An evening of poetry with
Nessa O’Mahony
Margaret Galvin Tom Mooney
Jimmy & Aisling Williams
John O’Connor Paddy Kehoe
On Saturday 2nd June 2012 at 8p.m.
In the National 1798 Centre, Enniscorthy
Tickets €5 include Wine & Strawberries
Tel: 087 2637178 & 053 9235353
This reading is kindly supported by
Part of Enniscorthy’s Strawberry Festival
At an Extraordinary General Meeting, convened by a majority of Directors of Enniscorthy Athenaeum Limited, in the Athenaeum, Castle Street, Enniscorthy, on Friday 30th March 2012, the following Directors were elected as officers of the Company for the coming year:
Chairperson – Tony McClean
Vice Chairperson – Brendan Redmond
Secretary – Helen Ashdown
Joint Treasurers – Josie Flood and Eileen Redmond
Public Relations Officer – Helen Ashdown
At the EGM on 30th March -(L-R) Helen Ashdown - secretary; Paddy Whelan - Independent Chairperson; Eileen Redmond - Joint Treasurer; Josie Flood - Joint Treasurer: Tony McClean - Chairperson; Brendan Redmond - Vice Chairperson; Maura Flannery; Paddy Byrne; Ursula Clarke Everett.
ENNISCORTHY ATHENÆUM
1892 – 2012
CELEBRATING 120 YEARS
Did you ever wonder what Santa does for the other 363 days of the year (that’s when he’s not delivering presents or playing his accordion on Rafter St.)? Or did you ever wonder where retired Echo employees go when they retire and close their reporters’ pads?
Well ponder no longer! The mystery was solved on St. Patrick’s Day, outside the Castle Night Club, when he appeared as his alter ego St. Patrick. The accordion-playing maestro was the star attraction at the Enniscorthy Athenaeum Ltd St. Patrick’s Day Celebration in the Castle Nite Club. He enticed the crowds in where they enjoyed the fantastic music provided by The Duffry Stompers and guests, and could also browse through Anne McClean’s second hand book and art stand, with the added attraction this year of some really beautiful and sparkling jewellery, and silk scarves and handbags.
The 1916 re-enactment group stood guard on the Athenaeum itself which is celebrating its 120th year in 2012, while the punters soaked up the fun and craic, and made a right few bob for Enniscorthy Athenaeum Ltd.
The Directors were delighted with the turn-out and thank everyone who made the day such a success.
At the Enniscorthy Athenaeum Limited (formerly Athenaeum Restoration Fund) AGM in Bellefield Complex on Thursday 19th January another successful year was recounted for those in attendance.
After the minutes of the last AGM were read, outgoing Treasurer Dervla Tierney gave a comprehensive account of the financial situation within the fund. A healthy balance of €52,000 was recorded for the end of the financial year, September 2011, which has increased further in the four months since then.
Outgoing secretary Bridie Morrissey followed with a list of events in which the committee had participated over the last twelve months. In what was another very successful year, perhaps the most successful, the committee held a Table Quiz and participated in the St. Patrick’s Day parade, for which they won a prize; participated in the Celebrity Wannabe initiative with Liam Sharkey as Pat Shortt; screened the film ‘Underground’ – a film shot in Enniscorthy in 1969 – and donated the money to Haiti; held the Traditional Building Crafts Fair in the 1798 Centre; hosted a poetry reading event with Colm Toibin and Gabriel Rosenstock, among others, during the Strawberry Fair; were joint beneficiaries of a Lions’ Club organised Golf Classic in July and finally the 3rd Annual Operetta and Dinner by Candlelight in the Riverside Park Hotel. Added to that was a flag collection day, bag-packing at Christmas in Pettitt’s, a number of Coffee Mornings and best of all, the Serenading Santas on Rafter Street.
Bridie also recalled Anne McClean’s Book and Art Sale enterprise during the Strawberry Fair which yielded substantial monies for the fund. She listed her highlight for the year as the handing over of the key to the Athenaeum by Fr. Denis Kelly to Chairman Tony McClean.
Next on the agenda was the Chairman’s address. Tony McClean thanked everyone for their help during the year, and indeed the last three years, whether it be financial, physical or spiritual. He said the bottom line is that funding is essential; the Athenaeum can’t do without it. We rely on the support of the people.
He said that from an informal group of volunteers, whose genesis was in the Legion of Mary Hall in November 2008, the Athenaeum Restoration Fund had now become Enniscorthy Athenaeum Limited – a company limited by guarantee, which now had charity status.
Securing the 30-year lease was also an important part of the year according to the Chairman, this had been secured through the diligent work of Legal Advisor Dermot Davis and Treasurer Dervla Tierney along with others, and special thanks to Fr. Denis Kelly, the parish committee and their solicitors.
A long list of thank yous followed for those who had helped the committee in any way during the year, from patrons to poets and council to credit union. For special mention was Anne McClean who had raised an overwhelming amount of money for the Athenaeum with an auction and book sales.
The question on everyone’s lips was what was the state of affairs with the building itself and Tony told the meeting that the plans were with the architect and planning permission was being submitted. The committee were awaiting tender documents at this stage. He made known, once again, that fire regulations were still the biggest challenge, as they were when the Athenaeum last closed its doors to the public.
Finally the Chairman expressed sympathy to all who had lost loved ones during the year and especially remembered John Murphy, one of the founder members from the very beginning of this journey, who died in September.
With a very solid base and financial platform established over the last three years, the committee is looking forward to rolling up their sleeves and moving forward with the restoration of the Athenaeum in 2012.
The Annual General Meeting
of the Athenaeum Restoration Fund
Will take place on Thursday 19th of January 2012
in Bellefield GAA Complex
at 8.30p.m.
EVERYONE WELCOME
Thanks to everyone who came along on Saturday to share an enjoyable get together – it was great to see you all.
FESTIVE FEAST: by MARIA NOLAN
Mince Pies and other mouth-watering munchies were the order of the day at the Athenaeum Restoration Fund Christmas Coffee Morning held in Bellefield GAA Complex on Saturday 26th Nov.
Our most sincere thanks to all who came along to support and enjoy the warming coffee and conversation that have become part and parcels of our regular get togethers.Young and old alike partook of the delicious edibles with local politician John Browne being among the first to sample the wonderful spread produced by Committee members Bridie Morrissey , Dervla Tierney, Maria Nolan , Winnie Connolly, Josie Flood and Eileen Redmond. Thank you also to Enniscorthy Gardai who provided some of the very delectable fare.
Funds raised will go towards the imminent refurbishment of this most iconic building.
Tara Manning, Mary Miller, Catherine Maher, Maura Codd and Margaret Kehoe .
The O`Reilly Boys enjoy the Athenaeum Coffee Morning
Ann Marsh and Eileen Redmond
Dervla Tierney and Jean Kennedy
All photos courtesy Maria Nolan.
SINCEREST THANKS
How far that little candle throws his beams!
So shines a good deed in a naughty world.
~William Shakespeare, Merchant of Venice,
The Committee of the Athenaeum Restoration Fund would like to express our gratitude to a number of people who helped make the Operetta a roaring success this year. Firstly, we would like to say a very special thank you to Thérèse Canavan 
for her inestimable help with the production of this year’s show – not to mention the last two years as well. She is beyond compare and a true professional – and she sings too. It doesn’t get any better than that.
Second for mention in dispatches from the trenches, is Eithne Corrigan, who took on the whole show and never so much as flinched at the barrage of sheet music. She is patience personified, an accomplished accompanist and a pleasure to work with – we hope she will work with us again…………please……?
Our thanks would not be complete without mention of the architect of our Operetta and Dinner by Candlelight concept – our own Maura Flannery. Having toiled tirelessly for the previous two years in bringing the cream of musical talent to Enniscorthy for our contribution to the Wexford Festival Opera, this year she continued to build on that success in a consultative capacity. Her advice, help and experience are truly priceless.
Thank you, Maura.
We would also like to thank:
All our artists and musicians: To Róisín, Benny, Ted, Clodagh, Stephanie, Teresa, Jennifer, Anne Marie and Olwen, the cast of Enniscorthy Musical Society and The Duffry Stompers – Go raibh míle maith agaibh.
Alan Maher – Our Master of Ceremonies
Jim Maher and The Riverside Park Hotel Management and Staff
Thomas Byrne for sound and lighting
Martin Kirwan for the set
Pat Donohoe for piano hire
Mary Hudson Ryan of Glamour Boutique
Anne McClean, Carrigabruse
Tom Mooney, Sean Whelan, John Walsh, Ray Mahon, Conor Breen and all at The Echo.
David Medcalf , Pat O’Connor and Ger Hore – The Guardian
Frank Corcoran – Slaney News
H.Murphy & Co. Ltd, Mill Park Road
Bizzy Fingers, Hairdressing Salon, Abbey Centre
Coppen’s Pharmacy, Abbey Centre
FBD Insurance
Pettitt’s Supermarket, The Duffry
Caulfield’s SuperValu, Mill Park Road
Wexford Opera Fringe Festival committee
Wexford Chamber of Commerce
Joe Hogan, Hogan Print
Noel Murphy, Palace Signs
Finally, we salute the patrons who attended the Operetta, and all our other endeavours throughout the last three years, and have supported us without fail. It is this continued advocacy that has given us the encouragement and sustenance to continue in our quest to have the Athenaeum re-opened.