|
|
 |
You are > Home > Celebrating Enniscorthy 1500
|
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Celebrating Enniscorthy 1500
ENNISCORTHY WAS founded by St. Senan in 510, having sailed up the River Slaney and dropped anchor when the tide refused to take him any further.
He established a monastery and, now, fifteen centuries later Enniscorthy Town Council is commemorating this very important anniversary in the life of the town.
I know very little about the Council's plans, however, I am involved as a contributor to a published history of the town edited by the town's most internationally acclaimed writer, Colm Tóibín, which will be published towards the end of the year.
Writing the history of Enniscorthy is an exciting concept. Fortunately, there is no shortage of research material available, the challenge is worth meeting and publication, though many months away, is already eagerly awaited.
Later this year, Enniscorthy will be using the universally renowned name of Colm Tóibín, a son of the Cathedral town, in a one-day seminar celebrating his contribution to modern-day literature.
Colm will have his internationally known work put under the microscope in his presence by many experts in Irish literary and cultural studies including Paul Delaney and Christina Hunt Mahony, both of TCD, and Roy Foster, Professor of Irish History at the University of Oxford.
Of course, Colm will read from his work too, he will be interviewed by the editor of THE ECHO Group of Newspapers, Tom Mooney, and at the end of the seminar, Enniscorthy Town Council will host a civic reception This event is the brainchild of Wexford County Council Public Libraries and Enniscorthy Town Council. It would be fitting to mark the occasion with a full house.
The seminar was to be held on Saturday the 16th of January but had to be cancelled due to the recent freezing weather.
For information on rescheduling and brochure and booking form contact the library service on www.wexford.ie/library or telephone Enniscorthy Library on 053 9236055.
The official ceremony to mark the start of Enniscorthy 1500 will take place on Saturday, March 6th, with an 'Entertainment Parade', featuring Bui Bolg, groups, bands and all sorts of entertainment, topping it all off with fireworks.
There should be an improvement in the weather by then! Enniscorthy is embarking on a year of celebrations that can only be compared with the bicentenary of the 1798 Rebellion.
If the enthusiasm and public interest is half that experienced in 1998, Enniscorthy can be happy with itself when it all comes to an end! Since I live in Enniscorthy I hold much enthusiasm for the 1500th.
I don't know what the organisers of the event would expect to achieve by the end of the year, apart from promoting everything that is good about the town, but I know what I would like to see as a lasting legacy.
We must re-open the County Museum, the original tourist attraction based in a castle that survived through all kinds of threats, including the attention of Oliver Cromwell.
And when it opens its doors again the locals must play their part in passing through its doors and offering strong support in the greater interest!
The Athenaeum Hall must be saved and its doors open to the public. And without structural rape and destruction, but retaining the architectural character that makes the building unique.
Few may care about the Athenaeum now, but its loss from the streetscape altogether would be an unforgivable tragedy.
It will never revisit the glory days of Edwards and MacLiammoir, but it could be a cultural centre of some kind and fulfil many roles that would enhance Enniscorthy's image as a town with culture and talent.
We live in a democracy tainted by many failings, but people power can surpass any obstacle and if we want to preserve our culture and maintain the treasures that we want to preserve, we can do it.
Obviously, reflecting on fifteen centuries means observing the vast changes that have taken place over the centuries, yet, surprisingly most changes will have taken place since 1798.
It is also an interesting exercise to examine the affects of change brought about by neglect and decay compared with changes that are man-made.
The latter would include the erection of the bridges and the construction of the quays in the 19th century.
Before the year is out, there is so much to digest in a mixture of culture, debate, history and achievement, but a serious view of the future must also be part of the plan.
Therefore, let 2010 be the year of community action, revisiting a pride in our past and a spirit of optimism and enthusiasm for the future.
History of Wexford CYMS
When a book takes 639 pages to explain a story, albeit extending over a century and a quarter, it is easy to understand why Michael A. O'Rourke divided his work on the 'History of the Wexford Catholic Young Men's Society, 1855-2008' into two massive volumes and delivered on time too.
Volume one first appeared over a year ago, with Michael promising the second volume before Christmas.
He delivered on time and kept his promise, the second edition focuses on sport.
Wexford's sporting history appears to rotate around hurling and football, and nobody is denying that we had great stars and outstanding champions, however, the lesser known sports also produced their share of champions.
It is in the latter category that this book excels. The boxing prowess of Jim Roche, table tennis, the champions of 1971-'72, CYMS Celtic AFC team, and the cycling heroes.
When I was first discovering the excitement of reading about sporting events in the national daily newspapers in the early 1960's, one of the events that grabbed my attention was cycling and the highlight of the year was the Rás Tailteann 8-Day Cycle Race.
It was a worthy sporting highlight, given huge coverage, and, of course, the day by day reporting on progress and watching the general classification formulate was part of the excitement.
Some great names emerged, the best known being, I suppose, Dublin’s Shay O’Hanlon.
Michael O'Rourke's book gives a huge insight into this event and records the names of the Wexford CYMS competitors who took part in the event.
I knew that Gus Byrne and Roy Doyle took part in the Rás and they both worked alongside me for many years, but I also learned that Eugene Crosbie, who I have known for decades, was also a classy cyclist of national standard.
The CYMS was also universal in its sporting activities, competing in cricket, boxing, snooker, table tennis, whist and bridge, backgammon, chess, darts, draughts and ringers.
The Society's members had problems with drink consumption, so a brave Christian Brother called Fortune was troubled by this and was influential in introducing a drinking ban, followed by a smoking ban and a gambling ban!
These are an extraordinary pair of volumes compiled by an enthusiastic researcher whose family roots are deeply embedded in the CYMS.
Michael is still a member himself and his access to the records and minute books have enabled him to recall so many forgotten names and events in many walks of Wexford life, including so many Wexford sporting champions participating in low profile or minority sports.
'History of the Wexford Catholic Young Men's Society, 1855-2008' Volume 2', by Michael A. O'Rourke, published by Breffini Publications, 343 pages, lavishly illustrated, retail price €25, available in local bookshops or from the publishers, c/o Breffini Publications, 'Breffini Lodge', Bulgan, Glynn, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, or email mikeorourk€888@eircom.net.
Main News Page
Previous Page
|
|
|
|
