Tag Archives: Our Lady’s Hospital

PARANORMAL investigators have captured an eerie image of what they believe is the spirit of a child at a window of the former Our Lady’s Hospital in Ennis. Paranormal Supernatural Investigations Ireland visited the site of the old Ennis Asylum last week where the took hundreds of photographs as well as video footage and voice recordings from outside. Among the images taken is the picture of a window with what they claim is a small child’s face in the bottom right corner. Richard Morrison, of Paranormal Supernatural Investigations Ireland insists, “I believe that building is very, very active paranormally without a doubt. Places like that are going to hold a lot of negative energy and that stonework is going to contain all that sadness.” The photograph was initially posted to social media by the group at the weekend without comment on what it could be, other than “a very interesting picture taken by ourselves at Ennis Asylum” and some of the history …

THE former Our Lady’s Hospital in Ennis is set come under new ownership, with confirmation the development site is sale agreed. Ennis councillors are now urging that the historic site be re-zoned, and parts of the property de-listed as a protected structure, in a bid to realise its full development potential. Selling agent DNG O’Sullivan Hurley have confirmed the property is sale agreed and is currently going through the legal process, though they would not reveal the name of the prospective buyer. Calling for its rezoning and delisting, Councillor Pat Daly told the monthly meeting of the Ennis Municipal District that the former hospital has been a “hindrance” to any kind of development at the key site on the Gort Road. He recalled previous plans, including a hotel and private hospital, did not come to fruition at what he described as “a prime site in the town of Ennis”. He urged the municipal district, with the support of his fellow …

THE former Our Lady’s Hospital site in Ennis has been sold at auction for €750,000. The identity of the purchaser, who successfully bid on the 16.65-acre property on the Gort Road, has yet to be revealed. However, in January, JJ Enterprises Ltd applied to Clare County Council to extend previously granted planning permission for the development of a healthcare facility at the historic site on the Gort Road. The application was signed by multi-millionaire farmer JJ McCabe, described as a “potential purchaser of site” on the documents. The site, which auctioneers BidX1 describe as “a prime town centre development site”, had been guided at €475,000, with 23 bids bringing the price up to €750,000. The property failed to sell at auction last year, with a guide price of €800,000. The property comprises the former hospital and land holding, with planning permission for a healthcare facility. It is zoned commercial, with BidX1 stating it has “significant development potential”. Permission had been …

EFFORTS to have Clare County Council purchase Our Lady’s Hospital for future development are continuing, despite the council’s CEO effectively ruling out the proposal earlier this week. CEO Pat Dowling said that a feasibility study into the purchase of the site, which did not sell at auction last week, found it would be financially prohibitive. However, members of the Ennis Municipal District have voted in favour of formally requesting the CEO to buy the site, while Councillor Johnny Flynn has written to the CEO, asking him to reconsider the council’s position. At the meeting of Ennis Municipal District, a motion was proposed by both Councillor Flynn and Councillor Mary Howard, asking that the chief executive buy the site as an “Ennis strategic project”. Councillor Flynn said the Ennis site is the “best one in Clare” to fit in with national policy and avail of potential capital funding under the Government’s National Planning Framework Ireland 2040. The motion continued, “This strategic …

A KILLALOE premature “miracle” baby, who suffers from a rare and life-threatening blood condition, has defied all the odds. There is no recorded case of a premature baby surviving with Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) in the UK or Ireland, so Shaye Collins has confounded medical experts. Parents Eoin and Veronica Collins said they have been “blown away” by all the support for the treatment of baby Shaye, who remains in Great Ormond Street, London. Shaye was born by emergency C-section at Holles Street, Dublin on September 6, at 30 weeks and six days. He weighed over four pounds but, when he lost excess fluid, he went down to just over three pounds. Three days later, doctors diagnosed Shaye with HLH, in which the body makes too many activated immune cells. Shaye was transferred to Our Lady’s Hospital in Crumlin and, once stabilised, he was airlifted to Great Ormond Street Hospital on October 11. Eoin said a doctor on the helicopter transporting Shaye to London …

The former Our Lady’s Hospital in Ennis, along with its 16.65 acre site, has gone on the market with a guide price of €1.25 million. In a prime location on the Gort Road [Limerick to Galway route], a short distance from the town centre and the bypass link at Barefield, the site is currently zoned as a proposal site PS3 under the Ennis Town Development Plan 2008 – 2014, which has been extended until a new development plan is adopted. The main building comprises a detached three storey over basement former hospital facility completed in 1868 and extended to the rear c. 1900. The property was previously in use as a hospital and has an impressive limestone façade. The property is located in a predominantly commercial environment. The property is listed as a protected structure Ref: E150 under the Ennis Development Plan 2008 – 2014 and is also noted as an architectural conservation area. Conditional permission was granted on February …

DESCRIBED as a “visionary in the area of mental health”, many tributes have been paid to the late Tom McGrath, Coole Lodge, Francis Street, Ennis, who died recently. A retired psychiatric nurse at the former Our Lady’s Hospital, he will be remembered for his contribution to the welfare of patients, as well as being a valued member of several voluntary organisations in Ennis. A proud Feakle man, he was educated and worked locally, before being appointed a psychiatric nurse in Our Lady’s Hospital in the late 1940s. Totally dedicated to the caring of patients, he was also a very popular member of the hospital staff. When he arrived in Ennis, it was the start of a long and happy association with the town, during which he and his wife, Theresa associated themselves with various voluntary organistions, their work being greatly appreciated. Tom also graduated with a degree in social science from UCG and he and his wife undertook courses for …