WexfordLocal.com

Storm Aiden is coming your way!

An Garda Síochána is advising that all unnecessary travel should be avoided following the Status Orange and Yellow warnings issued by Met Éireann which will come into effect from tomorrow at 5am, Saturday 31st October. For more info visit http://met.ie. #staysafe

Storm Aiden will impact heavily along the coastal areas of Munster, Connacht, and West Ulster, we are urging the public to follow the advice below:

Extraordinarily strong winds are predicted making driving conditions hazardous, especially for the more vulnerable road users, e.g., cyclists, pedestrian’s, motorcyclist, and high sided vehicles. Road users should pay particular attention to the risk posed by fallen trees, flying debris and flooded roads.

High seas and wave activity will make coastal areas hazardous; the public are advised to stay away from coastal areas/cliff walks during this period.

People are advised to remove or secure patio furniture, rubbish bins and any loose items from around buildings.

Local authorities will provide updated information on flooding and local conditions. People are advised to follow updated weather forecasts throughout the weekend.

Death of homeless man in Wexford town

By Dan Walsh

The Mayor of Wexford, Cllr Leonard Kelly has expressed sadness and described as “incredibly sad news” the lonely death of a homeless man who had been sleeping rough in the Newtown Road area of Wexford town.

The body of the Polish man in his 60’s was discovered this morning. The scene was sealed off for some time and an investigation is under way.

“Without knowing the particulars of his life, I am not going to speculate but to see a fellow human dying in such conditions is not something we should tolerate as a society. My thoughts are with him, his family and all those who are living through similar circumstances,” he said.

Mayor Kelly added that increased unemployment among our younger people, rising rents locally as well as changing patterns in drug and alcohol use are creating a perfect storm where more individuals are presenting as being at risk of homelessness or actually becoming homeless. “This need to be acknowledged by our policy makers, and more funding needs to be made available locally to deal with what will be a growing crisis if not tackled.”

Mayor Kelly is requesting the people of Wexford to join with him tonight in lighting a candle to the deceased and to his memory. “Please join me in lighting a candle if you can,” he concluded.

Sunday Prayer and Remembrance Service

By Dan Walsh

Bishop Denis Brennan will lead a Service to dedicate the month of November as a month of Prayer and Remembrance for the Dead and for the Comfort of the Bereaved at 3pm in St. Aidan’s Cathedral, Enniscorthy, on Sunday. November 1^st.

Many parishes in the diocese will also hold their own Service so check out your local parish church for details. The Cathedral Service can be viewed online at https://www.churchservices.tv/enniscorthycathedral

Bishop Brennan told WexfordLocal.com; “This year, the month of November, in which we traditionally remember the dead and pray for the bereaved, will be particularly poignant. We sense a huge yearning for consolation and hope in the heart of our people. We are especially mindful in 2020 of those grieving families, who, because of restrictions, have been unable to experience the customary spiritual and community supports which are so much part of our Irish tradition.

“On Sunday at 3pm the bishops and priests of Ireland will lead a short service of prayer to dedicate the month of November to ‘Remembrance of the Dead and Prayer for the Bereaved’. We invite the whole country to unite in this moment which will be followed by parish liturgies throughout the month of November, reaching out as much as possible to those who cannot be physically present, concluded Bishop Brennan.

Ringbouys removed at Courtown Harbour

By Dan Walsh

There is widespread public concern and disappointment at the news that three Ringbouys have gone missing from Courtown Harbour this morning. They are presumed maliciously removed from their moorings as the likelihood of all three removed at the same time prompts suspicion!

David Swinburne, Officer-in-Charge Courtown Coast Unit told WexfordLocal.com; “The removal of Ringbouys is both wreckless and dangerous, when someone is in difficulty in water seconds are vital and every second counts when you are talking about someone’s life”

“If anybody has information please let the relevant authorities know. Ringbouys are located at vital points along coasts for public safety and removing them is not only an offence but puts public safety at risk,” said a spokesperson for Courtown RNLI.

The slogan is A Stolen Ringbouy- A Stolen Life. They have been reported missing to Irish Water Safety on Ringbouys.ie

Remember if you see someone in difficulty on or near the water dial 112/999 and ask for the Coast Guard.

Positive news for school secretaries and caretakers

By Dan Walsh

Wexford TD and Minister of State for Law Reform James Browne has welcomed the positive progress being made in relation to regularising pay and conditions for school secretaries and caretakers.

Minister Browne, who along with his Fianna Fáil Party colleagues, campaigned for an end to the two tier structure which saw some school secretaries at a disadvantage when it came to sick leave, certainty of hours or pay increases, said it was important that Education Minister, Norma Foley T.D., move quickly on the issue.

Minister Browne told WexfordLocal.com; “Everyone knows their school secretary and caretaker – they are integral to the running of a school and have been taking on more responsibilities than ever, from assisting principals with complex administration, to organising fundraising for school events.

CLLR LISA McDONALD… supporting school secretaries and caretakers

“They really are the backbone of most schools and often the first port of call for students and parents and it’s important that this is recognised. “In these difficult times where we are expecting a lot from our schools it’s important that they know that they are valued and appreciated,” Minister Browne concluded.

The news is also welcomed by Cllr Lisa McDonald of the Rosslare Municipal District Council who told WexfordLocal.com; “This was in Fianna Fáil’s General Election manifesto. Good news for our school secretaries and caretakers!”

Discover free library services during Level 5

By Dan Walsh

The five libraries across County Wexford at Bunclody, Enniscorthy, Gorey, New Ross and Wexford town are closed under Level 5 Covid-19 restrictions, but library services remain open to the public.

**WEXFORD LIBRARY (Pic; Wexford County Council)**

You can continue to use your library 24/7 and free of charge online too!

· join the library online;

· download eBooks and eAudiobooks;

· read magazines and newspapers

· take eLearning or language courses;

· watch or listen to storytimes; or,

· take part in other activities like online bookclubs.

Do you know someone who is isolated and unable to use online library services? Would they like library staff to select some books and deliver them to their door? If so, please get in touch with library staff on 053 9196566.

AUDIO ADDITION – County Librarian EILEEN MORRISSEY explains how to keep in touch with your local library during the Level 5 restrictions

Visit www.wexfordcoco.ie/libraries for more information.

€92,265 for 3 Wexford coastal projects

By Dan Walsh

Three Wexford organisations will benefit from EMFF Fisheries Local Action Group funding through the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine. Total funding amounts to €92,265.

**OUR LADY’S ISLAND gets funding for Tourism Centre**

Our Lady’s Island’s Community Development group will receive €64,000 towards the development of a tourist interpretive centre.

St. Kearns Rowing Club, Saltmills, benefits from €22,380 for an anti-vandal unit and rowing machines while Ramsgrange Men’s Shed will receive €5,885 for a woodwork project enhancement.

Wexford T.D. and Minister of State for Law Reform at the Department of Justice and Equality James Browne told WexfordLocal.com; “I’m delighted that three Wexford coastal projects will benefit from the funding. These grants are designed to support coastal communities. I know that Our Lady’s Island Community Development Group, St. Kearns Rowing Club and Ramsgrange Men’s Shed will enjoy terrific economic and social benefits because of these funding allocations.”

North Wexford Park and Ride

By Dan Walsh

Following a parliamentary question Wexford TD and Minister of State for Law Reform James Browne T.D. has welcomed a commitment from Transport Minister, Eamon Ryan T.D., to review the assessment of North Wexford Park and Ride locations.

The Transport Minister says that the National Transport Authority (NTA) will review the potential for Park and Ride locations in the North Wexford area once works on a core bus corridor along the N11/M11 are advanced.

“I’m glad Transport Minister, Eamon Ryan T.D., recognises the importance of the NTA reviewing the need for North Wexford bus-based Park and Ride locations. North Wexford is home to many people who commute to Dublin for their work. People in the Gorey area regularly park in the hard shoulders near the M11 exits 22 and 23. Burglars have previously targeted these cars.

“Overall, the NTA is seeking to develop a bus priority lane between Kilmacanogue, Co. Wicklow and the Loughlinstown Roundabout in south Dublin. If established, a core bus corridor would stretch between Kilmacanogue and the city centre. This provides a brilliant opportunity to develop a bus-based Park and Ride location in North Wexford. I will continue to keep this development at the forefront of the Transport Minister and the NTA’s plans”, Minister Browne concluded.

Minister Eamonn Ryan confirmed that in line with Action 89 of the Climate Action Plan 2019, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has established a ‘Park and Ride Development Office’. “I understand that the initial work of the Park and Ride Development Office is to prepare a Park and Ride Strategy, which will guide the NTA’s activities in this area over the coming years. Most of the work of the office is focussed on providing strategic (regional level) Park and Ride facilities to enable access to the main urban areas, in addition to rail-based Park and Ride facilities at rail stations and key Luas stops. More local Park and Ride facilities will continue to be the responsibility of the relevant local authority,” stated Minister Ryan.

Wexford winner has Gold Cup in mind

By Dan Walsh

It was the last race of the day before a local winner obliged at day two of the October racing festival at Bettyville Park on a fine and dry Bank Holiday Monday afternoon, but once again a competitive card and, possibly, the seasonal debut of the next Gold Cup winner?

Eleven fixtures are run at Wexford every year and the richest event is the Grade 3 M.W. Hickey Memorial Chase over two miles and seven furlongs. Today’s renewal saw a classy winner in Minella Indo (8/13 fav.), trained in Waterford by Henry de Bromhead, who is quoted at 8/1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup next March

A winner of the Albert Bartlett at the 2018 Cheltenham Festival meeting, Minella Indo was runner up in the RSA Chase at the same track last March, and the plan is to aim for the Cheltenham Gold Cup next year.

Minella Indo only faced three rivals today in soft conditions where Rachael Blackmore had a comfortable ride all the way and cruised past the winning post 25 lengths ahead of everything else.

The de Bromhead/Blackmore combination enjoyed a double with Kapard (3/1) taking the Kehoe Farming Rated Novice Hurdle. Third was Fortune Street for Paul Nolan and Sean O’Keeffe.

The local winner was IlCourra (6/1) in the bumper for owner/breeder Mary Griffin, trained at Ballypreacus, Bunclody, and ridden by Simon Cavanagh. In third place was Mercury Lane for Paul Nolan and Barry O’Neill. The winning distance was three quarters of a length.

The next race meeting at Bettyville Park is scheduled for Wednesday, March 17^th, 2021, St. Patrick’s Day.

Man charged with €427,465 seizure at Rosslare Europort

Gardaí have arrested and charged a man in connection with the seizure by Customs Officials of €427,465 in cash at Rosslare Europort last Wednesday.

The man, aged in his 30s, was arrested on Saturday, on suspicion of committing an offence contrary to Section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010, after Gardaí from Meath, Wexford and the Criminal Assets Bureau searched a number of residences under warrant in County Meath.

He was detained at Trim Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. He has since been charged and appeared at a special sitting of Trim District Court yesterday (Sunday) afternoon.