Tag Archives: Ennis

ENNIS was launched as an Age Friendly Town, at an event held last Friday morning. It is joining the national Age Friendly Cities and Counties Programme, which aims to improve Ireland as a place to grow old. Writing in the Ennis Age Friendly Town Plan, County Council Chief Executive Pat Dowling said, “An Age Friendly Town should cater for all people. Age Friendly Ireland believes that if you design for older people you will, in the main, design for all of society and it has pioneered the walkability audit tool to capture the experiences of people using their own towns. Collaboration with the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design and the National Disability Authority has led to an even greater understanding of how towns cater for a range of people with differing abilities. People with visual impairments, mobility issues, wheelchair users , as well as older people participated in the walkability audits of Ennis.” He also stressed the importance of …

CAMPAIGNERS against plans for a €1.2 billion Ennis data centre have gathered hundreds of signatures from people supporting an objection to the development. Meanwhile, close to 50 submissions have 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 plans. Friends of the Irish Environment, Environmental Trust Ireland and Green Party MEP Ciarán Cuffe are also among those who lodged submissions. In their objection to the planning authority, Future Proof Clare have argued that the “extremely high electricity consumption will increase Ireland’s carbon emissions at a time when …

ENNIS Chamber holds its annual Golf Classic on Friday, September 3, with Munster Group as its main sponsor. This year’s classic takes place at Ennis Golf Club and is open to teams of four (best two scores to count). According to a spokesperson for Ennis Chamber, “As well as prizes for the teams including a 4-ball at Trump International Golf Links Doonbeg, there are prizes for Nearest the Pin and Longest Drive. But more than that, the teams enjoy a great day out.” Teams of four at €250  to include a two-course meal. To book a team contact info@ennischamber.ie

GLÓR’S director has said the venue are “thrilled” to be open after a “long and challenging period” due to Covid-19. The Ennis arts centre is looking ahead to offering a full programme of live, in-person performances from September. As the venue embarks on its 20th year, director Orla Flanagan has reiterated glór’s committment to supporting and developing a range of artists and with the support of the Arts Council and Creative Ireland. She said the venue was pleased to have commissioned and co-commissioned a number of projects which will come to fruition over the coming months. Ms Flanagan said, “We are thrilled to now get the show firmly back on the road at glór. It has been a long and challenging period being dark and we have given 100% to imaginatively engaging with the public and supporting artists, but we cannot wait to share the magic of the live experience again. We now know there is nothing quite like it.” …

THE pedestrianisation of Ennis’ town centre is set to be rolled back from the end of this month with vehicular traffic restrictions to finish by September 30. The Temporary Covid-19 Ennis Town Centre Mobility Plan taskforce has been dissolved. This comes following a meeting of the taskforce earlier this month during which a review of the current implementation of the plan took place. Based on their assessment and taking into account current public health guidelines, children returning to school, and facilitating outdoor dining, an exit strategy from the plan was agreed. With effect from August 30, current restrictions on vehicular traffic will be lifted within the town centre on Abbey and O’Connell Streets, with some exceptions for the next month. These are Monday-Friday, 11am to 2pm; Saturday to Sunday, 11am to 6pm. From September 30, all restrictions will be lifted. In Lower Parnell Street, the current road closure will also apply until September 30. A spokesperson for Clare County Council …

Split decision by Council denies Braids development permission to increase size THE developers of a primary health care facility in Ennis have been refused planning permission to increase its size. Concerns the proposal would “endanger public safety” and “seriously injure the amenities of property in the vicinity”, have lead to a split decision by Clare County Council. The local authority approved some aspects and refused others in the planning application made by Philip Doyle, on behalf of Valley Healthcare Fund Infrastructure Investment Fund ICAV, to revise and amend planning permission already granted for a mixed use development at the former Braids factory site on Station Road. The new proposals were the subject of a number of objections from local residents voicing concern about the size of the development among other issues. The application had sought to increase the floor area of the four-storey primary care health facility and ancillary commercial units from 7,250sqm to 8,008sqm with the provision of an …

ENNIS native Ashling Kelly has almost completed a 32-peak challenge, in which she climbs the highest peak of each county on the island of Ireland, to raise funds for Pieta House. Ashling spent much of her time in preparation for this impressive feat keeping fit and plotting the routes she was going to take, as some of the peaks she conquered were in clusters that she could complete over the course of a few days. The challenge also required Ashling to camp out near the peaks, something that added a new and exciting element to the feat altogether. Now with only three peaks left to climb, Ashling has raised over €2700 online at the donation website JustGiving and she can be supported here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ashling-kelly1 This challenge was something Ashling had always wished to complete, and she was inspired to do so during lockdown and give the proceeds to Pieta House due to the mental pressures of quarantine.   By Conor …

A MAN has been remanded in Limerick Prison following an alleged armed robbery in Ennis. At five past six on Tuesday evening, August 10, a lone male entered the Gala shop on Cloughleigh Road, Ennis wearing a balaclava over his face and carrying a knife. He demanded the staff member to open the cash register but he couldn’t open it. The man then took a number of packets of cigarettes and left on a bike in the direction of the Lahinch Road. This was a traumatic incident for the staff member but he wasn’t physically injured. Later in the same evening gardaí executed a search warrant at a house in Ennis and a male in his late 20s was arrested and detained at Ennis Garda Station. On August 12 he was brought before Ennis District Court and was remanded in custody to Limerick Prison.