6th Askamore Art Exhibition runs until Sunday

At the launch of the Askamore Art Exhibition (left to right); Alison Bayne, Dave Pearson, Philip Judge, who performed the official opening, Noeleen Deegan and David Bayne. (Pic; WexfordLocal.com)  

By Dan Walsh at Askamore Community Centre Hall

The 6th annual Askamore Art Exhibition was launched in Askamore Community Centre Hall tonight (Wednesday) by well-known actor and writer, Philip Judge. It is the biggest Askamore Art Exhibition ever with 41 artists exhibiting 137 pieces of vibrant and original works.

An accomplished actor with many roles on television, film and theatre in Dublin and London, Philip Judge was deputising for singer Mary Caughlan who cried off at short notice. Judge is also well-known as the author of a best-selling book – In Sight of Yellow Mountain; A Year in the Irish Countryside.

“I am delighted to be here. I have had a chance to look around the exhibition about half an hour ago. There is some fantastic works here and I would like to add my congratulations to the artists,” said Mr Judge.

Master of Ceremonies was Helen Kearney, Chair of Askamore Community Council, who welcomed Mr Judge, praised the artists for their wonderful work and complemented the organising committee for putting the four-day exhibition together.

The exhibitors are Susanne Gaughan, Theresa Hogan, Margaret Kenny, Naoise Hennessy, Alison Hayden, Samantha Wall, Allan Kinsella, Breda Byrne, Rita Lee, Susan Crampton, Mary Steacy, Hilary Jacob, Alison Bayne, Aidan Bolger, John Hempenstall, Una White, Barbara Jameson, Liz O’Brien, Maureen Marsh, Joan Byrne, Cloida Morris, Pauline Browne, Mary Doran, Breda Mahon, Joan Byrne, Tommy Patchell, Margaret Jameson, Barry O’Sullivan, Orla Callaghan, Jackie Christian, Brigid Kinsella, Mary O’Toole, Vivienne Byrne, Brigid Roche, Pauline Brown, Ann-Marie Sweeney, Robyn Stevens, Bridget Monks, Shanon O’Bracken, Dave Pearson and Niki Purcell.

The Askamore Art Exhibition in Askamore Community Centre Hall is open daily from 10am to 6pm on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Alcohol seized at Rosslare Europort

Revenue Officers have seized almost 26,400 litres of alcohol, with an estimated value of €109,458, at Rosslare Europort. 

The seizure comprised of 25,812 litres of beer, 472.5 litres of wine and a small quantity of spirits, representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of more than €52,000.

The consignment of beer arrived in an accompanied trailer that had disembarked a ferry from Dunkirk, France. Following an investigation, both the trailer and the alcohol products were seized. 

Investigations are ongoing. 

If businesses, or members of the public have any information, they can contact Revenue in confidence on Confidential Phone Number 1800 295 295.

Wexford hotel sold for €21m

By Dan Walsh

Dalata Hotel Group, the largest hotel operator in Ireland, has agreed a deal to sell the Clayton Whites Hotel in Wexford town to Neville Hotels for €21 million.

Neville Hotels is owned by local Wexford man Seamus Neville and the group’s portfolio includes the Ravenport Hotel in Wexford, Druids Glen in Wicklow and the Royal Marine in Dublin.

Earlier this year, Dalata sold the Maldron Hotel in Wexford to the Neville Park Hotel Group for an undisclosed sum. It is being renamed Newtown Park Hotel.

Therese Kelly, Director of Neville Hotels, said the hotel group was delighted to add Whites Hotel in Wexford to its portfolio of hotels. “This acquisition marks our sixth hotel for the group, and we feel this hotel will complement our new property in Curracloe, The Ravenport Resort, very well,” stated Ms Kelly.

‘Unlikely’ Christmas car park on new site

By Dan Walsh at Enniscorthy Municipal District meeting

Although the old Murphy Flood’s site at Main Street, Irish Street and Barrack Street has been cleared it is “highly unlikely” that it will serve as a car park this Christmas according to information brought to the table at today’s monthly meeting of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council held in the Council Chamber at the Presentation Centre.

Executive Engineer Neville Shaw said the site was progressing, but a few issues need to be addressed including the discovery of old drains on the site. He said there needs to be a topographical survey, a drainage survey, a detailed design drawn up and contractors to be appointed. “There is unlikely to be car parking on the site before Christmas!” he outlined.

Cllr Pat Kehoe acknowledged that the car parking solution was “only temporary”, but he expressed concerns about keeping down costs in the budget! He felt that because it is “a temporary site” expensive works and expensive materials should not be the cause of the delay.

Director of Services Carolyne Godkin said that while it could be a temporary site for the next 10 years (or more) while waiting for investment she emphasised that “construction and service work are paramount for the site.”

The plan for car parking on the old Murphy Floods site was presented to the October Enniscorthy Municipal District Council meeting by David Whitty from the Special Projects department at Wexford County Council. It was adopted 4-2 by the members.

It comprises of 28 car parking spaces – three are accessible – and includes a realm comprising of bench seating, planter boxes and an embankment with planted vegetation. A 2.8metre flight of steps will take pedestrians to and from Market Square.

In another development Cllr Jackser Owens suggested moving the Saturday morning farmer’s market at Abbey Square to the old Murphy Floods proposed car park site! Cllr Owens said that Cllr John O’Rourke had campaigned to bring the farmer’s market to Rafter St and he supported bringing the  weekly market to the town centre!

Major water supply issues in Gorey

By Dan Walsh in Gorey

In a statement to WexfordLocal.com this evening Uisce Éireann says it is working to restore water supply to homes and businesses following operational issues at the Gorey Town Water Supply. As a result, water supply to the Gorey Urban Water Supply Zone, Gorey Town (Gorey Irish Street and Gorey North) and surrounding areas is impacted.
Alternative Water Supplies (IBCs) will be deployed at the following locations: Woodlands Manor, Baile Eogain, Cois Doire, Ashwood Grove, Willow Park, Hunters Green, Pearsons Brook, Raithin Cuilin, Creagh Wood, Ardmore, Allenwood Drive, Park Avenue. 
Customers must boil water taken from tankers before use

MAIN STREET, GOREY (File Pic; WexfordLocal.com)

Expert crews are on the ground working to restore normal water supply as quickly as possible to impacted customers. Repair works are scheduled to take place until 7pm this evening (Tuesday,November 19th).

Uisce Éireann would like to apologise for the inconvenience of an unplanned outage of this nature and would like to thank customers for their support while crews work to ensure that a normal water supply is returned to those impacted as quickly as possible.

Following repair works, it typically takes two to three hours for normal supply to be fully restored to all areas as the water refills the network, especially for those on higher ground or at the end of the network.

Homes and businesses in Gorey and surrounding areas may experience low water pressure, temporary water discolouration or intermittent disruptions to water supply. 

Uisce Éireann will continue to keep customers updated as repairs continue. The Uisce Éireann customer care helpline is open 24/7 on 1800 278 278 and customers can also contact on Twitter @IWCare with any queries. For updates, please see the Water Supply updates section of water.ie.

Sea casualty rescued at Great Saltee

By Dan Walsh

Kilmore Quay RNLI were requested to launch by the Irish Coast Guard at 11.30am on Monday when a casualty who had been on a small inflatable dinghy got into difficulty at sea, and at 11.55am was quickly located on the rocks at the north-west end of the Great Saltee.

KILMORE QUAY RNLI LIFEBOAT (File Pic; Elaine Walsh/RNLI)

It was raining at the time with a south-easterly force 4 wind and with sea conditions described as slight.

The casualty was found cold but well. The lifeboat was soon under way back to Kilmore Quay harbour, arriving at 1pm where the casualty was transferred into the care of the National Ambulance Service.

John Grace, Kilmore Quay RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, said; “We would like to wish the casualty well and commend the person who raised the alarm when they knew this person was overdue – that is always the right thing to do, and we would encourage anyone with a concern for someone to never hesitate in making that call. If you do get into difficulty or see someone else in trouble, dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.”

Business Leadership Summit was a big success

Pictured at the County Wexford Leadership Summit held in Newbay House, Wexford and were contributors to the second Leadership in Action panel (l-r): Brendan Crowley, Managing Director, Wexford Bus; John Walsh, Commercial Director, ABP Food Group Ireland & Poland; David O’Connor, Director, Sheil Kinnear; Therese Kelly, Director, Neville Hotels; and Linda Earlie, Senior Executive, Enterprise Ireland.

The County Wexford Chamber Leadership Summit, held at Newbay House, Wexford, was a remarkable success, bringing together business leaders and innovators from across the region.

The event, hosted by MC and Executive Coach Orlaith Carmody, featured a keynote address by An Post CEO David McRedmond, who captivated the audience with his insights on business transformation and innovation.

The summit provided attendees with actionable strategies for business growth and leadership development. “We had the privilege of hearing from David McRedmond, who shared valuable insights into the transformation he led at An Post,” said Paula Roche, CEO of County Wexford Chamber. “Additionally, representatives from Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland outlined the supports available for businesses and discussed the importance of foreign direct investment in driving the continued economic growth of County Wexford.”

In addition to Mr. McRedmond, the summit featured contributions from notable speakers including Brian McGee, Regional Enterprise Development Manager at IDA; Gavin Walsh, Large Enterprise Account Director at LinkedIn; and Linda Earlie, Senior Executive at Enterprise Ireland.

“We were also inspired by the success stories from some of County Wexford’s most innovative and influential businesses,” added Ms. Roche. Entrepreneurs and business leaders such as Pauline Oakes, Vice President of Operations for EMEA/APAC at Integer; Pat Bevan, Managing Director of Reynaers Aluminium Ireland; Deirdre Hannon, Plant Manager at Danone; Rosie Keary, Managing Director of Kersia; Billy Hoey, Senior Project Manager – Design and Construction for Iarnród Éireann, Port Authority Rosslare Europort; Gerard Reynolds, Director of Operations at BD; Brendan Crowley, Managing Director of Wexford Bus; John Walsh, Commercial Director at ABP Food Group Ireland & Poland; David O’Connor, Managing Partner at Sheil Kinnear; and Therese Kelly, Director at Neville Hotels, shared their insights and experiences.

“This summit was a fantastic opportunity to connect and learn from local leaders who are shaping the future of our business community,” said Ms. Roche.

The interactive panel discussions, networking opportunities, and insights from County Wexford Chamber Skillnet and Rethink Ireland were designed to inspire and equip attendees with actionable strategies for business growth and leadership development.

The event was generously supported by Wexford Bus and County Wexford Chamber Skillnet, ensuring its success and impact on the local business community.

Enniscorthy launch of Peace Park Project

At the official launch of the Playful Places Project at Orchard Peace Park, Enniscorthy, this morning. (Pic; WexfordLocal.com)

By Dan Walsh at Enniscorthy Orchard Peace Park

“These instruments have been installed to add to the character of the peace park where we have a public amenity in a central location within the town,” said Cathaoirleach of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council, Cllr Aidan Browne, as he performed the official launch of the Playful Places Project at the Orchard Peace Park, Enniscorthy, in rainy Monday morning conditions.

“The musical instruments will encourage old and young to the park and spark some activity and interaction with others,” said Cllr Browne, who said he was delighted to launch the project, and he continued; “As part of the project’s design to promote inclusion through playful ideas, there is also seating along the way to take a break if needed.

AUDIO ADDITION; Cathaoirleach Cllr Aidan Browne speaking at the opening of the Playful Spaces Project at Enniscorthy Peace Park today.

Claire Lawless, District Manager, guided proceedings and acted as master of ceremonies and welcomed Minister James Browne, Cllrs John O’Rourke and Barbara-Anne Murphy, Ms. Whelan and a class from St. Aidan’s Primary School and invited guests from a retirement home.

Ms. Lawless said funding for the project was secured from the Department of Health and the project is supported by Healthy Wexford the Healthy Ireland fund. Ann Marie Laffan, Wexford County Council’s Age Friendly Programme Manager was in attendance.

“I would like to thank Enniscorthy Municipal District Council staff Edel Nolan, Senior Staff Officer, for securing the funding for the project and Lisa Moore, Assistant Staff Officer who took the lead on the project and came up with the idea for musical instruments and brought the project to fruition and Neville Shaw, Senior Executive Engineer,” said Ms. Lawless who concluded; “This is a great amenity for Enniscorthy and it is our intention to secure further funding to develop the park in the future.”

Tinahely treble for Doyle and Scallan

JAMIE SCALLAN and SEAN DOYLE celebrating a treble success at Tinahely point-to-point today. (Pic; WexfordLocal.com)

By Dan Walsh at Fairwood, Tinahely

Ballindaggin handler Sean Doyle and Tomhaggard rider Jamie Scallan had a brilliant day at the Wicklow Foxhounds point-to-point at Fairwood, Tinahely, today (Sunday) where they shared a well-deserved treble success.

Doyle and Scallan got off the mark with Gale Force Jet owned by Henry Chamney who scored by five lengths in the maiden race for five and six-year-old geldings. “He will go for a winners’ race at Punchestown if he is not sold,” said Doyle afterwards.

Willitgoahead for the Monbeg Partnsership brought success number two for Doyle and Scallan by an easy 13.5 lengths in the Open Race beating the red-hot favourite Lifetime Ambition. “He has loads of ability and will go to Limerick for a hunter’s chase at Christmas,” added handler Doyle.

It was a first treble for Tomhaggard rider Jamie Scallan, but Sean Doyle admitted to having one before as the partnership unsaddled Between Waters who took the Winners of One Mares Race by ‘a neck’ in the final race of the day.

Another Ballindaggin handler who sent out his second winner was Jim O’Neill, brother of champion rider Barry O’Neill, who saddled Icare Du Marais to a single length success in the maiden race for six-year-olds and over confined to novice riders and Alan Harney, from Kilmacow, Kilkenny, was in the saddle. “He is a grand horse. He will go for a ‘winners’ now and he will come on for that run,” said O’Neill afterwards.

Denis Murphy’s Ballyboy Stables, The Ballagh, enjoyed a tight finish – half a length – success with Gaelic Pride ridden by Jack Hendrick in the maiden race for four-year-olds. “He likes being handy, He is for sale. He will win plenty of races,” said a delighted Murphy afterwards.

Barry O’Neill was in the winner’s enclosure following the one and a half lengths victory on Nanny Betty, running in the colours of Tom Power and Annette Lawlor and handled locally by John Patrick Walsh, Ballyday, Gorey, in the maiden race for mares aged five years or older.

There was also point-to-point action at Thurles, Co. Tipperary today (Sunday) and success for Wexford was on the cards. Ellen Doyle and the Baltimore Stables Syndicate at Coolgarrow Lane, Enniscorthy, took the maiden race for four-year-old mares by20 lengths with newcomer Porte Jaune ridden by Brian Dunleavy.

Cleariestown rider Barry Stone teamed up with Waterford handler Paul Power to win the maiden race for four-year-old geldings on newcomer Alzurs Thunder; and Eoin Staples, Duncormick, rode the John P McManus owned Priory Park to his third success this season in the Open Race confined to novice riders by five lengths and trained by legendary Tipperary trainer Edward O’Grady.

Next Sunday, point-to-point action comes to Lingstown, Tomhaggard and the autumn Killinick Harriers meet. First race at 12.30pm. Entries close on Tuesday at mid-day with p2p.ie.

10 candidates for 3 seats in Wicklow-Wexford constituency

By Dan Walsh

The General Election takes place on Friday, November 29th with polling stations open from 7am to 10pm in the new 3-seat Wicklow-Wexford constituency.

The following 10 candidates have been nominated to stand in the new Wicklow-Wexford constituency.

ANN WALSH Green Party/Comhaontas Glas, a psychologist from Castletown, Inch.

PEIR LEONARD Non-Party, a County Councillor from Arklow.

BRIAN BRENNAN Fine Gael, a hospitality consultant from Gorey Hill.

PAT KENNEDY Fianna Fáil, a public servant from Rathdrum.

SINEÁD BOLAND Aontú, a former teacher from Kilmacanogue.

FIONNTÁN Ó SÚILLEABHÁIN, Sinn Fein, a public representative from Guaire.

AISLINN O’KEEFFE People Before Profit – Solidarity, a tour guide from Dublin 8.

MALCOLM BYRNE Fianna Fail, public representative from Gorey.

FRANCES LAWLOR Independent Ireland, homemaker from Greystones.

LISA-MARIA NOLAN, Non-Party, Director of Medical Company from Dublin 18.