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Ned Kavanagh’s is a long established family business offering a personal and friendly service

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Slaneynews Serving Enniscorthy, Bunclody, and surrounding area since 2010

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Issue 76 - Wednesday - 3 August 2016

THY A ENNISCOR

Your local FREE community newspaper

Adamstown, Askamore, Ballaghkeen, Ballindaggin, Ballycarney, Ballyduff, Ballyedmond, Ballyhoge, Ballymurn, Blackwater, Boolavogue, Bree, Bunclody, Camolin, Castledockrell, Clohamon, Clonroche, Courtnacuddy, Curracloe, Enniscorthy, Ferns, Galbally, Glenbrien, Killanne, Kilmuckridge, Kilmyshall, Kiltealy, Marshalstown, Monageer, Monamolin, Oylegate, Oulart, Poulpeasty, Raheenduff, Rathnure, Screen, The Harrow.

Opening of St Aidan’s new pat MuRphy school kenny For Bikes oil ltd. building Slaney StReet enniScoRthy

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tel: 053 9233255

It may only be August but already many people’s thoughts are turning to school! Children are on countdown as they enter the last month of their holidays. Many parents are thinking about school uniforms, schoolbooks, etc. And in the case of Enniscorthy’s St Aidan’s primary school, the principal, Peter Creedon, is looking forward to welcoming pupils to the new school building which has just been handed over to him by the builders.

Pupils from junior to fourth classes can now look forward to being educated in style this September. The pupils of 5th and 6th classes will have to be patient a little longer as it will

be at least Easter 2017 before the old school building has been completely refurbished so those pupils will remain in the temporary facilities on the Ross Road until then. At that stage all work is due to be completed and those pupils can return to what will be a builder-free zone.

With investment totalling €8.5m approx involving the doubling of the previous floor area, the school is now a stateof-the-art educational centre – modern and environmentally friendly.

Principal Creedon looks forward to welcoming the school’s 830 pupils back on 31st August.

See our back to school feature on pages 16 to 18 n

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KavanaGH’s PHarmacy ✚ duffry HiLL, enniscortHy. teL: 053-9234660.

Free Dental Exam for kids in Smiles Dental Enniscorthy this August and September.

Call us today on Tel: 053 923 6612 or email: enniscorthy@smiles.ie See www.smiles.ie for more information.

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Ladies & Gents

HaLf Price (while stocks last)

Slaneynews: Next issue will be out on Weds 7th Sept 2016

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3 August 2016

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THE SLANEY NEWS IS NOW AVAILABLE IN 220 OUTLETS!

Congrats to all involved in the hugely successful Rockin’ Food Fest in Enniscorthy over the bank holiday weekend. It was wonderful to see such huge crowds in town and to soak up the wonderful atmosphere (and great weather!).

Enniscorthy – the town of festivals – now looks forward to the Blackstairs Blues on 9-11th September. We’ll carry full details in our next issue of 7th September. In the meantime enjoy the remainder of the summer.

– Frank Corcoran

10,000 copies per issue of which 5,000 are distributed door-to-door in Enniscorthy town and 700 in Bunclody.

The balance is distributed to over 220 drop-off points: ENNISCORTHY: Doyles Bar, The Duffry Gala Duffry Hope Centre Copper Pan The Holy Grail Yellow Rose Stamps Serenity Place Storm Hair Design Cotton Tree Cafe Crew Cuts Vapor Nation George’s Hair Salon Impresso Cafe Galo Chargrill IWA Charity Shop Bart’s Charity Shop Millstream Fish Shop Butcher’s Cottage / Bakery Corrigan Flooring Bridget’s Hair Salon Hair Salon Inspiration Rackards Little Spoon Coffee Shop Danny’s Barber Shop Ultimate Nutrition Cutting Edge Curls Flowercraft South East Animal Rescue Mary Elizabeths My Café Coffee Shop Abbey Centre Bizzy Fingers California Sun Tan Orchard Fruit & Veg Shop Pet Supplies Mrs Quinn’s Charity Shop Annette’s Flowers Mariu’s Hilltop Dry Cleaners Brocante Antiques ––––––––––––––––––––

Rockin’ Food Festival dancers with one of the main organisers, Eamonn Doyle, in the background.

Pic: Jimmy Murphy.

Wallace’s Alba Shang Hai Golden City The Hill Bar Riverside Park Hotel Via Veneto The Bailey TOP shop/filling station Vinnie’s Bar & Lounge Greenville Stores ABC Takeaway Robbies Pub Holohan’s Pub Mizzoni’s Wilson’s Bar Toss Kavanagh’s Carry Out Templeshannon –––––––––––––––––––– Kavanagh’s Pharmacy Dawson’s Bar Uptown Kuts Enniscorthy Cabs Stitch Dat Aideen Vonno Presentation Centre SuperValu Pettitts The Wilds –––––––––––––––––––– Quik Pick, Ross Road Doyles Checkout, The Duffry Bellefield GAA complex Mace/Maxol Bellefield CWCWE Enterprise Centre Enniscorthy Voc. College Co. Wexford Education Centre –––––––––––––––––––– C&R Print Smiles Dental The Barber Shop Screaming Canvas Treacys Hotel Merrythought House TK Cabs O’Callaghan’s Centra T’shannon Community Centre George Kehoe & Co Chapel Lane Service Station D&G Hair Studio

Dept of Agricuture Offices Topaz Service Station Drinagh Garden Centre Alcast Motor Factors ––––––––––––––––––––

Only 220 mOre deliveries tO dO !

Main Post Office IFA Centre Bank of Ireland Wexford Local Development SuperValu Abbey Square Petopia Enniscorthy Credit Union Enniscorthy Castle Tadhg Darcy Blinds Cottage to Castle Curtains Ashmore Mortgage & Financial Services Frizelle O’Leary Solicitors Property Team M.A. O'Leary Burger Macs Hope Shop –––––––––––––––––––– Sherry FitzGerald O'Leary Monica’s Hair Salon Phoenix Estates Kennys for Bikes O’Learys Newsagents –––––––––––––––––––– Library St John’s Hospital 1798 Centre –––––––––––––––––––– Mackin Travel

Cash Encounters Scissors Sisters Put A Bow On It Finishing Touches Post Office at Cathedral Town Council Offices River Restaurant Wickham Bros Community Info. Service Delaneys Newsagents Toffee & Thyme O’Brien’s, Court Street Court Street Dental Clinic Court Street Medical Centre Turkuts Citizens Advice Centre Byrnes Bookshop –––––––––––––––––––– Evolv James Browne TD Office Paul’s Shoe Repair Finnegan’s Findz Princess Bride –––––––––––––––––––– Studio 5 Bega Barber Paul Kehoe TD Office Mick’s Barber Shop Paula Treacy Auctioneer Karl Martin Enniscorthy Bike Centre –––––––––––––––––––– Gala Express, Old Dublin Rd Moyne Veterinary Clinic Pump Palace Gym Kilcannon Garden Centre Superdine League Barber Tile Store n More Old Dublin Road Coal Yard ATB Tyres Before & After Furniture Enniscorthy Auto Centre –––––––––––––––––––– Enniscorthy Golf Club –––––––––––––––––––– ADAMSTOWN: Cullen’s Gala.

BALLAGHKEEN:

Donohoes Foodstore BALLYCARNEY: Jenny’s Diner BALLYEDMOND/WELLS: Downes Gala BALLYMURN: Peter Doyle’s Costcutter Ballymurn Credit Union.

BLACKWATER: Londis Post Office BOOLAVOGUE: Post Office Fr Murphy Centre.

BUNCLODY: Adult Learning Centre SuperValu TLC Cafeteria SalonE Millrace Hotel Rivers Edge Library Campus-Gala Post Office Sugar & Spice Daybreak, Ryland Road Eurospar Half Way House Credit Union Urban Barber Chevue Studio Dols Beauty Clinic DNG O'Connor & O'Connor Hers N Sirs ArtBank Hair Junction CAIM: Rackards.

CAMOLIN: C&K Takeaway Christy Byrne’s, Butcher Post Office.

CLONROCHE: Kavanagh’s Gala Greene’s Shop Post Office Larkin’s Shop.

House of Hair COURTNACUDDY:

Kelly’s Shop.

CURRACLOE: Cloney’s Shop Post Office.

FERNS: Beauty by Sarah Centra Applegreen Ferns Barber Post Office Bolgers Hardware Courtyard Rynhart Hair Design Ferns Community Centre Ferns Castle Ferns Computer Services Saints Salon Daybreak.

KILMUCKRIDGE: Londis Centra Kates Coffee Shop & Deli Sean Ógs Hotel.

KILTEALY/BALLINDAGGIN: Kiltealy Post Office.

MONAGEER Monageer Tavern / Corner Shop.

OULART: Corrigan’s Londis Post Office.

OYLEGATE: Garrys Service Station.

RATHNURE: Codd’s Shop Pat Murphy Oil WEXFORD: Maldron Hotel O’Briens, Redmond Sq O’Briens, Main St Nosh & Dosh, Redmond Sq Yard Restaurant Wexford Arts Centre Wexford General Hospital Wexford Service Station, Newtown Road.

If you would like the Slaney News to be delivered to an outlet not listed above please let us know (slaneynews@gmail.com) and we’ll gladly add that outlet to our waiting list.

SLANEY NEWS, CLONHASTON, ENNISCORTHY Tel: 087-2403310 slaneynews@gmail.com www.slaneynews.com Facebook: “Slaney News” Online: www.issuu.com/slaneynews/docs PUBLISHED in Enniscorthy by Corcoran Print & Design PRINTED in Enniscorthy by Datascope Ltd. and READ in Enniscorthy, Bunclody and the surrounding areas by up to 20,000 people (based on estimated average readership of two people per copy).

Slaney News – coverage area ASKAMORE

BUNCLODY

BALLYDUFF

CLOHAMON

CAMOLIN

KILMYSHALL

FERNS

CASTLEDOCKRELL

BALLINDAGGIN

KILTEALY

MARSHALSTOWN

KILLANNE

RATHNURE

COURTNACUDDY

POULPEASTY

CLONROCHE GALBALLY

ADAMSTOWN

THE HARROW

BALLYCARNEY

MONAGEER

ENNISCORTHY

GLENBRIEN BREE

BOOLAVOGUE

RAHEENDUFF OULART

BALLYEDMOND

KILMUCKRIDGE

BALLAGHKEEN

BALLYMURN

OYLEGATE BALLYHOGE

MONAMOLIN

BLACKWATER SCREEN

CURRACLOE

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 newspaper 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 newspaper, 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.

Safe pass courses

held regularly in enniscorthy Contact: John Breen, Dip SHWW, Solas approved provider

tel: 087 2474685

Email: john.a.breen5@gmail.com

Enniscorthy snippets…

SuMMEr CookEry DEMo

by WIlDfloWEr CAfE In EnnISCorthy lIbrAry Chef William Kinsella from The Wildflower Cafe, Beechdale Garden Centre, Clonroche, will demonstrate some delicious summer dishes for this time of year. Thursday, August 18th at 7pm. Booking is essential. If you require further assistance please contact the librarian on 053-9236055.

“thE hoPE CAnCEr SuPPort CEntrE AnD WhAt WE Do” This presentation at Enniscorthy Library on 4th August at 7pm will give a general overview of the Hope Cancer Support Services and how they operate. Learn how the Hope Centre can support people with a cancer diagnosis and their loved ones. The presentation will take a look at

court Street Dental centre

Court St, Enniscorthy. Tel: 053 9237404.

Fax: 053 9237485 www.courtstreetdentalcentre.com Open: Mon-Thurs 8.30am–5pm, Fri 7.30am–1.30pm Insurance Plan, Private, PRSI & Medical Card Patients Welcome

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The words “you need braces” can send some people into a

battle of insecurity. You’re trying to be a grown-up, but you feel like a teenager again! When wearing adult braces, some people are afraid to speak up during a business meeting or enjoy the adventure of a first date! As frightening as it may be, Fastbraces technology could be the fastest, most affordable and best alternative for you and can give you the advantage of a quick, permanent solution.

For further information visit: www.fastbraces.com We are one of the first dentists in Ireland to offer this treatment.

StRaight teeth.....FaSt

The inman aligner is the perfect solution for crowding of the front teeth in adults. It is really fast, very safe and great value. With the patented inman aligner, your front teeth can be gently guided to an ideal position in a matter of weeks. Most cases complete in 6-18 weeks and because it’s removeable you can take it out to fit with your lifestyle.

For further information visit: www.inmanaligner.com Prices from just €1500 for a single arch Also offering injectable facial anti-wrinkle treatments from €250

some typical examples of the client’s pathway through the range of services and supports that Hope has to offer. An outline will be given of where Hope will develop into the future and explain some exciting developments planned for this year. The presenters will take a brief look at how the rates of cancer diagnosis are changing and how more people than ever are surviving.

To conclude they will outline some simple cancer prevention strategies and ideas.

Slaneynews: Local Publisher Local Printer Local News

bESt of luCk to thE “CollInS GIrlS” Local hairdressing sisters Joanne O’Brien and Susan Dempsey, known by many as the “Collins Girls”, after many years working as employees in the hairdressing trade, have taken the brave step in setting up their own hairdressing salon in Ferns under the name “Buí”. Their eye-catching salon can be contacted on 053-9372842 and is only ten minutes away from Enniscorthy. Best of luck to Joanne and Susan. n

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Slaney News

Bega Barber raises €435 for Co. Wexford Hospice Homecare Well done to well known Enniscorthy barber, bega, who held a Charity Day on 13th June. All haircuts on that day by bega and his guest barber, owen buggy, were done frEE of charge but customers were invited to make a donation of any size

to Co. Wexford hospice homecare. In total €435 was raised for this wonderful charity.

The proceeds were handed over to Una Murphy and John Maguire who told us that the charity was set up in 1991 with one full-time nurse and

Co. Wexford’s empty houses

ENNISCORTHY TIDY TOWN COMPETITION The Annual Tidy Town Competition will be held as usual this year.

The categories are Gardens, Shop Fronts, Window Boxes & Hanging Baskets, Public Buildings, Most Improved Premises, Industrial Premises and Housing Estates.

Closing Date: 22nd August 2016.

Entry Forms available from Council Offices, Market Square or from any Committee Member.

Well done to the Committee and to the local Council for having the town looking so well this summer.

“While these figures may not come as too much of a shock for many of us familiar with the coastal areas, if we go a little inland we can also see a high rate of vacant dwellings.

“In the midst of a housing crisis with over four thousand people in County Wexford seeking accommodation this should serve as a wake up call to the government parties and those who supported the totally misguided and disastrous housing policies during the Celtic Tiger years.

“While many of these vacant units are holiday homes which are occasionally used, many

Flood Defence Scheme

that today there are 8 full-time nurses covering Co. Wexford thanks to the generosity of people like Bega and his customers who support this great local charity. And with no admin costs all monies donated go directly to providing essential services. n

L-R: John Maguire (Hospice), Bega, Mark Fortune, Una Murphy (Hospice), Shane Davis.

Sinn féin councillor, fionntán Ó Súilleabháin, Gorey Municipal District Council, has highlighted recent figures from Census 2016 which show that approximately half of all dwellings in the Courtown, Cahore and kilmuckridge areas are lying unoccupied.

This is the shock finding from Census 2016 which was published last month. In the Castletown area the figure is as high as 38%; in Ballygarrett its 36% and Ardamine sees two out of every five dwellings lying vacant. In Monamolin its 16% and in Wells it’s almost one fifth of all homes.

3 August 2016

www.slaneynews.com

others are not, and could be put to good use to help deal with the housing crisis in County Wexford” according to Cllr Ó Súilleabháin.

“We urgently need a range of measures to both incentivise and force owners in the latter group to bring these units back into use. These include refurbishment grants, compulsory purchase orders and a vacant property tax (as they have in France, England and Scotland).

Cllr Ó Súilleabháin believes, “The Minister for Housing must make funding available to Wexford Co. Council to allow us to acquire vacant units.” n

SuMMAry of ProGrESS o n E n n I S C o rt h y ’ S flooD DEfEnCE SChEME: Communications: Liaison is ongoing with Inland Fisheries Ireland; National Parks & Wildlife Service; Department of Environment Community & Local Government; Environmental Protection Agency; Transport Infrastructure Ireland / NRA; Irish Water; Iarnrod Eireann; National Monuments Service; Slaney Search & Rescue; Inland Waterways Association of Ireland Slaney Branch; Slaney River Trust; Enniscorthy Local Association; Anglers Enniscorthy Chamber of Commerce & Subcommittee; and the Enniscorthy Business Association. All have been contacted and updated on the current status of the project.

Communication with the landowners and local businesses is ongoing.

Preliminary Design: The E n v i ro n m e n t a l I m p a c t Statement and Outline Design have been completed by the OPW. The scheme was exhibited to the public in 2009, and was put on public display again in 2012.

Detailed Design: The detailed design phase is currently in progress.

Fisheries expert Dr Martin O’Grady was appointed in July 2015 to provide advice on the detailed design of the proposed

dredging works and river rehabilitation works during construction.

Consultants for the detailed design phase were appointed i n N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 5 . Mo t t MacDonald is the main Flood Defence Scheme consultant; Roughan & O’Donovan is the bridge & traffic management consultant for the Flood Defence Scheme. The consultants have reviewed the Environmental Impact Statement, Preliminary Design and Liaison correspondence.

Tender documents have been completed for specialist services and surveys necessary for the detailed design including Traffic Surveys, Ecology S u r v e y s , To p o g r a p h i c & Bathymetric Surveys, Site Wo r k s , Investigation A rc h a e o l o g y & C u l t u r a l Heritage Services and Architectural Services.

A website to provide information on the scheme was set up in March 2016 (www.enniscorthyfds.ie).

It is planned to put the developed scheme on public display again in Autumn 2016.

The scheme will go to the Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform for confirmation in late Autumn 2016. Following confirmation by the Minister, the main construction work can commence.

Wo r k O n S i t e Tr a f f i c Surveys were completed in

Ferns First Responders launched

March 2016. Topographic & Bathymetric Surveys were carried out on site in April and May 2016. The underwater Archaeological surveys were completed in the river in May 2016. Ecology Surveys are ongoing. Site investigations are taking place in the town centre, along the river bed and river banks, and in the adjacent roads and footpaths involving the drilling of boreholes and the excavation of trial pits to identify existing ground conditions and the location of underground services. This information is needed for the detailed design.

Programme: EIS, Outline Design – complete.

Public Display – September/ October 2016.

Detailed Design & Tender Process – in progress, to be completed Spring 2017.

Scheme Confirmation – Spring 2017.

Main Construction Work to commence – Spring 2017, duration 3 years. for more information contact: Larry McHale, Project Resident Engineer, Enniscorthy Flood Defence Scheme, Enniscorthy Municipal District, Wexford County Council, Market Square, Enniscorthy, Tel: 087 7980010, 053 9196838, larry.mchale@wexfordcoco.ie W: www.enniscorthyfds.ie n It's official! ferns Community first responders are now on duty. brigid Sinnott from the Irish heart foundation recently officially cut the tape and launched the group.

Volunteers will cover the ferns, Camolin, Clologue, ballyduff and the surrounding areas.

Volunteers will be notified directly by the National Ambulance Service (NAS) when they receive a 999 (or 112) call reporting a possible cardiac arrest, stroke or choking incident. Because the volunteers live in the community they can provide Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), until the arrival of the ambulance paramedics. The volunteers are also trained in the use of the Automated External Defibrillator (AED). n

Grants Pharmacy quater page_Layout 1 24/08/2015 11:03 Page 1

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Milehouse Road, Enniscorthy. Tel (053) 9236969. E-mail furthereducation@evc.ie

Enniscorthy Vocational College of Further Education post leaving cert/Further education - programme for 2016/2017 SCHOOL OF BuSINESS TECHNOLOgY: Business Studies with Enterprenuerial Skills – Fetac Level 5 Office Administration with Reception Skills – Fetac Level 5 SCHOOL OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDuCATION: Early Childhood Care & Education – Fetac Level 5 Advanced Certificate in Early Childhood Care & Education – Fetac Level 6 Social Care & Community Care (SNA) – Fetac Level 5 SCHOOL OF HuMANITIES: Tourism with Business – Fetac Level 5 International Travel & Tourism – Fetac Level 5, IAOT Legal Studies – Fetac Level 5 Sport, Recreation & Exercise – Fetac Level 5

All courses are open to Post Leaving SCHOOL OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOgY: Certificate, over 18’s and mature students Physiology & Health Science – Fetac Level 5 (those over 23).

Pre Third Level Science – Fetac Level 5 ALL COURSES QUALIFY FOR MEANS Engineering Technology – Fetac Level 5 TESTED MAINTENANCE GRANTS. SCHOOL OF COSMETIC SCIENCE: For applications and information please phone (053) 9236969 or Beauty Therapy – CIBTAC, ITEC & CIDESCO e-mail: furthereducation@evc.ie.

Hairdressing – Fetac Level 5, City & Guilds Prospective students can apply SCHOOL OF PERFORMINg ARTS: online at www.evc.ie Performing Arts – Music – Fetac Level 5 liMiteD by going into F o Media Production – Fetac Level 5 Further Education link.

R e B n uM SCHOOL OF NuRSINg: placeS Still Nursing Studies – Fetac Level 5 availaBle! Healthcare Support – Fetac Level 5

For applications and information please phone (053) 9236969 or e-mail: furthereducation@evc.ie

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3 August 2016

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Tech Tip

macs and malware Straight off we can tell Macs don’t have the same problem with malware as PCs do. One of the main reasons: sheer numbers.

Cybercriminals look at the market and see that the vast majority of folks are on PCs, so they concentrate their efforts on creating malware that will result in the largest return on investment. But the tide is turning. Macs are now responsible for 7.5 percent of global personal computer sales. The popularity of Macs leads to more cybercriminals wanting to write malicious code for OS X. Although still much lower than PCs, the number of threats targeting Apple operating systems has grown steadily, with a spike in Mac infections observed over the last 18 months.

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Apple security is fairly tight—OS X has a basic built-in anti-malware feature, and if the machine detects a malicious program, it gets added to the signature database. From that point on, that piece of malware can’t be opened on any Mac, unless the user has explicitly disabled security updates. But clearly some malware is getting through. Which forms?

The worst offender is adware. There are many different adware programs infecting the Mac right now, and they’re in a constant state of flux. Adware-riddled installers are everywhere, and it’s becoming harder and harder to tell where a safe place is to download software.

Other forms of malware have given Apple the slip, including Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUPs), Info stealers, Trojans, and even ransomware.

by DaviD pohluDek Ferns compuTer services

how are they getting through? The main way that adware and malware is getting through on Macs these days is through codesigned apps, using a certificate obtained from Apple. The certificate is either stolen or bought and simply treated as disposable, since it costs only $99. Apple can revoke these certificates if they see them being abused, and they do so quickly when they find a new signed malware. However, Apple doesn’t take a particularly hard stand against most adware, which can persist for a long time with the same certificate.

What happens to your Mac after an infection? Adware is a serious hassle. Injected ads are intrusive and can contain offensive content. They can also slow down your computer’s performance and result in browser destabilisation. Malicious ads can even direct you to tech support scams where you can be scammed out of your money or into installing other harmful software. final verdict: Macs, while less vulnerable than PCs, are assailable. Their security can be penetrated, especially by cybercriminals looking to deliver adware. With increases in Mac popularity making OS X more appealing for crooks, plus the already considerable onslaught of adware, it makes sense to install an anti-malware program for your Mac. It should catch what OS X misses and restore your Mac’s performance to the high calibre you expect. n

Ferns Computer Services has been in business in Ferns since May 2007.

Established by David Pohludek, it has a huge clientele base all over Co. Wexford and beyond.

MAIN STREET, FERNS, CO. WEXFORD. Tel: (053) 9367339 Mobile: 087 0577981 info@fernscomp.ie ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– ● Desktop and Laptop Sales and Repairs ● Upgrades, Diagnostic and Maintenance ● Smart, iPhones and iPads Repairs ● Office Network Support and Design ● Printers and Consumables for Sale ● Internet Café ● Photocopying/Scanning/Emailing/ ● Faxing/Binding/Laminating ● Typing Service ● Banner Printing ● A range of Stationery available ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– CALL OuT SERVICE, HOME AND OFFICE VISITS OPEN MON–FRI 10AM TO 6PM AND SAT 10AM to 2PM

Bellefield news rapparees/Starlights are delighted to announce that trinity Motor Group has very kindly offered to sponsor our Juvenile hurling and football teams for 2016 presenting them with a new set of jerseys for the season. the trinity motor group is a fast expanding company that includes well known brand names such as landrover, Mazda, Peugeot and very recently Jaguar.

Our most sincere thanks to Trinity and principal dealer, Barry Murphy, and we look forward to a successful year for both of us.

There was a most unusual mix of spectators at the recent All County Senior League game between Rapparees and Oulart, as a soccer team from Bavaria – DJK Breitendiel, joined the large crowd attending the game.

Unfortunately, they were not to witness a win for the home team but got to see a most decent game of hurling with plenty of scores and all the thrills and spills of our national treasure. The visiting Bavarians are here courtesy of Pat Kervick who is living in Bavaria and a member of the Breitendiel Soccer Club. It was their first visit to Ireland and Enniscorthy and we very much hope that their evening in Bellefield was an enjoyable one.

The Club recently held its annual Table Quiz with large numbers joining in the fun and frolics as quiz master Podge Hall tested their knowledge and acumen saying in true GAA ethos that it wasn’t all about the winning.

An excellent fundraiser and a most entertaining event.

There was a night of celebration last month in the Bellefield clubhouse as a special presentation was made to Chairman John Browne to mark his recent retirement from national politics and to applaud and acknowledge the contribution that he has made to the club, the town and the county during his years of political service.

John was presented with a portrait of himself by Club President Larry Byrne and was hailed as one of the most loyal and dedicated servants of GAA in the county by speaker Pat Hall who recalled many of John’s exploits both on and off the hurling field. Maria Nolan paid tribute to John’s total commitment to Bellefield and the Rapparees/ Starlights saying that no matter what part of the world John was in on government business be it Brussels, Barcelona or Boston he would phone home asking , ‘What is happening in the real world’ and the real world was always, she

Club Trustees Matt Browne, Pat Hall and Michael Doyle with Club President Larry Byrne and John Browne. Pic: Maria Nolan.

Population grows to 149,605 in Co. Wexford

John Browne with daughters Catriona and Judy Jnr., wife Judy and son James.

Pic: Maria Nolan.

said, Bellefield and Enniscorthy.

County Secretary Margaret Doyle deputising for County Chairman Diarmuid Devereux thanked John for his years of loyal service to Wexford GAA saying that he could always be counted on to promote, enhance

and progress any and every project that was beneficial to the county and the games and could always be relied on to further the cause when it came to seeking funding at national level. She wished John a very long and happy retirement and looked forward to his continued support of all things purple and gold.

County Council Chairman Tony Dempsey said that John Browne was a GAA stalwart his entire life, always asking what he could do for his club and his county and never the other way round. ‘The GAA needs people like John Browne if it is to thrive and continue into the future,’ Tony said, and he was lavish in his praise of all that John and the Rapparees/Starlights committee had achieved with Bellefield being one of the best clubhouses in the country and the club playi n g a p i v o t a l ro l e i n t h e Enniscorthy community.

John thanked organisers Pat Hall and Maria Nolan and all who had turned up making it a very special occasion for him and one that he would always remember. He hailed the GAA as a wonderful organisation saying that he had many, many fond memories to look back on. He applauded the work being done at Bellefield by all the volunteers there especially those working with the underage, both male and female. He had a special mention for his family – wife Judy, daughters Catriona and Judy Jnr. and son James, remembering daughter Andrea who was killed in 1998 in a tragic road accident.

He wished everyone a happy and enjoyable night and thanked them for their support over the years both politically and in the GAA and he promised to continue to work on behalf of the Rapparees/Starlights and Wexford.

– Maria Nolan

The first results of the 2016 census, held in April, were released on 14th July and show that Ireland’s population continues to grow, albeit more slowly than between the 2006 and 2011 censuses.

Population: The total population of Ireland, enumerated on census night 24th April, was 4,757,976, an increase of 169,724 (3.7%) on the 2011 census. The population of Wexford was recorded at 149,605.

Population growth: The population change varied widely across the country with the increase in County Wexford being 4,285 (2.9%).

Vacant Dwellings: Nationally there has been a substantial decrease in the number of vacant dwellings since 2011 – 13% or nearly 30,000. The overall vacancy rate was 12.8% (259,562 vacant dwellings).

In Wexford the figures show a total of 13,168 vacant dwellings – a vacancy rate of 19.1%.

Migration: The total change in the population between censuses is the combined effect of natural increase and net migration – a measure of the movements of persons into and out of the State.

The natural increase in the population is estimated at 198,282 giving an estimated net migration of -28,558 for the state. Net migration for Wexford is estimated at 1,311 persons.

Further information is available on www.census.ie

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Slaney News

3 August 2016

www.slaneynews.com

Amenity Grants gratefully received

Above: Members of Enniscorthy Drama Group – Chairman Liam Doyle and Treasurer Tom Boland receiving Amenity Grant from Cllr Keith Doyle. Right: Cllr Doyle with some happy recipients. Pics: Maria Nolan.

As we head towards our production of A Whistle in the Dark, Enniscorthy Drama would like to say a most sincere word of thanks to Enniscorthy Municipal District Council and Cllr keith Doyle for including us in the Amenity Grants allocated in June.

Ninety-three voluntary bodies in the Enniscorthy District applied for funding under the Amenity Grant Scheme with each of the eight councillors having an individual purse of €5,000 to disperse to the various groups and organisations, ranging

from Tidy Towns, GAA, Community Centres, Delightful Dollies, Development Groups, B o x i n g C l u b s , A rc h e r y, Historical Societies, Men’s Sheds, Drama, to Residents Associations and the National Pikemen Association.

The Presentation Centre

was full to capacity with representatives from each of the groups present and then Chairman of Enniscorthy District Council, Paddy Kavanagh, paid tribute to all the volunteers in the room and beyond for the tremendous work they do for their

respective organisations and their areas. ‘Without you, the people who give willingly and freely of their time and expertise this town and this county would be much worse off.

There is no money that could pay you for what you do and we as councillors only wish

that we had a lot more to give you,’ Cllr Kavanagh said.

Although the allocations are not huge amounts, everyone was happy and grateful for being included and for the very kind invitation to the award ceremony.

– Maria Nolan

Enniscorthy Credit Union boost for St Senan’s Parish Enniscorthy Credit union is supporting a major fundraising drive to reduce the outstanding debt on St. Senan's Parish, Enniscorthy, to coincide with celebrations marking the 150th Anniversary of the parish church.

Founded in 1866 by the late Richard Devereux of Wexford, St. Senan's Parish Church serves the spiritual needs of a large community East of the River Slaney as it flows through Enniscorthy and the objective of the fundraising drive presently underway is to substantially reduce the outstanding debt on the parish church which presently stands at €65,000 approx.

Known as the 'Little Chapel' to countless generations of church-goers over the years, St. Senan's Parish Church was enlarged and extended in the late 1970's following the establishment of St. Senan's Parish in 1976 by the late Dr. Donal J. Herlihy DD then Bishop of Ferns. In 2000, under the

Administration of Rev. Fr. Brian Broaders, major structural repairs to the church were carried out at a cost of just under €1m. In the intervening years, thanks mainly to the generosity of parishioners, that debt has been substantially reduced and the focus now is on reducing it further with the objective of eliminating it in the short-term.

Present Administrator, Rev. Fr. John Byrne, who will be leaving the parish shortly for a new role in Oylegate, initiated a series of fundraising ventures in early 2016 and under his leadership a very substantial sum has been raised due, in the main, to the very enthusiastic response of parishioners. Fr. Byrne is most anxious to bring the outstanding debt under more manageable proportions in this, the 150th anniversary year of the church, and is delighted with the response received to date.

The fundraising drive received a major boost in June when Enniscorthy Credit Union

L-R: Jimmy Gahan (St Senan’s Parish), Pat O’Shea (Chairman, Enniscorthy Credit Union), Fr John Byrne (St Senan’s Parish), Tony Ennis (Manager, Enniscorthy Credit Union), Billy Byrne (St Senan’s Parish).

presented a cheque for €5,000 to Fr. Byrne, saying the cheque reflected the Credit Union's commitment to the community it serves. The presentation was made by Mr. Pat O'Shea, Chairman of the Credit Union's Board of Directors, who expressed the hope the

money would help Fr. Byrne in his efforts to clear the outstanding debt and in promoting celebrations marking the 150th anniversary of the church.

Mr. O'Shea outlined the role of the Credit Union in the community life of Enniscorthy and spoke of how pleased he

Almost €10m LEADER funding for Co. Wexford fine Gael tD for Wexford, Minister Paul kehoe, welcomed the announcement in June of lEADEr funding of €9,840,140 for rural enterprises and community groups across County Wexford under the lEADEr 2020 programme.

Minister Paul Kehoe said, “LEADER 2020 is a very important initiative for the rural Ireland and is a key part of Ireland’s Rural Development

Programme 2014-2020. In total it will provide funding of €250 million to enterprises and community groups throughout rural Ireland. As our economy recovers it is essential that the Government puts in place measures to revitalise rural Ireland, so that the benefits are felt in every community in County Wexford and across the country.

“The LEADER funding will be provided to projects that

are selected by local action groups, made up of local representatives from both the public and private sector. The money will fund projects across a range of areas, such as enterprise development, rural tourism, enhancement of rural towns and the provision of basic services for hard to reach communities.

“This funding puts rural development back in the hands of local communities in County

Wexford and empowers them to address their own development needs.

“Investing in our rural economies and supporting communities across rural Ireland is a top priority for this Government. Fine Gael’s ambition, and my ambition as a Fine Gael TD, is to build a strong economy and deliver a fair society, so that communities across County Wexford can thrive.”

was at being able, through the Credit Union, to support such a worthy cause. St. Senan's Parish Church, he added, has played, and continues to play, a most important role in the spiritual and community life of Enniscorthy and as such, Enniscorthy Credit Union was

delighted to be in a position to assist with its fundraising efforts.

Expressing his deep appreciation, Fr. Byrne said the cheque represented the biggest single contribution his fundraising initiative had received and as such he was delighted to accept it. He thanked the Board of Directors and the members of the Credit Union for their generosity before assuring Mr. O'Shea that the Credit Union's contribution would be remembered as a clear example of wonderful support for a worthy project in a time of need.

He wished the Credit Union continued success in the years ahead before remarking that this was not the first time for the Credit Union to offer financial support to St. Senan's Parish Church. Some years ago, he added, the Credit Union also donated a substantial sum for the upgrading of the Church organ and for that also, Fr. Byrne said he was sincerely grateful.

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Slaney Picture Parade

www.slaneynews.com

3 August 2016

Pic: Jimmy Murphy.

Some of those enjoying the brilliant Rockin’Food Festival in Enniscorthy 29th to 31st July. Pics: Jimmy Murphy.

Smyths Arro staff getting their heads shaved for charity on 30th July during the Rockin’ Food Fest.

Enniscorthy Golf Club Lady Captain’s Prize competition. L-R Back Row: Kay Ryan, Eileen McHugh, Margaret Mangan, Carmel Considine, Dorothy Kenny, Annette Cullen, Margaret Frayne, Helen Cosgrave, Mary Breen, Ursula Cousins, Christine Clarke, Maeve McCauley, Nicola Dunphy. Front Row L-R: Pauline Murphy (Overall Winner), Lady Captain Stellah Sinnott, Lady President Paula Creedon, Ciara Sharkey (Gross Winner), Laura Dempsey, Triona Hogan.

Sinn Féin's Martin Kenny TD and Enniscorthy Cllr Johnny Mythen at Killag Show.

Sinn Féin spokesperson on agriculture, Martin Kenny, commended the great turnout and atmosphere at this summer’s Bannow & Rathangan Show in Killag, where he was joined by Martin Ferris TD, Kathleen Funchion TD and Liadh Ní Riada MEP. The Sinn Féin TD however noted that concerns remain over low farm incomes and potential loss of market share as a result of Brexit. Deputy Kenny said: “We saw a wonderful show today – there was bright sunshine, great crowds and a terrific atmosphere. We spoke to many people in Klilag and met the farmer organisations represented here.

“A major concern that was expressed across the board was about low farm income. There was also great concern about the potential loss of the British market as a result of Brexit.

Ichthyosis Coffee morning, Bellefield GAA complex, 1st July. Left: Ava Kehoe. Centre: Ellen Millar and Mary Shortt. Right: Ciara Kehoe.

“People were expressing a strong desire that the Irish government would stand up and negotiate properly to prevent a hard border with the North as the result of Brexit. The government needs to stand up and defend our farmers.”

This year’s Strawberry Princesses with winner, Rebecca O’Connor, fifth from left.

Caitlin Brown at Kenny For Bikes, Enniscorthy, collecting her new Gepida electric bike.

Slaney Entertainment

www.slaneynews.com

Roots & Hoots at Strawberry Fair

Musician Niall Toner cuts the ribbon for the Strawberry Roots at Alba Restaurant with Angelo Bonfirraro and Brian Cantwell representing sponsor Diageo. Pic: Maria Nolan.

Strawberry Roots, an integral part of the Strawberry, Music & Food Festival, hosted over 30 lively, top standard gigs over the weekend June 24th to 26th.

Roots genres included Bluegrass, Folk, Jazz, RnR, Blues, Trad, Reggae etc.

The Festival kicked off at 6pm on Friday with a pure Bluegrass gig in Alba Restaurant featuring internationally renowned Niall Toner. The packed venue showed its appre-

ciation for the attendance of Minister of State, Paul Kehoe, and of course for the wonderful, relaxed, creative style of the master himself – Mr. Toner.

Among the other highlights of the Roots weekend (too numero u s t o m e n t i o n a l l ) w e re : Wexford's own JMA, who wowed a packed Treacy's Hotel with their Dylan/Young tribute, The New Breadwinners bluegrass band, Joe Keeling and the Tennessee Vikings (roots and

country), Dermot Byrne’s new blues line-up, our own Ain't Misbehavin', ska/reggae band – Weedends, Highway '51, local RnR group The Backbeats – a busy Dawson’s didn’t know what hit it, and Jamie and Kerry who, with their own inimitable style, bring musical happiness in their wake.

The eight-strong Roots Committee were delighted with the Festival and wish to express their gratitude to all participating bands and artists, to the festival sponsors, Diageo, and to the 15 hosting venues across Enniscorthy. We need to show our support and appreciation for all venues which support live music.

In that vein our Roots hats are off to Bobby Rackard of Rackard's of Rafter St, who this year turned his beer garden into Rackard's Roots Garden, complete with covered stage and dance floor.

During this festival The Roots Garden hosted Wolff, Joe Keeling, KJ McEvoy and many others.

So as we reluctantly rolled up our tents in the wake of a wonderful weekend of Roots, Enniscorthy music lovers were looking forward to Strawberry Roots 2017 and once again thanks to all who made this year's Strawberry Roots Festival such a great success.

Oh and watch this space for the next endeavour in Enniscorthy – the Town of Festivals.

– Maria Nolan

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Enniscorthy Drama – anothEr succEss Pic: Maria Nolan

Enniscorthy Drama has excelled itself once again with its recent, amazing production of Padraic McIntyre’s hilarious comedy The Lost Weekend. Brilliantly directed

by Annemarie Whelan and Jimmy Kavanagh, and expertly performed by an almost allfemale cast, The Lost Weekend was a huge hit with Enniscorthy audiences.

Staged at The Presentation Centre over three nights, the first of our summer plays had them rolling in the aisles with so many good performances it would be difficult to choose one. Each of the ladies was astutely cast and took to her role with the greatest of ease, enthusiasm and passion. This is a most humorous comedy about six Tesco checkout women who are sent on a bonding weekend by their boss and it is so easy to warm to each of the characters as their stories unfold amid girlish laughter and gallons of vodka and red bull, even the rather distant and stand-offish Manager, Mary – Mary quite contrary from Wexford played expertly by Margo Whelan, and the rather posh and sophisicated Lucy, played by Hannah McNiven, who feels that she is a little bit above the rest of pack with her knowledge of a ‘good red’ and her designer suitcase.

Annemarie Whelan does a terrific job with her character, Sadie, and everyone feels compassion for the forty-year-old who likes a bit of craic but has given up her life to look after a father who she adores. Her love for her parent and her caring nature almost excuse her foul mouth and her tendency to say whatever she feels like saying to everyone particularly the snobbish Lucy. Annemarie is confident and comfortable and completely at home in her natural environment – the stage.

Sue played by Julie Fox is a bit of a scatter-brain really but extremely difficult to dislike. She has a good heart and just wants everyone to have a great time, but her idea of a great time is not everyone elses – Sue loves the vodka and red bull and throwing shapes at the disco and is mad about the boyfriend who doesn’t even bother to text her.

Michelle Whelan is just the darling of the piece, even though she is the oldest, Sheila. She has the best lines in the play and Michelle Whelan delivers them perfectly, on time everytime, and it’s not just what she says it’s the way she says it and her facial expressions and her ability to command the stage and capture the audience.

It is easy to see where Beibhinn

Whelan gets it from, as Michelle’s daughter she displays all the wonderful acting traits of her mother along with some of her own and gives an amazing performance of her character, Anne, particularly the scene where it is discovered that she self-harms. Beibhinn is a most believable and convincing actress and we very much look forward to seeing more of her at Enniscorthy Drama.

Liam Doyle, Chairman of Enniscorthy Drama, made his stage debut as Charlie the bus driver and although he had no lines to speak he has proven that he can indeed act and act very well, so watch this space because I have a feeling that this is only the first of many for Liam.

A most entertaining production with lots of good belly-laughs and sarcastic asides cleverly revealing some of the very real issues that today’s women are dealing with.

Well done once again Enniscorthy Drama and we very much look forward to the second of the summer plays A Whistle in the Dark to be staged at the National Opera House, Wexford, on Saturday 27th August with four nights at the Presentation Centre, Enniscorthy, 1st-4th September and 9th September in Gorey Little Theatre.

– Maria Nolan

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Wexford Light Opera Society at the AIMS Awards in Killarney INEC on 18th June when they were nominated for Best Overall Show for EVITA finishing just outside the Top 3 but winning Best Musical Director for Fintan Cleary, Best Technical Award, Runner-Up Best Chorus, Runner-Up Best Supporting Male James McDermott and Runner-Up Mary Kelly Award for unsung hero, Pat Lawlor.

Over 1,000 members of AIMS were at the Awards ceremony where the AIMS National President Colm Moules paid a lovely tribute to the late John Donnelly, Director of WLOS, who was tragically killed in Turkey a couple of months ago, which was followed by a minute’s silence and a prolonged standing ovation.

12

Slaney Entertainment

Luan Parle and Clive Barnes to play The Presentation Centre Luan Parle

Meteor and Tatler Award Winner Luan Parle is currently on tour around Ireland accompanied on guitar by Enniscorthy’s wonderful Clive Barnes.

Parle, who's best known for her top 10 hit single Ghost, will play an intimate gig at Enniscorthy’s Presentation Centre on 13th August which will include songs from her catalogue as well as material from her latest EP Roll The Dice and her soon to be

released album.

Parle, whose recent singles Day Is Done and Roll The Dice topped the iTunes chart, was also nominated for a PPI and Stellar Shine Award in 2015.

Parle signed her first record deal at just 12 years of age and has written and recorded with some of the world’s most successful Grammy-winning songwriters and producers.

Clive Barnes, who is highly regarded as one of the finest performers on the roots circuit, will accompany Luan on stage while also treating audiences to songs from his own back catalogue.

Clive Barnes has been gaining a worldwide reputation as one of the finest songwriters and guitarists on today's scene. Having played and recorded with Joe Cocker, Taj Mahal and Eric Bibb to name but a few, Clive has won various awards including Album

Clive Barnes

of the Year 2002 in the US magazine 'Acoustic Guitar'.

This promises to be a very special night of music and an opportunity to see both these superb performers together.

Tickets from the venue or through the Wexford Arts Centre website: www.wexfordartscentre.ie.

For all upcoming events in The Presentation Centre keep an eye on http://www.presentationcentre.ie/ n

CATTY TOWN Catty Town Records is a new International Roots Music Record Label based in Enniscorthy and is about to launch its first two releases, working in partnership with established and leading global roots label Rhythm Bomb Records (with offices in Germany, U.K. and the USA).

Release 1 - (Style: Rockabilly) : "Little Black Heart" by Austin, Texas based (and official music ambassadors for that great music town) band RUBY DEE AND THE SNAKEHANDLERS. Release 2 - (Style: Rhythm and Blues): "Southside Blues" by Argentinian Blues Man DANIEL DE VITA. Both albums will be available from the Catty Town website and physically at events it’s involved in. To keep in the loop on this exciting new adventure, please like the Facebook page, see below: https://www.facebook.com/Catty TownRecords/ n

philadelphia here i CoMe drama 31 July – 6 aug Wexford Drama Group presents the play that established Brian Friel as one of the greatest theatrical voices of the English language. In this funny and heart-warming play we visit the small, Donegal town of Ballybeg, the setting for many of Brian Friel's plays. It’s the 1960s and the narrow horizons and limited possibilities of Ballybeg have forced Gar O’Donnell – embodied by the dual personae of Gar Public and Gar Private – to consider emigration. Friel explores the cultural, social and political issues of the 1960s and their impact on the play’s characters. The themes of love, shattered dreams, authority and the nature of language emerge as the action moves from reality to memory to fantasy.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– líosa Murphy Music – 11 aug Líosa Murphy is the newest and most exciting female force in the Celtic music world today!! The energy and beauty in each song or tune she performs is gripping. From the haunting ballads sung with emotion and honesty, such as John O’Dreams and Black Is the Colour to the riproaring sets of jigs and reels she delivers on her Susato and Burke whistles! With her supreme band of musicians her captivating live show and her debut album ‘Skylark’ – the pint sized red-head takes the audience on a journey like no other.

3 August 2016

www.slaneynews.com

CaCa Milis Cabaret Cabaret – 19 aug Wexford's favourite Arts cabaret returns! Join us as Helena Mulkerns presents a splendid summer evening of new original music, spoken word, jazz, cutting-edge film, comedy, dance and classic cabaret.

It’s all here – with local and national talent – so book early!

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Kieran Goss with special guest annie Kinsella Music – 27 aug Kieran will perform the first half of the show solo and will be joined on stage in the second half by harmony singer Annie Kinsella. As Time Out Magazine wrote: “Individually, they are both gifted singers but when they sing together, magic happens… the harmonies, the chemistry… just sublime.” Kieran Goss’s music has won him fans across the globe. But if his songs have made him a star, his live shows have made him a legend. Don’t miss it!

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plus lots of workshops, classes, and childen’s activities and summer camps – see www.wexfordartscentre.ie for details.

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

Tel: (053) 9123764 www.wexfordartscentre.ie

Tom Murphy, Bridget Sinnott, Padraic Sinnott and Paul O’Reilly.

Pic: Maria Nolan.

Feis Ceoil Returns to Athenaeum 100 Years Later Athenaeum Director, Maura Flannery, told the appreciative Feis Ceoil audience at the Athenaeum last month that her inspiration for the event came when she saw on the internet that the 1916 Feis Ceoil to be held at the Athenaeum was cancelled due to the Easter Rising.

The innovative and imaginative Maura decided that it was high time that the cancelled Feis would return to the venue one hundred years on, so she put out the feelers and made the connections and created a most enjoyable and entertaining evening that we hope will not just be a one-off but the first of many such occasions at the Athenaeum.

It was a poignant night for many, many reasons, not least the fact that the cancelled Feis was taking place a hundred years on, but also one of the excellent young performers, Niamh Crowhurst, who beautifully performed Grace and The Foggy Dew in clear, strong tones, is the granddaughter of Thomas O’Brien one of the Enniscorthy Volunteers who occupied the Athenaeum for those four fateful days in 1916. It was a lovely moment for Niamh’s family and friends to see her take the stage and perform in her grandfather’s memory.

Young musicians Grace Barron and Ryan Stafford delighted with jigs and reels on flute and accordian, Mary Ormonde gave us the haunting Raglan Road. Anne Dreel played The Blackbird and other tunes with Paul O’Reilly and Tom Murphy who also performed with the lively duo Bridget and Padraic Sinnott who seem to make their instruments sing and indeed Bridget almost seemed to be waltzing with her squeeze box as they played The Last Waltz. Paul O’Reilly gave a rousing and very popular rendition of The Lowlands Low and Will You Go Lassie Go. AnneMarie Kearney was eloquent on the concert flute and in the interval all those present were lavish in their praise of both Maura and the occasion as they enjoyed tea/coffee and chocolate biscuits compliments of The Athenaeum.

On resumption, we were treated to some high-steppers as the Kilmyshal Set Dancers kicked their heels to the very special Kilmyshal Set composed by Martin Farrell, finishing up with the energetic brush dance. Niall Wall did a moving tribute to James Connolly because of the night that was in it and the visiting Mick Leacy Trio,

which turned out to be four – Bat O’Connor, Leo Hayes, Geraldine Mooney and Mick Leacy, were superb with apt pieces like The Dying Rebel.

These skilful musicians, veterans of much good music and many good trad sessions, re m i n d e d m e o f s i m i l a r evenings in O’Donoghues in Baggot Street with the Dubliners, The Wolfe Tones and others back in the day.

Organiser extraordinaire, Maura Flannery, is also a most gifted performer and did a very sweet recital of The Streams of Bunclody in memory of her late father, Michael, who had actually taught the song to none other than the late Luke Kelly.

The lovely evening concluded with a Grande Finale of the Mick Leacy Trio (or should I say quartet) along with Maura Flannery and AnneMarie Kearney encouraging the audience to join in the sing along with Paddy on the Railway and Hard Times Come Again No More.

Well done Maura and the only question is when will the next Feis Ceoil happen at The Athenaeum – I am confident that Maura won’t make us wait another hundred years for the sequel.

– Maria Nolan

Maura Flannery introduces the Feis Ceoil and Niall Wall performs ‘James Connolly’. Pics: Maria Nolan.

LegaLLy BLonde!

Oyster Lane Theatre Group has announced the cast, and rehearsals have begun, for their production of Legally Blonde which will run during this year’s Opera Festival. Twenty-two years after she played Sandy in Oyster Lane’s very first production, Grease, Sharon Clancy returns, via stints in Mamma Mia and Million Dollar Quartet in the West End, to play the role of Elle Woods. Joining her on stage will be a stellar cast including Gearoid McCauley as Emmett, Tom Joyce as Warner, Neal O’Leary as Callahan, Yvette Walsh as Vivienne, Majella Londra as Paulette, Emma O’Leary as Brooke, and playing the sorority sisters are Niamh Bolger as Margo, Emily Brazzill as Pilar and Catherine Devereux as Serena. AIMS award-winning choreographer Suzanne O’Leary will head the production team this year as she steps into the director’s role as well as being the choreographer. By her side will be AIMS award-winning musical director Patrick Clancy and chairperson Greg O’Leary.

Stacey – a young lady going places

AUGUST ENTERTAINMENT All venues are in Enniscorthy unless otherwise stated.

Derek Burke (Crystal Swing), Stacey Breen, Louise Morrissey, Mary Burke (Crystal Swing) with MC John Murphy. Pic: Maria Nolan.

“Strawberry Fair needs your help…”

That was the stark message coming from the Chairman of the County Wexford Strawberry Fair, Mr. Cyril Wheelock, and MC Jimmy Gahan at the first event of the 49th Festival – the Strawberry Ball on Wednesday last 22nd June.

Cyril Wheelock, interviewed on South East Radio, told Alan Corcoran that this year’s Festival had been organised by a threeman committee of himself, Tom Byrne and Colin Levingstone.

In his introduction MC extraordinaire Jimmy Gahan made a passioned plea to the Riverside Park audience to put their collective shoulders to the wheel for the 2017 Festival to ensure that the 50th Anniversary of the Fair is a huge success.

The Ball was a credit to the organisers being well attended with over three hundred enjoying the excellent Riverside repas and musical entertainment by American Heart.

Before introducing this year’s bevy of beautiful Princesses from McCauley Chemists, CWCW, Finishing Touches, the Credit Union, Pettitt’s SuperValu, Wheelock Fruits, McFadden’s and The Holy Grail, Jimmy Gahan asked the gathering to put 25th July in their diaries and

Your “cut out and keep” 31 July–6 Aug philadelphia here i come. Wexford Drama Group.

Wexford Arts Centre.

Greyhound racinG. Enniscorthy Greyhound Track.

Aug 4 Doors open 7pm. First race 8pm.

TradiTional irish music. Stamps. 9.30pm.

Aug 5 KaraoKe wiTh julie. The Hill Bar. Aug 5 Aug 8 Greyhound racinG. Enniscorthy Greyhound Track.

Doors open 7pm. First race 8pm. líosa murphy. Music. Wexford Arts Centre.

Aug 11 Aug 11 Greyhound racinG. Enniscorthy Greyhound Track. annual co. wexford Gaa supporters’ club night.

Doors open 7pm. First race 8pm.

TradiTional irish music. Stamps. 9.30pm.

Aug 12 KaraoKe wiTh julie. The Hill Bar. Aug 12 Aug 12 róisín dempsey. The Athenaeum. luan parle & clive Barnes. The Presentation Centre.

Aug 13 Aug 13-14 wells house & Gardens summer FesTival.

Gates open 10am. Family events 12-6pm. €8 per car.

Greyhound racinG. Enniscorthy Greyhound Track.

Aug 15 Doors open 7pm. First race 8pm.

Aug 18 Greyhound racinG. Enniscorthy Greyhound Track. annual Gala pettitt’s race night. Doors open 7pm.

First race 8pm.

Aug 19 caca milis caBareT. Wexford Arts Centre.

TradiTional irish music. Stamps. 9.30pm.

Aug 19 Aug 19 KaraoKe wiTh julie. The Hill Bar. Greyhound racinG. Enniscorthy Greyhound Track.

Aug 22 Doors open 7pm. First race 8pm.

Aug 25 Greyhound racinG. Enniscorthy Greyhound Track.

Bunclody Gaa Fundraising night. Doors open 7pm.

First race 8pm.

Aug 26 TradiTional irish music. Stamps. 9.30pm.

KaraoKe wiTh julie. The Hill Bar. Aug 26 Aug 27 Kieran Goss with special guest annie Kinsella. Music.

Wexford Arts Centre. a whisTle in The darK. Enniscorthy Drama Group.

Aug 27 The National Opera House, Wexford.

Greyhound racinG. Enniscorthy Greyhound Track.

Aug 29 Doors open 7pm. First race 8pm.

Sept 1-4 a whisTle in The darK. Enniscorthy Drama Group.

The Presentation Centre. a whisTle in The darK. Enniscorthy Drama Group.

Sept 9 Gorey Little Theatre.

Sept 9-11 BlacKsTairs Blues FesTival. Enniscorthy.



Stacey Breen from Ferns is a young lady going places if her recent performance at Bellefield GAA Complex is anything to go by. The teenage country & western singer was joined by Crystal Swing, Louise Morrissey and others as she took to the stage for a night of social dancing promoting herself and her lastest hit single Blue.

Stacey not only has the look of a country and western singer in her denim shorts outfit with her long blonde locks held in place by a red bandana, she also has the voice of one. This young lady although not yet sixteen, has a wonderful stage presence and her sweet dulcet tones perfectly compliment the country and western genre.

Watch this space, this little lady has all the hallmarks of a star!

– Maria Nolan

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Slaney Entertainment

www.slaneynews.com

Michael and Maree Lyng, Mairead Gahan, John Burke O’Leary and Catriona Murphy at the Strawberry Ball. Pic: Maria Nolan.

comhaltas seisiún in association with celtic roots, community centre, Bree. continues on Tuesday evenings through august. Tel 087 7535354 for bookings.

Fr murphy branch hosts a summer comhaltas seisiún on wednesday nights (for the month of august) in the Fr murphy centre, Boolavogue, co wexford.

naTional opera house: For concerts and shows in August see www.nationaloperahouse.ie

go along to the Festival AGM and show their support of the very hard-working committee and perhaps get on board to give the town and the county a Strawberry Fair to remember in its golden year.

That was also the message coming loud and clear from Minister Paul Kehoe at the launch of Strawberry Roots at Alba Restaurant on Friday 24th June.

Minister Kehoe had huge praise for Eamonn Doyle and Richie Cotter, the main men behind the Strawberry Roots Music Trail, saying that trojan work had gone into organising over forty free

music gigs in fifteen different venues throughout the town giving those visiting the Festival a taste of everything from Jazz, Rock n Roll, to Bluegrass, Country and Folk. A major achievement for a small, hard-working committee he said, and again called on Enniscorthy people to put their backs to the wheel and make the 50th Anniversary a festival to remember.

Before calling on music man Niall Toner to cut the ribbon and declare the Strawberry Roots Trail officially open, Richie Cotter thanked Minister Kehoe for his attendance, and Brian Cantwell

of Diageo for the generous Carlsberg sponsorship of Strawberry Roots. He paid tribute to all the artists contributing over the Festival weekend saying that the very best of live music would be heard all over the town for the following three days with day, evening and night sessions in almost all of our drinking establishments and all for free. He thanked Angelo and Alba Restaurant for the tasty launch and all those who attended telling them to enjoy the evening and the wonderful musical weekend programme.

– Maria Nolan

It would be prudent to check all events locally with organisers and/or venues.

Thanks to Joseph Doyle for his help with our comprehensive events guide.

Please email your event details to slaneynews@gmail.com.

FOR LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT NEWS…  Check the listing above  Check out our pages 11-17 See Joseph Doyle’s column page 28  Check www.wexlive.com for updated listings.  Facebook:“Slaney News” and “Enjoy Enniscorthy”

WE’RE TUNED TO PROVIDE A GREAT SERVICE: DJ for Weddings and Parties Music Courses - Workshops Guitar Lessons - Music Production Recording Studio Contact Tom on 087 665 2742 or (051) 340 714

Visit www.moorhouse.ie

enniscorthy Library – What's on at a glance

Pic: Maria Nolan.

New chair of Enniscorthy District Council Oliver Walsh with wife Elaine, and new Chair of Wexford Co. Co. Paddy Kavanagh with wife Mary.

At Strawberry Ball – 2015 Strawberry Queen Linda Barron with Minister Paul Kehoe and Councillor Johnny Mythen. Pic: Maria Nolan.

3rd Aug: Stars Wonderful Stars with Deirdre Kelleghan.

3rd, 6th & 20th Aug: Children's Storytime.

4th Aug: The Hope Cancer Support Centre and what they do.

9th Aug: Yoga Storytelling for 3-8 year olds.

18th Aug: Dogs Trust: What it means to be a responsible dog owner.

18th Aug: Summer Cookery Demonstration.

23rd Aug: Make A Viking Shield.

25th Aug: 1916 Rising Guided Walking Tour. enniscorthy Library Tel (053) 923 6055.

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Slaney Entertainment

3 August 2016

A Whistle in the Dark No sooner had the curtains closed on the final performance of The Lost Weekend and Enniscorthy Drama is out there once again announcing details of its next production A Whistle in the Dark by Galway playwright Tom Murphy.

This, the second in the summer series, couldn’t be more unlike the hilarious Padraic McIntyre comedy just enjoyed

by The Presentation Centre audiences. A Whistle in the Dark is a sombre, violent tale of how pride, brutality and denial cause the complete collapse of a family unit as a son strives to resolve the ultimately unresolvable conflicts between him and his father. Definitely not one for the faint-hearted.

Set in Coventry in the 1950s, the story revolves around the Wells House celebrated its fourth birthday in glorious, if rare, July sunshine with its annual Victorian Garden Party. Owned and run by Sabine and Uli Rosler, Wells House has become one of the major tourist attractions not just here in Wexford but in Leinster and throughout the country in four short years.

I was there for the opening in 2012 and have been a regular visitor since and have always been impressed with the way Wells is constantly improving and developing and providing an ever changing and ever better experience for the visitor.

Throughout the year Wells provides the visitor with a multiplicity of events scattered across its impressive calendar like its Classic Car Show, Teddy Bears Picnic, Knights and Princesses Party, Victorian Garden Party, Open Air Theatre, Mad Hatters Tea Party, Antique Fair, Dare to Scare Halloween Tour, Foraging D a y a n d G re a t Vi c t o r i a n Christmas Experience coupled with its fascinating Woodland Wa l k s , C r a f t C o u r t y a rd , Adventure Playground, Wildlife Sanctuary, excellent restaurant and wonderful Victorian House tours – it is no surprise that it is winning such awards as Wexford Local Development Rural Tourism Award, North Wexford Tourism Award, Agri Business Innovation Award and Women in Agriculture Award.

Although my mam and I had visited many times in the last four years, having particular fondness for the Victorian Garden Party and the Antique Fair, we had never taken the house tour so on Sunday we took the opportunity to do just that and I would strongly recommend it to all and sundry. At only €5 per adult and €3 for senior citizens, this informative history of the house and the families who lived there is a must for anyone interested in Wexford heritage.

We were especially interested to hear that the lands at Wells were confiscated by

Carney family, from County Mayo, a brawling, brutish pack of street fighters who have been brought up to respect their father and their family honour even if both are questionable.

A Whistle in the Dark has all

the hallmarks of a classic Greek tragedy unfolding in the one place over the space of twentyfour hours and with the same sense of foreboding and ominous inevitability.

This is compelling drama and will upset some audiences

with its unyielding tension and unrelenting violence and will present a major challenge to Enniscorthy Drama’s Director Jimmy Kavanagh and cast – Gary Lombard, George Percival, Fintan Kelly, Jamie Murphy, R o b M c E v o y, B r e n d a n Robinson, Annemarie Whelan and Michael Whelan, but one, no doubt, they are looking forward to.

Rehearsals are advanced and the play will be launched at The Presentation Centre on Thursday 18th August at 7.30pm followed by our first performance at the National Opera House, Wexford, on Saturday 27th August with four nights at The Presentation C e n t re , E n n i s c o r t h y, o n 1st/2nd/3rd/4th September and 9th September in Gorey Little Theatre. So spread the word and book your tickets early for this most excellent and riveting piece of drama.

– Maria Nolan

Happy Birthday Wells House Puppet Show on the front lawn at Wells.

Pic: Maria Nolan.

Cromwell in 1650 from mainly Catholic landowners in the area and granted to John Warren, a soldier in his army. In total John Warren received 6,000 acres of land that he called Wells because of the many springs in the area.

This was significant news for us as my grandmother’s surname was Warren. However, John Warren passed the lands and house at Wells to a relative, Hugh Warren, who eventually sold the estate in the 1690s to the Right Hon Sir Robert Doyne who was one of the most important judges in the country at the time.

The house and lands at Wells remained in the Doyne family from then until 1965 when they were sold to the Rosler family from Germany. It is also interesting to note that the first shots of the 1798 Rebellion were fired just a few miles from Wells at Boolavogue and the first battle took place within a couple of miles of the house at Oulart Hill and yet Wells House was one of the very few big houses not burned out during the Rising. This was due in the main to a local man, Thomas Murphy, who persuaded the rebels not to set Wells on fire.

In the frame at Wells House – Maria with her mam Maeve Doyle

The Doyne family proved to be very good landlords looking after the tenants at Wells and other locals during the Famine years setting up soup kitchens and handing out Indian meal to those in need. In 1870 Charles Mervyn Doyne inherited Wells House.

Charles was married to Lady Frances Fitzwilliam, the eldest daughter of the extremely wealthy Fitzwilliam family from Yorkshire who owned Wentworth House one of Britain’s largest stately homes, with 365 rooms it is bigger and grander than Buckingham Palace. The Fitzwilliams also

owned 90,000 acres at Coolattin, Co. Wicklow. Jane Austen based her novel Pride and Prejudice on Wentworth House.

Lady Frances was most certainly down-sizing when she married Charles Mervyn Doyne and came to live at Wells House which had only eight bedrooms but she didn’t seem to mind and became one of the most well-loved of the landed gentry in the county being well known for her many acts of kindness to the poor of the locality and beyond.

In 1965 the lands and Wells House passed from the last of

Members of the Irish Great War Society – Living History at Wells House

the Doyne family to Gerhard Rosler from Germany who had a textile business in both Germany and Enniscorthy and from him to his son Uli and his wife Sabine, and as they say the rest is history.

And it is only fair to say that Sabine and Uli are looking after that history to the very highest standard. Wells House has come alive again under their stewardship as they lovingly and painstakingly restore it to its former glory for the pleasure and enjoyment of all of us and are to be strongly commended for both their constant hard work and their amazing imagination and ingenuity.

And long may it continue, they are doing a fantastic job.

And speaking of fantastic jobs could I also compliment the staff at Wells who are always polite, helpful and courteous and I would have a particular mention for House Tour Guide, Edel Kelly, who gave us a most informative and interesting tour and was both passionate and knowledgeable about Wells and quite clearly loves the place and feels as strongly connected to it as the Rosler family.

Never one to rest on her laurels, during lunch Sabine was enthusing about their new addition – the seven foot bears and about their next project – the restoration of the basement and the second floor.

For the rest of the afternoon we enjoyed the Living History display by the Irish Great War Society and the musical entertainment to the rear of the house. We also visited the Craft Courtyard with its many and varied studios and of course enjoyed both lunch and afternoon tea at Mrs. Stone’s Restaurant. All in all a wonderfully, enjoyable day out in the beautiful July sunshine.

Every time you return to Wells House you will have a different experience, that is the beauty and joy of it and the enterprising spirit of those who care for it.

– Maria Nolan

Slaney Fashion & Beauty

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Fashion at the Castle

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Smitten Over Makeup

Hi guys!

So this month’s article is about festival makeup, with Electric Picnic just around the corner it's a great excuse to go a bit mad with bright colours and glitter, anything goes really! I created this festival makeup look using the following products which can be purchased in all good pharmacies or online, Morphe can be purchased on beautybay.com!

Hat by Millinery Madness modelled by Claire Steacy.

A most splendid evening of glamour, glitz and all things fashion was had by those who attended at Enniscorthy Castle on 25th June for the Fashion Extravaganza organised by Donal Cullen and in aid of Wexford Women’s Refuge.

The Castle’s exquisite drawing room provided the perfect backdrop for the many fabulous fashion collections available in all our boutiques here in Enniscorthy, giving each owner the opportunity to showcase their wares in this unique setting.

The intimate audience was treated to a selection of outfits

Hats by Millinery Madness owner Keira Warren with Model Jacqueline Warren.

from O`Faolains, Put A Bow On It, Glamour, Mary Elizabeth’s and Sofia’s Choice with Billy Doyle Shoes, Hair by Georges and Scissors Sisterz, make-up compliments of Finishing Touches and Serenity, and the most stunning hat collection – Millinery Madness by local milliner Keira Warren.

Musical entertainment came from local artists, the outstanding Aisling Williams and Louise Morris, and up-and-coming young talents, Niamh Crowhurst and Lanna Busker, and Pauline Ennis spoke on behalf of Wexford Women’s Refuge saying how

Maria Nolan and Esther Kelly modelling for O’Faolains.

delighted she was that they had been chosen as the charity to benefit from such a marvellous event. Pauline’s message to the women of Wexford suffering from domestic abuse was that they were not alone – Women’s Refuge provides a 24 hour service and their mission is to support and empower women. One in five women in Ireland suffer some form of domestic abuse, Pauline told the audience, and this is totally unacceptable but it is only by speaking out about it that it can ever be stopped. The silence surrounding domestic abuse must be broken she said

Enniscorthy’s New Queen Rebecca O’Connor is the 49th Enniscorthy Strawberry Queen.

Following on-stage interviews with all of the eight Princesses in June, MC Liam Sharkey invited the judges to take ten minutes to make their final deliberations and come back with a winner. Less than five minutes later Nadia Donohoe was back with the verdict, confirming that it had been an extremely difficult task to pick one from the eight beautiful and accomplished Princesses, each one of them a most deserving winner but finally they had decided on Rebecca whom she was sure would make a most excellent Ambassador for the town and a most worthy contestant for the Rose of Tralee.

Rebecca is studying to become a primary teacher telling

Liam Sharkey earlier that she knew it was the job for her having done it as her work placement in secondary school. Rebecca would like to spend some time in Dubai when she qualifies having heard that teaching is a most lucrative job there. She is sponsored by Enniscorthy Credit Union where her mam works and told the packed auditorium that the Credit Union actually began in the Athenaeum over 50 years ago.

Her interests include Harry Potter, exercise and food, particularly healthy food as she told us all about her mam losing four and a half stone since she began to eat healthily. Rebecca was joined on stage by Anne Dreelan to play an interesting and intricate duet on the tin whistle.

A beautiful, accomplished

and confident young lady who enjoys life and loves her family and her town and will be a wonderful Ambassador for it and should be utilised to promote all things happening in and around Enniscorthy.

Just a suggestion to the powers that be – Rebecca as the 2016 Strawberry Queen should be number one guest of honour at any and all functions in the town or to do with the town – it is high time we used these lovely, young, smart women to best advantage and I mean that in the best possible way and in the best possible taste.

Good luck Rebecca, I wish you a fantastic year as our Strawberry Queen, and well done to all the Princesses who were all brilliant.

– Maria Nolan

Rebecca with her mam, dad and brother

before thanking Donal Cullen and everyone else involved for their wonderful support.

A most enjoyable event and full marks to Donal Cullen for coming up with the idea and putting the work into it and to all the models and the boutiques for proving yet again that Enniscorthy has a lot to offer when it comes to style and elegance both on our streets and in our shops and well done to all of the fashion houses involved for providing such varied selections of style, size and splendour.

– Maria Nolan

FaCe:  Cailyn Super HD Foundation -02  So Sue Contour & Highlight Palette  Makeup Revolution Vivid Baked Bronzer - Rock On World  Anastasia Beverly Hill Highlighting Duo Pencil  Freedom Pro Highlight - Glow  Makeup Revolution Pro Fix Fixing Spray eyes:  Morphe Brow8 Palette  Cailyn Gelux Brow - Hazelnut

 Morphe 35W Palette  Cailyn Carnival Glitter - Blondie  Inglot AMC Eyeliner Gel -77  Flormar Spider Lash Mascara Red Cherry Lashes - WSP Lips: Flormar Waterlroof Lipliner - 219  NYX Butter lipgloss - Creme Brulee Next month’s article will be all about an exciting makeup event which I will be part of, so make sure you pick up a copy of Slaney News for details!

– Smitten over makeup X

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Joanne O’Brien and Susan Dempsey (the “Collins Sisters”) at their new hairsalon on Main Street, Ferns.

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Slaney Education

3 August 2016

STUDENT & ADULT CAREER GUIDANCE

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INTEREST / APTITUDE TESTS _____________________________ C.A.O. & COLLEGE CHOICES _____________________________ C.V. & INTERVIEW SKILLS _____________________________ For more information visit

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Tel: 053 924 3030 Now taking bookings for 2016 / 2017

the cost of back to school Many parents of school-going children are already looking ahead to the back-toschool shopping season and the challenges it brings for family finances. The cost of school-going children to parents is a significant financial burden and can put pressure on other areas of the family budget.

The Irish League of Credit Unions has once again taken a look at just what the costs for both primary and secondary school children are and reminds parents to avoid moneylenders, shop around for best value and to plan a budget and stick to it if possible.

In the 2016 survey, parents stated that they believe extra-curricular activities (average €189 for primary and €180 for secondary) are the biggest expense during the school year. This is the first time since 2012 that this category has come in top of the list, ahead of uniforms / school clothing.

School uniform costs come in second and remain high

(€145 for primary and €234 for secondary) followed by school books (€94 for primary and €214 for secondary).

Some of the other key findings of the latest Irish League of Credit Unions “BACK TO SCHOOL COSTS 2016” are: ● Back to school costs negatively impact 26% of household bill payments with 13% of parents saying they will have to sacrifice spending on food to cover these costs. ● School associated costs have increased year on year from 2012 with overall spend for primary children on average is €967 per year per child and secondary €1,474 ● On average primary school parents are spending €145 on uniforms per child, secondary school parents spending €234 per child ● 31% of parents find themselves in debt covering back to school costs, borrowing an average of €357

In 2016 – 60% of parents will shop online for back to school items, up significantly from 47% in 2015 ● Dunnes Stores is considered best value for school clothing (21%) followed by Marks & Spencer (19%), Tesco (15%) and specialty shop (12%) ● 79% of parents expected to make ‘voluntary contribution to school’ averaging €118 per child, up from €112 in 2015 ● 37% of parents feel under pressure to buy branded school supplies, down from 42% in 2015, pressure more evident in secondary school parents ● Only 14% % of parents eligible for back-to-school allowance believe the back-to-school allowance is sufficient to cover school costs.

Once again the strong advice from the credit union movement is: “Avoid moneylenders, shop around, plan a budget”. n ●

proJeCT MaTHs TuiTion and inTensive Courses The South East Learning Centre specializes in helping students of all abilities in Junior and Leaving Cert subjects. It is the only centre of its kind in Wexford Town and was established in 2004 by mathematician Kevin Breen. Its primary goal is to improve their students’ understanding, skills and ultimately their performance in examinations. A combination of small class size, attention to detail and an appreciation of subjects are key to achieving this.

–––––––––––––––– Maths and other subjects –––––––––––––––– The South East Learning Centre offers expert tuition in Mathematics, Irish, Chemistry, Biology, French, German, Accounting and Business Studies. All subjects are taught at all levels ranging from secondary 1st Year to 6th Year. Mathematics and Chemistry are also taught at Third Level.

Students typically attend once a week per subject and the class duration is one hour.

Experience shows that students who struggle in maths typically have one or more gaps in their knowledge of that subject. The majority of students who have issues with maths invariably point the finger at algebra as their stumbling block. Algebra underpins all aspects of maths and contains the rules for “doing maths”. Without sound algebraic skills, otherwise able students will not be able to answer maths questions put to them. The South East Learning Centre maths classes place algebra and logical problem solving methods firmly at the heart of the learning process.

––––––––– project Maths and irish intensive Courses ––––––––– Maths and Irish intensive courses are held in April and May. Both Leaving and Junior Cert maths intensive courses are split over two days covering Paper 1 and Paper 2 respectively. Caution!

Intensive courses are not a silver bullet and have been known to have a distressing effect on students who leave everything until the last minute. Students who want assistance with any of our subjects are advised to seek help earlier rather than later.

––––––––––––––––––––––– Location ––––––––––––––––––––––– The South East Learning Centre is located at 3 Mary Street, Wexford Town. Classes take place from 4:30 to 9:30pm weekdays and all day Saturdays. It is owned and run by Kevin Breen. Kevin has over 26 years teaching maths at both second and third level in Ireland and Japan. Kevin holds a bachelor’s degree in maths and physics from Trinity College, Dublin, a master’s degree in applied mathematical science from Dublin City University, is a member of the Institute of Physics of Ireland and is a fluent Japanese speaker.

THE SOUTH EAST LEARNING CENTRE CONTACT DETAILS: Telephone at 086-0376602 Email at info@southeastlearningcentre.ie Website: www.southeastlearningcentre.ie.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/south.east.learning.centre

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Slaney Education

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Slaney Education

3 August 2016

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Finishing Touches

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Enniscorthy Enterprise & Technology centre

Training courses 2016 Evening courses / Three Evenings / 6.30pm to 9.30pm

cost

introduction to Business chinese (5 nights x 2 hours per night)

€100

introduction to cloud computing & Gadget management (2 nights)

€100

how to protect your invention

(1 night)

€25

Excel for office Staff

(5 nights x 2 hours per night)

€150

Business model canvas (strategy for business)

(1 day programme)

€100

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Tailor-made courses can be designed to match a company’s needs.

Example of courses the centre carried out lately with Wexford businesses include: Supervisory Management, Advanced & Intermediate Excel, Supply Chain Management, Time Management, Rule and Procedures of Meetings & Team Building Workshop.

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For more information please contact Siobhan: 053 9237499 or info@eetc.ie

Some Options at Third Level

third level education is becoming increasingly essential in contemporary ireland. trying to choose the right option can be as daunting as first learning your aBcs, instead you are confronted with cao, Plcs, Bas and Ph.d.s. this wide choice is an advantage as there is bound to be a course which meets your individual needs, skill and interests.

Not all third level education takes place in universities!

Apprenticeships are an option which allow you to develop a specific trade, such as carpentry, while also getting paid and require you to be ‘taken on’ by a qualified tradesman in order to learn your skill. This training is supplemented by training with FÁS.

Plc coUrses PLC (Post Leaving Certificate) courses are a good option if you, for instance, don’t achieve the points for your preferred course or if you choose not to attend college as they provide a FETAC qualification.

Admittance is not based on the points system but a Leaving Certificate is required and often an interview process will determine candidate suitability. In the case of applying for a course in Art and Design for example, a PLC portfo-

lio preparation course can be extremely helpful in gaining admittance. Many colleges also provide access courses in order to aid school leavers and adults returning to education who face difficulties due to a variety of social and economic factors, such as low family income or long-term unemployment.

Universities, institUtes of technology Universities and Institutes of Technology are a popular option for those wishing to enter fulltime education and offer higher levels of qualification. The National Framework of Qualifications ranks qualifications from 1 to 10. Some examples of this scale are apprenticeship qualifications at Level 6, the Honours Bachelor Degree at Level 8 and the Doctoral Degree at Level 10. It is important to consider this scale when choosing a course as it allows transparency and ease of comparability between courses.

Institutes of Technology generally have a practical orientation and operate on a ladder system of qualifications with the highest rung of the ladder being a degree after four years. This may be useful if you wish to leave the four years required to achieve a degree

after two or three years as you will still have received a qualification.

Universities offer degree programmes and often require the highest points. Unlike Institutes of Technology these programmes, usually four years in duration, do not operate on a ladder system.

Degrees in University can range from the very theoretical realm of Philosophy to more profession orientated courses like Nursing. Arts Degrees can be useful if you are unsure what you would like to do as they allow you to try out four subjects in first year and then take two to degree level. master / doctorate Degree courses can lead onto Masters courses which are usually 1-2 years in duration and can either be taught or involve research in your chosen field. The highest end of the scale is a Doctorate but this can take many years of dedication to attain.

Being an Irish scholar today can mean a multitude of things due to the wide variety of courses available and ways in which they can be studied. What is clear is that more and more people are embracing education and choosing third level education. n

EnniScoRThy cREdiT union

third lEvEl EdUCation Costs Can bE vEry high!

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Please enquire early, at your Credit Union, so that we can put everything in place before you need the funds!

All STudEnT loAnS ARE EnTEREd in A FREE dRAW FoR lApTop! REpRESEnTATivE ExAmplE: €5,000 Loan  Term: 3 Years Weekly Repayments €35.03  Total Interest: €464.73 Interest Rate: 6% per annum  Apr: 6.2% per annum

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Abbey Square, Enniscorthy.

Tel: 053 9233835 W: www.enniscorthycu.ie Facebook: /enniscorthycu

Slaney Food & Drink

www.slaneynews.com

19

All-Ireland Farmers Market in Enniscorthy as one would expect from a festival based around a food item – the strawberry – there was a large food element to the enniscorthy strawberry, music & food fest 2016 with a home-cook competition, cookery demonstration with Phelim Byrne, as well as the regular, local farmers’ market.

One of the undoubted highlights was the 9th annual AllIreland Farmers’ Market competition which was held in Abbey Square in Enniscorthy on Sunday 26th June. With over 40 stalls from around the country showcasing regional specialities, there was plenty of superb food for everybody.

This year’s judges, food writer and broadcaster Biddy White Lennon and local media personality, Jimmy Gahan, had the difficult task of deciding on a winner from the mouth-watering food on offer.

After much deliberation the winner was announced as Caroline Rigney, Rigney’s Farm, Limerick, famous for their handmade meat products from pasture-fed, free range animals and free of artificial additives. n

The All Ireland Farmers Market Final in Abbey Square, Enniscorthy, 26th June. Representatives of Enniscorthy Municipal District, Wexford County Council, the IFA, local politicians, and competition judges with All Ireland Winner Caroline Rigney of Rigney’s Farm, Limerick.

Rockin’ Food Fest success

Left: Strawberries aplenty at the Rockin’ Food Festival. Right: Looking pretty in pink at the Impresso Cafe stand at the Festival. Pics: © Joseph Doyle.

food played a major role in the rockin’ food festival which took place in enniscorthy on the bank holiday weekend 29th July – 31st July 2016.

Attracting thousands of foodies, rockin’ rollers, fun lovers and children, the food elements included: ● Artisan Food, Craft and Beer Markets.

Food snippets…

●

●

Tapas and Drink Trails including Craft Beer Trails, Trendy Gin Trail and Irish Whiskey Trail.

Live cookery demo with Edward Hayden. n

 If you would like to know more about Wexford's premier food producers network, the Wexford food family, or if you would like to stock some of its members' delicious products, then email paula@wexfordfoodfamily.com  Upcoming Skillnet Course: management of food hygiene Programme.

Date 26th September, 3rd, 10th & 17th October 2016 – 3 full days, final day 2 hours (exam).

Start & Finish: Maldron Hotel, Wexford, 9.30 am to 5 pm first three days.

Mon 17th Oct 10am to 12 noon (written exam). Trainer: David Power, Food Safety Consultant.

Price €350. To book your place please contact Claire O'Rourke on 053 912 2226 or email claireorourke@wexfordchamber.ie. If you are a member of Wexford, Enniscorthy, New Ross or Gorey Chamber a 10% discount applies – please let Chamber staff know.  summer cookery demonstration in enniscorthy library.

Chef William Kinsella from The Wildflower Cafe, Beechdale Garden Centre, Clonroche will demonstrate some delicious summer dishes for this time of year. Thursday, August 18th at 7pm. Booking is essential, if you require further assistance please contact the librarian on 053-9236055. n

For more information on advertising on our Food Pages please call 087-2403310

20 10 12

Slaney Business & Finance

3 August 2016

Enniscorthy & District Chamber – a new era the annual general meeting of the enniscorthy chamber of commerce was held at the riverside Park hotel on Wednesday 29th June with special guest speaker James Kiernan of chambers ireland beginning proceedings with a brief presentation to the members on the workings of chambers ireland and its relevance.

Prior to commencing James made the comment that he had seldom given a presentation or been asked to speak in a more picturesque setting overlooking the tranquil river Slaney with horses running freely in the beautiful evening sunshine on the Bare Meadows it could have been somewhere in Kentucky or Arizona, James mused.

James went on to tell the gathering that Chambers Ireland was one of the biggest organisations in the country boasting approximately forty seven Chambers, with counties Wexford and Mayo having the greatest amount. Chambers Ireland policy focus for 2016

includes competitiveness of Irish businesses, education and skills, investment in infrastructure, housing, access to affordable and good quality childcare and local government.

James was followed by President John Burke O’Leary who outlined all that the Chamber had been involved with over the previous twelve months such as the very successful Race Night, the town’s Shopping Brochure, the Brooklyn Premiere, the Brooklyn Committee, Flood Relief Committee, Town Voucher Scheme, Bunclody Committee, Industry and Advance Factory Committee, Tourism Committee, Rikon Breakfast and last and by no means least the CEO Project. John paid tribute to all involved with the Chamber and thanked each and everyone for their tremendous support and dedicated work.

Before introducing new CEO, Catriona Murphy, John paid tribute to all those businesses in town who contributed financially to the CEO Project

Chamber CEO Catriona Murphy

including McCauley Chemists, Slaney Foods, Bennett Tarmacadam, Datapac, Bank of Ireland, Monart, H. Murphy Ltd, Riverside Park Hotel, Treacys Hotel, Pettitt’s and Creane & Creane, stating that to have a CEO and an office is a move towards a new professionalism and a most positive initiative for the town. John said that Catriona in her interview for the position had given a seven-minute plan outlining

what she would do in her first ninety days and already she h a s p ro d u c e d a C h a m b e r Newsletter and has eight new members on board.

John concluded his address saying that the Chamber had a good year but he would like to see more events and greater communication with members and he called on new CEO Catriona to outline some of her immediate plans for the months ahead.

Catriona said that she was delighted to take on the challenge of more events and greater communication and drew the members attention to her handout – Upcoming Events, beginn i n g w i t h ‘ Wa k e U p Wednesdays’ – ‘a new networking opportunity in Enniscorthy to allow businesses to get to know each other, develop high quality relationships helping to facilitate lead generation and business referrals.’

On the first Wednesday of each month the Chamber will host breakfast networking ses-

sions beginning at 7.30am in the Riverside Park Hotel giving members and non-members the opening to meet with likeminded business people to develop new business relationships and to raise the profile of their business. The first of these sessions was held on Wednesday 6th July.

On Friday 15th July, at Treacy’s Hotel, Enniscorthy Chamber hosted a ‘Corporate Health Check’ Chamber Networking Lunch at 12.30pm presented by Kevin Prendergast, Head of Enforcement, ODCE. And the good news is that Catriona has lots more planned for the autumn.

Connie Doyle, Honorary Treasurer, delivered the annual accounts showing the Chamber to be in a most healthy financial position.

All Officers were returned unopposed as follows: President: John Burke O’Leary Vice President: Maree Lyng Secretary: Margo Hogan Treasurer: Connie Doyle – Maria Nolan

JUlie - celeBrating five years Congrats to local solicitor, Julie Breen, on recently passing the 5 year milestone in her own practice.

Julie has offices in both Enniscorthy and Ferns and can be contacted at Irish Street, Enniscorthy, Tel: 053 9235699. enniscorthy gift voUcher scheme This has proven to be a great success and vouchers are available to purchase from various locations in town such as Byrnes Bookshop, Credit Union, Waterfront Leisure Centre and Frizelle O’Leary & Co. Solicitors in €10 and €20 units. The vouchers are great for birthdays, anniversaries and for that someone special. And are also a great, tax-efficient way to reward employees. neW BUsiness start-UPs According to Vision-Net's Business Barometer, over 7,600 company start-ups were formed in Ireland up to mid-May. Just over a fifth of these new companies operate in the professional services sector while the finance and wholesale and retail sectors were the second and third most popular industries for startups and accounted for just over 1,700 new companies between them. There was good news for the construction sector which has seen a 29% increase in numbers this year (694 vs 538). enniscorthy comPany – maKing a sPlash!

Enniscorthy company Pool & Spa Services Ltd has applied for full planning permission for the erection of an industrial unit at Moyne Lower, Enniscorthy. n

Members of Enniscorthy Chamber with guest speaker James Kiernan at recent AGM. Pic: Maria Nolan.

Wexford businesses donate €4,000 to Wexford MarineWatch Wexford chamber selected Wexford marineWatch as their chosen charity at the recent hugely successful Wexford B u s i n e s s aw a r d s g a l a ceremony and the chamber was delighted to present a

cheque for €4,000 to this very worthy charity. a total of €3,748 was raised by the business community from the proceeds of a raffle draw held at the awards ceremony on friday 27th may in clayton Whites hotel. these

funds were rounded up to €4,000 by Wexford chamber.

Wexford MarineWatch is a voluntary organisation which provides Suicide Prevention Patrols along Wexford Quays, Estuary and Harbour.

Chairman Frank Flanagan in thanking all the people who contributed said, "The money will go directly to assist in saving lives in Wexford. This donation allows us to purchase a thermal imaging, night vision,

infrared camera which will prove invaluable to our volunteers as they carry out their duties in Wexford Harbour. It will be a tremendous assistance to us as an organisation."

“Wexford MarineWatch was established in 2012 and has become an integral part of the Wexford community. Our volunteers have successfully dealt with 180 incidents in the three years since its foundation and 82 lives have been directly saved – either prevented from entering, or recovered from the water in the Harbour.”

“Our 100 volunteers and management board continue to be greatly encouraged by the support that they receive from organisations like Wexford Chamber. It's this support and encouragement that keeps us going,” concluded Frank.

Wexford Chamber would like to thank those who donated on the night for their generosity and the following who kindly sponsored prizes for the draw: Bláithín Ennis, Good Food Ireland, Kia Ora Mini Farm, Loftus Hall, Mary Barry’s Seafood Bar & Restaurant, Paul Maloney Pottery, Pettitt’s, Wallace’s of Wellingtonbridge, Waterford Airport and Wexford Home Preserves.

Wexford MarineWatch provides the Harbour area with ‘Safety Prevention Patrols’ – operated several nights a week by specially trained volunteers who give up their free time on a rotabasis each month to help prevent loss of life, make people aware of the dangers of the water and provide assistance to people in difficulty.

For more see www.wexfordmarinewatch.com n

Slaney Business & Finance

www.slaneynews.com

21

WLD hosts Enterprise Awards Back L-R: Minister Paul Kehoe TD, Brian Kehoe (Chief Executive Wexford Local Development), Michael Wall (Chairman, Wexford Local Development). Front L-R: The three finalists – Moira Hart (Wexford Lavender Farm), Michael O’Connor (The Red Door), Mairead McDaid (Chartered Physiotherapy & Neurological Rehabilitation).

the east region enterprise awards event hosted by Wexford local development is a brand new initiative for the enterprise sector in the county, and indeed nationally. it recognises the success of individuals who have set up their business with Wld supports. these supports include the Back to Work enterprise allowance scheme (BtWea) and/or the short term enterprise allowance (stea) scheme which are funded by the department of social Protection (dsP).

Representing all areas of County Wexford, the awards ceremony presented a fabulous showcase displaying the wonderful products and services offered by the finalists present. A packed attendance in the Seamus Rafter Suite, Riverside Park Hotel, on Monday 11th July included Minister Paul Kehoe T.D. and Mayor of Wexford Cllr. Frank Staples. The event was filmed by Irish TV and will be broadcast on ‘Business Matters’ in the coming weeks.

Brian Kehoe, CEO of WLD, congratulated all of the shortlisted applicants for their hard work, dedication and commitment to establishing their busin e s s e s . “ We x f o rd L o c a l Development are delighted to have been able to support your businesses to this point. The displays here this evening demonstrate the high calibre businesses in the competition and the strength of small business in Wexford.”

Patricia Delaney, representing the Department of Social

Protection, encouraged people to avail of the various Department supports for people setting up a business.

Padraig Parle, proprietor of t h e F o rg e C r a f t S h o p i n Baldwinstown, gave a motivational speech and encouraged all of the finalists “to continue to strive towards your vision”.

Michael Wall, Chairman WLD, then focused on the main event of the evening, the announcement of the three finalists who will represent the East Region at the National Enterprise Award 2016. The very worthy finalists received €1,000 each, a promotional video for their businesses sponsored by Innovate and a bespoke plaque sponsored

by The Forge Craft Shop. the finalists are: the red door coffee shop & deli (www.facebook.com/TheRed-Door-Coffee-Shop-Deli)

The Red Door, owned by Michael O’Connor, is an expanding coffee shop, deli and restaurant in the heart of Carrig on Bannow with seating for approximately 26 people. Open six days a week from eight ‘til late it provides a wide variety of food serving breakfast, lunch and dinner with a wide range of homemade goods. mairead mcdaid, chartered Physiotherapy & neurological rehabilitation (www.maireadmcdaidphysio.com) Mairead McDaid is a member of the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists. Specialising in Neurological and older adult Physiotherapy, the services provided include Assessment, S t a n d a rd P h y s i o t h e r a p y Treatment, Bridge the Gap Physiotherapy Programme, Group Exercise Classes, Home-based Appointments and Clinic-based Appointments.

Wexford lavender farm (www.wexfordlavenderfarm.com) Wexford Lavender Farm, owned

by Moira Hart, is Ireland’s only lavender farm. The business consists of two acres of picturesque lavender, a children’s play area, a quad barrel train ride known as Billy the Bull, a café offering a vast menu of freshly prepared food, a visitor information centre with distillery equipment on display, and a woodland walk.

Wexford Lavender Farm also produces lavender-based products available for sale in the beautiful quant onsite shop.

The National Local Development Enterprise Award is scheduled to take place on 15th September 2016 in the Gibson Hotel, Dublin.

The other shortlisted businesses who were presented with an awards certificate included Aideen Ni Reidy, Pure Soul Style, New Ross, Aiden Rea – The Red Kettle Café, Mallin Street, Alice Kelly – Alice J Kelly Millinery, Blackwater, Annina Lebeau – The Pram Doctor, Bree, Collette Murphy Artist, Clonroche, George Kenny – Pedal Revolution, New Ross, Grainne Kenny Design – Gorey, James Lyng – Lyng International, New Ross, John Weafer, Glass 2 Sand, Ballygarrett, Joe Shannon Construction and Maintenance, New Ross, Martin Murphy, Menapia Guitars, Wexford, Paula Guerin, Tate Guerin Design, Wells House, Roisin Leacy, Gorey Institute of Beauty, Gorey, Seamus Byrne, Scrap Metals Collected, New Ross, Thomas Logan – Irish Fairy and Folk Crafts, Duncormick, Ti m Wa l s h , C o u n s e l l o r, Kilmuckridge, Sean Cahill Lawnmowing Repairs and Services, Foulksmills. n

L-R: Padhraic McLaughlin and Micheal Reddy, managers of the Enniscorthy office of Indos, at the awards ceremony in London.

Indos to expand indos financial limited (indos), an independent business that provides depositary services under the alternative investment fund managers directive (aifmd), has revealed it intends to further expand its irish office, based in enniscorthy. the company currently has ten full-time staff at its enniscorthy offices in merrythought house, templeshannon.

Bill Prew, INDOS CEO, said: “The business has developed well over the past two years. We now service over 50 funds with in excess of $10bn of underlying assets and have a strong pipeline of new business. Enniscorthy as a location has served us well and we have been able to recruit high calibre staff. For these reasons we believe we will be in a position to expand our operations in Enniscorthy. ”INDOS, a privately owned business headquartered in London, was established in 2012 principally to enable alternative investment fund managers managing non-EU alternative investment funds to meet depositary requirements required by the AIFMD. INDOS specialises in the provision of independent depositary services for alternative investment funds, many of which will already be admin-

istered by fund administrators based in Ireland. It remains the only independent depositary in the industry.

It has been a good year for the company which won an industry award recently; named Best Depositary Solution in the 2016 HFM European Hedge Fund Services Awards. It was the first time the prestigious annual awards included a ‘best depositary’ category.

“We were thrilled to win the award especially in light of strong competition from the other more established shortlisted finalists. The award recognised the inherent benefits of an independent solution that delivers value to investors, fund boards and managers,” CEO Bill Prew said.

IDA Ireland’s Regional Business Development Manager for the South East, Anne-Marie Tierney-Le Roux, congratulated INDOS on the success of its Enniscorthy office, saying: “It is very gratifying to see a financial services company of this calibre continue to develop and grow in this location. IDA looks forward to continuing to work closely with the company as it expands its operations in Ireland. ”INDOS has forged links with the Waterford Institute of Technology, taking a work placement team member in 2015 and again this year.” n

LEO offers Microfinance Ireland loans Under a partnership between microfinance ireland and the local enterprise offices, business loans are now available through the local enterprise office in Wexford.

• Unsecured loans from €2,000 up to €25,000.

• Term from 3 to 5 years.

• Reduced Interest Rate 7.5% (7.8% APR) for LEO clients.

• Flexibility on repayment terms.

The loans are provided and underwritten by LEO’s partner organisation Microfinance Ireland

and application may be made through the LEO office and will, in the first instance, be assessed locally. Microfinance Ireland was established by the government to provide additional lending to start-up and existing micro-enterprises. The final decision for all loan applications is made by Microfinance Ireland. Loans are repayable to Microfinance Ireland according to the terms and conditions set out by Microfinance Ireland.

Sole Traders, Partnerships and Limited Companies with

fewer than 10 employees and an annual turnover of less than €2m are eligible to apply. Unlike some of the other financial supports available from the LEO, all business sectors are eligible to apply.

Loans can be used to fund startups, existing and growth microenterprises and can be used for working capital or the hiring of new employees, the purchase of stock, equipment, machinery and business vehicles.

By applying through the Local Enterprise Office you will get:

•

1% reduction on normal interest rate of 8.5% (8.8% APR).

• Assistance and feedback on application.

• Business advice and support.

If you would like to apply for a loan please call Breege Cosgrave on 053 919 6023 or email breege.cosgrave@leo.wexfordcoco.ie.

Check out www.microfinanceireland.ie for more information and details on the application process. n

Recent Gas Networks Ireland information event in Wexford. L-R: Peter Scallan (Celtic Linen) and Tom Banville (CEO , Local Enterprise Office).

Pic: Patrick Browne.

22

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3 August 2016

www.slaneynews.com

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23

Slaney News

www.slaneynews.com

Older people yet to benefit from economic recovery

VET DIARY FOR AUGUST with the Moyne Veterinary Clinic

This month Joe Kavanagh looks at structural misalignment Often an animal is brought into the clinic sometimes for something routine such as a vaccination, and while we're checking them over we discover that they're lame or very stiff in their gait. The standard reply when you bring this to the attention of the owner is, 'Ah sure that's just old age starting to creep up on him...'

What they're just assuming as old age is often a misalignment of the animal's structure and with a little bit of care and attention that can be put right. The pelvis is the foundation of the body but this sometimes extra rotates or shifts out of position often knocking the spinal column out of line in the process. There are various ways of re-aligning this from chiropractic techniques to kinesiology and energy medicine. The Chinese always felt that you had to strengthen the organs for you to have long-term results.

We incorporate a few different techniques and follow up with herbs and remedies to help strengthen the body so we're working from the outside in and the inside out...! Often that dog

fianna fáil td for Wexford, James Browne, says older people, particularly those that are reliant on the state pension, are yet to feel the benefits of the economic recovery. deputy Browne says the government needs to focus its efforts on assisting older people who are currently struggling to make ends meet on a daily basis.

Deputy Browne explained, “There is a perception out there that older people were not impacted by the recession and were insulated from cutbacks to services and benefits. However I don’t believe this is a fair analysis. Older people suffered as a result of a number of harsh cutbacks, including the abolition of the Telephone Allowance and the Bereavement Grant. The previous Fine Gael led government also reduced the Fuel Allowance and the Household Benefits Package.

“Older people have also had to deal with increased costs brought about following the imposition of water charges, the prope r t y t a x a n d i n c re a s e s i n prescription charge. These charges have come at a time when older people’s pensions have stagnated.

The end result is that many older people have an insufficient income and are desperately struggling to make ends meet. They have to increasingly rely on their loved ones to support them.

“The State Pension was increased by a measly €3 following the last Budget. This increase was wholly insufficient.

This is particularly problematic for older people who live on their own and have to cope with many

of the same costs as a two-person household, including heating, electricity and insurance charges.

"It is essential that the difficulties facing older people are recognised in the upcoming Budget. I along with my Fianna Fáil colleagues will be pushing for a fair and progressive package for older people. It is imperative that the economic recovery is

Pic: Maria Nolan

who was suffering in silence bounces back with a new sense of vigor and a new lease of life.

When we see that change then we know we're on the right track. n

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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.

If you have a topic you’d like our vet to address please text us at SLANEY NEWS 087-2403310 or email: slaneynews@gmail.com

James Browne TD just and balanced and felt by all sections of society, and not just the privileged few.” n

“Burglary rate tumbles” fine gael td for Wexford, minister Paul Kehoe, has paid tribute to the success of the garda strategy in tackling burglary and other property crimes. he said this success will ensure that people in county Wexford are safer, as burglary rates fall.

“The latest statistics from the CSO show an 18.4% drop for the twelve months to the 31st March. This is good news for people in County Wexford and demonstrates the success of Operation Thor, the response to public concern over burglary rates. Since the launch of Operation Thor last November there has been a dramatic reduction in the number of burglaries.

“Today’s figures also show that in the first three months of 2016 there were 36.47% less burglaries than in the first three months of 2015.

“There are huge achieve-

ments being made by the Gardaí with Operation Thor, and the increased protection which it is providing for householders here in County Wexford.

“Significantly, the decrease in burglary is accompanied by reductions in other property crimes and the CSO figures show very welcome decreases of 7% for theft and 6.7% for robbery.

“The Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald, is committed to doing everything possible to support the Garda crackdown on criminals. There will be no let-up in the pressure which the Gardaí are bringing to bear on the organised gangs engaged in burglary. We are determined to protect communities in County Wexford, who have been the victims of mobile criminal gangs “The Tánaiste recently secured a package of additional

To advertise in Slaneynews please call the Hotline 087-2403310

Minister Paul Kehoe TD

resources for Garda operations in 2016, including provision for the ongoing implementation of Operation Thor throughout the country. An additional €55 million, including €5 million announced in February, is to be provided, doubling the overtime available for this intensive policing and crime prevention activity.

“The Government has also committed to accelerate Garda recruitment, to bring Garda numbers up to 15,000.” n

24

Slaney History

3 August 2016

www.slaneynews.com

If a picture tells a thousand words…

Ibar Carty chronicles the 20th century in Enniscorthy & beyond Ibar Carty has opened up his vast photo archives to the Slaney News. In this 62nd of a series, Ibar shares some photos taken twenty years ago.

Above: Brigín (girl scouts) cleaning and planting flowerbed on the Fairgreen, June 1996.

Left: Executive Committee of the Community Workshop, June 1996.

All pics copyright © Ibar Carty.

Ibar Carty can provide high quality prints of all photos in this series.

Simply ring Ibar on 087-6729969 or email: ibar_carty@yahoo.ie or call into his premises on Castle St. (beside Athenaeum).

If you mention the Slaney News he’ll give you 20% OFF the price!

And don’t forget: IbAr speCIAlIses In reCopyIng And restorIng old photos.

CAll In Any tIme for more InformAtIon.

A local contributor looks at life today in Enniscorthy and beyond Pic: ©Joseph Doyle

View from the Hill parliamEntary QuEstions There is a lot of fuss and bother at the moment about the alleged cost of Parliamentary Questions.

This is the system where T.D.s put questions to various ministers in relation to constituency matters.

It is alleged that it costs €200 to answer each question. The issue came to a head when it was disclosed that Michael Healy Rae put down over a hundred questions to the Minister for Health on the last day of the Dáil sitting before the recess. Healy Rae defends his action by saying that he has the right and duty to put down such questions on behalf of his constituents. He further

questions as to how it could cost €200 to answer each question.

He, quite rightly, points out that the staff who formulate the answers to these queries are in position anyway, have to be paid regardless of how many questions they have to answer, and all that he is doing is highlighting very important matters for his constituents.

Well I have to say that I agree with Healy Rae on this one. If our public representatives refused to put down questions on our behalf we would be saying that they are useless and shouldn’t be in the Dáil. When they do the media goes ape and attacks them, so the reality is that they can’t win. To those who say that there is no

need to have questions put down in the Dáil and that the public can access the information for themselves I say, in the infamous words of one Padraig Flynn former E.U. Commissioner, ”Try it sometime”.

The real scandal here is that the public are so frustrated trying to get information from public bodies that they are forced to go to their T.D.s to arrange a question to be put direct to a minister.

Furthermore another question is how does it possibly cost €200 to have a question answered.

Maybe in a case where massive research is involved it does cost money to get an answer to a question but in normal circumstances the cost should be minimal. My suspicion is that it helps official Ireland to prevent our T.D.s asking questions and one of the methods used to shut them up is to make out that they are costing the public a fortune by asking awkward questions.

Our T.D.s may be costing us a lot of money in other ways but this is not one of them. I say to our T.D.s, “Keep asking the questions and don’t care who you embarrass.”

GovErnmEnt advisors Talking about the cost of government brings me to the cost of all

Construction works on the M11 (Gorey to Enniscorthy)

these unelected government advisors. Maybe a reduction in the numbers of these people would be a way to save the public money.

These people are paid scandalous money for advising the Taoiseach and Ministers etc. I can’t figure out as to what all our senior civil servants are doing all day if they are unable to advise the government.

I thought that the role of senior executives in the civil service was to ensure that the elected government stayed within the laws as adopted by the Oireachtas when formulating legislation etc. The mind boggles. our county It has to be said that at this time of the year County Wexford looks particularly good. Most of our villages and towns are well kept

and maintained through a huge voluntary effort with help from the local authorities. There is a real civic pride in the general population of the county and this is something to be proud of. There are still litter blackspots but they are becoming fewer as time goes on. From time to time, as previously highlighted in this column, unscrupulous individuals destroy particular roads and byways with their illicit dumping, but the spirit of the people always prevails and cleanups result in fairly quick reinstatement. Great credit is due to all volunteers who carry out cleanups etc. keeping our county beautiful.

BrExit and Enniscorthy The British decision to leave the E.U. may have an adverse effect

on Enniscorthy’s tourism business. Many thousands of visitors who come to the South East of Ireland each year come from the sterling area. The fall in the value of the British pound is bound to have some impact on the number of visitors coming here. The only consolation is that the majority of other countries in Europe which the British tend to visit are also in the euro area and will have the same problem. So I guess that we have to wait and see in the knowledge that, apart from the weather, we have as much to offer as any of the rest of Europe.

Enniscorthy Bypass Good to see work commenced on the Enniscorthy Bypass. I know that there are concerns that this bypassing of the town may have a downside in relation to business in the general area. The harsh reality is that the town is currently choked with traffic at particular times of the day and this is in itself giving the place the name of a town to avoid. When the bypass is complete and with the remarketing of Enniscorthy as a good place to park and shop it’s a surefire bet that a huge benefit will accrue to the entire area. n We are often asked: Who is the “View from the Hill” columnist?

All we can say is that the author’s surname is NOT Doyle!

Slaney Around the Region

www.slaneynews.com

BUNCLODY…

Bunclody liBrary Bunclody Library will host an exhibition of works from the art BanK gallery for the month of August. Go and see the great variety of art being produced by artists in the Bunclody area.

Thurs 04 Aug 7.00pm. A very popular movie, with a 12 rating, released last year – contact the library for details.

Sat 06 Aug 2.30pm. Family movie for children – contact the library for details.

We d 1 0 A u g 2 . 3 0 p m . a r t Workshops with mandy for children aged 6-9 years.

We d 1 0 A u g 3 . 4 5 p m . a r t Workshop with mandy for children aged 9-12 years.

Thurs 11 Aug 7.00pm. a talk on ‘historic Graveyards – our hidden heritage’ with Emmet stafford. Focusing on the folk-art of memorial stones and what they say about us, Emmet will talk about the heritage and history of Ireland’s graveyards, paying particular attention to those in Co Wexford.

Sat 13 Aug 2.30pm. computing and coding for kids – the Way Forward.

Wed 17 Aug 11.00am. ‘Journey into the past with time travelling ghosts’ – reading and creative Workshop for kids with caroline Busher for children aged 8-12 years.

Thurs 18 Aug 7.00pm. Grainne doran, archivist with Wexford

co. council, will present a talk on 1916.

Sat 20 Aug 2.30pm. movie for adults from the 1960s about an unlikely foursome getting together for a business venture! Contact the library for further details.

Mon 22 Aug. As part of heritage Week, Bunclody Library is hosting two workshops for children with the school of archaeology to make a Neolithic clay pot and a medieval purse.

Thurs 25 Aug 7.00pm. neale rooney will give a talk on the Battle of the somme.

Sat 27 Aug 2.30pm. philip Quirke will give a workshop on writing poetry. rEGular adult EvEnts: adult reading circle. The Reading Circle is taking a summer break and will resume again in September. computer classes. If you wish to be considered for future classes, please contact Bunclody Library. rEGular childrEn’s EvEnts: toddler story time - A new time for our Toddler Storytime – Friday mornings at 11.00am. Go along with your toddler or preschooler for Stories, Rhymes and Songs. children’s chess - Classes continue on Friday afternoons in the library. Contact the library for further details.

Booking essential for all events. tel: 053 9375466.

For a full listing of events see Bunclody Library on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/ BunclodyLibrary/events where you can sign up for monthly what’s on e-newsletter. Also see website: http://www.wexford.ie/wex/Departments/Librar y/WhatsOn/ art BanK Bunclody Follow ARTBANK on Facebook for updates.

Bunclody country marKEt Bunclody Country Market is taking a well earned break for the month of August. Back with a bang in September. New members welcome. Anyone who can knit, sew, bake or make any new exciting produce is more than welcome to join. st vincEnt dE paul Local Confidential helpline 0873696883. Newspaper recycling bin beside SuperValu in aid of S.V.P.

Cllr Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin

ple in County Wexford seeking accommodation, this should serve as a wake-up call to the government parties and those who supported the totally misguided and disastrous housing policies during the Celtic Tiger years.

“While many of these vacant units are holiday homes which are occasionally used, many others are not, and could be put to good use to help deal with the housing crisis in County Wexford.

“We urgently need a range of measures to both incentivise and force owners in the latter group to bring these units back into use.These include refurbishment grants, compulsory purchase orders and a vacant property tax (as they have in France, England and Scotland)

ROSSLARE… council WElcomEs cruisE ship to rosslarE county Wexford’s tourism industry took a major step forward on 14 July when the Fred olsen lines ms Braemar became the first cruise ship in twenty years to dock at rosslare port.

The vast majority of the 780 passengers and 380 crew took the opportunity to disembark, with many undertaking pre-arranged excursions throughout the Wexford region for the day. As they disembarked on the Rosslare quayside, they were invited to view and taste samples of local produce and enjoy some live entertainment, while liaison staff organised by Wexford County Council offered tourist and other information.

The visit follows the establishment of a Working Group to explore the Cruise Ship tourism market which includes

representatives of Irish Rail, Wexford County Council and Fáilte Ireland and supported by Visit Wexford. The group is led by Mr. John Lynch, General Manager of Rosslare Europort.

“We are delighted to welcome the MS Braemar to Rosslare today” said Mr. Lynch.

“We are fortunate at Rosslare that not only do we have the capacity to operate as a busy commercial port, but we are also situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty and rich cultural heritage and I believe that there will be many more cruise ships that will want to explore the wonders of Wexford and the South East.”

Commenting on the arrival of the MS Braemar, Siobhan O’Neill, Tourism Officer at Wexford County Council, said “We have been working hard with the team at Rosslare Europort to build an exciting Wexford-based itinerary so that

passengers and crew can enjoy all that Wexford has to offer. It is important that we ensure the guests and the cruise line crew and staff enjoy a wonderful, warm Wexford experience so that they see first-hand the wonders that Wexford has to offer. Their itinerary includes v i s i t s t o Ti n t e r n A b b e y, Colclough Walled Gardens, Wells House and Gardens, K i l m o re Q u a y a n d t h e D u n b ro d y F a m i n e S h i p , together with many other Wexford amenities.

“Today has been a huge success for Wexford tourism”, Siobhan concluded. “I can also confirm that work is very much continuing within the collaborative group on building the cruise business to Wexford. We have a very strong offering, centred here within Ireland’s Ancient East and we aim to capitalise on this as much as possible.” n

CAIM

alcoholics anonymous Local Meetings are held on Tuesdays & Saturdays at 8.30pm in Brennan’s Market Square.

Whist Monday nights in St. Aidan’s Hall. parish oFFicE holidays Parish Office will be closed for holidays from Thursday 4th August to Wednesday 10th. n

CO. WEXFORD – HOUSING… ‘Grant incentives as well as cpos are urgently needed to help alleviate housing crisis in county Wexford," according to Gorey sinn Féin councillor Fionntán Ó súilleabháin who has highlighted figures from census 2016, which were published in recent weeks, showing that approximately half of all dwellings in the courtown, cahore and Kilmuckridge areas are lying unoccupied.

In the Castletown area the figure is as high as 38%; in Ballygarrett its 36% and Ardamine sees two out of every five dwellings lying vacant. In Monamolin its 16% and in Wells its almost one fifth of all homes.

Cllr Ó Súilleabháin says, “While these figures may not come as too much of a shock for many of us familiar with the coastal areas, if we go a little inland we can also see a high rate of vacant dwellings.

“For example in Inch / Ballylarkin it’s 15% and all areas from Camolin stretching through Craanford, Hollyfort, Monaseed right up to Wicklow Gap have one house out of every eight lying unoccupied.

“In the midst of a housing crisis, with over four thousand peo-

25

“A pilot scheme is already underway in Co. Louth that gives an indication of how local authorities could implement CPOs on vacant dwellings, as well as the sort of costs involved. Even Edmund Honohan, Master of the High Court, told the special Dáil housing committee that a solution to the crisis could be the use of compulsory purchase orders for the immediate seizure of some vacant properties. South Dublin County Council is already using compulsory acquisition powers to bring some vacant sites back into use.

“The Minister for Housing must make funding available to Wexford County Council to allow us to acquire vacant units.

As well as incentives such as grants, it has also been proposed that property owners could be penalised for leaving homes empty. The Housing Agency cites France as an example of a country with a Vacant Property Tax to discourage owners from leaving dwellings unoccupied. The rate of tax is based on the rental value of the property - a rate of 12.5% for the first tax year and 25% for each following year. The tax applies to properties left vacant for more than a year." n

5th and 6th class in Caim national school collected €280 of their Confirmation money to donate to Make a Wish Ireland and the Hope Centre.

FERNS DIOCESE… the Bishop of Ferns, dr. denis Brennan, has announced the following clerical changes: F r. h u g h o ' B y r n e p. p.

Blackwater to retirement on health grounds, effective immediately.

Fr. Brendan nolan p.p. Our Lady's Island to P.P. Blackwater, effective 6th August.

Fr. James cogley p.p. Oylegate to P.P. Our Lady's Island, effective 6th August.

Fr. John Byrne adm St. Senan's Parish to P.P. Oylegate, effective

Fr. John Byrne

6th August.

Fr. paddy Banville c.c. St. Senan's to be ADM St. Senan's,

effective 6th August.

Fr. robert mcGuire c.c.

Galbally Ballyhogue to be C.C. Caroreigh, effective 6th August.

Fr. Ken Quinn, Chaplain Wexford General Hospital to be C.C. Galbally Ballyhogue, effective 6th August.

Fr. michael doyle, c.c. St. Leonards to be Hospital Chaplain and C.C. St. Leonard's, effective 6th August.

Fr. david murphy to temporary sabbatical leave, pending appointment. n

BLACKWATER… BlacKWatEr macra It’s been a busy few weeks for club members and friends who recently attended annual summer socials to Shed Fest and Oulart The Ballagh barn dance.

Well done also to club members in recent Tag Rugby match – a strong performance and a very close game ended in a draw,

score 7-7, well done everyone, great teamwork and great to see Blackwater Macra drive this initiative.

Upcoming club activities and events include kayaking, games night with pool and darts, gaelic football and indoor soccer, along with beach activities and much more included

for the upcoming 2016/2017 calendar year.

Anyone in the surrounding areas interested in getting involved in sports, travel, drama and social activities, or availing from members’ benefits such as 15% off car insurance, please contact 087 9585376 for more information. n

26

Slaney Motoring

Caroline gets motoring peugeot 508 RXH

review by CaroliNe Kidd the peugeot 508 rxh is new for 2016 and is a special derivative of peugeot’s flagship 508 range, which already features a saloon and an estate. the 508 rxh is a little bit special though – it sports a trendy, off-road look and also houses a top of the range diesel engine with automatic gearbox for ease of use.

The car is part of Peugeot’s strategy to move the brand upmarket and it’s a showcase of a luxury Peugeot so it doesn’t come cheap. The 508 RXH has a list price of €41,595, but there is quite a lot going on with this car to justify that price.

The 508 RXH was first launched some years ago as a diesel hybrid with four wheel drive but that never reached Ireland. Peugeot has gone back to basics and stuck a straightforward 2.0-litre diesel into the body of the 508 RXH and kept to a simple front wheel drive layout, so it’s perfect now for the Irish market.

In styling alone, the 508 RXH has considerable more presence and kerb appeal when placed side by side with the standard 508 SW estate it’s derived from. The RXH has a

raised ride height, which makes the car physically imposing, while plastic cladding around the wheel arches and sills and aluminium front and rear bumper scuff plates complete t h e o ff - ro a d m a k e o v e r.

Characteristic 18” alloys and ‘claw-effect’ LED daytime running lights also announce the arrival of something a bit more special.

The build of the car also appears very good: the doors

close with a resounding clunk and the cabin is put together well. The dash has an attractive design with lots of gloss black around the centre console and the plastics on view are of good quality. There is seating for five and three will fit comfortably in the rear. As an estate car, a key selling point has to be the boot. Here it’s a generous 550 litres with a low sill, an easyclean plastic floor cover and various hooks and nets to con-

trol your cargo.

Being a Peugeot, the spec is extremely good including heated and electrically adjustable front seats, keyless entry and start, electric parking brake and hill-start assist, full leather trim, heads-up display, panoramic glass roof, climate control, cruise control, auto lights and wipers, rear-view camera and parking sensors, four electric windows and blind spot monitoring.

Six Month Irish Motor Industry Review by Caroline Kidd We’re over half way through the year now and well into the 162 registration plate, but in the society of the irish motor industry’s (simi) recent half year report, the industry looks to be taking a more conservative view of new car sales as we approach 2017, citing a return to more ‘normal’ levels of new car sales and Brexit uncertainty as the reasons.

But currently things aren’t exactly going badly for the Industry with new car registrations in the first six months of 2016 standing at 101,335 which is up 23% on 2015.

Although there has been some deceleration as the year has progressed, total sales for 2016 are being forecast at 152,000.

Economist Jim Power, author of the SIMI report, said, “Despite the still-positive economic outlook, growth in car sales could be low or maybe even flat in 2017. This slowdown in growth reflects a market approaching, but still lower, than its natural state, after a prolonged period of catch up, but

3 August 2016

www.slaneynews.com

Every month Bunclody native caroline Kidd brings you the best from the world of motoring, including car reviews, news and more. caroline is a member of the irish motoring Writers’ association (imWa) and a jury member for irish car of the year. you can follow her blog changing lanes at www.changinglanes.ie.

Under the bonnet there is a 2.0-litre BlueHDi diesel that produces a healthy 180bhp and there is just one gearbox option, a six speed automatic. The engine produces 400Nm of torque and there is plenty of power and pull so this car feels anything but underpowered.

The automatic takes a lot of hassle out of driving and it makes smooth progress most of the time though it doesn’t like when you accelerate too quickly as it hesitates a bit before the gear is engaged!

On rural roads around Wexford the car performed really well despite its obvious bulk. The steering has a nice bit of heft to it and gives decent enough feedback so you can place the car quite easily on the smallest of roads. Not surprisingly it’s supremely comfortable too over rougher surfaces. It's not the most dynamically exciting car and you do feel the car lean in corners if you push it hard but it’s not sold as a sports estate, and the 508 RXH has enough grip and driver feedback for it to always feel safe and secure on the road anyway. Minimal road, engine and wind noise

make this an easy car to get along with on a daily basis.

There is no four wheel drive option but the advantage of the conventional layout is that running costs are kept in the region of any other large diesel, front wheel drive car – motor tax is just €200 for the year and the car will return up to 61mpg.

It’s certainly a car worth looking at if you want the practicality of a large estate car with some serious power and kerb appeal because the RXH makeover lifts the 508 into much more premium company.

Of course, there is a price tag to match that but thankfully the build and finish of the car, sheer mountain of equipment, and affable driving character help justify that. model tested: Peugeot 508 RXH 2.0-litre HDI FWD. Price: €41,595 (Base 508 SW from €29,790).

Engine: 2.0-litre turbo diesel.

Power: 180bhp.

0-100km/h: 8.9 seconds.

Economy: 61.4mpg (4.6/100km).

CO2 emissions: 119g/km.

Tax: A4 (€200 per year). n

Motor News… doylE’s GaraGE courtoWn Peugeot main dealer, Doyle’s Garage Courtown, has purchased the old O’Leary’s car premises on the Old Dublin Road, Enniscorthy. Expect to see high quality pre-owned cars on sale there in the near future. sKoda: ŠKODA is beginning its major SUV campaign with the ŠKODA KODIAQ. The 4.70-m-long SUV is a real all-rounder. It offers the largest boot capacity within its class. With an optional third row of seats, it has yet another unique selling point in the segment.

Ahead of the much anticipated arrival of the SEAT Ateca at SEAT dealers this month, the SUV, which has received superb reviews since its international launch, has now been named the Auto Express Crossover of the Year 2016. ŠKODA has been named the most dependable car brand in Britain for the second time.

New car registrations in the first six months of 2016 stand at 101,335 which is up 23% on 2015

one that is now shrouded in Brexit uncertainty.”

The cost of motoring in general has decreased with the price of new cars down on average 3%, according to the report. Petrol prices have gone down by 8.4% and diesel prices also declined by 12.4%.

But as anyone whose had a renewal notice for their car insurance recently will know, the cost of motor insurance is

increasing at a significant pace having again increased by 38.6% in the first quarter of 2016.

SIMI has raised the issue of rising insurance costs, which are impacting most on younger drivers and those driving older c a r s . A l a n G re e n e , S I M I President, had this to say: “We believe it’s time for the Government to establish a strong review of the causes

of the current high cost of insurance, similar to the Motor Insurance Advisory board that successfully achieved significant insurance cost reductions during the late 1990s.

There is a real danger that without such action we will see an increase in the number of uninsured drivers as was the case previously when insurance costs were unacceptably high.” n

Ford: At the midpoint of the year, Ford has emerged as the leading automotive brand in Ireland with combined sales of over 15,000 cars and vans in the six months to June 30th.

Ciarán McMahon, Chairman and Managing Director of Ford Ireland, has been named Business Person of the Month by Newstalk’s Down to Business show. volKsWaGEn: Volkswagen commercial vehicles recorded a significant worldwide growth of 7% in the first six months of the year with deliveries of urban delivery vans, transporters and pick-ups totalling 238,800.

ExchEQuEr BEnEFits From motorinG: In the first half of 2016 the Exchequer collected €978.4 million in VRT and VAT receipts from new and used car sales which is 28.5% higher than the same period in 2015. n

Slaney Motoring

www.slaneynews.com

27

Simon Kavanagh Motors major new extension it’s always great to see, particularly in these uncertain economic times, that many local family businesses still have the confidence and entrepreneurial spirit to invest in the future of their businesses. one such example is E n n i s c o r t h y ’s s i m o n Kavanagh motors.

The origins of this motoring success story date back to 1989 when Simon Kavanagh rented the old Foley’s Garage premises at Springvalley, Enniscorthy, and established an Isuzu dealership there.

In 1998 the business moved to a greenfield site on the Old Dublin Road near the Scarawalsh roundabout and erected a purpose-built showroom and garage.

In 2008 Simon opened a second premises – this time in Waterford, operating from rented premises at Passage Cross under the management of Simon’s son, Paul. Two years ago the business invested in bigger and better premises on the Cork Road, Waterford.

In 2013 Simon Kavanagh Motors took on a Mitsubishi dealership and it has been a “marriage made in heaven”.

The success of that partnership

over the last three years has led to the recent extension of the Enniscorthy premises which was formally opened on 23rd July by Mr Gerard Rice, Managing Director of Mitsubishi Motors Ireland.

The enlarged showroom of around 3,000 sq. feet allows customers to view the full range of Mitsubishi vehicles in comfort and style. And with finance packages starting at 3.9% and an unbelievable 8 year warranty (unmatched by any other motor brand in Ireland) there’s never been a better time to own a Mitsubishi.

And don’t forget, Simon Kavanagh Motors also carries a large range of great secondhand cars, 4x4s and vans of all makes, at prices to suit all budgets and with finance available on all purchases. to learn more about what simon Kavanagh motors has to offer, call in any time to the newly extended premises on the old dublin road or ring s a l e s m a n a g e r, d a v i d Kavanagh, on 053-9235895, email: sales@simonkavanaghmotors.ie, and check out www.simonkavanaghmotors.ie n

Right: Paul Kavanagh, Gerard Rice (M.D. of Mitsubishi Motors Ireland), Simon Kavanagh, David Kavanagh, Jason Byrne (Sales Manager, Mitsubishi Motors Ireland).

Below: Gillian Kavanagh, David Kavanagh, Mary Kavanagh, Simon Kavanagh, Paul Kavanagh, Emma Kavanagh, Olive Byrne.

Simon Kavanagh motorS mitSuBiShi – homE of thE 8 yEar Warranty Year 2016 2016 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014

make Hyundai Mitsubishi Renault Ford Hyundai Hyundai Volkswagen Mitsubishi Renault Subaru Ford Ford Ford Hyundai Volkswagen Mitsubishi Volkswagen Toyota Mitsubishi Audi Mitsubishi Citroen Renault Nissan Nissan

model Ix35 Outlander Megane Focus I30 I40 Jetta Outlander Captur Forester Focus Focus Fiesta Ix35 Passat Asx Passat Auris Outlander A3 Lancer Ds4 Fluence Juke Juke

Variant 1.7 Crdi Executive phev Demo 2.0 1.5 Dci 95 Limited 1.6 Tdci Style 1.6 Crdi 1.7 Crdi 2.0 Tdi Comfortline 2.2 Did Intense Auto 1.5 dci life 2.0 Awd Diesel 1.6 Tdcl 1.6 Tdcl 1.4 Tdci Titanium 1.7 Celebration 1.6 Tdi 1.8 Did Intense 1.6 Tdi 1.4 D4d 2.2 Did 7 Seat 4 Wd 1.6 Tdi Se 1.8 Did Intense 1.6 E-Hdi 1.5 Dci Dynamique 1.5 Dci Sv 1.5 Dci Xe

Colour White Blue Grey Silver Silver White Silver Grey Grey Silver White Silver Purple Black Silver Grey Black Grey Copper Red Red White White Silver Grey

mileage 12500 Kms 4400 Kms 21296 Kms 59710 Kms 27568 Kms 21747 Miles 26910 Kms 29198 Kms 38492 kms 12304 Kms 32650 Kms 38639 Kms 16000 Kms 75293 Kms 54435 Kms 54352 Kms 47766 Miles 61396 Kms 67350 Kms 27546 Miles 33354 Kms 43210 Kms 51241 Kms 50772 Kms 33286 Kms

PriCe €25,888 / €108 p/w €36,950 €16,888 / €71 p/w €17,888 / €75 p/w €17,888 / €76 p/w €22,888 / €95 p/w €20,888 / €85 p/w €36,950 / €153 p/w €17,888 / €75 p/w €31,950 / €133 p/w €16,444 / €68 p/w €16,444 / €68 p/w €14,888 / €68 p/w €20,888 / €87 p/w €19,888 / €83 p/w €20,700 / €85 p/w €19,888 / €83 p/w €16,888 / €70 p/w €27,950 / €115 p/w €22,888 / €95 p/w €17,444 / €73 p/w €16,888 / €71 p/w €15,888 / €69 p/w €17,888 / €75 p/w €16,888 / €70 p/w

2013 2012 2012 2012 2012 2011 2011 2011 2011 2010 2007

Citroen Skoda Audi Jeep Volswagen Mitsubishi Ford Hyundai Honda Citroen Nissan

C5 Octavia A4 Compass Jetta Lancer Galaxy I30 Accord 2.2 C5 Tiida

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28

Slaney News

Diary Dates

Enniscorthy EyE a column by Joseph Doyle

rockin’ fooD fest

Congrats to Rebecca O’Connor, this year’s Strawberry Queen.

The 2016 Rockin’Food Fest was a great success and according to one of the event organisers it was a financial success too with over 80 foodstalls from near and far including stalls from local eateries such as The Holy Grail and Galo Chargrill. Treacy’s Hotel had their tent in the Market Square promoting the Wexford Gin Club and Niamh Treacy was on hand to tell the revellers about the gins on offer – one is a strawberry gin using Enniscorthy strawberries.

We’ll carry a full festival report in next month’s issue.

– Joseph Doyle

rEGular EvEnts: traditional irish music night every Friday at Stamps. treacys hotel – Live music every Fri, Sat and Sun nights in main bar. sunday night sessions at Benedicts, plus disco.

Benedicts disco – Friday, Saturday, Sunday. dBar – Saturday night DJ – 70s & 80s night. toss Kavanaghs: Live music every Friday and Saturday. the Bailey: Sunday Sessions from 5pm. alba restaurant: Background live music – “Alba Restaurant” on Facebook. the hill Bar: Music every weekend. Karaoke with Julie Friday nights. rock ‘n’ roll Jive classes every Weds at The Bailey. Beginners at 7.30pm, Advanced at 8.45pm. Freestyle after with DJ Lew Boogie from 10pm. €5.

Greyhound racing: Every Mon and Thurs. Enniscorthy Greyhound Track. yoga every Tuesday night IFA Centre with Anna Mae Mahon.

Enniscorthy historic & re-enactment society will be raising the Patriot’s Flag at 10am every Saturday for the summer and reading the Proclamation.

Some of the Rockin’Food Festival sights captured by Joseph Doyle. Pics: © Joseph Doyle.

charity soccer match On Sunday 7th August a charity soccer match will take place in the Ajax pitch, Daphne View, at 3pm in memory of the late Louise Shanahan. Two teams will be skippered by brother and sister Andrew O’Leary and Paula O’Leary. Andrew is hosting this match in mem-

ory of his late partner and mother to his son, Kyle. Kyle will hope to have a starting role in this match. The man in the middle will be Cllr John O’Rourke who will be the guest ref. All proceeds will go to Diabetes Ireland.

– Joseph Doyle

enactment Society who added greatly to the weekend.  Congrats to Wexford’s camogie team who snatched an injury-time victory to book a Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Senior Camogie semi-final against champions Cork.  Best wishes to Joe Bulmer, Ross Barbour and Greg Jacob on their appointment as senior squad coaches for Enniscorthy for the 2016/17 rugby season.  Delighted to learn that Morriscastle Beach has

voices from a Drawing room

Lanna Busker and Niamh Crowhurst – two of the star performers at the recent Voices from a Drawing Room concert in Enniscorthy Castle. Pics: © Joseph Doyle.

thE prEsEntation cEntrE: yoga with nicola Brady Monday at: 7:30- 9pm, Thursday at: 7:30-9pm, €10 per class. Contact Nicola on 087 2168819. urban Funk dance school Tuesday at: 7.30-8.30 - Adults.

8:30 - 9:30 - 13 years + Contact Ailish 089 2229661.

Kangoo Jumps classes with Tanya Kovalevska.

Wednesday from: 7.00- 8.00pm. Contact Tanya 087 6452836. slimming World Saturdays at: 9am, 11am & 1pm.

Contact Kieran 086 8496642.

Face to Face – the summer portrait Event – running until 12th August.

An Exhibition of portraits from Local & intentional artists. A must-see exhibition for any lover of creativity. Gallery opening hours vary (Monday Friday). For more information please phone 053 92 33000. luan parle & clive Barnes. The Presentation Centre. Aug 13th.

looKinG ahEad:

congratulations anD best wishes  Congratulations to Catriona Mahon who celebrated her 40th birthday in Bellefield recently and it was a double celebration as her son was christened the same day.  Happy Birthday to Audrey Rellis (30) and to Eddie Breslin (40) – both had birthdays recently. Also Donal Cullen on his 64th birthday.  Congrats to the organisers of the Rockin’Food Festival which was a great success.

And well done to the Enniscorthy Historic & Re-

3 August 2016

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received the International Blue Flag award for 2016 and now Wexford County Council has provided beach wheelchair access there too.  Best of luck to Joanne O’Brien and Susan Dempsey (the “Collins Sisters”) with their new hairsalon, Main St, Ferns.  Happy first birthday to Bruce Betting shop which celebrated one year in town last Saturday.  Congrats to newly weds Tara O’Connor and her husband and also to Martin Dunbar of Ferns and his wife who were

married in Clonegal recently.  Best wishes to Joe Davitt of Ferns with his new single in memory of his late father and mother.  Well done to Enniscorthy Historic & Re-enactment Society who continue to raise the tricolour and read the Proclamation each Saturday at 10am at The Patriot’s Flag until August 27th to honour the men and women who gave their lives for Irish freedom in 1916.

– Joseph Doyle

Panto for enniscorthy after nearly thirty years, Enniscorthy musical society will stage a panto in the athenaeum in december 2016.

The society has treated Enniscorthy audiences to hugely successful, and fan favourite shows Grease, The Wizard of Oz and Seussical in recent years.

This year will see local talent taking to the historic stage to tell the story of Peter Pan – with a Panto twist.

At the helm of the exciting new project will be Producer, Writer and Director, Gearóid McCauley. The Enniscorthy man, and Trinity College Drama graduate, told us, “I loved going with my family to see Panto in The Athenaeum as a child, and we look forward to bringing this fantastic Panto to a new generation of local families.”

Joining the production team, is recent AIMS Award Best Actress nominee, Yvette Walsh,

as Musical Director. Yvette, a great friend of the society since starring as Rizzo in Grease in 2013, has led shows across County Wexford to great acclaim since. Completing the team as Choreographer is Anne Marie C o o n e y, w h o h a s p u t Enniscorthy casts through their dance paces for over twelve years.

Society Chairperson, Anne Maguire, commented, “We are delighted to return to our traditional home, The Athenaeum, after its recent reopening. We have many happy memories performing for local audiences in that historic theatre.”

The society will hold panto auditions in the Autumn and also plans to stage The Little Shop of Horrors at Easter 2017.

Further information on both productions will be posted regularly to www.edms.ie and on Facebook.

the annual patron will take place on Sunday 14th of August at 3pm in St Mary’s Cemetery, Enniscorthy. pettitts Gala race night in Enniscorthy Dog Track on 18th August. a Whistle in the dark. Enniscorthy Drama Group. One performance at the National Opera House, Wexford, on Saturday 27th August with four nights at The Presentation Centre, Enniscorthy 1st/2nd/3rd/4th September and 9th Sept in Gorey Little Theatre.

Blackstairs Blues Festival. 9-11 September.

“Kathleen ní houlihan” by WB yeats with an original score by maura Flannery. In honour of the 1916 centenary, and the €1,000,000 refurbishment, Maura has composed a musical score in a reworking of the celebrated nationalist drama. The play was performed in the Athenaeum a number of times over the last one hundred years and was highly significant in the narrative of the 1916 Rising. Yeats himself lamented: “Did that play of mine send out certain men the English shot?” Enniscorthy Athenaeum, Castle Street, 21st & 22nd Oct 8pm, wine reception at 7pm. see full entertainment listing on page 13.

– Joseph Doyle

cystic FiBrosis irEland the cystic Fibrosis ireland Wexford Branch Fun table Quiz which took place in Joe Doyle’s pub on Friday 15th July raised €674.70 which is being donated to the Wexford CF Branch.

Slaney Sport

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Keeping up with the O’Regans! a lot has been said and written in recent months about Enniscorthy’s extraordinary couple – the o’regans.

Joe O’Regan is from a small place called Kinvarra in Co. Galway and Kay is a local woman originally from Adamstown, and they met while working in London and married in 1959, and they will celebrate their 57th Wedding Anniversary this year.

They have two children, Fintan and Sarah, and are grandparents to five grandchildren who live abroad.

They returned back to Enniscorthy in 1997 and joined the local running club, Slaney Olympic, as a way of making new friends and running partners.

Joe and Kay ran their first

marathon in London, where they lived at the time, to celebrate their 50th birthdays and finished the race hand-in-hand and vowed never to run another marathon again. That wasn’t to be the case!

To-date Kay has run 113 marathons and is the current Irish Women’s Marathon record holder in the 60, 65, 70 and 75 age categories. While Joe has completed 29 marathons, he much prefers the shorter halfmarathon distance. They have ran marathons in all the major European capital cities as well as marathons in Australia and America.

Joe turned 80 on the 24th February and Kay on 18th March. Last year Kay decided that to mark their new milestone they would complete a

marathon, just like their first one 30 years earlier, hand-inhand at the finish line.

They chose the Cork City Marathon as it is a marathon that is very close to them. Kay has run in all the races since it began ten years ago, while Joe helps out at the finish line each year.

Their training regime is not for the faint-hearted, they average 30–40 miles per week, year round and in all weathers. They eat very healthily, lots of fruit and vegetables, neither smokes or drinks except for an occasional glass of wine for Kay if “out in company”.

On the Cork race day, a large contingent of family and supporters travelled to Cork to wish them well. Seamus Jordan ran with them through-

On 18th July the Wexford Supporters Club launched its annual fundraising Greyhound Race Night which will take place in Enniscorthy Dog Track on Thursday 11th August, the proceeds of which will go towards the development and enhancement of all the county teams.

The remarkable O’Regans at the Cork City Marathon

out the race for the company and banter. They completed the race in a little over 5 hours 24 minutes and just like the first time, they were both holding hands

league oF ireland Wexford Youths recorded a great victory away to Finn Harps at the end of July to give themselves a huge boost and a fighting change of staying up in the Premier Division this season.

However on 1st August they faced St Patrick’s Athletic at home but went down 0-1 to keep themselves in the danger zone. The Youths need all the support they can get muster over the coming weeks to try and hang onto their Premier status.

––––––––––––––––––––––––– Congrats to Enniscorthy’s 17-year-old, aaron dobbs, who made his Premier Division debut with Dublin’s Shamrock Rovers a number of weeks ago.

and smiling.

A presentation to mark this great achievement was made to them both in June at Doyle's of The Still after the Summer

League race from their friends in Slaney Olympic.

As Joe says, “couples that run together, stay together!”

– ciara kearney n

Hanging in mid-air!

Top tennis at Enniscorthy’s Hillbrook the finals of the senior open championships of county Wexford were held at hillbrook lawn tennis club on saturday 16th of July. this prestigious tournament was supported by players from Wexford, new ross, Gorey, Waterford, carrickon-suir, Kilkenny, carlow as well as a fantastic turnout of local players and members.

T h e l a rg e c ro w d w h o attended the event throughout the week were treated to high quality tennis. The finals on Saturday did not disappoint with some notable local successes.

Tom McGrath retained his A Singles crown for the sixth year in a row with a close fought contest over Wexford's Bjorn Eric Jenkins (6-4, 7-5). Tom then along with club chairman, Noel Devereux, contested the A Doubles final but lost out to Bjorn and Shane Jenkins (6-4, 7-6). This was a very entertaining match with tennis of an exceptional quality and skill that entertained a large, appreciative crowd of supporters.

The A Ladies Singles title was won by Sheenagh Downey (Hillbrook) who overcame Katie Atkinson (Hillbrook) on a scoreline of 6-3, 6-2.

Other notable successes for Hillbrook were Jacinta Kinsella who was victorious over Sinead

Left: Club President, John Dempsey, with Dolores Dunbar and Sheenagh Downey (winner Ladies A Singles),

Doyle also Hillbrook in the Ladies B Singles (6-2, 6-3) and along with Katie Atkinson were defeated

by Mary Coman and Emer McCrea (Wexford) in the Ladies B doubles (6-1, 6-3). Sinead did however achieve success when she and her partner, Alan Doyle (Hillbrook), won the C Mixed Double. In the Men's B Doubles Hillbrook's Louie O'Neill and Willie Wallace were successful as were Alan Doyle and Ed Shallow in the Men’s C Doubles defeating Eddie Dempsey and Dessie Wallace (7-6, 6-4). Maria Brady overcame Ann Wall in an all-Hillbrook Ladies D Singles

(6-2, 6-1). John Allen and Marie Moore lost out to John McCarthy and Roisin Bridges (Kilkenny) in the D Mixed Doubles (6-4, 61). John along with Club President, John Dempsey, were also runners-up in the Mens D Doubles losing out to John Brennan and J.J. Hickey (Kilkenny).

Nicholas Rossiter (Wexford) defeated Ross McNevin (Gorey) in the Men's B Singles (6-1, 6-2).

Barry Deegan won the Mens C Singles when he defeated Sean Sexton (Glynn Barntown) 3-6, 75, 6-3. The Ladies C Singles was won by Mary O'Connor (Waterford) defeating Penny

Alvarez (Carrick-on-Suir). Mary teamed up with Hilary Prendergast (Waterford) to win the C/D Ladies Doubles defeating Penny Alvarez and Tina Hurley (Carrick-on-Suir) 6-3, 62. Finally in the Men's D Singles John Brennan (Kilkenny) got the better of James Redmond Enniscorthy (6-4, 6-3).

Hillbrook with its new facilities and welcoming atmosphere was highly praised by all.

A very big thanks to the tennis committee and especially tournament director, Alan McNally, who along with club chairman, Noel Devereux, and secretary, William Murphy, organised and scheduled all the matches.

Thanks also goes to John Dempsey who acted as competitions referee throughout the week and Pat Kelly, treasurer, who organised the prizes.

The highlight of the prizegiving was when Pat asked Dolores Dunbar to present the Ladies A cup to Sheenagh Downey. Dolores had previously won this title many times, her first was fifty years ago in 1966.

The aftermatch BBQ and salads were in great demand as always and a special thanks goes to Ann Wall and her team of helpers for making the catering such a wonderful success. n

Stunning photo by Miley Carroll of Enniscorthy man, Bertram Allen, in action at the recent Dublin Horseshow.

the shannon Chapel restoration Fund golf Classic the shannon Chapel restoration Fund golf Classic will take place in enniscorthy golf Club on 12th august 2016. this is the ninth golf Classic for this worthy cause and is a major fundraiser for the parish every year and through the generosity of the local community and many people further afield the parish debt has been reduced to just under €65,000. now celebrating 150 years, the parish is pushing hard to tackle the remaining debt so your support would be most welcome.

A team of 4 costs €160 (excluding dinner).

Supporters can also sponsor a tee box, green or prizes for €50/ €100. Bookings can be made through the Pro Shop 053-9237600 or 9233191, Eugene Doyle 053-9235287 or 087-9171657 or Online at www.enniscorthygc.ie username: ‘senans’, password ‘senans’.

FAI Summer Soccer Schools

Ajax Athletic AFC, Daphne View, Aug 8th-12th.

Bunclody AFC, Bunclody, Aug 8th-12th.

The camps cater for players of all abilities and participants are grouped according to ability and age. The camps run from 10.30am-3pm Mon to Fri.

hillbrook laWn tennis Club ennisCorthY tennis Camps 2016 Two remaining camps: Camp 3: 15-19 Aug Camp 4: 22-26 Aug Time: 9.30am to 12.30pm Ages: 7-11 and 12-16.

Members €50, Non-members €60.

Discount for families. tel: ashley Wynne 087-9730926 www.wynnetennis.com

30

Slaney Arts & Heritage

3 August 2016

Library at the Edge of the World Left: Felicity Hayes McCoy with Librarian Jarlath Glynn.

Right: Felicity with Nuala Murphy.

Pics: Maria Nolan

Felicity hayes mccoy was back last month at Enniscorthy library to read from her debut novel the library at the edge of the world.

No stranger to Enniscorthy, Felicity has been visiting family here since she came as a child to her grandmother’s house many moons ago, and in more recent times she has come to talk about her books House on an Irish Hillside at Enniscorthy Castle and the very popular A Woven Silence which explores her own life and centres on her family’s connections to Enniscorthy and the 1916 Rising through her great-aunt Marion Stokes, a member of Cumann na mBan and one of three women who raised the Tricolour over the Athenaeum during Easter week.

The Library at the Edge of the World is a new departure for Felicity being her first novel and has received a wonderful response from her publisher and her readers. Her heroine, Hanna Casey, is a middle-aged woman who has to turn her life around after finding

out that her barrister husband of many years has been having an affair for many years forcing her to abandon her sophisticated London lifestyle and return to the place of her birth to live in the back bedroom of her mother’s retirement bungalow in the small town she walked away from in her teens.

Felicity has created a fictional Irish county somewhere between Cork, Kerry and Clare called Finfarran on Ireland’s Atlantic seaboard and has had tremendous fun she says inventing and exploring the place and the people who live there.

Although a work of fiction, and Felicity was at great pains at Enniscorthy Library to stress that The Library at the Edge of the World is feel-good summer reading, it does examine and explore many of the issues affecting rural Ireland at the present time including unemployment, isolation, loss of amenities like post office, garda station and libraries. ‘It’s a book in which

books are an entry point for dreams and aspirations and a local library becomes a rallying point for a community that’s losing its sense of identity. I wanted to create a genuinely contemporary, shrewd, funny, feel-good story about rural Ireland,’ Felicity said.

This is a good summer read that will also give you an insight into what local communities are facing in today’s Ireland and also into what can be achieved collectively when people come together with a common objective.

Well done Felicity, the book is beautifully written, witty, humorous, creative, and wonderfully descriptive and is most certainly a feel-good summer read and I very much look forward to the sequel and who knows maybe even the television series!

Always lovely to have you here in Enniscorthy, Felicity, so do please keep coming back to this little town where your roots are deep and true.

– maria nolan

ARTS SNIPPETS… WexFord FestiVal oPera For more information or to download the Festival brochure and listen to samples of the repertoire, visit www.wexfordopera.com exhibition at WexFord arts Centre Beyond Violet, a new exhibition of installation and video work by Sibyl Montague, Emerging Visual Artist Award Winner 2012. In association with Wexford County Council and the Arts Council.

The exhibition will run from 27th June to 13th August at Wexford Arts Centre.

The Emerging Visual Artist Award is a joint initiative between the Arts Council, Wexford County Council and Wexford Arts Centre which acknowledges and supports the development of committed visual artists in Ireland, providing funding to produce and exhibit a body of work.

Beyond Violet refers to the light situated beyond the visible spectrum - violet being the colour of the highest frequency of visible light.

Beyond Violet will run in the upper and lower galleries of Wexford Arts Centre until Saturday 13th August 2016, and gallery hours are Monday to Saturday, from 10am-5pm. For further information please contact Catherine Bowe, Visual Arts Manager on (053) 9123764 or email catherine@wexfordartscentre.ie PoetrY at CaFe Fusion Poetry at Cafe Fusion moves to a new regular slot on the first Wednesday of the month from tonight, Wednesday 3rd August, at the very popular Fusion Cafe on Monck Street, Wexford.

Tonight the poetry evening will be a full open mic evening with writers and readers welcome to choose as they please from their own work or from the poems of their favourite poets.

For the more hardly regulars a challenge has been set – to mark the move to Wednesday nights – a poem about Wednesday! Maybe you have a poem with a strong Wednesday reference to share or maybe you can write one!

The format remains basically the same as before with people arriving from 7.30pm to mingle and get comfortable with good tea and coffee from ever genial host Gerrie North and readings starting very soon after the stroke of 8.00pm with Denis Collins as MC for the evening. To read all you have to do is put your name on the sign-in sheet and wait to be called.

Poetry at Cafe Fusion, Wednesday 3rd August at 7.30pm, admission is free and all are welcome. n

liBrary nEWs

www.wexford.ie/wex/ departments/library/Whatson/ for details of what’s on in your local library. you can also check your local library on facebook.

Supporting the ArtS Wexford Arts Centre: 053-9123764. the presentation Centre, enniscorthy: 053-9233000.

Face To Face Portrait Exhibition Face to Face is the presentation centre’s fifth exhibition in conjunction with the Wexford arts centre and boasts a wide selection of work from local artists including painting, colour pencil drawings, pen sketches and photography. the artists include andrew Kenny, dave duffy, marja van Kampen, lisa Byrne and patrick redmond.

The exhibition portrays the many different aspects to portraiture and vividly demonstrates how the portrayal of a person or an emotion is depicted in a variety of forms and mediums. As one of the artists, Marja van Kampen, put it, ‘Rather than painting a portrait I am trying to capture a sense of innocence and beauty. I simplify a portrait so

that it expresses this idea without being distracted by details.’

The exhibition, which was opened by Patrick Redmond, a portrait artist from Gorey, will run until the 12th August and a visit is highly recommended. So call in and spend time with these wonderful portraits and view them Face to Face. n

New Slaney Writing… New Slaney Writing… odE to a stop-cocK by liam ryan On way back from Nod in the morning A voice blows out over the air “Our new glazing system is 23% more efficient Than Treble Glazing”!!! has shaken me awake , A new system that’s 23% better than Treble Glazing With Treble Glazing 50% more practicable Than Double Glazing Double Glazing guaranteed to be 100% More efficacious than Single Glazing But since our windows still struggles To see through obscure Microsoft fogs How are we to guard and protect Priceless precious family heirlooms Or even our unique antique collection Of unused hand embroidered Snow Balls Carefully preserved through generations Maybe some more of the fresh air I’m needing

Leaving windows to cool my porridge Step out, to the gate, letterbox empty But on street outside a gang Gathered round rusty iron water stop cock lids A lorry and a digger both with drivers and a van Another, he could be referee Has arrows shaken from white spray painting can Proclaim they’ve not come from Irish Water Belong to County Council Water maintenance they say Irish Water’s, naught to do with them Don’t have a single water meter or a bill No reminder not even hoped for Government guaranteed cash refund But they’ll take scrap iron Stop Cock lids away for free Replaced by those trimmed neat in shiny plastic black Shifting goalposts in vogue are on the move again Perhaps I’d best return to porridge and to Nod My old brain on overload ‘s defaulted Can now no more of this be taking in n

Artists Andrew Kenny, Dave Duffy, Marja van Kampen, Lisa Byrne and Patrick Redmond. Pic: Maria Nolan.

alonE by martin Joseph byrne The Ukraine eastern NI I pick up my acoustic guitar After months of not playing I break into Masters of War ‘Come you masters of…

It objectifies life in a relative manner Crashed planes and bombed out cities Missile defences moved into Syria I fear for the world I pretend to be up to date Really I am still dealing with the war NI ‘Have you come to apologise?

‘No’ ‘Then I do not what to see you’ ‘Fine’ ‘Fine’ Morning & the girl in the white hat cries I know that it is my fault I know that in the end like a ship who’s SOS cannot be heard I will be alone. n

Slaney Wexford Scene

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Pics Around Wexford Town

by Patrick Hogan

Above: Enjoying the Stop Making Sense Party in Wexford Arts Centre, July 2016.

Pic: Patrick Hogan.

Below: Elizabeth Whyte, P.J. McGough, Steve Latchford, Oonagh Latchford and Una Rayel enjoying the Stop Making Sense Party in Wexford Arts Centre.

Pic: Patrick Hogan.

Top: Pat Murphy, Daniel Clarke, Rachel Clarke, Paul Phillips at the Cleaning-up in Redmond Park, Wexford, 25 July 2016.

Middle: Bishop Denis Brennan and guests at a recent coffee morning fundraiser in Bishop’s House, Wexford.

Right: Sarah Brady, Andrew Gavin, Eadaoin Copeland, performed at a recent concert in Wexford.

All Pics: Patrick Hogan

Literature, Launches and Lighthouses

Cat Hogan with her mam Mag and Wexford author Eoin Colfer.

Below: Cat (right) with authors Peter Murphy and Caroline Busher.

Pics: Maria Nolan.

cat hogan is a dainty, waiflike lady with a broad smile and sparkling eyes that twinkle in an elfin visage and the type of writer that you could see writing children’s fairytales full of wings, wands, witches, warlocks and wizards and all things magical but certainly not the type of author you would envisage writing a seething cauldron of jealousy, obsession, addiction, betrayal and murder. But that is exactly what she’s done, surprising even herself, although she does claim to have a dark side!

Her debut novel They All Fall Down has been described as ‘a cocktail of emotional rollercoaster and psychological thriller’ and if her Wexford Launch last month in The Sky and the Ground was anything to go by then it’s destined to be a Best Seller with all books selling out on the night and people looking for more.

And that seems to be the general consensus of people who have read Cat’s pacey thriller, they loved it and want more. What an endorsement of a new author. And Cat is not just another new author for Wexford, she is also another new author for Focal Wexford Literary Festival, being dis-

covered by American agent Tracy Brennan at our 2014 Festival. Since then Cat has come on board as a member of our Literary Committee and has recently taken on the role of Vice-Chair proving herself to be a most valuable asset to both the Committee and the Festival and might I take this opportunity on behalf of all our members to say a huge congratulations to her and wish her every success with her debut novel.

We at Focal are delighted that our Festival is doing exactly what it set out to do, promote and encourage existing poets, writers and playwrights and inspire and unearth new ones in the county and beyond and Cat, Carmel Harrington and Paul O’Reilly are proof of that.

We had just had a most successful run of Paul’s new play A Night on the Hill at Enniscorthy’s Athenaeum and Carmel Harrington’s fourth novel is due for release in September and yet another Committee member, Caroline Busher, has gotten a threebook deal and we hope to see her launching her debut novel in October. What a success story for Focal Wexford Literary Festival in only its third year

in existence.

They All Fall Down is set in a fictitious fishing village in County Wexford. Cat’s sense of place and love of her native heath and the sea is obvious and she was delighted that Poolbeg Press were the first publishing house interested in her book as her late father, Pat, was in the Merchant Navy and later became a Commissioner of Irish Lights.

The sea, the stars and lighthouses have always been part of Cat’s life and the Poolbeg logo is a lighthouse which appears on the cover of her book which she feels may have been her dad giving her the nod from ‘the big yonder’. A beautiful sentiment.

We l l k n o w n We x f o rd author, Eoin Colfer, introducing Cat, said that it is a wonderful literary time for Wexford with playwright Billy Roche launching his new play Of Mornington at the Opera House, Paul O’Brien’s film Staid winning an award at the Los Angeles Film Festival for Best Foreign Feature and now local lass Cat Hogan producing a novel that he has no doubt will be on the Irish Times Best Seller List next week or the week after.

Mr. Colfer eloquently and elaborately described They All Fall Down as dark, compelling, funny and even racy and called for a Yellowbelly round of applause for the author Cat Hogan.

Cat was brief, thanking everyone for attending and for joining her on what has been an amazing journey so far, saying that who knew where it might all end… maybe even Hollywood!

Now wouldn’t that be something and with the reception this book has received already from publishers, fellow writers and readers alike, that could be a very real possibility!

So watch that girl and watch this space!

– maria nolan

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Slaney News

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of Wexford

CLONARD RETAIL PARK, KILLEENS. Tel: 053-917 0500 www.joyces.ie

3 August 2016

@JoycesofWexford Joyces of Wexford