Irish Water working in partnership with Wexford County Council are investigating a kerosene spill in the wastewater network in Bosheen, New Ross. Crews are working to establish the extent of the spillage and will carry out a clean-up operation afterwards. While the clean-up works take place, there may be a risk of intermittent odours.
If odour issues are noted, please contact the Irish Water Customer Care Centre on 1850 278 278.
Irish Water is working currently with Local Authority partners, contractors and others to safeguard the health and well-being of both staff and the public and to ensure the continuity of critical drinking water and wastewater services.
Irish Water would like to remind people to follow the HSE COVID-19 advice and ensure frequent handwashing.
A new shopping experience, Home Sav€rs Store, opened its doors at 5-8 Rafter St., Enniscorthy, this morning in a sanitised ceremony without fanfare or handshakes, just some brand coloured balloons at the entrance, due to Covid-19 restrictions.
The second store in Co. Wexford (the other is in Wexford town) was officially opened by Cllr Kathleen Codd-Nolan, Leas-Cathaoirleach of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council, who said “Well done to everyone for their fantastic work on this store, and welcome to the team Home Sav€rs Enniscorthy.”
In a statement a spokesperson for Home Sav€ers said; “We are delighted to be bringing variety, choice and value to the heart of Enniscorthy, the town centre.”
The new Home Sav€rs Store opened its doors for the first time on Enniscorthy’s Rafter St. this morning
Located on the site of the old Dunnes Stores building Home Sav€rs adjoins Grants Pharmacy in bringing commercial life back into the building and the rejuvenation of Rafter St as a prime town centre trading area.
Originally founded by John Bolger, Hibernian House occupied this site, and traded as a quality drapery, millinery, and outfitting attraction comparable to the big Dublin fashion stores of the period. It was infamously destroyed by an outbreak of fire on Valentine’s Day 1948 but was rebuilt and traded until 1972 when sold to Dunnes Stores for £1.75 million.
Dunnes Stores traded on Rafter St. until 2006 when moving to a brand new store in the old Roche-Gibney complex at Irish St, which was its 150th store.
Local councillors spent many years putting pressure on the owners to allow retail return to the old Dunnes Stores. Recently, a new local owner emerged and now the building is transformed into a popular extension for improved footfall in the town centre.
“If it wasn’t for the work of the three lifeboat crews out in force eight conditions I fear there could have been a serious loss of life,” that is the opinion of Rosslare RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager David Maloney, speaking in the wake of yesterday’s dramatic sea rescue off Hook Head.
“I fear the vessel would have hit the rocks and there could have been a serious loss of life. The 4,000-tonne vessel came within a half a mile of the shore and Dunmore East and Kilmore Quay lifeboat crews had an incredibly difficult job in keeping it away from the rocks.
Mr Maloney described the situation. “The seas were huge, and it would not have been pleasant for anyone out there in those conditions. The lifeboat crews were out for over twelve hours in a callout that involved serious skill and concentration and I am tremendously proud of all three lifeboat crews involved. Thankfully, we did not have a tragedy today.”
The cargo ship Lily B with a cargo of coal bound for New Ross Port in difficulty off Hook Head (Pic; RNLI)
The call for help came in around 3pm when the Irish Coast Guard in Dublin requested lifeboats from Dunmore East, Kilmore Quay and Rosslare launch to the scene, just south of Hook Head in Wexford. The Coast Guard helicopter from Waterford, Rescue 117 was also tasked, monitoring from overhead and ready to assist with evacuation of the crew if needed.
In force eight conditions, Dunmore East and Kilmore Quay RNLI established tow lines onto the drifting vessel which was then remarkably close to the rocks. The two lifeboats maintained the tow and kept the cargo ship away from shore while a tug was en route from Waterford. Rosslare RNLI stood by.
Battling strong waves over six metres high, the three lifeboat crews worked together to ensure the cargo vessel stayed away from the rocks until the tow was passed to the tug on its arrival at 5.40pm. Escorting the vessels until they reached the calmer waters of Waterford Harbour in the early hours of Wednesday the lifeboat crews were eventually stood down and returned to station.
Following his first Budget as Minister of State for Law Reform, Wexford TD James Browne has welcomed the additional funding for the Department of Justice and Equality within the 2021 Budget – a record €3 billion allocation to fund important changes within the Justice sector for next year. This amounts to an overall funding increase of 6%.
Minister Browne explained; “I’m glad to see that Budget 2021 increases our State’s investment in the Justice sector. Up to 620 new Garda recruits will be recruited next year while 500 administrative staff will be recruited to facilitate the redeployment of trained Gardaí to frontline policing. An extra €7.5 million will fund the purchase of additional Garda vehicles and increased telecommunications and vehicle fit out costs. A new Forensic Science Ireland Laboratory will be constructed.
“Additional measures will fund an inquest into the Stardust tragedy as well as courts service modernisation and prison service compensation schemes. Importantly, the Budget allocation enbles the implementations protections for vunerable witnesses in sexual offenders cases.
“Capital investment in the justice sector will benefit from an extra €50 million, up now to €258 million. This will lead to better ICT services within An Garda Síochána and the Courts Service. Over €27 million will go towards COVID-19 supports too”, Minister Browne added.
The Bishop of Ferns, Dr. Denis Brennan has written a Pastoral Letter to the people of the Diocese of Ferns for the month of November in which he asks that the people of the Diocese now double down on their efforts to reduce the instances of Coronavirus and that throughout November (the month of the dead), they be mindful of those who are vulnerable, those who have died, and those who grieve.
BISHOP DENIS BRENNAN… DIOCESE OF FERNS
“Virtually every aspect of life today has been upset by the Coronavirus – from worship to learning, trade to recreation, travel to planning – all is adversely affected. Coronavirus has seriously stopped us in our tracks, and It has unnerved us greatly,” said Bishop Brennan.
He points out that what “was natural, normal or second nature now comes with a health warning – forbidden, dangerous, restricted or suspended, ”Now is not a time to lose heart, even with no guaranteed or immediate solution. That said, we are not helpless.”
“Let us keep heart by doubling down and wearing the mask, practicing hand hygiene, and keeping the required social distance.
The sheer numbers of good people in our parishes, their desire to reopen our churches in as safe and as reassuring a manner as possible in the weeks leading up to 29th June – their creativity and attention to detail – was truly a marvel, an example worthy of much emulation, and commendation.
ROWE STREET CHURCH, WEXFORD
Right across our Diocese, church communities – in churches and in chapels by land, by mountain and by sea – accepted wholeheartedly, the challenge to not only reopen, but to do so, with both regard for best practice, and with very obvious joy.
Parish councils and local volunteers engaged in what can only be described as ‘a mighty effort’ of goodness and of generosity’; reopening with a broad smile and with a promise – ‘we’re doing all we can to make this as safe a place as possible, and you are very welcome back!’
“Being the only place in Europe where church closure exists in this instance, is clearly sufficient reason to revisit the matter, to reassess its necessity and to re-examine its appropriateness, and to consider the positive benefits of its being lifted.
As stated recently by the Catholic Bishops after their October meeting: “The communal celebration of Mass and the Sacraments – even with restricted numbers – is at the very heart of what it means for us to be a Christian community. These are not simply ‘gatherings’ of people, but profound expressions of who we are as a Church. For parishes, and individual Catholics, the loss of these spiritual supports can be a source of great anxiety, and fear, and can have a detrimental impact on their overall health and well-being.”
Prayers are offered throughout the month for those who have gone before us, and outreach to those who grieve, is planned, and encouraged. This year, November comes to us in a climate of added grief. We especially remember those who have died because of coronavirus, and we think of their friends and their families.
Bishop Denis Brennan will lead a Service of Remembrance in St. Aidan’s Cathedral, Enniscorthy, at 3pm, on Sunday, November 1st to remember the dead of the Diocese and their grieving friends and families. “I am also inviting each priest of the diocese to do so, in his own church, at this time, and I ask you to take the time (3pm on 1st November) and to join with us online.
In conclusion, Bishop Brennan mentioned “the people of the diocese and indeed all people of kind disposition and of goodwill – I say a word of gratitude – gratitude to those front line workers who have stepped up and remain in service and in leadership; gratitude to practitioners of good example and pioneers of best practices; gratitude to good neighbours and those with a watchful eye for the more vulnerable – and gratitude to those many more long distance runners in our own family and friendship circles, who keep us gently moving forward, towards brighter days, and please God, towards a post Covid world, sooner rather than later.”
Waterford-based Coast Guard helicopter R117 and lifeboats from Kilmore Quay, Rosslare Harbour and Dunmore East have been scrambled to assist a 100-metre cargo ship, the Lily B, which was discovered drifting about two nautical miles of Hook Head.
ROSSLARE HARBOUR RNLI LIFEBOAT (Pic; Ray Millard/RNLI)
It is a general cargo ship, built in 1997, bound for New Ross Port from Germany with a cargo of coal and sailing under the flag of Antigua Barbuda.
Dunmore East RNLI was launched at 2.45pm after receiving a call that the ship was “dead in the water”. It appears to have lost power in strong gale force winds.
A tug is on its way from Waterford and it is likely that the striken vessel will be towed to safety in difficult sea conditions.
A crew of nine on board. There are no reports of injuries.
Advance payments under the 2020 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), worth €34.857 million to 3,747 County Wexford farmers commenced yesterday (Monday).
Crops growing in the shadow of Vinegar Hill
Welcoming the news Wexford TD and Minister of State for Law Reform told WexfordLocal.com; “These payments are a vital support for County Wexford farmers and contribute greatly to maximising income and cash flow in the sector in what has been a very challenging year for farmers.”
The Minister continued; “The BPS advance payment is commencing today at the earliest date possible under EU Regulations. The payment is set at a rate of 70%, which is an increase on the 50% normally allowed under regulation.”
Payments under the 2020 Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme (ANC) which started in September are also continuing as more cases are cleared for payment. The Minister added that “the advance BPS payment and the advance ANC payments taken together mean that some €974 million has now issued to Irish farmers in the last month.”
“Given the central importance of the many schemes currently in place, the Department of Agriculture has recently written to all Wexford farmers outlining the payment schedule over the coming months for these schemes”, Minister Browne concluded.
One male was arrested and detained following the discovery of a quantity of drugs and cash during a search in the Enniscorthy district on Friday night.
Gardaí seized €1,000 worth of cannabis, €640 worth of cocaine, €270 of MDMA and pills to the value of €100, and €16,000 cash.
Under Operation Tara Gardaí from the Divisional Drug Unit assisted by uniform, detective and the Revenue Drug Detector dog, Flynn, carried out a search.
Four winners for Barry O’Neill today at Fairwood, Tinahely, and two yesterday in Derry, gave the champion rider half a dozen victories for the weekend, while Jamie Codd celebrates his first winner of the season with a treble at Westmeath this afternoon, to make the point-to-point headlines.
The opening race for four-year-old maidens at Fairwood was won by Routine Excellence for Colin Bowe and Barry O’Neill. One and a half lengths were the verdict. Half an hour later and the double was up for the champions when Milans Edge ran out the five lengths winner of the maiden race for five-year-old mares.
Gordon Elliott, who sent out four winners across the different tracks, dispatched Mighty Stowaway from his Meath stables, Barry O’Neill got the leg up, and the runaway combination won the Open Race by ‘a distance’.
But O’Neill and Bowe added another victory before departure for Kiltealy as Heuston Texas, twice runner-up, got to the front and stayed there in style to take the maiden race for ‘older’ geldings.
JAMIE CODD… first winners of the new point-to-point season with a treble at Moate, Co. Westmeath, today.
Jamie Codd and Denis Murphy had their first victory of the season with Get A Tonic in the maiden race for four-year-old mares. Donnchadh Doyle’s Bonbon Balko (Rob James) was runner-up, three and a half lengths behind the winner and Michael Goff’s Ask Blossomfort (Shane Fitzgerald) was third to give a 1,2,3, to Wexford raiders at Moate, Co. Westmeath, this afternoon.
Codd teamed up with Gordon Elliott to win division one of the maiden geldings race for four year olds with Percy Warner, by four lengths, and ended up with a treble when bringing home Heather Rocco for Galway handler John Nellan by one length in the five and six year old maiden geldings race.
And also at the Westmeath track, Rob James, Killanne, saddled his first winner as a handler in My Bad Lucy for the Matchmaker Syndicate, by eight lengths with Brian Lawless up, in the first division of the four year old geldings maiden race.
No Wexford trained winners at Portrush, Co. Derry, yesterday (Saturday) although Barry O’Neill scored twice for the owner/handler team of John Hegarty and David Christie from Fermanagh. Success came in the Open Race on Winged Leader, who was winning his fifth race in succession, by six lengths, and Ask D’Man completed the double in the race for ‘older maidens’.
Barry O’Neill is already 16 wins clear of his nearest rival in the riders’ championship with a 41% strike rate this season.
Wexford TD and Minister of State for Law Reform James Browne has backed the move to extend medical cards for over 56,000 people over the age of 70. He welcomes Cabinet’s approval for the reduction in prescription charges and the Drugs Payment Scheme.
Under the new measures the gross income limit for medical card eligibility for those aged 70 or over will be increased to €550 per week for a single person or €1,050 per week for a couple. This represents an increase of €50 and €150 respectively and will mean an extra 56,000 people over the age of 70 will be eligible for a medical card.
Prescription charges will be reduced by 50c and the Drugs Payment Scheme threshold will be reduced from €124 per month to €114 per month.
MINISTER JAMES BROWNE
Commenting Minister Browne said; “Cabinet approved these measures which will take effect on November 1st. This will undoubtedly help people across Wexford and is a demonstration of the Government’s commitment to fulfilling the obligations in the Programme for Government.
“Looking after those who are older and more vulnerable among us is a key priority and this measure will not only ease the financial burden on people aged over 70 but also encourage them to seek medical attention sooner rather than later. My office can help in completing medical card application forms,” Minister Browne told WexfordLocal.com.
“Those under 70 will now only pay a maximum of €15 per month for prescribed medicines while those over 70 will only pay a maximum of €10 per month for prescribed medicines. 1.38 million people availing of the Drugs Payment Scheme will have €10 per month back in their packet – these are measures to be welcomed,” Minister Browne concluded.
WexfordLocal.com 