The search operation for a missing man in Wexford Harbour is in its second day and resumed this morning (Monday).
According to the Coast Guard; “Search teams from Rosslare/Carnsore, the drone team and search team from Curracloe Coast Guard units alongside the Wexford RNLI inshore lifeboat are on scene to commence a search of the area.”
The search is for a young man, who is aged in his late teens, who is believed to have entered the water at around 2.05am on Sunday morning.
A search will also be conducted by the Garda water unit, with support from Slaney Search and Rescue.
The resumption of the search follows an extensive operation in the Wexford Harbour area yesterday which had to be called off in the afternoon due to deteriorating weather conditions.
Gardai in Wexford have arrested a man and a woman following the discovery of the body of a man in his 20’s in the water at Carrigfoyle Lake, near Barntown, formerly a working quarry and now a recreational area on the outskirts of Wexford town.
The two people who are detained, a man in his 40’s and a woman in her 30’s, are being held under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act and they may be either charged or released tomorrow. They are both detained at a Garda Station in Wexford
The deceased man is Stephen Ring, (27), who was reported missing on Tuesday, October 15th. The missing person appeal was stood down following the discovery of a body earlier today.
Gardaí closed off the area following the discovery around mid-day on Sunday and had to turn away several people looking to use the trails around the lake this afternoon.
Stephen Ring’s remains have been removed to University Hospital Waterford for a post mortem examination expected to take place tomorrow (Monday).
Gardaí have sealed off the scene and members of the Garda Technical Bureau have finished their work for today and uniformed members remain at the scene.
Four winners today – two at Tinahely and two at Tattersalls – for champion Colin Bowe puts the Kiltely handler six ahead with 11 victories in the first month of the 2024-’25 national point-to-point championship. It was also a good day for Rob James with a treble at Tinahely that places him sharing the top of the table in the riders’ championship with Barry O’Neill.
At Tinahely the four-year-old maiden race was divided with the Benjamin Halsall owned Purple Owl getting home best by one length for Barry O’Neill and Colin Bowe team. Division two went to Donncha Doyle’s newcomer Show In The Sky by an impressive 14 lengths and the start of a treble for rider Rob James. Doyle added another winner in the Open Race when Er Dancer scored by two lengths with Alex Harvey up.
COLIN BOWE
James captured number two on Colin Bowe’s Wild Nephin by two and a half lengths in the maiden race for five-year-old geldings. James made it three on Rebel Treaty by three lengths in the mare’s Winner of One Race for Ballincollig handler Con McSweeney.
There was only one finisher at the end of the maiden race for five-year-old mares Emily Love owned and trained at Ballyboy Stables, The Ballagh, by Denis Murphy. Another success for Jack Hendrick.
Bob The Builder took the final race for six-year-olds plus and confined to novice riders for owner Niall Heffernan, Screen handler Richie Rath and rider Eoin Staples. The verdict was four and a half lengths.
Point-to-point action also today at Tattersalls, Co. Meath where Colin Bowe and Bertie Finn won the first two races with newcomers. Mayo Shirocco won the four-year-old mares race by four lengths and Etna Bianco won the four-year-old geldings race by one and a half lengths. Benjamin Halsall owns Etna Bianco and Purple Owl who won at Tinahely and Bertie Finn’s double puts him on the 30th career winner mark.
Donnchadh Doyle had a double at Tinahely and made it a treble for the day at Tattersalls when he saddled Atomic Level for the five-year-old plus maiden and the happy outcome was a five lengths victory under Brian Lawless.
Today’s race meeting at Wexford attracted a good attendance but the weather deteriorated as the seven-race card unfolded and there were no local winners. But it was a celebratory occasion for jockey Darragh O’Keeffe who recorded a treble and three favourites obliged.
Tomorrow’s Monday Bank Holiday fixture has a 1.10pm start and is the final meeting of the season at Bettyville Park. Today’s ground conditions were yielding at the beginning but changed to ‘yielding to soft’ after the fourth race and is likely to remain that way while the weather forecast is for ‘dry conditions’
The Listed Michael Hickey Memorial Chase is Wexford’s richest race and has been attracting some top-class runners like in 2022 when Emmet Mullins saddled Aintree Grand National winner Noble Yeats to a memorable victory.
JORDAN GAINFORD had big race winner at Cheltenham yesterday.
Tomorrow’s renewal has prompted Emmet Mullins to saddle Corbetts Cross, a seven-year-old top-class novice chaser last season who went on to score by 17 lengths under David O’Connor in the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
Wexford jockey Jordan Gainford was in action at his local track this afternoon, didn’t ride a winner, but had plenty to reflect on after a victory and runner-up at Cheltenham on Saturday.
Gainford had a hurdle success on The Wallpack (9/2 fav.) for Gordon Elliott and filled in the runner-up spot on The Short Go for Henry de Bromhead behind Mallow jockey Darragh O’Keeffe on Senior Chief (11/1). O’Keffee kicked a treble success at Wexford this afternoon.
Gardaí and local rescue services are conducting a search in Wexford Bridge and Harbour for a young man, who is aged in his late teens, who is believed to have entered the water in the early hours of this morning.
Wexford RNLI in Wexford Harbour (Pic; RNLI File Pic)
It is believed that he entered the water at around 2.05am.
The RNLI and Coast Guard, including the Rosslare/Carnsore and Curracloe Coast Guard units, the Wexford RNLI inshore lifeboat and the Waterford-based Coast Guard helicopter R117, attended the scene immediately and conducted a search of the area.
Following an extensive search, the search was suspended at around 5am to allow for conditions to improve.
The search resumed at 8am, with Rosslare/Carnsore and Curracloe Coast Guard units, Wexford RNLI and Dublin-based Coast Guard helicopter R116 on scene.
The search was stood down this afternoon due to deteriorating weather conditions in the area. The search will resume in the morning.
Pictured at the launch of WEX BOH SIX in the Westgate Heritage Centre, Wexford, tonight; (left to right); Michelle O’Neill (front cover design), Álanna Hammel (editor), Michael Fortune (who performed the official launch) and Liz Burns, Wexford County Arts Officer. (Pic; WexfordLocal.com).
By Dan Walsh at Westgate Heritage Centre
Local literature and poetry took another progressive step forward tonight (Saturday) with the official launch of the sixth edition of The Wexford Bohemian, publication WEX BOH SIX subtitled “Wexford’s own journal of art, culture and literature” at a pleasant reception held in Westgate Heritage Centre, Wexford.
The launch was performed by folklorist, writer and artist of many talents, Michael Fortune, who read his introduction to the publication, gave a resumé of stories from the past in his own inimitable style and added that he was delighted to be invited and to hear some of the writers read their pieces.
Editor Álanna Hammel welcomed the attendance, thanked everybody from the contributors to the finished project, especially Michael Fortune, who launched the work and encouraged people to make a purchase and acted as a warm host for the occasion.
The event was held in the Westgate Heritage Centre, a significant building long underused but has gained a new lease of life thanks to the Wex-Art Hidden Worlds exhibition and featured the launch, readings from contributors and the chance to mingle.
The 28 contributors to WEX BOH SIX include Paul Hennessy, Margaret Galvin, Rachel Weintraub, Nora Brennan, Elaine Westnott-O’Brien, Mary O’Brien, Anne Cousins, Aoife Byrne, Philip Quirke, Lulu Sinnott, Caroline Stevens-Taylor, Conor Lyons, Heidi Bowe, Michael Farry, Lauren O’Donovan, Katherine Alabama, Allston James, Deirdre McGarry, Conor Healy, Rachel Meadows, Jack Edmunds-Bergin, Kevin Byrne, Léonie Gresser, Dobroslawa Staszewska, Michael O’Callaghan, Michelle O’Neill, Sasha Bratkova and Ella Carley.
WEX BOH SIX edited by Álanna Hammel, published by Red Books, St. Peter’s Square, Wexford, printed by PracticalPrinters.ie, cover design by Michelle O’Neill and sponsored by folklore.ie and County Wexford Arts Department.
Bettyville Park is all set to go for the final race meetings of the season on Sunday (first race at 1.07pm) and Bank Holiday Monday (first race 1.10pm) and early bird tickets are available up to midnight.
The going is expected to be ‘yielding’ and there don’t appear to be any serious issues with the weather outlook.
Sunday’s programme consists of two steeplechases, four hurdle races and a two-mile bumper on a very competitive card.
Amongst the local trainers with runners on Sunday are Paul Nolan, Colm Murphy, Liz Doyle, Seamus Nevile, John A. Berry, Richie Rath and Barry John Walsh.
Monday’s fixture kicks off at 1.10pm. WexfordLocal.com will update Monday’s card in conjunction with a report on Sunday’s meetings which will appear here tomorrow evening.
There are 77 entries for the Shillelagh & District Hunt point-to-point at Fairwood, Tinahely, tomorrow (Sunday) with the first race off at 1pm.
The biggest entry is – 30 in the maiden race for four-year-olds – and the going is described as ‘good’.
It is a pity that Tinahely clashes with the Wexford races, but the point-to-point fraternity will be out in force with some local winners assured on the card and should attract a good crowd.
ROB JAMES rode his 350th career winner at Waterford. (Pic; WexfordLocal.com)
Today’s action was at Curraghmore, Co. Waterford where three members of the Doyle family – Sean, Donnchadh and Eamonn – each saddled a winner. Barry O’Neill and Colin Bowe had a four and a half lengths success in the opening four-year-old mares race with newcomer Onefournine.
The four-year-old maiden race was divided, and division won was won by Ksar Fatal for handler Donnchadh Doyle and rider Rob James who was riding his 350th career winner. The verdict was five lengths. Division two brought victory to Sean Doyle and newcomer Obey The Order ridden by Jamie Scallan who will be sold. This was Sean Doyle’s 160th career winner as a handler.
Tomhaggard rider Scallan accomplished a double in the maiden race for five-year-old geldings on Throatlash in the colours of Michael Murphy, Kilmyshall, Bunclody, and a first training success for Eamonn Doyle. The verdict was two and a half lengths.
The Adamstown team of handler Susan O’Gorman and owner/breeder Andy English were triumphant with Forcetobereckonedwith by eight lengths in the concluding maiden race for mares aged five years plus. Another success for Mayglass rider Jack Hendrick and rich pickings for the Wexford raiders in neighbouring Co. Waterford.
Chief Executive of Iarnród Éireann, Jim Meade presents Nicky Sinnott with his award. (Pic; Iarnród Éireann)
By Dan Walsh
Nicky Sinnott was a finalist at this year’s Iarnród Éireann Customer Experience awards, now in the second year, that took place at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin recently.
The event recognises excellence in customer experience in all aspects of service that is provided to rail customers. Workers were nominated by their peers. Nicky was a finalist in a category that highlights excellence in providing the best possible service to customers while they are travelling onboard Iarnród Éireann services.
Nicky recently came to the assistance of a passenger in Rosslare Europort who had arrived by ferry and was travelling onwards on the train. The passenger required assistance after a recent operation before boarding the train to Dublin. Nicky helped the man into the staff room and helped the man get clean and comfortable before he helped him board the train and sat with the gentleman all the way to Dublin. Nicky’s nominator said; “It was great to see someone really display such a caring customer focussed approach.”
Speaking at the event. CEO of Iarnród Éireann, Jim Meade said; “One of Iarnród Éireann’s core values is, Customers at the Heart of our Business. All nominees and winners here today truly espouse that value, and you should be very proud of the excellent way you serve our customers”
County Wexford Chamber is organising an exclusive Leadership Summit on Thursday, November 14th, in Newbay House Wexford.
Hosted by MC & Executive Coach Orlaith Carmody, the keynote address on business transformation and innovation will be delivered by An Post CEO David McRedmond.
The event will equip attendees with actionable strategies for business growth and leadership development. “We’ll have the privilege of hearing from David McRedmond, who will share valuable insights into the transformation he led at An Post,” said Paula Roche, CEO, County Wexford Chamber. “Additionally, representatives from Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland will outline the supports available for businesses and discuss the importance of foreign direct investment in driving the continued economic growth of County Wexford.”
DAVID McREDMOND, CEO AN POST will address forthcoming Wexford Summit.
As well as Mr McRedmond, other contributors include Brian McGee, Regional Enterprise Development Manager, IDA; Gavin Walsh, Large Enterprise Account Director, LinkedIn; and Linda Earlie, Senior Executive, Enterprise Ireland.
“We’re also looking forward to hearing the inspiring success stories from some of County Wexford’s most innovative and influential businesses,” said Ms Roche. Sharing these insights are entrepreneurs and business people including Pauline Oakes, Vice President, Operations, EMEA/APAC region, Integer; Pat Bevan, Managing Director, Reynaers Aluminium Ireland; Deirdre Hannon, Plant Manager, Danone; Rosie Keary, Managing Director, Kersia; Glenn Carr, Director Commercial Business Units for Iarnród Éireann, Port Authority Rosslare Europort; Ger Reynolds, Director of Operations, BD; Brendan Crowley, Managing Director, Wexford Bus; John Walsh, Commercial Director, ABP Ireland & Poland; David O’Connor, Director, Sheil Kinnear; and Therese Kelly, Director, Neville Hotels.
“This is a fantastic opportunity to connect and learn from local leaders who are shaping the future of our business community,” said Ms Roche. The event runs from 9am to 4pm, and costs €70 for Chamber members and €80 for non-members. Bookings can be made on www.countywexfordchamber.ie. This event is kindly supported by Wexford Bus and County Wexford Chamber Skillnet.
WexfordLocal.com 