Page 7 - Simon Bourke News Today

The US ambassador to Ireland, Dr Claire Cronin, has visited Ballygarrett to learn about its historic connections with a small town in Texas.

With Wexford town and its surrounds preparing for more than half a million visitors this coming August, the organisers of the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2024 are calling upon the people of the county to offer accommodation to those visiting for the festival. The world’s largest celebration of Irish music and language events, the Fleadh Cheoil takes place in Wexford town from August 4-11.

Tickets for the final Wexford Charity Black Tie Ball are now on sale as the organising committee seeks to raise funds for the Rape Crisis Centre and Wexford Alzheimer's Home Help.

There are currently ten times as many properties available for short-term letting than renting across Co Wexford. As of March 1 there were just 43 homes available for rent in the county as opposed to the 462 listed for short-term letting on sites like Airbnb. Calling for the EU to take action to tackle the abuse of short-term letting, Green Party MEP for Ireland South Grace O’Sullivan said new regulations were required to “empower” local authorities to tackle this imbalance.

Officials in Wexford County Council (WCC) have been told to refuse all planning applications for one-off houses in Rosslare Strand due to constraints on its wastewater capacity. During the February meeting of the Rosslare Municipal District (RMD), Councillor Ger Carthy highlighted the case of a family who had recently moved back to the area, enrolled their children in the local school, and had hoped to build their forever home in the area.

The community of Kiltealy has vowed to rally round the Brooks family as they deal with the loss of their son Val who passed away in a drowning accident in Bali last week. Val (25) had left Wexford to emigrate to Australia earlier this year and had been on holiday in the Indonesian province when news emerged of his tragic passing.

McDonald’s Wexford town has been presented with the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC Ireland) Golden Santa Hat Award for raising over €20,000, the most for any McDonald’s restaurant in Ireland, for the RMHC Ireland Santa Hat campaign in 2023.

The developer of a housing project which would have seen seven new builds constructed in Rosslare Strand has seen his planning appeal rejected by An Bord Pleanála due to constraints on the local wastewater treatment plant. The development, at Walsheslough, had been initially rejected by Wexford County Council (WCC) on November 16, 2022 and was subsequently appealed by applicant, Stephen Lambe, to the national authority.

Dog owners across Co Wexford are being urged to be extra vigilant with their pets in the wake of a sheep attack which saw 14 yews killed three weeks ago. Paddy Keane, who farms in Mayglass, approximately 6km from where the attack occurred earlier this month, says many owners aren’t aware of how dangerous their dog can be once it’s out in the wild.

Jack Barden has declared his intention to stand as an independent candidate in the Rosslare Municipal District (RMD) in the upcoming local elections and has pledged to serve the district with “integrity and vision” should he be elected. Jack, who is the brother of New Ross councillor Pat, will stand in conjunction with other independents under the banner of the Wexford Independent Alliance (WIA) .