Safety issues on Wexford’s rural roads?

By Dan Walsh

It has been an underwhelming year from a weather viewpoint, however, as we connect with September this weekend has experienced a fine spell with good temperatures and the farming community is working every hour it can to save the harvest and bring the crops in safely.

From my travelling experience today (Saturday) in the Gorey and Enniscorthy areas the harvesters are full throttle in the fields and the trailer loads of grain are being rushed to the depots. This activity will continue overnight and for the next few days, so the message for road users is to be alert and patient and be ready for busy back roads used by heavy machinery. Normality will be resumed in a few days, but it is weather dependent.

Meanwhile, North Wexford-based Cllr Joe Sullivan has been in contact with WexfordLocal.com regards some other rural matters. Cllr Sullivan says; “It has been brought to my attention recently by the school transport and agricultural sectors that our secondary and local roads have become difficult to drive due to overhanging branches and the growth of vegetation on the roadside verges. As a rural dweller I am acutely aware of this issue. The problem is at its worst at this time of year due to the return of children to school which puts extra cars and buses on these roads along with the harvest which puts a great number of heavy goods vehicles and lorries on roads that just about have capacity for them.

CLLR JOE SULLIVAN has concerns around safety on rural roads in Co. Wexford.

“I would appeal to the roads section of Wexford County Council to engage meaningfully with roadside landowners to address this problem and have it dealt with as a road safety issue. By meaningful engagement I don’t mean to prosecute or threaten landowners but to perhaps outline to them the dangers of not attending to their responsibility under the various legislation around this issue.

Cllr Sullivan continued; “Indeed some type of incentive could be considered perhaps a reimbursement of a small percentage of the cost of the work provided the work is done prior to a specified date and the necessary proofs are in place. I would consider this money well spent as it would have the effect of improving road safety and with the spiralling road fatalities situation we have at the moment everything should be considered. I would therefore call on Wexford County Council to become more proactive in relation to this issue.”

Enniscorthy hosts children active event

By Dan Walsh

Participation in the FEAST sports programme at Pairc na gCon, Enniscorthy. Pic: Courtesy of Cluid Housing Association.

Up to 30 children aged from 5 to 15 years of age from Pairc na gCon in Enniscorthy recently participated in a sports programme which introduced them to GAA sporting activities. Organised by Ray Harris, Wexford GAA Games Development Manager and Garret Kavanagh from Rapparees/Starlights GAA Club the event ran ever Wednesday in August on the green area in the estate.

The idea for the programme came from the newly formed Enniscorthy Community Inter Agency Team with Wexford County Council’s Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme, Sports Active Wexford, Wexford Local Development and Clúid Housing working together with the GAA.

Ray Harris from Wexford GAA told WexfordLocal.com that; “Wexford GAA, as part of our strategic plan, aim to offer GAA activities to as many children in the county as possible. The FEAST programme in conjunction with Rapparees Starlights GAA club and its expansion into Pairc na gCon offered our coaching team an opportunity to bring GAA to the doorstep of children.”

Anna Flynn, Sports Inclusion Disability Officer with Sports Active Wexford added: “Having an integration programme like this is wonderful for children to experience- especially if they are apprehensive about trying a new sport or joining a new club. In some circumstances likes this – bringing the activities to their door can be a great approach to encourage young children to live a happy and healthy life.”

Speaking on the success of the project, Ann Marie Laffan, Slaintecare Health Communities Programme Manager thanked everyone involved in making these events such a success. She told WexfordLocal.com; “It was a fun packed four weeks and there was a great feel-good factor to the activities thanks to the GAA coaches who really engaged so well with the children. Through sport there is a great opportunity to engage with young people and help them improve their health and wellbeing.”

Feedback from both parents and the children has been extremely positive with many children hoping to pay a visit to Bellefield. To welcome them Rapparees/Starlights GAA Club and Sacre Coeur Boxing Club extended an invitation to all Pairc na gCon children and parents who had participated in the FEAST activities to games, music, dancing and a BBQ last Saturday.

Taoiseach launches new €1.6m New Ross Famine Ship experience

By Dan Walsh

The new Dunbrody Famine Ship visitor experience in New Ross, was officially opened on Friday by Taoiseach Simon Harris TD. This enhanced visitor experience follows an investment of €1.6million from the Department of Rural and Community Development, Fáilte Ireland, and Wexford County Council.

The attendance included Cllr Pip Breen, Cathaoirleach Wexford County Council, Cllr Bridín Murphy, Cathaoirleach New Ross Municipal District Council, Minister James Browne and Paul Kehoe TD.

Fáilte Ireland estimates that over a ten-year period, the Dunbrody Famine Ship experience has the potential to attract over 211,000 additional local, domestic and overseas visitors, generating over €9million in visitor expenditure for the local economy and supporting 36 jobs.

AN TAOISEACH SIMON HARRIS TD.

Taoiseach Simon Harris TD said; “The €1.6 million investment in this immersive experience not only helps to preserve the memory of the Great Famine but also strengthens our cultural heritage and local tourism economy. The Dunbrody Famine Ship experience will connect visitors with the human stories that shaped our past, while generating jobs and supporting the future prosperity of New Ross and the wider Wexford region.”

Heather Humphreys TD said; “As Minister for Community Development, it was a great honour to approve funding of €880,000 towards this phase of what is a larger commitment I have made of €5,560,000 to the wider New Ross Tourism Transformation Project. I think it’s fair to say this project absolutely fits that bill – it will be a game-changer for New Ross, and I cannot wait to see the full tourism transformation project completed.”

Minister for Tourism Catherine Martin TD said: “This new visitor experience will serve to engage and educate visitors from at home and abroad while also preserving the human stories of The Great Famine.”

Paul Kelly, CEO of Fáilte Ireland said; “Fáilte Ireland is proud to contribute €295,000 in capital investment to the overall €1.6million Dunbrody Famine Ship upgrade, delivered in collaboration with Department of Rural and Community Development and Wexford County Council. This attraction was already a key part of the tourism offering in Wexford and Ireland’s Ancient East and these upgrades offer a new immersive visitor experience that tells the important story of our emigrant past, while also boosting the local economy.”

Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council CLLR PIP BREEN speaking at the opening of the new Famine Ship experience in New Ross on Friday.

Seán Connick, CEO of the JFK Trust, which manages the Dunbrody Famine Ship, said; “We are thrilled with the investment in the Dunbrody Famine Ship Experience, which has elevated the attraction to a world-class level. The enhanced exhibition and immersive experience will help to position us as a must-see destination in Ireland’s Ancient East, significantly raising our profile internationally. We extend our gratitude to the Department of Rural and Community Development, Wexford County Council, and Fáilte Ireland for their support.”

Eamon Hore, Deputy Chief Executive at Wexford County Council said; “We in Wexford County Council are delighted to be associated with the launch of this project. The Dunbrody Ship and Visitor Experience has been a very important part of the tourism offering in New Ross and in County Wexford for many years and this investment will consolidate and support its position in our local economy.”

The Dunbrody investment project is part of a wider tourism and economic development plan for New Ross, funded through the RRDF: The ‘New Ross Tourism Project’; which includes the High Hill Norman Gardens, completed, and opened in 2022; and the proposed Norman Visitor Centre which is at design stage. The delivery of this plan continues to establish the town as a destination that visitors want to come to.

Low sunshine makes its mark at Wexford races

Runners taking the final bend into the straight at Wexford Racecourse in brilliant sunshine (Pic; WexfordLocal.com)

By Dan Walsh at Wexford races

The eight-race card at Wexford races yesterday was saturated in sunshine, but while the good attendance and the punters basked in its rays, low sunlight caused problems for the final four races and all three steeplechases required jumping only three obstacles instead of six! The decision was taken in the interest of safety, but the racing was completed without any disappointments.

World Of Fortunes (9/4) who won his bumper at Wexford in May 2023 returned to form after nine months off to make a winning debut over obstacles in the Brendan Cullimore Electrical Mares Maiden Hurdle.

Trained at Craanford, Gorey, by Liam Kenny for Michael Broderick, the six-year-old chestnut mare won by four and a quarter lengths under a confident ride from jockey Jordan Gainford from Caim, Enniscorthy.

Speaking afterwards the trainers’ son, James Kenny said; “She hadn’t run in nearly 290 days. She had a couple of little niggly injuries and her owner has been very patient. He gave her all the time in the world. She’ll keep hurdling now and we’ll look for a race in three or four weeks.”

Cleariestown conditional jockey Conor Stone-Walsh was in the winners’ enclosure following a one and a quarter lengths success on Duty Bound (16/1) for Tramore Trainer John Flavin in the handicap chase.

Afterwards Flavin said; “Then they took all those fences out and it worked in his favour. I said to Conor that if he was going well over the last down the back to set sail for home because he won around Sandown and he is tough and hardy.”

It was a good day for leading Waterford trainer Henry de Bromhead who saddled a double on the card – Chutzpal (1/2 fav.) ridden by Ethan O’Sullivan in the handicap hurdle and Gorgeous Tom (4/5 fav.) in the novice chase ridden by Darragh O’Keeffe.

Just two remaining fixtures at Wexford Racecourse for 2024 on the October Bank Holiday weekend, Sunday, October 27th and Monday, October 28th.

8 Friday races at Wexford Racecourse

By Dan Walsh

The popularity of the Wexford races is expanding within the industry and for the second meeting in succession the entry has been above average, thus necessitating an eight-race card and that takes place tomorrow (Friday) with the first race off at 3.20pm.

The track is in excellent condition with the going expected to be ‘yielding’ and following 28mm of rain yesterday (Wednesday) there is a mainly dry forecast with passing showers (3mm approx.) which is the latest update tonight thanks to Horse Racing Ireland.

The card consists of four hurdle races and three steeplechases and due to the large entry the visitwexford.ie handicap hurdle will be run in two divisions providing an 8-race card instead of the standard 7-race card.

Top trainers and jockeys will be in action, plenty of local trainers have entries and some local jockeys have good rides, this is the end of summer racing at the track and it would be great if the celebrations concluded with a large attendance to witness top class jump racing.

New Ross celebrates Olympian Sophie Becker

A section of the large attendance that turned out to cheer on New Ross Olympics star SOPHIE BECKER. (Pic; WexfordLocal.com)

Report from New Ross by Dan Walsh

It was sporting celebration time in New Ross last evening where a large crowd turned out for the official celebration homecoming for ‘Our Olympian’, the new world superstar from New Ross, Sophie Becker who won a silver medal at the 2024 European Athletics Championships with a team that set a new national Irish record and was a member of the team that finished fourth in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris a few weeks ago.

Sophie was given a warm welcome back to New Ross by Cllr Bridín Murphy, Cathaoirleach New Ross Municipal District Council.

AUDIO ADDITION; Cathaoirleach of New Ross Municipal District Council CLLR BRIDÍN MURPHY speaking at the Sophie Becker welcome in New Ross.

Retired RTÉ newsreader Eileen Dunne was a guest in her role as Chair of the Board of the Kennedy Summer School and interviewed Sophie on stage where she talked about her experiences at the Olympics, explained how she was thrilled to see so many people turn out for her homecoming, and chatted positively about the future of her athletics career.

AUDIO ADDITION; RTÉ newsreader EILEEN DUNNE interviews SOPHIE BECKER on the stage at New Ross.
SOPHIE BECKER addressing the crowds in Pearse Park, New Ross.

The 27 years old from Ballykelly, a few miles outside New Ross who competes in sprint events and mainly specialises in the 400 metres recently represented Ireland at the Olympic Games in Paris and the World Athletics Championships won a silver medal at the 2024 European Athletics Championships with the women’s 4×400 metres relay team which set a new Irish national record.

Speaking at the homecoming Susan Lannigan, Chairperson, St. Joseph’s Athletic Club outlined the athletic achievements by Sophie who played football with Horeswood GAA Club and attended St. Mary’s Secondary School in New Ross.

Sophie was welcomed at Pearse Park by a large attendance and St. Michael’s Pipe Band played a musical escort to the stage where Alan Fitzhenry, District Manager of New Ross Municipal District Council acted as master of ceremonies.

The attendance included Deputies Johnny Mythen and Verona Murphy, Cllrs John Fleming, Michael Sheehan, Pat Barden, John Dwyer and Matty Murphy, Deputy Chief Executive of Wexford County Council, Eamonn Hore, members of the Becker family, friends and well-wishers.

Rosslare Harbour signs RNLI anniversary scroll

The scroll was signed by Jamie Ryan, Rosslare Harbour RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, Trish Kavanagh, on behalf of the fundraisers and Keith Miller on behalf of the crew. Liam Griffin, signed on behalf of the Gaelic Athletic Association. (Pic; RNLI/Larry Dunne).

By Dan Walsh

Rosslare Harbour RNLI is one of the latest lifeboat stations to be part of ‘Connecting our Communities’ for the search and rescue charity’s 200th anniversary, an event where a specially commissioned scroll travelling through RNLI communities, to be signed by representatives at each location.

The scroll was signed by Jamie Ryan, Rosslare Harbour RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, Trish Kavanagh, on behalf of the fundraisers and Keith Miller on behalf of the crew. Liam Griffin, signed on behalf of the Gaelic Athletic Association.

The Rosslare Harbour stop was a special one, as the RNLI choose to honour the charity’s life-saving partnership with the GAA, by having the legend, Liam Griffin, former Wexford GAA hurling manager who brought All-Ireland senior championship success to Wexford in 1996, sign the scroll on behalf of the GAA. The two organisations have been working together for several years to bring water safety messages to young people across Ireland and reduce drowning.

Liam Griffin told WexfordLocal.com; “I’m very proud that the GAA and the RNLI have come together to save lives. This is also the place where the GAA was first involved with the lifeboats, as our community received All-Ireland medals for a rescue in 1914 of the ship, Mexico, where 12 lives were saved and sadly 10 lives lost, including nine lifeboat crew from Fethard. The partnership reflects the community. The RNLI is all over Ireland and the GAA is all over Ireland and anything that would save people from drowning is a great initiative.

Mr Griffin continued; “Dickie Walsh, a very famous former Coxswain in Rosslare said to me when I was a young man, “If you don’t respect the sea, you won’t win’ and I never forgot that.”

Rosslare Harbour RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager Jamie Ryan said; “We are delighted to be part of such a significant event for the RNLI’s 200th year saving lives at sea. This scroll is a snapshot in time where lifeboat crew and fundraisers came together to acknowledge the incredible contribution of all the generations that came before us and hopefully for all that will come after us, in saving lives and serving our community. To honour the work of drowning prevention and saving lives through education, Rosslare native and GAA legend Liam Griffin also added his name to the scroll, to recognise the charity partnership with the GAA.

The scroll carries the RNLI pledge, which reads; Whoever we are, wherever we are from, we are one crew, ready to save lives. We’re powered by passion, talent and kindness, like generations of selfless lifesavers before us. This is our watch, we lead the way, valuing each other, trusting each other, depending on one another, volunteering to face the storm together. Knowing that, with courage, nothing is impossible. That is what has always driven us to save everyone we can. It’s what makes every one of us a lifesaver.

Over the course of seven months, the five-metre-long scroll will pass through 240 RNLI locations around Ireland and the UK before finishing its journey on the Isle of Man, which was home to the RNLI’s founder, Sir William Hillary.

Cash and alcohol seized by Revenue

Revenue officers from Rosslare were granted a three-month cash detention order by a judge following the seizure of €2,000 in cash. It is suspected that the cash is the proceeds of, or intended for use in, criminal activity and is detained by Revenue in accordance with proceeds of crime legislation. 

A quantity of alcohol with a retail value of over €2,300, representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of almost €1,300, was seized in another standalone operation.

These seizures are part of Revenue’s ongoing operations targeting smuggling and shadow economy activity. If businesses, or members of the public, have any information regarding smuggling, they can contact Revenue in confidence on 1800 295 295.

New Wexford to Gorey rail service  

A new Wexford, Enniscorthy, Gorey 21;25hrs rail service (Monday to Friday) starts today. (File Pic; WexfordLocal.com)

By Dan Walsh 

A new 21;25hrs Wexford to Gorey Iarnród Éireann service commences today (Monday) delivering a later evening connection from O’Hanrahan Station, Wexford to Dublin Connolly.

The service leaves Wexford Station at 21;25hrs, calling at Enniscorthy 21;50hrs and arriving in Gorey at 22;09hrs where the new Monday to Friday service will terminate and passengers can transfer to an existing service to Dublin Connolly.

The new Wexford to Gorey timetable is part of extra services for Galway, Waterford, Wexford, Cobh and Midleton confirmed in the new timetable with extra Belfast services to follow, Iarnród Éireann has announced.                

An Iarnród Éireann spokesperson advised customers to check times before their next journeys with the introduction of the new timetable, saying “we are delighted to once again expand our timetable, and to deliver more capacity, with the highest ever number of rail passengers forecast for this year. Whether new services are being introduced on your route or not, we would remind customers on all routes to check times before travel: even small changes may affect your journey, which is particularly important for daily commuters.”

Kilmore Quay signs the RNLI pledge

A large attendance at Kilmore Quay RNLI Lifeboat station where the scroll was signed by Coxswain Eugene Kehoe, Shop Manager Johnny Moore, fundraiser Teresa Hinchy and Water Safety Officer Declan Roche. (Pic; RNLI/Elaine Walsh)

By Dan Walsh

Kilmore Quay RNLI Lifeboat Station today (Sunday) took part in the next stage of the RNLI’s ‘Connecting our Communities’ relay-style event – one of the ways in which the charity is marking its 200th anniversary in 2024.

At Kilmore Quay RNLI Lifeboat Station, the scroll was signed by Coxswain Eugene Kehoe, Shop Manager Johnny Moore, fundraiser Teresa Hinchy and Water Safety Officer Declan Roche.

The event sees a scroll, bearing the RNLI pledge, being passed through RNLI communities – lifeboat stations, lifeguard units and fundraising branches – around the UK and Ireland and being signed by representatives at each location on its route.

The pledge reads: “Whoever we are, wherever we are from, we are one crew, ready to save lives. We’re powered by passion, talent and kindness, like generations of selfless lifesavers before us. This is our watch, we lead the way, valuing each other, trusting each other, depending on one another, volunteering to face the storm together. Knowing that, with courage, nothing is impossible. That is what has always driven us to save everyone we can. It’s what makes every one of us a lifesaver.”

While much has changed in 200 years, two things have remained the same – the charity’s dependence on volunteers, who give their time and commitment to save others, and the voluntary contributions from the public which have funded the service for the past two centuries.

Throughout its 200th anniversary year, the charity is running events and activities to remember its important history and celebrate the modern lifesaving service it is today, while hoping to inspire generations of future lifesavers and supporters.