Slaney News, Issue 138, November 2021.

Slaney News

ServiNg Co. wexford for the laSt 11 yearS

Issue 138 - November 2021

Thumbs up for Enniscorthy’s new Primary Care Centre Minister James Brown TD and Dr Mairead Kelly at the new Enniscorthy Primary Care Centre at Blackstoops. Dr Kelly will be the first service provider in the new centre when she moves her GP practice there in early January 2022.

COURT STREET DENTAL CENTRE ●

● Open for routine treatment Free consults for braces and implants ● Offering treatment for fine lines and wrinkles

Court Street, Enniscorthy. Tel: 053 9237404. www.courtstreetdentalcentre.com Open: Mon-Thurs 8.30am–5pm, Fri 7.30am–1.30pm

ISLAND ROAD, ENNISCORTHY 053-9233601, 086-2457664

KAVANAGH’S GARAGE

Auto Maintenance & Repairs – Diagnostics – Pre-NCT and DOE Tests – Clutches, Brakes, etc – Breakdown Assistance

Haven Kavanagh’s Pharmacy This Neostrata Gift Set contains Exfoliating Wash, Matrix Support Spf30 Moisturiser, Cellular Restoration (night cream) and your FREE gift of Intensive Eye Cream

DUFFRY HILL, ENNISCORTHY. T: (053) 9234660.

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Wheelocks – a magical place at Christmas, and all year round!

The Wheelocks have been growing fruit at the family farm since the 1950s. Now we are delighted to welcome you to our farm to experience the Village at Wheelocks!

Our newly developed 17-acre site is in a beautiful rural setting just outside Enniscorthy and easily accessed from the M11 motorway between Dublin and Wexford.

Visitors can enjoy special walks, tours and activities throughout the year.

Learn more about how we grow our famous Wexford Strawberries and even pick your own!

Our café serves delicious, freshly prepared food all day, and we are a proud member of the Wexford Food Family, promoting the finest local Wexford produce in our café and shop.

You can also visit our retail shops located in our Courtyard area: The Hidden Gem, N-Hance Beauty and Tracey’s Cottage Garden.

Treat yourself to a stay in our 6-bedroom B&B, “Strawberry View” which is located onsite. This B&B, which can be viewed on our website, can be booked on 053-9201900.

Take a forest walk and visit the farm animals along the way.

You can visit our website and book our magical Christmas Experience online at thevillageatwheelocks.ie

The farm shop is a must visit, with a fine selection of local artisan food products, fresh seasonal fruit grown on our own farm, crafts and unique gifts.

We would like to thank all our customers for your loyal support in 2021.

Book now to visit us soon at thevillageatwheelocks.ie We look forward to seeing you.

With great joy we announce that Santa will be visiting us at “The Village at Wheelocks” once again this year.

We invite you to visit for an unforgettable magical experience. ❄ Santa’s head elf will be here to welcome you and check you in. ❄ Your journey will begin with the very important and jolly Mrs Claus who will entertain you and guide you to board our Christmas train. ❄ One of Santa’s elves will accompany you to travel down our mystical woodland through our glistening tunnel of lights. ❄ Watch out for Rudolf amidst the trees and the many surprises along the way.

❄ Disembark our train at our live crib. ❄ There are plenty of treats in store for everyone as they walk through our fully covered tunnels. ❄ What will the elves be up to? Are they busy dealing with all the children’s letters in the Post Office?

Observe the elves as they make their final preparations for Santa’s busiest night of the year. ❄ Then it’s time to meet the main man himself “Santy” in his cosy sitting room. You can tell him all your wishes for Christmas. ❄ Will you be on the naughty or nice list? If you are on the nice list, our magic chimney will give you a surprise!

Book our Christmas Experience online at: thevillageatwheelocks.ie

A Happy Christmas and a Happy New Year to all, from Santa and his elves at Wheelocks Page 2 - 3rd November 2021

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Contents of this issue of Slaney News...

News Food & Drink Business & Finance Pets Motoring Leisure & Lifestyle Sport Arts History & Heritage Environment

page 4 page 50 page 58 page 64 page 66 page 70 page 92 page 98 page 104 page 109

We would be delighted to receive stories and photos from our readers around the county. If you have anything you’d like us to share, please email slaneynews@gmail.com and we will do our best to include as many photos and stories as possible.

PAT MURPHY OIL LTD. A family-owned Wexford company providing you with a reliable and quality service since 1988 Ask about our Easy Pay Budget Plan All Major Credit & Laser Cards Accepted Delivering Kerosene, Diesel, Gas Oil, Agri Diesel to homes, farms and businesses all around Co. Wexford.

TEL: 053-9255219 - RATHNURE - ENNISCORTHY 3rd November 2021 - Page 3

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comment Welcome to the November issue of the online-only Slaney News.

Wexford County Council has commenced work on developing an Urban Regeneration Plan for Enniscorthy. Tonight (3rd November), the first Public Consultation Meeting took place in the Riverside Park Hotel.

Close to 100 people participated. See a short report on page 14, and we will carry a more detailed report in our December issue.

Wexford Co. Council is also inviting written submissions and comments which can be made via the consultation portal https://consult.wexfordcoco.ie/ or in writing, marked ‘Renewing Enniscorthy’s Town Centre’ to: Planning Department, Wexford County Council, County Hall, Carricklawn, Wexford, Y35 WY93. All feedback received will be recorded and considered during the ongoing design process. Queries regarding same can be made to Sonia Hunt on 053 9196408 or sonia.hunt@Wexfordcoco.ie –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Santa’s Enchanted Castle in Enniscorthy is a magical experience which always enchants both young and old. So it’s no surprise that there are genuinely only a small number of tickets still available for this November and December. Book now while you still can on www.santasenchantedcastle.ie This Christmas, Enniscorthy’s Market Square will be transformed into a Christmas visual experience for people to sit, relax and enjoy. The experience will include photo opportunities for kids and it is planned to have a number of choirs Carol Singing over the month of December. The Switch-on of the Christmas Lights will take place on Friday 26th November from 6-7pm with a special seasonal guest to lead an entertaining countdown from the stage at Market Square.

In addition to the above happenings in Enniscorthy, this issue contains approx 25 pages covering lots of social, leisure and arts happenings around the county between now and Christmas – loads for all to enjoy.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– If you have any news or photos you’d like us to share in the Slaney News, please email them to slaneynews@gmail.com and we will do our best to include as much as possible. Also, please let us know what you think about our new format. Tel: 087-2403310, slaneynews@gmail.com or message us through our Facebook page: “Slaney News”. And, of course, if you like the new format please spread the word so we can grow our online readership. Thank you.

– Frank Corcoran

Page 4 - 3rd November 2021

To advertise in the Slaney News please contact: 087-2403310 SLANEY NEWS, CLONHASTON, ENNISCORTHY Tel: 087-2403310 Email: slaneynews@gmail.com www.slaneynews.com Facebook: Slaney News Online: www.issuu.com/slaneynews/docs PUBLISHED in Enniscorthy by Corcoran Print & Design Disclaimer: Slaney News reserves the right to accept or reject any advertisement submitted for publication.

Slaney News does not attempt to investigate or verify claims made in advertisements appearing in our publication. The appearance of an advertisement in this publication in no way implies endorsement or approval by us of any advertising claims or of the advertiser, its product, or services. Slaney News disclaims any liability whatsoever in connection with advertising appearing in this publication.

Every effort has been made to ensure that all articles published in Slaney News are true and accurate but if any errors do occur please let us know and we will gladly rectify them in our next issue.

Where details of future events are given in this publication, we recommend that you check these details directly with the organisers as event details may be subject to change.

Slaney News strongly recommends seeking independent professional advice before acting on any financial, medical or other information contained in this publication.

SLANEY NEWS

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John Dargan (left) and wife Margaret-Anne Walsh (right) – the founders of SignaCare, with Director of Nursing Denise Steed-O’Doherty.

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Water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink The above heading, taken from Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner', seems very appropriate at present with ‘Boil Water’ notices becoming so frequent in Co. Wexford’s main towns. October was a particularly wet month so there’s no shortage of water around us but unfortunately it’s not safe enough to drink.

At the time of writing (2nd Nov) over 40,000 people around the county are affected by ‘Boil Water’ notices. It’s hoped that the Enniscorthy notice will be lifted by tomorrow (Wed 3rd Nov), followed by Gorey later this week, but it’s likely to be next week before the Wexford Town supply is back to normal.

The current problems result from recent unprecedented levels of rain in the county coupled with a serious lack of investment in the county’s water treatment plants (except for the plant at New Ross).

Investment is currently being carried out at the Creagh plant in Gorey, but planned spending of €2m for Wexford and €8m for Vinegar Hill in Enniscorthy is not scheduled to take place until 2023, so further problems cannot be ruled out before then. n

Open for business Local solicitor and Chairman of Enniscorthy Municipal District, Cathal Byrne, has just opened his own law firm at 4 Castle Hill, Enniscorthy, eleven years after stepping into his first law lecture in college.

Cathal tells us, “Opening a new business in a pandemic has been challenging to say the least but I’m excited to finally have the doors open and look forward to providing legal advice and assistance to people in my home town and across Co. Wexford.”

He will be practising in the areas of: Wills, Property & Mortgages, Probate, Farming Law, Personal Injury, as well as being a Commissioner for Oaths.

For appointments: Telephone 053-9270015 or email: Info@CathalByrneSolicitor.ie n

Page 6 - 3rd November 2021

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Senator Malcolm Byrne If I can help in any way please let me know Tel: 085-8245142 malcolm.byrne@oireachtas.ie

ALBA ITALIAN RESTAURANT GRILL - PASTA - SEAFOOD Abbey Square, Enniscorthy Open 6pm – 9.30pm Tuesday to Sunday Tel: 053 92 39 651 www.albarestaurant.ie Facebook: Alba Restaurant NOW OK INGS TA K ING B O M AS FOR C H R IST N IG HTS OU T

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CORRIGAN FLOORING MAY COTTAGE, COOLGARROW, ENNISCORTHY, Y21 F5W4

Co. Wexford Farmers Markets The Co. Wexford Farmers Markets have been serving their local communities for the last 18 years, providing a platform for local food producers to sell directly to local consumers who can take home food that is produced locally, boosting the local economy and keeping small food producers in business in the process.

The Enniscorthy Farmers Market is open each Saturday from 9am to 2pm in the Abbey Sq Car Park.

Gorey Farmers Market is open each Saturday 8am to 1pm in Community School Car Park.

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–––––––––––––––––––––– BEDS AVAILABLE NOW ALSO! Guaranteed Unbeatable Value Tel: 086-8885141, 085-7351403 From Enniscorthy, take the R744 towards Oulart for approx 7kms and May Cottage will be on your left hand side.

Both markets offer a wide range of fresh produce weekly: Locally produced meats, fruit and vegetables, jams, preserves, cordials, great selection of breads and cakes, herbs and salads, Kilmore fish, pies, soups and quiches, cooked foods, teas and coffees, flowers and plants in season, and more!

Pre orders are welcome and customers can collect in the markets on a Saturday. Producer contact details are available on the ‘Enniscorthy Farmers Market’ and ‘Gorey Farmers Market’ Facebook pages.

Strict compliance with current covid regulations!

www.wexfordfarmersmarkets.com 3rd November 2021 - Page 7

SlaNey NewS Enniscorthy’s new Primary Care Centre: The 50,000 sq ft state-of-the-art centre is also nZEB (Near Zero Energy Building). The Enniscorthy District Engineer is looking at the possibility of having a bus-stop provided outside the new centre.

Enniscorthy’s Primary Care Centre Enniscorthy’s new 50,000 sq ft Primary Care Centre is expected to open this coming January. It will accommodate the GP practice of local doctor, Mairead Kelly, as well as offices for the HSE and TUSLA (the child and family agency), a pharmacy,

and other medical-related services.

Moving from her existing location on Mill Park Road into a bigger and more modern premises, and with a third doctor now in the practice, it means Dr Kelly can expand

the range of services offered to patients, as well as increasing her patient numbers. She says, “This can only be good for our patients and at the end of the day it’s all about them and offering the best level of service we can.” n

Above left: At Enniscorthy’s new Primary Care Centre were L-R: Minister James Browne TD, Dr. Mairead Kelly (whose GP practice will be based in the Centre) and Dr. Alicia Gomez GP who recently joined Dr Kelly’s practice.

Page 8 - 3rd November 2021

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The LEADER Transitional Programme Enterprise Grants Available

Up to €100,000 in grant aid available for the development of NEW & EXISTING niche businesses Priority will be given to: • New & Existing Food & Beverage Enterprises • New & Existing Rural Tourism Enterprises • New & Existing Innovative Enterprises • A particular focus will be on projects that have a capacity to sustain and create jobs, and generate positive economic benefit

ENNISCORTHY & NEW ROSS DISTRICT Contact: HELENA DEMPSEY 087 1737502 hdempsey@wld.ie

Grant Aid % Up to Maximum

Maximum Grant

Capital & Marketing

75%

€100,000

A&D

75%

€30,000

Training

100%

€100,000

WEXFORD & GOREY DISTRICT Contact: TOM BERMINGHAM 085 8239314 tbermingham@wld.ie

Funded by the Department of Rural & Community Development

3rd November 2021 - Page 9

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Page 10 - 3rd November 2021

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Tel: 087-968 2756

Call today 053 9233593

St.Mary’s C.B.S.

enniSCorthy

Admission into St Mary’s CBS, Enniscorthy, September 2022 St Mary’s C.B.S. will accept fully completed application forms in respect of students in 6th Class Primary School to our 1st year group (140 students) in September 2022 from Monday, 18th October 2021 until Friday, 12th November 2021. Application forms, admission notice and the school admission policy are available from the school office during normal school hours (9am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday) and may also be downloaded from the school website www.stmaryscbs.ie

We Care

We Prepare

We Achieve 3rd November 2021 - Page 11

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Banking on Enniscorthy Credit Union!

Actress Fiona Ryan was on hand to help launch the new MYCU Debit Mastercard.

The management and staff at Enniscorthy Credit Union are thrilled that their MYCU Debit Mastercard and current account are now operating. This means that members have full banking services available to them from Enniscorthy Credit Union which is now effectively a one-stop-shop for all banking services.

The MYCU Debit Mastercard is accepted globally wherever one sees the Mastercard acceptance mark. It can be used to withdraw cash, pay bills, pay at point of sale or online, nationally and internationally. An overdraft facility is also available to members who would like to apply for one. Fees are applicable but Marketing Manager Áine Doyle tells us that “they are kept as low as possible, easy to understand, and students and members over 66 qualify for concession banking”.

So would you rather bank with Enniscorthy Credit Union? Well, now you can! Apply through Enniscorthy Credit Union online banking, Enniscorthy CU App, or in any of its branches.

For more information on fees and terms and conditions: https://www.enniscorthycu.ie/mycu/ n

Page 12 - 3rd November 2021

And a reminder that managing your money is at your fingertips with the Enniscorthy CU Mobile app. Just search 'Enniscorthy CU' on the App Store or Google Play Store. And if you’re not a member, no problem, you can join using the App too! n

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United Nations Centre of Excellence for Enniscorthy moves a step closer

Earlier today (3rd November) Minister Darragh O’Brien signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Wexford County Council Chair Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy, the Waterford Wexford Education & Training Board (WWETB), the Wexford High Performance Building Alliance and the United Nations. Ireland’s first nZEB (near Zero Energy Building) training centre was established in Enniscorthy in 2018 and this MOU is the next step on the road to establishing a United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Centre of Excellence there. Back row L-R: Liz Hore (Wexford Co. Council), Paul Kehoe TD, Minister James Browne TD, Michael O'Brien (nZEB training centre, Enniscorthy). Seated L-R: Tony Larkin (Wexford Co. Council), Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy (Chairperson Wexford Co. Council), Minister Darragh O’Brien TD, Kevin Lewis (WWETB).

3rd November 2021 - Page 13

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ENJOY CHRISTMAS T

Ticket sales for Santa’s Enchanted Castle in Enniscorthy are going well but Christmas Switch On in Enniscorthy taking place on November 26th from 6

The regeneration of Enniscorthy town centre An important public meeting on the regeneration of Enniscorthy town centre took place tonight (3rd November) hosted by Wexford County Council in the Riverside Park Hotel, with representatives from Loci consultants who are assisting with developing the regeneration plan.

A large turnout of nearly 100 people ensured a lively and positive meeting with the attendance seated at circular tables to facilitate group discussion and feedback. Each table was assisted by a facilitator from Wexford County Council who helped summarise each table’s ideas. Everything came up for discussion including improving traffic flow through the town, the development of the Murphy Floods site as a retail destination, creating more diversity in the town’s retail offering, bringing life back to the town centre by for instance developing the unused accommodation overhead the retail premises in town, resolving the derelict sites issue, making the town more pedestrian friendly, a greater focus on sustainability and ecofriendliness, greater use of the town’s key assets such as the Castle, Vinegar Hill and the river, better signage throughout the town, etc. A lot of the feedback boiled down to creating a more “vibrant” town centre.

Next month’s issue will carry a more detailed report on this important meeting.

The aim of this public consultation process by Wexford County Council is to get as much agreement as possible on a shared vision for the future which will address the physical and socio-economic challenges, highlight the town’s inherent assets, and exploit the opportunities that exist. The regeneration strategy will help co-ordinate public and private investment to optimise the social, economic and environmental benefits for the town.

Wexford County Council welcomes written submissions at consult.wexfordcoco.ie or by post, marked ‘Renewing Enniscorthy’s Town Centre’ to: Planning Department, Wexford County Council, County Hall, Carricklawn, Wexford, Y35 WY93. Queries regarding same can be made to Sonia Hunt on 053 9196408 or sonia.hunt@Wexfordcoco.ie All comments received will be recorded and considered during the ongoing design process.

All Enniscorthy’s six councillors were present for the important public meeting on the future of Enniscorthy town centre, including L-R: Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy, Aidan Browne and Kathleen Codd-Nolan.

Page 14 - 3rd November 2021

Future consultation with the general public will also take place in the near future regarding the Local Area Plan (LAP) for Enniscorthy and a transportation strategy for the town. n

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TIME IN ENNISCORTHY

there is still availability for the opening weekend which coincides with the 6 to 7pm in the Market Square with Santa and his surprise singing guest!!! ,

Above left: John O’Connor and Billy Murphy. Above right: Dr Louis Nwachi (Loci consultants), Dervla Tierney, Diarmuid Houston (Senior Planner, Wexford County Council). Right: Philip Murphy and Cllr Cathal Byrne (Cathaoirleach Enniscorthy Municipal District). Below: The large attendance at the Riverside Park Hotel on 3rd November for the ‘Regeneration of Enniscorthy Town Centre’ public meeting organised by Wexford Co. Council and Enniscorthy’s local Councillors to give stakeholders and the general public a chance to have their say on a vision for the town going forward.

3rd November 2021 - Page 15

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Jack, Annie, Ed, Aoife, John Kennedy, Clare Clark, Nalla Kennedy, Margaret Martin, Mia Martin, PJ Martin and Stacey James.

Celine Conaghan, Brian, Conall and Maria O’Shaughnessy and Breda Harris.

Below: Oylegate National School second class with teachers and Rev John Byrne PP. Below right: The first group at the Confirmation with teachers and Rev John Byrne PP.

Derek, Conor and Marie Browne.

Page 16 - 3rd November 2021

Timmy and Ellie Fleming, Frances Brosnan and Tadhg Fleming.

Oyleg

Oylegate Nation

Linda Hunt, Ray, Libby, Sharon

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Alice and Patrick Harris.

Keeping it in the family: cousins Kate, Hannah and Niamh Nolan.

gate Confirmation Day

Eddie Rowe, Chrissy Redmond, Tommy Rowe, Robert Murphy, Ryan Murphy, Pamela Murphy, Margaret Rowe and Mar Edwards.

nal School Confirmation day on Saturday 9th October in Oylegate Church.

and Mollie Fortune.

Denis, Declan and Lorraine Murphy and Tina Merriman.

Laura, Darragh and Aidan Farrell.

3rd November 2021 - Page 17

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Hallow e l l i K n i Early Y Halloween party time at Killegney Early Years, Clonroche, in aid of Temple Street Children’s Hospital. Above: Holly Room and the class of ECCE 1.

Class of ECCE 1 at the Happy Halloween stand.

Above: Shay enjoying the Halloween party at Killegney Early Years.

Below: Sarah, Leah, Orlagh Doyle, and Zoe.

Amy is happy at the party.

Page 18 - 3rd November 2021

A bit unsure about Halloween! Anna, Tara and Fionn.

SlaNey SNapS Hannah,Orlagh Doyle (proprietor), and Tadhg.

ween egney Years

Ollie taking a spin.

All the good witches: Ellie, Orlagh and Saoirse.

Noah, Orlagh and Alex.

Lexi – a very serious witch!

Eimear.

Roisin.

Jake enjoying the Halloween party.

Emily takes it all in her stride.

Zoe at the party.

Odhran and Molly.

Cian at the Killegney Early Years party.

Charli with Orlagh.

3rd November 2021 - Page 19

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Enniscorthy Engineering & Fabrication Rockview, Ballyorrill, Enniscorthy Phone Mick McGrath: 087 9392624 Email: mickmcgrathjnr@gmail.com ● New website: www.enniscorthyengineering.ie ●

PARTY FOOD: Goujons, Wedges, Chips, Cocktail Sausages, Prawns in Filo Pastry, Chicken Drumsticks, Mini Spring Rolls _____________________________________________________ BARBECUE: SteakBurgers, Chicken Kebabs, Sausages _____________________________________________________

Page 20 - 3rd November 2021

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3rd November 2021 - Page 21

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Going green

Lighting up green for World Mental Health Day 10th October 2021.

At Enniscorthy Castle back row L-R: John Kelly, Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy (Cathaoirleach Wexford County Council), Cllr John O’Rourke, Cllr Kathleen Codd-Nolan, Cllr Cathal Byrne (Cathaoirleach, Enniscorthy Municipal District), Johnny Mythen TD, Patrick Hipwell, Cllr Aidan Browne, Paul Kehoe TD, Kevin Foley (Captain, Rapparees), Minister James Browne TD. Pic: Maria Nolan.

Lighting up green for World Mental Health Day at County Council HQ, Carricklawn, back row L-R: Anita Furlong (Pieta House) Cllr Leonard Kelly, Cllr Tom Forde, Johnny Mythen TD, Cllr Maura Bell, Belle Butler, Cllr George Lawlor, George Graham and Senator Malcolm Byrne. Front: Jer O'Mahoney (Co. IFA Chairman), Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy (Chairperson Wexford County Council), Verona Murphy TD, John Kelly, Michael Martin and Patrick Hipwell.

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N.I. PROTOCOL DEAL! SEEING THE WOOD FROM THE TREES QUICKLY For a long time I have been listening to the beat of the drums from the unionist side of this debate with some concern. I focus in

TOWN TALK

on trying to figure out where it will end up when the drums stop beating and the voices are silent. There are many nervous people in that community and I dare say we should be too. Like most things in life it’s not really about the wording and texts of THE PROTOCOL, it is much bigger than that which, if left unchecked and not understood, can and may strain the GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT itself to its breaking point.

This is more a political battle within unionism than a legal one between ENGLAND and the EU. As we all know, political battles never end up well in NORTHERN

WITH KEITH DOYLE

IRELAND. I do feel that both sides are missing the bigger picture and the IRISH

contracts to name a few. In order to get a

GOVERNMENT must get up to speed for it

handle on this one we must go back to

is this island that always has to pick up the

where it all began – BREXIT.

pieces. BORIS JOHNSON messed up when

It is important to point out that the

he sold out NORTHERN IRELAND during

NORTH voted against BREXIT. They did so

the BREXIT fiasco and ever since then he

for many reasons, but within those reasons

has made the issue more unstable. News-

was stability. This is so important in the

flash: He will sell them out again soon

context of the debate.The GOOD FRIDAY

when more pressing foreign policy files

AGREEMENT was being embedded into

comes across his desk that will need EU

everyday life and even the cross-border

cooperation. I am thinking of future dis-

meetings were baring fruit for both sides.

cussions on security matters and military

So, for unionism, a sense of impending

isolation from ENGLAND sparked off a chain of events which has brought us to where we are now. A potential crossroads in relations once again. The notion that they would have less attachment with ENGLAND has caused support within the politicial landscape to shift from the DUP to UUP in massive numbers. One must note that the UUP was on its knees for many years. The DUP lost two leaders in as many months because they did not heed the message coming from the party. They feel under attack. They feel cornered. That is what makes this so concerning. With SINN FÉIN pouring petrol on to the fire calling for a phased timeline for a border poll at this time has not helped this cause or their own. Timing is everything in this game especially when the temperature is high.

I do not have the answers. This is an ever increasing crack in the wall of hope so many people helped to build. I feel that no one side of the table has all the answers either, what I am certain of is the first item would be to take the heat out of the issue quickly. A deal is only a good deal if all sides get something out of it and can live with it, that would be a good starting point, and above all not to take the eye off the big prize, the protection of the GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT. n

Some of the key figures involved in the Good Friday Agreement pictured in 2018 marking 20 years since the signing of the peace agreement.

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Starlights Junior Ladies – County finalists

Pic: Maria Nolan Starlights Junior Ladies footballers who reached the county final this year – their first year in the division. See Rapparees/Starlights report on page 96.

Mythen welcomes university announcement Sinn Féin TD for Wexford Deputy Johnny Mythen has welcomed the announcement that the new University for the South East will come into operation in May 2022.

Deputy Mythen says, “Today is a very good day for Co. Wexford and the South East.

“This is an infusion of hope for the future, with a full commitment of funding being ringfenced for the Wexford campus site.

“The inception of this project started over ten years ago. Great gratitude should be given to the presidents, the governance authorities and the chairs for their vision and driven ambition to get this project over the line.

“This university will act as an anchor institution and will be internationally connected.

This should be recognised as a very important day for the South East, and for Ireland.

“The University will be of huge benefit to our region and will benefit students, businesses and communities and I look forward to seeing its doors opened next year.” n

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Oylegate Confirmation

Christmas Shoebox Appeal The Team Hope Christmas Shoebox Appeal is an annual campaign where thousands of people across Ireland donate shoeboxes filled with gifts for children affected by poverty in Africa or Eastern Europe. It is an opportunity to share a little joy and excitement with children who live in circumstances where these can often be in short supply.

Oylegate National School Confirmation, 9th October, in Oylegate Church, L-R: Chloe, Tony, Cian, Geraldine and Daniel Cosgrave.

After being online-only last year, the charity is excited this year to again be able to encourage individuals, schools, clubs and businesses to get involved in filling their own actual shoeboxes. Almost all of the schools in Co. Wexford have taken part in this campaign over the past 20 years.

WHAT CAN BE PUT IN YOUR SHOEBOX: Four types of items can be included which can be classed under four headings: Write, Wash, Wear and Wow. For example...

Write: Pens or pencils, crayons, paper or copy books, colouring books, markers, sharpeners and erasers.

Wash: Soap (wrapped), hairbrush, comb, toothbrush, toothpaste and facecloths.

Wear: Socks, underwear, flip flops, hat, scarf and gloves.

Wow: Cuddly toy, skipping rope, a yo-yo, sweets (that do not go out of date for at least 6 months), small musical instrument, photo of you and your family, toy car, doll, ball and stickers.

Oylegate National School Confirmation, 9th October, in Oylegate Church, L-R: Bernie, Paul, Jamie, Joan, Conor and Pat Darcy.

For more details on filling and Christmas wrapping a shoebox: https://www.teamhope.ie/christmas-shoebox-appeal/howto-fill-a-shoebox/ The charity is also seeking a large warehouse which it can use for the month of November as a central checking centre for all of the shoeboxes collected around Co. Wexford. Any offer of a premises would be much appreciated.

For more details or to contact Team Hope see: https://www.teamhope.ie n

Oylegate National School Confirmation, 9th October, in Oylegate Church, L-R: Gracie, Eugene, Charles, Liz and Lucy Kehoe.

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Ballyhogue, Bree & Killurin – new public bus Cllr Cathal Byrne, Cathaoirleach, Enniscorthy Municipal District, has welcomed proposals for a new public bus route for Ballyhogue, Bree and Killurin. “I welcome the announcement by the National Transport Authority that they propose to operate a new public bus route from Enniscorthy to Wexford servicing residents in Ballyhogue, Bree and Killurin as part of their Connecting Ireland Plan for 2022. This announcement will mean... the local residents... will have access to a return bus from Enniscorthy to Wexford three times a day.”

“This was an issue that was raised directly with me by local residents during the last local election campaign and I very much welcome the recent announcement. Good public transport services are essential to access healthcare, employment and education.” n

Fairgreen funding Funding was secured in October for various works in the Fairgreen area of Enniscorthy including landscaping, disability access carousel and play equipment, access linkage from the Fairgreen park to the nearby St. Aidan’s Primary School, Orchard Peace Park and The Presentation Centre. n

Wexford Co. Council – greater accessibility for all Wexford Co. Council has officially launched ReciteMe on its website. This new technology is designed to make the website more accessible to all. See more detail below and: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ei2TNX8od68 n

Rural bus services

The Bygone Days Storytelling House in Oulart runs a weekly market on Sundays, 10am to 2pm.

For more information email: bygonedayshouseofstories@gmail.com or contact Eileen Dempsey on 087 9116695.

See also Facebook page ‘Bygone Days Storytelling House’. n

Public toilets – Wexford town Cllr Leonard Kelly has been to the forefront in relation to securing additional, publicly accessible toilets in Wexford town. After achieving the installation of a temporary unit on Wexford Quay during the worst months of Covid-19 lockdown, he has continued working with council officials to secure a permanent, fully accessible toilet for Wexford Quay. At the October meeting of the Borough District of Wexford it was confirmed that this will happen early in the new year. n

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Senator Malcolm Byrne has indicated that there will be an increase of 25% in the number of rural bus services operating in Co. Wexford as a result of the new Connecting Ireland plan. He said, “We have seen the huge success of Local Link across Co. Wexford and we know that when a good rural public transport service is provided, people will use it.”

Senator Byrne says the benefits for Wexford will include: Improved interurban bus services between Wexford and Dublin via Enniscorthy and Gorey.

Enhanced interurban bus services between Wexford and Waterford via New Ross.

Enhanced interurban bus services between Wexford and Rosslare Strand / Harbour.

Improved interurban bus services between Wexford and Portlaoise via Enniscorthy and Carlow.

New local bus route from Oulart, Ballaghkeen and Ballymurn Wexford Funding was securedtoinboth October for aand newGorey. neighbourhood New local bus route from Bree, Ballyhogue and Killurin to playground in Oylegate, including disability access to some of the play equipment.

The new both Wexford and playground Enniscorthy.will be located beside the Community Centre.

Work is Ballycullane expected toand comNew local bus route from Newbawn, mence shortly. n Ballyhack to Waterford (via Passage East Ferry). n

Playground for Oylegate

SlaNey NewS SOMETHING YOU DIDN’T KNOW Did you know that the Irish Government is unique in Europe in imposing VAT on the facemasks we wear, disposable and otherwise, to assist in the fight against Covid. Right across the continent, governments exempt them from all taxes because they are seen as an important health accessory. But not our lads here. Stephen Donnelly, Holohan etc continue to harangue us daily about the precautions which we should take during this pandemic yet make no concession on this vital piece of armoury from a taxation point of view. Extremely unfair I would think but then again why should I be surprised.

POWER CUTS IMMINENT? Our masters in government are finger wagging at us in relation to our use or abuse of energy in recent times. They admonish us for putting too much water in the kettle when we want a cup of tea or for leaving a light on when there’s no one in the room. God knows what they think of those of us who, for security reasons, leave a light on when we go out on a dark night.

Oh the thought of such waste.

View from the Centre

where we are? The continuous flow of depressing experts on the media can’t seem to explain it so there is little hope that any layperson will be able to. And while I’m on the question of vaccines it has to be said that the fact that NIAC has to vacillate over whether or not to give boosters to frontline health workers might be an answer to some of the questions posed above.

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING

A local contributor, based in the centre of the county, looks at life today in Co. Wexford and beyond COVID We are told that 94% of the population is fully vaccinated. In fact many have received their boosters. Yet the case numbers continue to rise and we have the usual warnings, some call them threats, of restrictions and even lockdowns being reintroduced. Very difficult to figure this one. Either these vaccines work or they don’t. We were given the message that to get back to normal we must be vaccinated. Well 94% + are vaccinated. So why are we

Apparently the fact that we have closed all our peat-burning stations which generated electricity for years has nothing to do with this or the fact that we are allowing data centres, which literally eat energy, Are power cuts imminent this winter? spring up also has little impact. That’s according to the powers that be (forgive the pun). Obviously there has been no forward planning in relation to our energy needs but regardless we will have to bear the brunt of the consequences. But then, what’s new. By the way did you turn off the immersion?

It’s getting close to that time of year again when we are thinking of splashing a bit of cash on a few presents or indeed something nice for ourselves.

Hopefully, we will think of the local retailers and try and break what for some has become a habit of online shopping.

The local retailers have the same selection of goods that you will find on-line and you can actually see the product before you decide to purchase. They also employ local people who in turn spend their money in other shops, restaurants and pubs in the locality. Over the past two years, lockdowns and restrictions have almost destroyed many businesses. Retailers have shown great courage and resilience to reopen their doors at a time when the future, because of no clear directives being given by government, is still shaky. Let us do our part now and go out and support them when they need it. Besides, you won’t get any better value or service elsewhere.

DID YOU KNOW? I’m sure you did know that the government has been encouraging us all to get rid of our petrol and diesel cars and switch to plug-in hybrids. But did you know that as from January 1st the grant of €2,500 towards buying a plugin hybrid will we removed. Really makes sense that. n

3rd November 2021 - Page 27

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Minister visits Gorey Town Park

Peter Burke, Minister of State with Responsibility for Local Government and Planning, visited Gorey Town Park on 22nd October.

He took time out to try some of the great new equipment in the reopened playground. Above, front row L-R: Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy (Cathaoirleach Wexford County Council), Minister Peter Burke, and Pip Breen (Cathaoirleach Gorey Municipal District). Back row L-R: Cllr Oliver Walsh, Paul Kehoe TD, Cllr Diarmuid Devereux, Philip Knight (Wexford County Council) and Amanda Byrne (Director of Services, Wexford County Council).

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The magnificent seven!

For the SEVENTH year in a row, credit unions have been revealed as number 1 for customer experience in Ireland at the official CXi awards. Credit unions are also the only brand to have maintained a constant presence in the Top Ten since the survey began, a testament to the consistency of their CX excellence.

The Customer Experience Insight (CXi) Report is published annually by the CX Company based on a survey carried out on their behalf by Amárach Research. Over 28,000 experiences were evaluated using the CX Framework, including value, channel usage, how important employees are to the customer experience, and net promoter score (NPS) which measures the loyalty of customers to a company.

Speaking at the announcement, Irish League of Credit Unions Head of Communications, Paul Bailey, said, “Credit unions keep topping the CXi poll every year for one key reason – they treat their customers as members. They understand their members’ needs at different stages of their lives and tailor their services accordingly. Best-in-class customer, or member, experience happens organically with staff

Credit unions maintain top spot for Best Customer Experience for seventh year in a row

“The fact that credit unions have topped the poll again this year comes as no surprise to us in the CX Company. Year on year, we have seen the credit union tick all the emotional drivers which are so important for customers.

Not only do they meet their members’ expectations, they continue to exceed them.

The achievement of seven in a row is unparalleled anywhere in the world where Customer Experience is measured and it will be some time before this record is broken.”

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

not even realising they are ticking all the emotional drivers on which CX is measured.

Credit union values and ethos are not just words hanging in a picture frame on the wall of the credit union office – they are put into action on a daily basis by friendly, understanding and people-focused staff. This is why credit unions have topped the CXi poll for the seventh year in a row.”

Michael Killeen, Chairman of the CX Company, speaking at the award ceremony said,

International Credit Union (ICU) Day was celebrated on 21st October in Ireland along with credit unions in 118 other countries worldwide, celebrating the impact credit unions have made, and continue to make.

Uachtarán na hÉireann Michael D. Higgins invited a delegation from the Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU) to visit with him at Áras an Uachtaráin to mark International Credit Union Day where he spoke of the importance of the movement for generations of Irish people, and how the ethos of the movement is grounded in the not-for-profit, member-owned philosophy and centred on people helping people. n

Enniscorthy and Wexford towns to benefit from new health programme HSE/South East Community Healthcare has welcomed the recent national launch of the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme, which will see an increased roll-out of health and wellbeing programmes to specific communities across the country – including Enniscorthy/Wexford Town areas.

Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme is a new, cross-Government initiative, with annual funding of €13 million from the Department of Health. It is a partnership involving the HSE, local authorities, local communities, statutory, voluntary and community groups to deliver increased health and wellbeing services in 19 community areas across Ireland.

Welcoming the selection of the Enniscorthy/Wexford Town areas, as well as Clonmel and Waterford City as three of

19 localities for roll-out of the programme, Kate Killeen White (Chief Officer, South East Community Healthcare) said: “We are pleased to see the Clonmel, Waterford City and Enniscorthy/Wexford Town areas designated as Sláintecare Healthy Communities and we look forward to working in partnership with those communities and our many partner agencies to deliver increased supports in these areas. This Programme is designed to make an impact on health inequalities.

The need to focus on inequality has been highlighted by the impact of COVID-19 on community wellbeing and we will continue the intensive interagency collaboration, which increased in response to COVID-19, to support the health and wellbeing of those most in need.”

Speaking at the launch on Wednesday 20th October, Minister for Health Ste-

phen Donnelly TD said: “I am delighted to officially launch Sláintecare Healthy Communities. The goal of the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme is to improve the long-term health and wellbeing of the people living in these communities.

These initiatives will be delivered in partnership with a number of groups working together to provide a range of dedicated services to build lasting improvements in health and wellbeing.”

Minister Donnelly added: “An additional one-off total fund of €4.75m is also being made available, with up to €250,000 per community. The focus of the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Community Enhancement Scheme is to support projects through the local authorities that will positively impact on the health and wellbeing of those who live within the Programme Areas.” n

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Update on university campus for Wexford Wexford Councillor, Leonard Kelly (right), pictured last year meeting with representatives of the Institute of Technology Carlow.

Two potential gamechanger projects for Co. Wexford have been on the backburner for far too long. The Enniscorthy Flood Defence Scheme has been well covered in this publication over many years, but the promised third level campus for Wexford town has been an equally long-running saga. Cllr Leonard Kelly shares an update on the latter project...

“Since being elected to the council for the first time in 2019, I have made a priority of pushing for and working in a positive way with all those who wish to see the establishment of a new, state of the art third level campus in Wexford Town.

I believe that the establishment of this campus is essential for the ongoing development of higher education not just in Wexford town, but our county and region as a whole. This new campus must be an integral part of the new South East Technological University, which will be established in 2022.

Least it not be acknowledged, the Institute of Technology Carlow are currently, and for a number of years have been graduating students of high calibre from a building in St Peter’s College. Alongside this, the I.T. continues in its efforts to secure a suitable site for the development of a new purpose-built third level campus in Wexford. The most recent effort is being supported by Wexford County Council, and as evidence of this I am in-

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formed that fourteen meetings have taken place on this matter since 2020.

Following completion of a detailed Strategic Assessment Report and Business Case by the Institute on a site in Wexford in late 2020, approval was granted from the Higher Education Authority and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in April 2021 to progress with the acquisition of the site up to a maximum value determined by two valuation reports (one being a State Valuation Office valuation).

Unfortunately, and as has been the case in the past with other Wexford sites, I have been informed that the owner is not interested in this offer at this time.

I am also aware that following a request from the Institute to Wexford County Council for assistance in June 2021, the Chief Executive of Wexford County Council has designated a Director of Services to engage with the Institute to formalise necessary understandings and to lead the Wexford County Council team in this project.

I have communicated directly with Patricia Mulcahy (President, Institute of Technology Carlow) who has stated that the Director of Services has been very supportive and helpful to date and the next stage involves finalisation of the Terms of Agreement regarding the purchase and use of the necessary statutory powers to acquire the site, in the event that an agreed price cannot be achieved. I have

also been informed that the HEA and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, are aware that this is the intended route to acquire the identified site.

In conclusion, the relationship between the Wexford County Council management and Institute of Technology Carlow is central to the successful development of the Wexford Campus, and I will continue to support this relationship as I believe it is the most timely way for us to secure the campus that is required in Wexford.

The acquisition of a site will be the starting point of making this a reality. But this will be the beginning. There will be further challenges. When the site is acquired we must all work collectively together (Council Executive, Elected Members and IT Carlow/New Technological University) to ensure that the best quality infrastructure, campus and courses are situated at the site, that funding is ringfenced, and that the campus is built and opened in a timely manner. For this and future generations.”

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– There have been many calls for Wexford County Council to initiate the process to compulsorily acquire the preferred site and we understand that this option is being considered, with Chief Executive of Wexford County Council Tom Enright saying at the October meeting of the Council that significant progress is now being made towards acquiring the site. n

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Joyces of Wexford win again L to R: Ciaran O’Reilly (CEO Expert Electrical), Ciaran Joyce, Cillian Joyce, Oisin Kehoe, Mark Briscoe (Expert Electrical), Derek Joyce, Murt Joyce, Niamh Byrne (Expert Electrical).

Congrats to Joyces of Wexford – winners of the Expert Large Store of the Year 2020 – their third time to have won! Congratulations also to Oisin Kehoe who was a finalist in the Expert Sales Person of the Year Awards.

Going green for World Mental Health Day 10th October 2021

Lighting up green for World Mental Health Day at Wexford County Council HQ, Carricklawn, L-R: Johnny Mythen TD, Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy (Chairperson Wexford County Council), Cllr Leonard Kelly.

3rd November 2021 - Page 31

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An Taoiseach visits Rosslare Eu 1st October 2021. Above left: Mr Jim Meade (Iarnród Éireann), An Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD, Mr Glenn Carr (General Manager Rosslare Europort), and Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy (Cathaoirleach, Wexford County Council).

Above: All set for the Taoiseach’s arrival at Rosslare Community & Sports Centre – hope he plays tennis!

Above right: Noeleen Hickey and Sheila Higgins awaiting the Taoiseach.

Above far right: Maria Gore (Rosslare Community & Sports Centre Manager) with An Taoiseach and Minister James Browne, Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy and Senator Malcolm Byrne.

Left: An Taoiseach Micheál Martin meets local Cllr. Ger Carthy.

Right: Isabelle Kelly, Verona Murphy TD and Maria Gore.

Far right: Glenn Carr, Jim Meade and Brendan Howlin TD. Below left: Waiting for the Taoiseach’s arrival, Maria Gore (Rosslare Community & Sports Centre Manager), Cllr Ger Carthy and Jim Fortune.

Below centre: At Rosslare Europort, Glenn Carr (General Manager Rosslare Europort), Brendan Howlin TD, Cllr. Lisa McDonald, An Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Minister James Browne TD, Paul Kehoe TD, Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy (Cathaoirleach, Wexford County Council) and Cllr Ger Carthy.

Below right: Minister James Browne TD, An Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy (Cathaoirleach, Wexford County Council).

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uroport and Community Centre

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St Aidan’ Confirmati

St Aidan’s Primary School Confirmation in St Aidan’s Cathedral, Enniscorth Top left: Iza Swiatek, Ewa, Zuzanna, Leszek and Dawid G Left: Tom Martin, Francis, Eve, Anna O’Connor and Brid Above left: Mary Whelan, Claire Whelan, Megan Dagg and Above right: Michael, Mathew and Ann Blackbu Below left: Jack Carton, Brandon Lane, Kian Murphy, Charlie Tobin, Eogha Below: Sarah, Audrey, Millie, Ellie, Peter and Ben D Bottom left: Nicola Winiecka, Wojeich, Maja, Anna and

Kevin and Laila McDonald and Thelma Conroy.

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’s tion

hy, Saturday 16th October 2021.

Grzegorzak. dget Martin. d Alan Whelan. urn. an Crosbie and Jayden Ayayi.

Dunne.

Iza Ocicka.

St Aidan’s Primary School Confirmation in St Aidan’s Cathedral, Enniscorthy, Saturday 16th October 2021.

Above left: Patrick and Jack O’Sullivan, Alisa Kavanagh and Ruby O’Sullivan.

Above right: Noah Whelan, Jack Kirwan, Joey Whelan.

Left: Tara, Anne, Seamus and Eoin O’Mahony.

Below left: Danielle Kelly, Emma Wall, Brandon Lane, Joe Lane and Sarah Brennan.

Below right: Evan Murphy, Garry, Catherine and Lily Dunne.

Bottom left: Tom Broaders, Chloe MurphyBroaders and Danielle Murphy.

Bottom centre: Keith Murphy, Carly and Lisa Fortune.

Bottom right: Dave, Evan and Tracy Kearney.

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L-R: Festival Founders Ed Barker and Deirdre McGarry Barker, with Garry Laffan (Mayor of Wexford), Cllr Leonard Kelly, Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy (Cathaoirleach Wexfo rd Co. Council), and Festival Committee members – Aislinn Wallace, Deirdre Wadding, Lindy Duff, Mico Hassett.

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The Frederick Douglass Civil Rights Festival Wexford 26-28 November

SlaNey NewS the most basic human needs – thousands living in homelessness, and in food, fuel and clothing poverty.

Racism and homophobia are still prevalent in our society. These are just some of the major issues that need to be tackled.

As humans, we need to strive for a better world for ourselves and future generations.

The Frederick Douglass tree planting event to officially launch the Frederick Douglass Civil Rights Festival took place in Min Ryan Park on Thursday 7th October 2021. Assisting with the hard grafting and digging was Mayor Garry Laffan and Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council Barbara-Anne Murphy. Also present from Wexford County Council was Cllr Leonard Kelly (former Mayor).

An Irish Oak was planted to represent the resilience and sanctuary that Ireland provided to Frederick Douglass during his time here. The tree is accompanied by a plaque designed by committee member Shane Ryan – headed with a very fitting Frederick Douglass quote, "Agitate! Agitate! Agitate!" – words to empower those living under suppression of human freedoms, a chant of encouragement to those marginalised to stand up, join together, and fight for their freedoms.

The organisers say the struggle continues as we live today in a society that deprives many of its people of some of

“Be the change you want to see in the world and agitate - agitate - agitate!”

The plaque reads: Agitate! Agitate! Agitate!

This was the last advice given to a young activist by escaped slave and slavery abolitionist Frederick Douglass (18181895) before he died. He spoke in Wexford at the Assembly Rooms (now the Arts Centre) on October 7th & 8th, 1845.

He said Ireland was the first place he was treated and felt like a man. His visit transformed him from a single issue campaigner to an international activist for civil rights for everyone, everywhere.

Planted by the Frederick Douglass Civil Rights Committee October 7th 2021.

The Irish Oak represents the strength and resilience and safe sanctuary of Ireland which he experienced while he was here.

The organisers say a special thanks to the Council workers for setting up the area for the event and for the safe transportation and care of the plaque. “We appreciate you guys!” n

www.douglassinwexford.com

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The first annual Fr Jim Fitz Tractor Run The first ever Fr Jim Fitz Memorial Tractor Run in aid of The Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation and First Light commenced at Ferns GAA park on 24th October, 2021.

To contribute online, check out: https://www.gofundme.com/f/fr-jim-fitz-tractor-run-ferns

John Byrne, Martin Flannigan and Tommy Stafford.

Above left: John Molloy.

Above right: John Murphy, Colm Moulds and Niall McGuire.

Left: James Aylward.

Right: Bart Denby.

Left: Emma Doyle and Tessie Kinsella.

Above: Paul Murphy at his Massey Ferguson.

Right: Maeve and Jack McGuire.

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Dealing with dementia Wexford Dementia Alliance publishes new Information Leaflet on Local Dementia Services The Wexford Dementia Alliance has published a new information leaflet outlining the wide range of services to support people with dementia and their loved ones across the county.

The leaflet outlines a range of key contacts who can provide confidential advice and services for people who have themselves, or who know someone who has, recently been diagnosed with dementia. It also aims to help people find answers to questions they may have around memory loss, cognitive changes or dementia.

Public Health Nurses & Community Registered Nurses: based in Health Centres and Primary Care Centres around Wexford, this service provides nursing assessment, home support, health promotion, and advice to people with dementia, their families and carers, as well as making referrals to appropriate services.

Wexford Citizens’ Information: provides information on everything from carer’s allowances to respite grants.

The leaflet is being distributed to communities throughout the county, including to GP surgeries, and various health services among them Wexford General Hospital, Enniscorthy Health Centre and New Ross Healthy Living Centre.

Local Dementia Adviser: this person can help identify the needs of the person with dementia, provide information on the disease, how to cope with changes, plan for the future, and can also signpost to other services and supports in the area.

The Wexford Dementia Alliance is a collaboration of health and social care professionals and various organisations involved in the support of people with dementia.

These include the HSE, Healthy Ireland, the Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland, Wexford Family Carers Ireland and Wexford County Council.

Wexford Memory Clinic: offers an assessment, diagnostic and treatment service for memory disorders, including support following a diagnosis by Advanced Nurse Practitioners.

“We are delighted to provide this new information resource to the people of Wexford, which we hope will provide an at-a-glance overview of the wide range of dementia supports and services available in the county. If you are worried about dementia, whether for yourself or someone you care about, you are not alone. I would encourage you to reach out and talk to your GP or Public Health Nurse in the first instance. Following this, amongst the many services available locally, you may wish to consider what the New Ross Memory Technology Resource Room can offer, or speak to the local Home Care Co-ordinator for information on home care services. Of course, it is important to remember that people with dementia can still live well with support in their communities. In this regard, we also have a number of social outlets that people can access, including the Mindful Memories Choir which meets virtually every Wednesday. It’s important that people with dementia and their carers continue to have some fun too.”

This initiative is one of a number of actions being undertaken by the Alliance to ensure people with dementia remain active citizens in the community. Other activities have included training for town planners on inclusive design, and dementia awareness training for businesses and the wider community in Bunclody. A walkability audit is also planned for Enniscorthy in due course.

There are many forms of dementia, with the most common being Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, mixed Alzheimer’s disease/vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia and Lewy body disease. There are an estimated 2,163 people living with dementia in Wexford and each year more than 11,000 people develop the disease across the country – that’s approximately 30 people every day.

Local Services: In addition to the support provided by local GPs, other services and relevant contact information highlighted in the leaflet are:

New Ross Memory Technology Resource Room: where people can speak to an expert occupational therapist for advice on assistive equipment that can help promote independence, safety and quality of life for the person with dementia – from pendant alarms to medication reminders to GPS devices, and much more.

HSE Safeguarding & Protection Team: offers support and guidance for those concerned about abuse or exploitation of a person with dementia.

Alzheimer Society of Ireland National Helpline: a confidential service which provides accurate, up-to-date, accessible and relevant information and emotional support to callers – Freefone 1800 341 341 (Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm, Saturday 10am to 4pm).

Local Home Care Co-ordinator: this person offers information on local home care services.

Wexford Family Carers Ireland: helps to promote the health, well-being and quality of life of family carers and those they care for.

Olga Cleary, HSE Business Manager and Research Lead for Health & Wellbeing, is the chair of the Wexford Dementia Alliance. She comments:

The information leaflet has been endorsed by the Dementia: Understand Together campaign, led by the HSE in partnership with The Alzheimer Society of Ireland, Age Friendly Ireland, Age and Opportunity, and the Dementia Services Information and Development Centre. The campaign aims to help create communities that actively embrace and include those living with dementia and their families.

For more information on dementia, visit www.understandtogether.ie n

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Eddie and Chloe.

Little miss Ruby playing Hide and Seek. It’s only a piece of plastic, Finn!

What is this little witch, Roisin, u

Halloween in Carraig Briste Early Years

Davidstown – 19th October 2021 James and Harry.

My hat’s too big – Austin.

Oak and Beec

Hayley, happy with her apple.

Enjoying the Halloween party in Carraig Briste Early Years.

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The Spruce room halloweeners with Ciara.

Aoife has no intention of going hungry.

Chloe gets herself into costume.

Rob

Playtime

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up to?

Ava enjoying the Halloween party.

Rossa and Maria.

h, room 2, classes at Carraig Briste Early Years, Davidstown, Enniscorthy.

byn and Ava.

– Emma and Kacey.

Sam the dog joins in the fun!

Oak and Beech rooms at Carraig Briste.

Maddison and Orlagh Doyle (proprietor).

Ciara and Kimmy.

Beatrice.

What’s all the fuss about, says Freya.

Ava and Rebecca.

Playtime for the Spruce room kids – doing what comes natural.

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Coffee morning at the Forge, Crossabeg, in aid of Wexford Hospice on 23rd September.

Above left: Ann White and Marion White. Above right: Mary Buttle and Peggy Rossiter.

Coffee Morning at the Forge

Coffee morning at the Forge, Crossabeg, in aid of Wexford Hospice on 23rd September.

Above left: Cllr George Lawlor with Angela Reville.

Above centre: Carmel Foley, Natasha White and Katherine Downes.

Above right: Debbie Lyne and Betty O’Brien.

Coffee morning at the Forge, Crossabeg, in aid of Wexford Hospice on 23rd September.

Above left: Eimer and Orla Gallagher.

Above centre: Lorna Kinsella and Stasia Fortune.

Above right: Ann Cowman and Cllr George Lawlor.

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Flu vaccine reminder The HSE is reminding people to get their free of charge flu vaccine.

Launching its campaign last month, the Chief Officer of South East Community Healthcare Kate Killeen White drew attention to the importance of getting a flu vaccine.

to cutting the risks of infection, will help the health services to better manage any demands on the system from Covid-19 cases. We also want to avoid scenarios whereby people might become co-infected with flu and the coronavirus and the severe illness that may be involved.”

“Due to non-pharmaceutical interventions last year (such as social distancing and the use of face coverings indoors), there was a massive reduction in circulating flu. This, however, may have resulted in a reduction in population immunity and increased susceptibility in this year’s flu season. For healthcare workers, getting vaccinated means protecting themselves, their patients, and their families.”

“Flu is a serious illness. Although the severity of the flu season can vary, we know that people aged 65 and over are most likely to be impacted and have an increased likelihood of severe illness, being admitted into hospital or dying from flu when compared to the general population. The flu vaccine is the best protection against flu this winter. Regrettably, up to 500 people in Ireland die from this disease every year. This is why it is so important that, if you are eligible to get a flu vaccine, you do so as soon as it is offered to you. A flu vaccine will protect those aged over 65 from the very worst effects of flu.”

Dr. Catherine Lynch, Specialist in Public Health Medicine with the HSE’s Public Health Dept. in the South East, adds: “Flu is unpredictable. As high an uptake as can be achieved generally, in addition

HSE vaccination team member Ciara Doran administers the flu vaccine to Community Health Care Assistant Miah Walker at the Wexford Primary Care Centre.

Who should get the free flu vaccine?

This year the free flu vaccine is recommended for you if you are in one of these groups: Aged 65 and over. A healthcare worker. A child aged 2–17. At any stage of pregnancy. People with certain medical conditions which put them at increased risk from the complications of flu.

For a full list of recommended groups visit hse.ie/flu n

Murrintown Confirmation

Shielbaggan Communion

Murrintown School Confirmation in Parish Church on 3rd October.

Joleen, Ruby, Charlie, Olivia and Simon Cowman.

Shielbaggan school Communion on 2nd October.

Mandy and Annabelle O’Neill and Peter Butler.

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Left: Mark, Mia, Ali, Edel and Kayla Peters.

Above: Johnny, Sabine, Jason, John and Lily Murphy.

Confirmation in Crossabeg Below left: Marie, Yvette and David Carley.

Below right: Fergie, Emily, Colette, David and Conor Bates.

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Crossabeg National School Confirmation Day, 2nd October 2021.

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Above Ciara and Helen Somers, Josh and Christian Ruttledge.

Above right: Eadaoin Flemming and Sophie Murphy.

Above far right: Avril, Orla and Justin Murphy.

Left: Crossabeg National School Confirmation group in Crossabeg Church on 2nd October 2021 with Fr. Finn and teacher Aislinn Brown.

Above: Niamh, David, Darragh, Harry and Marion Sherlock.

Below left: Ava, Ciaran, Issy, Helen and Cliona Kearney.

Below centre: Paul, Brendan and Karen Furlong.

Below right: Kate and Grace Stenning.

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Supporting Breast Cancer Awareness

Wexford County Council and local public representatives showed their support for Breast Cancer Awareness at Wexford County Hall on 20th October which was lit up in pink for the occasion, L-R: Cllr. Garry Laffan (Mayor of Wexford), Cllr Lisa McDonald, Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy (Cathaoirleach, Wexford County Council), Cllr Maura Bell, Verona Murphy TD.

Tackling protests at private residences Gorey Senator Malcolm Byrne is bringing forward a Bill that would make it an offence to engage in targeted protesting outside an individual’s private residence. He received approval in principle for the Bill at a recent Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting and hopes to introduce it in the Seanad in the coming months.

but sadly we have seen a tiny minority who shout loudly about rights but haven’t a clue about responsibilities and feel it is acceptable to target a person in their home.

The Bill will make it an offence to knowingly organise or take part in a protest outside a person’s home.

The Senator pointed to recent protests outside the homes of Health Minister Stephen Donnelly and Tánaiste Leo Varadkar, describing the protests as “awful”.

Senator Byrne commented, “One would think we wouldn’t have to introduce such legislation to protect people’s homes

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“There are plenty of places to peacefully protest apart from outside a person’s home. We are fortunate in Ireland to have that right.”

Senator Byrne has also called on social media companies to take stronger action

against extremist groups and hate speech and pointed out that the forthcoming Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill will seek to address the failures of selfregulation by the tech giants. n

Senator Malcolm Byrne

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Letter to the Editor...

Dear Editor I would be grateful if you could permit me the opportunity to let readers of the Slaney News know about a forthcoming virtual conference for people with sight loss and their families.

Most recent statistics show that there are almost 272,000 people living in Ireland with a vision impairment.

It’s been an extremely difficult 18 months for the country, and this has perhaps been even more keenly felt by people with sight loss.

Living with sight loss comes with many challenges. Unfortunately, COVID-19 has compounded these obstacles, from navigating a socially-distant world, to attending hospital appointments, to accessing public services.

With that in mind, our forthcoming Retina 2021 public engagement day, taking place on Saturday November 6 from 10am to 2pm, will focus on rebuilding resilience and optimism for the future among our community.

There will be presentations on the revolutionary developments taking place to retain and regain sight, as well as motivational talks on developing coping skills to ensure we live our best lives in the face of adversity.

Enrolment for St Mary’s CBS, Enniscorthy

There are indeed many reasons to be hopeful for what the next decade holds and this event aims to shine a spotlight on a very positive and encouraging future.

The conference is being presented virtually and registration is completely free at www.fightingblindness.ie Your sincerely, Kevin Whelan CEO Fighting Blindness Third Floor 7 Ely Place Dublin 2 n

St Mary’s C.B.S. will accept fully completed application forms in respect of students in 6th Class Primary School to their 1st year group (140 students) in September 2022 from Monday, 18th October 2021 until Friday, 12th November, 2021. Application forms, admission notice and the school admission policy are available from the school office during normal school hours (9am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday) and may also be downloaded from the school website: www.stmaryscbs.ie n

Pulse Point App saves lives – download it now!

PulsePoint is an App available to the general public to assist them access an AED (defibrillator) in Enniscorthy and around Co. Wexford. The App allows the user to instantly see where the closest defibrillator is in an emergency.

Sports clubs, parish halls, schools, businesses etc countywide should get in touch now and register their AED. The ‘Add AED’ feature on the App can be used to to submit AEDs to the App. The App is on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/DefibApp-Apple and Android: https://tinyurl.com/AndroidDefibApp See ‘Enniscorthy Defibrillator Initiative’ on Facebook. n

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Above: After the memorial service there was tea in the hall.

Above right: Maeve English, Clare Doyle and Mary Power.

Opening of Memorial Garden and tree planting in memory of Fr. Declan Jordan at Galbally Community Centre, 24th October 2021.

Galbally hono Fr Declan

Below: Tree planting by retired Bishop Denis Brennan at Galbally Community Centre. L-R: Gavin Dunne, Jack Fortune and Louis Pollock, Fr. Billy Caufield, Most Rev Denis Brennan, Bishop Emeritus of Ferns, and Peter Daly, Chairman of organising committee.

Right: Dawn Tyrell, Secretary of the organising committee, Padjo Jordan (brother of Fr. Declan Jordan) and Peter Daly, Chairman of organising committee.

Bottom left: Nick Dempsey, Padjo Jordan (brother of Fr. Declan Jordan), Most Rev Denis Brennan, Bishop Emeritus of Ferns, and Tom Whelan.

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ours

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Above left: Two men looking for a blessing!!! Paul Kehoe TD and Minister James Browne TD with Most Rev Denis Brennan, Bishop Emeritus of Ferns. Above right: After the the memorial service there was tea in the hall.

BASED ON A REPORT BY MICHAEL FREEMAN...

The people of the village of Galbally in the rural midlands of Co. Wexford have saluted the work of a priest who defied tough economic times of the 1980s and answered a call when people had little money to help them build their local ‘hall’ or community centre.

The late Father Declan Jordan, native of Ballindaggin, inspired the building of the Galbally Sports & Leisure Club, which was erected in 1988. A large photograph of him at the time is displayed on the wall of the centre which now houses badminton, kettlebell training, fitness classes, chess, volleyball and lessons in music, computers, crafts and other subjects.

The hall is also available for family gatherings, children’s parties etc and full parking facilities are available outside the building.

Bishop Emeritus of Ferns, Dr Denis Brennan, who was a classmate and friend of Fr Declan Jordan in Ireland and the USA, cut a ribbon to unveil a commemorative plaque titled, Gairdín an Athar Declan Jordan, and in his memory opened a garden, a garden seat made by Ray Hemmingway and a playground at the rear of the centre.

He also helped, aided by young people of the community, to plant a Tree of Hope.

Bishop Brennan, Fr Billy Caulfield, CC Galbally and Fr Michael Byrne, PP, Bree, Minister James Browne TD, Paul Kehoe TD and Cllr. Cathal Byrne, community and farming leaders, Fr Declan’s older brother Padjo and more than 100 people from the community attended the unveiling following Sunday Mass in the church of St John the Baptist.

Renovations of the Galbally Sports & Leisure Club was funded by €125,000 from the Town and Village Renewal Scheme of which local people raised funds to the amount of €25,000 over a three-year period.

In an inspirational address to the attendance of 100 at the re-opening on Sunday 24th October, Peter Daly, actingchairman of the organising committee, told the attendance that he was “conscious more than ever of walking in the footsteps of giants who have gone before us.”

He said: “We are merely privileged to hold the baton tem-

porarily for the people who built this great facility from its inception and continued running it for the last 33 years. We have just completed major Town and Village Renewal grant-aided works. This was an awesome responsibility in many ways. Of course, there were moments of crisis when it was possible that we could have given up.”

He told of Peggy Boyle’s recall of Fr Declan saying: “I will build a hall in Galbally for the people of Galbally and Ballyhogue.” He said: “If Fr Declan returned and walked among us today, what would WE say if he said: ‘I will build a shop for the community.’ At the time of the building of Galbally Sports & Leisure Club, people said he was mad and those who supported him were mad. It takes people with mad ideas to make things better,” he said.

Peter thanked the Jordan family, Pat, Fr John and Esther, who donated the garden seat, Ray Hemmingway, carpenter, who built it with no nuts or bolts visible, Dylan Codd who prepared the early submissions for funding, Brigid Sinnott, principal of Galbally national school for support, CDF architectural metalwork, Kilkenny, who made the special garden sign, and Ronan Murphy, CD Providers, and the numerous volunteers and renovators and builders.

Among the attendance were Fr Billy Caulfield’s parents Liam and Ann, local community leaders Eileen Murphy, treasurer, Dawn Tyrell, secretary of the organising committee, Bee Fenelon, Peggy Boyle, Tom Whelan, Nick Dempsey, Nick Power, Nick Fortune, Billy Swan, Phyllis Swan, Jim Whelan, Jane Whelan, Michael Brennan, Liam Maher, Tom Kealy, Pat O’Leary, Margaret O’Leary, Owen Murphy, Anne Marie Laffan, Pat Dunne, Bridget Carberry, Catherine Walshe, Steve Crean, Kathleen Asple, Nick and Mary Power, Mary Murphy and Jonathan Browne of CEP services.

The committee look forward to the Galbally Sports & Leisure Club being fully reopened, and hosting a Christmas Craft Fair and Santa on 4th December, holistic healing classes, computer classes, flower arranging classes and car boot sales and many more events in the refurbished centre in the weeks, months and years ahead. n

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Leading the way to weight loss

Back in full group: Tuesday 6.30pm Saturday 9am and 10.30am

Slimming World Back to Full Group Since the lifting of restrictions, the local Enniscorthy Slimming World group led by Tony has been able to open up and get back to normal or as close to normal as is safe for all the members. The members are so happy to be back together in their friendly and supportive group and the results and weight loss is the proof of that. In the two groups running on Tuesday evening and Saturday morning there has been a combined weight loss of over 800lbs – that’s nearly a staggering 60 stones.

If you would like to join, just come along to the Salt n Pepper Pot restaurant and you will be welcomed. Tuesdays @ 6.30pm.

Saturdays @ 9am and again @ 10.30am.

There is no need to book and you will be asked for your digital covid cert to be scanned on your first week. n

Creamy Garlic Chicken WHAT YOU NEED:  low-calorie cooking spray  1 large onion, finely chopped  1 tsp garlic granules  2 skinless and boneless chicken breasts, thickly sliced  4 back bacon rashers, visible fat removed, roughly chopped  300g button mushrooms, cut in half  100g plain quark  100ml hot chicken stock  1 tsp mustard powder  1 tsp dried parsley WHAT YOU DO: 1. Spray a medium-size, non-stick frying plan with low-calorie cooking spray and place over a low-medium heat.

Add the onion and garlic granules and stir-fry for 5 minutes, or until lightly browned.

2. Add the chicken, bacon and mushrooms and cook for a further 10 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked.

3. Meanwhile, put the quark, chicken stock, mustard powder and a little seasoning in a large bowl. Mix really well to create a thick sauce.

4. Add the sauce to the chicken mixture, stir thoroughly and simmer for 5-10 minutes. Sprinkle with the parsley and serve hot, with roasted peppers and asparagus, or seasonal vegetables of your choice. n

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Wexford Food Starter Programme Wexford Food Starter Programme Venue: Online Dates: 09/11/2021, 11/11/2021, 23/11/2021, 25/11/2021 Time: 14:00 - 17:30 Cost: €25 This programme is aimed at anyone with a food idea or those at a very early stage of starting up a food business (typically in the first 24 months).

Objectives: To provide participants with base knowledge of what is involved in setting up a food business. The content of this course is designed to provide the participants with information which will allow them to avoid the pitfalls normally associated with this journey.

Day 1 & 2: Day 1 and 2 will focus on providing participants with an overview of the dynamics of the food sector in Ireland and getting objectives for your project clear in your mind. The content will include:  Individual participant introductions  Feedback and discussions based on your product idea  Understanding the Irish food sector  Understanding what is artisan food production  Identifying what are the pitfalls associated with starting your own food business  Minimum requirements, e.g. food safety, labelling, requirements, insurance etc.  How much money might a food start-up business cost

 Understanding the critical role of packaging and branding  Researching your idea Day 3 & 4: These workshops will focus on the more practical aspects of setting up a food business. The content will include:  How to build your pricing model  Distribution options  Understanding the role of the various agencies, i.e. Bord Bia, LEO etc.  How to manage the brand design process  Deciding on your route to market - Direct selling, e.g. online, farmers’ markets etc.

- Retail channels - Succeeding with store managers and trade buyers  Attending consumer shows and trade fairs  Packaging review  Identifying new steps Trainer: James Burke, James Burke & Associates For more information or to book: https://www.localenterprise.ie/Wexford/Training-Events/Online-Bookings/Food-Starter-Programme-09-11-2021.html

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Local food businesses scoop

Pictured above is Fiona Falconer (centre) from Wild About who won Supreme Champion, Best in Leinster, Best in Wexford, gold and bronze at this year’s Blas na hÉireann – the Irish Food Awards 2021 (the food equivalent of the Oscars!) . Also in the photo are Paula Ronan (CEO Wexford Food Family, left) and Sara Doran (Wexford Food Family, right).

Huge congratulations to Wexford’s Fiona and Malcolm Falconer of Wild About on being awarded “Supreme Champion” for their So Sloe Jelly. It’s brilliant to see a small and sustainable Wexford business come out on top this year! Photo: Mary Browne.

In a year like no other, Blas na hÉireann recently announced their award winners for 2021, with 18 winners from County Wexford, including the Blas na hÉireann Supreme Champion 2021, Wild About for their So Sloe Jelly.

ning the Best in Wexford, Best in Leinster and the Supreme Champion categories.

The Blas na Éireann awards are really special, and really simple, with Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards. Wexford Food Family members were very well represented with 14 producers winning awards for 33 products – 12 GOLD, 10 SILVER and 10 BRONZE as well as win-

The Blas na hÉireann organisers stand firmly with the hundreds of small food producers all over the country, doing farmers markets, stocking local shops, creating a real movement, driving quality, sustainability and innovation in Irish food. See more on page 55. n

Co. Wexford continues to punch above its weight when it comes to the quality of food and drink produced here.

Laura and Tom Caulfield, Claire Stamp and Aisling O'Neill, from Wexford Home Preserves who won 2 gold, 2 silver and a bronze at this year’s Blas na hÉireann, the Irish Food Awards 2021. Pic: Mary Browne.

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Co. Wexford’s award winners in the 2021 Blas na hÉi (CEO Wexford Food Family) and S

Siobhan Devereux from Scúp Gelato who won silver at this Blas na hÉireann, the Irish Food Awards 2021. Pic: Mary Br

David Mullins from Zanna Cookhouse who won gold at this Blas na hÉireann, the Irish Food Awards 2021. Pic: Mary Bro

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p major awards

Pauline Dunne from Killowen Farm who won silver at this year’s Blas na hÉireann, the Irish Food Awards 2021. Pic: Mary Browne.

ireann awards pictured on the Dunbrody ship in New Ross with Paula Ronan Sara Doran (Wexford Food Family). Photo: Mary Browne.

Una Sinnott from Nutorious Nutrition who won silver and bronze at this year’s Blas na hÉireann, the Irish Food Awards 2021. Pic: Mary Browne.

year’s rowne.

Sean Stafford from Stafford's bakery who won 4 gold, 1 silver and 3 bronze at this year’s Blas na hÉireann Awards. Pic: Mary Browne.

Mary O'Hanlon from Tasty Parlour who won silver and bronze at this year’s Blas na hÉireann, the Irish Food Awards 2021. Pic: Mary Browne.

year’s owne.

Tom Orme and Deirdre Cullen from Pettitt’s SuperValu who won bronze at this year’s Blas na hÉireann, the Irish Food Awards 2021. Pic: Mary Browne.

Pat O'Neill from O'Neill's Dry Cure Bacon Co. who won gold, silver and bronze at this year’s Blas na hÉireann, the Irish Food Awards 2021. Pic: Mary Browne.

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Enniscorthy’s Country Market Enniscorthy’s Country Market is back up and running every Friday morning in the IFA Centre, Millpark Road, run by a dedicated group of local ladies.

The advice is to get there early (from 8.30am) for the best selection and freshest home baking, breads, scones, vegetables, flowers, eggs, etc.

Right: Some of the fine fare on offer at Enniscorthy Country Market. n

Coffee time at Toffee & Thyme

Best wishes to Enniscorthy’s Café Harmonia on Wafer Street with their new acoustic session live music nights.

Enniscorthy’s popular Toffee & Thyme restaurant may no longer be visible on Enniscorthy’s Rafter Street, but it now has an impressive presence on the Old Dublin Road, next door to the NCT Centre, with loads of free parking, and open 6 days a week from 7.30am to 5pm. Enjoy a visit there soon! n

Every Friday and Saturday, they will be holding musical and literary events in Café Harmonia, with a limited capacity of 12 people per night. A €20 deposit (which will go towards whatever purchases you may make) per person must be paid at the time of booking, or no later than two days before the event.

In addition to the diverse and soulful live music on offer there will also be food and drink from their standard menu, along with a lovely array of cocktails, wines and liqueurs.

The comfortable upstairs at Toffee & Thyme

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Reservations can be made personally at Café Harmonia, or by phone on 053 923 2933. n

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Blas na hÉireann winners...

Now in their 14th year, the Blas na hÉireann awards are the all-island food awards that recognise the very best Irish food and drink products, and the passionate people behind them. The judging involves the biggest blind tasting of produce in the country. And the criteria on which the product is judged as well as the judging system itself, which was developed by Blas na hÉireann with the Food Science Dept of UCC and the University of Copenhagen, is now recognised as an industry gold standard worldwide.

Wexford Food Family List of Winners: Fancy Fungi Gourmet Mushrooms Forest Mix Mushrooms – Cert of Excellence – Chefs Larder Irish Country Meats Dunnes Stores Garlic & Rosemary Irish Lamb Rack Chops – GOLD Dunnes Stores Organic Irish Lamb Leg – BRONZE Isle of Crackers Cranberry Cracker – GOLD Black Olive Cracker – SILVER

Lime Cordial/Naturally Cordial Lemon & Lime Cordial – GOLD Dunnes Stores Simply Better Blackcurrant & Lime Cordial – SILVER Lemon & Raspberry Cordial – BRONZE O’Neills Dry Cure Bacon Dunnes Stores Simply Better Dry Cured Unsmoked Irish Bacon Lardons – GOLD Dry Cured Streaky Rashers with Maple Syrup – SILVER Dry Cured Smoked Streaky Rindless Rashers – BRONZE Scúp Gelato Strawberry Sorbet – SILVER Stafford’s Bakery Christmas Pudding – GOLD Dunnes Stores Farmhouse Soda – GOLD Dunnes Stores 5 Grain Vienna – GOLD Rich Fruit Brack/Barmbrack – GOLD Buttermilk Soda – SILVER Signature Tastes Hot Cross Buns – BRONZE Biscuit Cake – BRONZE Hot Cross Buns – BRONZE

Killowen Farm Tesco Finest Lemon Curd Yogurt – SILVER

Sofrimar Sofrimars Irish King Scallops with Traditional Garlic Butter – SILVER

Naturally Cordial Dunnes Stores Simply Better Lemon &

Tasty Parlour Double Chocolate Cake – SILVER

Coffee & Walnut Cake – BRONZE Wexford Home Preserves Dunnes Stores Simply Better Spiced Ploughman’s Plum Chutney – GOLD Wexford Home Preserves Extra Special Irish Strawberry & Elderflower Conserve – GOLD Wexford Home Preserves Irish Raspberry & Rosehip Conserve – SILVER Dunnes Stores Simply Better Handmade Seville Marmalade – SILVER Dunnes Stores Simply Better Handmade Mango Chutney – BRONZE WILD About So Sloe Jelly – GOLD Best in Wexford Best in Leinster Supreme Champion Rhubarb Syrup - BRONZE Zaeire Artisan Chocolates Zaeire Selection of Truffles, Honeycomb Salted Caramel & Hazelnut – BRONZE Zanna Cookhouse Dunnes Stores Simply Better Smoked Trout Pate – GOLD Congratulations also to the other Co. Wexford winners – Bramble Cottage Kitchen, Nutorious Nutrition, Pettitt’s SupreValu and Ryan’s Bakery. n

Farmers fighting for food future As part of the Budget 2022 announcement, €4 million was allocated for the establishment of the National Food Ombudsman.

“The need for the establishment of the National Food Ombudsman has been identified by farmers as an urgent measure needed to rebalance the position of farmers in the food supply chain.

Farmers have long been at the receiving end of sharp price cuts and drops,” says Macra na Feirme National President John Keane.

Macra na Feirme believes that it is essential that the government establish the National Food Ombudsman before the end of the current year. Young farmers feel as if they have been left behind in securing their future in the sector. “When we look back at Budget 2021 we saw the Minister allocate €1m for the establish-

Macra na Feirme National President John Keane.

ment of The National Food Ombudsman, fast forward 12 months and the Minister has allocated another €4m for the establishment of the National Food Ombudsman and start-up costs.

“Questions need to be asked of the government. Where has the €1m allocated for the establishment of the National Food Ombudsman in 2021 under Budget 2021 gone? It was announced and welcomed last year, yet has just been announced again,” says Macra President John Keane.

Macra na Feirme also raises the point that the legislation required for the establishment of the National Food Ombudsman is not contained in the legislative programme prior to Christmas 2021.

“It is either a priority for government or it isn’t. Urgent action is required from the government and the Department of Agriculture to address the concerns raised around the establishment of the National Food Ombudsman,” concluded Keane. n

3rd November 2021 - Page 55

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Comhairle Contae

053 919 6000 www.wexfordcoco.ie customerservice@wexfordcoco.ie

Loch Garman Carricklawn, Wexford Y35 WY93

Notice – County Wexford Joint Policing Committee – Annual Public Meeting 2021 An Garda Síochána

A public meeting of the Wexford Joint Policing Committee will be held on: Date: Wednesday 17th November 2021 Venue: St. Michael’s Theatre, South Street, New Ross Time: 7.30pm

Post to: JPC Administrator, Community Development, Wexford County Council, Y35 WY93.

Email: community@wexfordcoco.ie Those who require alternative arrangements for the submission of questions may contact the following number (053) 919 6527.

The public are advised that in some circumstances, for legal reasons, it may not be possible to answer specific questions for example: • • • •

Information that may relate to a specific investigation Information that relates to an individual Information received by An Garda Síochána or the Local Authority in confidence It is deemed prejudicial to a Garda operational matter

The Joint Policing Committee consists of members of An Garda Síochána, Elected Members of Wexford County Council, Oireachtas Members representing County Wexford, Officials of Wexford County Council and Community Representatives. The Function of the Joint Policing Committee is to serve as a forum for consultation, discussion and recommendations on matters affecting the policing of County Wexford.

Covid-19 meeting restrictions – As in line with national guidelines, members of the public will be asked to present an EU COVID Certificate and to have a facemask on before entering the meeting venue.

The Joint Policing Committee welcomes the public’s views on items for discussion. It is proposed that the discussion will focus on the strategic goal as outlined in the Wexford Joint Policing Committee 6-year Strategic Plan 2016–2021 as follows:

YOU CANNOT VOTE

Strategic Goal 1 – Crime Prevention & Community Safety – Development of community text alert throughout Co. Wexford Members of the public are invited to attend, to express their views and any person affected by the policing of County Wexford may put questions to the Joint Policing Committee on general policing matters affecting the policing of County Wexford.

To facilitate the preparation of a full response to questions raised by members of the public, all questions are to be submitted in advance of the public meetings. Questions can be taken at the meetings but full information may not be available.

All questions concerning the policing of County Wexford should be submitted in writing to reach the Administrator of the Joint Policing Committee no later than Tuesday 09th November 2021 by post or email and must include the name and address of the person submitting the question, which will not be published.

Street Lights Broken? Report on www.deadsureapp.com

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If you are NOT on the Register of Electors, Register to vote by

25TH NOVEMBER 2021 Wexford County Council has created a new draft Register of Electors and it is available to view until 25th November 2021 at Local Authority Offices, Post Offices, Libraries, Garda Stations, Citizens Information Centres and online at www.checktheregister.ie If you will be aged 18 or over on or before 15th February 2022 make sure that you are on the Draft Register and that your name, address and other details are correct. Remember, if you are not on the register, you cannot vote!

If you are not on the Register, or there is a mistake in your details, please contact Wexford County Council to have your details added or amended.

If you have recently become an Irish Citizen, please contact Wexford County Council to have your details entered or updated on the Register.

For further information, contact Wexford County Council, Franchise Section Tel: 053 919 6255 / 053 919 6490 Email: franchise@wexfordcoco.ie

Outside office hours call: 1890 666 777 Register on www.mapalerter.com for free text and email alerts about service disruptions in your locality

Planning app. lists available at www.wexfordcoco.ie/planning

SlaNey ad

Comhairle Contae

Loch Garman Carricklawn, Wexford Y35 WY93

Street Lights Broken? Report on www.deadsureapp.com

053 919 6000 www.wexfordcoco.ie customerservice@wexfordcoco.ie

Outside office hours call: 1890 666 777 Register on www.mapalerter.com for free text and email alerts about service disruptions in your locality

Planning app. lists available at www.wexfordcoco.ie/planning

3rd November 2021 - Page 57

SlaNey BUSiNeSS SlaNey ad & fiNaNCe

WEXFORD CONSUMERS – LOOKING Research released by the Local Enterprise Offices has shown that 66% of Irish consumers bought goods or services locally, to support their local economy, as a result of seeing or hearing the ‘Look for Local’ campaign or similar shop local themed campaigns this summer.

tually” open during the pandemic. LEO Wexford increased its supports from €66,000 to €1 million+; a remarkable increase of over 950% from the previous year.

chasing products, services or experi-

Those surveyed also acknowledged their understanding of the benefits of spending in their community or town. Participants “strongly agreed” that looking for local is not only beneficial for jobs and the economy but also for the environment.

number of local businesses reopening

'Look for Local' call by the Local Enter-

The results also showed that 75% of adults are now more inclined to shop for local businesses online.

The ‘Look for Local’ campaign was launched earlier this summer by Local Enterprise Office Wexford, funded by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and supported by Enterprise Ireland and the Local Authorities.

In 2020, the Local Enterprise Offices approved over 13,000 Trading Online Vouchers nationwide; enabling small businesses to set up an online trading presence and to keep their doors “vir-

The campaign, which was rolled out locally by Local Enterprise Office Wexford throughout the Summer, involved local advertising and promotion encouraging consumers to Look for Local when pur-

The research, which was conducted as part of the Local Enterprise Office Wexford’s ‘Look for Local’ campaign showed that the same figure, 66%, of consumers intend to continue to spend more on local goods and services in the coming months.

ences.

Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy, Cathaoirleach, Wexford County Council, said: “Across the Summer we saw a significant their doors, many for the first time since the pandemic began. This would have been a very exciting but anxious time for them as they recommenced trading to the public. What this research shows is that the Irish public responded to the prise Office and supported their own, when they needed it the most. People are aware of the benefits of Looking for Local and they consciously chose to support local businesses this summer and plan to do so into the future. This is a testament to the campaign.”

Tom Enright, Chief Executive, Wexford County Council, noted that, “Research highlighted the important role within the

L-R: Liz Hore (Head of Enterprise, Wexford Local Enterprise Office – LEO), Angela Lawless (LEO), Caroline McCrea (LEO) and Ben Brosnan (Bodibro) promoting the Look for Local message.

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SlaNey BUSiNeSS & fiNaNCe

G FOR LOCAL Local business news local authority of the Local Enterprise Office. Over the past 18 months supports have been directed to sustain businesses, assist with upskilling, develop an online presence, and in some cases pivot as they adapt to new ways of trading.

Wexford County Council will continue to support the work of the LEO office to support small businesses that are contributing to our local economy.”

The McCauley retail pharmacy group is reported to be spending in the region of €2m buying two Co. Wexford pharmacies – Garahy's Pharmacy in Enniscorthy and Wades Pharmacy in Gorey.

Liz Hore, Head of Enterprise LEO, said: “The ‘Look for Local’ campaign was an opportunity for the Local Enterprise Office to show support to small businesses in County Wexford as they reopened while at the same time encouraging consumers to do the same. The strong campaign message showed that consumers not only intentionally spent with our local businesses this summer but also that they believed in the quality of product, service and experience they were getting on their own doorstep.

First established in Enniscorthy in 1953, the McCauley group now has revenues of over €83m.

“As was outlined during the campaign, every euro that is spent in Wexford is an investment in our community and has a knock-on effect throughout the county.

Consumers understand that spending locally will positively impact the economy and will sustain and create jobs. We envisage a big opportunity for small businesses to capitalise on that sentiment going forward.”

The survey by GroupM Research, sampled over 700 Irish consumers, and highlights how Irish consumers were keen to support their own local businesses as the country reopened across the summer.

In addition to the Trading Online Vouchers, the Local Enterprise Office continues to work with small businesses across the country with training, mentoring, sector and issue-specific consultancy, and financial supports to help them start up and grow as the country reopens fully.

For more information on Look for Local: www.LocalEnterprise.ie/LookForLocal and support Look for Local online using the hashtag #LookForLocal n

This will bring the number of McCauley owned pharmacies in Co. Wexford to nine and to 37 in total throughout the country.

In other Enniscorthy news, it has been announced that the Innovu Group – the private equity-backed insurance brokerage has made its fifth acquisition in just two years by buying PE Kelly Insurances in Enniscorthy.

Pat Kelly and the team at P.E. Kelly Insurances have been successfully providing general insurance services in Enniscorthy since 1985. And it’s business as usual for the firm’s customers who will continue to be supported from the existing Slaney Place offices.

Register on VisitWexford.ie VisitWexford.ie has a number of useful directories for tourists such as accommodation, activities, places to eat, events and more. Businesses can register on Visit Wexford to create, edit and manage business listings on the website.

Businesses can manage their own listings there allowing them to keep their business information up to date on a website with a high volume of visitors who use the site as a resource to plan their visit to Wexford. Therefore, it is vital that all information presented on the website is correct. https://www.visitwexford.ie/visit-wexford-business-listing-form/

Sustainability for businesses Offered by 3 Counties Energy Agency (3cea), the Climate Active Neighbourhoods Capitalisation Project (CANCap) aims to assist SMEs, in specific industries, to improve sustainable measures and reduce energy bills by addressing deficiencies and incorporating renewable energy practices.

A FREE energy audit is available to SME businesses with fewer than 50 employees in the Southeast region from the following sectors: Nursing homes and healthcare providers – Convenience grocery stores and supermarkets – Food producers, farm foods plants – Office blocks and property management companies https://3cea.ie/sectors/commercial-sme/

Chamber Black Tie Ball The Enniscorthy & District Chamber Black Tie Ball is scheduled to take place in the Riverside Park Hotel on Saturday, 4th December. It promises to be a glittering occasion with a champagne reception, followed by a sumptuous five-course dinner with a choice of wines, dancing to the sounds of ‘Fiesta’, and spot prizes galore.

Booking is now open for tables of 10 at €750 and for individual ticket sales. Demand is expected to be exceptionally high this year so patrons are advised to book early to avoid disappointment. The guest speaker on the night will be local man Ivan Yates – well-known TV personality, businessman and former politician.

For tickets, contact the Chamber at 053 92 32006 or email: admin@enniscorthychamber.ie n

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SlaNey BUSiNeSS SlaNey ad & fiNaNCe

Pushing the Rosslare message At a meeting last month in Stormont Buildings, Gorey Senator Malcolm Byrne raised how Rosslare Europort is an increasingly attractive option for hauliers and for tourists from North and South to travel to continental Europe.

He was speaking as part of a discussion between the Oireachtas Brexit Committee, of which he is a member, and its equivalent in the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Representatives of the nationalist and unionist communities took part, including Economy Minister Diane Dodds of the Democratic Unionist Party and the committee chair, Sinead McLaughlin of the Social Democratic and Labour Party.

The meeting explored a range of issues including trade, cross border healthcare, educational exchange and data flows between the EU and the UK. Malcolm said, “This was a very useful dialogue and our focus is looking at practical measures that can improve cooperation between citizens and businesses.” He added that he was keen to support as many areas of North / South cooperation as possible.

Senator Malcolm Byrne (centre back row) in Stormont for talks with Northern parliamentarians.

Minister visits Hatch Lab in Gorey Hatch Lab, Gorey, 22nd October, 2021: Right: Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy (Cathaoirleach, Wexford County Council) with Minister Peter Burke, Minister of State with Responsibility for Local Government and Planning, and John O’Connor, Gorey Hatch Lab Manager.

Below L-R: Cllr Pip Breen, Cathaoirleach Gorey Municipal District, John O’Connor, Gorey Hatch Lab Manager, Cllr Oliver Walsh, Cllr Diarmuid Devereux, Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy (Cathaoirleach, Wexford County Council), Paul Kehoe TD and Minister Peter Burke.

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The committees had been engaging virtually during Covid but this was the first time for a face to face when the Leinster House delegation travelled to Belfast. n

SlaNey BUSiNeSS & fiNaNCe

Masterplan for Old Dublin Road The Masterplan for the Enniscorthy North Business District (Old Dublin Road) has been completed by Wexford County Council (WCC) to support the redevelopment of the streetscape there and improve the area’s functionality and provide a consistent presentation that will be attractive to businessess and customers.

The plan includes: n

Improvement to the existing infrastructure – footpaths, public lighting and road surfacing.

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New infrastructure – pedestrian crossings, public lighting, bus-stops, cycleways.

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Provide consistent boundary treatment and signage.

The plan considers the area as consisting of two zones – Zone A which is Blackstoops to Kilcannon which is considered well established as regards commercial and industrial use. Zone B from Kilcannon to Scarawalsh which is zoned for expansion but is currently primarily residential and agricultural.

An online survey was conducted by WCC in addition to a public consultation process and produced some interesting findings:

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Commuting to the area was almost exclusively by private vehicles (96%).

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Approx 50% of survey particpants would consider public transport if there were links to Enniscorthy town (a Local Link bus service is quite likely to commence once the Masterplan is implemented).

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80% said they would be more likely to engage more with the area if streetscape improvements were made.

Following the survey and public consultation processes, WCC is proposing to undertake work in three phases.

Phase 1 (short term): In Zone A to construct two pedestrian crossings at Teagasc and Campus filling station, footpath upgrades, and a formal entrance at Blackstoops.

Phase 2 (medium term): In Zone A to support Active Travel with road improvements, widened footpaths, a shared cycle path loop, provision of small amenity area opposite Kilcannon, common signage at business entrances, soft boundaries – trees and hedges, bus-stops, welcome sign at L6066 junction.

Phase 3 (longer term): In Zone B to undertake improvements similar to Zone A. Funding is in place for Phase 1. Exchequer (NTA) funding is required for Phases 2 and 3 and this work will be undertaken as funds become available.

Phase 1 is estimated to cost €145,000. Phase 2: €2m. Phase 3: €3.5m.

Detailed design and tendering works for Phase 1 will be completed this month (November) and it is expected that works will commence in the first quarter of 2022.

There are just under 2,000 people employed in the Enniscorthy North Business District (ENBD) – a huge source of local employment. The Masterplan should, together with the proximity of the motorway to Dublin, see major employment growth in the area, and the improvements in travel links to the town should benefit town-centre businesses also. The new Primary Care Centre which will open in 2022 in close proximity to the ENBD will be another welcome boost to the area. n

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Minister Peter Burke is greeted on site by Michael Bennett, main building contractor.

Minister reviews progress at new Enniscorthy Technology Park Minister Peter Burke, Minister of State with Responsibility for Local Government and Planning, was in Enniscorthy on 22nd October to inspect progress at Enniscor-

thy’s new Technology Park, which, after a period in abeyance due to Covid restrictions, is now ‘all systems go’ with the floors having been laid on all four floors of

the first building, the first tenant secured, several potential tenants in the pipeline (including the United Nations) and a projected opening in Autumn 2022. n L-R: Michael Bennett (main building contractor), Cllr Cathal Byrne (Cathaoirleach, Enniscorthy Municipal District), Tom Enright (Chief Executive, Wexford County Council), Peter Burke TD (Minister of State with Responsibility for Local Government and Planning), Ronan McGrath (project manager), Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy (Cathaoirleach, Wexford County Council), Minister James Browne TD, Paul Kehoe TD.

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Local firm nominated for major national award Congratulations to Enniscorthy firm McGrath Quantity Surveyors / Project Managers on being nominated for a prestigious award for Consultancy of the Year at the Irish Construction Industry Awards which will be held at an event in December.

Managing Director Ronan McGrath tells us, “It is a credit to the hard work of our team through challenging times and dedication to continuous improvement.”

The firm has been growing by an average of 25% per year in recent years and now has an extansive range of ongoing jobs around the country in Dundalk, Mullingar, Limerick, Dublin, Kildare, Meath, Wicklow, etc in addition to the major project that is Enniscorthy’s new Technology Park, and is now also looking at expanding abroad in the near future.

Check out the firm’s impressive new website at: https://www.mccqs.ie n

Women to the fore at leadership event Twitter’s Managing Director in Ireland, Sinéad McSweeney, is the guest speaker at November’s meeting of the LEO (Local Enterprise Office) Wexford Women in Business Network.

Sinéad also leads Twitter's Public Policy team in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa and she’ll be sharing insights about her career with the online Network on 25 November.

Sinéad has been a key leader within the Twitter team since she joined the company in 2012. Prior to Twitter, she was Director of Communications for An Garda Síochána from 2007 to 2012 and, before that, was Director of Media and Public Relations for the Police Service of Northern Ireland between 2004 and 2007.

From 1996 to 2004, Sinéad held a range of political advisory positions in the Irish government including roles as Special Adviser to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and, prior to that, at the Attorney General’s Office.

A native of Midleton, Co Cork, she studied law at University College Cork and qualified as a barrister in 1993. She began her working life as a parliamentary transcriber in the Dáil debates unit of the Houses of the Oireachtas.

“We’re delighted to virtually welcome Sinéad to Wexford,” said Breege Cosgrave, assistant head of enterprise with the Local Enterprise Office at Wexford County Council. “Her experience with top-level organisations will be inspirational to the Network, which draws its members from start-ups to self-employed and CEOs. “The Women in Business Network is very much in line with one of Enterprise Ireland’s key objectives in its Action Plan for Women in Business – and we’re delighted with its success in supporting female entrepreneurship in Wexford.”

Twitter’s Managing Director in Ireland, Sinéad McSweeney

In line with Covid-19 public health protocols, the network is running online for now, with free Zoom meetings monthly and a dedicated Facebook Group called LEO Wexford Women In Business Network.

The free November Network meeting is on Zoom on Thursday, November 25, at 11.30am.

Bookings for the Network can be made on the LEO’s website. n

3rd November 2021 - Page 63

SlaNey SlaNeypetS ad

MOYNE VETERINARY HOSPITAL Old Dublin Road, Enniscorthy.

T: (053) 9233187, 9236674.

F: (053) 9236674.

E: moynevet@gmail.com

VET DIARY FOR NOVEMBER with the Moyne Veterinary Hospital

Joe Kavanagh welcomes the new season, and also recounts a successful homeopathic remedy. it’s november, the hour has gone back, dark evenings, longer nights and the weather seems to be wetter over the last couple of weeks to just drive it home that winter has arrived officially!

Most people dread this time of year and find it a big drag. As a friend of mine once said, 'Each season brings its own magic', and Winter is no different. The nights cosying up to the fire with a howling gale outside gives you that homely, snugly feeling. The light on a sunny day in Winter is softer and sometimes gives a pink hue to soften our view of the world. The beautiful shades as the leaves give a myriad of pastel colours to feast our eyes and senses on before they fall to the ground to nourish the earth beneath and complete the cycle of life.

As Nature heralds in its change, so too in the practice; We say goodbye to one of our staff Katie Byrne who heads to further fields and we wish her well in her career. We also have a new vet just arrived – Iciar – a Spanish vet who has worked in some high profile practices in Ireland before accepting the job with us. We are very happy to welcome her on board the team.

It was about this time last year that I was out TB testing a herd of cattle for a client of ours. It came to the last animal and she was on her own in a shed crippled with a septic foot abscess.

To be fair to the farmer, she hadn't been neglected, she had been treated with several rounds of antibiotics but to no avail.

The problem is that if the infection gets lodged in the joint it is very difficult to get the desired concentration of meds into the

area as joints usually have a very poor blood supply. So after several rounds of treatment she was hunched over, dog lame, losing ground and losing condition i.e. body weight and so the future looked grim for her. She was rearing a calf but was scarcely able to keep herself going let alone the calf.

As an almost last ditch plea, the farmer asked was there anything else we could try so I made up a homeopathic remedy since nothing else seemed to have hit it. I gave him the instructions how to administer it and he, to be fair to him, followed them faithfully. Fast forward to this week a year later and I'm back out on the farm TB testing the herd again. As this particular cow came up the crush the farmer shouted from the back, 'Ye remember this lady?' He had to jog my memory because here was a perfect specimen of a cow in perfect condition, walking perfectly. She had reared her calf and was healthy enough to go back in calf... 'The bottle of stuff ye made up got her going.' I had remembered making it up, what we used, but when I hadn't heard anything afterwards had feared the worst.

But here she was back to her prime and it was a pleasure to see.

It’s days like these that make all the hard yards worth while. It touches you deep inside and when it looks like all is lost and it’s your last throw of the dice, sometimes providence falls your way and when it does it’s just magical.

I hope that you enjoy the changes that the new season brings, its challenges and its alchemy. n

If you have a topic you’d like Joe Kavanagh to address please email Slaney News at: slaneynews@gmail.com OPENING HOURS (6 DAYS A WEEK): 9.00am–1.00pm and 2.00pm–6.00pm Small animal clinic (please tel. for appointment): Daily 9.30–10.30am, 2.30–3.30pm, 5.00–6.00pm.

24-hour, on-call, Emergency Service: (053) 9233187.

OUR SERVICES INCLUDE: Full blood analysis (haematology, biochemistry) Gas anaesthetic – Digital X-rays – Ultrasound – Bioenergy Dermatological testing – Kinesiology – Prescription diets Herbal remedies – Homeopathy – Allergy testing

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Introducing Eduroam Wi-fi Wexford County Council has announced the launch of eduroam wi-fi in all five libraries in County Wexford as part of the eduroam Everywhere initiative. Eduroam stands for education roaming. It provides secure and easyto-use wi-fi access in thousands of locations across more than 100 countries. Students whose college/university participates in eduroam can simply open their laptop or mobile device within an eduroam hotspot to have immediate internet connectivity.

Eduroam in Ireland is pioneered by HEAnet, Ireland’s National Education and Research Network. HEAnet has helped enable over 200 eduroam hotspots in universities, institutes of technology, libraries, healthcare settings, town centres, retail outlets, sporting venues and many others.

HEAnet is working to extend eduroam further beyond the campus walls as part of their eduroam Everywhere initiative, supported by Simon Harris TD, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, as well as by Heather Humphreys TD, Minister for Rural and Community Development and other government representatives.

Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council, Cllr. Barbara-Anne Murphy, said, “Eduroam is another important addition

Patricia Keenan, Senior Executive Librarian; Eileen Morrissey, County Librarian; Cllr BarbaraAnne Murphy, Cathaoirleach Wexford County Council and Jarlath Glynn, Executive Librarian, at the launch of Eduroam wi-fi in all Co. Wexford’s public libraries.

to the IT services provided by Wexford Library Service. We encourage third level students to visit their local public library in County Wexford where they will be able to access eduroam and link seamlessly into their college networks while in their own home county.”

Ronan Byrne, HEAnet’s CEO, said, “We are delighted to welcome Wexford Libraries as an eduroam participant. We would like to thank everyone who contributed to making this happen, together we are working towards improving the

learning experience of students in County Wexford and reducing the digital divide... our ambition is to make the eduroam service available as widely as possible, to as many third-level students as possible, and we are keen to work with any organisations that wish to include their public wi-fi in the eduroam service. Any interested organisations can get in touch by emailing eduroameverywhere@heanet.ie“ To learn more about eduroam, please visit www.eduroam.ie n

Wexford Science Festival 7-14 Nov Waterford Institute of Technology’s Calmast STEM engagement centre and Wexford Library Service are joining together to host a celebration of science which will take place from 7-14 November and will shine a spotlight on the importance of science in our lives.

The theme for Science Week 2021 is Creating Our Future.

Due to ongoing Covid restrictions, this year’s festival will be mostly online.

The festival is part of the national celebration of science, Science Week 2021, coordinated by Science Foundation Ireland.

Caroline Ainslie, chief mathematical entertainer at Bubbly Maths, is a participant in Science Week.

Details can be found at www.wexsci.ie n

Pic: Patrick Browne.

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SlaNey SlaNey motoriNg ad

CAROLINE GETS MOTORING Bunclody native Caroline Kidd brings us reviews of the latest new cars to arrive in Ireland. Caroline is the founder and editor of the online automotive magazine Changing Lanes and a jury member for Irish Car of the Year.

Find out more about her editorial and commercial copywriting services at

www.changinglanes.ie

The Citroen C4 is back in Ireland in 2021 with an all-new look and a complete line-up featuring petrol, diesel and electric for the very first time. It's the first significant new model launch from the French brand in a while. But with good looks and affability on its side, the new Citroen C4 deserves its time in the spotlight.

Priced from a very competitive €24,740, the C4 brings unique style to the C-segment where the traditional family hatchbacks reside. Yes it's still a hatchback but it's so adventurous in its design. There’s an SUV-coupé flourish to it, especially around the rear. Crossover-inspired plastic cladding and a raised ride height complete the look.

What's even more interesting is that Citroen have taken the C4 as the opportunity to launch their first all-electric model in a long time! The e-C4 goes on sale priced

from €31,730 with a 50 kWh battery and up to 350 km range (WLTP). But it's the Citroen C4 petrol that's the subject of this review.

Inside, Citroen interprets the modern car interior with a digital upgrade for the C4 incorporating a new digital display for the driver and 10" infotainment screen compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – all fitted as standard. Cabin quality is okay with some soft touch panels in the doors for example, but there are quite a lot of hard, dark plastics in the cabin of the Citroen C4, which make it feel a little on the austere side – at odds with the adventurous exterior looks!

The new C4 has a bigger footprint than most family hatchbacks. There is a spacious feel in the cabin for a family vehicle with plenty of generous storage. The seating position is higher than in other Csegment hatchbacks, giving a noticeable

SUV feel behind the wheel. There’s loads of headroom and the footwells are generous in the rear for this class of vehicle. Boot volume is 380 litres, which is on par with hatchback rivals like the Volkswagen Golf and the Ford Focus.

Petrol and diesel models for the moment offer a lower entry into the C4 range than the electric C4 and there is a good selection available. Engine options include the 1.2litre PureTech petrol engine with 100, 130 or 155 hp or the 1.6-litre BlueHDi diesel with 110 or 130 hp. 6-speed manual and EAT8 automatic gearboxes are available for both engines. The 1.2-litre petrol with 130 hp I drove is hard to fault. It has enough power to feel swift and capable on the road. Yet it's frugal too with fuel consumption averaging at 5.7 litres per 100 km over a few days of driving – and that was with an automatic gearbox.

Comfort was a huge focus in the new C4's

Citroen C4

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SlaNey motoriNg development and it delivers, covering the Irish tarmac well with a 'cushioned' feel.

That’s because the new Citroen C4 uses the Citroen Advanced Comfort® programme featuring suspension with Progressive Hydraulic Cushions and Advanced Comfort Seats to ensure the renowned Citroen driving comfort.

Steering is light making the car agile around town or in the car park. Out on the road, the C4 is pleasant to drive, but with the set up of the car, it’s more about comfort than sportiness. Some rivals are sharper to drive.

The entry point into the C4 range is the 1.2 litre Puretech petrol with 100 hp in Feel trim for €24,740. Step up to the same engine with 130 hp in Feel Pack trim with more gear for €27,620. Flair models start from €29,190 and Flair Pack from €33,640.

Diesels start from €26,790.

Citroen cars in Ireland now have a new distributor and with the new C4, there’s certainly energy and momentum in the brand again for the Irish market. The C4 makes a wonderful comeback to the C-segment with eye catching design that takes cues from the trend for crossovers and SUVs.

inely efficient for what it is with no hidden surprises in terms of running costs.

Standard equipment is good including 18” alloys, automatic LED headlights, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, rear parking sensors and camera, lane keep assist and automatic air conditioning. The Flair model on test has diamond cut alloy wheels, speed sign recognition, blind spot detection, front parking sensors, adaptive cruise control and keyless entry/start.

Visually it's a catch for sure. Inside it's spacious and while technology is up to date, it doesn't feel as plush as rivals.

Citroen C4 Flair Puretech 130 Automatic Price: €31,690 Engine: 1.2-litre turbo petrol Power: 130 hp Torque: 230 Nm Top speed: 209 km/h Acceleration (0-100 km/h): 9.4 seconds CO2 emissions: 130 g/km Motor Tax: €200 per year n

The C4 has a very impressive engine and powertrain range with the all-important, all-electric C4 for the very first time and a range of petrol and diesel engines. The 1.2-litre petrol engine with 130 hp is genu-

Spacious, friendly and comfortable, the new C4 is a real boost for the Citroen brand in Ireland!

Model tested:

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3rd November 2021 - Page 67

SlaNey SlaNey motoriNg ad

Austin is Salesperson of the Year!

Austin Codd (centre) of Donohoe ŠKODA, Enniscorthy, with his national ŠKODA Salesperson of the Year award.

Left: Gary Masterson, Donohoe Skoda‘s General Manager, and Jack Slattery (right), Skoda Ireland’s Sales Manager.

Congratulations to Austin Codd of Donohoe ŠKODA, Enniscorthy, who has just been announced as the national ŠKODA Salesperson of the Year!

Austin is from Rathnure and has worked in the motor industry for the last 30 years gaining a wealth of experience working with multiple brands.

Anyone who has ever dealt with Austin knows that he goes above and beyond for his customers and his hard work and dedication have paid off with his national award. https://www.facebook.com/donohoeskoda https://www.donohoeskoda.ie n

Be on your best behaviour On 15th October 2021, An Garda Síochána launched a new national road safety enforcement operation that targets driver behaviour for the remainder of 2021. Operation ‘Teorainn’ is focusing on the four Lifesaver Offences (speeding, driving whilst intoxicated, non-seatbelt wearing and mobile phones), as well as unaccompanied driving by learner drivers, plus road transport offences.

• •

•

Road Safety Authority (RSA) is supporting enforcement operations with awareness campaigns.

Enforcement and education focusing on driver behaviour following 19% increase in driver deaths in 2021.

Rural roads with limits of 80 km/h and over are being targeted.

The joint road safety drive comes after a bad summer this year, particularly August which recorded the highest number of monthly fatalities (24) since June 2012 (26). The number of deaths overall this year at 110 is a cause for concern, but particularly the number of driver deaths. There has been a 19% increase in the number of drivers killed (57) this year compared to the number of drivers killed (48) up to the same period in 2020. In 2021, 78% of fatalities have occurred on rural roads with a speed limit of 80km/h or above which will be a particular focus of Operation ‘Teorainn’.

With just two months remaining in 2021, An Garda Síochána and the RSA are calling on all road users to make a greater effort to stay safe on our roads. n

Page 68 - 3rd November 2021

LATEST FROM THE MOTORING INDUSTRY...

Key Statistics: ➤ October New Car Registrations up 15%: 2,646 new cars registrations for October compared to 2,296 in October 2020 (+15.2%) and 2,179 in October 2019 (+21.4%). ➤ 103,253 new cars registered year to date compared to 86,811 for the same period in 2020 (+18.9%) and 116,124 in 2019 (-11.1%). ➤ 522 new electric vehicles registered in October compared to 254 in October 2020 (+105.5%). ➤ 8,342 new electric cars registered year to date in comparison to 3,867 on the same period 2020 (+115.7%).

The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) has just released their official new vehicle statistics. To present a more accurate picture of the new vehicle registrations, it is important to compare registrations totals with the same period in 2019 (pre-COVID) when businesses were fully operational.

Light Commercials Vehicles (LCV) have seen a decrease of 1,315 registrations compared to October last year 1,651 and an increase on 1,064 registrations for the same month in 2019. Year to date 27,849 new LCVs were registered an increase on last year’s 20,602 (+35.2%) and on 24,304 in 2019 (+14.6%).

Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV) have seen an increase of 212 registrations in October when compared to 155 in October 2020 and 137 October 2019.

Year to date HGV's registrations total 2,473 compared with 1,956 in 2020 (+26.4%) and 2,492 in 2019 (-0.8%).

4,401 used cars imported in October 2021, compared with 9,316 imports in October 2020, and a decrease on the 11,457 imports in October 2019. Year to date used imports are down -5.1% (55,538) on 2020 (58,504) and down 40.8% on 2019 (93,892).

522 new electric vehicles registered in October compared to 254 in October 2020. So far this year 8,342 new electric cars have been registered in comparison to 3,867 on the same period 2020. Electric Vehicle, Plug-in Hybrids and Hybrids continue to increase their market share, with their combined market share now over 31.52%. Diesel now accounts for 33.63%, Petrol 32.16%, Hybrid 16.14%, Electric 8.08% and Plug-in Electric Hybrid 7.3%. n

SlaNey SNapS

Murrintown Confirmation Murrintown School Confirmation in Parish Church on 3rd October.

L-R: Jasmine, Pamela, Davyn Brennan, Dermot Roche and Tyra Brennan.

Siobhan, Cathal, Clodagh, Conor, Craig and Billy Kelly.

Chris, Helen, Adam and Francis O’Donnell.

Sarah Kate, Tracy, Jenna and Ultan Ryan.

James, Janet, Meabh, Charles and Sinead Hegarty.

Liam, Eva, Sophie and Valorie Cashman.

Stephen, Sam, Iryna and Olan Waters.

3rd November 2021 - Page 69

SlaNey leiSUre SlaNey& ad lifeStyle

A classical celebration of Bruch and Beethoven Musici Ireland Recital A Celebration of Beethoven & Bruch November 7th at 3:30pm The Presentation Centre, Enniscorthy Tickets €17/€14 Music for Wexford and Musici Ireland presents a belated recital celebration in the afternoon of November 7th of Beethoven and Bruch with performances of Bruch String Quintet in Eb and Beethoven String Quintet in C Op.29.

Violin 1: Mia Cooper, Violin 2: Victor Vegas, Viola 1: Beth McNinch, Viola 2: Gawain Usher, Cello: Katie Tertell.

Musici Ireland is a chamber collective that takes pride in presenting interesting and evocative programmes, highlighting composers from diverse backgrounds, and shining a resplendent light on Irish composers. Musici consists of a core of players that welcomes collaborations with nationally and internationally celebrated musicians. Over the last decade they have created lasting relationships with venues and guest artists, performing regularly at the National Concert Hall in Dublin, making their debut at the Kilkenny Arts Festival in 2019, and enjoying a successful partnership with RTE Lyric FM through regular broadcast of their performances.

Musici Ireland are supported by The Arts Council of Ireland. n

Ludwig van Beethoven

Page 70 - 3rd November 2021

SlaNey leiSUre & lifeStyle

PURE MENTAL

by Keith Walsh Pure Mental by Keith Walsh, December 1st at The Presentation Centre, Enniscorthy, at 8pm.

Keith Walsh is Pure Mental. Having finished up a 5year stint presenting on National Radio, in the pressure cooker that is a breakfast show, Keith has finally found a bit of time for himself. More importantly, he’s found time to check in with his mental health.

Midlife crisis? Midlife awakening? Breakdown? We’ll find out. This show is part of his therapy and you’re his therapist! Join him on a journey of introspection and exploration, as he locates his demons and traumas in order to try and find the real person underneath the fuzzy mess of stress.

Pure Mental is a live theatre show put together with the help of acclaimed performer, writer and director Janet Moran (A Holy Show, Swing and My Romantic History) in the strangest of Covid times - sometimes working in different rooms, often in different counties. But like many others, they got there in the end. We have a show!

"You will laugh, you might cry, the voices in my head are telling me that you might want to throw rotten fruit at me? Is that still a thing? In the end we'll all feel a lot better. I hope." – Keith Walsh.

Book online at www.presentationcentre.ie n

Work commences on New Ross destination playground The playground at New Ross’ Pearse Park is currently closed to allow work proceed on amazing new Norman-themed play facilities there (see accompanying illustrations). This Wexford County Council €300,000 project for the town will take several months to complete but will be a huge asset to the town and particularly its children in the years ahead. n

3rd November 2021 - Page 71

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Enniscorthy’s Hole in the Wall

Cllr Jackser Owens was on hand to wish Sheamus Coady all the best with his new pub venture on Enniscorthy’s Market Square.

Enniscorthy’s newest pub opened its

We wish Sheamus and Fiona all the best

doors on 15th October on Enniscorthy’s

for the future with their new venture.

Market Square. With an extensive cock-

Check out their Facebook page for drinks/

tail menu, drinks promotions, and live

cocktails promotions and live music up-

music at the weekends, it’s sure to be a

dates: https://www.facebook.com/The-

big hit with locals and visitors alike.

Hole-In-The-Wall-103677012069730 n

A rip-roaring live show promised Forlorn are a four-piece, alternative rock band from Wexford. Since 2018 they have been creating crunchy, nouveau grunge music culminating in the release of their first studio EP ‘Under Ursa’ in 2020. With acclaimed pre-lockdown performances both locally and nationally, Forlorn are a growing force in the resurgent rock music scene. Influences range from 90s grunge to jazz and a dynamic, rip-roaring live performance is in store at Wexford Arts Centre on Friday 5th November at 8.30pm.

Stephen Banville - Vocals and Guitar Eoghan Byrne - Lead Guitar Kris Tierney - Bass Guitar Tom Bates - Drums Tickets: https://wexfordartscentre.ticketsolve.com/shows/873620994 Please note that due to the latest government guidelines only those in possession of a COVID vaccination cert will be admitted unless patrons can provide proof of exemption.

Page 72 - 3rd November 2021

SlaNey leiSUre & lifeStyle

Seeking stardom with Louis Girls Aloud: Louis Walsh seeking to form new girlband and boyband.

Louis Walsh to hold auditions for new Boyband and Girlband!

69-year-old music industry veteran Louis Walsh is to hold auditions for a brand new Boyband and Girlband at Vicar Street in Dublin in late November.

Applicants should supply their full name, date of birth/age, phone number, performance clip link. Email: auditions@louiswalsh.com

He has managed Johnny Logan, Boyzone, Jedward and Westlife, four of Ireland's most successful pop acts in the 1990s and 2000s. And now he’s on the road again to forming the next big things!

Louis says: “Because of Covid guidelines and indeed the talent that we all see and hear every day online, I am asking people to go onto the site and send me a sample of them performing – or a link to their social account where we can find them. We will then call back finalists for a live audition. There is so much great talent here in Ireland and I’m really looking forward to the next few weeks.”

Talented singers and performers between the ages of 16-21 can head to www.louiswalsh.com for all the information.

Applicants are asked to send their details, along with a short video clip of themselves performing (link to their YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, or just filmed on their phone).

Entries close on Friday12th November 2021, so no time to waste! Successful applicants will be contacted by Monday 15th November 2021 if selected to audition.

Boyband final auditions – 20th November Louis Walsh

Girlband final auditions – 21st November n

3rd November 2021 - Page 73

SlaNey leiSUre SlaNey& ad lifeStyle

Drama and Cabaret back at WAC WEXFORD ARTS CENTRE – HTTPS://WWW.WEXFORDARTSCENTRE.IE/EVENTS/

Blackbird 11 Nov 2021 Wexford Arts Centre - Social Distance Four Rivers Theatre Company

Mockie Ah! Oh Holy Queens!

Blackbird By David Harrower Directed by Ben Barnes

Ireland's biggest drag family Mockie Ah are bringing their ac-

Fifteen years ago, Una and Ray’s relationship had a profound and devastating effect on both their lives. They haven't set eyes on each other since. Now in a tense confrontation the past returns to torment them as they unravel their deeply conflicted feelings for each other. Revelations and recriminations fly in this lacerating and controversial story of betrayal, abandonment and lust.

3 Dec 2021, 8.30pm, doors open 8pm Wexford Arts Centre - Social Distance

claimed show to Wexford this Christmas season for a festive camp cabaret!

Hosted by Comedy Central's Candy Warhol, the queens explore what makes the perfect Irish Christmas. With a love letter to Ireland's queer heroes and pop culture moments including Nadine Coyle, Twink, Linda Martin, Teresa Mannion, The Toy Show and many more, the queens discover and celebrate what

Winner of the Olivier Award for Best Play, Blackbird is a complex portrayal of two people whose damaged lives are inextricably intertwined.

makes Ireland so beautifully bizarre! With eight queens from

Starring Ronan Leahy and Maria Guiver

pect a mix of comedy, live music and lip sync extravaganzas!

Produced by Four Rivers in association with Theatre Royal Waterford.

Funded by the Arts Council, Waterford City & County Council, Kilkenny County Council, Wexford County Council and Creative Ireland.

Suitable for ages 15+

Please note that due to the latest government guidelines only those in possession of a COVID vaccination cert will be admitted unless patrons can provide proof of exemption.

Page 74 - 3rd November 2021

each corner of Ireland and more guests to be announced, ex-

For full details and booking on all events in Wexford Arts Centre, see https://www.wexfordartscentre.ie/events/

SlaNey leiSUre & lifeStyle

For Co. Wexford’s most comprehensive Entertainment Listing see: http://www.wexlive.com/news.shtml#1382734776 and check out: https://www.facebook.com/groups/WexfordEvents Check with venues for any event cancellations, changes, etc.

Nov 5 (8.30pm) Forlorn (alt. rock), Wexford Arts Centre, Cornmarket, Wexford. Tickets €14. Tel 053 9123764.

Nov 20 (8pm) Magic of the Musicals, National Opera House, Wexford.

Tickets €25. Tel 053 9122144.

Nov 5 (8.00pm) Christy Moore, Gorey Little Theatre, Gorey. Tickets €40. Book at www.gr8events.ie.

Nov 21 (7.30pm) Dónal Lunny’s ATLANTIC ARC, National Opera House, Wexford. "Lunny gathers some of the finest musicians in Ireland and Scotland to create a fresh new sound - yet again - while keeping the continuum of the tradition so crucial to his own musical journey".

Tickets €16/20. Tel 053 9122144.

Nov 6 (10.30am) Wexford War of Independence & Civil War Walking Tour with Wexford historian in residence Barry Lacey, Wexford Library, Wexford, Co Wexford. Duration 1 hour. No fee. Pre-book: 053 9196760.

Nov 6 (8pm) The Bailey Live: Scalder Song Sessions # 1 featuring Acko, Electric Finch, Brendan Keane, Steven O’Brien. The Bailey, Enniscorthy. Adm €10.

Nov 7 (7pm) RESONATE: Music Network Artist Residencies - SleepSong, National Opera House, Wexford. The concert will explore lullabies & music associated with sleep and the night from the Renaissance, Baroque, and Irish traditions. Featuring Carthach MacCraith: Singer specialising in the Sean-nós tradition; Róisín O’Grady: Soprano; Eamon Sweeney: Renaissance Lute, Chitarra atiorbata, Chitarra Battente, Bandora. Tickets €15/12. Tel 053 9122144.

Nov 21 (11am) KRH Tops Community Group host the Annual Christmas Craft Fair in Kilrane Community Centre, Kilrane, Co. Wexford.

Nov 24 Social dancing with Michael Collins, Brandon House Hotel, New Ross.

Nov 26 (7.30pm) Dolmen (dance), National Opera House, Wexford.

With Vivian Brodie Hayes, dance artist in residence, Dolmen is a dance and music partnership between Choreographer Brodie Hayes and composer Liam Bates. Tickets €15. Tel 053 9122144.

Nov 26 (8pm) Mick Hanley. Gorey Little Theatre, Gorey. Tickets €20.

Book at www.gr8events.ie

Nov 7 (3.30pm) Musici Ireland Recital: A Celebration of Beethoven & Bruch. The Presentation Centre, Enniscorthy. Tickets €17/€14. www.presentationcentre.ie Tel: 053 9233000.

Nov 27 (8pm) THE STAR OF CHESTER’S LANE by Quintessence Theatre (in association with An Táin Arts Centre), National Opera House, Wexford. Tickets €17/15. Tel 053 9122144.

Nov 9–13 (8pm) The Best Foot Forward. A play directed and choreographed by Tara Ann Byrne. Tickets €12. Book at www.gr8events.ie

Nov 27 (8pm) The Kilkennys. Gorey Little Theatre, Gorey. Tickets €20.

Book at www.gr8events.ie

Nov 10 Social dancing with John Molloy, Brandon House Hotel, New Ross.

Nov 28 (8pm) ‘The Galway Boy’ MIKE DENVER with guest Brendan Shine, National Opera House, Wexford. Tickets €30. Tel 053 9122144.

Nov 11 (8pm) Howie The Rookie starring Fintan Kelly, Holohan’s Pub, Enniscorthy. Tickets €10. Pay at door or pre-book at the Bar. Nov 11 (8pm) Blackbird. Drama by Four Rivers Theatre Company. Wexford Arts Centre. Tickets: www.wexfordartscentre.ie Tel: 053 9123764.

Nov 12 (8.30pm) The Remedy Club (Americana), Wexford Arts Centre, Cornmarket, Wexford. Tickets €15. Tel 053 9123764.

Nov 12–14 Rockin’ by the River, Toss Kavanagh’s and T.J. Murphy’s, Templeshannon, Enniscorthy. Featuring seven top bands.

Nov 13 (10.30am) Wexford War of Independence & Civil War Walking Tour with Wexford historian in residence Barry Lacey, Gorey Library, Gorey, Co Wexford. Duration 1 hour. No fee. Pre-book: 053 9483820.

Nov 13 (8pm) Nathan Carter, National Opera House, Wexford. Tickets: €33. Tel 053 9122144.

Nov 13 (8pm) Green Road, National Opera House (JH Theatre), Wexford. Popular five-piece ballad/folk band from south Co. Wexford. SOLD OUT! Nov 13 (8.30pm) The Elephant Room and Cursed Murphy Versus The Resistance, Wexford Arts Centre. Tickets: www.wexfordartscentre.ie Nov 15,16 Abba Forever, National Opera House, Wexford. Tickets €25.

Tel 053 9122144.

Nov 17–20 One Act Drama Festival, Gorey Little Theatre, Gorey.

Tickets €12. Patron ticket €40 for 4 nights. Book at www.gr8events.ie Also available on the door.

Nov 17–20 Coolgreany Drama 2021: One-Act Festival, Coolgreany.

Nov 17 Social dancing with Peter Burke, Brandon House Hotel, New Ross.

Nov 19–20 Wexford at 8 – An evening of nine new short plays by Wexford writers, presented by Wordplay Writers, Actors & Directors Studio.

Wexford Arts Centre.

Nov 20 (10.30am) Wexford War of Independence & Civil War Walking Tour with Wexford historian in residence Barry Lacey, New Ross Library, New Ross. Duration 1 hour. No fee. Pre-book: 051 421877.

Dec 1 (8pm) Pure Mental by Keith Walsh, Presentation Centre, Enniscorthy. Tickets €18/15. www.presentationcentre.ie. Tel: 053 9233000.

Dec 1-4 (nightly 8pm) ROMEO and JULIET by William Shakespeare, presented by Bare Cheek Theatre, National Opera House, Wexford.

Tickets €20/15. Tel 053 9122144.

Dec 2 (7.30pm) Handel’s Messiah presented by Irish Baroque Orchestra, Chamber Choir Ireland and Peter Whelan, National Opera House, Wexford. Tickets €25/20. Tel 053 9122144.

Dec 3 Kodaline, National Opera House, Wexford. Tickets: Ticketmaster.

Dec 3 (8.30pm) Ireland’s biggest drag family Mockie Ah are bringing their acclaimed show to Wexford this Christmas season for a festive camp cabaret! Tickets €20 from www.wexfordartscenytre.ie Dec 11 Aslan, National Opera House, Wexford. Presented by Lantern Presents. Tickets €27.50. www.nationaloperahouse.ie Dec 15 (8pm) HFC Band, National Opera House, Wexford. Tickets €20/10. Tel 053 9122144.

Dec 18 (8.30pm) JMA performing the classic songs of Bob Dylan and Neil Young. Wexford Arts Centre.

Dec 23 (8.30pm) Pierce Turner. Wexford Arts Centre.

Jan 2 (8pm) The Three Amigos. Riverside Park Hotel, Enniscorthy.

Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.ie Jan 7 (8pm) An Evening with Sharon Shannon, Frances Black and Mary Coughlan, National Opera House. Tickets €33.50. Tel 053 9122144.

Jan 8 (8pm)The High Kings "Home" Tour, National Opera House, Wexford. Tickets €33.50.

Jan 11–12 (8pm) Dan McCabe in Concert. Riverside Park Hotel, Enniscorthy. Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.ie Feb 3 (8pm) The Dirtbirds #NO FILTERS Tour. Riverside Park Hotel, Enniscorthy. Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.ie.

Feb 10 (8pm) Mike Denver, Riverside Park Hotel, Enniscorthy. Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.ie n

3rd November 2021 - Page 75

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TRISH DAGG IS SET TO SHAR A slimmer who transformed her life by losing over 100lbs is using her success to shape a whole new career helping other people change their lives and achieve their weight loss dreams too.

Trish Dagg joined her local Slimming World group in Enniscorthy, in May 2017, and dropped 5 stone in the first year.

Born and raised just outside Enniscorthy, Trish has now trained as a Consultant for Slimming World, the UK and Ireland’s largest group-based weight loss organisation. Members at the group are getting ready to welcome Trish as their new Consultant when she takes over the group on November 3rd.

The latest government figures reveal that around one in four adults are obese and it is estimated that, by 2034, this will increase to one in three. 60% of adults in the Republic of Ireland are classified as overweight including 23% who have an ‘obese’ BMI (Healthy Ireland Survey 2019) and Trish says her new role has never been more important.

She says: “Obesity is becoming such a huge issue across Ireland. When I first joined Slimming World as a member, I never dreamed that I would end up helping other people to lose weight but now I just can’t wait to get started. After losing over 7st and completing my training, it’s a privilege for me to be able to pass on the experience, insight and understanding that helped me, so that I can give my members the support they need to get to target.

“Support is really the most important thing. It all starts with feeling that you’re not alone. I couldn’t have lost the weight without the weekly help, encouragement and understanding of my own Consultant and group. As someone who has lost weight myself I know the challenges people can face, which is why, along with the group, I will be there to support every one of my members all the way to their chosen target weight. Setting targets, sharing recipes and other ideas, and working together as a group to overcome challenges and celebrate success are so important to a successful journey. That’s why, at my Slimming World group, there’ll be tons of support, encouragement and fun.

Page 76 - 3rd November 2021

“As someone who has lost weight myself, I know the challenges people can face.”

– Trish Dagg

“Like a lot of slimmers, I had tried to lose weight so many times before by following numerous diets but they were never sustainable because I’d always get tired of restricting what I ate. I thought I was destined to struggle with my weight for the rest of my life, but when I came to Slimming World it was different. I never

felt like I was on a diet. The eating plan encourages you to eat lots of tasty, filling foods like pasta, rice, potatoes and lean meat and fish, you are never hungry and no foods are banned so there’s no deprivation. I couldn’t believe I’d found a way to lose weight without starving myself.

SlaNey leiSUre & lifeStyle

RE HER SLIMMING SECRETS “Slimming World isn’t just about changing what you eat. Becoming more active is important too. Our Body Magic programme takes the threat out of activity by showing people, many of whom have unpleasant memories of being forced to take part in activity at school, how they can build activity into their daily routine without having to take up traditional forms of exercise like going to the gym or running. Everything counts from walking to gardening to washing the car. I have three dogs, and I love bringing them out for a walk to get my Body Magic! As a Consultant it’s my role to create that warm, supportive atmosphere to get people sharing their ideas and experiences to help others – it’s going to be great fun!”

Trish’s Slimming World group will be held at Enniscorthy Rugby club every Wednesday at 9.30am, 11am, and 7pm from Wednesday November 3rd.

For more information on Trish’s group, she can be contacted on 087 3607615 or feel free to chat to her if you see her about town.

Like Trish, Slimming World Consultants are all former members who have lost weight at their local group themselves and groups are set up as micro businesses in the heart of local communities. There are currently around 4,000 Slimming World Consultants across the UK and Ireland running 15,000 groups. Consultants receive training in Slimming World’s healthy eating and physical activity programmes and learn how to use the power of group support to empower members to take control of their own weight loss journey. As self-employed micro-entrepreneurs, Consultants also learn how to build a successful community-based business. Trish says she can’t wait for the new challenges running her own business will bring. “For me becoming a self-employed franchisee was a great option. I wanted a job that was well paid, flexible and could fit around my busy life, so launching my own Slimming World group was an ideal option – I feel like I’ve got a brand new career and I can’t wait for my new groups to run now!”

Ellen Doolan, who runs Slimming World’s Dunmore Road group and manages Trish as a Team Developer, says: “Slimming World Consultants are chosen for their positive outlook and because they genuinely care about the health and happiness of others. With Trish’s experience of being a successful Slimming World member and her kind and warm personality and great sense of humour I just know that she’ll be an amazing support to members, cheering them all the way to their target weight.” n

3rd November 2021 - Page 77

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The class of ECCE 2 getting ready for the Halloween party at Killegney Early Years, Clonroche, in aid of Temple Street Children’s Hospital.

Calling all Co. Wexford schools...

A call has gone out to schools in Wexford, and elsewhere across the country, from sprinter Phil Healy and fellow athlete, David Gillick, who have joined forces with Fyffes in a quest to find ‘Ireland’s Fittest School’.

Together, the Irish Olympians have recorded a series of workouts which they say are ‘fit for even the least active’ – exercise routines they hope schools will adopt as part of their PE curriculum.

In this latest fitness initiative, Fyffes has introduced a strong competitive element. Coupled with monthly and spot prize rewards, one successful school will have the distinction of being chosen as ‘Ireland’s Fittest School’, the prize for which will be a visit from the Fit Squad ambassadors Phil and David and €5,000 worth of sports equipment.

Registration for the competition, which runs from November until April, can now be made online at www.fyffesfitsquad.ie, with the overall winner to be announced in May. Building on its campaign to promote fitness and healthy eating amongst young people, the proven Fyffes Fit Squad pro-

Page 78 - 3rd November 2021

gramme has been introduced to 20,000 plus pupils in a countrywide series of live school visits since its launch just three years ago.

Last year, Fit Squad went online when

schools were forced to close. With hundreds now awaiting visits, Fyffes says it is looking forward to resuming live sessions in schools ‘when conditions permit’. n International athletes David Gillick and Phil Healy invite all Wexford schools to compete for ‘IRELAND’S FITTEST’ title.

SlaNey leiSUre & lifeStyle

The sound of music returns!

The sounds of music certainly returned to Co. Wexford streets recently as arias wafted from windows at the Opera Festival and melancholy strains of the Blues emanated from Enniscorthy drinking establishments.

Wexford town once again moved into the realms of the spectacular with the magical Spiegeltent adorning the Quay, exquisite performances at the National Opera House, impressive art sparkled at iconic locations and captivating pop-up events dazzled and beguiled, none better than the arias from windows on the Main Street and the breathtaking renditions from national and international singers as they strolled, in the pouring rain around the Bullring.

I was delighted to meet Enniscorthy artist Marja van Kampen and view her cheering, colourful work at the Creative Hub and admire the unusual pieces of Russian artist Dimitry A Diamond particularly pertinent to me as a re-enactor.

At the Talbot Hotel, I ran into father and daughter duo, Chris Kavanagh and Susan Sunderland, at the Aladdin’s Cave that is the annual Antique Fair and paid a visit to view one of my favourite artists and a regular at the Opera Festival for many, many years now – Jacinta Crowley Long with her beautiful paintings and extremely clever captions.

Wexford, it seems, has emerged brighter and better than ever from the darkness of Covid to pull off a Festival par excellence.

All kinda Blues wafted soulfully over the town of Enniscorthy as the hard-working organising committee of Ibar Carty, John Murphy, Mairead Ennis and Seán Doyle managed to stage a Halloween Blues Festival even as we emerge cautiously from the Covid pandemic. Seán is the only original committee member still serving and has been there from day one (1995).

Kicking off with ‘An Audience with Blues specialist Dermot Byrne’ at Rackards, who delighted with pieces by Woody Guthrie, Muddy Waters, and Fred McDowdall, all kinda Blues rang out over the Cathedral town from Delta, Country, Swamp, Gospel, Piedmont, and Louisana, to Boogie and Rhythm as our local watering holes once again swayed to the rhythm and roots of the music of the deep American South, with live solos, duos and bands in Dawsons, Rackards, Stamps, Alba, Toss Kavanaghs, Holohans and Treacys Hotel, featuring many great artists including Ben Prevo, Stonecold Hobo, Blues Confidential, David King, Delta Dogs, Brian Meakin, BC Blues Band, Mark S. Black, Dom Martin, and The Boomers.

Hats off to the Blues Committee who organised, at very short notice and with limited resources, a very entertaining Halloween Blues Festival.

– Maria Nolan n Blackstairs Blues weekend, Enniscorthy, 28-31 October.

Left: The Boomers in Holohans.

Right: Stonecold Hobo in Stamps.

Below: Blues Confidential in Dawsons.

Below right: Dermot Byrne in Rackards.

3rd November 2021 - Page 79

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A Glorious Obse A fashion series by Maria Nola

This month as the country continues to open up and we begin to emerge from the dreaded pandemic and take once again to our high streets, and restaurants and pubs and nightclubs, it’s time for a serious look at our wardrobes particularly with our Christmas party season on the horizon.

Perhaps not in the same vein as pre Covid Christmases, we still anticipate this festive season being a lot more adventurous than last and with that in mind we are anxious to have a small collection of wearables that will take us, not just back to the office, on a more regular basis, but will adapt to lunches with friends, drinks with work colleagues at the end of the working day and the much anticipated and eagerly awaited Yuletide family occasions.

With this in mind I am delighted to be able to introduce you to one of our own stores right here in Enniscorthy, on the pedestrianised Rafter Street, Safura, owned by Ian Kelly and managed

by Carolann, Caroline, Grainne and Katrina, it was established over five years ago and offers the Enniscorthy shopper up to date, affordable chic.

Safura, I am happy to say, is a fashion boutique with high end styles catering for today’s woman from the clothes conscious adolescent to the mature lady at prices they can afford.

This clothing store has a wide variety of styles from maxi to midi, from knit to denim, and so much more. New stock arrives on a daily basis, and staff are friendly and helpful without being intrusive.

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Deposits are taken on all items and the store offers a fourteenday refund and a thirty-day exchange on all full price items.

The store operates on Facebook (www.facebook.com/safura. enniscorthy/) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/safura.ie) and is spacious, airy and inviting, lending itself to easy, relaxed browsing. Styles are flexible and versatile with clothing that can take you anywhere from a Confirmation or Christening, to a Christmas party or dinner with friends and family, and prices are in that middle bracket that allow for layering up and mixing and matching.

The store features everything from dresses, tops, skirts, jeans, pants, shirts, cardigans, jumpers, to jackets, hats, scarves and gloves so why not pay them a visit, if you don’t pick up something for yourself you might just find that perfect Christmas gift that is both affordable and beautiful.

And remember in the lead up to the frenzy that is Christmas shopping, you can avoid all the scams, all the returns and all the delays, anxieties and even last minute disappointments, by simply shopping locally.

So go on – give yourself that feel good vibe this Christmas knowing that you are boosting the local economy which in turn has a positive effect on all of us.

Happy hunting shoppers.

Words and pics by Maria Nolan

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ession

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Maria Nolan

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– s k c lo e e h W t a e g la il V e h T A magical place to visit this Christmas Visit the website and book your magical Christmas Experience online at thevillageatwheelocks.ie, situated just outside Enniscorthy.

Santa is delighted with his cosy sitting room in Wheelocks.

king after Cyril Wheelock will be loo room. ing the fire in Santa’s sitt

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The Fureys – legends of Irish music and song – to play two Co. Wexford venues Legends of Irish music and song, the FUREYS return to the live stage for the first time in almost two years. On this tour they include the Ashdown Park Hotel, Gorey, on Sunday 2nd January and the National Opera House, Wexford, on Saturday 15th January.

A Fureys concert guarantees a night of pure music magic, songs and nostalgia.

Fans will be taken on a compelling winding journey through more than four decades of The Furey’s legendary classics, including I Will Love You, When You Were Sweet 16, The Old Man, Red Rose Café, Her Father Didn’t Like Me Anyway, Leaving Nancy, From Clare to Here and The Green Fields of France.

The Fureys have seen and done it all.

They’ve played for Irish presidents, enchanted world leaders and enjoyed standing ovations in the most prestigious concert halls all over the world.

Their story began to take shape with the great folk revival of the 1960s when Eddie Furey met up with then unknown folk singers Billy Connolly, Gerry Rafferty and Alex Campbell.

The seeds were well and truly sown when Eddie and Finbar joined the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem as special guests on their 1969 American tour.

The band has naturally gone through change with Finbar leaving the band in 1996 and Paul’s passing in 2002.

The legend of The Fureys continues to shine as brightly as ever with Eddie and George steering the band through the last two decades. They remain one of the hardest working music acts on the live circuit and in 2019 played more concerts than dur-

ing any of their previous 40 years on the road!

Now that they are up and running again, Eddie and George have no plans to stop anytime soon. Eddie says: "We'll keep it going. As long as people want us to play and sing, we'll be around.”

Tickets for The Fureys at the Ashdown Park Hotel, Gorey are on sale from the hotel reception or www.ticketmaster.ie and for the National Opera House from the box office (053) 9122144 or www.nationaloperahouse.ie n

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Holohan’s Pub, Enniscorthy, Thursday, 11th November, 8pm.

Tickets €10. Pay at door or pre-book at the Bar.

Gorey Little Theatre – One-act Drama Festival – November 2021 Gorey’s One-Act Festival will host 12 drama groups over four nights. Some great entertainment and fun for all drama lovers. Note: Covid Certs and ID required. Masks must be worn at all times except when eating and drinking. Three plays per night as follows:

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WFO launches new initiative Members of Wexford Factory and Music Generation attended an event in St. Mary's Day Care Centre, Tagoat, on 28th October, as it was announced that the Wexford Festival Opera (WFO) is to launch a new initiative to bring opera performances to care homes and day centres over the coming months with the support of their Enniscorthy-based technology partner Datapac.

Above: Pictured from Wexford Festival Opera are Jade Phoenix, Rory Dunne, Leila Zanette, Conor Prendiville, and composer Andrew Synnott, Elizabeth Drwal from Music Generation Wexford, Randall Shannon, Executive Director, Wexford Festival Opera and Dan Kickham, Founder and CEO, Datapac with children Grace Goggin, Abigail Hegarty, Olivia McCamley and Esmé McKiernan Becker from Music Generation Wexford.

Below left: Peter Firman, Peter Hughes and Olive Scanlan.

Below right: Pictured from Wexford Festival Opera are Leila Zanette, Conor Prendiville, Jade Phoenix and Rory Dunne.

Enjoying the craic at St. Mary's Day Care Centre, Tagoat.

All pictures: Patrick Browne.

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THE REMEDY CLUB

A double-header: two of Wexford's finest original bands – The Elephant Room and Cursed Murphy Versus The Resistance play the Wexford Arts Centre on 13 Nov 2021.

The Elephant Room is a Lo-Fi, Indie-noise band. With tight rhythms, warm and occasionally noisy guitars and catchy vocals, addictive melodies and thought provoking lyrical content. Their DIY approach to their music bleeds through to their art work and videos also, with everything being done in-house to create the bizarre, noir world that is The Elephant Room.

Cursed Murphy Versus the Resistance: not your average mutant ninja spoken-word rock ‘n’ roll band. Formed in 2018, the sevenpiece ensemble specialises in a mash-up of punk poetry, cinematic guitar soundscapes and big beats, fronted by Enniscorthy’s own Peter Murphy. n

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Top left: Wexford RNLI Coffee Morning in Wexford’s Riverbank House Hotel, 22nd October 2021, Bob and Eleanor Quilty.

Top right: RNLI Christmas Cards – ideal for your Christmas greetings, Mary Doyle, Mary Fox and Eithne Coulter.

Above left: Peg O’Brien, Mary Johnston and Bernie O’Brien.

Above right: David McGuire and Cllr George Lawlor.

Left: Laura and Mitch Hewitt.

Wexford RNLI Coffee morning 3rd November 2021 - Page 87

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Wexford LGBTQIA+ social nights Having a regular social night is really important, especially as we emerge from the Covid lockdown. Many LGBTQIA+ people, both young and old, who were already feeling isolated and lonely, found the last 18 months very difficult. According to the Wexford Pride Committee, “This is an opportunity to start coming ‘OUT’ again... pun intended.”

After a hugely successful event in September – Pride in the Park, lots of people asked about starting up regular social nights so Robert Crookes (Chair of Wexford Pride) is delighted to share the news that the group now meets every two months, on the second Saturday, in the Crown Bar. He went on to say that as interest builds it is hoped to have monthly events, drag shows, live entertainment, art exhibitions and add some events in Gorey also.

Previous social groups met in people's houses, White's Hotel, Finnegans and South 51 to name a few, but they were always in private areas, this time around The Crown is delighted to host the events and the group will be visible and proud for everyone to see.

Secretary of Wexford Pride, John Cunningham-Ryan, says, "Throughout the years we have had many social groups and one of the most successful was ‘Out in Wexford’ which was organised by Alison Martin around 15 years ago. She was contacted to see if she was OK with the group hosting events under that name again, and she was delighted.

"We hope to have a permanent and visible presence in Wexford from now on.

We hope that those who came to the social nights years ago will join us and a whole new generation of LGBTQIA+ people will also come. Our events are of course open to all, so friends, family and allies are also more than welcome," John explains.

Cllr. Leonard Kelly presenting the Wexford Pride Committee with one of the flags that was flown on Wexford Bridge this summer (L-R Leonard Kelly, Robert Crookes, John Cunningham-Ryan, Conor Doyle, Aislinn de Bhailis and Lauren Brennan).

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So the dates for your diary are 11th Dec, 12th Feb, 9th April and a Pride celebration on 11th June.

As the Covid restrictions lift, Wexford Pride hope to organise other events such as coffee mornings, walking, swimming, book clubs, cinema, bowling and dinner nights, so no matter what your interest is, there will be something for everyone. “We're also looking for more people to help out so contact and let us know if you would like to volunteer.”

You can find more details about Wexford Pride activities on Facebook and Twitter.

You can also phone John on 086-3953846 or email wexfordpride@gmail.com n

SlaNey leiSUre & lifeStyle

Jimi’s song for Gaza Jimi Cullen’s latest song 'Behind The Apartheid Wall (Life In Gaza)' is now available to download on BandCamp as well as view on YouTube!

If you haven't already, check it out now at the links below: YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/nVrY-aJnEv8 BANDCAMP: https://jimicullenmusic.bandcamp.com

Jimi Cullen – Gorey-based folk singer, musician, songwriter, producer and activist.

€200,000 recreation funding for Wexford Local Fine Gael TD, Paul Kehoe, has welcomed the recent announcement of €199,235 in funding to support seven outdoor projects across Co. Wexford.

velop a new looped walking trail around Raven Rock, Forth Mountain.

Welcoming the funding, Deputy Kehoe said, “Covid-19 has given us a newfound appreciation for our great outdoors.

That’s why I’m delighted that we can support so many fantastic projects under this funding.

The funding, under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS), will further enhance our unique natural amenities and support Wexford as a destination for adventure tourism.

The funding for Wexford will include: €16,875 - Cahore Step Improvements Improve trail accessibility by providing safe steps at Cahore Pier Carpark. €8,242 - Ferns Heritage Trail Waymarking Project - Waymarking of the Ferns Village Heritage Trail. €17,478 - Crab Tree Carpark Extension Extend the trailhead carpark at Crab Tree, Tara Hill. €20,000 - Cahore Point Trail - Improve trail accessibility including the laying of a better surface at Ryehill Lane, Cahore Point.

Paul Kehoe TD

€16,640 - Kilanerin Trail Carpark & Ballyfad Trail Features - Extend the Kilanerin Trail carpark and install heritage features along the Ballyfad Wood Trail. €20,000 - Raven Rock Trail Loop & Skeater Carpark Extension - Extend the trailhead carpark at Skeaterpark and de-

Enniscorthy’s favourite musical duo –

“This investment will support a two-fold ambition of this Government – making Rural Ireland a destination of choice for outdoor pursuits and adventure tourism, but also providing those of us who live here the facilities and activities within our own communities that will enhance our quality of life.

In addition to the specific projects outlined above, a further €20,000 has been allocated to install additional trail signage across all accredited walking trails in the county.

Funding for larger projects under Measure 2 and 3 of the scheme will be announced by Minister Humphreys in the coming weeks. n Kerry and Jamie – back on the road.

Kermie (Kerry and Jamie) are back on the road! Jamie Murphy tells us, “Lads... we'd love to play anywhere at this stage... We are back at it. Give us a bell and let us bring some much needed joy to you!!! We do dos and functions, weddings and wakes....”

Contact the duo through Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamieandkerry

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Antiques Fair in Wexford Best wishes to the newly formed Bunclody Community Park Committee who are fundraising to bring a new park to Bunclody, behind the existing playground.

You can find more information and donate to their Go Fund Me page at the following link https://bit.ly/3j9j1zj Also see ‘Bunclody Community Park’ on Facebook.

Wexford Festival Opera Antiques Fair in Talbot Hotel, 23rd October, Mairead Furlong and Lucy Prendergast.

Local author shortlisted for An Post Irish Book Awards The Legend of Valentine Sorrow, the latest book by Co. Wexford author Caroline Busher, has been shortlisted in the Teen & Young Adult category for the An Post Irish Book Awards.

Caroline grew up in a Victorian house in the northwest of England. As an only child, she spent her days reading books and writing fantastical stories. When she got older, she moved to Co. Wexford where she now lives with her husband John and her children Fiachra, Keeva and Tiernan. Caroline strongly believes that it is the most magical place on earth. She writes her books in an eighteenth-century-style shepherd’s hut, nestled beneath the Blackstairs Mountains. But be warned: if you ever go there, you must tread carefully. The mountains resemble sleeping giants and legend has it that they might wake up someday!

Caroline is an Irish Times Bestselling Author. Her books include The Ghosts of Magnificent Children, The Girl Who Ate the Stars and Votes for Women! The Irish Women’s Suffrage Movement (all published by Poolbeg Press). She is the recipient of three Literature Awards from Wexford County Council and Artlinks.

She is on the Poetry Ireland – Writers in Schools Scheme and she is a Heritage Expert with the Heritage Council of Ireland.

Caroline Busher.

The Legend Of Valentine Sorrow will be launched in Enniscorthy’s Presentation Centre between 6pm-9pm on 12th November by Alan Maguire of South East Radio. Caroline looks forward to seeing you all and to signing copies of her books there.

Caroline is a broadcaster and book reviewer on Ireland AM. She has radio experience on South East Radio and was the Festival Manager of Towers and Tales book festival in Lismore Castle.

Caroline was also the Chair of Wexford Literary Festival.

Please note you will be required to present an EU Digital Covid Certificate (or HSE/NHS Covid-19 Proof of Full Vaccination/Recent Recovery Record) along with photo ID. Children under 18 who are accompanying adult ticket-holders do not need proof of vaccination.

Caroline is a graduate of UCD with a First Class Honours MA in Creative Writing.

Please book your free invite in advance at www.presentationcentre.ie or by calling 053 9233000. n

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A spooky Halloween at Gorey’s Kia Ora Mini Farm on 22nd October.

Above: Kary and Jem Sargent.

Below: Young Teddy Geraghty wasn’t scared by the skeletons.

Above: Nola and Hughie Geraghty and Maria Nolan.

Below: A lucky rabbit for Millie and Lucy Sargent.

A ‘Gorey’ Halloween at Kia Ora Mini Farm 3rd November 2021 - Page 91

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Enniscorthy Rugby Club – proud of Katie and Aoife Aoife Wafer and Katie Whelan.

Enniscorthy Rugby Club is a proud community club which has been lucky to have many of its players go on to represent both province and country.

The club’s most recent successful representatives are Katie Whelan and Aoife Wafer. Both Katie and Aoife are part of the Ireland W7s (women’s 7-a-side) squad, which is an incredible achievement. Katie was lucky to be chosen to travel to the recent W7s tournament in Elche in Spain. Katie represented herself and the club incredibly well scoring a try in her first tournament. There are two more W7s tournaments in the next few weeks and both girls have a fantastic chance of making the team for them.

Katie began at minis in Enniscorthy and played with the boys for a while. At U15 a girls’ youth team was set up and Katie was an integral part of it. In that season that team of girls went on to win the 2nd division Leinster League by winning twelve straight matches.

Aoife joined Enniscorthy in the 2018-19 season at U16 coming from Gorey where she had been playing rugby since minis. It was in that season the girls won their first Leinster Premier League title together.

Congratulations to both girls on all their achievement and for flying the flag proudly for Enniscorthy Rugby Club. n

Flying the flag for Co. Wexford

The Monageer Boolavogue Under-15 camogie team which took part in celebratory events to commemorate the 50th anniversary of John West Féile at Croke Park over the Halloween Bank Holiday weekend. Pic: Fintan Clarke.

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Camán Everybody!

Piercestown National School was delighted to welcome some very special guests on 20th October for the official launch of Camán Everybody – a programme aimed at introducing the fundamental skills of hurling from a young age.

‘Camán Everybody’ at Piercestown School: Reuben Lawlor.

Among those present were Chairperson of Coiste na nÓg, Mick O’Connell, John O’Connor, Coaching Officer, Séamus Casey, Games Promotion Officer and Willie Clancy who made the hurls.

Séamus will be in the school every Tuesday putting his hurling skills to the best use with the boys and girls there.

School Principal Laura Walsh also extended a warm welcome to Vanessa and Becky, members of the Kirby Family, who are generously making an annual donation towards the cost of the hurls for the programme. This very kind gesture is to honour the memory of Vanessa’s brother, Michael Kirby, who was a past pupil of the school and an avid hurler. No doubt the generosity of the Kirby family will lead to many boys and girls growing up to share the same passion for our national game as Michael did.

were delighted to be chosen and proudly received their hurls presented to them by Vanessa and Becky.

Two pods of children, one from Junior Infants and one from Senior Infants, were invited up to the socially-distant gathering in the PE hall, to receive their hurls on behalf of their classes. The children

The school is fortunate to have a wonderful relationship with the local GAA club, St. Martin’s, and thanks all involved in the club in bringing this latest initiative to the school. n

Maggie Connors at Piercestown National School.

‘Camán Everybody’ at Piercestown School. Junior and Senior Infants classes. L-R: Mick O'Connell (Chairman Coiste na nÓg), Becky Lynch, Vanessa Kirby, John O’Connor (coaching officer St. Martin's), Willie Cleary (hurley maker), Séamus Casey (Games Promotion Officer), Laura Walsh (school Principal).

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Enjoying the day out at Wexford Races were Mark Gurhy and Gerry Reville.

A Day at th

Wexford Sunday, 24th O

Above left: Enjoying the day out at Wexf were Marion O’Brien an

Above right: Enjoying the races we Left: Chris Rossiter, Jayanne Richardso

Right: Peter O’Loughlan, Eileen Cardiff, P Below left: Pam Dooley and

Below centre: Enjoying the day at Wexford Rac and Martina R

Below right: Gemma Gainford, Colin G

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SlaNey Sport

Enjoying the races were Sam Shaw and Ivana de Lange.

he Races

Races October, 2021

ford Races, Sunday, 24th October, nd Nancy Cullen.

ere Lydia and Maria Laverty.

n, Fionnuala and Tim Desmond.

Paddy Rossiter and James Reeves.

Fionnuala Desmond.

ces were Aine Reddin, Stephen Houlihan Reddin.

Gainford and Scarlette Darricott.

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Rapparees/Starlights Club Update

Above: U-14 and U-16 Rapparees camogie teams with club and county hurlers Kevin Foley (left) and Liam Ryan (right).

Below right and on opposite page: U-13s won the county hurling and football double.

Bottom left: Senior football action against St James. Bottom right: U-14 camogie team after winning the county final. All pics: Maria Nolan.

Another very successful month at Bellefield despite the fact that our Senior Footballers exited from the Championship at the quarter final stage losing to Bunclody by a single point after two excellent performances beating both St. Annes and St. James in the preliminary rounds, the dreams of the double vanished at Wexford Park on 31st October, but we are hugely proud of these players who have given us both Senior titles, Hurling and Football, in the space of a year.

It’s a major achievement for many of these players to now hold senior hurling and football county medals and we wish them every success and good wish as they go on to represent the county in the Club Hurling Championship later this month playing the Laois Champions (not decided yet) on 28th November.

Our underage section, both male and female, have had a tremendous year with many of our teams reaching County Finals and well done to our U-13 boys who achieved the double winning

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both hurling and football titles, our U-14 camogie team who won their county title beating the Duffry in a very tough encounter in miserable conditions at Oylegate on 31st October.

And what about our Junior Ladies footballers reaching the county final in their first year in the division (see photo on page 24) – what an achievement for these girls demonstrating all the hard work and commitment put in by both players and mentors. With the experience gained this year, I have no doubt that they will be back in the final next year and success will be theirs.

Thank you to all who participated or sponsored our Walk for Wexford. We are very grateful and very glad to report that €1,000 was collected for St. Gabriel’s Ward, Wexford Hospital.

Don’t forget our weekly lotto and bingo and please continue to watch our Facebook page for details of all upcoming fixtures and events.

– Maria Nolan PRO n

SlaNey Sport Rapparees U-13s won the county hurling and football double.

Pic: Maria Nolan.

Texaco sport funding

SECOND TEXACO ‘SUPPORT FOR SPORT’ FUNDING INITIATIVE OPENS FOR WEXFORD ENTRIES

Valero Energy (Ireland) Limited – the

winner to receive a €5,000 award was Kil-

company that markets fuel in Ireland

more United FC who applied under the

under the Texaco brand – has announced

scheme for funding to ‘carry out further

that its Texaco Support for Sport initiat-

development of its Abbie Troy Park

ive will be held again this year.

grounds’.

Open to sports clubs across the 26

Launching the scheme this year, James

counties, irrespective of sporting disci-

Twohig, Director of Ireland Operations,

pline, size, membership, age, cultural ap-

Valero Energy (Ireland) Limited, said: “At

peal or gender – including clubs that may

a time when many sports clubs have had

have made an unsuccessful application

to weather difficulties and limitations of

previously – the initiative sees a fund of

one kind or another, the Texaco Support

€130,000 being set aside for distribution

for Sport initiative opens up an avenue to

to sports clubs on a county-by-county

funding for those that need it most.”

basis.

Last year, the successful County Wexford

Leading the adjudication process once again is Texaco Support for Sport ambas-

sador, acclaimed broadcaster and former Irish rugby international, Donncha O’Callaghan.

Information and rules governing the operation of the scheme can be viewed online at www.TexacoSupportforSport.com, the most important requirement being that applicant clubs be properly constituted and hold a valid Games & Sports Number (GS Number) issued by the Office of the Revenue Commissioners and featured on a recent list published by them on 30th June 2021.

Open for applications from now until 31 December 2021, adjudication will take place in January 2022. n

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Wexford’s art scene

Wexford Festival Opera art exhibition opening on 15th October in Colman Doyle’s, South Main Street, featuring local artists Jeanne Ffrench and John Holden.

Right: Artist Jeanne Ffrench, Cllr George Lawlor who opened the exhibition, photographer John Holden and Phil Roche.

Left: Jeanne Ffrench with husband Jimmy.

Tony reaches the Sky Rosslare based artist Tony Robinson, who jointly runs Spectrum Art & Framing in Wexford town, had the honour of appearing recently on Sky Arts ‘Portrait Artist of the Year’ programme. The show brings artists together from around the world to paint a portrait of a famous celebrity.

Louise Harpur and Rita Kinsella supporting local artists Jeanne Ffrench and John Holden.

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Tony is originally from Newcastle in England, and is a founder of Wexford’s Art in the Open festival. n

Tony Robinson

Book launch celebrating 70 years of Wexford Festival Opera

Launch of ‘The History of Wexford Festival Opera 19512021’ by author Karina Daly in the Jerome Hynes Theatre, Wexford, 29th October 2021.

Above: Some of the audience.

Left: Author Colm Tóibín who launched the book with its author Karina Daly.

Right: Mick and Irene Daly, with their daughter and book author Karina Daly and her husband Cllr John Hegarty.

Above left: Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy (Cathaoirleach, Wexford County Council), Berna Rackard and Helen O’Connell. Above centre: Donagh and Helen Wylde. Above right: Lucy Moore and husband Cllr Jim Moore. Below left: With their mother’s book, Abigail, Tara and Eli, and with their father Cllr John Hegarty. Below centre: Jean Gould and Irene Daly. Bottom right: Paddy McKiernan and daughter Eileen McKiernan.

3rd November 2021 - Page 99

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Emma emerges as winner Wexford County Council Arts Department and Wexford Arts Centre in partnership with IT Carlow Wexford Campus School of Art and Design are pleased to announce Emma Roche as the recipient of the EMERGENCE Visual Art Award 2021.

The award’s aim is to support visual artists with the development and promotion of their practice. Presented biannually, the award has a monetary value of €15,000 and includes mentorship support over the award cycle to the value of €2,000 and a solo exhibition at Wexford Arts Centre in September 2023. In addition, the artist has the opportunity to engage with IT Carlow Wexford Campus School of Art & Design and avail of practical resources for a period.

Emma Roche’s works shift between the figurative and abstract combining the methodologies of knitting or tapestry with paint to create layered and textured works. The artist explores ideas related to day-jobs, waged and unwaged work, pregnancy and motherhood. Enquiries into labour and employment, and our attitude toward them are present in the knitted paintings which are made with long lines of dried paint and used like

Emma Roche: Recipient of the EMERGENCE Visual Art Award 2021.

wool or thread. Ideas concerning how we structure and organise time are highlighted through these painted forms as the labour involved in their production is apparent.

For the EMERGENCE Award, Emma will produce a new body of large-scale knitted paintings and works on rug canvas. Considering domestic and occupational interruptions as a starting point, she intends to highlight everyday occurrences that take time away from studio practice. The artist will also work collab-

oratively with students of IT Carlow Wexford Campus of Art & Design on a series of experimental painting workshops with a focus on ‘everyday events’.

Emma Roche lives and works in Wexford. She is a recipient of the Visual Arts, Arts Council Bursary Award, 2021 and 2020, Creative Ireland Bursary Award, 2020 and is shortlisted for the Zurich Portrait Prize, National Gallery, Dublin, 2021.

For further information on Emma Roche and the EMERGENCE Award please log on to www.emergenceaward.ie n

L-R: Emma Roche’s ‘Splain it to me Slowly’, 2021, permanent marker, acrylic and oil paint on cotton over board, 25 x 20cm, and ‘Unqualified’, 2021, acrylic on rug canvas, 26 x 37cm.

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The art of food production Maria McKinney is an artist based in Dublin. She works in sculpture, photography and film that primarily investigates agricultural practices and the science that informs various methods of food production. She is interested in the underlying complexities experienced by all those connected with the land and farms as sites where these practices take place.

For this new body of work, commissioned by Wexford County Council for the M11 Per Cent for Art Scheme, McKinney shows a series of new sculptures inspired by agrarian practices and pastoral traditions of six farms currently operating in the Wexford countryside. The artist visited the farms and listened to how certain practices, histories and stories have led to particular modes of food production in these townlands.

All the sculptures in Totem Yokes are accompanied by photographs of the artist wearing the work on the farms that served as inspiration. This playful engagement is rooted in the serious underlying connections between a wide variety of influences on food production and consumption that literally gets under your skin. n

Art exhibition launch last month of ‘Totem Yokes’ at Wexford County Council HQ at Carricklawn. Artist Maria McKinney (right) shows one of her exhibits to an audience which includes Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy, Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council. The exhibition runs until 3rd December.

3rd November 2021 - Page 101

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with Mar ia Nolan

Book Review: Spike by Mary Cotter My good friend Mary Cotter recently released her debut novel, Spike.

The central character, Ailbe Fennessy, aka Spike, is a young adolescent male, back in 1969 Ireland, who feels that he must leave his small hometown, and travel far away from family and friends to really find himself.

Spike is suffering a bit from a bout of small townitis and feels that he may be in danger of being smothered alive if he doesn’t get out, and Dublin doesn’t quite make the cut for him as it does for many of his friends and schoolmates.

So instead of sitting his Leaving Cert, he heads for the bright lights of London, much to the consternation of his mother who follows him in a futile attempt to bring him home.

Mary Cotter

With no qualifications and little prospects apart from an Uncle Larry who can give him accommodation and fix him up with a job on the buildings, Spike soon finds that everyday life in London can be as mundane and hum drum as everyday in a small town.

Then, due to the sudden death of his friend’s mother, he returns home to provide support and comfort to the family.

Will he remain at home, has the travel bug left his system, what are the lessons that life in the grown-up lane have already taught him?

Spike’s coming of age is told very sensitively and sympathetically by Mary Cotter who has a lovely seanachai flavour to her writing, making it both easy to read and reminiscent of a time not long past in actual years but so outdated and archaic in technological eons that it may as well be the dark ages as far as today’s youth are concerned.

It is extremely important that writers like Mary are recording the times that they have lived through, or heard about from their parents, which are fast becoming historical fiction.

Mary Cotter writes as she speaks, and when she reads from her own work it really breathes life into it. I have been a fan of her short stories and poetry for several years and am delighted that her writing has now expanded to include the novel.

Spike is available locally at Easons, Enniscorthy, and on Amazon, and is well worth the read especially for those of us of a certain vintage for whom it will evoke many nostalgic memories.

– Maria Nolan

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SlaNey artS

National tour of Skin Deep by visual artist Mary-Ruth Walsh.

Commissioned by Wexford Arts Centre.

Runs 18 October – 4 December 2021 in Wexford Arts Centre, Cornmarket, Wexford Town.

Gallery Hours: Mon – Fri 10am-5pm, Saturday 12pm-4pm.

Wexford Arts Centre is excited to present Skin Deep, a national touring exhibition by artist Mary Ruth Walsh.

Through collage, film and sculpture/installation, Walsh extends her interest in architecture and explores skin as substance and metaphor. n

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SlaNey SlaNey NewS ad SlaNeySlaNey hiStory SNapS & heritage

On the streets where you live Enniscorthy Historical Re-enactment Society are delighted to join Historianin-Residence with Wexford Libraries, Barry Lacey, on the streets of Enniscorthy, Bunclody, Wexford, New Ross, and Gorey for a series of War of Independence and Civil War Walking Tours, part of the Library Commemoration Project funded by Wexford County Council.

The innovative programme offers fabulous tours in our beautiful towns, delivered succinctly by Barry, providing a most informative and interesting insight into how it was on the ground in Wexford from 1919 to 1922.

It’s very special seeing things and places that you pass by every day in a new light.

Walking from one iconic site to the next, with Barry stopping to relay the historic significance and point out bullet holes at Enniscorthy Castle and directly across the road from the Courthouse, which housed the notorious Devonshire Regiment, who carried out atrocities and multiple humiliations on prisoners incarcerated there during the War of Independence.

Barry spoke of the killing of Fredrick Newsome and James Morrissey, both of John Street, Enniscorthy, both served with the British in WWI and suspected by the IRA of leaking information to the

Pat’s new book Best wishes to Pat Doran with his new book, Enniscorthy The Forgotten Republic – a fascinating insight into the part played by the people of Enniscorthy in the 1916 Rising locally and nationally. A must-read for anyone in town with links to the rebels of 1916, and anyone with an interest in local history. It’s available to buy now at Delaney’s newsagents, Rafter St, Enniscorthy.

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authorities. Both men were shot dead, Newsome at Slaney Place in 1920 and Morrissey, who was a postman at the time, with access to correspondence in and out of town, whose body was found in a ditch at Coolnahorna on 25th May 1921. Both men are buried in close proximity to each other at the Corrig graveyard, just outside of town.

Barry told of ambushes, train raids, attacks on the Castle, Rafter Hall, the RIC Barracks, and the Income Tax Office as Enniscorthy played its part in the struggle for Irish freedom.

The Walking Tours take place on Saturday mornings at 10.30am and are completely free. On the second tour, in Enniscorthy, Barry concentrated on the most tragic period of our history – the Civil War, and as approximately thirty people walked the very streets where brave men perished on both sides of the Treaty divide, Barry told of Peter and Thomas Doyle, Free State soldiers shot and killed on Cathedral Street coming from Mass, along with four civilians coming out of the Cathedral and caught in the crossfire – one a Ms. Leacy from Castle Hill who had to have her leg amputated afterwards, and Patrick O’Brien and Maurice Spillane, Anti Treaty irregulars shot and killed at Enniscorthy Post

Enniscorthy Historical Re-enactment Society members taking part in the historical walk.

Office, and a Thomas Doyle from Belfast who was shot and killed near Letts Brewery.

Chair of Wexford County Council, Barbara-Anne Murphy, complimented Barry on his wealth of knowledge and excellent delivery, saying that walking the streets where it all happened made everything very real along with Enniscorthy Re-enactors dressed as RIC, Free State soldiers and Flying Column who brought it all to life.

We heard the stories, we walked in their footsteps, and we checked out the bullet holes, it doesn’t get much more real than that.

This is a most excellent initiative by Wexford Libraries as Barry Lacey brings our past to life, warts and all.

Walking Tours are by far the best way to acquaint oneself with the history of a town and should be part of our Tourism Programme for the town going forward.

Next Saturday’s Walking Tour is in Wexford town, meeting at Wexford Library at 10.30am. Duration 1 hour. No fee. Prebook: 053 9196760.

Join us to remember that which we should never forget.

– Words and pics by Maria Nolan

SlaNey hiStory & heritage SlaNey adS

On the streets...

Historian-in-Residence with Wexford Libraries, Barry Lacey (in yellow hi-vis jacket and peak cap) leading a historical walking tour of Enniscorthy, joined by Enniscorthy Historical Re-enactment Society.

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SlaNeySlaNey hiStory SlaNeyNewS ad & heritage

Enniscorthy Historical Re-e in new Kildare film and S Enniscorthy Historical Re-enactment Society at the Saltmills Commemoration on 10th October 2021.

Pic: Maria Nolan.

On the set of the film ‘Kildare’s War of Independence’

War of Independence Film Members of Enniscorthy Historical Re-enactment Society were delighted to be asked to join with Monasterevin Re-enactment Group Lord Edwards Own to re-create a War of Independence train ambush at Stacumny outside Celbridge for a film production by Joe Murphy, titled Kildare’s War of Independence, funded by Kildare County Council.

In July 1921, substantial numbers of British soldiers were drafted into Ire-

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land to provide security for the opening of the Parliament in Belfast by King George V, many of them were stationed on the Curragh.

deemed an ideal location for an ambush, as the Eastern Division IRA was appointed in overall command of the operation.

Through his extensive intelligence network, Michael Collins got word of the movement of troops, the route and time of their return journey back to the Curragh. Troops were returning to the South in four separate trains and plans were immediately executed to derail the trains in four different locations.

In the dead of night, under cover of darkness, 100 men armed with Lee Enfield rifles made their way to Stacumny.

Nine hundred and fifty men would pass over the narrow bridge at Young’s Cross near Stacumny which was

However, as the troop train approached, a British army lorry on patrol surprised the IRA squad and shots were exchanged, at the same time two spotter planes alerted the train driver to the danger ahead and he managed to stop the train short of the minefield laid on the tracks ahead.

SlaNey hiStory SlaNey adS & heritage

enactment Society feature Saltmills commemoration

On the set of the film ‘Kildare’s War of Independence’

Unveiling of Commemoration Plaque at St. Kearns At twenty minutes past ten on the evening of 12th October 1920, the greatest loss of life in the Wexford War of Independence occurred when five men were killed and nine injured in an explosion at St. Kearns, Saltmills.

The site of the explosion was a secret bomb-making factory in a disused farmhouse in a most picturesque and peaceful part of Saltmills, where fourteen members of

G Company, 2nd Battalion of South Wexford IRA, were making explosives from a supply of dynamite that had been stolen from Hook Head Lighthouse.

On Sunday 10th October 2021, Enniscorthy Historical Re-enactment Society joined with local representatives and members of the local community of St. Kearns to commemorate the contribution these men made to the cause of Irish freedom.

The large gathering heard organising committee chairman, Michael Whelan, introduce speakers Pat Bardon,

Chair of New Ross Municipal District, Barbara-Anne Murphy, Chair of Wexford County Council, and Minister James Browne, each paying tribute to the men of St. Kearns and acknowledging the sacrifice that they and their families made in Ireland’s struggle for independence.

The Enniscorthy group, in flying column apparel, formed a guard of honour at the monument for the duration of the dignified and solemn ceremony.

– Maria Nolan

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SlaNey hiStoryt SlaNey ad & heritage

New Releases from Wexford Public Libraries

Liz Gillis

Wexford Public Libraries are pleased to have two online offerings in relation to the revolutionary period (1912-1923) available now. The presentations are on “Cumann na mBan in Co. Wexford and the effects of conflict on women and children in the County” and “The Railways and County Wexford’s revolutionary period”. Both are available on Wexford Public Libraries social media platforms – Facebook and YouTube.

“Cumann na mBan in Co. Wexford and the effects of conflict on women and children in the County” by Liz Gillis.

Wexford Libraries asked Liz Gillis to give a glimpse of the experiences of women and children in County Wexford during the revolutionary period. Liz is a historian and author of “Women of the Irish Revolution”

Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council, Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy.

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which tells the story of the role that women played both directly and indirectly in the Irish revolution. She is currently Historian-in-residence at South Dublin Libraries.

“The Railways and County Wexford’s revolutionary period” by Barry Lacey, Historian-in-residence at Wexford Libraries.

As part of Heritage Week 2021, Barry delivered this talk in-person at Wexford and New Ross library branches. He has now created an online version. Barry has a Higher Diploma in Archaeology and a Masters in Archaeological Excavation. He has a keen interest in the War of Independence in County Wexford and has already created a website dedicated to this research. He was appointed Historian-in-residence for Wexford Libraries in June 2021.

Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council, Barbara-Anne Murphy says, “Wexford County Council’s Decade of Centenaries programme aims to increase awareness of the events of one hundred years ago in County Wexford. I welcome in particular the research by historian Liz Gillis which highlights the impact that revolution and conflict had on women in County Wexford.

I encourage everyone to view the talks online.”

These presentations were funded by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media under the Decade of Centenaries 2012-2023 initiative.

For further information, contact the Local Studies Librarian, Caroline Barry, at 053 919 6330 or libraryhq@wexfordcoco.ie n

Cumann na mBan: “I welcome in particular the research by historian Liz Gillis which highlights the impact that revolution and conflict had on women in County Wexford.” – Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy.

SlaNey eNviroNmeNt Irish Water, Wexford County Council and local contributors outline the benefits of new wastewater treatment in video campaign.

Lorraine Waters, Manager of Hook Lighthouse and Heritage Centre

Irish Water has produced a series of new videos to outline the benefits and progress being made to eliminate raw sewage discharged into our waterways in locations across the country. The first video focuses on Wexford and as the drone footage rolls across the estuary of the three sisters: the Barrow, Nore and Suir, the unmistakable beauty of the area is immediately clear for all to see.

Thousands have flocked to the beautiful village of Arthurstown in the townland of Coleman in south Wexford for many decades and its neighbouring Duncannon and Ballyhack are also popular seaside destinations, but there was always one problem. Poorly-treated sewage was being discharged into the sea for decades, blemishing the inimitable beauty of these amazing coastal gems.

But that is soon set to change with a new wastewater treatment plant being built in Arthurstown that will cater for all three settlements.

Lorraine Waters is the Manager of the Hook Lighthouse and Heritage Centre and is one of the local contributors in the video: “There are 19 local beaches in a ten-mile radius here. It’s absolutely incredible. And that’s why we were so excited when we heard that this new wastewater treatment plant was in the pipeline... At the end of the day, it’s why people are coming down here, that

Ferry leaving Barrow, Nore, Suir Estuary.

Seeing the benefits of wastewater treatment wide open space. It’s that beautiful clear water.”

Caroline Helfer of Hooked Kitesurfing is passionate about water sports: “I think it’s a great thing they are doing and it’s important, especially for such a small country that’s very very much focused on water activity and surrounded by it [water]. Water quality is very important for everybody. Our kiting lessons are in the water, so our students end up fully submerged in the water, so when there’s a problem, we have to warn the students that there is a health risk attached to them doing the activity at the time. If there was a Blue Flag beach here, it would bring in additional tourism activity. It would probably bring in additional businesses to the area. From a revenue point of view, tourism itself, for the economy, it would make a huge impact.”

The new wastewater treatment plant will have the capacity to cater for a population equivalent of nearly 2,000 people and will protect the integrity of the environment.

And there was more good news for Wexford too with a contract due to be signed shortly for a Wastewater Treatment Plant at Kilmore Quay with works set to begin in early 2022. That project is due for completion in 2023.

Across the bay in Dunmore East and all along the Waterford coastline, the prac-

tice of discharging raw sewage into the waterways has been eliminated since 2017. The investment of €24 million there delivered seven new wastewater treatment plants in towns and villages including Ardmore, Ballyduff/Kilmeadan, Cappoquin, Dunmore East, Kilmacthomas, Stradbally and Tallow.

Sixty percent of the raw sewage entering waterways in Ireland has now been eliminated, with 17 locations complete, and a plan to remove the remainder in the years to come. Irish Water is progressing plans to remove the rest by prioritising the areas where it can make the biggest impacts first. This year it is working on at least 14 locations across the country, with 8 more starting in 2022. Irish Water says, “We are on track to removing the majority of raw sewage discharges by the end of 2025. The size and scale of this work is significant, with an estimated €650million investment.”

Irish Water is responsible for the delivery of all public water and wastewater services in Ireland and says, “We are committed to continuously upgrading and developing critical infrastructure to support the growth needed in housing and across our economy, while protecting the environment and safeguarding water supplies.”

View the Wexford video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynsb D70zQws n

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SlaNey SlaNey eNviroNmeNt ad

Becoming eco-conscious Currys PC World conducted a survey last month to find out how Irish people recycle their old products as its Go Greener campaign continues to educate consumers about the importance of helping our planet with the choices we make.

Some key results: 95% of people think it is important to recycle electronic items.

80% of people understand what product energy ratings mean.

95% of Irish people say they recycle or donate their old tech appliances.

79% will consider water conservation when choosing a product that uses water.

98% would recycle e-waste more if there were more collection points.

Jaimie Cantwell, Head of Commercial at Currys PC World Ireland, said, “We’re all looking for ways to go greener and at Currys PC World through our Go Greener campaign... Go Greener showcases how to cut out waste, save water, save energy… and even save money too!”

The survey has shown that Irish people are a lot more eco-conscious than we give ourselves credit for! When choosing home appliances, 85% said they choose with the environment in mind.

When it comes to purchasing electronic products, 36% of people buy between 0 and 2 products per year, 37% buy between 3 and 5 products, and 27% of people buy 6+ electronic products per year.

44% of Irish people have recycled an old appliance in the last 12 months in order to help the planet and environment. 98% of people said they would recycle e-waste

more if there were more e-waste recycling collection points.

recycle were phones, laptops and PCs, and electric toothbrushes.

With 80% of Irish people saying that they understand what product energy ratings mean, only 6% of people said that they let the energy rating of an appliance influence their purchasing decision, and 8% have paid more for an appliance because it had a better energy rating. 37% said they do make a conscious decision to purchase an appliance because it is deemed to be environmentally friendly.

Up to 1.4kg of e-waste per person ends up in the mixed waste bin in Europe, and is most likely to be incinerated or sent to landfill.

The survey also asked people that didn’t recycle old tech to explain why. 9% said they didn’t know how to, 28% said they liked to store it and keep it ‘just in case’, 29% said it takes too much time and 19% of people said they would be worried about their private data. The most popular items that people said they would not

Heat pump tumble dryers - Want great drying results using less electricity? Heat Pump Technology is gentler on your clothes than traditional condenser or vented tumble dryers and won’t cost the earth to run.

Ministerial visit to Enniscorthy wastewater treatment plant Minister Peter Burke TD visiting Enniscorthy Wastewater Treatment plant on 22nd October with Paul Kehoe TD, Kieran Fay from Irish Water and Minister James Browne TD in the background.

Pic: Mary Browne.

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Key features to look out for when purchasing new products: Eco wash cycles - Keeps the temperature down for a more eco-friendly wash in your washing machine or dishwasher.

Energy efficient appliances - Save on your electricity bills and help the environment with energy efficient tech. n

SlaNey eNviroNmeNt

Ministerial visit to Clohamon Junior Minister Malcolm Noonan TD (in baseball cap) visited Clohamon on 8th October with Minister James Browne TD, Paul Kehoe TD, Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy, and members of the Slaney River Trust (SRT). Minister Noonan was brought up to speed on the current SRT tailrace project. The Minister expressed a genuine desire to finally bring an end to the environmental disasters at Clohamon. The SRT very much welcomes the visit and looks forward to working with the Minister and his department as the project continues to develop.

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SlaNey SlaNey eNviroNmeNt ad

When in doubt, don’t throw it out!

Takeback boxes now available in all 36 Penneys Irish stores, accepting clothes, footwear, bags and textiles from any brand, in any condition, to be resold, recycled or re-imagined.

Penneys has launched a new clothes takeback scheme across its 36 Irish stores which aims to encourage customers to recycle pre-loved clothes responsibly as new research shows 79% are more likely to donate pre-loved clothes if they could bring them to a store.

New research published by Penneys, conducted by RED C Research & Marketing, also highlights Irish consumers are still unsure about the do’s and don’ts of recycling, with almost a quarter (23%) unaware that clothing and footwear can be recycled at all. In addition, over half (51%) admitted they throw out old clothes that can’t be re-worn, while 91% of people said they do recycle clothing and footwear that can be re-worn.

The Penneys Textile Takeback scheme accepts clothing, footwear, bags and even some textiles such as towels and bedsheets, from any brand in any condition via the new collection boxes in stores. These are then collected, sorted and either re-used, recycled or repurposed.

The research showed that consumers have good intentions when it comes to donating and recycling clothing and footwear; of those who said they do recycle or donate clothing, over half (56%) believe they are helping others, 55% believe that it is good for the environment, 63% of people do it as part of spring cleaning, or to clear out items they don’t wear anymore (51%).

Damien O’Neill, Head of Sales at Penneys, said: “We’ve recently launched our bold new ambition to become a circular and more sustainable business: making it easier for customers to donate or recycle their pre-loved clothes is an important part of this. We want to help educate our customers and bring them on this journey and part of this is understanding what they think today about recycling old clothes. While it was very encouraging to see how many people already donate their pre-loved clothes and footwear, we’ve learned that there is still more to do to help educate customers about what can be recycled and where.

“Our new scheme in Penneys is part of our goal to help people make more sustainable choices and to recycle or donate with convenience. Reducing fashion waste, alongside our commitment that all our clothes will be made from recycled or more sustainably sourced materials by 2030 and how we are working to give our clothes a longer life are all important parts of how we are becoming a more circular business.”

The scheme also launched in Germany and Austria and follows its successful launch in the UK. Penneys has also taken

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care in selecting a responsible recycling partner: once again working with Yellow Octopus, a leading recycling specialist, which operates its UK scheme. It has a ‘no landfill’ policy across the 21 countries it operates in, diverting around one million garments from landfill every month. It aims for as many donations as possible to be worn again, with the remainder being repurposed into new products such as insulation, toy stuffing and mattress fillers.

The Textile Takeback scheme follows the launch of the retailer’s new sustainability strategy “Primark Cares” last month as the business outlined its commitments to becoming a more sustainable and circular business. As part of this, Primark will be improving the durability of its own products and as a signatory of Textiles 2030, will be working with sustainability charity WRAP and other retailers to develop new clothing durability guidelines to collectively move the fashion industry towards a more circular economy and in turn reduce fashion waste.

All profits from the scheme will go to UNICEF, one of Primark’s global charity partners.

To find out more about how Primark is becoming a more sustainable and circular business and to find out more on how to give clothes a longer life visit: www.primark.com/howchangelooks n

SlaNey eNviroNmeNt

Dereliction in Enniscorthy Foley’s Garage at Spring Valley: “What an appalling sight”.

Seán Doyle, Secretary/Treasurer, Enniscorthy Tidy Town Association, has written to us about dereliction in the town...

has been ignored by authorities for far too long. Seeing the presence of derelict houses when there is a very serious housing shortage in the country is a scandal.

Recently I was passing down by a structure known as Foley’s Garage (at Spring Valley); what an appalling sight, and I said to myself, ‘I’m sure we will have serious difficulty in reaching the top in the Tidy Town stakes with such eyesores openly visible to all and sundry.’ Derelict sites are defined as structures or land that ‘detract or are likely to detract, to a material degree from the amenity, character or appearance’ of a neighbourhood.

It could be argued that dereliction doesn’t make the impact on our consciousness that it should as many of these buildings have been derelict for so long that they have become part of the townscape.

I’m afraid we have too many such sites in Enniscorthy. Each local authority is obliged to keep a register of the location, owner and value of such sites – and details of any action the council has taken, in terms of site notices or demands against the owners.

Some of our councils take a far more robust approach than others. They can prosecute owners who do not comply with notices served. Once on the register, the site can be acquired – compulsorily or by agreement – by the local authority, which is also empowered to levy a charge on derelict sites.

The existence of derelict sites in our town, and indeed in most other towns,

The government must be more active to ensure that there is uniformity of action by local authorities throughout the country in enforcing the laws that exist and seriously address the issue of der-

eliction. You cannot have Tidy Town Committees, Council Outdoor Staff and Local Volunteers ‘bursting their gut’ in their efforts to keep our towns tidy and clean and leave our derelict buildings as they are which will thwart their best labours.

The government must insist that the local authorities must get serious about dereliction and set up a ring-fenced fund to assist the local authority to acquire derelict property. The problem has been ignored for far too long. Less talk at meetings and more action is required!

– Sean Doyle

At the October meeting of Enniscorthy Municipal District (EMD), Tom Banville, Wexford County Council’s Senior Executive Officer in Planning, provided details of eight properties which are on the Enniscorthy Derelict Sites list. These include the Rocks Factory (formerly Breens carriage factory) at Templeshannon, Spring Valley Nursing Home, Coogan’s Bar on Shannon Quay, the former Murphy Floods site, Kickham’s House on Irish Street, and The Old House pub, Templeshannon. The Council is looking at acquiring some of these, and indeed has already acquired Kickham’s House. In relation to the Murphy Floods site, Mr Banville reported that the “Property Mangement Department is in negotiations to acquire the property.”

In addition, he provided details of other properties which are in the process of being placed on the register, others which are being worked on by their owners to avoid being placed on the register, others whose owners are engaging with the Council, and two properties on which works were carried out by owners following the initiation of proceedings by the Council and whose files are now closed.

If any reader is aware of a derelict property not on the list above, you can bring the matter to the attention of one of the EMD Councillors who will follow it up with Wexford County Council.

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