28-07-2025
Tidy Towns group ‘devastated' as good work undone by vandals in Wexford laneways – ‘I don't understand why they'd do this'
Along with local artists and businesses such as Westgate Design, Wexford Tidy Towns have been working hard in recent years and months to transform places like Fettitt's Lane and Roman Lane from no-go areas into warm and welcoming spaces.
In recent weeks, a whole host of new artwork had been added to the laneways and it felt like a corner had really been turned. It was why it made it an all the more devastating blow when Phil found out that vandals had destroyed whole sections of both laneways in graffiti overnight.
"It's clearly the same person who has done it in both laneways,' she said. 'I'd say it was last (Sunday) night. Usually we'd find out about these things pretty quickly and we'd be down there cleaning them up all the time anyway.'
Given the good work of recent weeks and the fact that Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann is rapidly approaching, Phil was quite emotional at seeing their efforts undone by a couple of careless individuals.
"I got quite emotional this morning about it,' she said. 'I just can't understand why someone would want to destroy the work we've done there. They painted over a picture of a butterfly on the wall that was done by a local child. They'll be devastated. They should be made clean it all off with a toothbrush.'
CCTV footage is currently being examined to catch the culprits, but Phil is all too aware that it would be difficult to penalise those involved unless they were caught in the act.
"We won't give up and we'll get things back right in time for the Fleadh,' she said. 'Luckily things like the mosaic etc weren't damaged. It's not the end of the world or anything, but it's just so frustrating. We had so many positive comments lately from people about the laneways and how they finally feel safe in them again.'
