wexford
thechronicle November 11-24, 2019 t: 0539102441, www.thechronicle.ie
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thechronicle November 11-24, 2019
wexford
thechronicle November 11-24, 2019 t: 0539102441, www.thechronicle.ie
FREE
20,000 copies
FREE
Four towns pump Coast raw sewage into sea
Four Wexford towns and vilages - Kilmore Quay,. Arthurstown, Ballyhack and Duncannon - are pumping raw sewage in to the sea. The Environmental Protection Agency has described as unacceptable the levels of raw sewage being released into the environment on a daily basis — with Kilmore Quay one of the biggest culprits. Despite this, County Wexford has nine Blue Flag beaches including Kilmore Quay Marina as well as Ballinesker Beach, Carne, Courtown, Curracloe, Rosslare, Morriscastle, Ballymoney North Beach and New Ross Marina. A report from the EPA has found that untreated sewage from the equivalent of 77,000 people in 36 towns and villages is discharged every day. Waste water is one of the main threats to water quality and the EPA said repeated delays in eliminating raw sewage discharges pose a risk to the environment and to public health. According to the Urban Waste Water Treatment 2018 report,
Orla Homes pays a visit to Wells House & Gardens recently
36 towns and villages release untreated sewage every day into Ireland’s coastal waters and rivers. Half of it comes from just three areas — Arklow in Co Wicklow, Kilmore Quay, Co Wexford and Cobh, Co Cork. The agency said the underlying problem in many cases was a lack of adequate treatment infrastructure and said the pace at which Irish Water was fixing the problem was too slow. The report also found waste water treatment in 21 out of the 169 large town and cities did not meet national and EU standards last year. That was a slight improvement on 2017. The agency also said it was not acceptable that 13 towns and villages wwould still have no waste water treatment. EPA Office of Environmental Enforcement Programme Manager Andy Fanning said there had been some improvements, but having raw sewage discharging into rivers and seas was not acceptable.
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thechronicle November 11-24, 2019
news in brief Hurlers to promote us in NYC Super 11 Members of Wexford’s 2019 senior hurling team will once again represent their county when they line out in Citi Field Stadium, New York to participate in the Super 11s Hurling Classic this weekend. Not only will the Purple and Gold of Wexford proudly grace the well-known baseball park, but the Wexford jersey will be emblazoned on the back with the ‘Visit Wexford’ logo as the boys of Wexford do their part to promote the county
Wexford role in play off Broadway
The Irish Repertory Theatre (Charlotte Moore, Artistic Director and Ciarán O’Reilly, Producing Director), in association with the Wexford Arts Centre, will present the U.S. premiere of The Scourge, written & performed by Michelle Dooley Mahon (The Eff Word), and directed by Ben Barnes (Madama Butterfly). The Scourge begins performances in the W. Scott McLucas Studio Theatre (132 W 22nd Street, New York, NY 10011) on January 22nd, 2020, with opening night set for January 23rd, for a limited run through February 2nd, 2020. The Scourge is an official selection of the 2020 Origin 1st Irish Theatre Festival.
Kathy Farrell, Aileen Hanley and Grainne Moynihan at the AIB Women in Enterprise event in Newbay House
Opera Festival director David hangs up baton THe retiring artistic director of Wexford Festival Opera, David Agler took his final bow on stage in the National Opera House before being honoured by the Borough District Council at a civic reception in the Talbot Hotel. As the 68th festival came to close with a double bill performance of La Cucina and Adina, the audience joined
with the cast and company in singing Old Lang Syne and an emotional David Agler formally passed the baton to his succes sor and longstanding associate Rosetta Cucchi. Thanking the ‘volunteer core’ of the Festival for everything they do, Mr. Agler said: “Thank you for the friendship you have given me over these many years.”
No word on arson of mime star’s car
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Ms. Cucchi said she was “honoured to succeed David who has been a great mentor and a great friend”. She hoped she would be able to give to Wexford what Wexford had given her over the years, she said. Afterwards, hundreds of people attended the civic reception to celebrate the end of a successful 68th Festival. and honour the departing artistic director who spent 15 successful years at the helm.
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AN Italian mime artist, here for a part in Wexford Festival Opera, has returned home without his car which was burned out by vandals. Tomaso Santinon (37) who had a prominent non-singing role on stage in Adina which formed the Festival’s finale double bill, arrived in Wexford for rehearsals on September 26 and parked his Fiat Panda in the council car park at Ferrybank. He was on the quays at about 1 a.m. on Saturday, October 5, when he saw blue lights flashing across the bridge and his friends joked it might be his car. On the Monday, he walked over the bridge but couldn’t find the vehicle in the car park where he had left it. “I found a black shell on the ground where my car had been,” he said. After 20 days, he said he was told by Gardai that CCTV footage from Wexford Bridge that night showed two young males approaching Ferrybank around the time of the fire. The investigation continues.
‘There was aloud bang then plane broke up’ AN aircraft had emitted a loud noise, disintegrated in the air and began spiralling downwards, killing two men on board and completely destroyed the aircraft, witnesses to the fatal tragedy over Duncormick area on Sunday, October 6, reported to the Air Accident Investigation Unit. Peter Tawse (61), from Bushpark, Newbawn, Co. Wexford, and John Finnan, (56), from Naas, Co. Kildare, were both killed instantly when their Rollason Condor aircraft experienced catastrophic midflight complications during a flight that had taken off from Taghmon Airfield about 30 minutes earlier. Details of what occurred on the flight are contained in a preliminary report published last weekend by the Air Accident Investigation Unit. A more comprehensive and final report will be published when the investigation is fully concluded. The accident aircraft was operated on an earlier flight which involved the same instructor and a different pilot. The earlier flight departed Taghmon Airfield (EIIF) at approximately 15.00 hrs, and was the first of a number of flights the other pilot planned to take as preparations for a licence flight (skill) test. The (other) pi-
lot reported that his flight lasted approximately one hour and included “a few tight turns, a few stalls and then mostly circuits”. The aircraft handling and performance throughout this flight were reported to be normal and no anomalies were noticed. Following the flight, the aircraft returned to the airfield. After the aircraft returned from its earlier flight it was scheduled to do another flight – the accident flight. The aircraft taxied out to the northern end of the airfield and, at approximately 16.10 hrs, was observed to take off to the south, before turning to the southwest and circling back around, climbing all the time. The aircraft crossed to the north of the airfield and then turned south-west, continuing to climb and proceed in a southwesterly direction. T The aircraft was observed from the airfield until it went out of sight and it was described as a “complete normal take-off, a complete normal climb” to at least 3,000 ft. At approximately 16.40 hrs, witnesses reported that the aircraft had emitted a loud noise and disintegrated in the air. Locals and emergency services arrived quickly at the scene but both men had been fatally injured.
Insurance ‘hits firms futures’ A BY-ELECTION candidate has claimed that the “malpractice of dual pricing and loyalty penalties” of insurance companies is costing local consumers and businesses dearly – in some cases leading to employers shuttering their doors. Sinn Féin’s Dáil election candidate for Wexford, Johnny Mythen, said: “Yhe insurance industry tells us our premiums are going up because of the number and value of claims is rising. But their numbers don’t stack up. “Insurance companies repeatedly claim that 20% of all claims are fraudulent. But in July and October this year,
after questioning from Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty, it was revealed that as little as 0.1% and at most 4% of claims are reported by insurance companies to the Garda as fraudulent, not 20%. Mr Mythen said: “This malpractice is harming our local economy. Despite all the sound-bites, that facts are these: Co. Wexford has 2% above the National unemployment average; this is a County that depends on small-to-medium enterprises for the vast majority of employment; and these SMEs are under pressure from enormous, and demonstrablyunjustified insurance hikes.”
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thechronicle November 11-24, 2019
Call for probe into UHW patients sleeping on floor COUNCILLORS have passed a motion calling on the HSE to fully investigate overcrowding in the Psychiatric Unit in University Hospital Waterford (UHW) after images emerged of patients sleeping on the floor. The motion, which was unanimously passed by Wexford County Council, expressed “dismay” at the conditions, overcrowding and treatment of patients at the Psychiatric Unit of UHW and calls on the Minister for Health to apologise to the front-line staff, patients and their families for the conditions. The council has also demanded that the HSE conduct a full investigation and to make resources available in the region. Chair of Wexford County Council Michael Sheehan said the HSE must now allocate more funds and resources to South East region to ensure a similar situation does not happen again at UHW.
“Those pictures should be a once-off, if this situation persists at some point in the future there will be a fatality, this could spiral out of control. “Nobody can stand over the conditions,” he said, adding that many people could be treated in their own locality if more supports are directed into community facilities. Wexford County Council will now write to the HSE and Health Minister Simon Harris demanding action.
The Minister has to put his hand up and say sorry, the system has failed and we cannot continue to fail some of the most vulnerable in our society. The county council’s motion also demanded that “ageappropriate” accommodation and beds are provided to make sure minors are not admitted to adult psychiatric wards. After pictures were published in the Irish Examiner showing people lying on floors and across chairs in the unit earlier this month, chief officer with South East Community Healthcare Kate Killeen-White said she could not defend the situation in Waterford. Reacting to the images she said that “the reality is that demand often exceeds supply” for the services in the region and acknowledged the situation “is not ideal and is not acceptable”. The Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) said there were 54 patients in the 44-bed unit the time.
Santa and f riends at of Kilcannon Garden Centre
Five towns, villages benefit from funding of €691,205 FIVE Wexford towns and villages have been allocated €691,205 under the Government’s Town and Village Renewal Scheme. Having liaised with Minister for Rural and Community Development, Enniscorthy based Minister Paul Kehoe was delighted to reveal that projects in Ballindaggin, Bridgetown,
Kilmuckridge, Foulksmills and Rosslare Harbour/ Kilrane had all been successful with funding. Wexford performed reasonably well in terms of the amount of funding allocated, receiving more than neighbouring Wicklow (€250,173), Waterford (€500,000), Carlow (€399,691) and Kilkenny (€391,600). The largest sum of
€200,000 will be granted to Kilmuckridge and will be used in order to fund the Kilmuckridge/Morriscastle Walking Path and Heritage trail. This was followed by Rosslare/Kilrane which was allocated €195,385 to fund a public realm and economic master plan, a tourism feasibility study and a playground and outdoor equipment.
‘Pollution as bad as Delhi’
Ella Howlin at the Rathnure Craft Fair in Community Hall in aid of Diabetes Wexford Supporting Children with Diabetes
Bookie lays odds on poll runners
THE bookmaker, Richard Walsh, has released the prices on Wexford’s byelection which takes place on November 29th. Polling will take place between the hours of 7 am and 10 pm. After a good showing in the European elections Fianna Fail’s Malcolm Byrne heads the market. The odds suggest it’s a two-horse race, but no doubt,
these prices will change over the coming weeks, leading up to the 29th Latest betting on the runners: 4/6 Malcolm Byrne (FF) 7/4 Verona Murphy (FG) 6/1 George Lawlor (Lab) 16/1 Johnny Mythen (SF) 20/1 Jim Codd (Aontu) 66/1 Karin Dubsky (Green) 500/1 Melissa O’Neill (IRFree) 500/1 Cin Blackmore (PBF)
THE Government are failing to take heed of the numerous warnings from experts and scientists that air pollution in Enniscorthy is getting akin to that of New Delhi in India, Fianna Fáil TD for Wexford, James Browne, has said. Deputy Browne has renewed his call for a nationwide smoky coal ban following a leaked report of research carried out by the HSE and EPA which establishes a link between poor air quality and increasing hospital admissions for respiratory and cardiovascular illness. The authorities in New Delhi had declared a public health emergency, shutting down schools and many workplaces, as a result of their toxic air pollution, should serve as a wakeup call to the Government “Forr a number of years experts in Ireland have warned that air pollution in Enniscorthy, and indeed Gorey and New Ross is regularly exceeding the maximum acceptable levels of toxic air pollution.” In Enniscorthy alone, the Fianna Fail deputy claimed that air pollution levels in the town had been 10 times over the EU limit.
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Kids ‘lose out’ in insurance debacle THE Fianna Fáil Councillor and by election candidate for Wexford, Malcolm Byrne, has criticised the Government for their lack of action on tackling the rising costs of insurance. Councillor Byrne said that Fianna Fáil was the only party pushing the insurance reform agenda having brought forward the majority of motions and legislation relating to insurance in the Houses of the Oireachtas. He said: “At a council level I have brought forward motions calling on the Government to accelerate its insurance reform programme. It’s disheartening to see small businesses having to close their doors as a result of excessive insurance premiums and public liability costs. “Pubs, bars and restaurants across Wexford have all seen their insurance premiums rise by thousands over the past number of years. Some can’t get insurance cover while for others the future is uncertain.” He said without intervention there isn’t going to be a leisure centre left in the country where children could play.
thechronicle November 11-24, 2019
Local heart-felt work Wexford man short-listed for award loses home to Oz wild fires
THE Wexford Community Healthcare led “Wexford Gets Moving on COPD: A Collaboration with COPD Support Ireland, Sports Active Wexford, Fit Walk Ireland, Wexford General Hospital and Wexford COPD Peer Support Group. COPD, which stands for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, is a lung disease that makes it difficult to breathe.
COPD is not one single disease but an umbrella term used to describe chronic lung diseases which include Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema. The symptoms of COPD may include: breathlessness, constant cough, coughing up mucus, wheezing, chest tightness, fatigue and exacerbations (episodes where symptoms get worse). As part of a COPD peer
* Pictured above from left: Kate O’Connor; John Bruce, Elaine Bruce , Paul Reid, Sara Leacy, Olga Riley), Caitriona Renwick and Emer Sarsfied
A Wexford man and his family living in Australia have been left homeless after wildfires destroyed their house and farm. Kieran Walsh, originally from Waddingtown, Cleariestown, and his Australian wife Jennifer and their four children lost everything in a fire which gutted their home at Yarranbella Farm, near Macksville in New South Wales at the weekend. Mr Walsh and his daughter Johanna (18), who has just finished the Australian equivalent of the Leaving Cert, were at home last Friday when fire service personnel arrived and told them they had a few minutes to get out of the house. The family were aware there were bush fires in the area but did not think they were that close and believed firefighters would get the blaze under control before their property was reached. Jennifer, who is a teacher, and their three sons Oliver (16), Finnian (14) and Alfie (12) were in school at the time. Mr
Walsh and Johanna grabbed passports and legal documents before fleeing the house. The family bought the farm in 2013 and left Sydney with their family for a slower pace of life in Macksville where the boys are in high school. “The area is an hour from Coffs Harbour where Jennifer teaches and six hours from Sydney which is under a state of emergency due to ferocious wildfires. “The fire brigade came down the lane and said you have to leave, there is nothing we can do. “There were a lot of different fires that had joined up and there is a lot of woodland and trees in the area. There is a forest close by,” said Mr Walsh’s sister Finola. “They couldn’t control it because of where it was located. They just had to grab what they could and leave . . . a few minutes later, they couldn’t see their hands the smoke was so thick. There was smoke everywhere.”
TUSLA’S Education Support Service (TESS) is launching its first national, School Attendance Drive , entitled‘Every School Day Counts’, to promote regular school attendance. Each school day approximately 60,000 students miss school in Ireland. TESS is running an attendance drive throughout the month of November, when attendance traditionally dips, to encourage and promote the importance of regular school attendance with children, young people, parents and schools. Up to 24 schools are involved with 40 each in Waterford and Kilkenny and 66 schools in Wexford. TESS believes that attendance is everyone’s business and encourages the
wider community to come on board and endeavour to make ‘Every School Day Count’ this November and throughout the school year. More than 1,700 schools right across the country have already signed up to the drive and will be running attendance initiatives in their schools throughout the month. The service will also be unveiling its new name and logo as part of its brand refresh project, to highlight the integrated supports available through its three service strands – Educational Welfare Service; Home School Community Liaison Scheme; and School Completion Programme. The three services work with children, young people, parents, schools and community family
support services to improve attendance, participation and retention. Addressing over 350 attendees, including government representatives, education professionals, children and young people, Bernard Gloster, Chief Executive of Tusla said: “Research has shown again and again that regular school attendance is vital in helping children get the best possible start in life. It lays the foundation for developing good social skills, building relationships and achieving success later in life. Children who attend school regularly are more likely to achieve better educational outcomes.” More than150 children, young people, parents, and staff were engaged in the brand refresh
support and exercise group, Sports Active Wexford co-ordinate weekly exercise classes at the Clonard Community Centre every Friday at 2pm.
Plan to bring 60,000 pupils back to class
thechronicle November 11-24, 2019
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thechronicle November 11-24, 2019
opinion&comment
We’ll miss RTE when it’s gone
A
lot of important GAA club matches have been played in recent weeks - county and provincial finals for both hurling and football. RTE radio has covered them all and RTE television has shown extracts from many of them. RTE doesn’t get much thanks for this service and that, I suppose, is fair enough. It’s a national broadcaster doing its job. But have no doubt, if RTE doesn’t do this job, nobody else will. Nobody else would have covered the Irish women’s soccer team playing a home match against Ukraine and an away match against Greece. Nobody else would have covered the hockey team’s double-header with Canada. Somebody else would have covered Shane Lowry’s victory in the British Open but nobody else would have gone to Offaly to celebrate with Shane’s neighbours and meet his remarkable grandmother.
Michael Wolsey No other broadcaster would have been in Skibbereen to mark the achievements of the O’Donovan brothers or in Bray to rejoice with friends of Katie Taylor. It is not just in matters of sport that we expect RTE to be our eyes and ears. We want it in Brussels, because, if it wasn’t there, we would be getting our EU reports through the Brexit-obsessed filter of British broadcasting. We want it in Washington, because, while anyone could report facts from the US, we want someone who can sort the facts from the fiction and give them to us with an Irish
Kitty Mahon, Mazie Levingston and Betty Crimmins at the Ferns Parish Concert in Our Lady of Lourdes Church interpretation. At home, we expect RTE to give copious and balanced coverage to elections, budgets, referendums - events which absorb the nation’s interest. And we also expect it to cover matters in which there is not much interest at all, such as party conferences and presidential inaugurations. Even people who don’t watch these things expect them to be covered. We expect RTE to operate
regional studios, provide broadcasting in the Irish language and make some intelligent programmes for children. And oh, while you’re at it lads, we wouldn’t mind a bit of home-grown drama and a few decent Irish comedies. We expect these services from our national broadcaster. Nobody provides them for Northern Ireland, or Scotland, or Wales. Or, for that matter, the Avignon province of France or the Andalucia district of Spain.
These are all regions and are treated as such by their national broadcasters. Ireland is an independent nation and to make that status meaningful we need to preserve an independent broadcasting voice. And we need to pay for it. To live within its budget, RTE is having to cut back drastically. It has received very little sympathy from politicians, whose shortcomings are often exposed by the broadcaster.
And its plight has been met with a degree of schadenfreude by national newspapers who have tended to see Montrose as a cosseted and elitist outfit, a competitor with an the unfair advantages of government bailouts and a licence fee. There is some truth in that view but the injustice to newspapers will not be rectified by penalising RTE. In any case, I fear it is too late to save our national press. Newspapers once provided some of the services discussed here. They were also a forum for national debate but television and radio are now where our national debates are conducted - there, and on the unstructured platforms of social media. People have stopped reading national newspapers, partly because, at a time when the internet appears to provide all things free of charge, they are unwilling to pay for them. It’s use them or lose them - and soon we will have lost them. We’ll lose RTE, too , if we are not prepared to pay for it. It will be too late to mourn when it’s gone.
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thechronicle November 11-24, 2019
wexfordinpictures
Locals of the Mocking Monck who were winners in the Wexford Singing and Swinging Pubs Competition
Arthur Minion, Mayor George Lawlor and Bishop of Ferns Denis Brennan were among the celebrants at St Iberius Church for Remembrance Day
Hair&BeautyGuide
Tim Gaskin, India Kennedy and Tiarna Jones at the annual Cycle Against Suicide Orange Tie Ball in The Ashdown Park Hotel
Michael Sheehan, Owen Crosbie, CllsrJim Moore and Lisa McDonald, and Mayor of Wexford George Lawlor at the Wexford County Council Environment Awards 2019 in The Ferrycarraig Hotel
thechronicle November 11-24, 2019
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thechronicle November 11-24, 2019
‘tistheseason
Have an ‘au naturel’ Noël Determined to reduce your carbon footprint and still have a beautifully decorated home this Christmas? Harking back to a vintage traditional Christmas decorating theme and maybe even crafting a few home made centrepieces and gifts will have you feeling like a Christmas eco-elf and won’t break the bank. In the interest of reducing your plastic impact, why not take a less is more approach, and concentrate on re-using what you already have and then mixing in as many natural elements and materials as you can? Who doesn’t fondly remember holly and ivy strung around picture frames and mistletoe hung over doorways? Originally Christmas trees and yule logs were natural items brought in from outside to decorate homes. So consider yourself old school if you prefer the real thing.
A real Christmas tree is an obvious place to start. Think also of garlands of real live boughs, maybe there’s something from your garden, that with a bit of creativity and florist’s wire you can twist over mantels and banisters. Pine cones, twigs of eucalyptus, evergreen, spruce, and berries can be used to
“
Who doesn’t fondly remember holly and ivy strung around picture frames and mistletoe hung over doorways?
decorate your tree and garlands and also lend that deep lush and natural feel. The smell of pine, the delicate scent of cinnamon, the fresh hint of citrus and their respective color reflections in your trendy DIY Christmas decoration will add an amazing finishing touch. Orange pomanders (very old school! but so bright and fragrant), bows with dried apple slices, berries and cinnamon and clove work on both the senses of sight and smell. Some well placed poinsettia or holly berries, fresh if you have access, dried are better again, and if you have fake plastic ones from previous years, reusing and mixing in with your fresh foliage is perfectly fine. Likewise re-using items here and there to set off against your natural boughs will work well. Of course if you’re someone who starts decorating on November 1st, you may need to keep refreshing things!
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thechronicle November 11-24, 2019
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thechronicle November 11-24, 2019
wexfordcountycouncilround-up Town and village renewal programme Director of Services John Carley told the November meeting of Wexford County Council held in Council Headquarters at Carricklawn last Monday that five locations across Co. Wexford are set to benefit from €691,206 under the 2019 Town and Village Renewal Scheme, although the allocation is less than previous funding of €1.16m in 2017 and €1.33m in 2018. Projects approved are as follows; BALLINDAGGIN for Community Hall renovations, €100,000; BRIDGETOWN for a recreation park, MUGA pitch, agility equipment, walking path, heritage feature, planting, food bank and feasibility study, €99,820; FOULKSMILLS for the development of Foulksmills Park, website, playground, landscaping etc. €100,000; KILMUCKRIDGE for Kilmuckridge-Morriscastle Walking Path and a heritage trail, €200,000; ROSSLARE HARBOUR/ KILRANE VILLAGE for public realm plan, economic master plan, tourism feasibility study, playground and outdoor equipment, environment and heritage measures, €191,385.60 Crescent quay works nearing completion? Works on Wexford’s Crescent Quay which commenced last January are scheduled to be substantially completed before the end of this month. Works had ceased for the Opera Festival, but have progressed well, but delays associated with the relocation of underground services have necessitated an extension to the programme. The works on the ‘street side’ of the Crescent are substantially complete and this area is now available for pedestrian and business access. The waterfront area is also complete and open to the public. In the same area of Wexford town, essential repairs are required for the Ballast Office to prevent it from falling into disrepair. Works are expected to commence before the summer of 2020.
By Dan Walsh
‘Health minister should apologise’ Cathaoirleach Cllr Michael Sheehan was fully supported by members when he put forward a motion expressing dismay at the conditions, overcrowding and treatment of patients at the Psychiatric Unit of University Hospital Waterford (UHW) and supports Wexford County Council “to call on the Minister for Health to apologise to the frontline staff, patients and their families for the conditions.” Cllr Sheehan also called on the HSE to conduct a full investigation and to make resources available to ensure age appropriate accommodation and beds for patients in the area. Cllr Frank Staples bravely detailed some of his own family’s experiences at UHW supported the motion and felt it was “a place that you don’t want to go to” and described the situation as “disgraceful.” However, Cllr Staples did not want the message to go out
Launching the Visit Wexford trip to New York at Johnstown Castle were: (left to right); Michéal Martin, Billy Byrne, Damien Reck, Cllr Michael Sheehan, Tony Larkin, and John Carley
from the meeting and expressed concerns that people who need to go to UHW, should not be frightened into not going or getting stressed out. “If you need to go to UHW do not be put off, if you feel the need to be there, don’t be put off,” he strongly advised. Cllr Willie Kavanagh recalled a special health committee on the last council who did a good job and called for a 10/12 bed unit at Wexford General Hospital be pursued.
In a separate motion, Cllr Leonard Kelly said that early intervention is the key to addressing mental health issues and asked why are CAMHS (Children and Adolescent Health Mental Services) Wexford South still operating out of Slaney House, “a building that was deemed not fit for purpose in 2019?” Cllr Kelly called on the Minister for Health and the HSE to provide answers. “Why are there multiple vacancies
across the specialist staff required to provide the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services required by some of most vulnerable young people. And what is the plan with timelines to fill these vacancies?” The motion was carried by majority and there were further contributions on the matter from Cllrs Thomas Forde, Davy Hynes, Jackser Owens, Mary Farrell and Willie Kavanagh.
Members and supporters from the ‘Stop 5G Wexford’ group holding placards and signs warning of the dangers of the next wave of mobile network technology gathered on the ground floor of the council buildings at Carricklawn as members and officials arrived for the monthly meeting of Wexford County Council last Monday. During the meeting Cllr Fionntán Ó Suilleabháin presented a motion
supported by Cllrs Davy Hynes and Mary Farrell. Cllr Ó Suilleabháin suggested Wexford County Council exercise its duty of responsibility to act in the best interest of the health and safety of the people and the environment of Co. Wexford in relation to 5G technology and that the Council call on ComReg to stop the licensing of this roll out with immediate effect. Cllr Hynes felt they should
follow the road of other councils and err on the side of caution and Cllr Farrell stated that “we need to exercise our social responsibilities until we get more scientific evidence. There is not enough evidence yet.” Cllr Diarmuid Devereux reminded the attendance that they represented thousands of rural constituents, many would be reliant on technology for business.
Protest against 5G
Council to buy Dun Mhuire The parish committee at Dun Mhuire Theatre have agreed sale of the parish hall to Wexford County Council, who in turn has plans to demolish the building and amalgamate the site into the urban regeneration in the Trinity Warf development project. At the monthly meeting of Wexford County Council
Director of Services Tony Larkin addressed queries from the members. “An agreement has been reached to buy the building, we intend to acquire it and close it for urban regeneration. The intention is to reinvigorate the area. It had been the plan that it would close, but we have been meeting with some of
the groups and, if feasible, we would allow the building to be used during this time.” Mr Larkin stated that the entire process, from acquiring the building to being granted planning permission, could take as long as a year and in the interim the council were open to local drama groups continuing to use the premises.
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thechronicle November 11-24, 2019
BE WINTER READY
DOG LICENCE
ELECTIONS VALUE YOUR VOTE! REGISTER BY
25TH NOVEMBER 2019
COURSES SAFEGUARDING COURSES 2019
Check the Draft Register of Electors (pink copy) by 25th November 2019. The Draft Register of Electors is now on display at your local Post Office, Library, Garda Station, Citizens Information Centre or Local Authority Office and online at www.checktheregister.ie until 25th November 2019. If you are aged 18 or over on or before 15th February 2020 you should check that your name, address and other details are present and correct on the Draft Register, also if you have recently become an Irish Citizen please contact this office in order that your details can be updated. If you have any queries please contact: The Franchise Section, Wexford County Council, Carricklawn, Wexford @ the following Email address: franchise@wexfordcoco.ie
Pre- payment is essential for courses to proceed Contact office on 053 919 6557or e-mail sports.active@wexfordcoco.ie Note: - Bookings can be made online – https://pay.easypaymentsplus.com/feepay1.aspx?id=179
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services
thechronicle November 11-24, 2019
thechronicle November 11-24, 2019
services
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22 | WILDLIFE
with Justin Ivory
Feed the Birds
thechronicle November 11-24, 2019
ninenottomiss book of the week
tv show of the week
film of the week
HOROSCOPES
Blue Tit on a peanut feeder (Photo Justin Ivory) With autumn rapidly drawing to a close, and the colder, shorter days of winter looming ever nearer, now is a good time to start feeding birds in your garden if you have not already being doing so. Although the weather has been unseasonably mild and warm to date, and there are still quite a few insects on the wing and wild fruits, nuts and berries to be found, these food sources will soon be running out. Also, the shorter days give less daylight hours for birds to look for food and in lower temperatures it takes more energy to search and find less readily available food sources. In wintertime every little bit of extra energy expenditure can ultimately spell doom for an individual bird. So that’s where we come in. Putting out food for birds gives them an easy and reliable source of food. It can literally mean the difference between life and death for them. While birds obviously benefit from supplementary feeding in winter, food shortages can occur at any time of year. Feeding all year round gives birds a better chance of surviving food shortages whenever they may occur. So, what foods should you feed birds? Below is a list of the best options: Nyjer Seed – tiny black seeds which need a special feeder, they have a high oil content and are rich in fat. Sunflower Hearts – the most popular food in my garden, I literally can’t keep the feeders topped up with the stuff. Peanuts – the traditional favourite but make sure to get from a reliable source as they can contain a natural toxin, aflatoxin, which can kill birds. As well as they above, seed mixes, fatballs, mealworms and specialist mixes for Robins are all great choices. Remember to clean your feeders about every 2 weeks with warm soapy water to avoid the spread of disease.
by Blindboy Boatclub
BOULEVARD WREN AND OTHER STORIES
what planet are you on? Thursdays 10pm, RTE 1
doctor sleep Released 7 November 2019
Boulevard Wren and Other Stories is the stunning follow-up to the bestselling Gospel According to Blindboy, and a warped mirror held up to the Irish psyche. Provocative and unsettling, the stories rove through the centuries, from the barren fields of Faminestruck Meath to the chaotic landscape of the near future, where social media has colonised the deepest recesses of the human subconscious. This is a world populated by characters lost and at odds with the demands of contemporary life, for whom the line separating redemption and madness has grown impossibly fine.
Factual reality series that shows people tackling the biggest issue of our time in their own homes. It’s a real challenge, with choices at every turn, science provides the facts, what the participants do with that knowledge will determine their success or failure in hitting their target. Maia Dunphy presents the results to find out if the households have improved in their consumption of water, energy and food and the way they deal with waste. And more importantly, will they be able to carry forward what they have learned once the cameras leave? Last in the series.
Supernatural thriller follow on from The Shining, based upon the novel by Stephen King. 40 years after his terrifying stay at the Overlook Hotel Dan Torence (Ewan McGregor), is till scarred by the trauma he endured as a child, Torrance has fought to find some semblance of peace but that’s shattered when he encounters a courageous teenager, Abra with her own powerful extrasensory gift, known as the “shine.” Abra has sought him out, desperate for his help against the Rose the Hat and her followers, The True Knot, who feed off the shine of innocents in their quest for immortality.
event of the week
concert of the week
gig of the week
AriesTalk about an educational adventure that you’re planning. Consider your budget and plan carefully for the best experience.. TaurusMiscommunications between partners with Mercury retrograde can interrupt and frustrate. Connect with humor. GeminiKeep equipment in working order. Delays, misunderstandings or mistakes could frustrate your work and health. CancerKeep practicing your physical routines. Romantic overtures could backfire. Clarify misunderstandings immediately. LeoClean, sort and organize at home. Review old papers, photos and possessions. Make repairs before things break.
. The Remedy Club November 22nd, Doors: 08:30 pm Wexford Arts Centre, Wexford
Kerouac - A Wexford Tribute Friday, December 6, 2019 at 8 PM – 10:30 PM Red Books, St Peter’s Square, Wexford.
Christmas Duets Sunday, December 1, 2019 at 1 PM – 2 PM Green Acres Wexford, Selskar, Wexford.
Following the success of our Bukowski tribute, the Batenik community returns to Red Books on the 6th of December for a Wexford tribute to Jack Kerouac, American novelist and poet of French-Canadian ancestry, considered a literary iconoclast and, alongside William S. Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg. Kerouac is recognized for his method of spontaneous prose The Beat legend and author of the seminal “On the road” will be honoured in a night of poetry, song and drama presided over by the Beatmaster Zeff Ryder.
Kick start the Christmas festivities by joining sopranos Ruth Gallagher and Patricia Goggins, along with pianist Yvonne Collier, on Sunday 1st December, 1pm, in the Gallery, Green Acres, Wexford, for a lunch-time concert of Christmas Duets! With a mixture of popular and traditional Christmas favourites and a special guest appearance from STAGEFRIGHT, this will be a fun family event you won’t want to miss! Tickets €10.85 - available on eventbrite.com
Husband and wife Americana/Roots duo The Remedy Club are Kj McEvoy & Aileen Mythen. The Remedy Club have been described as ‘’a classic, rich and wholly authentic countryroots sound with vocals to die for’’ (FATEA MAGAZINE, UK). McEvoy has been singled out for praise as a guitar player of great expressiveness and technical aplomb and Mythen for her stunning vocal performances. The Remedy Club recently released their new album ‘Lovers, Legends & Lost Causes’, which has been receiving rave reviews in Ireland, the UK and further afield.
album of the week
festival of the week
workshop of the week
VirgoTake extra care with communications with Mercury retrograde. Clear up misunderstandings as soon as possible. LibraMonitor cash flow closely. Allow extra time for travel, invoices and collections. Double-check numbers. Review financial records. ScorpioConsider consequences before speaking. Figure out what works and what doesn’t. Reaffirm commitments. Edit communications closely. Sagittarius-
Delays or breakdowns could affect mechanical equipment. Make repairs immediately. Re-establish old bonds. CapricornConsider transitions, past and future. Nurture old friends and connections. Have patience and humor with communication snafus.
Christmas Wreaths with Irene Kelly Sunday, December 8, 10 AM – 1:30 PM The Irish National Heritage Park, Ferrycarrig, Wexford.
vinegar hill - pierce turner Saturday 23rd November @ The Sailing Cot 182 The Faythe, Wexford, Ireland
WexSci 10th-24th of November, various locations. 053 9196561 | libraryhq@wexfordcoco.ie
Come and spend a relaxing morning making your own Christmas wreath. You will get the opportunity to work with easily sourced materials including willow, old man’s beard, larch and ivy. You will be shown how to harvest and prepare the materials and also to decorate your wreath when complete. The wreaths make wonderful bespoke decorations as well as personalised gifts. €45 per participant. Pre-booking essential. This course will be running from 10am to 1.30pm.
Winning Wexford Artist Pierce Turner will perform his new album Vinegar Hill with songs such as Parting Glass, Gypsy Rover and The Rising of the Moon, this promises to be a fantastic chance to catch World renowned singer Pierce in action after his sell out show in the Speigaltent. And to top it all off there is NO admission charge!! Get here early for your chance to catch this fantastic Wexford man perform in his local town. A wonderful night of music.
WexSci, Wexford Science Festival promotes science, technology, engineering, arts and maths (STEAM) in Co. Wexford. This year to celebrate science week it invites people from across County Wexford to take part in the over 100 free science events from the 10th-24th of November. The Festival is led by Wexford County Council in partnership with I.T Carlow, WIT, Waterford Wexford ETB, EPA, BIM and funded by SFI. A two-week festival is planned, with events in libraries, community and family resource centres, in schools and colleges.
AquariusTeam misunderstandings could cause delays. Review professional data closely. Guard against communication breakdowns. PiscesMake educational plans and itineraries for later exploration. Reduce travel and shipping over three weeks. Communicate thoughtfully. Keep confidences.
thechronicle November 11-24, 2019
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thechronicle November 11-24, 2019