Gorey’s new Paul Funge Boulevard thoroughfare from The Monument to The Avenue was officially opened today.

Gorey’s new road section linking The Monument roundabout at the end of the Enniscorthy road into the town and The Avenue, first opened last year to facilitate the new Tesco Ireland Extra store, and was officially named Paul Funge Boulevard in a ceremony hosted by Gorey Municipal District Council today.

The new thoroughfare honours one of Gorey’s most talented sons.

Speaking at the opening, Cathaoirleach, Cllr John Hegarty, said Paul Funge was passionate about decentralising art and always believed that the bright lights and big cities should not have a monopoly on culture.

“With this in mind, he founded the Gorey Arts Centre and Gorey Arts Festival which ran from 1970 to the mid-1980’s,”said Cllr Hegarty, who added: “It is incredible to think that this festival, which ran during July and into August, included visits from many of Ireland’s top acts including Horslips, Chris de Burgh, Christy Moore, Planxty, Moving Hearts, Makem and Clancy, Niall Tobin, Eugene Lambert, Eamon Morrissey, Cyril Cusack and Siobhan McKenna.”

He ran the Arts Centre out of the back of Funge’s shop on Main Street, and many of the events were held there, as well as in the Theatre Hall and other venues around the town.

An exhibition of Paul Funge’s, (1944-2011), work, his publications and contribution to the arts in Gorey, were earlier unveiled at Gorey Library and Civic Centre, with the official opening performed by his friend, Michael Warren.