News

April 2021

Fundraising drive for St Mary's Hall

A fundraising drive has been ongoing in the Fethard-on-Sea area to raise money to meet the costs and ambitions of St Mary's Hall.

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Garden centres are back open but don't tell anyone!

It's springtime and County Wexford garden centres are open and doing a roaring trade but no-one is shouting it from the roof tops because strictly speaking, outdoor retail premises are not supposed to operate during Level 5 restrictions.

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'This is a one-stop shop ... I can see services being enhanced.' GP welcomes news of Primary Care Centre for New Ross

A one-stop shop for medical care is planned for New Ross to improve the wellbeing of people in the area.

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Nobody is smiling as teenagers wait six years for orthodontic treatment

A 15-year old Wexford girl who waited three extra years for a sixth class appointment with an orthodontist, has been told she will be 21 before she can have the braces that she needs fitted.

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Government viewing faith ‘as a pastime, not a lifeline’

It's the day after yet another Covid announcement and once again Communications Officer with the Diocese of Ferns Fr John Carroll is in an empty Barntown Church.

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Vaccine roll-out plan shows ‘complete lack of understanding’

Last week it was revealed that the National Vaccination Programme was to be changed to an age-based system once those aged 70 and older and people with underlying conditions had been immunised. While this caused anger among professions like teachers and gardaí, it was also another devastating blow for family carers.

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‘Absolutely disgraceful’ that carers are not getting vaccinated

An Oylegate mother who is a carer for her special needs children has said people in her position not being prioritised by the Government and health authorities in terms of the vaccine rollout is 'disgraceful'.

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Twenty-five at funerals will be a more humane number

The move to allow 25 people to attend funerals from April 26 has been welcomed by a Co Wexford priest, who highlighted the cruelty of disallowing immediate family members, including grandchildren, from attending such important occasions.

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‘It was the most profound, beautiful, amazing experience’

When Lauren Schneider and James Dillon discussed starting a family, a home birth often came up; it was something to consider, a serious option when the time eventually came.

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'When we said we would do it virtually ... we never expected it would make the highest figure ever'

The 2020 Hope & Dream 10 fundraiser for the Hope Cancer Support Centre in Enniscorthy and Wexford Hospice raised a record breaking €180,572 in 2020.

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Simon Bourke: 'Covid state has turned us all into tattletales'

It's one of the most important lessons a child will learn, a lesson which isn't taught in school nor passed down by parents. It comes courtesy of other children, from running with the pack. Don't be a rat.

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April opening may not be viable for Blackwater Open Farm

One of the areas specifically earmarked for re-opening in last week's announcement by An Taoiseach were zoos and outdoor wildlife parks. Allowed to open from April 26, it provided a ray of hope for families around the country, eager to enjoy some kind of summer activities this year.

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Secret Valley owners can see light at the end of the tunnel

Having survived 2020 and the winter, the owners of Secret Valley Wildlife Park are hopeful ahead of reopening later this month.

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Fethard's focus firmly on future

A new trail network around Fethard Bay, branded Fethard goods for local businesses and a new walkway and cycling path to Poulfur NS are among the exciting plans outlined at a meeting of Fethard Community Development Association (FCDA).

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Further vandalism to bypass prism sculpture

The €100,000 colourful art prism in Dunganstown has been damaged again - this time seven panels getting smashed in.

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Simon Bourke: 'No need to wait your turn in vaccine queue'

Keep this to yourself but I’ve got a connect, I know a guy. I’m limited in what I can say but rest assured he’s got everything you need.

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€25k funding boost sees green shoots in gardens

Residents of Adamstown, Clonroche and Newbawn are set to benefit from community gardens following a €25,000 funding boost.

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Quarantine measures begin at Rosslare port

Tucked away to the rear of the Rosslare Europort building are two large green tents, flanked by several defence forces SUVs. The newly erected 'holding area' is evidence of the new quarantine system which came into play at all entrance points to Ireland on Friday - including the Wexford port.

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Ferrycarrig road works cause major tailbacks

Last week, MapAlerter texts sent out by the council to people across the county urged them to avoid the N11 at Ferrycarrig. With roadworks ongoing, it was noted that a stop-go system would be in place for a number of days and 'major delays' were expected.

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Ten-fold increase in eating disorder calls

Eating disorders are on the rise in Co Wexford, with one local expert in treating the illness reporting a ten-fold increase in calls.

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Councillors not ready to park greenway plans

With the Rosslare to Waterford greenway currently on hold pending a decision on the reopening of the railway route, councillors in the district have been exploring alternative greenway options.

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Shame on Shanbogh dumpers – Connick

More than 60 bags of rubbish were collected during a litter pick in Shanbogh recently, and days later more rubbish was found in the same area.

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Appeals lodged over proposed new venue in Wexford town

Appeals have been lodged with an Bord Pleanála against a decision by Wexford County Council to grant planning permission for a new concert venue in Wexford town with an entrance from the protected structure of the old Wesleyan Chapel on Rowe Street.

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Superspreader fears after large funeral is held in New Ross

Inaction on the part of the authorities has been blamed for a potential Covid-19 superspreader event in New Ross on Saturday when a popular young man from the Travelling community was laid to rest.

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File going to DPP over Ramsgrange outbreak

Gardaí will submit a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in the coming days about the Covid-19 super-spreader event in Ramsgrange before Christmas.

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'A time to prioritise my relationship with God'

Bishop Denis Brennan, Bishop of Ferns - An interview with La Civilita Catolica, published on 23 October 2020, the newly appointed secretary of the synod of Bishops in Rome, Cardinal Mario Grech, made a very thought-provoking comment regarding lockdown, restrictions, and church life.

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Second Cath Lab ‘will do little to address need for 24/7 care’

While it was revealed last week that a contractor has been appointed for a second Catheterisation Lab for University Hospital Waterford, Chairman of Wexford County Council and National Ambulance Service employee Cllr Ger Carthy has said it does little to address the elephant in the room - that some 400,000 people in the South East Region do not have access to 24 hour cardiac care.

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March 2021

The power of music helps to ease stress of restrictions

It may be months, even years, before we understand just how much the pandemic has affected the mental health of the nation.

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Grounds for hope

Even Professor Luke O'Neill, who had a head start on the rest of us in terms of being aware of Covid-19, had no notion that the virus would have such a severe and long-lasting effect on the world.

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Future of rural living depends on planning vote: Murphy

The future of rural Wexford lies in the hands of county councillors who will vote on planning changes later this year, according to Independent TD Verona Murphy.