Enthusiastic Courtown member Peter Browne has been ‘recognised for extraordinary service’ and received his 20-year medal for outstanding achievement to the RNLI.
PETER BROWNE is honoured by the RNLI. (Pic Courtown RNLI)
The presentation was made by Sam Kennedy, Lifeboat Operations Manager, following last night’s training session with adherence to Covid-19 guidelines and protocol.
Having become involved as a fresh faced 16 years old Peter has been a Helm on the crew for almost 16 years.
Peter is remembered as one of the crew to feature on Saving Lives at Sea when they featured Courtown RNLI’s rescue of a young girl who came off her jet ski.
“We at Courtown RNLI would like to thank Peter for his dedicated service over the past 20 years, and we hope to properly honour all those who have received medals when restrictions are lifted,” concluded Mr Kennedy.
The committee of Courtown Community Council (CCC) are requesting Wexford County Council to delay the sale of Courtown Woods due to concerns regarding future protection and development and are requesting a meeting with the proposed new owners, Wexford County Council and the liquidators to create a management plan.
The committee are agreeable for the sale of the Leisure Centre to go ahead separately as the wider community are keen to have the pool reopened.
The committee, on behalf of the wider community, believes that the Section 38 agreement only covers public access to the woods and does not provide enough protection from further development in the woods. “It is essential the details are clarified with all stakeholders now before the former community owned woodland transfers into private ownership,” they said in a statement on social media.
COURTOWN WOODS WALKING TRAILS
CCC welcomes new business and are keen to see the Adventure & Leisure Centre open where it is sympathetic with the communities needs and the townscape, however, the community has concerns with the lack of transparency and community engagement throughout the sale process.”
A significant area of Courtown Woods is designated as a proposed Natural Heritage Area. These woods are a valued amenity for locals and visitors and provide a unique opportunity for the public to immerse themselves in nature and to connect with biodiversity in these times of crisis.
The community has fought for the protection of these woods for many decades and want no further felling of any trees, except under exceptional circumstances such as tree disease or extreme damage.
CCC is currently collaborating with Wexford County Council, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Coillte and Wexford Walking Trails to manage all the trail systems in Courtown.
Courtown Woodland Trail is bounded by the Owenavarra River on the north side and the canal on the seaward side to the east and dates to pre-Famine times.
At 25 hectares, the wood was once home to oak and ash trees but having been acquired by the State in the late 1950s, it was planted with commercial timber. The mixed conifers – broadleaf plantings – were large of spruce with some ash although small strands of oak remain together with avenues of chestnut and lime trees.
Courtown has four walkways that takes the visitor or the local through nature in the footsteps of the previous Lords and Ladies of Courtown and their guests as they enjoyed privileged country life.
Kilmore Quay has received a significant investment to the tune of €208,000 in capital funding for upgrade works and repairs and while there is a general welcome locally, Fianna Fáil member in the Rosslare Municipal District, Cllr Lisa McDonald is particularly impressed.
CLLR LISA McDONALD
“I am delighted to be informed that €208,000 in capital funding will be spent on upgrade works and repairs in Kilmore Quay, a busy fishing community in the Rosslare Municipal District,” said Cllr. McDonald.
She added; “75% (€156,000) of this funding comes from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, with the remaining 25% (€52,000) coming from Wexford County Council.
“This funding in Kilmore Quay will be utilised for an upgrade to power points (€80,000), repair to Quay walls (€25,000), Mooring Bollards (€25,000), an access ladder on the west pier (€18,000), repair works to the marina (€30,000) and the painting of marina piles (€30,000),” continued Cllr. McDonald.
Cllr McDonald also acknowledged the contribution of her party colleagues Minister James Browne, Senator Malcolm Byrne, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue and Wexford County Council officials for their efforts to secure this funding.
Construction work on the Enniscorthy Flood Relief Scheme that includes a new bridge across the River Slaney costing more than €45 million is closer to commencement after the latest documents have reached the Minister’s desk in Dublin.
Cllr. Barbara-Anne Murphy, Cathaoirleach Enniscorthy Municipal District Council has been informed that the Supplementary Information requested by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to Enniscorthy Flood Defence Scheme has been finalised by Wexford County Council.
The old stone bridge at Enniscorthy
Enniscorthy Flood Defence Liaison Person, Larry McHale has confirmed to Cllr. Murphy that the required information was submitted to the Office of Public Works on April 27th and the OPW sent it on to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on Friday April 30th.
CLLR BARBARA-ANNE MURPHY
Cllr Murphy told WexfordLocal.com that “as was agreed at by the members of Enniscorthy Municipal District, we are now seeking meetings with Minister Michael McGrath TD Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and Minister Patrick O’Donovan TD, Minister with responsibility for the Office of Public Works and to stress upon them the urgency of getting the building of the Enniscorthy Flood Defence Scheme started.
“It is imperative that this project gets underway this year. The completed project will provide vital protection to the homes and businesses adversely affected in Enniscorthy by flooding over many years,” concluded Cllr Murphy.
Main construction work can commence when the scheme has been confirmed by the Minister.
It is expected that the entire Flood Defence Scheme for Enniscorthy which will include building a new bridge across the River Slaney will cost more than €45 million.
Bank Holiday Monday point-to-pointing took place today at Dawstown, near Blarney in Co. Cork, just six races and the only Wexford success was a double in the opening two races for Barry O’Neill and Colin Bowe.
Point-to-point action at Ballycrystal (File Photo)
Newcomer Harry Du Berlais gave a fine exhibition of jumping and scored by an easy ten lengths in the maiden race for four-year-olds. He is now for sale.
Craan Run completed the O’Neill/Bowe double with a three lengths victory in the maiden race for five-year-old mares and over. Both winners were in the colours of Milestone Bloodstock Ltd, Kiltealy.
Barry O’Neill is now on the 40 winner mark for the season and Colin Bowe is on the 32 mark to retain the rider and handlers’ national championship, respectively, when the season ends early next month.
Senator Malcolm Byrne has welcomed the announcement by Agriculture and the Marine Minister, Charlie McConalogue of government investment amounting to €445,000 for harbours and piers across Co. Wexford. One quarter of the funding (€111,750) will be provided by Wexford County Council.
KILMORE QUAY
Most of the cost will be spent at Kilmore Quay with many projects including upgrade of power points, repair to quay walls, mooring bollards, access ladder on the west pier. Repair works to the marina and painting of the marina piles.
Other projects include public lighting at Fethard Pier, the construction of a safety barrier on the slipway at Cahore Pier and improving the power supply at Wexford Quay and remedial works to Ferrybank slipway. Duncannon is set to get an new waste oil tank, some improvements at Ballyhack, repairs to the marina at New Ross and the quay walls at Killurin are earmarked for repairs.
Senator Byrne told WexfordLocal.com; “For our coastal communities, ongoing investment in our harbours and piers is vital. Apart from repair work, this allocation of funding will also make many of the facilities safer and more useable by the public.”
Lots of interest in the May Bush Festival across Co. Wexford this weekend.
The tradition of decorating the May Bush was fostered publicly in the media by folklorist Michael Fortune with strong support from Wexford County Council.
Great response across the county with Michael Fortune and family probably hitting the high notes at Curragraigue, just a few fields from Ballindaggin village.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions big gatherings were outlawed, but people responded appropriately, and many small ‘festivals decorating the May Bush’ were practiced privately by families in their own gardens.
May Bush exhibit at the entrance to Fethard National School
However, on my travels over the weekend, I discovered a wonderful May Bush presentation by the side of the road at the entrance to Scoil Mhadhóig Fiod Ard (Fethard National School). Clearly, the pupils, teachers and parents put in a big effort and they deserve to be complimented. Well done to all!
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Simon Harris T.D., has announced that Enniscorthy VEC has been selected as the location for an expanded National Hairdressing Apprenticeship.
CLLR CATHAL BYRNE
The news is warmly welcomed by Cllr Cathal Byrne who confirmed that this announcement means that Enniscorthy will be one of twelve designed sites across the country which offer a three year nationally recognised Level 6 Qualification in Hairdressing.”
Recent figures from the Department of Higher Education show that there is a skills shortage in hairdressing and many salons are struggling to find suitably qualified hairdressers to sustain and grow their business.
Cllr Byrne commented; “As the centre of County Wexford, Enniscorthy VEC is ideally located to help address this issue in the South East and provide an opportunity for apprentice hairdressers to be paid while they learn their trade.
“I would encourage anyone interested in applying to check out the designated website www.hairdressingapprenticeship.ie” concluded Cllr Byrne.
Doubles for handlers Sean Doyle and Denis Murphy and rider Luke Murphy who brought his career total of winners to 50 were the highlights on another good day for Wexford participants at today’s (Sunday) point-to- point at Dromahane, Co. Cork.
LUKE MURPHY… career winner number 50 today.
The combination of Denis Murphy and Luke Murphy (no relation) got into the swing of finding the post first with newcomer Happy D’Ex by a comfortable 15 lengths in the maiden race for four-year-old mares.
Another newcomer, Sharp Shadow, sporting the same colours as Happy D’Ex made it a Murphy double with a three-quarter length victory in the maiden race for older mares. 50th career winner for 24 years old Luke Murphy from Inch, near Gorey.
Sean Doyle, Ballindaggin, who had a double at Lisronagh yesterday (Saturday) repeated the performance with another double today. Watch House Cross took the maiden race for four-year-old geldings by five lengths with champion rider Barry O’Neill up.
Doyle is on the 99-winner career mark after completing a double with Mortlach, ridden by 20 years old Robbie Jackson from Kiltegan, Co. Wicklow, in the maiden race for older geldings. The winning verdict was three lengths and both winners were sporting the Monbeg Partnership colours.
Donnchadh Doyle shared a double with his brother (Sean) at Lisronagh yesterday, but he was happy with a single victory today when newcomer Old Painless, ridden by James Walsh, Shillelagh, on his 10th winner of the current season, came home six lengths to the good in the maiden race for five-year-old geldings.
BEFORE ;The Greenore Point Tower as the ferry sails out of harbour this morning
By Dan Walsh
There is serious local anger amongst historians and conservationists surrounding the malicious demolition of a prominent World War II landmark overlooking Rosslare Harbour at Greenore Point or Bing which took place today.
Eyewitnesses on social media say the tower was standing at 9 am this morning. It is now destroyed! There is photographic evidence of tyre marks on the land leading to the tower which is close to the cliff edge.
Speculation as to what exactly happened to the landmark appears to indicate that it was a deliberate act given the amount of force required.
It is understood that a land right-of-way dispute may be creating tension in the neighbourhood.
AFTER; Greenore Point tower tonight.
Cllr Ger Carthy has condemned what he described as “a sheer act of vandalism inflicted on my local area” and has been in touch with senior officials responsible for conservation at Wexford County Council and via social media he assures “my local community that this historic watchout tower will be put back to its original state.”
Rosslare in History (pub. 2005, edited by Gerry Breen) carries a brief history of the tower. The Marine and Coast Watching Service, set up ‘coast watching towers’ essentially looking out for drifting mines and shipping activity during World War II, and manned by volunteers, at Rosslare Point, Greenore Point and Carnsore Point.
WexfordLocal.com 