News and Sport and Events that matter across County Wexford.
By Dan Walsh
Wexford teachers in primary and second level schools are reminded that the closing date for this year’s Texaco Children’s Art Competition entries is Friday, 28th February.
The Texaco Children’s Art Competition, now in its 71st year, is recognised as the longest-running arts sponsorship in Ireland.
Further information can be accessed at http://www.texacochildrensart.com or at Texaco service stations located throughout the county.
By Dan Walsh
Denis Murphy of Ballyboy Stables, The Ballagh, won both four-year-old maiden races at Askeaton, Co. Limerick and Tallow, Co. Waterford today. Jack Hendrick also secured a double victory in Limerick.
Mayglass rider Jack Hendrick participated in the maiden race for four-year-olds in Limerick aboard Taurus Bay for Denis Murphy, achieving victory by two and a half lengths in the first leg of a double.
Half an hour later and Hendrick got home by half a length on U S Marshall for Ballycrystal, Kiltealy, handler Matthew Flynn-O’Connor in the maiden race for five-year-old geldings.
The third Wexford winner at Limerick was in the final race, the six-year-olds plus maiden. Midnight Moonshine won by half a length for the Roche family and was handled by Daryl Deacon from Belmont, Clonroche. Brian Dunleavy rode the winning horse.
Denis Murphy initiated the proceedings at Tallow with a decisive 14-length victory for Hitintheheadlines, ridden by Sean Cotter, in the maiden race for four-year-olds. This success marked a double achievement at different venues for The Ballagh handler.
Eamonn Doyle and the Mossy Fen Stables Partnership at Ballindaggin also achieved success at Tallow. The newcomer Mossy Fen Coolio had an impressive 25 lengths to spare over rivals in the maiden race for five-year-old geldings and provided another victory for Tomhaggard rider Jamie Scallan.
Saturday’s point-to-point at Kirkistown in Co. Down featured a notable win for Wexford. Kanzler, trained by Michael Goff of Clondaw, Enniscorthy, secured victory by seven lengths in the maiden race for four-year-olds. This achievement marked the fifth career win for his son, Harry Goff.
By Dan Walsh at Enniscorthy Castle
Visiting Enniscorthy Castle is a rewarding experience throughout the year. This afternoon, a new exhibition titled Creations of a Colourful Mind opened, showcasing a collection of contemporary paintings.
The colourful paintings that adorn the ancient castle walls are the latest work of three talented local artists; Olivia O’Keeffe, Martina Furlong and Marja van Kempen, and part of a joint creative journey where their unique, distinctive style and self-expression is evident.
Marja van Kampen is a full-time painter and printmaker, born in the Netherlands, and moved to Ireland in 1982. She recently moved to Enniscorthy where she set up a new art facility at the IFA Centre.
A Wexford native, Martina Furlong from Galbally, near Bree, paints and exhibits landscapes and abstracts for lovers of colourful, tactile art in her studio gallery at Oulart. Her work has been widely acclaimed and exhibited on numerous occasions.
Born in Cork, Olivia O’Keeffe is now resident in the Netherlads and proudly describes herself as ‘an Irish artist’ with the desire to create a basic instinct and a necessity, connecting us to the universal source. “It’s all about creating and connecting, reflecting and sharing,” she told WexfordLocal.com.
Maria Nolan officially opened the exhibition. A local writer and artist involved in three films, Ms. Nolan praised the talented female artists and admired the vibrant colours in the paintings.
The current exhibition runs in Enniscorthy Castle until Friday, April 25thand moves to the Coastguard Cultural Centre, Tramore, Co. Waterford from April 27th to May 31st.
By Dan Walsh
Yesterday (Thursday) Revenue Officers seized 1,452,600 cigarettes at Rosslare Europort.
The cigarettes, branded Oscar Special Filter, Oscar Super Slims Blue and Mac Extra Filter Queens, have a retail value of over €1,310,000 representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of more than €1,036,000.
The cigarettes were discovered when an accompanied freight unit that had disembarked a ferry from Dunkirk, France was stopped and searched. The truck and trailer were also seized.
This seizure is part of Revenue’s ongoing operations targeting the supply and sale of illegal cigarettes and tobacco in the shadow economy.
If businesses, or members of the public, have any information regarding the smuggling or sale of illegal cigarettes or tobacco, they can contact Revenue in confidence on 1800 295 295.
By Dan Walsh
Sections of the Road Traffic Act 2024 comes into effect today (Friday), February 7th. Local roads will see a reduction in speed limits from 80 km/h to 60 km/h.
WexfordLocal.com has been creating awareness around the new changes to rural roads speed limits this week and there has been public reaction, which is always welcome!
Barrister and former County Councillor for the Gorey-Kilmuckridge district, Andrew Bolger believes that these changes won’t be seismic. “What comes next after this initial step is what motorists should really take notice of.”
“Is speeding normally enforced on a local or rural road? Probably not. There can’t be a Guard on every corner, nor should there be. It’s just not practical.”
Mr. Bolger believes that many motorists will find themselves charged with speeding when they honestly believed they were within the speed limit.“I would imagine that there will be a number of challenges brought before the District Court on the basis of incorrect signage on the road or in circumstances where people use an App which tells them the speed limit, and that limit may now be wrong. People are bound to make an honest mistake; should they be punished for it?”
Later this year, on national secondary roads, speed limits will decrease from 100 km/h to 80 km/h. Mr. Bolger believes this is where most of the issues will arise. “There seems to be more enforcement on these roads, and I think local authorities really need to ramp up their communication campaign about what speed limits will be changing. Councils can increase the speed limit back to its original limit if they feel this is necessary, and I suspect the local engineers’ inboxes will be bursting at the seams once the speed limits drop.
“When the motorways opened in County Wexford, some roads had a speed limit reduction applied to them. It was like shooting fish in a barrel for a GoSafe van. I suspect these changes will be no different.”
These changes are happening against the backdrop of a significant number of road deaths in Ireland. “Perhaps this is the dramatic change of the speed limits that will bring down the number of road deaths. I hope it does, and I think it can, eventually. However, there are bound to be people caught out with speeding fines and penalty points when it was never their intention to speed,” concluded Mr. Bolger.
By Dan Walsh
Gardaí at New Ross are appealing for witnesses following a single-vehicle collision on the R734 at Poulfur, Fethard-on-Sea, at approximately 11.40pm last night.
A man, aged in his 20s, was taken to Waterford University Hospital to be treated for serious injuries.
The female occupant of the car, aged in her 20s, was taken to Wexford General Hospital for treatment.
Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to come forward.
Those with camera footage, including motorists with dash-cam, from the area at the time are asked to provide it to investigating Gardaí.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact New Ross Garda Station on (051) 426030, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
By Dan Walsh
From tomorrow (Friday) speed limits on all Co. Wexford rural roads are being reduced from 80Km/h to 60km/h.
The change is expected to make roads safer for all users especially motorists, pedestrians, children and cyclists.
The changes make sense as travelling at high speeds on rural roads is lunacy and the inconvenience of slowing down should be fully endorsed by all responsible roadusers. That said, the Gardaí has told WexfordLocal.com that they apprehended a driver travelling at 136km/h in an 80km/h zone at Monart, near Enniscorthy, on St. Brigid’s Holiday weekend!
However, sceptics are enquiring if the lowering of speed limits is an excuse for not filling the potholes and carrying out proper maintenance on rural roads?
REVIEW; The National Speed Limit Review legislation became law on April 12th, 2024, and the provisional commencement for rural local roads was last November, however, we are running behind the proposed date, but the safer roads law is effective from Friday, February 7th (tomorrow).
WexfordLocal.com attended two meetings on the same day last July where elected members were briefed on the changes at meetings of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council and Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District by Wexford County Council Chief Technician, David Codd.
Mr. Codd told the meetings that 2,993 km of non-national country roads will be assessed, that is 83.14% of Co. Wexford’s total road network consisting of 865km of Local Primary; 1,428km of Local Secondary and 646km of Local Tertiary. Approximately 700 poles and signs will be erected across the county.
By Dan Walsh
Wexford County Council has launched its first affordable housing purchase scheme for private buyers at ‘Radharc na Beannoige’, Ramsfort, Gorey.
A total of 20 homes consisting of three bed units are being made available for sale by Wexford County Council through the affordable purchase arrangements, under the Affordable Housing Act 2021 and associated regulations.
The development of new A rated homes, in partnership with Mythen Construction, will provide first-time buyers and eligible homebuyers the opportunity to buy a newly constructed home.
Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council, Cllr Pip Breen said; “Wexford County Council is delighted to reach this important milestone, the portal launch for this pilot scheme offers eligible buyers a great opportunity to secure their own home at an affordable price’
Chief Executive of Wexford County Council, Eddie Taaffe said; “We are absolutely committed to delivering high quality, affordable homes across county Wexford, today’s launch is welcome news to buyers in the Gorey area. I would encourage anyone who might be interested to visit the council’s website and to familiarise themselves with the scheme and eligibility requirements.”
Applications must be made through Wexford County Councils Affordable Housing Portal. The online application portal will open at 10am on Wednesday, February 12th and close at 5pm Wednesday, March 5th, 2025.
Further information on the scheme, including the application process and supporting documentation required is available at Affordable Housing/Wexford County Council at www.radharcnabeannoige.ie
All queries in relation to this exciting new home ownership opportunity, please contact Wexford County Council at affordablehousing@wexfordcoco.ie
By Dan Walsh
Kilmore Quay RNLI Volunteers were delighted this week to meet those who took part in 20 Dips in December raising a record €7535.25 this year for their local lifeboat station.
Now in its fourth year and organised by local ladies Gráinne O’Brien, Melinda Kehoe and Simmi Duffin, the fundraising event challenges participants to take 20 dips in the sea during the month of December culminating in a community swim in Kilmore Quay on New Year’s Eve.
Forty-five people of all ages completed the full challenge at various locations throughout the month of December as conditions allowed. Safety always to the fore, this year the final swim was postponed a day due to inclement weather on December 31st.
However, that did not deter the swimmers who instead showed up in numbers the next day and completed their ‘20 Dips’ on a sunny winter’s afternoon on January 1st.
Gráinne O’Brien, 20 Dips in December Organiser, said ‘We have had phenomenal support for this event from so many people, whether it was help organising swims, donating raffle prizes, donations of refreshments, whatever we needed, somebody stepped up to help.
“We particularly want to thank our sponsors Sofrimar who sponsored our swim caps this year. We are extremely grateful to all who donated to the event or sponsored us and especially to those who took part throughout the month. We are thrilled to be able to handover this fantastic amount to such a great cause. Makes all those cold dips worthwhile!” concluded Ms. O’Brien.
John Grace, Kilmore Quay RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager who welcomed the participants to the station on Monday, said; “We are delighted to welcome you all here today especially so many young people. This is a fantastic community event and now a regular fixture on the annual calendar. “Fundraising is so important to what we do and without people like yourselves, our lifeboat service could not continue as we do. On behalf of all the volunteers at Kilmore Quay Lifeboat station, thank you all for your fantastic efforts on our behalf,” added Mr Grace.
By Dan Walsh
Brendan (Tack) Murphy raised €940 through donations and sponsorship when he completed the Christmas Day swim in Courtown Harbour.
Courtown RNLI is Brendan’s favourite charity and he is a regular swimmer in Courtown during the summer months and uses the pool during the winter.
He took to the sea on Christmas Day and raised a massive €940 which he donated to Courtown RNLI
The RNLI is funded by donations and the station were delighted to receive such a generous donation from Brendan and his sponsors.
All proceeds will go to Courtown RNLI lifeboat station. The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea.
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