wexford
thechronicle
February 4, 2020 t: 0539102441, www.thechronicle.ie
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thechronicle February 4, 2020
wexford
thechronicle February 4, 2020 t: 0539102441, www.thechronicle.ie
FREE
20,000 copies
Get out and vote: It’s all to play for ON February 8, for the first time since independence, voters will go to the polls on a Saturday. Under other circumstances, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar could be confident of a return to power - the country’s economy is once again booming, there is full employment and there is also Mr Varadkar’s Brexit deal with Minister Boris Johnson. Opinion polls suggest the Taoiseach is trailing Micheál Martin’s Fianna Fáil party, with
which Fine Gael has been in a confidence-and-supply arrangement for the last few years. All agree the issues are housing, homelessness and health. But the last week has seen another issue unexpectedly, if only temporarily, take centre stage — pensions and extending the pension age from 66 towards 68. Since the economic crash, wages have increased, but rents and house prices have risen by a bigger margin.
Childcare is proving very expensive because of high insurance premiums for providers. Polls suggest that Sinn Féin, led by Mary Lou McDonald, is doing well. But history also suggests that polls over estimate how well the party will do because young, working class urban men, a demographic the party appeals to, often do not vote. In Wexford, the departure of Independent TD Mick Wallace
leaves the fifth seat open. Mr Wallace has endorsed GAA referee and soccer coach Seanie O’Shea who is running for Independents 4 Change. Verona Murphy, the president of the Road Haulage Association drew attention and criticism during the by-election when she ran for Fine Gael before the party dumped her over her remarks about migrants. Continued on next page
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Marie Noctor and Catherine DÀrcy at the Gorey Little Theatre Pamtonime Beauty and the Beast
04| news in brief One in four children ‘physically inept’ One in four Irish children cannot run properly, half cannot kick a ball properly, and fewer than one in five can throw a ball, according to an a new study. The research by Dublin City University (DCU) involved more than 2,000 youngsters aged five to 12 on the island of Ireland. Researchers found that a large proportion of the children had not mastered basic skills such as running, jumping, catching and kicking by the age of 10, at which point they made no further progress.
Businesses ‘need to be autism friendly’ The mother of three children with autism is calling on Wexford businesses to adopt social initiatives to make being out in public easier for people with hidden disabilities. Orla Simone Taylor and her partner Thomas of Kilrane are parents to Joshua (11), Anna (10) and Sarah (2), all of whom have been formally diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. “With their various, complex sensory processing issues, it can be very difficult to take them out and do everyday things that others may not understand,” said Orla, a daughter of the Wexford artist Jackie Edwards.
thechronicle February 4, 2020
Hannah Redmond at the Wexford Lions Club Annual Art Exhibation at Wexford Art Centre
Our Tommy (7) has his heart surgery at ninth time of trying HAVING had his surgery cancelled eight times since November, a seven-yearold boy from the Newtown Road has finally undergone heart surgery at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital in Crumlin. Tommy Kinsella’s family, parents Gary and Nóirín and sister Katelyn, had a tough Christmas during which the little boy was admitted to Wexford General Hospital on three occasions.
On the last occasion where the young boy’s surgery was cancelled, the family were devastated. This led to his mother Nóirín taking action and she penned an open letter to Minister for Health Simon Harris which was shared over 35,000 times on social media. Numerous TV appearances followed. Last week Tommy and his family arrived at Crumlin, hopeful that his mitral valve repair/replacement was
finally going ahead. Father Gary said: “Me, Tommy, Nóirín and Katelyn would like to thank each and every one of you that has supported us so much over the last week. It’s amazing what you all have done. We will be forever grateful to you all. “We are so happy to have our little boy finally on the mend. It will be a tough few days but he is so strong I know he will do it with a smile.”
It’s time to get out and vote
Continued from previous page running as an Now Independent, she received more than 9,000 first preference votes in November’s vote and sh e could be a threat to FG. FG would hope to have Michael D’Arcy and Paul Kehoe re-elected. Labour leader Brendan Howlin topped the poll in 2016 could again be first elected. Outgoing Fianna Fáil TD James Browne, has campaigned on local issues including smoky coal, which has severely impacted air quality in Enniscorthy. Wexford’s newest TD Malcolm Byrne will also hope to keep the by-election seat he won late last year. Some of the support gained in the by-election could be lost in the south of the county to fellow Fianna Fáil members Lisa McDonald and Michael Sheehan. Sinn Féin has put forward Enniscorthy-based Johnny Mythen, who narrowly lost out on a Dáil seat in 2016 while Independent candidate Cllr Ger Carthy is expected to poll strongly.
I didn’t mean for him to die, says stab victim wife “I didn’t mean for him to die.” Those are the words Sarah Doyle, the wife of Philip Doyle, said to Gardai after she was charged with the “production of an article capable of inflicting serious injury namely a chef’s knife.” Mrs Doyle was charged with an offence contrary to Section 11 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act, 1990, after her husband Philip died following a violent incident at a house in Ramsgate Village in Gorey at the weekend. The 31-year-old appeared before Gorey District Court with her family and her solicitor where she was granted bail. As part of her bail conditions, Judge Gerard Furlong agreed hat her passport would be surrendered within 24 hours, that she lodge €500 in cash and
agree to sign at Bray Garda Station between 9 am and 9 pm twice weekly. Mrs Doyle said she would adhere to a curfew from 11 pm to 8 am and she would remain at an address in Bray. The accused will appear again in court on April 15. Judge Furlong added that she was subject to good behaviour and that a Garda could call to the address at any time and that she would have to present herself. The father-of-three (33), who was originally from Bray, died after the incident at a house in the Ramsgate Village estate in Gorey early on the morning of Sunday, January 26. Anyone with information can contact Gorey Garda Station on 053-9430690 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.
Hunt on for two as shots fired at Gardai GARDAÍ in north Wexford are warning the public not to approach two males who are suspected to have been involved in an armed incident near Gorey. Shortly after 8.30am on Wednesday January 29, uniform gardaí in Gorey encountered a man who pointed a handgun in their direction and threatened them. The man then fled the scene in a blue BMW 318. The car failed to stop for gardaí on the Gorey to Carnew Road, R725, driving
erratically and dangerously. Gardaí said the driver of the car discharged two shots from a handgun at officers who were pursuing them. There are no reports of any injuries. This male is described as 6’ tall, of slim build, wearing a long black jacket, a scarf over his face and a hat. The blue BMW, with the registration 06W1012, was later found burned out in the townland of Banntown in Co Wexford.
thechronicle February 4, 2020
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06| news in brief High cost when a child is hosptalised’ Parents can spend more than €100 a day on non-medical costs associated with having a child in hospital, according to a new survey. Some parents have to spend as much as €150 a day. Children in Hospital Ireland found that 78% of the parents they surveyed had lost income, with an average loss of €605 a week. Parking charges were a major source of expense for families. Children in Hospital Ireland called on these charges to be scrapped.
12,000 new home loans cost €2.7bn
More than 12,000 new mortgages, valued at €2.7 billion, were drawn down by borrowers during the fourth quarter of 2019. Just over half of these (52%) related to first-time buyers, according to figures released by Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) .
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thechronicle February 4, 2020
New bypass will shorten road for 20,000 drivers UP to 20,000 vehicles a day will use the new N25 New Ross bypass, which is officially being opened on January 29. The road will allow motorists travelling between Waterford and Wexford to avoid New Ross, a familiar bottleneck over the years. The route is 15km in length and cost €230m to build. It includes Ireland’s longest bridge. The Taoiseach officially opened the project. Seán Dobbs from Wexford County Council says it will benefit the entire southeast region. “It will cater for traffic, up to 15,000-20,000 a day,” he said. “It’s going to take a significant amount of commuter traffic out of New Ross town itself and, very significantly, a huge amount of freight and heavy good traffic from the streets of New Ross.” An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was joined by Rose Katherine Kennedy Townsend to perform the official opening ceremony of the New Ross Bypass and the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy
Rose Katherine Kennedy Townsend with Donagh and Eanna Grennan whose grandmother Johanna Ryan welcomed John F Kennedy to The Kennedy Homestead, New Ross in 1963 at the opening of the Rose Kennedy Fitzgerald Bridge. Pic: Patrick Browne
John and Margret Mahon at the Oylegate area senior citizens party in the Community Centre
Streaming council ‘€90k cost a year’
PROPOSALS to live-stream council meetings online would cost, on a five-year contract, €90,000 a year, Director of Services Eddie Taaffe told Cllr Leonard Kelly. “There would also be a number of policies and procedures that would have to be put in place but, seeing as the funding is not currently available, it was agreed to defer until later in the year,” he said. Mr Taaffe said that all of
the members would have to be “agreeable in principle” to it and then it would have to get the funding. Cllr Anthony Donohoe said: “I don’t think I’m misquoting the director by saying that other councils that use a streaming service were researched and at any given time, council meetings were only watched by 10 to 12 people live. Do we want to spend €90,000 a year for that?”
Bridge. Rose Katherine Kennedy Townsend is the greatgrandchild of Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, Her mother, Kathleen, is the eldest of Rose F. Kennedy’s grandchildren. The new bridge 887-metre long structure named the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Bridge crosses the River Barrow between Wexford and Kilkenny and forms a major part of the upgrades to the €230 million N25 New Ross bypass. The new bridge is a stone’s throw from Dunganstown the ancestral homestead of President John F Kennedy and the eight other siblings of the famed Kennedy family with the bridge named after their mother Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy. Meanwhile, Wexford’s latest, much anticipated public amenity, the Min Ryan Park, is set to partially open to the public on April 11, which will coincide with the 43rd anniversary of Min Ryan’s death.” Min Ryan served in the GPO during the 1916 Rising.
Collapsed trial victim unlawfully killed, rules inquest AN inquest jury has ruled that the man at the centre of a controversial collapsed murder trial was unlawfully killed. Patrick Connors (37) died in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford in April 2011, but nobody was convicted in relation to his death. The trial of Michael Furlong for his murder collapsed dramatically in November 2013 when the State pathologist raised serious concerns over evidence given by the deputy State pathologist. A retrial was originally scheduled for January 2015, but Mr Furlong successfully obtained an order from the High Court restraining a retrial, which was upheld was by the Court of Appeal in 2016. An inquest in Gorey, Co Wexford has now ruled that Mr Connors was unlawfully killed. Mr Connors’ family is reportedly considering the possibility of a fresh legal challenge to the restraining of a retrial.
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thechronicle February 4, 2020
opinion&comment
Don’t bank on service with a smile Michael Wolsey
I
T is only a few years since Irish banks picked the pockets of every taxpayer for a bail-out to keep them in business. Now they don’t want our money. Well, not the cash anyway; the coins and paper notes.
Isabel Murphy, Edwina Broughan, Saidhbhe Sheil and Coaimhe Byrne at the Gorey Little Theatre Pamtonime Beauty and the Beast
All of the main banks now run some cash-free branches. They don’t take in money and if you want to withdraw it you have to
use an ATM. And now the banks have announced that they are selling off the ATMs. Bank of Ireland
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wants to sell about 700 of them and AIB is seeking bids for about half that number. In future, some of these ATMs may be run by a company that will charge for the service. Others may close altogether. There is something almost comical about a bank that won’t deal in money, like a pub that doesn’t sell beer or a restaurant that won’t serve food. What services do our banks intend to offer? Will any of them be what the ordinary punter calls banking; putting in your
cash and drawing it out when you need it, paying bills, getting a bit of helpful advice from the manager? The branch I bank with has a woman at a reception desk whose job, in theory, is to direct customers to an appropriate service. In practice, her role is to get you back on the street as quickly as possible. If I want to withdraw cash or lodge a cheque, she will point me to an ATM. If I want to transfer money she will suggest I go home and do it online. If I want to check my account she will explain that I can key in the request on my phone. There is, however, one sure way to get to talk to bank staff. I can show an interest in buying some of their ‘additional services’ - insurance, perhaps, or a mortgage. Then I will be ushered into a private room and given the kind of attention that used to be standard in all dealings with banks. Banks make a lot of their profits from these ‘additional services’ which is why they are no longer much interested in current accounts and are indifferent to the ordinary customers who hold them.
Banks say that only 13% of transactions take place inside a branch office and that only a small percentage of these involve cash. That is hardly surprising since they have made their branches so unwelcoming and the use of cash so difficult. People don’t queue at an ATM because they find it preferable to dealing with bank staff, they use the ATM because there are no bank staff to deal with. And banks haven’t ditched the staff because they think machines offer a better service; they have ditched them because machines are cheaper to run. And now they plan to ditch the machines. It is beside the point, but much of the comment on this ATM sell-off has suggested it will be particularly hard on older people. I understand the argument but I don’t think it is true. Older people are as capable of managing cashless transactions as anyone else. They object more loudly because they remember a time when service industries were expected to provide a service. Any bank that cares to try it, will attract a lot of custom. Mine included.
thechronicle February 4, 2020
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thechronicle February 4, 2020
WILDLIFE
ninenottomiss
Go wild in 2020 – Part 4
book of the week
with Justin Ivory
Welcome to part 4 and the final part of our Go Wild in 2020 series, as we continue our list of simple actions you can take to make your garden a wilder and more environmentally friendly place in 2020. 10. Planting for Pollinators Beautiful butterflies, buzzing bees and mysterious moths, along with other pollinators (such as hoverflies, flies, wasps etc.) need nectar rich flowers to feed on. Plant a wide range of species, so that there are flowers available every season of the year. As much as possible stick to native wildflowers. Make sure any plants and seeds you purchase are of native stock and harvested legally and sustainably.
tv show of the week
film of the week
HOROSCOPES
by Chris Hammer
scrublands
The Placebo Experiment Tuesday 4 February RTE Two 7pm
Little Women Released 23 January 2020
An isolated country town ravaged by drought, a charismatic young priest opens fire on his congregation, killing five men before being shot dead himself. A year later, journalist Martin Scarsden arrives in Riversend to write a feature on the anniversary of the tragedy. But the stories he hears from the locals don’t fit with the accepted version of events. Just as Martin believes he is making headway, a shocking discovery rocks the town. The bodies of two backpackers - missing since the time of the massacre - are found in the scrublands. The media descends on Riversend and Martin is the one in the spotlight.
Episode 8 Can My Brain Cure My Body? Could the power of fake pills be used to treat some of our most common medical complaints? To find out, Dr Michael Mosley embarks on Britain’s largest-ever trial to investigate the placebo effect. He heads to Blackpool to gather 117 people suffering from backache - one of the leading causes of chronic pain. The volunteers believe they taking part in a trial for a powerful new painkiller - but Michael is treating them with nothing but fake pills and the power of the mind. Catch up on player.
Writer-director Greta Gerwig (Lady Bird) has crafted a Little Women that draws on both the classic novel and the writings of Louisa May Alcott, and unfolds as the author’s alter ego, Jo March, reflects back and forth on her fictional life. In Gerwig’s take, the beloved story of the March sisters – four young women each determined to live life on her own terms -- is both timeless and timely. Portraying Jo, Meg, Amy, and Beth March, the film stars Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, with Timothée Chalamet as their neighbor Laurie, Laura Dern as Marmee, and Meryl Streep as Aunt March.
TaurusThe sky’s the limit. Explore, grow and reinforce longdistance connections. Expand your terrain in new directions.
play of the week
concert of the week
gig of the week
CancerLove inspires your collaboration. Confess dreams and crazy ideas. Align on the easiest option and run with it.
Plant flowers to attract pollinators like this beautiful Red Admiral butterfly (Photo Justin Ivory)
11. Don’t forget the caterpillars There is little point planting loads of flowers for adult butterflies and moths to feed on if there is no foodplants for their caterpillars. Each species lays their eggs on the plants that the newly hatched caterpillars will feed on. These food plants are quite specific from species to species. Nettles, ivy, holly and cuckoo-flower and are some of the best butterfly caterpillar foodplants.
GeminiProvide support and contribution to grow a collaborative venture. Invest for solid gain. A lucky break offers a dreamy financial opportunity. Show up.
LeoYou can generate any result you’re willing to work for, within physical limitations. Healthy routines pay longterm benefits.
take off your cornflakes 7th February Wexford Arts Centre wexfordartscentre.ticketsolve.com
Finbar Wright - Songs You Love 8 February @ The National Opera House, Tickets: €38/€35
Daoirí Farrell Saturday, February 29, 2020 at 8:30 PM – 10 PM Wexford Arts Centre The Cornmarket, Wexford.
Tom and Trish have just celebrated their silver wedding anniversary. But what happens when Tom wakes up with a strange woman beside him and she tells him she’s his wife? And what does Trish do when she realises the person she loves is losing his mind? Inspired by Rose’s Dad, Jack, who had Alzheimer’s but couldn’t remember he had cancer, Take Off Your Cornflakes is a tender, funny, heart-warming portrait of marriage with the best ‘Dad Jokes’ you’ve ever heard.
Finbar Wright, Ireland’s best-loved popular entertainer and award-winning recording artist, returns to the National Opera House on Saturday 8 February for a glorious concert packed with great humour and passionate music. Celebrating his greatest hits and all of your favourite music, Finbar will be joined by an impressive line-up of fine musicians in sparkling performances to delight all music lovers’.
Winner of two BBC Folk Awards 2017: Horizon Award for best newcomer and Best Traditional Track; RTÉ Folk Award 2019 Nominee in three categories. Daoirí Farrell is one of the headline acts at this year’s Wexford Trad & Folk Weekend. Organised by Craobh Loch Garman Comhaltas the festival brings together some of Ireland top traditional and folk musicians. The Dublin-born traditional singer and bouzouki player Daoirí (pronounced ‘Derry’) Farrell is being hailed as one of most important singers to come out of Ireland in recent years.
foodie of the week
show of the week
course of the week
VirgoGet inspired with a renovation. Home beautification projects flower. Realize an idea you’ve been dreaming about. Research options. LibraPut together a dreamy moment with someone you love. Deepen your relationship with an unforgettable shared experience. ScorpioArticulate your vision and inspire participation. Discuss the results you’d love to see realized. New opportunities arise. Sagittarius-
Cuckoo-flower – food plant of the Orange Tip caterpillar (Photo Justin Ivory)
12. Plant trees, shrubs and hedgerows If space allows plant a selection of native trees, shrubs and hedgerows. These will provide shelter and food for many animals. Pick a selection of species that provide a range of fruit, nuts and berries. Trees and shrubs also help to sequester carbon from the atmosphere. 13. Avoid peat-based products Peat extraction destroys important habitats so avoid using peat-based products in the garden and use other more sustainable and less damaging alternatives instead. 14. Start Composting Following on from the above why don’t you start making your own garden compost by creating a compost heap or using a dedicated composter.
AriesA professional dream opportunity beckons. Take new territory. Reinforce foundational structures and elaborate upon their framework.
Silver flows your way. Divert some into longerterm savings. Your past work reflects you well. Discuss dreams with family.
Valentines Supper Club Saturday, February 15, 7 PM – 12 AM Horetown House, Foulksmills, Wexford,
Johnny McEvoy Saturday, February 29, 2020 at 7 PM – 10 PM Riverbank House Hotel, Wexford.
Free CBT-Based Programme Wednesday, February 5, at 7:30 PM – 9 PM Clayton Whites Hotel, Wexford www.aware.ie
Fab night of delicious seasonal local produce prepared by our head chef Tim. Welcome cocktail, tasty canapes, grazing station and all that’s before your sit down main in our Garden Room. While this event is happening on the most romantic weekend of the year, we will be creating tables of 8 to 12 guests so if you are travelling as a couple, group or just BFFs who want to spoil each other, the atmosphere will be more food fest and fun than cheesey love in! Tickets · €69.83 - €340.67. www.eventbrite.ie
Johnny McEvoy has always been highly acclaimed for his excellent shows and his recent nationwide concert tour received a huge response from his legion of fans. This nostalgic evening of ‘Song and Story’ features many of Johnny’s Hit Songs, including Mursheen Durkin-Boston BurglarThose Brown Eyes. Tickets Available At: http://johnnymcevoy.com/tour/ https://www.ticketmaster.ie/johnnymcevoy-tickets/artist/945233
Register now for this free CBT-based programme at http://bit.ly/LifeSkillsGrp to learn practical tips to manage feelings of anxiety, stress or depression. Wednesday evenings: 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th Feb & 4th, 11th March. Based on the principles of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), the Life Skills Programmes are designed to help people learn more about how we think and how this can influence our actions in helpful or unhelpful ways.
CapricornTry a different power tactic or style. Make a personal change. A goal long-desired lies within sight. Show up and do your best. AquariusRestore your physical, mental and spiritual energy with natural beauty and peaceful productivity. Include soothing music. PiscesProvide leadership with a community project. Play a role in realizing a dream. Share and have fun without overindulging.
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