Wexford TD and Minister of State for Law Reform at the Department of Justice and Equality James Browne has welcomed the announcement of €100,000 in funding for Wexford town’s library. The grant will go towards general lighting energy efficiency upgrade works at the Mallin Street facility.
“I welcome today’s announcement of €100,000 in funding for Wexford town library. These works will strengthen the library’s position as a community hub. Works will commence in the Wexford town’s library over the coming weeks and will be completed by end 2020/early 2021”, Minister Browne concluded.
Former Junior Finance Minister and Wexford TD Michael D’Arcy has tendered his resignation from Seanad Éireann to Tánaiste and Leader of Fine Gael Leo Varadkar to become Chief Executive of the Irish Association of Investment Management (IAIM), a representative body for the funds and investment industry.
SENATOR MICHAEL D’ARCY… starting out on a new career
“I have made my fullest contribution to public life and now wish to start a new career which I can confirm will be with the Irish Association of Investment Managers,” said Senator D’Arcy who thanked the people of Wexford for their support and said he remains “a proud supporter of Fine Gael”.
Tánaiste Varadkar paid tribute; “I would have loved to have seen Michael return to the Dáil as a TD and a Minister after the next election but understand that after 20 years in public life he wants to start a new chapter of his life.”
A native of Gorey, D’Arcy was a TD for the Wexford constituency from 2016 to 2020, and previously between 2007 and 2011. He served as Minister of State at the Department of Finance from 2017 to 2020. He lost his seat in this year’s General Election and was elected to the Seanad for the Agricultural Panel in April. He previously served as a Senator for the Administrative Panel from 2011 to 2016, and as a local councillor.
The Bree Hunt point-to-point races went off splendidly in Indian summer conditions at Monksgrange, Rathnure, this afternoon, two races divided to extend into an eight-race card, but the spoils were evenly shared with no more than one victory each. The ground was fast and produced some excellent racing.
Paloma Dove made all to win the mares’ four-year-old maiden race by six lengths giving Harley Dunne his first win from two runs in his new role as handler training from a new base at Clonroche. Dunne is a former novice champion rider from 2013 and this was his 80th career point-to-point success.
BARRY O’NEILL (rider) COLIN BOWE (handler) and SINEAD COWMAN (groom) with VICTORIAS PEAK following victory at Monksgrange races this afternoon
The maiden race for four-year-old geldings was divided – 10 in each division. Matthew Flynn O’Connor who trains locally at Ballycrystal won the first division with Comes Recommended who came home two lengths to the good under Wicklow rider Brian Lawless. “He travelled and jumped well all the way. He will go to the sales,” said his happy handler afterwards.
Division two was a spectacular affair with four of the field coming down over the last two fences and only two finishers with half a length separating the survivors. Benny Walsh held a lead of about 10 lengths going into the last on Musta Lovea Lovea, running in the colours of his wife, Jenny, when the partnership crashed out leaving Rob James on Crystal Glory and Steven Connor on Gortmillish to fight out the finish. Half a length favoured Crystal Glory on the line to raise a flag for the Monbeg Syndicate and the Donnchadh Doyle stable.
Barry O’Neill had his sixth win of the new season for Colin Bowe when Victorias Park scored by ten lengths for the Milestone Bloodstock Ltd. “Hopefully, we’ll find a new home for her,” quipped Bowe who will be aiming for the sales ring with the daughter of Fame and Glory.
The biggest field of the day – 25 – was in the five-year-old geldings maiden race run in two divisions and both winners were from visiting stables. Jony Max, bred by John and Miriam Murphy, Inch, Gorey, travelled from the Thurles stables of Pat Doyle to win division one by four lengths in the hands of Pa King; division two went to Dare To Begin, handled by Ellmarie Holden, Ballyhale, Kilkenny, and ridden by veteran rider Derek O’Connor. “He worked well at home. Great to get him over line. He is for the sales now,” said Ms Holden.
PALOMA DOVE is foot perfect over the last jump to give HARLEY DUNNE his 80th win as a rider and his first as a handler at Monksgrange races
The maiden race for six-year olds and upwards was an opportunity for novice riders to perform and the winner was Corach Rambler by two and a half lengths for handler John Martin Walsh from Duncormick and The Forge Syndicate. The winning rider was Sean Staples, also from Duncormick, having his second victory of the season and four in total.
The final race of the day was the Winners of One and Jordan Gainford, Caim, successful at Necarne yesterday, added another winner when bringing home The Forge Hill by six lengths for the Monbeg Partnership and Sean Doyle, Ballindaggin, beating Colin Bowe’s Sleepsaurus with Barry O’Neill up.
Seventy-three runners lined up for the eight races.
A 33 years old man has died in a fatal single vehicle road traffic collision that occurred at approximately 11:30pm last night (Saturday) at Newtown, near Taghmon.
The driver of the car involved was pronounced dead at the scene. There were no other occupants in the vehicle.
The road is currently closed for technical examination by Forensic Collision Investigators. Local diversions are in place.
Gardaí at Wexford are appealing for any witnesses to this collision or for any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) who were travelling in the area at this time to make this footage available to Gardaí.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Wexford Garda Station on 053 9165200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
The Northern point-to-point season opened today (Saturday) at Necarne, Co. Fermanagh, with two Wexford trained winners – Fern Arable for Denis Murphy, Ballyboy Stables, The Ballagh and High Stakes for John Walsh, Tinahely, who was winning for the second successive week to make it two victories from two runs.
Fern Arable was first time out in the mares’ maiden race and went on to score by nine lengths for Gorey rider Luke Murphy and handler Denis Murphy (no relation) to open their account for the new season.
High Stakes was up against two other contenders in the Winner of Two race, but both fell, and High Stakes, who won his maiden at Ballingarry last Saturday on his debut for owner/trainer John Walsh of Preban, Tinahely, gave James Walsh, (29), his 50th career success.
Donnchadh Doyle, Ballindaggin, saddled his 190th career winner with the Monbeg Syndicate’s Er Dancer winning the geldings’ maiden contest by nine lengths to give Ross Foley, Bagenalstown, his first winner.
JORDAN GAINFORD… a winner today at Necarne, Co. Fermanagh
Jordan Gainford, from Caim, won the maiden race for four-year olds on Bold Endeavour for Antrim owner/handler Warren Ewing. It was an easy victory. Bold Endeavour went clear after the first fence and stayed well ahead of the field, and clearly had everything beaten a mile from home!
Winged Leader won his fourth race in a row for local trainer David Christie, Enniskillen, with Barry O’Neill in the saddle. Fifth success for the champion rider. The winning verdict was just one length in the Open Lightweight Race.
A conveyance of items destined for disposal that ended up illegally dumped on the side of the road from Clonmore Bridge to Ballymorris Cross (on the R730 between Ballymackessy and Killurin) in the townland of Garranstackle, overnight, has been removed.
This matter was first noticed by a passer-by around 7.30pm on Friday evening and checking again this morning the material has been completely removed and the ditch has been restored to its natural appearance. It was exclusively reported on WexfordLocal.com
BEFORE; Rubbish dumped at Garranstackle, near Bree. Friday 7.30 pm
AFTER; Rubbish removed at Garrenstackle, Saturday 12.30pm
Coincidentally, this Monday would have witnessed the announcement of the National Tidy Towns’ results, however, in April, the Minister for Rural and Community Development announced that this year’s Tidy Towns competition is cancelled in the interests of public health and safety, due to the ongoing COVID-19 emergency.
However, Tidy Towns’ groups and volunteers around the county have continued their dedication to keeping their communities clean and tidy and it is respectful to heed the warnings and the advice and keep the countryside environmentally clean.
A conveyance of items destined for disposal appears to have taken a wrong turn and ended up illegally dumped on the side of the road from Clonmore Bridge to Ballymorris Cross (on the R730 between Ballymackessy and Killurin) in the townland of Garranstackle.
Rubbish dumped at Garranstackle, near Bree village.
Somebody took advantage of a small roadside recess to artfully arrange a variety of items from doors, a green garden fence and several neatly tied bulging black and green bags. And it looks like they missed the Mattress Amnesty!
The unsightly pile is located on a back road from Bree to Galbally that can be busy, and it seems to have arrived quite recently.
If anybody has any further information on the Garranstackle dumping they should contact Enniscorthy Garda Station on 053 9242580 or Wexford County Council on 053 9196000.
Wexford Independent TD Verona Murphy made a strong speech in the Dáil on Wednesday warning the Government about the future of the supply chain when there will be queues of 7,000 trucks post-Brexit lasting for days and she is urging the Government to set up a daily ferry service from Ireland to France immediately.
Deputy Murphy said; “The Tánaiste stated they should think about their supply chain and if they are using the land bridge of Britain to get to continental Europe, they need to think about how that is going to work and talk to their suppliers and haulage and transport companies. I will offer my advice for the umpteenth time. The Government must take its head out of the sand. The land bridge will NOT work, and the Government needs to put in place a fast, efficient daily ferry service from Ireland to France now.
DEPUTY VERONA MURPHY
“What is wrong with the Government? It is telling people to think about something for which there is already a solution. It appears it is not thinking about it so I will say again that “fast and efficient” means the shortest, most viable option to mainland Europe and that comes from Rosslare to Le Havre or Cherbourg. It also needs to operate daily.
Deputy Murphy continued; “The flour and the sugar that is needed to bake bread in Ireland daily is imported. When the baking line is stalled because the product is sitting in a queue and people cannot bake bread, will the Minister and the rest of the Twitter gang be making videos apologising to the business owners and staff of Irish Pride in Taghmon. Will they make videos apologising for the fact that the price of a loaf of bread has risen to €3? That will be the result of the Government’s passive attitude.
“Irish consumers will pay the price. What will the Minister tell the fresh fish exporters of Duncannon, Kilmore and Killybegs when the fish is in a queue in the UK rotting in a trailer? What will he tell the owners and staff of Kelly’s Hotel in Rosslare, the Talbot Hotel, Clayton Whites Hotel and Whitford House Hotel in Wexford town, the Riverside Park Hotel in Enniscorthy and all the other Wexford hotels when there is no more traffic coming from the UK tourists and the Government has failed to make an effort to replace those UK tourists by putting a daily direct ferry in place to mainland Europe for EU visitors to Ireland? All of this can be avoided if this Government puts a daily service to mainland Europe in place in time and that time is now,” concluded Deputy Murphy.
There is strong local support for the Courtown Adventure and Leisure Centre be incorporated into the ownership and operation of Wexford County Council following the appointment of a liquidator to the business. A social media petition has been launched – #savecourtownpool
On July 28th an application was made to the High Court where Mr Neil Hughes and Mr Conor Noone of Baker Tily were appointed joint provisional liquidators. All queries should be directed to Baker Tily on 01 6699999 or by email info@bakertily.ie
COURTOWN HARBOUR
The Centre was experiencing intermittent cash flow difficulties, Covid-19 had a significant impact on income, and having consulted the financial, legal and governance aspects of the Centre, the Board of Management were advised that it was not feasible to open the Centre in its current form.
In a statement accompanying the petition signed by Leah Johnston, Killian Ormond and Joy Redmond, they said; “We are calling on Wexford County Council to take over the ownership and operation of Courtown Adventure and Leisure Centre for the people and communities of the surrounding areas. The population of Gorey and its surrounding areas is more than 14,000 – more than New Ross and Ennsicorthy – where there are County Council operated swimming pools!
Cathaoirleach of Gorey-Kilmuckridge Municipal District Council, Cllr Joe Sullivan told WexfordLocal.com that the local Council will use all its powers to influence Wexford County Council come to the aid of Courtown Adventure and Leisure Centre.
Cllr Andrew Bolger said he has spoken to the Chief Executive Officer, Tom Enright, who reported that the liquidators will do their work and there are discussions with several interested parties. “The Council recognises the importance of the pool to the local people and groups. It will need capital investment; money will have to be spent on the facility,” Mr Enright added.
Cllr Donal Kenny said; “I fully support the campaign to save and reopen Courtown Adventure and Leisure Centre. All efforts need to be made and all options need to be explored to overcome the current financial difficulties it is encountering. It is a vital amenity for North Wexford and the many clubs and organisations that use it such as Wexford Water Safety and Special Olympics Club Gorey.”
Anti-social behavour raises its ugly head in many forms, but few acts of destruction are as despicable as damage to family graves in lonely graveyards.
Matters of this nature were raised at Monday’s meeting of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council held under Covid-19 government guideline restrictions in the Riverside Park Hotel.
Cllr John O’Rourke raised concerns about the disappearance of family artefacts from loved one’s graves at St. Mary’s Cemetery. “This kind of anti-social behaviour is on the rise again,” he said.
District Manager Ger Mackey said the interference with family graves was “despicable anti-social behaviour” but believed there is “only a tiny majority involved.” He promised to have a chat with the caretaker but he doesn’t really want to put CCTV cameras in a graveyard as he felt it is not right!
Cathaoirleach Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy recalled similar anti-social behaviour at Bunclody Cemetery on Ryland Road. “People are very distressed by what’s happening there and items are being stolen,” she concluded.
WexfordLocal.com 