WexfordLocal.com

Fogarty and Bowe success at Wexford

By Dan Walsh

It is rare for a Wexford race meeting to pass without a local winner and today it was the turn of Cleariestown jockey Mikey Fogarty and Kiltealy trainer Colin Bowe who combined to supply the winner of the Courtown Mares Maiden Hurdle with Flamin Aimee (4/1).

“We’re delighted with her and delighted for her owners (the Morrisseys). They have shown good patience with her and deserve a lot of credit for putting her back in and having another go at it,” said Bowe’s assistant trainer Brendan Walsh, who added; “We’ll see what the handicapper thinks. Her jumping is very good and she probably needs a trip.”

Philip Rothwell, Tinahely, is also local to the Wexford track, and he saddled Ricky Langford (12/1), ridden by Hugh Morgan, for a fine success in the Curracloe Opportunity Handicap Hurdle. Home-bred by Joan Rothwell, Ricky Langford is owned by a bunch of the trainer’s college friends from Dublin and triumphed in the colours of the Kings Horses Syndicate.

Conor O’Dwyer trains in Kildare, but he was born a stone’s throw from Bettyville Park and is always delighted to saddle a winner there. He won the Duncannon Handicap Chase with I’m Not Alone (7/1) by four lengths in the famous John P McManus green and orange hooped colours worn by Jody McGarvey, who recorded a double success on the day.

Joseph O’Brien sent Isotope (5/4 fav) from his Piltown stables in neighbouring Kilkenny and with Oakley Brown up, the four year old stayed on well in the closing stages to finish four and a half lengths to the good in the opening Adare Manor Opportunity Hurdle.

The Morriscastle Handicap Hurdle was run in two divisions. Bagenalstown trainer John ‘Shark’ Hanlon and jockey Jody McGarvey enjoyed their third winner together in as many days when Balinaboola Steel (6/1) scored in the first division. Balinaboola Steel showed a liking for the Wexford turf and followed up on his first victory here last month. Rebel Waltz (4/1) was runner-up last Saturday here, but went one better today to win division two of this handicap hurdle for Mallow trainer Tom Nagle and jockey Ambrose McCurtin.

Tiantu (10/1), trained at Butlerstown, Co. Waterford, by Paul Power took the honours in the Rosslare Opportunity Handicap Chase. The victorious rider was Liam Quinlan.

Strong card for Saturday Wexford races

By Dan Walsh

For the second Saturday in succession racing action takes place at Bettyville Park tomorrow, but sadly no spectators are permitted to attend on this occasion, as the fixture is run ‘behind closed doors’ under Government Covid-19 restriction guidelines.

**Facing the starter at Bettyville Park for the Saturday afternoon card**

It is a seven-race card with all races attracting the maximum safety number of eleven runners per event. The card consists of five hurdle races and two steeplechases. The ground conditions are described as ‘yielding’.

2.05pm; Adare Manor Opportunity Maiden Hurdle of €12,500. Two miles 150 yards. (11 runners)

2.40pm; Curracloe Opportunity Handicap Hurdle of €9,000. Two miles 150 yards (11 runners)

3.15 pm; Morriscastle Handicap Hurdle (Division One) of €10,000. Two miles four furlongs (11 runners).

3.50pm; Morriscastle Handicap Hurdle (Division Two) of €10,000. Two miles four furlongs (11 runners).

4.25pm; Courtown (Mares) Maiden Hurdle of €10,000. Three miles (11 runners)

5pm; Rosslare Opportunity Handicap Chase of €11,000. Two miles four furlongs (11 runners)

5.35pm; Duncannon Handicap Chase of €10,000. Three miles, one furlong, 50 yards (11 runners).

All races will be televised live on Racing UK and on betting shop screens. Not as good as being trackside, but the next best way of supporting your local track!

No swimming at Duncannon beach

By Dan Walsh

Do Not Swim notices have been issued for Duncannon beach after routine testing conducted as part of Wexford County Council’s Bathing Water Sampling Programme showed slightly elevated levels of bacteria.

Following consultation with the HSE, the Council found it necessary to issue a Do Not Swim warning notice at the affected beach in accordance with Bathing Water Quality Regulations 2008 and in the interest of public health.

Further samples were taken today (Friday, September 4^th) and results are expected over the weekend at which stage the bathing prohibition notices will be reviewed.

The Council’s technical staff is currently investigating the matter. Wexford County Council advises members of the public visiting Duncannon beach to abide by the public notices advising against swimming.

€7m for Rosslare coastal protection

By Dan Walsh

The Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW), Patrick O’Donovan TD, yesterday (Wednesday), visited Rosslare Strand to announce €7 million funding for further coastal protection and flood relief projects in the area.

**MINISTER PATRICK O’DONOVAN and WEXFORD COUNTY COUNCIL CEO TOM ENRIGHT at ROSSLARE STRAND yesterday.**

Minister O’Donovan met with local public representatives, Council officials and local business interests to see where flood protection and erosion prevention works are required.

At various intervals in the past Rosslare has benefited from effective works undertaken by the OPW and Wexford County Council to protect the Rosslare shoreline and dune system from retreat. To support the benefits already achieved, additional works are now required to ensure that this important blue flag beach can continue to be protected into the future.

Minister O’Donovan said: “The coastal protection measures for Rosslare consist of a rock revetment, rock groynes, and beach nourishment measures on the seaward side of Rosslare Spit. Separate flood defence measures will be progressed on the landward side. The project will be led by Wexford County Council, which is soon to begin the procurement of a main design consultant.

“Rosslare is just one example of how coastal erosion is a major issue for coastal communities across Ireland’s extensive coastline, especially where the coast is soft. The impacts of climate change and the anticipated rise in sea levels in the future mean that the problem here in Rosslare and nationally needs more than just hard schemes to address the long-term risks and impacts.

Historic Donaghmore by the sea

By Dan Walsh

Donaghmore “the Great Church” is a name that occurs in several parishes across the country, but Donaghmore, south-east of Gorey and close to Cahore, is an early medieval ecclesiastical site. The present ruins of the 18^th or 19^th century Church of Ireland parish church, dedicated to St. Patrick, is on the site of an older church. In 1837 it was almost a ruin and in a poor state of repair.

In a fragment of the Book of Armagh, St Patrick is said to have come to Donaghmore from Tara Hill to meet the poet, Dubthach maccu Lagair, to select a person from his Leinster followers to be a bishop.

Donaghmore is memorable as the landing place of Dermot MacMurrough, the last King of Leinster, in 1167, on his return from Wales having sought aid of the English forces against his enemies. It is possible that Glasscarrig operated as a port for Ferns in those distant times.

Afterwards MacMurrough retired privately to Ferns Castle and the circumstances of this event gave rise to tradition that a subterraneous passage existed between Glasscarrig and Ferns. To this day no evidence has emerged that this was ever the case!

**The old church in the grounds of Donaghmore Graveyard**

A Priory of Benedictine monks was founded at Glasscarrig in the 14^th century by Norman chiefs named Griffith Condon, Richard Roche and others, but in the 1837 “the remains, consisting only of part of the church, have been converted, and afford no indication of the character of the building.” We must imagine that the constant coastal erosion that occurs along the sandy cliffs reclaimed those ‘remains’ into the sea!

One wall of the Benedictine priory is still standing!

Donaghmore is the final resting place for many who were killed during the 1798 Rebellion; for some of the unknown who perished in shipwrecks off the coast; and the final resting place for numerous families long associated with this part of Co. Wexford. Currently cared for by Wexford County Council, the old graveyard is maintained to a high standard, and is frequently visited by those in search of the family tree.

James Browne appointed Minister of State

By Dan Walsh

Wexford TD James Browne has been appointed Minister of State for Law Reform at the Department of Justice and Equality in place of Charles McConalogue, who was appointed Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The appointments were announced at the resumption of Dáil Éireann today by An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin.

Minister Browne is son of John Browne, who represented the Wexford constituency for 34 years (1982-2016) from his Enniscorthy base.

Minister Browne, a barrister by profession, has been a member of Dáil Éireann since the 2016 General Election. Prior to that he was a member of Enniscorthy Town Council from 2009 until the local authority was dissolved in 2014, and served as a member of Wexford County Council from 2014-2016.

Pedestrian dies in New Ross collision

Gardaí at New Ross are appealing for witnesses following a fatal traffic collision involving a car and a pedestrian which occurred at approximately 9.50pm last night (Tuesday) on the N25 at Portersland, near New Ross.

A 36-year-old male pedestrian was injured when he was struck by a car. He was taken by ambulance to University Hospital Waterford where he was later pronounced dead. The driver of the car was unharmed.

The scene is currently preserved for examination by Garda forensic collision investigators and the road at the crash site is closed. Local traffic diversions are in place.

Gardaí are appealing for witnesses. They are particularly appealing to road users with camera footage (including dash-cam) from along the route at the time to make it available to them.

Anyone with information is asked to New Ross Garda Station (051) 426 030 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.

€1.3m for Wexford walking and cycling

By Dan Walsh

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Eamon Ryan TD, believes that the way forward post Covid-19 is through walking and cycling and is stimulating the measures through the Active Travel Measures Allocations 2020 with the announcement of funding to Wexford County Council of €1,351, 098.

Minister Ryan said; “The Active Travel grant scheme is a positive initiative which will see communities across the country benefiting from improved and more accessible walking and cycling infrastructure as well as stimulating local employment. The projects included in the scheme can make a real difference to people – footpaths and cycle ways that allow children to walk/cycle to school and to local sport clubs; the dishing of footpaths and pedestrian crossings that improve access to local amenities and links to public transport, and improvements to town and village centres that will support our hard hit retail and hospitality sectors.

**CAMOLIN village. On the new proposed ‘greyway’ between Clough Roundabout and the Scurloughsbush Roundabout along the old N11**

€258,714 has been allocated for the conversion of the hard shoulder to cycle tracks (called greyways) from Clough Roundabout, north of Camolin, to Scurloughsbush (old N11), south of Enniscorthy where the M11 ends – a total distance of approximately 30kms. A similar arrangement is planned between Ballymacar Roundabout to Oaklands Roundabout (old N25 at New Ross) will cost €41,284; and €24,000 each is provided for cycle parking shelters for the towns of Wexford, New Ross, Enniscorthy and Gorey, and for the villages of Bunclody, Oylegate, Ferns and Camolin. €10,000 will be made available for the completion of a footpath and a cycle land link between Wexford and Castlebridge.

€15,375 will support the provision of bike racks (for 4 to 8 bikes) at 15 beaches throughout the county – Curracloe, The Raven, Ballinesker, Morriscastle, Cahore, Courtown, Ballymoney, Castletown, Rosslare Strand, St, Helen’s, Carne, Kilmore Quay, Fethard, Duncannon, and Ballyhack/Arthurstown.

There is a further €9,225 for similar bike racks at nine ‘communal locations’ throughout the county – Peoples Park in Gorey; Sports Hub and Vinegar Hill Car Park in Enniscorthy; Sports Park and Library Park in New Ross; Min Ryan Park, Ferrycarrig Car Park and Ferrybank Car Park in Wexford, and the Swimming Pool Car Park in Bunclody.

In Enniscorthy, at the Duffry Gate area linking residential houses to services such as the Post Office, shops and a pharmacy, €30,000 is allocated for the provision of disable and age friendly parking and the upgrading of the existing pedestrian crossing point and other works.

Further work is earmarked for the Templeshannon area of the town. €60,000 is to be made available for new surfacing and line marking and the installation of cycle parking, disabled and age friendly parking facilities to support the use of the public rail transport system at Railway Square.

€3,000 is allocated by bicycle racks to be installed at the Nine Stones Cycle rest stop (which I always thought was near Bunclody) but the official report refers to the Paul Funge Boulevard, Gorey? €4,500 also for bicycle racks at Gorey Town Park, which is a construction site at present!

Biggest project in the Gorey district is €60,000 for the continuation of the new footpath from the town to Courtown; Ballygarrett is set to get €75,000 for a new footpath from the village to the GAA pitch.

€86,000 is earmarked for the project at Carrigfoyle Rock in the direction of the road junction at Shelmalier Commons and Fort Mountain, in the Barntown area, near Wexford town. The provision of new footpaths will take walkers off the busy roads leading to the forestry trails, used as walking trail routes. Works will include the installation of roadside drainage, kerbing, relocating telegraph poles, realignment of an old stone boundary wall and path surface finish and line marking.

€460,000 for Wexford ‘shovel ready’ projects

By Dan Walsh

Wexford County Council has been allocated funding of €460,000 under the Climate Change Adaption Allocations 2020 by the Department of Transport, Tourism, and Sport, which will assist in repairs and safety measures carried out in sixteen projects damaged by severe weather events.

**Cliffs are being eroded on the cul-de-sac leading to Hook Lighthouse, but some funding has been allocated for repairs.**

Minister of State, Hildegarde Naughton TD, said: “The recent severe weather has again highlighted the challenges presented by climate change on our road infrastructure. The Climate Change Adaptation grants now being provided will help local authorities to deal with the essential repairs needed in the aftermath of the severe weather. Families and businesses in our villages, towns and cities right across the country will benefit from these important ‘shovel ready’ projects as soon as November this year.

One of Wexford’s major tourist attractions at Hook Head is reached by a cul-de-sac which travels above the cliffs and terminates at the landmark lighthouse. “The cliffs are being eroded during severe weather events and are reducing the structural integrity of the road,” says the report, which adds; “Safety rocks are placed in numerous locations along the road to prevent vehicles from accessing these areas. These rocks have subsided so that they are now barely visible.

Funding is also available for Grange Beach where the cliffs have experienced landslides that has undermined the road and caused safety barriers to collapse.

€100,000 has been allocated to Ferrycarrig for phase one consisting of 350 metres where it is planned to raise the road level by 180mm to mitigate flooding and reduce road closure frequency close to the Irish National Heritage Park.

Works are due to take place at Goff’s Bridge, near Taghmon, to take account of increased hydraulic loads causing scour damage and undermining the bridge structure and further works are required to clean out the river bed and increase the opening of the bridge to prevent the road flooding.

€10,000 has been allocated to remove an existing defective culvert under the road and replace it with one metre diameter pipeline to alleviate flooding. This appears to be the road leading from the N11 towards Bree at Edermine, which is regularly flooded, sometimes due to high tide!

Works are also to receive funding at Lacken Hill, Gap Cross, Monart EastKellistown Cross, Moddybeg and Coolraheen, near Taghmon, Aidan’s Cross, Ballyroebuck and in the villages of Ballygarrett, Ballyedmond, and Ballybro, Rosslare.

€25m funding for 3rd level institutions

Wexford TD James Browne has welcomed a €25 million investment for capital works in 3rd level institutions including funding for colleges in the South-East. IT Carlow will receive €1,074,000 while Waterford IT will receive €1,114,000.

Deputy Browne explained “this funding will allow for small scale capital investment and equipment needs based on the colleges own priorities including health and safety works, infrastructure upgrades, ICT renewal and energy upgrades.

“Capital investment is essential to ensuring a high-quality academic environment and a positive campus experience for students and staff. I hope that this funding will expand availability of student places and transform campus infrastructure over the coming years.