Pictured at the official signing ceremony for the Gorey Inner Relief Road development at Gorey Civic Centre were (back row, left to right); Cllr Nicky Boland, Cllr Paddy Kavanagh, Daniel Roche, Senior Executive Engineer, Wexford County Council, Cllr Joe Sullivan, Cllr Donal Kenny, Cllr Anthony Donohoe, Cllr Darragh McDonald, Cllr Craig Doyle, Brian Brennan TD, Denis O’Sullivan, Fehily Timoney & Co, and Sean Myler, Special Projects, Wexford County Council. (Front Row); Malcom Byrne TD, Cllr Pip Breen, Cathaoirleach Wexford County Council, Cllr Oliver Walsh, Cathaoirleach Gorey-Kilmuckridge Municipal District Council, Baren De Hora, Director, Fehily Timoney & Co, Cllr Mary Farrell and Elizabeth Hore, Director of Services, Gorey-Kilmuckridge Municipal District Council. (Pic;WexfordLocal.com)
By Dan Walsh at Gorey Civic Centre
The official contract signing for the Gorey Inner Relief Road project took place at Gorey Civic Centre today ahead of the monthly Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District.
Cllr Oliver Walsh, Cathaoirleach, presided and expressed his delight at the signing and said he looked forward to getting the project underway. The consultants appointed are Fehily Timony & Co. and while the representatives said they were honoured to take on the contract the members and officials unanimously were in full agreement.
Cllr Anthony Donohoe asked about aspects of the development and was told by Sean Meyler, Special Projects Manager at Wexford County Council that the development would be completed in three phases.
Phase one will feature the existent St. Waleran’s and developments there, while phase two will focus on a roundabout, the sports facilities and the railway bridge crossing.
Mr Meyler said the consultants will design the scheme, fix the alignment, and their plans should be available for inspection by members. He added that it should take 6/8 months and then be ready for Part 8 application.
The motorcyclist who died in a single-vehicle collision on the R738 at Knockeen, Barntown, shortly before 6.15pm last Saturday evening has been named locally as Anthony Redmond (52), of Ashgrove, Fethard-on-Sea, New Ross, and late of Ballygalvert, Ballywilliam, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford.
ANTHONY REDMOND
Sadly missed by his loving partner Billie, children Dale, Conor and Tara, Billie’s son Mark, brothers and sisters Mary, Susan, Ceceilia, P.J., Ann and John, brothers-in-law, sister-in-law, nephews, nieces, extended family and a large circle of friends.
Reposing at Cooney’s Funeral Home, New Ross, on Wednesday, January 22nd, from 4pm concluding at 8pm. Removal from the funeral home on Thursday, January 23rd at 11.30am to St. Anne’s Church, Rathnure, Y21 FX37 arriving for his funeral Mass at 12 noon, followed by cremation at Mount Jerome Crematorium, Harold’s Cross, Dublin arriving for a service at 3.45pm. May He Rest in Peace.
Following a meeting between management and staff today (Tuesday) at BNY Mellon it was announced that it was closing its Wexford office with about 300 jobs impacted.
The global financial firm employs about 310 employees at its offices in the Drinagh Business Park on the outskirts of Wexford town.
There had been widespread reports over recent days that jobs at the firm were in jeopardy.
GEORGE LAWLOR TD… “The manner in which the staff have been treated here is appalling.” (Pic; WexfordLocal.com)
BNY Mellon established a presence in Ireland in 1994 and services global clients from its offices in Dublin, Cork and Wexford. It is believed that the Cork and Dublin offices are not affected by these developments.
“At BNY we continually evaluate our real estate footprint to ensure we are operating efficiently. We are intending to close our Wexford office. We remain committed to serving our clients and relationships in the Irish market and internationally,” the company said in a statement today.
The finance company said it would not be commenting during the employee collective consultations process, but it is understood around 5% of the Wexford workforce will be offered the chance to work remotely, with the remaining 95 per cent being told their jobs would be relocated or they would be made redundant.
Recently elected Wexford-based Labour TD, George Lawlor, said the situation was an appalling one for the workforce. “The manner in which the staff have been treated here is appalling. The rumours have been circulating for months about this, and to announce today that less than 5% will work from home and some of the rest will be offered redundancy, and some of the remaining workforce will be asked to relocate to Dublin if they have an Ireland only contract. It is a huge blow to the workers and their families and a huge blow to the Wexford economy,” he said.
The Financial Services Union have called on BNY Mellon to treat staff with respect and to explore all options to minimise job losses.
“The confirmation by the bank that 300 jobs are at risk follows months of rumours that drastic change was being contemplated. Staff and their families as well as local business will be shocked by this announcement. The next few weeks will be challenging for everyone involved and I would urge BNY Mellon and the Government to utilise this time to provide necessary supports to the affected employees,” stated John O’Connell, general secretary of the union.
“A recent Environmental Protection Agency Report is a wake up call to action so as to protect not just a nationally significant habitat like Our Lady’s Island Lake but also farming in the area.” That’s according to Damien Corish, Rosslare Municipal Labour Local Area representative, responding to the EPA report which said that artificial enrichment of the lake due to agricultural run off is responsible for a collapse in biodiversity and habitat.
Mr Corish says; “Our Lady’s Island Lake is nationally unique because it is a salt water lake. This allows some bird species to feed and hatch in a protected location. The potential damage to habitat is only surpassed by the fines that Ireland will be liable for under EU law.
“Over the past number of years, I have heard reports that the water during warm weather and in Autumn can be green. Our Lady’s Island is a shallow lake so the increase in global temperatures is further impacting on oxygen levels causing further environmental damage,” added Mr Corish.
Mr Corish told WexfordLocal.com; “Doing nothing is not an option. This report is a wake up call. All we must do is to look at Lough Neagh and how disastrous the failure to intervene to protect habitat and water quality over many years can be. “Our Lady’s Island is a valuable ecological and leisure amenity. In a county that relies on our tourist product we can’t have the word to go out that water is polluted and that habitats are being destroyed. Time is not on our side if environmental catastrophe is to be avoided.”
Mr Corish said that there needs to be a single cabinet minister in the new government to take responsibility for the environment and pollution. In the last few years responsibility for heritage and the environment was spread across several government departments.
“I think that the focus in environmental enforcement has been elsewhere. I am calling on Wexford County Council to make contact as a matter of immediate priority for my local area with the new Minister and action to be taken to avert an environmental meltdown in Our Lady’s Island.
An artist’s impression of the OPW’s proposed piece of public roadside art planned for the roundabout at Rosslare Harbour.
By Dan Walsh
Last Friday Cllr Ger Carthy from Rosslare Municipal District sent members of the local media an artist’s impression of the OPWs proposed piece of public roadside art planned to be installed centre of the roundabout at the entrance to Rosslare Europort.
Cllr Carthy informed us that the price is sure to be north of €150,000. He described the proposal as “a monstrosity” and lamented “not a penny available for truck parking in the village or beyond.”
To say that the story ‘got legs’ on social media is a misnomer! It has reached Ronnie Delaney proportions! And the vast majority are backing Cllr Carthy almost 100%.
The only enthusiastic support towards the Rosslare proposal came from arts enthusiast, Jeremy Hill of the Monksgrange Archives Group, who claims it is “a good piece”. He views it as “the excellent concept of ‘Per Cent for Art.”
On social media, Mr Hill says; “It asks questions like -what’s holding me up. It uses ambient light to compare the top and bottom surfaces. It has a twisting dynamic yet presents a feeling of balance. It appears slightly off centre which brings you back to its sense of strength.
He adds; “What is not wanted is another boat in bronze. Art and truck parks have nothing to do with each other and this brings us back to the excellent concept of ‘Per Cent for Art.’
Over the weekend WexfordLocal.com carried out some basic research into matter and came up with the following: “The Per Cent for Art scheme is a government initiative, first introduced in 1978, whereby 1% of the cost of any publicly funded capital, infrastructural and building development can be allocated to the commissioning of a work of art. Since 1997 this scheme has been made available to all capital projects across all government departments.”
No doubt this story will run for a few more days and then expire for eternity! But one fact is for certain, by the time the project is completed… the budget will have been lost in the disastrous mist of inflation.
Pictured handing over the cheque are Fiona Barry, fundraiser, Julie Butler, fundraiser, James, Sophie and Emily Power, Sarah Bates, fundraiser and Ann Butler fundraiser. Pic; RNLI/Fethard Lifeboat Station.
By Dan Walsh
James Power, a musician and music teacher launched his ’12 Gigs of Christmas’ in December to raise funds for local causes and charities. Six of these festive performances around the local community were in aid of Fethard RNLI.
James was also joined by his daughters Sophie and Emily who eagerly took charge of the collection buckets during the performances.
Sophie, Emily and James visited the station after Christmas to present members of Fethard RNLI’s fundraising team with a cheque (€1,008.80) from their fundraising efforts.
Sarah Bates, Fethard RNLI, chair of the fundraising branch said; “We would like to thank James and his family for giving up their time to raise funds for us at Fethard RNLI. As a charity we rely on the generosity of the public and voluntary donations such as these help us to continue to save lives at sea.”
Donnchadh Doyle was the hero of the winner’s enclosure at Ballycrystal, Kiltealy, at today’s Ballinagore Harriers point-to-point, where he saddled three of the six winners. Local rider Rob James enjoyed treble success. Denis Murphy also recorded a double.
Donnchadh Doyle’s first winner was Madam Blue ridden by Alan Harney in the opening race – the maiden race for five-year-old mares – with six and a half lengths to spare.
Rob James took the winning mount on Mouthshuteyesopen for Doyle in the maiden race for mares aged six years old and upwards. Five and a half lengths this time.
The James/Doyle team brought the Monbeg Syndicate first past the post for the third time in the maiden race for five-year-olds and upwards confined race and a 10 lengths success for Gatineau Park. Donnchadh Doyle also saddled the runner-up in this contest with Thankyouandplease ridden by Alan Harney.
This was the third leg of a treble for leading rider Rob James who earlier won the maiden race for six-year-olds and upwards geldings on The Burrow for Delgany, Co. Wicklow, handler Gerard Lawless and the Ballydonagh Syndicate.
SHANE WALSH-KEHOE rides his first point-to-point winner at Ballycrystal today. (Pic; WexfordLocal.com)
Denis Murphy also saddled a double. Jukebox King ridden by Shane Cotter scored by four lengths in the maiden race for five-year-old geldings.
Denis Murphy’s double was a special affair. Owned by his mother, Catherine Murphy, Fralimonti Bilberry, by one and a half lengths in the Winners of Two race. It was the third ride for 19 years old Shane Walsh-Kehoe from Oulart and his first winner.
There was also a point-to-point at Killeagh, Cork, today and a pair of Wexford winners made the journey worthwhile.
Fedney’s Park in the colours of Caitriona Goff enjoyed a six lengths success in the maiden race for five-year-old mares, handled by her husband, Michael Goff at Clondaw and confidently ridden by their son, Harry Goff.
Josh Berry, (20), rode a short-head victory on Get Off The Phone handled by his uncle, Darragh Berry, and carrying the Run For Fun Partnership colours, in the Winner of Two race.
While Donnchadh Doyle was piling up the winners at Ballycrystal this afternoon, his brother Sean Doyle journeyed to Thurles to saddle Willitgoahead (11/10 fav.) in the hunter’s chase and Jamie Scallan got him home in front by three and a half lengths. Afterwards, Doyle admitted ‘dreaming big’ about Willitgoahead and will be seeking out opportunities at Cheltenham and Aintree in the coming months.
A man in his 50s has died in a single-vehicle collision involving a motorcycle on the R738 at Knockeen, Barntown, shortly before 6.15pm yesterday evening.
He was pronounced dead at the scene,
His body has since been removed to the mortuary at University Hospital Waterford, where a post-mortem examination will take place.
No other injuries were reported.
The road remains closed pending a technical examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators which takes place today.
Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to this collision to come forward.
Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) who were travelling in the area between 5.30pm and 6.30pm are to make this footage available to Gardaí.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Wexford Garda Station on 053 916 5200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
Concerns are growing in and around Enniscorthy town centre at the rise of anti-social behaviour and recently reported nocturnal damage to property and vehicles.
In response, a public meeting is planned for Monday, January 20th at 8.30pm in the Farm Centre, Mill Park Road. All are welcome.
Organised by Alfie O’Sullivan of Creative Grounds, Irish Street, he says on social media; “Please join us for the first public meeting of Enniscorthy Community Watch. With the recent rise in crimes being reported in the area it’s more important than ever to come together and find ways to support and protect our community.”
Mr O’Sullivan says it is an informal meeting where the following issues will be up for discussion.
Discuss the current concerns affecting our town.
Explore ways we can work together to prevent crime and anti-social behaviour issues.
Share ideas and potential solutions
“This is a chance for your voice to be heard, your ideas to be shared, and your presence to make a difference, said Mr O’Sullivan, who added; “We look forward to seeing you there!”
Gardaí and emergency services are at the scene of a serious road traffic accident on the R738 between Larkin’s Cross and Taghmon at Barntown, close to the former Stanville Lodge Hotel.
It’s thought that the accident occurred on a bad bend.
WexfordLocal.com 