Ennis

CLARE County Council has announced that the main street in Ennis will be closed to traffic for a period each day from this Friday to facilitate temporary pedestrianisation. The Council indicated on Twitter that O’Connell Street, Ennis, will be closed to traffic from O’Connell Square to the junction with Station Road, Friday, April 8, from 11:30am to 5pm, Monday-Sunday, seven days per week, to facilitate the introduction of temporary pedestrianisation. This road closure will remain in place until the commencement of the Ennis Public Realm Works, currently anticipated to commence on Monday, May 9, 2022. There will be no through road from Abbey Street to O’Connell Street for the duration of the closure. Diversion will be at O’Connell Square, at the junction of Bank Place and O’Connell Square.

ENNIS’ first ever ‘Friendship Seating Area’ will be launched next week by the Ennis Mental Health Association with hopes high that it will become a special place to for people to meet and connect with one another in the town centre. The seating spot at Abbey Street Car Park has been developed in co-operation with the Ennis Municipal District and will be officially launched on Thursday, April 7 by Mayor of Ennis Councillor Ann Norton. On the same day Ennis MHA will mark national ‘Hello, How Are You?’ Day with an information stand in O’Connell Square. As well as providing seating, the area has a specially designed plaque featuring the words of William Butler Yeats, “There are no strangers here, only friends you haven’t met yet.” Maria Molloy, chairperson of the Ennis MHA explained that the Friendship Seating Area, located by the River Fergus has been “designed to provide an attractive and inviting space where people can sit and be …

TAKING part in a national competition has added up to success for one Ennis school student. St Flannan’s College first year student Jack McAuliffe achieved top marks in the recent Irish Mathematics Teachers’ Association (IMTA) Junior Maths Quiz. As well as being named a national winner, he also scooped a Prim-Ed Maths Box valued at €225 for the school.  Peter Sexton, maths teacher, commented, “The Maths Department in St Flannan’s are delighted for Jack on winning first prize in the Irish Maths Teachers Association Junior Maths Competition.” The Junior Mathematics Competition, held annually for first year students, was developed and organised by Michael Moynihan  and has been running since 1994. It consists of multiple choice brain teasers answered within a 40 minute period. Since 2021 the competition has been run online and available in both English and as Gaeilge.

A PLANNING decision on a proposed €20 million development by Lidl Ireland in Ennis has been put on hold with further information being sought from the developers. Clare County Council raised a number of concerns about the proposed development including its potential “adverse impact” on the town centre. The further information request means the decision process will be paused until a response is received within six months. Lidl is seeking planning permission for the development of a new store and mixed-use development at the junction of the Clare Road (R458) and Toberteascain Road, which, if given the go-ahead, will include 20 residential apartments, a café and two commercial units. According to the discount supermarket giant if given the green light the development will create 30 local jobs along with 100 more during construction. In the further information request the planning authority acknowledged that the proposal is largely in response to the zoning objectives of the site. It stated however, “Having regard …

“WHEN an old man dies, a library burns”. This saying was certainly true with the death on March, 21, 2002, at 12.30am, of Michael Falvey. Born on April 3, 1924, Michael spent most of his life working on the family farm in Kilkee. The Falveys ran a dairy, delivering milk to the people of Kilkee and surrounding areas.     He left Kilkee Lower for a short period to take up employment in the midlands with Bórd na Móna where Michael kept payment records for the workers. But he soon returned to his native place. In full health, Michael was a regular traveller by bus and ship to his brother Tommy and family in Birmingham. A proud father, he looked forward to visits and phone calls from his family at home and abroad and loved to follow their life journey and careers. A keen genealogist and founder member of Clare Roots Society, Michael had an exceptional brain for tracing families …

TEENAGERS are taking over the town of Ennis this Sunday for Discover Ennis Heritage Day. The free event this Sunday, April 3, has been organised by the Transition Year students of St Flannan’s College and Gaelcholáiste an Chláir in collaboration with Experience Ennis and Shannon Heritage. From 1pm to 5pm the town locals and visitors to the town will have the opportunity to experience an afternoon jam-packed with activities and live entertainment. Heritage activities will include historical reconstructions of spinning wool, churning butter, iron-age weaponry and strawcrafts. There will also be plenty of live entertainment including trad music, Irish dancing, face painting, and lots lots more.  Free student-led walking tours will leave the Chapel Lane Market Building on the hour from 1pm to 4pm. At 4pm in the Chapel Lane Market Building there will be story-telling for adults and children (over seven years of age) by the world-renowned seanchaí, Eddie Lenihan. This collaboration between the Transition Year students of St Flannan’s College and Gaelcholáiste an Chláir is …

LOCAL people will be among those showcasing their talents alongside the Fidget Feet Aerial Dance Theatre when the company brings their brand new show to Ennis next week. Fidget Feet are bringing their new show “HOUSE” to Clare Marts, Quin Road on Saturday, April 9 and Sunday, April 10. Ahead of the show, Fidget Feet put a call out to the people of Clare through to join them in this collaborative community spectacle with circus, theatre and drive-in bingo. “HOUSE Open Days” is a community project that integrates local communities into the show itself and will see community part-takers dance alongside 20 experienced and talented Fidget Feet dancers in the show. According to the company this project brings people together both young and old with an integral focus on the arts, wellbeing, mental and physical health. The show is a sequel to their hugely successful show Bingo Wings and brings its bingo fever to the 1980s Royal Broadway Parish Bingo, …

THE importance of a strong voice to represent business in Ennis has been emphasised by newly elected Ennis Chamber president Colin Ryan. The Bank of Ireland branch manager was elected president at the Ennis Chamber AGM held on Monday, with Sheila Lynch, partner, Cashin Clancy Solicitors elected vice president. On election, Colin who last year served as vice president, thanked Darragh McAllister, outgoing president for his hard work and commitment. He stated, “Ennis Chamber has been fortunate to have had strong presidents during the Covid years, first Allen Flynn, owner Old Ground Hotel, followed by publican Darragh McAllister over the past year.” Outlining his focus for the year ahead, Colin said, “My mission is to build membership. Already we are back to pre-Covid numbers, and I’d like to grow membership further over the coming year.” He added, “It’s critical we have a strong voice to represent business in Ennis during these rapidly changing times and Ennis Chamber fulfils that role.” …