Wexford Fianna Fail tribute to 1916 Easter Rising

On Sunday 24th of April 2016 we all gathered at the Patriots Flag at Abbey Square in Enniscorthy to honour those who took part in the rising in Wexford. The parts of Wexford under the control of the rebels has the honour of being the last place to surrender in the aftermath of the Easter rising 1916.

The oration was given by Fianna Fáil Leader Micheál Martin TD, who also laid a wreath at the monument. The proclamation was read by James Browne TD. We had a colour party and guard of honour from the retired members of our defense forces. We had a piper who played The National Anthem and a bugler who player the Last Post and Reveille. We had a few beautiful songs and seven lilies were laid by descendants of those who took part in the rising and by representatives of our government and youth. Brian Walace did a great job as master of ceremonies and our timetable ran like clockwork.

We then went to the cathedral for an ecumenical service. Large crowds also attended this service and were well rewarded by the contributions from the Church of Ireland and Roman Catholic officiants. Here also we were well rewarded with both the music and singing from the gallery. If fact it was a talking point as we gathered for a bit of a mingle and chat in the grounds outside of the cathedral. Well done to all who participated there.

We then retired to the Riverside Park Hotel (to the appropriately named Rafter suite). Here we had light refreshments and some not so light. There was an informative display of photos and letters pertaining to the Rising along the walls of the room.
Micheál Martin made presentations to our retiring Oireachtas members, John Browne and Jim Walsh. We had a group of young traditional musicians and a plethora of great singers. Councillor Keith Doyle gave a nice historical talk that put the rising in Enniscorthy into context. Councillor Barbara Anne Murphy recited a poem and Micheál Martin said a nice few words.
Brian Walace then closed the proceedings with a thank-you to the organisers.

Photographs of the event can be seen here >>>

The draw for hampers has taken place

Hamper Winners:
Seamus Rath, Buckistown, Monaseed.
John Whelan, Ballinintry, Ramsgrange. New Ross
Michael Shanahan., Roperstown, Oylegate

The money winners were announced last wed night.  Sheila Hughes, Cherryorchard Heights, Enniscorthy
and also Tony Wall won three thousand.

Register of Voters

Please check the Register of Voters to ensure you are entitled to have a vote. If you have moved house, changed address please go to your local P.O. or Library and check the current copy of the register. Your Vote is your Voice, Don't lose it. All Councillors have a copy of the Register please get in touch with them either and they also have forms if one is needed.

Bannow Rathangan Show 2015

Some photos from our stand at the show.

 

Four Vice Presidents of the Sean Browne/ Capt Weafer/ Sean Sheehan Cumann

Four Vice Presidents of the Sean Browne/ Capt Weafer/ Sean Sheehan Cumann who received Awards for long service to the party on Friday 12 th June in the presentation.
Billy Byrne, Jim Sinnott, Noel Byrne and Frank Hughes.

Remodelling the Model County

Building and sustaining the economy of Wexford.

FF councillor Michael Sheehan has announced the details of a public seminar on Remodelling the model County: rebuilding the Wexford economy.

I have invited some leaders such as Patrick Mc Cormack, MD Sam Mc Cauleys, Madeline Quirke CEO of Wexford Chamber of Commerce and Patrick Murray,  County Chairman of the IFA to outline their vision for the Wexford economy. Also, joining us on the night will be Michael Moynihan TD, FF spokesman for Communications and Natural Resources.

The meeting will be held in Tîr Na nÓg, Wellingtonbridge, Thursday, April 15 at 8 pm.

Rural Ireland has taken a battering over the last  few years, Post office closure, Barracks closing, Factories and employment declining with no replacement while the very fabric of rural life In our towns and villages is being undermined. Villages like Wellingtonbridge can lead the way by prospering in time of austerity.

The focus of the evening is to discuss together what we can to to repair and rebuild the economy- from creating better communities to creating new opportunities, we will look at what can be done and what needs to be done.

As policy makers and shapers, our goal should be to provide the same quality and standards of services to people on villages as those in urban areas. If people continue to leave rural Ireland for the cities, then the problems are twofold: depopulating the country and increase pressure in the towns. It's a matter of repairing the fabric of our communities,

Everyone has a role and voice in the future of their area, I'm asking organisations and individuals to come along and join the debate making sure their voice  is heard and opinion considered.  It's vital as the very future of County Wexford is a stake. I look forward to rigorous debate on Thursday, April 15 at 8pm.

www.wexfordfiannafailcdc.ie/

Social Protection and Environment (Housing)

IF I could add my voice to the number of people who have criticised Ministers Joan Burton and Alan Kelly and their respective departments of Social Protection and Environment  (Housing) in a report published last Friday which stated that there will be no rise in the caps on rent supplement paid to people in the private rental sector who are in receipt of social welfare.
The failure to raise the rent supplement caps will force people who are in receipt of rent supplement into homelessness.   How a Labour party as a junior partner in Government can stand over this measure is baffling, considering they see themselves as a party of the left.
Having taken a major drop in their vote in the local elections, it seems like a death wish going into the general election that is due within the next twelve months.
The Government could have introduced a number of measures to incentivise landlords into letting their properties to persons in receipt of rent supplement:
1. No income tax on rental income for such properties.
2. Waive the local property tax on these properties while the tenants are in receipt of rent supplement.
I would call on the three elected Labour party members for Co Wexford, Minister Howlin, and Councillors Ireton and Lawlor to use their influence to lobby the two Ministers Burton and Kelly, both Labour, to have another look at last Fridays report and take the necessary measures to ensure that the people on rent supplement are not drawn into sub standard accommodation and homelessness.
In the Gorey area at the moment, as a result of the austerity measures being pursued by the current Government, the average waiting time on the housing list is 7 years for a three bedroom house.  This is unlikely to improve unless there is immediate provision of social housing.
Ministers Kelly and Sullivan before him have both launched grand plans about housing into the future but to date the problem seems to be getting worse with people on housing lists that keep getting longer and despair setting in.

Thanks
Joe Sullivan