McDonalds History Page Cloughbawn Gaa

March Meeting Clonroche Development Clonroche Historical Society Newsletter Population Survey 2010 Clonroche Feb 2010 Meeting McDonald on a Tragic Incident in 1883 Extracts from Parish Newsletter BROADBAND FOR CLONROCHE The Campaign Tidy Towns Report 2007 Tidy Towns Report 2005 Clonroche Development AGM Tidy Towns Report 2004 Patron in Cloughbawn 2004 Clonroche DA AGM 2003/4 2003 Tidy Towns Report Clonroche Steam & Vintage Festival

Homepage   Last of the Big Spenders Nations in Bloom Award Submission to Babtie Pettit Vintage Photographs Latest on the bypassFurther Information on Wexford Choir of 1957 Millemmium Park Accounts Park Album Clonroche Musicians Wexford County Council investigated by the The Environmental Protection Agency

UCD Students Presentation Penny Bank Girls Return from Germany Clonroche Money Spent Elsewhere Moneytucker/Jamestown Road Alignment Gone Villas Barbecue Full text of the 2001 Tidy Town Report E mail from Wexford Iowa 2000 Tidy Towns Report By-Pass Response Tramore House Reply The By-Pass A Clonroche Man Remembers Final of International Competition

Vintage Rally List of Contributors Trees, Trees, Trees Well, Well, Well Cloughbawn GAA Website Closing of 'The Institute Tree Felling in Clonroche UCD Students Report A Question of Trees Villas Switch on Population Decrease 2002 Tidy Towns Report Townlands + Acreage How Clonroche Voted in General Election Urban Renewal Scheme

Clonroche Development Association, with a relieved welcome, received the Tidy Towns Report for the year 2004 during the week. With points increasing every year over the past five years this year is no exception with a gain of four points being recorded Under the heading Overall Approach one can immediately question the judgement of the adjudicators when they applaud the support of Wexford County Council & WORD. This seems to be underserved as the contribution of Wexford County Council continues to be minimalist. Again they failed to even sweep the village except on one occasion throughout the year. The condition of the road through the village and the mention of Derelict Sites and the power and duties of Wexford County Council in the report are indeed an indictment of this body. Officials from Wexford County Council were invited to visit Clonroche in May 2000 with a view to inspecting the many derelict sites in the village. They came and they saw but to this day have failed to act. Commercial Premises in the village again came in for favourable comment as well as the Garda Station, Health Centre, Community Centre and Clonroche Primary School. The Millennium Park again took pride of place. Planters throughout the village and the New Ross approach came in for favourable mention, as did the trees planted by Clonroche Development Association a few years ago. The village was practically litter free and great credit is due to the three FAS workers for their continued efforts under this category.

The open spaces in Canon Murphy Park were given favourable mention in the report but the fact remains that an increased marks are not coming under the headings Built Environment, Tidiness, gaining only one mark since 1999, Residential Areas again only gaining one mark since 1999 with Roads, Streets and Back Areas giving a similar return The most telling aspect must come under the heading Overall Impression which, with all the effort put in by Clonroche Development Association, only increased by one solitary mark since 1999. This would suggest that with the present condition of the approach roads, streets and footpaths or lack of them Clonroche is not creating a great impression and much of the reason for this must lie with the local authority. In the past five years Wexord County Council had in excess of € 500,000,000,000 (that's five hundred million euros) flow into its coffers. What is there to show for this spend. It's certainly not visible in the villages of County Wexford and in particular Clonroche. See the full text of the 2004 Tidy Towns Report See Full Text of 2005 Tidy Towns Report

Cloughbawn Patron The Patron in Cloughbawn Cemetery was held on Sunday July 11th 2004. This is an annual event where the people of the parish dress the graves with flowers wreaths etc to commemorate the memory of their loved ones departed. A widespread practice throughout the nineteenth century in Ireland in many counties it has not all but died out. On patron Sunday upwards of 2,500 people will be present for ceremonies in the graveyard and later Benediction in the adjoining church. In later years a field day is incorporated into the event to assist with Parish funding. For those who remember the Patron of Cloughbawn from their formative years and are now away from their native place this link will take them to photographs of the 2004 Patron in Cloughbawn

Clonroche Development Association Ltd Annual Genera Meeting 2003 The Annual General Meeting of Clonroche Development Association Ltd was held in Clonroche Community Centre on Thursday 16th October 2003. Chairman Mr Richard Blackburn welcomed the attendance and thanked the outgoing Officers & Committee for their work and help during the year. He acknowledged the support of Clonroche Community Centre Committee, the FAS workers, the Clonroche branch of the ICA during the year and last but not least the support of the community. Secretary Lorcan Dunne in associating himself with the chairman's comments read the minutes of the 2002 Annual General Meeting and summarised activities and achievements during the year in a tabulated hand out to the attendance Treasurer Mary Tobin gave a detailed Financial Report with an appropriate hand out on income and expenses to the year end 31st August 2003 Both the Chairman and Secretary insisted that they were not going forward for re election having spent five and six years respectively in their positions. Denis Kennedy MCC took the chair for the election of Officers and he apologised for the absence of Martin McDonald of Wexford County Council who promised to attend the next meeting. A village plan tops Mr McDonalds priority list. Denis also informed the meeting that the NRA representative didn't take any responsibility for the dreadful condition of the Village roadway following water mains laying operations. The roadway will be asphalt resurfaced when outstanding operations are completed. Cll. Kennedy also felt that Clonroche Development Association Ltd adopted a very passive role in allowing the Institute Research Station Tagasc to close down without making any kind of intercession to have the facility, which has served Clonroche very well, retained. He was also critical of politicians who showed a great reluctance to get involved. Cll. Kennedy complimented the retiring Chairman & Secretary for their dedication and hard work and unstilted efforts to enhance the village.

Officers for the coming year as follows: See Parish Organisations; The Incoming Chairman & Secretary thanked the outgoing retired Officers and Members for their work on behalf of the community over the years. Richard Blackburn and Lorcan Dunne offered their continued help, as did John Jude Doyle who expressed support for the Associations role. The Secretary also apologetically concurred with Mr Kennedy's remarks re lack of effort in the Institute Stations plight. A general discussion followed. The provision of new flowerpots was lauded but having spent a substantial sum of money on them maintenance and lack of watering was disappointing. The early efforts of the watering squad of Leo Tector, Jim Redmond and Martin Kelly was praised but in the abstinence of a suitable watering system perhaps householders should be asked to maintain the flower display by watering two or three times weekly. Indeed some householders did this during the past year with evident results. The condition of the street surface again came in adverse comment, as did some hardcore areas that are disintegrating as also are some road fences. Wexford County Council is in a position to help as is evidenced by county Councils work around other parts of the country. It is hoped to have a list of priorities to discuss with Mr McDonald at the November meeting. It was also felt that the success of our projects would depend on a hardworking committee and a fully committed community. There was some criticism of the committee in the Tidy Towns Competition-Too little, too late by too few Ml Cogley said the pruning of trees and shrubs was causing a pile up of cuttings and some waste litterbins were cumbersome and had mobility difficulties. Monthly meetings of Clonroche Development Association Ltd take place on the first Monday of each month except Bank Holiday weekend when meetings are scheduled for a week later The November meeting will be held on Monday 4th November at 8.00 p.m.

Tidy Towns Report 2003 With on going works in the village throughout the first part of the year and with the number of FAS positions reduced to one at a very crucial period Clonroche village can be pleased with the fact that a gain of two points was made in this years Tidy Towns effort. Whilst the community as a whole can be congratulated for their endeavours and members of Clonroche Development Association Ltd for their work during the Spring a special mention must be given to Leo Tector, Jim Redmond, Martin Kelly and Richie Blackburn for the Trojan effort put in during the year. There is still a lot of work to be done in Clonroche to take the village to a standard befitting the twenty first century. Whilst some effort was made by Wexford County Council to improve the village during the year a lot more remains to be done. The fact that Wexford County Council only sent the mechanical Sweeper out ONCE during the year is cause for concern. The delay in completing the village centre and the condition of the roadway through the village are matters for consideration. The fact that no footpath exists in a part of the village with traffic volumes in excess of 7,500 daily would not be tolerated in any other county or country. Wexford County Council has in excess of one hundred million Euro per year coming into its coffers. In the last five years Wexford County Council had five hundred million Euro coming into its coffers and can anyone point out the massive improvements that this body has achieved in Taghmon, Duncannon, Ferns, or Clonroche in the past five years? Again this years report highlights the fact that Wexford's best is last of all in every county in Ireland. More to the point Wexford's best is beaten by all but two of the second best villages in every county in Ireland and more pointedly still Wexford's best would only be placed twenty second in the third placed entries in every county in Ireland. Are you listening Wexford County Council? In the 'Overall Approach' Clonroche gained one point over last year. Under the heading 'The Built Environment' Londis, Boro Inn, Clonroche Arms, The Post Office & Greenes Drapery got favourable mention. The School and Grounds were also commended, as was the Garda Station. Tectors in the village centre was again given favourable comment. Glanbia Hardware & the Health Centre according to the report will require painting before next year's competition as will the boundary wall of Clonroche School.

The Millennium Park again takes pride of place and the re opening of Healys Lane was also commended. There was a suggestion that local school children could do a study of wildlife habitats in the locality and their findings could be incorporated into this nature walk. According to the report the standard of litter control was very good however litter was evident on the New Ross Road and around the School. Dereliction is one of the major problems in the village and this problem will have to be tackled if the village is to advance. Under the heading 'Tidiness' the village has remained static in markings since 1999. The Eircom Sub Station was described as ' extremely grubby' under this heading as was 'weed control at the entrances to the derelict sites'. It was recommended that construction material should be removed once building works were completed. The provision of beech hedge was recommended at the Furniture Showrooms and Clonroche Engineering. The New Ross road looked ' quiet rough and overgrown in the area between the village nameplate and the speed limit sign. It is probably lucky the untidiness of the private sites at Sli an Uische wasn't mentioned in the report Under the heading 'Residential Areas' the report states 'The standard in this category of the competition was somewhat inconsistent'. meaning the judges weren't impressed. Canon Murphy Park was fine and the colourful flowers display at the entrance was noted but some of the boundary walls 'were not of the highest standard' Whilst the report is mindful of the traffic volumes passing through the village and the problems this presents it is evident from the report that a lot of work remains to be done by the community and by the local authority   See Full Text of Report

Clonroche Steam & Vintage Festival In less than favourable weather conditions Clonroche Vintage & Steam festival gave a good return to exhibitors and patrons on Sunday last 18th May 2003. A large number of exhibitors were present on the day and a good attendance braved the inclement weather. The event had to be postponed on the May Bank Holiday weekend because of weather conditions. The Craft Fair, held in Clonroche Community Centre, was again to the fore exhibiting a staggering display of arts and crafts from local artists. A good attendance was present throughout the day and the catering committee served in excess of three hundred and fifty teas. Oliver Harte, Brendan Redmond and Sheahans of Glenmore provided steam power on the day and Leo Tectors Trashing mill was giving a demonstration of that great economic and social event of yester year. Musical group Bandit were entertaining all afternoon on the bandstand whilst Tim Flood gave a marvellous demonstration of sheep dog handling in very difficult conditions. A dazzling array of vintage tractors, combines, bulldozers, cars, carriages, motorbikes, stationary engines were on display and a wicker carriage reputed being built in 1717, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, before the Flight of the Earls, and just twenty seven years after the Boyne was proudly on exposition. Over eighty entrants to the dog show demonstrated the popularity of this event. Winners of this event were as follows Any Variety Terrier 1. Lisa Delahunty 2. Cecelia Boggan 3. Ann Buckley   Any Varieity Sheepdog 1. Ann Buckley 2. David Buckley 3. Annette Dowse   Any Varieity Large Dog 1. Brendan Carthy 2. Rickey Blackburn 3. David Buckley   Best Looking Gundog 1. Sean Fitzpatrick 2. Annete Dowse 3. Shareen Moody   Best Small Dog 1. Annette Dowse 2. Brigid Wall 3. Sandra Wall   Best Groomed Dog 1. Ann Buckley 2. Annette Dowse 3. Sharleen Moody   Dog Handled by Child 1. Sinead O'Neill 2. Brendan Denton 3. Martin Kehoe   Dog Handled by Lady 1. Brigid Wall 2. Catherine Kehoe 3. Charlena O'Connor   Dog Handled by Man 1. Brendan Carthy 2. Sean Fitzpatrick 3. Henry Dowse   Dog you would like to Take Home 1. Sharleen Moody 2. Sinead O'Neill 3. David Buckley   Puppy 1. Kailenc Fenlon 2. Annette Dowse 3. Annette O'Leary     Over All Winner 1. Brendan Carthy 2. Ann Buckley    Michelle Franklin, Clonroche, won 1st Prize in the Raffle for €250.00. The portable TV was won by Dora Cummins, €100.00 Liam Carthy, Ryland, New Ross, Cosmetic Basket, and Theresa Dagg, C/o Community Workshop, Ladies & Gents Watch set, Henry Dowse. Having put in a magnificent effort at organising the festival the committee of Leo Tector, Mary Tobin, Colin Dier & Bernard Doran took a philosophical view of weather conditions and were thankful for having magnificent weather over the previous six years. Special thanks must go the Mr Evans & Colin Dier for the use of the field, which presents a magnificent setting for the event. Contributors and Sponsers for the 2003 Festival were: Bill & Joan Nolan, Millinnum Bar, Davidstown Thomas Hayden, Adamstown Engineering Myles & Michelle Vardy, Hillside Garden Centre, Courtnacuddy Jimmy Fox, Clonroche Alluminium Ltd Catriona Doyle, Village Cafe, Clonroche Edward Murphy, Trinity Motors Wexford Glambia, Clonroche Mill Glambia, Trading Centre, Clonroche J.P.K Developments, Clonroche, Sean Redmond, Wexford Aluminium Ltd, Clonroche Bernard Doran, Raheen John Jude & Ann Doyle, The Cloch Ban, Clonroche Thomas Doyle, Boro Inn, Clonroche, Nuala Murphy, Clonroche Post Office Keating & Doyle Concrete, Clonroche, Con Ward, Castleboro

Clonroche Discovery It is amazing when news breaks the media descend on an area, contact all the wrong people, and go into print with nothing informative to offer. This was the case last week, 10th March 2003, in Clonroche with the discovery of a well opposite the dwelling house of Ml + Margaret Cogley. The well was discovered by men working on the installation of new footpaths in the village. There was no known reference to a well in village and it was not marked on any map or so it was thought. Thomas McDonald, doing fantastic historical research work in the area, has written about this 'discovery' on a number of occasions and it appears there is no 'mystery' about the find. What was discovered was the village pump. Evidence from the material covering the well, which included a portion of railway track, suggests the well was covered over after 1874 when railways were introduced to this part of the world. From reports of meeting in the village Thos McDonald has discovered the pump was not giving satisfactory service to the community as early as 1855. The operation of the village pump was still causing controversy in 1876 and sometime after this the pump was removed. Thomas McDonalds research found that in June of 1875 Dr Freddie Stock, doctor at the Clonroche dispensary, wrote to the Board of the Enniscorthy Guardians, the authority responsible for poor law matters in this area: --"Permit me to call your attention to the great want there is felt in Clonroche by the inhabitants owing to the want of water. It has to be carried a considerable distance although there stands in the village a pump with a good supply of excellent water in the well; but the pump has been out of order for some years. I believe it could be repaired at a moderate cost." The rest of his letter dealt with the appalling sanitary condition of the village: the pioneering Freddie Stock connected filth and the absence of clean water with disease and epidemics. The Board directed Dr Stock to make enquiries with the owner of the pump and at the next meeting of the Board a letter was read from the Clonroche doctor "stating that he believes the pump in Clonroche was sunk many years ago by the inhabitants; the expenses were defrayed by subscription. A few years ago Lord Carew got some repairs done but they were not satisfactory. " The people of Clonroche were fortunate that they could draw water from the two spouts on the road going down by Robinson's since the pump was often (should I say usually?) out of order. In late August of 1855 the citizens of Clonroche met at the Petty Sessions house to discuss the matter of fairs and markets in Clonroche: the legendary schoolmaster Hugh O'Neill (schoolmaster &mentor to Pat Kennedy of The Banks of the Boro fame) chaired the meeting and John Tector - who was either the husband or son of Margaret Tector, an early tenant of the premises that later became the Boro Inn was secretary. At the conclusion of the meeting Henry O'Neill (a son of the schoolmaster) and Denis Mulroney, perhaps sententiously, directed the attention of the worthy people to the condition of the pump. The motion has the mark of Hugh O'Neill's pedantry about it: the opening sallies go like this "as a fearful epidemic is said to be on he wing" and "as sanitary measures are strongly to be recommended". They, then, recommended that "the pump in our street be opened, cleansed out and repaired so that a good supply of pure spring water so essential to health and cleanliness be provided for the inhabitants of the village."' This was the cosmos of the village pump.

The obvious paradox or puzzle is that anybody in Ireland in the 19th century should want water! The last three months of 1852 were extremely wet and the labouring men of Clonroche and their families were close to starvation due to enforced idleness. The problem was the tedious progress of well boring in a pre-technological era plus the expense in a time of meagre cash flow. In a letter dated the 14th of July 1875 Dr Stock told the Enniscorthy Board of Guardians of the situation in Bree: "The much respected Parish Priest, the Rev. John Scallen, about a year since opened a well in the village, and sank something about 44 feet through rock, but was unable to continue the sinking at his own private expense." When the people subscribed to put a pump in Clonroche as early as 1820 (conjecture) they did so simply to provide drinking water: as the 19th century progressed water became the main weapon, in public policy, in the war against infection disease and epidemics. The increasing population and the concentration of people in villages meant that a traditional reliance on wells and springs (at ground level) no longer sufficed. In September of 1875 the Board of Guardians accepted a tender from a Philip Hendrick of Enniscorthy "to put the pump at Clonroche in thorough repair" and the elected members of the Board for the Clonroche electoral area, David Doran of Tominearly and John Cullen the shopkeeper and publican in the village were to approve of it. Actually he disapproved of the work and in a letter to the Board in November of 1875 he informed them "that the pump in the village of Clonroche was put into repair at a considerable expense by the Rt. Hon. Lord Carew, by the same contractor Philip Hendrick and lasted but a very short time. The pump at present is working well but gave very poor satisfaction at first. The approaches around the pump are rough and unfinished and does not meet the approval of the public". The contractor promised to put a trough to it The repairs were either minimal or the system was defective. On the 2nd of January 1876 Dr Stock again corresponded with the Board of Guardians in his inimitable and supercilious way; "The pump, I understand has undergone some slight repair but it has not been sunk or even cleaned out and the water flowed for a few days. I am sorry to say it is now as bad as ever. It has been said that the demand for water on the pump was too great but it is now a considerable time since any water has been taken out it and I tried in vain to get a single drop out of it this day." The evidence of the above clearly demonstrates that this pump is an artefact of early modern history: the evidence is also to the effect that communities in that era were determined to sink deep wells to get at bigger supplies of water (as at Bree) that were direly needed. John O'Donovan in his research done as part of the Ordnance Survey did not identify any well of antique origin on the street of Clonroche although he did refer to a blessed well outside the village but I doubt if Freddie Stock would expect the people to use the water of such a well for domestic purposes'. The earliest reliable and comprehensive map that we have is the Ordnance Survey of 1841and it identified antique sites and artefacts but not on the street of Clonroche

Closing of 'The Institute Disappointment was expressed throughout the community with the Government announcement of the closing of the Tesgasc Research Institute at Clonroche. Established in the mid fifties this institution was a major employer in the Clonroche Area and added to the community through its research and development work for the soft fruit industry. Clonroche Station had a major input into making the Clonroche, Adamstown, Courtnacuddy, Bree areas the premier and largest soft fruit producing areas in the country. Disappointment was always expressed with the failure of developing a large fruit processing industry in Clonroche over the years with the fruit being shipped to Dublin or Continental Europe for processing. The Agricultural Institute, as it was known at its inception, also attracted personnel to the village and many made their home here contributing greatly to the community in many ways. The transferring of the Clonroche Unit to Johnstown Castle or perhaps Kinselly in Dublin speaks volumes for the Governments lip service to Rural Development and devolution. If this work, which is part and parcel of rural life and development, must be transferred to an Urban centre without a whimper from any of our local and national politicians or even more surprisingly the membership of the soft fruit industry groupings in the county who benefited most from the advise distributed from the Clonroche centre, the mid section of County Wexford should look very carefully at this insipid representation by our politicians and plan for future change

Tree Felling in Clonroche Members of Clonroche Development Association Ltd again demonstrated their abilities and skills when on Saturday last 15th February 2003, in support of Wexford County Council village renewal scheme, they removed five trees from the centre of the village within three hours. The Association called in tree experts from Semi State Company Coillte to give a report on the trees in the centre of the village. Chairman, Mr R Blackburn and Mr Ml Cogley met with the experts on Thursday last. In a written report the trees were accessed as being in poor condition, sporting old wound cavities and fungal activity together with root suffocation. The options for future management were limited and removal was deemed to be the more prudent course of action. At a special meeting of Clonroche Development Association Ltd on Friday evening last and after consultation with members of the community living in close proximity to the trees it was decided to follow the expert advise Many people in the village will be saddened to witness the removal of the trees some of which were planted in 1932 to mark the the 31st International Eucharistic Congress held in June of that year. The Congress was one of the largest public events in twentieth-century Ireland. Two Chestnut trees were also planted at that time, one opposite the old courthouse, removed in the late fifties. However the good news for tree lovers is the old Ash Tree at the Spout Road was deemed to be in positive health and only required some pruning. The recommendation was that is should be allowed to live out its life. In conjunction with the village renewal scheme appropriate trees will be replanted in the village in the near future. The recommendation that the replacement trees should be planted in selected locations to compensate for the loss of the removed trees will be implemented. The replacement trees will be substantial, over ten feet and guarded to prevent vandalism. In true community co-operation members of Clonroche Development Association Ltd started the task at two o'clock and by four thirty the trees were felled, removed, and the village left in a spotless condition. The work of the members was all the more commendable when consideration is given to traffic flows through the village, seven thousand per day including over fourteen hundred heavy goods vehicles.

UCD Architectural Students Report Students from U.C.D College of Architecture under the supervision of the Director of Studies at the Town Planning and Urban Design discipline in UCD, Professor Philip Geoghegan presented a report on their findings to a good attendance in Clonroche Community Centre on Thursday evening last. The presentation delivered by Mr Bernard Voltick and Mr Philip Geoghegan presented their findings on a large and diverse area of mid county Wexford, which includes the Clonroche, Raheen, & Newbawn area. This mostly rural area presented the Town Planning & Urban Design team with major problems and inadequate material to work with. The effect was to largely compromise the potential effectiveness of this group from a Clonroche standpoint with too much concentration on the smaller settlements in the area. The focus of the presentation was then negated to the study of hedgerows and fields with little focus on Town Planning and Urban Design to which this group was more suited. The potential usefulness of this exercise was lost to Clonroche village and other villages in County Wexford, which has the potential to utilise, especially at present, the attention and expertise of the UCD Students. This is all the more pointed when consideration is given to the poor showing of County Wexford villages in the National Tidy Towns Competition.

Over thirty students visited Clonroche last year and were largely accommodated in the village. Spending the Saturday morning in the Clonroche the students were very enthusiastic about the task on hand. Five postgraduate students, were to continue the work to minute detailed over a further six-week period during the summer and be resident in the community, however this was reduced to one student based in Wexford town with no contact being made with any group or individual in the village. This was seen as a weakness in the exercise. With only one reference to the village of Clonroche and the parish of Cloughbawn in the report, the façade of Clonroche Community Centre and an amenity area in Diers Lawn, the report was deemed to be disappointing and missed the opportunity of creating a document to advance not only Clonroche but the other larger villages of County Wexford

The Villas Switch On The Villas Residents Association switched on the new lighting system Christmas week. The Association installed over 22 vintage lighting standards by their own efforts. Work on the project is going on over the past two months and funding for the venture was acquired from WORD and Wexford County Council as well as the residents associations own efforts. It is understood the Association had considerable funding towards the cost of the installation from their own enterprising efforts including a jamboree of local musical talent held last summer. The Villas Residents Association also erected a Christmas Tree and festive lighting which added to the cheerfulness of the village over the Christmas season UCD Students Presentation The long awaited Spatial Plan prepared by University College Dublin Architectural students for Clonroche village and the Clonroche Newbawn & Raheen area will be presented in Clonroche Community Centre on Thursday 23rd January at 8 o'clock. This initiative, instigated and piloted by County Wexford Partnership under Community Development Officer Mr Billy Murphy will incorporate discussion on the implementation of the National Spatial Plan launched last December and how it will impact on the CNR Area. Over thirty Architectural Students from UCD visited the village and area in January last to acquire first hand knowledge of the environment. This was followed by more intense research in relation to the local landscape, built environment and settlements old and new. Preliminary findings will be presented in Clonroche Community Centre on Thursday 23 rd January at 8 o'clock and consultation and local perception of how the physical environment should be utilised will be examined. The presentation will include interesting aerial maps, an examination of various types of building and how the streetscape of the village might look following development. This is an ideal opportunity to examine, from a unique perspective how our landscape, streetscape and environment has developed in the past and how it may develop in the future. It is requested that a least on person from each household in the parish attend and a representative from all clubs in the parish are also invited   Clonroche Penny Bank Clonroche Penny Bank will recommence on Saturday next 4th January from 8 o'clock until 9 o'clock and every Saturday eveing in Clonroche Community Centre. Last year Clonroche Penny Bank, organised by Clonroche Developemnt Association Ltd, had a record payout and record membership. New and existing members can join on this Saturday or any Saturday evening throughout the year.

Three Clonroche Girls returned from a ten-day visit to Germany during the week. Emma Dunne, Clonroche, Emma Murphy, Canon Murphy Park & Bridin Murphy Ballymackessey, all members of the Kay Keeley School of Irish Dance, were taking part in an International Dance Festival in Laggenbeck, Germany. Dancers from France Germany, Nederlands, Mexico, Sweden, Finland, Slovakia, and Bosnia Herzegovina were taking part. The girls all enjoyed their experience and made some international friends. 9th August 2002

Townlands + Acreage Ballymackessey 516 Castleboro Demesne 745 Chapel 743 Clonroche 773 Coolaught 444 Coolnacon 360 Coolroe 336 Kilegney 1014 Raheen 494 Tomfarney 724 Tominearly 1021 Total 7,170 acres

To Whom It May Concern, What an fascinating web page. My great-great grand mother, Bridgette Keane, sailed with Fr Hore and settled down in Wexford, Iowa. It's nice to see a little bit of history that my family was a part of on your site! Best, Jason P. Murphy, 2LT Gold Bar Recruiter University of Minnesota Department of Military Science 15 Church St. SE Minneapolis, MN 55455 (612) 626-1584

Wexford County Council Last of the Big Spenders In the year 2000 Wexford County Council had revenue of € 99 million and paid out € 21 million in pay & pensions. It paid over €1 million in financial management, € 453,000 in Better Local Government, what ever that means, and € 230,000 for Markets & Fairs. Wexford County Council gave € 621,287 for Parks, Open Spaces and Other Amenity Areas and € 782,498 Promoting the Interest of Local Communities. Our County Councillors cost € 212, 428 with other 'expenses coming from the Health Boards, VEC etc. This spend almost matched the € 270,428 given to Industrial Development. Administration costs in the Roads Section was a staggering € 5, 134,566 whilst administration cost in the Housing Section was an equally impressive sum of € 4,799,669 The Public Library Service was funded to the tune of € 1,536,950 whilst Waste Disposal cost € 2,950,768 In the year 2000 Clonroche Village received the princely sum, in money & kind of € 520 (five hundred & twenty Euro) from the largesse of Wexford County Council See the Fuller Picture

Vintage Festival Photos We have some photos from the vintage festival, displayed in high quality, they take time to download and so may only be for the enthusiast. If you wish to proceed then click on this link

Urban & Village Renewal Funding for Clonroche village Mr Dermot O'Sullivan & Lorcan Dunne, members of Clonroche Development Association Ltd met with Mr Paul Seaver, Forward Planning Section of Wexford County Council to discuss planning and implementation of the € 90,000 recently granted for Clonroche village under the Urban & Village renewal programme 2000-2006. Plans are to be immediately drawn up for a centre village focal area and implementation of the plan will follow within months. Clonroche Development Association Ltd have long campaigned for the up grading of Clonroche village and whilst this modest funding is welcomed it is hoped it is the prologue rather than the epilogue of involvement in the village by Wexford County Council. All members of the community are in agreement that the road going through the village must be realigned and proper levels restored as a necessary first step in the development of the village. The road was raised on its highest point by up to three feet in a mistaken surveying exercise by Wexford County Council some years ago and never corrected. Some members of the community fear that piecemeal development will consume resources without contributing to the overall aesthetics of the village and a planned initiative is to be preferred Detailed plans for the village were on public display in Clonroche Community Centre last March but the € 190,000 NRA funding allocated for the scheme was diverted to New Ross

A Submission to Babtie Pettit & the National Roads Authority from Clonroche Development Association Ltd on the proposed By-Pass of Clonroche Village   The by by-passing of Clonroche village with the loss of over six thousand vehicle per day or a possible twenty four thousand persons passing through the village each day it is perceived that this project will have a major impact on the village for better or worse. Clonroche will be the first village in County Wexford to be by-passed and it will serve as a model for other villages, not only in county Wexford but throughout Ireland, on the implications of this type of development on their communities The facts are that only one village in the country has a five or more year experience of the impact of by-passing a village and this is Slieve Rue near Waterford city. Visiting Slieve Rue in the morning or afternoon on weekdays one is immediately aware that practically all-commercial activity in the village is at a standstill. Both public houses are not open during the day. Walshes garage and filling station is now an abandoned shed and the business moved to Ferrybank. This was directly caused by the by pass. Speaking to the woman who owns the small convenience store one was immediately made aware of the detrimental impact of the by-pass on her business. Carrying out a survey on a bigger centre, not comparable to Clonroche, Rathkeale in county Limerick that town being by-passed some years ago the reaction from most businesses people were not favourable. In a public house at lunch hour and on enquiring about the impact of the by-pass I was invited to look around at the totally empty lounge which had a good lunch trade. The lady proprietor of a fancy goods store explained the by-pass was very detrimental on her business. The only favourable comment coming from a drapery store with reference to parking.  To encourage trade and commerce in by-passed villages it must be a requirement to leave the village an attractive and pleasing place to visit. This, in the Clonroche example, must include the realignment of the village roadway, the upgrading and extension of footpath. The under-grounding of service cables, the up grading of light standards to cast iron or other attractive design. The construction or reconstruction of stone or similar attractive features in the village, the redesigning of the roadway at the Glanbia Mill complex and planting of trees and shrubs.

This is not unusual in other villages such as Gowran in county Kilkenny where road planers were brought in to realign the village roadway, footpaths were re designed and constructed, a green area was developed in the centre of the village and fountain vocal feature installed. Derelict terraced were re developed and appropriate planting was carried out The work in Clonroche can be carried out on a phased basis but substantial progress must be made within the next eighteen months. Trust in the local authority is now at an all time low with the reneging of that body on a prepared blueprint put on display in the Community Centre last March. Farmers and other private individuals effected by this development are seeking and getting substantial compensation so by extension the community of Clonroche village must be allowed similar consideration. Similarly costing of development contractors are we understand being seriously inflated so if there are funds available to accommodate these firms the availability of funding for the requested upgrading will not be an excuse. From representatives of Wexford County Council we understand 190,000 Euro was available for Clonroche village upgrade last year. It will not require much elucidation to demonstrate that 190,000 Euro would not build a decent bungalow let alone build a village. Figures such as this will be perceived as derogatory amounts. One need only examine the recent expenditure on the National Gallery, the precepts of whose hollowed portals will rarely be visited by the citizenry of Clonroche, to understand the cost of leaving Clonroche in an attractive condition should not have the effect of taking the National Development too far off it's monetary target and I'm sure by the time this programme is completed their will be amply opportunity for prudent savings

Nations in Bloom Awards 2001 Clonroche, Newbawn & Raheen took a silver award in the prestigious international Nations in Bloom competition held in Shenzhen, People's Republic of China from 29 November to 3 December 2001. Nations in Bloom was launched in 1997 and is now the world's leading awards/competition scheme based on management of the environment. The main objective of Nations in Bloom is the enhancement of the quality of life through the improvement of the environment and the creation of viable liveable communities. A further objective is the exchange of knowledge and best practice across cultural and national borders. A Panel of International Judges, having assessed submissions from communities around the world invited the Clonroche team to take part in the Finals of Nations in Bloom 2001. Representing the community Dr Ann Behan, Lorcan Dunne and David Ffrench made the thirty five-minute presentations to an international judging panel followed by a lengthy series of questions from the judges. Mary Howlett & Mairead Ffrench were supporting the team in China. The Clonroche team was the only voluntary group in the competition all other groupings being members of county and city councils and municipal authorities. Cork County Architect William Houlihan & Urban Council chairman Seamus O'Brien made the presentation for category winners Clonakilty. Their presentation was mainly centred on building work carried out by the council and building firms in the town. Needless to say the Clonroche, Raheen & Newbawn group could not boast about any prestigious development works or planning carried out by our local authority but it is hoped one day this situation will change. Amongst the forty competitors in Shenzhen, selected from an original entry of three hundred and fifty, were, to name a few, Baltimore, United States, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, Stuttgart, Germany, Chicago Park District, Los Angeles, Miami-Dade County, United States, Nizhy Novgorod, Russia, Tshwane City, South Africa, Westminster, England. Toowoomba City, Australia, Kelowna, Canada, La Coruna, Spain, Loja, Ecuador, Malmo, Sweden, Boxtel, Netherlands, Soroti, Uganda, Guelph, Canada The Clonroche group beat off competition from Finland and a third time try from Banska Stiavnica, Slovakia amongst others. Lorcan Dunne and Mary Howlett exchanged civic gifts with the mayor of Shenzhen Mr Yu Youjan at the opening ceremony and Dr Ann Behan & David Ffrench accepted the award and trophy from Nations in Bloom chief executive Mr Alan Smith on the closing night. The Clonroche Newbawn & Raheen group is working with Mr Billy Murphy of County Wexford Partnership in a Sustainable Rural Community programme and the achievement in China is a boost to this initiative. The area is still lacking any serious commitment from Wexford County Council to improve the village and area after years of serious neglect but with the recent exhibition of a village blueprint it is hoped this plan will be turned into reality in the near future In preparation for the competition local historian Mr Thomas McDonald was responsible for scripting and Ms Joan Healy & Dermot O'Connor for video footage and slides. Contributions were also made by Mr Mogue Curtis, Jimmy McDonald, Bessie Ffrench and Richie Blackburn chairman of Clonroche Development Association

Nations in Bloom Awards The International Awards for Liveable Communities Clonroche Village has been selected to participate in the international Nations in Bloom 2001 awards the final stages of the competition to be held in Shenzhen, China from November 29th to 3rd December. This is a major achievement for the community and demonstrates to all the commitment of Clonroche village and its inhabitants to positive and rapid progress. A thirty five-minute presentation must be made by the participant community and will be followed by a series of questions by the judges. Last years winners in this category was the Township of Wainfleet, Canada This years host city took top marks in the over one million inhabitants' category followed by Phoenix, Arizona and Chicago Park District, Illinois, USA Nations in Bloom is the world's only international competition addressing the major issue of our time, Management of the Environment. Over 50 countries are involved in the Competition. Last year Broughshane Improvement Committee, Northern Ireland won 2nd prize in its category. This competition is organised by Nations in Bloom of Reading, Berkshire a British registered company. The objectives of Nations in Bloom include: · improvement in the quality of life through the creation of liveable communities · the exchange of good practice relating to the management of the environment · the encouragement of new initiatives This is an important opportunity, not only for Clonroche, but also for County Wexford and it is hoped the support of public & community bodies in the county will be forthcoming to help the community and the county in their pursuit of meaningful participation.

NATIONAL ROADS AUTHORITY An tUdara's um Boithre Naisiunta   St. Martin's House Waterloo Road Dublin, 4 IRELAND Telephone: Ol 660 2511 Fax: Ol 668 0009 DateOur ref.Your ref.  30 June, 2000. Mr. Lorcan Dunne. Honorary Secretary Clonroche Development Association, Viscerba Clornroche. Co.Wexford.   Dear Mr. Dunne, Thank you for your letter of the 11 June, 2000 regarding the proposed N30 Clonroche By-Pass. It is expected that Consultants will be appointed later this year to advance the planning and design of the proposed by-pass and to examine it's effects on the village of Clonroche. I can assure you that extensive public consultation will take place at all stages of the process, at which all interested parties will have an opportunity to express their opinions on the proposal. The planning procedures to be followed for a project such as the proposed Clonroche By-Pass are set out in Section 10 of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Regulations. Under these Regulations, details of the proposal must be advertised by the local authority and submissions and/or objections invited from interested parties. I should emphasise that the effectiveness of the planning and approval process depends, of course, to a considerable degree on the extent to which individuals and interest groups avail of public consultation opportunities to make their views and concerns known, and the Authority is therefore anxious to see full use made of them and to avoid, as far as possible, delays which might otherwise occur should issues of concern fail to be raised or inadequately presented under the public consultation process. As regards your request for funding to allow you to appoint expert advise, I have to inform you that there are no resources at our disposal from which such an allocation could be made. I hope the above clarifies the position for you   Yours sincerely

TRAMORE HOUSE REGIONAL DESIGN OFFICE, TRAMORE HOUSE, TRAMORE, CO. WATERFORD. Date: 19 June 2000   Mr. Lorcan Dunne, Hon Secretary, Clonroche Development Association, Viserba, Clonroche, Co. Wexford. Re: Proposed Clonroche Bypass Dear Lorcan, With reference to your letter of 11th June 2000 there are no proposals at present b bypass the village of Clonroche. This office, together with Wexford County Council, is in the process of procuring consultancy services for the design of the N30 between Moneytucker and New Ross. This design may incorporate a bypass of Clonroche. Before any decision is taken for this section of the N30 there will be extensive public consultation. Further projects on the N30 for which designs are currently in progress or due to commence in the next few months are: Enniscorthy Bypass - consultants to be appointed in October. Jamestown to Moneytucker - construction due to commence early 2001 New Ross Bypass - route selection in progress You may be familiar with the National Development Plan, 2000 - 2006. In this plan it is proposed to construct high quality dual carriageways between Dublin and the cities of Galway, Limerick, Cork, and Waterford. All towns and villages on these routes will be bypassed. As designs on some of these routes are at an advanced stage it is likely that most of the villages mentioned in your letter will be bypassed before Clonroche Design work is currently at an advanced stage in this office on the route selection for the Tipperary Bypass on the N24. This bypass will incorporate bypasses of Pallasgreen, Oola, Monard, Limerick Junction, and Bansha. From the above you can see that Clonroche is neither the first nor the only village designated for a bypass. Under current legislation monies would not be available to fund the employment of independent expert advise. As [have pointed out, however, there will be extensive public consultation at all steps in the design process. Your committee should carefully consider the impact on Clonroche that the growth in traffic will have over the next 10-20 years. Traffic volumes will more than double in that period over current volumes. With bypasses of New Ross, Enniscorthy, and Gorey in place the N30/N11 would be a real alternative route for Waterford traffic to Dublin and may attract additional traffic. The effect of this on the quality of life and safety of pedestrians in Clonroche (particularly with a School on the National Route) should be carefully considered before objecting to a bypass. An alternative for your committee to consider would be to try to get any proposed bypass to run as close as possible to the village, with good, well signposted access. If I can be of any more assistance please let me know. I will keep you informed of developments on the design of that section of the N30 Yours sincerely This is a detailed letter and certainly contains much for debate on the proposed by pass. Recognition of the difficulties envisaged in the second last paragraph of this letter should be taken on board and merit careful consideration LD Further reading see By-Pass Page

Dear Mr. Dunne, I refer to your e-mail of 6th June expressing fears regarding the By-Pass of Clonroche. For a scheme of this nature an Environmental Impact Assessment will be caried out by Wexford County Council. This study will cover many facets of the impact of the scheme on the general environment. In particular, it will address the Social and Economic impacts on the Village of Clonroche. Please rest assured that Wexford County Council will consider this impact very seriously before making a final decision. The Study will be carried out by independent consultants engaged by Wexford County Council and the Clonroche Development Association will be able to make submissions to the Consultants before the Study commences. Best wishes. Yours sincerely, P. Callery, County Engineer. For further reading see Tramore House Reply, Public Meeting of 22/5/2000 & the By-Pass Page

Clonroche By-Pass A very well attended open meeting on the proposed Clonroche By Pass, hosted by Clonroche Development Association, was held in Clonroche Community Centre on Monday evening last 22nd May 2000. The attendance included Councillor Denis Kennedy and Senator Jim Walsh, both of who contributed greatly to the debate, and was chaired by Mr R Blackburn, Chairman Clonroche Development Association. Whilst there was support for the by pass on the grounds of traffic congestion, parking, and danger from passing traffic a sizeable number of those present expressed fears of negative results on existing business and the business potential of the village. Clonroche will be amongst the first villages of its size to be bypassed in Ireland and other villages on the more busy routes have not undergone this transformation. On the main Dublin Cork route Abbeyleix, Durrow, Cullahill, Johnstown, Urlingford, Littleton, New Inn, Kilbeheny, Mitchelstown, Rathcormack & Watergrasshill are not by passed Milltown Pass, Rochford Bridge, Tyrellspass, Kilbeggan, Moate, Ballinasloe, Loughrea, Craughwell remain without a bypass on the Galway/Dublin route On the Limerick route Pallasgreen, Oola, Monard, Bansha, Kilsheelan and Carrig on Suir remain on these rotes. As yet only three villages of similar size are bypassed in the country namely Slieve Rue, Kildavin and Newtownmountkennedy. Within the county Kilrane, Tagot, Barntown, Ballinaboola, Oylgate, Ferns, Camolin and a thirty mile limit recently installed at Clough for a filling station remain on route. Further Reading; See By-Pass Page

Until recently the NRA or Wexford County Council failed to recognise the importance of the N30 and had it designated a secondary route it's now so important they require traffic to by pass Clonroche, the only village between Enniscorthy and Killmedan. When larger centres are bypassed the size of population and the scale of business attract and maintain economic activity but as only three villages in the country have been bypassed the long terrn effects on rural villages are unknown. This in the main was the fear expressed by the meeting It is understood New Ross are employing independent consultants to furnish expert advise on the effects of and the better routes for the proposed by pass and it may be possible that this could include Clonroche. This study, if instigated, would enumerate the cost/benefit effects of this development to members of the community in favour of the bypass and display the consequence of this development for better or worse to the business sector. Clonroche Development Association are to approach Wexford County Council & the NRA for funding from the allocated planning monies available, to seek independent expert advise on the long-term effects of a bypass at Clonroche. As this is the first and only village in the county down for this transformation it would rebalance to some extent the powerful state organisation v a small rural community and display democracy in action. It will be in the further interest of the County Council to explore the effects on rural villages within the county and could be deemed money well spent. Members of Clonroche Development Association are to visit and make contact with the communities in Slieve Rue, Newtownmountkennedy & Kildavin in the near future to ascertain effects the bypass had on those areas.