History & Heritage

A specially commissioned plaque was unveiled and a commemorative historical booklet about the railways in Wexford, written by Oliver Doyle, was distributed.

150 years of Enniscorthy to Wexford railway

Mayor of Wexford Cllr. Maura Bell was at Wexford’s O’Hanrahan Station on 17th August to mark 150 years of the railway between Enniscorthy and Wexford. Mayor Bell was joined by Iarnród Éireann’s Director of Safety, and Wexford native, Kay Doyle. A specially crafted bronze plaque was unveiled and music was provided by local Iarnród Éireann driver, Ger Brennan.

The line opened exactly 150 years ago on 17th August 1872. Continuing the railway to Wexford was a considerable engineering feat. A 54-metre bridge was constructed over the river Slaney. A number of tunnels were also required, including at Killurin and Ferrycarrig. The line opened with a temporary station at Carcur, with the current station location opening two years later in 1874, a further half mile south. There was an intermediate station at Killurin and another at Edermine Ferry opened soon after. The arrival of the railway to Wexford heralded a new era for the people of the town and changed their economy and their lives for the better. The Star Iron Works and Pierce’s were the leading agricultural machinery manufacturers in Ireland at the that time and were major users of the new railway. The railway to Wexford carried the body of one of Wexford’s most famous sons, John Redmond, to his resting place. During the War of Independence and the Civil War some of the most severe disruption that occurred on the railway during these years happened in Wexford. Today, services to Wexford are busier than ever. With the Dublin to Rosslare line noted as Ireland’s most scenic railway line, the challenge of coastal erosion and climate change impacts this line like no other on the railway. The East Coast Railway Infrastructure Protection Project (ECRIPP) has begun, and it will ensure that the railway to Wexford can be enjoyed for many generations to come. Iarnród Éireann’s Director of Health and Safety and Wexford native Kay Doyle

Top: Some of the attendees at the celebration of 150 years. Above: George Lawlor, Cathaoirleach Wexford Co. Council, and Cllr Maura Bell, Mayor of Wexford. Below: Cllr Bell with Kay Doyle of Iarnród Éireann.

said: “As a Wexford woman it is a very proud day for me to be here marking 150 years of the railway to Wexford. Railways connect communities and that is exactly what the arrival of the railway to Wexford did. It gave people here in my native county the opportunity to travel to work or school in an easier way and gave people the transport option to explore new places. Today, the railway continues to serve the town and its hinterland and provides safe and sustainable travel for all.” n

Slaney aDSlaney hIStORy & heRItage Kilmore Lifeboat Exhibition

Exhibition in the Stella Maris hall of photos, models of lifeboats and memorabilia of Kilmore Lifeboat over the last 175 years, organised by John Power, 26-28th August 2022.

Above: John Power in middle shows Cllr Ger Carthy (left) one of his father’s photos with Tom O’Brien in photo also. Above right: Joe, Ashling and David Busher with John Grace of Kilmore Lifeboat. Below: Looking at the exhibition was Marie Dove. Right: Cllr Jim Codd, Murt Cloney, Cllr Ger Carthy, Jack O’Leary and Brian Cleere.

Above: Looking at the photos, Julie and Declan Sinnott. Above right: Gerard Clery, John Power (organiser), and Sinead Clery. Below left: Nick Cloake and Leo Coy. Right: Cllr Jim Codd and exhibition organiser John Power.

Kennedy Summer School to discuss lost leaders including Michael Collins

L-R: Neal Thompson, Dr Anne Dolan, Prof Briona Nic Dhiarmada

This August marked the centenary of the assassination of Michael Collins and, with this significant anniversary in mind, the Kennedy Summer School has assembled a panel of renowned historians to analyse the contribution of Ireland and America’s best-known lost leaders.

On Saturday, September 10th, at the Kennedy Summer School in New Ross, Dr Martin O’Donoghue, teacher of modern British and Irish history at the University of Sheffield; Neal Thompson, journalist and the author of six highly acclaimed nonfiction books, including The First Kennedys, A Curious Man, Driving with the Devil, and Kickflip Boys, who is a former newspaper reporter and has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, Esquire, Outside, Vanity Fair, and The Wall Street Journal; Associate Professor of History at Dublin City University Dr William Murphy; Associate Professor in Modern Irish History in the Department of History and a Fellow of Trinity College Dublin Dr Anne Dolan; and moderator Prof Briona Nic Dhiarmada, native of New Ross and the Thomas J. and Kathleen O’Donnell Professor Emerita of Irish Studies at the University of Notre Dame in the U.S. and a writer, academic and filmmaker, will form a panel at St Michael’s Theatre to discuss Lost Leaders: Michael Collins, Parnell, JFK and Bobby.

Speaking of the upcoming event, Director of the Summer School Dr Brian Murphy says, “Collins, the Kennedy brothers and Parnell were all men of substantial achievement cut down in their prime. Our panel will discuss their successful but truncated careers, speculate on what they may have achieved had they lived and also assess the impact of public and private grief on the national consciousness in the United States and Ireland.

John F. Kennedy died aged 46, Charles Stewart Parnell aged 45, Robert Kennedy aged 42, and Michael Collins aged just 31. Each of these young, charismatic political leaders made a profound impact on their respective countries and their premature deaths changed the course of history.”

A host of guests are set to join the Kennedy Summer School this year with United States Ambassador to Ireland Claire Cronin set to officially open the event, the Irish American State Legislators’ Caucus will join a panel discussion, and Minister Simon Harris will be present also. US politician and grandson of Robert Kennedy, Joe Kennedy, will join the event remotely plus there are a host of politicians, political commentators and correspondents and leading global academics who will all join in the discussions billed for the annual Kennedy Summer School which is set to take place in New Ross this September 8th to 10th.

The 2022 Summer School will focus on topical issues in Irish and U.S. politics with leading expert speakers from both sides of the Atlantic along with a focus on Russia and Ukraine and a discussion on Sustainable Futures and political impact. More than 40 guest speakers will participate in debates on a wide range of subjects with the U.S. and Ukraine featuring prominently.

The 2022 Kennedy Summer School programme of events and tickets are now available online at www.kennedysummerschool.ie or call St. Michael’s Theatre on 051 421255. n

Access for all to Enniscorthy Castle

The ADAPP was launched recently at Enniscorthy Castle by the town's Councillors – pictured above L-R: Cathal Byrne, Aidan Browne (Cathaoirleach), Jackser Owens, Barbara-Anne Murphy, and John O'Rourke.

IMPROVING ACCESS FOR ALL TO ENNISCORTHY CASTLE COINCIDING WITH NATIONAL HERITAGE WEEK...

National Heritage Week took place from the 13th to the 21st August, and the focus this year was on sustainable heritage. The Access Section of Wexford County Council has created a pilot project entitled the ‘Advanced Digital Access Participation Project’ (ADAPP), which through virtual tours and QR codes provides alternative access for all to enjoy and explore a selection of heritage sites throughout County Wexford, including Enniscorthy Castle. The project is supported by the Disability Participation & Awareness Fund, an initiative of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. The project, through a series of virtual tours and QR codes provides alternative access for all to enjoy and explore a selection of heritage sites throughout the county, including Fethard Castle, Enniscorthy Castle, Tulach a tSolais on Oulart Hill, St. Patrick’s Church in Wexford Town, and St. Mary’s Church in Bannow. A video about the pilot project, which includes brief introductory messages from Tom Enright, Chief Executive, and Cllr. George Lawlor, Cathaoirleach, has been produced which you can view at the link https://youtu.be/HItfWlZkpUw Also included (on right) are links to each virtual tour of the five sites, where the wonderful features can be explored and accessed by all. The QR code will be placed on a sign outside the Castle shortly for persons physically visting the site. For persons online, we have reproduced on this page a digital version of the code which links up directly to the Enniscorthy Castle virtual tour. Further Information: 053 9196387, accessoffice@wexfordcoco.ie n

Enniscorthy Castle:

https://my.matterport.com/show/ ?m=7orJGVGNoUa

Fethard Castle:

https://my.matterport.com/show/ ?m=Fz8rHrGqHVE

St. Patrick's Church:

https://my.matterport.com/show/ ?m=6sCVZvMzELK

St. Mary's Church:

https://my.matterport.com/show/ ?m=8QwPbmYuDRU

Oulart Hill:

https://my.matterport.com/show/ ?m=ikjhU33pvb2

Slaney hIStORy & heRItage Walking tours of Wexford’s towns focusing on incidents from the War of Independence and Civil War

Starting this month, Wexford County Council's Historian in Residence Barry Lacey (right) will be hosting a series of walking tours of the towns in Co. Wexford, visiting the sites of incidents from the War of Independence and Civil War. His first tour took place in Enniscorthy on 1st September.

A new and different Medieval Ferns Experience

Want to try something new and very different? Well, Wexford's newest visitor attraction is now open in Ferns – located at Ferns Community Centre in a specially refurbished area.

The Experience tells the fascinating story of Ferns medieval history in an interactive and fun way. Using audiovisual sensory and virtual reality it really gives a great insight into power shifts in the Ancient Capital of Leinster. The Experience is open Wednesday to Saturday from 11am to 5pm. For enquiries email: medievalfernsexperience@fernsvillage.ie or phone: 089-4946972. Entry fee is €6. Seniors/Students €5. Children under 12 are free. n

Memorial Service at Kilmore

The annual Kilmore Quay Memorial Service for those who have lost their lives at sea took place at the Memorial Garden in Kilmore Quay on 28th August 2022.

Above left: Seamus O’Keeffe, Peggy Stamp and Cllr Ger Carthy. Above right: John Grace, RNLI, and Paul Cahill, Kilmore Coast Guard, laying wreaths in the Memorial Gard Fr Pat Mernagh and committee. Below left: Some of the attendees. Below centre: Fr Pat Mernagh addresses the audience. Below right: M

Above left: Paul Cahill, Kilmore Coast Guard and John Grace, Kilmore Lifeboat, laying wreaths at the Memorial Garden. Above centre: Watching the proceedings Below left: Cllrs Ger Carthy and Jim Moore with John Power and Seamus O’Keeffe. Below centre: Musicans Carmel Keating, Kevin Watty and Kathleen Laughton. John Maddock, Fr Pat Mernagh. Below right: Mary O’Neill says a prayer for those who lost their lives at sea.

den with members of the Coast Guard and RNLI lifeboat and Members of Kilmore Lifeboat.

. Above right: Applauding at the Memorial Service. Below centre: Prayers at the Garden – Enda Murphy,

Catching up with Fintan Kelly on tour

Fintan Kelly with a group on one of his recent tours of Enniscorthy.

Enniscorthy’s Fintan Kelly, supported by Enniscorthy and District Chamber and Wexford County Council, is continuing to run his historic walking tours of Enniscorthy every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 10am and 2.30pm, until further notice. Places on each tour are limited and each tour will finish with a bus journey to Vinegar Hill. To book, contact Fintan on 087 675 6993. A great opportunity to see Enniscorthy in a way you’ve never seen it before. n

Above: Gathering at the Faythe for the wreath-laying ceremony.

Right: John Fowler of the Commodore John Barry Branch. Below: Anthony Nolan playing the Last Post. Below right: Members of the McCabe Family. Liam McCabe laid a wreath to his late Father Billy McCabe who was a member of Wexford Branch ONE.

Wreath laying at the ONE memorial in the Faythe

The Commodore John Barry Branch of ONE (Organisation of National Ex-Service personnel) gathering on 14th August 2022 at The Faythe Memorial to the memory of all national ex-service personel, to those who died in Ireland and those who died on United Nations services overseas. n

Above: Army pipers. Below: Minister James Browne TD lays a wreath on behalf of the government of Ireland. Bottom: Verona Murphy TD, Town Sergeant Jason Tennant, Wexford Mayor Maura Bell, Cllr George Lawlor, Cathaoirleach Wexford Co. Council, Minister James Browne TD, and Angie Laffan, Wexford Town Manager.

A Wealth of Hidden History

Above left: Wexford County Archivist Grainne Doran with Tina Larkin of Enniscorthy Library. Above right: Grainne Doran.

County Archivist Grainne Doran was at Enniscorthy Library on Thursday 18th August to digitally display many of the items from the 1921-23 period, now stored in the County Wexford Archive at Ardcavan, Wexford.

Grainne’s passion for our visual history is admirable, as she collects, catalogues, and is now digitising these artefacts in the fervent hope that if people can’t see them in person then at least they will have online access to them.

Photographs of Seamus O`Brien from Morriscastle who was mortally wounded at Rathdrum, Sean and Maire Moran from Lower Church Street, Enniscorthy, both active at the Athenaeum in 1916 and Maire one of the founding members of the Enniscorthy Cumann na mBan branch, Margaret Power of Bridgetown, Sean Etchingham – one of the Enniscorthy 1916 leaders, and a very well-preserved photograph of the Enniscorthy Flying Column 1922, were displayed on screen for the library audience. Grainne very much laments that the 1916 Collection had to be removed from the Athenaeum, Enniscorthy, during Covid, due to the risk of damp and mould. ‘Enniscorthy has the distinction of being the last place to surrender in the Rising and now there is nowhere to commemorate its unique contribution or view its extensive collection of artefacts from the period.’ Grainne also displayed a Minute Book documenting activities of the GAA Board in Ballykinlar Prisoner of War Camp along with correspondence from prisoners to their families and friends during their incarceration in 1921.

I asked Grainne about the sporting history of the county and if there were many artefacts remembering this aspect of our heritage and again the County Archivist lamented the fact that there was nowhere in the county to house these items, important to so many. She did have an image on screen of a portion of cloth from the billiard table in the National Foresters Hall, Enniscorthy, which is part of the sporting archive housed at Ardcavan.

I visited the Archives many years ago and was intrigued to find Minute Books of many sporting clubs in the town including the Enniscorthy Cricket Club, along with the Athenaeum Snooker Cup, and of course a plethora of hurls belonging to many of our most famous GAA sons. Other items in Grainne’s fine display included weaponry, an Enfield Rifle, a Thompson Machine Gun, pistols, bayonets, bullets, and a hand grenade. Well done to Grainne and her team for the tremendous work they are doing preserving, documenting, and digitising, but such a dreadful shame that this very important and tangible part of our heritage is hidden away, unable to find a suitable home in this proud and historic county of ours.

– Words & Pics by Maria Nolan

Enniscorthy Castle is home to a rare piece of medieval graffito, incised in the dungeon wall – a 1m tall figure with sword in hand thought to be from the 16th century. This work of wall art from times past is the centrepiece of the Castle’s autumnal exhibition Writing on the Wall.

Enniscorthy Castle Manager Mico Hassett explains, "An archaeological report was completed in 2012 on our drawing thanks to Heritage Council funding. They recommended a full digital survey of the swordsman figure. Originally referred to as a Halberdier, the figure is, in fact, a swordsman thought to date to the late 16th century. Further funding allowed us to complete the digital survey using 3D laser imaging, 3D photogrammetry and 2D RTI imaging. The data retrieved allows us to showcase the piece across our main floor and will monitor the condition of the artwork over time too."

The exhibition centrepiece is a full-sized 3D print of the wall art. A video of the survey process and the finished 3D print were on display at the launch event on 19th August as part of the Castle’s Heritage Week events.

Eve Furlong, deputy manager of Enniscorthy Castle, says, "The 3D print allows us to bring the Swordsman out of the dungeon and into the main exhibition space of the Castle, which creates better accessibility, opportunities for up-close engagement and additional educational materials to be showcased.”

Admission to the exhibition is €6 with a family of five for just €15, making it a great value proposition for a tour. Writing on the Wall – Chisel to Spray Can: Graffito, Graffiti and Wall Art runs in the castle until Halloween with the full dislay exploring the history of graffiti and wall art from the Neolithic to the present day. The focus on political graffiti, the rise of graffiti in the 80s and the local Enniscorthy Walls Project offers patrons plenty of insight to graffiti art through the ages across the world. n

Bringing the Swordsman out of the dungeon

Below: The exhibition centrepiece – a full-sized 3D print of Enniscorthy Castle’s dungeon wall art was unveiled last month by Enniscorthy Castle Manager Mico Hassett and Cathaoirleach of Enniscorthy Municipal District Aidan Browne. Bottom: Conor Gibson, Lisa Byrne, Larry Dunne of The Presentation Centre, Enniscorthy, at the exhibition launch.