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Easter Message of Bishop Denis Brennan

“This Holy Week and Easter, I invite you to focus primarily upon that opportunity – “to reconcile with God and neighbour” – for this is the ultimate and primary fruit of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

“Again, this year, we cannot celebrate Holy Week and Easter as we would normally do.

“Many parishes are looking at ways of “taking Holy Week and Easter to your homes” – palm crosses, prayer books and leaflets, colouring resources for children, Easter water bottles and prayer cards – and I would ask that you join in that effort.

“If out for a walk on Easter Sunday, call and collect any resources that your parish might have available. Get the schedule for online broadcasts from the parish, have a look at the national and indeed international broadcasts too.

“Irrespective of the restrictions, we can participate in prayer, through personal reflection, openness to a better relationship with God and neighbour, we can visit our local church and engage with the opportunities and resources that our parish is providing.

“In conclusion, I would like to say a word of gratitude to the priests, the staff and the volunteers in our parishes.

“I am also acutely aware of the isolation of priests themselves and of the toll that being restricted in their ministry is taking.

“I ask that public worship resumes as soon as possible.

“I thank the hundreds of people who have made themselves available to ensure that our churches are the safest of spaces for parishioners.

“Finally, I invite you to continue purposefully on the journey through the pandemic by engaging with a high standard of hygiene, safety and adopting-afresh the mantra to “be heart, keep heart and give heart.”

“Let us look forward to meeting once again in person in our churches and parishes when possible.”

Wexford General Hospital “mismanagement”; Deputy Murphy

By Dan Walsh

Waiting lists concerns at Wexford General Hospital were aired on tonight’s edition of RTE’s Prime Time by Wexford Independent Deputy Verona Murphy who was on the programme to comment on today’s Covid-19 plan announcement by An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin.

**DEPUTY VERONA MURPHY was on RTE’s PRIME TIME**

Deputy Murphy said the people have lost confidence and Level 5 is not working. She added that people have abandoned it and that anecdotal evidence can be seen by the increase of traffic on roads.

Asked about today’s plan, Deputy Murphy replied: “I want to see what is behind the plan! There is no plan. We never had the numbers. The numbers were misguided in the Dail they were misguided by the Minister for Health (Stephen Donnelly) and now we don’t even know what the numbers are? We are still recruiting vaccinators. We are being asked for birth certificates and junior certificates at a time when we are supposed to be getting a million vaccines.

“We needed a plan that we would have the ICU beds to prevent our hospitals being overwhelmed – a plan that shows we have the testing and traceability.”

“I think people are very angry,” said Deputy Murphy who displayed on screen a copy of today’s Wexford People newspaper and alluded to the banner headline “an increase of 69% in our hospital figures” which actually transpires to be 2,200 people on a list at Wexford General Hospital which she claimed is due to “mismanagement of Covid.”

Asked by the presenter Louise Byrne what she thought NEPHET had got wrong? Deputy Murphy replied; “We don’t know because anybody who voices a contrary opinion isn’t heard – they are shut down” and she claimed that last year Sam McConkey claimed that 4 million people would get Covid and 80,000 people would die. That has not happened.”

Wexford students long trek to college!

By Dan Walsh

Senator Malcolm Byrne has outlined the importance of the planned university campus for Wexford as well as the need for greater supports for disadvantaged students in County Wexford as new figures from the Higher Education Authority show that Wexford students are among those across the country who travel furthest to college, as well as national concerns around high dropout levels by disadvantaged students.

The HEA’s analysis shows that Wexford students travelling furthest from home to college in the South-East and among the longest distances in the country.

As with most areas across Ireland, the relationship between Leaving Certificate points and affluence is evident. Kilkenny is the least disadvantaged area in the region and Leaving Cert points are highest there on average.

Carlow and Wexford are the most disadvantaged and have the lowest Leaving Cert points on average in the region. This relationship is most obvious in the areas around Kilkenny City and West Waterford, (Editor’s Note: I wonder would this statistic have any relation to the Gaeltacht region in west Waterford?) which are the most affluent areas in the region and where students score higher mean Leaving Cert points.

Senator Byrne notes that students with lower Leaving Cert points are less likely to enter high points course such as medicine or law, but are also more likely to leave college early.

“Having Wexford as a University Town from next year will be transformational for the county and will make higher educational opportunities more visible locally,” said Senator Byrne, who added: “We still have a big challenge for disadvantaged students and we need to improve career guidance at second level as well as providing more second chance education and training opportunities,” said the Gorey-based Senator who worked with the Higher Education Authority for twelve years prior to his election to the Oireachtas and chairs the South East Oireachtas Group on the Technological University.

“This century is about the battle for knowledge. I passionately believe we have to prioritise upskilling all Wexford people, of whatever age, if we are going to be able to compete in a rapidly changing digital world,” he concluded.

€3.6m funding for 15 Wexford projects

By Dan Walsh

Fifteen projects across County Wexford are to share funding of €3,603,000 under the Active Travel 2021 allocations with a big emphasis on footpaths and cycle networks.

The highest allocation is €600,000 for the Beechlawn/Clonard Avenue Cycle Scheme in Wexford town; €285,000 for the Newtown Cycle Scheme in Wexford town; and €185,000 for the Monck Street Pedestrianisation Scheme in Wexford town.

€451,000 will cover footpath works in Duncannon, Ballinaboola, Killanne, Campile, Ballymitty and Bridgetown and there is €427,000 for similar works at Oylegate, New Ross, Fethard, Piercestown, Taghmon, Wellingtonbridge and Wexford town.

€200,000 is available for Rosslare Harbour to Kilrane Cycle Scheme and €20,000 for cycle repair and rest facilities at Kilmore Quay and Hook Head. And a further €20,000 for the R23 Oakland Roundabout to Kents Cross in New Ross for a pedestrian and cycle scheme.

€355,000 for a new footpaths package at Enniscorthy, Davidstown, Kiltealy, Milehouse. Ballyhogue, Clohamon and Tombrack and a similar package costing €300,000 for The Ballagh, Gorey, Ballycanew and Riverchapel.

€215,000 will be spent on transport studies and mobility plans for towns including Wexford, Enniscorthy, New Ross and Gorey and the County Cycling Network Plan; There is a further €145,000 for Light Segregation Cycle Schemes, including works in Gorey and Wexford town; €200,000 for low-cost junction tightening and pedestrian schemes; another €100,000 for low-cost permeability measures and €100,000 for the Safe to Schools Programme- Support Infrastructure.

The funding will be administered by Wexford County Council and local councillors across the districts are delighted with allocations in their regions.

Crew safe as Wexford fishing vessel sinks off Cork coast

By Dan Walsh

The 25-metre Wexford registered fishing vessel Ellie Adhamh has sunk after its seven crew members were rescued by the Irish Coast Guard when the ship lost power and had trouble off the Cork coast.

The vessel has sunk in approximately 80m of water over two miles North of the Bull Rock, at the entrance to Kenmare Bay.

Castletownbere RNLI Lifeboat received a call at 8.30am on Friday morning that the fishing vessel Ellie Adhamh suffered a loss of power approximately 70 miles West of Bantry Bay on Friday morning and has been adrift. A locally operated 33-metre tug was on route to assist the vessel when gale-force conditions with heavy seas smashed three of the tug’s windows and the crew contacted Valentia Coastguard Radio requesting immediate assistance.

At 1.50pm the tug was located 17 miles southwest of Castletownbere and was making way under its own steam. Coxswain Hegarty described the conditions at the scene as ‘challenging’ with 7-8 metre sea and 50 knot west-south-west winds. The lifeboat escorted the damaged tug to safety.

The rescue was co-ordinated by the Coast Guard Rescue Co-Ordination Centre at Valentia who initially tasked a Coast Guard Helicopter to the scene. The crew declined an offer to have some of the crew evacuated from the vessel. The Irish naval vessel, LE George Bernard Shaw, proceeded to the casualty and monitored the situation overnight.

In the morning, a Coast Guard helicopter transferred water pumps onto the vessel owing to the loss of power onboard. In addition, the LE George Bernard Shaw made a number of attempts to attach a tow but this was hampered by very poor weather conditions.

**The fishing vessel ELLIE ADHAMH off the Cork Coast (PIC; Irish Coast Guard)**

Castletownbere lifeboat was requested to assist with attaching the tow and launched at 8.30am. The lifeboat located the navy ship and the stricken vessel, with a successful tow attached, 37 miles west of the Bull Rock. The lifeboat is escorting both vessels and monitoring the tow. Given the weather conditions, all vessels proceeded slowly towards Bantry Bay later this evening.

Commenting on the callout Castletownbere RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager Paul Stevens said: “This has been a prolonged and complex multi-agency operation undertaken in very challenging sea conditions – very good co-ordination and high level of co-operation amongst different agencies.”

A Coast Guard spokesperson expressed relief that there was no loss of life and acknowledged the professionalism of all who had been involved in the operation, including Naval Service ship LE George Bernard Shaw, Castletownbere RNLI, Coast Guard Helicopter crews, owners and their representatives.

Ellie Adhamh (WD206) was built in Spain and registered in Wexford in 2004, a 25- metre fishing vessel operated by R & E Fishing Limited (Ireland).

Congratulations 2Lt. Michaelí Byrne

By Dan Walsh

Second Lieutenant Michaelí Byrne (24) has achieved her career ambition and is to be assigned to the Army Equitation School following the commissioning ceremony of the 96th cadet class at Collins Barracks, Dublin, on Thursday.

From Butterfly Farm, Raheen, near Camolin, Michaelí was the winner of the Mo Chroi four-year-old championship final at the 2019 Dublin Horse Show with the Capri van Overis Z mare Boleybawn Bella, then owned by Ronan Rothwell and Ger O’Neill. The mare’s dam, HHS Anna (by Andiamo Z), was purchased by Rothwell from Brendan Doyle and Tommy Kennedy when she was in foal with Boleybawn Bella.

The 2019 Dublin Horse Show Mo Chroi four-year-old championship final was judged by Great Britain’s Olympic team gold medallist Scott Brash and Dutch international show jumper Willem Greve. Speaking after the win in 2019, Ronan Rothwell said “Michaelí Byrne is so dedicated to our horses and she has done an unbelievable job producing Boleybawn Bella.”

Michaelí held an ambition to turn her childhood hobby into a career in the equestrian world and took the first steps when she was accepted into the Army Equitation School (founded in 1926 to promote Ireland and the Irish horse) in the autumn of 2019.

It is the first time in the history of the Equitation School that three female equitation officers will compete for the Army in the same year, Captain Charlene Kehoe, Second Lieutenant Chloe Foley and Second Lieutenant Michaelí Byrne.

The commissioning ceremony was attended by the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces Vice Admiral Mark Mellett DSM.

South East priorities created in new forum

By Dan Walsh

The first-of-its-kind South East First Citizens Accord has created a Forum of the First Citizens from Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford who are coming together with the key goal of addressing the structural challenges faced by the South East.

The region is particularly vulnerable to the impact of the pandemic having had the highest regional unemployment rate coming into the crisis. The Accord agrees on immediate common priorities for the region that can aid economic recovery coming out of the Covid-19 crisis and can address the historical imbalance in State funding and engagement with the South East.

The First Citizens invited the regional TDs and Senators to attend a meeting today, (Friday) where the priorities were presented and the need for each outlined. There was strong support among the Oireachtas members to align behind these critical issues, many of which they are currently and actively engaged on. The seven priorities are:

1. Technological University of South East – €250 million investment by 2025.

2. A €30m region-specific South East Innovation Fund.

3. Investment in South East Ports and more strategic collaboration between them: Government support is required to develop the South East ports (Rosslare and Belview, Waterford) as strategic national solutions to Brexit, to take advantage of their huge potential as offshore wind hubs and to act as drivers of the region’s economy.

4. 40 new IDA companies in South East and new IDA property in each county by 2024.

5. A specific Enterprise Ireland Regional Director for South East: The South East is one of the only regions in Ireland without a specific Enterprise Ireland Regional Director.

6. Accelerate upgrades of N24 and N80 road connections: The South East requires upgrades on its road connectivity to the west and internally. The N24 upgrade needs to be progressed and the route should also be seriously examined as an alternative motorway route to the proposed N20 development.

7. Provision of a 24/7 Cardiac Care Centre for the South East.: The announcement of the appointment of the contractor to build the second Cath Lab in UHW is very welcome and we now need to ensure that this translates to comprehensive delivery of 24/7 cardiac care service to ensure that patients do not have to travel long distances for urgent care.

Speaking on behalf of the people of Wexford, Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council, Cllr. Ger Carthy said; “There are a number of serious issues that need addressing in Wexford and the wider South East region. By coming together and signing up to the First Citizen’s Accord, it will afford us a much stronger position when we are looking to progress issues such investment in Rosslare Port and a University for the South East for our Wexford citizens.”

The five Local Authorities in the Region have increased their collaboration over the past five years and have resourced the Ireland South East Development Office (ISEDO). ISEDO manages the delivery of the South East Regional Enterprise Plan and facilitates collaboration among industry and public agencies within the region.

The signing of the First Citizens’ Accord now builds on this work by ensuring political cohesion on key priorities. The five First Citizens in the Region are: Cllr. Tom O’Neill, Carlow; Cllr. Andrew McGuinness, Kilkenny; Cllr. Michael Smith, Tipperary; Cllr. Damien Geoghegan, Waterford; and Cllr. Ger Carthy, Wexford. The Forum will operate a rotating Chair

Full details can be found atwww.irelandsoutheast.com

UHW Cath Lab contract is signed

By Dan Walsh

The contract for construction of a second Catheterisation Laboratory at University Hospital Waterford (UHW) awarded to local company Tom O’Brien Construction Ltd is expected to start in the first week of May and take 12 months to deliver.

The Department of Health confirmed today that the construction contractor award letter has now issued, a start date has been agreed, and HSE estates have confirmed that the contractor will be on site in the first week of May.

Waterford Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People Mary Butler said; “The appointment of this contractor, alongside the awarding of a contract for an equipment supplier this week, are both huge steps forward in the delivery of the second Cath Lab at UHW and is positive news for Waterford and the South East.

Mr. Gerry O’Dwyer, Group CEO, South / South West Hospital Group recently received confirmation from HSE Estates that the equipment for the second Cath Lab will be the same equipment recently installed in the newly upgraded existing Cath Lab and will have full interventional capabilities.”

Senator Malcolm Byrne stated that this will be of “enormous benefit to patients across the South East, including in Co. Wexford. We have been waiting for this for a long time!”

Cathaoirleach of New Ross Municipal District Council described the announcement as “good news for south Wexford.”

Beer seized at Rosslare Europort

By Dan Walsh

Revenue officers seized nearly 17,000 litres of beer at Rosslare Europort following the search of an Irish registered truck that had disembarked a ferry from Pembroke, Wales, last Monday.

The consignment was seized following routine profiling aimed at identifying alcohol products that may be diverted onto the market without payment of the tax and duties due. The smuggled alcohol had an estimated retail value of almost €66,500 representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of over €31,100.

Investigations are ongoing.

This seizure is part of Revenue’s ongoing operations targeting the supply and sale of illicit alcohol products in the shadow economy. If businesses, or members of the public, have any information, they can contact Revenue in confidence on Confidential Phone Number 1800 295 295.

€2.6m facelift for historic Bullring

By Dan Walsh

The Mayor of Wexford Cllr Leonard Kelly and the members of Wexford Borough District Council are excited following the unveiling of plans to transform the historic Bullring and Cornmarket areas of Wexford town at an estimated cost of €2.4 million.

The cost of installing a glass roof over the markets area of the Bullring is expected to cost from €300,000 to €400,000.

Other works would include removal of the existing roundabout, the removal of trees and some replanting, automated bollards, patterned paving, street lighting, street furniture and public art.

The next step is to source funding for the project which most likely will be the URDF (Urban Regeneration and Development Fund) 2022 and to progress with detailed designs.

**The historic BULLRING in Wexford town is earmarked for a €2.4 million facelift.**

The Bullring gets its name from a sport introduced there in 1621. The marketplace dates from 1871 and replaced six thatched houses. Through the ages it has been a rallying place for general elections and political expression. It contains a statue of the pikeman remembering the 1798 Rebellion and a plaque on the wall commemorates the local world heavyweight boxing legend Jem Roche. (Historic tail-piece sourced from The Streets of Wexford by Nicky Rossiter, published in 2009).