A swimmer whogot into difficulties off Ardamine beach yesterday (Sunday) is safe and well.
COAST GUARD RESCUE HELICOPTER 117
Courtown/Arklow Coast Guard Unit, Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue 117 from Waterford and the Lifeboat responded to a 999 call for a swimmer in difficulty off Ardamine beach at 5.32pm, The swimmer was quickly located and was able to make their way back to shore where the decision was made to have her assessed by ambulance paramedics and the Gardaí.
Once assessed and everything was fine the Coast Guard crew were stood down.
Remember if you see someone in difficulty on or near the water dial 999/112 and ask for the Coast Guard.
Bunches of flowers have been laid at the entrance to the Taravie Hotel, Courtown Harbour, today, paying tribute to proprietor Maureen Willoughby, (née Quinn) who sadly passed away on Saturday evening surrounded by her loving family.
Maureen spent 41 years in the family run Taravie Hotel where she was popular with locals and visitors alike and was always good for a friendly welcome or a homely chat.
MAUREEN WILLOUGHBY
The Taravie Hotel boasts a lovely beachside location in Courtown, offering a home from home experience, ten en-suite guest rooms and all modern facilities developed and nurtured by Maureen and members of her family where loyal staff were treated like family members. The character and kindness that was Maureen will be deeply missed and sympathy is extended to her extended family and friends. R.I.P.
FAMILY NOTICE; MAUREEN WILLOUGHBY (née Quinn), Taravie Hotel, Courtown. Beloved wife of the late Eric and loving mother of Audrey and Shane, sister of Arthur, Patty and Pauline. She will be very sadly missed by her son, daughter, brother, sisters, grandchildren Ross, Grace and Samuel, daughter-in-law Imelda, brothers-in-law Martin and Bernard, sister-in-law Betty, nephews, nieces, extended family, relatives, neighbours, loyal customers and many friends.
Reposing at her son Shane’s residence on Monday from 3 pm until 8 pm. Funeral arriving to Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, Riverchapel, on Tuesday for Funeral Mass (50 people) at 12 noon, followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery.
Family flowers only, please. Donations, if desired, to the Courtown RNLI. Social distance rules will apply at residence, church and cemetery.
A man in his 20s, originally from Poland, was arrested by Gardaí in relation to the seizure of a sum of cash at Rosslare Europort on Saturday morning.
Revenue officers stopped and searched a Polish registered freight vehicle at the port. The vehicle was intending to board a ferry to Bilbao, Spain.
Detector dog Gus and the cash haul seized at Rosslare Europort this weekend. (Pics; Revenue Commissioners)
The search, carried out with the assistance of detector dog, Gus, and a mobile x-ray scanner, led to the discovery of €181,000.
Revenue officers were granted a three month cash detention order by Judge Kevin Staunton at a special sitting of Gorey District Court. Investigations are ongoing.
These routine operations are part of Revenue’s ongoing work targeting drug smuggling. If businesses, or members of the public have any information, they can contact Revenue in confidence on Confidential Phone Number 1800 295 295.
Bishop of Ferns Dr Denis Brennan and Dean of Ferns, the Reverend Paul Mooney, representing the Church of Ireland community, were amongst the attendance at Fr. Patrick (Paddy) Cushen’s Golden Jubilee celebrations in St. Aidan’s Church, Ferns, on Friday night.
FR PADDY CUSHEN plants a tree to mark his Golden Jubilee at Ferns.
A native of Graiguenamanagh, Fr Cushen was ordained at St. Peter’s College Wexford on June 6th, 1971, and served in Chiswick, Archdiocese of Westminister, London, before being recalled to the Diocese of Ferns to serve as curate at Murrintown, Administrator in Wexford town in 1994, became parish priest of Marshalstown in 1997 and parish priest of Ferns since 2005.
Good wishes were expressed to Fr Cushen, who planted a tree to mark the special occasion. “We would like to wish Fr Paddy every happiness and good health to carry on his ministry here in the parish (od Ferns) for many years to come,” stated a community notice on social media.
In conjunction with Fr Cushen’s special occasion Bishop Brennan bestowed Bene Merenti medals on Michael Andrews and Mary Skelton in recognition of “their outstanding work in the parish and for everything they do for the church and the parish.”
Founded in 1210, Dunbrody Abbey is one of the finest examples of a Cistercian monastery in Ireland and today the abbey features a modern visitor centre and has plenty to offer visitors at Campile.
Dunbrody Abbey and Visitor Centre is built on the site of one of the most impressive of ruined Cistercians abbeys in Ireland. It was founded by Herve de Montmorency in 1170 on the instructions of his nephew Richard de Clare (also known as Strongbow), after the Norman invasion of Ireland.
Today Dunbrody Abbey retains much of its 13th century church as well as extensive remains of buildings around the cloister garth. The transepts and their chapels are well preserved and beside the aisles, the nave stands complete; the massive crossing tower was an addition of the 15th century.
DUNBRODY ABBEY one of the finest examples of a ruined Cistercian monastery in the country located near Campile.
The abbey was dissolved by Henry VIII in 1536 and granted to the Etchingham family in 1545, at which point part of the church was converted into a residence. A massive collapse occurred on Christmas Eve in 1852, destroying the south wall of the church and some of the monastery.
Next to the abbey lies Dunbrody Castle and a visitor centre opened by the Earl of Belfast, only son of the 7th Marquess of Donegall. The castle gardens feature an intricate yew hedge maze called the Dunbrody Abbey Maze. Made up of 1,500 yew trees and gravel paths, it is one of the only two full size mazes in Ireland.
Dunbrody Abbey and Castle are open to visitors to explore, enjoy walks and have picnics on the grounds. Located in a beautiful stretch of south-west Wexford, the abbey remains a vital and vibrant tourist attraction and a valuable historical resource.
Well worth a visit over the June Bank Holiday weekend! Opening times May to September 11am to 5.30pm. There is ample car parking and disabled access.
Large numbers are flocking to Morriscastle for the June Bank Holiday weekend and to avoid car parking problems like those unexpectedly experienced recently a new green field free public carpark capable of safely holding 350/400 vehicles opens on Saturday morning on a 2.5-acre site generously provided by local landowner Chris Hammel close to the popular Blue Flag beach.
“It was of huge importance to get this car park open ahead of the Bank Holiday weekend and I’m delighted that Hammel family came on board, and I thank them, Wexford County Council, Gerry Forde, Joanne Kehoe and their staff and Willie Hayden was the contractor,” Cllr Pip Breen told WexfordLocal.com
CLLR PIP BREEN introducing the new Free Public Carpark at Morriscastle which opens at 8am on Saturday morning till end of August
“We have a real fine Bank Holiday weekend coming up and there is a lot a people around and it is essential that people get a good experience at Morriscastle and the business is essential to sustain the local economy,” added Cllr Breen.
Good crowds outdoors at Kilmuckridge village this evening and it is also a plus that a new footpath from the village to the beach is operational and being used as a recreational facility by locals and visitors alike.
The ‘temporary’ car park is opened from 8am to 8pm every day till the end of August and a warm welcome awaits visitors from the excited coastal community.
AUDIO ADDITION – Cllr Pip Breen welcomes the new ‘temporary’ car parking facility at Morriscastle.
Enniscorthy Castle is an imposing Norman stronghold originally built in the 13th century, the castle has hosted Anglo Norman knights, Gaelic Irish Kings and Elizabethan adventurers, English armies, Irish rebels and local merchant families.
ENNISCORTHY CASTLE with Vinegar Hill in the background has reopened its doors to the public following the Covid-19 lockdown
So why not pay a visit to this stately keep that has been recently restored and updated, the castle is now home to a new visitor experience that showcases the history of the town and its imposing castle. This is living history through the ages.
The ancient Castle Museum concept has been replaced by a more modern approach. How the castle was saved from a roofless ruin by the Roche family, a trip into the creative mind of local genius Eileen Gray, one of Europe’s world’s most renowned designers, and from the creative mind of Colm Tóibín the story of Brooklyn through the book and the film.
Just a few of the highlights. Add in Enniscorthy’s industrial past, downwards to the dungeon or upwards to the roof with its spectacular views of Enniscorthy, the Slaney Valley and famed Vinegar Hill… what more could you wish for? Fully wheelchair accessible, the roof of Enniscorthy Castle is awesome!
Enniscorthy Castle has re-opened after the Covid-19 lockdown from 9.30am to 5pm on weekdays and Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays from 12pm to 5pm. Admission is Adults €6… Seniors €5… Children €3… Family €12.
With the June Bank Holiday looming, and the weather forecast favourable for outdoor pursuits, positive efforts are being made to avoid last week’s traffic chaos at Cahore Pier.
Cllr Mary Farrell has announced a temporary solution to some of the parking problems at the popular North Wexford resort.
CAHORE PIER… a view from the magnificent cliff walk
“I have been working on this issue with Wexford County Council for some time and just today (Thursday) a final agreement was made with landowners to allow a field at the South Beach end of the beautiful cliff walk to be used as a car park that will connect to another temporary car park at the pier.
“Work will commence on Tuesday morning and hopefully will be operational by next weekend and it is intended that visitors to Cahore will be encouraged to park at South Beach and take the cliff walk to the pier for refreshments or just to enjoy the amazing views.
“The pier car park is intended to ease the dreadful parking problems at this beautiful attraction. Further measures of barriers will soon be in place also,” concluded Cllr Farrell.
Funding of €650,830 has been granted to Wexford County Council for spending on 13 road drainage improvements across Co. Wexford under the Climate Adaption and Resilience Works 2021 announced today and welcomed by public representatives.
€199,000 is set aside for works on the R733 at Ballingly Bridge, east of Wellingtonbridge, where the road is to be raised by up to a metre and works done on each side of the bridge and raising masonry walls.
Cliff stabilisation works at Grange Beach will take place at two locations using soil nailing on the upper cliff and rock armour on the part of the cliff. €197,000 available here but it is stated that the follow on from design prepared in 2020 is funded by Department of Transport under Climate Change Adaption.
Flooding at Ahare Bridge, near Castletown, last January.
There is €50,000 for the Coolmeelagh channel and concrete drainage and works to improve increased water flow and not so far away, at Cromogue, Bunclody €30,000 will be used for a new road culvert and roadside drainage.
The Ahare River, near Castletown, has been subjected to flooding over many years and some progress is reported with €25,000 allotted towards a feasibility study. Flooding at Kilmurray is under scrutiny with a tag of €25,000 and upgrade of existing drainage at Courtown gets €5,000.
New road culverts are planned for Mangan (€20,000) and Bree Hill (€25,000). Another €25,000 for Bullring Cross to increase the capacity of existing drainage – and even google maps doesn’t figure out where that is (road number L1014-4) so if anybody can help us with the location – contact WexfordLocal.com on Facebook!
The installation of 200m of drainage to elevate flooding on the Dungeer Road gets €27,830. Increased capacity for drainage required to take water off the road at Ballybaun, Ballymurn gets €10,000.
And at Poulpeasty works will take account of hydraulic loads causing damage and undermining the bridge structure is earmarked for €12,000. Proposed works include cleaning out the river bed and increase opening of the bridge to prevent road flooding.
County Wexford farming communities are joining Healthy Wexford and Sports Active Wexford to participate in a Summer Walking Series of three one hour walks over three weeks lead by trained leaders from Sports Active Wexford during June and July.
Annette Dupuy, Healthy County Coordinator is encouraging people to join for a variety of reasons; “We see this Summer Walking Series having a range of benefits from trying something new, getting out and meeting new people, increasing your physical activity and perhaps even just giving you an hour for yourself.”
Wexford IFA are encouraging farming communities across Co. Wexford to get involved. Alice Doyle, Chairperson of IFA Farm Family & Social Affairs, sees this as an opportunity for the farming community to connect after a period of isolation. “Many of the social opportunities we have to meet as a farming community have been limited and so this walking series will give us all a chance to reconnect,” she said.
CARRIGFOYLE LAKE where the Summer Walking Series was launched today (Wednesday)
Jer O’Mahony, Wexford IFA Chairman added; “This will be an opportunity to get back out in a supportive and fun way, regardless of your fitness level. We want to stress this is for everyone.”
The Summer Walking Series was launched today at Carrigfoyle Lake on Forth Mountain today by Cllr Garry Laffan, Leas-Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council and Chair of Sports Active Wexford. “We are delighted to be involved in this initiative for the farming community and that now, with reduced restrictions, we can facilitate a group of walkers.” Cllr John Hegarty, Chair of the Healthy County Committee added; “This initiative highlights the benefit of collaboration and will provide health and wellbeing benefits, both physical and mental, for a very important sector in our community.”
There are two Summer Walking Series planned – one in North Wexford and one in South Wexford, with the timing of the activity scheduled to fit with the busy farming calendar.
Dates and locations as follows: NORTH WEXFORD; June 29th, Kilanerin; July 6th, Courtown Woods, and July 13th, Cahore. SOUTH WEXFORD; July 1st, Tintern Woods, July 8th, Rocks, Maudlintown, and July 15th, Forth Mountain.
Walks will be held 8-9pm each evening. Numbers attending are limited, in line with current COVID restrictions, and attendance must be pre-booked with Sports Active Wexford – Phone 053-9196557 or email sports.active@wexfordcoco.ie
This initiative is supported by Healthy Ireland. The Healthy Ireland Fund, supported by the Department of Health and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration & Youth.
WexfordLocal.com 