Latest news with #JimCodd
Irish Independent
13-06-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
Mysterious Wexford hole threatens to swallow up entire meeting – ‘It's nothing short of a mantrap'
The hole, located near Clongeen in the Rosslare Municipal District (RMD), was first brought to the attention of Wexford County Council (WCC) six months ago and, in the intervening months, has increased in size and birthed a smaller, less dangerous hole. Describing the hole's presence as emblematic of the issues WCC has with repairing rural roads, Councillor Jim Codd brought the executive's attention to the hole at the June meeting of the council. "I was brought out to see it again last night,' said Cllr Codd. 'It is now three feet deep and two feet wide. And to think some doubted such a hole ever existed.' The latter was a barbed comment in the direction of Cllr Ger Carthy who had previously questioned whether the hole was situated in the middle, or to the side, of the road. 'It wasn't in the road, though, it was to the side of it,' answered Cllr Carthy, 'this is fake news.' "This is certainly not fake news,' continued Cllr Codd. 'This hole has now become two holes, and this is quite serious for children, wildlife, livestock travelling that road, it's nothing short of a mantrap. Someone could be lost in it. We put cones there previously and now the grass is growing up through them.' With the chamber threatening to descend into chaos and some members perhaps wishing a hole would appear to swallow them up, director of services Eamonn Hore entered into the spirit of things. "I'd love to say I've looked into this,' he joked. 'But I might have a look at it later as it's on my way home.' Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
Irish Independent
11-06-2025
- Irish Independent
Calls to remove man from Wexford town centre ‘making dreadful claims' about Asian retailers
Fearing that visitors to the county will be confronted by 'a mob in the middle of the town', Councillor Jim Codd has called upon Wexford County Council (WCC) to ensure anyone expressing racist sentiments is moved away from public areas. 'This man is making dreadful claims about shopkeepers in the area who are of an Asian background. They're rate payers, while this individual and the people he draws to him have time to stand around and hurl abuse all day,' said Cllr Codd at the June meeting of WCC. 'Could this be addressed prior to the Fleadh? This is not the Wexford we want on display.' Referencing a story which appeared in the Wexford People last month, chief executive Eddie Taaffe said that, as far as he was aware, a complaint about the individual in question had been made to local gardaí. In that story it was reported that Wexford gardaí confronted a man who has been displaying placards along the Main Street. Among the subjects broached on the signs were 'Chinese nail shops' which the man claimed are putting indigenous operations out of business and are breaching employment law. And Cllr Codd reiterated his belief that such messaging had no place in Co Wexford. 'We're at a very dangerous impasse if an individual is allowed to whip up a mob in the middle of the town while law-abiding shopkeepers go about their business.' Referencing WCC's policy on advertising in public places, the Aontú councillor said the council's energies would be better spent elsewhere. 'These are dangerous times, I know we're not An Garda Siochána but we have such energy to take down sandwich boards while ugly protests like this continue.'
Irish Independent
06-06-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
Wexford's ‘secret garden' may be getting an extension as council called upon to purchase adjoining lands
Wexford People Today at 21:00 One of Co Wexford's best kept secrets may be getting an extension after calls were made to purchase some of its adjoining lands. Located in the middle of Rosslare Harbour, Kirwan's Garden (also known as The Secret Garden) has been developed and maintained by the local environmental group who have been awarded the prestigious Green Flag for their work there. The small woodland and park area, which features a pond, a hobbit house, and picnic benches, faces out onto approximately two-and-a-half acres of unused land; and at the May meeting of the Rosslare Municipal District (RMD) cathaoirleach Jim Codd asked whether that land could be purchased so that the garden could be extended. 'I have visited The Secret Garden and it's an absolute credit to the group, it's the most fantastic woodland, you could only feel better in yourself after walking through it,' said Councillor Codd. 'I know Wexford County Council (WCC) has assisted the group down there previously, but I understand there's a couple of acres at the back of it – it's Office of Public Works (OPW) land. "Could we write to the OPW and try to secure it? Community groups like this must be supported. To have a forest like that in the middle of a built up area is simply fantastic.' Environmental engineer Rory O'Mahony also visited the garden recently and remarked that the OPW did not appear to be 'particular interested' in the land in question. Director of services with the RMD, Lynda Lacey, offered some further hope as she promised that she would 'investigate and see what potential there is to purchase' the land in question. Separately the Rosslare Harbour/Kilrane Environment Group (RHKEG) has made a submission to the RMD asking that it purchase the land on its behalf. 'We are very conscious of the impact of climate change and the need to do our part in rewilding and giving back to nature,' wrote chairman of the RHKEG, Micheál Delaney. 'Our area is becoming more residential and industrial and we should be planning on developing biodiversity corridors where we can. An opportunity now exists and we strongly recommend that it be given fair consideration. 'There is a two-and-a-half acre site owned and currently unused by the OPW in the customs compound that borders our wetland/ biodiversity pond area. This is part of an overall 17 acre site. We understand that this entire facility will be moved to the port area within the coming years and that the land will become available for future development. "The two-and-a-half acres that border the gardens could help to develop an extensive woodland area of native trees and shrubs with added opportunity for restoration and protection of biodiversity. It will support the idea of a biodiversity corridor that allows nature to live and thrive amongst us. This is an opportunity for us to do something really beneficial for future generations. To have a seven-acre Village Park and Gardens within the confines of an expanding Rosslare Harbour and Kilrane would be wonderful.'
Irish Independent
05-06-2025
- Climate
- Irish Independent
Fears Christmas Day floods will be repeated as Wexford dunes disappear – ‘It'll be too late if the tide ever gets through'
Fears that the Christmas Day floods which decimated south Wexford may become a regular occurrence have been aired at the monthly meeting of the Rosslare Municipal District (RMD). With the sun shining and all winter storms momentarily forgotten, Councillor Jim Codd sounded an alarm bell for those living in the Kilmore Quay area. 'We'll have to take a look at the Burrow in Kilmore because the locals are telling me there's large gaps developing in it,' he said. 'We had thousands of acres flooded down there in 2021. I know we're so tied up with red tape on issues like this, but it'll be too late to discuss it if the tide ever goes through the Burrow, and this is a very real danger according to those with knowledge of the area. "The Burrow has kept back the sea for a very long time and any holes in it are dangerous.' Last year environmental engineer Rory O'Mahony was among those who met with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) to discuss a potential solution to the problems at the Burrow, and he said a more natural approach was required to combat the tides. 'The view the NPWS took back then was that natural rehabilitation would solve the problem,' he said. 'So, I've advised the local group to come up with a proposal to bring to the NPWS.' However, Cllr Codd was of the view that drastic measures were required and that time was of the essence. 'The farmers have agreed to use their own diggers down there to fill the gaps,' he said. 'The plan is not to use diggers," replied Mr O'Mahony. 'But instead use a low impact method to trap the sand and allow the marram grass to regenerate, that kind of approach might get a project across the line. If the group down there get an expert on dune restoration and put a decent proposal together for the NPWS it could work.'
Irish Independent
05-06-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
Rare visitor causing traffic chaos in Wexford – ‘Cars abandoned in the middle of the road to see this white stork'
However, according to the cathaoirleach of the Rosslare Municipal District (RMD) the bird's army of admirers are creating chaos wherever they go. 'There's been cars abandoned in the middle of the road down near Sigginstown Castle, all stopped to see this white stork,' said Councillor Jim Codd at the May of the RMD. 'He was in the Tacumshane area and now I believe he's moved to Mayglass, and where he goes, traffic havoc follows. Locals are telling me that they're coming across cars stopped stone dead in the road, drivers are jumping out to get pictures of this bird.' Addressing roads engineer Michael Brazzill, the Aontú councillor continued. "We're all lovers of wildlife and we don't want to get into a battle with birdwatchers but maybe you have a suggestion on how we handle this situation?' Momentarily stumped, Mr Brazzill replied, 'The guards are the next port of call if people are doing dangerous manoeuvres and parking illegally.' Speaking after the meeting, local birdwatcher Cian Cardiff explained the significance of the stork appearing in Wexford. 'White stork are a very rare vagrant to Ireland,' he said. 'It winters in Africa and returns to parts of Europe to breed each spring and summer. This is the first white stork to be seen by so many birders in Wexford for many years, from my understanding the last recorded sighting was in the late 1970s, also at Tacumshane Lake. 'So, it was of great significance to the birding and local communities.' Explaining what might have drawn the white stork to the south-east, Cian said there were a number of potential contributory factors. 'During early spring we experienced a series of wind flows from the south and south-east, this led to species overshooting their continental breeding grounds and hitting Ireland,' he said. 'Good numbers of vagrant birds, such as the Eurasian hoopoe, which is also a vagrant species not usually seen in Ireland, were also spotted.' While Cllr Codd spoke of traffic disruption and abandoned cars, Cian said the birdwatching community has been well-accommodated by local landowners in their quest to get a sighting of the stork. 'Groups of birders were watching the stork in the Coddstown Great area during its stay, especially during the first few days after it was pinned down to a general area of farmland. I must say a big thanks on behalf of birders and others to the local landowners and residents for allowing us to view this bird.' The last recording sighting of the white stork was in Kilcoole, Co Wicklow on May 29. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
