniscorthy Hockey Club have announced ambitious plans to develop a Regional Centre for Excellence for Hockey in the South-East located at the County Showgrounds, Enniscorthy.

A formal agreement and 25-year lease contract is due for completion this month in agreement with Enniscorthy Greyhound Track and County Showgrounds. Enniscorthy Hockey Club will commence a fundraising drive to raise the necessary thirty per cent of any future grant monies assigned from a joint application in conjunction with Hockey Ireland to the Sports Capital & Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Funding scheme.

Chairperson of Enniscorthy Hockey Club, Irene Doyle pointed out that Enniscorthy has a long association with hockey and the club’s many achievements include winning the Irish Junior Cup. “The club is successful and progressive, entering teams of all ages in the Leinster leagues. It is unique in the county because it is the only club which offers hockey for all ages and genders and is also noteworthy in Leinster as a club with no feeder schools in a town with DEIS status,” she added.

Announcing the development of a Regional Centre of Excellence for Hockey at the County Showgrounds, Enniscorthy; Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy, President Enniscorthy Chamber, James Hendrick, Chairman County Show Committee, Irene Doyle, Chairperson Enniscorthy Hockey Club, Nora McGinty and Rachel Gainford.

Suzanne O’Leary of the club pitch working group said; “The sport of hockey currently ranks fourth in terms of world sport viewing statistics and second in terms of European sport participation. The Irish Women’s Hockey team is currently ranked eighth in the world. It is managed by an Enniscorthy local and former international player Lisa Jacob. The team are currently preparing for this year’s Olympics and is a fast growing and high profile sport which is going from strength to strength in Ireland. The development of a regional centre would enable all clubs to increase participation in sport and further develop hockey in the town and county”.

There are currently three hockey clubs in County Wexford and none have a home pitch. All currently play in Enniscorthy at the Astro Active Centre but access time is limited at this multi-purpose shared pitch facility. Unlike other field sports hockey cannot be played on grass so an urgent need exists to secure independent tenure of facilities and to copper fasten access to competitive hockey locally. There are plans to investigate the development of the pitch on the grounds to an international pitch standard in the coming years.

Man dies in Enniscorthy workplace incident

A man who was seriously injured in a workplace incident at the Showgrounds, Enniscorthy, yesterday (Sunday) has died. He has been named as Paul Martin, (48), from Cromogue, Bunclody.

Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene of the incident that occurred around 1.10pm.

The man was airlifted to Tallaght Hospital, Dublin.

The Health and Safety Authority are carrying out an investigation.

Bishop-elect Ger Nash ‘privileged to be chosen’

By Dan Walsh

Speaking on his appointment as Bishop of Ferns in St. Aidan’s Cathedral, Enniscorthy, on Friday, Bishop-elect Ger Nash said; As we gather here in this beautiful cathedral, it is with a great sense of unworthiness that I accept the gracious invitation of Pope Francis to the ministry of Bishop here in the historic Diocese of Ferns.

“I am privileged to be chosen by Pope Francis to lead this historic Diocese and I feel very humbled. I would like to thank His Excellency, Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo, the Papal Nuncio to Ireland, for his presence here this morning, leading us in the celebration of the Eucharist, as well as his kind support and detailed preparations for this announcement.

“My links to Ferns Diocese is principally through the Ferns students who were classmates in Maynooth. Fr. John Carroll, Diocesan Secretary, has been a source of both welcome and help over the past week and whose deep knowledge of the Diocese I know I will draw on frequently during the coming years. I also mention today with great affection, the late Fintan Morris who was a great friend in Maynooth and afterwards and who would no doubt have a raised eyebrow at me standing here.

BISHOP DENIS BRENNAN (Retiring), BISHOP-ELECT GER NASH and His Excellency ARCHBISHOP JUDE THADDEUS OKOLA, Papal Nuncio to Ireland, pictured in the grounds of St. Aidan’s Cathedral, Enniscorthy, following last Friday’s historic announcement. (Pic; Diocese of Ferns).

“I would like to thank Bishop Denis Brennan for the welcome extended to me from the moment he heard of my appointment. Thank you Bishop Denis – and I also want to offer thanks on your behalf for his leadership and care of the Diocese over the past 15 years. I wish you good health and time to enjoy your retirement. Thanks also to John Carroll and Fr’s Odhrán Furlong and Jim Doyle here in the Cathedral Parish for their co-ordination of the preparations for today. Thanks also to the Vicars of the Diocese, Joe McGrath, Denis Browne, Aodhan Marken and Brian Broaders and to Trish Murphy in the Diocesan Office.

“My hope and prayer is that we can work together here in Ferns with the Spirit of God sustaining us to nurture the faith and to ensure that our Church is a place of welcome and hospitality for all.

“I have a sense that we are at a turning point in our Church story in Ireland, and it is exciting to be asked to take a leadership role at such a time. I look forward, with the help of God, to walking with the people and parish communities throughout the diocese of Ferns as we respond to that call to synodality.

“Today (Friday) is the Feast of the Sacred Heart, an image familiar to most of us reared in 20^th century Ireland with its distinctive Sacred Heart picture and lamp. Can I suggest that its expression today is to remind me that I am called to have a heart for all people and to paraphrase the old prayer “Christ has no heart on earth but ours”.

Ecumenical support for new Bishop

By Dan Walsh

The Right Reverend Michael Burrows, Bishop of Cashel, Ferns, Ossory & Leighin, Waterford and Lismore has offered the congratulations and prayers of the Church of Ireland community in Ferns to Fr Ger Nash, today announced Bishop-elect to the Diocese of Ferns in succession to Bishop Denis Brennan, who is retiring.

Bishop Burrows had this to say: “I have just spoken to Bishop Brennan and Bishop – designate Nash on the phone. I thanked the former for his friendship and warm courtesy over the last fifteen years, and assured the latter of the congratulations and prayers of Church of Ireland people in Ferns.

“Ferns has always been a beacon of ecumenical co-operation and shared vision and I look forward to working with Bishop Nash to ensure that this fine tradition continues,” concluded Bishop Burrows.

Welcome for new Bishop of Ferns

By Dan Walsh

His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed Fr Ger Nash, a priest of the Diocese of Killaloe in Co Clare, as the new Bishop of the Diocese of Ferns.

The news of this Episcopal appointment was made public today and following the announcement of Bishop Denis Brennan’s successor, Mass was celebrated at St Aidan’s Cathedral Enniscorthy at 12 noon to celebrate the announcement.

**Bishop-Elect Fr GER NASH** (Pic; IrishCatholic.com)

Bishop Brennan has welcomed the appointment; “I warmly welcome the appointment of Father Ger Nash of the Diocese of Killaloe as my successor as Bishop of Ferns. I know that the people of Ferns, priests, religious, and lay faithful will welcome him too, and make him feel at home in their midst. I heartily congratulate him on his appointment and trust that he will be happy in his new surroundings in the south-east.

Gerard Nash was born in 1959 at Glandree in the parish of Tulla, Co Clare. After choosing to study for the Diocese of Killaloe in Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, he was ordained in 1991 in Drumcharley Church, Tulla by Bishop Michael Harty.

Day of Action brings farmers to Enniscorthy

By Dan Walsh at Enniscorthy

Wexford IFA Chairman Jer O’Mahony was “absolutely delighted” at today’s rally turnout and added “it’s great for Wexford farming to see so many people supporting us.”

**The scene at Wexford Farmer’s Mart, Enniscorthy, before today’s IFA organised rally.**

Enniscorthy was the central venue for the IFA Day of Action in Co. Wexford as farmers in each of the 29 County Executives took part in a countrywide series of rallies to highlight the importance of the farming and agri-food sector to the rural economy.

A convoy of tractors, machinery and other vehicles assembled at County Wexford Livestock Marts at Blackstoops on the outskirts of Enniscorthy and paraded along the Old Dublin Road to Scarawalsh Roundabout returning to the starting point via the hard shoulder of the N11.

**Combine harvesters lead the way at today’s IFA Day of Action at the Blackstoops Roundabout, Enniscorthy.**

Amongst those supporting the rally were Deputy Verona Murphy, Senator Malcolm Byrne, and Cllrs George Lawlor, Maura Bell, Pip Breen, Donal Kenny and Barbara-Anne Murphy.

National IFA President Tim Cullinan met An Taoiseach Micheál Martin last week, where he told him that the current direction of the CAP and the Government’s Climate Action Bill could shut down commercial farming in Ireland. “We will be making a strong statement across the country on Friday that policies must support our largest indigenous industry,” he said.

AUDIO ADDITION – IFA Wexford Chairman Jer O’Mahony talks to Dan Walsh at today’s Day of Action at Enniscorthy.

Story of 1798 rebellion told at Enniscorthy

By Dan Walsh

One of the major visitor attractions in the south-east is the National 1798 Rebellion Centre at Enniscorthy and having emerged from the Covid-19 lockdown the doors to history are open again and visitors are welcome.

The Centre had been threatened with sale of the property to a local businessman, thankfully the sale collapsed in July 2020 and the iconic building on Mill Park Road returned to the business of history and heritage.

The audio-visual presentation places the story of 1798 in an international context and was admired as a fascinating journey to modern democracy. Indeed, entrance is across a small pond called the Bridge of Democracy.

**NATIONAL 1798 REBELLION CENTRE AT ENNISCORTHY has reopened following the Covid-19 lockdown and visitors are welcome.**

The concept of the Centre was initiated at a meeting of the Board of Directors on Comoradh ’98 in 1991, and the late Cllr Andy Doyle and Town Clerk, Donal Minnock, spearheaded the project and oversaw the purchase of the old Christian Brothers monastery.
A framework document was developed by the local librarians and historians under the chairmanship of Nicholas Furlong, and Wexford native, Matthew O’Connor, Managing Director of the National Building Agency, prepared a design and layout for the building, which included the old monastery building, which came into the possession of the brothers’ in 1894.
The Friends of ’98, headed by Rich Howlin, were charged with raising £1m needed to draw down £1.6m, which had been secured from the European Regional Development Fund.
The Wexford Senate was used to raise the £1m, and the names of every senator was engraved on the walls of the new Visitor Centre (it has since been re-named the National 1798 Rebellion Centre). Tenders were advertised in March 1997; construction work commenced in May; the building programme was completed in December, and the interpretive design created by Event, a Dublin-based company, was completed over three months and first opened to mark the bicentenary of the 1798 rebellion in 1998.

AUDIO ADDITION – Moira O’Gorman, Acting Manager at National 1798 Rebellion Centre talks to Dan Walsh about the re-opening.

Sports funding for Kilmore United

By Dan Walsh

Kilmore United FC are Wexford County winners in the Texaco Support for Sport initiative, has been presented with a cheque for €5,000 to be used to carry out further development of its Abbie Troy Park grounds.

One of almost 400 clubs countrywide to make application under the scheme, Kilmore United has a 190-strong membership and fields two men’s teams, six under-18 teams and one women’s team.

In their winning submission, the Club revealed plans to complete the development of its Abbie Troy Park grounds, named in memory of a young female member who passed away suddenly in 2017 at the noticeably young age of 16 years, and to allocate funds to attract more young women and girls to participate in sport.

Kilmore United FC, Wexford County winners in the recent Texaco Support for Sport initiative, has been presented with a cheque for €5,000 to be used to carry out further development of its Abbie Troy Park grounds. The presentation to Club members, Ann Whelan (Trustee), Conor Roche (Men’s Team), Brian Furlong (Acting Chairman) and Millie Bates (U 15 Girls team), was made at a private event held at the Texaco Rosslare Service Station in Rosslare. Also in attendance was Texaco Dealer, Eamon Lawlor (third right) with Valero Area Sales Manager, Niall O’Rourke (second right).

The presentation was made to the Club by Valero Energy (Ireland) Limited – the company that markets fuel in Ireland under the Texaco brand. Under its Texaco Support for Sport initiative, launched last September, a fund of €130,000 was set aside for allocation in equal amounts of €5,000 to successful applicants chosen on a county-by-county basis. Overseeing the adjudication process was Texaco Support for Sport ambassador, former Irish rugby international and broadcaster, Donncha O’Callaghan.

More Gardaí for Gorey and Courtown

By Dan Walsh

Cllr Andrew Bolger is calling on the Garda Commissioner to open the station in Courtown for the 10 weeks of the summer with additional officers and place a strong emphasis on community policing -‘on the beat’- in both Gorey and Courtown.

In a statement on social media tonight (Wednesday) Cllr Bolger claims the people of North Wexford do not have the required number of Gardai to provide the security of a service that they are entitled to expect!

The allocation of Garda numbers falls to the Garda Commissioner and/or Chief Superintendent in the county. In 2013 Gorey lost its District status, despite a strong public campaign to retain its status and increase the number of Gardaí serving in the district and became a sub-station of Enniscorthy. Much has changed since 2013.

Gorey have 17% (51) of Garda numbers in the county. Courtown/Riverchapel has two Gardaí and is the fifth largest town in Co. Wexford.

“I have a huge respect for members of An Garda Síochána who go out every day and put their lives at risk in order to protect us. However, they do need adequate Garda numbers to carry out the job,” said Cllr Bolger who is calling on his constituents to get behind the campaign.