Pecker Dunne Festival to be held annually?

Over 1,000 people attended the inaugural Pecker Dunne Music Festival at St. Peter’s Square in Wexford town on Saturday. (Pic; Wally O’Neill).

By Dan Walsh in Wexford town

Over a thousand people attended the inaugural Pecker Dunne Music Festival at St. Peter’s Square in Wexford town on Saturday. Organisers described the event as successful, claiming that it exceeded their expectations.

Melanie Cleary, one of the architects of the festival, said that the organising committee had been overwhelmed by the generosity and goodwill of the people of Wexford.

“When we planned this event little over four weeks ago, we had planned a small intimate affair but with the outpouring of love for Pecker, it naturally led to a much greater larger event and we are so thrilled that this will now be an annual festival – bigger and even better,” stated Ms. Cleary.

Michael Fortune of Folklore.ie, another organiser, said that it was ‘a positive community event’. He noted the number of tourists attending, including two women from Newfoundland.

Wally O’Neill of local bookshop Red Books and part of the committee said the festival was further proof of the incredible potential of Wexford town for cultural tourism on the same level as Galway or Kilkenny.

“Wexford has something special that is absence in many other towns. People travelled from all over the country for this festival. It is the perfect tonic for those who would try to talk the town down and spread negativity and proof that Wexford is a great place to live, to do business and to visit,” added Mr. O’Neill.

The organising committee, comprising Cllr Tom Forde, Melanie Cleary, Stephen Dunne, Matt Murphy, Pippi Firman, Cllr Aoife Rose O’Brien, Michael Fortune, Deirdre McGarry, Eoin Firman, Deborah Doyle, Kieran O’ Brien and Wally O’Neill were eager to thank  the Dunne family, the musicians who took part, Wexford County Council, Darlex Risk Management, Practical Printers, Cllr Leonard Kelly, Cllr Jackster Owens and Cllr Jim Codd for their support.

Doubles for O’Neill, Stone and Bowe

By Dan Walsh

Three point-to-point fixtures across the country today and more Wexford winners. Topping the bill were riders Barry O’Neill and Barry Stone who both recorded doubles and handler Colin Bowe also saddled a double.

Barry O’Neill and Colin Bowe headed for the races at Dromahane, Co. Cork, today (Sunday) and were celebrating on the way home following a double success.

Newcomer Fairy Park took the maiden race for four-year-old mares by eight lengths while another newcomer from the Kiltealy stables named Unflinching scored by two and a half lengths in the maiden race for five-year-old geldings.

It was a brilliant weekend for champion O’Neill who rode in the Foxhunters Chase over the ‘National fences’ at Aintree on Thursday and rode three winners yesterday at Newry.

BARRY STONE … two winners in Westmeath today. (Pic; WexfordLocal.com)

Barry Stone from Cleariestown was in Castletown-Geoghegan today and enjoyed a double at the Westmeath track.

Stone got off to a winning start in the maiden race for four-year-olds handled by Garrett Murphy, Ballymitty, who is having a great run of luck. Murphy has been training for four seasons and this was his 12th career winner and his sixth of the current season.

Stone’s double was achieved aboard Princesse Milania for handler Robert Tector, Coolbawn, Rathnure, in the maiden race for mares’ five-year-old plus. The winning distance was four lengths.

Michael Murphy from the Redbridge Stables, Duncormick, also ticked the scoresheet. He saddled Shining Marble in the maiden race for five-year-old geldings and enjoyed a four lengths victory with Darragh Higgins up. Murphy is in his sixth season as a handler and this was his 20th career success.

There was one Wexford winner at Rathcannon, Co. Limerick when newcomer Crystal Island handled by Eamonn Doyle, Ballindaggin, won the four-year-old geldings race by three and a half lengths with Jamie Scallan in the saddle.

Barry O’Neill wins three races

By Dan Walsh

BARRY O’NEILL …a treble this afternoon. (Pic; WexfordLocal.com)

Saturday point-to-point action took place at Newry, Co. Down and Wexford stables were in winning form in the opening three races, but it was champion rider Barry O’Neill who stole the show with three wins on the trot.

Colin Bowe and Barry O’Neill continued their winning ways with a nine lengths victory for Lady Doyanne for John Dawson in the maiden race for five-year-old plus mares.

O’Neill continued successfully on two of David Christie’s winners; Vaucelet in the Open Race and King In The Park in the Winner of One race. The latter was a close finish with ‘a head’ separating King In The Park ridden by Harry Goff.

Cormac Doyle saddled newcomer Freshers Week in the Monbeg Farm Racing Partnership colours in the maiden race for four-year-olds to score by a neck under Darragh Higgins. Runner-up was the Rob James handled and ridden Son Of Tyran.

Sean Doyle won the maiden race for five-year-old geldings with Park Talk in the silks of the Monbeg Partnership. Jamie Scallan the winning rider and one length the advantage on the finish line.  

Wexford double for Jordan Gainford

JORDAN GAINFORD …two winners at Wexford today as he heads to Aintree tomorrow for the Grand National ride. (Pic; WexfordLocal.com)

Dan Walsh at Wexford Races

Local jockeys and trainers were in brilliant form at Wexford races this afternoon with Jordan Gainford riding a double, Sean Flanagan and trainers Paul Nolan and Seamus Neville all keeping the local punters sweet.

Sean Flanagan who rides Vanillier in tomorrow’s Aintree Grand National was in the winner’s enclosure following a two lengths victory on Rue Taylor (10/1) for Paul Nolan in the novice hurdle depriving Gordon Elliott of a four-timer.

Seamus Neville who trains at Brideswell, Bridgetown, won the handicap chase with On The Tide (14/1) ridden by Roscrea claiming rider Philip Donovan. “He loves the good ground,” said a delighted trainer afterwards.

Gordon Elliott’s stable sent a strong contingent from Summerhill, Co. Meath, and scored a treble beginning with Kisk Bank (6/4 fav.) ridden by five pounds claimer James Smith by a cosy 23 lengths in the maiden hurdle (incentive race).

Caim jockey Jordan Gainford who rides the outsider Conflated in tomorrow’s Grand National at Aintree was on board Elliott’s other successful pair. He scored on Cooke’s Lass in the mares’ maiden hurdle beating two Wexford contenders; Clody Diamond for Paul Nolan with Sean Flanagan up two and a half lengths back in runner-up spot with third place filled by Alpha Zeta trained by Liz Doyle at Crossabeg.

Gainford’s second success came on Lightkeeper (9/1) by eight lengths in the novice chase. Paul Nolan’s Kiltealy Park (Sean Flanagan) was runner-up, so a Wexford 1,2 there!

Pat Foley, son of the legendary Tom Foley of Danoli fame, popped down from Carlow and saddled Rebel Gold (7/2) in the handicap chase and celebrated with a victory. Alex Harvey was the winning rider.

Waterford trainer Henry de Bromhead also got on the scoresheet. He saddled Aspire Tower (Mike O’Connor up) at 4/1 in the beginners chase depriving Willie Mullins’ runner up Westport Cove (Sean O’Keeffe up) by a neck!

It was a good day’s racing. Good attendance too! Next races at Bettyville Park, Wexford, is Saturday, May 17th. Mark it in your sporting diary!

Funds to restore church for community use

RATHASPECK CHURCH gets funding for restoration. (Pic; WexfordLocal.com)

By Dan Walsh

An allocation of €100,620 has been made for repairs to the roof, rainwater facilities, and windows of the disused Rathaspeck Church in Piercestown, with the objective of restoration for community and cultural use. It is located close to Johnstown Castle.

The announcement was made during the week as part of the Historic Structures Fund by Minster James Browne, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Rathaspeck Church is situated about 5 kilometres from Wexford town on a raised piece of land that is believed to have been a rath, hence the name – Ráth Easpaig “the bishop’s ringfort.”

It is a classic Board of First Fruits funded Church of Ireland church built in 1824. A 14th century catholic church predated the structure but this was already described as ‘ruinous’ in the Down Survey of the 1650s.

The graveyard is the final resting place of United Irishman Cornelius Grogan. Grogan had served as the High Sherriff of Wexford in 1779 and in 1783 was elected to serve as a politician for the Irish Parliament constituency of Enniscorthy.

When the 1798 rebellion broke out in County Wexford Grogan joined the republican movement of the United Irishmen and became an army commander. When the rebellion failed Grogan was brought to court and though he tried to state he had been forced to take up his position in the United Irishmen the British didn’t believe him and he was executed on Wednesday, June 28th 1798, he was hanged and beheaded on Wexford bridge like several other rebel leaders and his body was thrown into the River Slaney. Later supporters of Grogan recovered his body from the waters and interred him at Rathaspeck.

The church itself closed in 1971 but between 1984 and 2009 was home to the Wexford Model Railway Club but due to the deteriorating condition of the church this agreement came to an end in 2009.

The restoration of Rathaspeck Church is to be welcomed. It is a landmark building with links to the distant past and long forgotten families on the edge of Johnstown Castle, now Wexford’s best tourist and visitor attraction, and it ticks all the boxes in retaining a valuable piece of our rural past.

Low pressure on South West Wexford water supply?

By Dan Walsh

Uisce Éireann advises customers supplied by Wexford’s South Regional Supply Scheme that they may experience low pressure on their water supply following repair works at Taylorstown Water Treatment Plant. 

As the plant returns to full production today, it may take several hours for the full supply to be restored to customers on higher ground or at the end of the network. In the meantime, customers in South West Wexford may experience low pressure. 

Uisce Éireann thanks those affected for their patience while the interruption to supply was addressed. Uisce Éireann understand the inconvenience of an unplanned outage and thank customers for their support.

Uisce Éireann are keeping customers informed across multiple platforms 24/7 and encourage customers to engage through its website, X channels @IWCare and @IrishWater, on Facebook and LinkedIn and through the customer care helpline which is open 24/7 on 1800 278 278.

Friday afternoon Wexford races

By Dan Walsh

There is a strong entry with considerable local interest for the Friday afternoon Wexford races at Bettyville Park.

The first of the seven races, which includes three hurdles and four steeplechases, begins at 3.45pm. The conditions are described as ‘yielding to good (watering)’ and the weather forecast is dry and breezy.

Some local trainers will have runners including Paul Nolan, Liz Doyle, Colm Murphy, Leonard Whitmore, Seamus Neville and Philip Rothwell.

Local jockeys Sean Flanagan, Jordan Gainford, and Sean O’Keeffe have mounts in Saturday’s Randox Grand National at Aintree, but they will be in action on the home track. JJ Slevin is another Wexford jockey riding in Saturday’s big race, but he is already at the famous track.

This meeting is the second of a dozen fixtures at Wexford for the 2025 season. The organisers are anticipating a substantial turnout.

Celebration of trees and forests

By Dan Walsh

Celebrating National Tree Week at Court National School, Monamolin, were (front row from left); Callum Hall, Joshua Crean, Charlie Breen. (Back row); Eoin Boggan, Teacher, Cllr Pip Breen, Cathaoirleach Wexford County Council and Rachael Leahy, Principal Court National School.

Cllr Pip Breen, Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council, gave a tree to the green school committee at Court National School, Monamolin, for National Tree Week. This annual event is organised by the Tree Council of Ireland with Coillte.

It is the largest tree celebration in the country, providing a unique opportunity for people to come together and celebrate the beauty and importance of Ireland’s trees.

This year’s theme ‘Planting Trees, Growing Together’ highlights the deep connection between trees, people, and the environment, emphasising how tree planting fosters stronger communities, promotes sustainability, and prepares us for a changing climate.

An Cathaoirleach, Cllr Pip Breen stated that ‘this year’s theme encourages all ages to plant trees and learn more about the importance of trees and forests. By working collectively to plant and care for trees we create a healthier environment that ensures our forests and green spaces continue to thrive for future generations.”

This year’s theme highlights the importance of planting more trees as a crucial component of addressing biodiversity challenges and fighting climate change.

To celebrate National Tree Week, Wexford County Council in conjunction with the Tree Council of Ireland and Coillte distributed 1,000 native saplings to primary schools across Co. Wexford.

Wexford County Council also promote and support local communities with the ‘Trees for Wexford Scheme’ which saw 9,745 trees, and saplings distributed to voluntary community groups and schools last month.

Open-air Pecker Dunne festival in Wexford

By Dan Walsh

The first Pecker Dunne Festival is scheduled for next Saturday in St. Peter’s Square, Wexford town. Local hotels have noted an increase in visitors for the weekend.

“We have some great musicians from across Ireland coming down for a free open-air concert in the bandstand at 3.30pm on Saturday,” Wally O’ Neill, the owner of nearby Red Books and one of the festival organisers told WexfordLocal.com.

“Pecker’s son Stephen will be performing, as well as James Gallagher from the Dubliners Encore, John and Pip Murphy, Daithi and Rory Kavanagh, Na Buachaillí, the Wexford Traditional Singers, Senan Lillis and many more. All are coming together out of authentic respect for the music and legacy of the Pecker Dunne.”

AUDIO; PECKER DUNNE performs.

A gathering of friends and family of Pecker, entitled ‘Memories of Pecker’ will take place at 2pm on Saturday in Red Books too. This event is open to the public and will feature many tales and recollections of Pecker.

“The whole festival has been put together in a matter of weeks,” said Mr O’Neill, who added; “Cllr Tom Forde had the vision to bring about a respectful festival in memory of Pecker. He put together a solid committee that includes folklorist Michael Fortune, traditional musician Matt Murphy and event organiser Melanie Cleary. There’s been support from Wexford County Council, local representatives Cllrs Aoife Rose O’Brien, Leonard Kelly, Jim Codd and Jackser Owens, local businesses and musicians.”

“It’s hugely positive for the town and highlights the rich local musical and cultural heritage at a time when positivity is needed. We hope the influx of visitors for this event will benefit the local economy and provide a launch-pad for an annual festival,” concluded Mr O’Neill.

Dáil vote of confidence favours Verona Murphy

By Dan Walsh

CEANN COMHAIRLE Verona Murphy.

Dáil Éireann has voted confidence in Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy. The motion was passed by 96 votes to 71, with two abstentions.

It was the first time in the history of the Dáil that such a vote took place in a Ceann Comhairle.

Afterwards, Deputy Murphy said she wanted “to assure all members on all sides” that she bared “no ill-will, and my door is always open”.

“I will continue to uphold my solemn declaration to vindicate the rights of all members and administer the rules chosen by members of this house impartially and fairly,” she stated.

Independent TD Verona Murphy was first elected to Dáil Éireann in 2020. She topped the poll with 11,340 – 838 above the quota – first preference votes in last November’s General Election for the Wexford constituency. The Ramsgrange-born deputy became the first female Ceann Comhairle for the 34th Dáil.