Two Wexford town clergymen have raised €40,650 for local charities at the annual four-day Christmas Fast which took place under pandemic regulations this year. The high profile fast is usually held outside St. Iberius Church on Wexford’s North Main Street.
CANON ARTHUR MINION
FR. AODHÁN MARKEN
Canon Arthur Minion and Fr. Aodhán Marken wish to thank the people of Wexford for their continued generosity year after year. Mayor of Wexford Cllr Leonard Kelly has led tributes to the clergymen for the sacrifice and generosity they have shown through the annual fasting in all weathers.
€40,650 is a remarkable public response during the pandemic. 2019 raised €51,000, up €6,000 on the 2018 figure.
This year’s charities are Wexford Vincent de Paul, Wexford Womens Refuge, Ozanam House Men’s Hostel, Wexford Hospice Homecare, Wexford Rape Crisis Centre.
The fast has been a feature of Christmas in Wexford town for over 20 years, runs for four days concluding on Christmas Eve. It is estimated that over €750,000 has been raised since the event was first initiated.
Senator Malcolm Byrne has informed WexfordLocal.comof a commitment by Older People’s Minister, Mary Butler T.D., that she will bring forward legislation early this year that will ease the financial burden on farm families and small business owners who avail of the Fair Deal Scheme toward nursing home costs. There are dozens of Wexford families impacted every year.
SENATOR MALCOLM BYRNE
At present, because there is not a cap on the level of contribution, this can cause serious financial hardship and farm families are concerned that they may lose the family farm.
Senator Byrne said; “This is a really welcome move and will help farm families and small businesses when they are often faced with difficult decisions concerning an elderly family member.”
The Gorey-based Senator had been campaigning on this issue since his election to Seanad Éireann last April and has spoken on it on several occasions. Minister Butler has also indicated that a new plan that will allow people ‘grow old in their own homes’ when State support will be introduced by 2022.
“I have come across many families who have faced potentially huge financial burdens while wanting to provide the best possible care for a loved one. This will give them some comfort,” concluded Senator Byrne.
The death has occurred of Kathleen (Kay) Whitty of Whitford House Hotel, Wexford, which she co-founded as a bed and breakfast with her late husband, Jim, and later developed the business into a multi-award-winning family run hotel and one of the most popular in the South East.
KATHLEEN WHITTY
Born in 1942 in Gurteenminogue, Murrintown, Kay was daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Radford. She was only 22 years old when she established a successful bed and breakfast business with her late husband, Jim, who pre-deceased her in November 1993.
Along with her family the business developed into one of the leading hotels in the country and was a popular venue for special occasions or dinners and evening meals. Kay interacted with customers with a smile and a friendly welcome and her passing is mourned by family, friends and customers.
Deepest sympathy is extended. Dearly loved wife of the late Jim Whitty, cherished mother of James, Eilish, Gerard and Rónán, adored grandmother of Katie, James, Aoife, Josh, Luke, Caleb and Ralphie. Beloved sister to Mary (O’Rourke), Bernie, Mick, Toddy, John and Timmy. Sadly, missed by her son-in-law Val (Stafford) and daughters in law Bobbie, Madeleine and Erin. May She Rest in Peace.
Due to HSE Level 5 Covid restrictions on funeral gatherings, reposing and funeral gathering Mass will be private to family only please.
Funeral Mass will take place at 11.30am on Tuesday. Streaming details to follow.
“Wexford played cricket long before cricket was invented in England, that’s the view of Wexford sports historian James Caulfield and the fruits of his research will be screened in Cricket’s Irish Roots on RTE 1 on Monday night at 7.30pm.
The game we played was catted ‘cattie’ which comes from caith, the Irish word for ‘to bowl or throw’,” says James who is executive producer of this 29-minute documentary which was filmed at Slaney Manor near Barntown.
“I have done a study on it and the shillelagh was central to the games of hurling and cattie because everyone made their own shillelaghs,” said James, who added; “The language of cricket is part of our own Irish language and this came about because of the British recruiting in Ireland for hundreds of years. Soldiers had to make up their own games in those times.”
Historians in England invariably say that the origins of the game are obscure. They do not dispute James Caulfield’s version of events and admit the origins of cricket are difficult to pin down.
This is a documentary well worth watching.
AUDIO ADDITION; JAMES CAULFIELD tells DAN WALSH about his research into the origins of cricket during an interview on the formation of Gorey Cricket Club.
Great excitement in Rosslare Europort today as the DFDS Optima Seaways set sail on time at 2pm for the first voyage on the new Rosslare to Dunkirk route.
Minister James Browne commented; “This a great day for Rosslare Europort. Along with the other additional sailings, the investment in new Customs, Agriculture and Garda inspections posts, the designation of the Port as a border inspection post, the advancement of the planning and design of the Oylegate to Rosslare Motorway and the access road to the port, these are exciting times for Rosslare which is finally starting to reach for its potential. Well done to all involved in delivering for the port.”
HISTORY IN THE MAKING AT ROSSLARE EUROPORTas the DFDS Optima Seaways set sail for the first time on the new Rosslare to Dunkirk route.
Minister Browne added; “When elected I was determined to get Rosslare Europort on the governments agenda and that is why for the first time in history the port is specifically mentioned in the Programme for Government, one of only two ports to be mentioned.”
Local Cllr Lisa McDonald described today’s event as “a bright new dawn of opportunity for Rosslare as we enter 2021.”
At December’s meeting of Rosslare Municipal District Council, Cllr McDonald proposed that the Council investigate the possibility of a twinning arrangement with Dunkirk, which could present unique opportunities for Rosslare in a post-Brexit environment.
An Irish writer/broadcaster Henry Wymbs writing in London published newspaper The Irish Post recently admits that while he played football “hurling was my first love” and he decided to select the best hurling team of the 1960s…and Wexford performs with pride.
Seven Wexford players get a favourable mention amongst the “all-time greats”; Pat Nolan, Tom Neville, Jim English, Billy Rackard, Jim Morrissey, Tony Doran and Oliver ‘Hopper McGrath.
His favourite goalkeepers were Ollie Walsh, Kilkenny and Pat Nolan, Wexford, about whom he wrote; “A tremendous keeper under pressure, and the essence of reliability, his lengthy clearances created many scoring opportunities for the Wexford forwards.”
WEXFORD’S LEGENDARY HURLING GOALKEEPERS. PAT NOLAN (Oylegate-Glenbrien) and the late ART FOLEY (St. Aidan’s, Enniscorthy).
His Defenders were Jimmy Brohan, Cork; Tom Neville, Wexford; “A tower of strength at corner back for Wexford, Tom was a tenacious tackler and gave sterling service to the ‘Yellow Bellies’; Austin Flynn, Waterford, Noel Drumgoole, Dublin, Kieran Carey, Tipperary, Lar Foley, Dublin, Tom McGarry, Limerick, Jim English, Wexford; “A terrific hurler, who was fiercely competitive with great ball control and composure. A class act in the early sixties”,Billy Rackard, Wexford; “Billy was a colossal hurler and a rock-solid defender. He perfected the art of catching the dropping ball as he held off his opponent with his shoulder protecting his hand with his hurl. A man with a splendid physique, unrivalled vision and incredible strength when lashing the ball up field”, Martin Og Morrissey, Waterford, Jimmy Duggan, Galway, and Ollie Fennell, Laois.
MIDFIELD; Theo English, Tipperary, and Jim Morrissey, Wexford; “This was an exemplary sportsman, and a wonderful striker of the ball both on the ground and in the air.”
FORWARDS; Jimmy Doyle, Tipperary, Christy O’Brien, Laois, Tony Doran, Wexford; “One of the stars of Wexford’s hurling triumph in 1968, donning the mantle of his hero Nickey Rackard. He was over six-foot-tall, forceful and hardworking.”, Donie Nealen, Tipperary, Eddie Keher, Kilkenny, Larry Guinan, Waterford, Achill Boothman, Dublin, Liam Devaney, Tipperary, Paddy Molloy, Offaly, Tom Walsh, Kilkenny, and Oliver (Hopper) McGrath, Wexford; “Hopper was the first Wexford player to come out of the town of Wexford in the late fifties. Though small in build, he made up for his size with his bewildering pace and unlimited hurling skills.”
That’s it folks, until we hit the 1970s. In the meantime, do look after yourselves and stay safe.
Henry Wymbs has always had a love of Gaelic football and hurling and played inter-county football for Sligo in 1967. He now presents ‘Irish Eye’, a weekly Irish music programme broadcast from Oxford across BBC Radio Oxford, BBC Radio Berkshire and online via BBC iPlayer. Email henry.wymbs@bbc.co.uk.
Tomorrow (Saturday) is the first day of sailings on the new direct ferry service by Dutch shipping operator DFDS between Rosslare Europort and Dunkirk and the voyage is fully booked out, according to a company spokesperson.
DFDS is launching the new six-times weekly direct service from Rosslare Europort to Dunkirk in northern France as an alternative to the British land-bridge route and new EU-UK border checks put in place after Brexit came into effect at 11pm on New Year’s Eve (Thursday). The voyage time will be 24 hours.
Aidan Coffey, Route Director with DFDS, said the two ships leaving Rosslare on Saturday, at 2pm and 11pm, were fully booked, as is the 10pm sailing from Dunkirk on the same day.
Mr Coffey said there were about 120 freight units on each sailing with a mix of both driver-accompanied trucks and unaccompanied trailers including refrigerated and ambient units.
The DFDS ships are already in place, the MS Visby in Dunkirk and Kerry and Optima Seaways in Rosslare and have carried out berthing exercises in recent days.
The Stena Horizon sailing on Saturday will carry more than 50 driver-accompanied lorries along with between 40 and 50 unaccompanied trailers on the sailing from Rosslare to Cherbourg.
Extra ships involved in berthing exercises at Rosslare Europort last week in preparation for new direct routes to Europe. (Pic; George Lawlor).
The death has occurred of retired Parish Priest of Kilmuckridge, where he served for ten years, and formerly of Coolerin, New Ross, Very Rev. Canon Noel Hartley (90) who died peacefully on New Year’s Day at Knockeen Nursing Home, Barntown.
A native of Campile, he was educated at Horeswood National School and St. Peter’s College, Wexford, and was ordained to the priesthood on April 17th 1955.
VERY REV. NOEL CANON HARTLEY
He served as curate at Boolavogue (1955-1969), Caim (1969) and Wexford town from 1971 until appointed Administrator in 1977. He served as parish priest in Adamstown from 1979 until his appointment as parish priest to Kilmuckridge (Litter) on September 29th 1990. He retired on September 23rd 2000.
Deepest sympathy is extended. Beloved son of the late Patrick and Bridget and brother of the late Tom, Paddy, Sr. Mary, Joan, Stasia and Teresa. Sadly, missed by his brothers Bill, John and Martin, sisters Bridie, Margaret and Cathy, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, extended family, Bishop Denis Brennan and fellow clergy of the Diocese of Ferns, his former parishioners and friends. R.I.P.
In accordance with the current Government guidelines, a strictly private family funeral will take place on Sunday, January 3rd at 11am. For those unable to attend the Funeral Mass will be available to view by logging onto https://www.facebook.com/litterparish.
A man in his late 30s has died in single vehicle road traffic collision that occurred at approximately 9.25am today (Thursday) at Ballyeden, Davidstown, on the Clonroche/Wexford road (R730) just off the N30 junction at Ballymackessey.
The only occupant of the car involved was pronounced dead at the scene. The body has since been removed for a post-mortem which will be carried out at a later date.
The road was closed for a period as Forensic Collision Investigators examined the scene but is now fully reopened.
Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to this collision to come forward and for any road users who may have 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 Enniscorthy Garda Station on 053 9242580, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
The New Ross bypass scheme was opened to traffic at 10.15am on Thursday, January 30th, 2020. It eased chronic traffic congestion in New Ross town offering time savings of up to 30 minutes and provided efficiencies on the strategic N25 route from Cork to Rosslare Europort while also supporting the future growth and sustainability of New Ross town and the South East region.
TAOISEACH LEO VARADKAR unveiling the memorial stone at Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Bridge. Also in picture are Minister Paul Kehoe, Cllr Michael Sheehan, Cathaoirleach Wexford County Council, Rose Katherine Kennedy, Cllr Peter Cleere, Cathaoirleach Kilkenny County Council, and Cllr Joh Fleming, Cathaoirleach New Ross Municipal District Council.
An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar joined Rose Katherine Kennedy Townsend at the official opening ceremony of the N25 New Ross Bypass on Wednesday, January 29th 2020.
An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said; “This new bypass, which includes Ireland’s longest bridge, will transform New Ross, Wexford, Kilkenny and the South-East.”
Speaking at the event great-grandchild of Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy; Rose Katherine Kennedy Townsend said, “This bridge is a wonderful tribute to my great grandmother, and a symbol of her enduring love and lesson that it does not matter who you are, where you come from, we are all God’s children. When some leaders threaten to drive us apart we need to honour those who build bridges that bring us together.”
An Taoiseach LEO VARADKAR and Rose Katherine Kennedy take a quiet stroll on the new N25 New Ross Bypass.
Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council Cllr Michael Sheehan said the new road network will enable the redevelopment of the region, unleash potential and rejuvenate New Ross. “I would like to congratulate all of the people involved in every aspect of today’s project on a job well done. Our time has come; a new chapter in our future is now ours to write. With a global marvel of engineering and a sophisticated road network at our door, County Wexford is now ripe for a new era of investment, industry and interest.”
Wexford County Council Chief Executive, Tom Enright said; “The N25 New Ross Bypass is another vital link in the overall connectivity and safer access to and from the South East Region; to and from County Wexford and the town of New Ross in particular. This major infrastructural development will help to attract investment into the Region. The resolution of the chronic traffic congestion in New Ross will result in environmental and quality of life improvements, which will make the historic town a destination of choice.”
The 15km Bypass Project includes the 887-metre long structure named the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Bridge, the longest bridge in Ireland, and its two main spans are the longest post-tensioned concrete spans of their type in the world. The bridge crosses the River Barrow between Wexford and Kilkenny and forms a major part of the €230 million investment in the South East region and was delivered within budget.
The delivery of the N25 New Ross Bypass is the culmination of over 20 years work by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (formerly National Roads Authority), Wexford County Council and Kilkenny County Council as well as technical advisors for the scheme, Mott MacDonald Ireland. Construction works were undertaken by New Ross Joint Venture, consisting of BAM Civil and Dragados. On average, a workforce of 300 people was employed throughout construction and approximately 2.5 million work hours were completed on-site to bring the scheme to fruition.
The viewing stand at the opening of the N25 New Ross Bypass and the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Bridge as An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar addresses the invited attendance on January 29th 2020.
The 35th president of the United States, John F Kennedy’s ancestors hailed from Dunganstown and the Kennedy Homestead is less than one mile from the new bridge. President Kennedy proudly visited his family town of New Ross in the summer of 1963.
