Ennis

LESS than a year after receiving formal approval from the Department of Rural and Community Development, the River Fergus walkway is proving one of the most popular recreational amenities in the Ennis area. In fact, the positive public reaction to the paved cycling and walking route from the Quin Road to Clareabbey has prompted a move to extend it to the Quay in Clarecastle where a trailhead development is being planned. Local Fine Gael TD Joe Carey says that proposals for a walking and cycling route linking Clarecastle to Ennis and on to the proposed West Clare Greenway have been under active consideration for several years. “The extensive engineering work on the Ennis South drainage scheme provided the opportunity to develop a walkway alongside the 1.5 kilometre length of the embankment. Because some of the groundwork and infrastructure was already in place, a high standard walkway could be delivered at a very competitive price,” Deputy Carey explained.  “Last March, Rural …

MEMBERS of the public are encouraged to attend an information evening on the next phase of the Ennis Public Realm Regeneration this week. The information meeting will be hosted by Clare County Council on Thursday, March 31. The next phase of the regeneration of the Ennis Public Realm will involve major construction works at O’Connell Street, High Street, Bank Place, Barrack Street, O’Connell Square and Barrack Square. According to a spokesperson for Clare County Council, “The Public Realm Regeneration will significantly improve accessibility for pedestrians through the introduction of shared surface arrangements and by increasing footpath widths where possible. “Advance enabling works involving the replacement of water mains by Irish Water and the upgrading of ESB underground cables are scheduled to commence in May 2022. “The Public Realm Regeneration project works will follow thereafter. It is unavoidable that road closures will be necessary during construction. “The Squares (Barrack Square and O’Connell Square) will be significantly enhanced to improve their amenity …

CONGESTION during peak traffic periods on the Tulla Road and Gort Road areas of Ennis could be significantly eased with the completion of the Ennis North Inner Relief Road, according to Independent Clare TD Michael McNamara. Deputy McNamara has written to Clare County Council urging the Local Authority to revisit the proposal to link the roads, which he said would divert traffic away from the centre of Ennis and the Fair Green area and improve general traffic flow on the northern and eastern sides of the town. “It was originally intended that the Inner Relief Road would link the R458 Gort Road to Oakleigh Wood and The Maples Distributor Road and onwards to the Cappahard and Roslevan Roundabouts on the R352 Tulla Road,” he explained. “However, no progress has been made since 2018 when Phase One of the project, comprising a 520m road link from the Gort Road to the Clare Technology Park, was officially opened.” “While the Council has …

MORE than €2,000 was collected in just one day at an Ennis secondary school as part of their ongoing efforts to raise funds in support of people in Ukraine. A number of teachers and students have organised a committee to discuss a number of fundraising initiatives to help with the Ukrainian Humanitarian Appeal, including a non-uniform day which was held last Wednesday. The students showed their support for the Ukrainian people by wearing blue and yellow and contributing generously to the appeal. A video was shown to all classes in the school to create awareness of the humanitarian crisis and to remind the school community to help those who need it most with over €2,000 collected. The money will be donated to a sponsored local lorry fill organised by Eoin Gavin Transport Ukraine Appeal (Bunratty). The money will purchase essential food items from BWG Value Centre (formerly Mangans) and the lorry can be tracked on its journey across Europe. James …

ENNIS’ Market building will be transformed this Sunday hosting a free music and dance event celebrating cultural diversity. Ennis Mela is the final Faoin Spéir|In the Open event and is presented by Clare Arts Office and Fidget Feet. In the Open | Faoin Spéir is an Arts Council funded programme developed in response to the Covid-19 crisis which has seen a variety of outdoor arts events taking place in public spaces around Ireland. On Sunday from 1pm to 4pm the Ennis Market Building will showcase the talents of musicians and dancers from all over the world. “Ennis Mela is a great way for all the family to get outdoors and experience a unique event together. Fidget Feet bring some brightness and joy, we hope you can join us,” said a spokesperson. Participants include The South Asian Dance Academy (SADA), Ireland’s leading Bollywooddance troupe providing amazing Bollywood and classical performances and workshops throughout the island of Ireland. AMDIE is a group based …

IRISH Water, working in partnership with Clare County Council, is progressing plans to deliver the Clarecastle Sewerage Scheme that will end the discharge of raw sewage into the River Fergus and Shannon Estuary. Project Delivery Lead for Irish Water, Seamus Glynn said, “Wastewater from the public sewer network in Clarecastle is currently discharged untreated into the River Fergus and the Shannon Estuary. “The discharge of untreated wastewater is unacceptable, threatens water quality and detracts from the amenity value of the area.” “Once completed, the Clarecastle Sewerage Scheme will improve the water quality in the River Fergus in compliance with national and EU regulations relating to the treatment of wastewater, and will enhance the environmental amenity of the Clarecastle area. We will be sure to keep the local community informed regarding traffic management as this essential project progresses.” The project will involve the design and construction of new below-ground infrastructure at the site of the existing Quay Road Pump Station, and …

AN appeal launched locally to support a former Ennis resident helping Ukrainian people fleeing their country has raised more than €3,000 in less than a week. The Ennis-based Ireland Poland Ukraine Refugee Relief (IPURR) was recently set up to help Ukrainians driven from their country by the war and has been collecting donations to support their Polish friends Marcin Piotrowski and Marina Sestasvili-Piotrowska. (See Champion story here) The family lived and worked in Ennis for over a decade before returning to Poland in 2017, and since the Russian invasion they have been providing important help close to the Ukrainian – Polish border. Pat Rutherford of the IPURR committee told us that there has been a “steady stream” of support for the gofundme page  https://gofund.me/d11b390e that has been set up to collect donations. He expressed appreciation for the generous contributions that have been made so far while urging people to give if they can to the worthy cause. Donations made will …

IN February 2021, Ennis artist Susan O’Neill embarked on her directorial debut. One year after the global pandemic began, Susan brought twenty-four multidisciplinary artists together over five days to collaborate in a very unique way in the historic Bunratty Castle. ‘The Space between- An Spás Eadrainn’   multidisciplinary art documentary will have it’s broadcast premiere on Friday March 18 on TG4. After a year of a pandemic, our social norms and structures were hastily broken down into the unknown now to be rebuilt again.  ‘The Space Between’ asks questions encompassing where the human connection and human condition sit within our creative process, Susan invited an array of musicians, authors, actors, dancers, tai chi masters, milliners, painters, potters and much more to collaborate with unlikely matches within the great hall of the extraordinary Bunratty castle. The space between journeys with Clare milliner Margret O’Connor forging colourful headpieces while immersed in a sound bath of Tibetan singing bowls conducted by Gráinne McCormick. Visual artist Myra O’Reilly paints to the sounds …