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Householders in Wexford will almost certainly not enjoy any cut in Property Tax next year following news that the local authority had to get a €1.8m. top up from the government’s equalisation fund to bring income from the Property Tax to the same level as the old funding method provided by central government. Sinn Fein has been pushing for a 15% cut in the Property Tax, but it was revealed this week that such a cut, which is the maximum, allowed under the legislation, would only save the average householder 70c per week, but would have devastating effects on Council services. Discussions on the Council’s budget have been going on for some time but details will not emerge in public until next week’s full Co. Council meeting. However, it now seems unlikely that a Property Tax reduction will be implemented. The cut which would deliver a 70c per week saving to the average household would actually cost the Co.
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Council’s €1.8m bill for 70 cent property tax cut Council €1.8m in lost revenue. This week the Mayor of the Wexford Borough
District, Labour’s George Lawlor described the Sinn Fein position on the property tax as
Charity Jigs and Reels came to Enniscorthy at the weekend when a dozen couples teamed up to take part in the event in aid of the Wexford Branch of Cystic Fibrosis. The dance off, which was hosted by Scoil Rince Aishling was an outstanding success with a total of €32,000 being raised for the charity. The winning couple were Leanne Hore and Ted O’Brien (pictured) but given the success of the event in raising funds everyone who took part was really a winner.
populist nonsense. He said the reduction proposed by the party would devastate Council services but with an average saving of just 70c a week would be of little real benefit to householders. Cllr. Lawlor said the loss of revenue to the Council would result in cuts to hundreds of grants to various organisations and a reduction in other services. Prior to the local elections several candidates who were subsequently elected to the Council promised to reduce the Property Tax. In fact a majority of those who were successful gave some indication before the election that they supported at cut. However, when faced with the stark reality of having to cut grants and services to pay for a reduction which would be barely noticed by the average house holder they may opt to keep the charge at its current level. Some members are said to actually favour a small increase in the tax to pay for specific council initiatives.
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Out and About this Summer!
Luke’s Lines Luke Kennedy
What makes a Terrorist? With the recent video of people to ISIS or other James Foley’s beheading and Islamic terrorist groups. with a second victim First of all, before I make confirmed as Steven Sotloff, this next point, I want to it makes one wonder: What make it clear that obviously makes a terrorist? The British I’m against Islamic terrorists, accent of the executioner in and I am not taking their side. the video indicates that he is a But, could it be that The convert, who has “found West’s actions are accidently himself” through Islam. What encouraging and indeed, would make someone take helping increase the ranks of that step to religious terrorism, though? I believe that these converts are people alienated from their host society, both spiritually and socially. They feel ostracized and lost, and they’re looking for someone to follow. Just as cults often prey on people looking for answers in their lives, terrorist organisations find their recruits from abroad in some of western society’s misfits. It’s a classic example of how the West often helps create its own enemies. James Foley, next to captor in I feel like one of the beheading video closest organisations we have in the western world to ISIS, is ironically, these organisations? Every the “white power” movement. time Middle Eastern civilians These Neo Nazi organisations are accidently killed in depend on people being angry bombing raids, and every and vulnerable, which is why time American or foreign many whites first join such soldiers commit an atrocity movements in prison, where on innocent people there, you all races self-segregate, for end up giving credibility to the most part. Since the ISIS and such, and you help default state of many white fuel their fire. Again, it comes kids is a lack of education back to the case of making about race and a sense of our own enemies. entitlement, it doesn’t take Another factor that is much from there to convince overlooked is that it is not so them that minorities are to much “Islam” as a whole that blame for their problems. is popular among Islamic Replace “minorities” with extremists, but a particular “non-muslims/the west” and strain of Islam. A combine them with the same disproportionate amount of need to belong and same Islamic terrorists follow need to direct anger, and you Wahabism, which is a more have what’s needed to recruit conservative “back to basics”
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strand of Islam, similar to the puritan movement in intent. Wahabism is not inherently terrorist or anything of that sort, but its extreme nature means that it’s popular among these terrorist movements. Wahabism is relatively recent, religion-wise, as it was created in the 18th century in Saudi Arabia by a man named Muhammad ibn Abd alWahhab. It has been on the rise in the past 60 years. It is the religion of choice among Saudi Arabia’s Elite, and they spend billions on promoting their religion throughout the Middle East, in a similar fashion to Christian lobby groups in the US. Many Muslims who follow different strands of the Muslim religion strongly disagree with Wahabist Teachings. These may come as a surprise to Irish people, who seem to view Muslims as an interchangeable mass of brown people, but the differences between different sects of Islam are as significant as the difference between Catholic and Protestant. It can be seen then, that the factors that make up a terrorist convert are every bit as much of a mess as the video in question. With the bizarre choice to fade out to black, before showing the decapitated head of James Foley, one gets the impression that whoever edited the video has convinced himself that he is some sort of budding Steven Spielberg. It is these strange choices that have convinced some people out there that the video is fake. I don’t believe that, I think it’s real, but it just proves how strange reality can be.
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So, that’s another week done and dusted! I’m still waiting for results of my exams over the next week so I took it fairly handy over the last few days #SensibleAdam. The first weekend of September didn’t disappoint! I didn’t get up to much, just a few sociables and then onto the town for the night. It’s great to see the town so busy even though summer has been and gone. Hopefully things will stay that way for the next few months too!
Moving on to some upcoming goings on… On the 10th of September I’ll be playing alongside the two main men, Cullie and Eoin for one of Ireland’s biggest Junior Cert results parties in Metropolis Wexford. Last year, we were lucky enough to be given the responsibility of organising the event, which sold out 10 minutes after the doors were opened. This year, we’re opening more rooms and upping our capacity to squeeze everyone in. Buses are
already in place from Carlow, Kilkenny, Gorey, Arklow and the rest, so it promises to be a busy one. We recommend to get down early on the night to avoid disappointment. After the big night, I’ll be playing at a few parties over the next week, and then it’s back up to Dubland. Luckily, there’s loads happening over the next 2 weeks in town and a bit further out, so I’ll have more details of all that this time next week!
NWSPCA Report
Highest number of rehomings in August ever! very special home. She This week we said would love a family goodbye to dogs Benson, Polo, Apple and Missy who went to their new owners. Also dogs Harvey and Pippa headed off to our colleagues at the DSPCA. Cats Hector, Harley, Hilda, Dan and Ava (among others) got adopted by their new families too. August proved to be the best month ever in our rehoming history! A proud total of 37 dogs, 31 kittens and 7 cats found new homes with help of the North Wexford SPCA. Well done to all our volunteers Charlotte and foster families! where there are no Charlotte is a beautiyoung children and no ful Pyrenean Mountain small dogs. Charlotte dog who is looking for a will also need a very
safe and secure outdoor area as she is an incredibly strong dog and a bit of an escape artist. This big lady has been attending doggy day care with Muckyhound and was a real stunner at last year’s Pyrenean Mountain dog show. The society would love to find Charlotte a home that is just as special as she is. The North Wexford SPCA is always on the lookout for new volunteers. We especially need walkers to join our kennel crew and help us walk the dogs in our care. If you can spare a few hours per week, please make contact with us on 0876392531, send an email to nwspca@hotmail.com or join our Facebook page.
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Fears that St. Senan’s hospital could become derelict There is growing concern that the old St. Senan’s hospital in Enniscorthy could be left by the HSE to become an eyesore in the same way as the old Wexford General Hospital has been allowed become a blot on the landscape. The HSE is now paying tens of thousands of euro each year to keep the old Wexford Hospital safe, more than two decades after it was closed down and there are fears that the same could happen to St. Senan’s unless a positive
plan for the building and its ground are adopted by the HSE. Cllr. James Browne, a member of the Health Forum South has warned that both Wexford General and the old St. John’s Hospital have been allowed to become derelict and there is deep concern among the local community that St. Senan’s will be allowed to fall into the same state. Now Cllr. Browne is seeking the proposals the HSE have for the future of the building and the one
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hundred acres of land that surround it. The Enniscorthy councillor wants the HSE to spell out exactly what plans they have for the hospital and if they have no proposals he says they should facilitate and support community based stakeholders to redevelop the building for community use such as an enterprise centre, artists centre or for the provision of third level facilities including PLC courses.
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One a year people come together at St. John’s Hospital in Enniscorthy to remember those who have passed away while patients in the hospital during the previous twelve months. It is a dignified occasion when relatives can both remember loved ones who have passed away and also give thanks for the care which they received in the hospital. This year’s ceremony to remember patients who died in the Elm and Oak wards at the hospital took place recently. Pictured (from left) John Byrne, Lillian McKenna, Martin Kirwan, Archdeacon Chris Long, Fr. John Sinnott, Michalle Quigley, Mary Ellen Doyle and Richard Healy. Pic Liz Wildes
People’s Park cash safe Part of the long awaited People’s Park at Carcur on the outskirts of Wexford town may be brought on stream within the next twelve months. That was the good news from the Wexford Director of Services Tony Larkin at a meeting of the Wexford Council. The project, which had ambitious plans for a range of facilities has been in the planning process for years and there
were fears that with the abolition of the old Borough Council the money could disappear into other projects. However, Mr Larkin told Cllr. Davy Hynes that the cash was ring fenced for the People’s Park and he added that he was anxious to get part of the project operational as soon as possible. Some of the development is due to take
place on the site of the old Wexford dump and obtaining clearance from the EPA for this part of the development has proven time consuming but Mr Larkin said he now hoped to get the development underway by concentrating work on the parts of the site that were not previously occupied by the old dump.
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Chronicle September 10, 2014
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An Eye On Gorey by Gavin MacDermott
Rasper’s ‘Cuckoo’s Nest’ will have you in fits of laughter Upon entering the Little Theatre last Thursday, I was greeted not only by a wave of unsettling anticipation but also by two actors in character as nut job nurses who kindly took my ticket and squirted a good dollop of alcoholic hand wash into my palm. Thanks guys. I suppose with The Rasper Players you’re always in for something off-the-wall. For those of you who have seen and love the movie like I do, the Raspers’ production of One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest will certainly not disappoint, but it will offer something truer to the original story. Indeed much of the screenplay for the Raspers’ production is actually based on
New Left Author Ken Kesey’s 1962 novel. The most obvious difference between the stage and film versions is the role played by the mute and enigmatic Chief, played by Angus Laverty. In the stage version the seemingly catatonic Native American sees more character development with the inclusion of a voice over that is presented to the audience in between scenes with distressing music and obscure lighting. The cast do a fine job of conveying the psychologically oppressed male inmates and the oppressive female nurses. There is no doubt however that actor and director Stephen
Acton’s portrayal of R. P. McMurphy, the hero of the story, is most compelling and will leave you in fits (pun intended) of laughter. It’s not quite the cool Jack Nicholson performance we are familiar with from the film version but Acton provides his own blend of raucous delirium, misogyny and defiance in his portrayal of the perfect scoundrel McMurphy. Acton is more manic, but no less endearing as the champion of emasculated patients. How did Acton tackle the challenge posed by this role and maintain course at the helm of the production? “If I was to do any research at all, it would be [through] the book,”
says Acton. “A lot of people have asked me about the film and Jack Nicholson, but I haven't watched it in about six years. I deliberately didn't watch it. Really and truly, if you want to get into the character it’s all in the script. That’s with all the characters, even Nurse Ratched.” As director, Acton described his greatest challenge as trying to get “the truth” out of this story. He and the cast particularly wished to avoid a caricature or pastiche approach to character interpretation. There is no doubt that the Raspers did achieve this; the portrayal of the patients by the cast was entirely authentic and did not at any stage degrade
into a lampooning of mental illness despite the cutting humour. One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest is The Rasper Players first performance on stage since their production of Animal Farm earlier this year. “We don’t just want to pick any old play that is well known,” says Acton. “I’ve always loved Cuckoo’s Nest, and the book more so than the film.” Despite being only recently established, The Raspers have toured extensively on the Irish circuit and Acton assures The Chronicle that every effort is made to keep productions edgy and insightful. “We want to challenge ourselves and our
audiences,” he says, “we try to find scripts that challenge us and in return challenge the audience. It is our hobby but we are all very passionate about it, and like any hobby you want to up the stakes constantly.” The Raspers’ next production will be a one act play, Vera Vera Vera by Hayley Squires, opening in October. The drama group will be taking to the one act drama circuit in Ireland from October to December. Want to get involved? The Raspers can be contacted via their Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/RasperPl ayers.
Will the economic upturn reach North Wexford?
Irish Short Film Showing
It was all over the national news this week. The pundits were yapping about it in the bars and on their lunch breaks. Income tax returns and receipts are up this year and consumers are purchasing again, or so say the statistics. Despite the current bout of dreadful violence in the Middle East, Africa and the Ukraine, it appears that things are looking up for little old Ireland. In the last week or so, David McWilliams and a host of other Itold-you-so economists are now
Dog’s Trust Charity Walk
the bearers of better news, albeit with a touch of apprehension. The punter’s pet subject, housing prices, in particular reared its ugly ahead. Property is very much in vogue again as prices increase. This is a sure sign of economic improvement, or so we like to tell ourselves. Having just left a rental property in the city centre, even I, the wile graduate that I am, can assure you the cost of housing in the capital is woeful. But whatever about the glorious capital, what of Gorey?
This is the first in a series of articles about Gorey and the apparent changing fortunes of the Irish economy. The extent to which these developments will have an effect on our local area is unclear, over the next few weeks we will uncover what the implications of this change are for North Wexford’s socio-economic circumstances. Next week, we will take a look at Gorey’s property market. Many homeowners in negative equity or otherwise had
previously written off any chance of house prices increasing, but with the development of the M11 and of course the noted increase in demand for housing near to the capital, we might expect an increase in the value of North Wexford property. As for other residents and prospective buyers, we will explore the trends in planning applications and potential action to be taken on the redevelopment of ghost estates.
Conradh na Gaeilge Guaire will be showing two short films in Irish with subtitles in English in the
A charity walk in aid of Dog’s Trust will depart the Brockagh Centre in Laragh, Co. Wicklow, at 2pm on 28th September. Car parking is provided and participants are invited to bring along their own dogs to enjoy the fresh air and beautiful scenery on this leisurely walk. There is a minimum entry of €10 or alternatively walkers can
Gorey Library on 18th September from 7.30pm8.30pm. All are welcome to attend.
obtain sponsorship cards in advance by calling 087 626 7334 or emailing fundogshow@gmail.com. There will be a social gathering with refreshments provided at the end of the walk. See www.facebook.com/friendso fmerlin for more details.
Monageer -Bolavogue GAA Clu held their annual BBQ in the local sports grounds saturday nigh Among those enjoying the event were Anne Allen,Julie Dunne and Dawn Thomas (left pirc) and Niamh Kehoe,Kay Kinsella,Rous Yanez,and Olivia Murphy.(right pic)
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Chronicle September 10, 2014
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Will it be third time lucky for dangerous junction? It may be third time lucky for a Wexford town junction which has been the cause of numerous complaints over the danger its poses to motorists. The junction of Davitt Road South and Waterloo Road was changed when a one way system was introduced several years ago. As a result traffic coming up Waterloo Road had to give way to traffic from
Davitt Road. This was the opposite of what had been the practice previously and caused confusion with local councillors campaigning for changes to be made. Several months ago changes were made with the stop sign transferred from the Waterloo Road end to Daviitt Road. However, this made the
junction even more hazardous due to difficulties with the line of vision for vehicles emerging from Davitt Road. Now work is underway to make the junction function in exactly the same way as it did before any changes were made at the time the one way system was introduced. The work is expected to take some weeks to complete.
Oyster Lane's 'magic musicals' Oyster Lane Theatre Group are delighted to present "Magic of the Musicals" with Tony Carty, Naoimh Penston, Maggs Jacob and our very own "Jesus" James Mc Dermott on Saturday, 13th September 2014. This not to be
missed performance has wowed audiences from all over Ireland with its amazing display of talented singers and music by "The Fintan Cleary Trio". Tickets are only EURO 12 and are available by contacting
Oyster Lane Theatre Group or on the door on the night at the Talbot Hotel. All proceeds raised will help fund this year's 20th Anniversary production "Jesus Christ Superstar"
Motorists are not ‘lovin’ it Motorists trying to exit Sinnottstown Lane onto the main Rosslare road beside the McDonald Drive Thru are not ‘lovin’ the experience, a meeting of the Wexford Municipal District Council was told. Cllr Jim Moore said there were serious problems with traffic trying to exit the Sinnottstown Lane junction and he suggested that something would have to be done to make the experience safer and also to speed up the exit of vehicles onto the Rosslare Road, Cllr Moore also raised concerns about spending on the road through Murrintown and Rathaspeck into Wexford town and he suggested that it was missing out on funding as a
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FUN, FAST, FITNESS result of its designation. He was told his concerns about the road were correct. Despite the fact that it carries 4,000 vehicles per day, many more than a lot
of roads with a higher classification, it does not qualify for prime funding because of its current status.
Time to get focused on getting fit To keep the body in good health is a duty… otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.” – Buddha In present day society we live sedentary lives. We drive everywhere. We sit for large periods of the day. On top of this we are bombarded with foods that we really shouldn’t be eating packaged as things that we should. As humans we are hardwired to find the path of least resistance, to conserve energy. This hard wiring served us well for countless generations but it is presently contributing to obesity, heart disease and countless other ailments. We need to flip this on its head, we need to SEEK resistance. This advice is good for everybody but as the kids are back to school this week I want all you MUMs out there, society’s hardest working segment, to pay particular attention to this. To get your exercise is up to you, it is (as Buddha
says) your duty! But the good news is that you can do it. The kids are safely packed off to school so now it’s time for you to get BACK TO YOU. Don't let your exercise routine take a back seat. NOW is the time to get focused on getting fit. ‘‘Womens Health Magazine’ says that strength training ‘helps women live longer and healthier lives’, and recommends 3 or 4 half hour sessions per week. For best results from a fitness and a weight-loss perspective a combination of strength training and aerobic exercise is what’s required. Two little hours per week. What have you got to lose? ….and how much might you gain? Róisín@Curves
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Chronicle September 10, 2014
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Council cash keeps Castle open Any plan to develop a standalone museum in Wexford town as demanded by many people over the years is likely to be shot down on financial grounds, it has been revealed. And the performance of the Castle in Enniscorthy is one of the examples used to punch a hole in the arguments in support of a new museum for the county town in the old County Hall Buildings.
Director of Services Tony Larkin told a meeting of the Wexford District Council that the fees paid by the public on entrance to the Castle would not cover its running costs and it would not function but for the support of the local authority. And he also warned that transforming a listed building like the old Gaol at Co. Hall into such a facility would be very costly. Earlier Cllr. Davy Hynes had said it
was astonishing that the County Town did not have a museum. He said Enniscorthy had both the Castle and the 1798 Centre, but Wexford had nothing. He said such a facility would be very popular with tourists and would attract visitors. Cllr Anthony Kelly said he had raised the issue on two previous occasions and he believed it would be a strong asset to Wexford.
No viewing visits for people offered Council houses People who are offered houses by the local authority are no longer given an opportunity to inspect them prior to making up their minds to accept the offer or reject it. When the old Wexford Borough Council was in charge of the housing list people were offered a house from the local authority stock and then taken for a viewing of the building before they made up their mind on acceptance or otherwise. However, the housing lists are now controlled by the Co. Council and they do not operate a viewing policy. Cllr. Anthony Kelly raised concerns about the lack of an opportunity for
people to view homes they had been offered, but he was told at meeting of the Wexford Municipal Borough District that people could go themselves and look at a house and view an area, or even look in through the windows. However, it was not Co. Council policy to arrange viewings. Suggestions that a large number of local authority houses lay vacant at any one time were rejected by the Director of Services Tony Larkin. In reply to comments from Cllr. Fergie Kehoe he said that Wexford Co. Council had one of the best records in the country for turning over local
Boost for South East as Waterford Airport traffic jumps 42% Passenger numbers at Waterford Airport in the eight months to August 31st were up 42.5% compared to the same period last year. August has been the busiest month so far in 2014 at Waterford Airport. Some 4,544 passengers flew in and out of the airport during the month compared to 3,993 in the same month last year an increase of 13.8%. Commenting on the latest figures, Desmond O¹Flynn, CEO, Waterford Airport, said: ³It¹s obviously very encouraging to see such strong demand for the services operated by Flybe to and from Waterford. The increased passenger numbers come from a combination of increased support from consumers within Waterford and the southeast region as well as growing inbound traffic from the UK. ³There are also a
growing number of passengers using the connectivity offered by the Flybe network in Birmingham and Manchester, as their gateway for convenient onwards travel to destinations as diverse as Paris, Milan, Dusseldorf, Edinburgh and many more. ³Whereas business traffic tends to ease off at this time of the year, the month of August is a peak tourism month and we have seen the Airport used to access the Southeast¹s various attractions throughout the summer period. Load factors on the Birmingham and Manchester routes have been consistently very strong over recent months and this gives us great encouragement and support when making the case to airlines for additional services.
authority houses which became vacant. He said, however, that the main reason houses were vacant was a result of the system which operated on the allocation of houses with people offered houses and then facilitated to refuse that offer after a period of time. Meanwhile, it was revealed that there is a crisis in relation to emergency accommodation in Wexford with the Wexford Women’s Refuge and Ozanam House, both of which are used by the local authority for emergency accommodation full to capacity.
Last Friday night was a major occasion for the Church of Ireland Community in county Wexford. St Edans Cathedral in Ferns was the location for the ordination of Caroline Cazsserly Farrar. The Bishop of Cashel, Ferns and Ossery Rt. Rev. Michael Burrows presided at the ordination ceremony. The ordination was also attended by Church of Ireland clergy from around the diocese of Ferns as well as members of
the laity. Pictured after the ordination were (from left) Canon mark Hayden (Gorey), Rev. Caroline Casserly-Farrar, Bishop Michael Burrows, Rev. Christopher Peters, Dean of St. Fachnas Cathedral, Archdeacon Chris Long, Enniscorthy and Rev Paul Mooney, Dean of Ferns.. Separately pictured at the newly ordained Rev. CasserlyFarrar and Bishop Burrows. Pics by Liz Wildes
Councillors back call for budget increase in welfare Councillors in Wexford have backed a call on the government to reverse some of the social welfare cuts of previous years in next month’s budget. Cllr Davy Hynes said that while talk of some way to help those in work on low incomes
through a cut to tax rates or the USC was welcome there had not been a word from any of the government parties on the effect on people relying on Social Welfare, especially the old and sick who had to absorb six years of no change which included
increases to ESB, coal and gas as well as the Property Tax and soon to be introduced water charges. ‘It was older people that built this country and now are made to suffer and they see it nearly destroyed economically by greedy and reckless wealthy
individuals’, Cllr Hynes said. He said that because of austerity the slack had to be taken up by the St. Vincent De Paul which is now spending €80m on people in need.
Colleen represents Ireland in European Games Wexford Special Olympics Club wish the best of luck to Colleen Flood as she prepares to join the Irish Team in Belgium this week. Colleen will be competing in Artistic Gymnastics . Colleen who lives in Roslare has been busy for the past 6 months training for this event both with Wexford Special Olympics Club, Wexford Gym Club and travelled to Dublin on a regular basis to train with the Irish Team.
Colleen will fly out to Belgium on Tuesday 9th of September as part of 46 athletes who will make up Team Ireland participating in 7 different Sports. Her family will travel out later in the week to support her.The Special Olympics European Summer Games will take place from 9th to 20th September in Antwerp. Forty six athletes from Special Olympics Irelandwill be competing in the
European Summer Games across 7 sports The athletes will be competing in the following sports; Aquatics, Athletics, Badminton, Bocce, Football, Gymnastics and TableTennis.
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Chronicle September 10, 2014
News
Festival award to recognise those who care about their community Wexford Festival Opera and Ecclesiastical Insurance are inviting nominations for the Ecclesiastical/ Wexford Festival Opera Volunteer Award. This award seeks to recognise and highlight the extraordinary contribution and initiative of Wexford Festival Opera volunteers, who not only founded this now worldrenowned Festival, but are fundamental to its continued success. Nominations for the award are open now and will close on Monday, 22 September. Anyone can nominate a Wexford Festival Opera Volunteer and we especially encourage our patrons to participate in the nominations. The 2014 recipient will be announced on Sunday, 19
October, prior to the first public dress rehearsal. Nominees must have demonstrated an outstanding contribution to Wexford Festival Opera. This could have been either by their volunteering during the Festival itself or at any time throughout the year to enhance, promote, fundraise and/or develop Wexford Festival Opera as an organisation and as an event. Chairman of Wexford Festival Opera Ger Lawlor, a long-time volunteer himself, commenting on the award said, ‘Wexford Festival Opera has, for sixty three years, been deeply rooted in the local community, who serve as volunteers in so many areas of the festival every year. The
Ecclesiastical/ Wexford Festival Opera Volunteer Award recognises the unique contribution that these volunteers make in so many areas of the company’s operations. While there is only one award, every volunteer is justifiably proud of their individual contribution to the Festival, and once again, as we begin to gather for the 63rd Festival, we salute them for their energy, drive commitment and enthusiasm.’ To submit a nomination, visit http://www.wexfordopera.com /about-us/volunteer_award . Nomination forms can also be picked up from the box-office at Wexford Opera House. The 63rd Wexford Festival Opera runs for 12 days from
Wednesday, 22 October until Sunday, 2 November. The programme includes three mainstage opera productions Salomé by Antoine Mariotte (1875-1944), based on the play by Oscar Wilde, the 19th century comedy Don Bucefalo by Antonio Cagnoni, and the European premiere of the 2012 Pulitzer Prize-winning opera Silent Night by Kevin Puts. In addition three daytime ShortWorks operas will be presented: La Cenerentola (Cinderella) by Gioacchino Rossini; Il Taborro (The Cloak) by Giacomo Puccini; and a double bill of The Wandering Scholar by Gustav Holst and Trial by Jury by Arthur Sullivan and W.S. Gilbert.
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Houses in South Wexford 'tagged' for burglary Homes across South Wexford have been 'tagged' for burglary according to a local County Councillor. Cllr Mick Roche is warning home owners and community alert groups to be vigilant for unusual stone markings, tyres thrown in nearby ditches and other 'tags' which he claims local informers are using to tip off criminal gangs to homes that can be robbed.
"This is something that has often been talked about," Cllr Roche said, "Recently it has been brought to my attention in the ten acre and Duncormick areas. Unusual markings were found outside homes that had recently been robbed. It has been obvious for some time that Dublin based gangs could not have the knowledge of rural Wexford that they seem to have
without the aid of local informants. It would appear that these informers often leave markings for the gangs, like an archaic google maps." "I would appeal to people to keep an eye out for anything that seems unusual in their locality. Stone markings, painted shapes, tyres or hubcaps mysteriously appearing in the ditch beside your home
could all be incidental, and the last thing I want to do is scaremonger, but it is certainly better to be safe than sorry in the current climate of crime. Please remove the items and contact the local Gardaí or community alert initiative if you believe a robbery is imminent in your locality."
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Ciara Grey was the main organiser of a very successful fundraising event for the Make a Wish Foundation in Wexford at the weekend. Several local personalities took part in the event entitled ‘Your Face Sounds So Familiar’. The individuals dressed u p and performed as various well know stars.. Among those taking part in the event were the Mayor of Wexford, George Lawlor, Cllr Fergie Kehoe and Fr Aodhan Marken. Pictured are Amanda Kehoe accompanying herself on piano. Also pictured are Pauline and Jesse Byrne who enjoyed the show. Pics by Pat Sheridan.
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Chronicle September 10, 2014
8
GER WALSH
Ex Mayors are a force to be reckoned with! It’s a real case of WHODUNNIT as far as the Barry Day ceremony in Wexford town is concerned. The Barry Day was always the big event in the calendar of the old Wexford Borough Council and before that the Corporation. It was a day when members, officials, guests and above all the former Mayors of the town gathered for a formal ceremony at the JB statue and then headed off for a nice lunch and an afternoon of chat and entertainment. The event was something everyone looked forward to and the Mayor of the day always took centre stage. At one time it used to be held during the Wexford Festival before being moved to June. Sock horror this year there was no Barry Day. Why? Well nobody seems to know. The whole event just disappeared
into thin air and the funny The ex-mayors knew the the Mayor says he will be thing is nobody knows who ropes when it came to nowhere near the event and cancelled it. organising the event and made other members of the Wexford It seems to have fallen their contact with all the Municipal District, well at victim to the abolition of the relevant parties, including the least those members who used old Borough Council but no US Embassy and before the to sit on the old Borough one can quite be sure of the current mayor, George Lawlor, Council, are very upset by the reason it disappeared from the heard a whisper of it, whole thing. calendar. everything was in place. One suspects that the more Well the former Mayors, The marching bands, the upset they are the happier the and there are quite a few of uniformed bodies and the ex-mayors will be. them around, were not going important visitors. They had But it won’t happen again, to stand idly by and allow a all been contacted and are because next ‘s year ‘official’ Wexford institution to gearing up for the ceremony Barry Day is already being disappear. So they decided to which is to take place next planned. resolve the situation Sunday. themselves by organising their As we reported last week own Barry Day. Yes As as you will read elsewhere (page 20) the Mayor is to attend the their very Barry Day ceremony after all. It seems the ex-Mayors and the current own Barry First Citizen kissed and made u p at a meeting on Saturday and now Day with no involvement George is to lay the wreath on Crescent Quay next Sunday at noon. So from the it’s all friends again, which is the way it should be and the ceremony itcurrent crop self will look exactly the same as if it had been organised by the Counof local cil. Isn’t that nice. All’s well that ends well, as they sayl politicians or officials
Michael will be missed by all who knew him The death occurred last week of a very fine Wexford gentleman. Michael Kelly, who lived at Parklands in Wexford town will have been very well know to shopkeepers and publicans from his many years as manager of the old AWL cash and carry outlet in Wexford . Michael was a very active man, always in a hurry, but never too busy to help others. He lived life at a frenetic pace, whether it was in work, enjoying a clay pigeon shoot or hunting. And he continued to lead a very active life into his eighties, almost a quarter of a century after he underwent a
heart by-0pass. He took seriously ill while out walking with his wife Breda last week and died a few hours later at Wexford General Hospital. In a way it was fitting that he died as he lived out enjoying a walk with the person who was his wife for more than fifty years. It was always a joy, and never boring, to be in Michael’s company and his friends will miss him. However, their loss is Michael in a happy mood while enjoying a clay pigeon shoot nothing to the vacuum which now exists in the life Michael. He will be sorely hours before he died. I extend of Breda and his children, Jane, missed too by his brother Paddy my deepest sympathy to them Rita, Stephen, Edward and whom he visited just a few all.
I just can’t take all this good news Isn’t it amazing all the same, you spend about five years listening to nothing but how difficult things are and how short of money the country is and then all of a sudden everyone is talking about how much things are getting better. As I said here a few weeks ago all this talk about an improvement in the economic situation and more than anything else an improvement in the government’s finances will heighten expectations among the public for budget
measures which will improve their personal finances. Michael Noonan tried to inject a bit of reality into the debate last week when he hinted of some tax cuts, but suggested that they would have to be paid for through increases in other areas. It may not be what people want to hear but it is the real situation and one which people would do well to heed otherwise they will be very disappointed come budget day.
No one should be surprised that Brothels operate locally There was a lot of publicity last week about the activities of brothels and escort girls operating around the county. This activity has been going on for a long time, not just in county Wexford but everywhere, so I was a little surprised that there would be ‘surprise’ on the part of the media that a few premises were being used locally for the purpose and that the services of those involved was being advertised on the internet. This is 2014 after all and everything is advertised on the Web these days. However, what did surprise me was the suggestion in some of the papers that business in these brothels was particularly brisk on social welfare
payout days, a statement which seemed to suggest that those without work were more likely to be availing of the services of these ladies. This may be true or the statement could simply be a condescending snobbish reference to the less well off in society because as far as I know social welfare payments of one kind or another are made almost every day of the week in the modern era so I don’t know how anyone could link usage of the brothels to social welfare payouts. I am assuming that the production of a social welfare card would not entitle an individual to a reduced fee, but then I don’t really know.
Without more passengers trains are in great danger The recent dispute at Irish Rail once again focused minds about the very difficult financial situation which that company faces and that in turn has raised the issue of cuts which might have to be made to rail services on under used lines around the country. As we reported in our very first issue back in April the various studies and reports examining passenger numbers on rail lines
have all identified sections of the Dublin Rosslare Line as being among the so called ‘lightly’ used lines in the country and they are all now under a certain amount of threat. Generally any suggestion that the portion of the line from Wexford to the port would be closed has been dismissed by various interested parties including politicians.
However, it is my understanding that if any line cutbacks go ahead then Wexford town to the Euro port would certainly be at risk. The passenger numbers for that part of the track are very low and it would be difficult for anyone to make a real case to keep the line fully operational unless some way can be found to increase numbers. Do not be surprised if some sort
of compromise comes forward involving a major cut on the route in the winter months with trains possibly only running to the port for the summer season. If the service from Wexford town to Dublin could be improved as part of the new arrangement, especially if a new service could be added in the mornings and some way found of increasing the journey time to the city then it might not be the
worst of outcomes. However, one thing is certain, passenger numbers on the line as a whole will have to be increased otherwise the line is doomed in the long-term. Malcolm Byrne the Chairman of the Co. Council made a good point recently when he highlighted the fact that with improvements in the road to Dublin scheduled to come on stream next year the road journey
time to Dublin will be cut again making train travel even more unattractive. Those opposing the cuts to train services would probably be well advised to direct as much of their energy as possible to schemes aimed at getting more people onto the trains, otherwise no amount of campaigning is going to keep the trains running to Wexford and beyond in the longer term.
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Lifestyle
Former Miss Ireland to join hurling stars at Fashion Show Former Miss Ireland Holly Carpenter is set to take to the Love Fashion Love Wexford catwalk for the first time this year, joining a host of top Irish models in the iconic County Hall on September 20th. Ms Carpenter, who is a grand-
Brian Malone
daughter of the late Terry Keane and starred in Sky TV's Britain and Ireland's Next Top Model, will be joined by a number of other wellknown faces from Assets and 1st Option modelling agencies. The girls will all be on hand to elegantly showcase the very best in fashion from a host of Wexford boutiques, couturier Umit Kutluk and award-winning jewellery designer Bláithín Ennis from Gorey. And, for the second year in a row, a number of the county's top GAA stars are to generously give their time to accompany the ladies on the catwalk. He was part of the team that gave us such a great run in this year's All-ireland senior hurling championship and the ever-popular Lee Chin has confirmed that he will be strutting his stuff again, along with fellow modelling veteran Brian Malone. Newbies Rhys Clarke, Conor McDonald, David Redmond, Eoin
Moore, Keith Rossiter, Paul Morris and Shaun Murphy will all swap the pitch for the catwalk on the night. The show's producer Keith Jordan said he is "thrilled to be back for another year'. 'This year we have gone bigger, more glamorous, more A-List models and more stunning fashion and jewellery. Guests will be blown away with the couture collections from both Umit Kutluk and Bláithín Ennis, I've seen both collections and they are breathtaking,' he said. 'We are bringing real high-end couture to the catwalk in Wexford, that doesn't often happen... and with the 22 other local shops showing Autumn Winter 2014 with have something for everybody. Cant wait to see you all there.' Love Fashion Love Wexford is brought to you by the Wexford Chamber of Commerce and is generously supported by Keville Hairdressing, Gainfort Academy, Keelings, the Talbot Hotel, Westgate Design and Wexford County Council. Tickets for this fabulous event, in aid of local charity Its Good 2 Talk are €20, from www.wexfordchamber.ie, by phone on 053-9122226 of from Westgate Design.
Lee Chin
The
Chronicle September 10, 2014
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Chronicle September 10, 2014
The Blackstairs Blues Festival 12th, 13th, 14th September 2014 Free wifi available
Blackstairs festival ‘such a cool experience’ for Johnny Hot off the stage from the Electric Picnic and with a number 1 single in the Irish Blues Chart charts under his belt, things are getting bigger and brighter for local artist Johnny Stewart. The Chronicle caught up with the Rosslare native and talk fun, family influences and the festival that is Blackstairs Blues.....
You also did a stint at Electric Picnic, how was that?
J. That was a funny one actually because I got passes really late and spent a lot of time trying to secure somewhere to play but eventually I secured a spot on the Salty Dog Stage which was amazing. Just going from sitting on my couch one minute to playing at C. Hi Johnny! You have had Electric Picnic on my preferred a whirlwind of Summer playing stage and seeing Shane McGowan countless gigs and having a walk off as I went on was really number one hit in the blues charts. cool. Playing at festivals is always good and it was my second year to play at Electric Picnic. FR Playing for E 053 9235743 W E people who may IFI Slaney Place, Enniscorthy not necessarily know my music Friday 12th Sept but seeing them enjoy it and just Sons of the Delta @ 9.30pm feeding off their Saturday 13th Sept energy is always an unbelievable Preacher Casey’s experience. (Jam Session) @ 4.00pm
Holohan’s
Johnny Stewart @ 10.00pm Sunday 14th Sept
The Boy In The Attic (Jam Session) @ 4.00pm The Mojos @ 6.30pm
C. So was it all work or did you catch any of the acts yourself? J.
Well
I spent a lot of time trying to sort out my own gig but luckily I got to see a few like The Minutes which are a really good Dublin band and luckily I got to see Jerry Fish at his own tent which was really good! So a mix of both really! C. What kind of artists inspire your own music? J. Well there are two sides really to my music. On the one hand I like blues so people like John Mayer who isn't strictly a blues artist but by listening to his music it allowed to dig into his "musical past" and find new names of Blues artists which I hadn't heard of before but instantly became hooked to their style of music. On the other hand I enjoy people like Jimmy Hendrix and then pop/ rock such as Artic Monkeys. All these sort of contribute something different and inspire my music. C. Your music has been described as fusion of "the soul and honesty of the blues and the energy and attitude of rock with the infectioness of pop". Maybe a bit more simply how would you describe your sound!? J.
ask you to define your music and I've thought about it and to be honest I think "Blues influenced pop music" describes my sound pretty well. I like to think of music as feeding blues to people who don't necessarily know they like blues by wrapping it up with pop edge. I feel once you hold a certain reverence for what blues music truly is and respect it you can begin to play a bit with the sound. Blues fans are one of the most protective group of fans out there so you need to take it seriously and stay true to the blues sound. C. What else has inspired you to pursue a career in the music industry? J. My Dad plays guitar and even though I wouldn't describe myself as coming from a musical family, music definitely was always in the background and featured a lot in my life growing up. One of my earliest memories is being five month's old in my Dad's arm and him playing guitar in the other....I suppose it was inevitable that I would end up playing too. After starting off with the drums I finally put my head down and learned every Beatles song I could on the guitar and that was that.
Haha yeah people often C. A lot of young people in Wexford will look at you and your success and the success of other local artists and will want to hopefully aspire to follow in your footsteps. Any advice for people looking to get into the music industry?
Enniscorthy Co. Wexford
Proudly supporting the Blackstairs Blues Festival th
Friday 12 September J.
Photo by: Richie Buttle - www.richie.ie
Firstly write songs. Nobody will decide that a great song isn't great. Your singing and playing skills will over time match your writing abilities. People are sometimes afraid of writing a bad song and end up doing nothing. You have to remember that bad songs pave the way for good songs. Secondly, be kind and friendly to people and don't be afraid to ask. It can only be a yes or a no. Don't forget that the people you are asking are just like you and are in the industry because they love music just like you do. Lastly, just love music. It can be so disheartening driving hours to a gig for a handful of people to show and up and then driving home at four in the morning but you do it because you love the music. C. So you're playing in the Blackstairs Blues festival next week. It's you're second year included in the festival what are looking forward to most about this year's event?
Clive Barnes @ 8pm
J. Last year I was really lucky to be included by John and Mairead and this year I'm actually playing three gigs which is amazing. The festival is such a cool experience playing alongside the like of Clive Barnes who is a Wexford legend. Playing along on the same bill as such talented blued artists is just so amazing for me. It's nice to be able to play in front such dedicated blues fans and be able to throw in a few extra blues tunes during my performance.
Saturday 13th September
C. After the Blues what's next for you Johnny?
Sk
J. Well after the Blues I'm heading to the Velvet Lounge in Tyrone on the 10th of September and am supporting Corner Boy (another local Wexford band) on the 25th of September in Monroe's in Galway and the 9th of October in Buskers in Dublin.
@ 8.30pm
Sunday 14th September
Sean Taylor
@ 8.30pm
of ge a r ve or ts Co
p yS
HD
All Gigs are Free
Open times: Mon – Thurs @ 5pm, Fri @ 4pm Saturday @ 11am & Sunday @ 12 noon
Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford 053 9233747 Proud supporter of the Blackstairs Blues Festival
Come See:
Friday 12th @ 10.00pm
Preacher Casey’s Blackstairs Blues Festival has become one of the pre-eminent gatherings for Blues followers in the country. The original aim was simple – to act as a catalyst to attract visitors to Enniscorthy and in particular to cater for the devotees of Blues music. Inspiration for the title of the Festival came from some of the original organisers who were natives of the foothills of the Blackstairs Mountains and the valley of the Boro River, an area termed as ‘disadvantaged’ and as a result had a feel for the melancholy mood of the Blues as
the deprived Black people had from the Banks of the great Mississippi River in the cotton pickin’ States of the U.S.A. This Weekend , Friday 12th @ 6pm The Festival will kick off in Wallace's Alba, with the Roots 'n' Blues Flair of Joanne & Pete. Along with International Artists , and the Cream of Irish Blues (Including Enniscorthy's own Clive Barnes & Joey Ryan , and Rosslares Johnny Stewart) The 20th Blackstairs Blues Has Something For Everyone. See You There, Enniscorthy 12th - 14th of September
Loo Frid k out fo ay Spe r our cia ls!
Joanne and Pete
Contact Johnny on johnnystewartmusic.com
Blackstairs Blues has something for everyone The year 1995 was the beginning of what is known today as the Blackstairs Blues Festival. The source of the inspiration was Bob Rackard’s Pub & Restaurant in Rafter Street where a small group of blues aficionados met and decided to launch a festival of blues music. It is now in its nineteenth year (20th Festival) and has survived the vicissitudes of the age, the fluctuations of musical tastes and fashion trends to reach a creative permanence in the town of Enniscorthy and the south east. From modest beginnings the
The Antique Tavern
Saturday 13th @ 10.00pm
Sons of the Delta Sunday 14th @ 7.00pm
Johnny Stewart Followed by:
Empire Circus @ 9.30pm PART OF
All Gigs are Free!
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Chronicle September 10, 2014 Lifestyle
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The
AE &
Comment, Music, Gossip, Fashion, What’s Hot, What’s Not, Who’s Hot, Who’s Not, Adam
Adam Ennis Night of the Year
And we’re back with another week! Ner a bit of a break for A&E over the last few days. We’ve been working flat out for the Junior Cert results night to make it one of the biggest of its kind in Ireland and with any luck, it’ll be a massive success this time next week. There’s loads more info later on. College is back soon so Adam will be back to Dublin while Eoin is finishing off his work with FAI summer camps and a few other bits. Schools are back in and it’s crazy the amount of students are looking to run TY Balls this year, which is great! A&E are getting booked up fairly fast which is always a good sign for the next year or so. Other than that, not much is new. Thanks for reading again and hope you enjoy!
Junior Cert results will be released Wednesday 10th of September with teenagers across Ireland all hoping and praying that their hard work has paid off.
Introduction
TUNE OF THE WEEK
Deorro Vs MakJ – Ready
I came across this beauty as I was raving at Creamfields; perfect Melbourne-Bounce sound mixed in with a bit of electro. Wherever I’m playing I’m sure you will hear this. What a tune and what a DJ Deorro is!
To help you all celebrate in style, the good folks down at Get Busy Promotions have been pulling out all the stops over the past few weeks to make sure it’s a night you’ll remember in years to come! Not only will it be the biggest event ran in Wexford, but in the country too! Coaches from all 5 counties of the South-East are already in place and people are travelling from even further too. Reps are sorted in nearly every secondary school in Wexford, so if you’re stuck for a bus, find out who your nearest rep is. This event WILL sell out, so we do advise you’re down in the queue early. Event starts at 8pm, we’d recommend people start queueing from 7ish. Last year’s event sold out 10 minutes after the doors opened. To make your night even better, we’ve upped our capacity to fit you all in this year. There will be more than enough to look forward to on the night, including professional photographers travelling from across Ireland, the amazing A&E ;), the GodFather of DJs Cullie, an amazing new lighting show, 5 rooms of music and loads more. Make sure if you have any song requests to post them on our Facebook pages “DJ Eoin Healy” and “DJ Adam Ennis”. For me, last year’s event was one of the highlights of DJing in 2013, and I’m sure we’ve done everything to make sure this is even better! Make sure to pick up the paper next week to check out pictures from the epic night!
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The
Lifestyle Where to Be Seen, Where To Avoid, Who’s Celebrating, Who’s Not
Eoin Healy
RANT OF THE
WEEK
Ahh, nothing like an aul mid-week rant! I said I’d keep this up for a few weeks until people stop doing all the things that annoy me, so I can be happy. This one should be fairly short, so bear with me. Does it annoy anyone else how much people idolise celebrities for doing everyday-normal stuff? I saw a photo on Facebook the other day of celebrity couple Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis eating a burger with the caption “Oh my God! Relationship like this please!” Like.. what? Am I missing something? What couple wouldn’t eat food? That hardly justifies you wanting a relationship like theirs. Literally every relationship ever consists of eating, so why is it something to admire when “celebrities” do it? People are stooopid! They could see a picture of Chris Brown hitting Rihanna a swift right hook and want a relationship like that. How about focusing more on things that actually affect you instead of looking up to people you have no idea about. Pick your role-models better and stop being puppets of the media!!
USELESS FACT OF THE WEEK Owls are the only birds that can see the colour blue. Therefore they can be Chealsea supporters.....I hate all owls.
Eoin
Chronicle September 10, 2014
AE &
#Throwback Clara Lara has to be the ultimate childhood throwback for me! It was like our Disney World..but in Wicklow. Many a school trip was spent here. Shame it had to close down, I’d still be going now!
CONNECT WITH US! Snapchat: ilovecider & adam_ennis Facebook: /adamjayennis94 & eoinhealy.9 Twitter: I_Rant_A_Lot & EtekOfficial
Top Tweets @Niall_OB: “Valencia is so bad. Jesus.” @RebeccaFrayne: “Graham Staples actually danced so hard last night he split his pants. #PartyAnimal” @Conor_Maddock: “Hopefully I shifted someone last night, don’t remember a thing.” @H4RB4R: “Where the hell is #collage? Because the amount of people going there this year is unreal.” @StephenMurfy: “People crying about not getting into college and all, I got into college, failed, and still got the job I would have got with college. All about who you know these days unfortunately #RealTalk. Being incredibly good looking helps too though #Blessed” @EricaCun7: “I got 99 problems and my quads are 1” @Maria_Maher: “Lads, tonight I am getting the shift.” @PatHarrold95: “Nothing as bad as serving girls you’ve slept with in McDonald’s, especially when you’ve told them you’re a professional footballer.” @JackRobinson1: “Julia Roberts is actualy beautiful.”
The
Chronicle September 10, 2014
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The
Chronicle September 10, 2014
16
News
Special extra event announced for Wexford Festival Opera Following the success of last year’s ‘Composers on Film’ Concert, another concert with virtuoso Trumpeter Dan Newell has just been added to the Festival programme. On Bank Holiday Monday, 27 October in the O’Reilly Theatre in Wexford Opera House, Dan Newell, accompanied by members of the Orchestra of Wexford Festival Opera, will perform music from popular film scores, such as JFK and Skyfall. In addition to his position as Principal Trumpet with the Orchestra of Wexford Festival Opera, Dan Newell is a member of the London Philharmonic Orchestra and London Brass. He has played on the soundtracks of many films including Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings and Shrek, and performed live and in studio with major artists, including Sir Paul McCartney, Florence and the Machine, Muse, Elbow, and Peter Gabriel. A
passionate musician and music educator, Dan is the creator of Billy's Band, a series of children's books designed to entertain children and inspire them to pick up an instrument and have a go. The concert on the October bank holiday Monday in the awardwinning Wexford Opera House is suitable for all ages and with tickets at just €15 for adults and €5 for children, it is the perfect way to share the gift of music. Booking for this concert and for all events at this year’s Festival can be done 24/7 through the newlydesigned website www.wexfordopera.com, which has been meticulously redesigned for easier access to information and to make the experience of purchasing tickets online far more user-friendly. Booking for the Festival, which opens in just 7
weeks, is strong with some events already sold-out. Best availability for the main evening operas is
during mid-week. Visit www.wexfordopera.com for the most up-to-date availability.
Long delays in returning stolen property criticised Property stolen from homes and later recovered by the Gardaí is taking too long to get back into the possession of the owners. That's according Anthony Kelly who said that he had been contacted by people who had waited well over a year to have stolen possessions including jewellery and money, which they had already identified at a Garda station, returned to them only to find themselves still waiting today. "In the incidents where the perpetrators are being caught, the delay in getting them to trial is so great that the victims of the crime are being left without their possessions. I have been contacted by many people who, despite
having identified their stolen belongings, were still waiting for their return up to a year later. It's not acceptable." "I have asked our justice spokesperson in the Dail to raise this issue as a parliamentary question. It is bad enough that these people have suffered the indignity of a home invasion without being left for years without their recovered property as well."
Closure of CDP is a sad day for New Ross - O' Connell
A taste of Opera is coming to the community
Cllr Oisin O' Connell has lamented the closing of the New Ross Community Development Project, calling it a very sad day for the town. The Sinn Féin rep condemned the government policy change which denied the valued project its core funding for the past three years as well as other community project funding cuts which are ripping the very heart out of communities across the state. "The CDP played a monumental role in New Ross life over the years," Cllr O' Connell said, "To let it end this way is a tragedy and a overwhelming indictment of this governments failure to connect with communities and understand their real
Wexford Federation ICA is delighted to announce the details of two events designed to bring a taste of the upcoming Wexford Festival Opera to the community in Bree and in New Ross Co. Wexford. As part of Wexford Creamery’s sponsorship of this year’s Wexford Festival Opera, these free events will feature a carefully selected repetoire of opera pieces sung live by a member of the chorus or cast. There will be two events: the first in Bree Community Hall on Thursday 11th September and the second in the Brandon House Hotel on Thursday 2nd October 2014. There will be Wexford Cheddar and crackers with tea and coffee too. The ICA is one of the oldest established community organisations in Ireland, founded in Bree, County Wexford. Today, Wexford Federation ICA has around
needs. I wonder if it were the Dunbrody Centre which was having its funding cut, would so many of our local politicians remain so tight lipped about the situation?" "Those who gave so much to their community working in the CDP over the years need to be commended. To see their funding removed would be enough to break the resolve of most but things will change. Funding for community projects must be restored. Sinn Féin has always maintained that politics is all about choices and right now the wrong choices are being made to protect an elite that is completely out of touch and unable to understand the value of places like the New Ross CDP."
600 members, some of whom contributed their recipes to a recently launched Wexford Creamery cookbook. President of the ICA’s Wexford branch Breda Banville said “Last year we had some wonderfully inspiring events with Wexford Creamery and the Tast of the Opera and we are very happy to be able to build on those in 2014 with a larger event in New Ross, along with our Bree event. “ Dates and locations of the evenings are as follows: Both events begin at 8pm. There will also be a raffle to be in a chance of winning tickets to an opera dress rehearsal, bottles of wine or Wexford Creamery hampers. Everyone is welcome. We hope that you can help us celebrate the best that Wexford has to offer at this very special time of year. ENDS Wexford Festival Opera: Tickets for all daytime and
evening performances can be purchased online at any time on www.wexfordopera.com, or from the Wexford Festival Opera box-office, telephone: Lo-call 1850-4-OPERA or (053) 912 2144. Tickets from €15.
Keep connected: www.wexfordopera.com www.facebook.com/wexfordf estivalopera www.twitter.com/wexfordope ra
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The
Chronicle September 10, 2014
News
Shrine of Year Award for Our Lady’s island Our Lady’s Island and the Diocese of Ferns have been honoured for their participation in the World Rosary Relay for Priests earlier this summer with the ‘Shrine of the Year’ Award going to Our Lady’s Island. The Scrool marking the award was presented to Bishop Denis Brennan by Marion Mulhall, the founder of Worldpriest, after mass in Our Lady’s Island on Monday night. She told the attendance that Worldpriest are a group of professional communication people from around the world who love and cherish the priesthood of Jesus Christ.’ We utilise the communications media with its many facets to promote the dignity, beauty and gift of the Priesthood of Jesus Christ worldwide 24\7’ she said. ‘5 years ago, an inspiration came to me in a moment of quiet
reflection which was 20 Countries 20 Mysteries. This inspiration was the beginning of the first ever Global Rosary Relay for Priests which has now, in its fifth year, become one of the largest annual days of prayer for priests in the entire world. We were so blessed this year to receive the Apostolic Blessing from Pope Francis. He spiritually joined with a world at prayer as 86 shrines in 46 countries participated in the Global Rosary Relay which was simply a spectacular Global success I am sure Our Lady was so pleased for it was her idea - it is her rosary and it is for her priests’. A very important “Shrine of the Year Award” is awarded by the Directors of Worldpriest to a Shrine which has prayerfully promoted the Rosary Relay by all means possible i.e. via
facebook, twitter, radio, TV, newspaper, parish websites/ newsletters, social networking sites etc, and who participated actively in the Global Rosary Relay at their particular Shrine. Our Lady’s Island Wexford and the Diocese of Ferns most certainly promoted and participated in The Global Rosary Relay in an outstanding unprecedented way and hence it now gives me the greatest pleasure to present this very special award to Bishop Brennan of the Diocese of Ferns to Father Nolan and the committee of Our Lady’s Island.’ Bishop Brennan took the opportunity to to thank http://worldpriest.com/">worldp riest.com and its founder Marion Mulhall for the award she presented to us here this evening at Our Lady's Island. He said Our Lady's Island was
It was a proud moment for Cathy Kehoe, who has been a pioneer all her adult, when her seventy years membership of the pioneers was parked recently with the presentation of a special medal. Fr. John Carroll, who made the presentation, Andrew Nolan and Mary Whelan, are pictured here with Cathy
not just an indispensible and treasured part of our diocesan heritage, it is an ever present invitation to prayer and devotion on the shores of our diocese and nation. ‘In praying the global rosary in solidarity with 60 other shrines throughout the world last June, Ferns united itself with a multiplicity of Catholic peoples throughout the world who are united in their devotion to Mary, their commitment to Christian living and their deep love of the ministerial priesthood. Our own hope would be that this event will help us in our efforts to promote vocations today; to preach the Gospel afresh to this generation and to take stock of the blessings we already enjoy as we witness to Christ in the marketplaces of modern life.’. the Bishop added
The Fifth Global Rosary Relay for Priests
Annual Shrine Award of Outstanding Promotion & Participation in the Global Rosary Relay for Priests Friday 27th June 2014
To Our Lady’s Island Shrine, Wexford,Ireland Presented to the Shrine: Bishop Denis Brennan, Rector Fr.Brendan Nolan, the Ferns Diocesan Outreach Committee, Martin Colfer, Maria Colfer, Mary Moloney,Anne Scallan and Father John Carroll Diocesan Secretary,
for The Annual Global Rosary Relay for Priests. Presented By Marion Mulhall Founder of Worldpriest
Date: Monday 8th September 2014
It was a double 6oth celebration for Sheelagh and Martin Cooney, of Moran Park in Enniscorthy on Saturday night when they both marked their 60th birthday. They celebrated with a party in The Bailey, Enniscorthy and they are pictured here with their six daughters,.Sarah Cooney,Violet Brady,Antionette Cooney,Sheelagh and Martin Cooney, Ciara Janetand Eimear Cooney
Clonard make history in Ladies Football Clonard Ladies Senior team have made club and county ladies football history by being the first ladies town team in Wexford to progress to a Leinster Club Championship. The games takes place in Wexford Park this Saturday 13th at 3pm. The Clonard Ladies take on Moate ladies from Westmeath in the final. In order to reach this stage Clonard have defeated Ballyhougue, Taghmon/Camross, Rathgarogue/Cushinstown, Fethard/St Mouges on two occasions and Bunclody in
the semi final. The Clonard panel is strong and made up of a total of twenty eight players eight of which are from St John's Volunteers. These players have trained very hard and put in a huge effort to get to the position they are in now. Clonard ladies are encouraging all their members,Gaelic4Girls, family, friends, Supporters & St John's Volunteers members to come along on the day to show their your support.
The
Chronicle September 10, 2014
18
Sport
LARRY O’GORMAN
Our boys are the underdogs, What a game but hot favourites don’t always win Well next weekend is the biggest one of the year for Wexford hurling when the under 21s take on Clare in the All Ireland in Thurles. It is always great to reach an All-Ireland and success at under age level is the key to building a senior team for the future so even getting to the final is a very encouraging sign for Wexford hurling in the years ahead. That said I better be careful not to run away with myself because this is going to be one hell of a hill for our lads to climb because Clare will go into the game as hot favourites and virtually everybody’s fancy to emerge victorious. But look how many times have you watched a horse race with a 1/3 shot in it only to see it trail home in second place. So it is possible and that’s the attitude that we must take into next Saturday night’s game. Clare are of course going for three in a row at this level. So Wexford are the big under dogs but you can never predict what could happen on the day. But one thing is certain the Wexford boys will need to work their socks off if they
What a great game in Croke Park last Sunday between two teams that could not be separated after 70 minutes of great hurling. No words of mine can adequately describe the quality and passion that was on display on the pitch on Sunday except to say that it was a game full of top class hurling from both teams. The skill level and the will to win was incredible. The commitment,. the hunger, the never say die attitude was breathtaking. It was great to be there to witness such a cracker of a game and hopefully the replay will turn out the same and I am sure it will. I know
have any chance of winning this encounter. Wexford will be hoping that the senior boys such as Liam Ryan, Conor Macdonald and Jack Guiney will lead from the front and drive them on.,It will take a mighty effort from the boys but if they can play to the form they are capable of at their best then an upset on the day is definitely not impossible. ,Clare are fancied by every other person outside of this county so we’ve got to get up to Thurles next Saturday and give the boys all the support they deserve and hopefully we can cause the upset of the year and bring the All-Ireland back to a county that has been starved of success for so long. All I can say is lads give it your best shot o n the day and be proud of what you have4 achieved so fart. Good luck to all involved .(remember you can Conor McDonald if you beleive )
I fancied Tipp to win, I did get a bit of stick from some locals saying I wouldn't pick my nose but I have to say my predictions this year haven't too bad so far. As the build up to the replay takes it's course the local senior hurling will be back up and running soon as the draw has been made. Oulart The Ballagh v Glynn Barntown, Shelmaliers v Rapparees, St Anne's v Buffers Alley- Ferns v Rathnure . St Martins and Cloughbawn are safe whereas The Harriers face Adamstown in the relegation final. Dates and times to follow.
The Queen and Brian I saw where the Queen was up in Scotland at the weekend. I hope she had good reception on the TV up there to enjoy the hurling. I’m told that she is best mates with Brian Cody now, always on the phone to him.
Maybe he cou7ld give her some advice on how to save Scotland, I see where she is very worried that they might break away from England. I wonder would she get less wages if she was not Queen of Scotland as well.
Finally Was this one of the best All-Ireland hurling finals ever played. That’s the question everyone has been asking since last Sunday. Well obviously I can’t go
back into the full history of it but I believe it was the best I have ever seen anyway. And finally, finally, Well done to The Harriers u-12s on winning the county final.
Wexford hosts annual rally this weekend With less than a week to go to the yearly sound of high revving engines letting their power loose on the roads of County Wexford, the mid and north end of the county getting the treat this year, all the leading contenders for the winners title this year are putting the final touch to mechanical and structural tweaks needed for the weekend. Local driver James Stafford, in his Darrian T90, will be trying to equal a feat that has only been done by Ger Buckley, Stephen Murphy and Eamonn Boland, to win the rally three times straight. Boland & Buckley have managed four wins on the trot, and Murphy has done five on the spin, but to manage to join those three names would put Stafford among the pantheon of greats among Wexford winners. Having had a decent run of form in rallies coming into the Wexford rally, it would be a foolish punter to bet against Stafford making it a hat trick of wins. Least anyone think
that a local winner of the rally would be an exception to the rule, since waiting until the 27th running of the rally for the first local winner, the afore mentioned Boland in 1997, there have only been five occasions since then that a Wexford driver has not taken the top step of the podium, Peader Hurson in 2001, Stephen Murphy in 2004 & 2005 and Damian Cole in 2010 & 2011. Should Cole or Stafford win the rally, they will join the list of drivers that have won three or more stagings of this event, Austin McHale and the legendary Billy Coleman along with the four or more time winners mentioned above being the only drivers to have that accolade. Where we are looking at Cole and Stafford, we better not forget that there is a quality field in the rally, there are three other WRC specification cars in the event as well as the Focus of Cole. Steve Simpson will be at the wheel of a Subaru Imprezza WRC, as will
Kildare man Kevin Barrett, while UK driver John Stone will pilot his Skoda Fabia WRC around the stages for the two days. Given that Cole leads Simpson by a margin of 34 points in the MSA REIS Asphalt championship, there maybe one or two people who will wonder at Simpson being seeded ahead of Cole. Also, given that the Cheviot rally in November is the final round in this championship, and the scoring allows drivers to count their best five rounds out of the eight, a decent points tally by any of the top crews in the standings could turn the current standings on their head, or having the opposite effect and extend the lead as in Cole's case should he out score his rivals. Many heads will be scratched and purse strings will be loosened after the Wexford rally to see who will have to do the Cheviot and see who will eventually prevail in the hunt for the overall title. Now that we are all suitably
confused, there is also the Triton showers South East Stages championship to look at. With Mickey Conlon leading this series by 4 points from Douglas Stewart, who in turn is 4 points ahead of Pierce Donahy, neither of these top three are entered for the Wexford rally. Fourth place driver, local man Andy Nash can take advantage in Wexford, with a good points haul could possibly move him into 2nd, or maybe even take the title taking the complicated scoring allowing for a double points scoring round and a discard round to be taken into consideration. Strangely enough, the only leading contender of the Triton showers series that has not taken his double points scoring round so far is James Coleman. Given that this is the final round, and this will be his doubler, a good finish could see him leap frog from his present 14th place up to a possible 3rd. A lot of head scratching and number crunching by Sunday evening
possible here. Given at the time of writing the rally is two cars short of a full entry, might we see some of the leading drivers not entered suddenly rush a cheque to the rally secretary at the last minute? As with Wexford rallies down the years, the two day format, relatively rare for a non international rally in Ireland, this rally will bring drivers from all corners of the country, and beyond, due to its plentiful stage miles and also the unique atmosphere among the crews during the overnight stop on the Saturday night. A lot of rivalries are put aside on the Saturday night over dinner and one or two drinks. Given that the second day has still to come, it is on the second night that stories go on long into the night as to how a better bend here, or a little later on the brakes there, could have meant the difference in class or overall positions. As for the rally itself, James Stafford will lead the cars
away from the Riverbank House Hotel at 09.15hrs on Saturday morning. The cars will take to stages in the Clohamon and Camolin areas, repeated three times to give six stages on the opening day. The second day will see the cars that have got through the first six stages relatively unscathed tackle nine stages on the closing day, a loop of stages in Ballynakill, Caim & Wilton being repeated three times, with whoever wins the rally leading the cars back to the Rally HQ, and a good champagne shower, at approximately 17.15hrs on Sunday. Service on both days will be in the mart yard on the Old Dublin Road in Enniscorthy. Will this be James Stafford for the third time in a row, Damian Cole to get his 3rd win or will Steve Simpson or John Stone or some of the others in the top 10 put a brand new name on the role of honour, only time, and approximately 230 stage kilometres, will tell.
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The
Chronicle September 10, 2014
Sport
Latter stages of Intermediate Championship going to be very competitive The two most impressive performances of the weekend were undoubtedly those put in by St James’ Ramsgrange and GlynnBarntown. The latter scored six goals in a highly impressive win over Clongeen winning by 6-7 to 0-11, while the former had an equally impressive win beating St Mary’s Rosslare by 3-20 to 0-7. Both teams have a lot of excellent footballers and should they meet it will be a difficult game to call. However one cannot dismiss the chances of Half-Way House
Bunclody, Bannow-Ballymitty or Taghmom-Camross either, as all three teams are quite capable and also had very good wins at the weekend, with Bannow beating Duffry Rovers 2-15 to 1-8, Taghmon having the better of Kilmore by 3-11 to 1-12 while Bunclody edged out Ferns by 2-11 to 1-10. All five teams have graced the senior grade recently and will be anxious to get up there again with Glynn-Barntown the most recent winners of the senior
championship in 1996 when the championship was run on a knockout basis, while Bunclody won two senior titles in the 80’s. Taghmon are developing a fine young team and beat Glynn in their second last encounter while St James’ will be very anxious to atone for the last two years when they were runners-up on each occasion. On their day, Bannow are a match for anyone and have one of the finest free-takers in the country in Ben Brosnan. So as we enter the quarter finals stage it is
all to play for and while GlynnBarntown and Ramsgrange would be most people’s favourites for the title, don’t rule out an upset. With regard to the Intermediate “A” championship, both St Joseph’s and Cloughbawn are making very good progress and could meet in the county final. However I feel that St Mary’s Maudlinstown, Naomh Eanna and Kilrush could also have a say in the destination of the title.
Dublin’s risky strategy comes unstuck In an interview in the Irish Times the Wednesday after the league final in which they beat Derry quite comfortably, Dublin full back Rory O’Carroll recalled a few moments in the win over the Oak Leaf county when he found himself isolated at full back as some of his defensive colleagues were marked absent. He was asked what exactly went through his mind and he stated the following: “Get back and help! Yeah, you are a bit exposed.
But when that happens, you might concede more but you’ll probably score more as well. It’s a calculated risk. And it is a tough way to play. But I think it makes you a better defender. There is that much space in front of you that the advantage is going to be with the forwards. But it depends on how the team is playing. If there’s no pressure on the ball coming in, it makes it a lot easier on the forwards. Just like if our forwards
are doing very well. It’s not just the one individual corner forward. It’s when the whole team are working together. It’s easier for everyone. It’s when the whole team doesn’t work that it’s easier on the opposition forwards” One could argue that this high risk strategy that O’Carroll refers to really came unstuck against Donegal last Sunday week, but it was on the cards as Dublin had conceded 13 goals and 117 points during the national football
league alone and there was no better man than Jim McGuinness to devise a strategy to exploit the Dubs defensive frailties. Of course it will probably be a different story against Kerry as their defence is likely to stay very much in position and the Donegal attack are unlikely to find as many gaps, but maestro McGuinness is quite likely to come up with another strategy to outwit Kerry plans. A very interesting final awaits!
Senior Football appointment needs to be made soon It would be important that a new senior football manager be appointed soon so that he can get a chance to see as many games as possible as we are about to enter the knock-out stages of the various football championships. It is critical that the right appointment is made as the county team is very much in transition after some great years, the highlight of which was an All-Ireland semi-final appearance in 2008. It would be only fair to point out that the last manager,
Aidan O’Brien, did a very good job in difficult circumstances as a number of players retired and quality players such as Redmond Barry and David Murphy were always going to be very difficult to replace. Aidan introduced a number of new players while also keeping the county in Division 3, a division which is now very competitive. He also presided over two fine away wins in the Championship, against Louth in 2013 and Longford this year.
Referee makes correct decision at end What an absolutely enthralling All-Ireland hurling final last Sunday which neither team deserved to lose. That decision at the end to give Tipperary a free was an absolutely correct one to make as Brian Hogan jumped into his opponent with the ball. How often have we seen these decisions given to the forward in Gaelic Games to the utter frustration of the defender? We saw an example of this in
the Kerry-Mayo football replay in extra time when a Kerry forward basically fell into a Mayo defender yet was given a free in. That free was pointed and was crucial to the overall outcome of the game. Out of fairness to defenders who spend a lot of their time at training perfecting the tackle, referees need to get these decisions correct. So credit to Barry Kelly for making a brave, yet very correct call last Sunday.
The
Chronicle September 10, 2014
20
Wexford Town’s Festive Lighting Fundraiser a huge success! Wexford Retailers in association with local businesses, End of Summer Street BBQ held at The Stores Charlotte Street on Friday 5th September, raised vital funds for the running and upkeep of Wexford’s Christmas Lights. Funds were raised from the sale of tickets to the event and raffle tickets sold on the night. The crowd started to arrive after work at 6 pm and the last of the summer sun kept them out on Charlotte Street singing and dancing to the sound of John Steward followed by The Unusual Suspects. Lots of scrumptious burgers
& sausages were consumed by hungry revelers, sponsored by Scallan’s Food Service & Catering Supplies, cooked and served by staff from The Stores. Raffle prizes were kindly donated by O’Briens Sandwich Bars, Specsavers Wexford, Spiegeltent Festival, Sam McCauleys, Boots Chemist, Wexford Arts Centre, Wexford Festival Opera and Gainfort Hair & Beauty Supplies. All proceeds will go towards ensuring that Wexford town looks its best and attracts Christmas shoppers from all over the South East. The scene in Charlotte Street on Friday evening.
Therese Byrne and Katie O’Connor in a happy mood at the End of Summer BBQ
Una O’Dowd and Charlene White, Pics by Patrick Hogan
Mayor to attend Barry ceremony as row is resolved The Commodore John Barry Ceremony in Wexford town next Sunday will go ahead with the full participation of the Mayor George Lawlor and members of the Municipal District Council following a meeting of minds between the organisers of the event, former Mayors of Wexford and Cllr. Lawlor at the weekend. Earlier there had been strong criticism of the organisers from current councillors (as reported in last week’s Chronicle) and the Mayor, who had not been
informed that the event was taking place, had vowed to stay away. However, both sides made up at a meeting on Saturday and a full scale ceremony will now go ahead.. The event will Commodore John Barry , founder of the American Navy, and also to pay tribute to the brave Wexford seamen who lost their lives at sea during world war two and immediately afterwards will be held at the John Barry Statue , Cresent Quay, Wexford at 12 noon on
Sunday next.. Councillor George Lawlor will lay a wreath on behalf of the people of Wexford at the Statue and Lt. Col. Sean Cosden will lay the wreath on behalf of the Government and people of the United States of America. Mr. Philip Dillon will lay a wreath on behalf of the Barry family. Brendan Howlin T.D. Minister for Reform and Public Expenditure has been invited to lay the wreath to pay tribute to our own Wexford
seamen.. The St. Patricks Fife and Drum Band will be in attendance to play the national Anthems of Ireland and the United States of America and the Wexford Scouts will form a Guard of Honour at the plinth. The ceremony is being organised by Public Representatives Retired a group set up by former Mayors of Wexford and former members of Wexford Borough Council. As a result of the local elections and the
abolition of the Wexford Borough Council no official ceremony was held this year. In a statement the organisers said : The P.R.R. group is organising and financing this event on a one year only basis to ensure continuity for a ceremony which has taken place each year since the unveiling of the statue on Sunday September 16th 1956. The Group looks forward to the return of the normal commemoration event from next year onwards. Public Representatives
Retired would like to place on record our sincere thanks to the Mayor of Wexford ,the members of Wexford Borough District Council and Minister Brendan Howlin for their goodwill and cooperation in relation to the commemoration and also the officials of the Council . We sincerely thank St Patricks Fife and Drum Band and the Wexford Scouts and last but not least Mr. Gordon Rochford who is the marshal for the event.’