Ennis

A MULTI-million euro redevelopment of Knockanean National School has moved a step closer as planning permission is now being sought for a ‘decant’ temporary school at a local GAA club. The board of management at Knockanean has lodged an application with Clare County Council for a temporary school on lands at St Joseph’s Doora – Barefield GAA Club to be used during construction of a long awaited new school development which has already been given the go-ahead. The temporary primary school will consist of seven prefabricated buildings to accommodate 12 classrooms, five SET Rooms, staff room, principal office and administration. Other works include roads, parking and a drop-off area. According to a services report lodged with the application on behalf of the school, no set-down or pick up will be facilitated on the public road. The proposed development will use the existing gates which are 6 metres wide with adequate sight lines available without works. It is proposed to provide …

ARMADILLOS on the loose could result in a trip hazard on Ennis roads, an Ennis councillor has warned. However, these aren’t armadillos of an animal kind, instead they are safety measures which have been installed as part of the county capital’s network of cycle lanes. Councillor Mary Howard raised the need to clean bollards and armadillos along the route from Clon Road to College View at a recent meeting of the Ennis Municipal District. The council confirmed that there are a small number of armadillos and kerb bollards that need resetting or replacing between Eire Óg and the Kilrush Road, and this work is on the local authority crew’s work list. The councillor pointed out that over the last number of years the council has invested a large amount of money in Active Travel initiatives throughout the town. She requested that these initiatives be maintained “as your built environment leads your social environment.” She urged that cycle path markings need …

“OUR volunteers are the backbone of what we do,” says Tina Nagle, shop supervisor at the Irish Wheelchair Association’s charity shop in Ennis’ Elevation Business Park. Tina was speaking to The Champion as the shop’s team celebrated scooping an impressive four national awards from the Irish Charity Shop Association, including Volunteer of the Year for Margaret Hurley. And she revealed the success of the Ennis shop, which has expanded to 3,000 square feet at its base on the Clon Road, is set to become the model for any new shops to be opened by the charity in the future. According to Tina they were “thrilled” to receive accolades from the Irish Charity Shop Association at their recent awards ceremony in Dublin. As well as Margaret’s national Volunteer of the Year award, selected from charity shops all over Ireland, volunteer Hasibullah Darwish was runner up in the Volunteer throughout Ireland category; Teresa Marshall received a special Volunteer Recognition award and Tina …

FAMILY Carers Ireland’s new Clare Support Centre on the Gort Road in Ennis has been officially opened offering a boost to carers in the county. The centre, located within Block B of the Clare Technology Park, will offer services to fam­ily carers across Clare including information and advocacy regarding their rights and entitlements; training and workshops; support in accessing respite; group meetings and social events to help combat isolation; advice on care planning and crisis support. The centre was officially launched on Monday by Clare Fianna Fáil TD Cathal Crowe. Through its national network of carer support centres and National Freephone Careline 1800 24 07 24, Family Carers Ireland supports the 500,000+ people in Ireland who provide care for loved ones such as children or adults with additional needs, physical or intellectual disabilities, frail older people, those with palliative care needs or those living with chronic illnesses, mental ill-health, or addiction. David O’Connor, Family Carers Ireland Carer Supports Manager in Clare …

THE “wonderful addition” 44 children from Ukraine have made to Ennis Educate Together school has been highlighted by principal David Quinn at the school’s recent celebration day. The event also presented an opportunity to showcase the quite literal growth of a new project which has resulted in a sunflower, the national flower of Ukraine, planted for every pupil in the school. As well as welcoming the school’s new enrolments, the day was a celebration for the entire school and offered an opportunity for families to visit for the first time since Covid-19. On the day Ennis Educate Together’s youngest pupil Oleksandr  and oldest pupil Melisa helped raise the school flag with its newly designed logo featuring new school colours, chosen with input from the children. Mr Quinn explained, “The children’s voice is very important in our school. Last year we surveyed the children in third to sixth classes to choose our schools colours and to add them to our school …

WORLD Refugee Day is being celebrated in Ennis this weekend with Clare Immigrant Support Centre organising a gathering to celebrate the day this Sunday, June 19, in Ennis’ Fair Green at 5.30pm. Orla Ní Éilí of the Clare Immigrant Support Centre explains World Refugee Day is an international day designated by the United Nations to honour refugees around the globe. She explains that Sunday’s event is an opportunity to celebrate refugees in our community. “It celebrates the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution. World Refugee Day is an occasion to build empathy and understanding of refugees life circumstances and to recognize the resilience involved in rebuilding their lives.” World Refugee Day has been marked in Ennis since 1998 with Ms Ní Éilísaying Clare Immigrant Support Centre “is privileged to have a unique role in supporting and working with and for refugees in Clare”. This year, the focus …

A BAREFIELD teacher renowned for her love of languages has been remembered as an “inspiration” following her passing. Hilary Anne Niehues (nee Doyle) grew up in Dublin and spent several years in Germany before returning with her husband Wilhelm to Ireland and settling in Barefield. She taught in a number of Clare schools and has been fondly remembered by her many neighbours, colleagues and friends. Her good friend Marion Coughlan Flynn, former principal of St John Bosco Community College, Kildysart was recently moved to honour Hilary by gathering together a collection of moving tributes from those who knew her. She first met Hilary as a mature student of German in the ‘90s. “A real lady she was; kind, empathetic, selfless, good humoured – a real decent human being. Many an evening I returned from school to find a bag of scones, a tart, a carton of cream and of course home-made marmalade hanging on the back door. Birthdays were never …

Gardaí are investigating the circumstances of a suspicious fire at a house in Ennis early this morning. The blaze was reported at the house on Childers Road in the Cloughleigh area at around 1am. It’s understood there were no persons in the house at the time. Units of Clare County Fire and Rescue and Service from Ennis station responded to the scene and quickly began tackling the blaze. Gardaí and ambulance paramedics also attended the incident. It’s believed that the property was targeted by a group of men who smashed windows in the sitting room and front door area. What’s believed to be a petrol bomb was then thrown into the hallway. A video later appeared on social media which appears to show the attack being carried out. Extensive damage was caused to the hallway, front door area and sitting room. The remainder of the property also suffered smoke damage. The occupants of an adjacent property were evacuated from their …