Tag Archives: Parnell Street

A new group has circulated a petition urging Clare County Council to stop the proposed development of riverside car parks in Ennis and to abandon what has been described as the “transfer of public land to a private company, Ennis 2040 DAC”. The “Save Ennis Town” group has collected almost 700 signatures from its online petition since it started a new campaign on Monday. This is a group drawn from community, business, retail and political representatives. It formed after a public meeting on 4th May in the Temple Gate Hotel where more than 200 people voicing opposition to the Ennis 2040 plans. In a statement issued to the Clare Champion, the group stressed it aims to have constructive engagement with Ennis 2040 DAC and develop a plan that will enhance the county town for everyone. Group members include Gearoid Mannion, chairman; Edel Cassidy; Joan Duggan; Councillor Johnny Flynn; Bridget Ginnity; Cora Hahessy; Teresa McGrath; Councillor Tom O’Callaghan; Michelle O’Connell, John …

AN ambitious plan aimed at rejuvenating Ennis’ town centre was given the star treatment at its recent launch. The Canvas Project, led by Experience Ennis, has a vision to aesthetically transform the entire town of Ennis, street by street, making it an even more attractive place to live and visit. The project was launched with a presentation of the Parnell Street Pilot on the big screen in Ennis’s Empire Movieplex last week. The team seeks to maximise the impact of the rejuvenation plans by concentrating initially on one section of the Parnell Street; the pedestrianised stretch between Dallas Barbers and Bonfire restaurant. This street having undergone a recent public realm investment of €6 million euros has a beautifully paved surface that provides the perfect canvas for rejuvenation, and, when completed it is anticipated this postcard perfect street will become the launching pad for the delivery of a much larger scale vision for Ennis, explains Rosemarie Noone CEO of Experience Ennis. …

WORKS on the regeneration of Ennis’ Parnell Street are to re-start, Clare County Council have confirmed. A statement issued by the local authority this Monday stated, “Further to discussions at departmental level, a review of critical transport infrastructure projects has been undertaken and it is now appropriate to re-commence the Parnell Street, Laneways and Bow-ways Public Enhancement Scheme.” Ennis Chamber had urged that the works go-ahead while the country remains under Level 5 lockdown, with concerns raised last week by Ennis Chamber vice president Darragh McAllister about the effects delaying the project would have on local business. Reacting to the announcement of the recommencement of the works, Ennis Chamber CEO Margaret O’Brien said, “Ennis Chamber is delighted that clarifications sought from Minister Darragh O’Brien and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, about re-starting public realm works in Ennis have been communicated to Clare County Council and that works will now re-commence.” On Thursday it was confirmed that Minister …

CLARE County Council can resume vital works on Parnell Street in Ennis despite the current Covid-19 restrictions, it has been confirmed. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, has stated that public realm works such as the Parnell Street regeneration can proceed under the current regulations. Clare County Clare had halted works on the regeneration of Ennis’ medieval lanes amid concerns that the project did not qualify as “essential works” under the current Covid guidelines. However, Deputy Joe Carey confirmed, “I spoke directly with Minister O’Brien regarding the need to progress the Parnell Street enhancement works. He advised me that a senior official from the Department of Local Government will make contact with the Chief Executive of Clare County Council advising them that Urban Regeneration works such as those currently stalled in Parnell Street are permitted under the current Covid restrictions and that the council should make arrangements to re-start the works as soon as possible.” Minister …

THE town of Ennis has lost two well-known retired members of the business community. On Monday, Frances Arthur, nee Cleary, passed away at the Mid Western Regional Hospital in Ennis. The great-grandmother was known to many in the county capital through her family’s shop which had been situated on Parnell Street. Funeral mass takes place on Thursday at 11am at Ennis Cathedral with burial afterwards in Ballyea Church Grounds. The wife of the late Paddy, she is survived by her daughters Patricia and Mary, son in law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, brother James, sisters Peggy and Nan, sister-in-law , brother-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends Meanwhile, another Ennis resident familiar to many passed away recently. Josephine Carr, nee Clarke, of Barrack Court, Barrack Street and formerly The Derrynane, O’Connell Street, Ennis, was involved in number of family businesses with her late husband, Michael, over the years. Mrs Carr is survived her family, Mary, Noel, Michael, Kyran and Alan; grandchildren, son-in-law, daughters-in-law, relatives …

THE revitalisation of Parnell Street has moved a step closer. Funding for a proposed heritage and cultural quarter in Ennis and a feasibility study into the covering of Parnell Street has been allocated under the Rural Economic Development Zones (REDZ) initiative. The €94,000 funding for the proposed project in Ennis is part of a wider allocation totalling €184,000 for the county with projects in Scariff and Shannon also getting funds. According to a spokesperson for Clare County Council, the initiatives proposed for Ennis, for which part funding was received, include looking into the feasibility of covering Parnell Street and the development of the wider area a a heritage/cultural quarter. “In addition, an initiative to create a digital hub to provide space, high speed connectivity and telecom facilities to start up enterprises in the area also formed part of the submission.” Director of Services Ger Dollard has described the funding allocation for the county as “exceptionally good news” adding that the …

ENNIS Arts Trail will be launched by this year’s street festival guest artist, Eamonn Murphy in the former Fás building on Parnell Street on Tuesday next. Following the launch at 6.30pm, the attendence will hit out on the art trail around the town. About 20 artists and shops have come together to display art in shop windows, including work by Tina Culliney at T Fades; Caitriona Sheedy at Ennis Electrical; Larisa K Bevillard at TM Printing; Bonnie Fields at Precious Pets and O’Connors Fruit & Vegetables; Liz Moorcroft at Olive; Dave McElheron at The County Boutique; Joey Kelly at Forget Me Not; Stella Burke at The Wine Buff; Isabel Gaborit in Souper Restaurant; Mary McMahon in Heaslips; Fiona Faulkes in Neylons; Yvonne Mahar at Essentials; Kilrush Art group at Patrick Bourke; Bonnie Fields at Victorian Posey Florist; Nerina Burke in The Ennis Bookshop; Ann Mc Bride in O’Connells Medical Hall Chemist and Carmel Doherty, Brian McMahon, Will Gilchrist and Richard …

THE recent closure of a number of high profile long established businesses in Ennis has prompted calls for a Government strategy to revitalise rural towns like Ennis. The decision of Leavy Shoes to close its O’Connell Street outlet after 36 years in business  last weekend surprised local retailers and shoppers. Customers with any outstanding gift vouchers and credit notices are being advised to present them at their retail outlets in O’Connell Street and William Street in Limerick City. Moody Cow Milkshakes, Abbey Street, Clowntown tattoo parlour and Charlie Stewart’s pub in Parnell Street,  Ennis have all shut their doors. Efforts by the Clare Champion to obtain a comment from the operators of these premises about the circumstances that led to their business demise proved unsuccessful. A spokesman for Seasons 22 confirmed that while Charlie Stewart’s pub had closed the restaurant would continue to operate upstairs in the premises. Leavy Shoes director, Thomas Leavy confirmed the Ennis retail unit employed one …