Enniscorthy Castle Reopens

Judgement Day

Well, here it is and no surprise, the Castle Museum is NOT going to be ready for the 2010 tourist season. Quite when the tourist season begins is a moveable feast but I would have thought that Easter would be a fair start date and there have certainly been quite a number of visitors poking about in the ruins of Enniscorthy in recent weeks. Today's article in the Enniscorthy Guardian says it all, the museum won't be refurbished in time - in fact precisely nothing has been done save the removal of the contents last year - and a mickey mouse display will be put on in the castle so that the local worthies can have something to be seen at for the Enniscorthy 1500 celebrations. Once that is out of the way the castle can be left to moulder away. Comments please!

Nialloooo

ok does this mean that no work has been carried out today? as the tender is only due to be sought ?? if so whey close it and lock it up costing jobs and money to the town!!

Judgement Day

Nialloooo wrote: »

ok does this mean that no work has been carried out today? as the tender is only due to be sought ?? if so whey close it and lock it up costing jobs and money to the town!!

Apart from the removal of the contents of the museum the only 'work' that has been carried out appears to have been some sort of survey from OPW (?) bods with theodolites. Guess that and the temporary exhibition will take care of the €600k budget.

Judgement Day

And from today's Enniscorthy Guardian - the start of the tourist season has been moved to late August. :rolleyes:



http://countywexford.blogspot.com/2010/04/council-postpones-tourist-season-until.html

Judgement Day

And so it goes on - the tourist season has now been put back to September! Not a sign of anything happening at the Castle, is it any wonder that the South East is dead on its feet with local authorities like we have? :mad:

From today's Enniscorthy Guardian.

Nialloooo

the woman that owns the shop across the road was on Joe Duffy re this, Joe was shocked and she spoke very well

Judgement Day

Further delays - I dread to think what the refurbishment will be like if the farce surrounding the reopening is anything to go by. I suspect, as do many others, that a small exhibition will be thrown up inside the entrance hall for local worthies to have their photographs taken for "ENNISCORTHY 1500" while knocking back free booze and prawn sandwiches, and then the castle will be allowed to return to its rapid decline. I could be wrong but....:(



Some positive developments on the retail front in Enniscorthy here: http://countywexford.blogspot.com/

Cantona's Collars

I fear you could be right Judgement Day,too many junkets and photo opportunities-not enough work.How come it took so long to sort out the tenders and get a contractor on site,it's not as if they're up to they're eyes in work.What's the bets September runs into October/November and thats another tourist year lost.
At least we're seeing a few folk take the plunge and opening businesses.(btw the kebabs are delicious)

Optimus485

Think I'm gonna have to try out these kebabs

Padjo1981

Is the county or town council in charge of the museum?

Judgement Day

Padjo1981 wrote: »

Is the county or town council in charge of the museum?

As far as I can ascertain the Town Council now 'appear' to be in charge of the project. Today I spotted somebody taking photos inside so a grand reopening in Summer 20.........:rolleyes:

Judgement Day

And here we are the 8th of September 2010 - not a bit of work done on the Castle and guess what it hasn't reopened! However, a 'meeting room" in a container arrived on site today so a grand reopening must be imminent. :rolleyes: I heard on the grapevine that the Council are putting together a website to promote the town as a tourist destination.......

St Senan

Judgement Day wrote: »

And here we are the 9th of September 2010

Can you give me the lotto numbers for tomorrow night the 8th of September please before someone else asks you.;););)

Judgement Day

What a surprise and despite the castle now being festooned with builders advertising signs there is still little evidence of work taking place. I wonder what experience of working on Norman castles have Mythen Construction? :rolleyes:

From yesterday's Enniscorthy Guardian.

jpb1974

despite the castle now being festooned with builders advertising signs

Aye... I seen all the "Mythen Construction" signs along the railings on the walls earlier this week and thought it was absolutely ridiculous.

Judgement Day

I hear today that the current manager of the Father Murphy Centre at Boolavogue has been appointed as the new supremo at the 1798 Centre/Enniscorthy Castle/Enniscorthy Convent. Anybody know anything about the Father Murphy Centre? Santa goes there once a year but does anybody else?

jd

I hear they have used white uPVC windows in the "renovations"

Judgement Day

jd wrote: »

I hear they have used white uPVC windows in the "renovations"

Yes, but they are authentic and identical to those used by those early pioneers of uPVC - the Normans. :rolleyes:

Judgement Day

Enniscorthy Castle during restoration work 1900/1905.

From: http://countywexford.blogspot.com/

UpHill

I know the guy who put the windows in - Graeme Duffin, duffin joinery, he only does timber windows.

cython

UpHill wrote: »

I know the guy who put the windows in - Graeme Duffin, duffin joinery, he only does timber windows.

Be that as it may, they were pure white plastic when I saw them, and I have seen 2 posters on this forum also point this out, so something doesn't quite add up here....

UpHill

They are timber full stop, whether they look pvc or not I'm not arguing that.

if you look at modern timber windows they are quite flawless, they possibly should have left them varnished on the inside, easy to say in hindsight.
In fairness to the TC they've been left with the job of finishing the restoration with relatively small budget, it's a big ask to be jack of all trades. If this was the UK you would have english heritage all over it.

Cantona's Collars

If they are timber would it not have made more sense to stain them brown? The white colour really takes away from the view of the Castle.

UpHill

I can only presume that the windows that came out were stained/painted white via the Roche family. Most old houses had painted windows - you can never be right because you are talking about a time period of approx 900 years - so you can go from no windows from the 12th centuary up to painted white windows in 1903!

On an unrelated topic I heard a interesting story that the Roche kids use to breed chinchilla rabbits on the roof!

Judgement Day

Right, just back from the Castle where I spoke to two different workers on site and they assured me that the 'new' windows are PVC and are, in fact, secondhand! Short of actually demanding to inspect them close-up I'm happy to take their word for it as they certainly appear to be PVC to me.

UpHill

All I know is that Graeme Duffin certainly put in some timber windows up there, whether some are pvc as well I don't know, it would be a pity if they were.

you appear to be delighted by the fact that they might be PVC, which is pretty sad in itself.

Judgement Day

UpHill wrote: »

All I know is that Graeme Duffin certainly put in some timber windows up there, whether some are pvc as well I don't know, it would be a pity if they were.

you appear to be delighted by the fact that they might be PVC, which is pretty sad in itself.

If you've bothered to read any of my other posts regarding the Castle, Enniscorthy etc., you will see that I'm far from delighted by the way things are down around the town. Pissed off yes, delighted no!

http://countywexford.blogspot.com/

UpHill

Judgement Day wrote: »

If you've bothered to read any of my other posts regarding the Castle, Enniscorthy etc., you will see that I'm far from delighted by the way things are down around the town. Pissed off yes, delighted no!

http://countywexford.blogspot.com/

I've read that blog before and agree with many of your points, fair play I think it's an important service you are providing. I do think the people of Enniscorthy need to take responsibility for their own town to a certain extent, the state of the town on Sunday mornings with chip bags and drinks thrown around the place is a disgrace, have these people no pride in their country? I see the poor tidy towns committee in fairness to them collecting stuff at 8.30am on Sunday morning when passing thru'.
Local authorities have limited budgets and staff, they can't be responsible to absolutely every last thing, I find it's best to try and work with them rather than against them. If you can get a couple of town councillors on board this is the best way to drive change, on your own you'll be treated like a crank (from reading your blog I know you're not and keep it up). Enniscorthy is a really beautiful town in a great setting, it could be a real gem in the centre of wexford for tourists.

Bearhunter

UpHill, you're right about the residents having some pride in the place. There seems to be an attitude that "the council should be doing X", when people should be more bloody careful about tossing ****e everywhere. I despair whenever I go home and see rubbish clogging the gutters and blowing around the streets. Have people really got that little pride in where they live?

Judgement Day

+100 Bearhunter but a lot of the problem lies in the schools. The lack of civic pride has to be drilled into kids from an early age or what sort of adult citizens are they going to make. As an example, every weekday I pass along St.John's Street and past the back of St.Mary's CBS and I'm always struck by the mess left there by the kids. At break times they make their way over to the the nearby shop to buy food, sit outside on the grassy areas and simply strew their rubbish behind them. Along come the council and clear it away only to have it back again after lunch. Only one person to blame here - the School Principal! He must either be blind or totally inept not to have taken steps over the matter. An occasional inspection by a staff member would note the situation and, if rubbish was present the next breaktime could be cancelled while a class would be sent out to clean-up. If the dimmest student would soon cop on and the situation would no longer occur. It does not take a quantum leap of imagination to see a student growing up in that environment seeing nothing wrong with dumping mattresses, black sacks etc. all over the countryside. Might take some pics today and will email the Principal.

Cantona's Collars

Judgement Day wrote: »

+100 Bearhunter but a lot of the problem lies in the schools. The lack of civic pride has to be drilled into kids from an early age or what sort of adult citizens are they going to make. As an example, every weekday I pass along St.John's Street and past the back of St.Mary's CBS and I'm always struck by the mess left there by the kids. At break times they make their way over to the the nearby shop to buy food, sit outside on the grassy areas and simply strew their rubbish behind them. Along come the council and clear it away only to have it back again after lunch. Only one person to blame here - the School Principal! He must either be blind or totally inept not to have taken steps over the matter. An occasional inspection by a staff member would note the situation and, if rubbish was present the next breaktime could be cancelled while a class would be sent out to clean-up. If the dimmest student would soon cop on and the situation would no longer occur. It does not take a quantum leap of imagination to see a student growing up in that environment seeing nothing wrong with dumping mattresses, black sacks etc. all over the countryside. Might take some pics today and will email the Principal.

They could take a leaf from the local Vocational School, I have seen students wearing hi vis vests on clean up duty around the school and the road up to it.A good lesson,if you make a mess clean it up.

St Senan

Judgement Day wrote: »

+100 Bearhunter but a lot of the problem lies in the schools. The lack of civic pride has to be drilled into kids from an early age or what sort of adult citizens are they going to make. As an example, every weekday I pass along St.John's Street and past the back of St.Mary's CBS and I'm always struck by the mess left there by the kids. At break times they make their way over to the the nearby shop to buy food, sit outside on the grassy areas and simply strew their rubbish behind them. Along come the council and clear it away only to have it back again after lunch. Only one person to blame here - the School Principal! He must either be blind or totally inept not to have taken steps over the matter. An occasional inspection by a staff member would note the situation and, if rubbish was present the next breaktime could be cancelled while a class would be sent out to clean-up. If the dimmest student would soon cop on and the situation would no longer occur. It does not take a quantum leap of imagination to see a student growing up in that environment seeing nothing wrong with dumping mattresses, black sacks etc. all over the countryside. Might take some pics today and will email the Principal.

The corner shop at Parnell Ave is co owned by a teacher of the CBS. The whole place at the back gate of the school and the Grass area at the end of John street is a littering Ground for the Students. Last Fridays lunch time curry and chip cartons were still there yesterday {Sunday} at 2pm.
Along with the school principal not doing anything at breaktime. I would also blame the upbringing of these students I bet the majority of these litter lout students {who are the pride and joy of there parents} have lovely houses in the country with not 1 bit of rubbish out side there front door. Why should the Residents of John St, Parnell avenue and St John's villas put up with this Lazy, Dirty and ignorant behaviour from these students.

St Senan

Judgement Day wrote: »

Might take some pics today and will email the Principal.

I do hope the principal will act on your pictures and the shop should be made aware of this Rubbish also.
After all the majority of the residents who live along John Street close to the back gate of the school are elderly people.

Bearhunter

Perhaps in these enlightened times, when schools are no longer allowed to batter the f*** out of disobedient pupils (as they did with relish in my days at St Mary's CBS), the principal could introduce regular rubbish collection patrols for anyone caught breaking school rules or misbehaving. And if the kids are all too good to be punished, perhaps he might think of introducing rubbish patrols as a practical lesson in civic participation. If nothing else, it would teach the kids that if you throw rubbish on the streets, your town will look like a kip, all of which contributes to low morale.

I know people complain about the lack of action from the council* and the lack of bins, but FFS if a school can't impress upon its pupils the importance of not f***ing up your own environment, then I worry for the school's ability to teach calculus or chemistry...



*For the record, I consider the town council to be a talking shop for the pathologically self-important. Their actual performance as a board of management for the town is pathetic and they are more interested in passing blame and indulging in ill-deserved orgies of self-congratulation than in actually working out what the major problems are and going about fixing them. They're on the council because they aren't even cute enough to get their snouts into the big trough at Leinster House. The re-introduction of rates might make them slightly more accountable to the people who pay the meeting fees...

St Senan

The local CE guys were picking up the studants rubbish outside the back gate of the school this morning about 9.30am. Thats a complete waste of time will they be back after 1pm today to do the same.

Judgement Day

Yep, passed St.Mary's this morning about 9.20 and saw the CE workers clearing up a horrible mess - no camera but I will get shots this week.
Back on topic, this week's Enniscorthy Guardian carries a piece on the Castle restoration in which some councillors don't like the colour of the 'wooden' windows. I took another look today and some of the lower windows were open and appear - from a distance - to be timber.

jpb1974

I drove past the other day and had a look (from the car).

It looked to me like they could be timber, but that they might have had some sort of temporary plastic on them to keep the material beneath clean?

Either way they didn't look great.. I don't mean to sound harsh but they really look too new and a bit of weathering on them wouldn't go astray. Fussy or what eh!

Cantona's Collars

Does anyone have any thoughts on walking Historical Tours of the town when the museum is open again.I met a gentleman who does the ones in Wexford,he was very informative and I reckon it could be a great way to show off the town.The place is steeped in history,with a decent orator doing the tours the town could really be sold and return business from referalls by tourists would be a bonus.
I see a lot of visitors wandering around bewildered so if a tour was done starting at the original St.Senans church and working through the historical sites of the town it would be a great help. (We need to get the Atheneum fixed up first)

St Senan

Judgement Day wrote: »

Yep, passed St.Mary's this morning about 9.20 and saw the CE workers clearing up a horrible mess - no camera but I will get shots this week.

Well that was a waste of the CE workers time. The place is like a tip again since the Lunch break.

wex_martron

In the interest of authenticity I'm sure you'll all object to the Irish tricolour when it's raised over the castle upon reopening. Maybe the bullet holes should have been filled too or the 1903 extension pulled down altogether...

Judgement Day

wex_martron wrote: »

In the interest of authenticity I'm sure you'll all object to the Irish tricolour when it's raised over the castle upon reopening. Maybe the bullet holes should have been filled too or the 1903 extension pulled down altogether...

Not sure what's provoked this outburst but I would have no problem with the tricolour flying over the castle - provided it's taken down at night and not allowed to turn into a rag like the one at the 1798 Centre. What bullet holes, it's Enniscorthy Castle we're talking about here not the GPO or Customs House? I don't know when it would have last been on the receiving end of bullets given that it was surrendered to Cromwell's forces and didn't feature in 1798, 1916 or the War of Independence.

V480

I just found this thread and wondering if anybody could update me as to the current status of the castle? Any idea when exactly it will be open? Is it OPW or privately run? Will there be the possibility of any vacancies for guides, ect? I'm a former tour guide myself and recenly relocated to Wexford so would love to know.

klong

Jobs for guides were advertised about 6 weeks ago. It's being run by Wexford Co. Council.

V480

klong wrote: »

Jobs for guides were advertised about 6 weeks ago. It's being run by Wexford Co. Council.

Are you sure? I can't believe I missed this. I've basically been spending the last six months constantly looking for jobs in this area.

Judgement Day

V480 wrote: »

Are you sure? I can't believe I missed this. I've basically been spending the last six months constantly looking for jobs in this area.

The tour guide posts were advertised in the Enniscorthy Guardian - they had hundreds of applicants but it turns out experience doesn't count as all that they wanted were school leavers. :rolleyes:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=71051276&postcount=189

V480

Judgement Day wrote: »

The tour guide posts were advertised in the Enniscorthy Guardian - they had hundreds of applicants but it turns out experience doesn't count as all that they wanted were school leavers. :rolleyes:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=71051276&postcount=189

I actually can not believe it. I've spent the last year tracking the progress of the castle and scouring the net in case jobs came up, I never would have thought it would only be advertised in the local paper.

Judgement Day

Unless you're fresh out of school and female you would have been wasting your time. I have years of experience and applied for the manager's job and later on as a tour guide and couldn't even get an interview. I'm not biased though.

V480

That's some reassurement I suppose in a weird way! I heard that the 1798 Centre were looking for people at around the same time, presumably it was the same story there?

Judgement Day

Same at 1798 Centre. I even have a book on 1798 coming out this year and you would think that at least I would have got an interview on that basis alone. I know when I ran my own business I would have interviewed a candidate who showed that sort of initiative. Still that's what has us where we are today and I'm past caring. It's a dog eat dog world out there and this one will have his day.

V480

Judgement Day wrote: »

Same at 1798 Centre. I even have a book on 1798 coming out this year and you would think that at least I would have got an interview on that basis alone. I know when I ran my own business I would have interviewed a candidate who showed that sort of initiative. Still that's what has us where we are today and I'm past caring. It's a dog eat dog world out there and this one will have his day.

I have no doubt that you will

That's crazy you didn't even get an interview. I feel a bit stupid now assuming that I would have had a chance based on two years guiding experience and a bit of enthusiasm for history!

Judgement Day

V480 wrote: »

I have no doubt that you will

That's crazy you didn't even get an interview. I feel a bit stupid now assuming that I would have had a chance based on two years guiding experience and a bit of enthusiasm for history!

Ah, you would probably would have been in a with a shout as I'm just a grumpy old ****er - 52 today and I don't feel a day under 70.