WexfordLocal.com

€112,500 shared by Wexford towns and villages

By Dan Walsh

106 towns and villages will benefit from €2.8 million in funding with €112,500 being allocated to projects in Wexford under the Town and Villages Renewal Scheme in a package to help communities to shop, socialise and work safely in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, made the announcement today (Bank Holiday Monday).

A cluster of towns and villages in Wexford training and marketing initiative to drive tourism gets €40,000.

New Ross painting of four Norman themed murals on landmark locations around New Ross town centre is granted €25,000.

€25,000 has been made available to promote Gorey’s retail experience through marketing, installation of new street furniture and public realm works and purchase equipment for outdoor events.

€22,500 has been granted for E-commerce website to support the businesses in Bunclody town and Ferns village.

Speaking at the launch, Minister Humphreys said; “It is vitally important that we increase footfall in rural towns and villages by supporting them to adapt to this ‘new normal’ as a result of COVID-19. This funding will benefit communities by altering the streetscapes so that people can shop, work and socialise safely.

“I have increased the funding for the Town and Village Renewal Scheme as part of the €17 million rural package that my Department secured under the July Jobs Stimulus. This means that even more towns and villages will benefit from supports. It is vitally important that we increase footfall in rural towns and villages by supporting them to adapt to this ‘new normal’ as a result of Covid-19.”

“Local Authorities throughout the country have been developing creative and innovative proposals to increase footfall and assist businesses in our rural towns and villages.

This tranche of funding announced today is part of an enhanced €25 million Town and Village Scheme which will continue to rejuvenate rural communities across Ireland.

Further approvals under this hugely popular scheme will follow in a series of funding rounds that will be announced in the coming weeks. I expect that up to 500 towns and villages will be supported this year under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme,” concluded Minister Humphreys.

Council plan to lease Enniscorthy Courthouse

By Dan Walsh

The recently renovated 18^th century heritage building, Enniscorthy Courthouse, will be leased by Wexford County Council to Dublin city-based Opus Services for ten years at an annual rent of €59,160. There is provision for adjusted lower rent until the company grows its number of employees.

This information was provided at the recent meeting of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council held under Covid-19 guidelines at Kilcannon Garden Centre by Director of Services, Tony Larkin.

“Opus expects to expand its workforce in the short to medium term and the plan is that they will relocate its larger workforce to a new unit at Enniscorthy Technology Park, “ said Mr Larkin, who added: “The proposal is to bring a section 183 notice to the next Council meeting.” Members in attendance agreed.

Opus Fund Services Ltd was founded in 2006 and is an award-winning independently owned and operated full service global fund administrator.

The company has outgrown its existing rented accommodation at Templeshannon, and the Council identified the Courthouse building as suitable for the company in its growing stage.

HISTORY; Enniscorthy is a detached three-bay two-storey courthouse, built 1820, on a T-shaped plan centred on single-bay (three-bay deep) double-height projecting breakfront with single-bay single-storey flat-roofed projecting porch; five-bay two-storey rear (east) elevation.

Refenestrated in 1998, and closed in 2004, it reopened following a €1 million renovation programme in September 2019 as a temporary home for Council staff while the long-awaited work on the modernisation of Enniscorthy Municipal District Offices in Market Square commenced.

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.

“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.

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 14^th containing works by over thirty Wexford authors and poets, as well as local art and photography.