Rafter Street regresses!

Sadly, Enniscorthy's Rafter Street is really beginning to revert to its original state in recent months. General filth, oil, dog dirt and chewing gum are increasingly evident. Excessive amounts of vehicular traffic - road cleaning trucks, recycling and delivery lorries - are destroying the pedestrianised ambience that the street had achieved since its refurbishment. There seems to be no restriction on when the street is available for traffic. Already the paving is being broken up. Chewing gum is starting to put in an appearance and needs to be tackled NOW before the street is permanently disfigured. Given the Council's usual lethargic reaction to most things I wouldn't hold my breath while waiting for the gum problem to be tackled. Click on the pics to enlarge.

Enniscorthy's disappearing seats!

I highlighted the state of the public seating outside the Town Council's offices as far back as May 2009 http://countywexford.blogspot.com/2009_05_01_archive.html and reported it face to face to the Town Development Officer in July this year - so imagine my surprise today when I went to take a photo for the this blog and was greeted by the above. Hopefully, like General MacArthur, it will return, and then the Council can deal with the other seats throughout the town which would benefit from an annual maintenance programme.

Sue Ryder Charity Shop opening in Enniscorthy

Yet another charity shop is about to open its doors in Enniscorthy, with the arrival of Sue Ryder http://www.sueryderfoundation.ie/ in Abbey Square. No opening date yet but perhaps as early as this weekend from the looks of things.

Two steps back and one step forward!

Two more business closures in Enniscorthy within the last week - 'The Phone Booth' on Slaney Street and 'The House of Beauty' on Church Street. Meanwhile a welcome new arrival is 'The Traditional Sweet-Shop' on Slaney Street which sells loose sweets by the quarter - just like in the good old days!

A smart paint job and a new Café in Enniscorthy

Monica's Hair Stylists on Slaney Street shows just what a smart paint job can do and it's now a beacon on this rather unkempt street. The Council are supposed to be taking charge of the derelict premises next door which should further improve the street - hopefully!

Meanwhile, another new business - The Cotton Tree Café has recently opened in the old Marc's Craft Butchers premises on Slaney Place and very attractive it looks too. I'm already hearing good things about it and intend to check it out for myself shortly.

Click on the pics to enlarge.

Kilmore Quay Maritime Museum Cut-up!

If it wasn't in Ireland I'd expect 'man bites dog' to be written over this! First the museum is moved from the Wexford quays due to vandalism and after a number of years it's cut-up with hardly a whimper from anybody. Is it any wonder that the South East has next to no tourists?

The remaining top tourist attractions in the county are as follows:

1. The National 1798 Centre, Enniscorthy - suitable mainly for school tours.

2. The National Heritage Park, Ferrycarrig - ditto.

3. Johnstown Castle - the grounds only - as the wretched Teagasc civil servants who occupy the castle remain in situ and thus it's off limits to the public.

4. Hook Lighthouse - overrated and over priced in my opinion.

5. JFK Memorial Park - why would you go more than once.

6. Dunbrody Famine Ship, New Ross - view from quayside - 2 minutes.

7. Seal Sanctuary, Courtown - closed before it opened!

8. Enniscorthy Castle, warm but sterile - take in the view from the roof and that's it.

That's about it apart from a few private gardens.

The Bridges at Enniscorthy

Found this unusual postcard on eBay recently - nice view from the Island Road end of town.

Enniscorthy - two doors close and another.....

The continued decline in business activity in the town is reflected by the closure of "The Peppermill Bistro" and the adjoining vegetable shop in the Old Dunne's Stores carpark. On a positive note a new shop is opening shortly in the old Billy Doyle's shoe shop on Main Street and I wish them the best of luck.

St.Mary's Church Institute, Enniscorthy

The long awaited restoration of St.Mary's Church Institute, on the corner of Castle Street and Church Street, began in earnest at 5.00am (!) this morning. The building has been out of use for a number of years following damage in a fire and the first phase of the renovation work will involve the removal of fire damaged timbers and renewal of the roof. After becoming something of an eyesore in recent times its restoration will be welcomed by all - except the pigeons!

Redmond's Pub Scarawalsh - Small but perfectly formed!

After close on ten years of promising to visit Redmond's Pub at Scarawalsh (just a few hundred yards from where the Bunclody Road leaves the N11) today was the day. And it was just like they say in the Carlsberg Ad - Worth Waiting For! In the same family for five generations, Redmond's is like a step back in time and the nondescript yet interesting exterior hides one of the nicest, most unspoilt bars you're ever likely to come across. It was like entering someone's private house and, of course, I chose to arrive in the middle of the Wexford/Dublin GAA football final! However, both Aidan Redmond and his sister Joan could not have been more hospitable and, like General MacArthur, I shall return.

This is a 'traditional' pub in the best sense of the word - there is no draught beer - and no food apart from bacon fries and chocolate. Beyond the beautiful public bar, just four bar stools long, is the private sitting room where several people were enjoying the match. I was invited in but being a rugby fan opted to remain in the bar and soak up the ambience instead. It is a place to while a way a good few hours but offered a lift back to town by Joan I reluctantly left after just two. Bono is amongst its most famous of patrons in recent years but, thankfully, he wasn't there today as I doubt there would have been room for our two egos! So, another pub to visit before you die - right up there with nearby French's (Gorey), Kehoe's (Sth.Anne Street, Dublin) and Morrissey's (Abbeyleix) - small but perfectly formed.

Putting the final touches to Stamps

July 6th - Stamps Pub on the Market Square is receiving the final touches to its fine paint job and doesn't it look a treat! One the most unspoilt, traditional pubs in the South East long may it continue.

Rafter Street - Oh dear!!

I refer to my post of June 5th where I warned of the pedestrianised street not being fit for purpose and sadly I was right. Yesterday, I noted that one of the pedestrian beacons had been knocked over as I predicted in my previous post. Today I went up and took some more pics of the state that the new surface has already got into - these are only a few - I'll say no more but a picture paints a thousand words. What's to be done? Click on pics to enlarge.

Enniscorthy still in the grip of recession!

Sadly these days it seems as fast a new business opens up in town then another closes. The latest victim is the "Inspire" shoe boutique opposite St.Aidan's Cathedral. Many business premises throughout the town are undergoing facelifts at present and, as usual, "Reid's Off Licence" on Main Street is head and shoulders above the rest. Meanwhile a defunct pub in Templeshannon (The Arches?) has been reborn as "Wilson's Bar" and if the exterior is anything to go by it should be a decent venue. "Stamp's" on the Market Square is currently being repainted and taken as a whole the town has not looked better in the last ten years.

Tidy Towns Judging Time draws near!

Pics above taken today 24/6/11 show the Viewing Point on Millpark Road - what must visitors think?

Compare them to my pics here: http://countywexford.blogspot.com/2009/03/enniscorthy-town-with-no-shame-part-ii.html taken in March 2009 (!) - click on pics to enlarge.

Still basking in the glow of a 'job well done' (Rafter Street, Slaney Street and the new bridge on the Promenade) - Enniscorthy Town Council still seem to be incapable of getting the basics right. As repeatedly highlighted here since I started this blog back in 2009 the following locations remain in a disgraceful condition:

1) The children's playgrounds near the Riverside Park Hotel.

2) The seating along the Promenade.

3) The 'award winning' viewing point on the Mill Park Road

4) The seat right outside the Council offices in the Market Square!

There's more but that was all that I had time to check on today.

Thumbs down for Rafter Street pedestrianisation

The long awaited completion of the pedestrianisation of Enniscorthy's Rafter Street took place this weekend and it's even worse than I had feared. The bright new paving is already on its way to being filthy despite being power washed on Friday - fit for purpose it is not. Gum, dog poo and vomit were already in evidence this morning. Other marking possibly grease (?) is also in evidence and is going to get far worse once vehicular traffic starts using the street again. It's pedestrianisation but not as we know it. New crossing beacons, halfway up the street will surely be hit by a delivery vehicle before too long.

Enniscorthy has become the latest town centre to be hit by the stainless steel plague. Pointless, over intrusive signage proclaiming that Enniscorthy is an historic town make a mockery of the very statement. Enniscorthy is in good company as Cork's Patrick Street and Waterford City Centre have already succumbed. Somebody is making a pile of money selling this 'avant-garde' street furniture to gullible local authorities. The trees, some of which appear unhealthy are another matter and I won't comment until I find definitive information. A phalanx of dalek like new bins cap off the whole mess and look they were sourced from Ikea or a local hardware shop.

The best that can be said is that it's a slight improvement over what was there previously but at what cost and how long will it last? Some pictures here but you need to visit the street before you make up your own mind. Incidentally still not a drop of paint for the seat outside the council office.

Click on pics to enlarge.

Businesses need to put their best foot foward.

Three examples of Enniscorthy business premises and how they present themselves. The first is a Polish (?) foodstore on the Market Square which despite its recent repaint still presents an unwelcoming appearance. Several women that I have spoken to said that not being able to see into the shop from outside is a major no-no and they feel intimidated by it. Despite being male I have the same feeling and thus have never crossed the threshold. So, a lot done but perhaps more to do?

Next up is Patsy O'Connor's Heating & Plumbing premises on Irish Street - recently repainted - which is a model of how 'less is more' and is now one of the most attractive frontages in town.

Back on Main Street "Zanadu" has also recently been repainted in a bold and attractive colour scheme - way to go! It's just a pity that the council don't officially encourage good design/painting as far too many premises merge into each other in an off-white/magnolia blur. I suppose given the indifferent way their own building in the Market Square is presented it's hardly surprising that they are not taking a lead in good design.

Cold wind of recession still blowing through Enniscorthy

Three shops - one closed - two on their way. The boarded up shop is the former 'head' shop in Slaney Place. The "Spring Design" gift shop has been on Main Street for quite a while and it's a pity to see it closing at a time when the town's tourist trade may be on the turn. "Eurogirl" is only a recently opened business on Slaney Street and was possibly in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Enniscorthy in the rare oul times

An early 19th century postcard view from Abbey Square across to Vinegar Hill.

Thumbs up for the Castle Museum!

Since my previous post the Castle Museum has reopened and, contrary to my expectations, I am reasonably happy with the end result of the refurbishment work. Internally, where once chaos reigned and exhibits were crammed into every nook and cranny, there is now order, cleanliness and heat. While some may be dismayed by the lack of genuine exhibits and the amount of artists' impressions/storyboards, I feel that things are headed in right general direction. What exhibits there now are on show are well presented in proper state of the art museum display cases. There is some rhyme and reason to the collection although I have to say that I was seriously underwhelmed by the Eileen Gray exhibition. Perhaps I will be more impressed on my next visit. I have been in twice since the official opening last Friday (6th May) and today's visit was primarily to gain access to the roof - a place that I had never penetrated to previously. A very friendly guide - Rory - showed me around on the roof and was quite up to speed on the history of the castle. I am posting a few of my roof pictures here and I will post some of the interior shortly. I would strongly recommend a visit to the castle during the summer - if only for the views from the roof - and remember admission is free until September! Further details here on the museum's new website: http://www.enniscorthycastle.ie/

Councillors to visit Castle Museum

Click on pic to enlarge.

Easter has now passed and the museum remains closed but at least our local councillors are to get a preview of the refurbished castle on April 27th. Still no official opening date for the rest of us. It now appears that there will NOT be a tourist office at the castle - there's no money to operate it - and instead there will be literature available with, perhaps, a computer on which to book accommodation. It also appears from the Guardian article (above) that there will be insufficient staff and volunteers may be sought - perhaps from amongst those who they couldn't even be bothered to give interviews to??? No money for a tourist office but the council can find €160,000 for the old post office yard adjacent to the former Dunne's Store carpark. They really need to wake up and smell the coffee.

Some more thoughts on Vinegar Hill

These two postcard scenes of the Vinegar Hill battle give a hint as to the scale of the event. The potential do something historically accurate while, at the same time, being exciting is enormous. Volumes of work on the events of 1798 exist and Sir Richard Musgrave's much maligned book (top) is packed with facts and figures collected in the immediate aftermath of the battle and would be a good starting off point for any new Vinegar Hill Battlefield Centre.

* Click on pics to enlarge.

Vinegar Hill - A wasted asset!

I took my two children for their first visit to Vinegar Hill yesterday (Easter Saturday) and it certainly matched my expectations. I lasted visited the hill in 1967/68 and not much seems to have changed - at least in a positive sense! There were about 8 or 9 other people there when we arrived and during the hour that we spent there nobody else disturbed our peace. A bad access road leads to a generous car park which features a fairly uninspiring 1798 memorial. The memorial conveniently fails to mention the 100 or so hapless protestants who were murdered at the windmill during the rebel occupation in June 1798. A small plaque at ground level commemorates the planting of a 'Liberty' tree in 1989 which in an ironic twist is missing - presumably hacked down by some village idiot. Ironic when you consider that local Unionists use to burn a Liberty tree on Vinegar Hill for some years after the 1798 rebellion!

There was less in the way of rubbish than I had expected, the odd drinks can but not much else apart from rabbit droppings. The windmill itself appeared unchanged since my 1960s visit. There is no signage, maps or anything useful to give the uninformed much clue as to the battle that took place on the hill on the 21st June 1798. What should be a major heritage/tourist attraction is little more than a badly maintained hillock with a splendid view. The pathway from the summit down to Templeshannon is only for the very agile or mountain goats and is in serious need of attention.

When compared with what has been done at the Battle of the Boyne site http://www.battleoftheboyne.ie/ Vinegar Hill is really is a crying shame and speaks volumes for the effectiveness of our local public representatives.

Naseby in Northamptonshire, where the Parliamentary forces finally broke the Royalist army of Charles.I. in 1645, is a battlefield site only now being fully developed and possibly would be worth investigating as a prelude to doing something worthwhile with Vinegar Hill. http://www.naseby.com/

It's 213 years since the battle so taking a little longer and getting it right rather that slapping up another version of the National 1798 Centre would seem wise. That the town is sitting on a tourist goldmine would seem obvious but maybe you know better.

Enniscorthy totters on...

A quick look round the usual black spots today confirmed that the scenic viewing point on Mill Park Road (1998 award winner) is still in a disgraceful condition, the children's playground on the Promenade as bad as ever, the tricolour rag/flag outside the Riverside Park Hotel could also do with replacing, the seating and 1798 memorial in the Market Square still in need of attention. The Castle now has a banner proclaiming that it will open soon - no longer Easter? I spotted this rather interesting cannon lying on the grass outside the main entrance to the castle today and it would appear to have been dug up up. If it's left lying where it is, it won't be there long! The two broken flower pots have been retained outside the door of the castle as have the two stuffed cannons - the latter need removing, restoring and mounting on replica gun carriages. Meanwhile the talk around town is of the council raising the rates - again - I suppose they have to fund the pedestrianisation farce on Rafter Street from somewhere.