Home » Tag Archives: Pat Daly

Tag Archives: Pat Daly

Council has ‘grotto’ upgrade the road in Hermitage

THE “poor condition” of both sides of the road adjacent to Hermitage’s Grotto was highlighted at a meeting of Ennis councillors, with a senior engineer suggesting a thin surface overlay may provide a solution for residents. The condition of the road was raised by Councillor Pat Daly at the Ennis Municipal District meeting. “The road is seriously in need of upgrading, it has not been done in many, many years.” Paddy Tiernan, Acting Senior Executive Engineer informed the meeting that the Ennis Municipal District will put forward this road for inclusion in the Schedule of Municipal Works for 2023. “Subject to inclusion and associated funding this road will be upgraded in 2023.” Councillor Daly welcomed the response, saying the grotto is “a hugely popular area in the middle of the ‘Tage.” Seconding the motion, Councillor Mary Howard said an upgrade is “long overdue”. The road is made of concrete, with Councillor Howard saying there are a lot of older residents …

Read More »

Park & Ride for Ennis could solve traffic issues says councillor

A PARK and ride scheme for Ennis could be the solution to traffic problems in the town centre a local councillor has insisted. However while the local authority has said it is continuing to “explore the possibility” of acquiring land for parking, a source of funding would be needed. Councillor Pat Daly, speaking at a meeting of the Ennis Municipal District, urged the council to look at purchasing or leasing land close to the town for use as a pilot scheme for a park and ride centre. He said he has “never seen Ennis as bad for traffic” adding there are “bottlenecks every day of the week”. He suggested a site on the Tulla Road would be suitable for the introduction of a pilot scheme. “A pilot scheme is something that should be looked at where people could park their car and go and do their shopping. This would take cars out of the town centre.” Leonore O’Neill, Senior Executive …

Read More »

Pedestrian crossing for ‘deadly dangerous’ Abbey Street planned

PLANS are underway for the delivery of a pedestrian crossing at the top of Abbey Street, with one local councillor describing the current situation as “deadly dangerous”. Councillor Pat Daly raised the issue at a recent meeting of the Ennis Municipal District where he said, “It’s seriously dangerous crossing the street at this particular area of town.” He continued, “I have seen first hand people coming to cross the road and they are chancing their arm crossing over. How people have not been hurt or killed I can’t understand it. It’s a serious health and safety issue.” Paddy Tiernan, acting senior executive engineer responded to the motion, “A need for a pedestrian crossing at this location has been identified and is planned. “The pedestrian crossing is currently planned to be delivered under the Ennis Town Centre Public Realm Regeneration Project B. This project is programmed to commence construction in 2023.” Councillor Daly stated, “I welcome something will be done, I …

Read More »

Clare Hostel closure a blow to Fleadh Nua organisers

ORGANISERS of the Fleadh Nua festival in Ennis were “devastated” over the closure of the Rowan Tree hostel, a meeting has been told. Calls were made at an Ennis Municipal District meeting for action to be taken to secure tenants for empty business premises in the town. The hostel on Harmony Row is just one of a number of high profile businesses which have closed in recent years in the county capital, with Councillor Pat Daly insisting, “Ennis can’t afford to lose business.” Speaking at a meeting of the Ennis Municipal District the councillor urged the local authority to co-ordinate with Ennis Chamber and the owners of properties with a view to securing new tenants. Alongside the Rowan Tree which closed in October, he recalled the other locations which have shut their doors, Food Haven, O’Brien’s deli and Twomey-Walsh. Councillor Daly recalled how in a recent conversation with organisers of Fleadh Nua they outlined the closure of the Rowan Tree …

Read More »

Ennis residents “in fear of their lives” over junction

THE brakes have been pulled by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) on a proposal to install a right turning lane at an Ennis junction despite residents being “in fear of their lives”. The need for a traffic island to accommodate traffic coming from the Ennis side heading to West Clare and reinstatement of a hard shoulder at Kilmorane was highlighted at a recent meeting of the Ennis Municipal District. Councillor Pat Daly stated that this junction is close to six residential houses and a business with a “serious health and safety issue there”. He stated that residents are “living on their nerves every day” describing the route as “very, very dangerous”. He added that the new business has seen the creation of 10 jobs, and a right turn is essential in ensuring its sustainability. However, John Gannon, senior executive engineer replied, “The TII have inspected and reviewed this junction and have assessed that the traffic movements do not validate a right …

Read More »

“Dangerous” Ennis road sparks calls for return to two-way traffic

A HOUSE which has been derelict for decades in Ennis has been described as a “blight”, while calls have been made for a return to two-way traffic at Upper Cusack Road. Councillor Mark Nestor, speaking at the monthly meeting of the Ennis Municipal District, branded the current road system as “dangerous” with traffic not stopping at the yield sign. “This is a very, very serious matter”. Responding to the motion, Ian Chaplin, acting senior executive engineer stated, “The installation of the one way system at this location was to facilitate safe passage of pedestrians and cyclists when the Greenway route was installed a number of years ago. The width available did not allow for a two way carriageway and path. To revert to a two way carriageway within the available space would require the removal of the cycle path which would leave an unsafe situation for pedestrians and cyclists. Alternatively if land acquisition was pursued here extra width could be …

Read More »

Disagreement over Ennis off-licence plan

TWO former mayors of Ennis are at odds over plans for the development of a shop in the Turnpike area of the town. Planning permission has been granted by Clare County Council to Geltec Retail Limited for an off-licence to be installed at the shop formerly owned by the O’Dowd family. Former mayor of Ennis, Michael Guilfoyle objected to the plans to change the use of the existing convenience shop to include an off-licence of 22m2. However, another former mayor, Councillor Pat Daly, has come out in support of the plans, which he has described as a “great boost for the Turnpike”. Councillor Daly made representations to the county council in favour of the proposal during the planning process. Speaking after the decision to grant permission, subject to five conditions, Councillor Daly stated, “I welcome the granting of planning permission. This will allow the shop to upgrade. The O’Dowd family had traded in this store for 40 years, offering a …

Read More »

Ennis tribute to Ali in Louisville

Ennis was represented at the funeral of Muhammad Ali in Louisville, Kentucky, USA, on Friday by Councillor Pat Daly, outgoing Mayor of Ennis and Gerard Dollard, interim chief executive of Clare County Council. During his visit to the Clare County Capital in September 2009, Muhammad Ali was named the first Honorary Freeman of Ennis in recognition of his career achievements and his ancestral links with the Clare county capital. Thousands of people filled the streets of the town during the visit. Ali’s ancestor Abe Grady emigrated from County Clare to the United States in the 1860s. He eventually settled in Kentucky, where he married an African-American woman. Their son also married an African-American and one of the daughters of that union was Ali’s mother, named Odessa Lee Grady. She married Cassius Clay, senior, and they settled in Louisville, where their son was initially given his father’s name on his birth in 1942. During Friday’s memorial service, Mr Dollard and Councillor …

Read More »