WexfordLocal.com

Enniscorthy Greyhound Track remains open

By Dan Walsh

The Irish Greyhound Board and Enniscorthy Greyhound Track have agreed a memorandum of understanding to keep the track open until the end of 2022, subject to a review in the final quarter of 2021. The news was welcomed today by Wexford TD and Minister of State for Law Reform James Browne.

In a statement to WexfordLocal.com, Minister Browne said; “I’m delighted the Irish Greyhound Board has reversed its decision on Enniscorthy Greyhound Track. Enniscorthy’s track has a long tradition as a sporting hub of County Wexford. When I met the Irish Greyhound Board CEO Gerard Dollard, I left them in no uncertain terms about the importance of the track and how Enniscorthy Greyhound Track is engrained in the community’s heritage and culture. The campaign to keep the track open confirmed the strength of support behind Enniscorthy Greyhound Track.

“This is a terrific success story and I commend the Enniscorthy Greyhound Track company that preserved and stressed the need to keep Enniscorthy Greyhound Track open for racing”, Minister Browne concluded.

Speaking at today’s monthly meeting of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council held under Covid-19 government guidelines, Cllr Kathleen Codd-Nolan said Enniscorthy Greyhound Track is to remain open till 2022 which she declared “is great news for the town”. She complimented the committee and everybody who kept the campaign going to keep the track open.

Cllr Jackser Owens concurred with Cllr Codd-Nolan’s sentiments. “The fight was well fought, it was a hard slog, but it is great to keep the track open,” he stated.

Following an Indecon report, the Irish Greyhound Board announced its intention to withdraw funding for Enniscorthy greyhound track, a decision which would force the track’s closure. In January 2020, Minister Browne met Irish Greyhound Board CEO Gerard Dollard to fight for the retention of the Enniscorthy Greyhound Track. Significant engagement resulted in the Irish Greyhound Board conducting a review.

Cigarettes worth €69,000 seized at Rosslare Europort

By Dan Walsh

Revenue officers have seized over 102,000 cigarettes at Rosslare Europort. The smuggled cigarettes branded ‘Marlboro Red’ and ‘Compliment Violet’ have an estimated retail value of €69,000, representing a potential loss to the exchequer of €54,327.

The seizure occurred when a Hungarian registered vehicle was selected for examination having disembarked a ferry from France.

The subsequent search, with the assistance of Revenue’s mobile x-ray scanner, led to the discovery of the cigarettes, concealed within the floor of the vehicle. The vehicle was also seized. Two Romanian males in their 20s and 30s were questioned.

Investigations are ongoing.

These seizures are part of Revenue’s ongoing operations targeting the shadow economy and the supply and sale of illegal tobacco products. If businesses or members of the public have any information regarding the smuggling they can contact Revenue in confidence on free phone number 1800 295 295.

First woman President at Gorey Rugby Club

By Dan Walsh

Gorey Rugby Football Club has selected its President for the 2020-21 season, Trysh Sullivan, who has been a great servant to the club over many years, serving on various committees, including the Executive Committee, Fundraising, Hon. Secretary, as well as taking on the role of Senior Women’s Manager for many years.

**TRYSH SULLIVAN President of Gorey Rugby Club 2020-21**

“It is a huge honour and privilege to have been elected to the position of President of Gorey Rugby Club particularly to be the first woman President in what is traditionally seen as a male role,” said Trysh, who added; “As President, I would like to give a warm welcome for the return to rugby to all our members, supporters, any visiting teams and match day officials who make the journey to Clonattin this season, following strange and unprecedented times as we learn to live with Covid-19.”

Trysh is eagerly looking forward to the coming year and is extending good wishes to Club Captain Daragh O’Leary, Ladies Captain Ciara Tomkins, and their teams every success in the forthcoming season. “Equally I would like to wish all our players, guardians, volunteers, coaches, co ordinators and management of all our teams a successful and enjoyable season and to all volunteers, and of course, a special word of thanks to Gorey Rugby Club’s generous sponsors for their continued support, which is very much appreciated. It is important that all our members try to support them whenever and wherever possible. Without our sponsors we would be in an exceedingly difficult situation,” she concluded.

Double for Goff and Fitzgerald

By Dan Walsh

Monageer handler Michael Goff saddled a winning double in the first two races at Oldtown point-to-point this afternoon sharing with his Cork-born rider Shane Fitzgerald on both occasions and brought his career tally of wins to 50.

**MICHAEL GOFF trained a double at Oldtown, Co. Meath today**

The Goff-Fitzgerald partnership scored in the opening race for four year old maiden mares with Leac An Scail Lady by two lengths in the colours of The Chancers Syndicate. Half an hour later and they were in the winners’ enclosure again after American Legacy in the colours of Caitriona Goff came home three lengths to the good in the maiden race for four year old geldings.

Shane Fitzgerald has enjoyed a successful association since Goff provided him with his first winner at Bennettsbridge in 2015 aboard Clondaw Cian.

There was one other Wexford success at the Meath venue when first timer Fable ran out a 12 lengths winner of the five year old maiden race for mares for the Monbeg Syndicate and Ballindaggin handler Donnchadh Doyle. It was the second win in as many days for rider Rob James.

New Christmas experience for Enniscorthy

By Dan Walsh

Enniscorthy town centre is set to become a magic Winter Wonderland in the weeks leading up to Christmas and the highlight will be a re-imagined Santa’s Enchanted Castle event returning to Enniscorthy Castle for Christmas 2020 despite the challenges of Covid-19.

CLLR BARBARA-ANNE MURPHY wants “to light up Enniscorthy for the winter season.”

Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy, Cathaoirleach of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council told WexfordLocal.com; “Christmas is more important this year than ever before and I am heartened to see the Council, Enniscorthy Castle staff and many groups working together with the Chamber and traders to light up Enniscorthy for the winter season.”

“Come to Enniscorthy this Christmas for a Santa-stic time. We have re-imagined our seasonal experience for 2020 so although it will be different you are guaranteed the same Christmas cheer at the event and indeed a great atmosphere and offering all around the town” said Ger Mackey, Enniscorthy Municipal District Manager, who added; “Hotel pre-sale ‘sleep over’ packages are currently on offer and selling well, it is important we attract visitors to the banks of the Slaney to bolster the local economy and equally entertain our townspeople too. The magic of Christmas can’t be lost to Covid19”.

Visitors and locals alike can check-in for Christmas at Santa HQ on Castle Street to be entertained theatre style at the children’s live Character & Carol Show. Patrons will be entertained by members of Rathnure Pantomime Society from the stage in The Athenaeum before the Enniscorthy Elves escort each individual group pod of six down Castle Hill to Santa’s Enchanted Castle. There a socially distanced Santa and Mrs Claus will greet and gift each group from their ground floor winter garden wonderland.

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The 45-minute tour priced very reasonably from €15 will finish with a leisurely trip on the Tinsel Town Train from its Church Street base around Enniscorthy’s premier streets in a square six-minute route. Small outdoor winter shopping huts and winter themed windows are planned for Market Square.

Running from November 21^st, the popular children’s event will operate Thursdays to Sundays over twenty one days until December 23^rd. General sale tickets will go live this Friday 25^thSeptember on www.santasenchantedcastle.ie.

New Christmas experience for Enniscorthy

By Dan Walsh

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4-timer for champion Barry O’Neill

By Dan Walsh

The 2020-’21 point-to-point season kicked off this afternoon at Ballingarry in North Tipperary ‘behind closed doors’ under Covid-19 government guidelines and there was an amazing start to proceedings with national champion rider Barry O’Neill bringing home a four-timer, three of them for champion handler Colin Bowe.

**BARRY O’NEILL.. four wins today in North Tipperary**

Neon Moon got the Kiltealy partnership into winning ways with a two length victory in the second division of the four year old geldings maiden and in the next race – the mares maiden race for five and six year olds – Bowe and O’Neill delivered again, this time by an easy eight lengths with Navy Girl in the colours of Rebecca Surman.

Coopers Cross in the colours of Milestone Bloodstock Ltd kept the winning combination going with a five lengths success in division one of the five year old geldings maiden event. He was chased home by another Wexford competitor, Figaro Des Bordes, for handler Donnchadh Doyle and rider Rob James.

Barry O’Neill has a long record of success for Fermanagh handler David Christie and the combination proved strongest in the Open Lightweight Race with Marinero who ran out the five lengths winner to give Barry O’Neill and a head start in the new championship race with his four triumph of the afternoon.

There was a first and last race double for rider James Walsh from Tinahely. In the four year old maiden race Walsh was seen to good advantage on the Michael Kenny newcomer Saratoga Lass for Adamstown handler Kieran Roche. The verdict was one and a half lengths.

James Walsh teamed up with his father, John Walsh, to record a riding double on eighth and final race on the card – the ‘older maidens’ race – with High Stakes, first time out and a good seven lengths winner.

There was one other Wexford trained winner. First time out in the second division of the maiden geldings race for four year olds Sublime Heights from the Redbridge Stables of Michael Murphy, Duncormick, was a three lengths winner with Sean Staples, Scar, Duncormick, in the saddle.

Extra Garda patrols at Gorey Town Park

By Dan Walsh

Extra Garda patrols have been drafted into Gorey Town Park, which is in effect a building site, following reports of anti-social behaviour there, the members of Gorey-Kilmuckridge District Council were informed at the September meeting held under Covid-19 government guidelines at Gorey Courthouse.

Cllr Diarmuid Devereux described the ugly sight of individuals with ‘slabs of cans’ heading from the Main Street to the Town Park and people setting fire to the place. There were reports of anti-social behaviour and two fires recently occurred at the skatepark.

District Manager Michael Drea told the members he was concerned about negative news stories emanating from the Town Park although he admitted that “a small number of individuals were causing trouble.” The matter was discussed between the Council and the local Gardai and it was agreed that extra Garda patrols will take place at Gorey Town Park.

Cllr Anthony Donohoe expressed surprise that the Town Park is not finished! “It has been dragging on so long at this stage,” he claimed. Cathaoirleach Cllr Joe Sullivan agreed and indicated that the “price and time has slipped” and the situation is “getting ridiculous.”

Work commenced on the site in May 2019, was impacted for a time by Covid-19, work recommenced in mid-May. It is anticipated that the building, landscaping and planting works be completed on December 12th next.

FF seeks Council control for village water

By Dan Walsh

Parish pump politics raised its head in a practical and positive way when village matters were highlighted at the September meeting held under Covid-19 government guidelines at Riverside Park Hotel, Enniscorthy, last Monday, in circumstances that adopted a novel approach with a unified request to vent the feelings of Fianna Fáil members countywide on the relevant local issues.

**The old parish pump is preserved as a reminder of village life long ago in the centre of Kilmyshall.**

Speaking on behalf of all eleven members (Cllrs Aidan Browne, Barbara-Anne Murphy, Michael Sheehan, John Fleming, Michael Whelan, Andrew Bolger, Donal Kenny, Joe Sullivan, Garry Laffan, Pip Breen and Willie Kavanagh) of the Fianna Fáil Party, Cllr Lisa McDonald, by notice of motion, asked that Wexford County Council call on the Government to amend the remit of Irish Water to fund County Councils to allow them to deal with increased capacity and manage waste water systems in rural villages of under 3,000 population to protect the survival and growth of rural Ireland.

“There is a broad consensus that Irish Water is neglecting rural Ireland, in particular, in respect of Ballyhack, Duncannon and Kilmore Quay are reminders of their lack of interest, “ said Cllr McDonald who added; “The 2013 Act that established Irish Water did not remove Wexford County Council as a water utility so the legal structure is already there and we need to put back to the Councils the authority to run the smaller villages.”

Two new schools for Wexford town

By Dan Walsh

Significant progress has been made in the delivery of a new primary and secondary school in the Clonard area of Wexford town, but the exact location is still to be disclosed.

The Department of Education and Skills has agreed a service level agreement with the Waterford and Wexford Education Training Board to deliver an additional primary school and secondary school in the town.

The agreement reached by both bodies marks a significant step of progress in the devolved delivery of a new primary school and secondary school in Wexford town. WWETB will deliver the construction of Selskar College and Wexford Educate Together National School.

Wexford TD and Minister of State for Law Reform James Browne has welcomed today’s announcement, and he told WexfordLocal.com; “As the Chair of the Board of Management of Wexford Educate Together National School (WETNS), I’m delighted with the progress in the delivery of a new primary school and secondary school in Wexford town.

“I’ve been seeking a permanent school building for WETNS for several years.

“The shortage of Secondary School places in Wexford town has been a long running issue and a cause of frustration and stress for parents and children alike. I’ve attended several public meetings and talked to numerous parents over the years about this,” concluded Minister Browne.

It is expected that the schools will be ready to be occupied within three years and, hopefully, sooner. The location of the schools will be in Clonard, with the exact location still to be disclosed.