‘Fireworks night’ on the quayfront
This was the eerily quiet scene at Wexford Quayfront last Thursday night as the annual fireworks was called off under threat of extreme weather, before a power cut then plunged the area into darkness. The display is rescheduled for Sunday, November 5, the last night of the festival...weather permitting, of course.
THE 5,000 free tickets issued for the postponed fireworks display opening of the 66th Wexford Opera Festival will be valid for the rescheduled display on Sunday, November 5, the last night of the festival.
The display, which had been due to take place last Thursday night, was cancelled earlier that day because of an extreme wet weather forecast and fears of high winds.
While the severe weather did not materialise until around 10.30 p.m., a power cut shortly after 7 p.m. plunged the quay into darkness.
The ESB said the fault occurred after a substation serving the area developed a fault. Power supplies were back shortly before 10 p.m.
With the weather set to get worse over the weekend, the fireworks, a festival favourite for many families, was rescheduled for 8 p.m. on November 5.
The Festival Press office said all arrangements will remain as before.
‘Those with tickets to the viewing area on the quay are asked to retain their tickets as tickets will still be necessary to gain entry to the defined area, which includes the pedestrianised part of the quayfront.
‘As previously advised, access for the general public to other areas of the quays, including the public roadway and adjoining areas, will not be restricted and will not require a ticket. No person will be denied access to the quays,’ the office said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Thursday night’s blackout put paid to Wexford band Corner Boy’s performance at the Spiegeltent on the quayfront.
‘We’ve rescheduled the show for Monday, October 30,’ said Brian Byrne of organisers, Lantern Events.
‘We have a generator installed now - it’s all hooked up and in place, so there won’t be any problems with our other shows,’ he said.
Unable to perform at the Spiegeltent, Corner Boy staged an impromptu acoustic concert outside the Bank of Ireland.
The Spiegeltent festival’s Wexford Artists show, featuring a line-up of top local talent, which was due to take place on Monday last at the height of Storm Ophelia, was also postponed.
But every cloud has a silver lining and it’s also been rescheduled for October 30 – now a ‘super Monday’ of Wexford shows.
‘We now have the Wexford Male Voice Choir at 2 p.m. on the Monday, the Wexford Artists at 7 p.m., and Corner Boy at 9.30 p.m., so it really has become a special day for Wexford at the Spiegeltent,’ said Brian Byrne.