History & Heritage

The French Connection

As they say ‘it’s an ill wind’ that doesn’t benefit someone, so as Brexit digs in for the long-haul making Rosslare more and more important as an EU port destination, relationships between Wexford and France, and Normandy in particular, are being explored and developed. Our historical connection was very much in evidence recently at the Ports Past and Present Maritime Festival organised by Leo Coy and his amazing committee, at Harbour Rosslare, where Enniscorthy Historical Re-enactment Society welcomed the Lord Mayor of Ouistreham, Normandy, to the Wexford port, the colourful group in full Norman regalia, embracing and celebrating our shared heritage. With informative talks and a host of activities throughout the weekend, the inaugural Festival was a major success, bringing our two cultures together in an effort to copper-fasten the links between our common Norman back story. It was indeed heart-warming to also see a Welsh delegation share the Festival weekend, declaring adamantly their wish that the close association between the regions would continue and prosper despite Brexit. A week later, it was the turn of New Ross to host our Norman allies at a reception at the Dunbrody Historic Centre for the President of Normandy Herve Morin and Ambassador Vincent Guerend.

Members of Enniscorthy Historical Re-enactment Society at Rosslare with Roman Bail, the Mayor of Ouistreham, Normandy, and his entourage.

Members of Enniscorthy Historical Re-enactment Society on the beach at Rosslare.

After his tour of the town of New Ross, President Morin told Enniscorthy Historical Re-enactment Society that they have similar re-enactment groups in France and at the present time are developing an old Norman site at Caen, not far from Bayeux. €20 million is being pumped into the Caen development to reconstruct a Norman fortress as it would have been built in the 12th century using exactly the same materials and building techniques, with a view to holding major re-enactments going forward. President Morin presented me with his card and contact details so we could keep in touch. Watch this space – a trip to Normandy could be part of our re-enactment future. The President and his entourage were then treated to the most deliciously prepared banquet showcasing all the excellent food of Wexford, the quality, array and presentation having the desired effect. Two Normandy delegations in the same week is no accident, the links between our two cultures have never been stronger, with the Normans the common factor. I have been saying it for years and I am so delighted that finally it seems Wexford has decided to take ownership of the Normans. They landed here in 1169, and as Leo Coy pointed out in his most informative talk on Norman names, they are still here with us today – Busher, Codd, Devereux, Stafford, Lambert, Rossiter, Power, Hore, Furlong, and many, many more. Waterford has laid claim to the Vikings –it’s time Wexford declared the Normans, and all that go with them, her own.

Above left: Maria Nolan and Tom Boland of Enniscorthy Historical Re-enactment Society with Mayor of Ouistreham Roman Bail at the Ports Past and Present festival in Rosslare. Above right: Minister James Browne TD, Maria Nolan and Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy. Below left: Wexford County Council Director of Services Eamonn Hore with members of Enniscorthy Historical Re-enactment Society in New Ross. Below right: President of Normandy Herve Morin with Senator Malcolm Byrne.

Enniscorthy Historical Re-enactment Society’s Maria Nolan with Cllr Michael Sheehan in New Ross. Caption ??? Members of Enniscorthy Historical Re-enactment Society Graham Cadogan, Tom Boland and Edel Kelly.

Vinegar Hill – 224th Anniversary

In beautiful June sunshine on the eve of the summer solstice, Enniscorthy faithful gathered once again on the town’s most famous icon, Vinegar Hill, to remember and appreciate those who went before us, sacrificing themselves for the freedom we enjoy today. Never was it more poignant, on this the 224th Anniversary of the Battle of Vinegar Hill 1798, as the world currently experiences the rages of the Russian aggressor on the freedom of the people of Ukraine. The dignified ceremony introduced eloquently by Derek Meyler, 1798 Centre, began with a procession of pikemen and women from Enniscorthy Historical Re-enactment Society, to the hill, led by lone piper Jimmy Cooper. Addresses were given by first citizen of the town – Chairman of the Municipal District Council Cathal Byrne, new Chair of Wexford County Council George Lawlor, saying that he was honoured that this was his first official engagement in his new position and treated the audience to an emotive rendition of Boolavogue, followed by Councillor Barbara-Anne Murphy and Sean Doyle of the 1798 Committee. Prayers were said for all the fallen of the Hill on that fateful day 224 years ago by newly installed Administrator of St. Aidan’s Cathedral, Fr. Tom Dalton, and Rev. Leslie Crampton, Church of Ireland, deputising for Rev. Nicola Halford, who was away on holidays. Also in attendance were Deputy Johnny Mythen, Councillors Aidan Browne, Kathleen Codd-Nolan, John O`Rourke and Jackser Owens, Director of Services Carolyne Godkin and acting Town Manager Bernie Quigley. Wreaths were laid at the Monument by Councillor Barbara-Anne Murphy and Emily Murphy on behalf of the Enniscorthy Historical Re-enactment Society who received tremendous praise from all speakers for their mammoth contribution to Enniscorthy history, attending at all events, throughout the county and beyond. Master of Ceremonies Derek Meyler closed the nostalgic and moving commemoration, organised by the staff of the Municipal District Council and the 1798 Centre, calling on re-enactor Tim Corrigan to sing the Croppy Boy and piper Jimmy Cooper to play the National Anthem. Once again Enniscorthy does itself proud remembering its historic past and honouring those who made us who we are.

– Words and pics by Maria Nolan

Maria Nolan with Cllr George Lawlor (Cathaoirleach of Wexford Co. Council) Seamus Rafter with Tim Corrigan. Ray Murphy with Cllr Kathleen Codd-Nolan.

Words spoken by Sean Doyle on 21 June 2022 at the Annual Commemoration of the Battle of Vinegar Hill:

I welcome you all to the Annual Commemoration of the Battle of Vinegar Hill. I want to thank the staff of the 1798 Centre for their efforts in organising the event each year. Our appreciation is also due to the members of the Enniscorthy Historical Re-enactment Society for adding to our knowledge of historical events throughout a wide area of Ireland. To our Pikemen and Pikewomen our admiration for their steadfastness and reminding us of the heroism of the Insurgents who fought so valiantly for our freedom during the summer of 1798. I cannot let this occasion pass without mentioning the late Nicky Furlong. Nicky passed away on 21 March 2022. He was an active member of Comoradh ’98 and was considered an authority on the 1798 Rebellion. Nicky wrote the definitive biography of Father John Murphy who was very involved in the battle fought on this hill two hundred and twenty four years ago. During last year’s Commemoration Ceremonies, Brian Ó Cléirigh gave a very interesting talk on the Tricolour which I found to be very informative. I want to refer to a recent publication ‘Vinegar Hill: The Last Stand of the Wexford Rebels of 1798’. Its joint editors are Ronan O’Flaherty and Jacqui Hynes and it contains 336 pages. It is quite comprehensive and covers many aspects of the battle, its combatants, its archaeology, and of the hill itself. I believe it is the standard for anyone with an interest in Vinegar Hill and its famous Battle. It comes down on the side of not too much interference with the fabric of the hill. I’m assuming you all know the story of the Battle of Vinegar Hill so I’m not going to deal with the actual battle. I’m going to quote two people who wrote about the views and the landscapes as seen from the hill. First is from William Bulfin’s book ‘Rambles in Éirinn’ which he wrote in 1907 after cycling around Ireland – “The crest is flat topped and covered with thin grass mixed with heather and stunted whins. I plucked some of the heather to send to certain Wexfordmen far away. There is the ruin of an old windmill in the centre of the small plateau which was occupied by the Insurgents. On one corner of the crest the rock strata rise slantingly out of the heather and this is the highest part of the hill. I stood there in the glory of a bright September morning and took a good long look over the wide ridges and rolling plains of Wexford and down the pleasant valley of the Slaney. I shall never forget it. The sunlight streamed down between scattered patches of cloud and fell upon the masses of vapour which the wind was rolling from off the fields and streams and woods. Miles and miles of fertile land well streaked with the track of industrious cultivation were visible on every side, thinly veiled or faintly blurred by the soft transparencies which tinted the fragrant earth with shimmering gamuts of colour, from opal green to amber, from frosted silver to pearl grey, and from chestnut brown to burnished gold. It was a picture which would have impressed me by its superlative beauty at any time, or seen in any land. But the historic glam-

L-R: Ethan Doyle, Eamonn Doyle who wrote the poem in the text below, Sean Doyle and Ted Morrissey.

our of its ‘glorious pride and sorrow’ made its natural loveliness doubly fascinating.” Next I’m going to quote our own Micheál Tóibín who wrote, “In the town of our day, too, there is much that is picturesque and lovable. Looking down on it through the evening mists, it takes on a medieval character, grey, placid, restful; it seems like something that has wandered out of the glamorous past, across the silent centuries, fragrant with the memories of their passing. In how many hearts, some in far-off lands, this ‘kindly spot, this friendly town’ means Home, with all the magic that simple word conveys! ‘Tis true that time has brought its changes, but as we look down from the hill above, we are impressed by so much that has not changed; from here all the yesterdays, to-days and to-morrows seem to merge into that timeless stream we call tradition. And we pray that as the ‘years like great black oxen tread the world’ they leave their footmark here, sparing so much that is old and good and beautiful.” I’ll conclude by reading a recently written poem.

Freedom’s Footsteps

It’s my daily privilege to walk where you walked; A humbling honour to talk where you talked. My steps are the steps of the free, But the cost of that is plain to see. Breathe in, and the air is thick with Terror, Anger, Confusion, Pride and Love, I breathe in your painful story, breath by breath An emotional battlefield flooding my senses but love floats above. To stand where you stood and willingly gave your life, It’s impossible not to feel love of family, Love for home; so strong you took on cannon with pike, Worries of modern life pale next to your bravery. To walk Vinegar Hill is a march into the past, But each step taken here, ghostly friends hold you steadfast, Their spirit and sacrifice inspire and nurture As you walk in the past towards a better future. n

SlaNey adSlaNey hiStory & heritage Vinegar Hill book lauded at Listowel Writers Week

“Vinegar Hill – The Last Stand of the Wexford Rebels of 1798”, edited by Dr Ronan O’Flaherty and Jacqui Hynes, was awarded second place in the prestigious Nilsson Local Heritage Writing Award 2022 at the recent Listowel Writers Week.

The book, supported by Wexford County Council and published by Four Courts Press, offers new insights into what happened at Vinegar Hill on that fateful day on 21st June 1798 and features work by a multi-disciplinary research programme involving archaeologists, historians, folklorists, architectural historians and military specialists. The event was attended by Jacqui Hynes (see accompanying photo) who accepted the award on behalf of the entire research team. “Vinegar Hill – The Last Stand of the Wexford Rebels of 1798” is available from all good bookshops or direct from Four Courts Press. n

On 2nd July 2022, as part of the Wexford Literary Arts Festival, the 100th Anniversary of the Battle of Enniscorthy was commemorated with a re-enactment in the town by Enniscorthy Historical Re-enactment Society and Lord Edward’s Own. Above L-R: Sean Haughey TD, Cllr Jackser Owens, Cllr Aidan Browne (Cathaoirleach Enniscorthy Municipal District), Cllr George Lawlor (Cathaoirleach Wexford County Council), Minister James Browne TD.

224th Anniversary of the Battle of Vinegar Hill

21st June 2022 at the Annual Commemoration of the Battle of Vinegar Hill:

Above left: Cllr George Lawlor (Cathaoirleach of Wexford Co. Council) with journalist and broadcaster Dan Walsh. Above right: Then Cathaoirleach of Enniscorthy Municipal District Cathal Byrne, Maria Nolan, Cllr Jackser Owens, Ruairí Ryan, Chairperson Wexford Ógra Fianna Fáil. Below left: Billy Stafford, Emma Dwyer, Graham Cadogan, Eve Furlong and Derek Meyler of the National 1798 Rebellion Centre. Below right: Johnny Mythen TD, Tim Corrigan, and Riain and Rory O’Connor. Bottom left: Bernie Quigley (Acting District Manager, Enniscorthy Municipal District), Edel Kelly (Enniscorthy Historical Re-enactment Society), Cllr Kathleen Codd-Nolan. Bottom centre: Odhran Morrissey, Cllr Jackser Owens, James Morrissey and Flynn Morrissey. Bottom right: Bernie Quigley (Acting District Manager, Enniscorthy Municipal District), Cllr Aidan Browne (since elected Cathaoirleach of Enniscorthy Municipal District), and Carolyne Godkin (Director of Services, Wexford County Council).

Rebellion Day!

In the lead up to the 21st June, the longest day, and the 224th Anniversary of the Battle of Vinegar Hill, Manager of the Castle and the 1798 Centre Mico Hassett and Deputy Manager Eve Furlong organised Rebellion Day at the National 1798 Rebellion Centre on Sunday 19th June from 12 –4pm. The well planned event had everything from stall holders with tasty strawberries and creative art and crafts to traditional Irish music by the Wild Turkeys, who had toes tapping and hands clapping all around the picturesque surrounds of the venue. Expert Blacksmith Finin Liam Christie was kept busy for the afternoon fashioning pikes for the pikemen, women, and children of Enniscorthy Historical Reenactment Society (EHRS) who were delighted with the interest shown by young and old in the weaponry, uniforms, and stories of the Battle of Vinegar Hill. With musket, pistols, and cannon, members of EHRS demonstrated the loading and firing of weapons, as well as giving instruction in the use of sword, pike and bayonet bringing history to life once again, showing what the Hill above our town might have sounded and looked like on that fateful day 224 years ago. Well done to Mico Hassett and her staff for organising this most excellent, free, historic event and can we have many more like it over the summer months please.

– Words and some pics by Maria Nolan

VINEGAR HILL – LINKING ENNISCORTHY AND AUSTRALIA

Brad Bunting, Deputy Mayor of Blacktown, near Sydney, Australia, paid a visit with his wife, Norma (who was born in Dublin), to Enniscorthy on 28th June 2022.

Mr Bunting and his wife climbed to the top of Vinegar Hill and was later presented with a copy of Jacqui Hynes' prizewinning book about Vinegar Hill at Enniscorthy Castle where he was greeted by Wexford County Council officials and local Councillors, including Leas Cathaoirleach of Enniscorthy Municipal District Cathal Byrne, and Councillors John O'Rourke and Jackser Owens. Blacktown is home to its own Vinegar Hill monument (see photo below). Some of the rebels of the Australian Vinegar Hill battle were actually veterans of the Enniscorthy Vinegar Hill battle.

Right: Bernie Quigley (Acting District Manager, Enniscorthy Municipal District), Brad Bunting (Deputy Mayor, Blacktown City Council, Australia), Norma Bunting, Cathal Byrne (Leas Cathaoirleach, Enniscorthy Municipal District). n

Above left: Brad Bunting (Deputy Mayor, Blacktown City Council, Australia), being presented with a copy of her Vinegar Hill book by Jacqui Hynes. Above right: Jacqui Hynes, Cllr Jackser Owens, Cllr Cathal Byrne (Leas Cathaoirleach, Enniscorthy Municipal District), Brad Bunting, Norma Bunting, Cllr John O’Rourke, Carolyne Godkin (Director of Services, Wexford County Council), Bernie Quigley (Acting District Manager, Enniscorthy Municipal District).

Vinegar Hill monument, Blacktown, Australia.

The ‘Battle of Enniscorthy’

On 2nd July 2022 as part of the Wexford Literary Arts Festival, the 100th Anniversary of the Battle of Enniscorthy which raged for four days from 1st-4th July 1922 between pro- and antitreaty forces, was commemorated with a reenactment in the town by Enniscorthy Historical Reenactment Society and Lord Edward’s Own.

Top left: Cllr Aidan Browne (Cathaoirleach, Enniscorthy Municipal District) addresses the crowd. Above left: Organiser Maria Nolan with dignitaries in the background. Below left: Minister James Browne speaks. Bottom right: Tommy O’Sullivan and Paul Kehoe TD.

Oulart’s well twinned with one in Wales

TOBARMACLÚRA TWINNED WITH ST DAVID’S WELL, BRIDELL, WALES

At a beautifully simple ceremony on the lands of Martin and Siobhán Dempsey, Killagowan, Oulart, on 22 June, the Feast of St Mochua, the 7th century Tobarmaclúra (St. Mochua’s Well) was twinned with the well of St. David’s Church, Bridell, Wales.

Standing there in its ancient site and looking resplendant for the occasion, stood Tobarmaclúra, once famous for its good effects on ailments of the eye. It has now been opened to public access by the Dempsey family in a very generous contribution to the local community. Its inclusion in the new Camino from Ferns to St. David’s in Wales under the Ancient Connections scheme run by Wexford and Pembrokeshire County Councils is very appropriate because, as an tAthair Séamus de Vál, former parish priest of Oulart, pointed out, St. Aidan had been educated in Wales by St. David and that Mochua ‘was the immediate successor of Aidan or Maodhóg, whom we revere as the first bishop of Fearna. Mochua’s feast-day, the 22nd of June, is referred to in the ancient Leabhar Breac as ...the mighty Crónán of Ferns.’ One ancient Féilire or Calendar of Saints’ Feast Days recorded that Mochua and Crónán were the same man, and that Mochua was a familiar name for Crónán. Mr Rom Bates, Pilgrimage Development Officer with Ancient Connections and resident of Ferns, said the Ferns-St. David’s project filled a need and that the first pilgrims had already walked it by way of Ferns, Oulart, Oilgate, Johnstown Castle and Our Lady’s Island; taking five days in Ireland and three in Wales to complete the Camino. The unique highlight of the ceremony saw Ms. Rowan O’Neill, from Cardigan, using a limpet shell from her home area to add water from St David’s Well in Bridell, Wales, to Tobarmaclúra, thus symbolically twinning the two holy wells. It was a very moving and deeply symbolic moment, and one from which surely only good can flow. Opening her remarks in Irish and Welsh to spontaneous applause, Rowan, whose idea it was to twin the wells, and whose grandfather had to emigrate from Co. Carlow in the 1940s never to return, addressed the seventy-strong attendance in a quiet, dignified and extremely affecting few words that touched the heart, saying ‘... some wells are visited in conjunction with another well and that the health and well-being of a well in one place might relate to that of another in another region or even in another country... water ebbs and flows, rises and falls, parts and unites...” Fr. Paddy Browne, PP Oulart, welcomed the project recalling several connections with Wales in years past through the many priests serving there who were alumni of St. Peter’s College. He wished the Camino every success and, invoking the blessing of Saint Mochua, St. Aidan and St. David, he gave out a decade of the Rosary, with music supplied by Orla Nimmo (Long Whistle), Yvonne Dempsey (guitar) and Kevin Nimmo (Banjo). MC for the lovely occasion was John Dempsey, Chairman, Oulart Hill Development Group. With true Irish hospitality, the entire attendance was invited by the Dempsey family to a beautifully arranged tea with all sorts of confections to round off a quietly historic evening in Killagowan. n

That’s true, you know!

‘“That’s True, You Know” is an exclusive exhibition running in Enniscorthy Castle until the beginning of August as part of their 2022 summer programme.

Running until beginning of August 2022

Curated by the respected folklorist Michael Fortune of www.folklore.ie, it’s a first of its kind in the country as a sole showcase focusing on folkloric customs and beliefs from across Ireland. Wexford features strongly throughout the exhibition with objects, stories, photos and videos collected from every corner of the county and beyond. Michael stated, “I’m delighted to be invited by Manager Mico Hassett and her team to curate ‘That’s True, You Know’ for Enniscorthy Castle as the old museum was the first museum I visited as a child. It’s a great opportunity to display and share both the traditions and superstitions of local and national voices and have their stories and objects profiled in such historic surroundings.” Michael spent the past two decades collecting ancient and contemporary folk beliefs and customs in every corner of the country. Describing his work, broadcaster and writer Manchán Magan said: “There have only been a few people –guardians, sacred recorders – who have collected and documented this material and Michael is one of them. Michael Fortune in years to come is going to be Ireland’s Alan Lomax.”

Mico Hassett commented, “The exhibition has a mixture of elements from a series of large and beautiful hanging displays focusing on areas around Holy Wells and Sacred Spaces, to the supernatural world of Fairies and the Banshee. To complement that you will also be walked through the calendar year with display boards for every month highlighting traditional dates of importance.” Newly appointed Deputy Manager Eve Furlong said, ‘We have also curated a room focused on superstitions and beliefs aimed at children and teenagers

Above L-R: Folklorist and Curator Michael Fortune with Mico Hassett, Enniscorthy Castle Manager, at Enniscorthy Castle where the ‘That’s True, You Know’ exhibition is running until beginning of August.

which contains interactive aspects from walking under ladders, to stepping on cracks – a space sure to create some intrigue and wonder. To top it all off, Michael has also brought together a host of objects which he has acquired and borrowed from people and communities from all over Ireland. These range from bottles of Holy Water from wells around the county to decorated May Bush altars and family relics. We hope it’s a new look at the past for our visitors to explore and enjoy.” Over the past twenty years Michael has amassed the country's largest collection of folklore recollections on film and he has devised a way to include this digital aspect across the Castle space, giving patrons the additional opportunity to hear the human voice and the source of the stories too. Michael added, “People’s voices and accents are vital to my area of work and without these real people's voices and experiences something would be missing so we will feature monitors playing certain stories aloud.” A series of QR codes are displayed to scan which will bring you directly to the source of the story on YouTube if patrons want to delve into more folklore offsite.

Admission to the exhibition is free on payment of normal admission to the Castle. n

POOR OF WEXFORD TOWN OF 1800s AND 1900s COMMEMORATED AT PAUPERS’ GRAVE

The music of the Holy Family Confraternity Band under their musical director, Alan Mahon, as they played Hymnus Antverpiae, could be heard all over Coolcotts, the leafy suburb of Wexford town. The deep melodious tones of the Wexford Male Voice, conducted by Fiona Quirke, wafted over the Paupers’ Grave there as robed dignitaries and colourfully uniformed services officers and town organisation leaders gathered around on the balmy, sunny mid-June evening. Mary Beary and Anne Beary lit the candles at the Celtic Cross in the centre of the Paupers' Grave garden in memory of the forgotten souls buried there. All assembled around the cross in a solemn ceremony to commemorate the poor of Wexford, almost all buried without headstone or obituary or eulogy or funeral or any ritual, in shallow graves there in the 1800s and early 1900s because there was no money to pay for their burial. The people buried there, were, according to an inscription on the Celtic Cross, ‘the Poor, the Deprived, the Destitute, the Mentally and the Physically Challenged.’ An inscription on a nearby plaque says: ”They laughed, They cried. They lived. They died. They will be remembered forever.” However, there is no indication of how many are buried there. “No records kept. Not in ones or tens, but probably in hundreds, possibly thousands,” said retired County Library historian and genealogist, Celestine Murphy. The Paupers’ Grave is a green area of about 50 metres by 30 metres sheltered by trees in Coolcotts near the Community Centre in suburban Wexford town. A few big stones scattered there were left by loved ones to indicate some graves.

DIGNITARIES SALUTED AND LAID WREATHS Angela Laffan, district manager of Wexford County Council, welcomed Councillors, Bishop Nash, Catholic Bishop of Ferns; Fr Billy Swan, Adm; the Reverend Cormac O’Reilly, Church of Ireland, St Iberius church; town officials, Gardaí, Army, Commodore John Barry branch of National ExService Personnel and Veterans, the Order of Malta, the Lions Club, Rotary, Wexford Chamber, Wexford Historical Society and FAB (Ferndale, Ashfield, Belevedere Community and Family Resource Centre officials) and all who attended. The Mayor of Wexford, Garry Laffan, was unable to attend because of the death of his auntie Kathleen of Monck Street. The dignitaries stood to attention, saluted or laid wreaths and bunches of flowers at the Celtic Cross. Minister James Browne T.D. on behalf of the Irish Government and Cllr. Maura Bell on behalf of the Wexford Borough District and the People of Wexford, laid wreaths. Pat Collins of Wexford Memorial Trust laid a wreath in memory of the young boy John Brien, and Mrs Sarah Higginbotham and her infant son Thomas and all the forgotten souls buried there. Conal Creedon laid a wreath in memory of his father the late Bill Creedon, former Wexford County Secretary, trustee and friend of Wexford Memorial Trust. Sean Kinsella, on behalf of the Furlong family laid a wreath in memory of his cousin, the late Nicky Furlong, renowned Wexford author and historian, trustee and friend of Wexford Memorial Trust. Wreaths were also laid by John Fowler, chairman of the Commodore John Barry Branch of the O.N.E. in memory of Organ-

Poor of Wex commem

Around the Celtic Cross in the Paupers’ Graveyard

xford town morated

isation of National Ex-Service personnel and veterans; by David O’Grady, assistant commander, Wexford Order of Malta; by Trina Barnes, president of Wexford Lions Club; by Calodagh McCumiskey, Wexford Rotary Club; by Sergeant Mick Dee, Wexford Gardaí; by Brendan Crowley, president, Wexford Chamber; and by Sharon Murphy, Ferndale, Ashfield, Belvedere, Community and Family Resource Centre (F.A.B.). Tanya O’Neill and Karolina Mahoney laid flowers on behalf of Scoil Mhuire National School. Helen Corish Wylde, chairperson of Wexford Memorial Trust, thanked all who attended. Also remembered were former Mayor of Wexford, Noel Murphy, and former Mayor of Wexford, the late Peter Roche, both of whom were members of the Wexford Memorial Trust. Seated in the attendance at the commemoration, also known as the Annual Patron, was Padge Reck, former Mayor of Wexford, who with the late Ray Nolan was a founder of Wexford Memorial Trust and its chairman from 1990 to 2015. Because of the Covid pandemic, the Annual Patron had not been held since 2019. There too were historians and authors and researchers Celestine Murphy, Greg Walsh, Paddy Kinsella, Dr Noel Culleton, Dan Redmond and Willie French. In the crowd were Peter McDonald and his wife Theresa of New Ross, and Sean Kinsella, Corry’s Villas, cousins of the late Nicky Furlong. Maura Gately whose late brother Monsignor Lory Kehoe was a loyal supporter of the Memorial Trust, was there. Celebrants Bishop Ger Nash, Monsignor Denis Lennon, Fr. Billy Swan Adm., and Rev. Conor O’Reilly, lead the congregation in prayer for the blessing of the graveyard.

DISCARDED AS HUMAN GARBAGE The attendance of more than 120 people listened raptly and applauded rapturously for a powerfully inspirational address by the guest speaker, Professor Kevin Whelan, a native of Clonegal, Co. Wexford, who has been director of the Notre Dame University for more than 25 years. He asked in his 20-minute address to: “Think for a moment of our parents and our grandparents. While they may have died, they are still very much alive in our thoughts and especially at significant points in the year like Christmas and birthdays. In that sense, they are still valued and a significant force and presence in our lives even though they are no longer physically with us. “Then let us think of the people beneath our feet here [in the Paupers’ Graveyard] and the ignominious way they were once discarded as so much human garbage in a paupers’ grave. They died as a result of harsh social and economic policies that treated poverty as a self-inflicted condition, resulting from character flaws. These are the ones who were treated in both life and in death with contempt.” The known three of those who died there were named. According to a Wexford Memorial Trust/ Wexford County Council brochure, supplied to all who attended, they were John O’Brien, who died aged 12 on 2nd December 1904 and Sarah Higginbotham, who died aged 40 on 14th May 1886, and her infant son Thomas who died shortly afterwards on 7th October 1886 aged nine months. Both had died in the Wexford Union Workhouse, known today as the ‘Old Wexford Hospital’. Large stones marked some of the graves, placed there by family members so that they could distinguish their loved one’s resting place. A headstone close to the Celtic cross marks the grave of John O’Brien. A plaque on a boundary wall commemorates Sarah Higginbotham and her son. The hour-long event was supremely well organised, choreographed, sequenced, scripted, timed and presented by the Wexford Memorial Trust Committee members of Brian Byrne, Pat Collins, Monica Crofton, Angie Laffan, Breda Meagher, Anita Ryan and Helen Corish-Wylde, their chairperson, who thanked those who attended. After the commemorations, Bishop Nash, Fr Billy Swan and Professor Kevin Whelan, were among many others who went to the Coolcotts Community Centre for tea served with compliments of the organisers and Clonard Area Development Association (C.A.D.A.)

– Michael Freeman

t: Celebrants lead prayers. Above: Fiona Quirke conducts the le Voice Choir. Right: Helen Corish, Chairperson of Memorial Trust, Prof Kevin Whelan, Guest Speaker, and Angela Laffan, District Manager, Wexford Co. Council.