1798 monuments need to be cleaned

THE need to spruce up the county’s 1798 monuments was highlighted at last Monday’s meeting of Wexford County Council.

Cllr Martin Murphy laid down a notice of motion calling on Wexford County Council ‘ to put a plan in place to clean and reinstate the many 1798 memorials throughout our county, most of which were erected by voluntary groups to respectfully honour local heroes from the 1798 period, as part of the bicentenary commemorations which took place almost 20 years ago.’

Cllr Murphy said that while some of the monuments are in good conditions so needed attention. He said that many voluntary groups around the county had made great efforts to erect the memorials to mark the 1798 Rebellion.

‘I feel that it is only right that the council, in the fullness of time, look at all the monuments and put some sort of plan in place to clean them. I’m not proposing we put a whole lot of money aside but for next year’s budget which is coming up to the 220th anniversary we should address the situation. Some of the monuments have never been looked at since they were erected.’

He was supported by Cllr Keith Doyle who said that it would be a good kick start to local communities.

Cllr Paddy Kavanagh said that perhaps the notice of motion would ‘serve as a wakeup call’ for people while Cllr Kathleen Codd-Nolan said that a cleaning programme, if implemented, should be done in conjunction with the local communities adding towns and villages across the county had done a lot of work recognising the bi-centenary. Director of Services Tony Larkin said that it was ‘unlikely’ that the council could take on the maintenance of over 200 1798 memorials but said the council could look at some of the more prominent monuments.

However he said it would more than likely be done in next year rather than this year given budgetary constraints.