There are serious ecological concerns in North Wexford after an oil spillage was discovered this afternoon in the Ounavarra River at Courtown Woods close to Courtown Harbour. Wexford County Council has ordered a major investigation.
Oil spillage on the Ounavarra River. VIDEO CREDIT; gallivanting.ie
Walkers in Courtown Wood were distracted by a strong smell from the river and thick oil streaks were spotted in the river. WexfordLocal.com has learned that the spillage may be diesel oil and originates somewhere near Ballycanew, several kilometres away!
Locals have noticed that salmon spawning on the river could be affected, ducks have been smeared with oil, and otters and other wildlife could be endangered.
Cllr Fionntán Ó’Súilleabháin said the discovery was made this evening and staff from Gorey-Kilmuckridge Municipal Council have already carried out a preliminary investigation with the immediate focus on discovery of the oil leak.
The Ounavarra river is tranquil and pleasant in this study from last June. Today it is fighting the threat of an oil spill. (Archive Pic; WexfordLocal.com
The Environmental Section of Wexford County Council have planned a thorough investigation tomorrow with the assistance of various groups dedicated to the welfare of wildlife and the preservation of the environment.
An Garda Siochana, the Oiled Wildlife Response Network, the Seal Sanctuary of Ireland, and other interested agencies will be monitoring the situation.
Any information that might be of assistance to Environment Section, Wexford County Council 053 9196313 or Gorey Garda Station 053 9430690 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.
This afternoon’s racing at Bettyville Park went ahead in wet conditions after 8mm of rain fell overnight and the seven-race card was run safely with the locals featuring amongst the winners.
The aptly named Socially Distant (14/1) ran out a 16 lengths winner of the opening Wexford Mares’ Maiden Hurdle for Enniscorthy trainer Paul Nolan and his stable jockey Bryan Cooper.
Sean O’Keeffe from Taghmon teamed up with Conna trainer Jimmy Mangan to win the M2 Construction Wexford Novice Handicap Hurdle by one and three-quarter lengths with the Philip Rothwell trained McAlpine filling the runner-up spot.
O’Keeffe missed out on a double aboard the Liz Doyle trained 3/1 favourite Feelgood Island who finished second behind Bythesametoken (4/1) in the Micheal Ó’Murchadha Memorial Handicap Hurdle for Kilcullen trainer Ross O’Sullivan and ridden by Conor Orr.
Kilkenny trainer Eoin Griffin sent Jody Ted (18/1) from his Slieverue stables to the Eoin O’Gorman Solicitors Maiden Hurdle and it was a victorious visit with Mark McDonagh in the saddle.
Jockey Trevor Ryan from Thurles celebrated his 27th birthday with a winner – Whispering Waters (16/1) for Martin Brassil in the Arctic Tack Beginners Chase.
There was a small piece of history achieved in the Tomcoole Farms Ltd Beginners Chase. First winner for Denise ‘Sneezy’ Foster since taking over from Gordon Elliott last weekend with Defi Blue (4/1) for Gigginstown House Stud and jockey Jack Kennedy. “That’s a great start for Sneezy and long may it continue. Hopefully, we will have plenty of luck together now,” said Kennedy, who is booked for some of the top rides at next week’s Cheltenham Festival.
It was the final race of the day before a favourite obliged. The Gossiper (5/4 fav) trained by Emmet Mullins and ridden by Patrick Mullins won the bumper.
“There will be a significant Wexford campus,” according to Senator Malcolm Byrne, who today (Wednesday) chaired a meeting of the Oireachtas members from the South East joined by Minister Simon Harris, the Chairs and Presidents of Waterford and Carlow Institutes of Technology, and Tom Boland, the project manager.
SENATOR MALCOLM BYRNE
A number of matters were confirmed around the Technological University of the South East. A TUSE application will be lodged on April 28th and the plan is that the new university will come into being on January 1st 2022.
About €150 million in new capital investment is already committed to the university across the region. There will be a significant Wexford campus. There will be an additional bigger footprint for the Waterford campus.
There are nine working groups involving staff across the two institutions preparing for this project, however, “there is no ‘Plan B’ if this is rejected.”
Commenting Senator Byrne told WexfordLocal.com; “This is a hugely important project for our region and will result in potentially the fifth largest university in the State, a new institution next year. This has been one of my top priorities since becoming a member of the Oireachtas and it will be of enormous benefit to the social and economic development of the region when it is realised. Most importantly, it will be of benefit to learners across all our counties.”
Mayor of Wexford Cllr Leonard Kelly, who came up with the idea and concept behind the Green Estate Pilot Programme has performed the launch at Ferrybank, Wexford, with Gerry Forde and Cliona Connolly from the Environment Section of Wexford County Council.
The programme is an initial step to encourage residents to begin to think about creating areas for nature within the public spaces of their estate.
At the launch of the Green Estate Pilot Programme; Cliona Connolly, Environment Education Officer, Wexford County Council; Cllr Leonard Kelly, Mayor of the Borough District of Wexford and Gerry Forde, Senior Engineer, Environment Section, Wexford County Council.
Mayor Kelly said; “We have known for a long time the importance of nature in building healthy communities. This scheme is the first step in creating spaces for nature and increasing awareness around how important nature is and the impact our actions have on the environment around us. The current pandemic has made us realise the importance of the physical environment in which we live and emphasised the value of green spaces.”
The Green Estate pilot programme is about residents pledging to take just three simple actions to improve a green area within their estate to benefit nature. Mayor Kelly thanked the Wexford Environmental Network for their input and the Environment Section for taking on board his idea and developing the pilot phase of this initiative.
Gerry Forde thanked the Mayor Kelly for bringing his idea to the Council and stated that “the pilot phase of the programme is open to any housing estate within the Municipal District of Wexford. “We would hope that following a successful pilot it will be opened to all districts and can be further expanded in different phases to include energy and waste management. Information can be provided in further phases on how simple actions can be taken to help combat climate change.’
In 2020, Aldi Ireland sourced €9 million of locally produced food and drink from Wexford based suppliers. Aldi partners with 12 Wexford producers including long-term relationships with Irish Country Meats, Stafford’s Bakeries and Green Valley Farms. Last year it began working with five new Wexford suppliers for the first time.
Niall O’Connor, Group Managing Director, Aldi Ireland said: “Our goal is to make a positive impact in every local community that our stores serve. Our operations and stores contribute to businesses, communities and families right across Wexford. We have invested €23.5 million in our Wexford stores over the last number of years, while we sourced €9 million of locally produced food and drink from Wexford based suppliers last year.”
ALDI IRELAND sourced €9m of locally produced food and drink from Wexford suppliers.
Aldi will boost its annual national spend on Irish food and drink by 17.5% in 2021 to €1 billion with further opportunities available to Wexford suppliers. Operating seven stores in Wexford, Aldi employs 185 full time staff, spending €9.1 million on wages annually. It is seeking to recruit 34 new employees for its Wexford stores this year. Opportunities available include 24 permanent positions.
Each store is also part of Aldi’s Community Grants network, with Wexford Marine Watch and Pieta House Wexford some of the many local charities that have availed of the €500 bursary grant in recent years.
A progress report on the Oylegate to Rosslare Harbour motorway was top of the agenda for today’s monthly meeting of Wexford County Council held with Microsoft Teams due to Covid-19 restrictions where many members raised concerns and the current situation was described as “frustrating and embarrassing.”
Mr Sean Dobbs, Project Manager Wexford County Council, gave a comprehensive report and was generous in answering members questions. It turns out that the project is deeply complex and has been subject to change.
Mr Dobbs outlined that the Option Selection will set the trajectory and it is critically important on the impact of communities, whether positively or negatively by the decision. It is anticipated that the Preferred Option will be announced on June 18th after a thorough and comprehensive independent process.
Cathaoirleach Cllr Ger Carthy described the situation as “frustrating and embarrassing”. “We are looking at this project for nearly a quarter of a century and it is getting very frustrating for people who cannot sell their land, develop their land or sell their house.”
He questioned the litany of reports and wondered if a Green Party led agenda existed or is it a delay tactic on making a decision because two deadlines have already passed since the route was announced and “it’s become very frustrating and it’s become very embarrassing” for members to be told it was January, February, March “last week I was told it will be May” and now we are told it will be June. “I can’t understand these consultants that we are paying millions (of euro) to can’t deliver on time.”
Mr Dobbs said he would like nothing better than to deliver the scheme option now and be moving forward to detailed design and preparing a planning application but the work now being undertaken is critical to preparing that planning application, unfortunately, it does mean the option process has been delayed.
Cllr George Lawlor said that Rosslare Europort is the driver behind the Oylegate to Rosslare Harbour scheme where there has been a 500% increase in freight and connectivity to Europe. “Rosslare is now one of the key pieces of infrastructure in the country and that will only go in an upward spiral. We need to get traffic in and out of the Europort as expeditiously as possible.”
The M11 heading to the Scurloughsbush Roundabout. What next for the Oylegate to Rosslare Harbour extension?
Cllr Willie Kavanagh, who lives on the side of the N11 in the village of Oylegate, believes there is 100% increase in heavy traffic going through the village since Brexit. He wondered if the Council could come up with a solution to the traffic situation until the bypass comes in ’10 year’s time’!
Cllr Pip Breen felt good about the project but expressed sadness for the impacted people along the route and do not know more about the preferred route to make their lives move on. The criteria has changed on four or five occasions.
Cllr Lisa McDonald said there was a six months delay on the time given last June and the people on Route C have had their houses sterilised since around 2006. She believes that it is only a matter of time until constitutional action may bring the matter before the courts for keeping people from their property for so long. “We have been delayed six months. It is very frustrating. It is very embarrassing. You not only got Oylegate, but also Kilrane, Killinick, Crossabeg, Piercestown and Murrintown, a lot of communities are being affected, people are being very patient, but patience will run out if there is not a route for them by June.”
Cllr Cathal Byrne who represents the people who are along Route G in Ballyhogue and Killurin was “very disappointed.”
Cllr Jim Codd referred to farmers who need to let their land long-term, sow forestry, or sell a house that are stuck in limbo. When this pandemic lifts we are going to have a very different country and he acknowledged Cllr McDonald’s remark about travel “you may as well be looking into a field of thistles.”
Cllr Frank Staples had concerns that someone mentioned “this might not happen” and he spoke about Killinick village where there are five exit and entrance points within 200 metres and the place is very dangerous. “It was always dangerous,” he added. He supposed that if the application did not get through An Bord Pleanala that finance would not be forthcoming!
Cllr John Hegarty shared the sentiments of members about people left in limbo, but he felt that the approach that Mr Dobbs is taking is the right one if unnecessary delays are avoided. “There are undoubtably going to be delays, and this won’t be the last one, but getting it right now will benefit with An Bord Pleanala and the funding.”
Cllr Davy Hynes was elected to the Town Council almost 23 years ago and the talk was about making Rosslare Harbour better and he wondered if it will be another 23 years and they will be still talking about it. “Only for Brexit we wouldn’t be as near as where we are because there was no interest in Rosslare at that time,” said Cllr Hynes.
Almost complete desecration of an ancient family vault and daubing with blue paint on adjacent headstones at the old Clonattin graveyard in Gorey has been condemned by all decent minded people in the community.
Destruction at Clonattin, which is located deep in farmland close to the town, is nothing new; it is frequently a venue for drinking parties and most recently a number of gravestones have been sprayed with blue paint!
Amongst those who have condemned this anti-social activity is the Cathaoirleach of Gorey-Kilmuckridge Municipal District, Cllr Joe Sullivan, who told WexfordLocal.com; “This is a place of historical significance and the final resting place of generations of Gorey citizens and was once the parish church for the district.”
A scene of desecration at the old graveyard at Clonattin, just outside Gorey with Tara Hill in the background.
Old Clonattin graveyard is cared for by locals with an historical and community interest who keep an eye on it and Gorey-Kilmuckridge Municipal Council have also aided with clean-up and general maintenance.
Clonattin and Ramsfort are associated with the Ram family and Bishop Ram who “settled in Gorey and received large land grants in the north of Wexford, built a church at Market Square, Gorey, in 1610.” It is of high importance as an ancient antiquity.
Made famous by the late Michael Fitzpatrick’s book Clonattin in the Fields (pub. 1986), Clonattin graveyard dates from the 6th century and remains the final resting place of many loved ones close to families still living in and around Gorey.
Clonattin graveyard contains a small ecclesiastical structure, in the Norman style of architecture, supposed to have been a cell to the abbey of Ferns, founded by St. Edan, and it is supposed that the name of the place may be a modification on Cluain Edan, signifying “the retreat or cell of Edan.” Dr. Thomas Ram, Bishop of Ferns and Leighlin, was interred in the old church of Gorey, where is an altar tomb to his memory with a very curious inscription written by himself. (Lewis Topographical Directory, pub. 1837).
It is as sure as day follows night that members raise the scourge of illegal dumping at County Council meetings and a debate on the second stage of the Local Government (use of CCTV in Prosecution of Offences) Bill came before Seanad Éireann on Friday.
Wexford’s Senator Malcolm Byrne said; “I get several complaints from working-class areas about the dumping that is happening in their communities, as well as what is happening in rural communities. There is a real demand to have this issue addressed. Given the powers that local authorities have, it is not that the GDPR is preventing CCTV being used; it is simply that the underpinning legislation is not in place.
“A number of colleagues have raised the fact that dumping appears to be getting worse. That is possibly because of the work of Tidy Towns crews and development groups, which have been keeping areas clear for so long that we have not noticed the extent of the scourge, but because of the pandemic the dumping has become much more visible. I notice it when I am out walking or running.
“The point was made very eloquently by Senator Pauline O’Reilly that it is not just aesthetically unpleasing, but it is really damaging to the environment and especially to livestock. I do not care about privatisation or any such arguments because this is about civic responsibility. It costs more to load a bag into the back of a van and drive out a country road to dump it into a field than it does to bring it into a civic amenity site and dispose of it properly.
“This is about personal responsibility. The ignorant people who are dumping, whether it is in urban or rural areas, need to be caught and to face the full rigours of the law.”
Over 500 beer bottles were scattered at six different locations on Knockduff Lane, near, Bree, and featured here on WexfordLocal.com – February 17th. THEY ARE STILL THERE!
Senator Byrne said; “Wexford County Council receives an average of 2,500 complaints about dumping or littering every year and that is replicated throughout the country. In Wexford, we spend in the order of €2.3 to €2.6 million a year dealing with waste and litter.”
“People talk about CCTV, but it is not good enough to capture somebody hopping out of a van. What we really need to look at is automated number plate recognition, ANPR, cameras. The advice is very clearly that if we use the ANPR cameras, we must ensure there is an appropriate balance between the detection of litter offenders on one side and the risks to individuals who have committed no offence if we are following particular vehicles!”, concluded Senator Byrne.
The Bannow-Ballymitty and Kilmore region of south Wexford is in shock tonight following the death of Leona Reville, in her early ‘twenties, a star athlete and gifted musician who tragically lost her life in a road traffic collision earlier today.
She was killed in a two-vehicle collision that occurred on the Wellingtonbridge to Wexford (R733) road at the turn off for Murrintown at 6am this morning.
The driver of the other car, a woman aged in her 60s, was taken to Wexford General Hospital but her injuries are described as ‘non-life threatening’.
LEONA REVILLE
Leona, who worked as a special needs assistant, was actively involved in the community through sport and music. She was a member of Danescastle Music Group, where she played both the flute and tin whistle and regularly competed in national competitions.
She was also a member of Kilmore Athletics Club where her clubmates are devastated at the news. Tributes have been paid by Paddy Morgan, Chairperson of Kilmore AC. in a statement on social media tonight.
“It was with profound sadness and shock that Kilmore Athletics Club learned this morning of the tragic passing of our much loved, respected and talented member Leona Reville.
As a juvenile Leona won multiple county medals in the 100m, 200m, hurdles and High Jump. In 2014 she won a silver medal in the Leinster Under 18 High Jump in Tullamore followed by another silver medal in the Leinster Indoor Under 19 High Jump in Athlone. She was also a member of the Leinster performance squad. She took a break from athletics but made a welcome return to the club last summer.
Leona however was not only a medalist in our sport, she were a gold medalist in the human race. Kind, caring and down to earth, her personality and beaming smile always lifted our spirits.
We extend our deepest sympathies to her closest family, extended family and wide circle of friends.”
WexfordLocal.com 