Home » Regional » Ennis (page 12)

Ennis

Ennis primary school extension gets green light

THE extension of an Ennis primary school, which is expected to result in an “enhanced” school experience for students and staff, has been given the green light by Clare County Council. Planning permission has been granted for a two storey extension to Gaelscoil Mhíchíl Cíosóg which will include the first Early Intervention Unit at a mainstream primary school in the town. The school on the Gort Road will develop six classrooms, a general purpose hall, two SEN classrooms and two ball courts as well as additional carparking and other associated works. The planning authority has granted planning permission to the Board of Management of Gaelscoil Mhíchíl Cíosóg subject to seven conditions, including that a planned parking area at Glenina pitch be dedicated to Clare County Council once finished. A proposal for a bus turning area along the side of Glenina pitch has not been permitted by the local authority. “The purpose of the new classroom and associated facilities is to …

Read More »

Ennis author shortlisted for An Post Irish Book Awards

ENNIS author Sean O’Driscoll has been named on the shortlist for this year’s An Post Irish Book Awards. His book Heiress, Rebel, Vigilante, Bomber has been nominated in the Odgers Berndtson Non-fiction Book of the Year category. His book tells the astonishing story of Rose Dugdale. She grew up in a Chelsea townhouse and on a Devon estate and was presented to the Queen at Buckingham Palace as a debutante in 1958. Rose trained at Oxford as an academic economist and had a love affair with a female professor. At thirty, she commenced giving her inheritance away to the poor and in 1972 she travelled to Ireland and joined the IRA. She went on to become a committed terrorist, participating in a major art heist and a bombing raid on a police and army barracks; who kept a pregnancy secret for nine months in prison and gave birth there; and who ended up at the heart of the IRA’s bomb-making operation …

Read More »

Ennis to craic on with its biggest Tradfest yet

ENNIS is set to host the 28th Annual Ennis Tradfest this November with a line up of top international, national and local traditional music stars. Amongst the stars will be Anxo Lorenzo, a virtuoso award-winning Galician piper renowned for his energetic and inspiring performances.  Over 1,000 are expected to travel from the US, Canada, Spain and the UK for Ennis Tradfest 2022.  From its early years, Ennis Tradfest has established itself as one of the most vibrant and dynamic traditional music festivals in Ireland with fans and visitors returning year after year. Michael ‘Blackie’ O’Connell, widely recognised as one of the best pipers in the world, has been tirelessly building this festival over the years into an extravaganza of traditional music.  Tradfest 2022 is no exception, boasting a stellar line-up of musicians including the Galician Anxo Lorenzo Band, legends Sean Keane (formerly of The Chieftains) and Gay Mc Keon, John Carty and Mike McGoldrick, Damien and Conor Connolly and popular concert band Jiggy.   …

Read More »

Three courses of drama at the ready with Ennis Players

ENNIS Players’ Annual Supper Theatre is back with three offerings to whet your theatrical appetite this November. Rehearsals are well underway for this four-night production, offering the finest of theatre and the finest of food in the surrounds of the Old Ground Hotel, Ennis. This year’s production will showcase performances of Elysium Nevada by Barry McKinley; Trapped, by Barry Woods and Tony Layton’s Where there’s a Will. Elysium Nevada is set in a retirement village in the sweltering Nevada desert. Two residents reflect on life, youth and how they got there. They are joined by a mysteriously silent woman whose presence adds an entirely new dimensions to the discussion. Directed by Saoirse Byrne, and features Hugh Gallagher as Bob, Conor Lynch as Mike and Amy McEnnis as Constance. Trapped sees Faye respond to a distressed phonecall from her best friend. They discover information that is both profound and life changing. A ten minute play about the unexpected parts that people …

Read More »

Ennis wins tidiest large urban centre in Tidy Towns Awards

Ennis has enjoyed more high profile success in the national Tidy Towns competition, being named this Friday as Ireland’s Tidiest Large Urban Centre for 2022. Announcing the winners, Minister Heather Humphreys said, “I want to sincerely congratulate Ennis and all of its TidyTowns volunteers. “This is a moment of great pride for Ennis and indeed the wider county of Clare. Having won the overall prize in 2021, Ennis today continues to showcase all that is good about community and volunteerism. “I have no doubt that the Tidy Towns Group in Ennis will receive a warm and deserving homecoming as they celebrate this wonderful occasion. “The level of competition was extremely high this year with the third highest number of entries ever recorded. “I want to pay tribute to all the winners today but, above all, I want to say a huge thank you to the thousands of TidyTowns volunteers across the country. “The time and effort that you put in …

Read More »

Ennis Mental Health to cease operations as directors retire

AFTER more than three decades in existence the Ennis Mental Health Association has confirmed this week that it will fully cease operations at the end of the month. Maria Molloy, chair of the registered charity, explained that the board of directors believes the time is right to retire after many years of service locally. Like-minded local organisations and charities have been presented with the organisation’s remaining funds, she added. Ms Molloy expressed appreciation for the “generous support” the organisation has received over the years. And she reminded anyone with concerns about their mental health that support is available from Mental Health Ireland. She said, “Ennis Mental Health Association has operated in the town of Ennis and its environs for over 32 years. “Following much consideration, and after many years of commitment, the Board of Directors of Ennis Mental Health Association has decided that the time has now come for them to retire.” She continued, “We are extremely grateful for the …

Read More »

Effectiveness of Ennis flood defences questioned again

THE ability of Clarecastle’s coastal flood barrage, built in the middle of the last century, to protect Ennis and its surroundings needs to be examined “urgently” a local councillor has insisted. Councillor Johnny Flynn has urged the local authority to prepare a report on the barrage in light of the current “climate crisis”, while renewing his call that the critical infrastructure be moved. Senior Engineer Sean Lenihan has acknowledged that the barrage is a “key piece of infrastructure” saying the benefits of Ennis’ flood defence schemes “absolutely depends on a fully functioning and optimally fit for purpose barrage.” The monthly meeting of the Ennis Municipal District heard that the council are in the process of commissioning engineers to prepare a brief for the appointment of experts to carry out a structural assessment of the barrage. Speaking at the meeting Councillor Flynn outlined he was “very concerned” about the historic barrage which was designed and build in the mid 20th century …

Read More »

Major projects for Ennis to get rolling next year

THERE will be planning applications next year for two major projects involving retail, office and housing in Ennis town centre. Briefing councillors this week, chief operating officer of Ennis 2040 Kevin Corrigan said it is intended, between office and large retail, to develop about 5,000 square metres of space, including more than 50 apartments. Mr Corrigan, outlining a number of masterplans, claimed significant progress is likely to come in the next two years. “We’ll be lodging two planning applications for town centre sites in 2023, so between office and large retail we intend to develop about 5,000 square metres of space, 50+ apartments,” he told county council members. “The funding models are still being developed, we’re hoping the construction will start after it goes through planning in 2024,” he added. “We’ll be doing a masterplan next year for the Post Office field and we’re hoping to commence construction in 2024 or 2025.” Restating some of Ennis 2040’s purposes Mr Corrigan …

Read More »