Town and County Life

STARLIGHTS ANNIVERSARY

The very inclement weather conditions of last weekend failed to dampen the spirit of the Starlights as the 100th anniversary celebrations proceeded through hail, rain and even a little snow.

The conditions were perfect on Saturday for the Underage games between the Starlights and Ballyhogue as more than 160 children participated displaying excellent footballing skills at under-eight and under-10 indicative of the standard of coaching and the trojan work being done in both clubs. All games were keenly contested and competitive in the true tradition of these old rivals and the level of skill among the under-10s was outstanding with several players showing on both sides that have no doubt even at this early stage been sprinkled with stardust.

Captain of the Starlights Senior Football Champions Tom Wall was on hand to present all who participate with a special Starlights 100 medal after which everyone adjourned to the Bellefield Complex where the Big Fat Man with the long white beard made a guest appearance with a little gift for all the children.

Saturday evening Mass at St Aidan’s Cathedral was offered for the deceased members of the Starlights over the past 100 years with celebrant Fr Odhran Furlong inviting junior members of the Starlights Club to bring gifts to the altar representing the club and what it stands for – a star, the emblem of the Starlights representing light, hope and continuity, a flag representing commitment, belonging and family, a jersey representing pride, passion and participation, a football representing skill, discipline and dedication, a photo of the 1929 three in a row team representing those who have gone before and the County Juvenile and Senior Cups representing achievement, success and celebration.

On Sunday the weather was a little less conducive to football but that didn’t prevent the Starlights and Ballyhogue taking to the field with shall we say some surprises including Paudge Courtney, Pádraig Doyle, Damien Mahon, Maurice Donohoe, Willie Hudson, among others with former Intercounty Referee Dickie Murphy taking command in the middle.

The arrival of the GAA president elect John Horan was heralded by piper Liam Doyle as he was called on to raise the commemorative flag and unveil the commemorative plague. President Horan said that it was no hardship to come to Wexford even on a bad day as his mother was from Curracloe and he had many happy memories of childhood holidays here. His sister now lives at Kilmore and both his parents are buried there – so strong Wexford connections for the next head of the GAA.

Chair of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council Keith Doyle made a presentation to John Browne, club chairman, and Starlights captain Tom Wall to recognise the 100th anniversary of the Starlights and acknowledge what the club is doing and has done for the town and many generations of young Enniscorthians.

John Browne thanked the organising committee of Michael Doyle, Maria Nolan, Jason Sheridan, Ed Doran and Hugo Kelly for all their hard work before calling on Padge Walsh to make a presentation on behalf of the club to president Horan and asking Fr Odhran Furlong to finish the formal proceedings with thanks for the past 100 years and hope for the next 100.

A most marvellous weekend of celebration and joy.

HEAR YE, HEAR YE

A Victorian Christmas tea morning will be held on Friday, December 15, at the Athenaeum. Enniscorthy Re-enactors will once again be adding a touch of vintage to the occasion and the Organisers – the Athenaeum Events Committee are encouraging all to come in period costume and put the merry into Christmas.

Christmas is not just for kids – this is a chance for adults to dress up and get that Ho, Ho, Ho feeling.

There will of course be seasonal treats of the edible kind and in or around midday we hope to have something of a musical treat and get as many people as possible into the Athenaeum auditorium to sing the Enniscorthy Christmas Carol, adding yet another unique element to the event.

After all how many towns have their very own Christmas Carol and don’t worry words will be provided.

So come one, come all – get yourselves down to the Athenaeum on Friday, December 15, between 10.30 and 12.30 for a Taste of Victorian Christmas.

HEALTHY IRELAND AT LIBRARY

The Healthy Ireland at Your Library Service taking place across the library network nationwide, was launched at Enniscorthy Library on Thursday last with an Evening of Mindfulness presented by Mary Rice.

The Initiative announced in Octo- ber by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Minister for Health Simon Harris is a national framework for action to improve the health and wellbeing of Ireland over the coming generation and is being rolled out through our excellent and accessible public library service.

Talks, discussions and workshops will be offered in library services with a focus on physical health, mental health and health literacy. Libraries provide resources and service to a wide range of users from children and young people to adults and older people and to a diverse group of communities, they also provide support to unemployed people, people with disabilities and many minority groups and as such are the perfect conduit for this admirable scheme.

Mindfulness with Mary Rice on Thursday evening was the first in the series at Enniscorthy Library and was a wonderfully relaxing introduction to self awareness and living in the moment delivered by this lovely soft spoken, warm and welcoming woman, with all those in attendance feeling the immediate benefits of the hour long session.

IRISH BOOK AWARDS

For the second year running I was privileged to secure a prime spot on the prestigious red carpet among the national paparazzi, for the Bord Gais Energy Irish Book Awards at the Dublin Clayton Hotel on Tuesday evening last to photograph the elite of Irish writing and capture all the glitz, glam and sparkle of the 12th annual gala event.

Vying with RTÉ cameramen and photographers from all over the coun- try for the best possible position I was once again blown away by the sophisticated and elaborate occasion managed expertly and efficiently by Unique Media.

My interest in the occasion was twofold, as secretary of the Wexford Literary Festival I was primarily there to see how the county’s nominees – Carmel Harrington, John Banville, Eoin Colfer, Cat Hogan and Helena Mulkerns would perform in their respective categories and as a dedicated follower of fashion and all things stylish I was there to snap all the beauty and the magic of the Red Carpet.

Wexford did us proud in the fashion stakes with John Banville and Eoin Colfer both looking debonair and suave, Helena Mulkerns looked graceful in black, while Carmel Harrington and Cat Hogan were stunningly festive in shades of forest green.

My focus and reason for attending was of course our Wexford contingent, who despite not coming away with the accolades on the night did so well with no less than five nominations for the county proving that literature is alive and well and thriving in Wexford, just as we want it to be.

Bord Gais chairman Larry Mac Hale congratulated all of the winning authors saying that the list of winners would make anyone proud to be associated with an industry that produces so many great Irish writers and he encouraged people to support them by giving the gift of a book this year for Christmas.

With more than 50,000 people casting votes for their favourite authors the Bord Gais Book Awards is most certainly the pinnacle of the Irish literary calendar.