The big talking point at the Ballinagore Harriers point-to-point at Ballycrystal, Kiltealy, today was the bitter cold conditions, but it remained dry, there was competitive racing with good sized fields, and it was a successful day’s sport.
Sallyville Lady won the opening maiden race for four-year-old mares for Ballindaggin handler Eamonn Doyle. It was rather easy by 15 lengths, only two finished and it was another success in the saddle for Rob James.
Local handler Matthew Flynn O’Connor was successful in division two of the maiden race for four-year-old geldings with a 10 lengths victory for Top Guy ridden by Brian Lawless.
MATTHEW FLYNN O’CONNOR saddled a winner at Ballycrystal today.
Donnchadh Doyle and the Monbeg Syndicate were in celebration mood following the maiden race for geldings aged five-years-old and upwards. Matty’s Getaway ridden by Alan Harney beat stable companion Catalini (Rob James) by five lengths.
James Condon made the trip from Clonmel to saddle Crohan Lady, first win of the season for Cork rider Cal Shine, and it was a good result in the mares maiden race for five-years-old and upwards.
The star performer on the day was David Christie’s Winged Leader who won his 14th race in succession. Josh Williamson took the mount and four and a half lengths the verdict.
Division one of the maiden race for four-year-old geldings was a 16 lengths victory for Cinammon Roll ridden by Derek O’Connor for Sam Curling who made the long journey from Cashel. Co. Tipperary.
And to complete a great afternoon for Tipperary raiders Pat Doyle from Holycross, Thurles, saddled I Masked Du Potier and a one and a half lengths success in the Winners of Two race. This was a second riding success for Pandora Briseldon who recalled her first at Tinahely in October last year.
Today’s second point-to-point fixture was Tattersalls, Co. Meath, where four Wexford winners were recorded. Jonathan Fogarty and the Gaynestown Stud Partnership are enjoying a most successful autumn season and their luck continued today when winning both divisions of the maiden race for four-year-old geldings. Starmount took division one by two lengths and Kalkbrenner scored by one and a half lengths. Both were ridden by Barry Stone.
Sean Doyle’s Willitgoahead won his third race in a row when taking the Winners race by one and a quarter length with Jamie Scallan up.
Rob James rode the first winner at Ballycrystal but as a handler he sent Create The Future to Fairyhouse for the five-year-old geldings maiden race and a three lengths victory under Duncormick rider Eoin Staples.
The point-to-point scene takes a break for the Christmas now, just one fixture at Mallow on December 30th, and part two of the 2024-’25 season kicks into full flow on New Year’s Day.
Author PIERCE TURNER and BRENDAN HOWLIN, who performed the official launch of Pierce’s autobiographical short stories, Living by the River, at Wexford Library today. (Pic; WexfordLocal.com)
By Dan Walsh at Wexford Library
Retiring Wexford politician of 40 years Brendan Howlin was at Wexford Library today where he proudly lauded Wexford’s award-winning musician Pierce Turner and officially launched his debut book of autobiographical short stories bearing the title Living by the River.
Mr Howlin likened Pierce Turner to the great Patrick Kavanagh describing him as “Wexford’s Patrick Kavanagh.”
He said; “This book Living by the River captures a period in Wexford town’s history. Not the violent and glorious history of 1798 or Cromwell or Norman knights. Pierce’s history, like Kavanagh’s is of the ordinary, understanding in the words of Seamus Heaney “that nothing is trivial”. The greatest events in history are no more important than the ordinary and the common place.
“It is the ordinary space that most lives are lived, and their dramas, successes, failures and triumphs are the “true building blocks of human history.
Howlin continues; “So we are brought to a place by the river. The river is a living thing -it – the Slaney lives across the road. We are brought back to the quay I remember as a boy – so different from today.
“To a home that is a business. A private laid-back father and an entrepreneur mother. So often in our lives the mother, the woman who wants advancement and progress, and determinately works with whatever resources that are available to make that happen.
“Pierce presents a collage of memories – of music and Sputnik (the dog) or the normal ebb and flow of existence – death and marriage, vulnerabilities and happiness.
“Of course, there is a glimpse of life outside of Wexford! Only a glimpse of New York’s brighter lights. Shared living in the global melting pot, of the Big Apple and name dropping of musical collaboration with Cynde Lauper!
Mr Howlin concluded by recalling how Wexford is blessed in this corner of Ireland to have produced such creative giants as Eoin Colfer, Billy Roche, John Banville, Colm Tóibín and many more…
He performed the official launch with the immortal words; “Jem and Molly would be proud, indeed, of Pierce; as are we Wexford people are proud to have our stories told by one of our own.”
Living by the River by Pierce Turner, 104 pages, is available at The Book Centre, Main Street, Wexford, and Red Books, St. Peter’s Square, Wexford. Pierce will be signing at The Book Centre, Wexford, from 3pm next Saturday, December 14th. This is the ultimate Christmas read!
The North Pole Express stole the show at tonight’s Oylegate-Enniscorthy Night Road Run. (Pic; WexfordLocal.com)
By Dan Walshat Enniscorthy
The North Pole Express that once served its time on a busy bus route in London city stole the show at the annual Light Up the Night Road Run comprising of over 300 vehicles of all description -trucks, tractors and motorbikes, vintage and modern – which brought seasonal joy and musical excitement to Enniscorthy tonight. It was of those so-called ‘annual specials’ and brilliant, as always!
The colourful – flashing lights – and musical – tooting of horns and blasting out familiar Christmas tunes – cavalcade assembled in the GAA park at Oylegate before taking the 22kms return journey along the N11 and R772 with the turn around in the heart of Enniscorthy beside the River Slaney on the Promenade.
Large numbers of families gathered in Oylegate village, there was a warm reception, as always in Enniscorthy town, and along the route parked cars with eager supporters were almost bumper to bumper!
The public reaction to the event is staggering and a wonderful appreciation of the efforts of the organisers, volunteers and community energy that is necessary to carry out the logistics of the event in line with public safety and reduced disruption for the public good. Special thanks to An Garda Siochána and the Civil Defence for their contribution.
This is a tremendous annual event organised by Oylegate Vintage Club, supported in the community and from several parts of the county, and is a serious fundraiser for Pieta House. The organisers were overwhelmed by the financial support, but also encouraged by the huge crowds in Oylegate and Enniscorthy, and along the route, mostly families with young children, who braved cold to wrap up and enjoy the colourful spectacle.
Exactly 100 entries have been received for the Ballinagore Harriers point-to-point taking place at Ballycrystal, Kiltealy, tomorrow, Sunday. The first of six races is off at 12 noon.
INH Course Inspector Pat Kelly reports that the going will be ‘good to yielding’, the track is beautifully laid out and there is a great covering of grass. The weather is forecast as ‘mainly dry’ for Sunday and the organising committee is hopeful of a large attendance and the promise of a great afternoon’s sport.
BARRY STONE… another winner today at Cork point-to-point races.
There was point-to-point action today (Saturday) at Boulta, Co. Cork and some Wexford winners. The four-year-old geldings’ maiden race was divided and the first division was completed by the success of Clay Pigeons who maintained the good run enjoyed by Cleariestown handler Jonathan Fogarty and rider Barry Stone. It was a short-head decision with Sean Doyle’s Kaka’s Cousin (Jamie Scallan) in the runner-up spot.
However, Doyle and Scallan were compensated in the Winner of Two race when Gale Force Jet in the colours of Henry Chamney came home three and a half lengths to the good.
Rob James rode his 360th career point-to-point winner on Maribeth for Tipperary handler Pat Doyle in the maiden race for four-year-old mares by half a length with Colin Bowe’s Kenisa Sport (Barry O’Neill) in runner-up position.
Uisce Éireann customers in Gorey may be experiencing disruptions to their water supply today because of power outages at the local treatment plants and a major burst to a water main in the town.
Power outages caused by Storm Darragh has affected operations and crews are currently on the ground in Gorey Town repairing a major burst. As a result, customers in Gorey may experience supply issues or intermittent outages over the course of the day.
Uisce Éireann is working with the ESB to restore power and return water supplies to normal levels as quickly as possible.
Customers are urged to conserve water where possible to protect supply while the outages are resolved.
Vulnerable customers who have registered with Uisce Éireann receive direct communications from us for planned and unplanned outages lasting more than four hours.
Uisce Éireann’s customer care team is available to help 24/7 on 1800 278 278 and customers can also contact us on X @IWCare with any queries.
Uisce Éireann has also launched a free text service, providing real-time updates for local issues. Customers can sign up with their Eircode and mobile number at www.water.ie.
Elected members of Wexford County Council have approved a budget of €175,427,695 for the coming year. It represents an increase of €11.1 million on this year, with “the increased expenditure budget largely supported by increased grant income in the areas of Housing”.
The council had already voted in favour of retaining the 15% adjustment to local property tax from 2025 to 2029. Head of Finance Lynda Lacey stated that this decision, although not unanimous, had provided an additional €1.9 million “to allow the continuation of support funding for the Economic and Community Development programme” and “additional funding for service delivery at local Municipal District level”.
There will be an increase of €500,000 to Municipal District allocations over the next five years, €100,000 per district, and an increase in discretionary funding for each member by an additional €7,000.
The 2025 budgetary plan for the districts is as follows; Gorey/Kilmuckridge €628,000, Wexford (€546,000), Enniscorthy (€495,000), New Ross (€470,000) and Rosslare (€380,000).
€40.4 million was set out for the year for all roads, transportation and safety works.
Cllr Jim Codd stated that with a rise in flash flooding and storms of increasing ferocity, roads are falling further and further into disrepair.
With a budget of €530,000 set out for festivals across the Municipal District for 2025, Council Chief Executive Eddie Taaffe said that a “full root and branch review” would be carried out to “find the best way forward”.
He said that the intention here was not to reduce investment in festivals, but established what kind of investment was required for certain festivals to continue and grow.
Set out among the priority projects for 2025 under this budget were the Market House in Gorey; John Street Building Regeneration in New Ross; further master planning for a 50-acre site for the new SETU campus; Esmonde Street in Gorey; Wexfordia Projects at the Irish National Heritage Park, Hook Lighthouse and New Ross tourism projects; Enniscorthy Town Centre and Tourism Project; delivery of a temporary car park in Courtown; Wexford town to Rosslare greenway; Enniscorthy Sports Hub and Curracloe Water Sports Activity Facility.
In terms of the economic infrastructure programme, work continues at Trinity Wharf, the advanced factory in New Ross, Enniscorthy Technology Park, a business hub in Kilmore, collaboration with Tara Film Studios and Rosslare Europort.
Wexford is set to get a new Mayor following the election of the present incumbent Cllr George Lawlor to Dáil Éireann at last week’s General Election. Lawlor was elected to the seat vacated by the retiring TD Brendan Howlin.
GEORGE LAWLOR TD (Pic; WexfordLocal.com)
Cllr Lawlor had a busy day at Saturday’s Count Centre but took a break from the hustings to switch on the Christmas Lights on Wexford Quay’s – his final function as Mayor of Wexford.
Cllr Lawlor’s replacement as Mayor of Wexford will be decided at a meeting of Wexford Borough District in the coming days while it is the gift of The Labour Party to put forward Vicky Clancy Barron as Lawlor’s replacement on Wexford County Council.
Ms. Barron received 412 first preference votes at last June’s Local Elections and she was still standing at the 11th and final count when her vote had more than doubled and stood at 986 votes.
Another seat to be filled on Wexford County Council is the Sinn Féin seat vacated by Cllr Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin who was elected to Dáil Éireann in the new 3-seat constituency of Wicklow- Wexford.
In the Local Elections Sinn Féin backed Kevin Molloy as Ó Súilleabháin’s running mate. He received 521 first preferences and stood on 599 when eliminated on the 6th Count.
Will Molloy be the party’s choice to replace Ó Súilleabháin? Or will there be another name put forward? The party voice is zipped on this one for the time being, but all will soon be revealed.
Bishop Ger Nash joins with all volunteers and supporters of The Society of St Vincent de Paul in urging your generosity once again.
By Dan Walsh
The annual Christmas church gate collections for the Society of St Vincent de Paul takes place this weekend – Saturday and Sunday- across all parishes throughout the Diocese of Ferns. The theme of this years’ appeal is “Helping to give Families the Wonder of Christmas”
Bishop Ger Nash joins with all volunteers and supporters of The Society of St Vincent de Paul in urging your generosity once again and thanking you in advance for your consideration of those less fortunate.
Bishop Nash met recently with Vice President of the Wexford Area Conference of the Society of St Vincent de Paul and the President of the Enniscorthy Area conference to organise collectors and plan for the popular annual event.
Bishop Nash told WexfordLocal.com; “With high rents and the spiralling cost of living many families are wondering how they are going to meet all the costs associated with Christmas.
“The job of The Society of St Vincent de Paul, with your help, is to take this wonder and fear away from those who are struggling and replace it with the true magical wonder of Christmas.
“Your generous contributions will make sure that families in need can be helped. For your kindness and compassion, thank you,” concluded Bishop Nash.
Local conferences will also be in some local supermarkets over the coming weeks for a food appeal and donations of staple items such as coffee, tea, sugar, cereal as well as Christmas foods such as boxes of biscuits, sweets and cakes all gratefully received and will be donated to local families during the festive period.
All donations provided locally will be used locally to help families across the county over Christmas and into 2025.
Donations can also be made locally and call 053 9143568 to get details of your local conference.
WexfordLocal.com 