Wednesday Wexford races ‘behind closed doors’

By Dan Walsh

The first race meeting at Bettyville Park since St. Patrick’s Day when proceedings were held ‘behind closed doors’ takes place on Wednesday, which is excellent news, but the bad news is that the Covid-19 government guidelines are still existent, and the stands will have to remain empty.

Jumping the penultimate fence in front of the stands at Bettyville Park.

There is a strong entry of 156 for the six races, which now becomes seven as the Bann Maiden Hurdle has been divided, champion trainer Willie Mullins has a number of entries and could feature amongst the winners, but a number of local trainers are also on the card and in with a shout of winning.

Punters can follow the action live on Racing UK or courtesy of their local bookmaker.

The programme is as follows;

1pm; The Boro Maiden Hurdle of €10,000. About 2 miles. (12 runners).
1.30pm; The Nore Handicap Hurdle of €10,000 (Rated 80-102). About 2 miles, 4 furlongs. (12 runners).
2pm; The Bann Handicap Hurdle (Division One) of €9,000 (Rated 80-95). About 3 miles. (12 runners).

2.30pm; The Bann Handicap Hurdle (Division Two) of €9,000 (Rated 80-95). About 3 miles (12 runners)
3pm; The Slaney Beginners Steeplechase of €11,000. About 2 miles, 4 furlongs, (8 runners).
3.30pm; The Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Steeplechase of €13,000. About 2 miles, 4 furlongs. (8 runners).
4pm; The Barrow Handicap Steeplechase of €11,000 (Rated 0-109). About 2 miles. (9 runners).

Wexford Racecourse fixtures on the revised race calendar for the remainder of 2020 are as follows; August 29th, Saturday afternoon. September 5th, Saturday afternoon. October 25th, Sunday afternoon. October 26th, Monday afternoon.

Fatal road traffic collision near Camolin

A motorcyclist, in his 30s, has died in a single vehicle road traffic collision that occurred around 7 am today (Sunday) at the Frankfort Roundabout, on the N11, near Camolin.

The road was closed for a time for Forensic Collision Investigators to examine the scene but has since re-opened.

Gardaí at Gorey are appealing for any witnesses to this collision to come forward.

Gardaí are also appealing for any road users with camera footage (including dash-cam) who were travelling in the area at the time to make this footage available to Gardaí.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Gorey Garda Station on 053 9430690 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.

Cahore Lifeboat rescues five persons

By Dan Walsh at Cahore

Cahore Inshore Rescue Service was launched around 5.30 pm this evening following a call for assistance by Dublin Coastguard to a boat in difficulty with five persons on board.

CAHORE INSHORE RESCUE SERVICE takes the stricken rib to Cahore Pier this evening.

The rib suffered engine trouble and was discovered drifting on the tide off Morriscastle Strand.

The lifeboat Helmsman David Kavanagh and crew members Richie Ward and Brenda Kavanagh successfully towed the stricken vessel to safety at Cahore Pier.

All on board were safe and well and the weather conditions were calm and favourable.

Remember to call 999 or 112 if you see something or someone in the water that may be in need of assistance.

Cahore Lifeboat Open Day on Sunday

Looking for somewhere special to take the family tomorrow (Sunday)?  Cahore Inshore Rescue Service are holding an Open Day and Fundraising Appeal at the Lifeboat Station from 12 noon to 3pm.

CAHORE HARBOUR

“We welcome you to pop in for a complimentary cup of tea or coffee, a tour of the station and a chat. We will also have some lovely cakes, brownies and local Jams on sale, all proceeds to our operational costs,” said a spokesperson.
The Sunday morning training exercise will be running alongside affording an opportunity to meet the crew and see them in action!

Cahore is eagerly looking forward to welcoming you all, all ages welcome and social distancing guidelines will apply.

€1m to refurbish empty council houses

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Darragh O’Brien TD has secured an extra €40 million in funding for the refurbishment of social housing stock with an allocation of €999,110 of this money to Co. Wexford as part of the Government’s July Stimulus package.

The funding is aimed at assisting Wexford County Council to refurbish empty council houses.

Enniscorthy-based Deputy James Browne said; “This funding will be used to target social housing units across the county so that they can be re-let to individuals and families struggling with homelessness or on the social housing list.”

Renovation of “void properties” – social homes that are vacant and require refurbishment before they can be re-let to tenants is very important in tackling the housing waiting list. “Empty council houses cause real frustration among the public and especially those on the housing list. This money will allow those houses to come back into use,” stated Deputy Browne, who added; “I am asking that Wexford County Council takes immediate steps to ensure that work on refurbishing vacant homes begins straight away. The funding will make extra social housing stock available quickly and will have a knock-on economic benefit by generating further employment to local builders, carpenters, painters, plumbers and electricians and other trades.”

Wexford student Niamh’s ‘Best Vegan’ recipe

Niamh Goodison, a 20-years old third-level student from Wexford town, is one of Ireland’s best banana bread bakers having been chosen winner of the ‘Best Vegan’ category award in a recent nationwide competition to find Ireland’s Best Banana Bread Recipes conducted by celebrity chef and RTE presenter, Donal Skehan with the support of banana distributors, Fyffes.

NIAMH GOODISON

The eldest of four, Niamh was a keen student of home economics at both Junior and Leaving Certificate levels and is currently studying at DCU Institute of Education, where she has her eyes firmly set on the goal of becoming a primary school teacher.

An avid baker from a young age, Niamh draws her inspiration from her mother, Emma and admits that home baking was ‘one of the activities enjoyed the most as a family’ during lockdown with Salted Caramel Banana Muffins – her winning entry – being one of her favourites.

Celebrity chef, DONAL SKEHAN has joined with Fyffes to find Ireland’s ‘best banana bread’ recipe.

Noting that ‘one of its unique aspects is that the ingredients are entirely suitable for vegans and those keen to pursue a vegan diet,’ Niamh said: “It is a recipe that is simple and not too complicated to make with ingredients that most households will have to hand. It has a delicious combination of flavours with a fabulous texture to match and yet you’d never know that they were vegan.”

The overall Best Banana Bread recipe award was won by Gillian Carney from Cobh, who also topped the category for Best Ingredients. Other category winners were: Cáit Flood from Swords (Best Junior Baker under 10 years); Isabelle Sexton from Roscommon Town (Best Junior Baker 10 years and over); Ciara Kilmartin from Ferbane, Offaly (Best Styling) and Heather O’Sullivan from Bantry (Best Gluten-Free).

Reflecting on what he called “the volume and quality” of entries received, Donal Skehan said: “Ireland has some exceedingly creative and talented home bakers. It was refreshing to see such imaginative ideas, ingredients and methods being shared, particularly amongst junior and dietary-restricted entrants”.

Improved car parking opens at Morriscastle

By Dan Walsh

The large volume of visitors to the popular Morriscastle Beach, anticipated over the August Bank Holiday weekend, can breathe a major sight of relief that the car parking congestion of the past will be considerably alleviated after a ‘temporary car park’ opened yesterday.

CLLR MARY FARRELL has secured ‘temporary car parking’ to assist the busy traffic flow to and from Morriscastle Beach.

The matter was raised at the recent meeting of Gorey-Kilmuckridge Municipal District Council by local Independent member Cllr Mary Farrell who pleaded with Wexford County Council to address the congestive issues associated with car parking at the popular seaside resort two kilometres from Kilmuckridge village.

In an announcement on social media, Cllr Farrell stated that she was delighted to finally announce that a temporary car park had been opened in Morriscastle this evening (Thursday) after many years of negotiation.
“While this is only a temporary measure while awaiting to put plans in place for a permanent car park , this will alleviate the traffic congestion especially this busy weekend,” she said.
Cllr Farrell thanked the Redmond and Shelly family for their co-operation with this project and to Wexford County Council for facilitating the smooth process to have it opened. “It is much appreciated by everyone. Thank you to everyone involved,” she concluded.

Visitors are reminded to be aware that double yellow lines will be enforceable from this weekend and it is strongly advised to please use the car park and avoid unnecessary fines.

Writers working together in Wexford

A new publishing house has launched in Wexford promising to promote the production of literature in the county, discover new authors and publish close to twenty Wexford titles by the end of 2021.  Red Books Press will be a co-operative of writers according to co-ordinator and owner of Red Books bookshop Wally O Neill.

The first four authors in Red Books Press; (left to right) TOM LOGAN, DAN FINN, DAITHI KAVANAGH and EAMONN COLFER

“Essentially we’re creating a co-operative of authors and poets and providing the resources for them to publish their works professionally inside Wexford,” Mr O Neill said.  “County Wexford is going through a great literary renaissance at the moment and now occupies a cultural position similar to Dublin in the 1950s or Galway in the late 80s.  We believe it’s vital to harness and develop this creative energy.”

Mr O’Neill continued; “This is going to be a publishing label for exceptional works.  We are in the business of producing future classics. We are delighted to have four established local authors on board for the first four publications from Red Books Press.  They are Daithi Kavanagh, Eamonn Colfer, Tom Logan and Dan Finn.  We already have more young writers and poets lined up to join.”

“It’s our intention to publish at least four books this year under the co-operative label, with at least twelve more following next year.  We are open to submissions from up-and-coming and first-time authors and poets, from every discipline and genre.  The books will be printed, published and distributed from Wexford.  The focus here is to maximise County Wexford’s literary potential.”

The first Red Books Press edition will be released in September with the publication of Daithi Kavanaghs The Green Wave.  In the meantime, a new literary journal called the Wexford Bohemian will launch at Red Books on August 14th containing works by over thirty Wexford authors and poets, as well as local art and photography.

Tributes to photo champion John Wilkinson

By Dan Walsh

The community and world of amateur photography and students of local history and lore are deeply saddened by the death of John Wilkinson, which occurred peacefully at his home, Main Street, Carnew, surrounded by his loving family. He was in his 96th year.

JOHN WILKINSON

John Wilkinson was a local historian of note and was particularly impressive with his reminiscing of events surrounding the once powerful Coollattin Estate, one of the largest of its kind in south Wicklow. He could also recall characters, happenings and events in and around Carnew going back generations.

He published an interesting commentary on his early days. “My family, parents, and younger siblings, lived in Tomacork, some two miles from Carnew, but when it was time for me to start school in 1931 that distance was considered too far for a youngster to walk. To solve the problem I was “boarded out” with my Sinnott grandparents, on the Schoolheight, Carnew and had only to trot down the Main Street to reach the school Following their deaths, my Aunt Mary, took over the house and me. Actually, I had been born here and it had been my mother’s (Esther Wilkinson, née Sinnott) home prior to her marriage.”

Enniscorthy Camera Club posted; “It is with great regret that we have to announce that our Honorary President John Wilkinson sadly died yesterday. John was the definition of a gentleman who will be sadly missed.”

John was a member of Enniscorthy Camera Club for over 40 years and served both as Chairman and Secretary. Although his passion for photography covered all aspects of the art, his speciality was audio-visual which he mastered to such a high standard that he was an All-Ireland champion and placed a few times.

He was Enniscorthy’s representative on the Southern Association of Camera Clubs (SACC) and served as treasurer of the Irish Photographic Federation.

John enjoyed a long and fulfilled life. He loved company and storytelling and his photography collection is one of the biggest of its kind in the country. He easily converted his skills from the manual operation of photography and the days of ‘dark rooms’ to the modern digital era and adopted well to the new ways of the website and facebook.

Dearly beloved husband of the late Molly, much loved father of Cyril, Richard, Mary and Denis, devoted grandfather of Molly and Reuben, brother of Laurence, Benny and Fr Pat MCCJ and the late Fr Denis MCCJ, Tommy, Una, Mary and Nancy. Sadly, missed by his loving sons, daughter, grandchildren, daughters-in-law Doreen and Clare, Son-in-law Pádraig, sister-in-law Marilyn, nephews, nieces, extended family, relatives and his wide circle of friends. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam

Due to Government advice and HSE guidelines regarding public gatherings, a private funeral will take place for family and close friends. Funeral Mass will take place at 2 pm on Thursday in Our Lady Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Church, Carnew, followed by interment in Tomacork Cemetery.

Sites sold at Enniscorthy Technology Park

By Dan Walsh

Wexford County Council members have responded favourably to a request, pursuant to Section 183 of the Local Government Act 2001, to the Council’s intention to sell a long-term leasehold interest in two sites at Enniscorthy Technology Park on the old St. Senan’s Hospital land at Killagoley south of the town.

The matter came before last Monday’s July meeting of Wexford County Council in the Hilton Edwards Suite in the Riverside Park Hotel, Enniscorthy, held under Covid-19 guidelines. Cathaoirleach Cllr Ger Carthy was in the chair and the CEO Tom Enright, in his absence, was represented by Tony Larkin, Director of Services.

The land in question was acquired from the Health Service Executive (HSE) at a cost of €18,000 per acre and the sites are to be sold to Moyne Point Ltd, with an address at I, Brownswood, Enniscorthy.

There are two sites. Site One (measuring 3.477 acres, however 0.445 acres is dedicated to the construction of a retaining wall to stabilise the site) is to be sold for €288,040 and the sale will take place by way of lease for 500 years at a nominal rent of €1 per annum.

The purchaser will use the site to construct a modern business technology unit in accordance with planning permission and the purchaser will also hold the option to purchase Site Two.

Site Two (measuring 2.96 acres), of which 0.797 acres is dedicated to a construction of a retaining wall to stabilise the site, is to be sold for €205,485