Ennis

AMERICAN film star Lacey Chabert spent three weeks at The Old Ground Hotel in Ennis and was quite taken with the place. Chabert, of Mean Girls fame, recently stayed incognito at the hotel while filming her new movie, Christmas at Castle Hart, according to a spokesperson for the hotel. The Hallmark production, which co-stars Irish actor Stuart Townsend, was being shot around Clare and Limerick. The hotel spokesperson also revealed that the actress stayed so long at the Old Ground, because she thought it was “so fetch”. For those of you not au fait with the lingo, ‘fetch’ is another way of saying ‘cool’. Built in the early part of the 18th Century as a private dwelling, the manor house has been a hotel since 1895 and reopened under the ownership of Allen Flynn and the Flynn Hotel Collection in September 1995. They have undertaken five major refurbishments and extensions, bringing it from 11 bedrooms to 108, and it now operates …

CONCERNS about the risk of flooding on the Tulla Road, close to the site of a proposed €1.2 billion Ennis data centre, have prompted calls for screens to be put in place at bridges to prevent blockages, writes Jessica Quinn. However, while council executive engineer Barry Conway has confirmed the local authority will carry out maintenance and clearance works, he cautioned about the use of screens. The engineer said that screens “can often times create bigger issues than they resolve”, citing recent “devastating consequences” when screens were installed in Dublin and Donegal. Flooding at Aughavadda on the Tulla Road and Gaurus Bridge was highlighted by Councillors Johnny Flynn and Mary Howard at the monthly meeting of the Ennis Municipal District. Councillor Flynn pointed to “historic” flooding of R352 Tulla Road and previous river flow blockages/restrictions at Aughavadda bridge and concern about the river flow capacity at the downstream Gaurus bridge. He urged the Ennis Municipal District to “immediately” provide screens …

AN unemployed Ennis man who gardaí say paid for a €43,000 SUV in €50 notes has failed in a bid to have the vehicle returned, writes Ronan Judge. At Ennis District Court, Judge Mary Larkin refused the application brought by Ned Doherty (30), with an address at St Michael’s, Ballymaley, Ennis. The court heard the Toyota Hilux SUV was seized by gardaí in March as part of a wider garda operation. Doherty brought an application under the Police Property Act, seeking the return of the jeep. The applicant’s solicitor, Daragh Hassett, said that this is his client’s second such application since the seizure of the jeep. Mr Hassett said his client instructs that not many items were taken by gardaí during the March search and that the jeep was taken as gardaí left, “almost out of frustration”. The solicitor said the court was told during the first application, that the investigation was at an advanced stage and this is not …

ENNIS will be formally recognised as a university town from Friday, October 1 when the new Technological University for the Mid-West and the Midlands will commence operations. Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris has confirmed to Clare Fine Gael TD, Joe Carey, that he will visit the Ennis campus in Bindon Street in the near future. “Thank you for all your support and engagement regarding the importance of a Technological University for the Mid-West region and how this could benefit both Ennis and Clare in terms of access to higher education, regional development and investment,” Minister Harris said in reply to a letter from Deputy Carey. “I am delighted to confirm to you that the new Technological University for the Shannon: Midlands Midwest will formally commence on the October 1. So from next month, Ennis will be a university town. I am very much looking forward to working with you on ensuring the county …

As part of the ongoing Operation Tara, a garda raid on a house in Ennis yielded drugs with a street value of almost €10,000 On Friday, September 17, at 9.10pm, gardaí from the Clare Divisional Drugs Unit carried out a search under warrant at a house in Ennis. They discovered a quantity of suspected Cannabis Herb with an estimated street value of €3,200 and suspected Cocaine with an estimated street value of €6,790. No arrests were made at the time but investigating Gardaí are following definite lines of enquiry and a file will be prepared for submission to the office of the DPP. The suspected controlled drugs will be forwarded to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis.

CONCERN has been aired by a local councillor about incidents of anti-social behaviour in Ennis, writes Dan Danaher. Councillor Mary Howard expressed concern at a recent Joint Policing Committee about boy racers operating near Shiels’ Garage following a number of complaints from people who are working early in the morning. “Cars are being revved up in the car park and a lot of noise is being made with handbrake turns. Some people want to sleep at night but they can’t because boy racers are gathering at night time,” she said. She also raised concern about a complaint from a woman who was trying to park near Ennis Cathedral but was intimidated by drunk people in the vicinity of the parking ticket machine. This prompted the woman to return to her car and drive away to find another parking spot in the town. “These people are picking awkward spots to hang around in Ennis. People are frightened when they come upon …

COUNCILLOR Johnny Flynn has called on the developers of a proposed €1.2 billion Ennis data centre to make substantial changes to their plans for the development, writes Dan Danaher. A significant number of objections have already been made to Clare County Council in relation to the planning application lodged by Art Data Centres Ltd. An objection to the plan made by Future Proof Clare includes the signatures of 250 people, the majority of which the organisation say were gathered within seven hours in Ennis’ town centre. Concerns have been raised about the planned development by politicians, individuals and groups with Future Proof Clare, Extinction Rebellion Clare and the Clare Environment Network joining forces in their opposition to the proposal. Friends of the Irish Environment, Environmental Trust Ireland and Green Party MEP Ciarán Cuffe are also among those who have lodged submissions. In a comprehensive submission to the local planning authority, Councillor Flynn outlined he is in favour of the development …

ANTUN Pasalic, seminarian in Ennis Parish, who is a native of Croatia, has been ordained a Deacon in the Cathedral of SS Peter & Paul Ennis. The ordaining prelate was Bishop Fintan Monahan, Bishop of Killaloe who said, “Today is a happy day and we rejoice in great delight on this occasion of the ordination of Antun as Deacon, another great milestone on his pathway to priesthood to serve in the Diocese of Killaloe. Antun was joined by his brother and his family in the Cathedral, and by his parents, brothers, and sisters, online from their home in Croatia. His Excellency, Dr Davor Vidishe, Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia in Ireland and Fr Yosep, chaplain to the Croatian community in Ireland also attended. The newly ordained Deacon will continue to minister in the Abbey Pastoral Area and reside in Ennis parish. Speaking during the celebration, Bishop Monahan welcomed those who had gathered in person and those joining the ceremony …