The official launch of ‘The Shannon Way’ project took place on 16th July 2025 at Armstrong’s Range, The Shannon, Enniscorthy, with a tree being jointly planted by Enniscorthy Community Alliance Chairman Billy Murphy and Cathaoirleach of Enniscorthy Municipal District Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy. See pages 18-20.
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Welcome to the August issue of the Slaney News.
Last month the Enniscorthy Community Alliance launched its latest initiative: ‘The Shannon Way’ project – a dynamic communityled effort to rejuvenate Enniscorthy’s eastside through environmental and public space improvements. Read all about it on pages 18-20.
This month we can reveal progress on a number of important Enniscorthy Municipal District undertakings. A sod-turning event for Phase 2 of the Enniscorthy Sports Hub (athletics track) will take place on Friday 8th August. The new Murphy-Flood’s car-park, which will cater for 37 cars, is expected to open later this month. And the official opening of the new Community Activity Garden at St. John’s Community Hospital will take place at the beginning of September.
In other welcome news, two new pedestrian crossings will be put in place at the top of Wafer Street, Enniscorthy, with work starting probably this September/October.
August is a quiet month festival-wise in Enniscorthy but it will certainly be busy down the road in Wexford town as over 650,000 people are expected to visit there over the week of the Fleadh, 3-10th August. If you’re one of those visitors – enjoy!
We include as always a huge number of photos taken around Enniscorthy, and beyond. If you would like to purchase any of our photos please get in touch by email at slaneynews@gmail.com
If you have any news or photos you’d like us to share in the Slaney News, please email them to slaneynews@gmail.com and we will do our best to include as much as possible. Also, please let us know what you think about our online format. Tel: 087-2403310, slaneynews@gmail.com or message us through our Facebook page, ‘Slaney News’, which now has 13,500 Followers. And, of course, if you like our format please spread the word so we can grow our online readership. Thank you
Everything on site for all the family this summer: ☀ Horse and pony trekking ☀ Coffee dock & chipper ☀ Live music
Any cyclists passing our way call in for a cup of coffee. Loads of things to do in the area: Kayaking in Fethard-on-Sea, relaxing walks in Tintern Abbey, great food in our local pubs. To book, call or whatsapp Margaret on 087 271 8803. For rent, choose between: ☀ Self-catering cottages ☀ Pod ☀ Caravan – sleeps 2 adults and 2 children.
SLANEY NEWS
Barbara-Anne Murphy COUNCILLOR
Enniscorthy Technology
KILCANNON GARDEN CENTRE AND RESTAURANT
Old Dublin Road, Enniscorthy. Tel: 053 92 35514. Find us on www.reachability.ie and www.facebook.com/KilcannonGC
Kilcannon Garden Centre - Your Ultimate Garden Destination
August is rolling in, and with it comes fresh stock and leafy new arrivals at Kilcannon Garden Centre & Restaurant, just outside Enniscorthy! We’ve just unpacked a stunning delivery of houseplants, including the highly sought-after Monstera Thai Constellation! You’ll also find: Fresh seasonal bedding plants, lush hanging baskets, beautiful window boxes. All carefully grown and arranged to brighten up your garden or patio. Don’t forget about our NEW potting service where we come to your house! Check out our Facebook for more details. Don’t let the warm weather slow you down, pop in for one of our delicious iced coffees and enjoy a relaxing stroll through the garden centre. Or take a seat in our newly renovated restaurant and treat yourself to something from our daily changing menu, featuring vegetables straight from our on-site garden, thanks to our Tunnel to Tummy initiative.
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday: 9am – 5.30pm. Closed on Sundays – both Garden Centre & Restaurant. Whether you're looking for gardening inspiration, fresh local food, or just a peaceful wander, make Kilcannon part of your August routine. Follow us on social media for the latest arrivals, seasonal tips, and daily specials!
Tim and Fiona Phelan invite you to visit their stylish cafe at the National 1798 Rebellion Centre in Enniscorthy. The Ballymaloe-trained couple are making full use of a new, top-of-the-range kitchen to offer exceptional food produced in-house as well as supporting local artisan suppliers. The cafe serves mouth-watering breakfast and lunch menus Mon-Fri 9am to 4.30pm, with daily specials, and brunch on Saturdays 10am to 3pm. Closed on Sundays. Takeaway and Outside Catering also available.
We pride ourselves on using the freshest local ingredients from Wexford’s leading food producers – from farm to fork!
Closed for summer break 3rd-10th August
The Fleadh is now in full swing in Wexford town. Find all the information you need on: www.wexapp.ie/fleadhcheoilapp which includes schedules of events, information on local venues, transport options and other key information. Also, check out: www.fleadhcheoil.ie
Our pics from the opening ceremony on 3rd August are by Mary Browne. ■
Greyhound racing every Monday and Thursday in Enniscorthy
Greyhound Racing in Enniscorthy is now on every Monday and Thursday.
Enjoy the fun and the craic at Enniscorthy Track.
Group rates available.
Cafe, bar, shop, hot food available, outdoor and indoor seating.
Contact the office for more details: 053 923 3172 / Tel: 087 4893859.
Follow on social media for updates. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/enniscorthygreyhound.track
New board, same great community service
Best of luck to Templeshannon Community & Childcare Centre's new Board of Management and managers for the coming 12 months.
Eastside residents can look forward to another year of high quality services in this wonderful centre which is a real beehive of activity every day of the week, all year round. ■
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Enniscorthy snippets...
VINEGAR HILL
New seating has been installed. Design and content work on new Heritage Interpretive panels is under way. Parking and access improvements to Vinegar Hill are being investigated by Wexford Co. Council (WCC). €44,000 in grant funding is being sought by Enniscorthy Municipal District (EMD) for signage and lane surface improvement works. The Enniscortrhy East Community Development Association believes it has identified a site that could be used to allow access to the Hill for buses etc, and could potentially house a new welcome centre/coffee shop/toilets, etc and have been in touch with EMD officials about it.
ST JOHN’S COMMUNITY WELLBEING & ACTIVITY GARDEN
Work commenced on site in September 2024 and is almost complete. The amphitheatre, raised planter beds, macadam footpaths, and water feature has been installed on this site. Electric ducting and water have been installed. Granite seating has also been installed. Thanks to S&N granite who sponsored some of the granite for this project.
The lawned and wildflower areas have also been prepared and are now planted. Great work has been carried out by the patients under the supervision of HSE Staff with the advice and assistance of Mr. Eoin Leacy, Horticulturalist Manager at Kilcannon Garden Centre, in planting some of the flower beds. Some musical instruments are on order (similar to those in the Orchard Peace Park) and will be delivered in a couple of weeks’ time. The project is due to open to the public at the beginning of September.
ENNISCORTHY TOWN CENTRE REGENERATION PROJECT
The Part 8 process for the Market Square project was concluded on 9th September 2024, with the Council approving the scheme with amendments to address matters raised during the public consultation process.
Design work on the Enniscorthy Castle Quarter project is ongoing including a permanent exhibition area to allow the display of artefacts donated by local families to the old museum at the Castle, and the installation of public toilet facilities. The purchase of the old Castle Ballroom is complete and archaeological, ground investigation and ecological surveys are expected to commence shortly. WCC is collaborating with the Dept of Housing, Local Government and Heritage around the Ministerial Consent process (as the Castle site is a national monument).
Regarding the Templeshannon element of the TCFP, Wexford Co. Council has prepared a concept mainly for the swimming pool site and presented it at the April Enniscorthy Municipal District (EMD) meeting.
The above projects can only proceed if WCC is successful is securing government URDF funding.
ENNISCORTHY CCTV
A total of 22 CCTV cameras will be installed at different locations within Enniscorthy Town which have been agreed with An Garda Siochana. The scheme is expected to act as a deterrent to crime and anti-social behaviour, improve public safety, assist emergency services when investigating incidents, and assist the Local Authority in the management of public areas for the wellbeing of the town. The CCTV system should be fully operational by mid October.
The Bunclody CCTV Scheme is still awaiting Section 38 Approval from the Gardaí.
ENNISCORTHY SPORTS HUB
A works contractor – Kevin Thorpe Ltd – for the second phase (sports equipment storage area, changing rooms, toilets, showers, and a small office) of the Sports Hub has been appointed. A sod-turning event will take place on Friday 8th August. The project should take 9-12 months to complete.
ENNISCORTHY NORTH BUSINESS DISTRICT (Old Dublin Road)
Some works have been carried out in recent years on the Enniscorthy North Business District (Old Dublin Road) where over 2,000 people currently work. An application for further funding was submitted to the National Transport Authority for the active travel elements of the masterplan for the area but no funding was forthcoming for 2023 or 2024. A further application for funding is being made for 2025.
MURPHY FLOODS SITE
This new carpark will add 37 more carparking spaces for the town. The carpark includes pedestrian linkages to both the Mainstreet via a set of concrete steps and a pathway/ramp to the Dunnes Stores side. Provision
has been made for additional public lighting. Development of the site has opened up the centre of the town and will provide important linkages between Mainstreet, Irish Street, Barrack Street and Island Road. The car-park is expected to open in the next couple of weeks.
A valuation on the site has recently been received in the order of €280,000. It is recommended by WCC that the site be placed on the market subject to a development clause. The valuation stated that the current viability of the site would be challenging from a development perspective due to development costs.
ENNISCORTHY FLOOD RELIEF SCHEME
The Scheme is now proceeing on a phased basis.
Phase 1 – Bridgeworks. This phase of the project will include the construction of the new River Slaney Bridge, the removal of the Seamus Rafter Bridge, and the construction of a new pedestrian bridge in the town centre. Public consultation took place in the Riverside Park Hotel, Enniscorthy, on Tuesday 13th May. The estimated timeline to planning submission is Q1 2026.
Phase 2 – Flood Relief Works. This phase of the scheme will include the construction of the remaining flood relief measures for Enniscorthy town. There is no timescale available yet for this phase. An engineering consultant will be appointed in the third quarter of 2025 to help advance Phase 2.
The Scheme has a total approved budget of €51m approx. On completion, the scheme is expected to protect 326 properties – 159 homes and 167 businesses.
BUNCLODY PARK
A Stage 2 Natura Impact Statement, plans and particulars were submitted to An Bord Pleanala under Section 177AE. The application was approved with conditions. WCC Property Section is in discussion with local landowners.
PAIRC NA GABHAR BUNCLODY
A Public Consultation event took place in April in St. Aidan’s Hall Bunclody. All comments were taken on board. The Part 8 Planning was lodged on the 28th April 2025. Applications have been submitted for funding to the Community Recognition Fund Scheme and the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. If the funding applications are successful, the project will be progressed further.
RAFTER STREET PEDESTRIANISATION
New recessed bollard mounts and bollards have been installed with a facility for the Emergency Services to have access. EMD is now strictly enforcing the pedestrianisation. New signage has been erected stating current byelaw times – between 10.00am and 4.30pm, Monday to Friday. The possibility of extending the pedestrianisation hours to cover Saturdays and Sundays will be looked at.
ALL-WEATHER ASTRO PITCH, ROSS ROAD
The official opening took place on 24th February 2025. To contact the facility, email: wexfordfootballalliance@gmail.com
ENNISCORTHY TRAILS
Works are ongoing on design and planning to extend the trail network to link to the Ringwood and Borodale trails.
PUBLIC PAYPHONE UPGRADE
A new upgraded payphone and a public information interactive touch screen has been installed on Rafter Street. Broadband/Wi-Fi will be installed. The digital screen can be used to promote upcoming events in Enniscorthy Municipal District and across the county.
ENNISCORTHY TECHNOLOGY PARK PHASE 2
The Technical Consultancy Services Contract has been awarded for Stage (i) to (v) design services. Site investigations are complete, and design work is ongoing. It is anticipated the tender for construction works will be published in Q3 2025.
ENNISCORTHY TECHNOLOGY PARK – IDA ADVANCE FACTORY
The Technical Consultancy Services Contract has been awarded for an architect-led design team to prepare a planning application for a proposed advance factory building in Enniscorthy Technology Park. Site investigations are complete, and design work is ongoing. It is anticipated the planning application will be lodged in Q3 2025. ■
SEE COMPETITION RUNNING ON THE SLANEY NEWS FACEBOOK PAGE AND YOU COULD WIN TWO TICKETS TO THIS AMAZING SHOW
Simply the Best coming to Enniscorthy this September
Band is an exhilarating tribute act that pays homage to the one and only Tina Turner. With a high-energy performance, sensational vocals, and authentic recreations of Tina's signature moves, this event promises to be an electrifying experience that captures the essence of Tina herself. What to Expect:
★ An explosive live performance featuring Tina Turner's greatest hits, including ‘Proud Mary’, ‘Nutbush City Limits’, ‘What's Love Got to Do with It’, and more.
★ Authentic costumes, choreography, and stage presence that will make you feel like you're witnessing Tina Turner herself in her prime.
★ A night of entertainment that will have you dancing, singing, and reminiscing about Tina's timeless classics.
★ A celebration of Tina Turner's music for fans of all ages.
Proud Mary and Her City Limits Band is led by the talented Amanda Lane, whose powerful vocals and striking resemblance to Tina Turner will leave you in awe. Backed by a dynamic band and talented backup dancers, this tribute act will bring Tina's music to life with an energy and passion that mirrors the real Queen of Rock 'n' Roll.
Don't miss your chance to experience the magic of Tina Turner's music live on stage, Saturday 6th September 2025, in the Riverside Park Hotel, Enniscorthy. ■
An Invitation to...
by Seamus Whitney and Mary Hickey
Are you a student or a parent of a student soon to be making decisions regarding College, Career and CAO options? If so, this is for you: Seamus Whitney and Mary Hickey would like to invite you to the launch of their recently published book ‘The College & Career Companion: Navigating the CAO System in Ireland'.
Join us for an evening of informative discussions featuring our two guest speakers: Nettie Bowie, Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist with NorthStar Counselling & Therapy Centre, Enniscorthy, and Niall Reck of Graphedia Superlative Website Design, Wexford and Kildare.
There will be ample opportunity for Questions and Answers on the night and there will be a team of experienced advisors to help you with your queries. Copies of The College & Career Companion will of course be available to purchase on the night also.
The Launch date and time is Friday, 12th September, at 7pm.
The Location is The Presentation Centre, Convent Road, Enniscorthy, Y21 X889. Refreshments served at 7pm with the official launch and discussion starting at 7.30pm.
This is a Free Event but those wishing to attend must RSVP prior to Monday 8th September to book your place. Students, Parents and Teachers are welcome to attend.
RSVP to Mary by Message or WhatsApp at 087 6759055.
Exciting news for early years education in Co. Wexford!
Co. Wexford’s newest development in Early Years education is now underway just outside Oulart village. This ambi tious project is being undertaken by the multi-awardwinning team, Orlagh and James Doyle, who are behind both Carraig Briste and Killegney Early Years centres near Enniscorthy and Clonroche respectively.
The new Oulart state-of-the-art project is nestled on a charm ing, historic farm that has been in the same family for generations. It will be known as Winston & Willows with the name coming from the two puppies who are part of Orlagh and James’ in-house therapy dog team.
The elaborate development consists of the demolition of exist ing outbuildings and the erection of a 335.50 sq.m. early years care & learning centre, a 24 sq.m. separate staff room and toilet, the conversion of an existing outbuilding to an outside play shelter comprising of 48 sq.m. play area and ancillary storage loft of 14 sq.m., together with an outside play area, on-site parking facilities, bored well water supply, sewage treatment system to EPA Code of Practice, new vehicular entrance, new roadside boundary wall and all other ancillary site works.
Regarding the overall project, Orlagh says, “It’s a privilege to breathe new life and energy into this special space – blending heritage with innovation to create an inspiring environment for young learners. We can’t wait to welcome families and little ones to a place where tradition meets the future of education.”
The manager of the new Oulart centre will be local woman Ciara Donohoe who started her career in Carraig Briste in 2015. Her talent in Early Years was immediately evident, and she progressed into senior management by 2016. Orlagh says, “Ciara’s passion for quality in Early Years is simply exceptional. We are delighted Ciara will get the opportunity to work closer to home and bring the renowned principles and ethos of Carraig Briste and Killegney Early Years to the community of Oulart and its surrounding areas.”
The new facility will take in its first cohort of children in September 2026 but enquiries and bookings should be made straight away. With extensive waiting lists for both Carraig Briste and Killegney, this new facility will book out quickly so potential users will need to act fast. For enquiries, tel: (053) 923 8119, email: carraigbriste@gmail.com Follow Winston & Willows on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/winstonandwillowsearlyyears26/
We’ll carry regular updates in the Slaney News magazine and on our Facebook page as this wonderful new development progresses. ■
Winston & Willows Early Years proprietor Orlagh Doyle (above right) at her award-winning Carraig Briste centre near Enniscorthy.
Ciara Donohoe, manager of the new Winston & Willows Early Years centre.
The journey so far.... from overgrown outbuildings (top left) to roof level (bottom right) of the new Winston & Willows Early Years care and learning centre just outside Oulart village. Act now to secure a place for September 2026. For enquiries, tel: (053) 923 8119, or email: carraigbriste@gmail.com
Above: The site in Oulart before work commenced.
‘The Shannon Way’ is launched
Armstrong’s Range, The Shannon, Enniscorthy, 16th July 2025
The Enniscorthy Community Alliance (ECA) was proud to officially launch on 16th July 2025 its latest initiative: ‘The Shannon Way’ project – a dynamic community-led effort to rejuvenate Enniscorthy East through environmental and public space improvements. The launch took place at Armstrong’s Range, The Shannon, with a tree being jointly planted by ECA Chairman Billy Murphy and Cathaoirleach of Enniscorthy Municipal District Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy to mark the special occasion.
Building on the success of the Alliance’s ongoing Plants and Places project, which has been active since 2024, The Shannon Way project will focus on transforming neglected public spaces and strengthening community pride and safety. The initiative will create a vibrant "clean and green mile" stretching from Railway Square to Drumgoold, encouraging local residents to reclaim and enjoy public walkways, laneways, and green areas.
In addition to beautifying the landscape, the project will engage local youth and community members in activities aimed at tackling litter, illegal dumping, and poorly maintained spaces. These efforts will be supported by training programmes at The Hut – the new Community Hub at Captain Wafer Hall, where individuals and groups can learn skills in sustainability, community development, and local safety.
The Shannon Way is being led by the En-
niscorthy Community Alliance, with strong support from partners including Enniscorthy East Community Development Association, Enniscorthy Tidy Towns, Enniscorthy Municipal District, and Wexford County Council.
The initiative has been made possible through generous funding from the Department of Justice’s Community Safety Fund.
After months of planning and community consultation, the Shannon Way has now officially entered its implementation
phase. “This is about reclaiming our town for the community,” said Billy Murphy, Chairperson of the Enniscorthy Community Alliance. “We want people to take pride in where they live, and we believe The Shannon Way will help make that happen.”
Residents are encouraged to get involved in this exciting transformation. Visit: www.enniscorthycommunityalliance.org Email: enniscorthyca@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/enniscorthycommunityalliance ■
Great turnout at Armstrong’s Range on 16th July 2025 for the official launch of ‘The Shannon Way’ project.
Marking the official launch of The Shannon Way project, L-R: Cllr John O’Rourke, Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy (Cathaoirleach of Enniscorthy Municipal District), Julie Whelan (Enniscorthy East Community Development Association), Claire Lawless (Enniscorthy Municipal District Manager), Seamus Whitney (Enniscorthy East Community Development Association), John Jude Murphy (Project Coordinator, Enniscorthy Community Alliance), Billy Murphy (Chairperson, Enniscorthy Community Alliance), Brian O’Neill (Enniscorthy Town Foreman).
Some photos kindly provided by Enjoy Enniscorthy https://www.facebook.com/enjoyenniscorthy
Top: Marking the official launch of The Shannon Way project. Above left: Brian O’Neill (Enniscorthy Town Foreman), Claire Lawless (Enniscorthy Municipal District Manager), Cllr John O’Rourke. Above centre: Niamh Hogan (Enniscorthy Community Alliance), Seamus Whitney (Enniscorthy East Community Development Association), Julie Whelan (Enniscorthy East Community Development Association), John Jude Murphy (Enniscorthy Community Alliance). Above right: Seamus Whitney chatting to Julie Grant (Wexford Local Development). Below left: John Jude Murphy. Below centre: Sarah Kelly, Leah Larkin, Elaine Murphy with two young helpers. Below right: Eugene Corrigan, Shane O’Brien, Margaret O’Brien, Paddy Doyle. Bottom left: Enniscorthy Tidy Towns stalwarts Jonathon Hughes and Phil Millar. Bottom centre: Garda Tom McGee with Graham Cadogan. Bottom right: Some local attendees along with Alfie the dog.
‘The
Shannon Way’ is launched Armstrong’s Range, The
Shannon, Enniscorthy, 16th July 2025
Top row L-R:
1. Robbie Sludds and Vicky Pullen of FDYS.
2. Julie Whelan, Bridget O’Brien, and Margaret Brady.
3. Journalist and broadcaster Dan Walsh with Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy (Cathaoirleach, Enniscorthy Municipal District).
4. Bella Hogan-Hickey and Paul Hickey.
Left: Seamus Whitney addresses the gathering.
Above: Tree pruning at Armstrong’s Range has opened up a beautiful ‘archway’ view over Enniscorthy town.
Right: The newly planted tree to mark the official launch of The Shannon Way project with the nearby large new planter in full bloom.
Enter the Tidy Towns awards
Enniscorthy Tidy Towns (ETT) is pleased to announce details of its annual awards competition! This annual FREE-toenter competition always proves very popular each year with local residents and businesses.
The group would love to see lots of entries for Gardens, Shopfronts, Window Boxes & Hanging Baskets, Most Improved Premises, Industrial Premises, Tidiest Street, Sustainability, and Housing Estates. It would be great to see local areas promoting health and thriving biodiversity. An award for Nature and Biodiversity, in memory of Mark Stanely, will also be handed out.
Entry Forms are available from the Enniscorthy Municipal District Office, Market Square, and from Enniscorthy Tidy Towns volunteers or by emailing enniscorthytt@gmail.com. Entry forms should be returned to the Council Office, an ETT committee member or email enniscorthytt@gmail.com
The closing date for entries is Friday, 22nd August 2025, so get yours in without delay.
Best of luck to all entries. And thank you to Enniscorthy Tidy Towns and all those who enter this competition for helping to make Enniscorthy a cleaner and greener town. ■
Important: Members of the public may nominate themselves or others in any category.
Major investment has been secured for forests and forest trails throughout Co. Wexford under the National €4 Million Coillte Scheme.
Welcoming the announcement, Minister James Browne TD said, “€35,000 has been allocated to repair the Spike Bridge in Courtown whilst €27,000 has been assigned to develop a new link trail within the existing forest trail in Tintern. These upgrade works are very welcome to improve safety and accessibility of these natural amenities. There are further allocations for maintenance works throughout the county... in Ballyfad, Camolin Park, Carrickbyrne, Dunanore, Mount Nebo, Oaklands, Park Wood, Ramsfort Park and Tara Hill.” ■
IFAC’s new Enniscorthy office
Ifac, now one of Ireland's leading accounting, tax, and business advisory firms, is pleased to announce the opening of its new and larger office in Enniscorthy.
Located at the newly developed Peare Campus on the Old Dublin Road, the new office underscores ifac’s strategic expansion across Ireland and coincides with the firm’s 50th anniversary this year.
The expanded team in Enniscorthy provides a full range of services, including tax, audit, payroll, and financial planning, tailored to support farmers, food and agribusinesses, and SMEs throughout the county.
The expansion aligns with ifac’s longstanding values of trust, community, and excellence, and its ongoing commitment to delivering expert local service to clients across the region.
Ashling Kavanagh, Partner at ifac Enniscorthy, expressed her enthusiasm about the new chapter: “We’re delighted to open our new office here in Enniscorthy. This expansion reflects our continued growth and our dedication to the clients and communities we serve. With our talented team and broader range of services, we’re better positioned than ever to support the success of local businesses and farms.”
Brendan Lawlor, Chair of ifac, said: “Congratulations to Ashling and the entire Enniscorthy team on the opening of
Opening of the new ifac office in Enniscorthy: John Donoghue, CEO; Ashling Kavanagh, Partner; and Brendan Lawlor, Chair; alongside members of ifac’s Enniscorthy and wider team.
this fantastic new office. It’s a significant milestone that reflects their hard work, dedication, and strong relationships with clients. This expansion forms part of our investment in the future and the communities where we operate. I wish the team every success as they continue to grow and support their local community.”
With its growing 30-office footprint, today ifac boasts a dedicated team of 580 professionals supporting almost 30,000 clients across the country, including 18,000 producers, 3,000 clients in the agri-food sector, and 9,000 SMEs with a full suite of professional services, includ-
ing accounting, tax, audit, corporate finance, consultancy, corporate recovery, payroll, financial planning, company secretarial, and business valuations.
Contact: Ifac, 11/12 Peare Campus, Moyne Business Park, Old Dublin Road, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford. Tel: 053 9233792.
Wexford Co. Council has announced that it will commence planning for the provision of a Columbarium Wall in Enniscorthy graveyard.
A columbarium wall is a structure, often within a cemetery, that contains individual compartments (niches) designed to hold urns containing cremated remains. These niches are typically closed with a plaque bearing the deceased's name and memorial details.
Meanwhile, Enniscorthy Tidy Towns has installed two 210-litre water butts at St. Mary's Cemetery at the public toilet building. So if you are tending to graves at the lower part of the graveyard, please use this sustainably harvested rainwater. This project has been made possible with funding from the Local Authority Waters Programme and a big ‘thank you’ to Smyth’s Homevalue who supplied these water butts.
Also with the patron fast approaching, please help the graveyard and parish committees, workers, and volunteers by keeping it clean and tidy and not overfilling the bins with plants, compost or large volumes of waste. ■
An example of a columbarium wall, for illustration purposes.
Shopfront Painting & Flower Grant Scheme 2025
There was a fantastic response to the Enniscorthy Municipal District Shopfront Painting & Flower Grant Scheme 2025. The total number of applications received/eligible were as follows:
The total cost of the scheme for this year is estimated at approximately €17,700.
The Flower Scheme deadline for submitting receipts was 17th July.
The Paint/Awning deadline for completion of works is 11th September.
The scheme was introduced to improve the attractiveness of the town and make it a better to place to live, work and invest. ■
Alejandro is over the moon
Enniscorthy's Mick Abidoye, well known in national boxing circles, has made a touching gesture to one of his biggest young fans, Alejandro Mizsan, by gifting him the singlet Mick wore during his fight at the Éire Season 003 event last month.
Alejandro, from Enniscorthy, is just 10 years old but has already shown incredible bravery. Last November, he was seriously injured in a vicious XL Bully dog attack while playing outside his home. The attack left him with life-changing injuries, and he was airlifted to Crumlin Children’s Hospital in Dublin, where he spent several weeks recovering. He’s still undergoing treatment, but his strength and determination have been an inspiration to many. Since then, Alejandro has developed a real love for boxing and the Éire Season events. He’s especially a big fan of Mick Abidoye and his brother Raul Flow, and he never misses a chance to watch them fight.
So when Mick recently gave him his fight-worn singlet and a special “Truth” boxing t-shirt, Alejandro was over the moon. Alejandro is now getting ready to attend the Wexford Éire Season event this September, where he’ll proudly walk in holding the Cruiserweight Belt for Mick “The Truth” Abidoye’s big homecoming fight. A powerful moment for a brave young fan—and a reminder of how much sport can uplift and connect people. ■
Water butt on the side of toilet building at St. Mary's Cemetery.
A monthly update from GreenTech HQ
“While others debate whether AI matters, you'll be implementing it.” That was the focus of the recent AI Masterclass Roundtable in Manufacturing, hosted by GreentechHQ, Enniscorthy, and proudly co-hosted by County Wexford Chamber.
Led by Gearoid Kearney (RDI Hub), this session guided manufacturing leaders through a practical, proven framework to:
Discover AI opportunities tailored to their operations
Define measurable AI goals and roadmaps
Develop clear, step-by-step plans for AI adoption
Focus on personal AI usage and set goals for future growth.
This 90-minute session offered space for real conversations and thoughtful insights on how AI can be integrated meaningfully into everyday business operations.
Key takeaways for manufacturers:
Use AI as a co-pilot, not a replacement – it should enhance people and processes.
Build AI awareness and skills across your team.
Don’t wait for perfection – test, learn, and adapt early. This successful event was made possible by GreenTech HQ, County Wexford Chamber, Gearóid Kearney and RDI Hub, and everyone who joined in the forward-thinking and practical discussion. ■ From identifying real-world AI opportunities to creating actionable strategies, attendees left with practical tools to drive transformation in their businesses.
L-R: Ed Murphy (GreenTech HQ), Paula Roche (CEO, County Wexford Chamber), Gearoid Kearney (RDI Hub).
w M u r p h y F l o o d s c a r p a r k
The development of a temporary carpark at the Murphy Floods site in Enniscorthy commenced on Tuesday 13th May, and is scheduled to open later this month. The project was costed at around €150,000.
The carpark includes pedestrian linkages to both the Main Street via a set of concrete steps and a pathway/ramp to the Dunnes Stores side. The area that will not be under macadam is being suitably landscaped. Provision has been made for additional public lighting as requested by the local Councillors
Scholarship Draw now open
and in particular by Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy. Drainage has been put in place, kerbing laid, the green spaces landscaped, and line-marking works completed. When open, the new carpark will add 37 more carparking spaces for the town centre.
This new carpark is just a temporary one. The plan is to put the site, which has been professionally valued at €280,000, on the open market in the hope that a commercial business will take it over and develop it. ■
The 2025 Enniscorthy Credit Union Scholarship Draw is now open for applications from student members in any year. There is a PLC prize as well as Third Level bursary prizes. It is just one of the many ways Enniscorthy Credit Union gives something back to its members.
Apply online here: https://www.enniscorthycu.ie/services/studentbursary/ or call into any office and pick up an application form. 1st Prize €1,500 for 3 years. 2nd Prize €1,000 for 3 years. PLC Prize of €500.
Closing date: October 25th 2025. Draw: November 11th 2025. ■ N e
THE “15 %” TARRIFF ON EU GOODS TO AMERICA DEBACLE
The saga continues. Donald Trump set out on a mission to change the way the world does business. In his eyes he wants to set right a wrong perpetrated on the American people. “America has been taken advantage of for far too long.” This is a phrase he repeats on a daily basis that goes down well with his M.A.G.A. base.
He has portrayed himself as the king of deal-making. The first problem with this narrative is that you have to make the deals to hold onto that title. The second problem is that once you do a deal it should be binding and not unilaterally altered at will. Trump has been all over the shop with his tariff chart using it as leverage with other countries. This is the same template that he used in his business ventures but America is not a company and there are many knock-on effects which will become clear as time goes on.
I have to point out at this juncture that Trump has had difficulties in business ventures over the years resulting in insolvency and bankruptcy. So it is fair to say his M.O. is not that factually sound. Talk to people surrounding Trump’s organisations over the years, like banks and contractors, and they will tell you that he has modelled his style of presidency akin to the C.E.O. of his companies. He creates a wild and unpredictable ride that usually does not end well. Sticking to a deal is not what he does for a living, and after announcing a deal with the EU they claim that Pharma will be treated differently with additional tariffs to be imposed at a later date.
What he is doing in the White House smacks like the threecard trick. Stability should be the
TOWN TALK
WITH KEITH DOYLE
cornerstone for any government. America has frequently unnerved the stock markets which benefited financially some insiders who were aware of his next move. He also risked the bond markets. This is more dangerous and could have exposed America to serious liquidity issues so he had to roll back to calm the markets.
As this process continues he will isolate friendly allies more and weaken the dollar even more than the 15% it has already lost. Take his neighbour Canada. The Canadians have taken the view that due to what Trump is doing to them they consider America as a hostile nation. More so than Russia right now. They boo the American anthem at sports events. They have boycotted American alcohol and tourism resulting in figures of a downturn of up to 50% in the last few months. Other countries are actively sourcing other markets to trade with which may destabilise the already weakening dollar as the go-to currency worldwide. This will delight the B.R.I.C.S. countries most notably China who wants the Yen to be the global go-to currency for trade.
So how do you spot the three-card trick? The sleight of hand will be seen fairly quickly by the American public. So the revenue generated by implementing the tariff system will generate trillions of dollars into the coffers of the treasury. This will seem like it will “Make America Wealthy Again”. This was a very popular slogan Trump had during his campaign.
One has to delve into Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” passed recently to see where the money is going to go. Medicare will be slashed and tax cuts will favour the rich. In the meantime the tariffs will make products far more expensive for the American public causing inflation and a recession. It’s common sense and it is history repeating itself. The last time this process was dabbled with ended in death and destruction on a large scale. Remember the great depression in the 1920s? I rest my case your honour. ■
A further €2m in LEADER grants available for niche tourism, food, and circular economy businesses
Wexford is alive with innovation, from our award-winning artisan food producers to our eco-friendly tourism experiences that attract thousands of visitors to our county each year.
LEADER funding has been instrumental in the growth and success of 122 of these Wexford businesses who received €6.25m in LEADER grants since 2016. Now, according to Tom Bermingham, Coordinator of LEADER with Wexford Local Development (WLD), there is a further €2 million in grant aid available for the enterprise and social enterprise sectors in Co Wexford between now and late 2027.
The 2023-2027 LEADER Programme is an EU funded grant scheme delivered in Wexford by WLD with the
support of Wexford County Council and the Local Community Development Committee. Grant aid of up to 60% of eligible costs is available for niche new and expanding businesses involved in tourism, food and/or the green economy.
Priority is given to projects that address climate change, demonstrate environmental sustainability, resource efficiency, job sustainability and job creation.
Tourism
WLD will prioritise projects that promote sustainable tourism and adopt eco-friendly practices. This includes alternative accommodation types that will attract more visitors, create new employment, boost the local economy, protect and enhance our environment and, at the same time, preserve the natural and cultural heritage of the county. If your idea will bring more visitors to Wexford and benefit the Wexford community, it could be eligible for support.
Food & Beverage
Niche, innovative food and beverage businesses continue to be supported with LEADER grant aid for equipment as well as branding and marketing costs.
The Green Economy
Whether it’s renewable energy, ecotourism, circular economy projects or biodiversity initiatives, there is support available for green innovations that benefit communities and the planet.
Don’t delay!
LEADER grants can turn ideas into thriving ventures that benefit the entire county, so this could be the opportunity you need to bring your ideas to life.
Applications are open now, but funding is limited, so avail of the opportunity while it’s there.
To discuss eligibility and get pre-application advice, contact:
LEADER Project Development Officer: Mercedes Hoad Moussa.
LEADER Coordinator: Tom Bermingham.
Prepare a project outline and budget –help is available from the LEADER team every step of the way.
For more information, visit www.wld.ie/leader ■
LEADER Coordinator Tom Bermingham
LEADER Project Development Officer Mercedes Hoad Moussa.
Defending human rights...
Founded in the 1990s, Amnesty International Wexford Group is one of eight Amnesty groups around Ireland contributing to that organisation’s tireless work in defending human rights all over the world. In the early years the Wexford Amnesty group tackled issues like the death penalty in the USA and Apartheid in South Africa, as well as campaigning for prisoners of conscience all over the world.
Today, the Wexford group is very active in opposing the ongoing genocide in Gaza, and holds a weekly protest in Redmond Square every Thursday at 6.30pm. All are welcome to attend and show solidarity with the people of Gaza.
This friendly and energetic group of local people also holds monthly meetings at 6.30pm on the second Wednesday of every month in the lobby/coffee dock in Whites of Wexford hotel. They raise local awareness about human rights, organise events and stalls and film nights, fundraise, and campaign by letter-writing and lobbying. They held their annual Picnic Against Apartheid in Redmond Park on 13th July.
Amnesty International's founder Peter Benenson once said, "Only when the last prisoner of conscience has been freed, when the last torture chamber has been closed, when the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a reality for the world’s people, will our work be done."
Amnesty International Wexford Group is always keen to have new people join the group so please message them through their Facebook or Instagram pages with any queries. ■
Amnesty International Wexford Group continues its weekly protest every Thursday at 6.30pm in Redmond Square, Wexford, against the ongoing Israeli-perpetrated genocide and mass starvation in Gaza.
The group is urging the people of Wexford to join them, to show support for the Palestinian people, and among other measures to insist the Irish government fulfil their commitment to enact the Occupied Territories Bill to include both goods AND services.
WEEKLY PROTEST IN WEXFORD AGAINST THE ONGOING GENOCIDE IN GAZA
It is with a heavy heart that Amnesty International Wexford Group continues its weekly protest every Thursday at 6.30pm in Redmond Square, Wexford, as Israeli bombs rain down on Palestinian families and famine conditions prevail. The group is urging the people of Wexford to join them, and to insist the Irish government fulfil their commitment to enact the Occupied Territories Bill. ■
H o n d a 5 0 e n t h u s i a s t s r a i s e
o v e r € 6 , 5 0 0 f o r l o c a l s c h o o l
WELL DONE TO ALL THE MEMBERS OF SOUTHEAST HONDA 50 CLUB-IRELAND WHO SUCCESSFULLY RAISED OVER €6,500 FOR ST. PATRICK'S SCHOOL IN ENNISCORTHY.
The recent Honda 50 Run around the south of Co. Wexford had an impressive 82 bikes taking part. The Club now plans to make this Run an annual event. Our photo shows the recent presentation on 17th July 2025 by Brendan Morgan of a cheque for €6,328 to Lee Rogers, school Principal, along with outgoing Vice Principal Ann Marie Furlong. Since the cheque was written, an additional amount has come in so the total amount raised is now over €6,500. In the photo also are other representatives of the Honda 50 Club – Jason Quigley and John Murphy, and representatives of the school's parents – Catherine Cloke with daughter Faye, and Laura Morgan.
Disgraceful vandalism in Ferns
Over the last couple of months, the medieval-themed playground in the community park in Ferns has had to be repaired time and time again to enable the children of the community to continue to enjoy playing in the outdoors.
But the vandalism continues unabated with the most recent example being the slide leading from the turret (see photo). Those responsible should be totally ashamed of themselves. Not alone did they damage community property but also left the children’s play area in a dangerous condition that could lead to serious injury.
If anyone witnessed this vandalism or knows anything about it, please get in touch with the local Gardaí. ■
A regular series by the team at Enniscorthy East Community Development
Follow on Facebook: ‘Enniscorthy East Community Development’
The Enniscorthy Community Alliance launched its latest initiative: ‘The Shannon Way’ project – a dynamic community-led effort to rejuvenate Enniscorthy East through environmental and public space improvements – on 16th July 2025 at Armstrong’s Range, The Shannon, followed by refreshments for all afterwards in Templeshannon Community Centre.
The Shannon Way project is being led by the Enniscorthy Community Alliance, with strong support from partners including Enniscorthy East Community Development group, Enniscorthy Tidy Towns, Enniscorthy Municipal District, and Wexford County Council.
See pages 18-20 for more about this exciting project. ■
One area identified by The Shannon Way project for remedial work is the 21 Steps. So at the end of July with phenomenal support from Enniscorthy Municipal District with its heavy machinery, the overgrowth was cut back and six large black sacks of cans and bottles removed. The Shannon Way project is truly now in full flow!
Enniscorthy Community Alliance says, “Thank you to the community who are really pulling together on this project. It brings us great joy to see the colour and spaces taking shape.”
Relevant Facebook Eastside pages: Enniscorthy East Community Development Association Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/EEastCommunity Eastside Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/320813591438762
Templeshannon Community & Childcare Centre Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TempleshannonCommunityandChildcareCentre ■
Chairperson of Enniscorthy East Community Development group
Seamus Whitney speaking at the launch of The Shannon Way.
Hillside Calinis – the new women’s group on the Eastside of Enniscorthy, on a recent outing.
Just some of the many activities at Templeshannon Community Centre... 10.30am
7PM EVERY MONDAY NIGHT
Critical thinking skills needed to cope with AI
Attendees at the talk on the impact of AI.
❝ Everyone needs Critical Thinking Skills for biggest change since the Industrial Revolution. ❞
❝ Huge impact on society and world of work in 18 months! ❞
– Daragh O’Brien of Castlebridge
We need to urgently learn critical thinking skills to handle the greatest sociocultural change since the Industrial Revolution of two hundred and seventy-five years ago, a leading data expert has warned. Adults, children, teachers, public servants and Government ministers – everyone needs those skills.
The Industrial Revolution happened over 100 years but today’s focus on artificial intelligence or AI in general ‘has the potential to be a bigger socio-cultural change and it’s happening to us in less than 18 months’. There will be a huge impact on
They work to go home!
every aspect of society and on the world of work. Many traditional jobs will be gone inside five years. Critical thinking skills will be key to handling it.
There is a potential downside to AI, probably social and organisational that really isn’t getting the attention it deserves, said Daragh O’Brien, one of the world’s leading experts on data. He is from Castlebridge and he is founder and CEO of the global company Castlebridge, named after his home place in Co. Wexford. He leads a team of world-class experts on data. He is adviser to major corporates and to Government ministries.
Mirroring the views of Daragh O’Brien, Charles Handy, philosopher, author of The Second Curve and The Empty Raincoat, who died last month, said: “Seventy-five per cent of people who turn up for work do so to go home!”
“The millennium workforce prefers to work four days per week even if they lose money on it. They want control. They want to regain humanity. They are not going to give that life away to an anonymous organisation.”
Handy predicts ‘the butterfly economy’, a shift toward self-employment and portfolio careers, where individuals piece together work from multiple sources rather than rely on a single employer.
He is co-author with Katherine O’Keeffe of two books on the subject of Data, published by Kogan Page.
He teaches in the Sutherland School of Law in UCD and in the Institute of Public Affairs and is an adviser to several university research centres in Ireland, including the Adapt Centre and the Innovation Value Institute. He is also doing a doctorate in Data Governance in University of Limerick.
In a wide-ranging, 90-minute talk to a fullhouse Wexford Science Café of mainly scientists, moderated by Brian Trench in Wexford Library, he urged critical thinking and great caution about the rush to spend billions on AI.
Entry-level jobs is an example. He said: “Adrian Weckler in the Irish Independent wrote that university graduates are losing out as a result of AI replacing jobs. This is the beginning of a trend in the US and UK where graduate recruitment in entry level is down 30%.”
“In the technology sector, AI is used to automate and speed up programming to provide tools for developers NOT to have to write code anymore.
“The MIT did a study to see if AI was actually improving productivity. They took a bunch of developers, gave them a realworld task asking them how productive did they think they would be as a result. They thought 20%. The actual increase was a minus 19%. They were 20% less productive than if they had just sat down, mapped the structure of the software themselves and written it themselves.
Warning about the future of jobs, he said:
“We are seeing a collapse of traditional peer-review where you have lots of people at the bottom, slightly less people in the middle and very few people at the top. What happens when your middle starts to shrink? The people who are moving to the middle have no experience understanding complex scenarios, complex people management, complex problem-solving challenges. How do you get your senior management? Where’s the career path?
“Knowledge-intensive jobs such as bookkeeping, accounting, management administration, software development won’t be there as we know them in three to five years’ time. And if you have children or grandchildren who are dating a plumber, a plasterer, a carpenter, or a welder, hold on to that boy!
On Personal impact, he said:
“AI is affecting all cognitive functions and all general cognitive roles. It affects memory, it affects critical thinking, it affects analysis abilities across all job functions because it’s an easy thing to use.”
On trusting AI :
“People are now copying, quoting things without understanding, and producing ‘expert’ documents without understanding the outcome, quite literally copying someone else’s homework because generative AI models are built off illegally obtained copyrighted materials that the authors haven’t been paid for. We’re giving away reason and creativity and judgment. We’re operators rather than thinkers. We’re trusting the output.
“In an average organisation with no fancy technologies and poor-quality data and having to fix and correct data costs between 10% and 35% of turnover. The first thing I do is measure how much time and money you’re wasting correcting errors in data.”
On Fake content:
“The real problem with generative AI is firstly the ability to create fake content which results in a poisoning of trust in the information we see.
“We’re beginning to see model collapse, generative AI trained on data, trained on published data they can get access to. It skews the statistical model. A bigger concern for me is critical thinking for teenagers.
“AI doesn’t have emotional intelligence. I can actually tell when something is written from the heart.
“When you send a roulette wheel on a date with a bag of Scrabble tiles, it’s a statistical prediction model based on all the things it has been fed with. Seventy per cent of the time, it’s close enough. But there’s thirty per cent of the time when it’s not. You have to have to have the skills to know the difference. If you stop creating content, you’re regurgitating variations on a theme.
“The challenge is we have to think about what comes out of the tool quickly.”
On Companies doing sneaky things:
“Now, companies are changing their terms of service to say that any document you upload and send through the system they will use for training their own AI models. You may be sending a document that’s covered by legal privilege accessed by third party validators going beyond any intellectual property or data protection. That’s how they’re getting the data. They
What are Core Critical Thinking Skills?
To explain the methods of critical thinking skills, we asked AI on the Internet to give us an answer. It said:
Critical thinking skills involve actively and skilfully conceptualizing, applying, analysing, synthesizing, and evaluating information to reach a reasoned conclusion. Examples include analysing information to identify patterns, questioning assumptions, and using logical reasoning to solve problems.
are now running out of resources, so they’re doing sneaky things. The big companies would like very much for intellectual property considerations to go away.”
On Critical Thinking Skills:
“Critical thinking education and skills is here. It’s just being distributed because it depends on the teachers. It depends on the time they have to actually focus on developing their own skills and sharing their own skills from the resources they have available.”
Questions came to him from the Wexford Science Café audience:
Are there Positives for AI? “AI informs and enables and supports humans. It’s really useful for helping to manage content and data more efficiently. My concern is that organisations investing in it now at a global and country level without it proving itself is going to store problems over the future.”
On Exams: “One of the leading researchers in artificial intelligence worked out that he could probably guarantee students a 36% pass mark on an assignment based on the training data, but they wouldn’t get over 40%. It’s not intelligence, it’s statistics at the end of the day.”
Will AI take over the world? “Answer is ‘No!’ AI won’t. Our own stupidity and hubris is going to do that long before the technology does. But AI might accelerate that!”
Despite his many sobering messages of major change, the audience gave Daragh O’Brien a thunderous round of applause and invited him back to see if his predictions come through in two to three years’ time.
– M.F.
Daragh O'Brien addresssing Wexford Science Cafe�
Maria retires after 50 years of dedicated service Retirement
Party, Holohan’s Pub, Enniscorthy, 25th August 2025
After a remarkable 50 years of dedicated service in the Dept of Agriculture in Enniscorthy, Maria Nolan bade farewell last month with a retirement party in Holohan’s Pub attended by work colleagues, and family and friends from all over Co. Wexford and beyond.
Surrounded by flowers, gifts and cards, Maria said, “I feel blessed to have so many wonderful people share my retirement celebrations – thank you to all who have come and all who sent lovely messages and texts – I am humbled and warmed by your kindness and thank you all for this amazing night. I hope you are all enjoying it as much as I am. And a special thank you to Holohan’s, to the band, and to Edel Kelly for the fabulous cake.” ■
Sustainable Enniscorthy
This month’s Sustainable Enniscorthy topic is Sustainable Cosmetics.
How Eco-Friendly Cosmetics Are Changing the Industry
In a world increasingly aware of its environmental footprint, the beauty industry is undergoing a much-needed transformation. The shift towards sustainable cosmetics is more than just a passing trend – it's a conscious response to the environmental toll of traditional beauty products.
Conventional cosmetics often contain synthetic chemicals, microplastics, and palm oil sourced through deforestation, contributing to pollution, biodiversity loss, and excessive carbon emissions. Moreover, single-use plastic packaging dominates the shelves, much of which ends up in landfills or oceans.
The environmental cost is staggering –over 120 billion units of packaging are produced annually by the global cosmetics industry. And with many products still tested on animals, the ethical concerns are just as pressing.
But change is in the air – and on the shelves.
Eco-conscious brands are now leading
the charge by offering plastic-free, cruelty-free, and vegan alternatives. Ingredients are increasingly organic and ethically sourced, while packaging is designed to be refillable, recyclable, or biodegradable. Waterless beauty –where products are concentrated to avoid unnecessary water use – is also gaining ground.
One practical solution lies in consumer education. Understanding labels, supporting certified sustainable brands, and buying locally-made products can make a significant impact. In Ireland, a growing number of independent beauty brands are adopting low-waste and ethical production methods, and local refill stores are making ecofriendly choices more accessible.
The Irish government is also stepping up. Through initiatives like the Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy, there's a national push towards reducing packaging waste, supporting green enterprise, and promoting the reuse and repair of products. Some county councils are offering grants and support for sustainable businesses and public awareness campaigns.
If you would like to get involved in Sustainable Enniscorthy or be kept informed of our initiatives, please follow us on Facebook or Instagram.
Sustainable cosmetics aren't just better for the planet – they’re often better for your skin, too. By cutting out harsh chemicals and unnecessary fillers, they offer a more natural, gentle approach to skincare and beauty.
As we look to the future, it’s clear that beauty without compromise is possible – for both consumers and the environment
Sources:
European Environmental Agency. (2020). Plastics, the environment and human health: current state of knowledge and possible solutions. https://www.eea.europa.eu
World Wildlife Fund. Palm Oil and Biodiversity Loss. https://www.worldwildlife.org
Ellen MacArthur Foundation. (2016). The New Plastics Economy. https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org
Zero Waste Europe. (2021). Unwrapped: How the Cosmetics Industry is Harming the Planet. https://zerowasteeurope.eu
Cruelty Free International. The Case Against Animal Testing. https://crueltyfreeinternational.org
Soil Association. (2023). What Does Organic Beauty Mean? https://www.soilassociation.org
WGSN. (2022). The Rise of Waterless Beauty. https://www.wgsn.com
Irish Examiner. (2023). The Rise of Irish Eco-Beauty Brands. https://www.irishexaminer.com
Government of Ireland. (2020). Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy. https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/422 1c-waste-action-plan-for-a-circulareconomy/
Local Enterprise Office Ireland. Green for Micro Programme. https://www.localenterprise.ie
Environmental Working Group (EWG). Skin Deep Cosmetics Database. https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ ■
Young Enniscorthy woman wins ESB technician award
CONGRATS TO ENNISCORTHY'S AOIFE MURPHY WHO HAS WON THIS YEAR'S ESB NETWORKS 'APPRENTICE NETWORK TECHNICIAN OF THE YEAR'. THE FIRST WOMAN EVER TO DO SO!
Alarm over long waiting times for children’s dental care
Sinn Féin TD for Wicklow-Wexford, Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin, has voiced serious concerns about the lengthy delay’s children are facing under the public dental scheme in north Wexford.
Deputy Ó Súilleabháin: “Following a Parliamentary Question to the HSE, I was shocked to receive written con firmation that the dental service is currently only targeting children who entered 2nd and 6th Class in the 2019/2020 academic year. There is a current wait time of 48 months – that’s four years. It’s crazy.”
Deputy Ó Súilleabháin continued: “As a primary school teacher for over 34 years, I know that children should be seen in 2nd, 4th, and 6th Class, as these years align with key dental development milestones. Timely screening is essential to detect early signs of disease or the need for orthodontic intervention. Delays in these assessments reduce the chances of early, preventative care – putting children at risk of poor oral health.”
“A parent contacted me to say their son went through all of primary school and was never seen. This family has already paid thousands and will have to pay a further €5,000 to get orthodontic treatment. Their daughter was also not seen. This is completely unacceptable and paints a very clear picture of this Government’s failure.”
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Dressmaking, alterations, fabrics, zips, haberdashery, Communion dresses – readymade and bespoke. Castle House, Castle Hill Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford Y21 P5C7
Tel: 085 858 1526
Find us on Facebook and Instagram
FOOD
Oulart storytelling house
At Bygone Days Storytelling House in Oulart, a great welcome awaits all, with good music, songs, stories and plenty of craic, tea and refreshments served. Eircode: Y25 YP70.
For details of upcoming events keep an eye on: https://www.facebook.com/bygonedayshouseofstories ■
Do you need a bright, spacious venue for your next meeting or training session? The Astro Active Centre meeting rooms offer a modern, airy environment with plenty of natural light, ample free parking and convenient location. Get in touch today on 053 923 6678 to find out more.
Enniscorthy Toastmasters
The group meeets fortnightly on Tuesdays, September to June, in the IFA Centre, Enniscorthy, at 8pm. All welcome! https://www.facebook.com/Enniscorthy-Toastmasters129333810455771 for updates. ■
ENNISCORTHY TIDY TOWNS NEEDS YOU!
Enniscorthy Tidy Towns volunteers meet on Sunday mornings to collect litter and tidy up around the town. Volunteers are always needed and welcomed! So if you are sick of seeing rubbish on your road, street, estate or elsewhere in the community, please contact: 053 923 6518 or email enniscorthytt@gmail.com
Keep up to date on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EnniscorthyTidyTown
Let's all help to make Enniscorthy cleaner and greener! ■
Have Your Say: Draft Courtown & Riverchapel Town Centre First Plan
Walk in Consultation Monday 11th August, 2pm-7pm, Taravie Hotel, Courtown.
Wexford County Council is inviting feedback on the Draft Courtown and Riverchapel Town Centre First Plan, which will be on display until Friday, 15th August 2025. The draft Plan can be viewed in the Gorey District Office, Taravie Hotel Courtown, Flanagans Wharf Courtown or visit the consultation portal to view the Draft Plan and make a submission.
As part of the Consultation process we will have a walk in consultation session from 2pm until 7pm on Monday 11th August 2025 in the Taravie Hotel, Courtown. And we would encourage everyone from the area to attend, view the Plan and give your views on the future of Courtown and Riverchapel.
This Draft Plan presents a shared vision for the future of Courtown and Riverchapel up to 2040 - focusing on sustainable growth, revitalisation, and enhanced quality of life for all. Developed as part of Ireland’s national Town Centre First initiative, the Plan aims to support vibrant, liveable, and resilient town centres.
The local Town Team - made up of community members, local businesses, and organisations - has been instrumental in shaping this Draft. Now, we’re inviting your input to help finalise the Plan and ensure it reflects the needs and ambitions of the entire community.
This is your opportunity to help shape the future of Courtown and Riverchapel.
Planning
Wexford County Council has established a Heritage Forum to advise it on the preparation and implementation of a Local Authority Heritage Plan. The aim of the Heritage Plan is to protect, conserve and where appropriate enhance the natural, built and cultural heritage of the county and to encourage all to appreciate, enjoy, understand and care for our heritage.
The Heritage Forum is seeking your assistance with the preparation of the Heritage Plan.
The Heritage Act 1995 includes: monuments, archaeological objects, heritage objects, architectural heritage, flora, fauna, wildlife habitats, landscapes, seascapes, wrecks, geology, heritage gardens and parks, and inland waterways.
You are invited to participate in the consultation process and
avail of the opportunity to identify heritage issues and needs at local level and to discuss mechanisms to address them locally. All interested individuals and organisations are welcome to attend.
The consultations will be held in the following venues:
Enniscorthy Library, August 11th, 11am - 1pm.
New Ross Library, August 12th, 11am - 1pm.
Gorey Library, August 12th, 5.30pm - 7.30pm.
Stella Maris Centre, Kilmore Quay, August 13th, 2pm - 4pm.
Wexford Library, August 14th, 5pm - 7pm.
Written submissions are also invited and should be received by the Heritage Forum by the 25th of August 2025. Written/email submissions can be addressed to Wexford County Council’s Heritage Officer, Colm Moriarty.
For further information please contact: colm.moriarty@wexfordcoco.ie Colm Moriarty, Heritage Officer, Wexford County Council, County Hall, Carricklawn, Wexford.
Pleanáil
Tá Fóram Oidhreachta bunaithe ag Comhairle Chontae Loch Garman chun comhairle a thabhairt di maidir le hullmhú agus cur i bhfeidhm Phlean Oidhreachta an Údaráis Áitiúil. Is é aidhm an Phlean Oidhreachta oidhreacht nádúrtha, tógtha agus chultúrtha na contae a chosaint, a chaomhnú agus a fheabhsú nuair is cuí, agus gach duine a spreagadh chun ár noidhreacht a thuiscint, a bhaint taitneamh aisti, a thuiscint agus cúram a thabhairt di.
Tá an Fóram Oidhreachta ag lorg do chúnaimh le hullmhú an Phlean Oidhreachta.
Áirítear leis an Acht Oidhreachta 1995: séadchomharthaí, réada seandálaíochta, réada oidhreachta, oidhreacht ailtireachta, flóra, fána, gnáthóga fiadhúlra, tírdhreacha, farraigdhreacha, longbhriste, geolaíocht, gairdíní agus páirceanna oidhreachta, agus uiscebhealaí intíre.
Tugtar cuireadh duit páirt a ghlacadh sa phróiseas comhairliúcháin agus an deis a thapú chun saincheisteanna agus riachtanais oidhreachta a shainaithint ar leibhéal áitiúil agus chun meicníochtaí a phlé chun iad a réiteach go háitiúil. Tá fáilte roimh gach duine aonair agus eagraíocht a bhfuil spéis acu freastal.
Reáchtálfar na comhairliúcháin sna hionaid seo a leanas:
Ionad Stella Maris, Cé na Cille Móire, 13 Lúnasa, 2in - 4in. Leabharlann Loch Garman, 14 Lúnasa, 5in - 7in.
Comhairle Contae Loch Garman
Carricklawn, Wexford Y35 WY93
Tugtar cuireadh freisin do aighneachtaí scríofa agus ba cheart iad a bheith faighte ag an bhFóram Oidhreachta faoin 25ú lá de Lúnasa 2025. Is féidir aighneachtaí scríofa/ríomhphoist a sheoladh chuig Oifigeach Oidhreachta Chomhairle Chontae Loch Garman, Colm Ó Moriarty.
Le haghaidh tuilleadh faisnéise déan teagmháil le: colm.moriarty@wexfordcoco.ie Colm Ó Moriarty, Oifigeach Oidhreachta, Comhairle Chontae Loch Garman, Halla na Contae, An Charraig Leathan, Loch Garman.
Wexford County Council Grants for Protected Structures
Built Heritage Investment Scheme 2026
Wexford County Council wishes to invite applications under the Built Heritage Investment Scheme as operated by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
This scheme seeks to assist with the repair and conservation of Protected Structures and Proposed Protected Structures and in certain cases, for the conservation of structures within Architectural Conservation Areas, and to support the employment of skilled and experienced conservation professionals, craftworkers and tradespeople.
The scheme will be administered by Wexford County Council, with grants of between €2,500.00 and €50,000.00. Applicants will be required to provide a minimum of 20% matching funding.
Completed application forms must be received at Wexford County Council by 4pm on Friday 26th September 2025.
This year’s scheme has also incorporated streams for vernacular buildings and historic shopfronts, which were previously part of the Historic Structures Fund.
Further information and application forms for both schemes are available on Wexford County Council website at Grants for Protected Structures | Wexford County Council (wexfordcoco.ie), or from the Planning Section, telephone 053-9196101 or email planning@wexfordcoco.ie.
Wexford County Council Grants for Thatched Buildings
BBHIS Historic Thatched Buildings Stream 2026
Wexford County Council wishes to invite applications under the Built Heritage Investment Scheme Historic Thatched Buildings Stream 2026 as operated by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
This scheme seeks is to protect the heritage value of historic thatched roof buildings across Ireland, including dwellings and other structures.
The scheme will be administered by Wexford County Council, with grants up to €20,000. Applicants will be required to provide a minimum of 20% matching funding.
Completed application forms must be received at Wexford County Council by 4pm on Friday 26th September 2025.
Further information and application forms for both schemes are available on Wexford County Council website at Grants for Protected Structures | Wexford County Council (wexfordcoco.ie), or from the Planning Section, telephone 053-9196101 or email planning@wexfordcoco.ie.
Notice
The Motor Tax Public Office will be closed on Thursday 21st and Friday 22nd of August to facilitate essential maintenance and refurbishment works.
During this period, telephone assistance will continue to be available on 053 9196333.
Following completion of these works the public counters will re-open on Monday 25th August, with new opening hours of 09:00 – 13:00.
Motor Tax can also be applied for online at www.motortax.ie, by post, or by using our Motor Tax Express Service drop box located in the entrance lobby of County Hall.
Fógra
Beidh Oifig Phoiblí an Chánach Mótair dúnta ar an Déardaoin 21ú agus ar an Aoine 22ú Lúnasa chun obair riachtanacht cothabhála agus athchóirithe a éascú.
Le linn na tréimhse seo, leanfaidh cúnamh gutháin ar fáil ar 053 9196333.
Tar éis na hoibreacha seo a chur i gcrích, osclófar na cuntair phoiblí arís ar an Luan 25ú Lúnasa, le huaireanta oscailte nua 09:00 – 13:00.
Is féidir iarratas a dhéanamh ar Cháin Mótair ar líne freisin ag www.motortax.ie, tríd an bpost, nó trí ár Seirbhís Luasmhear Cháin Mótair a úsáid sa mbosca fágtha atá suite i halla iontrála Halla an Chontae.
Draft Wexford County Council (Enniscorthy Municipal District) Traffic and Car Parking Bye Laws 2025
Notice is hereby given that Wexford County Council and the Members of Enniscorthy Municipal District, in exercise of the powers vested in them by Section 101 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961 as amended by Section 6 of the Road Traffic Act, 1968 and Section 36 of the Road Traffic Act, 1994 and, as a Municipal District function as outlined in Schedule 3 Part 1 of the Local Government Reform Act, 2014, intend to make Traffic and Car Parking Bye Laws for Enniscorthy Municipal District, entitled the “Wexford County Council (Enniscorthy Municipal District) Traffic and Car Parking Bye Laws, 2025”.
The Draft Parking Bye Laws may be inspected from Wednesday 30th July 2025 to Friday 29th August 2025, by calling to:
• Enniscorthy Municipal District Offices, Market Square, Enniscorthy.
• or via the online portal https://consult.wexfordcoco.ie/
Representations on the Draft Bye-Laws may be made, in writing, to the District Manager, Enniscorthy Municipal District, Market Square, Enniscorthy or by email to emdreception@wexfordcoco.ie not later than 5.00pm on Friday 12th September 2025.
A copy of these Bye Laws may be purchased from Enniscorthy Municipal District on request upon payment of a fee of €10 or alternatively can be viewed on the online portal https://consult.wexfordcoco.ie/
Notice of Vesting Order Having Been Made
Wexford County Council Compulsory Purchase Order No 9 of 2020 in the County of Wexford, Railway Tunnel at Mountelliot, New Ross Rural, New Ross, County Wexford.
WEXFORD COUNTY COUNCIL, in exercise of the powers conferred upon it by Section 81 of the Housing Act 1966 has on the 4th of August 2025 made a Vesting Order in respect of the lands described in the Schedule hereto.
NOTICE is hereby given pursuant to the provisions of section 81(2) of the Housing Act 1966 of the making of the Vesting Order.
SCHEDULE
ALL THAT AND THOSE part of the railway tunnel at Mountelliot, New Ross Rural, New Ross, County Wexford containing
0.680 acres or thereabouts as shown outlined in red on the map attached to this Vesting Order and identified with plot reference number “100A”.
A copy of the Vesting Order, and of the map referred to, may be inspected at the offices of Wexford County Council, Property Management Unit, County Hall, Carricklawn, Wexford between the hours of 9.00am to 5.00pm (closed from 1.00pm to 2.00pm) Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays).
Elizabeth Hore, Director of Services.
Wexford County Council invites applicants for the following post
Executive Architectural Conservation Officer
Selection for all posts will be by means of interview and candidates may be shortlisted based on applications submitted. Panels may be formed from which future vacancies may be filled.
Qualifications, application forms and further particulars for all posts are available from our website at www.wexfordcoco.ie
Please note all applications for the above posts must be Typed and submitted by Email only to recruitment@wexfordcoco.ie
Printed hard copies will NOT be accepted for the above posts.
Closing date for receipt of completed application forms for the above posts is: 5.00pm on Thursday 21st August, 2025.
This post is part of the Local Authority Heritage Programme, supported by the Heritage Council.
Wexford County Council is an Equal Opportunities Employer.
Fáiltíonn Comhairle Contae Loch Garman
roimh iarratasóirí don phost seo a leanas
Oifigeach Feidhmiúcháin Caomhantais Ailtireachta
Is trí agallamh a dhéanamh a dhéanfar rogha do na poist go léir agus d’fhéadfaí iarratasóirí a chur ar ghearrliosta bunaithe ar na hiarratais a chuirfear ar aghaidh. D’fhéadfaí painéil a bhunú óna bhféadfaí folúntais a líonadh amach anseo.
Tá fáil ar cháilíochtaí, foirmeacha iarratais agus sonraí breise do na poist go léir ár an láithreán gréasáin atá againn ar www.wexfordcoco.ie
Tabhair ar aird nach mór gach iarratas ar na poist thuasluaite a Chlóscríomh agus a chur ar aghaidh ar Ríomhphost amháin chuig recruitment@wexfordcoco.ie
NÍ GHLACFAR le cóipeanna crua priontáilte do na poist thuasluaite
An dáta deiridh a ghlacfar le foirmeacha iarratais comhlánaithe do na poist thuasluaite ná: 5.00pm Déardaoin an 21 Lúnasa 2024.
Tá an post seo mar chuid de Chlár Oidhreachta an Údaráis Áitiúil, a dtacaíonn an Chomhairle Oidhreachta leis.
Is Fostóir Comhdheiseanna í Comhairle Contae Loch Garman.
Wexford County Council has vacancies in the following areas of our Community Employment Scheme
Duties to include:
• Environmental Worker - General maintenance, cleaning, planting and weeding etc.
To apply for any of these positions and for further information please contact - Bernie Lennon, CE Scheme Supervisor, Wexford County Council on (087) 6575743 during office hours 9am – 5pm or Tracey Begley, CE Scheme Supervisor WCC on (087) 0029702 during office hours 9am – 5pm or email cesnorthwexford@wexfordcoco.ie
The closing date for all applications is Friday August 29th 2025 at 4.30pm.
Please note that persons applying for these positions must satisfy the Department of Social Protection criteria to participate in the Community Employment Scheme.
Wexford County Council is an Equal Opportunities employer.
Section 75 of Roads Act 1993 Temporary Closing of Roads
Notice is hereby given that Wexford County Council has decided to close the roads listed hereunder to vehicular traffic on Saturday 16 August 2025 from 09:00 to 13:00 to facilitate the Tri-The-Hook Sprint Triathlon event in the Hook Peninsula area, Co. Wexford.
Section 75 of Roads Act 1993 Temporary Closing of Roads
Notice is hereby given that Wexford County Council intends to close the following roads to public traffic on Friday 12 September, Saturday 13 September and Sunday 14 September 2025 to facilitate the holding of the Wexford Volkswagen Stages Motor Car Rally.
Friday 12 September 2025
Ceremonial start to Wexford Volkswagen Stages Motor Car Rally at Common Quay Street and North Main Street, Wexford town.
Road Closures: Common Quay Street (L7509-1) to its junction with Corn Market, North Main Street (L3500-4/5) from its junction with Corn Market to its junction with Anne Street and Anne Street (L7513-1).
Times: 18.00 to 21.30.
Alternative Routes: Travelling North Bound on Quay: Common Quay Street to Commercial Quay to Redmond Square to Selskar Street to George Street Lower to Abbey Street to Cornmarket via the R730, L3500, L7505, L7525 and the L7531.
Travelling South Bound on the Quay: King Street to Saint Joseph Street to Roches Road to School Street to Rowe Street to Church Lane via the R733, R889, L7534, L7511 and the L7510.
Comhairle Contae
Loch Garman
Carricklawn, Wexford Y35 WY93
Saturday 13 September 2025
Stage numbers: 1-4-7.
Stage name: Saltmills.
Road Closure Times: 08:59 to 18:27.
Road Closures
Alternative Route
Route: Ballyvergin to Crandonnell via the L3032-7, L3071-7, N25 and the L7017-4.
Route: Kinnagh to Saintleonards to Clonmines to Willington Bridge to Ballyowen to Rosegarland to Rosspile to Longgraigue to Newcastle via the L4040-3, L4040-4, L8105-1, R733 and the R736.
Route: Slevoy to Horetown to Traceytown West to Taghmon to Newtown via the L3034-5, L7057-2, L7057-1, L7022-1, L7025-2, L7025-3, L3034-1, L3032-2, L3032-1 and the R738.
Alternative routes will be signposted.
Please note that it may be possible by prior arrangement with the Wexford Motor Club to facilitate some local access at certain times.
Any person wishing to object to the closing of these roads should lodge the objection in writing via the online portal https://consult.wexfordcoco.ie/ or in hard copy before 12:00 noon on 19 August 2025 to the County Secretary, Wexford County Council, County Hall, Wexford.
Section 75 of Roads Act 1993
Temporary Closing of Roads
Wexford County Council gives notice of its intention to temporary close the listed roads to vehicular traffic on Thursday 4 September 2025 to facilitate the Finish Line for Stage 3 of Rás na mBan 2025.
Road Closures: The Avenue R741 (from Main Street Junction to Paul Funge Boulevard Roundabout) and Shamble Lane from 11:30 to 17:00 on Thursday 4 September 2025.
Alternative Route: Paul Funge Boulevard, McCurtain Street to Main Street (R772).
Alternative routes will be signposted. No Vehicular Access will be facilitated.
Any person wishing to object to the closing of this road should lodge the objection in writing via the online portal
https://consult.wexfordcoco.ie/ or in hard copy before 12:00 noon on Tuesday 19 August 2025 to the County Secretary, Wexford County Council, County Hall, Wexford.
To: The tenant of the dwelling, Property No 9472 at No 29 An Ban, Riverchapel, Co Wexford.
WHEREAS you hold, from the County Council of the County of Wexford, Housing Authority pursuant to the Housing Act 1966 (hereinafter called the Authority), the dwelling No 9472 at No 29 An Ban, Riverchapel, Co Wexford a dwelling provided under the said Act as tenant from week to week and
WHEREAS:- •. Wexford County Council has reason to believe that No 9472, at No 29 An Ban, Riverchapel, Co Wexford is unoccupied and that the household does not intend to occupy the dwelling as its normal place of residence.
• Wexford County Council do hereby require that you confirm within 28 days of the service of this notice that it is your intention to occupy the dwelling known as No 9472, at No 29 An Ban, Riverchapel, Co Wexford as your normal place of residence and
• Take note that after the expiration of 28 days from the service of this notice, Wexford County Council is satisfied that you do not intend to occupy No 9472, at No 29 An Ban, Riverchapel, Co Wexford as your normal place of residence.
(i) You have not indicated that you intend to reside in the dwelling, and
(ii) Wexford County Council is satisfied that the dwelling known as No 9472 at No 29 An Ban, Riverchapel, Co Wexford, is unoccupied, and that you do not intend to occupy the dwelling as your normal place of residence, Wexford County Council shall serve further notice on you bringing your Tenancy to an immediate end and resume possession of No 9472 at No 29 An Ban, Riverchapel, Co Wexford.
Signed: Martina Donoghue
Administrative Officer, Wexford County Council.
Dated: 06th Day of August 2025.
The second Enniscorthy Arts & Culture Festival will take place on the weekend of Culture Night from 18th – 21st September incorporating many of the art forms prominent in this amazingly talented town of ours and using many of our amazingly iconic buildings.
The Arts & Culture Festival Committee aim to build a festival around Culture Night and intend beginning on Thursday 18th September with a Film Night at our magnificent Castle. The films are the work of Wexford Film Workshop and include award-winning Norman film – Forbidden Bonds, Fairy Godmother – set in 1966 Enniscorthy, and our latest film Shadow of Tyranny about the murder of the Redmond Brothers at Ballycarney in 1798.
On Culture Night, Friday 19th September, in collaboration with Enniscorthy Castle Living History Exhibition we will be displaying a Costume Exhibition by costume designer Barbara Guthrie showcasing her stunning collection of period outfits Norman/1798/1867/1916/1920/1922.
The exhibition will open at 5pm with Barbara’s recreation of the famous painting by Frederic William Burton, The Meeting on the Turret Stairs, on display at the National Gallery – Barbara has recreated the costumes of Hellelil and Hildebrand –Knight and Lady who will meet on the stairs at Enniscorthy Castle – this is a must for all photographers – so please do join us at the Castle on Friday 19th.
The official opening of the Festival will take place at Y21 Studios on Culture Night at 7.30pm when Selin Kim, the National President of the Cambodian Community in Ireland and Miss Planet Ireland 2025, will talk about the culture of Cambodia and the Miss Planet International pageant, giving a demonstration of Cambodian dance and inviting all to sample a Taste of Cambodian Cuisine.
Join us on Saturday 20th at Enniscorthy Castle at 2.30pm for Afternoon Tea with bestselling author Carmel Harrington who has just completed her 13th book The Stolen Child. Carmel, who resides with her family at Screen, Co. Wexford, is an internationally published novelist and
has been shortlisted twice for an Irish Book Award.
Her books have captured the hearts of readers worldwide and are published in ten different languages.
Carmel is affable, engaging, and entertaining and will, I have no doubt, keep the Castle audience enthralled with her advice, stories and literary expertise.
If drama is your genre then we will have plenty for you at The Presentation Arts Centre on Saturday night from 7.30pm when three short plays will be staged –written, directed and performed by local playwrights, directors and actors.
Later that night we will have Comedy at the IFA Centre with Enniscorthy’s own funny man Brendan Robinson, and on Sunday 21st September Plein Air Artists will be around the town painting re-enactors in period dress at historic locations.
On Sunday night the Festival will come to a close with a bang as our South East Rock ‘n’ Roll Club host an energetic, colourful event at The Bailey.
Throughout the Festival weekend renowned local artist Marja van Kampen will exhibit her uniquely beautiful work at her studio at the IFA Centre on Mill Park Road.
We do sincerely hope that this has whetted your appetite and do stay tuned to Slaney News for further updates on the Enniscorthy Arts & Culture Festival, 18th –21st September 2025.
– Maria Nolan
Selin Kim (second from right) the National President of the Cambodian Community in Ireland and Miss Planet Ireland 2025.
Family fun day at Gimont Green
Enniscorthy
Pics by Enjoy Enniscorthy
Rí Rá Festival of Children’s Arts presented international contemporary circus shows, workshops and more at Enniscorthy’s Gimont Green on 19th July 2025. Pics: Enjoy Enniscorthy.
Great shows to look forward to
Clohamon Vintage Weekend
Clohamon Vintage Weekend, 12th and 13th July 2025,
Tom Murphy.
Enjoying a cuppa.
L-R: Louise Moorhead, Cllr BarbaraAnne Murphy, Susan Dunne, Kevin Dunne, Jason Watchorn and Paul Power.
Tom and Conor on stage.
Outside The Old Bog Cottage were Donal Lynch and Frank Howard.
Conor Bendy.
Play Day in Enniscorthy
Above: Participants and organisers enjoying themselves.
Below
helps out with the arts and crafts.
Martin O’Donoghue, play strategist, lends a hand at the tug-of-war.
with sons Fionn and
Co. Council), Ailbhe Tierney (Enniscorthy Municipal District summer worker), and Barbara Nolan (Enniscorthy Municipal District and main organiser of the Play Day event).
Barbara Nolan, Staff Officer with Enniscorthy Municipal District (EMD), secured funding from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth under the National Play Day Funding Scheme 2025.
As a result, two free events took place on 9th July in Enniscorthy.
1. A free training workshop in the morning for people volunteering/working with children and young people.
2. A Pop-up Play Event which was FREE and suitable for all ages.
The Pop-up Play Event took place at the Orchard Peace Park, Enniscorthy, in collaboration with Creative Places Enniscorthy. n
Below left:
right: Artist Lynn Haughton
Bottom left: Niamh
Rua in the buggy. Bottom right: Lisa Moore (Wexford
Top left: Enniscorthy Tidy Towns stalwarts Phil Millar and Gia O’Grady get plenty of help tidying up.
Above right: Adults and children having fun.
Above left: Queuing for refreshments on a hot day.
Above right: Lisa Moore (Wexford Co. Council), Ailbhe Tierney (Enniscorthy Municipal District summer worker), Barbara Nolan (Enniscorthy Municipal District and main organiser of the Play Day event), Claire Lawless (Enniscorthy Municipal District Manager), Lucy Lawless.
Left: Helen Bolger with her grandchildren.
Right: Baby Lillie, the youngest attendee with Ian Sinnott and Muriel Cullen. Below left: Cllr BarbaraAnne Murphy (Cathaoirleach Enniscorthy Municipal District), Cllr John O’Rourke with his young niece, Cllr Patricia Byrne, Barbara Nolan (Enniscorthy Municipal District). Below right: Artist Nadia Corridan helps out with the arts and crafts.
Glynn Tractor
Run 6th July 2025
Above left: Davy Power and Michael Kearns.
Top right: Tara Cooke, Abbie Reynolds and Julie Pierce.
Above right: Ger Murphy, Willie Murphy and Ned Whelan.
Left: Darragh Redmond.
Right: John Flynn, Mick Brooks, Paddy White, Tom Doyle and John Redmond.
Below left: Laura Doyle and Deirdre Moran.
Below right: Martin Lawlor, Tom Sweeney, Mick Brooks, Paddy White and Jimmy Furlong. PAT’S PICTURE PARADE
O’CONNOR 087-2870006
Slaney leiSure & lifeStyle
SUPERMAN Movie Reviews by Kyle Walsh
We all grew up loving the first and second Christopher Reeves Superman movies. They have a very special place in our hearts as film lovers. We actually believed a man could fly. Personally to this day I still feel that the first two Reeves movies are some of the greatest superhero movies ever made. We also had 3 and 4 Superman movies from Reeves but let’s forget them. Then in 2006 we were introduced to a new Superman, Brandon Routh as the caped crusader. Superman Returns was only a average movie. In 2013 we got Henry Cavill as Superman in Man of Steel which for me was a good movie. Unfortunately DC was failing and things at the studio needed to be changed. Enter James Gunn, director of Guardians of the Galaxy films. His new responsibility is to get the DC cinematic universe off the ground and start doing what the Marvel cinematic universe has been doing. A tall order but I have faith in James Gunn. As soon as he took the throne of DC he immediately began working on a new Superman. Gunn himself directed this and got in newcomer David Corenswet to star as our new Superman.
I went to Wexford Omniplex Cinema to watch this movie during the week with a friend who is also a big Superman fan. We were excited heading into it as it was one of our most anticipated movies of the year. It is extremely rare I get angry in the cinema but as each minute passed by in this film I could feel myself getting angrier and angrier. We both left the cinema in a state of anger. This film is shockingly bad. I grew up loving Superman, as a matter of fact he would be my second favourite superhero after Batman.
I walked into Superman hoping for a proper reboot, a fresh start to one of the most iconic superheroes in pop culture, instead, what I got was a confusing, overcrowded mess that barely felt like a Superman movie at all. James Gunn seems determined to build a shared universe quickly but in doing so he skips over the foundation entirely. Gunn introduces way too many characters all at once in this movie. Rather than giving Superman his own space to breathe and grow. Instead of that being the focus we have to put up with Hawk Girl, Mr Terrific, Green Lantern to name a few of them. Why are they here? Who are they? Why are we getting all these superheroes in a Superman movie? It felt like we had walked into a second or third movie in a series without seeing the first one. Within the first ten minutes we were so bored and remained like that throughout the whole movie. It just meandered through exposition with no urgency or excitement.
Imagine being bored for what is supposed to be a flagship reboot of an entire cinematic universe.
The most disappointing element of the movie is Superman himself. This version is nothing like the Superman we all grew up loving. He’s unsure of himself, he constantly needs help, and seems to get beat up more than he wins. I kept waiting for him to take control, stand up and be the hero of his own movie. That moment never came. Other heroes save the day while Superman stands around overwhelmed. For God sake, he can’t even hold up a collapsing building. It’s so frustrating watching a character so powerful be portrayed as so weak and unsure.
And then we have the plot – or lack of one. We are still trying to figure out what the main story was. The movie just never stops jumping around, trying to juggle too many threads, that nothing feels grounded. Even the inclusion of the Superman robots and Supergirl felt rushed and unexplained. It’s like Gunn assumed everyone watching read the script or a prequel comic. A couple of positives – Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen were really good in it. They were perfectly cast and felt like the only grounded human elements in a movie filled with noise and spectacle.
In the end Superman is not a Superman movie. It’s a rushed attempt to jumpstart a universe that never gives its central character a chance to shine. What we got was two hours of confusion, missed opportunities, and lots of questions. The movie is cringe, it’s embarrassing, it’s a mess from top to bottom. The writing, the acting, the special effects – it was just a total let-down. In 1978 I believed a man could fly, in 2025 I don’t. I don’t believe in this new version of Superman. I don’t believe James Gunn is the man to save the DC cinematic universe after this mess. The movie will be a success and make loads of money but that does not take away from the fact that this movie is just another crap project that has been thrown at us movie-goers again. I for one am sick of it. This movie gets a 3/10 from me... Total let-down!!! n
Culture Night
The We Act campaign is encouraging local charities and community groups to get involved in Culture Night which is taking place on Friday, September 19.
Claire McGowran of the We Act campaign says: “With Culture Night fast approaching on Friday September 19, the We Act campaign, which is all about highlighting the work of the community sector, is urging local charities to get involved.
“Community is a key part of our culture in Ireland and should be celebrated. That’s why, for the fourth year running, the campaign is delighted to be teaming up with the Arts Council for our special We Act at Culture Night programme.
“Of course, you don’t have to be an arts body or a heritage group to get involved in Culture Night – any charity or community group can take part. So, whether you’ve a historic building that people would love to see, or you have budding talent among your service users willing to host a poetry night, or members of your youth group have a rock ‘n’ roll band who’d love to share their sound, the choices are endless.
“You can also collaborate with other local organisations to bring in guest speakers, tour guides or performers. Not only will you be opening the doors to local arts and culture, you’ll also be giving audiences a keen insight into your work supporting the community. All activities are offered to the public free of charge.
“So, I’d encourage charities and community groups to contact their local arts office if they’d like to participate. Please also let us know at the We Act campaign so that we can help showcase your event too – simply email me at claire@wheel.ie.” n
Elvis will be in the building
Best of luck to Wexford Rose Cliona O’Leary
Wexford Rose Cliona O’Leary, beautifully captured by Ken Hayes, Photo Artist, as she prepares for her Rose of Tralee journey. Wishing Cliona all the best with this once in a lifetime experience.
Sports Active
Wexford’s Fun in the Sun camp
16th July 2025, Enniscorthy Sports Hub
Soccer Coach Dean Broaders.
PAT’S PICTURE PARADE OUT AND ABOUT WITH PHOTOGRAPHER PAT O’CONNOR 087-2870006
enniscorthy 'Thru’ the Lens: Youth Vibes from the
Above left – Abbey Square – When we played basketball matches in the Abbey Square: Breda Lawless, Anna Murphy and Nora Kirwan lining out for Enniscorthy.
Above right – Some of those pictured: Josephine Byrne, Una Lawton, Stephanie Kavanagh, Breda Nolan, Eilish Dunbar, Seamus Carty, Sinead Hendrick, Stephanie O’Connor RIP, Jenny Connolly, Wm. Kirwan, Linda Murphy, Thomas McVeigh, Helen Harris, Nicola Kavanagh, Pat Jordan, Louise Davin, Pat O’Connor, Jimmy Kavanagh, Fran O’Connor.
Below left – Camping at Morriscastle: Jim Kenny, Vinny Redmond, Paul Lawless, Colm O’Leary, Paddy Boy Sullivan, Davey Fenlon, Dave Bolger.
Below right – Enjoying a ‘Big Brother’: Eileen Murphy, Pat ‘Murshin’ Murphy, the late Sean Maguire and friend, Terry Farrell, Seamus Murphy, Denis Doyle, Carmel Mulpeter Walsh. n
Some photos in this series include people who have since passed to their eternal reward. We hope these photos will help bring back fond memories to their family members and friends.
Coal Bunker Tractor Run
Top
Top right: Evan Rogan.
Above left: James and Elle McCormack.
Above right: The collection team. Left: Tom Roche. Right: Paul Nolan.
Below left: Frank Leacy and Dave Firman.
Below right: Conor Firman.
left: Con Morris, Mickey Murphy, Robbie Moran and Nicky Sinnott.
Bannow & Rathangan Show
Killag, 10th July 2025
Top left: Kids enjoying the magic show. Top right: Barry and Aoife Sullivan.
Left: Grace Roche, Marie Morris and Packie Roche. Right: Charlie and Vola Butler.
Below left: At the Wexford Oil stand were Pat Flynn, Danny Murphy and Niall Donoghue of Wexford Oil.
Below right: Jack Nolan.
Top left: Getting out of the sun and into the shade were Mary and Murt Lynch.
Top right: FF Cllr Joe Sullivan (centre) in the FG tent for a cup of tea with Billy Heffernan and Cllr Pat Kehoe.
Left: Seamus Davitt (Sinn Féin), Cllr Jim Codd (Aontú) and Eamonn Kehoe (Aontú).
Right: Frank Galway, Pat Murphy and Toss Kavanagh.
Above left: Some of the crowd at the show.
Above right: Verona Murphy TD and Aileen Quigley. Left: Some of the machinery on display.
Below right: The flower show – Breda and Sinead O’Neill. PAT’S PICTURE PARADE
Focusing on the Fleadh
Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, widely regarded as the world’s largest annual celebration of traditional Irish music, language, song and dance, is running in Wexford town from the 3rd to the 10th of August and is already looking to be bigger and better than 2024, with over 650,000 visitors anticipated during the event.
€150,000 in funding for Wexford County Council was announced last month by Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage James Browne TD to support the costs of hosting Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2025.
Speaking prior to the commencement of the Fleadh, Minister Browne said: “I can’t wait myself for the Fleadh. It’s a class event in terms of the focus on community and voluntary led events, showcasing our local pride with a burst of colour and sound.
“The Fleadh in Wexford is celebrating the living tradition, and has really focused on making performances and spaces accessible to a wide group of people of all ages and backgrounds. Even just getting to sit in on some of the competitions of every type of instrument is deadly. That’s what the festival is best at. I want to acknowledge the trojan work of all the teams across Wexford Co. Council in hosting the Fleadh Cheoil.
“The Fleadh is a welcome boost for our local tourism, and will attract thousands visitors from home and abroad to the county. This funding I am an announcing aims to assist the Council in ensuring the necessary infrastructure is in place to facilitate another successful Fleadh, which sees such a serious effort from all parts of the county.”
Similar funding of €150,000 was provided to Wexford County Council for the Fleadh Cheoil in 2024.
For more information on the Fleadh, visit www.wexapp.ie/fleadhcheoilapp which will provide up-to-date and essential information about the Fleadh including schedules of events, information on local venues, transport options and other key information.
Also, check out: www.fleadhcheoil.ie n
Above: TG4 will be providing comprehensive coverage of the Wexford Fleadh. Below: ‘In the Moment: Capturing the Fleadh 2024’ is a group photography exhibition by Wexford Camera Club, running in Wexford Arts Centre, from 2nd to 13th August. The exhibition opening was on Saturday 2nd August with guest speaker George Lawlor, TD.
Bunclody Fringe Fleadh event on Bunclody Mall, 19th July 2025, with Craobh Chaoimhín Naofa CCÉ in conjunction with Enniscorthy Municipal District.
Left: Cllr John O’Rourke.
Above: Caitlin Murphy and Jillian Hynes.
PAT’S PICTURE PARADE
OUT AND ABOUT WITH PHOTOGRAPHER PAT O’CONNOR 087-2870006
Ferns Comhaltas Fleadh Fringe event in The Thatch, Ferns, 4th July 2025, in conjunction with Enniscorthy Municipal District.
Bunclody Fringe Fleadh event on Bunclody Mall, 19th July 2025, with Craobh Chaoimhín Naofa CCÉ in conjunction with Enniscorthy Municipal District.
Top left: Cathal and Orla Stafford. Above centre: Courtney Kenny, Caroline O’Leary, Alice Rowsome, Claire Lawless (Enniscorthy Municipal District Manager), Massi Murphy, Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy (Cathaoirleach, Enniscorthy Municipal District), Emily Rowsome and Callum O’Leary.
Left: Massi Murphy and Emily Rowsome.
Above: Members of Ferns Comhaltas ladies dance group. Below: Hayley and Courtney Kenny.
Above left: John Furlong, Deirdre Furlong and Maeve Townsend. Above right: Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy (Cathaoirleach, Enniscorthy Municipal District) with John Furlong, Deirdre Furlong and Maeve Townsend.
Left: Claire Lawless (Enniscorthy Municipal District Manager) addresses the audience alongside Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy (Cathaoirleach, Enniscorthy Municipal District), Helena Dunbar and young musicians.
Above: Enjoying the music in Bunclody.
Enniscorthy Retirement Association
The Enniscorthy Retirement Association holds monthly meetings on the first Tuesday of every month at 2.30pm in the Riverside Park Hotel, The Promenade, Enniscorthy, with the exception of January and August.
There are regular outings, as well as various activities every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. For further details about Enniscorthy Retirement Association go along to any monthly meeting or see ‘Enniscorthy Retirement Association’ on Facebook or email: enniscorthtyretirementassociation@outlook.com
Check out the websitet www.enniscorthyretirement.net n
LOCAL ARTS CENTRES
Wexford Arts Centre: 053-9123764. Presentation Arts Centre, Enniscorthy: 053-9233000. Courthouse Arts Centre, Tinahely: 0402-38529.
What’s on in Wexford
https://www.facebook.com/groups/WexfordEvents for the best listing of what’s happening all over Co. Wexford. n
Emily is world champion
At the recent CRN (Cumann Rince Náisiúnta) World Open Irish Dancing Championships held in Dublin, the winner of the Under 18 world title was Emily Slevin of Wexford Academy of Irish Dance, Bree. Congrats to Emily. See photo above.
In addition, the Academy had three other World Champions: Aaron O'Shea winning the Gents Under 13 Championship, Cian Fortune winning the Gents Under 17 Championship, and Ciara Byrne winning the Ladies Under 19 Championship.
Congrats also to all the other Academy dancers who achieved second and third places, and all those who performed so well on the day.
The Academy was also successful in winning a number of team titles. n
Enniscorthy beach service ends 31st August
7PM EVERY MONDAY NIGHT
Creative Places Enniscorthy is thrilled to be supporting Enniscorthy’s new men’s choir which meets up at 7pm every Monday night at Templeshannon Community Centre.
Creative Places Enniscorthy is delighted to be working with the local community as part of this project and wants to thank Linda and Seamus for their dedication and organising. All are welcome to participate – no auditions Enjoy singing your favourite songs while making new friends Please contact 087 2930510 for more details.
For more information on Creative Places Enniscorthy please visit the website creativeplacesenniscorthy.ie
In addition, the Templars Singing Group meets up every Thursday morning at 10.30am at Templeshannon Community Centre. For more information, phone 053 9237511. n
Clohamon Vintage Day
Words & pics by Maria Nolan
Enniscorthy Historical Re-enactment Society were delighted to be invited back to the annual Clohamon Vintage & Heritage Day on Sunday, 13th July 2025, where vintage vehicles of all descriptions, tractors, cars, motor bikes, and all sorts of other contraptions were on display to the delight of the large crowd in attendance.
The Steam Engine display was a particular favourite with punters.
This lovely nostalgic day has become extremely popular over the past couple of years offering a variety of stalls selling everything from bric a brac, to curios, to clothes and featuring all kinds of kids’ entertainment, dog show and jive competitions.
The dance floor rocked with jivers for the entire afternoon moving with ease and accuracy despite the very warm
temperatures, but the main attraction was most certainly The Old Bog Cottage where bacon, cabbage, and spuds were being served at an alarming pace to keep up with the demand.
Punters flocked to the food tent to sample the traditional fare cooked in huge wok-like utensils which was mouth wateringly delicious.
These Vintage Fairs and Field Days are part of our Irish heritage and are attracting huge crowds all over the country as older people reminisce and remember the simplicity of bygone days and young people demonstrate that it is still possible to enjoy and be attracted to the simple things.
Well done to the organising committee and all the stewards and workers on the day for making this a most enjoyable and entertaining way of spending a Sunday. n
PAT’S PICTURE PARADE
OUT AND ABOUT WITH PHOTOGRAPHER
PAT O’CONNOR 087-2870006
The Village at Wheelocks Strawberry Weekend
5th-6th July 2025
Top left: All the fun of the fair. Top right: Celebrity chef Edward Hayden. Above right: The fashion show. Right: Carol Nolan (Wheelocks), chef Edward Hayden, Cyril Wheelock. Below left: Strolling around the Village at Wheelocks. Below right: Some of the many stalls. Bottom left: Watching the fashion show. Bottom right: Enjoying the on-stage entertainment.
Top left: John Byrne and Cyril Wheelock. Upper left: Julia and Faye Rodrigues. Above left: Danny Byrne and Eimear Doyle. Above centre: Fashion show. Above right: Michael Murphy (Honorary President, Wexford Food Producers Network), Stacey Williams (Wexford Food Producers Network), Cllr Paddy Kavanagh, Cllr Aidan Browne, Cyril Wheelock, John Kelly (Vice-Chair, Wexford IFA). Below left: Paw Patrol. Below right: Fashion show in progress. Bottom left: Chef Edward Hayden with Margaret Byrne. Bottom centre: Helen and Des Grannell, Addy Sandt. Bottom right: Brenda Kavanagh, Verona Murphy TD, Joe Druhan, Cllr Paddy Kavanagh.
Enniscorthy band raising money for Palestine Events for your diary!
Local band, 12 Gauge Outrage, have released a new single called The World We Burn Through, dedicated to raising urgent funds for humanitarian aid for children and families in Palestine.
By donating €2 or more at the Ko-Fi link below, you'll receive a digital download of the track, and 100% of the proceeds will be donated to The Sameer Project, a charity providing vital relief to families affected by the crisis.
https://www.instagram.com/thesameerproject/ Donate. Download. Make a difference.
https://ko-fi.com/s/6a372d73f6
You can also listen here with links in the description too.
https://youtu.be/tVd4I4VOp4?si=6G7XdV4uSjFaOF-h
The band is also hosting a special charity show in support of this cause on Saturday, September 20th, at The Coal Shed at Kelly's on the Corner in Wexford town, 6pm till late. Entry €5 on the door (all proceeds go to The Sameer Project).
The band says a special thank-you to Al Wadi Falafel and Kelly's for making this event possible. n
New album from 12 Gauge Outrage.
The Ferr ycarrig Hotel unveils luxurious bedroom refurbishment
The Griffin Group has unveiled a stunning new refurbishment at the four-star Ferrycarrig Hotel, Wexford, further enhancing the hotel’s reputation for elegant comfort and contemporary coastal charm. In the latest phase, 68 of the hotel’s bedrooms have been completely reimagined as exquisite Plus+ Rooms, while every bathroom has been fully renovated, and the adjoining corridors enhanced with luxurious new Axminster carpets.
Each newly styled bedroom now exudes an elevated sense of refined coastal luxury, inspired by the raw beauty of the River Slaney estuary and the surrounding landscape. The spacious sanctuaries offer sweeping views over the Slaney, with expansive windows that flood the rooms with natural light and perfectly frame the tranquil waterside scenery. Thoughtful design details abound, from bespoke wallpaper and sumptuous furnishings to plush, relaxing armchairs ideal for unwinding with a good book. Elegant feature headboards add a sophisticated touch of understated opulence, creating an atmosphere of serene indulgence.
Guests can revel in ultimate comfort and tranquillity with rich blackout curtains ensuring a blissful night’s sleep, while thoughtful in-room amenities include tea and coffee-making facilities with a sleek Nespresso coffee machine and kettle. Newly installed 50-inch UHD TVs with the latest technology and seamless Netflix streaming invite guests to unwind in style, while multiple USB-A charging ports are conveniently positioned for modern travellers’ ease. Each bedroom is complemented by a beautifully refurbished bathroom, where contemporary fixtures and premium finishes elevate the sense of luxury even further.
These 68 upgraded Plus+ Rooms are available across a variety of room types, ensuring that every guest can savour this heightened level of luxury, whether travelling solo, as a couple, or enjoying precious family time together.
Enhancements extend beyond the bedrooms, with a serene new breakfast deck designed for idyllic outdoor dining overlooking the water. The Active Club at Ferrycarrig has also been refreshed, now featuring high-quality Technogym equipment to support guests who wish to maintain their fitness routine during their stay.
Speaking about the hotel’s ongoing evolution, Liam Anthony Griffin expressed his pride in the team’s continued commitment to enhancing the guest experience. He emphasised the importance of collaboration with local suppliers and creatives, a hallmark of the Griffin Group’s ethos. “The refurbishment has been brought together by many skilled local hands, including renowned photographer and artist Jean Maskell, whose evocative prints of the Wexford region now grace each newly renovated bedroom and the Dry Dock Bar.”
In a further expression of community spirit, Jean Maskell has created a bespoke collection of Ferrycarrig Hotel greeting cards, available in the hotel lobby. Proceeds from the collection will support Wexford MarineWatch, a voluntary organisation dedicated to suicide prevention and river safety in Wexford Harbour. To commence the collaboration, the Griffin Group and Jean Maskell have donated the fee of €2,300 for the bedroom wall artwork at Ferrycarrig to Wexford’s MarineWatch.
To discover more or book a stay, visit www.ferrycarrighotel.ie n
Ferrycarrig Hotel team with Jean Maskell and Wexford Marine Watch.
Enniscorthy Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann is delighted with the success of Enniscorthy’s Niall Wall who was recently crowned Leinster Champion 2025 in the men’s English singing section of the Leinster Fleadh.
A free 2-day workshop on 7/8th August at Y21 Studios, Enniscorthy, for teens aged 13-17. Guided by renowned upcycling pioneer Lynn Haughton and expert dressmaker Elina Ostele, you’ll learn how to transform old clothes into something completely new – no experience needed, just your imagination. Spaces are limited. Book online at www.y21studios.com
'The art is where my heart is' – Kristýna
This is Kristýna – the visionary behind the new and innovative Y21 Studios at Mill Park Road, Enniscorthy.
Kristýna says, “Setting up a place like this has been my dream for a long time. And now, seeing it physically happening, it's unreal and super exciting. I have always been the creative one. Growing up I was lucky to be brought up by active and a little alternative parents who always brought us to all sorts of adventures and travels, activities, culture stuff, or workshops, to try something new or explore new places. It taught me a lot, it made me who I am and I would say that's where I find my love for being creative and challenging myself to embrace the wonderful world around, the cultures and traditions, the different skills, and many ways of living.
“Experiencing different stuff in life and constantly finding new ways to learn something new, interact with people, or practising mindfulness... shapes who we are, and that is at any age or stage of our life journey. And that reason alone is my personal "why" Y21 studios exist.
“We would like to create an environment that is cozy, versatile and welcoming to let creativity grow. In our minds, in our hearts, and in our lives. Because without it there wouldn't be much left in the world. Just imagine. Nothing on TV or on the radio. No pretty images on our walls. No lovely items in our houses. No designs in our wardrobes. No inventions. No books. No poetry. No games. Even cars and garden layouts are made using creativity...
“I always said 'Everything is Art', but it may also be that 'Art is Everything'. n
International flair at Kennedy Summer School 2025
Linda Dorcena Forry and Bill Forry will add to the international flair at the 2025 Kennedy Summer School in New Ross.
Former Massachusetts State Senator Linda Dorcena Forry and her husband, Bill Forry, co-publisher of Boston’s respected Dorchester Reporter, will feature at the 13th annual Kennedy Summer School in New Ross from August 28 to 30, 2025. Their presence adds a further transatlantic dimension to an already vibrant programme of debate, culture, and civic engagement.
Linda is hailed as a trailblazer in government, business, and philanthropy and will participate in a high-profile panel on Saturday that explores the evolving Irish-American relationship. Moderated by RTÉ’s Jackie Fox, the session will examine US–Ireland relations in a changing political climate alongside voices such as Senator Mark Daly and Larry Donnelly. Her insights— shaped in part by her tenure in the Massachusetts Senate and House—will make a valuable contribution to the session.
Bill Forry joins the Kennedy Summer School line-up during Friday’s theatre programme, where he will lend his perspective to a panel on the role of local journalism. He joins Irish-based journalists Alan Corcoran, Brenda Power, Jessica O’Connor, and Dave O’Connell in considering the challenges and opportunities facing community news outlets in Ireland and beyond.
Forry is a prominent figure in Boston’s media landscape, having helped, with his father Ed, to steer the Dorchester Reporter, the family-owned community newspaper, through a transformative era for local journalism. His deep understanding of neighbourhood reporting, civic trust and community engagement renders him ideally situated to comment on the state of local journalism and its role in sustaining local democracy.
This year’s Kennedy Summer School opens with a screening of the documentary film From That Small Island –The Story of the Irish, at St Michael’s Theatre on Thursday evening (August 28th), introduced by festival director and author of the documentary Bríona Nic Dhiarmada and screened as part of the launch night. The film, narrated by Colin Farrell with an evocative score by Colm Mac Con Iomaire, celebrates Ireland’s global cultural impact.
The festival launches on Thursday morning at the JFK Arboretum with a Schools STEM Event featuring voices from SETU and Research Ireland, including Dr Charles Larkin and Veronica Campbell, followed by a celebratory Kennedy Tea Party. RTÉ broadcaster
Seán O’Rourke is the special guest and there will be a musical performance from Sharon Clancy, with Seán Connick acting as MC.
Friday’s centenary celebration of The Great Gatsby kicks off with a School Literature session chaired by US-Ireland academics, leading into a prestigious Speakers’ Lunch at the JFK Memorial Park. The day continues back in St Michael’s Theatre with thought provoking discussions on local journalism and Irish and US politics, followed by evening panels ranging from a Noel Whelan interview with Colm Tóibín to “President Trump & Us,” moderated by Tony Connelly.
Saturday opens with a public Gatsbycentenary panel set beside forums on international trade, US-Ireland relations featuring Dorcena Forry, and a live conversation between CNN’s Jim Acosta and Dr Stacey Connaughton. Cal Thomas and Marion McKeone will also bring their popular weekly joust on American politics on Today FM’s The Last Word with Matt Cooper to St Michael’s Theatre. The weekend concludes with a lively discussion on the upcoming Irish presidential election and a performance by the New Ross District Pipe Band.
Speaking ahead of the event, Kennedy Summer School Director Larry Donnelly says, “We are delighted with the 2025 Kennedy Summer School programme. As we often say, there is literally something for everyone, given the diverse group of expert speakers and the wide range of topics they will tackle during the last weekend in August. I am particularly happy that we will be joined by two fascinating guests from my home city, Bill Forry and Linda Dorcena Forry, who I am sure will make a rich contribution to this year’s summer school.”
Tickets are now available. Visit kennedysummerschool.ie for full programme details. n
Linda Dorcena Forry and Bill Forry.
PAT’S PICTURE PARADE
Bunclody Fringe Fleadh event
13th July 2025
A Bunclody Fringe Fleadh event took place on Bunclody Mall, 19th July 2025, with Craobh Chaoimhín Naofa CCÉ in conjunction with Enniscorthy Municipal District.
Top left: Young musicians. Top right: Irish dancer Diarmuid Kavanagh.
Above left: Sean Mythen. Above centre: Helena Dunbar, Chairperson Bunclody Fleadh, Barbara-Anne Murphy (Cathaoirleach, Enniscorthy Municipal District). Above right: Eire Ní Fhaolain, Jennifer Byrne, Pat Fitzpatrick, Helena Dunbar. Left: Three members of Bunclody Comhaltas. Right: Willie Hynes, Eire Ní Fhaolain, Chulginn Fhaslainn and David Roche. Below left and right: Enjoying the music.
Kilmyshall school field day
Bunclody Union of Parishes Annual Summer Fete
PAT’S PICTURE PARADE
Bunclody Union of Parishes Annual Summer Fete in St Mary’s Rectory Bunclody, 26th July 2025.
Above left: Kerri Warren enjoying her ice cream. Above centre: An entertainer chats with Rev Canon Trevor Sargent. Top right: Sheila Hewson, Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy, and Danny Hewson. Right: Willie French and Chris Haddington. Below left:
Rev Canon Trevor Sargent and Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy opening the 2025 rectory fete. Below centre: Rex keeping an eye on the dog show along with owner Larry Ryan. Below right: Firing up the bellows was Darren Sweeney and Jimmy White.
Kilmyshall National School Field Day in the school grounds, 27th July 2025.
Left: Bobbi and Mia Pender. Above centre: Hook a Bottle – Margaret Kirk, Janette O’Neill, Thomas and Roisin Duffy. Above right: Dada Reck, Mia and Sadie Pender.
Wexford Festival Opera announces appointment of Suzanne Nance as new Executive Director
The board of Wexford Festival Trust has announced the appointment of Suzanne Nance as its new Executive Director. Suzanne Nance will take up the role on 1st January 2026, following the conclusion of Loughlin Deegan's term as Interim Executive Director in December. Suzanne joins WFO following eight years as President and CEO of the Global Media Arts Network All Classical Radio based in Portland, Oregon, where she oversaw a period of unprecedented growth, with record-breaking audience expansion and a significant increase in global digital reach.
An award-winning broadcaster and highly respected arts leader, and arts ambassador, Suzanne Nance brings a distinguished track record of visionary leadership in public media, the arts, and community engagement. Most recently, she led an extremely successful capital campaign for All Classical Radio to build a state-of-the-art media arts centre and performance hall in Portland, which opened its doors in 2024. In 2019, she led the launch of the International Children’s Arts Network, a pioneering platform dedicated to arts and educational programming for young audiences.
The creator of the Emmy Award-winning television series MaineArts!, Suzanne has also been a guest presenter on RTÉ Lyric FM and the voice of Lyric Opera of Chicago’s internationally syndicated radio broadcast series. She holds a Master’s Degree in Music (Opera) from DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois, and advanced executive leadership degrees from Harvard University and the University of Oxford.
Speaking about her appointment, Suzanne said, “I am deeply honoured to join Wexford Festival Opera as Executive Director, especially as we prepare to celebrate 75 extraordinary years of artistic excellence in 2026. There is a distinct and enduring magic to Wexford – rooted in the warmth of its people and their profound commitment to the arts. The unwavering support of the local community, the Board, and the Arts Council has been essential to the Festival’s enduring success. As the home of the National Opera House, Wexford holds a cherished place not only in Ireland, but on the international stage. I am thrilled to be part of this remarkable legacy and to help amplify Ireland’s rich contributions to opera and the arts.”
Paul Cleary, Chairman of the Board of Wexford Festival Trust, commented: "We are absolutely delighted to welcome Suzanne Nance to Wexford Festival Opera. Suzanne is a dynamic and visionary leader whose deep passion for opera and proven track record in arts leadership make her the ideal choice to guide the company into its next chapter. Under her leadership, I have every confidence Wexford Festival Opera will continue to thrive and grow."
Suzanne Nance joins Wexford Festival Opera at an exciting time as the organisation looks ahead to building on its rich heritage and further expanding its international reputation. The organisation will reach a significant milestone in 2026 when it celebrates its 75th Festival.
The 74th Wexford Festival Opera takes place from 17 October – 1 November. For more: https://www.wexfordopera.com/ n
Above, back row
Photo exhibition Leaving and Longing –exploring Colm Toibín’s work
Justin Codd’s incredible photo exhibition continues its run in The Presentation Arts Centre, Enniscorthy, until September 20th. Aptly named 'Journeys', this show reflects not only Justin's travels across Wexford, Connemara, Iceland and beyond, but also his creative development and personal growth over the past few years.
The exhibition is free to visit, no booking required. More info can be found on the website: www.presentationcentre.ie n
‘Leaving and Longing: Colm Toibín's Enniscorthy and Elsewhere.’
A talk by Howard Keeley, PhD, Georgia Southern University, will take place on Thursday, 7th August, 12 noon - 1pm, at Enniscorthy Library.
This engaging lecture by Howard Keeley will explore the work of acclaimed Enniscorthy author Colm Toibín.
Howard Keeley (PhD Princeton) directs Georgia Southern University’s Center for Irish Research and Teaching. In addition, he is an Associate Professor in the Department of English, where he teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in Irish literature.
Booking essential. Please register for your place here: https://wexfordcoco.libcal.com/event/4397287 n
Congrats to Enniscorthy native Eamonn Wall on the launch of his latest book of poetry, My Aunts at Twilight Poker. The book is available on the Salmon Poetry website: https://www.salmonpoetry.com/details.php?ID=592&a=149
Ten (or eleven!) Little Plays
Enniscorthy Theatre Company (ETC) recently invited a range of people to each write a short play which ETC would then organise to put on stage using local directors and actors, and the result is ‘10 Little Plays’ (except it’s 11 actually!)
All eleven will be performed together each night between 21st and 23rd August at The Presentation Arts Centre, Enniscorthy, 8pm nightly (doors open 7.30pm).
Tickets are €15 (children/older people €5) + €1.50 booking fee.
This promises to be fantastic theatre – all written, directed, and performed by your family and friends, your neighbours, local cleaners and butchers, journalists and bartenders, teachers and authors, artists and musicians – so do yourself a favour – have a great night out while supporting this deadly little creative town!
Book tickets here:
https://wexfordartscentre.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/s hows/873657278 n
Bringing the climate crisis home
Nina McGowan is bringing the Climate Crisis to domestic life.
Nina McGowan, the artist, will present a new exhibition on Climate Change, using familiar domestic objects, at Wexford County Hall, during August and September.
Her exhibition tries to make comprehensible the threat of the climate crisis.
The exhibition will be open to the public from 15th August to 12th September, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
Nina is in the centre of accompanying photo with, on left, Nollaig Healy, Project Manager for ACT Waterford, and, on right, Mary Colclough, Community Engagement Manager, Trinity College Dublin. n
Some of the talented participants in the ‘10 Little Plays’ project.
The second Enniscorthy Arts & Culture Festival will take place on the weekend of Culture Night from 18th – 21st September incorporating many of the art forms prominent in this amazingly talented town of ours and using many of our amazingly iconic buildings. Two of the key Festival events are highlighted on this page.
Wexford Film Workshop will showcase three films written, directed, and produced locally, each depicting a piece of Enniscorthy history. Award-winning films Forbidden Bonds and Fairy Godmother will be shown along with the latest production Shadow of Tyranny at Enniscorthy Castle on Thursday 18th September from 7.30pm. n
Enjoy Afternoon Tea with bestselling author Carmel Harrington at Enniscorthy Castle at 2.30pm on Saturday 20th September in association with Enniscorthy Arts & Culture Festival 2025.
Carmel Harrington, who lives in Co. Wexford, is an international bestseller of thirteen novels. She resides here with her husband, Roger, their children, Amelia and Nate, and their beloved rescue dog, George Bailey.
Her latest thriller, THE STOLEN CHILD, is a Number One bestseller and was named Sunday Times Best Crime Fiction of the Year, which describes it as, ‘Endlessly surprising. This complex novel requires faultless plotting, and Harrington pulls it off with consummate ease.’
Carmel’s debut was a multi-award-winning novel, and several of her other books have been shortlisted for Irish book awards. She frequently features on Irish television and radio and has been a guest speaker at literary events in Ireland, the UK, and the USA. Additionally, she served as Chair of the Wexford Literary Festival for three years.
Carmel’s emotional and gripping storytelling, with relatable characters and twisting plots, has captured readers’ hearts worldwide. Her thrillers and family dramas including THE LIGHTHOUSE SECRET, THE GIRL FROM DONEGAL, A MOTHER’S HEART, and THE MOON OVER KILMORE QUAY, have been Irish Times, USA Today, and Kindle bestsellers. n
ooted in exford
As we step into August, it’s lovely to pause and reflect on how the garden has progressed over the last few months. Back in spring, we sowed our first seeds with hope and a bit of patience. By June, salad leaves were already making their way to the kitchen table, and crops like carrots, broccoli and sweetcorn were well established. July brought the first courgettes and runner beans, along with hardy greens such as rainbow chard and perpetual spinach, which will continue to feed us well into autumn. Now, as summer reaches its peak, the garden is full of colour and reward, but this is also a gentle reminder that it’s time to look ahead.
Ireland’s mild climate means we can stretch the growing season a bit further than many other places. With a bit of planning in August, you can prepare your growing spacefor the colder months and keep the harvest going. Some vegetables thrive in the cooler
Mark Cooke invites you to grow along with him.
The Slaney News is delighted to have Enniscorthy man, Mark Cooke, on board as a columnist. Mark has a huge passion for growing fruit and veg which he shares on his Instagram platform @rootedinwexford which has over 7,500 followers. Mark describes himself very much as a ‘hobby gardener’ who is not academically trained in horticulture. He started planting with very little knowledge a few years ago and that knowledge has now ‘mushroomed’! Mark loves sharing his passion for growing with our readers.
weather and are well worth adding to your garden this month.
Parsnips are a brilliant crop to consider. They take a while to get going, and you may not see much activity for a couple of weeks after sowing, but the rewards are worth the wait. Their flavour actually improves after a few frosts, becoming sweeter and richer. Sow the seeds directly into ground that has been dug over well, removing any large stones. Keep the soil moist until the seedlings appear, then thin them out to give the roots space to grow properly. Parsnips are fairly low maintenance and can be left in the ground until you are ready to harvest them later in the year.
Turnips are another great choice for sowing in August. They grow quickly and can be harvested in as little as six to eight weeks. They like cool weather and do well in our climate. Sow the seeds about a centimetre deep in well prepared soil, keep them watered, and you’ll have young, tender turnips ready
before the first frosts arrive. They are perfect for roasting or adding to soups and stews, while the leafy tops are full of flavour and can be used like spinach.
For those thinking ahead to next summer, it’s also a good time to plant winter onions. These are sometimes called overwintering onions, and they’re designed to grow slowly through the colder months before being harvested in early summer. You can sow seeds now, or plant sets if you prefer. Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil and space them a few inches apart. Once planted, they need very little attention other than the occasional bit of weeding and watering during dry spells. They are a good choice for gardeners who want to keep something quietly ticking along over winter.
One of the most satisfying things about gardening is its rhythm. Just as we enjoy the fruits of our summer efforts, we can also plant for the months ahead. There’s some-
thing comforting in that quiet continuity. The act of sowing a few rows now, knowing you’ll dig up sweet parsnips in December or slice fresh onions in June, adds to the experience.
So, while your summer crops are still coming in, make a little space for these reliable winter growers. They do not need much fuss and will reward you with fresh produce when little else is available. Whether you are enjoying your last handfuls of homegrown salad or pulling up the first carrots, take a moment to prepare for the next chapter in your garden’s story.
And if you’re curious about what’s growing in my own beds or have a question about your own growing space, you can follow along on Instagram @rootedinwexford. There’s still plenty to do, and the garden always has more to offer, no matter the season. n
WEXFORD’S FINEST PRODUCERS TO FEATURE AT FLEA DH ARTISAN FOOD HALL
Food lovers going to 2025 Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann are in for a real treat with a bespoke food event ‘The Wexford Fleadh Artisan Food Hall’ located at the Wexford Presbyterian Church, Anne Street, which will showcase the very best of Wexford’s award-winning artisan food producers.
‘The Wexford Fleadh Artisan Food Hall’ runs from Wednesday 6th – Sunday 10th August 2025 and will be open from 10am5.30pm daily during the 2025 Fleadh Cheoil. This event is hosted by the Wexford Food Producers Network with support from Wexford County Council and Wexford Local Enterprise Office.
Speaking about the event, Paul Kehoe, Chairperson, the Wexford Food Producers Network, said: ‘Following the success of this event last year, we are delighted to present The Wexford Fleadh Artisan Food Hall again which is set in the unique backdrop of the Wexford Presbyterian Church on Anne Street. This special event provides us with a great opportunity to showcase our local award-winning food producers, which is the best that Wexford has to offer. We encourage the local community and visitors to Wexford during the 2025 Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann to come and meet our
local Wexford food producers and taste their delicious produce.”
Last year the Wexford Presbyterian Church on Anne Street was brought back to life to host this particular event and the church has since been used by multiple Wexford based community groups for meetings, training workshops and exhibitions.
World-award-winning jam and preserve company Wexford Home Preserves is once again sponsoring the ‘Wexford Home Preserves Jam Session Tent’ – adding to the appeal of the 2025 Fleadh Cheoil. Wexford Home Preserves is a founding member of the Wexford Food Producers Network. The alcohol-free Jam Session Tent was a new feature of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2024, facilitating teenagers and young people who wanted to come and play music in an alcohol-free setting. It will be located at Crescent Quay car park, Y35AW70, from Thursday 7th - Sunday 10th August 2025. Further details can be found on www.fleadhcheoil.ie
‘The Strawberry Village’ located at the Bank of Ireland car park, Y35X602, features Wexford Food Producers again this year with their Artisan Food and Beverage Trucks. Greenhill Fruit Farm, All About Nectar and Killiane Castle Honey, Wexbury Irish Spirits,
Bosca Capaill – Woodfired Pizza and The Crazy Vegetable will all be located there for the duration of the 2025 Fleadh Cheoil.
The Wexford Food Producers Network provides a centralised member-led and member-representative organisation with a core remit to promote and support the business of Wexford food. The organisation has over fifty members who are Wexford based –sole traders, SMEs and large companies. Their continued aim is to support Wexford food producers to build a sustainable food industry and to contribute significantly to the Irish economy on a local, regional, national, and international level through the export markets.
The Wexford Food Producers Network is recognised and supported by Wexford County Council, Wexford Local Enterprise Office, and Wexford Local Development. The Wexford Food Producers Network engages with the Department of Agriculture, Food & The Marine and with national agencies Bord Bia, Bord Iascaigh Mhara, Ornua –The Irish Dairy Board, and Fáilte Ireland on various important issues for the Irish Food & Drinks sector.
For further information please visit www.wexfordfoodfamily.com n
Cllr Joe Sullivan, Cathaoirleach, Wexford County Council; Breege Cosgrave, Head of the Economic Unit, Wexford County Council; Paul Kehoe, Chairperson, The Wexford Food Producers Network; Lara McCann, FBD Wexford Branch Manager; Lee Devereux, FBD Wexford Branch Sales Executive; Philip Gore, Executive Head Chef and Marie McGinley, Chef de la Patisserie, Riverbank House Hotel, are among those with Greenhill Fruit Farm Wexford Strawberries celebrating the launch of the 2025 Wexford Fleadh Artisan Food Hall, presented by The Wexford Food Producers Network. Pic: Mary Browne.
Raising nutrition awareness
A programme run by the Wexford Intellectual Disabilities team of the HSE’s Dublin and South East mental health services is providing a nutrition awareness element for its users.
The psycho-social sports/leisure exercise programme was launched two years ago as a healthy living reform project. Its goal was to increase the physical and mental health and wellbeing of service users through physical activity and modifying lifestyle behaviours such as smoking, alcohol intake, poor diet, and sensory integration.
The programme sets out to elicit behaviour change in people with a dual diagnosis of intellectual disability and mental health disorders.
Last month’s gathering of the programme at the Astro Centre in Enniscorthy catered to mental health service users from the HSE’s residences of Croí an Tobar in Oylegate, Havenview in Enniscorthy, and Westlands in Wexford. They were joined by residents of the HSE’s Wexford Residential Intellectual Disabilities Services (WRIDS)’s facilities at Summerhill in Enniscorthy and Dawn House, Rivendell, and San Paolo in Wexford.
Featuring at this get-together was nutritionist and dietician
Sophie Pratt, well known for her television role in that capacity with RTÉ’s ‘Operation Transformation’.
An element of fun was added to the occasion with both service users and care support staff encouraged to participate in a ‘jersey day’. The colours of GAA club and county teams, Leinster and Ireland rugby, and Premiership and the Irish international soccer side were very much in evidence.
Speaking at the latest event in Reach Ability’s Astro Active Centre, Bellefield, Enniscorthy, HSE Advanced Nurse Practitioner/Mental Health Mick Mahon said: “Our aim in this programme has been to develop these health promotion interventions in a community-based venue. We provide reallife events for people with complex needs, while developing a collaborative relationship between the client, family, staff, and community-based personnel to enhance the co-production nature of this process.
“Along the way, we have had the active support and participation of Pauline Dunne of Killowen Farm and we are also delighted that Sophie Pratt will be with us for three sessions.”
Speaking after she led the July meet-up, Sophie Pratt added: “I was delighted to deliver the especially designed exercise routine. It was also a privilege to tailor a talk towards encouraging this programme’s participants’ interest in balanced diet tailored to specific dietary needs.”
“Given where we were, of course strawberries featured among the healthy snacks enjoyed at the end of the event! In what may be a great testament to what the Intellectual Disabilities team are about in this project, what will remain with me from my involvement is the fun we all have in identifying the basics for a healthy, general day-to-day lifestyle!”
Left: Pictured at the Astro Active Centre, Enniscorthy, for the latest get-together of the HSE Wexford Mental Health/Intellectual Disabilities team’s psycho social sports/leisure exercise programme were L-R: Tom Wall (Clinical Nurse Specialist), Sandra Dillon (Clinical Nurse Manager 2), John McCarthy (A/Clinical Nurse Manager), Damien Barry (Staff Nurse), Mick Mahon (Advanced Nurse Practitioner), and Nutritionist and Dietition Sophie Pratt. n
Lots on at the Allotments
We are grateful as always to Gillian O’Neill, Secretary at Enniscorthy Community Allotments (ECA), for keeping us updated with all the news and photos from the multi-award-winning facility in Enniscorthy...
We had another lovely afternoon in the allotments for our fairy and butterfly family day organised by Gean and our team of events organisers. We were delighted to have the amazing Katelyn from the FDYS singing for us, a very talented young lady. Everyone enjoyed the beautiful sunshine, some light refreshments and a catch-up while the little buds enjoyed making some beautiful crowns and doing some planting.
Our second Willow Weaving course this year with Sindy Offer and our two Herbalism courses with Silja Harms got underway last month, all 3 courses filled up very quick. While our 8-week horticulture workshop came to an end with the group planting lovely window boxes, sampling some pine syrup and some delicious courgette brownies. Everyone learned so much in this course about all things gardening and thoroughly enjoyed it.
We have Nature Therapy courses starting on 8th August running through September with the fabulous Deirdre Cummins. If you are interested in taking part, message Michael on 087 2927138, spaces are limited. It’s absolutely amazing to be
Cut away the old and yellowing foliage of courgettes, tomatoes, broccoli, and all other vegetables to allow for better air circulation.
Sow seeds for Christmas and Spring harvest. You can sow Spring Cabbage, Winter Cabbage, Kale, Salads, Carrots, Broccoli, Chard, Spinach, Lettuce and Beets.
Continue to pinch out side shoots of tomatoes. If tomatoes are too slow to ripen you should sacrifice some fruits for the sake of others.
Start collecting seeds from your favourite plants and have them for next year. They can be kept labelled in an envelope.
As areas become empty from harvesting you can start planting cover crops (green manure), only sow in areas you do not plan to grow over winter.
able to offer these free courses to everyone thanks to the reach funding from WWETB and Solas.
We had a very successful open day – we were overwhelmed by the turnout, it was great to see so many people enjoying the beautiful space we have here and to get new sign-ups to our fabulous allotment community. This year we themed up with Healthy Wexford’s Meet your Neighbour initiative, it was a fantastic way to connect with our community and meet and welcome our neighbours. Some kids from the FDYS painted a fabulous mural on the day, the mural will be yet another fabulous addition to our wonderful allotment. n
ECA
Gardening Tips...
Apply no more fertiliser to trees and shrubs now until late winter or early spring.
Eight-week horticulture workshop at the Enniscorthy Community Allotments.
Recent photos from both the Family Day and the Open Day at Enniscorthy Community Allotments.
Foodies gather at Wheelocks
The Village at Wheelocks Strawberry Weekend, 5th-6th July 2025.
Left: Celebrity chef Edward Hayden. Above: Cllr Aidan Browne, Cllr Paddy Kavanagh, Cyril Wheelock, Michael Murphy (Honorary President, Wexford Food Producers Network), Stacey Williams (Wexford Food Producers Network), John Kelly (Vice-Chair, Wexford IFA). Below left: Michael Murphy addressing the audience with Cyril Wheelock keeping an eye on proceedings. Below right: Carol Nolan (Wheelocks), chef Edward Hayden, Cyril Wheelock.
The aim of this toolkit is to support Community/Voluntary and Tidy Town groups in developing a food waste reduction programme for towns and villages.
Food waste is a major global issue, but communities always have the power to make a difference. This food waste reduction toolkit is designed to be used by community groups of all types who are keen to tackle this important environmental and social justice issue and to deepen their community’s connection to the land.
Details of the 'Waste Not, Want Not' toolkit and further resources can be found on the Voice Ireland website at: https://www.voiceireland.org/wnwn/toolkit n
WEXFORD FOOD PRODUCERS NETWORK IN NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH FBD INSURANCE
The Wexford Food Producers Network is delighted to have established a new partnership with FBD Insurance.
The Wexford Food Producers Network was first established in 2011 and is now fourteen years in existence. The organisation has evolved to become a member-representative and member-led body with a core remit which is to represent the business interests of Wexford’s food and beverage production sector. The Wexford Food Producers Network has approximately fifty registered members consisting of Wexford-based sole traders, micro enterprises, SMEs, and large food and beverage production companies.
FBD Insurance has been supporting Farming, Food, and Hospitality businesses across Ireland for over 50 years. In that time FBD has been an active and trusted partner to Ireland's Food and Agri industry, aligning with relevant bodies and helping champion and invest in initiatives that develop and grow the sector and those within it. FBD is excited to continue that commitment with this new partnership with The Wexford Food Producers Network.
Speaking about this new partnership, Paul Kehoe, Chairperson, The Wexford Food Producers Network, said: “We are delighted to align with FBD in launching this new partnership. This is a great opportunity for both organisations, and we look forward to working closely with the team at FBD to support the future development and growth of our organisation, allowing us to provide further opportunities for our members who are so important to us.”
Patrick Carey, Business Development Manager, FBD Insurance, added: “As an active supporter to the sector and as Ireland’s leading homegrown insurer, we understand the importance of supporting grassroots, member-based organisations such as this and the pivotal role that they play in building a sustainable food production sector, with stronger long-term economic impact for Wexfordbased companies and the wider national economy.” n
FBD Insurance Wexford branch General Manager Lara McCann and Sales Executive Lee Devereux join Paul Kehoe, Chairperson, The Wexford Food Producers Network, alongside Alisha Carroll and Reese Kelly to celebrate the announcement of a new partnership between FBD and The Wexford Food Producers Network. Pic: Mary Browne.
National Women's Enterprise Day (NWED) celebrates female entrepreneurs’ success and inspires female start-ups. This year, 16th October, is the
anniversary of this great national event. The Wexford Local Enterprise Office will, as always, be very active around this occasion so keep an eye on https://www.facebook.com/LocalEnterpriseOfficeWexford for full details as they emerge.
County Wexford Chamber Golf Classic
County Wexford Chamber's Annual Golf Classic 2025 returns on Friday, September 5th, at New Ross Golf Club. This is an ideal occasion to thank clients or treat your team in an enjoyable, relaxed, sporting, and social outing where participants' enjoyment is the priority.
Entry fee includes golfing, networking, excellent food, goodie bags, and prizes on the day.
Tee time: 10am-2pm
Format for the Day: Team of four Combi Team event, with the two best scores counting on each hole.
Prizes for First Place, Nearest the Pin, Men's & Women's Longest Drive.
Are you ready to take your new product or service to new markets? Then get ready for take off with the new Market Explorer Grant. Providing a grant of up to €10,000 for market research, in-market consultancy and industry events, this can help bring your business to new heights! For more information contact one of the Local Enterprise Office Wexford team today: Annette Rowsome or Jill Kelleher, or visit LEO’s website for more information: https://www.localenterprise.ie/Wexford/ n
Worried about new tariffs?
Here’s How LEO Wexford Can Help Your Business
Uncertain about how new tariffs will impact your small business? Your Local Enterprise Office Wexford is here to support you with expert advice and tailored programmes to help you navigate these challenges. ✅ Get Exporting – Learn how to successfully export your goods and services.
✅ Market Explorer Grant – Funding to help you explore and expand into new markets. ✅ Export Business Advisor – Get one-on-one guidance from an expert in international trade.
Local Enterprise Office Wexford is there to help your business thrive. Email: info@leo.wexfordcoco.ie. Tel: 053 9196020. n
Enniscorthy financial business celebrates 20 years in business
Last month marked 20 years since Ashmore Financial opened its doors on Templeshannon Quay – and what a journey it has been.
Owner Kent Ashmore says, “Over the last two decades, I have had the privilege with both Martin and Niamh of helping individuals, families, and business owners make informed decisions to protect themselves, their homes, their businesses, and grow their wealth. From life cover to pensions, and savings to serious illness protection and mortgages – we've seen both professionally and personally how the right advice can change lives.
“Thank you to every client who has trusted us along the way. Your goals, dreams, and financial peace of mind have always been at the heart of what we do.
“Here’s to the next 20 – continuing to provide you with clear, honest, and personal financial guidance for years to come.” n
Celebrating 50 years with ambitious expansion plan
Wexford-based ifac, now one of Ireland's leading accounting, tax, and business advisory firms is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year with ambitious plans for further expansion, including the creation of 400 new jobs over the next three years.
With revenues expected to hit €50 million, ifac has transformed from its humble beginnings to become a top-ten accountancy and advisory firm.
Founded in 1975, ifac began as a specialist advisor to Irish farmers. Over five decades, the firm has seen remarkable growth, from undergoing a successful rebrand in 2018 to expanding its services in farming, food, agri-business, the SME space, tax, and audit, thereby meeting and exceeding client needs.
The firm’s continuously evolving growth strategy has included completing key acquisitions and diversification, service innovation, and significant investments in both people and technology. To further support its growth, ifac is planning to create 400 new jobs over the next three years and expand its services across the country.
With its growing 30-office footprint, today ifac boasts a dedicated team of 580 professionals supporting almost 30,000 clients across the country. This includes supporting 18,000 producers, 3,000 clients in the agri-food sector, and 7,000 SMEs with a full suite of professional services, including accounting, tax, audit, corporate finance, consultancy, corporate recovery, payroll, financial planning, company secretarial, and business valuations.
Photographed at ifac's 50th anniversary event are the firm's Wexford representatives, L-R: Willie Fahey, John Donghue, and Peadar Murphy.
In 1975, alongside Donal Cashman, Peadar Murphy was the firm’s Founding CEO and winner of the prestigious Plunkett Award for Co-operative Endeavour (2016). He was CEO from 1978 to 2004. n
Kent Ashmore
EU funding for Rosslare Europort
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage James Browne TD has welcomed the announcement last month of a multi-million EU funding investment in Rosslare Europort. Two Irish projects – both involving Rosslare – have been selected to receive funding from the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility for Transport (CEF Transport) fund.
Iarnród Éireann/Rosslare Europort has been selected to receive €19.2 million towards their ‘GREEN DRIFT’ project. This project will see the development of key emission-reducing port infrastructure, including berth development and Roll-on-Roll-off (RoRo) ramps at Rosslare, and onshore power supply in both Dunkirk and Rosslare ports. Furthermore, Iarnród Éireann will also receive a €2.7 million allocation to support studies in relation to the mitigation measures required to protect areas of a 65km length of existing coastal railway between Dublin and Rosslare from erosion and flooding, caused by climate change and the increased frequency of storms along the line.
Minister Browne welcomed the funding, adding: “This is great news for transport in Wexford and the south east region. The major investment in emission-reducing port infrastructure will help to address transport infrastructure resilience as well as ensuring the port adapts to cli-
mate change – safeguarding the long term use of the port.
“The funding towards studies on mitigation measures required to protect coastal areas will be critical for reducing vulnerabilities, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity, and contributing to sustainable and safe mobility along the East Coast rail line.
“This Government is committed to transport in the south east and the investment announced today will play an important part in its development and long term future.”
The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) for Transport is the EU funding instrument that supports the development of the trans-European transport (TEN-T) network. CEF funding is delivered in the form of grants allocated following competitive calls for proposals. The funding announced for Rosslare has been awarded following the 2024 CEF Transport Call for proposals. This was a highly competitive call, with 94 successful applications chosen from the 265 applications submitted from across Europe. n
Simplify Your Business Journey with the National Enterprise Hub (NEH)!
Finding the right support to start or grow your business shouldn't be complicated. The National Enterprise Hub offers a streamlined solution, consolidating over 250 essential resources – from grants and funding to training and expert guidance –on to one intuitive website. Whatever your business stage, NEH provides the resources you need to thrive. Discover more at www.neh.gov.ie or contact NEH for tailored assistance and further details. Your business growth starts here! Proudly supported by the Government of Ireland. n
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD.
Did you know, bagged dog waste can go in any public litter bin?
The wonderful volunteers of Ferns Tidy Towns group, and similar groups around the county, are still finding bagged dog poo discarded in landscaped areas, in planters, left on top of walls, and just dropped on the footpaths. The Ferns group is exasperated by this ongoing problem, saying, “It’s not our responsibility to pick up after your dog. There’s just no excuse!”
Do you know you don’t need to find a dedicated dog-waste bin, bagged dog waste can go in any public litter bin! This point was emphasised by Enniscorthy Municipal District Manager Claire Lawless at the July meeting of the Council as Cllr Jackser Owens raised the issue of the lack of dog bins around Enniscorthy.
Leaving dog mess behind isn’t an option, so if the nearest dog bin is full or too far away, just use a general litter bin, or bring it home and dispose of it in your own household waste bin. n
Chewing gum can cause harm
Please place your chewing gum in bins as not only is it unsightly, but chewing gum contains xylitol which can poison our furry friends and can also cause harm to our birds. Please be responsible and help us all keep our county clean. n
August has arrived, the year is just flying by and with all the twists and turns the road ahead is bright.
Sometimes on that road you meet people that will leave an incredible mark on your life for the better and in April 2009 I met one such man. Dr Adrian Brito-Babapule was attending a course up in Scotland that I was at and over the few days we struck up a friendship that would last the distance.
I used often say he originally trained as a vet, then went on into medicine, but because of his veterinary background I knew I would trust him! It was only a joke but it gave us a common platform to work from. He was a brilliant man. He became a pathologist, a black belt in martial arts, a homeopath, and went on to develop a new type of kinesiology.
He was generous with his time and his knowledge and if people were willing to listen he was a font of information. The cases he treated were usually ones that conventional medicine had reached a full stop on. He had a huge success in this area and began to develop a reputation for himself in different parts of the UK where he lived and abroad for achieving success.
with Joe Kavanagh of the Moyne Veterinary Hospital
His genius was he combined the wisdom of the martial arts, the various forms of energy medicine between homeopathy, flower essences, nutrition, and kinesiology to help people and animals back to vibrant health, and with a new view in life. He married the wisdom of Eastern spirituality with Western medicine melding both into a powerful and impactful way.
He helped reignite passion and purpose into doctors’ and health professionals’ work and their lives.
Dr Adrian passed away after a short illness a few weeks ago. He leaves a big void in one sense but leaves a legacy of wisdom and grace to those he met and taught on his courses and clinics. He had taken me under his wing and taught me how to ‘read’ a case and how to look at life in a whole new light.
As his light has dimmed and left this Earth, he has lit a flame in lots of others. He trained consultants, doctors, pharmacists, GPs, housewives, vets…. Anyone who came to him and was interested in learning.
The flame he lit lives on and will shine bright for years to come.
May he rest in peace. n
If you have a topic you’d like Joe Kavanagh to address please email Slaney News at: slaneynews@gmail.com
OPENING HOURS (6 DAYS A WEEK):
9.00am–1.00pm and 2.00pm–6.00pm
Small animal clinic (please tel. for appointment):
Renault is turning back the clock while looking to the future with the arrival of the all-new Renault 5 hatchback, one of the most anticipated new cars to go on sale this year. Drawing inspiration from the iconic 1970s city car, the new Renault 5 arrives with bold styling, an all-electric powertrain and a price tag that starts from €25,995.
The design pays homage to the original with a playful face and unique features such as headlamps that ‘wink’ when you unlock the car and a digital charge indicator on the bonnet that lights up as you approach. Renault has embraced bright, retro-inspired colours like Pop Yellow, Pop Green and Midnight Blue, with optional bi-tone roof finishes and decals for added personalisation.
Three trims are available in Ireland: Evolution, Techno, and Iconic. All models sit on 18-inch wheels, with a different design for each.
Inside, the Renault 5 continues the retro theme. Cabin materials vary by trim, with the Techno model featuring a denim-like blue fabric, while the topspec Iconic adds yellow and grey upholstery with black synthetic leather. Despite its compact size, the interior feels very stylish though it's quite cosy for space. Rivals like the Hyundai Inster offer a roomier feel but are they as cute as the 5?
Technology is front and centre, including a digital driver display and 10.1inch infotainment screen. Higher trims
come with built-in Google services, such as Google Maps and Google Assistant.
While the layout is generally intuitive, some controls like the multiple stalks behind the steering wheel and an unconventional gear selector may take time to adjust to.
All models come with wireless smartphone charging. Stepping up to the Techno adds a parking camera, while the Iconic trim includes extras like a heated steering wheel, heated front seats and adaptive cruise control.
Despite its compact size, the Renault 5 offers 326 litres of boot space, which is competitive in this segment. Rear seat space is tight for adult passengers, making it best suited for children or shorter journeys. There are three Isofix points, including one on the front passenger seat and two in the rear.
Buyers can choose between two battery sizes: a 40kWh battery offering up to 300km (WLTP) of range and a larger 52kWh version with up to 410km. The latter is paired with a more powerful
150hp motor, compared to 120hp in the smaller battery model.
Performance varies, but the Renault 5 proves brisk and capable, with a 0–100km/h time of under eight seconds in the more powerful version.
On the road, the Renault 5 is nimble and responsive, making it ideal for town driving. It feels planted and confident, with light steering and good handling in tighter corners. However, it can feel unsettled over poorer surfaces on rural roads. Motorway driving is surprisingly refined for such a small vehicle, with a composed ride and decent noise insulation.
Charging is another strong point. All models support 11kW AC charging and rapid DC charging. The 52kWh model offers the fastest DC rate at 100kW, allowing a 15–80% charge in about 30 minutes. Vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality is also included, allowing the car to power household devices using a special adaptor.
The range kicks off from €25,995 for the Evolution 40kWh, from €27,995 for the Techno and from €29,995 for the Iconic. The 52kWh range starts from €30,995 for the Techno and from €32,995 for the Iconic.
With its eye-catching design and smart electric engineering, the Renault 5 stands out as one of the most exciting small EVs to hit Irish roads in 2025. It's not without its quirks and space limitations, but utterly adorable all the same n
CARS, VANS, 4X4, TRUCKS, TRACTORS, MARINE, QUADS, LAWNMOWERS AND GENERATORS. WE REPAIR ALL UNITS. ALL APPLICATIONS CATERED FOR. Island Road,
Interior
Civic Reception in Enniscorthy for Oscar Traynor Cup champions
Wexford Couty Council hosted a special Civic Reception at Enniscorthy Castle on Thursday 17th July to honour the Wexford Football League team for their remarkable victory in the 2025 FAI Oscar Traynor Cup, with proceedings headed by Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council, Cllr Joe Sullivan.
This marks only the second time Wexford has won the Oscar Traynor Cup, their previous victory coming in 2010 under manager John Godkin.
Speaking at the event, Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council Cllr Joe Sullivan said, “Wexford County Council are delighted to mark this victory with a Civic Reception in your honour. The reception shows how proud we are of the team, the manager and coaches and all those involved in bringing about this great sporting victory. We wish you continued success as a team and hope you enjoy this special occasion. You’ve made your county proud,” concluded Cllr Sullivan.
Manager Willie Peare was praised for his leadership and vision in guiding the team to victory and received a commemorative plaque from Cllr Joe Sullivan on behalf of the team.
Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy, Cathaoirleach of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council, also spoke at the event and added to the congratulations and good wishes.
Manager Willie Peare said they were deeply honoured by the Civic Reception and the players, management, and the background team, family, friends, and supporters expressed gratitude for the occasion.
Denis Hennessy, Chairman of the Wexford Football League, also expressed his appreciation.
Each player on the team was individually honoured with a com-
memorative civic scroll as a symbol of appreciation from the people of Wexford for their dedication and success: Raphael Abidoye, Paul Brennan, Ryan Busher, Sean Allen, Conor Casserly, Niall Connolly, Gary Delaney, Evan Farrell, Luke Greene, Todd Hynes, Robbie Kane, Stephen Kinsella, Jason McGuire, Reece Murphy, Glen O’Brien, John Peare, Eoin Rhodes, Alan Rhodes, Ian Sinnott and Ethan Vickers.
The Management Team were also each presented with a commemorative civic scroll for their dedication and commitment to the team: Willie Peare (Manager), Mark Ross (Head Coach), Gavin Griffith (Goalkeeper Coach), Conn Mooney (Assistant Manager), Nick Finn (Coach), Billie Byrne (Logistics) and Ivan Lynch (Physio).
The evening was a fitting tribute to a team whose achievements have earned them a place in the history of Wexford sport. n
L-R: Cllr Joe Sullivan, Cathaoirleach of Wexford Co. Council, Alan Rhodes (captain), Willie Peare (manager), Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy, Cathaoirleach Enniscorthy Municipal District.
A Civic Reception was held in Enniscorthy Castle on Thursday 17th July for theWexford Football League team who were crowned All-Ireland champions by winning the Oscar Traynor Cup 2024-2025.
Below: The team and management being presented with commemorative civic scrolls for their dedication and commitment.
20th Year of Mick Murphy Race
Enjoy a night at the dogs at Enniscorthy Track
Racing is on two nights a week, Mondays and Thursdays, at Enniscorthy Greyhound Track – a great way to spend an evening with friends or family.
First race starts at 8pm. Admission is €10 per adult (incl. race card), €8 for OAP/student (incl. race card). Under 14s go free.
Bar and cafe facilities on site, plus Chester’s chip van. Tote and bookmaker betting facilities on site. https://www.facebook.com/enniscorthygreyhound.track n
Sports Active
Sports Active Wexford is all about creating a healthier, safer, more active and inclusive society in Co. Wexford. Facebook page: www.facebook.com/SportsActive n
Pickle Ball now available in Enniscorthy
Curious about the fastest-growing sport in Ireland? Pickleball is a racket or paddle sport in which two players (singles) or four players (doubles) use a smooth-faced paddle to hit a perforated, hollow plastic ball over a 34-inchhigh (0.86 m) net until one side is unable to return the ball or commits a rule infraction.
Enniscorthy Astro Centre is the perfect place to experience the fun and energy of Pickleball. Astro Active Centre, Bellefield, Enniscorthy. Tel: 053 923 6678. Email: astroactive@reachability.ie n
A big entry enjoying the 20th year of the Mick Murphy 5K Road Race in Ferns Village on 4th July 2025.
€1,000 fundraised for Bukky Foundation
Last month Enniscorthy’s Mick Adiboye’s organsiation, CIE Promotions, raised €1,000 for the Bukky Foundation which was founded in memory of Olubukoye 'Bukky' Abidoye to support families who have experienced the sudden loss of a loved one.
Talking about the charity soccer tournament held on 12th July 2025, Mick said: "We’re delighted to share that our recent tournament raised €1,000 for The Bukky
Foundation! A big thank you to everyone who donated, came along on the day, and helped support such a great cause. A special shoutout to referee Danut Romanescu for doing a top job on the pitch. We’d also like to thank our brilliant sponsors: The Whitehouse Pub, Mizzoni’s Pizza, Tony’s Takeaway, Weatherseal, and Enniscorthy United – we really appreciate you being part of it.
"A huge thank you to Geraldine Tyrell for
all her help behind the scenes, and to Ken Kennedy for selecting the football awards – both played a big part in making the day a success. Thanks as well to Shamrock Rovers for kindly letting us use the pitch — much appreciated!"
The tournament winners were Team Bailey, who came out on top against Team Darragh. Team Mick Jnr finished third in the Shield. Team Craig Cooney rounded out the table. n
Above left: winners Team Bailey. Above right: Mick Abidoye and Prince FA, Wexford rapper, present a jersey to sponsors Mizzoni’s and The White House Bar as a thank-you for backing the event.
Enniscorthy golfers raise over €11,500 for charity
Below: The generous sponsors.
Presentation of cheque for €11,515 to Máire Hayes, Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association Nurse for the South East of Ireland. The money was raised through a golf charity event held in the club on 4th July in memory of Tom Maguire, a club member and local businessman. A huge number of local businesses generously sponsored the event. Well done one and all! n
Doing Enniscorthy proud
Stunning performances from Enniscorthy Athletic Club teams saw the women take the Division One National League title and the men’s team taking third place – an amazing achievement for the club. n
Left, L-R: Julie McCarthy, Mary Halligan, Dil Whyte, Máire Hayes (recipient on behalf of Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association), Helen Cosgrave, Kit Byrne, Ann Wall, Nora Furlong, Stasia Maguire, Larry O'Connor, Louise Doyle, Teresa Bailey.
Young stars light up Rosslare Strand with formation of Aoibhinn F.C.
Aoibhinn FC squad. At back: Charlie Dunne, Jack Kelleher, Olly McInerney and Ella Dunne. In front: Sheena Kelleher, David Murphy and Jack Murphy.
Move over Liverpool and Manchester United – there’s a new team in town and they’re full of heart, hustle and heroics.
With youthful passion and community spirit, a group of children aged between two and nine have banded together to form their very own football club on a small patch of green in Rosslare Strand.
The newly minted Aoibhinn F.C. named after the Irish word for beautiful or lovely, which is also a soubriquet for soccer (‘the beautiful game’), is quickly becoming the pride of the village. What began just months ago as casual kickabouts on a small green has blossomed into something truly special.
Spokesperson Charlie Dunne explained that it took off when his dad set up a goal net for the local kids. “Now we play every day for as long as we’re allowed,” said Charlie beaming with pride.
And things are already looking up for Aoibhinn FC. This week their grassroots dreams got a major boost from a surprise visit by footballers Casey Connon and Hayden Connon from Dublin and by Isabelle Furlong an eleven-year-old goalie and striker who is already making waves in Spain as a member of Club Deportiu Ribes, a sports club based in Sant Pere de Ribes, near Barcelona.
Isabelle’s football journey is the stuff of dreams. Inspired by her hero Aitana Bonmatí, the 2023 and 2024 Ballon d’Or-winning midfielder for Spain, Isabelle trains with the same club where Bonmatí once played.
With roots in Wexford, her grandfather and her granduncle hail from the county, her visit has brought international flair to the team and the local pitch.
The future looks bright for Aoibhinn F.C. and their message is: “We’re just getting started!”
Below: Isabelle Furlong on left with Aitana Bonmatí, the Ballon d’Or-winning midfielder for Spain.
Sports Active in Bunclody
Bunclody Sports Active in the GAA grounds on 22nd July
Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy, Cathaoirleach of Enniscorthy Municipal District, with Lauren Smyth and the 6-year-olds.
Above: Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy, Cathaoirleach of Enniscorthy Municipal District, with Ross O’Loughlin’s athletics group. Below: Cllr Murphy with the gaelic football 7-year-olds.
Knowing Your Graveyard
A Talk & Tour of its Built, Archaeological and Natural Heritage
Join a unique experience in the old graveyard in Ferns. Once the Ancient Capital of Leinster, this historic graveyard in Ferns, Co. Wexford, is the ideal setting for a Talk & Tour on its rich natural and built heritage, followed by a picnic and a short talk on its medieval history. The event will take place during Heritage Week – Saturday, August 16th from 12 noon to 1.30pm.
It’s all part of the Old Graveyard Conservation Plan 2025 funded by The Heritage Council. The project is a community-driven initiative bringing together a specialist team to help guide the conservation, maintenance and enhancement of the site’s rich heritage. The project team will share insights from their recent surveys, offering a fascinating look into the graveyard’s natural, built, and archaeological legacy. The project came about in response to the community’s concerns about the vulnerability of the graveyard’s boundary walls and the need to conserve, maintain, and enhance the graveyard’s natural and built heritage.
Ferns was one of the most significant religious and political sites in the southeast during medieval times and the graveyard is a perfect spot to get a sense of its history and story. Set in the heart of a monastic settlement founded by St. Aidan at the turn of the 6th/7th century, the graveyard will be brought to life through the voices of an archaeologist, an ecologist, a built heritage specialist, and a local historian. The graveyard is within a stones throw of St. Mary’s Abbey, built by Diarmait MacMurrough in the 12th century and where he hid out while waiting for the arrival of the Normans.
All are welcome to attend this free Heritage Week event and those who go along are invited to bring a picnic which can be enjoyed at a Question & Answer and feedback session after the Talk & Tour by the project team.
This project has been funded with the support of The Heritage Council. n
Words
& pics by Maria Nolan
Haymaking the old fas h io
On Sunday, 6th July 2025, the creative Laceys – father and son duo Sean and Barry, invited the public to attend at the beautifully restored Post Office at Ballycarney for an old-fashioned haymaking event where visitors were invited to join in the pitching of hay and the careful construction of haycocks.
I was amazed to see that almost every man on the premises participated in the event.
It was the nostalgia for many, a trip back through time to their childhood days on farms around the county of Wexford where they helped as children to ‘bring in the hay’.
For others it seemed almost a therapeutic exercise, something relaxing and defining in the pitching of the hay and the careful construction of the perfect haycock.
And for all, even those sat watching it, it appeared to have that earthy attachment, that link between man and nature that we all crave in today’s busy automated world.
There wasn’t a machine to be heard as men flexed their muscles lifting and pitching hay in perfect sync with their surroundings, laughing and talking and advising far away from the maddening crowd and the noise and solitude of machinery.
Golden moments pitching hay and, as the sun gilded all beneath it, sugans were made and thrown over the cocks to herald a day’s work done.
Then the nostalgia continued with the obligatory cup of tea and a bit of music, song and craic after a satisfying hard day’s work.
Well done to Barry and Sean for bringing a taste of bygone days to a July Sunday. n
oned way
Flying the flag for Enniscorthy at Fishguard Re-enactment
Words & pics by Maria Nolan
The last invasion of mainland Britain occurred in 1797 when the French, blown off course, landed at Fishguard in Wales.
The French were led by Colonel William Tate, who some historians say was born in Ireland, but I haven’t been able to get confirmation of this, so suffice it to say that he had Wexford family connections and fought in the American War of Independence in 1776.
There were many Irishmen among the ranks of the French invasion force known as La Legion Noire – the Black Legion. A soldier, William O’Toole, was born at Edermine in 1745, the brother of Laurence O’Toole of Fairfield and uncle to eight of the latter’s sons, all of whom were officers in the French army. Holding the rank of General of Brigade, O`Toole took part in the French expedition to the coast of Wales on 22nd –24th February 1797 after the failure of the Hoche attempt to land in Ireland, no doubt anxious to have a crack at Britain come hell or high water.
O`Toole was captured after the Battle of Fishguard but returned to France as a prisoner of war where he died the following year.
Colonel William Tate was also returned to France after a brief imprisonment.
Enniscorthy Historical Re-enactment Society were delighted to be invited to participate in the re-enactment of the Last Invasion, playing the French of course, and travelled to Fishguard on 18th July where the re-enactments took place on the beach at Goodwick on 19th/20th.
Hundreds of spectators turned out on both days to see the French landing and marching up the beach only to be accosted by the women of Fishguard led by local heroine Jemima Nicholas, whom it is said plied the soldiers with drink and rounded them up with pitchforks forcing a surrender.
Now whilst both the Irish and the French are partial to a drop of the nectar of the Gods, the real story is that the Welsh women lining the horizon wearing traditional high black steeple hats and red shawls and armed with pitchforks, looked to the French from a distance like regular line infantry that they were incapable of defeating forcing them to surrender after brief clashes with hastily assembled British forces and the local civilian population led by the Jemimas –that is not to say that there was not drink involved!!!
Which or whether, the re-enactment was a tremendous success with the weather holding good and the spectacle a most colourful one with French Officers on horseback, canon and musket fire, and a very enthusiastic group of local Jemimas waving very threatening pitchforks at the French invaders.
The event was attended by Wales’ First Minister Eluned Morgan, Baroness of Ely, who fired the first canon to begin proceedings, Welsh MP Ben Lake, and representing the King, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Dyfed, Roger Smith.
Following the surrender, everyone marched to the Royal Oak at the centre of Fishguard where the original peace treaty was signed in 1797 and
Slaney
after the signing were treated to refreshments and beautiful singing by the Fishguard Male Voice Choir who, to the delight of EHRS, gave a rousing rendition of The Fields of Athenry.
It was a really most enjoyable weekend and EHRS were thrilled to be invited and have since received invitations for both 2026 and 2027 when an even bigger event is planned.
Fishguard, like Rosslare, is usually just a place we pass through travelling on to other destinations but I have to say having spent three days there, it is indeed a lovely, quaint, seaside village
with lots to do and see and the people are extremely friendly and helpful and I would really recommend that the next time you sail into Fishguard to take some time to see it before moving on to other places, it is definitely worth it.
EHRS are so happy to have made some good connections and some great friends over the Last Invasion weekend and feel that lots more could be done between Wexford and Fishguard to improve tourism in both areas.
Perhaps this time the French/Irish will get far more out of the invasion than they did back in 1797! n
Report illegal dumping
Wexford County Council has three methods to log illegal dumping complaints:
1. Call: 053 919 6000
2. Email: customerservice@wexfordcoco.ie
3. Website to report illegal dumping: https://www.wexfordcoco.ie/waste-and-recycling/report-illegal-dumping n
Rural water funding
The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD, announced last month an allocation of €1.2million in funding for Wexford under the multi-annual Rural Water Programme 2024-2026.
The funding will be made to Blackstairs Group Water Scheme to address leakage reduction and water conservation. 1,114 households will benefit from this investment.
Minister Browne said: “The Government is working hard to fund improvements to water services across the country, including services to rural areas that do not have access to Uisce Éireann services. This announcement today is very much part of that commitment and will support rural communities to thrive as places to live and work.”
Senator Cathal Byrne has welcomed the news: “This announcement is great news for communities across the country but particularly those in County Wexford serviced by the Blackstairs Group Water Scheme. It’s so important that we protect our water sources and ensure the highest standards in water treatment.
“The Rural Water Programme delivers improvements to private domestic water and waste water services in areas of rural Ireland where there are no public water services.
“This funding and the completion of these projects will allow Group Water Schemes to continue to improve the quality, quantity and reliability of the water services across Wexford.” n
Enniscorthy’s climate action competition makes headline news
The Enniscorthy Climate Champions Competition, launched by the Slaney News earlier this year, and hosted by Wexford County Council supported by Global Action Plan in partnership with Ducky, recently featured in a number of media outlets at national, regional, and local level.
This level of press attention had a two-fold benefit in that it helped raise public consciousness of climate change; and was
a reminder to us all how small but mindful climate actions taken on a daily basis (as encouraged by the competition) can aid in mitigating its impact.
An Irish Times'article by Sylvia Thompson provided details on the competition's background, and featured interviews with some of the competition's participants / winners.
To view the Irish Times article, please click here: https://www.irishtimes.com/environment/climatecrisis/2025/06/19/the-whole-community-approach-to-climate-action/ n
Do your town a favour
Do you have a few hours to spare a month? Find yourself bored mid week evenings or at the weekend? Want to make your town a better place? Please contact Enniscorthy Tidy Towns: https://www.facebook.com/EnniscorthyTidyTown Email: enniscorthytt@gmail.com n
Please note...
To log a report regarding any dumping, street litter, road oil spills and potholes, ring Wexford Council on (053) 919 6000 or email: customerservice@wexfordcoco.ie
You will receive a log number to refer to if you need to call again.
You can also ask to register for group or individual cleanups of your environment.
Wexford is not your ashtray!
Cigarette filters are made of plastic and therefore do not biodegrade. They can remain in the environment for a very long time creating huge problems for our beautiful county. Please help keep Wexford clean and bin your butts responsibly! n
Enniscorthy Community Allotments (ECA) has been approved for a Local Waste Prevention Grant, which it will use to restore unwanted tools for reuse by its members.
So have a look around your house/shed for tools that ECA can restore, and please leave them at the ECA shed reception. n
Calling all community group, voluntary group and club treasurers
Please keep in mind Wexford County Council's Community Grant & Funding webpage when looking to source details of community grant and funding schemes that may be relevant to climate action measures.
This webpage is a valuable source of information detailing what schemes are currently available, terms and conditions etc., and very importantly.....deadlines!
To access the webpage, please click here: https://www.wexfordcoco.ie/community-grants-and-funding n
BIN YOUR GUM WHEN YOU’RE DONE!
the streets of Wexford town on 8th July 2025 to promote positive gum litter disposal. As part of its Summer Roadshow campaign, the GLT collaborated with Wexford County Council to promote the importance of proper litter disposal through fun education and awareness initiatives that highlight the negative environmental impacts of gum litter and draw awareness to the €150 gum litter fine.
Cllr Joe Sullivan, Cathaoirleach, Wexford Co. Council, and Cllr Raymond Shannon, Deputy Mayor, Borough District of Wexford, officially launched the Gum Litter Taskforce’s gum litter education campaign in Wexford town on 8th July 2025.
A collaboration between industry, government, and local authorities, and funded by Mars Wrigley, this year marks the launch of the campaign’s sixth cycle.
GLT has seen gum litter reduce by almost 70% since 2007, via a sustained public engagement and education campaign. According to the latest National Litter Pollution Monitoring System data, gum now accounts for just 8.6% of all litter, continuing a downward trend in gum as a component of litter from 26.4% in 2006, and 9.1% in 2021, the end of the previous three-year cycle.
The Gum Litter Taskforce reports that:
92% of people now report properly disposing of their chewing gum, a record high.
85% of 16–34-year-olds now view littering as socially unacceptable.
Men remain more likely than women to improperly dispose of chewed gum.
However, according to the latest research, 1 in 12 admit that they still drop their gum on the ground – with men more than twice as likely to do so than women. This highlights the continued importance of the campaign.
Welcoming the roadshow back to Wexford, Cllr Joe Sullivan, Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council, said, ‘The Gum Litter Taskforce Campaign is an important reminder to the whole community that we must continue to reduce our litter and protect our local environment. The campaign has achieved positive results to date, and I hope this year’s campaign will continue to further build on those results.’
Cllr Raymond Shannon, Deputy Mayor,
delighted to welcome the Gum Litter Taskforce to Wexford. It’s a great initiative that generates awareness of the negative impacts of gum litter in a fun and engaging way. As a Council, we are committed to working with campaigns such as GLT, that promote responsible litter disposal behaviours, and result in cleaner communities.”
Avril Donlon, Gum Litter Campaign Manager at Food Drink Ireland, added:
“We are delighted to be kicking off another summer of interactive roadshows. Each year, we continue to see the positive impact this campaign is having on communities across the country. It’s encouraging to know that our efforts are helping more people make the right choice when it comes to gum disposal.”
This year’s Summer Roadshow will make 20 stops across 17 counties. The GLT campaign also includes a school roadshow (‘Bin It!’) which will travel to primary and secondary schools across the country from October, and run an advertising campaign and website, with educational material at www.gumlittertaskforce.ie
For more information: www.gumlittertaskforce.ie
Follow: @GumLitterTF (X) and @gumlittertaskforce (Instagram/TikTok) n
