No Christmas Party this year!

BY Dan Walsh

I used to love the last weekend of December leading up to the Christmas. It was the time when print journalists and radio presenters used to meet early deadlines to facilitate production and party occasions were on my calendar for decades. Sadly, this year, we haven’t a cracker to pull between us! The hug and the handshake are strictly out of bounds and the legal profession are losing potential business because we can’t tell the boss what we think of him/her! (please, take that last comment as an in-house joke!).

Yes, the Covid-19 restrictions have put manners on us and decking the Santa hat and pulling the cracker to reveal little plastic curiosities have been eliminated from our joviality. Drinking copious litres of wine until we mock the daytime performance of being ‘giddy and senseless’ and clouding our ghostly minds. But it was all good and clean (what happens at the party stays at the party) fun all the same.

The Christmas Party brought colleagues and fellow workers together in a social setting. It introduced the new recruits to the seasoned dudes. It began early and terminated quite late – usually a good chunk of a day later! It was an opportunity to make fools of ourselves without blame or blemish. For the many there are great memories. Thankfully, usually the next day was free of work commitments!

Professor Luke O’Neill is asking us to be patient with the Covid-19 restrictions that will likely be with us until the summer, however, on TV3, Luke gave us hope and hinted that we can revert to the good times in Christmas 2021. We must obey the rules and follow the guidelines and, who knows, we may party again like the ‘old days’ next year. In the meantime, the guidelines are wash the hands, use the sanitizer, wear the facing covering and practice social distancing. Stay Safe. Happy Christmas.

Seven stray horses on ‘death row’

By Dan Walsh

Seven chipped horses have been seized in areas of New Ross and Courtown by Wexford County Council under the Control of Horses Act 1996 and Pounds Regulations 1985 and owners are invited to come forward and claim these animals by next Wednesday, December 23rd, and, in effect, save their lives because after that date the Council will dispose of the animals in accordance with legislation.

Six yearlings, four male and two females, all brown and white in colour, were seized on behalf of Wexford County Council from Hewittsland, New Ross, on December 17th being “stray equine in a public place.”

A three-year-old male, grey in colour, was seized on December 17th on behalf of the Council at the request of An Garda Siochana being “a stray equine in a public place” from the Courtown Road, Gorey.

All seven animals are being held at the ACS Pound at Coombe, Glenville, Co. Cork. The owners can collect the animals subject to certain conditions.

Famine Irish who sailed on the ‘Dunbrody’

A SPECIAL REVIEW BY DAN WALSH.

Fresh from the printers is a splendid hardback publication called DUNBRODY – A Famine Odyssey that commemorates a brilliant tourism project that is the replica of the famine ship Dunbrody anchored on the historic quayside at New Ross as a fitting tribute as much to today’s people of New Ross as their 19th century forebears.

Book Cover featuring the Dunbrody at New Ross

The book tells the amazing story of an ambitious undertaking to raise millions and build a life-sized replica of a 485-tonne 19th century Famine ship whose masts, spurs and rigging tower above the quayside. The ship is called the Dunbrody, named after an original ship of similar features, that took thousands of people from New Ross to the ‘New World’ in the United States during the dreadful Famine years.

The author is Sean Reidy who was CEO of the JFK Trust in New Ross from 1991 to 2014 and the book is a personal account celebrating the historical legacy of JFK enriching the historical ancestral town of New Ross in conjunction with the ancestral home of President John F. Kennedy at Dunganstown, south of the town just a few fields away from the River Barrow. This is the story of a voyage.

The JFK (John Fitzgerald Kennedy) Trust was founded in 1988 against the backdrop of deep recession and high unemployment. President Kennedy’s famous visit to New Ross in the summer of 1963 was an inspiration and the subsequent power and support of the Kennedy family steered a dream into reality and early on a chilly February Sunday morning in 2001, 3,000 left their warm beds early to see the mighty Dunbrody glide into the icy Barrow for the first time. The New Ross history books began a new chapter that day.

Sean Reidy felt emotional that day. And he deserved to feel that way. He nostalgically recalls in the book; “There was nothing inevitable about Dunbrody’s eventual triumph. How perilously close to the rocks she sailed on more than one occasion!” Behind Reidy’s calm confidence he reveals a litany of doubts and qualms and sleepless nights!

This book is teeming with endless pages of history in print and images – all great occasions that firmly placed the spotlight on New Ross and brought to life international tourism. It also records the stormy days when the rocks were in sight and the waves were high; but then like the 19th century Famine passengers embarking on the unknown amid poverty and hopelessness, determination, resolve and indomitable resilience will succeed against the odds.

Sean Reidy deserves worldwide sales for this first-hand account of an incredibly successful story that emanated from the Famine ships leaving New Ross in the 19th century, the flames of hope rekindled by the Kennedy visit in the 20th century, and the arrival of the Dunbrody Famine ship replica in the first 400 days of the 21st century, not forgetting the teams that laboured in an ancient trade to convert timber into a floating tourism treasure and a nautical public attraction.

AUDIO ADDITION; Author SEAN REIDY talks about what inspired him to write the book Dunbrody – A Famine Odyssey.

DUNBRODY – A Famine Odyssey; How JFK’s Roots Helped Revive an Irish Town, by Sean Reidy. Hardback, 123 pages, heavily illustrated. ISBN 978-1-5272-7230-9

3-day water alerts for Enniscorthy

By Dan Walsh

Wexford County Council has issued three separate water alerts for Enniscorthy and householders and businesses should take note.

Due to leak detection works; Bellefield, Pearse Road, Parnell Road, Slaney View Park Fr. Murphy Park and Rectory Road will have water supply issues from tonight (Thursday) – 10pm to 4am.

Due to reservoir issues, water will be off in all Enniscorthy town from 9pm on Friday night, December 18th, until 5am on Saturday, December 19th. Immediate nearby areas may be affected.

Due to reservoir issues, water supply will be disrupted in Enniscorthy town from 9pm on Saturday, December 19th until 6am on Sunday, December 20th, inclusive. Usual pressure issues and discoloration may occur for a time afterwards.

Funding for Wexford animal welfare

By Dan Walsh

€108,000 has been granted to five animal welfare organisations in Co. Wexford announced today by the Minister for Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue T.D.

MELANIE CROCE, Executive Director, Seal Rescue Ireland.

€50,000 goes to Wexford SPCA, c/o The Vet Centre, Distillery Road, Wexford.

€24,000 for North Wexford SPCA, Rafter St., Gorey.

€16,500 for Seal Rescue Ireland, Courtown Harbour.

€15,500 for New Ross SPCA, Ballyclemock, Newbawn.

€2,000 for Chippers Sanctuary, Clonattin Village, Gorey.

Bright Christmas in Bree

By Dan Walsh

Bree Community Development Group recently secured a grant of €5,000 from Wexford County Council to provide Christmas lighting for Bree village and the fruits of their labour transformed the village into festival mode when illuminations were switched on for the first-time last weekend.

The pleasure of switching on was assigned to Ger Mackey, District Manager Enniscorthy Municipal District Council, with able assistance from local Cllr Cathal Byrne and Paul Kehoe TD, and the children of the village provided a rousing countdown chorus.

The Covid-19 restrictions inhibited public participation in the project, however, there is an understanding in this regard and a warm welcome and appreciation for the community efforts in lighting up the village for Christmas and the Support Local message is top of everyone’s gift list this year.  

The project is centred on two local landmarks; the magnificent Bree Community Centre, which also features an outdoor crib, and the Dick Joynt Memorial Garden. Many homes and business premises in the village have brought an added festive feel with the walking trails at Bree Hill as the perfect backdrop to community spirit and initiative.

BREE COMMUNITY CENTRE in festive lighting mood with snowmen, reindeers and an outdoor crib.

24-hour cover needed to avoid mayhem at Rosslare Europort

By Dan Walsh

Independent TD for Wexford, Verona Murphy, has criticised the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, for what she describes as totally unacceptable not to have 24-hour inspections at Rosslare Europort, saying “the decision to have two eight-hour shifts will cause complete mayhem.”

DEPUTY VERONA MURPHY

“This will cause unacceptable delays and clearly shows that DAFM have no regard for what is required to facilitate smooth operation of the logistics sector and will serve to create a barrier to trade at the port,” said Deputy Murphy.

She added; “The decision displays an unbelievable lack of understanding, which unfortunately appears to be the trademark of those responsible on the Governments side for facilitating a smooth transition of Brexit on January 1st. DAFM officials in highly paid jobs would need to inform themselves and be on top of their job to ensure stupid decisions such as this don’t happen.”

Deputy Murphy concluded; “This decision will have a huge effect on the supply chain. The Minister for Agriculture needs to take command of his department and put a 24-hour service in Rosslare Europort. The chain of distribution must operate without unnecessary delay. The Taoiseach said the government will do whatever is necessary to safeguard Irish exports. He, along with the Minister for Agriculture, need to ensure that 24-hour cover is provided at Rosslare by all regulatory agencies.”

Colin Bowe is a winner at HRI Awards

By Dan Walsh

Colin Bowe was amongst the ten winners at the 18th annual Horse Racing Ireland Awards announced today. “I wasn’t expecting it but delighted to be a winner for the second year in a row,” the Kiltealy handler told presenter Gary O’Brien in a ceremony transmitted on the HRI website.
The popular Kiltealy handler is the winner of the Point-to-Point Award for the second year running, continuing the domination of County Wexford in the category. His fellow countymen Barry O’Neill (a previous winner along with Jamie Codd) and Rob James were also nominated for the HRI Point-to-Point Award.

COLIN BOWE has won the HRI award for second year in a row.

Colin won his eighth leading point-to-point handler award last season and three horses, Envoi Allen, Samcro and Ferny Hollow, that he brought up through the ranks triumphed at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

This is Colin’s second award in a week. He is the latest winner of the Willie Stephenson Memorial Trophy from Goffs UK, an award that goes to a person who is deemed to have made the biggest contribution to the sales company in the previous year.

Colin Bowe is currently leading the National Point-to-Point Handlers Championship for 2020-’21 with 23 winners and has trained 382 winners ‘between the flags’ as well as a number on the track in a 12-year career.

Taps back on in Wexford town

By Dan Walsh

Irish Water working in partnership with Wexford County Council have completed remedial measures and the receipt of satisfactory monitoring results and announced that the Boil Water notice in place since last Thursday is now lifted with immediate effect. This decision follows consultation undertaken with the Health Service Executive.

Customers affected were on the Wexford Town Public Water Supply and included Newtown Road, Carcur, Carricklawn, Coolcotts, Whitemill, Wygram, Clonard, Townparks, Ard Carman, Hill Street and rural districts of Barntown and Taghmon.

All affected consumers on the Wexford Town Public Water Supply can now resume normal use of the water supply for drinking, food preparation and brushing teeth. Irish Water and the Wexford County Council – Health Service Executive Water Local Liaison Group will continue to meet and review ongoing process control, monitoring and testing of the drinking water supply.

There was a malfunction at the Newtown Water Treatment plant which led to the Boil Water Notice being put in place. The raw water quality entering the plant had diminished in quality, and a malfunction which should have triggered an alarm to shut the plant down did not activate. As a precaution, this required a Boil Water Notice to be put in place. Irish Water and Wexford County Council acknowledge the patience, co-operation, and assistance of affected consumers during the period of the Boil Water notice and greatly regrets any inconvenience caused to householders and the business community.

Wexford newcomers are successful

By Dan Walsh

Award-winning champion handler Colin Bowe sent out newcomer Here Comes The Man to win the five-year-old geldings maiden race at Boulta, Co. Cork, today for Toomevara owner James Grace. The mount of Rob James Here Comes The Man was an impressive winner by ten lengths. He is for the sales.

Hard luck on champion Barry O’Neill who was committed to riding Colin Bowe’s runners at Olcastle, unfortunately, the Meath track was found to be waterlogged in places this morning and the races were cancelled.

Ellen Doyle’s Tomgarrow Lane stables continued in winning form when newcomer Setme Straightmate had a dozen lengths to spare in the maiden race for four-year olds in the hands of John O’Neill. The winner is sales bound.

Today’s other point-to-point action was at Stradbally. The popular Laois track is always good for Wexford stables and the success continued in heavy conditions this afternoon.

Cormac Doyle, Ballindaggin, captured the second division of the maiden race for four-year olds with newcomer Ozzie Man getting home first by two lengths for Mayglass rider Jack Hendrick in the colours of the Monbeg Farm Racing Partnership.

Division two of the five-year olds plus mares’ maiden race resulted in victory for Dazzling Glory from the Redbridge Stables, Duncormick, trained by Michael Murphy and ridden by Sean Staples.

JAMES WALSH

Most impressive winner of the day was High Stakes who became the first horse to win four races this season and was runner-up in his only other outing when he won the Winner of Three race by six lengths for owner/handler John Edward Walsh, Prebin, Tinahely. Winning rider, James Walsh, said afterwards that High Stakes “could go for an Open before contesting a hunter chase in the New Year.”

Equally impressive was James Devereux’s home-bred Mr Mantilla who was a six lengths winner in the Open Race and could be aimed at the Foxhunters Chase next Spring. Trained by the owner/breeder’s son Vincent Devereux at Rostoonstown Stud, Broadway – it was his 30th career success as a handler – and ridden today by Shane O’Rourke, Foulksmills, Mr Mantilla was winning his third race of the season and has won five of his six career starts. Ironically, his only defeat was in a photo-finish at Lingstown last March in a race sponsored by the family stud business!