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ISSUE Thursday NO. 57 January 14, 2016

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Council in €2m storm cash plea Phone: 053 9123527

Wexford Co. Council has issued an SOS to the government to come up with more than €2m to cover the cost of the December floods and storm which battered the county.

But that will go nowhere near covering the cost of dealing with the overall crisis being experienced by rural dwellers as a result of the deteriorating state of the county’s road network.

And there was a warning this week that if deep frost gets into the surfaces during the current cold spell the damage to the roads will be even greater than what has already been experienced throughout the county.

Members of the Co. Council were this week

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given a comprehensive report on the scale of the local authority’s response to the storms as it emerged that in North Wexford a number of houses are now cut off completely as a result of a road collapsing into the sea while in several rural areas councillors reported that travel is now only possible on roads by way of fourwheel drives or tractors.

During the storms which lasted from December 23rd to January 3rd a total of 4,150 hours of emergency work was undertaken with more than four thousand sandbags being supplied to flooded areas, mostly in Enniscorthy.

(Continued on page 3)

Wexford County Council organised the restoration of the Enniscorthy 1st Battalion 1916 flag and it went on display at County Hall this week.

Enniscorthy Councillor John O'Rourke and the Mayor of Wexford Ger Carthy are pictured inspecting the restored flag before Monday's County Council meeting. See also page 7.

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Chronicle January 14, 2016

2

News

New 73 unit Aparthotel set to boost tourism in Wexford town The tourist industry in Wexford was given major boost this week with news that the four-star Talbot Hotel Collection has added the ‘Stonebridge’ building on Paul’s Quay in Wexford town to its hotel portfolio.

The building features 73luxury apartments located less than 100 metres from the four-star family owned Talbot Hotel on Wexford’s quayside.

It will, according to the new owners, become a Talbot Hotel Collection Aparthotel.

The new facility will be an attractive new facility which should attract thousands of new visitors to Wexford each year and it will also help deal with an emerging shortage of bedrooms in the town.

Stonebridge was developed as a lavish complex; it was completed in 2008, however it was never opened for public use. It features 73 partly finished exclusive apartments, which are ideally suited for spacious family holidays, luxury breaks and

executive stays. The building also features a 314 space multi-storey car park enabling the new owners to offer private parking with direct access to the hotelserviced apartments. Guests will also have access to the pool and leisure centre and food and beverage services at the adjacent Talbot Hotel.

The expansive modern building situated on just over two acres in the centre of Wexford town also includes over 4,000 square metres of retail space along with an exquisitely refurbished sixstorey former grain store listed building. Two further retail buildings are also included in the sale, a threestorey at 89 South Main Street and a further building at Pierce Court.

Commenting on the acquisition, owner of the Talbot Hotel Collection Cormac Pettitt said, “We are delighted to have purchased this fantastic development in the heart of Wexford town, it

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is a very exciting opportunity for the company. Our plans are to invest a further €2.5million to complete these luxury apartments and welcome guests by the middle of this year.

This is a major acquisition for the company and we are very much looking forward to bringing life back to this amazing development; the views alone are enough to make guests fall in love with Wexford town.”

The new aparthotel features a mixture of one, two and three bedroom apartments set out over 5 floors above a ground floor retail space, which is currently leased to TK Maxx.

All of the apartments command extensive floor space from 70 square metres right up to the vast 180 square metre Penthouses.

Each apartment features an ultra modern Italian style kitchen with the living areas commanding floor to ceiling windows offering the most

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spectacular sea views along the Quayside, a sky-high view of Wexford town and panoramic vistas of Mount Leinster.

Managing Director of the Talbot Hotel Collection Philip Gavin added, “This a completely unique tourism proposition, there is not a hotel in Ireland offering anything like this accommodation to guests, both in terms of the scale and the quality. These are

exclusive stay apartments located in a superior position on the Quayside. The floor to ceiling windows offer spectacular uninterrupted sea views whilst the aparthotel is also centrally located with the amenities of Wexford town on the doorstep. Each apartment features top of the range fixtures and fittings, all of the first floor apartments have access to a landscaped private garden area and the apartments from floor two to

five feature private balconies.

This is a one of a kind tourism offering and a real game changer in terms of the accommodation offering in Wexford and even nationally amongst the Irish hotel sector.”

The aparthotel property adjoins Oyster Lane where some 70 years ago Cormac Pettitt’s grandfather Jack Pettitt established the family’s first supermarket in 1946.

Councillors want extra holiday Workers will enjoy another public holiday if Wexford councillors get their way.

Members overwhelmingly backed a call from Sinn Fein councillor Johnny Mythen for the government to declare a holiday to mark the occasion of the 1916 Rising.

Cllr. Mythen said the actual date of the Rising in late April should be the official holiday. Cllr Paddy Kavanagh asked if he was suggesting that the Easter Monday holiday be moved to that date but Cllr Mythen said he was seeking an additional holiday.

Cllr Michael Sheehan said he would support the move particularly for the centenary, but Cllr Willie Fitzharris said he was concerned about the impact an additional holiday would have on small businesses.

New Ross and Enniscorthy face major decline The towns of Enniscorthy and New Ross could face ‘death’ following the competition of by-pass projects in three years’ time if economic activity cannot be kicked started in both towns prior to that.

That was the warning from Councillor Michael Sheehan this week when a revised incentive scheme to encourage businesses to start up in vacant properties across the county was presented to councillors.

The original scheme applied to businesses in the

Templeshannon area of Enniscorthy but it was extended to confined parts of other urban areas last year.

However, there has been a disappointing take up of the scheme with the difference in the scheme as it applies to different areas and the fact that it has been governed by maps proving a drawback.

Now the scheme, which includes a generous write off of rates to cover start up fit-out costs, is to be thrown open to the county. This will enable the Council to target developments

in places not already covered including Rosslare Harbour and Courtown.

Director of Services, Tony Larkin, who presented the scheme, agreed with councillor Sheehan that New Ross and Enniscorthy had to be a priority and he revealed that there had been a low take up to date However, he disagreed with Councillor Fionntan O’Sulleabhain that the scheme should be made more financially attractive.

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The

Chronicle January 14, 2016

News

State of roads driving rural dwellers to despair Co. Wexford’s collapsing rural road network is driving law abiding rural taxpayers to despair and a situation which saw some roads not repaired for up to fifty years was completely unacceptable in the twenty first century.

That was the view of Fine Gael councillor Kathleen

Codd Nolan who told her colleagues this week of the appalling condition of the roads in her electoral area.

Cllr Codd Nolan won support for her motion calling on the Minister for Transport to reinstate both the Community Involvement and Local Improvement schemes

with ring fenced budgets.

These schemes enable local communities to contribute to the work on roads in their areas and since they were halted the roads had crumbled in many areas.

With up to sixty per cent of the people living in rural areas it simply was not fair or

tolerable that the neglect of rural roads be allowed to continue, she told the January meeting of the Council.

Her party colleague Paddy Kavanagh said the schemes created a sense of community in local areas and was the only real way rural roads could be repaired in the long

Landowners should be allowed to cut ditches

Landowners should be allowed to cut roadside ditches for ten months of the year and not banned from undertaking the work throughout the entire summer, a Co. Councillor has claimed.

Fine Gael’s Paddy Kavanagh told the January

meeting of the Council that it made no sense to prohibit the cutting of ditches at the time of the year they most needed cutting back.

He said birds were clever enough not to build in ditches along busy noisy roads and the protection offered by the cutting ban

was unnecessary. Cllr Kavanagh suggested that for roadside ditches cutting be prohibited for just two months of the year, April and May. The time to cut back these ditches was in the middle of the summer when growth was at its strongest.

Earlier Councillor James Browne said he had received complaints from lorry owners who said ditches were only being cut car high and as a result on some routes the mirrors of lorries were being smashed.

Council in €2m storm cash plea

(Continued from front ) A total of three hundred staff were deployed to the effort to battle the storm and this included direct labour staff, fire service personnel, civil defence and private contractors.

While the floods caused widespread road closures, including the national routes, the N30, N11 and N25, the evacuation of sixty seven homes and the flooding of sixty eight business premises, the massive local authority effort did achieve some success with the erection of

Good wishes to Councillor Kelly Members of Wexford Co. Council this week sent their best wishes to colleague Councillor Anthony Kelly who is seriously ill in hospital.

The popular Sinn Fein councillor was taken to Wexford General Hospital early last week and his condition deteriorated before the weekend.

However, Council Chairman Tony Dempsey said there had been some improvement on Saturday and he was joined by the entire Council in extending good wishes to the Wexford town member.

flood barriers on New Ross Quays successfully preventing flooding of the N25 and adjoining properties.

During the course of the crises emergency food aid was provided to inaccessible flood locations in Enniscorthy while a number of families who had been forced to flee their homes were provided with alternative accommodation by the Council, while at the height of the storms Council employees had to carry out emergency repairs on some roads which had become dangerous.

More than one thousand people called the Council to report problems and seek support during the period while a further two hundred and thirty four calls were made to the Council’s emergency out-of-hours service.

The response of all council staff and the various emergency and voluntary groups were praised by councillors at their meeting on Monday with the Chairman, Cllr. Tony Dempsey leading the thanks on behalf of the people of the county.

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Earlier councillor Barbara Ann Murphy said when she was asked to report roads with problems in her area recently she found ther4e wasn’t a single road without serious potholes and

structural issues.

Council Chief Executive Tom Enright told the meeting that an application for a grant of €2.5m had been made to government to help repair storm damage in the county.

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Investing in Education and Youth Services Education and youth issues brought Malcolm Byrne into politics, it is the field in which he works and they are issues about which he feels passionately.

Investment in education and youth services pays long term dividends for society and for the economy.

Malcolm’s priorities include: • • • • • • • •

Developing pr preschool eschoo ol education and childcar childcaree Pr Protecting otecting small scho schools ools Ensuring access to eeducation, regardless regarrdless of background baackground Supporting special ne needs eeds education Campaigning againstt overcrowded classrooms oomss overcrro owded classr Guidance counselling g and mental health services servicees for young people Offering moree opport opportunities Of fffering mor tunities in higher education n and in training Investing in rresearch eesearrch c and restoring restoring postgraduate postgraduatte grants

If you share these priorities, at the General Election, please support

Malcolm Byrne

and continue your preference for James Browne

Wishing Y You ou a Happy H and Peaceful Peaceful Christmas

The

Chronicle January 14, 2016

4

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We also have off circuit challenges, which we will be changing weekly.

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money. We also have a comprehensive range of fitness classes and of course we are internationally renowned for our martial arts classes. The Wexford Kung Fu and kickboxing centre which is based in Image Health Studios under the instruction of former World champion Bobby O’ Neill has produced World and international champions in Kickboxing as well as being one of the most highly regarded Kung Fu clubs in Ireland. New classes this year include Ladies Self Defence a special class that accentuates speed and agility rather than power; we also have a great new Tai Chi class for beginners for health and well being. For kids and teens who

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The

Chronicle January 14, 2016

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Chronicle January 14, 2016 Lifestyle

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The

Large crowds enjoy Panto in Gorey and Wexford The Panto season is in full swing with big audiences enjoying the on-stage antics in both Wexford and Gorey this week.

In the North County venue they have been enjoying the Gorey Littler Theatre Group’s production of ‘Puss in Boots’ since last Friday

night but if you have not had been to the panto yet there is still a chance to catch it because it runs until Saturday next.

In the Gorey panto, Sorcha Howell as Jethro and Aoife Parle as Jasper

Mandy Sheil as Villiger,Ron Souter as King Wall the Once and Vincent Kilroy. as Babs

Leah Dixon, in Make Up with Joan Cullen as Jasper in Gorey

The Panto has a huge cast with lots of children and young people involved. It is direct4ed by Alan Corcoran with Musical Director Fintan

Clearly and Choral Mistress Mandy Kinsella. The choreographer is Frances Ryan.

Meanwhile, in Wexford’s

Dun Mhuire Theatre the Wexford Panto got underway this week. This year’s performance is Snow White and the Babes in the Wood.

John McLougllin and Dylan Walsh introduce the show Snow White and the Babes in the Wood in Dun Mhuire in the Wexford panto

Stephen Byrne,as Horice,Emma O Leary as Gretal,William Troy Walch as Hansel,Majella Londra as Heidi and Cliona McCormack as Little Red Riding Hood in the Wexford panto

Dancers Cartlin Carty,Lauren O Leary,Carla Fusciardi Wallace,Eimear O Donnacpun,Nannah Corcran and Sarah OLeary in the Wexford panto

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The

Chronicle January 14, 2016

News Council completes conservation of the Enniscorthy 1st Battalion Flag

To mark the centenary of the 1916 Rising in County Wexford this year, Wexford County Council has confirmed the conservation and restoration of the original Enniscorthy 1st Battalion Flag.

This historic and unique flag formed part of the Wexford County Museum collection in Enniscorthy Castle for a number of decades. It was in poor condition, having been on longterm open display, and it had suffered some surface and ingrain soiling and discolouration as a result of exposure to light. The original

toggle and hanging rope were still intact.

The flag was authenticated by textile conservator Rachel Phelan from Dublin who was then given the task by Wexford County Council of restoring this important artefact to its original condition. Following almost four months of painstaking conservation work, the Enniscorthy Battalion Flag has now been completely restored and the finished product stitchmounted to padded board for display purposes.

Representing one of the very few flags associated with the

Fergie Kehoe,Malcolm Byrne and Michael Sheehan

1916 Rising to have survived outside of Dublin, the Enniscorthy 1st Battalion flag is a unique heritage item from this significant period in County Wexfordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history.

The flag will be framed to conservation standard shortly and will be a prominent feature in the new 1916 Exhibition which will open in the Athenaeum in April this year.

The newly restored flag was put on display to be viewed by members of the Co. Council prior to their January meeting on Monday.

Members of Wexford Co. Council and officials together with the President of the 1916 Committee, Sean Doyle pictured with the restored flag in the Council Chamber on Monday

Sinn Fein councillors Fionntan O Suilleabhain,Johnny Mythen and Mick Roche with the flag

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Chronicle January 14, 2016

8

GER WALSH It really was the calm before the storm in Enniscorthy Before they broke up for Christmas, councillors in Enniscorthy were breathing a sigh of relief that the floods that had hammered many parts of the country had bypassed the town and the local Council Chairman Paddy Kavanagh had even used the occasion to urge locals who had concerns about the flood relief programme to look at the devastation being suffered at the time in other areas and to effectively get off the stage in terms of their objections to the plans to protect the town.

Indeed Keith Doyle took the opportunity to sort of give himself and his colleagues a little tap on the back for their foresight in pushing the case for the relief programme commenting that the time frame between floods incidents was reducing and had gone from one per hundred years to one per thirty five years and maybe even less.

Only Johnny Mythen brought any concern to the table about the days ahead when he commented that he was concerned that the level of the river had risen fairly dramatically in the days immediately before the meeting.

But generally there was no real appreciation or concern for what was to hit the town over the festive period with shocking hardship once again visited on the residents and businesspeople in the low lying areas, which just goes to prove that nobody ever really knows which this type of thing can strike..

No one would have wished for the events of Christmas 2015 but if any good is to come out of it then it must be to have the Flood Relief Scheme proceed without delay. Putting views of the river in summertime ahead of the terrible hardship suffered by people during the height of the floods is simply

grotesque and can no longer be tolerated in any shape make or form.

But the type of objections to the flood programme in Enniscorthy are not unique and despite the EU putting forward a fairly robust defence of its position denying that any of its directives had hampered relief programme anywhere in the country the reality on the ground is a little different.

Of course most of the flooding problems were caused by the madness which saw developers being allowed to put up houses and apartments either on flood plains which caused flooding elsewhere or in locations

which had flooded for generations and, despite the notions of engineers and advisors attached to the developers, continued to flood after houses and apartments were built.

However, aside from this there is clear evidence that red tape and a prioritising of the protection of wildlife and habitats has played a part in

Ambulance, Gardai or Fire Brigade, Ambulance Gardai or Fire Brigade, Ambulance, Gardai or Fire Brigade On the eve of Christmas Eve I had occasion to contact the emergency services to report a ‘live’ electricity cable which had snapped off and fallen to the road in the centre of Wexford town.

A ‘live’ cable hanging loosely to the ground on a dark winter night in a residential area was obviously a cause for some concern. But how do you go about getting the problem sorted and the danger removed?

Obviously a 999 call would be the way to go, a neighbour suggested, and that is exactly what we did.

The exchange which followed was interesting, to say the least.

The greatest concern we had was that someone would be killed or seriously injured so the aim was to stand guard around the cable to prevent anyone coming into contract with it until the proper authorities arrived..

To be fair the 999 call was answered immediately.

Ambulance, Gardai or Fire Brigade, said the voice on the other end of the line. ‘I want to report a fallen live electricity cable in a

residential area’, said I. ‘Gardai, Ambulance or Fire Brigade’, came the answer.

‘Well I'm not sure it’s an electricity cable’ ‘Ambulance, Gardai or Fire Brigade’. ‘I don’t know

which one, it’s a fallen electricity cable’, said I becoming more than a little

frustrated but as I finished my sentence the voice on the other end of the line repeated ‘Ambulance, Gardai or fire Brigade’ ‘I don’t know, someone could be killed here it’s up to

you’ I replied finally unlocking a deviation from the ‘Ambulance, Gardai and

Fire Brigade answer’ ‘I’ll put you through to Gardai’.

The Gardai arrived about twenty minutes later and took over the protection work closing off the street and footpath. And they remained in place until ESB Networks arrived about an hour later.

And that was another thing which struck me about the experience. The night before Christmas Eve is one of the big nights for socialising in Wexford and yet around midnight here was a patrol car and two Gardai looking after a dangerous electricity cable. I am not in any way criticising the fact that they did it.

Indeed it was essential, but you would imagine that some other emergency service should exist for this type of situation. It is hardly the best use of Garda resources.

Maybe those who are so vocal about Garda resources in the county would take a look at situations like this and see if the support of other emergency services for this type of incident could help free up Garda manpower to fight crime.

causing the problems in many areas and that stems directly from EU regulations.

It’s a bit like the regulations which prohibit the cutting of roadside ditches during the time when they are growing at their strongest. Of course there is a stipulation that they can be trimmed back if there is a real danger posed to human

life but this is a sort of get out clause which has very little effect. Many people who live in the countryside believe that these regulations generally give greater protection to wildlife than they do to protecting the quality of life for people who live in the countryside and it is hard to argue with that view.

Love can be dangerously blind Christopher Kearns and his partner missed out on their wedding day. Some might say the lady had a lucky escape. Her partner, forty three year old Kearns, was unable to make it because he was in hospital and then had to go back to prison.

On the day before the wedding Kearns smashed his girlfriend’s face with a punch and then took an overdose.

He was on temporary release following a three year sentence for killing a father of three with a single blow to

the face in 2013.

Keans lawyer told the court in Lancashire that it was all very distressful because the incident happened the day before the wedding.

But did the lady say ‘Thank God that was a lucky escape’. Well no actually, she said Kearns was a ‘thoughtful, loving man who needed help’ and she is determined to provide so of that help by marrying him when he is released from prison. Enough said.

It’s Red for danger So now you know, Red Wine is not good for you after all. In fact new guidelines in Britain suggest that even a tiny drop of alcohol is bad for you and people have been urged to have at least three alcohol free days per week.

It’s a big turnaround from previous guidelines but to be fair things do change with more research. However, what I cannot understand is

how these experts have recommended on the one hand a certain number of units which people can consume per week and on the other hand say that even a single drop of alcohol is damaging.

If both arguments are correct then these experts are encouraging people to damage their health. In the meantime I’m glad to be a White Wine drinker

9

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If George fails, what hope for anyone else?

The shortage of second level school places in the county has become a real issue in recent weeks and we are assured that the highlighting of the problem at this time has nothing to do with the general election. Of course it has and of course it should be an election issue but that is not to say that

blame really rests with any politicians in the country.

To be fair Labour councillor George Lawlor first raised concerns about the problem back in 2010 and as everyone has pointed out the ‘problem children’, as they are being described, were born in 2003/2004 so it should come as absolutely

no surprise to the Department of Education that there is now a shortage of places.

Yet there was nothing done until the situation reached a crisis level despite the best efforts of George Lawlor who clearly was in the best

Prepare yourself for a Rising near you Maybe everyone in the country has not been holding their breath for it to begin but a lot of people have really been looking forward to the centenary of the 1916 Rising and it was kicked off in great style on New Year’s Day with a concert in Enniscorthy Cathedral.

The plans around the Rising in Enniscorthy look pretty spectacular on paper and given the amount of preparation which I know has gone into them I am certain they will be a great success and should give tourism in the county a lift early in the year.

Of course celebrations and commemorations are also being organised in various other locations across the county.

Mention of that reminds me of 1998 when the bi centenary of

1798 was celebrated across Co. Wexford. It was surely a year of celebration, with spectacular main events and then little celebrations in virtually every parish followed by the unveiling of commemorate stones on nearly every cross roads. At one stage the events were being staged at some location every night of the week and pike men could be seen marching on every crossroads.

By the time it was all over a certain fatigue had set in but it was important for every local area to be able to celebrate what was important to them and it’s the same for 1916, even if the Gory Labour councillor Robbie Ireton believes the whole thing one hundred years ago was a non event. His view is not widely shared.

Sometimes politicians just cannot win There was a lot of talk about the political reaction to the floods in various parts of the country. Enda Kenny was criticised for not visiting the flooded locations at an early stage, In the UK David Cameron was criticised because he visited the wrong flood locations, Joan Burton made a bit of a fool of herself visiting flood scenes in Kilkenny while Brendan Howlin hopped into a boat to survey the scene in Enniscorthy at the

height of the floods.

Interestingly local TD, Paul Kehoe didn’t join the senior Minister in the boat. He seemingly didn’t think it was the right thing to do. Kehoe had played his part by calling in the army to help out the locals something he believed was more important than boating it up the quays. At times of crises it’s very handy to be a Minister of State in the Department of Defence.

Rural communities deserve praise for Christmas effort While there has been a lot of focus over the Christmas period on the great efforts being made to attract people to the four main towns with new lights and various events I think it is worth mentioning the fine work which was obvious in many rural villages around Christmas.

I was particularly struck by the

festive lighting in Ballycanew, Camolin and Ferns and I am sure that many other places also put in a great effort. The thing to remember is that while the Council does most of the work in the towns it is ordinary local people in the main who put in the hard work in rural areas and they are to be commended.

position to advance the situation given that he is an assistant to the Minister for Public Expenditure.

If George and Brendan could not get the Department of Education to see the light what hope would anyone else have?

Chronicle January 14, 2016

A Dentist App would be handy I see where you can now download an App which enables you to have a consultation with your doctor from the comfort of your own home while he/she

remains in their surgery.

I wonder if there is a similar App planned for dentists. It would certainly help to take the pain away from the process.

The

Chronicle January 14, 2016

10

News

Political Notebook Local Enterprise Office predicting big leap in new Another FG ‘own goal’ start-ups during Leap Year!

And so the line up for election 2016 is finally complete with Fine Gael adding their third candidate at the end of last week.

Julie Hogan, a native of Saltmills, but resident of Wexford town, is the chosen one as widely expected since the beginning of November.

Of all the interventions by a party headquarters in an election line up this has to be the most bizarre.

Fine Gael is currently riding high in the opinion polls and should be nailed-on for two seats in Wexford.

They had two relatively high profile candidates in the field, both with strong name recognition and that should have been that.

Given that the party is now expected to poll around 30% plus nationally and usually get at least the national number or even better in Wexford, the two candidate strategy left FG in a virtually unassailable position here.

In fact with a bit of vote

management the party would have been on course to take the first two seats.

But party HQ, obviously with an eye on gender balance quotas, was not satisfied and decided to add a third candidate, not to improve the party’s chances of securing two seats in Wexford but to ensure that FG does not miss out on State cash as a result of missing gender balance requirements.

Does the addition of Julie Hogan, a lady whose name was not even recognised by senior figures in the party locally as recently as four weeks ago, improve the party’s chances of securing two seats here? The answer is quite simply ‘No’. Does it complicate the party’s campaign? And the answer is Yes. Many people who will support Fine Gael candidates in the forthcoming election will do so not because they have any particular love for the party but because they

believe it is the best way to underpin the recovery. Will they trust a complete political novice with that task? Most unlikely.

But what the addition of the third candidate does is ensure that instead of the constituency being divided for campaign purposes between two high profile candidates it will now be split in three. That means that the primary Fine Gael canvass in large parts of the county will be conducted on behalf of a political novice and that can only have a negative impact on the party’s numbers.

The party will still be fancied to land two seats here but the hierarchy has unnecessarily complicated matters which is probably why so many people in the D’Arcy and Kehoe campaigns have been muttering ‘with a party HQ like we have who needs an opposition?’ .

Wexford election betting opens Paddy Power started betting on all five seats in the Wexford constituency this week. Not surprisingly Mick Wallace, poll topper five years ago, is 1/40 to hold his seat, followed by Paul Kehoe at 1/12 and Brendan Howlin at 1/10 with Michael D’Arcy at 1/6, and James Browne at 1/5. No real surprise here really. Malcolm Byrne is priced t 15/8 with Ger Carthy, the Independent candidate next a t 3/1. This is probably

the only surprise in the betting because Carthy is ahead of Sinn Fein’s Johnny Mythen at 7/2. Earlier in the campaign Sinn Fein had been fancied by many to a take seat but Carthy is now seen as a stronger contender.

On this betting it could be assumed that it Is all over bar the shouting but it Is interesting to take a look at the betting at this stage of the campaign in 2011. Then, as now, some candidates were a

very short price but Wallace and Liam Twomey were both odds against, filling the positions which Malcolm Byrne and Ger Carthy occupy now, and on election day both were comfortably elected while two of the more fancied candidates lost their seats.

In terms of the betting at least these are the only contenders in the frame with very long odds available about all the other runners

Local Enterprise Office planning four ‘Start Your Own Business’ Programmes to kick off 2016, with positive outlook for local economy.

A big leap in the number of start-ups is expected in 2016, according to the Local Enterprise Office in Wexford, which is running four ‘Start Your Own Business’ training programmes during the first quarter of the Leap Year.

Based within the Local Authority Network, the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) is one of 31 offices around the country, set up as the ‘firststop-shop’ for new start-ups and small businesses looking to grow. In 2015, 4,000 aspiring entrepreneurs benefited from more than 260 LEO ‘Start Your Own Business’ programmes, which were held across every county in Ireland.

Helping a new entrepreneur become ‘start-up ready’, these training programmes run over 10 weeks (one night per week) focussing on how to prepare business plans, what market research and marketing tools are available, how to manage cash flow and making the most out of technology.

According to the LEO, the majority of those completing the ‘SYOB’ programme successfully start up their own business, creating further employment in the local community.

These ‘Start Your Own Business’ courses take place

Dad pulls out all the stops for Aoife Fianna Fail also got itself caught up in the gender balance situation and raised a lot of eyebrows in the party by adding Aoife Byrne who had not previously contested the party selection convention.

Byrne is a much stronger candidate than the late Fine Gael addition and that, of

course, presents its own problems, not least for the two candidates who were selected by convention, Although not previously active in politics Byrne has the wise old owl that is her Dad Hugh in the background and he has been busy reconnecting with those members of his old campaign

team who are still active to drum up support for his daughter.

Sources say he has been putting in a mighty effort but his disappearance from the political scene following his defeat in 2002 means that he is meeting with a mixed response.

Carthy gets himself noticed

Local media got very excited at the start of the month and announced Ger Carthy as first out of the traps with his election campaign. It is true that Carthy began an intensive canvass with an army of supporters at the beginning of the year.

However, some other

candidates had been on the road and knocking doors prior to Christmas.

What seems to have been different about the Carthy campaign was that people actually noticed it. That probably had something to do with the mobile signs he has been using to promote

himself at weekends.

We hear that the signs have irritated some of his opponents who would like to see them removed until the campaign proper starts. But, for the moment at least, it seems Carthy has stolen a march in the visibility stakes.

Tom Banville

in four locations around County Wexford. Starting dates and locations for each course are as follows: Tuesday 26th January in the Wexford Enterprise Centre; Tuesday 2nd February in the Enniscorthy Enterprise Centre; Wednesday 10th February in the Ashdown Park Hotel in Gorey; and Wednesday 17th February in the Brandon House Hotel in New Ross.

To book a place on one of these courses, contact the Local Enterprise Office in Wexford County Council on 053 919 6020 or visit www.localenterprise.ie/Wexf ord to book your place online.

The cost of this course is heavily subsidised by the Local Enterprise Office and places cost just €120 (or €60 if the participant is unemployed).

Tom Banville, Head of the Local Enterprise Office in Wexford highlighted all the other supports that are on offer to new-start-ups in 2016, such as grants, microfinance loans, one-toone mentoring and business advice clinics. He said: “Following on from two years of remarkable growth in the Irish economy, we’re encouraging anyone thinking of starting a business in 2016 to talk to the experts here at the Local Enterprise Office, to find out about the supports on offer and to sign up for the ‘Start Your Own Business’ training programme.”

Tony Larkin, Director of Services with responsibility for Economic Development in Wexford County Council notes that new start-ups play an important role in the future of Wexford’s economy. He said: “These courses show people how to build their businesses from the ground up. As these businesses grow, they will create new jobs for County Wexford that weren’t there before. Supporting entrepreneurs and growing indigenous companies in order to create jobs in the county is a key part of the work we do in Wexford County Council through the Local Enterprise Office.”

More positive news for start-ups in 2016 comes from the ESRI, the Economic and Social Research Institute, which has revised upwards its outlook for the Irish economy in 2016, forecasting a growth rate of 4.8 per cent.* Ireland has also retained the fourth spot in the ‘Best Countries for Business’ world rankings, according to Forbes Magazine.

All 31 Local Enterprise Offices will be offering the ‘Start Your Own Business’ training programmes throughout 2016, with many scheduled to begin in January and February. More details around the supports on offer to start-ups through the Local Enterprise Offices are available through www.localenterprise.ie

11

The

Chronicle January 14, 2016

Business Training Courses, Workshops and Clinics

Book Online: www.localenterprise.ie/wexford

Spring 2016

Mar

Comments on Start Your Own Business Course ‘Thoroughly enjoyed this course, will definitely be recommending it.’

‘I really enjoyed the course. I found the trainer very good and would use him in the future.’

Training for Start Ups

Jan Jan Feb Feb Feb

20 Business Idea Clinic - Start your own Business 26 Start Your Own Business - Wexford 2 Start Your Own Business - Enniscorthy 10 Start Your Own Business - Gorey 17 Start Your Own Business - New Ross

Courses for Small Business Feb Feb

4 12

Basic Bookkeeping for a Small Business Train the Trainer Course - FETAC QQI Level 6

Courses for Small Business - Food Sector 9

Start Your Own Food Business - Pre Food Academy Start

Clinics for Small Business Jan Feb Feb Feb Mar Mar Mar Apr

27 10 17 24 2 9 16 14

Tech Start Up Clinic - Tech / ICT / Online Twitter for Business Clinic - Join the conversation Public Relations Clinic - PR techniques for your business Facebook for Business Clinic - Talk to your customers LinkedIn for Business Clinic - Manage your professional identity Online Marketing Clinic - Digital marketing for SMEs Marketing Clinic - Marketing on a Shoe String Sales Clinic – Anything you need to know to get that sale

Social Media Workshops for Small Business

‘Excellent and enjoyable group.’

Feb Feb Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Apr Apr Apr May May May May May

Excel for Business:

Seminars for Small Business

‘It was a thoroughly enjoyable and interesting course. The trainer is a great communicator and a true gentleman who knows his stuff.’

General Comments on LEO Wexford Training Train the Trainer: ‘Excellent course and excellent and friendly tutor.’

Basic Book-Keeping:

‘Very good course. Value for money.

Excellent course.’

Facebook for Business – Beginners: ‘Excellent course.’

Facebook for Business – Advanced: ‘Keep up the good work.’

Further information & booking: Local Enterprise Office Wexford County Council Carricklawn, Wexford Y35 WY93 Tel: 053 919 6020 info@leo.wexfordcoco.ie www.localenterprise.ie/wexford

16 23 11 14 21 2 10 8 14 19 10 12 17 24 31

Feb 18 May 19

LinkedIn for Business - Your online professional identity Facebook for Business - Beginners - Wexford Facebook for Business - Advanced - Wexford Facebook for Business - Beginners - Gorey Facebook for Business - Advanced - Gorey Twitter for Business Beginners - Start the conversation - Gorey Twitter for Business Beginners - Start the conversation - Wexford Twitter for Business Advanced - Work the conversation - Wexford Twitter for Business Advanced - Work the conversation - Gorey YouTube your Business - Share your business videos Facebook for Business - Beginners - Wexford Twitter for Business Beginners - Start the conversation - Wexford Twitter for Business Advanced - Work the conversation - Wexford Facebook for Business - Advanced - Wexford LinkedIn for Business - Your online professional identity Trading Online Voucher - Get online with a €2,500 voucher Trading Online Voucher - Get online with a €2,500 voucher

Workshops for Small Business Feb Feb Mar Mar Mar Apr Apr Apr May May

11 23 3 23 30 7 21 27 12 10

Business Planning Workshop - Plan to succeed in 2016 Exporting from County Wexford - A business briefing Time Management - Reduce stress, improve productivity Sales Skills - The art of selling Public Relations Workshop - DIY PR Introduction to Email Marketing Excel for Business – Intermediate Level Negotiation Skills - Closing the deal Time Management - Reduce stress, improve productivity Exporting from County Wexford - A business briefing

Workshops for Small Business - Tourism Sector Feb Mar Apr Apr

10 2 15 20

Delivering Exceptional Customer Service Effective Marketing – Compelling Images and Engaging Stories Social Media Marketing for Tourism Businesses Customer Experience Mapping - Really Knowing Your Customer

Photography (from left to right): Niall Roche (www.hookedkitesurfing.ie) Ed Hendrick (www.sonru.ie) Tom & Laura Sinnott (blog.wexfordpreserves.ie)

:H[IRUG &RXQW\ &RXQFLO

Chronicle January 14, 2016 Lifestyle

12

The

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

The year starts with thoughts of the general election dominating the minds of the political classes. There is surprise when Fianna Fail announces that the party is to run a fourth candidate. There is even more surprise when the candidate is named as Jonathan a puppet who had taken part in the Christmas Shows at Santa’s Enchanted Castle in Enniscorthy. A party press release says that Jonathan had achieved a very high profile with thousands visiting his shows in the run up to Christmas. It said the move also demonstrated Fianna Fail’s commitment to gender equality and to giving voters the widest possible choice. The party ticket would now offer male, female and none of the above to voters.

In South Wexford plans are announced for the building of an airport in Our Lady’s Island. Mayor Ger Carthy is joined by Bishop Denis Brennan and Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary for the announcement. O’Leary says Ryanair will pay for the entire project and fly in tens of thousands of pilgrims each year from all over the world to Our Lady’s Island.

Brendan Howlin is not invited to the launch; George Lawlor attacks the whole thing as an election stunt.

As opinion polls show Jonathan gaining ground in advance of the election Fine Gael announces the addition of another candidate. The party names Lucy, a Labrador owned by a Branch Chairman in New Ross as the new candidate, A Fine Gael spokesman says Lucy is of course female confirming the party’s absolute commitment to gender balance.

George Lawlor attacks Fine Gael but suggests that the new candidate will actually improve the party’s team. Sinn Fein says they would never go into government with a party represented by a dog. George Lawlor attacks Sinn Fein and says they have been in bed with worse in the north.

Enda Kenny announces that he is to stay in power for another six months, postponing the election to the end of the year. The Taoiseach tells the Dail that over Christmas he met a woman on the street in Castlebar who said it would be reckless for him to go to the country and risk losing his good job. At a New Year’s Eve party a twenty one year old girl he was chatting up told him he was doing such a great job he should stay as long as he could and a farmer he met at the Mart in Enniscorthy said all types of eegits could be elected when he went to the country so he should delay as long as possible. Enda said these represented the ordinary people and he was heeding their advice.

The Chronicle

APRIL

Crystal Ball MARCH A major security operation is put in place for the 1916 centenary celebrations in Enniscorthy when it is announced the Queen is to attend. There is huge surprise that the Queen has come to Enniscorthy rather than the national event in Dublin. A few days after the announcement The Sun newspaper reveals the reason the Queen selected Enniscorthy. She had read about Paddy Kavanagh’s prize bull and simply could not wait to see it. Kate Middleton has also been mesmerised by reports of Paddy’s bull and says she will accompany the Queen. Prince William is concerned about her travelling without him and advises her to be careful of both Paddy and the bull..

The visit is a spectacular success with the Queen spending several hours in the company of Paddy and the bull. Kate Middleton tells Sky news that Paddy’s bull is the most impressive specimen she has ever witnessed.

There is more surprise when, after the formal ceremonies in Enniscorthy, the Queen accompanies Paddy to a local pub.

No one is more surprised than the Queen herself when she arrives at The Whitehouse in Templeshannon. When Paddy asked her if she would like to go to the Whitehouse she thought he was offering to take her to Washington.

The Queen arrives to inspect Paddy’s Bull, an airport for Our Lady’s Island, a Goat, a Labrador and a Puppet win Dail seats, 1996 hurlers are brought back, Action Man George and JCB man Robbie rescue their leader, Fergie turns Wexford into a giant Ice Rink, Jimmy Gahan takes over the Late late Show.

The Chronicle Crystal Ball reveals some of the event to make headlines for the twelve months ahead.

It’ Red Carpet time and there are more celebrations in Enniscorthy when Town Manager Padraig O’Gorman, Co. Council Communications Manager David Minogue and Paddy Kavanagh are all nominated for Oscars. Paul Kehoe arranges the government jet to fly the trio from Waterford but only on condition that Brendan Howlin is not invited to the ceremony and that he is personally allowed to carry the Oscars down the steps of the plane on the return home.

MAY

JUNE Water charge protestors surround Tanaiste Joan Burton’s car during a visit to Kilmore Quay. The incident happens when the Labour leader’s car halts to listen to a lady playing a bodhran on the roadside. Immediately protesters race onto the roadway and surround the car.

When Brendan Howlin arrives to assist his leader he is manhandled by the protesters and locked in the boot.

After more than two hours Llabour councillors George Lawlor and Robbie Ireton arrive. George is dressed in an Action Man outfit having hurriedly left the stage while Robbie is driving a JCB. Robbie digs a large hole nearby before driving the JCB into the protestors and loading a dozen of them into the bucket. He then buries them in the hole while George frees Brendan from the boot and Joan’s car speeds away.

Louis van Gaal announces that he is leaving Man Utd to take over the Wexford Hurling team. Liam Griffin denounces this contamination of the great art of hurling by foreign influences and calls on the Officers of the Co. Board to resign. Van Gaal reveals sweeping changes to the Wexford side dropping all members of the panel and replacing them with the players who won the 1996 All Ireland. Liam Griffin describes the decision as a bold move. ‘This is unbelievable, or is it true Gerry’ Liam Spratt tells South East Radio listeners. Specsavers announces a €1m sponsorship deal for the team saying that the players are amongst their best customers.

JULY Mick Wallace and Clare Daly win the ‘Most Appropriate Dressed Couple’ award at the Galway Races. Councillor Malcolm Byrne attacks the decision saying it was totally inappropriate for a tax dodger to be honoured in this way. Michael D’Arcy says Fianna fail had no problem entertaining all sorts of dodgers in the Galway tent for years. The Sunday Independent reveals that the judging panel for the competition consisted of three Prison Officers from Limerick prison. In a statement Malcolm Byrne says this proves that the award was inappropriate given the couple’s connection with Limerick Prison.

13

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Lifestyle

Chronicle January 14, 2016 OCTOBER

AUGUST

As plans for the new Wexford town Winterfest are announced Mayor Fergie Kehoe says the town will go all out this year.

Instead of having an ice rink on the quays the entire town is to be turned into an ice rink with imported ice deposited on every street and shoppers encouraged to skate their way around the shops. Davy Hynes says he is concerned that it will be a problem for old people who could fall and break bones.

Mayor Kehoe dismisses the criticism and says that if there are a lot of broken bones and other injuries it will be good because the increased demand on Wexford Hospital can be used as part of a case for an extension to the building the following year.

Government Chief Whip Paul Kehoe announces the opening of a major Army Base on the Saltee Islands. He says there will be over three thousand jobs in construction and an estimated five thousand jobs when the project is complete. Taoiseach Enda Kenny travels to the Saltees to cut the sod for the new Army Base but the photo shoot is disrupted when two people dressed as Batman and Robin run towards the Taoiseach firing water pistols in his direction. When security officers remove the masks from the protesters they are identified as Mick Wallace and Clare Daly. Wallace later tells Vincent Browne that he is totally opposed to military jobs in his constituency.

NOVEMBER SEPTEMBER

Twenty five thousand people attend the switching on of the Christmas lights in Gorey. Visitors from all over the county travel to see the star attraction----a giant sized image in lights of Councillor Robbie Ireton seated with councillors Joe Sullivan, Anthony Donohoe and Fionntan O ‘Súilleabháin perched on his knees. Sky News report live from Gorey and the image becomes a Facebook phenomena recording ten million hits in twenty four hours.

Enda Kenny finally calls the election and there is a crowded field in Wexford. With opinion polls showing strong support for Lucy and Jonathan, Sinn Fein announces that it is to add a candidate. Ellie a goat is said to have strong republican links having been transported from a farm in South Armagh to North Wexford earlier in There is tremendous excitement in Enniscorthy when it is announced that local the year. The election proves a great broadcaster Jimmy Gahan is to replace Ryan Tubridy as host of the Late Late success for females when Jonathan, Show. Mr Gahan promises to win back viewers by having real guests on the proLucy and Ellie are all elected on the gramme. The first programme is massive hit attracting more viewers than the Toy first count taking over 90% of the Show. It features Paddy Kavanagh and his price winning bull live in studio. The vote. Vincent Browne says the new bull takes a fancy to a young lady in the audience and drags his master up the steps TDs are a major improvement on towards the entrance as the young lady flees the advancing duo. The incident atthose they have replaced. tracts twenty million Facebook hits within days

DECEMBER

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The

Chronicle January 14, 2016

14

News

Wexford Festival Monart unveils one of the world’s first Glass Steam Rooms to receive A brand new hi-tech steam room has been unveiled at Monart Destination Spa - the custom designed and custom built steam room is one of the world’s first all glass designs and it is now available to guests at the Spa’s extensive Thermal Suite.

The Monart Cumulus Steam Room has been designed by Michael and Liam Anthony Griffin with technology from a leading German manufacturer.

The exceptional benefits from the all glass design ensure greater thermal control as the properties of glass provide a great conduction of heat and insulation. The Cumulus Steam Room also incorporates leading technology with bespoke eucalyptus infusion through the use of extra fine mist valves in order to enhance the ‘expectorant effect’.

This new technology enhances the existing known health benefits to its users over that of existing steam room technology.

The new all glass Cumulus Steam Room is available for Monart guests to use freely as part of the Thermal Suite experience.

Liam Anthony Griffin of Monart Destination Spa commented “Hi-tech innovation is at our core and is essential to constantly raise the bar in delivering results for Monart guests. We are delighted to continue to offer guests to Monart unique and

€110,000 for 2016

world-class experiences and to unveil our custom designed steam room.”

The world-class award winning Monart Destination Spa is an adults-only destination spa located just outside Enniscorthy in County Wexford. Conde Nast Traveller has previously named it in the Top 3 Spa Resorts in the world. For further details see Monart.ie Photo caption; The all glass high-tech Cumulus Steam Room, has been built exclusively for Monart Destination Spa’s Thermal Suite.

Former Wexford GAA Manager Jason Ryan joins Shane Keegan's Youths for Pre Season Wexford Youths FC are thrilled to announce that former Wexford & Kildare Gaelic Football Manager Jason Ryan has joined Shane Keegan's Wexford Youths Premier Division Squad as

Minister Paul Kehoe, has welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe, that €110,000 has been allocated for Wexford Festival Opera in 2016. This is part of Fáilte Ireland‘s national funding of just over €1.8 million for 23 key national festivals and events.

“Wexford Festival Opera is a hugely popular event in Wexford and further afield.

This event has grown in recent years and is attracting more and more tourists to the area. Funding of €110,000 will help to grow the festival further and to continue to plan for the future.

Running since 1951, Wexford Festival Opera has an international reputation for excellence with a superb national and international reputation. Its unique focus is the production of rarely performed and neglected opera performed by the best emerging international talent.

The programme includes the headline operas in the stunning Wexford Opera House along with a

Strenght & Conditioning Coach for their 2016 Pre-Season Training Programme.

Jason took the lead in the Youths first training session of the year at Ferrycarrig Park

last night. Jason brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise with him and he will be putting the first team squad through their paces for the next 2 months.

shortworks programme and lunchtime recitals.

“There was a 14% increase in overseas visits to Ireland for the first eleven months of 2015 and the most recent figures show that revenue in the sector has increased by 16% to €4.2 billion. A significant factor in this growth is the festivals and events on offer in all parts of the country.

“The Government has set an ambitious target of attracting 10 million visitors to Ireland and having 250,000 people employed in the tourism sector by 2025.

Continued growth of festivals and increasing the offering to tourists will be key in meeting these targets.

“In 2016 we will continue to promote all of the festivals on offer around the country, including Wexford Festival Opera.

“2015 has been an extremely strong year for tourism but it is vital that we maintain our competitiveness and keep our focus on keeping the recovery going in the tourism sector.”

Start the year with comedy Conor McEvoy appears in the Gorey Panto Puss in Boots.

Mary Spellman and Jack Darcy enjoyed the Gorey panto.

Begin your New Year with Comedy on Friday 29th January at Wexford Arts Centre with the Stars of Irish Comedy with Pat Mc Donnell, Danny O'Brien & Tom O'Mahony. These are three of Ireland's best comics and they take to the stage for a brilliant two hour comedy show! Featuring a comedian who has performed in three of Ireland’s most popular TV shows, Pat McDonnell, star of Channel 4’s Father Ted (Eoin McLove), RTE’s The Savage Eye, and Sky 1’s Moone Boy. Tom O Mahony,

who for many years has been a regular and highly lauded stand-up fixture at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

More recently, he has gained much notoriety for his role as ‘Tarquin’, the intolerable toff in the RTE television series Damo & Ivor and finally Danny O Brien completes this line-up. Danny has been performing stand-up comedy for over six years, performing regularly at top comedy clubs and festivals in Ireland, the UK, Europe and the US.

15

The

Chronicle January 14, 2016

The

Chronicle January 14, 2016

16

News

36 performers selected for 2016 'Wexford Has Talent' Semi Finals

Organisers of ‘Wexford Has Talent’ competition have reported a showcase of phenomenal talent at the competition auditions, which took place at Clayton Whites Hotel over the weekend where over 120 acts took to the stage to perform in a variety of arts.

Performers from as young as 6 upwards took to the stage showing skills in genres ranging from gymnastics to dance of many varieties to singer songwriter performances to full bands to recitation, free running and lots more.

Commenting on the event, one of the organiser’s Kilian Duignan said, “This is our second year to host this competition and last year we thought the standard couldn’t get any higher but this weekend of auditions has proved otherwise. We would like to thank everyone who took part and wish all of the qualifiers the very best of luck for their semi final performances.”

Following the two days of back to back auditions the team of judges have announced 36 acts to be successful and whom have all obtained a coveted place to perform in one of two Wexford Has Talent Semi Finals taking place at Clayton Whites Hotel in Wexford on Saturday January 16th and Saturday

January 23rd. Tickets are now on sale for both events at Clayton Whites Hotel. A total of between 12 and 16 of these acts from the Semi Final events will gain a performance spot at the much anticipated Wexford Has Talent Grand Final on Saturday, January 30th at the

Gerry Doyle, INNUENDO, Rachel Grace, Emily McDonald, Roisin Minnock, Niamh Bridges, Charlene Murphy, Emily Downey, Jamie Benson The successful semi finalists through to Semi Final 2 on January 23rd, 7 FRET, Tara Doyle Robinson,

same venue, where the winner will walk away with a cash prize of €2,000.

The successful semi finalists through to Semi Final 1 on January 16th INTRO, Irina Karpenko, Aoife Goodison, Saoirse Bates, Aurora, Luke Spelacy, The Galivants, Cormac Cooper, Aaren McStein,

Eabha Carty, Emma O’Leary, Next Level, Chris Berry, Fergal & Diarmuid, Jirat O’Neill, Bobby Sludds, VYRE, Caroline Fleming, Esther Nwosudocha, Hayley Crosbie, Lauren Doyle, Megan Kate Doolan, Helene Dunne, Rob Donnelly, Nicole Mannix.

The Wexford Has Talent

judges and MC’s include well-known personalities from around the county Tony Carty – All-Ireland winning singer/actor with Wexford Light Opera Society and Oyster Lane Theatre Group; George Lawlor – Councillor who has played the lead role in a number of Wexford Light Opera Society musicals; David “Stoney” Burke – Former Wexford & Kilkenny hurler and Star performer with St. Michael’s Theatre Musical Society and New Ross Pantomime Society; Pat Lawlor, Carmel Corish-Wallace, Sue Furlong, Ian Grey, Biddy Walsh, David O’Brien, Vicky Clancy and Anita Murphy.

One of the judges Biddy Walsh commented on the weekend’s auditions, “The talent demonstrated at auditions over the weekend has been unbelievable from very young performers to the not so young. Right across the board we were blown away with both the variety of talents showcased but also the incredible professionalism shown by all of the performers. The judges had a very tough job in deciding on the list of semi finalists and we would like to congratulate everyone who took part as all of the performances were of a very high standard and we look forward to seeing the artists perform at the semi final events.

Wexford Will Need Two New Second Level Schools Over Next Decade

Cllr. Malcolm Byrne has stated that on current student projection numbers that Co. Wexford will require two additional second level schools over the next decade.

He points out that on the basis of existing primary school numbers that up to 2,000 additional second level places in the County will have to be found. He has called for the immediate sanctioning of a new second level school in the Wexford town area and believes that demographic pressures will require another new post-primary school in North Wexford.

Malcolm said, "All of our second level schools in the County are currently under pressure and demographics point to the situation only worsening in coming years. We either have the the option of significant expansion to existing schools or we start to plan now to cater

for the growing demand over the next ten years."

"Census figures and primary school enrolment numbers show that we can expect 2,000 more young people in the 12 to 18 age category over the next decade than there are at present. This is a result of higher birth rates during the noughties. It doesn't take a genius to work out that these children will require school places and we need to plan for that now."

Wexford County Council has commissioned research into school place numbers around Wexford town and that has found that there will be an immediate shortage of up to 600 places and that such a number could rise in the coming years.

Malcolm has stated that the sanctioning of new school for Wexford town must be an immediate priority for any new Education Minister

following the General Election.

He pointed out that, according to Department rules, sanctioning of a school must be based on the demographics of the area supporting the need and a new school must not impact negatively on the enrolment of schools in the catchment area.

If the demographics require the establishment of a school, then the process for the selection of the type of school Councillor Malcolm Byrne should allow for different must have the capacity to patrons/bodies to be operate schools in the size considered as the patron of a range of 800 to 1,000 pupils. new school. Most new schools

Flood aid 'too little, too late' - Ní Riada Sinn Féin MEP Liadh Ní Riada has commented that the announcement of a hardship recognition case fund and a fodder replacement scheme is too little too late, and questioned the ability of these funds to adequately meet the needs of farmers affected by the worst of the floods.

Liadh Ní Riada said: “Farmers, families and businesses across the country are reeling after the recent storms and ongoing flooding. The ground in many parts of the country is saturated, and many farmers are in trouble.

“It is good that the Cabinet finally got around to making some money available, but it really is too little, too late. The damage done by these storms will have a long-lasting impact, and what farmers need is ongoing support to get them through the next few weeks and months.

“I note that in Britain a dedicated Farming Recovery Fund exists to provide financial help in

times of severe flooding or other crises. I would like to see a similar fund established here so that farmers do not have to wait many weeks for Government to sit up and take notice of their plight.

"The flooding is exacerbating difficulties surrounding the calving of cows and damage to land.

Farmers are environmentalists and they know themselves what needs to be done regarding planting woodlands and natural drainage.

“I have repeatedly called for the Government to apply for financial assistance from the EU Solidarity Fund, which could be used to tide farmers over in the medium- to long -term. The knock-on effects of this floodings will be felt on many farms through the Spring, and it's important farmers are not forgotten about when the attention shifts.

“Once again farmers and rural dwellers are left down by this Government.”

Irish Language Classes 2016 course starting on Tuesday 19th January 2016.

Classes will be offered at three levels: Bunchúrsa – For beginners or those with very little Irish.The objective is to master basic phrases and pronunciation using internet based learning in the library computer room. This course will be taught mainly through English.

Meánchúrsa – For those with some understanding and fluency from school or previous classes and who wish to improve the vocabulary and standard of their spoken Irish. Taught mainly through Irish with some English.

Ardchúrsa – Do dhaoine le tuiscint agus líofacht maith acu agus atá ag iarraidh feabhas a chur ar caighdéan agus cruinneas a chuid Gaeilge. Múinfear an cúrsa seo trí Gaeilge amháin.

The emphasis throughout the course will be on

developing casual conversation skills in a relaxed atmosphere. It is our experience that those who attend classes and conversation groups regularly, and are prepared to put a little work in, can build on their existing knowledge to achieve a marked improvement in fluency and confidence over a few months.

There will be an opportunity to interact with fellow class members through conversation breaks. Classes are on Tuesdays from 7:00-8:30 with a 10 minute coffee break. Duration of the course is 10 weeks.

Registration will be on Tuesday the 12th January 2016 from 7:00-8:00 pm.

There is no fee for the courses.

For further details contact: conradhguaire@gmail.com or goreylib@wexfordcoco.ie

17

The

SERVICES MICHAEL BURKE

Chronicle January 14, 2016

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20

The

News

Chronicle January 14, 2016

Co. Council Diary

The TDs who should been locked up, the disappearing roads and FG’s new BoyBand

The pre-Christmas arrest of TDs Mick Wallace and Clare Daly for non payment of a fine imposed on them for breaching security at Shannon Airport had another airing at the Co. Council this week. Deirdre Wadding had been given permission by the Council Chairman to raise it at the December meeting but the matter raised such a storm of protest that she was advised to submit a formal motion for the January agenda which she duly did.

The People Before Profit councillor did not expect a lot of support for her allegations that the matter had been fast tracked and involved an abuse of the judicial system and she was not disappointed.

There was a taste of things to come when Larry O’Brien looked towards the Heavens and declared ‘do we have to listen to this’ as councillor Wadding was making her point.

Paddy Kavanagh was amazed that he would be asked by a

Council colleague to support law breaking. Security at an airport was of the highest importance and breaching it put everyone at risk. The two TDs should have been locked up, Paddy suggested.

Ex Garda Joe Sullivan was able to give Deirdre a little lesson on the execution of warrants and effectively told her she didn’t know what she was talking about, although the Gorey councillor took a softer approach in his actual language.

Barrister James Browne provided another legal lesson for the People Before Profit woman explaining how Wallace and Daly, who enjoyed salaries of €80,000 per year could have pursued several legal options if they felt there was anything wrong with the process..

Only Fionntán O ‘Súilleabháin supported Deirdre but the consensus was that the TDs had themselves abused the legal system in pursuit of publicity and in terms of their offence they should have been

put behind bars.

Deirdre fared little better when she wondered earlier in the meeting what had happened to the money promised by Paul Kehoe for the Flood Relief Works in Enniscorthy back in 2011. Where did it go, what had happened in the meantime, she asked And she received her answer, not from the top table but from the Fine Gael benches. ‘It was held up until now by people like you objecting’, said Paddy Kavanagh Not surprisingly the recent storm and bad weather was uppermost on the minds of councillors, particularly those who are currently on the general election campaign trail, In the Wexford District the operation to carry out roadside cuttings to enable surface water run off the roads was suspended due to lack of money last year and Councillor Ger Carthy wanted to know if it would be fully reinstated. He was concerned too about the state of

the road at Barntown following the laying of the gas pipeline and the route to Taghmon which was bad before the work on the gas pipeline started but is even worse now.

In the shadow of the Blackstairs Mountains the roads are literally disappearing beneath their feet as councillors Kathleen Codd Nolan and Barbara Ann Murphy were anxious to explain to their colleagues.

But the most shocking story of all came not from a councillor, but from the Chief Executive himself, when he told of visiting Kilpatrick, North of Courtown last week to view homes which have been completely cut off following the collapse of the road into the sea.

So if you think that a pot hole lined road to your home is bad comfort yourself in the knowledge that you are lucky to have a road at all.

But do not despair. Engineer Eamonn Hore has no concerns that the situation will not be got

back on track eventually. He pointedly told Councillor James Browne that in the past the roads were often in an even worse state but were eventually restored.

There was one issue on which everyone could agree, or sing off the same hymn sheet, as Malcolm Byrne put it. Jim Moore and Paddy Kavanagh proposed that the Council through its Arts department lead the charge to create a County Youth Choir.

This was a non-singing duet but as councillor Kavanagh explained even though they were non singers they still enjoyed the finer things in life.

And unlike many of the headline grabbing motions put forward at council meetings this was one which could actually achieve something.

Malcolm Byrne was all in support of the efforts of the new Fine Gael BoyBand even suggesting that they might consider a Eurovision entry.

With the 1916 centenary

celebrations about to get underway in earnest Johnny Mythen wanted the government to declare the actual date of the Rising at the end of April a Public Holiday. Willie Fitzharris was worried that the additional holiday would place an unwelcome burden on small business but the prospect of an additional day off every April was too much for a majority of councillors to pass up and if the government does accept the advice of the Wexford councillors people could be enjoying a holiday almost every week between the middle of March and the beginning of May. Amid all the political banter and point scoring the sight of two empty seats in the Chamber was uppermost in the minds of all members. They extended their good wishes to Anthony Kelly who is seriously ill in Wexford General Hospital and to Robbie Ireton who has just begun a six week stay in a Dublin hospital.

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