A woman in her 30s who was seriously injured in a two-vehicle road traffic collision near Duncannon today was airlifted to a Dublin hospital.
The collision involving two cars occurred on the R734 at Balliniry Cross shortly after 3pm.
The passenger of one of the vehicles, a woman in her 30s, was transferred to the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital for treatment of serious injuries.
The drivers, a man in his 30s and a woman in her 40s, were conveyed to Wexford General Hospital and Waterford University Hospital respectively, for treatment of injuries not believed to be life-threatening.
The road is expected to remain closed overnight to facilitate a technical examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators tomorrow morning.
Local diversions are in place and investigations are ongoing.
At the historic opening of the all-weather Astro pitch at Ross Road, Enniscorthy, today. (Pic; WexfordLocal.com)
By Dan Walsh at Ross Road, Enniscorthy
The sporting heritage found in Enniscorthy was enriched and celebrated today with the official opening of the new all-weather Astro pitch at Ross Road, Enniscorthy. Minister for Housing, Heritage and Local Government, James Browne TD performed the opening address.
AUDIO ADDITION; Minister James Browne speaking at the opening of the all-weather Astro pitch at Ross Road, Enniscorthy, this morning.
Cathaoirleach of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council, Cllr Aidan Browne said; “It is a privilege to be here today to mark a new chapter in the development of local sports in Enniscorthy. Today, we celebrate the opening of the new Enniscorthy astro pitch; a facility that will make a huge difference in our town and beyond.”
Cllr Browne continued; “As a town, Enniscorthy has some of the best sporting facilities in the country; we have the athletics hub, the greyhound stadium and the rugby club just beside us, two top class GAA clubs, five soccer clubs, two boxing clubs, basketball, tennis, athletics and a cricket club. Sport is massive in Enniscorthy and this facility here today is only going to enhance this further.”
The project was funded by a Sports Capital Grant of €300,000 received from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport, and Media and from Wexford County Council.
Denis Hennessy of the Wexford Alliance and Chairman of the Football League explained; “Our alliance is a new one in the country. It’s the schoolboy’s league, the women’s league, Wexford FC and the Wexford Football League come together with Wexford County Council in the running of this excellent facility and we look forward to more of these being done by Wexford County Council across the county in the coming years.”
MINISTER JAMES BROWNE at the opening of the Ross Road Astro pitch. (Pic; WexfordLocal.com)
Peter Doyle of the Wexford Football Alliance and Chairman of the Women’s League, who works with the Leinster Football Association and, technically is an employee of the FAI also addressed the attendance.
“This is a very proud project for everyone involved in Wexford football,” said Mr Doyle, who added; “This is the first of a kind and the envy of a lot. Great credit to everybody involved. It is the envy of everywhere else.”
District Manager Claire Lawless, who acted as master of ceremonies, said; “This is an exciting development for Enniscorthy and the facility will be an enormous benefit to the entire community of Enniscorthy and the surrounding areas. “Wexford County Council remains committed to retaining the public realm and providing opportunities for health and well-being,” she said.
The attendance included Deputy Johnny Mythen, Senator Cathal Byrne, Cllrs Barbara-Anne Murphy and John O’Rourke, Carolyn Godkin, Neil Dempsey and Neville Shaw from Enniscorthy District Council, former County Executive Tom Enright and former Enniscorthy District Manager Ger Mackey and Tony Doyle from the Wexford Football Alliance.
The sporting occasion was demonstrated on the new pitch with mixed teams, boys and girls from 5th and 6th class at the town’s primary schools at St. Aidan’s and St. Senan’s showing off their talent. Cllr John O’Rourke was referee. Both teams arrived and departed the new pitch in traditional style – by special bus!
The Boil Water Notice for customers in Wexford town supplied by the Newtown Water Treatment Plant has been lifted with immediate effect.
Uisce Éireann can confirm that, following consultation with the Health Service Executive, customers can now resume normal use of the public water supply.
The notice was issued as a precautionary measure last Wednesday (February 19th) to protect the health of 22,849 people due to the detection of cryptosporidium in the water supply.
Drinking water experts from Uisce Éireann worked to lift the notice as quickly and as safely as possible. Following the completion of remedial works and the receipt of satisfactory monitoring results, the notice has now been lifted.
Uisce Éireann’s Fionnuala Callery acknowledged the impact of a Boil Water Notice on customers and thanked the community for their support while the notice was in place.
“Uisce Éireann’s primary focus remains the protection of public health and we worked with our stakeholders to lift the notice as quickly as possible. We are grateful to customers, elected representatives, and the media for their assistance in sharing information on the Boil Water Notice,” concluded Ms. Callery.
Today’s planned point-to-point fixture at Fairwood Park, Tinahely, failed an early morning inspection that found the track unraceable, leaving Lisronagh the only survivor in testing conditions and Wexford stables took four of the seven races at the Tipperary venue.
POINT-TO-POINT CHAMPIONSBARRY O’NEILL and COLIN BOWE shared a double success today in Tipperary. (File Pic; WexfordLocal.com)
Champions Colin Bowe and Barry O’Neill shared a double winning both divisions of the maiden race for four-year-olds with newcomers Cristal D’Estruval taking division one by a neck and Cooltobecareless by one length in division two. Both ran in the Milestone Bloodstock Ltd colours and will now head to the sales.
It’s been a great weekend for rider Barry O’Neill, who also rode a double in Armagh yesterday. Tonight, he shares top of the leaderboard in the National Point-to-Point Riders’ Championship with Rob James, both on the 23-winner mark for the season.
Rob James rode First Candidate to victory today in the maiden race for five and six-year-old mares by two and a half lengths for Donnchadh Doyle who celebrated his 300th point-to-point career victory at Punchestown yesterday.
Michael Goff’s stables at Clondaw, Ferns, enjoyed a family success in the maiden race for four-year-old mares with newcomer Clondaw Park in the colours of Caitriona Goff, handled by Michael and ridden by their son, Harry, coming home eight lengths to the good.
Three point-to-point fixtures went ahead today, and the highlight was at Punchestown where Ballindaggin handler Donnchadh Doyle sent out his 300th winner in a career spanning 15 years.
DONNCHADH DOYLE saddled his 300th winner today.
Doyle saddled the Monbeg Syndicate newcomer Pappariche in the five-year-olds plus maiden race and achieved the milestone tally with ‘a head’ victory under Tinahely rider James Walsh who was riding his first winner of the season.
Donnchadh Doyle shared the 2015 Irish Point-to-Point Handlers Championship with Colin Bowe. Pappariche was his 13th success in the current season and he enjoys at 24% strike rate.
Donnchadh’s brother, Sean Doyle, was also successful at Punchestown today. He saddled Park Blue for the Monbeg Partnership in the five-year-old geldings maiden race which resulted in a four lengths victory under Jamie Scallan and the second leg of a double for the Tomhaggard rider.
Scallan won the opening maiden race for four-year-olds on newcomer Heldam in the colours of Abbie O’Connor and handled by Matthew Flynn O’Connor at Balycrystal, Kiltealy. Two lengths were the winning verdict.
Jonathan Fogarty, Gaynestown Stud, Cleariestown, made the journey to Knockanard, Co. Cork, today, where he won the maiden race for five-year-old geldings with Malayalam (Ross Sugrue up) by three lengths beating Mymilkman handled by Donnchadh Doyle.
There was also point-to-point action at Farmacaffley, Co. Armagh, today, where Barry O’Neill and David Christie shared a double success in the final two races with Winged Leader and King in the Park.
Tomorrow’s Bray Harriers fixture at Fairwood Park, Tinahely, is subject to an 8am inspection.
Point-to-point action at Fairwood Park, Tinahely. (File Pic; WexfordLocal.com)
The weather is causing difficulties for the scheduled point-to-point fixture at Fairwood Park, Tinahely, next Sunday and precautionary inspections will take place.
Met Éireann status yellow wind and rain warnings are due to come into effect at 2am on Sunday morning and remain valid until 3pm that afternoon.
The going at Tinahely was found to be ‘Soft’ when inspected on Friday afternoon. However, there is significant rainfall forecast on Sunday morning, ahead of what is the rescheduled Bray Harriers fixture in Fairwood Park. Speaking on Friday afternoon, IHRB Course Inspector Pat Kelly said; “The track has some casual water on it following the extremely heavy rainfall last night and this morning.
“There is a dry forecast this evening, and mainly dry forecast for tomorrow, but unfortunately we have a very bad forecast for Sunday morning with wind and rain in excess of 15mm, maybe 20mm of rain coming in Sunday morning,” he stated.
An area at Cathedral Street, close to St. Aidan’s Cathedral, Enniscorthy, was closed to the public for a time today (Thursday), following the discovery of a ‘suspect device’ inside a residential property.
Gardaí and the Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit attended the scene.
The device was made safe and removed from the scene. The road has reopened.
“A cordon was put in place, The Irish Defence Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit attended, and the device was made safe,” said An Garda Siochana in a statement.
It is understood the device was historical in nature.
The man who lost his life in a road traffic collision on the N25 at Killinick on Tuesday evening has been named as Dave ‘Taff’ Thomas, a 73-year-old who lived at Pugin Park, Tagoat.
DAVE (Taff0 THOMAS
Mr Thomas was involved in a four-vehicle incident on the N25 at Orristown. He may have suffered a medical event. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Originally from Rhyl in Wales and affectionately known as ‘Taff’ he was due to celebrate his 74th birthday in a few days.
Many tributes have been paid to his wife Rita, children Tye, Keith, Naomi and Shauna, other relatives and friends.
FAMILY NOTICE; The death has occurred ofDave (Taff) Thomas, Pugin Park, Tagoat, Co. Wexford and formerly of Rhyl, Wales, February 18, 2025, beloved husband of Rita, father of Tye, step-father of Keith, Naomi and Shauna; sadly missed by his family, son-in-law Mark, grandchildren Scott and Emilia, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.
May He Rest In Peace
Reposing in Mulligans Funeral Home, The Faythe, Wexford (Y35 DH6V) on Saturday from 6pm until 9pm. Removal on Sunday at 11.15am to St. Mary’s Church, Tagoat for funeral Mass at 12noon. Cremation will take place privately. No flowers by request.
The proposed IPAS Centre at the old Mercy Convent site at Templeshannon, Enniscorthy, remains a ‘live’ planning issue despite the public protest.
By Dan Walsh at Enniscorthy Municipal Council monthly meeting
Last Saturday an estimated 600 people marched through Enniscorthy town in opposition to the proposed IPAS Centre for the old Mercy Convent at Templeshannon.
“The crowd would have been much bigger than it was had the weather been clear and dry,” said Cllr Jackser Owens at Tuesday’s meeting of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council held in the Presentation Centre.
Cllr Owens was one of only two public representatives who supported the protesters – the other was Cllr Paddy Kavanagh – and both addressed the attendance on the day.
At Tuesday’s meeting Cathaoirleach Cllr Aidan Browne welcomed the Council’s decision to enforce the requirement for planning permission that will require the applicant to either appeal or re-apply.
Cllr Browne said that “maybe the Council can approach the owner of the building and see about buying the property and have assisted living there.”
Cllr Owens told the meeting that he is “delighted now that it has gone to planning, so we will see what will happen. Hopefully the outcome will be in the people’s favour.”
Then Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy closed the discussion when she stated, “the decision can be appealed to An Bord Pleanála which means it is still a ‘live’ planning issue, so we probably should not be discussing it here in the chamber.”
“We just need to be aware of what we are saying,” she concluded.
Uisce Éireann has issued a Boil Water Notice to protect the health of approximately 22,000 customers in Wexford town supplied by the Newtown Water Treatment Plantwith immediate effect.
Following consultation with the Health Service Executive (HSE), this notice is issued as a precautionary measure due to the detection of cryptosporidium in the water supply.
Uisce Éireann’s Technical Operations Manager for the region Fionnuala Callery apologised to impacted customers.
She told WexfordLocal.com this evening; “Public health is Uisce Éireann’s number one priority and we would like to assure customers that the notice has been put in place to protect public health. We acknowledge the inconvenience caused to homes and businesses and would like to assure customers that we are working to resolve the issue and lift the notice as quickly and as safely possible.”
Customers can check if their property is included by visiting the Water Quality section and entering the property’s Eircode or by calling the Uisce Éireann’s customer care helpline, open 24/7, on 1800 278 278. A map of the area is attached and available to view on the supply and service section of water.ie.
WexfordLocal.com 