More green shoots of recovery?

Ironically, at a time when the country seems balanced on the brink of the abyss Enniscorthy is experiencing something of a revival. As previously noted a number of new businesses have recently opened in the town and these are about to be joined by the return of Wickham's Butchers in the Market Square. The original premises was condemned following the destruction of the adjoining Murphy Floods hotel by fire in September 2005.

At the bottom of Slaney Place a new cafe - "Nosh & Coffee" - has recently opened and seems to be doing a good trade. I called to sample it this morning and found the coffee nice, the service friendly and I would recommend it to everybody. Just don't wear too many clothes - it's compact and very warm! Proving popular is the before 9am special offer of a mug of tea or coffee for €1.00.

'Arbeit Macht Frei"

This photo montage taken yesterday (7th November, 2010) says a lot about the shambolic way that our town council spends our money. An enormous, and unnecessary banner announces the launch of a new book on Enniscorthy, while in front of the Council Offices the seating and the 1798 memorial remain in an extremely tatty and defaced condition - see previous posts. Whatever about the cleaning of the 1798 monument, the cost of the banner would surely have covered the expense of repainting the seats and the children's playground.

At the top and bottom of Slaney Street new arches, reminiscent of the entrance to Auschwitz, have been erected. The paintwork was damaged during erection and I suspect they will soon blend in with the general tattiness of the street. Meanwhile the children's playground near the Riverside Park Hotel is allowed to go to rack and ruin. I really do despair!