Elizabeth Whyte (Executive Director WAC), Cllr. Frank Staples (Mayor of Wexford), Heather Humphreys TD, Minister Paul Kehoe and Lucy Medleycott, looking over the plans, when Heather Humphreys TD (Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs) paid a visit to Wexford Arts Centre. Pic: John Walsh

JUBILATION WAS in the air at the Wexford Arts Centre on the occasion of the recent visit of Minister for Arts, Heritage, Rural, Regional and Gaeltacht Affairs Heather Humphreys.

Executive Director Elizabeth Whyte and team welcomed the Minister and a host of local dignitaries to the Cornmarket venue which is set to be transformed in the near future thanks to a recent announcement that the Department has allocated €1 million of capital funding for the project.

The venue, one of the longest-established of its kind in Ireland, received the highest such award in the country.

“I have no doubt it will be wonderful,” Minister Humphreys said while inspecting the plans.

“It’s wonderful for the area that there’s investment in the arts.”

The power of the arts in its many different genres was naturally on show at the bustling centre on the evening of the Minister’s visit.

The TD for Cavan-Monaghan took in the work of award-winning exhibiting artist Jonathan Mayhew, as well as meeting with members of the cast of Wexford Drama Group’s production of Portia Coughlan.

She seized the opportunity to chat briefly with a number of representatives of the board of Wexford Arts Centre also.

Before exploring the future of Wexford town, Minister Humphreys had a chance to savour a number of the past, present and future delights of County Wexford while on her whistle-stop tour.

Her cabinet colleague, Minister Paul Kehoe, TD for Wexford, first brought her to Castlebridge.

There, they met with the restoration committee for Castlebridge House and Conservatory to learn about the history of the building and discuss restoration plans.

Read more in the Wexford Echo.