WexfordLocal.com

‘We Are Wexford’…a new film version

By Dan Walsh

Creativity is the spice of life. The ability to lead and inspire original concepts and not only propel the community into new thinking and public expression but to bring them along as part of a package that makes the whole county proud of its existence while its character and goodness is stifled by the visiting Covid-19 pandemic.

Earlier this year renowned Wexford folklorist Michael Fortune penned a lovely original poem entitled We Are Wexford, which is brightening up our lives and cheering on our spirits, in the splendour of a published three-minute film that is destined to achieve a new Wexford anthem status. “Finally, my poem has been brought to life by 60 people from throughout County Wexford,” a relieved but delighted Michael Fortune told WexfordLocal.com.

Filmed on people’s mobile phones between May and July, this film was commissioned by the Arts Council in May as part of their ‘COVID-19 Crisis Response Award’. Due to the lockdown, people worked remotely and picked a line of the poem and recorded it on their phones and sent it to Michael, who was overwhelmed by the amazing public response.

Of the 400 videos received, these were the videos chosen. So, if you have three minutes to spare, please sit down and watch this film…and as always, tag your friends and share far and wide. Up Wexford.

https://videopress.com/v/2qcuHaRT?preloadContent=metadata

We Are Wexford, an original poem by Michael Fortune, film version with roles from many people across County Wexford

Ballyhogue concerns about M11-N25 road plan

By Dan Walsh

The intimate residential community of Ballyhogue are to raise concerns about G Route (Brown) on the proposed M11 to N25 road extension from Scurloughsbush Roundabout, north of Oylegate to Rosslare Harbour, 30 kms in length, which is one of eight routes still under consideration for the new motorway.

Ballyhogue Residents Association has arranged a meeting to be held with Cllr Cathal Byrne in Galbally Sports & Leisure Club on Thursday at 8pm to give people the opportunity to express their views and to lend support to those whose homes are at risk if this motorway is to go ahead on the proposed G Route.

“Ballyhogue is a small quiet village with little amenities and the last thing we need is a village decimated with road works,” said John V. Carr of the Ballyhogue Resident’s Association, who added; Our school barely sits outside the perimeter of this proposed route.”

**BELLEVUE CHURCH by the River Slaney near Ballyhogue village.**

If G Route is chosen it will take the four-lane dual carriageway across the River Slaney at Macmine and through Ballyhogue village. Already public meetings have taken place in Glynn and Piercestown.

Concerns likely to be paramount in the Ballyhogue area include traffic noise 24-hours every day as the route will pass between Ballyhogue water tower and the housing estates of Bellevue Avenue and Bellevue Court.

Wexford County Council’s Director of Service Eamonn Hore, said; “The public consultation process has generated a large volume of responses from local residents and the general public. This is very welcome as it shows a high level of interest by the public in the scheme, and we value each and every submission made to us. To better facilitate this ongoing dialogue, Wexford County Council has extended the current public consultation by a further two weeks to Monday, August 3^rd.

73% of litter caused by Litter Louts

Roadside litter comes in many forms from discarded cigarette ends to plastic containers, the leftovers of the takeaway, coffee cups and sweet and chocolate wrappers, sometimes flung from a vehicle window, and a regional campaign is being rolled out to eliminate this disgusting and senseless behaviour.

Four local authority bodies in the south-east are behind the campaign, which is labelled Call Out Litter Louts, namely the County Councils of Carlow, Kilkenny and Wexford and Waterford City and County Council.

Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council, Cllr Ger Carthy admits “We are all in the company of these litter louts from time to time, they all have friends and family who don’t agree with their disgusting behaviour, we need to play our part and call them out on their actions.

“Those responsible for roadside littering are undermining the substantial work carried out by many committed volunteers from Residents’ Associations and Tidy Towns Groups who work alongside our Local Councils to keep our Counties looking their best”, he concluded.

“The National Litter Monitoring Survey reports that for Co. Wexford, a whopping 73% of littering is caused by passing pedestrians and motorists” says Hugh Maguire of Wexford County Council’s Environment Section. “Roadside litter damages our environment and our wildlife, as well as creating unnecessary and costly work for Local Councils and Tidy Towns Groups. Littered roadsides also give an unfair and inaccurate impression of local residential areas and has a significant negative impact on tourism in the South East. It is easy to blame the local take-away or motorway service stations” he adds, “but it’s up to each individual to ensure that their litter is appropriately disposed of.”

The aim of the campaign is to encourage everybody in their communities to act and call out this totally unacceptable behaviour. The Call Out Litter Louts campaign runs from July 20^th -31^st. Anyone interested in getting involved or learning more email environment@wexfordcoco.ie, call 053 9196000 or follow Wexford County Council on Twitter.

National 1798 is open…worth a visit!

By Dan Walsh

The much publicised ‘sale’ of the National 1798 Rebellion Centre at Arnold’s Cross, Enniscorthy, is off… and the mirage of confusing media reports have subsided…for now, so it is high time to show appreciation for this historic place with a family visit!

**NATIONAL 1798 REBELLION CENTRE at Enniscorthy is open to visitors.**

The future of the centre may not be out of the woods yet, but one practical means of sustainability and growing the iconic building into an even greater public attraction is to boost the visitor numbers. Feet on the floor and numbers through the door is the key to survival.

The Centre is open to the public from Monday to Friday, 9.30 am to 5 pm, and at weekends and bank holidays from 12 noon till 5 pm. The last admission is at 4.15 pm daily, No booking required.

That said, the Centre tells the story of the 1798 Rebellion, the leaders and the skirmishes, the cannons and guns used, and an opportunity to experience how the battles shaped our history.

The concept of the Centre was initiated at a meeting of the Board of Directors on Comoradh ’98 in 1991, and the late Cllr Andy Doyle and Town Clerk, Donal Minnock, spearheaded the project and oversaw the purchase of the old Christian Brothers monastery.
A framework document was developed by the local librarians and historians under the chairmanship of Nicholas Furlong, and Wexford native, Matthew O’Connor, Managing Director of the National Building Agency, prepared a design and layout for the building, which included the old monastery building, which came into the possession of the brothers’ in 1894.
The Friends of ’98, headed by Rich Howlin, were charged with raising £1m needed to draw down £1.6m, which had been secured from the European Regional Development Fund.
The Wexford Senate was used to raise the £1m, and the names of every senator was engraved on the walls of the new Visitor Centre (it has since been re-named the National 1798 Rebellion Centre), and the paint is as fresh today as it was when first applied…well, almost – but a once-off remarkable piece of family name history.
Tenders were advertised in March 1997; construction work commenced in May; the building programme was completed in December, and the interpretive design created by Event, a Dublin-based company, was completed over three months.
The audio-visual presentation placed the story of 1798 in an international context and was admired as a fascinating journey to modern democracy.

Coastal search for missing Gorey woman

By Dan Walsh

Today’s search for a missing Gorey woman was focussed on the Tara Hill and Ballymoney areas of North Wexford and covered both land and sea. The Coastguard Helicopter Rescue 117 took part in the search and reported good visibility, but nothing sighted.

**RESCUE 117 took part in search off the coast of Courtown**

Courtown RNLI assisted in the search concentrating on the area between Saleen Beach and Roney Point. “Courtown RNLI will continue to assist in the search, and we urge people to be alert and report anything they see along the coast that may be cause for concern,” said a spokesperson.

Cahore Inshore Rescue Service was also launched and tasked to search the area between Cahore South to Roney Point. “Conditions and visibility are favourable,” said a spokesperson, who added; “We will continue to assist with the search, with several crews on duty.”
The public are requested to be vigilant and if you see something to call 112 or 999, or alert a member of Cahore Inshore Rescue Service.

Deirdre Redmond was last seen in the Kilmurray Crossroads area on Saturday but failed to return home. Yesterday, and again today, (Monday) large numbers of dedicated local volunteers took part in co-ordinated searches around Gorey town and district under the direction of An Garda Siochana.

Deirdre was last seen wearing a purple coloured top and dark jeans. She is described as having purple/brown hair, approximately 5 ft 6ins. Her family are concerned for her wellbeing and have sought Garda assistance in tracing her.
Anyone with information, please contact Gorey Garda Station on 053 9430690 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 999.

Wexford families can bake ‘Best Banana Bread’

With home baking one of the most popular activities enjoyed by families in recent times – and banana bread one of the most sought-after recipes – it is not surprising that a call would go out inviting mums, dads and children throughout Wexford and beyond to join in a search to find Ireland’s best banana bread recipe.

Celebrity chef, DONAL SKEHAN has joined with Fyffes to find Ireland’s ‘best banana bread’ recipe. Reward will go to the overall winner and best junior baker, with recognition also given for originality in a number of other areas.

Behind it is Ireland’s well-known television chef, Donal Skehan whose programmes are a favourite amongst viewers and wannabe cooks. Backed by Fyffes, the purpose is to discover some of the hidden ingredients and secrets that make baking banana bread so popular.

Reward will go to the overall winner and best junior baker with recognition for originality in a number of other areas.

Entries open from July 20th – 27th with results to be announced on July 31st. Details online at www.fyffes.com/news/article/fyffes-great-banana-bread-bake-off #FyffesGBBBO

Search for missing Gorey woman

Gardaí in Gorey are searching for the whereabouts of 50 years old Deirdre Redmond, missing from the Gorey area.

She was last seen wearing a purple coloured top and dark jeans. She is described as having purple/brown hair, approximately 5’6. Her family are concerned for her safety.
Anyone with information, please contact Gorey Garda Station on 053 9430690 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 999.

Naomh Éanna GAA Club is requesting any club members available in the morning to participate in the search for Deirdre Redmond to meet at the Garden City Pitch at 8 am.

€7.5m investment for Rosslare Strand and Burrow

By Dan Walsh

“It is a great day for Rosslare and a great day for Wexford tourism,” that is the view of Wexford County Council Chairman, Cllr Ger Carthy, to the announcement from the Office of Public Works that the eagerly awaited Rosslare Flood and Erosion Protection Project has been given the green light.

Inspecting the Project in the early stages are (left to right); Gerry Forde, Senior Engineer, Wexford County Council; Bill Kelly, Kelly’s Hotel Resort Rosslare; Paul Coughlan, Chairman Rosslare Development Association; Cllr Ger Carthy, current Chairman Wexford County Council; former Minister Paul Kehoe TD; George Colfer, Senior Engineer, Wexford County Council; Noreen Cummins, District Manager Rosslare; Eamon Sreenan, Chairman Rosslare Tidy Towns’ Committee, and Des Peare, Chairman Rosslare Lifeboat Memorial Committee.

Included in the €7.5 million investment will be the design, planning, tendering process and construction of this long awaited and vitally important scheme which will protect one of Co Wexford’s most important tourist attractions in the heartland of the south-east.

Speaking to WexfordLocal.com, Cllr Carthy said; “Tourism is the heartbeat of County Wexford and this very progressive move, which I have advocated for over many years will ensure its longevity into the future. Former Minister and my Independent colleague Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran were to the fore in progressing this initiative and I thank him for his persistence.”

Cllr Carthy added that this news “is another positive step forward for this area” and he commended the Council’s Chief Executive Tom Enright, and Senior Engineers with particular responsibility for coastal protection, Gerry Forde and George Colfer for their hard work on this project.

Rosslare was judged ‘Wexford’s Tidiest Village’ in the 2018 National Tidy Towns’ Awards.

AUDIO ; Chairman of Wexford County Coiuncil Cllr Ger Carthy welcomes Rosslare Flood and Erosion Protection Project

County Secretary Pat Collins retires

Tributes have been paid to Pat Collins who retired from Wexford County Council after 42 years’ service and served the last six years as County Secretary.

A native of Wexford town, Pat served with Wexford County Council in many departments from 1978, joined the Wexford Corporation as Borough Accountant in 1995, became Town Clerk in 2002, and was elevated to the role of County Secretary in 2014. He was also a popular figure in the role of Returning Officer for elections over many years.

Chief Executive Officer Tom Enright and other members of the management and staff paid tribute to their loyal and popular colleague on his final day (Friday, June 26^th) in a pleasant and fitting farewell moderated by social distancing in line with government guidelines for Covid-19.

Future for Wexford fishing post-Brexit?

Deputy Verona Murphy spoke in the Dail yesterday (Thursday) and asked the Minister how the Department will deal with probably impartial trade following Brexit in respect of fishermen and the issues that will arise once UK waters are no longer accessible to EU fisherman and, in particular, Irish fishermen, who probably access UK waters more than any of the other EU member states.

“Currently, 60% of the mackerel we fish, as well as 40% of the prawns caught by Irish trawlers, are fished in UK waters. These goods are the mainstay of the sector but the waters are soon to be outside the EU and off limits to Irish trawlers. Put simply, 30% of what is trawled by Irish fishermen will be wiped out post Brexit. Significant changes to existing arrangements would be devastating from the Irish fishing industry.”

Deputy Murphy alluded to the situation in Wexford. “Another matter that is of major concern for fishermen nationally, and one I have at first hand heard discussed in my constituency when dealing with fishermen in Wexford town, Kilmore, Duncannon and other areas, is the likely increase in activity in the fishing grounds and waters surrounding Ireland post-Brexit.

“Fishermen expect a significant increase in the number of UK vehicles re-registering for EU ownership. I am glad this is recognised in the programme for Government. Will the Minister tell us what steps are being prepared to prevent displacement or an increase in the number of vessels that re-register to the EU post Brexit?”

In reply, Simon Coveney TD, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence replied; “On fishing, the Deputy (Murphy) has raised a series of issues. No one should assume the outcome yet. It cannot be said yet that we will be locked out of UK waters or that 30% of the stock we access will be wiped out. We do not know whether any of that is true yet. We are in a negotiation. The important point in this negotiation is that fisheries are part of the broader trade negotiation to ensure the EU uses the leverage it must get the best possible outcome for its fishing interests, including Irish fishing interests.

“What we do not want are distortions of fishing that force fishermen to catch fish too early or in the wrong place in response to the restrictions in a post-Covid environment. This is a complex negotiation but an important one for counties such as Donegal, Galway and Kerry, in addition to west Cork, Wexford, Howth and all the other constituencies and counties that rely greatly on the fishing industry.”