A young male was arrested following an alleged stabbing incident in Co Wexford over the Bank Holiday weekend happened in a children’s playground adjacent to the Riverside Park Hotel in Enniscorthy on Saturday Thousands of people were in the town over the weekend for the 10th annual Rockin’ Food and Fruit Festival when the alleged stabbing took place A video has been widely circulating of the incident across social media being stabbed repeatedly with an implement A spokesperson for gardai in Enniscorthy has confirmed they are investigating the incident and that the injured youth received medical attention for his non-life threatening injuries Today's News in 90 Seconds - May 5th dash cam or mobile phone footage in relation to this incident to further the investigation A garda statement said: “Gardaí are investigating an alleged assault that took place on the Promenade in Enniscorthy "A male youth sustained non-life-threatening injuries in the course of the incident and was taken to Wexford General Hospital for treatment "One male youth was later arrested in connection with the incident and has since been released pending referral to the Garda Youth Diversion Programme New RossPlanning sought for new GP surgery and four-bed apartment in Duncannon A planning application has been submitted to Wexford County Council to change the use of a house to a GP surgery in Duncannon Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open You are visiting us because we have something you value Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more. GARDAÍ ARE INVESTIGATING an alleged assault incident in Enniscorthy Co Wexford in which a young man was injured It is understood that the incident took place near a park at the Promenade in Enniscorthy Gardaí were alerted to the incident on the afternoon of Saturday 3 May The young man was taken to Wexford General Hospital for treatment on non-life threatening injuries A second young man was later arrested in connection with the incident A spokesperson said he has since been released pending referral to the Garda Youth Diversion Programme “Investigations remain ongoing,” they added Create an email alert based on the current article Liu Dos Santos celebrating the tenth anniversary of the programme Rachel CahillEnniscorthy GuardianYesterday at 04:00Liu dos Santos has made an incredible journey over the last three years – from living in Mozambique during political unrest and economic crisis to pursuing her education and career in the welcoming community of Enniscorthy lived in Mozambique with her parents after returning from South Africa during the Covid-19 pandemic her former partner Ashley Maher found himself unemployed as the economic state of the country was very bad we completely lost all hope,” she admitted with his grandfather being Irish and holding Irish citizenship himself they thought it would be a good idea to move to Ireland he travelled to England where he worked to save money for their big move and received a job offer in Enniscorthy where he now works in Centra especially since her parents and other relatives still live there Mozambique is very beautiful and warm and the food is amazing but it is not a great place if you want access to opportunities A big concern is the political unrest in her home country following the 2019 elections and claims of fraud by opposing political parties President Filipe Nyusi of the ruling FRELIMO party was re-elected with a large majority of the vote (73 per cent) with his main challenger of the opposition party RENAMO receiving just 22 per cent RENAMO and other parties accused FRELIMO of ballot box stuffing voter intimidation and manipulation of the electoral process that has ignited once again following the 2024 election with FRELIMO keeping power once again there is a lot of uncertainty because of the post-election crisis There is a lot of violence between the police and public because everyone wants truth and proof as there has been a lot of fraud It is really upsetting because my family is there you can’t really enjoy life with that in the back of your mind,” she explained Liu is currently doing an apprenticeship with Roban Financial that allows her to pursue her education at the same time with hopes that she can realise her childhood dream "Growing up I always imagined myself as a big businesswoman with a suit and heels I didn’t know what I wanted to do but I wanted to so something to change people's lives I started doing an economics degree and worked in the bank sector which I loved.” "I didn’t imagine that I would go into life insurance because it is not a big thing in Mozambique and not a priority I just got my own first life insurance here in Ireland,” she added she got an online job for six months with Ulster Bank which suited her as her son Luka In a lucky twist of fate once that contract ended and she was looking on the job market it was Roban Financial who reached out to her "I was really nervous when I went for the interview because I felt that I didn’t have the qualifications They told me I would have to do a course and get qualifications I couldn’t finish my course in Mozambique so I saw it as a second chance and I took it.” The Insurance Practitioner Apprenticeship called ‘Earn and Learn’ is a three-year programme which enables apprentices to earn a full-time salary whilst studying remotely for a BA Honours Degree in Insurance Practice The work-based training programme combines academics delivered remotely through ATU Sligo (Atlantic Technological University) with on-the-job learning allowing apprentices to acquire technical and business skills while studying towards a degree 47 per cent of all graduates have achieved first class honours with the programme having one of the highest percentage of females in an apprenticeship with a near even split of 53 per cent females and 47 per cent males The programme recently celebrated its tenth anniversary with an event featuring Minister of Further and Higher Education They are now accepting applicants for the 2025 programme but Liu said she wouldn’t change it for the world then come back and wind down with Luka before we eat and I put him to bed and then I go to the gym I try to study three times a week so I either go to the gym of study.” "I recommend this apprenticeship ten times of ten For someone new in the sector it makes it so much easier to study what you are doing and putting it into practice,” she said she has been greatly welcomed into the community by her neighbours and the various community groups And although her and Ashley are no longer together they remain great friends who are dedicated to co-parenting as a team "Enniscorthy is so charming with all the historical sites The community is so warm and welcoming as well – I go to workout in a group and I am involved in the Brazilian community They really welcomed me because I think my culture and their culture has similarities I have had no negative interactions so far.” her son Luka has had no issues setting into the community though the Irish weather was difficult to become accustomed to "He was the first one to get settled in so early He loves his little friends at creche and our neighbours know him and greet him sometimes stopping in the middle of the street to talk Given the journey she has undertaken to get to where she is today she is full of advice for people who find themselves in her previous situation "I would say never stop believing in your ability to change and embrace it with an open heart Everything will fall into place eventually.” “I am a firm believer in that what we give is what we get https://www.limerickleader.ie/section/1195/advertise-with-us weather & more in Limerick and County Limerick All the latest breaking local news from Limerick and County Limerick Keep up to date with the latest sports news Read all the latest Irish news and updates from around Ireland Find whats happening in and around Limerick and County Limerick Enjoy our award winning photos and picture galleries taken in Limerick and County Limerick Catch up on all the latest business news in Limerick and County Limerick Read about the latest properties available in Limerick and County Limerick Enjoy our latest and up to date motoring review and news in Limerick and County Limerick Limerick and County Limerick Met Eireann Weather Forecast Recent death notices and obituaries from Limerick and County Limerick Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter Support our mission and join our community now you can subscribe for as little as €0.50 per week which will also give you access to all of our premium content and archived articles Thank you for supporting Ireland's best local journalism An Garda Síochána are investigating an alleged assault that left one youth hospitalised in Enniscorthy, County Wexford The alleged incident occurred on Saturday the 3rd of May 2025 Read Next: RIP: Gardai stand down search for missing man (44) following tragic update The press release from the Garda Press Office reads: Gardaí are investigating an alleged assault that occurred on the Promenade Wexford on the afternoon of Saturday 3rd May was injured and taken to Wexford General Hospital " + $(".testo_articolo").html().replace(//g please subscribe and support local journalism Subscribing will allow you access to all of our premium content and archived articles To continue reading this article for FREE,please kindly register and/or log in Registration is absolutely 100% FREE and will help us personalise your experience on our sites You can also sign up to our carefully curated newsletter(s) to keep up to date with your latest local news Join Slimming World Ireland and donate your clothes to charity when you lose the weight Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman and our staff operate within the Code of Practice of the Press Council Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie At the initial sod-turning ceremony of the project Signing of the contracts for the construction of the new hurling wall Rachel CahillEnniscorthy GuardianSun 4 May 2025 at 09:00Phase three of the €1.5 million development in McCauley Park Enniscorthy is well under way with the official signing of contracts The vision behind the project was to create a ‘Flagship Sports and Community Facility’ at world class standards in the heart of Enniscorthy promoting the health and wellbeing of the wider community in a safe and inclusive environment The overall project involved the investment of over €1.5 million with collaboration from the local community and the Rapparees Starlight’s Finance Committee raising €400,000; Wexford County Council providing funds of €400,000 and a greatly appreciated donation from Mr Sam McCauley of €600,000 was provided by philanthropic donation from local businessman and long-time club member which has also led the club ground being renamed which commenced in February 2024 and concluded in September 2024 included the development of a new statement entrance for the club together with 25 new public carparking spaces A new pedestrian crossing on the Bellefield Road was also delivered as part of phase two as well as a new pocket garden with seating and a playground for young children Maria Nolan of the Starlights/Rapparees Club has confirmed that contracts were signed for the commencement of work on their new hurling wall in a sit down between PJ Norton and Liam Drohan of Clear Water Construction and club representatives John Browne Also included in phase three is an artificial playing surface and lighting works "We look forward to adding our state of the art hurling wall to the rest of our excellent facilities and we do apologise for any disruption caused – but you know what they say ‘you can’t make an omelette without breaking some eggs,” she said A male youth has been arrested (and subsequently released pending referral to the Garda Youth Diversion Programme) following an alleged stabbing incident that took place over the Bank Holiday weekend in County Wexford The town was bustling with visitors attending the 10th annual Rocking Food and Fruit Festival when the incident unfolded Footage of the alleged attack has been widely shared across social media platforms The video appears to show a young male being stabbed multiple times with a sharp object Gardaí confirmed they are actively investigating the matter to South East Radio this morning (Monday) It was also confirmed that the injured teenager received medical treatment for injuries described as non-life-threatening Gardaí have issued an appeal for witnesses and are asking anyone with dash cam or mobile phone footage of the incident to come forward to assist the ongoing investigation the Gardaí said: “Gardaí are investigating an alleged assault that took place on the Promenade in Enniscorthy A male youth sustained non-life-threatening injuries in the course of the incident and was taken to Wexford General Hospital for treatment One male youth was later arrested in connection with the incident and has since been released pending referral to the Garda Youth Diversion Programme An investigation is underway into the alleged assault of a youth in County Wexford It's understood to have happened in a playground beside the Riverside Park Hotel in Enniscorthy on Saturday afternoon One youth was taken to Wexford General Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and released a short time later Gardaí in Enniscorthy have confirmed that three juveniles were subsequently spoken to about the incident It comes as the town celebrated the annual Rockin’ Food and Fruit Festival which sees thousands of visitors flock to the area Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website Beat102103.com. The four-bedroom house is in good condition throughout. The property is being presented in lots by Gorey-based Quinn Property The sale is due to take place at the Riverside Park Hotel in Enniscorthy and simultaneously online “We’re delighted to introduce this new property to the market,” said selling agent David Quinn “It has an excellent countryside location and a charming traditional house.” 3km from the village of Caim and a short distance off the N30 (Enniscorthy-New Ross road) in the heart of some of Wexford’s finest agricultural lands Marked aerial photo of the 50-acre farm.The house — known as ‘Acre House’ — is in good condition throughout — a century-old stone-built traditional home with its own separate entrance two utility rooms and a toilet/shower room downstairs a landing leads to a bathroom and four bedrooms The property will be offered for sale in the following lots: The lands are guided at €15,000-€20,000 an acre while the house (Lot 3) is guiding €230,000-€250,000 From as little as €1 a week with our digital introductory offer Already a subscriber? Sign in more farming - property articles The number of organic suckler herds has doubled over the last three years Keep up-to-date with all the latest developments in Farming with our weekly newsletter The interactive version of the crossword that appears in Thursday’s Farming supplement Sign up to the best reads of the week from irishexaminer.com selected just for you The Rockin' Food Festival celebrates its 10th anniversary this year There will be a food marquee in the grounds of Enniscorthy Castle with live chef demonstrations Simon BourkeEnniscorthy GuardianTue 29 Apr 2025 at 05:00Celebrity chefs and a big wheel are just some of the things in store for those attending the 10th edition of Enniscorthy’s Rockin’ Food Festival this May Bank Holiday weekend the 2025 festival promises to be the biggest and best yet with around 50,000 visitors expected to descend on the town over the weekend From having just six food traders in its early days the Rockin’ Food & Fruit Festival has grown into one of Ireland’s top food and family events it will welcome 80 food and craft vendors with a special focus on local produce from Co Wexford including Zaeire Artisan Chocolate A food marquee in the grounds of Enniscorthy Castle will have live chef demonstrations from 12 p.m on Saturday and Sunday featuring names like Kevin Dundon and Wexford’s Paul Hynes and Warren Gillen family-friendly talk about the world of bees and honey production and Lego-making and Pokémon-trading in Eason’s Bookshop the ever-popular funfair and big wheel on The Promenade throughout the weekend The festival will officially open with a fireworks display on Friday on The Promenade and there will be live rock ‘n’ roll music across the weekend in The Market Square from the best of Irish and International bands "Celebrating ten years of the Rockin’ Food & Fruit Festival is a true milestone,” said festival organiser Amanda Whitmore “It’s a celebration of Wexford’s amazing food scene and the wonderful atmosphere that Enniscorthy creates each year "We’re so proud of what the festival has become — starting from just six traders to one of Ireland’s most loved festivals It’s a weekend that showcases the very best of Enniscorthy and Wexford and we can’t wait to welcome everyone to celebrate our 10th year with us the Rockin’ Food & Fruit Festival’s 10th Anniversary is a weekend not to be missed.” Many activities are free of charge, with some ticketed events available to pre-book at www.rockinfoodfestival.ie lead singer and guitarist with the Irish band ‘Kingfishr’ has made history this weekend by joining a small group of Wexford musicians who have achieved an Irish number one hit as the band landed their first ever number one single with the anthemic ‘Killeagh’ is the only song by an Irish artist in the current Top 10 and the first homegrown chart-topper in a year along with bandmates Eoin Fitzgibbon and Eoghan ‘McGoo’ McGrath formed the band as they studied for a Master’s degree in Engineering at the University of Limerick The band are currently on a sold-out debut tour of North America ahead of sold-out shows in Ireland and Europe this summer and now have a total of 9 tracks in the Irish Top 100 The folks at Enniscorthy Tidy Towns and a crew of dedicated volunteers have collected 20 bags of rubbish in their annual spring clean initiative – while highlighting the impact of the Deposit Return Scheme Over 20 volunteers showed up in the early morning for what was called a “huge success” by chairman Jonathon Hughes they noticed a big change in the amount of bottles being littered following the introduction of the Deposit Return Scheme which sees consumers return bottles in return for a deposit of money "We collected 20 bags of rubbish and recycled 215 items Last year saw over 500 items – a big reduction thanks to the Re-turn scheme,” he said The official Facebook page for the Re-turn initiative were thrilled to see the results of the programme in action It’s fantastic to see such positivity surrounding the Deposit Return Scheme,” they wrote Enniscorthy has seen great participation and success in the scheme since its inception in February 2024 with the Enniscorthy branch of ALDI being among the stores highlighted with the most engagement Wexford entrepreneur has spent the last 13 years turning discarded recyclable materials into new items giving them a fresh lease of life through her organisation ‘The Upcycle Movement.’ "By re-imagining something that otherwise may have ‘had its day’ – upcycling opens up a world of new possibilities business opportunities and waste solutions And that’s why I set up The Upcycle Movement in 2012,” she said The idea first took root in Lynn’s mind when she received a unique bag from her brother for Christmas in 2005 My bag was made by widows who had lost everything at that time It was made from the canvas tsunami rescue tents they sheltered in and had the following message on it: We’ve moved on...help us carry our tents.” She was inspired by the incredible women who saw value in something that could have been deemed as waste and transformed it in order to raise funds and help for their community "Since then I started to look at things differently & realise that with just a bit of creativity and imagination almost everything around us can be a resource for something new export and even recycle - all cost money and resources to do They also impact our environment in the process As does the extraction and processing of raw materials And I can't help but think about the age old advice to 'make the most of what you have.” Lynn spent some time living on a lake activity centre in Ireland and also living in Australia and became aware of the huge volume of wetsuits that get sent to landfill each year These can not be recycled and do not biodegrade Lynn set about seeing what else could be done with the material The Neo Collection features bags and accessories made from upcycled wetsuits and made for everyday adventures Handmade with respect for the environment and a passion for a more sustainable world Ten percent of the profits goes towards Seal Rescue Ireland where she volunteers She also has held a number of workshops with Creative Places Enniscorthy and participated in the Midsommer celebrations on Vinegar Hill last summer Lynn shared her insights on how creative approaches to sustainability can drive meaningful impact at the South East Sustainability Cluster 2025 in Greentech HQ in Enniscorthy on Thursday the company serves as an educational platform through Lynn's workshops and talks that inspire communities to explore local and sustainable solutions,” a Greentech HQ representative said Madeleine Doran cuts the ribbon on the newly renovated Enniscorthy Credit Union Photo: Enjoy Enniscorthy Wexford PeopleWed 30 Apr 2025 at 02:00There were great celebrations in Enniscorthy Credit Union as they cut the ribbon on the new Banking Hall on Wednesday They had commenced work in early March and over six weeks totally transformed the Banking Hall into a new contemporary space with the addition of five private areas to meet with members The work was carried out by Glenn Wood who have worked on many Credit Unions in Ireland and had great knowledge in providing a space that will work for members into the future The honour of cutting the ribbon fell to Madeleine Doran Madeleine has 46 years of loyal and meticulous service to Enniscorthy Credit Union having commenced employment in 1978 and has witnessed many transformations in that time Madeleine continues to be a friendly and always smiling face in ECU serving its 30,000-plus members within the community “We want to thank our members for their patience during the works over the last two months and we look forward to settling into our new surroundings and serving our members for many years to come in our new office Our members will always come first here at Enniscorthy Credit Union.” She went on to say that “all the staff have been fantastic as well during the transition and we were delighted that we could continue to serve our members from our temporary office downstairs everyone helped each other to make sure that the service to our members continued in our friendly manner.” April 16 with the official opening happening on Wednesday April 23 with facepainting and balloon artist Odd Socks on hand for junior members said a few words before the official ribbon cutting As part of the celebrations Enniscorthy Credit Union had a draw amongst all their members who did any transaction with them on Wednesday April 23 using their debit card or online and the winners receiving €100 each Ms Doyle finished by saying that the Credit Union turned 61 years old on April 13 and is going from strength to strength in the community “Enniscorthy Credit Union is still fulfilling the social vision which our founders mapped out 61 years ago No movement has done more for the people of this area than the credit union movement I think it is safe to say that an idea developed by a few ambitious and enterprising individuals 61 years ago and which was nurtured and developed over the years has served the community of Enniscorthy and its environs very well We plan on being part of the story locally for many more years to come and we look forward to sharing our journey with you Young dancers performing at the Enniscorthy Indian Association's Easter Vishu Celebration in Marshalstown Community Centre Pat Kehoe at Enniscorthy Indian Association's Easter Dancing girls at Enniscorthy Indian Association's Easter Aileen Lambert and her daughter Nellie performing at the Enniscorthy Indian Association's Easter Young performers at Enniscorthy Indian Association's Easter Drummers at Enniscorthy Indian Association's Easter The Fortune family (special guests) and Dr Geogde Leslie at Enniscorthy Indian Association's Easter Organisors and guests pictured at the Enniscorthy Indian Association's Easter Rachel CahillEnniscorthy GuardianThu 1 May 2025 at 12:00Marshalstown was awash with colour and music as the Enniscorthy Indian Association hosted a grand multicultural gathering to celebrate Easter a full house of Indian and Irish families arrived at the community centre for an evening of cultural exchange Dr George Leslie opened the function with a warm welcome and insightful introduction to Vishu the traditional harvest festival of Kerala He highlighted the shared values and customs between Indian and Irish harvest celebrations emphasising India’s constitutional commitment to secularism and the peaceful coexistence of diverse religions and traditions In attendance at the event as special guests were Senator Cathal Byrne renowned folklorist and historian Michael Fortune and celebrated traditional singer Aileen Lambert noting the importance of multicultural acceptance and expressed his delight at being part of such a vibrant community celebration in his home area Michael Fortune then captivated the audience with stories of historical and cultural links between Ireland and India before Aileen and her daughter Nellie performed a number of Irish traditional songs Michael described the experience as a memorable one that evoked memories of the past “It was great to see the hall packed and used and little children and families catching up and playing Would remind you of the Irish clubs over in England in the 60s and 70s and people coming together to celebrate their culture with music and songs.” "One of the highlights for me was seeing a group of men play a particular drum from Kerala and great to hear it ring out in the hall Amazing to think that these men live and work locally and you’d have never heard them play otherwise,” he added The evening concluded with a heartfelt speech of thanks from Biju of the Holy Grail who acknowledged the collective efforts that made the event a success "This celebration stood as a shining example of harmony and the beauty of multicultural Ireland,” Dr Leslie said Reports that people are using the houses of the recently deceased as dumping grounds for litter and unwanted goods have caused outrage in Enniscorthy Cllr John O’Rourke who raised the matter of the March meeting of Enniscorthy Municipal District said he was appalled by what he witnessed Though much of the information about the opening of the new casino located in the old bank building on Castle Hill in Enniscorthy the official signage has revealed its new name The casino and entertainment centre is set to be called ‘The Olde Bank’ in a nod to its previous use as Bank of Ireland This development has been a source of contention in the town with residents and councillors alike criticising Bord Pleanala for overruling Wexford County Council’s decision to deny planning permission applicant Grace Watters and architect Roger Holfer lodged an appeal with An Bord Pleanála in November 2023 that was approved in later 2024 after they successfully argued that the development does not go against the Wexford County Development Plan 2022-2028 The casino will feature “state of the art” automated bingo terminals with robotic ball callers and will be strictly over-21s with CCTV installed throughout the premises for security purposes Alcohol will not be served in the building but snacks and beverages will be available via vending machines The proposed opening times for the venue will be 10 a.m In her application Ms Watters also stated that the business will provide a social element to the town where people of all adult ages can meet “especially senior citizens,” and will rejuvenate a landmark Georgian building that has been derelict for many years The majority of councillors have been vocal about their objections to the the project including Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy who believes it is counter-intuitive to the lengths the government is currently going to discourage Irish people from gambling The message is clear from the local people pictured during the IPAS Centre protest on Saturday in Enniscorthy The IPAS Centre protest in Enniscorthy on Saturday The IPAS Centre protest on Castle Hill in Enniscorthy on Saturday Cllr Jackser Owens speaking during The IPAS Centre protest in the Shannon in Enniscorthy on Saturday Helen Lyons speaking during The IPAS Centre protest in the Shannon in Enniscorthy on Saturday Some of the attendance pictured during The IPAS Centre protest in the Shannon in Enniscorthy on Saturday Cllr Paddy Kavanagh speaking during The IPAS Centre protest in the Shannon in Enniscorthy on Saturday Majella Wall speaking during The IPAS Centre protest in the Shannon in Enniscorthy on Saturday The locals listened attentively to the speakers during IPAS Centre protest arriving at the Shannon hill in Enniscorthy on Saturday Kevin Tyrrell speaking during The IPAS Centre protest in the Shannon in Enniscorthy on Saturday Rachel CahillEnniscorthy GuardianWed 19 Feb 2025 at 08:00The cold and wet weather did not act as a deterrent to the large crowd of Enniscorthy people who marched through the town to the former Mercy Convent in a peaceful protest against a planning proposal to turn the building into an IPAS centre Ian Skeffington made the application on behalf of his company Flodale Group Ltd on Monday January 20 to confirm if planning permission is required to use the former residential convent for persons seeking international protection and it has since become a heated topic within the Templeshannon community in Enniscorthy Huddled under a multitude of umbrellas and holding signs that stated ‘Enniscorthy says no,’ residents listened to a number of speeches made by local councillors First up with the microphone was Cllr Jackser Owens who took a shot at his fellow district councillors for their absence If there was an election here tomorrow morning we wouldn’t have room to stand here!” he said He also suggested that the council buy the building from Mr Skeffington and turn it into social housing to address the housing crisis that has locals in a chokehold a local business owner who had an unsuccessful run in the local elections last year said she wanted to emphasise that their objection to the proposed IPAS centre did not mean they did not pride themselves on inclusivity already housing our fair share of migrants – why now would it be deemed appropriate to put an IPAS centre in our town lack of funding and a lack of support here,” she said She claimed Enniscorthy has the highest number per capita of Roma community in the country which she believes is an alarming statistic as is She said there is currently and approximately 800 Ukrainian people already living in the community as well as near 100 Syrian refugees and a number of migrants from Brazil "Given the fact that we already house a large number of migrants that shows that we are a community that is inclusive So we are doing our part as it is with a lack of funding,” she added Housing Minister James Browne's recent promotion to the cabinet was referenced throughout the protest Ms Wall believes his appointment as Minister for Housing and Heritage is a step in the right direction Today's News in 90 seconds - 19th February 2025 We are now in a very very fortunate position here as we now have the Minister for Housing James Browne,” she began amidst yells from the crowd about his whereabouts "And we all congratulate James on this excellent promotion and I do believe it is a very positive step for Enniscorthy but he is also Minister for Town Regeneration So that can only be a win-win situation for our people I would hope that being from the community he would do his best for Enniscorthy,” she said Perhaps the most anticipated speaker on the day was Cllr Paddy Kavanagh who found himself in hot water last week for comments that were labelled “disgusting” by fellow councillors during a meeting of Wexford County Council In the chamber he differentiated between nationalities that he felt the community would find acceptable "There’s a number of Ukrainian refugees housed in the nursing home up the street There's no issue with the people there and there’s be no issue with people similar to them,” he said once up in front of the crowd with a microphone in his hand he debunked any suggestions that he was racist and expressed his empathy for refugees fleeing war-torn countries I have nothing against people coming to this country but I think the government of this country have a duty to vet everybody coming in and to know where they are going to,” he said “And I say to the Wexford county councillors who were so indignant to the fact that I said that it was single migrant men coming to live beside a secondary school – they got all horrified over it I’m sure when they are down on their doorstep they will have a different attitude,” he said being an Enniscorthy born and reared man himself with his family in Templeshannon and Drumgoold since 1878 he believes no one can tell him that he cannot comment on issues in the area In the recent Wexford County Council meeting Cathaoirleach of Enniscorthy Municipal District Aidan Browne assured Cllr Kavanagh that Enniscorthy did not need councillors from other districts getting involved Cllr Kavanagh is a councillor for the Gorey-Kilmuckridge district "When anyone tells me that I don’t have a right to speak at a council meeting for supporting Enniscorthy – I draw the line I think people should be delighted when anyone speaks up for Enniscorthy God knows there are very few people doing it,” he said to roars of cheers from the crowd Despite his current grievances with his fellow councillors he told the crowd that the issue was not with the councillors who are doing the best they can "Those people should not be targeted for the mistakes of our masters in Dublin Whatever kind of agreement they made in Europe to allow them in – you had to give something away to get something He also criticised businessman Ian Skeffington directly condemning him for prioritising money over the needs of both refugees and the local people "Why should Mr Skeffington come in and and take two iconic buildings in our parish and bring people in and bus people in overnight and make an absolute fortune out of their misery And there is an awful lot more Mr Skeffingtons out there that are making an absolute fortune out of these people’s misery,” he said which owns the Hibernian Hotel direct provision centre in Portlaoise was contracted to run the emergency accommodation at the Commercial Inn in Laois in 2019 To add further insight into the planning permission process local archaeological technologist Kevin Tyrell informed the group that it is still a long journey despite Wexford County Council ruling on Friday that the building is not exempt from planning permission He also advised the protesters to remain calm in their opposition as to not be regarded as “lunatics” "We have an opportunity here to go through the right channels on this We don’t want to be seen as screaming lunatics – we’re not let’s be collected and let’s be precise in what we do how we do it because at the end of the day lads; how we present something is how it is received,” he said He finished by quoting Teddy Roosevelt who said: “Speak quietly and carry a big stick.” Rounding out the event was organiser Helen Lyons who felt compelled to organise the protest as a concerned “mammy” We are getting the Shannon back for the people One positive that could clearly be taken form the protest is that the issue has unintentionally began bridging a gap between the two sides of the town separated by the River Slaney and years of divide over funding and opportunities “I decided to do this literally Wednesday because something needed to be done and from that I got the world of help from both – I hate saying the far-side and the Shannon side because it is Enniscorthy town to me This shows the passion everybody has for their town,” she noted This sentiment was also shared by Cllr Kavanagh Stay together as one town and don’t have a divide because what is happening today on this side will be happening on the far side next week,” he said Although it was announced in February that Local Link were looking at developing a route to service the urban areas of Enniscorthy town councillors now fear that it will not go through following a lacklustre response and participation in the survey by the public TFI Local Link Wexford currently manage four seven-day services that serve a number of areas within Enniscorthy and the town stops are showing usage by those living in the town despite the lack of actual bus stops They believed that this data highlighted the appetite for public transport in the town and so in order to progress the implementation of a designated town bus service they prepared a questionnaire to provide information on the public transport requirements of Enniscorthy’s residents based on the low numbers of responses to the questionnaire made available online and through QR codes there is uncertainly over the likelihood of the plan going ahead soon Cllr Jackser Owens highlighted the necessity for the service and that people with mobility issues should be able to get transport to appointments or wherever they would like to go without paying more for a taxi “Very few people – there hasn’t been nearly enough people who answered that local link survey and if we want to have a bus service in the town of Enniscorthy we need people to actually answer the survey,” added Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy "I don’t know if people are just expecting other people to do it,” she wondered Director of Services Carolyn Godkin confirmed that there is worry over the low response and how it affects their chances of getting funding "We are competing against towns outside the county At this stage the numbers are so low that there is not a chance that we will get any funding for that bus unless the residents in the town do the survey and demonstrate demand we are not going to get it.” Mary Murphy cutting the cake at her party surrounded by the Delightful Dollys in Enniscorthy a member of the Enniscorthy group Delightful Dollys surrounded by friends and fellow members of the group in the Bellefield GAA complex on Wednesday Delightful Dollys has always been a wonderful social outlet for Enniscorthy ladies since 2011 and they meet each week at Bellefield GAA complex where they enjoy a cuppa and a chat and busily plan trips and organise events like bingo and line-dancing said she was delighted with the celebrations and to ring in yet another year with her group of friends "I was delighted to celebrated my 60th Bbrthday with my Delightful Dolly friends in Bellfield GAA complex It was a fantastic morning with the group and I continued to have a celebration at home with my family and friends I am very grateful for all the good wishes and gifts received,” she said Wexford County Council has decided to implement a stop/go traffic management on a busy road in Enniscorthy to facilitate essential pedestrian crossing works The road in question is the R-772-41 Seamus Rafter Bridge Though the set times for the works are between 7 a.m they noted that some night works might be involved in the development Delays are expected at peak times and motorists are advised to find alternative routes where possible Wexford Football Alliance and the contractors on the pitch at the opening of Enniscorthy Astro Pitch Wexford Women's League and Wexford Football Alliance and Claire Lawlor Enniscorthy councillors and members of Wexford Football Alliance with Minister James Browne and Cllr Aidan Browne Cathaoirleach of Enniscorthy Municipal District at the opening of All Weather Astro Pitch on Ross Road Enniscorthy The opening of Enniscorthy Astro Pitch on Monday morning by Minister James Browne Senator Cathal Byrne and Cllr John O Rourke Minister James Browne with Tony Doyle of the Wexford Football Alliance Cllr Aidan Browne at the opening of Enniscorthy Astro Pitch by Minister James Browne Simon BourkeEnniscorthy GuardianMon 3 Mar 2025 at 02:00The new all-weather astro pitch in Enniscorthy will be a community facility which will be led by the community and managed by the community The first project of its kind in Co Wexford the facility will be managed by the newly-formed community group which which includes members of the Wexford Football League Wexford Women’s League including Schoolgirls and Wexford FC The project has been funded by a Sports Capital Grant of €300,000 received from the Department of Tourism all-weather playing surface suitable for a variety of sports Cathaoirleach of the Enniscorthy Municipal District (EMD) Councillor Aidan Browne praised the collaborative effort that made the project possible “It is truly a privilege to be here today as we mark an exciting new chapter in the development of local sports in Enniscorthy and surrounding areas,” said Cllr Browne “This astro pitch is more than just a playing surface it is a symbol of our commitment to progress and our belief in the power of sport to bring people together It will serve our community for many years to come." Minster James Browne also spoke at the opening and described the pitch as “a fantastic community facility in Enniscorthy Projects like this are so important for social development and I am delighted to see it come to fruition" who are members of the Wexford Football Alliance congratulated Wexford County Council on having the foresight to invest in a project like this “This is a proud project for everyone involved I would like to give credit to everyone involved we are the envy of other counties,” Peter said said the council remains “committed to enhancing local infrastructure and providing opportunities for health and wellness.” "The astro pitch is the latest project in a series of investments aimed at improving public spaces and encouraging active vibrant lifestyles in the EMD and across the county,” she added former District Manager of the EMD who had the vision for the project there were two games played by St Senan’s N.S who gave a fantastic display of their soccer skills For more information about bookings for the astro pitch please email wexfordfootballalliance@gmail.com The television viewing public will tonight (Saturday) see Wexford’s very first Gladiator the sister of Irish soccer player Festy Ebosele will feature as the Gladiator ‘Cyclone’ on the popular BBC programme which originally ran in the 90’s on ITV is enjoying favourable viewing figures since its revival on the BBC last year The 23-year-old Powerlifter became the Junior World Powerlifting Champion in 2023 determined and will have awesome power” and “nothing will get in her way” Enniscorthy people watched in confusion as a herd of cows paraded up and down the river walkway on the Templeshannon side Sharon Callaghan of the Revive & Thrive shop expected a normal day at work after parking her car at 9.30 a.m only to come face to face with a number of cows who had escaped their field and sauntered onto the banks of the River Slaney "I turned from getting my parking ticket and saw one standing in the middle of the river and another five standing around the edge and was worried they were going to get hurt,” she said Sharon quickly filmed a video of the situation that she posted to her business page which has racked up over 12,000 views to date After seeing someone tag South East Animal Rescue she forgot about the video until she stepped out for lunch around 1.15 p.m the cows had multiplied and were mingling in the river and on the slipway road with busy cars driving past fearing the worst she decided to take matters into her own hands "I saw them heading towards the other bridge where they could easily slip and fall or get hurt so I went down and stood before the entrance We had a proper standoff with the cows and I just staring at each other,” she laughed a volunteer from the South East Animal Rescue appeared and with the help of two boys who had just hopped off the bus and assumed this was a natural occurrence in the town of Enniscorthy they began herding the cows back to where they came "We did our best to be careful not to startle them or cause a stampede I did begin to think at one point that maybe I had put myself in a dangerous position even with one making its way into the carpark of the swimming pool.” Although she never expected to take part in a rescue mission Sharon said that there is something magical and charming about Enniscorthy "There is some kind of pull in this town and maybe people don’t realise it and there is a buzz with everyone talking to each other It reminds me of the old towns I grew up in It is less commercial here and has not lost its charm,” she explained that she wishes the town held more events for the community to mingle together citing the great success of the upcoming Rockin’ Food and Fruit Festival "There is such a big turnout when the town hosts a festival – it just pulls everyone in Sergeant Caroline O’Donnell of Enniscorthy Garda Station confirmed that they have spoken with the farmer about the herd's fun day trip out Fears that Enniscorthy is falling behind on housing opportunities Fears were expressed that Enniscorthy was missing out on housing opportunities despite other districts thriving Councillors were informed at the March meeting of the Enniscorthy municipal district that there were 476 applicants on the housing list in the district of Enniscorthy 78 for a three-bed and 14 people looking for a four-bed offering TFI Local Link Wexford will enhance bus services between Wexford and Enniscorthy This enhanced route is part of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan which is a major national public transport initiative developed and funded by the National Transport Authority (NTA) as part of the Transport for Ireland (TFI) Network Route 384 will be improved with an additional evening return service between Wexford and Enniscorthy These additional services will operate from Thursday to Saturday as well as on Sundays preceding Public Holiday Mondays the service will operate five daily return trips from Monday to Wednesday six daily return trips from Thursday to Saturday and on Sundays before Public Holidays and four daily return trips on Sundays and Public Holidays The enhanced will continue to offer peak-time services and improved connectivity to Redmond Square and regional bus and rails services and for the villages and areas of Glynn Speaking ahead of the launch TFI Local Link Wexford General Manager Mary B O’ Leary said: “”The addition of late evening services has been eagerly awaited by those living in villages along the route.  I expect they will be used by people of all ages to access social and cultural activities.” For route and timetable information visit www.locallinkwexford.ie Learn more about the five year Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan. Wexford man Jimmy Ennis has spent the last number of years contacting the Irish Government in order to bring home a relic that is currently housed in the British Museum who has lived in Hampshire in the UK for that last 38 years has always had an interest in history which propelled him into researching the journey and current location of the Enniscorthy brooch "I had known about the brooch for many years and I suspect it was something that appeared on the Enniscorthy History Facebook page that started my interest in finding out more,” he said the quest to getting answers has not been smooth-sailing "I wrote a couple of times to the culture department and got the brush off,” he said The most comprehensive response he has received yet has been a letter from Executive Officer Donna Rochford-Dunne from the Cultural Policy and Institutions Unit in the Department of Tourism which explained how the brooch ended up in the British Museum in the first place She explained that the National Collection contains artworks and objects from around the world which were obtained prior to the enactment of the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 and the National Cultural Institutions Act 1997 objects from Ireland were often legitimately acquired by antiquarian collectors and ultimately entered the collections of other museums through onward sale or donation This type of activity dates from a time which predates the current legislation and its provisions relating to the discovery and sale of archaeological objects,” she outlined According to records the brooch was purchased in London by the British Museum from W Anthony who was the son of the Piltown-based collector Redmond Anthony in 1849 The collection was sold after Redmond’s death in 1848 the brooch was found following demolition works at Enniscorthy Abbey some time before 1940 and was acquired by Redmond by exchange with counsellor Cookman of Enniscorthy She concluded the letter by noting that the museum often loans out Irish objects to Irish institutions for specific exhibitions and share a close relationship with the National Museum of Ireland Jimmy is continuing to advocate for a more permanent loan in the relic's origins of Enniscorthy “I think it would be good for the brooch to come back to Enniscorthy and I will make that approach again to the Irish Government and the British Museum I am interested in it because it goes back to a stage where we were producing something as aesthetically beautiful as the Enniscorthy brooch in our area,” he said "You cant lose sight of the whole timeline of Enniscorthy and its history,” he added Social media users in the comments of his post highlighted that the brooch was not on display when they visited the museum in person and that a regeneration of the Athenaeum could result in a good location to hold the item should it be eventually returned home In what has been a bad week on the jobs front for Wexford it has emerged today that another 15 jobs are potentially on the line It comes as severe anti social behaviour in the Drumgoold area of Enniscorthy is causing businesses to close on certain days and even consider closing permanently In Chapel Lane Service Station 15 employees are at risk The jobs are under threat because of repeated and excessive anti social behaviour particularly at weekends Reports suggest that between 50 to 70 teenagers and young adults making life very difficult for local residents and business interests Local reporter Jimmy Gahan says Drumgoold is now a virtual no-go area at weekends with commercial activity at a standstill and local residents confined to their homes because of the ongoing intimidation The Authentic European Food Shop in Enniscorthy The Dubai chocolate retails for €15 per 350g Rachel CahillEnniscorthy GuardianMon 17 Mar 2025 at 08:00Enniscorthy's Authentic European Food Shop is answering the call Dubai chocolate is at the centre of a brand-new social media craze where influencers and social media users try out the unique confectionary Originally brought to prominence by Fix Dessert Chocolatier in Dubai the product is a thick chocolate bar filled with pistachios and and knafeh Mihaela Dydynski first opened the shop in 2020 right after her family moved from the UK in 2019 which she admitted was a very ‘brave’ decision given the timing customers can find a wide range of products from various countries including Ukraine She makes the chocolate in the small bakery in the shop but feels that the 20 square feet is not enough as demand has grown She credits the power of social media for giving them the opportunity to try something new "The chocolate became very popular because of social media and people began messaging to ask if we stocked it I tried to find many recipes on the internet and I spoke with a few friends who are bakers as well and from all of them I took a little information and made my own one,” she explained This new endeavour challenged Mihaela to incorporate new ingredients she had no experience with I inspire myself because I have never made cakes before with Knafeh I didn’t know this ingredient existed!” she laughed she prides herself on being able to deliver handmade products with her daughters being her enthusiastic taste-testers many shops they have the factory ones while my one is handmade – every piece of the chocolate goes through my hands "The first time I made just a few for myself to try and see because the first batch was not what I wanted I then tried a few more times and the feedback was amazing that the shop has unfortunately become the victim of someone with sticky fingers the shop posted a CCTV video of a customer slipping a chocolate bar into his pocket and leaving without paying which has to date garnered nearly 10,000 views they wrote: “We are aware we have the best Dubai Chocolate but we are making this chocolate to sell it.” And while she posted the video as a warning to other shopkeepers she admitted theft in similar situations is unfair for small businesses "We wanted to highlight with the video that something else could happen – like my wallet could disappear The chocolate was not a huge loss but at the same time it is not fair because we are working a lot We are a small business and not a big supermarket She added that small businesses in Enniscorthy are having a tough time at the moment and has noticed a large number of other business owners closing shop due to rising costs her love of baking is propelling the business forward and although there is nothing set in place they would love to expand this side of the business further I started baking cakes because that was my dream – it is not just about the baking products it is about putting passion and love in what you do Senior Executive Engineer at Wexford County Council Neville Shaw provided an update on the Murphy Floods site confirming that it has gone out to tender following a query by Cllr Pat Kehoe at the monthly meeting of the Enniscorthy municipal district Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy asked when should they expect to get back to them with a further update The successful Enniscorthy squad celebrating their title win in Belfast on Saturday Nick Doyle and Ben Kidd after the title was clinched Wexford PeopleTue 8 Apr 2025 at 14:30Enniscorthy travelled to Belfast on Saturday with everything to play for A maximum points haul would guarantee second place in Division 2C of the Energia All-Ireland League and a home play-off semi-final Enniscorthy could end the day as league champions but a strong wind would play a significant role with Enniscorthy kicking off the first-half facing into the strong breeze The opening ten minutes saw Harlequins come out of the blocks quickly putting Enniscorthy under sustained pressure Enniscorthy’s line-out defence was outstanding time and time again disrupting the Harlequins attacks Enniscorthy began to find their feet and build some attacking momentum This led to Tomás Stamp opening the scoring with the first try Nick Doyle read Belfast’s playbook to perfection touching down for a stunning solo try to put Enniscorthy 12-0 up after 28 minutes A serious looking injury to a Belfast player disrupted the flow of the match shortly after the try (happily the player in question recovered and was fine by the end of the game) but Enniscorthy responded with another try before half-time Daniel Pim crossed the whitewash following a period of sustained Enniscorthy pressure giving the visitors a 19-5 lead at the break The message from the sideline at half-time was clear: use the wind to their advantage The second-half began with Enniscorthy applying pressure He powered over from a driving maul to extend the lead putting Enniscorthy in a commanding 29-12 lead Their captain and full-back led a late charge with the score 29-19 and just ten minutes to go The tension heightened as Enniscorthy’s Liam Stamp was shown a yellow card and the team found themselves down to 14 men Belfast capitalised on the numerical advantage Enniscorthy held a narrow 29-26 lead with just three minutes left on the clock with Enniscorthy finishing the game with 13 men Nick Doyle got a chance to kick the ball dead after an initial poor attempt from Tomás Stamp to secure the win and the AIL 2C title The celebrations that followed were unforgettable Enniscorthy had not only secured the win but had also claimed the league title in dramatic fashion the celebrations continued throughout the long bus journey back to Enniscorthy The squad arrived to jubilant scenes at Alcast Park with loyal supporters welcoming them back as heroes This victory capped off what can only be described as a Lazarus-like recovery from a challenging start to the season With just two points from the opening four games Enniscorthy had risen to the top of the league with 64 points after 18 games a remarkable turnaround that saw them lift the title Looking ahead to the 2025-’26 season in AIL Division 2B Enniscorthy will now aim to build on this success This squad of young men can be immensely proud of their achievements and the future looks incredibly bright for the team In what turned out to be a dramatic day in Division 2C of the AIL and will be promoted to Division 2B next season A 29-26 win over Belfast Harlequins in Deramore Park in Belfast this afternoon (Saturday) and a loss for Midleton at the hands of Monkstown (26-24) ensured that Enniscorthy leapfrogged the Cork side who had sat atop the table for most of the season Enniscorthy finished the season with a total of 64 points Daniel Pim and Davy Murphy were all on the score sheet for the Slaneysiders who can now look forward to playing Rugby against the likes of Wanderers Dungannon and Sligo among others next season Armed Support Unit Officer Mark Carley speaking with Johnny Mythen TD George Lawlor TD and Minister of State at the Department of Justice James Browne T.D during the launch of the Armed Support Unit facility at Enniscorthy Garda Station on Friday Garda Commissioner Drew Harris addressing the attendance during the launch of the Armed Support Unit facility at Enniscorthy Garda Station on Friday The outgoing Minister of State at the Department of Justice James Browne T.D in conversation with the Assistant Garda Commissioner Eastern Region Paula Hilman and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris during the launch of the Armed Support Unit facility at Enniscorthy Garda Station on Friday An Armed Support Officer at the ready as the outgoing Minister of State at the Department of Justice James Browne T.D receives a briefing from Armed Support Unit Officer Ben Monaghan during the launch of the Armed Support Unit facility at Enniscorthy Garda Station on Friday Pictured at the launch of the Armed Support Unit facility at Enniscorthy Garda Station on Friday were Superintendent David O'Sullivan Assistant Garda Commissioner Eastern Region Paula Hilman Garda Commissioner Drew Harris and Wexford/Wicklow Chief Superintendent Derek Hughes Pictured at the launch of the Armed Support Unit facility at Enniscorthy Garda Station on Friday were Johnny Mythen TD outgoing Minister of State at the Department of Justice Wexford/Wicklow Chief Superintendent Derek Hughes George Lawlor TD and Armed Support Unit Officer Mark Carley Wexford/Wicklow chief superintendent Derek Hughes addressing the attendance at the launch of the Armed Support Unit facility at Enniscorthy Garda Station on Friday James Browne T.D receiving a briefing from Armed Support Unit Officer Ben Monaghan during the launch of the Armed Support Unit facility at Enniscorthy Garda Station on Friday Wexford/Wicklow chief superintendent Derek Hughes and Johnny Mythen TD pictured at the launch of the Armed Support Unit facility at Enniscorthy Garda Station on Friday James Browne T.D addressing the attendance during the launch of the Armed Support Unit facility at Enniscorthy Garda Station on Friday Rachel CahillEnniscorthy GuardianTue 21 Jan 2025 at 08:00Friday January 17 was a big day for the people of Enniscorthy and Wicklow as Garda personnel and Government officials descended on Enniscorthy Garda Station to officially open the new Armed Garda Support Unit The Armed Support Unit (ASU) was established in the Enniscorthy Station at the start of the very first Covid-19 lockdown and has since undergone a significant €1 million upgrade Armed Support Units may be deployed to support local Gardaí in certain high-risk operations This principally involves offering armed assistance to Gardaí who are dealing with an incident in which firearms or other weapons (knives However this role could also include confronting and disarming persons who are carrying weapons or firearms providing tactical support to Gardaí carrying out searches supporting Gardaí conducting high visibility static and rolling checkpoints and other operations to counteract the movements of criminals Chief Superintendent Derek Hughes welcomed Garda Commissioner Drew Harris Deputy Johnny Mythen and Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy as well as the members of the Armed Garda Unit who had just returned from conducting searches in Wicklow He remarked that it was a monumental day that signified how much had changed from when the Armed Response Unit first came to Wexford 16 years ago officers were required to wear shirts and ties and were expected to quickly change into their tactical gear inside a phone box He also thanked Superintendent David O’Sullivan and Enniscorthy Sergeant Caroline O’Donnell for all their work in the lead up to the occasion Junior Minister James Browne spoke about how thrilled he was to welcome the opening of the facility of his hometown of Enniscorthy "I am delighted to be here in my own town of Enniscorthy coming from Enniscorthy this is wonderful to see "And I know the work that they put in on a daily basis; responding to extremely dangerous incidents providing tactical support during high-risk operations and supporting the full spectrum of our policing activity You see things and you do things that the vast majority of people will never have to deal with,” he added Garda Commissioner Drew Harris emphasised how essential the unit was as well as the high level of training and education that each member goes through "You are there to help your colleagues with those situations that can spiral quickly out of control and there have been plenty of incidents Your work is dangerous and regrettably again we see more and more of these incidents arising That requires heavily skilled people who are well-equipped with the tactics and use of the equipment they have available to them," he stated He spoke about how there are a number of pre-planned activities that the unit carries out including; firearms incidents high visibility armed patrols to prevent crime he noted that they are also called to assist in quick developing situations at a moment's notice and referenced the tragic murder of eight-year-old Malika Noor Al Kattib in New Ross "The particularly traumatic incident in December last year where there was a homicide where an eight-year-old died I know that some of you were there and attended the scene as best you could I just want to personally thank you for your duty that night the difficulty of the situation and the trauma of it,” he added He emphasised the importance of mental health and highlighted that there were a host of services within An Garda Síochana that is open to all members One of the Armed Unit Inspectors added that mental health was very important to them and following that particular incident they had mental health days and meetings not just within An Garda Síochana but also fellow emergency responders who were on the scene Chief Superintendent Hughes gave an overview of the activities they carried out over the past 12 months happily noting that they had a positive experience while policing the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann where Garda personnel had a chance to pick up their tin whistles He also outlined a series of high-risk situations that were masterfully manoeuvred by the hardworking members of the unit "We have had an extraordinary year in 2024 and the activities we were involved in ranged from large-scale public disorder to four homicides that occurred in Wexford in the last quarter of the year We had a hard stop carried out in Gorey in June where somebody who threatened to kill somebody else was arrested and brought before the courts We also had a hostage barricade siege in the South of the County which was brought to a peaceful end by the armed support unit,” he listed "In August in the south of the county as well we had a suicidal person who was safely escorted from the roof of a house and was detained under the Mental Health Act In November there was a forced entry to administer emergency medical assistance to somebody who was vulnerable and in need and towards the end of the year there was an arrest following a domestic violence incident That is just a flavour of the work the women and men of the Armed Support Unit do on a daily basis," he concluded Detective Superintendent Furlong who acts as the regional commander over the Armed Support Unit then gave guests a guided tour of the building which included various equipment rooms he explained that the equipment is mostly stored in their vehicles where they have an assortment of devices on hand including tear gas and stun guns to diffuse volatile situations Analysis: Whether you know it as the Wexford or Enniscorthy Carol this beautiful composition has travelled the world We need your consent to load this YouTube contentWe use YouTube to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences the Enniscorthy Carol as performed in Enniscorthy you mean The Enniscorthy Carol?’ placing a strong emphasis on the name of his native Wexford town As he gently took the precious recording from its sleeve he would tell the familiar story of this sublime nativity song We’d heard the bones of the story many many times before but we listened attentively before the gentle hiss and crackle of the needle gave way to its opening lines: "Good people all In 1928, Flood’s transcription of the carol was published in the Oxford Book of Carols and it began to grow in popularity across the world I seem to remember asking my father how old the carol was think that it’s from Medieval times and others say that it was composed much later He was unsure as to whether the carol originated in England or Ireland but he was certain that its correct name was the Enniscorthy and not the Wexford Carol it was first written down and performed there Alison Krauss and Yo-Yo Ma perform The Wexford Carol the true story of the Enniscorthy Carol is a bit more complex The tune on which it is based appears to be Celtic in origin but Its lyrics can be found in part in a number of older English carols That the Enniscorthy Carol ‘borrowed’ verses from other earlier carols is not that unusual song lyrics were changed and adapted with great regularity as they moved from place to place It’s also possible that whoever wrote the lyrics acted as a sort of ‘magpie’ borrowing verses from a range of sources to create a new song The Palestrina Choir Dublin's version of Wexford Carol as if Bethlehem and Enniscorthy were one and the same The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views of RTÉ RTÉ.ie is the website of Raidió Teilifís Éireann RTÉ is not responsible for the content of external internet sites Concerns have been raised over delays to a planned 40-house development at The Lyre in Enniscorthy The project may not begin until 2026 and may not be completed until 2028 despite the urgent need for housing in the area There are over 600 housing applicants in Enniscorthy Independent councillor Jackser Owens believes Enniscorthy is being overlooked in housing allocations and is not receiving its fair share Speaking to South East Radio News Cllr Owens expressed his frustration with excessive red tape for stalling the project An example of the floods that rocked Enniscorthy Rachel CahillEnniscorthy GuardianTue 15 Apr 2025 at 17:41Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW) Chief Executive of Wexford County Council met with elected representatives from Enniscorthy Municipal District on Tuesday to provide an update on the progression of the Enniscorthy Flood Relief Scheme They informed representatives that Wexford County Council is working hard with the OPW to deliver the scheme in the two set out phases Phase One of the scheme will involve the removal of the Seamus Rafter Bridge which poses a significant obstruction to river flow through the town centre during flood events and the construction of a new road bridge and new pedestrian bridge to replace the Seamus Rafter Bridge Phase 2 of the scheme will involve the construction of the remaining flood relief works required for the town elected representatives were updated on immediate priorities for the scheme including: a planned Public Consultation Day (PCD) on options being considered and the emerging preferred option for Phase 1 in May 2025 the submission of a planning application for Phase 1 to An Bord Pleanála in Q2 2026; and the appointment of an engineering consultant to progress Phase 2 design and construction in Q3 2025 Minister Moran welcomed the opportunity for constructive engagement with the Enniscorthy councillors following monthly invitations from local representatives He said: "The OPW and Wexford County Council are committed to progressing a flood relief scheme for Enniscorthy which will protect the local community from significant flood events such as that in 2015 While the delivery of flood relief schemes are complex and challenging the OPW and Wexford County Council are steadfast in its commitment to deliver a scheme for the people of Enniscorthy." “I welcome today’s constructive engagement with elected representatives from Enniscorthy Municipal District and I look forward to updating the members again as the scheme progresses through various stages of development including planning and construction,” he added Mr Taaffe emphasised the importance of progressing the project given the numerous flooding incidents in the area "We welcome the meeting with Minister Moran today as a positive sign of the ongoing commitment to the flood protections for Enniscorthy town There have been a number of serious flooding incidents here over the years and it is vital we can secure a sustainable future for the businesses and residents in the area As a council we are unwavering in our determination to see this project to fruition and look forward to working with the OPW to make this happen as expediently as possible” The Enniscorthy Flood Relief Scheme is part of the Government’s strategy under Project Ireland 2040 to make Ireland a better country for all and to build a more resilient and sustainable future The scheme currently has an approved total project budget of approximately €51 million and will be funded through the Government’s 2030 National Development Plan with €1.3 billion for flood relief measures including from the impacts of climate change through future-proofed When Phase One and Phase Two of the Scheme are completed it is currently envisaged that the scheme will provide protection to approximately 326 properties (including 159 residential and 167 commercial) Senator Cathal Byrne speaking in the Seanad Rachel CahillEnniscorthy GuardianWed 26 Mar 2025 at 10:00Senator Cathal Byrne raised the issue of the delay of the Enniscorthy Flood Relief scheme in the Seanad last week resulting in Minister for the Office of Public Works Senator Byrne spoke candidly about the plight of the Enniscorthy residents who live near the River Slaney and who who live in fear every time there is heavy rainfall "When heavy rain is anticipated in Enniscorthy businesses or commercial properties will be flooded This has created an unfortunate situation whereby investment in the Templeshannon side of the town has stalled and properties on Island Road have been devalued with their owners unable to access flood insurance,” he highlighted the people of the town have adopted a “cynical” attitude that nothing will ever be done to address the issue due to delays There has been flooding of a severe nature in 1924 when the flooding took place on Christmas Day the Government has committed to delivering a flood relief scheme in Enniscorthy but although the funding was allocated in 2014 there has been no progress yet Wexford County Council and the Minister of State's Department submitted a planning application to the then Minister for public expenditure to deliver a flood relief scheme in Enniscorthy that would have involved taking out the Seamus Rafter Bridge dredging the river and erecting glass walls "The scheme had buy-in from the local community including the 105 residents and 127 owners of the business and commercial properties affected by flooding on an ongoing basis with no objections or submissions put forward as part of the public consultation process,” he added two years later it was rejected by the Minister for Public Expenditure for environmental reasons Minister Moran explained that the decision to refuse consent for the scheme was due primarily to concerns regarding its impact on the environment and protected species He added that he has seen first-hand the devastation that flooding has on people businesses and communities citing the Enniscorthy floods in 2000 and 2015 as well as the recent devastation as a result of flooding in Portugal he assured Senator Byrne that he is 100 per cent committed to delivering the Flood Relief Scheme in Enniscorthy and was prepared to show it by taking up the invite to travel out to the town and meet local representatives "People ask us to visit and I will gladly do that but there are issues The environmental element is slowing down the process and delivery of the scheme but I am looking at ways to streamline that I will also gladly take up the offer to meet the Senator and his colleagues "I was very good to Enniscorthy when I was Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works I continue my work now by giving the Senator a commitment that I want the delivery of the scheme and I promise that,” he said Enniscorthy could be closer to have a local link service within the town areas Rachel CahillEnniscorthy GuardianThu 13 Feb 2025 at 08:00TFI Local Link Wexford is working with the National Transport Authority to introduce a town bus service in Enniscorthy town They believe that this data highlights the appetite for public transport in the town The TFI Local Link Wexford team and Wexford Co Council Roads and Active Travel teams are working with the NTA to have bus stops installed In order to progress the implementation of a designated town bus service with the assistance of the Conundrum Project have prepared a questionnaire to provide information on the public transport requirements of Enniscorthy’s residents TFI Local Link Wexford: “In order for us to collate as much information as possible to design with the NTA the best possible town bus service for Enniscorthy we ask people to complete the survey This is an opportunity for Enniscorthy residents to shape a town service for their town The results of the survey will be collated and shared with the NTA so we can begin to plan and work towards a seven-day town service." “We have no implementation date for the town service that will be determined by the NTA and subject to funding but we will do all we can to expedite the introduction of the service,” she added a research team based at University College Dublin and Trinity College Dublin recently conducted a study how to make the town more sustainable by investigating the accessibility to public transport Their findings included a recommendation that the installation of a transportation hub is needed to improve mobility in Enniscorthy town Their other solutions include a shuttle bus that loops around the town and connects the housing estates on the town’s outskirts with key services and amenities Improved accessibility of key walking routes to include even surfaces and pedestrian crossings with traffic lights & private sector) inclusion in transport and mobility planning for Enniscorthy in conjunction with Wexford County Council Sláintecare Healthy Communities Local Development Officer drove home the importance of accessible transport to all “A town bus service for Enniscorthy is more than just transport – it’s a vital lifeline for communities Whether you use the bus regularly or only occasionally your feedback is crucial in shaping its future I would encourage people to take a few minutes to complete the survey and ensure any new bus service meets the needs of everyone in the town,” she said said that the council's Climate Action Plan 2024 – 2029 identified a number of opportunities for transport in Enniscorthy to not just become more accessible "One of the opportunities identified relates to transport and more specifically reducing carbon emissions in Enniscorthy due to increased Active Travel Enniscorthy Decarbonisation Zone requires a reduction in our emissions by 51 per cent by 2030 and the addition of an Enniscorthy Town Bus Service would contribute significantly to meeting this target,” he said it would allow the people of Enniscorthy to reduce their dependence on cars and reduce traffic in the town and would have the added benefit of improving air quality The provision of a Town Bus Service in Enniscorthy is a key action of the Decarbonisation Zone actions (DZBET4),” he added A link and QR code can be easily found on the Wexford Local Link website as well as in a number of establishments around the town including The Cotton Tree café A Wexford senator has called for urgent action on long-delayed flood relief measures for Enniscorthy Senator Cathal Byrne raised the issue in the Seanad pointing out that despite government commitments since 2014 residents and businesses have seen little progress the Junior Minister Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran reaffirmed his commitment to delivering the flood relief scheme but noted that environmental concerns have delayed progress Senator Byrne invited Deputy Moran to Enniscorthy to meet with locals and to assess the need for the scheme The Junior Minister for Public Expenditure has reaffirmed his commitment to flood relief measures for Enniscorthy saying he is exploring ways to fast-track the long-overdue scheme Responding to Senator Cathal Byrne in the Seanad Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran acknowledged the community’s frustration particularly after years of delays despite funding being in place He also revealed that updates on flood relief efforts Deputy Moran promised that the flood relief scheme would be delivered during his tenure: speaking to South East Radio News Independent Councillor Jackser Owens said A time and date for a public meeting to discuss the flood relief scheme in Enniscorthy has been announced The Riverside Park Hotel will host the event on Tuesday the 13th of May between 2 pm and 9 pm The aim of the Public Consultation Day is to gather feedback and opinions in relation to the options being considered and the emerging preferred option for Phase 1 of the scheme Wexford County Council with the support of the Office of Public Works (OPW) is undertaking the development of a Flood Relief Scheme for Enniscorthy The Scheme is to be delivered in two phases Phase 1 of the scheme will involve the removal of the Seamus Rafter Bridge and the construction of a new road bridge and pedestrian bridge to replace the Seamus Rafter Bridge stakeholders and interested parties are being encouraged to attend and have your say to inform the identification and selection of the preferred option to be taken forward to planning Most of the country is now under a Status Orange warning as Storm Eowyn begins to abate ESB crews are set to begin work on restoring power to over 715 thousand homes and business around the country but it could be over a week before everyone is back on the grid Upwards of 4,000 homes in the Enniscorthy/Wexford area are without power today as a result of Storm Fallen trees are blocking many roads across the district with emergency crews working flat out to clear roads ESB store manager for the Enniscorthy/Wexford area Peter Graham gave South East Radio news this update The R772 Enniscorthy to Ferns road has re-opened following a road traffic collision this lunchtime A car and Motorcyclist were involved in the incident There are concerns of flooding in Enniscorthy this afternoon (SATURDAY) due to elevated levels in the River Slaney with a level of 3.0 usually resulting in flooding in the town The river rose considerably overnight following strong rains arising from Storm Bert A fresh status yellow wind warning has been issued for Wexford from 5pm this evening (Saturday) until 2 tomorrow morning (Sunday) There had been several reports of flooding throughout the county earlier this morning on the R745 road leading into Ferns village as well as on the Taghmon to Adamstown Road Independent Councillor and General Election candidate Jackser Owens said that a lot more rain would be needed to flood parts of the town “I just walked the River Slaney there a while ago [approximately 12.30PM] and the measurement at the moment is 2.4 I just hope and pray that the householders of the Island Road and the business people won’t be flooded I’m looking out there now; it is very high but it would take a lot of water to flood us as it’s 2.4 at the moment I spoke to the engineer and he said it had to be 3 meters before to be a flood so it’s a long way away from that.” “So pray to God that it won’t go on to the Island Road that it won’t go on to the Quay and down by the Riverside Hotel in that area So we will just keep our fingers crossed.” Three popular Enniscorthy roads will be closed from today until later in the week to facilitate junction resurfacing works around the town by Wexford County Council These areas include Cooladine on L-6055-1 with a stop and go on the R-744-6 Tomnafunshoge on the L-2024-1 with a stop/go on the R-744-4 The works at Cooladine and Tomnafunshoge will last from Monday while the work at Edermine Bridge is set to be completed by 6 p.m Local diversions are in place and motorists are to expect delays The Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works and Chief Executive of Wexford County Council met with elected representatives from the Enniscorthy Municipal District to reaffirm their shared commitment to the progression of the Enniscorthy Flood Relief Scheme which forms part of the Government’s wider strategy under Project Ireland 2040 Phase 1 includes the removal of the Seamus Rafter Bridge — a known obstruction during flood events — and the construction of a new road and pedestrian bridge Phase 2 will complete the remaining flood protection infrastructure for the town officials outlined the upcoming milestones in the project timeline: A Public Consultation Day is scheduled for May 2025 to present the design options and preferred approach for Phase 1 A planning application for Phase 1 will be submitted to An Bord Pleanála in the second quarter of 2026 An engineering consultant will be appointed in the third quarter of 2025 to advance Phase 2 The Enniscorthy Flood Relief Scheme has a total approved budget of approximately €51 million and will be funded through the Government’s 2030 National Development Plan which allocates €1.3 billion for flood relief measures the scheme is expected to protect around 326 properties — including 159 homes and 167 businesses — from future flood events.