Wexford
WorldWide

Newsletter - Issue 3 - Summer 2012

The Summer 2012 edition of the Wexford Worldwide ezine brings you a feature how Wexford expats can use their overseas contacts to create jobs in Ireland – and be handsomely rewarded for information.

Like a stroll in the park? Take to the new Wexford Garden Trail next time you’re home. Featuring 21 garden attractions around the county, the trail features hidden gems and well known gardens.

Learn about how the spotlight is on Wexford internationally thanks to a US-based recording artist and an upcoming film starring Winona Ryder – read our news snippets section.

We also hear about London based Lecturer in Forensic Science, Leon Barron, about his memories of Wexford in our expat profile.

Don’t forget to give us feedback on what you’d like to see in future editions of the Wexford Worldwide ezine. Email amanda.byrne@wexfordcoco.ie.

They say there’s six degrees of separation between everyone on the planet. If you’re Irish it may seem less.

A new Irish initiative aims to reduce the degrees of separation between companies wishing to expand or locate within Europe and the IDA (Irish Development Authority).

It involves getting people to use their contacts to identify overseas companies considering international expansion and passing on the information to ConnectIreland, the organisation in charge.

Attractive €1,500 reward

Any individual who introduces a company that subsequently invests in Ireland will receive a minimum of €1,500 per job created, up to a maximum of 100 jobs.

If you’re Irish and abroad, you’re privy to contacts and knowledge on the ground that can contribute to job creation in Ireland – and perhaps provide you with enough cash to cover a few airfares home.

Interested Wexford expats can visit www.connectireland.com to learn more about the programme and register their interest.

Value of local knowledge

Connect Ireland founder Terry Clune explained to Wexford Worldwide that people don’t need high level or direct contacts in a multinational to help.

“We’re not looking for someone who can introduce us to the CEO... All we need is eyes and ears all over the world looking out for Ireland and helping Ireland become aware of things that are happening.”

This could include a report in a local newspaper about a company growing rapidly and looking to expand into Europe. All somebody has to do is let Connect Ireland know and its team will do the rest.

Ireland’s strong track record

“By far the hardest part of getting companies into Ireland is finding the nuggets of information, e.g. X company is moving to Europe... When we get them on the phone, selling Ireland is easy... The track record is already here.”

Clune, who is also the founder of Taxback.com and has a Wexford connection in that he was a boarder at St Peter’s College, stresses that participants don’t have to be in the business sphere. It doesn’t matter if someone is a teacher or a builder once they can provide the right nuggets of information.

Fund for overseas entrepreneurs

This isn’t the only initiative that the overseas Wexford Diaspora can get involved in. Enterprise Ireland is administering a €10m International Start-Up Fund, which was set up with start-ups in mind.

While open to all, it is in part aimed at the Irish Diaspora in North America, UK, Europe and Australia.

It also hopes to attract:

• international expatriates

• the ‘new Diaspora’ (people from overseas who have previously worked or studied in Ireland)

• serial and mobile entrepreneurs

€200k-€500k for start-ups

The fund targets investor-ready projects in the internet, games, cloud computing, medtech and financial services sectors seeking between €200,000 and €500,000.

Announcing the fund, Minister Richard Bruton outlined some of Ireland’s attractions:

• strong Government supports

• a business-friendly environment

• a deep pool of skills

• all the benefits that come with a base of multinational companies that is the envy of the world

Play your part

Wexford expats can get the word out around the world amongst entrepreneurial acquaintances and business or networking groups in which they are involved by telling them to visit www.startinireland.com.

Enjoying Wexford’s great outdoors doesn’t have to be all about adrenaline-filled activities. Those more in favour of a leisurely stroll now have a range of beautiful gardens in which to explore and relax.

Launched in spring 2012, the Wexford Garden Trail features 21 garden attractions around Co Wexford. You don’t have to be green-fingered to enjoy the attractions, which vary from established tourist haunts such as the JFK Arboretum and Johnstown Castle to hidden gems from times gone by.

Visitors to the trail are in for a real treat as some of the destinations have been hidden away and privately cared for until now.

Gorey area

Glenavon Japanese Garden
Reasons to visit: Stone lanterns, statues and replica Japanese pavilion.

Kilmurry Nursery & Garden
Reasons to visit: Herbaceous perennial garden planted for colour and scent, inspiring for planting combinations.

Marlfield House and Garden
Reasons to visit: Garden with lake, wildfowl reserve and an island, reached by a wooden bridge.

Springmount Garden Centre Garden
Reasons to visit: Garden items, gifts, a café and garden classes, seminars and events.

Camolin

Ballymore Schoolhouse Garden
Reasons to visit: Garden features an Oriental Temple Garden, including a traditional teahouse and stone bridge.

Camolin Potting Shed Garden
Reasons to visit: Specialist nursery known for its unusual herbaceous perennials and ornamental grasses.

Cois na hAbhann Garden
Reasons to visit: ‘Bord Bia 5-star Garden Centre’ with café selling plants and gifts.

The Bay Garden
Reasons to visit: A variety of different gardens surrounding 18^th century farmhouse.

New Ross area

Colclough Walled Garden
Reasons to visit: 2.5 acre walled garden that has been restored to how it would have been in 1838.

JFK Arboretum Garden
Reasons to visit: 622 acres, including 4,500 types of trees and shrubs and 200 forest plots.

Kilmokea Gardens Garden
Reasons to visit: Walled gardens, a water garden and more surrounding a Georgian house.

Woodville House Gardens
Reasons to visit: Victorian walled garden, conservatories, original box hedging and water garden.

Enniscorthy area

Ballinkeele Garden
Reasons to visit: There are two walled gardens that are gradually being brought back into use.

Monksgrange Garden
Reasons to visit: Folly castle, peaceful paths, ponds, small waterfalls and sculpture to enjoy.

Tombrick Gardens
Reasons to visit: Late 20^th century orchard, woodland and borders of herbaceous perennials, roses and shrubs.

Clonroche area

Beechdale Plantplus Garden Centre
Reasons to visit: Garden centre with extensive range of unusual plants and rose specialist.

Coolaught Gardens
Reasons to visit: Egyptian garden and a woodland garden with many rare trees and shrubs.

Wexford town area

Johnstown Castle
Reasons to visit: The walled gardens and hothouses were originally laid out between 1844 and 1851.

Bunclody area

Lucy’s Wood Garden
Reasons to visit: Large lawned area with long borders of trees, shrubs and herbaceous.

Newtownbarry House Garden
Reasons to visit: The sunken garden – a walled garden with a formal oval pool and a fountain.

Ferns area

Horticare Garden Centre Garden
Reasons to visit: Garden centre with floristry, café, gift shop, garden landscaping and sound advice.

The Wexford Garden Trail is a joint venture between Wexford County Council and Wexford Local Development. Find out more in the dedicated Wexford Garden Trail brochure available to download from visitwexford.ie.

Enniscorthy woman gets the Hollywood treatment

Eccentric, exceptional, Enniscorthy-born Eileen Gray’s story is set for the big screen as a film is planned about her wonderfully unorthodox life.

Hollywood actress Winona Ryder plays the avant-garde Co Wexford furniture designer in ‘The Price of Desire’.

Gray made the 20^th century record in decorative arts sales when her ‘Dragons’ chair sold for an eye-watering €21.9m.

The movie starts shooting this summer – but if you can’t wait to see the film, Enniscorthy Castle has a year-round dedicated Eileen Gray exhibit. The history of her life is outlined and replicas of her furniture are on view.

New €1.5m JFK centre planned for 50^th anniversary of visit

A new road to Dunganstown will help tourists make the Kennedy connection in New Ross as the OPW (Office of Public Works) invests in a new interpretative centre at the JFK ancestral home.

A €1.5m cash injection will see a brand new centre built this year as well as improvements to the original farmhouse buildings.

John F. Kennedy’s great grandfather, Patrick Kennedy, left New Ross to escape the famine. The new centre will be run by the John F. Kennedy Trust, which also manages the Dunbrody Famine Ship.

There will still be a close-knit Kennedy connection with the centre, as JFK’s third cousin once removed, Patrick Grennan, will continue to live on site and farm its lands.

Work on the new centre will be completed by June 2013, just in time to coincide with the 50^th anniversary of JFK’s historic visit to Dunganstown.

Popular tenor aims to bring fans to Wexford

Recording artist and Wexford ambassador Michael Londra is currently making noise in Nashville, while simultaneously promoting his Irish home on TV stations across North America.

In the past year Michael, who signs Visit Wexford brochures for fans after concerts, has seen his PBS special aired 300 times on all public broadcast stations in the US.

“The PBS music fans are the ones who visit Ireland. They never come to Wexford. I’m trying to change that,” says the affable Chicago-based tenor.

When asked about promoting Wexford while abroad, Michael is happy to say that he talks about home at every given opportunity.

“Wexford made me, moulded me and defines me. I've always thought of myself as an ambassador for the county. I guess now it's official and i could not be prouder.”

Rackard statue unveiled

It’s hard to imagine how hurling legend Nickey Rackard has a connection to UK royalty the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, but artist Mark Richards holds the key.

The sculptor, a fellow of the Royal Society of British Sculptors, designed the commemorative coin for Will and Kate’s 2011 wedding and also built the recently unveiled Nickey Rackard statue in Selskar, Wexford.

First mooted in 2008, the location of the Nickey Rackard statue drew much debate across Wexford. It was finally agreed to locate the hurling legend facing up Wexford’s Main Street, ready to burst a sliotar along the streetscape. The official unveiling took place in early 2012.

Wexford to be represented at Olympics and Paralympics

Olympic hopeful Katie Taylor wasn’t born when Wexford’s Billy Walsh, the recently appointed Wexford Ambassador, made his own welterweight Olympic bid in 1988.

As head coach of the national high-performance boxing unit, Billy drew up the programmes that helped Katie rise to world championship level in her sport.

Billy will be in the Olympic village again from July 24 with the Irish boxing squad, which also features Adam Nolan, the 25 year old welterweight from the Ballagh. Adam first boxed under Billy as a child when based with St. Joseph’s club in Wexford town.

Ballinaboola swimmer Grainne Murphy will also join them at London 2012 as she prepares to represent Ireland in the 800m freestyle.

Both Olympians have been awarded bursaries from Wexford County Council and have been named as sporting ambassadors for Wexford.

Gorey swimmer Darragh McDonald and New Ross shot putter Catherine Wayland are expected to represent Ireland in the Paralympics this August. The official announcement of the 2012 Irish Paralympic team takes place on June 28.

Do you have photos of Wexford on your phone, camera or computer from your last trip home? Why not enter a favourite from your own photos of County Wexford to be in with a chance of winning a hamper of Wexford produce which will be delivered to your overseas home.

To celebrate the second annual Wexford Day on 24 June 2012, Visit Wexford is holding a photography competition. Expat entrants are asked to email photographs of their favourite pictures of Wexford to hello@visitwexford.ie by 5pm (Irish time) on Friday, 29 June 2012. Wexford expats, don’t forget to include your current location outside of Ireland.

The second annual Wexford Day takes place across the county on June 24, 2012. The tourism initiative invites everyone in Wexford and beyond to get out and explore the tourism sites and attractions with all kids going free of charge.

A lengthy list of tourism sites have organised fun free activities for all the family to enjoy on Wexford day. A full list of all of the free events and activities is available on www.visitwexford.ie.

Lives in London, UK

Work Lecturer in Forensic Science at King’s College London

The Wexford Connection I grew up in New Ross, Co Wexford and left in 1997 to go to university in Dublin

Family

Mother/Father: PJ & Angela Barron

Sister: Laura Barron

Wife: Wendy Hein (from Berlin)

Home is New Ross

Schooldays CBS Primary School and Good Counsel College, New Ross

I have fond memories of the nights out in New Ross and Wexford town; the beaches as a child (they’re really fantastic in Co Wexford); golf tournaments as a teenager in New Ross Golf Club; and sailing up the River Barrow through the canals all the way to Carlow.

I’d come home for: My job is currently located at a university. Ireland has a very good reputation for scientific research, and there are jobs, so that would be a reason to come back though it’s likely to be restricted to a city. The quality and pace of life in Wexford is very enjoyable, as well as it being where my family is of course.

I visit home roughly four times a year

I last visited Wexford in January 2012

Without a doubt it’s got to be Tayto crisps, Barry’s tea, Denny sausages and decent Guinness. I think that’s the same for any Irish person abroad though! I suppose the other main thing I miss is how helpful people are at home. We take that for granted sometimes.

My must-visits include Mannion’s pub, Mount Elliott; Corcoran’s pub, Irishtown; Tesco, New Ross – to buy the sausages, rashers and teabags to bring back to London!

Sightseeing tips Kennedy Arboretum, Hook Head, the beaches, the Dunbrody famine ship, the Heritage Centre in Wexford, Johnstown Castle.

Favourite beaches Curracloe is just stunning with its rolling dunes and the famous site of the opening scenes in Spielberg’s “Saving Private Ryan”. Booley Bay is one of many beaches outside Duncannon which is great for young families.

Wexford’s great outdoors: the beaches, the Blackstairs mountains and Hook Head. There’s also very good canoeing on the Barrow if that’s your thing. One of the best outdoor sports you can do in the South East is golf. There are many world-class courses dotted all over the place.

Hidden gems Hook Head has lots of little country villages which each have their own charms, good atmosphere and good food. A good place is Templetown, which has Templar’s Inn which is quite close to lots of very good beaches. If you get a chance to go up the river Barrow on a boat, do it – beautiful landscape and wildlife. The fishing’s not too bad either so I believe.

Wexford sayings You’re a quare yolk, you are!

Foodie Wexford Wexford Cheddar is great and you can get it here in London. It reminds me of home.

Wexford Pride Quite simply, it’s my home and always will be. I am particularly proud of its history.

Why Wexford’s the business Wexford has been a long standing holiday/tourist destination, even for the Irish. The Arts are prolific in Wexford: the Wexford Opera Festival, to name one example, draws a large overseas crowd every year. For those like me who work in R&D, Waterford Institute of Technology is not too far away and is easily commutable. There are plenty of other institutes that benefit from a ‘knowledge economy’ in the south east. In particular, there has been a large investment from pharmaceutical, engineering and science industries in Ireland in the last 15 years. Education is excellent in the Wexford schools in general and finding skill sets to build a good workforce is relatively easy.

My Wexford hero My grandfather, Eddie Larkin: a model man from a model county.

My social networks LinkedIn