News and Sport and Events that matter across County Wexford.
By Dan Walsh
An elderly man who was struck by a vehicle and seriously injured while out walking near his home 10 days ago has died from his injuries at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin.
Laurence ‘Larry’ Leacy, (89), was on a back road when he was struck by a vehicle at Tinraheen, The Ballagh, around 2pm on Monday, February 22nd.
Emergency services were quickly on the scene and Mr Leacy was airlifted by helicopter to Beaumont Hospital from Oulart-The Ballagh GAA pitch.
By Dan Walsh
The search for Ireland’s most talented family! Réalta Agus Gaolta is back and the search for Ireland’s most entertaining family, 2021! Whether your family members are talented musicians, singers or dancers, they want to hear from you now.
Do you think you can impress the judges? Keeping an eye on the talent is champion sean-nós singer and popular broadcaster Irial Ó’Ceallaigh. Alongside him will be Sinéad Ní Uallacháin, journalist and radio producer with a keen eye for up-and-coming Irish talent. Each week they will be joined by a famous guest judge from the world of showbiz.
Has your family got what it takes to become a household name? Can you and your siblings take the sing-along in the sitting room to the national stage? Will you and your parents be the next famous family rocking the country?
If so, get in touch with us now!
To apply, your group must consist of two or more members. All members of the group must be related to each other.
Filming will take place in RTÉ, Dublin later in the Spring.
Applicants must be available for at least ONE day of filming. Should an applicant reach the series semi-final and the final, they would need to be available for a SECOND day of filming.
Applicants are invited to apply via tg4.ie/realta-agus-gaolta or by contacting the production team directly at rob@adareproductions.ie
By Dan Walsh
Volunteer lifeboat crew at Fethard RNLI received a call from the Irish Coast Guard on Sunday to reports of three walkers who were cut off by the incoming tide with no way of getting to safety.
The inshore lifeboat arrived at Cocklestrand, west of Bannow Island at 5.35pm. The Kilmore Quay Coast Guard unit was also tasked. Once on scene the lifeboat crew began the search for the stranded walkers. An extensive search of the north and south shoreline was carried out, but the walkers were nowhere to be seen and had made their own way to safety.
Mark Brennan, Fethard RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer said: “The member of the public did absolutely the right thing, reporting someone in difficulty. It is always better to be safe than sorry and we would much rather launch and find nothing than not launch at all, safety is always our priority.”
Mr Brennan added that people are keen to exercise outside within government guidelines and live in a beautiful area with lots of access to the coast. “However, we would advise people to keep an eye on their surroundings, in particular incoming tides and also to watch their footing on the shoreline.”
“Fethard RNLI remain on call and fully operational during the Covid-19 pandemic. There is no crew training or exercises taking place now, but we are here if people need us,” concluded Mr Brennan.
By Dan Walsh
Wexford’s Sinn Féin Deputy Johnny Mythen has described today’s announcement of Bank of Ireland branch closures in Taghmon and Rosslare Harbour as the wrong decision at the worst possible time for customers and staff.
Deputy Mythen said; “Bank of Ireland closing over a third of its branches in the south and more than half of its branches in the north from September is the wrong decision. This comes in the teeth of a global pandemic and less than two weeks after Ulster Bank announced its withdrawal from the southern market. It is a huge blow for customers and staff.”
“Bank of Ireland has attempted to justify this announcement based on a fall in branch visits over the past twelve months. This is hardly surprising given the entire population had its movements significantly restricted in response to a public health emergency. In reality, the bank is using Covid-19 for cover, punishing customers for following public health regulations. This is not just a cynical move, but a slap in the face that will hurt customers, staff and communities.”
Deputy Mythen said he will be writing to the CEO of Bank of Ireland, the Minister for Finance and the Governor of the Central Bank in light of today’s announcement.
“The Minister is a major shareholder in Bank of Ireland, while the Governor is charged with consumer protection. They have a responsibility to do all they can to put the interests of customers and communities first. The taxpayer poured €4.7 billion into Bank of Ireland during the financial crisis – the least the Irish people deserve from the bank is respect,” he concluded.
By Dan Walsh
Bank of Ireland has confirmed closure of 103 branches, including two in Wexford at Rosslare Harbour and Taghmon, while a large number in North Wexford will be affected by the loss of Carnew and Tinahely in south Wicklow and Borris and Tullow in Carlow.
The bank says that Covid-19 has accelerated a shift in the industry towards digital banking and the bank has signed a deal to allow personal and business customers use their local An Post office for certain services, including cash withdrawals and cash and cheque lodgements.
AIB and Ulster Bank, which is exiting the market, have similar partnerships with An Post.
“Sad day for the local area. Another attack on rural Ireland,” was how Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council Cllr Ger Carthy stated on hearing the news. “Bank of Ireland bailed out by Fianna Fàil and the Greens and now Rosslare Harbour and Taghmon banks allowed to shut under Fine Gael, Fianna Fàil and the Greens. Don’t forget this decision when they come to your door the next time,” he concluded.
Commenting of social media today, Cllr Jim Codd said “This is another attack on rural Ireland and will leave many people who are not comfortable using online banking hung out to dry.” Cllr Codd added; Four years ago hundreds of people signed a petition calling on Bank of Ireland to preserve the Taghmon branch when it looked in danger of closing. I plan on recreating this petition now and I am asking for volunteers to help. Rural Wexford cannot afford another blow like this and it’s clear that the powers to be using the current crisis to offload assets they no longer want to hold.”
This is another significant blow for rural Ireland following the loss of post offices and garda stations across County Wexford in recent years. And there are issues with the availability of broadband services with pockets having no broadband services at all.
By Dan Walsh
Wexford businesses need to be ready for further import checks from April 1st with the introduction of new documentary import controls on certain categories of EU goods such as all products of animal origin, including all meat, dairy, fish and composite products incorporating products of animal origin, as well as regulated plants and plant products.
Wexford’s Senator Malcolm Byrne points out that these new regulations will impact on supply chains for those shipping goods from Wexford and Ireland into Britain or using the landbridge with potential time delays. “Exporters, particularly of food products, need to be ready for these checks,” he warns.
“Avoiding the UK altogether will be increasingly attractive to Irish companies exporting to continental Europe as there will be greater time certainty through direct shipping. This makes the new direct routes at Rosslare even more attractive. For Wexford companies exporting to Britain, the added checks could result in delays,” concluded Senator Byrne.
In addition to customs formalities, Irish exporters exporting to or through the UK, excluding Northern Ireland, will need to comply with several new UK requirements. An exporter’s UK importer will have to pre-notify the UK authorities of the goods, the exporter will have to get the appropriate Health Certificate(s) from the Irish authorities and move the goods together with these Health Certificate(s).
Information on the impact, as well as government grants and supports can be found at gov.ie/Brexit
By Dan Walsh
The Irish Secretary of the National Union of Journalists and Chair of the Irish South East branch have called on Iconic Newspapers to match its call for Irish government support with a change in its own attitude towards trade union recognition.
Recently, editors of the company’s 24 regional titles published a letter to their respective readers calling for support of the newspaper print sector, a call made by the NUJ in May 2020, and repeated in the union’s submission to the Future of Broadcasting Commission.
Seamus Dooley, Irish Secretary, NUJ has responded to the editors’ letter pointing out; “There has been a growing awareness of the need for authoritative public interest journalism, provided not just by our public service broadcasters but by privately owned media.”
Mr Dooley called for bold polices, including specific measures to protect the regional press and specialist publications, across all platforms. “Targeted measures aimed at supporting jobs and quality journalism, and bolstering independent, diverse, ethically produced content are needed,” he added.
NUJ agrees that these are challenging times for everyone. This however is where the commonality appears to end.
“Our members are not “understanding” of the imposition of layoffs or reduced hours and why it is they have not been afforded the opportunity to be collectively represented by their Union. We would welcome the opportunity to engage with Iconic Newspapers to work together with the NUJ to protect local news and the members on whom the industry depends,” stated Mr Dooley, who added; “It is a cornerstone of our News Recovery Plan that public money should not be made available for privately owned firms making compulsory redundancies, cutting pay, giving executive bonuses, or blocking trade union organisation.
The NUJ’s stance is being fully supported by members in the South East, with Damien Tiernan, chair of the branch, stating “It’s imperative Denmark meets with the staff representative association. What’s happening now is just not good enough.”
Meanwhile, the union’s Irish Organiser Ian McGuinness has written to publisher Malcolm Denmark seeking a meeting to discuss the introduction of layoffs and reduced working hours in Iconic and has received no response.
By Dan Walsh
Wexford’s Senator Malcolm Byrne has praised the Gardai for their handling of the violent protests organised by extremist groups in Dublin at the weekend and urged tougher action against “anti-lockdown, anti-vaccine conspiracy merchants.”
Senator Byrne, who faced a small anti-vaccine protest outside his office in December, told WexfordLocal.com; “What happened in Dublin at the weekend was disgraceful; the Gardai have enough to do without having to deal with this thuggish behaviour.”
He pointed out that these fringe groups are now resorting to violence to spread their message. “The overwhelming majority of people in this country are really angry at this tiny minority who are undermining the efforts of everyone, particularly our frontline workers.”
In conclusion, Senator Byrne thanked local Gardai for their work in “helping us all fight the pandemic.”
By Dan Walsh
The Government Report ‘Covid-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021; The Path Ahead’, published by the Government earlier this week came before Seanad Éireann today (Friday) with the Minister for Transport, Eamonn Ryan TD, presenting an address and gauging reaction from the members.
Wexford’s Senator Malcolm Byrne asked for a commitment that Rosslare Europort be classified as a Tier One port.
Senator Byrne said; “With the twin whammies of Covid and Brexit we have seen our ports come under a lot of pressure, but Rosslare Europort has started to boom at last. I want to hear a commitment that we will move towards classifying Rosslare Europort as a Tier One port and that it will get the necessary investment to allow it to continue to expand. Year on year, from January of last year to January of this year, the amount of freight passing through Rosslare increased by over 440%. Critical to that, and I ask the Minister this in the context of the review of the national development plan that is happening now, is the completion of the M11 motorway from Oylegate to Rosslare.
“A previous Senator was right in saying that motorways make sense from an environmental point of view. We are now seeing trucks and lorries clogging up villages like Oylegate, Kilrane and Rosslare. It is adding time for our hauliers travelling to Rosslare and disturbing the quality of life in those villages. That as a priority within the national development plan is critical.
“In terms of the development of the railways, I would also make the case for the much underutilised Rosslare to Dublin railway. Part of the problem is that once one gets to Bray, as the Minister knows, the main interurban trains must sit behind the DART. That delays trains and it remains a problem.”
Minister Ryan acknowledged the contributions of several speakers. He recalled; “Senator Byrne asked about Rosslare and to my mind that should be radically enhanced. I spoke about it in the Dáil yesterday again. We will have to invest in better road access to the port. It can also be a significant part of developing our offshore wind industry. The recent revival and growth in Rosslare Europort are only the start.
By Dan Walsh
Chambers Ireland and Irish Water are calling on Wexford businesses to get involved in Irish Water’s Water Stewardship Programme, which includes taking the Water Conservation Pledge, carrying out free Online Water Conservation Training and finally enrolling to become a Certified Water Steward.
Yvonne Harris, Irish Water Head of Customer Operations, said: “Safeguarding our precious water resources is a top priority for Irish Water and we are delighted to launch this water stewardship partnership with Chambers Ireland. Conserving water not only helps protect your local supply – it can also protect the environment, boost your reputation, and reduce your bills.”
Emma Dunphy, Chamber Operations Manager said: “County Wexford Chamber encourages Wexford businesses to move to sustainable water management. Irish Water’s Water Stewardship Programme provides an opportunity to improve your green credentials by taking the water conservation pledge and online training to support your business to use water sustainably, in a way that benefits people and the environment.”
Ken Stockil, Director of Programme Delivery said, “This innovative programme has been made possible thanks to the funding from Irish Water, Skillnet Ireland, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and is a clear demonstration of Ireland’s growing reputation and leadership actions on water stewardship and climate action.”
Irish business uses circa 510 million litres of water every day in Ireland which is why supporting businesses to become more sustainable in how they use water is critical to safeguarding supplies for the future.
Chambers Ireland will work with Irish Water to raise awareness of the Three Steps to Sustainable Water Management, to support businesses to lower water consumption and reduce operating costs while protecting the environment.
Businesses can find out more information on the Water Conservation for Business Hub at www.water.ie.
WexfordLocal.com 