Music for New Ross seasonally hits its peak in September each year with the New Ross Piano Festival, but sadly the weekend events planned for September 23-27th were all ready to go last March when the Covid-19 virus struck and, regrettably, the eagerly awaited 2020 programme was cancelled.
ST. MICHAEL’S THEATRE, NEW ROSS
But there is some good news! A token concert with a live audience to mark the cancelled festival will take place on Sunday, September 27th at 3pm in St. Mary’s Church, New Ross, and the booking opens on Tuesday.
The performers will be the festival’s Artistic Director, Finghin Collins and the young Cork pianist Ellen Jameson, and the programme celebrates Beethoven in his 250th anniversary year by presenting three sonatas spanning his entire career.
There will be a strictly limited audience, less than 40, social distancing and Covid-19 regulations will be in place.
Tickets cost €20 and booking opens at 10am on Tuesday, September 15th at St. Michael’s Theatre (Tel. 421244). Please note; Because seats are limited, they will be sold on a first come, first served basis, and will be unallocated.
Gardaí are seeking the public’s assistance in tracing the whereabouts of Christopher Duff, (35), who is missing from his home in Prussia Street, Dublin 7.
CHRISTOPHER DUFF
Mr Duff was last seen on Wednesday at approximately 7am when he left his home on a hybrid Trek bicycle. Gardaí said he may have travelled to Wicklow or Wexford.
He is approximately 6ft 1in in height, of medium build, with red hair, a beard, and blue eyes. It is not known what Mr. Duff was wearing when he left home.
Gardaí said they are concerned for his wellbeing.
The man’s sister, Amanda Duff, has appealed to the public for information. “My brother Chris left his home in Stoneybatter on Wednesday morning. He spoke to a friend on Wednesday night and was in Wicklow cycling to Wexford intending to catch a bus back. We haven’t heard from him since that call on Wednesday evening. His phone is dead so no one can contact him. He has a lot of friends and family who are worried about him.”
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Bridewell Garda Station on 01 6668200, the Garda Confidential Telephone Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.
Following today’s breaking news that the Ros Tapestry is on ‘temporary move’ to Kilkenny Castle, published exclusively in WexfordLocal.com, an official statement was released by New Ross Needlecraft Ltd tonight. It reads as follows;
“The Board of the Ros Tapestry wish to acknowledge the concern expressed in the campaign about the tapestry exhibition being moved to Kilkenny Castle. We wish to clarify that this is a temporary visit to the castle venue until our permanent home is ready in the new museum planned for the Murphy building on the Quay. Both Wexford County Council and Failte Ireland have been very clear that the tapestries will be an important part of that exhibition and are very supportive of us.
“The closure of the exhibition due to COVID made it virtually impossible for us to provide a safe environment for the panels and we are relieved to see them moving to a museum standard location where they will be safe and enjoyed by more visitors than we could accommodate. The only alternative was to put them into storage, an expensive option if we used the recommended museum standard storage, and which would have put them out sight completely.
Guide MARION COADY with some panels from the Ros Tapestry Exhibition in New Ross (File Picture).
“We believe the move will increase the profile of the tapestry. We will be promoting the Norman sites in New Ross and its environs in the exhibition and will encourage more people to visit the Norman sites displayed in the tapestry.
“We are all saddened to see the tapestries move from New Ross, albeit temporarily, but they will be back to their amazing new venue in the Murphy building, as soon as it is ready. We are thankful to all who have supported the tapestry, our patrons, friends, members, the people of New Ross, Wexford County Council, our local councillors, Failte Ireland, our staff, and most of all our stitchers. We hope you will visit the exhibition which we hope will be open by the end of October in Kilkenny Castle.”
A new Irish publishing label located in Wexford town has launched a campaign to find new novelists on World Suicide Prevention Day. Red Books Press based out of Red Books Bookshop in Wexford town is offering to publish a new book in conjunction with NaNoWriMo this year.
National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo, is an annual Internet-based creative writing project that takes place during the month of November.
Red Books owner Wally O’Neill told WexfordLocal.com; “Participants attempt to write a 50,000-word manuscript between November 1st and November 30th. Today Red Books is launching its 2020 NaNoWriMo Campaign. This year we will offer online prep and motivational advice from published authors, zoom write ins and, most importantly of all, a chance to publish your novel.
Wexford authors Tom Logan, Dan Finn and Daithi Kavanagh, Red Books Wally O Neill and playwright Eamonn Colfer.
“Today is World Suicide Prevention Day, a seemingly fitting day to launch a new venture that we hope can help some frustrated creatives and people struggling with depression. Writing is a medicine for your mind and this creative outlet has been proven to tackle anxiety and stress.”
Mr. O’Neill said that Red Books Press intends to publish the first run of one of the NaNoWriMo participants this year, covering all the upfront costs. This novel will be chosen by an independent panel at the end of the year and will be published in 2021.
Mr. O’Neill concluded; “We want people to join our NaNoWriMo Project and be in with a chance to get their novel published next year. To enter PM Red Books on social media or email irishbooks@yahoo.com, or visit Red Books in Wexford’s St Peter’s Square.”
New Ross ‘jewel in the crown’ The Ros Tapestry, a unique display of decorative embroidery depicting the history and heritage of the town will spend some time on ‘temporary display’ in Kilkenny Castle.
The background to the exhibition leaving New Ross was explained in detail by Board of Directors’ Mary Lou O’Kennedy (Chairperson), Gene O’Sullivan and Connie Tantrum who addressed yesterday’s meeting of New Ross Municipal District Council held in St. Michael’s Theatre to comply with Covid-19 government guidelines.
CLLR MICHAEL WHELAN, Cathaoirlaech New Ross Municipal District Council
Speaking to WexfordLocal.com Cllr Michael Whelan, Cathaoirleach, New Ross Municipal District Council said the Board members gave “a positive presentation” and received the full support of members and the backing of Wexford County Council.
The Ros Tapestry display on the Quay has been closed since March, did not open during the summer because Covid-19 restrictions on numbers allowed entry. Also the exhibition space was not viable and the exhibition was faced with costs at a time when there was no regular income.
Cllr Whelan said the Ros Tapestry is of no benefit to New Ross at the moment. “It was a case of storage or display and the best option was taken. It will be displayed under the OPW in Kilkenny and then it will come back to New Ross.”
€5 million in funding has been approved for the development of the Murphy building on the Quay, New Ross, and when the works are completed the Ros Tapestry will return there.
Some public concerns have been raised in New Ross and a social media petition has been launched, however, the vested interest in the Ros Tapestry are happy to reassure the public that the arrangement is ‘temporary’ and legally protected.
The Ros Tapestry is a massive community success story since the idea was conceived in 1998 and has involved over 150 dedicated volunteers, known affectionately as ‘the stitchers’, who worked on 15 amazing panels of tapestry measuring 6 ft by 4 ft each.
The project depicts events around the Anglo Norman invasion at Bannow in 1169, and especially the founding of the town of New Ross by William Marshall and his wife Isabel de Clare, daughter of Strongbow, Richard de Clare, Earl of Pembroke and Aoife, an Irish princess, daughter of Diarmuid MacMurrough, King of Leinster, who resided at Ferns Castle.
Working in partnership with Wexford County Council, Irish Water’s Leakage Reduction Programme Find and Fix Scheme was stepped up in Enniscorthy in late June in a bid to tackle leakage levels around the town. The programme has been a huge success and has resulted in the saving of thousands of litres of water in Enniscorthy.
River Slaney passing through Enniscorthy
Speaking to WexfordLocal.com, Irish Water’s Network Programme Regional Lead, Joe Carroll said; ‘In Enniscorthy, the teams have intensely investigated and repaired 29 leaks on the towns network in the last two months which is saving 25,000 litres per hour in night leakage flows. These savings are further demonstrated by a reduction of 100,000 litres of water per day treated at the Edermine borehole, a reduction of 400,000 litres of water per day treated at the Vinegar Hill Water Treatment Plant, the pumps operating at 22 hours per day instead of 24 hours per day, and the towns reservoirs are now continuously maintaining their storage capacities.
“To contextualise these figures, a standard sized domestic wheelie bin would hold approximately 240 litres of water. The amount of water being saved at the Vinegar Hill WTP is close 1,600 wheelie bins worth a day. There would have been some short water ‘shut offs’ during the times of the repairs and we understand this was an inconvenience, but we are confident this short-term inconvenience will be beneficial in the longer term.
“We would like to thank the homes and businesses of the town for their patience as we delivered this vital water network improvement around the town. I would also like to thank our crews for their hard work to achieve these fantastic results,” concluded Mr Carroll.
The size and scale of the leakage challenge around the country is well documented, however the Enniscorthy work, carried out as part of Irish Water’s Leakage Reduction Programme will see €500m invested nationally to tackle problematic pipes and leakage in Ireland’s ageing water network.
Irish Water is working with their 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.
Two persons located on an inflatable off Cahore Pier have been rescued by Cahore Inshore Lifeboat Service and brought safely to shore.
CAHORE INSHORE LIFEBOAT SERVICE IN ACTION
The Service were tasked by Dublin Coastguard by pager alert to assist a child who had gotten into difficulty on an inflatable off Cahore Pier and on arrival at scene two persons were located on the inflatable and had managed to tie the inflatable onto a buoy.
The crew members were helm Donal McGrath and crew Brenda Kavanagh and Sean Doyle. Cahore Inshore Lifeboat Sedrvice wishes to thank Courtown Coastguard Unit for assisting.
A spokesperson for Cahore Lifeboat said; “We are grateful to be here to help when needed, and we have almost reached our Gofundme summer target. Help us on the last leg, click on the link to donate.”
Remember, if you see someone in difficulty in or near the water call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.
Wexford TD and Minister of State for Law Reform James Browne has welcomed the approval of planning permission for a new primary care centre for Enniscorthy.
ENNISCORTHY set to get new primary care centre
Estuary Primary Healthcare Ltd plans to construct a new three-storey Primary Care Centre including (a) General Practitioners Surgery, (b) Pharmacy Unit, (c) Ancillary Medical Unit, (d) HSE and TUSLA facilities to be located at Quarrypark, on the outskirts of Enniscorthy.
Speaking to WexfordLocal.com Minister Browne explained; “This is a significant step in the right direction towards the provision of a new primary care centre. I’m glad Wexford County Council has granted the planning application subject to some conditions. This is a vital project and one I raised many times during the last Dáil”.
Revenue officers seized 31,220 cigarettes and 31 kgs of tobacco at Rosslare Europort on Saturday. The smuggled cigarettes branded ‘John Player’, ‘L&M Blue’ and ‘Richmond’ and the tobacco branded ‘Amber Leaf’ have a combined estimated retail value of over €39,300 representing a loss to the exchequer of €31,797.
As part of the same operation, Revenue officers also seized 329 litres of alcohol with an estimated retail value of €6,690 representing a loss to the exchequer of €3,843.
ROSSLARE EUROPORT (File Picture)
The seized products were discovered when Revenue officers conducted an examination of a Northern Ireland registered van and its accompanying caravan which had arrived in Rosslare Europort from Bilbao, Spain. The van and caravan were also seized. Two men in their 30’s and 40’s was questioned.
Investigations are ongoing.
These seizures are part of Revenue’s on-going operations targeting smuggling and the supply and sale of alcohol and cigarettes in the shadow economy. If businesses or members of the public have any information regarding smuggling or the sale of illegal cigarettes or tobacco, they can contact Revenue in confidence on 1800 295295.
It was a busy Sunday September afternoon in Kilmore Quay today where the weather was calm and fine, the car parks were at capacity, wide open doors and doorstep views from several camper vans with a postcard view of the Saltee Islands, and face coverings and social distancing were second nature. The beauty of the seaside was rarely better illustrated.
KILMORE QUAY
The fishing boats were tied up at the quayside, but the presence of rod fishers off the quay and the arrival and departure of boats taking anglers out to the rich fishing grounds offshore were in industrious mode. Some pleasure craft were making the best of what is left of the better weather before the winter storms arrive!
Others were content to stroll on the quayside, sit and admire the peaceful surroundings, while the queues for ice cream at one premises extended well onto the village roundabout, and others longing for fish and chips were orderly in waiting and taking the time to enjoy local produce fresh from the sea.
Writing in 1885, George Henry Bassett, discovered Kilmore Quay. He wrote; “Kilmore Harbour is not all that it could be made by a liberal expenditure of money, but its pier is of great service to the fisherman.” He also noted that Ballyteigue Bay had miles of sand banks ‘all of which are occupied by rabbits’!
Bassett also mentioned St. Patrick’s Bridge, a causeway of large stones, fully thirty feet in width, and extending about a mile from the shore. A large rock near the shore, and close to the bridge, bears an imprint resembling a hand, and folklore recalls that St. Patrick rested his hand upon it on the way to the Saltees. Today, the light and the tide were in good mood and the path of St. Patrick’s Bridge was clearly visible.
WexfordLocal.com 