IFA Centre all set to host live crib for local charities

WEXFORD IFA will be hosting a live crib in Enniscorthy on Sunday, December 9, from 12 noon to 3 p.m.

The crib proved very popular last year and as usual it’s being organised to raise money for two very worthy local organisations: the Hope Centre in Enniscorthy and the Irish Pilgrimage Trust (IPT).

Speaking to this newspaper about the event one of the organisers, Alice Doyle, highlighted the significance of the two beneficiaries.

‘There is hardly a family in Wexford who haven’t been affected by cancer,’ she said, while also highlighting the significance of the IPT taking children with special needs to Lourdes each year at Easter.

Last year the event raised €2,500 for the Hope foundation and it’s hoped this time around an even bigger amount will be raised.

The Hope Centre is well known for its support for those affected by cancer.

The free event will see the crib set up outside the IFA Farm Centre on Millpark Road and the organisers are encouraging as many families as possible to visit.

Children and adults will get the chance to see live animals in the crib and with no admission charge those present will just be invited to make a donation or support the raffle on the day.

‘We just want to bring a little of the real meaning of Christmas back,’ said Ms Doyle, who is the Chairperson of the Wexford Food Family.

‘It would be nice for people to get away from the materialistic side of the festive season just for a small while,’ she added.

She emphasised the strong links between the IPT and county Wexford and of the particular significance of its yearly pilgrimages: ‘Many of these children are pupils in St Patrick’s school in Enniscorthy, Lady of Fatima School in Wexford, and from special units in main stream schools throughout [County] Wexford.’

‘The joy and happiness of the children is amazing and heart-warming,’ she added.

The live crib will feature a stable replicating the first Christmas and the organisers are very grateful to the actors who have offered their time to the occasion.

‘There will be an opportunity to meet some of the animals who were present on the first Christmas night,’ said Ms Doyle. WORKS are continuing at pace on the New Ross Bypass, which is expected to be open to traffic in early autumn of next year.

The bypass comprises a 14km dual carriageway road, including new sections of both the N25 and N30 national primary routes. The ring road commences at a roundabout junction with the existing N25 at Glenmore, before crossing over the River Barrow on a three tower extrados 887m bridge extending from Pink Point to Stokestown and continuing until it ties in with the N30 at Corcorans Cross. The new road has changed the landscape for motorists.

The latest update supplied to this newspaper from builders BAM Iridium arrived on Thursday. The Barrow crossing works are ongoing with crews working long days. The section to the west is the most advanced with the deck and wings complete. The main span from Pier 3 is under way with several pours complete, while works on the pylon are ongoing.

East of the Barrow several pours have been completed at Pier 4 and the main pylon construction has commenced. The deck between Pier 6 and Pier 7 is almost complete with a Wing Traveller assembled and works are ongoing. Deck falsework between Pier 7 and abutment 2 is substantially complete with works ongoing.

Pavement works are continuing and are substantially complete across the project, a BAM Iridium spokesperson said. Signage and line marking has started at various locations throughout the project and are expected to be completed in the coming months. Kerbs, surface water channel and median barrier installation are continuing using a slipfom machine to extrude the concrete through a mould in the required shape.

Drainage is now approximately 90 per cent complete with connections to be made to outfalls and attenuation ponds.

Traffic is now using the new roundabout at Glenmore under a traffic management plan. The