Co.Wexford - Enniscorthy

[Del.Monte]

In line with Enniscorthy/Wexford Council's policy of 'if it's green kill it', a solitary worker was pulling all this scary ivy off the wall along the Island Road this morning. In the middle of the breeding season for birds but what the hell. Meanwhile on the neglected pathway below drink cans, pizza boxes etc. are left to find their way into the river.

[765489]

In line with Enniscorthy/Wexford Council's policy of 'if it's green kill it', a solitary worker was pulling all this scary ivy off the wall along the Island Road this morning. In the middle of the breeding season for birds but what the hell. Meanwhile on the neglected pathway below drink cans, pizza boxes etc. are left to find their way into the river.

Ivy is great for bees and small nesting birds. Bet ya the same council is rabbiting on about biodiversity and climate change. Our local council is the same. But are they doing this out of complaints from the public ?

I used to hate Ivy but now have a great appreciation for it. Once it doesn't envelope my fruit trees it can grow away wherever it likes.

If they had half a brain yer man should have been sent out with a hedge clippers and done earlier in the year. An hours work clipping and gathering it up after him.

[Del.Monte]

I highlighted it on the Enniscorthy History & Photos Facebook page today and it caused such a rumpus with the pitchfork and torches brigade who can't bear to see anybody criticise the town. When I went down for a look again this evening the results were worse than even I had anticipated with all the ivy chucked over the wall and crushing down all the bushes, brambles etc. but the worker responsible (from a tidy towns scheme) maintains he checked all the ivy for nests....righty!

[Del.Monte]

I went out and met the man cutting the ivy this morning - a gentleman - and just doing his job as part of the Tidy Towns scheme. There was no need for all the sharpening of pitchforks that kicked off on FB yesterday. At the end of our chat we shook hands and that's it - end of story.

However, it does not take away from my main concern and that is that a lot of well intentioned work produces the wrong results. I took issue with the Clean Coasts group a couple of years back suggesting that they need to keep ground nesting birds in mind during the breeding season but was fobbed off again with a standard reply...but I endeavour to persevere.

[Del.Monte]

Fab morning in the Sunny South East and I was delighted to find that the resident pair of Mute Swans have successfully hatched 6 cygnets in their new exposed nest site. A decent photo to follow as my phone camera just isn't up to it.

[Del.Monte]

Good to see An Post fighting back against the ne'er-do-wells in our community and the defaced pillar box at the Market Square looks well after receiving a smart new coat of paint. However, the job is incomplete as the the perspex cover over the collections plate needs to be replaced as it's virtually unreadable and there's no point in spoiling the ship for a ha'porth of tar!



I have emailed An Post this morning. A small issue when seen against the Ukrainian situation, global warming etc. but I believe if everyone took just the tiniest action wherever and whenever they can - the world would be a better place. I will report back.

[Del.Monte]

I just received a response from Anna McHugh at An Post and she says collection plates are also in line for replacement. I suggested repro enamel ones should be easy to source give the number of firms in the UK now producing brand new repro boxes for collectors but I won't be holding my breath.

Here's just one crowd: https://www.ukaa.com/garden-and-outdoor/post-boxes

[Del.Monte]

I'm a simple soul and easily pleased so was delighted to see the job complete this morning. Not an enamel plate but at least it's smart and clear.

[Del.Monte]

Multi Million Euro Game Changer For Enniscorthy.

More hot air and one councillor reported hearing this comment from a local resident “there are enough plans to wallpaper every house in Enniscorthy”

https://www.independent.ie/regionals/we ... 33823.html

[Del.Monte]

The unacceptable face of Irish Rail's Inter-City service on the Wexford route in 2023. These twenty year old railcars, designed for short commuter runs with their spartan interiors and devoid of any comfort, are still in regular use on the route. At least during these pandemic times they have opening windows and as the doors open straight into the passenger areas ever smidgin of heat - and the virus - gets sucked out of the train at every stop.



The 10.20 ex.Connolly heads south across a swollen River Slaney this morning.

[marhay70]

The unacceptable face of Irish Rail's Inter-City service on the Wexford route in 2023. These twenty year old railcars, designed for short commuter runs with their spartan interiors and devoid of any comfort, are still in regular use on the route. At least during these pandemic times they have opening windows and as the doors open straight into the passenger areas ever smidgin of heat - and the virus - gets sucked out of the train at every stop.



The 10.20 ex.Connolly heads south across a swollen River Slaney this morning.

Haven't used the line since before Covid but to my memory the newer railcars are not exactly plush either.

[Del.Monte]

Enniscorthy was treated to one of its periodic invasions from the Boy Racer fraternity last night. Numerous cars roaring through the main streets after dark with all sorts of illegal exhausts etc. etc and generally speeding and causing a nuisance - needless to say not a Garda in sight. It would be like shooting fish in a barrel.

[Del.Monte]

"Enjoy Enniscorthy" https://enjoyenniscorthy.com/ is a new website promoting the town - I'm not sure who's behind it but the site is an improvement from the previous incarnation but there's still a lot of myth versus reality. There's an office too, located at the bottom of Slaney Street, but I'll pass on that for now.

[nlgbbbblth]

Great thread Del Monte - the town looks good now.

Enniscorthy always had negative connotations when I was growing up.
If anyone mentioned going there (shopping, visiting family, socialising), some people would insinuate you were "going to the mental home" (St Senan's).

We often went to the Dunnes there. A rather drab building accessed via the car park - you went through a clothes section first.

[Del.Monte]

Great thread Del Monte - the town looks good now.

Enniscorthy always had negative connotations when I was growing up.
If anyone mentioned going there (shopping, visiting family, socialising), some people would insinuate you were "going to the mental home" (St Senan's).

We often went to the Dunnes there. A rather drab building accessed via the car park - you went through a clothes section first.

In some ways it has improved but we have a small minority that are dragging the place down and, of course, the Council. Very cliquey too.
As for Dunnes, well the new one is a hundred times better than the old one but it's still Dunnes and Tesco would be so much better.

[Del.Monte]

Some recent pics - I have copied to 'Enjoy Enniscorthy.com' and other worthies.

[Del.Monte]

The "Enjoy Enniscorthy" premises at the bottom of Slaney Street is not exactly impressive and reminds me of a knocking shop called "Why Not" that I remember from a school tour to Ostend. Aimed at the sailor trade, the only difference in appearance between the two premises was the presence of a scantily clad lady sitting in the window of the Ostend premises. Grotty looking kip for a business supposed to be promoting the delights of the town.



The website is more promising than its previous incarnation and certainly better than the premises would indicate.

[Del.Monte]

The town ahead of the parade looks particularly miserable this morning - miles of brand new crowd barriers, a few straggly bits of bunting, some tricolours on sticks have been applied to some buildings in the Market Square. The ever increasing amount of chewing gum on the pavements adds the finishing touch and I'll be staying at home with the shutters closed - again. Happy St.Patrick's Day!

[Del.Monte]

Annual Protestant bun fest. I'll be there.

[Del.Monte]

So, it was more in hope than expectation that I sallied forth early this morning to inspect the town. First stop, the Peace Park, full of birds but little evidence of repairs and much of strimming - and weedkiller ? New destruction noted - stones dislodged from a wall supporting buttress. Anyway, I moved on to the rewilded area near the Brooklyn bench mentioned in an earlier post; the rewilded area looks very well but sadly there's was precious little insect activity. The bench itself is located in a desert of strimmed grass - why not just strim a path to it and let the rest go wild? Photos below shows the amateur effort at repainting the bench - already bubbled up and waiting to destroy the clothes of anybody daft enough to sit on it.


Left: the rewilded area and right the prairie stretching off towards the Brooklyn bench.


The bench in all its glory. Could the timbers have not been removed to a workshop, stripped down and painted properly before being put back in situ?

I returned home via the Promenade and was greeted by this edgy street art which, if not tackled immediately, will result in the whole town becoming as bad as the DART line in Dublin. This graffiti needs to be sandblasted/power-washed off within 24 hours - not painted over!!! I am so annoyed by this that I am thinking of starting a fund to pay for information given which leads to a prosecution of those responsible for for destroying their own town.

[Del.Monte]