Slaney News Issue 143 April 2022
ServiNg Co. wexford for the laSt 11 yearS
For more ‘Hope & Dream 10’ photos, go to page 72 inside.
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Contents of this issue of Slaney News... News Food & Drink Business & Finance Pets Motoring Leisure & Lifestyle Arts Sport History & Heritage Environment
page 4 page 64 page 74 page 79 page 80 page 83 page 104 page 111 page 120 page 128
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.
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comment Welcome to the April issue of the online-only Slaney News. Spring is very much in the air and it’s great to see a lot of Enniscorthy’s town centre getting a good makeover. Work on Slaney Street is almost complete and work in the Templeshannon area has made a huge visual difference to that often neglected part of town (see pages 14 and 15). A number of public consultations have taken place in recent months aimed at regenerating Enniscorthy’s town centre and a new architect now in private practice in town, Niall Byrne, has a lot of ideas on how regeneration could be achieved. He spoke to us at some length in recent days and we include an interesting piece on page 16. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Easter is almost upon us and on Easter Monday, 18th April, there will be celebration of Mass in the Cathedral at 10am, followed by a procession to the Market Square where the Chairman of Enniscorthy Municipal District Cllr. Cathal Byrne will lay a wreath. Sinn Féin will also be holding its Easter commemorations in Wexford town (Crescent Quay) at 12 noon on Easter Sunday and in Enniscorthy (assemble at Rafter Bridge) on Easter Monday at 2pm. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– In this issue you’ll notice a huge increase in our Leisure / Lifestyle / Arts sections (now almost 30 pages) reflecting the large number of live shows, music, arts events etc taking place over the next few weeks. Many venues suffered enormously during the worst of the Covid crisis so now is our chance to support these venues to ensure their future survival. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Check out our Enniscorthy Flood Defence Scheme updates on pages 18-19 and page 35. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 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. Telephone: 087-2403310, slaneynews@gmail.com or message us through our Facebook page, ‘Slaney News’, which now has around 8,500 Likes. And, of course, if you like our new online format please spread the word so we can grow our online readership. Thank you. – Frank Corcoran
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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.
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Enniscorthy dates for your diary Easter Monday 18th April 2022. Celebration of Mass in the Cathedral at 10am, followed by a procession to the Market Square where the Chairman of Enniscorthy Municipal District Cllr. Cathal Byrne will lay a wreath. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Wexford Literary Festival 1st – 3rd July 2022. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Rockin’ Fruit & Food Festival 29th July – 1st August 2022. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Blackstairs Blues Festival 9th – 11th September 2022. n
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GREAT NEWS FOR WEXFORD GENERAL HOSPITAL Local TD and Minister of State for Law Reform James Browne has confirmed plans related to the construction of a MRI scanner and 96-bed ward extension at Wexford General Hospital. Minister Brown says that following repeated representations from him, the HSE included the construction of a new permanent MRI scanner and a 96-bed ward extension within its 2022 Capital Plan. Welcoming the news, Minister Browne commented, “Everyone across Co. Wexford
knows the importance of the work conducted by all the healthcare workers at Wexford General Hospital. I have been raising the business case related to the permanent MRI scanner and ward extension at the highest levels of government. I’m absolutely delighted to confirm that plans for the further development of Wexford General Hospital are progressing well. “Following the recent issue of a letter of funding approval, the procurement of the new, permanent MRI scanner’s design team will take place in the second quarter of 2022. Once funding remains available and there are no planning delays, building works should be tendered in early 2023 with construction taking place before the end of 2023. “The procurement of a design team to construct a 96-bed ward extension is currently underway, with building design due to get underway in the third quarter of 2022. “The people of Co. Wexford gave their full
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Minister James Browne TD has welcomed confirmation of plans for MRI scanner and 96-bed ward extension at Wexford General Hospital.
support for the MRI fundraising campaign, which raised €250,000. I’m glad that plans for the new permanent MRI scanner and a major ward extension are well underway,” Minister Browne concluded. n
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MINISTERIAL VISIT TO ENNISCORTHY’S NEW TECH PARK
Right: Ministers James Browne and Robert Troy enjoying the stunning view from the top of the first office building at the Enniscorthy Technology Park.
Minister Robert Troy TD (centre), Minister of State with responsibility for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, with his officials, Minister James Browne TD and members of Wexford County Council’s management team on their visit to Enniscorthy’s technology park on 24th March 2022. Pic: Mary Browne.
L-R: Liz Hore (Director of Services, Wexford Co. Council), Minister James Browne TD, Minister Robert Troy TD, Tom Dempsey (foreman), Michael Bennett (building contractor), Breege Cosgrave (Acting Head of Enterprise & Economic Development, Wexford Local Enterprise Office). Pic: Mary Browne.
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Wishing Wi Wishing shing everyone a very
“Happy “Ha “Happy ppy Ea Easter” ster” Join us for our Easter Commemorations Easter Sunday: Wexford Assemble: 12pm Crescent Quay
Easter Monday: Enniscorthy Assemble: 2pm at Rafter Bridge
Johnny Mythen TD Constituency Office Slaney Place Enniscorthy Y21 T8K7 087 1142100 Johnny.Mythen@oireachtas.ie
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One hour can make a difference The Sustainable Enniscorthy group in conjunction with Enniscorthy Tidy Towns are organising a National Spring Clean Litter Pick on Easter Monday 18 April from 9.3010.30am, meeting at the Abbey Square, Enniscorthy. All are welcome to help out. Follow Sustainable Enniscorthy on Facebook for further details or contact them on enniscorthysustainabletown@gmail.com
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Civic pride i well in En In recent weeks there’s been a noticeable improvement to the fronts of many buildings in Enniscorthy town. In particular, Slaney Street has seen a major investment in the shopfronts there with many having been painted and had their windows repaired or replaced in a way sympathetic to the buildings themselves. The finishing touches are being put to that street now. Across the river, the Templeshannon area has got a major facelift also with some of the buildings there freshly painted by their owners and others freshly painted by a number of volun-
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is alive and nniscorthy teers who invested their own time and money in the project with no return to themselves other than the civic pride their selfless actions have generated. Not all of us have the time or the money needed to follow their good example, but many of us will have an hour to spare on Easter Monday morning which we can constructively use to help the Tidy Towns and Sustainable Enniscorthy groups pick litter and tidy up around the town. Volunteers are needed on that morning. Please consider joining in at the Abbey Square at 10am on Easter Monday and show your civic pride. n
5th April 2022 - Page 15
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A man with a vision Last week, as the editor of the Slaney News, I had the
ing on major architectural pro-
pleasure of sitting down with Niall Byrne, an architect with
jects in Los Angeles, Florida,
a vision, who has recently set up the NMB Architect’s prac-
New York, Shanghai, Singapore
tice in Enniscorthy.
etc as well as in many countries in
While the decision to locate in Enniscorthy is most welcome, as is his employment of five staff all from the locality, as is the fact
Europe including Holland, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Lithuania etc.
Niall Byrne MRIAI Architect
that Enniscorthy now, after many years, has its first registered
In 2018, Mr Byrne set up practice in Drinagh, Wexford, before
Architect’s practice, the main purpose of our meeting was to
moving to Enniscorthy some months ago and setting up an of-
discuss the ideas and plans for the whole town centre that Mr
fice in Templeshannon.
Byrne is working on and visualises in the future. At a time when
All types of architectural work is undertaken by his firm, ‘Niall M
there have been several recent public meetings regarding the
Byrne Architects Ltd’. The firm is already involved in residential,
‘regeneration of Enniscorthy’, Mr Byrne is developing plans to
retail, commercial and industrial projects in Enniscorthy and
align with Wexford County Council’s vision, with great oppor-
across the county. The current projects on the drawing board
tunities to be a major ‘game changer’ for the town. He de-
extend from a number of domestic extensions, new dwellings,
scribed his concept on returning quality residential spaces into
a new retail business to soon open in the town, a master plan
the town centre with a clever strategy of utilising existing and
and a concept study for a retail / residential development, to a
new developments to the rear of many of the primary streets,
AUS$650 million masterplan project in the City of Springfield,
that will result in a town centre being seamlessly muti-func-
near Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. This project is what Mr
tional between residential, retail and commercial purposes.
Byrne describes as a masterplan of a significant area in the city
But before I reveal a little bit more about those plans, I first asked Mr Byrne about his own background.
and, by utilising technology, he says, “We have been able to provide our service seamlessly to the furthest point across the globe.” This project is in the Life Science’s sector, which is a
From Rosslare Strand originally, and now living in Castlebridge,
particular expertise of Mr Byrne. This usually involves designing
Mr Byrne qualified as an architect at Oxford Brookes University
pharmaceutical campuses which, since the advent of Covid,
in Oxford, England, and at the Architectural Association School
has been a particularly busy area for Mr Byrne and his team in-
of Architecture in London, the oldest and most prestigious in-
volving projects in various parts of the world. NMBA are noted
dependent school of architecture in the UK. He commenced
as ‘Subject Matter Experts’ in the master planning and concept
work in 1995 and gained huge international experience work-
design phases for Life Science projects, supported by his
Architect Niall Byrne is incredibly enthusiastic about his recent move to Enniscorthy and is keen to put forward his ideas about how the town could be successfully regenerated. In particular, he sees the topography of the town centre as a unique quality which can be utilised to create an interesting and a visually beautiful built environment (working with the existing infrastructure), while also being aligned with Wexford County Council’s vision, the National Development Plan 2021-2030 and, most importantly, that the town is fully accessible to all. His long-term vision and blue sky thinking approach is for the re-invigoration of the town including bringing family life back into the town centre with quality residential, retail, commercial and public spaces, with a strong emphasis on pedestrianisation supported by the provision of public spaces and focal points along the primary axis, while also making the whole town centre fully accessible to all. To make the town fully functional, dedicated carparking provisions can be located in suitable locations with adjacent access to all of the activities. Mr Byrne is currently developing a number of concept de-
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sign projects in the town. He says these will align with the long-term vision being developed by Wexford County Council. Mr Byrne made very clear his support to Wexford County Council and its Planning Department who he described as being dynamic and progressive, with a focused goal to rejuvenate Enniscorthy town centre (and all regional towns in the county) as places to live, work, shop and socialise, creating vibrant town centres for many generations to come. I sighted the early concepts for one of the projects on the drawing board for the town centre by NMB Architects which contains new, high quality residential and retail units in an imaginative setting and without the destruction of any existing streetscape or individual buildings. Indeed, new vistas will be created, along with additional public open areas. As an experienced architect, Mr Byrne is confident that such projects, being backed by a major local developer, are expected to be fully commercial ventures not requiring any public investment. The Slaney News will keep our readers posted on developments in the weeks and months ahead.
– Frank Corcoran
SlaNey NewS strong knowledge of Process Engineering, which enables NMBA to develop forward thinking strategies for various multinational organisations worldwide. While major international projects remain one string to his bow, Mr Byrne is keen to remind me that the core focus for the business of NMB Architects in Enniscorthy is in the Residential, Retail, Commercial, Industrial and Tourism sectors across Wexford and the surrounding counties. “Throughout my career, I have always maintained an involvement in such projects. All aspects of residential and commercial architecture are catered for. So, all are welcome to get in touch.” Mr Byrne’s team is happy to have a free initial consultation with anyone seeking the services
Tel: 053 9233593 www.vtnenniscorthy.ie Email: windmillautos@gmail.com
of a qualified Architect. Which brings me to my question about the profession itself as I am vaguely aware of some court cases and legislation restricting the use of the word ‘Architect’.
TESTING OF ALL COMMERCIAL VEHICLES
Mr Byrne explained that the title 'Architect' is protected by Section 18 of the Building Control Act 2007. This means that only Registered Architects can use the title 'Architect'. Busi-
Vans & Jeeps
Trucks & Trailers
Buses & Ambulances
Motor caravans
Mixed fleets & other vehicle types
Tractors
TACHOGRAPH & PLATING STATION
nesses can use the word 'Architect' in their business name so
......................................................................
long as the business is under the control and management of a
ENNISCORTHY WINDSCREEN CENTRE DIRECT BILLING TO MOST INSURANCE COMPANIES
Registered Architect. The RIAI (the regulating body for architects) states that ‘the purpose of this provision of the Act is to protect the public from being deliberately misled’ . Financial institutions and legal practices usually require certifications for drawdown of payments, planning and building regulation com-
Donanore, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, Y21 X6V6 Open Monday – Friday 8.30am – 5.45pm
Call today 053 9233593
pliance matters, etc, and these can only be certified by an Architect or another profession covered within the Act and in compliance with the relevant documentation provided by the institutions. Any member of the public considering engaging the services of an Architect should, Mr Byrne advises, before making any appointment check that the person / firm are Architects. Anyone can check the register on the ‘Register of Architects’ at https://www.riai.ie/work-with-an-architect/find-an-architect
– Frank Corcoran
5th April 2022 - Page 17
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Devastating delay for Ennisco The long-awaited €50m flood defence scheme for Enniscorthy involving widening and deepening of the River Slaney channel, replacing the existing Seamus Rafter Bridge with a new pedestrian bridge, constructing a new road bridge a few hunded metres south of the existing Seamus Rafter bridge, and building glass-panelled flood walls, has been hit by a new delay after a government decision to turn down the proposal as submitted by the Office of Public Works.
For the scheme to proceed, OPW officials will now have to come up with new options to address those environmental issues identified during the assessment process.
The decision by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath TD, is based on an environmental assessment by his department’s environmental consultants, which found that the scheme would have considerable adverse impact on the environment including significant impacts to endangered and protected species such as the freshwater pearl mussel.
Noting that there has been a very significant increase in legal challenges to infrastructural projects in recent years involving their alleged non-compliance with environmental legislation, the Minister said, "It is incumbent upon me, as the authority charged with confirming these schemes, to ensure that the environmental impact is acceptable under law. Flood relief schemes are very com-
Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Michael McGrath TD has said the decision was not taken lightly. "This Government is committed to developing policy responses to mitigate the effects of climate change and to protect the health and safety of residents and the local economy," Minister McGrath said.
plex with multi-layered considerations arising from primary legislation, regulations, EU Directives and increasing case law both domestically from the High Court and Supreme Court and internationally from the European Court of Justice in this area." The Office of Public Works said it was disappointed to learn of the minister's decision to refuse the proposed Enniscorthy Flood Relief Scheme and The OPW has reiterated its commitment to delivering an effective scheme for Enniscorthy. See its statement reproduced with this article. A Special Meeting of Enniscorthy Municipal District was held in March along with the normal monthly meeting of that body. The anger and frustration of the Councillors was vented, and Larry McHale, the dedicated engineer employed locally on the project, was equally upset. Mr McHale said, ‘I don’t
The exact explanation for turning down Many people have speculated on social media and elsewhere as to the exact reason the Enniscorthy Flood Defence Scheme was turned down. So for those of you who would like to know more, here's a (tortuous!) explanation from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform... Published on 4 March 2022. Ministerial Decision on the River Slaney (Enniscorthy) Flood Relief Scheme under the Arterial Drainage Acts (as amended by the European Union (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Arterial Drainage) Regulations 2019). The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath TD, has made a decision to refuse this Scheme under Section 7E(1)(b) of the Arterial Drainage Acts (as amended by the European Union (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Arterial Drainage) Regulations 2019). In making this decision, the Minister carried out an Environmental Impact Assessment, considering the following information:
Page 18 - 5th April 2022
The Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) prepared for the OPW and Wexford County Council. The Natura Impact Statement (NIS) prepared for the OPW and Wexford County Council. Supplementary information submitted by OPW on foot of a request from my Department to the OPW for further information following initial review by the environmental consultants, CAAS. Reviews of the EIAR and NIS carried out by suitably qualified environmental consultants, CAAS, who were contracted to carry out the necessary technical work, including an analysis of the EIAR and the NIS. Information submitted in the public consultation carried out by my Department on the EIAR and NIS. Having considered this information, the Minister reached a reasoned conclusion to refuse this Scheme. In particular, the Minister noted that in their reports which he has adopted, CAAS, the Environ-
mental Consultants contracted to assist with the analysis of the environmental impact of this scheme, outlined a number of inadequacies with the EIAR, with which the Minister agrees. In respect of the significant effects of the scheme on the environment, the Minister is satisfied that: There are significant shortcomings in the biodiversity assessment in relation to impacts on habitats and species which make it uncertain if the project can comply with environmental legislation including the Wildlife Acts. This assessment also shows that the scheme would cause significant residual impacts to endangered and protected species such as the loss of range of the freshwater pearl mussel. The assessment of alternatives does not include a clear comparison of environmental effects of reasonable alternatives for major elements of the scheme which are likely to cause significant environmental effects. These alternatives include design options
SlaNey NewS
orthy’s flood defence scheme think we got a fair hearing’ believing that the Minister took on board the recommendation of one set of consultants whereas other consultants may well have given their backing to the scheme. Cllr John O’Rourke said the Council should now move forward as ‘Team Enniscorthy’ and be united rather than bickering among themselves. Another Special Meeting of the Council will be held soon to help develop a strategy to get the scheme back on track as soon as possible.
Statement by the Office of Public Works regarding the proposed Enniscorthy Flood Relief Scheme... 4th March 2022: “The Office of Public Works is disappointed to learn of the decision taken by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to refuse commencement of the proposed Enniscorthy Flood Relief Scheme. The proposed flood relief scheme is a critically required infrastructural investment in Enniscorthy town, which will serve to protect 159 homes and 167 businesses in the area from the ongoing risk of flooding – a risk that became apparent as recently as last Christmas. The Office of Public Works reiterates its commitment to delivering an effective scheme for Enniscorthy to provide this community with much-needed protection from extreme flood events. We will take time to review the reports underpinning Minister McGrath’s decision.”
Local Minister of State at the Department of Justice James Browne believes the scheme can be amended and resubmitted, and that funding remains in place. For more details and the environmental background documents etc, see: https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/8477 7-river-slaney-enniscorthy-flood-reliefscheme/# n
Concerns about freshwater mussels and lamprey were two of the factors leading to the refusal of the Enniscorthy Flood Defence Scheme.
the Enniscorthy Flood Defence Scheme for different levels of flood protection and alternative bridge designs. This deficiency significantly compromises compliance of the EIAR with statutory requirements.
methodology. It also undermines the adequacy of the assessment of effects on cultural heritage features which are partly dependent on landscape interactions.
Requirements for updated versions of the Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) and commitments to monitoring, reporting, communication and consultation during construction are not sufficient to ensure the protection of the environment.
Furthermore, in relation to the Natura Impact Statement, the Minister concluded that the information within the whole NIS document and subsequent addendum material does not provide adequate information to inform the Appropriate Assessment (AA) process. The significant issues include:
A significant lack of clarity remains regarding:
It is identified that there will be temporary loss of habitat suitable for the qualifying interest – floating river vegetation – and the use of habitat restoration as a mitigation measure is impermissible under Article 6(3) of the Habitats Directive; as backed by case law Grace and Sweetman C164/17.
- the procedure for post-consent approval of the CEMP and of CEMPs for different phases of the construction work; and - the frequency and scope and accessibility of construction stage environmental reports and compliance audits. Assessment of landscape and visual impacts lacks a methodology that is clearly referable to a standardised
Additionally, the proposed scheme will cause the conservation objectives of the recipient SAC to be undermined, as there will be a decline in habitat area of floating river vegeta-
tion which must be determined as a significant effect as per case law Waddenzee case (C-127/02); Furthermore, despite the further information sought, there is insufficient information provided with respect to potential habitat loss for juvenile lamprey and there is no consideration within the NIS or addendum report of the implications of the effects of freshwater pearl mussel on the population dynamics of the SAC host population in the Derreen river. The information within the whole NIS document and subsequent addendum material does not provide adequate information to inform the Appropriate Assessment (AA) process. Given the concerns outlined, the Minister has determined that the Scheme be refused under Section 7E(1)(b) of the Arterial Drainage Acts (as amended by the European Union (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Arterial Drainage) Regulations 2019). n
5th April 2022 - Page 19
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The 2022 ‘Hope and Dream 10’ attracts over 1,300 participants On 9th February 2021, the Hope Cancer Support Centre in Enniscorthy announced that the amount raised by its virtual-only 2021 Hope and Dream 10 event was an incredible €136,772! And with the successful running of the 2022 event on 3rd April, in both in-person and virtual formats, with over 1,300 people registered, the local charity is looking forward to another substantial sum raised to continue its existing services as well as bringing new ones on stream. See page 72-73 for photos of the 2022 event. https://www.hopeanddream10.com/ n
Happy 80th birthday
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80th birthday of Mrs Rose McDonagh pictured with husband Joe (above) and their children, grandchildren and extended family (below) as they celebrated in the Kilmore Coast Hotel on 2nd April.
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Row, row, row your boat, gently down the Slaney! Have you ever wondered what it would be like to give rowing a try? Well why not go to the Edermine Ferry Rowing Club Open Day on 24th April and give it a go, at Edermine Bridge from 2-5pm. No experience required, but a person must be minimum of 10 years of age in this current calendar year. Wear old runners and comfortable clothing and the club will provide everything else. And bring along a friend too! n
Wexford students flock to Waterford
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Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) and its partner Institute of Technology Carlow (IT Carlow) will become SETU on 1 May 2022. An Open Day on 1 April and an evening event on 31 March allowed adult learners and CAO applicants across Co. Wexford to visit the Waterford campus and ask lecturers, support staff and students the questions that matter. Dr Richard Hayes, Vice President for Strategy at WIT, says WIT is the largest recruiter of students from the south east. “One in three school leavers who go on to higher education from the south east come to Waterford to study, more than UCC, UL and UCD combined.” In 2021, 1,529 Wexford school leavers went to college with 27% (419) of these starting on one of WIT's 70 CAO undergraduate courses. Of the 2,534 graduates of 2021 who were recently conferred 335 are from Co. Wexford (13%). n
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in Enniscorthy
After a hiatus of two years, the Enniscorthy St Patrick’s Day Parade, with Sean Doyle as Grand Marshal, went ahead this year on Thursday, 17th March, with a crowd of several thousand people lining the streets.
Cllr Cathal Byrne, Cathaoirleach, Enniscorthy Municipal District
PRIZEWINNERS AT THE ENNISCORTHY ST PATRICK'S DAY PARADE CONGRATS TO ALL... BEST SPORTING GROUP: Rapparees/Starlights GAA Club. BEST IRISH DANCERS: Wexford Academy of Irish Dancing. BEST PRESENTED GROUP: Enniscorthy Gymnastics Club. BEST MARCHING BAND: St. Colman's Pipe Band, Ballindaggin. MOST ORIGINAL FLOAT: Slaney Search and Rescue. MOST COLOURFUL ITEM: Enniscorthy Girl Guides. FUNNIEST ITEM: Caim Vintage Club: Knitted Tractor with Gorilla & Teddy Bear. ADJUDICATOR'S CHOICE: The Delightful Dollies. n
Enniscorthy Rugby Club
Shamrock Rovers
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Slaney Search & Rescue
Delightful Dollies
5th April 2022 - Page 23
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The Enniscorthy St Patrick’s Day Parade, with Sean Doyle as Grand Marshal, went ahead this year on Thursday, 17th March. Above: Nolan’s Forge, Bunclody, float. Above centre: Conor and Liam Sheehan. Above right: Raya Foley aged two at her first parade. Right: Louise Hore, Olivia and Sophie Garry and Leanne Hore. Below left: Roseanne and Mark Furlong. Below centre: Bobbie and Robyn Puntill. Below right: Sue Diffey and Sylvia Brace. Bottom left: Enniscorthy St Patrick’s Day Parade reviewing stand guests. Bottom right: Mason and Jayden O’Connor.
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Enniscorthy United AFC
Above left: Rosa, Lewis and Lexi Sinnott with Uncle Ian minding them. Above centre: Ella and Layla Kenny with Sinead Dwyer. Above right: Fionn Howe. Below: The Colour Party pass the reviewing stand followed by the Ballindaggin Pipe Band.
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RAISING THE TRICOLO A poignant ceremony took place on Vinegar Hill on 7th March 2022 to commemorate the 174th anniversary of the first flying of the Tricolour in Ireland on the 7th day of March 1848. It was flown simultaneously on that day in both Enniscorthy town and Waterford city. The flying of the Tricolour in Enniscorthy on that day was reported in the Freeman’s Journal published three days later on the 10th of March 1848 and in several other publications also. The event was attended by Enniscorthy Historical Reenactment Society, Chairman Cathal Byrne of Enniscorthy Municipal District along with his fellow Councillors, Enniscorthy’s three TDs, Acting Enniscorthy Municipal District Manager Bernie Quigley, Wexford County Council officials, army and Garda representatives, and local historian Brian Ó Cléirigh who addressed the crowd present. See page 124 also. n
Chairman Cathal Byrne of Enniscorthy Municipal District.
The Vinegar Hill event on 7th March was attended by Enniscorthy Historical Re-enactment Society, Cllr Cathal Acting Enniscorthy Municipal District Manager Bernie Quigley, Wexford County Co
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OUR ON VINEGAR HILL! Irish Army representatives Sergeant John Cooney and Lieutenant Zara Bolger after raising the Tricolour.
Local historian Brian Ó Cléirigh who addressed the crowd.
l Byrne (Chairman of Enniscorthy Municipal District) along with his fellow Councillors, Enniscorthy’s three TDs, ouncil officials, army and Garda representatives, and local historian Brian Ó Cléirigh.
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Supporting victims of crime Wexford TD and Minister of State for Law Reform James Browne confirmed last month that two Co. Wexford organisations supporting victims of crime will receive funding of €72,391. €51,336 has been awarded to the Wexford Rape Crisis Centre while the Wexford Women’s Refuge will receive €21,055. The funding has been awarded through the Department of Justice’s funding scheme for organisations that support victims of crime. "I’m delighted to be able to confirm these funding allocations for two hard-working County Wexford charities. In general terms the funding will increase these organisations ability to
supports victims especially given the rise in those seeking help. “These funding allocations largely relate to how the Wexford Rape Crisis Centre and the Wexford Women’s Refuge work with victims of crime, including provision of support, information and advice on the rights of victims, and court and other accompaniment. The objective is to ensure that these services are available to all victims who need them, to a consistently high standard and throughout the State. "Tackling domestic, sexual and gender based crime is a priority for me and the government. Minister Helen McEntee and I are leading the Government’s efforts to tackle these awful crimes,” Minister Browne concluded. n
Strong local support for Ukraine Minister Browne stands with Ukrainian Ambassador Wexford TD and Minister of State for Law Reform James Browne TD is in regular contact with the Ukrainian Ambassador to Ireland Ms Larysa Gerasko at the Ukrainian Embassy on Eglin Road, Dublin. See photo opposite. Commenting following a recent meeting, Minister Browne said, “The Russian war against Ukraine is illegal and immoral, involving the utterly unacceptable targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure, the use of prohibited weapons and indiscriminate attacks. We need to see a full and comprehensive cessation of hostilities and the withdrawal of the Russian military from Ukrainian territory. “The Irish people have been clear that we will stand with the people of the Ukraine in their time of need. My government colleagues and I are also clear that the government needs to show a co-ordinated government response to support the Ukrainian people. During my meeting with Ambassador Gerasko, we discussed national security issues, visa supports for Ukrainians coming here and supports for the Ukraine... I was glad to meet with Ambassador Gerasko to reaffirm Ireland’s commitment to supporting the Ukraine in their time of need. We will continue to ensure those who are fleeing Ukraine are welcomed and given our full support and assistance,” Minister Browne concluded. n
ENNISCORTHY ORGANISATIONS SEEKING HELP FOR UKRAINE Enniscorthy and District Chamber of Commerce and Enniscorthy Lions Club are doing their bit to help the people of Ukraine. The Chamber and Lions Club have opened an account in AIB Bank, Slaney Place, Enniscorthy, to accept donations which will be used to finance the sending of aid trucks to Ukraine with essential supplies of donated goods using voluntary drivers. You can help by making a donation directly to the Humanitarian Fund Appeal in the Slaney Place Branch of AIB Bank, Enniscorthy, by using the details below to make a donation. By doing so you will be contributing in a very meaningful way to providing support for the hundreds of thousands of refugees who have been forced to flee their homes with little more than the clothes on their backs. Enniscorthy town and district are known for their generosity in times of need and the organisers are confident of a great response on this occasion also. PAYMENT DETAILS: AIB Bank, Slaney Place, Enniscorthy, A/c No: 03830705. IBAN: IE47 AIBK 9334 1403 830705. BIC: AIBK IE2D. SORT CODE: 93-34-14.
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We love to support organisations whose mission and ethos align with our own. Last summer we began a collaboration with Seal Rescue Ireland. Every June bank holiday weekend, we hold an annual GoPaddle.ie Open Day, proceeds of which are donated to Slaney Search and Rescue. GoPaddle.ie is signed up to the Cara Sports Inclusion Disability Charter so we have made a promise to: Be open to and understanding of all people with disabilities. Access training for our staff/volunteers to facilitate the inclusion of people with disabilities. Develop and deliver inclusive activities. Review our facility/venues/equipment to make our organisation more accessible.
Promote the inclusive nature of our activities, in a variety of forma GoPaddle.ie is based at Edermine, Enniscorthy Phone: 086-3905642 Email: info@gopaddle.ie www.gopaddle.ie
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Keep an eye on our s for news and up to da
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GoPaddle.ie was born out of a passion for kayaking, coaching, outdoor education and a love for the natural world. Established in 2015 with just one fulltime staff member, we have grown to be one of the leading kayak coaching providers in Ireland. Back in 2015, we had a vision for sharing the River Slaney, one of the hidden gems of Co. Wexford, with as many people as possible and we are delighted to have realised that dream over the last seven years. We pride ourselves on maintaining exceptionally high standards. GoPaddle.ie guides and coaches are always experienced and fully qualified.
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Easter Kayak Camps This year we have 3 Styles of Easter Camp. ❶ FUN Camp - Suitable for beginners. ❷ SKILLS Camp - For students who would like to achieve their Level 2 Kayak Skills award. ❸ ADVANCED Camp - 2 day Kayak Camp run on moving water for kayakers who already have their Level 2 Skills. More info and bookings can be found by going to the Book Now tab on www.gopaddle.ie or https://widget.eola.co/1363
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St Aidan’s Confirmation
St Aidan’s Primary School, Enniscorthy, Confirmation of Ms Quigley’s and Mr Cronin’s classes in St Aidan’s Cathedral on 4th March, with School Principal Frank Murphy and Rev Odhran Furlong.
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Caring for children with additional needs Sinn Féin TD for Co. Wexford Johnny Mythen called for cross-party support for a Sinn Féin motion that would instruct the government to stop shirking its responsibilities for the care of children with additional needs. The motion was brought forward by Sinn Féin spokesperson on Disability and Carers Pauline Tully in the Dáil last month, seeking to remove the barriers put in place that prevent parents accessing the care their children need. Teachta Mythen said that despite government claims, waiting lists have not been reduced, and are in reality being hidden. “Waiting lists for assessments of need have been spiralling out of control for years to the point where parents are forced to bring the HSE to court to get their child assessed. “The Minister has said that waiting lists are being dramatically reduced. The reality is that this has been an exercise in deception. “Waiting lists have not been reduced, they are being hidden.
“Changes implemented that the government claimed would facilitate the timely completion of assessments have not done so, nor have they reduced the waiting lists for children to receive a full assessment of need. “Instead, what was introduced is a very short preliminary assessment which, once finished, moves children on to yet another waiting list for further assessment from which there is no legal obligation on the HSE to complete within a specific timeframe. “Figures released by the Minister claiming significant numbers of children were receiving assessments in fact only reflect children who received that short, inadequate, preliminary assessment. “CHO5, the area that Co. Wexford is in, has some of the worst figures. Over 2,000 children waiting for Speech and Language therapy. Over 3,100 for Occupational therapy, and 779 for Physiotherapy. “This is smoke and mirrors. These children are not receiving proper assessments nor are they accessing the therapeutic inter-
Johnny Mythen TD
ventions that they require. “This is a cynical act of shirking responsibility for protecting children’s rights. “Under the Disability Act 2005, children have a statutory right to an assessment of need, which must legally be carried out within six months of an application. “The government does not come close to fulfilling its legal obligations to protect children’s rights, nor does it have the appetite or vision to fix our broken disability service,” Teachta Mythen concluded. n
St Aidan’s Confirmation
St Aidan’s Primary School, Enniscorthy, Confirmation of Ms Quigley’s and Mr Cronin’s classes in St Aidan’s Cathedral on 4th March, with School Principal Frank Murphy and Rev Odhran Furlong.
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HAS THE REJECTION OF THE FLOOD RELIEF SCHEME GOT SOME BACKWASH? The story of the Enniscorthy flood relief scheme is a long, tedious one but within lies a tale of intrigue.
TOWN TALK
From the outset, I must declare my vested interest in the subject. I was born and grew up on Island Road. My family still has the property there so to suggest that I don’t give this subject close attention would be misguided. I sat in on very high-powered meetings with the think tank over the years. I can confirm that senior members of various departments met once a month here in Enniscorthy. So how did it go spectacularly off the rails? This story is an example of how democracy and the system can operate. With multi-million euro projects there is a rigorous process to be followed and this is a fertile playground for conscientious objectors. In this case, the principal players happen to be home grown. In January, I enquired as to the stage of the project. I was told the Minister’s department had concerns that it might not stand up to a high court action. An injunction would wrap this up in court for another decade. Alarm bells once again rang loud and clear.
WITH KEITH DOYLE It is alleged that early in the process a small group of people vowed to stop the scheme. There would never be walls built on the banks of the river Slaney. It was also claimed that there was assistance inside a government department. How sobering are those words now.
I am aware the system was used to slow the process down with an effective use of the public consultation process. All objections and observations must be scrutinised and stress tested. The outcome would result in a change in the plans. Any and all changes must be put to Council for a vote. A further round of public consultations must be undertaken. So the merry-go-round continued and the years crept by. I am not saying that there is anything wrong in this use of the system. I think that the people in question do believe that they are right. This is in fact a proper use of the democratic process. What I am saying is if you believe you are right why not take ownership of your work. OWN IT. Be proud of your accomplishment. People would love to know who you are. I would think a freedom of information request of all the public observations and submissions would shed more light on the subject. One thing I can reveal is that none of them live in the flood plain and are in no danger of being flooded themselves. n
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St Senan’s School Confirmatio
St Senan’s School Confirmation in St Sena
Five photos above L-R: Jim Kealy with Danniel, Sarah and Marion Kealy. Anne Thorpe, Finn and Trevor Cahill. Mary Dobbs, Muireann
Five photos above L-R: Nicole, Ellianna Cleary, Anna Murphy, Barry, Robert and Bobby Cleary. Jessie Conroy with his best friends Kalum, Jake and Jac
Ger Kirwan, Frankie, Odhran, Lydia Kirwan, Marissa Fields and Saoirse Kirwan. Odhran Kirwan, Ben O’Rourke, Lee Jordan, Jayde Martin Scallan, Adam Scallan, Aisli
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n, Enniscorthy, 12th March 2022
n’s Church, Enniscorthy, 12th March 2022.
n, Martha, Conor Kavanagh, Caoimhe Dodds-Doyle and Kerri Wickham. Ella Kenny and Shadya McKeown. David and Philip Okelozo.
ck Kehoe. Mark Lonergan, Leo, Tracy, Millie and Patricia Slammon. Brendan, Ben and Caroline O’Rourke. Hazel and Aaron Phillips and Ada Loughlan.
en Redmond and Keenan Quirke. The Whelan family with Confirmation girl Caoimhe Whelan. Arianna Callanan and Olivia Kells. ing Williams and David O’Sullivan.
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L-R: Cllr Ger Carthy, Minister James Browne TD, Mr Ian Brennan, Assistant Chief Ambulance Officer.
Good news for Gorey Wexford TD and Minister of State for Law Reform James Browne has confirmed that negotiations for a new Group 1 ambulance station in Gorey are well underway. Last August, Minister Browne confirmed the provision of €50,000 to advance the development of a new ambulance base for Gorey. Minister Browne understands that a feasibility study has revealed that the existing station at the rear of Gorey District Hospital is unsuitable for a Group 1 ambulance station. Instead, a larger base is required. Minister Browne says that the National Ambulance Service and Wexford County Council are in negotiations examining the possibility of locating the new ambulance station at the St. Waleran’s site on Ballytegan Road, Gorey. Following a meeting with Assistant Chief Ambulance Officer Ian Brennan and Cllr Ger Carthy, Minister Browne
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welcomed the progress related to the development of a new Group 1 ambulance station. “I welcome the positive developments related to the new ambulance base in Gorey. While there is a strong history of the ambulance station at the rear of Gorey District Hospital, a larger site is needed to facilitate the smooth running of a Group 1 ambulance station. That’s why the ongoing negotiations between the National Ambulance Service and Wexford County Council are very important. I was glad to confirm the provision of funding last summer to assist with the feasibility study, and I will continue to make representations with the HSE to ensure the timely development of the major ambulance base in Gorey”, Minister Browne commented. Assistant Chief Ambulance Officer Ian Brennan explained the reasons for the need for a new ambulance station. "The
last 10-15 years has seen significant changes within the National Ambulance Service. The service now offers nationwide care through a variety of practitioners and will be going through significant reorganisational change in the next few years. Effectively, the Ambulance Service has outgrown both the current site and building located on the Gorey District Hospital site. It seems it’s not feasible to rebuild on this site. We welcome the help we have got from Wexford County Council in identifying a suitable site for a new ambulance station for the future in Gorey. We believe the site identified in the north eastern area of the town will be beneficial for a number of reasons including: allowing us quick access to many residential parts of the town, giving us quick access to main roads in and out of the town and giving us the room for a modern ambulance station and room for expansion in the future.” n
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Launch of Wexford County Council’s Women’s Coalition Wexford County Council’s Women’s Coalition L-R: Cllr. Lisa McDonald, Cllr. Kathleen Codd-Nolan, Cllr. Barbara-Anne Murphy (Cathaoirleach Wexford County Council), Guest Speaker Michelle O’Neill, Cllr. Maura Bell (Chair of the Coalition), Cllr Bridin Murphy (New Ross Municipal District Cathaoirleach), Cllr. Mary Farrell.
History was made on Wednesday, 9 March, with the launch of Wexford County Council’s Women’s Coalition in the Riverside Park Hotel, Enniscorthy. Made up of the county’s six female councillors, the Coalition was established to support an increase in the number of women in politics, to support each other as female members of the Council, and to encourage other women who are interested in politics to get involved. The Coalition members are its inaugural Chairperson, Cllr Maura Bell, Wexford County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr BarbaraAnne Murphy, Cllr Kathleen Codd-Nolan, Cllr Mary Farrell, Cllr Lisa McDonald, and New Ross Municipal District Cathaoirleach Cllr Brídín Murphy. The Coalition was officially launched by renowned Wexford soccer referee Michelle O’Neill, the first Irish referee to officiate at an Olympic Games. Ms O’Neill was also the first Irish person to officiate at a FIFA World Cup Final when she was an assistant referee for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup final. Ms O’Neill said she was delighted to launch the Women’s Coalition as she valued its role in empowering and inspiring women. Outlining her refereeing journey
since 2008, she added that her “long-term goal is to officiate at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in 2023”. She highlighted the role of “support and having the right people around you to lift you up”, emphasising the need for role models. “When I was a player, I never saw a female referee or was in a match officiated by a female referee.” Event MC Cllr Maura Bell congratulated Michelle O’Neill as someone who personifies the motto, “If you can see it, you can be it.” Wexford County Council’s third-ever female Cathaoirleach, Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy, also addressed the gathering, which included fellow councillors Wexford town mayor Cllr Gary Laffan and Gorey-Kilmuckridge Cathaoirleach Cllr Pip Breen, and Wexford County Council CEO Tom Enright. Cllr Murphy acknowledged the plight of Ukraine, saying that, “The stories, photos and shattered lives in Ukraine are heartbreaking and we need to voice our objection to this war at every opportunity and voice our solidarity with Ukraine.” Highlighting that the six female councillors comprise 17 per cent of elected councillors in Wexford, she added that, “We need quotas to have an equal number of women
at decision-making tables in State and public bodies. We’re not looking for more, we’re looking for the same,” she said. Wexford County Council CEO Tom Enright expressed his full support for the Women’s Coalition, which is a formal sub-committee of the Council. “The Coalition members are exemplary role models of leadership,” he said, adding that the 17 per cent of female representation in elected councillors “shows a significant gender gap and must be addressed”. He also highlighted how the challenge of “balancing work and family life, which often causes women to withdraw from politics” would need to be dealt with. The launch of the Women’s Coalition was one of a series of events championing women during the week of International Women’s Day. On Tuesday, March 8, Wexford County Council, its Women’s Coalition, and Local Enterprise Office Wexford, hosted ‘Together Again’ with guest speaker Jacinta Kitt in Johnstown Castle. And on that Tuesday night, Cllr Mary Farrell organised an event, Break the Bias, in Kilmuckridge to enable women to come together to celebrate their personal, professional, and community lives. n
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Launch of Wexford County C
The Official Launch of Wexford County Council’s Women’s Coalition in the Riverside Park Hotel on 9th March, 2022 (see
Above left, back row L-R: James O’Brien, Michelle O’Neill (guest speaker), Paula Kelly. Front row L-R: Margaret O’Brien, Abbie White and S Above right, Presentation to Guest Speaker Michelle O’Neill from the Wexford Women’s Coalition L-R: Cllr Bridin Murphy (New Ross Municipal District Cathao Nolan, Guest Speaker Michelle O’Neill, Cllr. Maura Bell (Chair of the Coalition), Cllr. Mary Farrell, Cllr Lisa McDonald, Cllr. Barbara-Anne Murphy (Cathaoirleac
Above Left: Cllr. Barbara-Anne Murphy addresses the attendees. Above Centre: Cllr Lisa McDonald (left) and Liz Hore (Wexford County Council, right), wit
Above Left: Blessed art thou amongst women, Cllr Jackser Owens with Anne Codd, Fiona Dempsey, Michelle O’Neill, Cllr Kathleen Codd-Nolan and Cllr Mau
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Council’s Women’s Coalition
e full story page 39)
Skye Turner. oirleach), Cllr. Kathleen Coddch Wexford County Council).
Above: Guest Speaker Michelle O’Neill. Above right: Wexford Co. Council CEO Tom Enright. Below: Anna Bell, Emma Bell and Marie Gore. Right: Guest Speaker Michelle O’Neill receives a presentation from Cllr. Maura Bell.
th representatives of Georgia Southern University – Karin Fisher and Maya Clarke.
ura Bell. Above centre: Having a serious chat, Vera O’Sullivan with Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy. Above Right: Jo Flood, Hayley Crosbie and Cllr Bridin Murphy.
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Funding boost for three local schools NEW EXTENSION FOR OULART SCHOOL Wexford TD and Minister of State for Law Reform James Browne TD has welcomed news that the Department of Education has granted approval to proceed to construction for a Scoil Mochua Oulart extension. Scoil Mochua Oulart will soon benefit from the construction of a mainstream classroom, bathroom and two special educational rooms. Welcoming the news, Minister Browne commented “I’m delighted that my government colleague, Minister Norma Foley TD, has approved the construction of a Scoil Mochua Oulart extension. I know the school’s staff and students will greatly benefit from the approval of additional accommodation. I regularly meet with Minister Norma Foley TD to discuss funding applications from County Wexford schools,” Minister Browne said. n
NEW EXTENSION FOR BLACKWATER SCHOOL Minister Browne has also welcomed news that the Department of Education has granted initial project approval for a Blackwater National School extension. Blackwater N.S. will soon benefit from the construction of two Special Educational Teaching Rooms and one accessible bathroom. From September 2022, a Special Education Teaching room will be established as a prefab until the construction works have been completed. n
NEW EXTENSION FOR KILMYSHALL SCHOOL 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
Minister Browne has also welcomed news that the Department of Education has granted approval to proceed to tender for a Kilmyshall N.S. extension. A tender will now issue for additional accommodation at Kilmyshall N.S. The extension will include a classroom, ensuite toilets, an accessible toilet and two Special Education Teaching rooms. Minister Browne commended the staff and Board of Management of each of the above schools for working towards improving their school’s facilities. n
FR. MURPHY CENTRE, BOOLAVOGUE, NOW OPEN The Fr. Murphy Centre, Boolavogue, reopened on March 16 – the first day open to the public for 2022. The Centre is open 7 days a week, 10am to 5pm. n
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Cost of Living Those who grew up in the late 1940s through to the late 1950s will remember our mothers complaining about the cost of living. The price of bread and butter and meat in particular seemed to be the main bones of contention. Of course, being young we didn’t appreciate or recognise the struggle our mothers had. I emphasise our mothers because in those days, apart from rare exceptions, the men more or less left those matters to the women. Much of that was by choice because, quite bluntly, most men hadn’t a clue as to how a household should be managed. On top of food, the women had to budget for rent, electricity, children’s clothes and all the other requirements of raising a family. We thought that in general those days were over for most. Unfortunately, right through the decades, a minority of families have struggled, many unseen and unheard, but for the majority those grim days had passed. That’s until now. We are, according to reports, heading into a difficult period for many. Our so-called experts told us prior to Christmas that we should not worry as this inflationary period will fade out in a few weeks. Well, quite frankly, when I heard that I prepared for the opposite. These were the same geniuses who told us in 2008 that the economy was sound and that no recession would arrive. They were correct. We didn’t get a recession, we got a depression equal to the 1930s from which many are still struggling to recover. Back to the moment. The war in Ukraine is of course a contributor to some price inflation but let us be careful that we are not fooled into thinking that Ukraine is the only reason. The Irish government has for years literally taxed everything which moves or remains static. The biggest outlay for most businesses today goes in taxation and other government charges. We are, as citizens, charged enormous amounts of money by the government for everything we purchase or anything we try to do. Excise duties, VAT, licence fees for almost everything, etc, etc. The minute we hear a politician calling for regulation of something we are sure that such regulation will come at a cost to us. There will be a fee or a licence of some description required. Try and apply for the smallest thing
View from the Centre
A local contributor, based in the centre of the county, looks at life today in Co. Wexford and beyond from any government or local government department. The first thing you have to do is pay a fee. For instance, to submit a company return, which is a one-page document sent online to the companies office and takes two seconds to register, a fee of €20 is charged. That’s only one simple example. If you tax your car quarterly or half yearly instead of annually you are charged more. In other words, those who can afford to pay actually pay less than those who cannot. I could go on for pages more on this issue but the main point is this. It’s time government got off people’s
backs and looked very carefully at its own take out of the normal, everyday activities of the population. Only by doing that will we see a stabilising in the increase in the cost of living.
Ivana Bacik The Labour Party has appointed Ivana Bacik as its latest leader. Listening to her media interviews, if I was a member of the said party I would be very concerned for the future of the party. She refused point blank to answer a simple question as to whether or not she was at a particular meeting called to shaft Alan Kelly, and she refused to in any way accept that the Labour Party had been unfair to those they adversely affected by the savage policy of austerity followed between 2011 and 2016. But then seeing that she was the Labour leader in the Seanad during all that period and promoted those policies, I suppose that she has little choice. So when she talks about equality and a fairer society many will remember the cuts in child allowances, the destruction of the pension system and the removal of benefits from one-parent families. All done under Labour with Ivana to the forefront in ensuring that the legislation of austerity got through the senate. Ivana Bacik is not a new leader. She is merely another of the old guard brought to the forefront to try and give a different impression of a party which lost its way in 2011.
Mothers Day As we recently celebrated Mothers’ Day, the following comes to mind. A 7-year-old boy asked his mother, “Where did people like us come from?” His mother answered, “God made Adam and Eve and they had children and that’s where all mankind came from.” A couple of days later the boy asked his father the same question. The father answered, “Many years ago there were monkeys and that’s where we all came from.” Suitably confused the boy went back to his mother with that story seeking an explanation.
Ivana Bacik
The mother had to think quickly. “Ahh”, says she,”It’s very simple. I told you about my side of the family and your father told you about his.” The mammy will always win. n
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St Aidan’s School Confirmation, S
St Aidan’s Primary School Confirmation, Ms Qui
Four photos above L-R. No.1: Confirmation boy Calum Jackson with the O’Connor family. No.2: Charlie Connors and Rev Odhran Furlong. No.3: Jason O
Five photos above L-R. No.1: Vincent, Madisson and Theresa O’Brien. No.2: Alma McDonald, Darren and Paul Jackson. No.3: Ta
Five photos above L-R. No.1: Fiona, Caitlin and Mark Cullen. No.2: Jackie Hairstens, Amy and Jim Farrell. No.3: Arek, Leon, Edyta, Francis
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St Aidan’s Cathedral, 4th March 2022
igley’s and Mr Cronin’s classes, 4th March 2022.
O’Gorman, Susan and Charlie O’Brien, Stephen O’Reilly and Mary O’Brien. No.4: Ronan Kavanagh, Conall, Edel, Pat, Sean Doyle, Sean and Maria Kavanagh.
anya McGrath, Liam and Jimmy Dodds. No.4: Eric and Jack Flynn and Kim Ronan. No.5: Claire, Maddie, James and Bea Murphy.
siek, Momke and Kataizyme Malarik. No.4: Leslie Monahan, Janice and Breta Levingstone. No.5: Ava, Claire, James, Billy and Glen Kinsella.
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St Aidan’s School Confirmation, S
St Aidan’s Primary School Confirmation in St Aidan’s Cathedral, 5th March 202
Four photos above L-R. No.1: Martina Dunne, Aidan Dunne-O’Connor, Wesley O’Connor, Sophie O’Connor, Stephanie O’Connor-Dunn No.3: Confirmation girl Maisey Carroll with members of her family. No.4: Ambur, Anne, Cathal,
Four photos above L-R. No.1: John, Sarah, Kayla, Jack and Deirdre Murphy. No.2: Colette Carroll, Margaret Kennedy, Maisey and Yvonne
Four photos above L-R. No.1: Noel, Darragh, Aoibhe and Anita Jordan. No.2: Mary, Anne, Bridget, John Paul, and Elisabeth
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St Aidan’s Cathedral, 5th March 2022
22, Ms Dagg’s and Mr Doyle’s classes.
ne, Frank O’Connor. No.2: Nicole Leacy and the Kavanagh Family. , Daniel and Ruby O’Neill.
e Carroll. No.3: Richard, Charlie and Claire Millar. No.4: Sarah Jane O’Toole, Padge, Calvin, Shane, Avianna, Natasha and Sophie O’Toole.
Connors. No.3: Anthony, Pezemo Juworski, Dylan, Glen and Karen McCormick. No.4: Jamie, Tadhg, Bridget and Alan Jordan.
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MORE RESOURCES ON THE WAY FOR 17 CO. WEXFORD SCHOOLS Local Fine Gael TD Paul Kehoe has welcomed the inclusion of 17 Wexford schools in the expanded DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) programme. Three Secondary schools and 14 Primary schools have been incorporated into the scheme which is being significantly expanded for the first time since 2017. “Incorporation into the DEIS programme will make a huge difference to these schools. DEIS is an internationally recognised, proven programme that provides targeted resources to schools with the highest levels of concentrated educational disadvantage to support their students to have an equal opportunity to achieve their potential in education. “This expansion is a further step towards achieving equity of opportunity in education and that all students are supported to fulfil their potential. The successful delivery of this goal means that our school system is open and welcoming for all students, regardless of background, and that in particular, students at risk of educational disadvantage will be supported to achieve their full potential. It is my intention to keep working towards achieving that vision,” said Deputy Kehoe. Schools in the DEIS programme avail of a range of targeted supports aimed at tackling educational disadvantage, including additional Paul Kehoe TD classroom teaching posts, home school community liaison coordinator posts, DEIS grant funding and access to the School Completion Programme. Schools have been identified for inclusion in the programme through the refined DEIS identification model which is an objective, statistics-based model which uses information from the Department of Education enrolment databases and the Pobal HP Deprivation index. Schools were not required to apply for inclusion in the DEIS programme and the model has been applied fairly and equally to all schools. From September 2022, these schools will access all supports under the programme to match their respective band. Schools are assigned to the DEIS bands based on the location of the school and their level of concentrated educational disadvantage. New Wexford DEIS Schools: POST-PRIMARY: Christian Brothers Secondary School, Mountgarrett, New Ross Coláiste Bríde, Enniscorthy Gorey Educate Together Secondary School PRIMARY: S N Mhuire, Danescastle, Carrig-on-Bannow
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Camolin N S, Camolin Ballycanew N S, Ballycanew Kilrane N S, Kilrane S N Bearna na hAille, Oylegate S N Abbain, Adamstown S N Catriona NFA, Ballyhack Naomh Maodhog N.S., Ferns New Ross Educate Together National School St Canice’s Convent, Rosbercon, New Ross Riverchapel N S, Riverchapel, Gorey S N Clochar Mhuire, Rosslare Bunscoil Nic Amhlaidh, Castlemoyle, New Ross Bunscoil Rís, Castlemoyle, New Ross Welcoming the news also was Minister James Browne who explained how these schools “will benefit from targeted supports aimed at tackling educational disadvantage, including additional classroom teaching posts, home school community liaison coordinator posts, DEIS grant funding and access to the School Completion Programme. The refined DEIS identification model has identified the need for these schools to be included. Today is the largest-ever single investment in the DEIS programme and the addition of 310 new schools nationwide. The DEIS programme is an internationally recognised, proven programme that provides targeted resources to schools with the highest levels of concentrated educational disadvantage to support their students to have an equal opportunity to achieve their potential in education. “My Government colleagues and I are driven towards ensuring equity of opportunity in education. I want to see that all County Wexford students are supported to fulfil their potential. The Department of Education will work with these fifteen new County Wexford DEIS schools to support them to make the transition. Information sessions will be held for schools in the coming weeks on the DEIS programme, what supports will be available to schools and to support them in planning for improvement. From September 2022, these schools will access all supports under the programme to match their respective band”, Minister Browne concluded. n
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Young Wexford voices get heard
The Wexford delegates, back row L-R: Cillian Doyle, Rían Doyle, Quinton Kelly, Charlotte Gray. Front L-R: Michael Roche, Ellen Curran, Aoife Tirbhowan, Doireann Rossiter. On 26th March, over 200 delegates from Comhairle na nÓg youth councils nationwide gathered at Dublin’s Convention Centre for Dáil na nÓg to debate issues under theme of equality. Participants at Dáil na nÓg 2022 are looking to influence policy at Government level to advance the areas of equality they see as important. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the biennial event which platforms the voices of young people on the issues which matter most to them. Minister for Children, Equality, Dis-
ability, Integration and Youth Roderic O’Gorman addressed and engaged with young people at the event. This year’s event explored the theme of equality as young people, through their local youth councils (Comhairle na nÓg), have been investigating the challenges and opportunities in a variety of areas including mental health, climate change, body image, drugs and alcohol, youth facilities and LGBTIQ+. This theme was chosen by young people as the area of most importance to them. n
Nicola is Enniscorthy VTOS photography winner Enniscorthy VTOS Adult Education Centre: Celebrating Success! Student Nicola Farrell is pictured receiving her prize for the recent VTOS photography competition, with VTOS Co-ordinator Aislinn Brennan. n
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WEXFORD STUDENTS SET FOR NAT
Senior Category Winner was presented to Niall O'Shaughnessy from Gorey Community School with his company Clonough Handmade Soap. L-R: Niamh Hatchell (EPA), Niall O'Shaughnessy, Cllr Michael Whelan and Angela Lawless (LEO). Pic: Ger Hore. Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Wexford has announced that teenage entrepreneurs from Gorey Community School and Ramsgrange Community School will represent Wexford at this year’s Student Enterprise Programme National Finals on the 18th of May. The national finals return to a physical event this year at The Helix in Dublin having been held online in 2020 and 2021. Over 1,100 students from 19 secondary schools across the county took part in the Wexford Student Enterprise Programme (Wexford SEP) over the last six months. The county winners were announced during an online show on 15th March. Students were presented with the trophies at an Awards presentation which was held in Wexford County Council on March 22nd. The programme is delivered in association with the Wexford Enterprise Centre, with sponsorship from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Presenting the students with beautiful, glass trophies made by local glass artist, Bianca Divito were Cllr. Michael Whelan, Chair of the Economic Strategic Policy Committee in Wexford County Council, Niamh Hatchell, Media Engagement & Digital Communications Manager with the EPA and Angela Lawless, A/Senior Business Development Executive with Local Enterprise Office Wexford. In the Junior category, the students representing Wexford at the National Finals will be Ellen Chapman and Erin McNamara from Ramsgrange Community School (Teacher: Ms Louise Walsh), with their business Simply Recycled. Simply Recycled turned waste printing paper into handmade, textured card which Ellen and Erin then created beautiful greeting cards from.
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Senior Category Runner Up was presented Ross with her company 200 Year Handcra Saramay Walsh, Cllr Michael Whelan
In the Intermediate category, Louise Byrne, Ben Cassidy, Ellie Byrne Donnelly, Aoibhínn Doyle and Matthew Haskins from Little People, Big Pasts will be representing the county at the National Finals. Little People, Big Pasts are also from Ramsgrange Community School (Teacher: Ms Louise Walsh). The students turned stories they had gathered from local people as part of a history project into a wonderful, published book that they marketed and sold. In the Senior category of the competition, Wexford will be represented on 18th May in the National Final by Niall O’Shaughnessy from Gorey Community School (Teacher: Mr Andrew Killane). Niall’s business, Clonough Handmade Soap, produced a varied range of well-branded, handmade, high-quality soaps. The young entrepreneur demonstrated an impressive use of social media marketing (including the use of influencers) and sold his products both in local shops and online. In the “Most Creative Business Idea” national video competition, Jason Santos from Creagh College (Teacher: Ms. Edel Peters) will represent Wexford with the concept video for his business idea, Frolic, a smartphone application that would gamify and encourage exercise among young people. Wexford has a successful track record in the national student enterprise competition. Last year, national awards were won by students from Bridgetown College and St Mary’s Secondary School in New Ross. Speaking at the trophy presentation event, Breege Cosgrave, Acting Head of Enterprise & Economic Development, congratulated the students, saying, “We have a very suc-
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TIONAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP FINAL
to Saramay Walsh from Our Lady of Lourdes New fted Slates & Bottles. L-R: Niamh Hatchell (EPA), n and Angela Lawless (LEO). Pic: Ger Hore.
Senior Category Joint 3rd Place was presented to Mairead Mahon from FCJ Bunclody with her company Clear Mind. L-R: Niamh Hatchell (EPA), Mairead Mahon, Cllr Michael Whelan and Angela Lawless (LEO). Pic: Ger Hore.
cessful student enterprise programme here in Wexford, with over 1,100 students from 19 local schools taking part this year. Our national finalists are excellent ambassadors for the programme, and we wish them the very best of luck on 18th May. In what has been a particularly challenging couple of years for students, the programme has offered them an outlet outside of the usual school demands. What our students are learning from the programme is that with the right supports and encouragement, they can take an idea from the classroom and develop it into a real-life business. The skills they learn along the way, such as business planning, market research, selling and team-work, will help them become more entrepreneurial throughout their future careers.” The local students will be competing against hundreds of other student entrepreneurs from all over Ireland at the Student Enterprise Programme National Finals, taking place at the Helix in Dublin on the 18th of May. Since the Student Enterprise Programme began in 2003, over 300,000 students have taken part, learning key skills about how to create a business idea, start a business and grow a business. The Student Enterprise Programme also has a new range of online resources for 2021 / 2022 at www.StudentEnterprise.ie, which will feature regular blogs and houses a full range of Student Enterprise resources for students and teachers. The enterprise education initiative, funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland and delivered by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities throughout the country, saw over 24,000 students from just under
500 secondary schools across the country take part in 2020 / 2021. The programme supports students to create, design and market their own business, all with the hope of reaching the National Finals. Further information around the Student Enterprise Programme is available from www.studententerprise.ie and by searching #wexfordsep and #studententerprise on social media. NAMES OF PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS IN THE WEXFORD STUDENT ENTERPRISE PROGRAMME Bridgetown College, Bunclody Vocational College, CBS New Ross, CBS Wexford, Coláiste Abbáin (Adamstown), Coláiste An Átha (Kilmuckridge), Coláiste Bríde (Enniscorthy), Creagh College (Gorey), St. Mary's CBS (Enniscorthy), Enniscorthy Community College, FCJ Bunclody, Gorey Community School, Loreto Wexford, Meanscoil Gharman (Enniscorthy), Our Lady of Lourdes (New Ross), Presentation Wexford, Ramsgrange Community School, Selskar College (Wexford), St. Mary’s Secondary School (New Ross), St. Peter’s College (Wexford). ABOUT THE STUDENT ENTERPRISE PROGRAMME (studententerprise.ie): The Student Enterprise Programme is co-ordinated by the Local Enterprise Offices and involves approximately 29,000 students from 500 secondary schools every year. It runs from September to May and the 2021/2022 National Final takes place online on the 18th May. Website: www.studententerprise.ie #studententerprise Twitter: @StudentEntProg / Facebook: /studententerpriseprogramme / Instagram: /studententerpriseprogramme
More overleaf ➤ and more photos in next month’s issue.
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Senior Category Joint 3rd Place was presented to Erinn Clare and Shauna D'Arcy of Creagh College Gorey with their company Zodaline. L-R: Niamh Hatchell (EPA), Erinn Clare, Cllr Michael Whelan, Shauna D'Arcy and Angela Lawless (LEO). Pic: Ger Hore.
Social Impact Award Winners was awarded to Holly Rothwell and Sara Williamson of FCJ Bunclody with their company Wildlife Calendars. L-R: Niamh Hatchell (EPA), Holly Rothwell, Cllr Michael Whelan, Sara Williamson and Angela Lawless (LEO). Pic: Ger Hore.
Senior Category Best Report was awarded to Jen Coláiste Bride Enniscorthy with their company Pre (EPA), Jenna Kirwan, Cllr Michael Whelan, Jessie R
Social Impact Award Winners was awarded to Eve O'Donohoe and Ruby Donohue of Loreto Wexford with their company Feed The World. L-R: Niamh Hatchell (EPA), Eve O'Donohoe, Cllr Michael Whelan, Ruby Donohue and Angela Lawless (LEO). Pic: Ger Hore.
Spirit of Enterprise Award was presented to the Irish Wheelchair Association with their company The Good Choice Gardening. L-R: Stephen Sinnott, Angela Lawless (LEO), Jack Culleton, Cllr Michael Whelan, Conor Cahill, Breege Cosgrave (LEO), Garry Murphy, Niamh Hatchell (EPA) and Katie Murphy. Pic: Ger Hore.
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nna Kirwan and Jessie Redmond of ecious Pebbles. L-R: Niamh Hatchell Redmond and Angela Lawless (LEO).
Senior Category Best Interview was awarded to Megan Pernagallo, Aleksandra Lukasik and Sahadat Alao Akinyomi of St Mary's Secondary School New Ross with their company Modified Jewellery. L-R: Angela Lawless (LEO), Megan Pernagallo, Aleksandra Lukasik Niamh Hatchell (EPA), Sahadat Alao Akinyomi and Cllr Michael Whelan. Pic: Ger Hore.
FULL LIST OF PRIZEWINNERS: AWARD: Best Poster (Junior/Intermediate) Winner: Sunset Jewellery School: Ramsgrange Community School Teacher: Ms. Louise Walsh Student: Maggie Byrne AWARD: Best Interview (Junior/Intermediate) Winner: Chloe’s Organic Soap School: Enniscorthy Community College Student: Chloe Weafer Teacher: Ms. Sinead O’Donovan (and helped before Christmas by Ms. Evelyn Barry) AWARD: Best Interview (Senior) Winner: Modified Jewellery School: St Mary’s Secondary School, New Ross Student: Megan Pernagallo, Aleksandra Lukasik, Sahadat Alao Akinyomi Teacher: Ms. Emma Dwyer AWARD: Best Report (Senior) Winner: Precious Pebbles School: Coláiste Bríde Enniscorthy Student: Jenna Kirwan and Jessie Redmond Teacher: Ms. Margo Whelan AWARD: Social Impact Awards (x2) Winner: Wildlife Calendars School: FCJ Bunclody Student: Holly Rothwell and Sara Williamson Teacher: Mr. Dean Farrell Winner: Feed the World School: Loreto Wexford Student: Eve O’Donahoe and Ruby Donahue Teacher: Mr. Enda O’Sullivan and Ms. Cathleen Skelton AWARD: Environment Awards ( x 2) Winner: Bright Sparks School: Bunclody Vocational College Student: James Kenny Teacher: Ms. Sinéad Kinsella and Ms. Aoife Martin Winner: Cool Coasters School: Coláiste an Átha, Kilmuckridge Student: Ryan O’ Toole Graham and Alex O’Connor Teacher: Ms. Cathy Reddy AWARD: Creativity Award Winner: The Tote Tree School: Presentation Wexford Student: Fiona O’Mahony, Amy Whelan and Melissa Quirke Teacher: Mr. Ciaran Walsh
AWARD: Commercial Potential Award Winner: KF Media School: Gorey Community School Student: Keenan Fitzpatrick Teacher: Ms. Lisa Nangle
Teacher: Ms. Ann Barry Winner: Siopa Milseáin & Snaiceanna MSG School: Meanscoil Gharman Students: Dara Cahill and Rhyan Whelan Teacher: Mr. Patrick Ó Dubháin
AWARD: Innovation Award Winner: Hold my Hurl School: St. Mary’s CBS Enniscorthy Student: Adam Cairney and Conor O'Brien Teacher: Ms. Martina Barry
The overall Junior, Intermediate and Senior category awards:
Student Enterprise National Video Competition, this year’s theme is ‘Health & Wellbeing Innovations’. Representing Wexford in this national competition this year will be… Floric School: Creagh College Student: Jason Santos Teacher: Ms. Edel Peters AWARD: LCVP/LCA Award Winner: Play Plax School: Selskar College Students: Class reps: Aoife Mahon, Devin Pitman, Rebecca Furlong, Amie Healy, Ava O`Connor, Brandon McEneaney. Rest of Class: Layla Bergin, Cody Chun on Ho, Lucy Farrell, Alisha Holden, Lilly Jones, David Kelly, Ashleigh Kemp, Dylan O’Dwyer Teacher: Ms. Mari Prendergast and Mr. Shane Murphy AWARD: Merit Awards (x6) Winner: SLOGS Christmas Logs School: CBS Wexford Students: Geoffrey Barry Teacher: Ms. Ann Barry Winner: Conor’s Candies School: CBS New Ross Students: Conor O’Neill Teacher: Ms. Patricia Doran Winner: Wexford Golf Balls School: St. Peter’s College Students: Jack Berry, Eoin Martin and Dean Goldsmith Teacher: Mr. Patrick Ryan Winner: Ruby’s Resins School: Bridgetown College Students: Ruby Redmond Teacher: Ms. Sinead Fortune Winner: Hooks & Wicks School: CBS Wexford Students: Conor McGuinness and Liam Talbot
AWARD: OVERALL JUNIOR CATEGORY (for 1st year students) Winner: Simply Recycled School: Ramsgrange Community School Students: Erin McNamara and Ellen Chapman Teacher: Ms. Louise Walsh AWARD: OVERALL INTERMEDIATE CATEGORY (for 2nd & 3rd year students) Winner: Little People, Big Pasts School: Ramsgrange Community School Students: Aoibhínn Doyle, Louise Byrne, Ben Cassidy, Mathew Haskins, Ellie Byrne Donnelly Teacher: Ms. Louise Walsh AWARD: SENIOR CATEGORY (for Transition Year students) Joint Third Place: Clear Mind School: FCJ Bunclody Students: Mairead Mahon Teacher: Mr. Paul Fitzgerald Joint Third Place: Zodaline School: Creagh College Students: Erinn Clare and Shauna D’Arcy Teacher: Mr. Daniel Condren Senior Category Award – Runner-Up 200 Year Handcrafted Slates & Bottles School: Our Lady of Lourdes Secondary School, New Ross Students: Saramay Walsh Teacher: Ms. Niamh Lynam Senior Category Award – Winner Clonough Handmade Soap School: Gorey Community School Students: Niall O’Shaughnessy Teacher: Mr. Andrew Killane SPIRIT OF ENTERPRISE AWARD The Good Choice Gardening Company From: The Irish Wheelchair Association centre in Ballycanew Team Members: Conor Cahill, Stephen Sinnott, Jack Culleton, Katie Murphy, Garry Murphy and John Sugrue. n
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WELCOME FUNDING FOR 12 CO. WEXFORD POOLS Wexford TD and Minister of State for Law Reform James Browne TD has confirmed the allocation of €110,880 to 12 County Wexford swimming pools. “The grant funding recognises the impact of swimming on our county and country’s health. County Wexford’s swimming pool operators showed their resilience during the pandemic. Today’s funding will help swimming pool operators to continue to offer communities an active real-life skill. Swimming can really boost our physical and mental wellbeing.” Wexford Swimming Pool and Leisure Ltd. Wexford €14,693.07. Club Vitae Maldron Hotel Wexford €10,226.38. Club Whitford Leisure Centre Wexford €12,107.09. Ferrycarrig Active Wexford €7,405.31. Enniscorthy Swimming Pool & Leisure Complex €11,989.55. Riverside Park Hotel €9,050.93. Active Tribe Courtown €9,756.20. Club Amber Springs Hotel €7,875.49. Club Ashdown Park Hotel €6,229.86. The Apex New Ross €14,105.35. Brandon House Hotel New Ross, €8,345.67. Kelly’s Hotel Aqua Club Rosslare €7,875.49. n
Gaelscoil Moshíológ, Gorey, go n-éirí libh! Gaelscoil Moshíológ’s Naíonán Mhóra (Senior Infants) will be representing Gorey in the Leinster finals of Féile Scoildrámaíochta, the Irish language drama festival for schoolchildren. On 22nd of March, Múinteoir Clodagh and her 22 pupils tread the boards in the George Bernard Shaw Theatre in Carlow with their abridged Irish language version of the classic The Wizard of Oz, An Fear Draíochta Oz. Translated and directed by M. Clodagh, there was acting, singing, a choreographed stunt fight and munchkins galore!
Múinteoir Clodagh said, "I am very proud of all the children, they have been working so hard over the past few weeks and the experience has helped the children's self confidence grow and they have learned to work effectively as a team." After the excitement of being on stage, the 6- and 7-year-olds were told that they had won a prize and move forward to the next round at the provincial level. Another magical performance and early morning bus ride awaits them on April 6th when they will represent their town and county in Mullingar Arts Centre. n
Rang Múinteoir Clodagh, Naíonáin Mhóra (Senior Infants), 2021/22, Gaelscoil Moshíológ.
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Into the Lions’ den!
Rosslare’s wind potential Wexford TD and Minister of State for Law Reform James Browne met with fellow Minister Eamon Ryan, Minister for Environment, Climate, Communications and Transport, last month to discuss infrastructural development at Rosslare Europort. Minister Browne says, “Rosslare Europort has great potential to serve as an offshore renewable energy hub, which will offer major opportunities for the County Wexford and south-eastern economy.” Following the meeting, Minister Browne thanked Minister Ryan for his willingness to “explore opportunities for establishing an offshore renewable energy hub at Rosslare Europort.
Newly-elected Lions Club President Dr Mairead Kelly with outgoing President Eric Barron. Enniscorthy GP Dr Mairead Kelly created history last month on being unanimously elected the new President of Enniscorthy Lions Club. She is the first woman to hold that role in the nearly forty years since the Enniscorthy club was founded. In total there are about 100 Lions Club in Ireland and about 2,000 members nationwide, and part of an international organisation of 48,000 clubs and about 1.5 million Lions in almost every country of the world. All Lions’ posts are voluntary and Lions Clubs in Ireland do not have any professional staff. Members enage in projects in the areas of health, refugee support, disaster relief, etc. Dr. Kelly has vowed, as the new President of Enniscorthy Lions Club, to be at the forefront of charitable works and activity in the town and immediatley upon her election set about increasing the club’s involvement in raising humanitarian aid for the Ukraine. She and her colleagues have established a database of available accommodation in the town and district which might be offered to families or individuals fleeing the war zone. The database is being managed by the Chamber of Commerce and anyone with available accommodation is being asked to contact the Chamber on 053 9232006. Dr Kelly is also driving a recruitment campaign for the Club stressing that it is open to both men and women and she would particularly like to see more women joining. Due to the pandemic over the last two years, the Club has not been as active as it usually is but still managed to facilitate a meals-on-wheels scheme and its annual Christmas Food Appeal. As the country emerges from the Covid pandemic, the Club hopes to be more visible in demonstrating its ‘We Serve’ motto in lots of practical ways as it undoubtedly faces the many challenges ahead in the community.
“County Wexford’s coastline offers a terrific opportunity to harness wind energy. Rosslare Europort is well placed for serving as a strategic offshore renewable energy hub. Accelerated development of Rosslare Europort’s infrastructure will strengthen the port’s ability to establish itself as an offshore renewable energy hub in the coming months. “Developing our offshore wind assets is a key priority for my Government colleagues and I. We have ambitious climate targets of 5GW (Giga Watt) of installed offshore wind capacity by 2030 and a long-term plan to take advantage of a potential of at least 30GW thereafter.” Minister Browne says, “An Bord Pleanála will consider the approval of the first batch of offshore renewable energy projects before the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) becomes operational at its Wexford town headquarters in 2023.” n Rosslare Europort has great potential to serve as an offshore renewable energy hub.
Last month Dr Kelly moved her medical practice into the new state-of-the-art Enniscorthy Primary Care Centre at Quarrypark, so this Spring has certainly been a particularly busy time for her. n
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Seán plants first tree at community orchard A great collaboration took place on 15th March 2022 between Enniscorthy Community Allotments and Enniscorthy Tidy Towns, with the planting of a community orchard at the new allotments site next door to the Enniscorthy Sports Hub at Cherry Orchard. Seán Doyle, long serving volunteer with Enniscorthy Tidy Towns (pictured on the left), had the privilege of planting the first tree there. n
Enniscorthy teenager with a bright political future Wexford Ógra Fianna Fáil’s Chairperson Ruairí Ryan has written a letter, backed by many County Councillors, seeking a meeting with Minister for Mental Health and Older People Mary Butler. The letter invites the Minister to Wexford to discuss the problems about mental health services with young people and to see the effects the lack of services is having on the Wexford community. Ruairí, who is from Enniscorthy, says, “The pandemic has had a massive effect on many people’s mental health and wellbeing, both young and old. Missing out on two years of meeting friends, family and even interacting with people on a regular basis, especially for young people... the need for support addressing emotional based anxiety issues is greater than ever. In Wexford we require more mental health support as we leave the pandemic and progress towards normality.” wexfordografiannafail@gmail.com At just 17 years of age, Enniscorthy’s Ruairí Ryan was recently elected chairperson of Ógra Fianna Fáil in Co. Wexford at the EGM of the organisation held on January 21st. He is Ógra’s youngest chair ever. Ruairí spoke about getting the unit more active in the community around Wexford doing charity work and campaigning on local issues as well as supporting public representatives all around the county. “We want to get more young people involved in politics in their local communities in Wexford, becoming activists on issues affecting themselves in their areas, that is what I intend to do... campaigning and highlighting issues all around the county. There really is a lot done, more to do!”, he said. If you wish to get involved email: wexfordografiannafail@gmail.com Ruairí is pictured above with Minister for Education Norma Foley TD. n
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Anna advocating for STEM subjects Anna Brosnan
Ferns native Anna Brosnan always loved maths and science. She attributes her love of maths to a teacher she had in Coláiste Bríde in Enniscorthy, Sister Ella. While she went to an all-girls school, engineering was not typically a career that students were encouraged to consider, but Anna said her maths and science teachers really brought the subjects to life for her. Anna said, “I knew that I wanted to do a professional degree and be a ‘something’ at the end of it. With my love of maths and science, engineering seemed like a good fit.” Not knowing which discipline of engineering to go into, Anna studied general engineering for her first two years in Trinity College Dublin and chose Civil Engineering for the final two years of her degree course. “I liked the idea of building things; buildings, roads, bridges. Looking back on my childhood, I had always enjoyed construction-related toys like Lego and Meccano. Civil engineering just felt like the right fit for me. During my third year in college, I spent the summer in London working on a bridge building site. I spent many days doing concrete slump tests to make sure the quality of the concrete was correct. I recognised then that the buzz of working in construction really appealed to me. “After college, I was offered a job at WS Atkins Consulting Engineers and worked for their Water and Public Health section in Epsom, Surrey, England. I worked with them for 5 years and, for 2 of those years, I was seconded to Thames Water Utilities
Limited, where I worked on site as a tunnel engineer on the London Ring Water Main Project.” “My role included surveying the tunnel and making sure that it was being built to the right line and level. The tunnels, up to 3m in diameter and 45m in depth, were built using concrete segments to form a ring. While the tunnels were under construction, we travelled underground in ‘locos’, which are small train carriages, which also transported excavated materials, tunnel segments and other supplies to and from the tunnel face.” Anna’s husband is a miner and she met him on that project. During her time with WS Atkins, Anna also worked on other interesting projects, such as the investigation into the Heathrow tunnel collapse. She was then offered a site-based job directly with Thames Water Utilities. Anna loved working on site, “There is a great sense of job satisfaction and the team approach of working on site really appeals to me.” One of the site offices Anna worked in was in the residential cottages of an Old Treatment Works site. Back in the 19th century, when the treatment works was built, cottages were also built for the staff who worked there. They lived in the cottages with their families and operated the treatment works. The cottages were long since abandoned, but one of them was used as a temporary site office and was believed to be haunted! Working with Irish Water since 2013,
Anna’s main motivation for working in the wastewater area is the protection of our environment. Being from Ferns in Co. Wexford, Anna grew up near some great beaches and developed a respect for the sea environment as well as land-based watercourses. Anna now lives in Co. Limerick with her husband Steven and three teenagers. She is a chartered member of Engineers Ireland and is a keen supporter of STEM subjects for students through involvement in ‘Limerick for Engineering’ and other engineering related events. When she isn’t working, Anna enjoys spending time with family and friends and relaxes by walking with her dogs in the Glen of Aherlow and at Lough Gur. She also loves reading, craftwork and is known to enjoy a good jigsaw, all very pandemic compatible pursuits. “I also love travelling and am fortunate to have visited many parts of the world already. But what I really look forward to now is getting back to see live theatre and music performances. Live music and acting, I really can’t wait for that again.” When asked if she would recommend a career in engineering, Anna said, “Absolutely, there is a great sense of achievement in working as an engineer. There are loads of opportunities and you can go in many directions. Engineers have the ability and opportunity to protect, shape and improve our world. “The best advice is to find your niche, what you’re good at and really go for it. It’s so important to enjoy what you’re working at, as life is short.” n
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Social prescribing in Co. Wexford National Social Prescribing Day was held on 10th March 2022 – an annual celebration recognising local community groups and projects which have kept Ireland and its people healthy throughout the pandemic and beyond. Social Prescribing services in Co. Wexford work with adults who may be experiencing mental health difficulties, long-term health conditions, social issues, loneliness and/or social isolation. Social Prescribing gives health service providers and community workers an opportunity to link people with nonmedical sources of support within the community and aims to reduce isolation and improve their health and wellbeing. Social Prescribing services in counties Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford are funded by the HSE, Sláintecare and Healthy Ireland. They are managed and delivered by community organisations. People can contact the Social Prescribing Link Workers themselves or be re-
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ferred by a health professional or community worker. The Co-ordinators work with individuals to connect them with activities and opportunities in the community such as relaxation, cookery, exercise, arts, gardening, education, volunteering and debt relief services among other resources. Some prescriptions have included linking in with a self-esteem course, a youth arts group, men’s cookery group, Pieta House, the Sports Partnership, dog handling training, the Solas Cancer Support Centre, dance classes, yoga, a women’s group and to the National Learning Network. Derval Howley (Head of Health and Wellbeing, HSE/South East Community Healthcare) says: “There is a growing body of evidence that social prescribing can lead to a range of positive health and wellbeing outcomes. Studies have pointed to improvements in quality of life and emotional wellbeing, mental and general wellbeing and levels of de-
pression and anxiety. I’m delighted to see the expansion of Social Prescribing in Ireland and the integration of it into healthcare services”. Clare Ryan (Programmes Manager at Wexford Local Development Social Prescribing Service) says: “Social prescribing aims to reduce the prevalence of isolation and loneliness in adults in Co. Wexford by connecting people together with something they want to do and something they enjoy.” As one person said, “Social prescribing is about focusing on what matters to the person not what's the matter with the person.” One service user described their experience, “I have found this to be helpful and rewarding. I am learning new skills and meeting people and I have been given new confidence and I’m delighted with the results.” For more information please contact: Lisa Johnson at Wexford Local Development ljohnston@wld.ie n
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Enniscorthy leads the way When it comes to NZEB (Nearly Zero Energy Buildings), Enniscorthy leads the way with its NZEB training courses delivered in WWETB’s Training Centre on the Old Dublin Road in Enniscorthy. These courses (which are also on offer in Waterford city) are the first trade specific NZEB courses being delivered in Europe! For more information see: http://nzeb.wwetbtraining.ie n
Enniscorthy:
Waterford:
NZEB Training Centre
NZEB Training Centre
Blackstoops, Old Dublin Road, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford
Waterford Industrial Park, Cork Road, Waterford
Y21 T6V9
X91 EH5N
St Senan’s School, Enniscorthy, Confirmation day at St Senan’s Church 12th March 2022
The Connors family with Caitlyn Connors who made her Confirmation.
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St Aidan’s School Confirmation, S
Above: St Aidan’s Primary School Confirmation, 5th March 2022. Ms Dagg’s and Mr Doyle’s classes with School Principal Frank Murphy and Rev. Odhran Furlong in St Aidan’s Cathedral. Below: St Aidan’s Primary School Confirmation. Ms Dagg’s and Mr Doyle’s classes with School Principal Frank Murphy and Rev. Odhran Furlong.
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St Aidan’s Cathedral, 5th March 2022
St Aidan’s Primary School Confirmation on Saturday 5th March 2022 in St Aidan’s Cathedral, Enniscorthy. Above left: Mateusz, Pawel, David, Ulo, and in front Julish Skraba. Above right: Allyanne and Barbara Connors. Left: Some of the Confirmation girls. Below left: Declan Barry, Walter, Fintan, Walter Snr, and Sophie McKenna. Below right: Leslie, Kelly, Leon and Zack Creane.
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Cruising on the Barrow Left: Rachel Power and Declan Bates of the Three Sisters Cruise Company aboard the new river cruise boat the Barrow Princess in New Ross.
The Barrow Princess River Cruise is a major new tourism offering based in New Ross with sailings having commenced on 18th March between New Ross and Waterford. About €800k has been invested to date by Declan Bates of the Three Sisters Cruise Company along with local public funding. Nine jobs will be created as the business ramps up over the coming months and footfall builds further following the opening of the new South East Greenway next year. Departing from New Ross marina each morning, the ninety-minute cruise brings passengers from New Ross down the river Barrow, taking in the Rose Fitzge-
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rald Kennedy Bridge and the Barrow River Railway Swing Bridge among other landmarks. As the Barrow Princess reaches Checkpoint, it then follows the river Suir west into Waterford city where passengers disembark at the Clock Tower Marina. Passengers return to New Ross via a bus service (included in the ticket price). Passengers can enjoy all the sights from the open-air upper deck or relax indoors in the cosy lounge. Hot and cold refreshments are available onboard sourced from local suppliers in New Ross and Waterford. A return service offers passengers from Waterford a similar cruise experience
back to New Ross. Passengers return to the point of embarkation in Waterford via a bus service (included in the ticket price). Initially, the operators are offering an additional one-hour mini-cruise out of Waterford City to where the Suir and the Barrow meet returning to Waterford city. Full schedule and online booking facility is available on www.barrowprincess.ie All tickets must be pre purchased online as there is no onsite sales facility. FULL CRUISE DETAILS: Full Cruise departs New Ross 10:00am Arrive Waterford 11:30 approx (Return by coach transfer).
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Passengers can enjoy all the sights from the open-air upper deck or relax indoors in the cosy lounge (pictured above).
Full Cruise departs Waterford 1:30pm Arrive New Ross 3:00pm approx. (Return by coach transfer). The full cruise pricing 2022: Adult €30 Child 2-12 €10 Family (2 adults and 2 or 3 children) €70 Under 2years (free) Bicycle fee €3 The above prices are for one-way boat cruise New Ross – Waterford or vice versa and include onsite bus transfer back to point of embarkation.
DAILY ONE-HOUR MINI-CRUISE FROM WATERFORD: Departs Waterford Pontoon (opposite Granville Hotel) 12 noon – for 1 hour Mini-Cruise up river & back to Waterford. Pricing for the mini-cruise in 2022: Adult €20 Child 2-12 €10 Family (2 adults and 2 or 3 children) €50 Under 2 years (free) Bicycle fee €3. Buggies can be brought FOC but must be booked-in when purchasing tickets online.
Currently there are no bike racks on-board – future plans into the season allows for 25. In the meantime bikes can come on board to be stored in the hold. There are 2 toilets and wheelchair gangway access to the boat. Safety: All passengers need to be registered regardless of age as there is a requirement by law to have a full passenger list of all on-board. It is planned to hold an official launch of the Barrow Princess this May. Full details in upcoming issues of the Slaney News. www.barrowprincess.ie n
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Sundays are made for Afternoon Tea at Ferrycarrig Hotel Sunday afternoons are for Afternoon Tea at Ferrycarrig Hotel in Wexford with the hotel having recently launched not one, but three brand new Sunday Afternoon Tea options: their amazing ’Sunday Afternoon Tea’, their ‘Vegetarian Afternoon Tea’ and their ‘Vegan Afternoon Tea’. Talk about choice! Everything on each menu is created in-house or locally sourced from the region's top-quality artisanal producers. Each Sunday afternoon, the beautifully appointed Reeds Restaurant at Ferrycarrig is transformed into a haven where guests can enjoy Afternoon Tea in a cosy atmosphere with majestic views of the River Slaney and live piano music. The Ferrycarrig kitchen team, who have been decorated with two AA Rosettes for culinary excellence and also named the top hotel restaurant in Wexford and in the top five hotel restaurants in Leinster at the Restaurants Association of Ireland awards, has ensured that only the best superior local producers are used to create this delicious new menus. Diners can enjoy a delicious range of sandwiches including Brioche Bun with Truffle Chicken Mayonnaise; Ballyhack Smoked Salmon with Pickled Cucumber on Ferrycarrig Guinness Brown Bread; Egg and Chive Mayonnaise on White; Irish Ham with Tomato Relish on Brown; and a Warm Irish Pork and Apple Sausage Roll. Guests can also indulge in a selection of homemade cakes and pastries including individual Classic Battenberg Cake; Lemon Curd Tart, White Chocolate and Berry Mousse; Decadent Triple Chocolate and Hazelnut Brownie; Mirror Glazed Strawberry Cheesecake; and Praline Chocolate and Hazelnut Truffle. Along with a selection of warm scones served with whipped cream and, of course, Wexford preserve. The Vegan Afternoon Tea Menu offers guests a delicious array of tea sandwiches including Waldorf Salad Mayonnaise; Smashed Avocado and Mature Cheddar; Smoked Tofu and Rainbow Coleslaw; Tomato, Garlic & Chive ‘Vierge’ Crostini; and a Vegan Sausage Roll. Warm Scones with Wexford Preserve and Coconut Cream are served along with treats like a Vegan Chocolate Brownie; Homemade Flapjacks; Praline Chocolate and Hazelnut Truffle; a Raspberry Frangipane Tart; and an Aqua Fabba Meringue with Fruit Compote. The Vegetarian Afternoon Tea offers tea sandwiches including Waldorf Salad Mayonnaise with Brioche Bun; Smashed Avocado and Mature Cheddar; Egg & Chive Mayonnaise on White; Tomato, Garlic & Chive ‘Vierge’ with Guinness Bread; and a Vegetarian Sausage Roll.
Sweet treats include Classic Battenberg Cake; Lemon Curd Tart, White Chocolate and Berry Mousse; Decadent Triple Chocolate and Hazelnut Brownie; Mirror Glazed Strawberry Cheesecake; and Praline Chocolate and Hazelnut Truffle. And of course warm scones with Wexford Preserve and Whipped Cream. All Sunday Afternoon Teas are served with a great selection of traditional and infused loose teas from Kingfisher Teas of Wexford including Darjeeling, Earl Grey Blue Flower, Irish Breakfast Tea, Japanese Sencha Green Tea and Rooibos Lemon (caffeine free). The Sunday Afternoon Tea at Ferrycarrig Hotel is priced at €25 per person and is served from 2 pm to 4 pm. And for those who enjoy some ‘bubbles’ with their Afternoon Tea – there’s a range of options starting from €4.50. For reservations call 053-9120999 or see www.ferrycarrighotel.ie Please note: If you wish to opt for the Vegan or Vegetarian options it is important to let the hotel know in advance. n
The ‘Slaney News’ can wholeheartedly recommend the Ferrycarrig Hotel’s new Sunday Afternoon Tea having thoroughly enjoyed our experience there on a recent Sunday. The food was wonderful, the portions copious, the staff and General Manager Derek Coyne so attentive, prize-winning Head Chef Tony Carty made sure to check in with all diners to see if everybody was happy, and of course the wonderful Fintan Cleary live on piano, all made it an afternoon to remember. Our advice is to book early – telephone in advance on 053-9120999. Page 64 - 5th April 2022
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Your local Slimming World Consultants in Enniscorthy
Providing you with a huge choice of sessions throughout the week: Tuesdays @ 6.30pm The Salt n Pepper Pot, Community Workshop Call Tony on 087 1785384 Wednesdays @ 9.30am, 11.00am, 5.30pm and 7.00pm Enniscorthy Rugby Club Call Trish on 087 3607615 Saturdays @ 9.00am and 10.30am The Salt n Pepper Pot, Community Workshop Call Tony on 087 1785384
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Acknowledging Wexford General Hospital’s healthier food options Wexford General Hospital has been rewarded for implementing healthier food options for staff and visitors.
Irish Heart Foundation CEO, Tim Collins
The Happy Heart Healthy Eating Award programme, run in partnership between the Irish Heart Foundation and the HSE’s Healthy Eating Active Living Programme, has led to numerous facilities adopting new cooking practices and transforming food choices over the last 25 years. The programme supports hospitals, nursing homes, disability services and other facilities to reduce the fat, sugar and salt in meals, increase the vegetable, salad and fruit offering, offer healthier snacks and beverages, measure portion sizes, provide high fibre choices and reduce processed meats. Across 2020 and 2021, the initiative was implemented at 30 sites nationwide, supporting the health of over 24,000 staff, with their efforts recognised at the annual Happy Heart Healthy Eating Awards, hosted by the charity and the HSE. Nationwide, the 2021 awards saw three facilities achieve the bronze standard, six achieved silver and 21 were awarded
gold, including Wexford General Hospital. A healthy and balanced diet with an active lifestyle helps reduce the risk of chronic conditions such as coronary heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and some cancers. Chronic diseases, including coronary heart disease and stroke, cause seven in ten premature deaths in Ireland. The programme supports facilities to reduce the fat, sugar and salt in meals, increase the vegetable, salad and fruit offering, offer healthier snacks and beverages, measure portion sizes, provide high fibre choices and reduce processed meats. Irish Heart Foundation CEO Tim Collins, who presented the virtual awards recently, said the initiative to ensure healthier food promotion and provision in workplaces was a “highly effective way to tackle heart disease and stroke”.
Sarah O’Brien, HSE.
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“The Irish Heart Foundation is delighted to recognise each of these locations for creating a culture of health and wellbeing and positively influencing people’s cardiovascular health by providing a longterm sustainable programme that demonstrates commitment to staff and visitors,” he said.
“Healthcare workers are essential for promoting the health of the nation and we are passionate about creating a healthy work environment for this important group in society.” “We are delighted to have partnered with the Irish Heart Foundation to roll out the Awards programme exclusively across the health services,” said Sarah O’Brien, National Lead of HSE’s Healthy Eating and Active Living Programme. “Catering services and staff have an important role to play in positively influencing the quality and nutritional content of food and beverages available, making the healthier choice the easier choice for all. “The Nutrition Standards for the provision of food and beverages sets out clear standards and guidelines and we are delighted to support sites to work to implement these. “Congratulations to all those receiving their 2021 Award for their hard work and dedication. We look forward to working with new facilities who sign up for the Awards programme in 2022 and will continue supporting those already engaged to achieve the highest standard possible,” she said. n
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€250k funding for food venture Wexford TD and Minister of State for Law Reform James Browne has welcomed the news that Enniscorthy will receive €250,000 in funding under the Historic Towns Initiative for a food and community hub, while Wexford Town will get €40,000 for a heritage-led regeneration plan.
Templeshannon to get a food and community hub.
Minister Browne and his government colleagues have prioritised Historic Towns Initiative projects related to heritage-led regeneration. €250,000 will fund the renovation of the ground floor of a Templeshannon heritage building. It will be transformed into a food and community hub. The project will be delivered over this year and 2023. Welcoming the investment, Minister Browne described how “the major funding investment to create a food and community hub in Templeshannon is a significant boost in Enniscorthy’s community infrastructure. Enniscorthy has previously benefitted from the Historic Towns Initiative through enhanced streetscape appearance works on Slaney Street and Mary Street. Today’s investment shows how my Government colleagues and I are keen to support further heritage-led business regeneration in Enniscorthy. “Templeshannon food and community hub will develop facilities related to food
production while also providing a strong community amenity. Today is a positive day for Enniscorthy as today’s funding will tap into the town’s terrific potential. The funding is sure to deliver fruitful economic and social results for Enniscorthy,” said Minister Browne. Deputy Paul Kehoe has also welcomed the announcement of €250,000 in funding saying, “A new aspect of this year's initiative was a call for proposals that encourage the specific re-use of historic buildings
ENNISCORTHY BUSINESS REACHES WORLD CLASS STANDARDS Last month, NSAI (The National Standards Authority of Ireland) recognised organisations from the commercial, public, and SME sectors across Ireland for their recent achievement in obtaining certification to world-class business standards. One such company was Enniscorthy-based Fresh Today which achieved I.S. EN ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management. It joins an elite group of almost 4,000 companies that have received NSAI certification in areas like Quality Management, Environmental Management, Occupational Health and Safety Management, and Energy Management. Obtaining NSAI certification gives companies a major advantage over their competitors when it comes to winning new business at home and abroad. For further information, visit www.NSAI.ie n
which we will see with the transformation of one of the historic buildings in Templeshannon. Enniscorthy is a town with massive potential and huge historical significance. This funding initiative will help to bring a historic building and area back to its former glory, while ensuring that they play a role in today’s day to day life of the town.” Meanwhile, the €40,000 for Wexford Town will allow a heritage-led regeneration plan to be developed for the town. n
WEXFORD COULD BECOME A MAJOR FLOUR PRODUCER Gorey Senator Malcolm Byrne has been raising in the Seanad the issue of Ireland’s reliance on imported flour. He has asked the Minister for Enterprise that in light of the potential global food security crisis “what measures are in place to support the commercial production of flour in Ireland.” Malcolm explains that we import most of our flour, about 80%, with most of that coming from the UK. With the war in Ukraine restricting the supply of wheat on the world market it will inevitably lead to substantially higher flour prices in the weeks ahead. So Malcolm believes there is an urgent need to look at domestic milling now. He says that, for example, the Kavanagh Brothers in Ballycarney already have permission to construct a commercial mill but some government support is needed. n
Senator Malcolm Byrne
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Producing wine in Co. Wexford! There are exciting times ahead at Wells House & Gardens for 2022 as they welcome back Arnaud and his La Kav Wines. They are returning to the Courtyard at Wells to open a wine shop and to promote their new Irish wine, created in Gorey, which will be available later this year after harvesting their grape crop grown in a sunny vineyard in Co. Wexford. The top quality white wine is produced with grape varieties adapted to the Irish climate. This is the work and passion of Arnaud Clopin, Philippe Guillaumond and their team of wine experts. Arnaud, originally from the Champagne region in France, has experienced the hardships of working with Irish soil and with the damp and relatively cold climate. He has heartbreakingly lost crops in the past and nearly gave up. But fuelled by passion and a sincere desire to make this work, he created a second crop. This time, in his “Field of Dreams”, he has grown a hardy grape
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and it will produce his first white wine this year. This hasn’t been an easy path. Arnaud has had to deal with pests native to Ireland as well as frost in May last year – something we don’t usually expect in Ireland. This is an extraordinary story of perseverance, of dedication to a dream in honour of his friend, Jean Christophe, a lover of wine, who passed away at an early age. All of this is done knowing its limitations, but pushing passed them anyway. Arnaud is a French man, living in Gorey for decades, married to Aine and father to four children, who are great helpers in the vineyard. His passion is this crop of wine but also, he says, “how wine brings us together”. Arnaud has set up a beautiful wine shop in Wells House under the management of the friendly and helpful Louis Menon who is full of wine knowledge and with a passion to share his expertise.
Arnaud Clopin of La Kav Wines
We are told that Arnaud’s Wexford white wine will be “fruity, refreshing with a nose of nettle, hedgerows, then melon and the typical Irish apple crumble”. Sounds good – an amazing Irish wine with a French heart and commercially available later this year, and every year. Pop in from Friday to Sunday to the Courtyard at Wells House to find out more. n
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Enjoying lunch at Coast Kilmore Quay hotel Coast Kilmore Quay is situated in the heart of historic Kilmore Quay within walking distance of beaches, walking trails, and the harbour. This family friendly hotel with its welcoming staff is now under new, local management. Our photographer caught up with some families enjoying Mother’s Day there on 27th March. Right: Enjoying Mother’s Day at the Coast Hotel Kilmore Quay were L-R: Vivian, son Stephen, daughter Olivia and husband Ollie. Below left: Fiona Murphy with husband Paul McCormack and son Kyle Murphy-McCormack. Below right: Jo Moore (centre) with sons Johnny on left and Damien on right. n
The first strawberries of 2022 Peter Donnellan, Farm Manager, and Jimmy Kearns, Proprietor, at Kearns Fruit Farm, Curragraigue, Ballindaggin, Enniscorthy, with their first strawberries of 2022. n
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Murrintown School Confi
Above: Miriam Galvin, Richard, Caragh, Cormac Simpson and Lisa McDonald.
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irmation, 11th March 2022 Right: Tara, James and Abigale Hegarty and Isabel Furney. Below: Some of the organising committee of the Gorey Night Run in aid of North Wexford Hospice. Below right: Jack Byrne ran in the Gorey Night Run.
Above: Shirley, Eli and David Stanners. Below: Enda and Eoin Whelan.
Above: Murrintown Confirmation, Friday 11th March 2022, in Murrintown Church. Mr Johnny Murphy’s class with Fr Pat Mernagh, Fr Lorenzo Cleary and Fr John O’Reilly with pupils and teachers. Left: Sarah, Emer and Paul Quirke. Right: M.J. and Pat Dempsey. Four photos below, L-R: 1. Richard, Sophie, Lee and Linda Ennis. 2. Pat, Sinead and Finn Devereux and Niamh Larkin. 3. Barry O’Leary, Caoimhe, Cormac, Barry, Ciara, Darragh and Ruarí Pettitt. 4. Oscar, Susie, Anne and Mark O’Connor.
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The 2022 ‘Hope and Dream 10’ on 3rd April attracted over 1,300 participants Michelle Hutchinson and Evan Quigley.
Damien and John Joe Byrne.
Bill, Mick and Tom Collins.
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Philomena Murray, Annette Browne, Anne Cleary, Kathleen Nash and Anne Cleary.
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Anne Dillon and Philip Hughes.
All set to go: Breda O’Brien and Bridget Storey.
Martina and Paul Merrigan and Mol Molloy.
Matt Blackburn and James O’Brien.
Rathnure Panto Group characters.
Elsie Murphy and Yvonne Nolan.
Tom Murphy, Bridget Sinnott and Tom Byrne.
Harry and Susanne Roban.
John Fenlon, Chris O’Toole and Andy Fenlon.
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South-East Regional Enterprise Plan to 2024 launched in Wexford
Launch of the Regional Enterprise Plan for the South-East at the Kent Stainless premises in Wexford, L-R: Ann O'Brien, Managing Director of Kent Stainless, Minister of State Robert Troy TD, Derek Kent, Director of Kent Stainless, and Minister James Browne TD. Pic: Mary Browne.
Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation Robert Troy launched the South-East Regional Enterprise Plan (REP) to 2024, in Wexford, on 24th March.
mittee, Alan Quirke, South-East Programme Manager, Richard Hickey, SouthEast Programme Executive and the Steering Committee members for delivering this new plan for the region.
The South-East REP, covering counties Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford and Wexford, is one of nine new enterprise plans throughout the country which will be funded by up to €180 million. This funding will drive the implementation of the Plans which will develop and implement collaborative and innovation enterprise projects in the regions and support sustainable jobs.
"Over the past year the enterprise community from across Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford and Wexford came together to develop ambitious, achievable objectives to capitalise on the unique strengths and seize the opportunities for the South-East. The Plan reflects the region’s huge appetite to build a balanced regional recovery, one that is focused on future enterprise development and sustainable job creation for the longer term.
The REPs have been developed using a ‘bottom up’ approach by people who have a real stake in their community. This model makes the Plan unique and responsive to the opportunities and needs of the region, with a focus on regional collaboration. Minister Troy outlined the importance of the Plan, saying: "I am delighted to be in Wexford today to launch the South-East Regional Enterprise Plan to 2024. Congratulations to Patsy Carney, Chair of the South-East Steering Com-
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"I was determined to ensure that funding will be made available to drive the Regional Enterprise Plans and I am delighted to announce today funding of up to €17 million for regional enterprise projects as part of the overall €180 million in funding over the coming years. This is necessary for the development of collaborative regional projects that will drive delivery of the objectives developed in this South-East Plan. I look forward to working with Patsy and the
committee throughout implementation." Delivering balanced regional growth is a stated objective within the Programme for Government and in the Economic Recovery Plan 2021. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment contributes to the regional agenda in a number of ways, including through the enterprise agencies, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland; the Local Enterprise Offices and through national enterprise policy. Chair of the South-East Regional Steering Committee, Patsy Carney, Director of Kinetic Labs said: "I would like to thank Minister Troy for his visit to Wexford today for our launch of the South-East Regional Enterprise Plan. I would like to acknowledge his support and involvement during the consultation process which was key in ensuring momentum and engagement was maintained in the region. "I look forward to working closely with the Minister and Committee members as we move to implementation stage." n
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Minister visits a local business success story
Minister James Browne TD recently visited the premises of Adman Steel Sheds, based near Gorey, met with owner Paul Nolan, and took a tour of the facility. Adman Steel Sheds manufacture a huge range of steel garden sheds, insulated sheds, garages and garden rooms at their extensive premises at Ballycanew Road, Gorey. Each Adman Steel Shed is made to order, with a choice of sizes, colours, doors and a host of unique storage options that can be specified to suit all garden and storage requirements. The company prides itself on the quality materials used along with top workmanship. Smart storage options are also offered including bike rack, tool rack, sturdy steel shelving and workbenches. These options enable customers maximise the space within their sheds and create order. Contact details: Adman Steel, Ballycanew Road, Gorey. Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 8am to 5pm. Saturdays: 10am to 4pm. Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays: Closed. Tel: 053 94 30001 E-mail: info@admansteelsheds.ie www.admansteelsheds.ie n
Niamh Hogan of Holos, a previous speaker at the LEO Wexford Women in Business Network. L-R: Paul Nolan, Adman Steel Sheds, and Minister James Browne TD.
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Co. Wexford Business Awards County Wexford Chamber is delighted to announce the launch of the County Wexford Business Awards 2022 when once again top businesses across the county of Wexford will be recognised for their efforts. Following a two-year absence due to Covid, the prestigious awards ceremony returns, honouring the best of County Wexford’s businesses in a gala night at Clayton Whites Hotel. Over the years, the awards night and the awards themselves have become highly successful and this year’s process, from nominations to the big reveal of winners will be featured in print and online with the awards’ media partner People Newspapers. The awards night will be held at Clayton Whites Hotel on Friday, May 27. Around 500 local business leaders will be present at the awards, where local companies will be rewarded for their successes. There are 19 awards up for grabs plus the prestigious County Wexford Overall Business of the Year Award, which is sponsored by Chevron College. The awards, which are free to enter, are open to businesses across County Wexford including both members and nonmembers of County Wexford Chamber. The shortlisted companies, win or lose, will also have an opportunity to secure strong media profiling, as each shortlisted finalist will be featured by Wexford People News.
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AWARD CATEGORIES: County Wexford Overall Business of the Year – Sponsored by Chevron College.
County Wexford SME of the Year Award (1-50 employees) – Sponsored by PTSB.
County Wexford Social Enterprise Outstanding Achievement – Sponsored by Wexford People.
County Wexford Excellence in Retail Award – Sponsored by Joyces Expert Wexford.
County Wexford Excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility – Sponsored by Scurri.
County Wexford Start Up Business of the Year – Sponsored by Wexford County Council.
County Wexford Service Industry Provider of the Year – Sponsored by Danone Nutricia.
County Wexford Social Media & Digital Marketing Excellence Award – Sponsored by Clayton Whites Hotel.
County Wexford E-Commerce Excellence Award – Sponsored by AIB Bank.
County Wexford Family Business of the Year Award – Sponsored by PWC.
County Wexford Green Award – Environmental Best Practice – Sponsored by Wexford Bus. County Wexford Excellence in International Trade Award – Sponsored by Rosslare Europort. County Wexford SME of the Year Award (50 + employees) – Sponsored by Talbot Hotel Wexford. County Wexford Operational Excellence Award – Sponsored by Waters Technologies Ireland Ltd. County Wexford Training Provider of The Year – Sponsored by Kent Stainless. County Wexford Outstanding Contribution to Business – Sponsored by Monart Destination Spa.
County Wexford Activity Tourism Provider of The Year Award – Sponsored by Wexford Local Development. County Wexford Town Ambassadors of the Year Award – Sponsored by Zurich Insurance. County Wexford Hospitality Provider of The Year Award – Sponsored by Wexford Chamber Skillnet. County Wexford Food & Beverage Producer of the Year – Sponsored by Irish Country Meats. For more information, contact County Wexford Chamber on 053 91 22226 or www.wexfordbusinessawards.ie n
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Enniscorthy & District Chamber Black Tie Ball
Rosslare business comes out on top
After a series of false starts, the annual Enniscorthy & District Chamber Black Tie Ball will be going ahead in The Riverside Park Hotel, Enniscorthy, on Saturday night, April 16th (Easter Saturday). After such a prolonged period of lockdown, the Chamber believes the time is right for this event so members and guests can enjoy the convivial company of friends and business acquaintances. The Ball is being billed as the social highlight of the Easter season in the county. Considerable planning has gone into the event which includes a champagne reception on arrival, a sumptuous fivecourse dinner with a choice of wines, and dancing afterwards to the sounds of Brass & Co – a 13 piece musical combo from Waterford.
Congratulations to Rosslare-based cosmetics manufacturer Professional Hair Products Ltd on coming out on top at this year’s Wexford Enterprise Awards. Best of luck to CEO Ryan Margolin and team as they represent Wexford in the National Enterprise Awards in Dublin in June!
Mr. Ivan Yates, well known TV personality, businessman and retired politician has very kindly agreed to act as guest speaker for the Ball and his incisive comments and remarks on topics of the day will no doubt be eagerly awaited. Tables of ten for company bookings will guarantee a night to remember for group attendees, and individual tickets are also available to purchase. With demand expected to exceed supply, early booking is strongly advised. Corporate tables and individual tickets can be ordered in advance by contacting the Enniscorthy & District Chamber office on 053 9232006 during office hours or by email at admin@enniscorthychamber.ie n
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Leadership songs to inspire! LEO (Local Enterprise Office) Wexford Women in Business Network is delighted to welcome leading podcaster Angie Mezzetti to Enniscorthy on 28 April. This is an historic occasion for the Network which was set up during the winter lockdown of 2020. Now, for the first time, the group will meet in the Riverside Park Hotel, Enniscorthy, at 10am on 28 April. Angie Mezzetti runs the media production and training company, Ocarina. A former newscaster and journalist with RTE, she now produces radio podcasts and documentaries for RTE Lyric fm, Newstalk, and the Doc On One. She also prepares people in the public and private sector for media interviews and demystifies the process for them. Angie presents and produces the Women In Leadership podcast where leading women share their leadership experience and talk about current challenges for women in business, politics, society, and
in their daily family and social lives. One surprise element is their ‘Go To Song’ which guests usually share and also their monetary advice and wisdom – often hard lessons are behind these stories. Angie will present a Top Ten Countdown of these Lessons In Leadership Songs that have inspired guests on the show and will share the stories and inspirational leadership lessons behind them. Attendees at the LEO Wexford Women in
Business Network will have a chance to share their own songs and wisdom too in a lively morning of wisdom sharing. Bookings for the free Network event on: https://www.localenterprise.ie/Wexford/T raining-Events/Online-Bookings/Womenin-Business-Network-28-04-2022.html Registration and refreshments are at 10am – 10.30am, with the speaker and a Q&A from 10.30am to 11.30am, and open networking 11.30am-12.30pm. n
Renewable energy job potential Wexford TD and Minister of State for Law Reform James Browne TD has met with Enterprise Ireland CEO Mr Leo Clancy to explore the potential of developing Enterprise Ireland-supported renewable energy jobs in County Wexford. Rosslare Europort is seen as having great potential to serve as an offshore renewable energy hub, which will offer major opportunities for County Wexford. Following the meeting, Minister Browne thanked Mr Clancy for his interest. “Rosslare Europort is well placed for serving as a strategic offshore renewable energy hub. My Government colleagues and I are acutely aware of the major opportunities in creating renewable energy jobs. The Expert Group of Future Skills Needs expects the number of off-shore wind employees to rise from the low hundreds to approximately 2,500 by 2025. “Developing Rosslare Europort as a strategic offshore renewable energy hub offers major opportunities for the development of offshore wind electricity and
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Leo Clancy (Enterprise Ireland CEO), Carol Gibbons (Enterprise Ireland) and Minister James Browne TD. associated by-products. The Department of Enterprise and Enterprise Ireland are actively engaged in building the capacity in the indigenous sector for supply chain opportunities with large international investors. I will continue to work closely
with the Minister for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation Robert Troy TD and Enterprise Ireland to secure the growth of County Wexford jobs in this crucial, low carbon economy sector,” Minister Browne concluded. n
SlaNey petS
MOYNE VETERINARY HOSPITAL Old Dublin Road, Enniscorthy. T: (053) 9233187, 9236674. F: (053) 9236674. E: moynevet@gmail.com
VET DIARY FOR APRIL For almost as long as I can remember, Larry Wall has been working in the practice. As a chap, I remember him working in the old yard in Templeshannon in Enniscorthy lambing ewes, dripping calves, operating on dogs, treating sick animals big and small, and seamlessly seemed to move from one job to the next with endless energy, enthusiasm and good humour.
with Joe Kavanagh of the Moyne Veterinary Hospital reinventing himself time and again, adapting to whatever challenge practice brought him. This ranged from doing orthopaedic operations on dogs, tricky operations such as urethrostomies on lambs and bullocks, to his specialisation of spastic paresis ops on cattle within the practice... He then moved his interest in working with horses to a new level in the early 2000s and made this his own over the next 20 years.
By today's standards, in that yard a whole team of vets worked out of a 'hole in the wall'. It was the focal point of the practice but of He helped steer the practice into a new era by course the work radiated out from there onto farms gaining hospital status in 2017 and has always of all types from stud farms, dairy, beef, sheep and been a stalwart, ready to jump in and give a dig Larry and Ann Wall. pigs too. It was an eclectic mix of every type of out even when he was officially off duty... His farm animal, greyhounds, pets included... and it was busy. On career has spanned over 45 years and he has finally bowed out any given day the phone would start ringing from early and fin- of practice in the recent past. ishing times were very varied but seldom done by office hours. His legacy continues as even when I'm out on calls the farmers It wasn't just the vet that was busy either, whoever was at home all still enquire about Larry and often recount stories of when had to answer the phone, take the calls at night, relay them on things didn't quite go to plan and how he navigated it all back to who was on night duty, and to a newly married spouse being to a resolution with ease and delivered with a smile. landed with this responsibility was just another challenge to The vets and office staff alike remark about the craic and contend with living with a country vet. The onset of mobile banter he brought to the place. Larry is one of life's colourful phones revolutionised things for vets back in the late 90s as you characters and it has been our pleasure to work alongside him might be out in one area of the practice on a call and a neighfor a fair chunk of those years. bouring farmer might ring to say he needed you too so it saved time, money and streamlined work. We wish Larry and his wife Ann many happy and healthy years in retirement. From all at the Moyne Vet Hospital, we Larry worked alongside my father Simon, Martin Kent and Miowe Larry a huge debt of gratitude for his professionalism, his chael O’Shea as a partner, building up and reshaping the whole care and attention and the kindness he showed to his colpractice when we moved from the 'old yard' to our purposeleagues and clients alike. built clinic. While contemporaries of his were bowing out of practice, some heading to the Department, Larry forged ahead
Thank you Larry. n
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
Practice partners in the 1980s, L-R: Michael O’Shea, Larry Wall, Simon Kavanagh, Martin Kent.
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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
DACIA DUSTER The Dacia Duster has been a huge success in Ireland since it was first launched back in 2013. Over 14,000 Dusters have found homes in Ireland since it first went on sale. Now in its second generation, Dacia has updated the Duster again for 2022. Duster gets more modern features to keep it competitive in the compact SUV segment. Priced from €21,190, the Dacia Duster is one of Ireland's truly affordable new cars. The Duster is now very recognisable on Irish roads for its chunky, rugged design. You don't mess with an icon! So the Duster facelift has been minor. New light units include Y-shaped daytime running
lights, which look more contemporary and seem to fit better, especially at the rear. This shape also inspired the new 3D chromed radiator grille. Front LED indicators debut here for the first time in the Dacia range. There’s also a new colour – Arizona Orange – that really makes the Duster pop. Inside, the cabin has been lifted with the addition of a new 8” touchscreen with modern graphics and a glossier finish. It replaces the old 7” unit. The USB ports have also moved to a neater location further down in the centre console so the cable no longer dangles across the touchscreen. There are few soft touch plastics in the cabin but it’s acceptable at this price range.
The Dacia Duster will seat five and is one of the more spacious small SUVs on the market today. The high roofline gives loads of headroom, adding to that feeling of space. The boot is also a good size with up to 478 litres available in two wheel drive models, and 467 in four wheel drive Dusters. Isofix child-seat mounting points are fitted to the outer rear seats. The new Duster is available in Ireland with petrol and diesel engines in 2022, as well as a petrol/LPG 'bifuel option' by special order. All wheel drive is available on diesel models. The range kicks off with the 1.0-litre TCe petrol engine with 90 hp and a manual gearbox at €21,190. There's also a new petrol/LPG option priced the same, with 100 hp and a 6-speed manual gearbox. The
Dacia Duster
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SlaNey motoriNg diesel option in the Duster range is the familiar 1.5-litre dCi with 115 hp available in either twowheel drive or four-wheel drive, combined with a six-speed manual gearbox. Four wheel drive Dusters are available from €26,140 and are extremely capable off-road for a small SUV. With a bit more power, Duster is offered with a 1.3-litre TCe 150 hp petrol engine. It's sold as two wheel drive and is the only engine in the range offered with an automatic gearbox.
ment system with Android Auto® and Apple CarPlay®. The Prestige model is available from €25,290 with even more equipment. The Duster holds a 3-star Euro NCAP safety rating with some safety equipment like lane departure warning and autonomous emergency braking still absent. The Dacia Duster offers excellent value for a small SUV. At a time when new cars have become even more expensive, the Duster remains one of the last truly affordable cars with enough space inside to meet the needs of family buyers. While there are some compromises to quality, the Duster has improved a lot over the years and now has more equipment than ever before.
Interior
The driver enjoys a high seating position behind the wheel giving the Duster the feel of an authentic off-roader. Steering is light making the car easy to park and drive around town. Out of town it's not the sharpest performer in bends. Yet it’s comfortable where it matters over long distances and copes well with rougher surfaces on rural roads and in town. The Dacia Duster 1.5 dCi is a reliable companion for the Duster with a good return on economy. My average fuel consumption over a week of driving was 5.3 litres. In Ireland the Duster is available in three trim levels: Essential, Comfort and Prestige. The Duster Essential (from €21,190)
has steel wheels, automatic headlights, and black roof bars. Inside there’s a height and reach-adjustable steering column, cruise control with speed limiter, on-board computer, DAB Radio and manual air conditioning. The Comfort model is priced from €23,390 and is more desirable for 16-inch alloy wheels, black-painted heated and electrically adjustable door mirrors, bodycoloured door handles, front fog lights, and hill descent control. The interior, meanwhile, gains upgraded upholstery, height-adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar adjustment, leather steering wheel, electric rear windows, rear parking sensors with rear camera, and the 8-inch infotain-
Model tested: Dacia Duster dCi 115 Comfort Price: €25,190 Engine: 1.5-litre turbo diesel Power: 115 hp Torque: 260 Nm 0-100km/h: 10.5 seconds Top speed: 179 km/h CO2 emissions (WLTP): 111 g/km Motor Tax: €200 per year. n
AUTO TINTING TEL: 053 9430013 Arklow Road, Gorey
Lifetime Warranty Professional Accredited Installers Complete Range of Tints incl. NCT info@coatek.ie www.coatek.ie info@coatek.ie www.coatek.ie
AUTO REPAIR ENNISCORTHY
NCT Preparation – Repairs – Timing Belts Clutches – General Servicing – Etc No job too big or too small NCRS, Old Dublin Road, Enniscorthy (opposite Cooney Furlong / Gala) Tel: 086-8299431 – 053 9233033 – Email: ncrallying@yahoo.ie
L&M STARTER & ALTERNATOR REPAIR SERVICE CARS, VANS, 4X4, TRUCKS, TRACTORS, MARINE, QUADS, LAWNMOWERS AND GENERATORS. WE REPAIR ALL UNITS. ALL APPLICATIONS CATERED FOR.
Island Road, Enniscorthy. T: (053) 9235933. 5th April 2022 - Page 81
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Road safety for transition years For the past 15 years, Wexford County Council and Wexford Rotary Club have jointly presented a unique road safety event entitled Just 1 Life. Aimed at Transition Year students, the objective of the Just 1 Life programme is to prevent young drivers’ lives being needlessly lost in road traffic collisions. Described by some as a “shock and awe” approach, the no-holdsbarred initiative features a series of interactive videos and presentations from An Gárda Síochána, the National Ambulance Service, the Health Service Executive, Mental Health Ireland and Wexford Fire Service. The 450 pupils who took part in the Just 1 Life event in the National Opera House, Wexford, on Wednesday 2nd of March attend St Peter’s College, Loreto Secondary School, CBS Secondary School and Selskar College. Wexford County Council and Wexford Rotary are hopeful that the Just 1 Life initiative will make a difference with these young drivers of the future. Mr Mike Brand of Wexford Rotary Club described how the initiative had first started in Australia, when, faced with similar road accident statistics in that continent, Rotary International launched a campaign to make Australian students aware of dangerous driving behaviours and their often tragic consequences. “Road carnage is, unfortunately, a worldwide experience,” said Mr. Brand. “We are indebted to our Australian friends for initiating this programme and Wexford Rotary Club is delighted to support Wexford County Council in providing this programme to Wexford and adapting it to meet the needs of our young people.”
Cllr. Barbara-Anne Murphy, Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council, said, 'Unfortunately, far too many of us have lost someone we know and love in a road traffic collision. Most fatal accidents are avoidable, and many are caused by speed or a single moment of distraction, The 'Just 1 Life' programme takes a hardhitting, direct approach to driver behaviour. The programme is aimed at TY students and will hopefully dramatically change dangerous behaviours behind the wheel and save lives in the future.' David Codd, Road Safety Officer with Wexford County Council, explained how, from its creation in 2006, more than 15,000 Transition Year students from all second level schools in Wexford have benefited from attending the programme. “These students, who are the next generation of drivers on our roads are unfortunately the age group most likely to be involved in a serious injury or fatal road collision. I feel that it is vitally important for us to share the experiences of our presenters with these young people. Our speakers come from all of the emergency services in the County and have attended multiple collisions scenes where young people of a similar age have unfortunately lost their lives.” The Just 1 Life programme emphasises the stark realities and often tragic results of inappropriate driving behaviours. By sharing their experiences the presenters hope that they can impress upon the students the responsibility that comes with sitting behind the wheel of a car. If just one life can be saved, if just one young person’s attitude can be influenced to make that person a safer and more responsible driver, then what a great achievement for all involved. n ‘Just 1 Life’ road safety event in the National Opera House, Wexford, on 2nd March 2022. Left: Michael Brand, Wexford Rotary Club. Right: Chief Superintendent Anthony Pettit. Below: Garda Mick Dee.
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Dancing with Declan Keep up to date with the local dancing scene on: https://www.facebook.com/DancingwithDec https://www.facebook.com/socialdancingdateswexford n
Wexford Arts Centre For details and updates on all concerts, drama, exhibitions, films etc happening in Wexford Arts Centre, check out: https://wexfordartscentre.ticketsolve.com/shows n
Fishy tales The Songs and Tall Tales of Jerry Fish. Enniscorthy’s Presentation Centre, 22nd April 2022. Tickets available from: www.wexfordartscentre.ie/events/ n
Enniscorthy Women Walking Together A new ‘Enniscorthy Women Walking Together’ meet-up group has been set up so that no woman who likes to walk has to walk alone, and to help all women to be healthier, happier and fitter. All women are very welcome to join in. Walking alone is not usually much fun so it helps to be among friends who are encouraging and supportive. Walking times, days and duration will be decided by the walkers in the group. A spokesperson for the group says: “So why not give it a try. Come join us and make new friends, have fun and a chat and get healthier at the same time.” A Facebook page has been created to help bring women of all ages together to enjoy walking in the company of other likeminded women.
Wexford Drama Festival
Check out the new Facebook page: ‘Enniscorthy Women Walking Together’ n
Enniscorthy Drama Group is back in action this May Enniscorthy Drama Group’s next production will be a Martin McDonagh classic – A Skull in Connemara – a dark and comic piece set in rural Galway and is the middle play of the wellknown McDonagh trilogy. Full details in next month’s issue. n
Stay in touch Wexford Public Libraries Social Media: Wexford Public Libraries on Facebook. Wexford Public Libraries on Instagram @wexfordlibraries. Wexford Public Libraries on Twitter @wexlibraries. YouTube: "Wexford Public Libraries" n
The line-up for the 58th Wexford Drama Festival is shown above. Six nights of fabulous drama in the Jerome Hynes Theatre in the National Opera House, Wexford. Tickets available from the National Opera House for each play and patron tickets also available for €66 on sale through the Opera House. Book by phoning 053 9122144. Please note the plays on Monday and Thursday contain adult themes and are recommended for audiences over 16 years old. n
ENNISCORTHY LIBRARY Lymington Road - Phone: 053 9236055 enniscorthylib@wexfordcoco.ie https://www.wexfordcoco.ie/libraries https://www.facebook.com/enniscorthylibrary
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TEL: 053 9233000
THE PRESENTATION CENTRE, ENNISCORTHY. WWW.PRES
FOR BOOKING ON ALL EVENTS: WWW.WEXFORDARTSCEN Page 84 - 5th April 2022
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THE PRESENATION ARTS CENTRE ENNISCORTHY 27TH MAY 2022 8PM
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ARE YOU DANCING? Hi folks and welcome to the April issue of the Slaney News dancing scene page. The dust is finally settling from the fallout of the covid era and we're beginning to see who's left standing. Dances that were depending on the older generations of dancers to make ends meet have clearly taken a hit. It was a dwindling attendance one way or the other, but Covid accelerated what was the inevitable. The percentage of the older generation of dancers who didn't return to the dancehalls has made many of them simply unviable. The young people who were turning up full of beans Jiving and Line Dancing were shunned as they were getting in the way and disturbing the world order. But now they are essential to the survival of the dance halls. Those who embraced them are now flourishing. Those who didn't are now either closed or struggling to stay open.
more parish dance recently. Unthinkable when long-established dancehalls couldn't attract a quarter of that many. And why? Simply because he's young and knows what the young people want.
Take Aaron O'Hara for instance. He packed nearly 200 people into the Aska-
He knows Olivia Douglas is popular, as she and the likes of Stuart Moyles, John
Molloy, etc. who play the afters in the bars at events where the big bands are playing have the young audience there anyway. They get to know them on a personal level and so will support them if they play locally. They in turn play what the young people like to dance to. Not
Des Willoughby
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with Declan Flanagan
Aaron O'Hara
rocket science by any means. It's a natural transition that we've experienced before in the 50s when the showbands exploded on the scene. And to show exactly how Aaron has his finger on the pulse, he added Jack Keogh to the bill which copperfastened the desire for the young people to turn up. Just starting out, and with guest appearances with the likes of Derek Ryan, Jack was a real coup for the success of the dance in Askamore. The Parkview House in Shillelagh is another prime example of how important it is to welcome in the young people into the dances. Melissa and Eugene Kenny do so with open arms. Even when there isn't a dance on, their jukebox is loaded with good country music and the tables are pushed aside for anyone who feels like a jive. They have a great food menu too so well worth a visit any day of the week. I headed to the Shearwater Hotel in Ballinasloe since we last spoke and saw a big number of SE participants in the All Ireland Jiving Finals. We came away with the title in the double jive competition and narrowly missed out on two places in the final of the singles. Derek Ryan, Patrick Feeney, Michael English, Stuart Moyles, John Molloy and Brendan Jermyn made it a great weekend of dancing which I'm still recovering from!
The Rhu Glenn is always worth keeping an eye on as it's the South East's premier country venue. Richie Halpin is the man with the plan and Michael English is there on the 9th and Jimmy Buckley on the 16th.
So that's it for this month folks and don't forget to share this with all your dancing friends and I'll hopefully see you all in the May edition of the Slaney News. Yours truly, Declan Flanagan.
Des Willoughby of the famed Willoughby Brothers has teamed up with Rathwood in Tullow to host hopefully numerous future events in their new Big Top following on from a highly successful concert recently featuring Declan Nerney, Gary Gamble, Sandy Kelly, The Ryan Turner Band and The Celtic Brothers. Des has already told me to expect a fabulous line out for a country dance night on June the 11th. I'm sworn to secrecy so all will be revealed in the next issue of the Slaney News. I'm very happy to see Rathanna and Carrick-on-Suir dances returning. Rathanna is the 2nd Sunday of each month and Carrick was, and hopefully is, on every Friday.
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Taking New York by storm While a lot of attention was understandably focused on the recent Oscars ceremony for all the wrong reasons, some movie news was being created in New York for all the right reasons by Nic Furlong – an Enniscorthy-based actor/ writer/director. His film Seed won the Best Director and Best Actor awards for Nic at the New York Film Festival. It was a ‘truly amazing experience’, according to Nic, and ‘completely unexpected to be honest, I was up against some great competition’. Seed is written and directed by Nic Furlong and is a character study of how trauma, in this case grief, can cause a mental breakdown. Starring Nic Furlong himself along with local actors Peter McCamley, Ben Cavanagh, and Kate Gallagher, and with Robert Whelan on camera, sound and editing, and Michael Benson doing drone footage, the film follows Ryan through the journey of dealing with the loss of his wife. We realise just how badly bereavement affects his mental health as he comes to terms with his loss. Nic thanks all the cast and crew for making the awards possible, and dedicates them to his friend Owen ‘who was taken away from us way too early. I know you are looking down on me everyday.’ n
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First Wexford strawberries of the season at Mernagh’s Danescastle Fruit Farm Left: Margaret Mernagh with this year’s first and finest at Danescastle Fruit Farm, Carrig on Bannow. Below: Rosslare Municipal District Councillors welcoming the first strawberries of the season at Danescastle Fruit Farm, L-R: John Mernagh (proprietor), Cllr. Lisa McDonald, Cllr Jim Codd, Margaret Mernagh (proprietor), Cllr Jim Moore, Eamonn Hore (Director of Services, Wexford County Council). n
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The Dollies are back! Enniscorthy Delightful Dollies made their way back to their ‘home’ at Bellefield GAA complex on 9th March 2022 for the first time since the Covid pandemic started. Above left: Mary Lambert, Margaret Cahill and Philomena Murphy. Above right: Evelyn Walsh and Anne Dobbs. Opposite: Helen Wildes, Catherine Quigley and Tracey Cowman. Below left: A happy trio back together – Sally Murphy, Celine Fortune and Tracey Cowman. Below right: Kathleen and Bridget Leacy.
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Uplifting Music for Wexford at St Mary’s Right: Music for Wexford performers at St. Mary’s church, Enniscorthy: Siobhan Armstrong (Irish and European Baroque Harp), Róisín O'Grady (Soprano) and Cárthach MacCraith (Sean Nós singer). Pic: Maria Nolan. On Sunday 6th March, the nave of St. Mary’s, Enniscorthy, resonated with a Music for Wexford recital, The Calling of the Wild Geese, inspiring and elevating the select and appreciative concert audience. The exquisite music and song, Irish, English, and European, of the 1600 and 1700s was performed eloquently by Harpist, Siobhan Armstrong, Soprana, Roisin O’Grady and Sean Nós Singer, Cárthach MacCraith, who, miraculously spirited the gathering to times long gone on the wings of song. Laments for Patrick Sarsfield and the Wild Geese blended blissfully with English, French, and Italian arias, beautifully delivered by MacCraith and O’Grady, as the angelic melody of the Irish and Italian baroque harps wafted divinely through the aisles, under the featherlight touch of Siobhan Armstrong who also provided the enthralled St. Mary’s attendance with the story, legend, and history, behind each splendid piece. What an extremely worthwhile project and well done to Music for Wexford and St. Mary’s for bringing it to our attention. – Maria Nolan
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The Fureys to play two top venues in Co. Wexford When The Fureys make their eagerly awaited return to County Wexford at the Ashdown Park Hotel, Gorey, on Easter Sunday 17th April and the National Opera House, Wexford, on Friday 3rd June, they will treat their audience to one of popular music’s richest legacies. They are one of Ireland’s all-time most acclaimed and influential folk, traditional and middle of the road bands. Fureys’ classics like I Will Love You, When You Were Sweet 16, Red Rose Café, Leaving Nancy, The Old Man, From Clare to Here and The Green Fields of France have become the soundtrack to the lives of fans all over the world. The Fureys’ indelible musical footprint is rivalled only by their vast collection of personal stories of their musical experiences and friendships, gathered by Eddie and George Furey along an amazing 44-year journey which shows no signs of reaching a final destination. The Furey brothers were still trying to make it as folk singers in the late sixties when Eddie Furey shared flats with then fellow folk stars-in-waiting, Billy Connolly and Gerry Rafferty. Eddie recalls: ‘It was quite a group to be living under the same roof and we had great fun. I bet the neighbours never slept
with all the singing and drinking.’ So impressed were they by the quality of Gerry Rafferty’s songwriting at that time that they recorded his song, Her Father Didn't Like Me Anyway – now a Fureys’ classic. Eddie and George Furey are particularly proud of their UK chart success with songs like I Will Love You and When You Were Sweet Sixteen, which in turn helped bring Irish folk and traditional music to a completely new audience. The band made their Top of the Pops debut in 1981. They ran into a problem when the show’s producers insisted that their own backing tape be replaced by a tape recorded by in-house musicians. The Fureys weren’t prepared to have music that wasn’t their own played to TV’s watching millions. George had a solution: ‘When they weren't looking, I replaced their tape with ours. No one knew I had switched them.’ The Fureys will jump at any chance to play... not just on stage. Stories of the band striking up spur of the moment music sessions with fellow music stars who happen to be around are legendary. Joe Dolan, Philomena Begley, Tom O'Connor, Chris Rea, the Chieftains, Pete Seeger, Tom Paxton, Liam Clancy and Sean Maguire are just a few of those who have joined The Fureys for their spontaneous sessions, each one with a story begging to be told. Coronation Street, Royle Family, Keeping Up Appearances and Heartbeat star, the late Geoffrey Hughes, had a keen interest in Irish music and would play the bodhran with the band. He once joined the guys for a legendary all-night session in the Europa Hotel, Belfast, after starring in the Christmas pantomime at the Grand Opera House next door. The Fureys also struck up an unlikely music session with Kool & The Gang, Midge Ure (Ultravox) and other music co-stars backstage during an episode of Top of the Pops. There was a BBC strike and all of the show’s artists found themselves at a loose end. Alas, there are no recordings of how this fusion of styles came across. Eddie Furey recalls how ‘many musicians have told us we influenced them after hearing a record from their parents or grandparents' collection’. One such musician was Dave Stewart of The Eurythmics. Dave started out as a stage-hand working in a theatre in the north east and credits Eddie with teaching him his first chords on the guitar. Eddie would return the compliment by joining Dave on stage in Paris for a jam during the latter’s wedding to Bananarama’s Siobhan Fahey. Tickets available for the Ashdown Park Hotel at the hotel reception and www.ticketmaster.ie and for the National Opera Hotel on www.nationaloperahouse.ie or the box office 053 9122144. The Fureys video trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NffjeAiL-8U n
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Coláiste Bríde Fashion Show
The Coláiste Bríde 2022 Transition Year Fashion Show took place at the end of March with amazing performances and wonderfully creative designs. Well done to each team and to both Ms. Kervick & Ms. Brambley.
Enniscorthy students compete for Texaco Children’s Art Awards Following in the footsteps of leading Irish artists who took part during their early lives – renowned figures such as Graham Knuttel, Robert Ballagh, Dorothy Cross and Bernadette Madden – young artists who submitted entries to this year’s Texaco Children’s Art Competition, including a number from Co. Wexford, are currently having their works evaluated as the judging process gets underway. Pictured is adjudicator, Seán Kissane, holding two of the entries received from Co. Wexford this year – a work entitled ‘Rainbow’ (left) by a pupil from St. Senan's Primary School, Enniscorthy, and another entitled ‘Darkness into Light’, by a pupil from Marshalstown National School, Enniscorthy.
Winners in the seven age categories, including one exclusively for artworks by young artists with special needs, will be announced in late May.
Children’s Art Competition is the longest-
Currently in its 68th year, the Texaco
fuel in Ireland under the Texaco brand. n
running art sponsorship in Ireland. First held in 1955, it is hosted by Valero Energy (Ireland) limited – the company that markets
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Maria Nolan
A Glorious Obsession
Many people think that fashion and style are one and the same thing and they couldn’t be more mistaken.
A fashion series by Maria Nolan
Fashion is what you see on the catwalks and in the glossy magazines and what you get in the stores and boutiques from season to season, and style, I like to think, is what you make of it.
We can all buy the latest fashions on the High Street and if it wasn’t for our style, individualism, and the way we wear them, we would resemble the Stepford Wives, all looking the same.
Fashion doesn’t always suit everyone, but the person with style can adopt elements of fashion into their existing wardrobes, making it work for them while creating a unique and individual look.
Fashion can be stunning, but style will always have that head-turning quality to it that makes people stop and stare for all the right reasons.
A tip is to find your uniform, your staple, what works for you, perhaps it’s jeans, white shirt or tee-shirt and jacket, or tailored black pants with blouson type top, or skirt with soft knitwear and belt. Whatever, it is something that you feel good in and look good in, that’s your uniform. What you add to that is up to you and the fashion of the day. It may be jewellery, it may be a belt or a scarf, it may be footwear, or a bag or a hat, or just simply colour, it’s that je ne sais quoi ingredient that makes it yours and gives it style, or what might be referred to as your signature look.
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I have attended two weddings recently, both of which served to confirm that this season is all about the dress. Perhaps because lockdown was all about joggers, leggings, and pants, we have taken to the aisles, bars, and dance floors in frock femininity of all textures, tones, and configurations. And remember your dresses can be teamed up with all the wonderful blazers around in a multitude of colours or you can become a denim diva and dress down with a great little denim jacket. Accessorise! Accessories can transform an outfit, so embrace them, they can make an outfit come alive. There are fabulous neck-
pieces available in stores at the moment for around €30 that will go with several different colours and match numerous outfits in your wardrobe. And what is being referred to as the ‘stack attack’ – a combination of bracelets that will add interest and focus. And another little tip – always remember to push up your sleeves that little bit of wrist exposure shows where the hip stops, and the arm starts. Shoulder pads are making a comeback this season, which is great for body shapes as they give the illusion of smaller hips. Something else that I would advise and encourage is the CASE method – Copy And Steal Everything. If you like it, copy it, whether you see it on TV, or in a magazine or in a store, if you see a well-puttogether outfit my advice is to steal the idea, provided it suits you of course. With Easter fast approaching, let’s remember how much a hat can accentuate an ensemble, so embrace it and parade that Easter bonnet! Happy Easter, Fashioniastas. – Maria Nolan
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Make sure to visit Put A Bow On It and Glamour in Enniscorthy where some of the clothes featured on these pages can be found.
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Wexford Light Opera Society (WLOS) is delighted to be returning once again, after the pandemic, to the National Opera House stage with their production of “The Pirates of Penzance” running from Monday the 25th of April to Saturday the 30th of April, nightly at 8pm.
love, he is a slave to duty. Can he find a way to live happily-ever-after with Mabel? Featuring a wealth of talent, Wexford’s
Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic opera is packed full of sentimental pirates, blundering policeman, absurd adventures, and improbable paradoxes. When Frederic was merely a boy, his father instructed his nurse, Ruth, to have him apprenticed as a pilot. She thought he said 'pirate' and thus the many troubles began. Frederic is due to be released from his apprenticeship on his 21st birthday, but there’s a problem. Born on 29 February, Frederic discovers that he is technically still a child (and a Pirate!). Frederic falls head-over-heels in love with Mabel, the daughter of MajorGeneral Stanley. Although very much in
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The launch of Wexford Light Opera Society’s upcoming show ‘The Pirates of Penzance’ was held in the National Opera House on 2nd April. L-R: Two of the leads – George Lawlor and Clare Kavanagh with cast member Jamie Collins.
own George Lawlor takes to the stage as the swash-buckling Pirate King with Elizabeth Rose Browne cast in the comedic role of Ruth. Gary Stephens and Clare Kavanagh have been lined up to play the
SlaNey leiSure & lifeStyle romantic leads, Frederic and Mabel, with Pat Lawlor and Tony Brennan returning 20 years later to reprise their roles from the 2002 production as the Major General and Sergeant of Police. WLOS is also delighted to have Michael O’Gorman playing the role of Samuel. Ami Stahlut, Sophie Blaney-Parslow and Hannah Devereaux are playing the roles of Mabel’s delightful sisters, Edith, Kate and Isabel.
Steering the Ship is another Wexford native, Director Thomas O’Leary. Fintan Cleary once again takes the baton as the Musical Director, with Eithne Corrigan taking her role as Chorus Mistress, and Colin Murphy as Stage Manager. WLOS is delighted to welcome back Aisling Doyle as Choreographer, tasked with whipping these Pirates, Policemen and Pretty Lasses in to shipshape!
All these distinguished, talented people are combining to ensure Wexford audiences, and indeed beyond, will be treated to a spectacular night of “Pirate Merriment”, full of well known songs and comedy. Tickets are available from the National Opera House box office (053-9122144) or for online bookings by logging onto www.nationaloperahouse.ie n
Above left: Keelin Egan and President of Wexford Light Opera Society Mary Fox. Above right: Eilish Coady, Stephen Byrne and Majella Londra.
Above left: Joanne Flood and Nicky Kehoe. Above right: Eric Hayes, Chairman, Wexford Light Opera Society, and Clare Kavanagh.
Above left: Dom Stafford, Mary Fox (President, Wexford Light Opera Society) and Brendan Howlin TD. Above right: George Lawlor and Bernard Browne.
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AMBULANCE
Movie Review with Kyle Walsh
I went to the cinema to check out Michael Bay’s new action thriller film Ambulance, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Yahya Abdul Mateen, and Eiza Gonzalez. Now, Michael Bay is not everyone’s taste but I have to admit I love some Bayhem in my life. I love The Rock which i think is his best film to date. I really enjoyed Transformers Part 1, but then the rest of the franchise was pure rubbish. So, it’s good to see Bay back to some of his best work in the last decade or so. Ambulance is a fun ride, although it’s definitely half an hour too long. Its Speed in
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an Ambulance, but it’s never in the same class as Speed (Keanu Reeves). This film is based on a Danish film with the same title. The story is very simple, Yahya is a war veteran whose wife is sick and needs an operation. They don’t have the funds to cover it, so he goes to his adoptive brother (Gyllenhaal) for help. His brother agrees to help on one condition – that he helps him rob a bank in downtown LA. During the bank robbery things go wrong pretty fast, which leads into a gun battle and the two brothers escape in an ambulance with an injured cop and a paramedic for hostages. Soon they are being chased around the streets of LA by police cars, helicopters, explosions everywhere, action set at a frantic pace. The camera never stops moving throughout this film. I
heard some people saying the camera movement was making them dizzy. But this is Bay, he always moves the camera quick and always at different angles, looking up or down or sideways at his characters. He used drones in this film to capture some beautiful shots. The cast are good in their roles but the standout for me was Gonzalez, I thought she was really good in it. Overall lads, this is good action film to enjoy on the screen. Yes, it’s overlong but that’s Michael Bay for you. It’s not The Rock but it ain’t bad either... it gets a 6/10 for me. Worth a watch. n
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The Kevin Lawlor Quartet plays Green Acres Gallery, Wexford town, on 30th April, as part of International Jazz Day 2022. Jazz drummer and educator Kevin Lawlor presents a live performance of contemporary original jazz music composed by him as well as some choice jazz standards accompanied by Dave Jones (piano), Kelan Walsh (tenor saxophone) and Florian Kockett (double bass). The evening will also showcase a jazz ensemble featuring students from the Wexford School of Music. Tickets: https://wexfordartscentre.ticketsolve.com n
Holohan’s Live presents 3 great gigs...
Dom Martin
The BC Blues Band
Saturday 9pm 30th April
Sunday 1st May 10pm
in association with the
Blackstairs Blues Festival
Showcase Gig Peer Pleasure & support Monday 2nd May 6pm 5th April 2022 - Page 99
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All set for Wexford Has Talent se CONGRATS TO THE 27 ACTS WHO QUALIFIED FOR THE SEMI-FINALS OF WEXFORD HAS TALENT 2022. On Sunday, March 13th, over 60 acts auditioned for the 2022 competition in front of a panel of judges, which included Trish Murphy, Eric Hayes and Vicky Barron. A wide variety of performances were showcased with skills ranging from many genres of contemporary dance, gymnastics, ballet, a variety of singersongwriter performances, full-band performances, magician acts, spoken word artists and more from performers young and not so young. Commenting on the event, one of the organisers Enda Whelan said, “PostCovid we really didn't know what the appetite for Wexford Has Talent would be like amongst performers and members of the arts community, but on audition day we were blown away by the talent on display. Every single performer who came to audition really brought their ‘A-game’ along. The competition was of a very high standard and the judges had the unenviable task of choosing the semi-finalists. We would like to thank everyone who came to audition, it really is an honour to watch the performances and to provide a platform for people to showcase their talent.” The countdown to the 2022 semi-finals is now officially on as the 27 will take to the stage to battle it out for a coveted place in the Grand Final. The semi-final competition will take place on Friday April 15th and Saturday 16th at Clayton Whites Hotel with the Grand Final set for Sunday 1st May 2022. Semi-Finalists for Wexford Has Talent 2022 include: 18-year-old singer Ciara Doherty from Wexford town who sang ‘Out Here On My Own’; the Presentation School Choir – a group of talented students who give up most lunchtimes to rehearse; the gymnastics troop from Gym Stars; the 16 performers from
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JERRY O'CONNOR and KAYLEIGH DORAN
Glee Club in Wexford; 19-year-old singer Jenny Murphy from Enniscorthy; 16-year-old singer Dakota Venn Keane from New Ross; Contemporary Dance Artist, Corey Leacy; ‘Next Level’ dance group; 12-year-old singer Sarah Deevey from Tagoat; 9-year-old Magician Martha Gallagher from Wexford; Katelynn Harrington from Kildare who sang ‘RESPECT’; singer and songwriter Jerry O’Connor from New Ross who sang his own song called ‘One More Day’; Rapper Patsy Murphy from Marshal-
stown who performs as PMBeatz delivered his own composition; Louis Hogan from Wexford Town who performed ‘Mack the Knife’; The band ‘No Hassle’ who are Conor Joyce and Tim Flood from Clonroche and Ethan Corcoran from Glynn who are all school friends at Colaiste Abhin, they performed their own song ‘Cycle Drone’; Singing duo ‘The Angels’ who are Paula Miezlaiskyte from Wexford town and Brown Babu from Barntown who sang The Fugees’ ‘Killing Me Softly’; 15-yearold Sophie Doherty from Wexford Town
NO HASSLE
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emi-finals who sang ‘Oceans’; 24-year-old singer/guitarist from Wexford Town Luke Hayes; 12-year-old singer Ciara Goddard from Glynn who sang Elton John’s ‘Your Song’; Chloe Murphy a 15year-old singer from Bunclody; 18-yearold Caoimhe McLoughlin from Taghmon who sang a musical theatre number ‘Little Miss Perfect’; 19-yearold Eoin Devereux from Enniscorthy who performed his own song ‘Dreaming of You’;first cousins Cormac Cooper from Cloughbawn and Aine O’Neill from Rathnure who performed Lady Gaga’s ‘Shallow’; 16-year-old singer Kayleigh Doran from Glenbrien who performed ‘Arcade’; local Wexford band Manco; Geniveve Fleming from Gorey who sang ‘Before He Cheats’ and Rose Doyle from Wexford town who performed ‘A Million Dreams’. Tickets to both semi-finals are on sale at €10 each at Clayton Whites Hotel Wexford or by contacting the WHT team at info@wexfordhastalent.com The semi-finals commence at 7.30pm sharp and from these two events the performers will be chosen by a panel of judges to perform at the Wexford Has Talent Grand Final on Sunday, May 1st 2022, also at Clayton Whites Hotel in Wexford.
Enniscorthy’s new summer festival Looking ahead.... Enniscorthy will host a new and exciting summer festival based on a number of existing festivals amalgamating to form one super festival offering top class food, music, and children’s entertainment. This new festival will be called the Rockin’ Fruit & Food Festival and is scheduled to take place from Friday 29th July to Monday 1st August. More details in our future issues. n
Mike Denver at the Riverside Park Hotel Concert Tour 2022
RIVERSIDE PARK HOTEL ENNISCORTHY Sunday May 22nd 8pm Tickets at Hotel 053-9237800 and Ticketmaster.ie
The overall prize pool is €3,000. The Grand Final competition winner is set to walk away with a €2,000 prize. There will be two runners-up prizes of €500. Wexford Has Talent has taken place in Wexford town since 2015 and is kindly sponsored by The Wexford People. For further details and Wexford Has Talent news see www.wexfordhastalent.com or join the event on Facebook.com/WexfordHasTalent and Instagram - @WexHasTalent Previous winners of the talent contest include: Fit for Kings, Tara Doyle Robinson, 7th Fret, Rachel Grace, Luke Spellacy Shaw and Alex Saunders who have gone on to perform across the country, release albums and films and have appeared on stage at some of the biggest music festivals in Ireland. n
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So much to do at Enniscorthy library Thursday, 7th of April at 7pm: Historian in Residence Barry Lacey will discuss County Wexford in the context of the months following the ratification of the Anglo Irish Treaty in January 1922, the transfer of power and the lead up to the Irish Civil War. To book your place contact library staff on 053 9236055. Thursday 28th April at 7pm: CV Preparation with Alan Maher. Are you re-evaluating your employment options following the Covid 19 pandemic? A CV or Application Form is often the first step to your next step. During this talk Alan will cover all issues relating to completing an effective CV or Application Form. To book your place contact library staff on 053 9236055. Thursday 5th May at 7pm: Interview Preparation talk with Alan Maher. Alan will share his tips and views on how to present the best and most authentic version of yourself at a job interview. Key topics such as preparing properly for an interview, communication and presentation skills, key questions and tackling competency-based interviews will all be covered. To book your place contact library staff on 053 9236055. Friday 6th and 13th of May: Are you aged 55 years or older and would like help using your laptop, phone or tablet? Enniscorthy Library will provide a oneto-one 20 minute help session to offer hints and tips on getting the most from your device. To book your place contact library staff on 053 9236055. Baby & Toddler Time: Enniscorthy Library welcomes parents and guardians with their little ones for fun rhymes, stories and songs every Tuesday at 10:30am. Suitable for ages 0 - 4. To book your place contact library staff on 053 9236055. Junior Book Club: The junior book club meets on the last Thursday of each month, the club is suitable for ages 8 – 12. It’s a fun way to try new authors and genres and there is no pressure to read aloud. If your child would like to join, or for more information, please call on 053 9236055.
Taking a trip? Click & Collect, an easy way to order and collect foreign currency, is available in Enniscorthy Credit Union. You can order online at the link below and collect in the office or phone in your order to 053-9233835. This service has 0% commission for members – another benefit of being an Enniscorthy Credit Union member. https://www.enniscorthycu.ie/services/foreign-exchange/ n
Presentation Centre takes a look back The Presentation Centre in Enniscorthy is looking back over the first ten years of its existence as an arts centre serving the town and the surrounding area. The Centre is digging into its archives and sharing photos from its past events and exhibitions on its Facebook page. Check it out at: https://www.facebook.com/PresArtsCentre n
Book Club for Adults: On the third Thursday of every month, the adult book club meets in Enniscorthy Library at 7pm. New members are always welcome. If you are interested in going along please contact Enniscorthy Library on 053 9236055. Writers Group:
Wexford Public Libraries' YouTube Channel...
The Slaney Writers group meets on the fourth Thursday of every month in Enniscorthy Library at 7pm. New members are always welcome. If you are interested in going along please contact Enniscorthy Library on 053 9236055.
Make sure to check out Wexford Public Libraries' YouTube channel. Catch up with all the events you may have missed or would like to watch again, as well as handy guides and tutorials for accessing Wexford Public Libraries' e-services.
Booking is essential for all events, please contact library staff on 053 9236055 to book your place, events are free of charge. n
You can catch up on these talks on Wexford Public Libraries' YouTube Channel. n
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Cosmic Rebels Con returns to the Riverside Park Hotel COSMIC REBELS CON – Enniscorthy’s Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Horror Convention is back in the Riverside Park Hotel, Enniscorthy, on the 24th of April 2022 from 11am to 7pm, admission is free and all tables are free of charge too! After a two-year gap, organiser Ed Doyle is delighted to be back, saying, ‘Let's celebrate together all things geeky.’ Enjoy Cosplay, Vendors, Artists, Indie Publishers, Retro Gaming, Competitions and loads more. So if you are a fan of comics and all sorts of geeky pop culture, then make sure to check out the event page by clicking the link: https://fb.me/e/1XBUYcoJB And check out the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/cosmicrebelscon/ n
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Major new exhibition now open at Wexford County Council HQ Making and Momentum: In Conversation with Eileen Gray, curated by Richard Malone, is now running at Wexford County Council, Carricklawn, Wexford, Y35 WY93.
Making and Momentum: In Conversation with Eileen Gray
Wexford’s award-winning designer Richard Malone's homage to Enniscorthy’s internationally renowned architect and designer Eileen Gray features in an exhibition Making and Momentum: In Conversation with Eileen Gray which is now running at Wexford County Council until 13th May 2022. n
Curated by Richard Malone Featuring work by Sara Flynn, Laura Gannon, Mainie Jellet, Nellie Malone, Richard Malone, Niamh O’Malley, Ceadogán Rugs and Mourne Textiles. 4th April – 13th May, 2022 Wexford County Council, Carricklawn Wexford, Y35 WY93 Opening Launch: Friday 1st April at 6pm All welcome to attend. Wexford County Council is excited to present Making and Momentum: In Conversation with Eileen Gray, a touring exhibition curated by award winning Irish artist and designer, Richard Malone. The group exhibition, which celebrates the work of Eileen Gray and the influence of Irish art and design worldwide, launched at Roquebrune, France in June 2021 and travelled to the National Museum of Ireland last September. It will run at Wexford County Council from Monday, 4th April to Friday, 13th May, 2022. The exhibition ambitiously places equal importance on the artist, artisan and maker - observing the creative spirit present in developing an independent visual language; removing the rigid definitions and categories of art making, much like Eileen Gray’s own practice. Gray, who was born in Brownswood, Enniscorthy in 1878, was a pioneer of the Modernist movement and one of the most celebrated and influential designers and architects of the last century. As part of this exhibition, Wexford County Council in partnership with Richard Malone and supported by Creative Ireland, will host a programme of workshops, talk and events for the general public and various communities of interest to engage with contemporary craft in Wexford focusing on work that is inspired by Eileen Gray’s legacy. ……………………………………………………………………………………………… Artist and designer, Richard Malone, collaborated with Association Cap Moderne (the custodians of E-1027) to curate and exhibit some of Ireland's leading visual art makers. The exhibition is in celebration of Gray's phenomenal global influence across artistic disciplines - from weaving and rug making to metalwork and painting. Each artist and artisan has been selected for their multidisciplinary and experimental approach to making. The group represents an award winning selection of some or Ireland's most prominent artists with numerous accolades amongst them, such as the Royal Hibernian Academy commission, the Loewe Craft Prize and the International Woolmark Prize.
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Above: Richard Malone with one of the pieces on exhibit. Below: Eileeen Gray.
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Maria launching new book Maria Nolan’s new book The Shadow of Freedom, her second novel about the McDonald family and Enniscorthy, is now available on Amazon in both Kindle and Paperback versions. An official Enniscorthy launch will take place on Wednesday 20th April at 7pm in the company of authors and friends Carmel Harrington, Sheila Forsey, Caroline Busher, Annie Gilpin, Richie Cotter, Frank Corcoran and cover designer Larry Dunne. All are invited and Maria is “looking forward to seeing all my friends there. In the meantime if any of you read it on Kindle or in paperback I would really appreciate your comments.” The new book cover is designed again by local, talented artist Larry Dunne. Maria says, “Larry has done an amazing job as usual, and I am thrilled with it as I hope you will all be reading it.” n
One of the chosen few The National Gallery of Ireland is delighted to announce that Enniscorthy Community College has been selected to participate in Your Gallery at School 2022. Following a successful programme in 2021, the Gallery will bring art to classrooms across the country once again this year, thanks to continued support from global aircraft leasing company SMBC Aviation Capital. This year, the Gallery will pair the six schools with lead artists to plan a package of workshops appropriate to students’ age and level, emphasising the importance of art education, creativity and innovation. For more information: www.nationalgallery.ie Sean Rainbird, Director of the National Gallery of Ireland, commented: “Our hope is that this opportunity to learn through art
will encourage creativity and curiosity amongst our participants in the future.” A delighted Natalie Doyle of Enniscorthy Community College said: "We at Enniscorthy Community College are over the moon to participate in the Your Gallery at School programme. Our T.Y.s are super excited and feel very lucky to have this opportunity." n Enniscorthy Community College – selected by the National Gallery of Ireland.
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A foretaste of Wexford Literary Festival 2022 Wexford Literary Festival is delighted to announce that things are beginning to hot up for this year’s Festival weekend from 1st – 3rd July. The hard-working Festival Committee are busy putting together a comprehensive, all embracing, wide ranging, Programme of Events incorporating the many forms of literature – Poetry, Prose, Drama, Film, Visual Art, and Spoken Word. This year the Festival will be a Room & Zoom event, allowing viewing and participation from right around the world. The Festival Committee is also developing and expanding literary links begun in 2021 with writers and poets in Savannah, Newfoundland, and Wales, further enhancing our international status and appeal. This year’s Festival’s theme, a century from the formation of the State, is historical, and our innovative Committee plan to incorporate the historic events of one hundred years ago into our Festival weekend. The Battle of Enniscorthy, between the Free State garrison at Enniscorthy Castle and Anti Treaty snipers at St. Mary’s Church and the Courthouse, raged for four days on the streets of the town from 1st – 4th July, exactly coinciding with our 2022 Festival. We are currently engaged with developing a programme telling Enniscorthy’s story and the part it played in the birth of the Nation, through literature, visual art, and drama. So, watch this space for further details of this exciting concept. Our 2022 Programme will also include events at the Wexford Arts Centre and Red Books, Wexford, and our annual Children’s Bookmark Competition kindly sponsored by Eason of Enniscorthy.
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Over the coming weeks and months, we will have details of the myriad of events planned for WLF 2022 but in the meantime, we are inviting submissions for all of our prestigious competitions: n The Colm Tóibín Short Story Award, n The Anthony Cronin Poetry Award, n The Eoin Colfer Children’s Short Story Award, n The Billy Roche One Act Play Award n Meet The Publisher Event. This is an excellent opportunity for all you Scribblers out there to dust off that manuscript, or half-finished manuscript, that has been lying in the shoebox under the bed, or on top of the wardrobe and book a slot with the wonderful Paula Campbell of Poolbeg Press – who knows you could be the next Colm Tóibín, Eoin Colfer or Billy Roche.
Maria Nolan, Secretary, Wexford Literary Festival
So, get those entries into us now to be in with a chance to be among our 2022 award winners – details on our website www.wexfordliteraryfestival.com – Maria Nolan
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Presentation Centre Enniscorthy | Friday 8th April | Creative Writing Workshop with Sheila Forsey | 10:30am Exploring the possibilities of memoir writing with best-selling author Sheila Forsey. Memoir writing is simply putting your memories down. It can be just one memory, or it can be a collection of them. It can be from any time in your life. Allow yourself to go back and rediscover your past through the power of memory writing. This session will explore how to begin and can often take you on a path of writing that you may not have thought about and open all sorts of writing possibilities. n Pic: Maria Nolan
Open Call at The Presentation Centre – see pages 108-109 5th April 2022 - Page 107
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Open Call at The Presentatio Almost two years exactly to the day, a very excited Lisa Byrne and Larry Dunne were delighted to throw open the doors of the beautiful Presentation Arts Centre, Enniscorthy, to welcome work from no less than 139 artists from all over County Wexford as well as Wicklow, Carlow, Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly, Dublin, Galway, Cork, Kerry and more. Having attended all of the six Open Calls to date, I would have to say that this, in my opinion, is the best yet, with a magical blend of established and new artists and their wonderful art. It is gratifying to enter an art exhibition and immediately recognise the work of many of the artists, and this more than anything else typifies what the Presentation Arts Centre and its innovative staff have done for the general public, here in Enniscorthy and its hinterland. Over the past number of years, they have brought local, national, and international artists to our doorstep, giving them a forum for their work and us an exquisite venue to view and appreciate the visual arts, heretofore absent from our landscape. All of my old favourites were on display at the exhibition: Zane Sutra, Marja van Kampen, Larry Dunne, Eva O’Donovan, Nadia Corrigan, Nikki Cogley, as well as work I was not so familiar with from Elita Kousiete, John and Judy Gregan, Lily O’Hara, Eamonn Sheridan, Dick Donohoe, Avril Buttle and child artist Ruth Hayes, definitely one to watch for the future. I had the pleasure of conversing with un-
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Above left: Lisa Byrne, Emma Roche and Marja van Kampen. Above right: Larry Dunne and Lisa Byrne with Larry’s piece ABISMO. Bottom left: Ruth Hayes with her prizewinning work The House at the End of the Lane. Bottom centre: William Brew with his painting Border. Bottom right: Nadia Corrigan with her work New Beginnings. assuming Dublin artist William Brew who, shall we say, is not in the first flush of youth and has never exhibited before. I was delighted to view and hear all about his magnificent piece titled Border. This excellently executed work is a scene on the American-Mexican border, where the artist has very cleverly worked in the red, white and blue of the Star Spangled Banner to one side of the large painting and the green and white of the Mexican flag to the other. The people in trouble in the painting are faceless, whereas the expressions and attitudes of those in charge
are clearly visible, a most interesting, thought provoking and astute work, well worth viewing, as are all the pieces in this striking exhibition. Artist Emma Roche officially declared the 6th Annual Open Call open and presented prizes to winners Ruth Hayes and Marja van Kampen. Do drop into The Presentation Arts Centre and allow your senses to be pleasantly assaulted by this marvellous medley of visual talent, on display daily until 7th May. – All words & pics by Maria Nolan
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on Centre with Maria Nolan
Book Review: The First Rose of Tralee We all know the song and the glamorous international festival that has lit up our TV screens for as long as I can remember, but do we all know the story of the original Rose, the one the song was written for, Mary O’Connor, the first Rose of Tralee. Well now, thanks to author Patricia O’Reilly and her lovely book The First Rose of Tralee, there is no excuse for us. Ms. O’Reilly heard the story herself as a young girl sitting around her aunt’s kitchen table in Tralee on her summer holidays. The local women – her aunts friends and acquaintances discussed Irish history, as you do, over tea and biscuits every morning after 10 o’clock mass. Daniel O’Connell, the Whiteboys, the Great Famine, the curse of consumption and of course the renowned Mary O’Connor were some of the topics frequently under review. Ma was the daughter of a poor shoemaker from Brogue Lane, Tralee, whose beauty attracted the attentions of the young master of West Villa, William Mulchinock. William, a poet and emancipation campaigner, fell madly in love with house servant Mary and wrote the hauntingly beautiful ballad The Rose of Tralee, for her. The romantic tale stayed with the young Patricia when the summer vacations were long gone, always lurking in the creative crevices of her mind until years later, as an author, she discovered that the doomed love story had never been written in novel form. So, like every good historical fiction author, she researched the facts, embellished them, added characters and intrigue, imagined places, events, and dialogue and came up with her charming novel The First Rose of Tralee. Hazel Gaynor The story, without giving too much away, is set in the 1840s, during the time of Daniel O’Connell’s monster rallies for Repeal of the 1801 Act of Union. The tragic love affair between the master and the servant was doomed from the onset, the final straw coming when William Mulchinock is accused of killing a man, forcing him to flee for his life, ending up in India for five years. When William is eventually proven innocent of the murder, his plans to return to Tralee and marry, die a quick and poignant death. A lovely read and a wonderful social history of the period, and a must for anyone who ever wondered about the real story behind the song, or the real story according to the talented pen of Patricia O`Reilly, which is as real as it is going to get. Charming book and cover and a joy to read.
– Maria Nolan
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Apply now for Living Arts Project Wexford County Council Arts Department, in partnership with Wexford Arts Centre and the Arts Council, is seeking applications from primary schools and visual artists to participate in the Living Arts Project commencing in September/October 2022. Deadline for expressions of interest is 4pm Thursday 5th May, 2022 Under this unique and very successful scheme, selected primary schools have the opportunity to host an artist in residence during the school year. The aim of the Living Arts Project is to provide children with an understanding and appreciation of contemporary visual art. Selected primary schools have the opportunity to host an artist in residence during the school year. Four Wexford-based artists will be selected and partnered with schools to create a body of work over the school year. The residencies prioritise the development of the artists practice within the project and encourage engaging work from the pupils. The project also offers teachers an opportunity to observe and learn creative practices for use in the classroom. The residencies will culminate in an exhibition of work from participating
schools at Wexford Arts Centre in April 2023. Pupils participating in the project have the benefit of detailed guidance from the artist over the period of the residency and the opportunity to see their work exhibited in a gallery for their friends and family to view. A total of four paid assistant artist positions are also available. Two mentoring session will be scheduled during each residency for assistant artists to get advice on their own practice. The successful applicants must be flexible in terms of contact hours. Applications from interested primary schools and visual artists for lead and assistant roles are being accepted now.
Joint applications for artists seeking to fulfil lead and assistant roles are welcome. Established in 2013, the Living Arts Project is a long-term visual arts educational scheme which consolidates the existing partnership between the Arts Department of Wexford County Council (WCC) and Wexford Arts Centre. It makes engagement with the fundamentals of contemporary visual art accessible for young audiences. For further information on the Living Arts Project including a full brief and application form please log on to: www.livingartsproject.ie or email catherine@wexfordartscentre.ie n
More success for Colm Colm Tóibín has just been awarded the prestigious Rathbones Folio prize worth £30,000 for his recent novel The Magician, based on the life of the German writer, Thomas Mann. One of the judges, Rachel Long, said: “Colm Tóibín’s The Magician is such a capacious, generous, ambitious novel, taking in a great sweep of 20th-century history, yet rooted in the intimate detail of one man’s private life.” The Enniscorthy writer remains as busy as ever. As well as recently succeeding Sebastian Barry as the Laureate for Irish Fiction, he is also Chancellor of the University of Liverpool and Mellon Professor in English at Columbia University, New York. He is curating an upcoming James Joyce exhibition at New York’s Morgan Library and is writing a sequel to Brooklyn, set 20 years later. Winning the Rathbones Folio prize adds to an impressive collection for Tóibín: the Costa Novel Award for Brooklyn, the Impac Award, an Irish Pen award and the David Cohen Prize for Literature in 2021. n
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SlaNey Sport
Be part of the fastest growing sport! Ladies gaelic football is considered to have commenced in Ireland as far back as 1926 when a a parish league was organised in County Clare. For almost 50 years after that the sport made little or no impact until the Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) was officially established in 1974. By 2007 it had grown to 132,000 members and now there are about 200,000 spread over 1,000 clubs nationwide, making the sport not just the fastest growing sport in Ireland, but generally considered the fastest growing in Europe. The sport can help any young girl fulfil her dreams – from kicking a ball at her local club to becoming an elite athlete performing before crowds of over 50,000 people in Croke Park.
The first step on that journey is joining a local club and one such club is the Shamrocks Ladies Gaelic Football club on the east side of Enniscorthy town. The club started in 2007 and has mushroomed since then with 50+ players now participating spread over a range of teams from age 6 to adult. It’s very much a familyfriendly club with dedicated mentors and officials welcoming new players and all those wishing to give the game a try. Club Chairwoman Regina Tirbhowen says, “We at Shamrocks LGF Club pride ourselves on our holistic approach to ladies football always encouraging healthy choices and positive mental health. Within our club we promote all aspects of community involvement with our members helping the vulnerable in our community, during Covid lockdown,
collecting their shopping etc.” Like most clubs, it urgently requires more coaches for all age groups, so if you can spare a couple of hours a week, please contact Regina on 086 8711224. The club is very grateful to its sponsors and in particular it thanks O’Callaghan’s Centra, The White House, Eddie Kenny at Bodyworx and The Village at Wheelocks. With the weather improving, and a ‘grand stetch in the evenings’, it’s time for the girls and women of Enniscorthy to get active. Check out the club’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ShamrocksLadies-Football-Club-1540847179515207/ or contact Regina Tirbhowan, the club’s proactive Chairwoman, who would be delighted to hear from you on 086 8711224. n
The 2021 Shamrocks Ladies Gaelic Football U-12s (below) with mentors Anne and Megan and U-14s (above) with mentors Fiona and Lisa.
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Rathnure’s Charlie guides Ireland to Grand Slam Charlie Tector from Rathnure guided Ireland from the outhalf position to the Grand Slam in this year’s U-20 6-Nations championship. Charlie’s performance against England was particularly impressive winning Man of the Match in the emphatic 42-27 victory. As well as possessing superb handling and kicking skills, standing 6’2” and weighing almost 15 stone, Charlie has the physical attrributes to make a big impact in the professional game over the coming years.
Shamrock Rovers Youths in national final On 27th March, Enniscorthy’s Shamrock Rovers Youths travelled to Dundalk to take on Walshestown FC in the Leinster Junior Cup semi-final, securing a superb victory by 4-1. Best of luck to them in the final.
Gorey School are All-Ireland Champions Congrats to Gorey Community School’s Senior Footballers on being crowned All-Ireland champions last month and taking the Paddy Drummond Cup back to north Wexford for the first time ever. n
Moyne Rangers are U-13 league winners
Congratulations to John Brennan, his management team and the U-13 Moyne Rangers players on winning Division 1a last month. The team secured top spot with an emphatic 7-nil win over Wexford Celtic and were unbeaten all season.
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Wexford club gets €5,000 in Texaco sports funding Wexford’s Menapians Athletic Club is to receive €5,000 funding under the Texaco Support for Sport initiative hosted and organised by Valero Energy (Ireland) Limited, the company that markets fuel in Ireland under the Texaco brand.
Former Irish rugby international and well-known broadcaster Donncha O’Callaghan is the Texaco Support for Sport Ambassador who oversees the judging process.
Under the scheme – similar to that which proved successful last year when the Wexford county award was presented to Kilmore United FC – a fund of €130,000 is made available by Valero for distribution in equal amounts of €5,000 to a successful applicant in each county. Established in 2001, Menapians AC is a progressive athletics club with a diverse membership in terms of age and ability ‘from young to old, from joggers to Olympians’. With training provided at various locations – including Rosslare Strand, Wexford CBS and Enniscorthy Sports Hub – the club maintains a prominent presence across the county. The €5,000 award made to Menapians AC under the Texaco Support for Sport initiative will be used to reserve venues and fund equipment for its proposed 2022 Wexford Summer League, an undertaking aimed at getting young athletes involved in the sport. Pointing to what he termed “the invaluable contribution” that sports clubs make to the heart of community life in Ireland, James Twohig, Director of Ireland Operations, Valero Energy (Ireland) Limited, congratulated the Wexford club saying, “Special to us, and the purpose for which our Texaco Support for Sport initiative was introduced, is the opportunity it presents to ease the financial pressure on members by providing new and additional funding so often required to help clubs achieve their objectives and play a pivotal and positive role in their communities.” n
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Congrats Temi
Having spent years of development at Enniscorthy Rugby Club and then Lansdowne Rugby Football Club, and having recently represented Ireland at U-20 level, young Enniscorthy prop Temi Lasisi earned his first senior cap for Leinster last month against Ulster in Belfast. Well done, Temi.
Enniscorthy’s Festy Ebosele has joined Italian club Udinese from Derby County on a five year deal. Festy played with Enniscorthy club Moyne Rangers until he was 14 and then joined League of Ireland club Bray Wanderers before joining Derby County in the English Championship when he was 16.
Starlights: Winners of the Jim Byrne Cup 2022.
Well done to Enniscorthy CBS secondary school and their teachers Ms. Burke and Mr. Murphy on winning the Leinster Schools final last month beating Templeogue 5-4 on penalties. Unfortunately, the team lost out narrowly in the All Ireland semi final beaten by De La Salle Waterford.
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Have you got what it takes?
Could Wexford be the home of Ireland’s fittest man or woman? That’s a question being asked by organisers of Ireland’s first National Fitness Games – a weekend-long ‘festival of fitness’ being held at Dublin’s UCD Sports Campus from Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th April inclusive. Supported by Irish banana distributors Fyffes, the event follows a formula established in the UK involving tests of power, endurance,
strength and speed. Included will be weighted runs, rowing machines, sandbag carries, kettlebell snatches, assault bikes, deadlifts and more from which ‘Ireland’s Fittest Male and Female’ will emerge. An attendance of over 2,000 is expected from individuals, teams and corporate groups. Further details can be viewed online at www.nationalfitnessgames.com n
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Bellefield Beat with Maria Nolan As we head to the beginning of the playing season with the All County Leagues up and running, our young footballers are already well on the way emerging victorious in the final of the Jim Byrne Cup. Getting off to a slow start in the semifinal it looked like the end of the journey for our boys who were 3.4 to a goal down to Duffry Rovers in Coolree at halftime with our chances of a spot in the final disappearing fast. But after some good encouragement at the halftime pep talk, the Starlights returned to the field almost a different team, and in the second period took the game to their opponents, drawing level at the fulltime whistle, necessitating extra time.
MC for the occasion Seamus Doyle called on very popular Ladies Captain Nicola Davitt to make the presentations, complementing her on being a leader and a role model on and off the field, driving and motivating herself and everyone else. Seamus thanked team sponsors, and the huge array of sponsors on the night of hampers, and gift vouchers, and had a special mention for Diarmuid Furlong of the Early Learning Garden for his generous sponsorship of jerseys for U-14 and U-16 girls in memory of his late father John, who was a staunch supporter of Rapparees/Starlights.
The jerseys were presented on the night by Diarmuid’s mother Anne and sister Sinead. Weekly bingo is back at the complex every Wednesday night from 8pm, our weekly Lotto can be done online or tickets can be purchased from the usual outlets, and local women’s group, the Delightful Dollies, are once again back at the clubhouse on Wednesday mornings. Follow us Rapparees/Starlights on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok for details of all fixtures, results, and club events as our 2022 season kicks into gear. – Words & Pics by Maria Nolan PRO
Extra time belonged to the Stars as they notched up 5 points to no reply from the Duffry, who seemed to lose their shape as Starlights ran at them exposing their defence, to secure their place in the Jim Byrne Cup Final against St. Anne’s. The final was a tight affair, as expected, against the Annes, going right down to the wire in St. Patrick’s Park on a beautiful Saturday afternoon with the Stars just edging it by a single point 3.5 to 3.4, in a cliffhanger. The win was celebrated later that evening at the clubhouse where these promising and talented young men received their premier Feile football medals along with Division 2 U-15 Shield runners-up medals from Senior Football Captain Rory O’Connor. A Presentation of Medals night was held in the clubhouse on Friday night, 4th March, to celebrate the tremendous success of our underage camogie and ladies football teams in 2020 and 2021.
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Above: U-16 camogie winners. Below left: Jim Byrne Cup mentors L-R: Sonny Hyland, Michael Donohoe, Stephen Murphy, Johnny Hyland, Paul O’Reilly and Shane Murphy. Below right: Camogie jerseys sponsored by Diarmuid Furlong in memory of his late father John presented to the club by Diarmuid’s mother Anne, sister Sinead and Diarmuid’s grandnephews.
Congratulations Girls!
SlaNey Sport U-14 Camogie winners.
U-14 football winners
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Fiona McEnery and Paula O’Rourke.
Menone Benderblake and Linda Codd.
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Sharron and John Dier.
Geraldine Roche, Michelle Mernagh and Teresa McCoy.
Dirwn and Pa
Katie, Su
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Above: The United Striders Zip team from New Ross supporting the Wexford night run on the Quay, Wexford, 3rd March 2022, in aid of two local charities.
ula Byrne.
uzanne, Ian and Mickey Foley.
Above: Amy Coleman and Lisa Murphy.
Ciara Edwards and Jason Ryan.
Groovy runners Paudie and Finnonn Gregg.
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NICHOLAS (NICKY) FURLONG FRSAI AUTHOR, HISTORIAN, NEWSPAPER COLUMNIST, JOURNALIST, BROADCASTER, PLAYWRIGHT AND WIT, 1929 – 2022 We are very grateful to journalist, publisher and editor, Michael Freeman, for allowing us to share this piece he wrote. The Wexford flag of Purple and Gold was at half-mast on the flagpole outside St Martin’s Catholic Church at Piercestown on Friday morning. There were comings and goings at the school and nearby St Martin’s GAA Club grounds and at Londis supermarket in the village. Modest cars and farmers’ jeeps lined up side by side outside the church and along the road leading to the village until there were no spaces left. The sky was blue and the sun was shining. It was a beautiful balmy morning at 11, just as Nicky would have planned it and wanted it. Inside the church about 250 people, most of them the pillars, the cognoscenti and literati and glitterati of County Wexford, gathered. The celebrant, Fr Aodhán Marken, spoke of Nicky’s life and times and that of his late wife Mairead née Breslin who predeceased him by seven years. They were like peas in a pod, he said. The sun streamed in through the stained-glass windows onto Nicky’s coffin on the altar bedecked with beautiful fresh flowers and symbols of his life, and on a lectern at the head of the coffin lay a copy of his latest book, The Rebels’ Priest, a biography of his hero Fr John Murphy, the leader of the 1798 Rebellion in Co. Wexford.
The late Nicholas (Nicky) Furlong in his study at Drinagh Lodge, Wexford town. UCD, and his late wife Mairead’s nieces, Martina Kealy, Castleknock, Paula Panczenko who flew in from Wisconsin, USA, for his funeral, nephew Justin McCarthy, the film and television producer from Connemara, Galway, and Dr Jim Larkin-Breslin from Dublin, nephew. NEAR THE 1798 PIKEMEN MONUMENT AT BARNTOWN
In faraway Vancouver, Canada, his only sister Ina, aged 91, his nephew Patrick, and nieces Blaithín and Trudy, watched and participated in an online livestream of his funeral mass on a webcam from the church.
Nicky Furlong, Fellow of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, author, historian, newspaper columnist, journalist, broadcaster, tour guide, playwright, and wit of Drinagh Lodge, Wexford town, had passed away peacefully with a smile on his face with a neighbour saying The Rosary at his bedside in Knockeen Nursing Home, across the way from the monument to the five 1798 Pikemen, at Barntown, on the morning of Monday 21st March. It was just three weeks after his 93rd birthday and just after the Spring Equinox.
In the front pews at Piercestown Church, sat his cousins Patrick and Sean Kinsella, and first cousin Theresa McDonald, relations Dillons, his sisterin-law-in-law, Dr Ann Breslin, retired
He had lived a rich life and he left an enormous legacy of memories, hundreds of papers, radio and television interviews, nineteen books and six stage productions. He defined and
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promoted County Wexford, its history, heritage, culture and sport to the county, to the nation and to the world for most of sixty years. The People Newspapers, the Sunday Independent, Slaney News and South East Radio paid tribute to him for his contribution. Heavenly uplifting song and music in the church, where Nicky was once singer and organist, were provided by Tomás Whelan, soloist, Anthony Nolan on trumpet and Ger Lawlor of Wexford Festival Opera on organ. They performed Hail Queen of Heaven, Panis Angelicus, Abide with Me, How Great Thou Art, and as a trumpet solo, Hail Glorious St Patrick. AT HIS FUNERAL MASS Among those present at his funeral mass at Piercestown Church were: Celestine Murphy, historian and genealogist, retired senior librarian, Wexford County Library, who was consultant to him for his book 'The Rebels’ Priest – the Battles of Fr. John Murphy of Bolavogue, 1753-1798'; Bernard Browne, of Old Ross and Environmental Protection Agency, fellow historian and friend; Willie Murphy, scientist, formerly Johnstown Castle, friend, Pro-
SlaNey hiStory & heritage fessor Kevin Whelan of Notre Dame (“He is the last of the great Irish conversationalists”); Liam Griffin, manager of the 1996 All Ireland Hurling team (‘Honestly, his likes shall not be seen again’); Paul Kehoe T.D. former Government Minister and former chief whip, whose mother was a cousin of his; Ray Doyle, former chief news editor, Irish Independent and former managing director People Newspapers Group; Declan McPartlin, former Wexford County Councillor, journalist and public relations executive; Anna Skrine Brunton, author, Butlerstown Castle; Avril Doyle, former TD and MEP; Eddie Breen, retired county manager and wife Pauline; Gráinne Doran, Wexford County Council archives; Eamonn Buttle, managing director, South East Radio; Tom Mooney, former editor of the Echo Group; Phil Murphy, editor, Ireland’s Own Anthology, and his wife Nuala; Pat O’Connor, press photographer, his colleague on his assignments for his features on the Villages of County Wexford; John Hayes, his colleague on the production of his volumes of County Wexford in the Rare Oul Times; Jarlath Glynn, Wexford Historical Society; Pat Hackett, Wexford Historical Society; Ger Lawlor, Wexford Festival Opera; Peter McDonald of New Ross and his wife Theresa, a first cousin of Nicky; Patrick and Eileen Kinsella, cousin; Greg Walsh, Coolchull, author and historian; Dr David Curtis, his family doctor; Helen Doyle of Latimerstown; Nicola Doran, Knockeen Nursing Home; Dan Walsh, historian and journalist; Dominic Williams, author, The Wexford GAA Bible; and officers of The Rotary Club, Wexford, and farming and rural organisation and community leaders. MESSAGES OF CONDOLENCES Messages of condolences came from friends and colleagues including: Dr Martin Mansergh, former Government minister, adviser to An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and a negotiator of the Good Friday Agreement (‘Nicky was so knowledgeable and so entertaining’); Anne Doyle, Wexford ambassador, journalist, former RTÉ newsreader (‘What a man!’); Declan Lyons, editor, BCT Communications, Arthurstown and Glenageary (‘He was a gentleman and a scholar’); Ken Hemingway, Kil-
tealy, historian; Paddy Murphy, photographer, Enniscorthy; Rita Doyle, Wexford town, close friend of his late wife Mairead; Jimmy O’Connor Snr and Sylvia, retired lawyers, Wexford town; Senan O’Reilly, Wexford ‘What’s On’ Guide’; Liam Mulcahy, former group photographic manager, Independent News and Media (‘He had a wealth of knowledge. The pikemen of 1798 will be there at the Gates to welcome him in.’); Maria Pepper, journalist, People Newspapers (‘He was truly unique’); Tony O’Brien of Tony O’Brien Communications (‘A great friend and mentor. Irreplaceable’); Áine McCarthy aka Orna Ross, publisher, London, his cousin who is a native of Murrintown; Dr Noel Culleton, scientist and author
Nicky Furlong (centre) and Dr Daire Keogh present their book 'The Women of 1798' to Nicky’s and Mairead’s close friend President of Ireland Mary Robinson at Áras an Uachtaráin in 1996. and former chief executive of Johnstown Castle; James W. Corcoran, sound director on films, television and radio documentaries, producer The Rosslare Podcast and producer of his audiobook Young Farmer Seeks Wife (‘He was a man blessed with intellect, wit and integrity’); Helen Ashdown, sub-editor, formerly The Echo Group, his proof-reader; John Gibney, design consultant; Brendan Cahill Flynn who indexed his recent book; Ray Codd, Clonmines, an old friend; Paddy Whelan, Ballinruane, Ballycullane, author; Verona Murphy, T.D. (‘A genuine gentleman’); Michael G. Kilbride of Waterford and Carlow; Valerie Boggan, Rosslare (‘Nicky will be a great loss to
historians’); Breda Cahill, President of County Wexford ICA; Val and Alice Stone, Bob and Eleanor Quilty, Paul and Angela Hennessy, Sean Whelan, Journalist, Enniscorthy; John G. Murphy, solicitor; Michael Bance, journalist, Waterford; Helen McInerney, RTÉ Television Nationwide; Frank Corcoran, Slaney News; Deaglán de Breadún, Sunday Independent, Willie Kealy, former news editor, Sunday Independent, a colleague and friend; J and H Sassmannshausen; Seamus and Joan Codd; Elizabeth Whyte, Wexford Arts Centre; Dr Pat Wallace, former director of the National Museum of Ireland; Brian Ó Cléirigh, Oulart; Barry Lacey, Historian in Residence, Wexford County Council; Pat Sills, Johnstown Castle; David Mahon, architect and illustrator; Jim Campbell, press photographer; Dr Paddy McKiernan, Ray and Roisin Corish, Phil and Maura Kennedy of Shielbaggan, Declan Furlong, retired Garda, of Cluain Aoibhinn, Rosslare; Sharon Clancy, London West-end actor, neighbour and friend at Drinagh, Eileen Cloney, Dungulph, Fethard on Sea; Lorcan and Rosaleen O’Shea, caretakers of the Furlong estate at Drinagh and numerous other friends and colleagues from Ireland, England, France, Germany and USA. Among one of the more evocative of his life in more than 100 messages in the Condolences section on the website www.RIP.ie was the following: “‘Rest In Peace Mr Furlong. Thank you for the memories. Whilst living abroad for years, I so looked forward to receiving the paper and I always saved your page for last because after the doom and gloom, tucked in there somewhere would always be something that would make me roar with laughter, and that was so, so welcome. You were a friend to many but you were a friend from afar for so many others too. God bless, rest easy, for your like will not be seen again. Condolences to all who will miss you.’ – Paula Wexford.” Nicholas (Nicky) Furlong was laid to rest beside his wife Mairead in Piercestown cemetery, a kilometre from Piercestown village. Ar dheis lámh Dé, go raibh siad uile. n
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Uí Cinsealaigh Historical Society
Uí Cinsealaigh Historical Society AGM and Dinner in the Riverside Park Hotel, Enniscorthy, 8th March, 2022. Top left: Maura Kavanagh and Sally Deacon. Top centre: Marie Dunne and Mary Booth. Top right: Secretary, Kitty O’Reilly. Left: Tommy O’Sullivan and Ken Hemmingway. Above: Rosemary and Aidan Quirke and Jim O’Connor. Right: Pat Brennan. Left: Kay Murphy and Marieanne Kenny. Bottom left: Mary Joyce and Jan O’Brien. Bottom centre: Margaret McDonald and Mary Kinsella. Bottom right: Tom McDonald and Pat Kinsella.
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Top left: Stacia Walsh and Anne Murphy. Top right: Tom Heaney and Tom Hammond. Above left: Chris Fox, May Doyle and Theresa Moran. Above right: Josie Kavanagh and Una Murphy. Left: Chrissey Ivers. Right: Jean Murphy, Marie Quigley and Breda Kennedy. Below: The Treasurer Sean Doyle gives his report. Below right: Fr Jim Hammell, Chairman.
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Enniscorthy Historical Re-enactment Society news...
Enniscorthy Historical Re-enactment Society at Kilkenny Castle with American tourists.
Re-enactors attend unique event on Vinegar Hill: On Monday 7th March, members of Enniscorthy Historical Re-enactment Society (EHRS), in the garb of Fenians, had the privilege of attending a unique event on Vinegar Hill, organised by Chairman Cathal Byrne and Enniscorthy Municipal District Council. On a bitterly cold and windy hill, the Tricolour was raised by 2nd Lieutenant Zara Bolger and Sergeant John Cooney of the Irish Defence Forces to commemorate the 174th Anniversary of the first time the Irish Tricolour was flown from
Raising the Tricolour on Vinegar Hill, Enniscorthy.
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the historic landmark. The ceremony was MC’d by Bernie Quigley, Acting District Manager, who called on Cathaoirleach Cathal Byrne to welcome those attending this unique occasion. ‘Waterford claims the first unfurling of the Tricolour on 7th March 1848 but there is documented evidence that it was unfurled in Enniscorthy, on Vinegar Hill, on the same day.’ Cathaoirleach Byrne went on to tell the gathering that the French Ambassador had been invited to attend, but unfortunately wasn’t able to make it, but in-
Right: Donal Croghan, Maria Nolan and John Joe Cullen in Kilkenny.
tends to be here at Enniscorthy for next year’s event to mark the 175th anniversary. Local historian Brian Cleary said that Europe was a hotbed of revolution in the 1840s, with tricolours of various combinations appearing in several countries. Thomas Francis Meagher and William Smith O`Brien were in Paris at the time to observe the strategies of the revolutionaries and were presented with a tricolour by a group of French ladies advocating peace between the religious persuasions in Ireland, white for peace between the Orange and the Green.
SlaNey hiStory & heritage ‘We have solid recorded evidence to substantiate our claim,’ Brian emphatically told his enthralled audience ‘as the flag featured in a public parade in the town on the same evening as it was unfurled in Waterford – Tuesday 7th March 1848. The Enniscorthy occasion was recorded in at least three newspapers including the Young Ireland paper The Nation.’
EHRS members on Vinegar Hill with local historian Brian Cleary (third from right).
So, it seems the Tricolour may well have been unfurled first in Waterford, but it was paraded on the self-same day in Enniscorthy. I think it’s safe to say – that makes it a draw between ourselves and the Deise! Kilkenny Parade: On St. Patrick’s Day, EHRS were invited by Kilkenny County Council to march in the Kilkenny Parade in the guise of our Norman ancestors to highlight the influence of the Normans on Kilkenny Castle and its legacy. EHRS were happy to depict, among others, Strongbow and his bride Aoife, William Marshal and his bride Isobelle, and Diarmuid MacMurrough father of Aoife, all of whom made the Six One News on RTE TV that evening, excellent
coverage for the group and Enniscorthy. Prior to the parade, EHRS performed a pageant in the grounds of Kilkenny Castle for a group of American tourists organised by tour guide extraordinaire Cathy Keane.
Trip to Tipp: On Saturday 19th March, EHRS were once again on their travels bringing Enniscorthy to an ever-expanding audi-
ence as they participated in the unveiling of a monument at Ballylooby, Co. Tipperary, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the first armed march of the 3rd Battalion, North Tipperary, under the command of Sean Hogan and Dan Breen. Enniscorthy Historical Re-enactment Society – bringing history alive and promoting Enniscorthy at home and around the country. – Words & Pics by Maria Nolan
Three photos (above, left and right) show Enniscorthy Historical Re-enactment Society (EHRS) members at the unveiling of a new monument at Ballylooby, Co. Tipperary.
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€126,400 in funding for Co. Wexford’s heritage buildings Barntown Castle to receive €4,500.
Following the launch last month by Minister Noonan of Heritage Ireland 2030, a new national heritage plan which seeks to strengthen protection for our heritage in all its forms and provide supports to those responsible for its care, comes news of €4m in funding for individual heritage structures nationwide, including twelve in Co. Wexford. Through grants of up to €15,000, the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) assists owners of heritage structures – including those on the local authorities’ Record of Protected Structures and those in Architectural Conservation Areas – to meet their obligations to care for their properties. The funding can be used to undertake repair work, contributing to the upkeep and maintenance of heritage structures. Examples include roof, wall and joinery repair, draught-proofing windows, lime rendering and the repair of stained-glass windows. Wexford TD and Minister of State for Law Reform James Browne has confirmed that €126,400 will be allocated to County Wexford heritage buildings under the Built Heritage Investment Scheme. “My Government colleagues and I are keen to ensure that the Built Heritage Investment Scheme preserves 12 of County Wexford’s historic structures. The investment relates to roof repairs, structural repairs, thatching, external wall repairs, mitigation of damp, loft insulation, lime rendering and historic window glass conservation.” The investment will also provide employment to small businesses, skilled conservation specialists and tradespeople, ensuring a continued focus on the traditional crafts – all of which help deliver on Heritage Ireland 2030.
The projects allocated funding through the scheme include Old Boyle House, Barntown (€15,000), Yoletown Cottage, Yoletown, Broadway (€15,000), The Old Deanery, Ferns (€15,000), Ballystraw, Duncannon (€15,000), Waddingtown, Cleariestown (€14,437), An Teach Bán, Crossfarnogue, Kilmore Quay (€14,250), Ballyteige, Kilmore Quay (€11,945.86), Teach Dearg, Crossfarnogue, Kilmore Quay (€9,500), Barntown Castle, Barntown (€4,500), Misterin House, Adamstown (€3,835), Galbally Church (€3,750), and Carrigbyrne House, Adamstown (€3,234.75). n
€50,000 in funding for Duncannon Fort
Wexford TD and Minister of State for Law Reform James Browne has confirmed that Duncannon Fort is to receive €50,000 in rural regeneration funding. The Town and Village Renewal Scheme funding will support the development of a masterplan examining the use of immersive technologies to enhance Duncannon Fort’s potential as a tourism destination. Welcoming the announcement, Minister Browne explained that “the investment, under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, aims to breathe new life into rural communities. I am delighted that this funding has been approved to scope out how we can further tap into the tourism potential of Duncannon Fort. “Located along the Hook Peninsula, Duncannon Fort is a historic bastioned fort with a history spanning 450 years. My Government colleagues and I are eager to see the development of Duncannon Fort to further strengthen the offering of tourism in County Wexford and Ireland’s Ancient East,” Minister Browne concluded. n
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Medieval Ferns Experience – new and very different
Want to try something new and very different? Well, Wexford's newest visitor attraction is now open in Ferns – located at Ferns Community Centre in a specially refurbished area.
Historian-in-Residence Barry Lacey will discuss County Wexford in the context of the months following the ratification of the Anglo Irish Treaty in January 1922, the transfer of power and the lead up to the Irish Civil War. This talk will take place in Enniscorthy Library on Thursday, 7th of April, at 7pm. Booking is required: https://wexfordcoco.libcal.com/event/3877052
The Experience tells the fascinating story of Ferns medieval history in an interactive and fun way. Using audiovisual sensory and virtual reality it really gives a great insight into power shifts in the Ancient Capital of Leinster. The Experience is open Wednesday to Saturday from 11am to 5pm. For enquiries email: medievalfernsexperience@fernsvillage.ie or phone: 089-4946972. Entry fee is €6. Seniors/Students €5. Children under 12 are free. n
Wexford Libraries launched “County Wexford War of Independence and Civil War: an educational resource” in Wexford town library on 1st April 2022. The launch was followed by a talk from the Historian-in-Residence Barry Lacey to classes from two local schools. This information booklet, researched and written by historian Monica Crofton, assisted by local studies at Wexford libraries, gives a concise account of events in County Wexford. It tells of the persons involved and plots the timeline for the War of Independence and the Civil War in the county. It refers to minutes from council meetings and uses reports from local newspapers to illustrate how the War of Independence and Civil War progressed in County Wexford from 1919-1923. This is an educational and interpretative resource for children and young people. It is aimed at children from 4th to 6th class in primary school and from 1st to 3rd year in secondary school. The booklet will be distributed to all schools in County Wexford in the coming weeks. It will be available in County Wexford libraries for reference. Following the launch the electronic leaflet will be accessible from the library website and schools can book a talk with the Historian-in-Residence. An Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council, Barbara-Anne Murphy, said, “This is a wonderful learning resource for our schoolchildren to assist them engage with the history of their area from a hundred years ago.” For further information, contact Wexford library branch at wexfordlib@wexfordcoco.ie or 053 919 6760, or Local Studies Librarian at 053 919 6330 or libraryhq@wexfordcoco.ie n
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Councils will soon be able to use CCTV to catch illegal dumpers
Senator Malcolm Byrne
Legislation proposed by Gorey Senator Malcolm Byrne that will allow CCTV and other technologies to be used by local authorities to catch illegal dumpers, will be enacted by government before the summer as part of a forthcoming bill.
opment Committees across the country.”
Senator Byrne’s Bill to tackle this issue will be folded into the government’s new Circular Economy Bill which has just been introduced to the Oireachtas. The government bill will also look at measures to further promote recycling.
underpinning legislation, there are data protection con-
Senator Byrne’s bill had been making its way through the Seanad and he has been regularly raising the need to tackle the problem of illegal dumping.
Senator Byrne explained, “In theory, there was no difficulty for local authorities to use CCTV or drones or other technologies to try deter environmental crimes but without cerns.” Some local authorities have faced reprimand from the Data Protection Commission over failures to ensure appropriate protections were in place. A survey of all local authorities by Senator Byrne in 2021 es-
Senator Byrne said, “Government is now prioritising this issue and I’m happy that they are taking on board the measures I set out in my Bill.
timated that the cost of cleaning up dumping and littering
“This is an issue of real concern to every local authority and to local Councillors as well as Tidy Towns Groups and Devel-
glad that we will see local authorities have the necessary
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nationally runs to between €90m and €100m. Senator Byrne added, “We need to stop this scourge. I’m powers later this year.” n
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Wexford Creative Communities Project Irish Girl Guides from the Seashell Guiding District led by Una Wafer in Cahore and Courtown, have come together to explore the impact of litter pollution on the local marine environment, through the lens of sustainability and creativity. The project is coordinated by Calmast STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) Engagement Centre, Waterford Institute of Technology. Brownies, Girl Guides and Senior Branch are joined by Órla Bates, a local visual artist and qualified teacher in art and design education who has over fifteen years of experience.
Pictured above and below: The Irish Girl Guides in Cahore and Courtown. Wexford County Council, Seal Rescue Ireland, Creative Ireland, and Calmast, Waterford Institute of Technology, have joined together collectively in the fight against climate change through the mediums of art, creativity, and hands-on scientific discovery.
Over the five-week project, Guides will explore printmaking, drawing and mono-printing by using materials found on the local beaches. Items collected will be used to create a set of collagraph prints and the final works will be exhibited and sold as a fundraiser for Seal Rescue Ireland. The project kicked off last month for a two-part educational day on Cahore beach with a talk from Explorers Outreach Officer, Dr Gillian Wheatly from the Explorers Education Programme, which is funded by the Marine Institute, followed by a guided tour by Donal McGrath of Cahore Inshore Rescue Service.
Kayleigh Foran, STEM Engagement Coordinator with Calmast remarked that the project aims to engage young people in the topic of marine pollution and its effect on their local area. “The Creative Communities project has given Girl Guides the unique opportunity to reflect and critique the world around them, innovatively and excitingly. The community support network, facilitated by the Hub and Cluster model has allowed them to
explore their locality from a new perspective, increasing the girl’s confidence in STEM, sea stewardship and sense of responsibility.” The project is part of a wider Hub and Cluster initiative founded by Calmast, to significantly increase STEM education and public engagement across the entire South East. Six regional clusters have been formed in Wexford, New Ross, Waterford, Kilkenny, Clonmel and Dungarvan. The Hub and Cluster model, which is funded by Science Foundation Ireland, brings the main actors in the locality together, such as local government, libraries, industry, higher education, schools and other organisations collectively, in clusters to deliver STEM engagement through beneficial partnerships in their area. Last month in conjunction with a mono-printing and drawing session, an educational talk and tour of the Seal Rescue Ireland Centre, Courtown, was given by Educational Manager, Krysten Maier. During the session through hands-on activities, Guides learned about the rehabilitation process of seals and the effects humans often have on their natural environment. Kayleigh added, "Sustainability and positive climate action are hugely important topics as the region collectively tries to do their part in the fight against climate change.” In addition to the Wexford Creative Communities project, Calmast has also founded several climate-focused initiatives, including a six-week sustained engagement programme for Transition Year students entitled, STEMReach Sustainability; Your Story Our Future and ACT Waterford, a yearlong project that brings five communities and five creatives together under five climate action themes. The Wexford Creative Communities project is funded and supported by Wexford County Council in partnership with Creative Ireland as part of the Creative Communities Programme. For more information on the project, please contact Kayleigh at Kayleigh.foran@wit.ie n
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Left: The Wexford Estuary group spring cleaning. Above: Volunteers wanted for some spring cleaning in Enniscorthy.
Minister Browne to the rescue!
Minister James Browne lends a hand to Executive Director Melanie Croce and staff at Seal Rescue Ireland, Courtown, during his recent visit there.
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Primary school artists wanted for conservation campaign Primary school students in Wexford and nationwide are
very important one when you consider that angling is increas-
being asked to design a poster that encourages greater
ingly popular in Ireland with over 320,000 people enjoying it as
conservation of Ireland’s native fish.
a hobby or sport. Ireland is also a major angling destination,
The national poster competition, organised by Inland Fisheries Ireland in conjunction with Blackrock Education Centre, is part
attracting around 130,000 tourists from all around the world in an average year.”
of the ‘Something Fishy’ educational programme and officially
She added: “For this year’s competition, we’re enlisting pri-
kicks off this month.
mary schools in Wexford and across the country to help us cre-
Open to fifth and sixth class pupils, the winning posters will be used as part of an awareness campaign to promote the ‘catch, photo and release’ (CPR) method of angling in Ireland. Under the ‘CPR’ approach, a fish that is caught with a rod by an angler is quickly photographed and then returned safely back into the same water to swim away. As a result, greater
ate a message that will encourage more anglers to practice ‘catch, photo and release’ the next time they’re going fishing. We’re very fortunate to have lots of active angling clubs, associations and federations all over this country. We will be working closely with them to help get the ‘catch, photo, release’ message out there as widely as possible.”
numbers of fish can be conserved in rivers, lakes and around
The ‘Something Fishy’ poster competition has been designed
coastlines, putting less pressure on fish populations and boost-
to fit in with the primary school curriculum, according to
ing biodiversity.
Niamh Murray, Director of the Blackrock Education Centre.
To enter, primary school students are being asked to create a poster with the ‘catch, photo and release’ message, take a photograph of it and then submit it by email before the clos-
She said: “Our children are the future and promoting the simple act of releasing the fish that you catch, shows the power of an individual in conserving our environment.”
ing date of Friday, April 15th 2022. The winning students in
In 2021, Inland Fisheries Ireland and the Blackrock Education
fifth and sixth class categories will receive a tablet to the value
Centre ran a national poetry competition, with two young
of €500 and will have their work featured in an awareness cam-
poets from Tipperary and Carlow scooping the top prizes. To
paign.
enter the 2022 competition, parents, guardians or teachers are
Launching the competition, Suzanne Campion, Head of Business Development with Inland Fisheries Ireland said: “Every generation has a vital role to play in taking care of our native
asked to email original entries to outreach@fisheriesireland.ie before Friday, April 15th. Only one entry is allowed per student and all winners will be announced in early June.
fish and that includes protecting and conserving them. ‘Catch,
Free resources with further details about the competition are
photo and release’ is just one conservation measure, but it’s a
available from www.somethingfishy.ie n
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‘Proposed water plan will fail to restore Ireland’s waters to good health’ The Sustainable Water Network (SWAN) has criticised the government’s draft plan for managing Ireland’s inland and coastal waters as completely lacking in the strong ambition, measures and targets needed to restore our waters to good health. The River Basin Management Plan, is the third since 2009, and is the key tool for the government to achieve the requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) to restore all Ireland’s waters to a healthy state (‘good status’) by 2027 and to prevent any further deterioration. Despite this, only half Ireland’s rivers, lakes and estuaries are currently healthy. With river water quality in decline and water pollution now rising at an unprecedented rate, the network of 25 environmental organisations sees this as a water crisis that will persist under the proposed plan. Launching their ‘Restore Our Waters’ campaign, SWAN has set out a number of recommendations to fix the plan. Sinéad O’Brien, SWAN Coordinator, said: “While there are some welcome improvements in the draft plan, what is most disappointing is its lack of ambition. The plan as it stands is a hotchpotch of actions and aspirations that may, or may not, restore some of our water bodies to health. In fact, under law we must restore ALL our waters by 2027, but this plan lacks the specific, targeted and time bound measures that would provide a clear path to achieving this. “One of our key recommendations is to introduce a prohibition on wetland drainage and to develop a national wetland restoration plan. This would not only restore our rivers, lakes, and improve water quality, it would also deliver immense benefits for climate, nature and flood resilience.” “Sewage is the main source of pollution in 208 waterbodies, yet the proposed Plan doesn’t include measures to fix these by the 2027 deadline. The fact
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that raw and poorly treated sewage is still being released into our rivers, lakes and seas is completely unacceptable. The Plan should include a requirement that the Irish Water Investment Plan includes action to halt sewage pollution in these waters, as a priority.” Elaine McGoff, Natural Environment Officer with An Taisce said: “Agriculture policy must be brought in line with the directive so as to halt and reverse escalating water pollution. Risk assessments based on the directive requirements should be implemented for all intensive farms, including derogation farms. We also need directive based assessments when giving licences for forestry and a ban on afforestation and re-planting on peat soils in acid sensitive catchments, which is detrimental to water wildlife.” Karin Dubsky, Coastwatch Co-ordinator said: “Only 38% of our estuaries are now officially ‘good’ status. Healthy es-
tuaries are vital for nature and coastal communities. We need to jump from disjointed promises and aspirations to integrated management, with clear actions to reach at least ‘good’ status in the plan. Those actions must be integrated across all national level coastal and marine policy, and legislation, including the new Maritime Area Planning Act and the National Marine Planning Framework.” Sinéad O’Brien, SWAN Coordinator said: “Our local rivers, lakes and coast have given us so much, especially during the pandemic, providing restorative spaces for relaxation and enjoyment. Now is the time for us to give back. To do this, we’re looking for people to support our campaign and call on the government to deliver an ambitious, targeted plan to restore Ireland’s whole water environment to good health - a plan that we can all get behind.” n
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Wexford Wildfowl Reserve re-opens
After closing its doors in March 2020, Wexford Wildfowl Reserve Visitor Centre is now open again with an enhanced visitor experience. A new, fully accessible walking trail of around 500m now allows access around the enclosed area of the Visitor Centre ponds. More picnic benches also make a trip to the Centre a chance to relax and enjoy nature, whether you’re a keen birdwatcher, photographer or just someone seeking a quiet escape from the stresses of the day. The trail creation is the initial stage of the redevelopment of the Visitor Centre grounds. The Visitor Centre (with its display area and observation tower) and the grounds (with short trail and birdwatching hide) are now open four days a week, Sunday to Wednesday, 9am to 5pm (closed for lunch between 1 and 2pm, last admittance 4.45pm). All are welcome, but as WWR is a wildfowl and hare reserve, there are strictly no dogs allowed within the grounds of the Visitor Centre (other than guide dogs). While the Visitor Centre has been closed, the Wexford Wildfowl Reserve lands have continued to operate at full strength for its wintering wildfowl population, with thanks to the very
capable local farmers who manage the Reserve lands, under a lease specifically designed to benefit wildfowl and wider biodiversity value. The wildfowl populations can be viewed from the observation tower or bird hides, and will be present for a few weeks yet. A statement from the Reserve says, "Our wildfowl populations are easily disturbed, particularly the Greenland White-fronted Geese, of which up to a third of the world’s population is on the WWR and North Slob for winter. They are used to the wide open tundra of Greenland for their breeding grounds, so are particularly prone to disturbance by people on foot or on bikes, so we ask the public not to walk, run or cycle on the North Slob farm roads. You are very welcome to walk our new Visitor Centre trail or the woodland trails of the nearby Raven Nature Reserve." For further information or to keep up to date on what is happening down on the Reserve, please follow on: facebook: npwswexfordwildfowlreserve Instagram: wexfordwildfowlreserve website: www.wexfordwildfowlreserve.ie n
Reserve a radon monitor at your library Radon monitors are now available for all Wexford library members in the county to borrow. The monitors can be borrowed for a four-week period, and come with instruction leaflets. To reserve a monitor at Enniscorthy Library, ring 053 9236055. n
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Enjoying the St Patrick’s day parade in Wexford Town
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Enjoying the St Patrick’s day parade in Wexford Town
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