The National 1798 Rebellion Centre will be officially re-launched to much fanfare in the town of Enniscorthy on May 24. The Centre will host free celebratory activities during ‘Rebellion Weekend’ on May 25 and 26 with offerings for the family including a Druid Chef, traditional pike drilling and food foraging amongst some of the activities to mark the occasion.

The Centre was officially opened in 1998, during bi-centenary commemorations, to illustrate the significance of the 1798 Rebellion. According to the centre Manager Jacqui Hynes the exhibition was in need of upgrade and this brand new exhibition tells the story of the 1798 Rebellion in a vivid and exciting way, with the audience being taken on a journey by General Lake, John Shehan who is ‘The Croppy Boy’, the United Irishman leader Anthony Perry, and the dreaded ‘Tom The Devil’. Visitors will learn, in gruesome detail, how some 20,000 insurgents faced the might of 10,000 well-trained and well-armed Crown Forces in an exciting new audiovisual display.

According to Jacqui Hynes, Manager of the 1798 Centre, “The brand new re-development has increased appeal to a wider tourist audience. The project was funded by Wexford Local Development to the value €178,000 and supported by Wexford County Council & Enniscorthy Town Council.”

Jacqui says “The vision for this project was to re-develop our tourist attraction, to ensure the visitor offering is fresh, innovative, informative yet fun, accessible to all, and in a position to positively attract visitors to our town, county and region. We also upgraded and enhanced our existing displays and the way the story of the 1798 Rebellion is told.”

The 1798 Rebellion is accepted as the beginning of a long road to democracy and independence in Ireland, and insights to life during the period will be available for everyone to get involved in at the free Rebellion Weekend during May 25 and 26. Re-enactors and characters from the brand new audio-visual tour will roam the grounds of the 1798 Centre looking for talented pikemen and women, and telling their tales of life and their strategy for the upcoming battle. The blacksmith will be on hand showcasing the techniques of making pikes and weapons and scores of traditional music plus food foraging for Rebellion food and tasters of food of the period will also be on offer along with cookery demonstrations of food from the time by the Druid Chef Rory Morohan.

Primary school children are invited to take part in pikeman training, and by the end of the weekend a 350 person strong force of pikemen will have learned the skills of battle in the 1700’s and the blacksmith will also have shown them how to keep their pike in tip top condition and ready for battle.

Commenting on the free Rebellion Weekend Jacqui said, “We are delighted to be able to offer free family activities during the Rebellion Weekend. It is a great opportunity to learn about a pivotal moment in Ireland’s history through action and engagement, and kids will have the opportunity to become a pikeman or woman for the day and really get in insight to what life was like in 1798.”

For further details and to keep up to date with the events of the Rebellion Weekend see facebook.com/knightsandrebels

His story has been hidden for centuries in the Mexican Inquisition’s archives, and rediscovered only in the last quarter of the last century. He was an “Irish Zorro” who led a life of adventure as fantastic as any fiction, and shaped the Mexican folk-culture from which these stories drew their inspiration.Imprisoned for years by the Inquisition in New Spain for consorting with a native shaman, he was also a prolific writer and thinker, using bed sheets for paper and candle soot for ink. After a brilliant escape and call to revolt, he cheated his own death at the stake.

“Wexicans” are celebrating both fiction and amazing history this May bank holiday weekend, with a festival in honour of both man and myth at Zorrofest! Masked heroes and a carnival of colourful creatures will jump forth from the pages of literary legend and folk history, and onto to the streets of Wexford. International guests will offer unprecedented intellectual insights to his heritage, and share wonderful cultural experiences for all to enjoy.

Commenting on the event, festival director Karla Sanchez Zepeda said, “This weekend will be a festive occasion for the whole family, celebrating cultural connections between Mexico and Ireland. We have various high-profile guests from Mexico and Ireland, including current Mexican Ambassador His Excellency Carlos Garcia de Alba Zepeda, who will be coming down to sample this ‘Wexican’ Fiesta.”

Renowned Mexican Historian Dr. Andrea Martinez Baracs will present her latest book on William Lamport. Writings of great historical and intellectual importance by the very hand of Lamport himself are seeing the light of public and international examination for the first time in centuries. One of them is a letter to the King of Spain, petitioning the Spanish Crown to come to the aid of Ireland, and free it from English rule.”

Zorrofest will be a fun-filled day for everyone to enjoy, visitors can move to the rhythm of Mariachi music and folkloric Mexican dance, enjoy the magic of a fantastic street show by Buí Bolg inspired by Mexican Artist José Guadalupe Posada, and savour some of the aromas and flavours of Mexican ‘Wex-Mex’ cuisine at selected restaurants.

Visitors can enjoy some wonderful notes of Classical Spanish guitar, and follow the steps of a 17th century native in a historic walking tour. Admire the beautiful collage-tapestry created by children from Schull Primary school in Cork, and learn even more about the life of this Wexford man – honoured to this day in the heart of Mexico.

William Lamport was born in Wexford town in 1611. He was the youngest of the four children of Richard Lamport and Anastasia Sutton, scion of a noble Catholic ‘Old English’ family, who originally came to Ireland with Strongbow in the twelfth century, and built a castle at Rosslare.

For further details on the festival see http://www.visitwexford.ie

Keeping the show on the road and taking the role of MC and host on stage for the afternoon of June 22 will be proud Wexford ambassador Anne Doyle. The journalist, presenter and former RTE newsreader will take to the stage on New Ross Quayside and welcome visitors to Wexford as well as introduce the formidable line-up, which will include the critically acclaimed award winning author and Wexford ambassador Colm Toibin who will recite from the stage. Anne will be assisted by George Hook, well-known broadcaster, TV critic and Kennedy fan.

International singer and Wexford ambassador Michael Londra who was voted the best Tenor at the 2012 Irish Music Awards and is currently wowing audiences with his tour across the U.S. will preform a song he has written especially for the event with Grammy award winning songwriter Marcus Hummon.

Commenting on his attendance and upcoming performance Michael said, “I was born a few years after JFK visited but my earliest memories of Wexford are that no matter where I went, in every house, there was a picture of him on every parlor wall, usually with Bobby and Pope John 23rd. All I knew, as a kid was that he wasAmerican and I wanted to go there. He has always represented the American Dream and I have lived that dream so I felt I had to write about it. The song I’ve written for the event ends with four lines from his favorite Irish song, ‘The Boys of Wexford’.”

World-renowned dancer, musician and performer Michael Flatley, who has family ties in St. Mullins ten miles upstream from New Ross, will take to the stage to narrate the journey and significance of the Emigrant Flame before it’s symbolic lighting on the quayside, evoking the spirit and inspiration of the Kennedys and the entire Irish emigrant family.

American Grammy award winning singer and songwriter Judy Collins, one of the great icons of American music, will also entertain visitors from the stage with some wonderful pieces from her vast songbook. Ms. Collins performed for President Kennedy at the White House ‘Dinner with the President’ event. She also performed at President Clinton’s inauguration in 1993.

Extreme Rhythm, the most hightly acclaimed percussion group in Europe, led by Wexford Town man Nicky Bailey, will also perform in honour of JFK and the Kennedy Family.

World pipe band champions, New Ross and District Pipe Band will also entertain the special guests and viewing public.

Commenting at the launch event, Chair of the JFK50 Cllr Michael Sheehan said, “We are delighted to launch the line-up for the ‘The Homecoming’ on June 22 and thanks to all the people who are giving their time and effort to make this so special. Like the whole year, it is an event to remember the past and celebrate the future. This is your chance to be part of history and celebrate with some of Wexford’s best who are joining us for this momentous occasion. We hope that people from near and far will come along and enjoy the festivities and the celebrations in memory of President Kennedy. It is now time to ask not what your County can do for you but what you can do for your County.”

Visitors are invited to join the town in ‘The Homecoming’ celebrations from 3pm as an all American style Homecoming parade will weave it’s way through the streets of New Ross, finishing at the Quayside at 5pm. The Parade finish will be closely followed by the arrival of An Taoiseach Enda Kenny T.D. with a guard of honour from the Irish Naval Service.

The official ceremony of the lighting of the Emigrant Flame will then begin. An Taoiseach and guests of honour Caroline Kennedy and Jean Kennedy Smith will take part in the lighting of the flame. It is expected that many members of the extended Kennedy family will also be in attendance. The torch will be taken ashore from the LE Orla Naval vessel and brought to the Kennedy Monument on the New Ross Quayside. Following the stage performances the torch will be transferred along the boardwalk to the Emigrant Memorial and there the Emigrant Flame will be set alight on the Quayside to burn forever brightly to remember all Irish emigrants.

Closing speeches from An Taoiseach Enda Kenny T.D. and members of the Kennedy family will draw the events to a close.

Town Manager, Eamonn Hore, who is coordinating the major civil works on the New Ross Quay, including the Emigrant Flame and Gathering Torch development said “This is a wonderful time for New Ross, a time to remember the past and to look forward to a bright future. June 22nd will be wonderful occasion for all involved”

Earlier in the day An Taoiseach will have officially opened the re-developed Kennedy Homestead, and planted a tree at the soon to be re-named John F Kennedy Memorial Park.

Sean Reidy, CEO of the JFK Trust who will be taking over the operational management of the Kennedy Homestead said, “We are very much looking forward to the events of June 22 and indeed opening the re-developed Homestead. Work is progressing apace by the OPW in Dunganstown at the moment, and the new tour displays will be fantastic.”

For visitors unable to attend the celebratory events on June 22 a brand new Emigrant Trail telling the Kennedy story will be on offer, allowing visitors to follow in the footsteps of President Kennedy’s historic visit of 1963. ‘The Emigrant Trail’ features three key heritage sites on a 15-mile trail in the vicinity of New Ross Town in county Wexford.

For further details on all of the events taking place throughout the year for the JFK50 see http://www.jfk50ireland.com

This year’s conference entitled ‘A Decade of Commemorations’ will delve into the town’s history and involvement in the Rising. The principal speakers at the 2013 conference include, joint editor of Irish Historical Studies, Dr. Fearghal McGarry, author and historian, Dr. Eve Morrison, Enniscorthy Castle’s Kieran Costello and author Kevin Galligan.

Commenting on the upcoming conference Kieran Costello of Enniscorthy Castle said, “This conference offers a real insight to the towns unique rolls in the Rising, Enniscorthy was the only town captured by the Rebels and the Castle, itself was occupied by the Irish Volunteers in 1916, The Castle tells the story of the Easter Rising in the 1916 Room with original artefacts of the period which help bring the Rebellion to life, including firearms, medals and a photographic retrospective of the 50th anniversary commemoration in the town in 1966.”

During the 1916 Rising, 97 years ago next week, the town of Enniscorthy was the only Irish town taken over by the Irish Volunteers.

Unlike the rest of County Wexford, Enniscorthy was the nucleus of separatist activists; there was a strong Irish Republican Brotherhood presence in the town and in as well as the local two companies of Irish Volunteers. In 1913, there were over 100 sworn-in IRB members in Enniscorthy and when the Irish Volunteers was formed in 1913, they, like other IRB circles where the organisation had a presence, joined and took over the organisation from the inside.
In Enniscorthy in the early hours of Easter Thursday the Roche family were forced to vacate their home at Enniscorthy Castle, around 100-200 hundreds of Volunteers took over the town’s Atheneum and the castle and surrounded the RIC barracks in the town, to which they cut off the supply of gas and water. The insurgents’ armament was meagre though – only 20 rifles and 2,000 rounds of ammunition. Many carried only pikes, which, effective enough in 1798, would have been useless in an encounter with either armed police or British troops in 1916.

Whereas in Dublin, the rebels were initially highly unpopular with the general public, in Enniscorthy the reaction to the Rising seems to have been largely positive. Even two of the local priests were anxious to join the Enniscorthy volunteers, but were persuaded otherwise and left after blessing the men.

On Saturday, the RIC County Inspector reported, “the rebels are concentrated at Enniscorthy and are stated to be entrenching themselves there, the Police are still holding out. The approaches to Enniscorthy within a radius of three miles of the town were blocked with felled trees and in one case by a telegraph pole, which has been brought down. The damage to the Barrow Bridge on the Dublin and South Eastern Railway is now reported not to be serious.”

Meanwhile, the War Office sent a telegraph to Lieutenant-Colonel G.A. French, a retired British Army Officer who lived about two miles outside Wexford Town, instructing him to take over the command of the British Forces in Wexford and advising that reinforcements were on their way from Waterford along with an armoured train with a field gun.

Patrick Pearse had in fact already surrendered on Friday afternoon on behalf of the Republican forces in Dublin, “to prevent the further slaughter of the civilian population and in the hope of saving our followers, now hopelessly surrounded and outnumbered”.

The British assembled a column under French of 1,000 men, 2 field guns and a 4.7 inch naval gun at Wexford town, “with a view to engaging the rebels at Enniscorthy”. The poorly armed Volunteers could not have taken on a force with this kind of firepower in a pitched battle. The Volunteers held the town for almost a week before surrendering on May 1st.

For details of this weeks 1916 Conference see visitwexford.ie

The technology specialists behind the London 2012 Olympic Torch have arrived in the town this week to work on perfecting the flame equipment for the newly built ‘Emigrant Flame’, which will be lit by members of the Kennedy Family and An Taoiseach Enda Kenny on June 22 at New Ross Quayside.

The first event of the JFK50 will take place on May 29 when a flame will be taken from the ‘Eternal Flame’ that burns in Arlington National Cemetery at the graveside of President Kennedy.

Birmingham based Bullfinch (Gas Equipment) Ltd., whose engineers developed the burner system for the London 2012 Olympic torch, the gas beacons on “Hadrian’s Wall” and the 600 beacons used for Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations, have now created the ‘The Gathering Torch’ burner. The Gathering Torch will take the flame from the Kennedy Memorial in Arlington Cemetery from where it will then travel to New Ross via Boston and Liverpool, the journey in reverse taken by Patrick Kennedy, the president’s great grandfather, in 1848. The Irish Naval Service patrol vessel, the L.E. Niamh, will take the flame to Liverpool on 18th June remaining in position on Liverpool quayside until 20th June. The LE Niamh will then set sail for New Ross and on route the flame will transfer to the patrol vessel the LE Orla and will travel up the River Barrow arriving alongside in New Ross on 21st June. The LE Orla will remain in New Ross until Sunday 23rd June, playing a major role in the lighting ceremony of the Emigrant Flame.

Just over six months ago, Town Manager, Eamonn Hore contacted Bullfinch to outline the flame plans. Commenting on the development of the burner and the flame for New Ross, Andrew Williams, Managing Director of Bullfinch said, “From the flame technology used on the Beacons and also on the Mini Cauldrons for the London Olympics and Paralympics, we have developed an appropriate and highly visible JFK50 Emigrant Flame. It is designed to fit in well with the wonderful new quayside development in New Ross. Again the challenge has been to provide a good-sized stable flame. It has a sophisticated control mechanism to ensure it burns safely, and extensive testing is underway to ensure that it is stable and will not go out, even under the most extreme weather conditions.” “It is a privilege to have been given the opportunity to design and make the JFK50 Emigrant Flame and Gathering Torches and we are using all our expertise to make our part a success.”

Director of Services at Wexford County Council, and New Ross Town Manager, Eamonn Hore said, “All of the works are well underway on the re-development of the quayside in New Ross Town and elsewhere for the events due to take place on June 22. We are looking forward to unveiling the finished works and having the Taoiseach officially attend the JFK50 celebratory events on the 22nd of June and to see the Emigrant Flame set alight as a permanent memorial to all those who have left these shores and become part of Ireland’s emigrant family. I would like to commend the work of my colleagues, the JFK50 Committee, the various government departments, Fáilte Ireland and the voluntary committees for all of the hard work being put in to ensure that this summer will again be one to remember in another 50 years and to honour and celebrate the memory of the Kennedy’s and our strong links with Irish America.”

The JFK50 celebratory events take place in New Ross on June 22, when An Taoiseach Enda Kenny along with members of the Kennedy family, including Caroline Kennedy and Jean Kennedy Smith, will set alight the ‘Emigrant Flame’. An Taoiseach will officially open the re-developed Kennedy Homestead, and plant a tree at the soon to be re-named JFK Memorial Park. Visitors are invited to the town to join in the celebrations and enjoy the JFK50 Homecoming Parade, the outdoor staging of music, drama and entertainment and the lighting of the Emigrant Flame.

For further details on the JFK50 events see jfk50ireland.com

The second annual John Barry Maritime will take place from Thursday, June 20 until Sunday, June 23 in Wexford and plans are well underway to offer locals and visitors alike a bigger and better festival than the inaugural event in 2012, which drew crowds of 35,000 over the two days.

Now in it’s second year, the festival idea originated in January 2011 after a lifeboat visit to the Waterford Coast Guard Helicopter base when three RNLI volunteers David Maguire, Frank O Brien and Lorraine Galvin were discussing plans to celebrate Wexford Lifeboat Station 10 year anniversary.

According to Lorraine Galvin, “Ideas for fun on the quay developed into an idea for a maritime festival” says Lorraine, “ with maritime activities, races, children’s activities, live music and entertainment, exhibitions, cultural events and the hugely successful Wexford food family’s food village”. It was wonderful to see so many children on the quay enjoying kayaking and boating, arts and crafts, science experiments, the funfair and my own little toddler dancing away at the Kindermusik sessions”.

As well as family fun, the festival also celebrates Wexford man Commodore John Barry, father of the US Navy. In September 2012 the festival directors invited two US Navy Rear Admirals to Wexford and discussed plans for the 2013 festival and forming links with the US Navy. “The Rear Admirals had great admiration for John Barry and were very interested in learning more of his heritage and home town told by historian Bernard Brown” said Frank O Brien.

David Maguire said that the festival success was down to great community support and involvement..” Wexford has such a great maritime heritage and we want to show it off, we are working with great local groups and the best of Wexford food producers, it will be a real Wexford showcase”.

The three have been busy already securing the festival as a flagship-gathering event and are actively inviting international visitors to Wexford for the festival. “There are so many wonderful events in the planning, Wexford Quay is such an amazing amphitheater for a festival and what better view than Wexford Harbour!” The festival is non-profit organisation with fundraising proceeds towards Wexford RNLI Lifeboat.

Interested groups are invited to contact the team at info@johnbarrymaritimefestival.com or through the website http://www.jbmf.ie

In New Ross the theme for St. Patrick’s celebrations are suitably U.S. like, the town is celebrating the 50th Anniversary of President John F. Kennedy visiting later this year on June 22 so in keeping with this year of celebrations the theme for the towns parade is “Ask Not” inspired from the famous speech made by John F. Kennedy where he said “ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country”.

The town is encouraging parade participants to consider the statement in relation to New Ross, incorporating everything from being American to the Kennedy’s themselves right back to the sixties with the message of ‘simply think “Ask Not!” The New Ross town’s parade grand marshal is Olympian Grainne Murphy with activbity getting underway from 2pm travelling from Irishtown towns the towns quayside to the viewing platform at the Dunbrody visitor centre.

In Enniscorthy floats, vintage cars, marching bands, Bui Bolg characters and more will take to the streets for the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade at 2pm. The parade will depart St. Senan’s Church led by the Army Reserve walk along Templeshannon Quay, cross Seamus Rafter Bridge and pass the reviewing stand at Abbey Square on to Millpark Road and continue through Weafer Street through Market Square and back along the quays.

In Gorey the St Patrick’s Day Parade commences at 3pm, the Parade route commences from the Enniscorthy Road down the Main Street and onto Esmonde Street. 
Visitors can enjoy music at the Market House from 2pm along with fringe events including tug of war and a barman’s race with entertainment and prize giving on Esmonde Street directly after the Parade.

for further details see http://www.visitwexford.ie

The festival will be officially opened by Gorey’s Paralympic Gold Medallist, Darragh Mc Donald on Friday, Feb 22nd followed by a free ‘Trad’ Singing session at The Coach House and Trad Music Sessions in various premises throughout Gorey town.

A not to be missed festival highlight takes place on Saturday evening as the Cuisle Cheoil Festival Concert features performances by some of Ireland’s top traditional musicians and many All-Ireland championship winners including accomplished fiddle player MacDara Ó Raghallaigh, champion accordion player John Connolly, outstanding flautist Catherine McEvoy, international selling singer Karen Casey and accomplished sean-nós dancer Una Ni Fhlatharta. The concert will be compered by Áine Hensey, who hosts a number of traditional music programmes on Radio na Gaeltachta and RTE1.

On Saturday February 23, lectures on Traditional Irish Music take place along with Sean Nos dancing workshops and the Cuisle Cheoil Festival Concert on Saturday evening followed by a monster Trad seisiún.

On Sunday, following a Traditional Irish Mass in St. Michael’s at 12 noon, an Irish Music Youth Recital takes place at Gorey’s Little Theatre (2pm). There is also a Set Dancing workshop, and the festival closes with a Céilí Mór on Sunday night with music by the Ballyellis Céilí Band, both in The Loch Garman Arms.

For further details on Cuisle Cheoil see http://www.visitwexford.ie

The event will see ladies from all across Ireland descend on the Wexford shoreline to compete as landing a spot in the top five will see them firmly placed on the Irish team. The winning team of five will then go forward and represent Ireland at the prestigious Home Nations Event, which will be held in the UK next year; it is very first time that an Irish ladies team will compete at an international event.

We spoke to Peter Flahive, National Recorder for the Irish Federation of Sea Anglers and he says, “Ireland’s top lady shore anglers are registered for this competition and winning means a place on a team to represent Ireland; so, it will be serious business.

The International ‘Home Nations Championships’ has been held for the last 30 to 40 years with men’s senior championships have been held between Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales. In the nineties Junior and Youth categories were added to the categories and last year feelers were put out about the inclusion of ladies in the event, there was a very positive response so this year it was decided to include the ladies in the Home Nations Championships. And now Ireland is forming an Irish ladies team to go forward to compete in the first Ladies Home Nations Championships which will take place in Wales in 2014.”

The epicentre of the action for the weekend will be Kilmuckridge in county Wexford and members of the public are welcome to come along and enjoy the action on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th of February. For further details see http://www.visitwexford.ie/events.php

Two Humpback Whales, 5 Fin Whales have been identified with sightings confirmed by the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group. A ‘Superpod’ of Dolphins has also been spotted.

Martin Colfer, Skipper of the Rebecca C first spotted the new arrivals to the waters of the Hook Peninsula. The Rebecca C departed Duncannon on Wednesday, January 9 at 9am and came upon a ‘superpod’ of Dolphins and then the first Fin Whales east of Hook and then five more Fin Whales Southwest of Hook Head as they were feeding.

Tony Murray Wildlife Ranger for South Wexford with the National Parks and Wildlife Service and member of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group spotted the first Humpback of the season off Hook Head, Tony reported a sighting of the first Humpback Whale along with a Fin whale just off the Hook to be feeding and chasing fish approximately 5 kilometres southwest of the shore.

According to Tony, “There is a huge Herring haul going on in the Southeast at the moment, with the Whales here to feed on the Herring. Along with the Whales and Dolphins this has also attracted a massive number of birds to the region. “Some birds are identified by what is known as a darvic on their leg, with this being coded which allows us to trace where the bird are from, currently we have birds from as far away as Denmark, Poland, Iceland, Norway, Britain, Holland and Ireland the Herring haul is attracting in about 20,000 Gulls for feeding so this is also an amazing opportunity for birdwatchers also.”

Manager of Hook Head Lighthouse Anne Waters said, “We are delighted to have the Whales back again off Hook Head, it is the third year in a row for us to have a number of Humpback and Fin Whales remain off the Peninsula for a period of time; last year the Whales remained within sight until February. At Hook Lighthouse we have just opened a new viewing Gantry at the lighthouse and its the perfect spot to observe the sea wildlife with binoculars or for an up close experience head out on one of the many charters.”

Updates of sightings can be followed on visitwexford.ie or http://www.facebook.com/visitwexford or @visitwexford