A picture of tourism development

Ennis Town Council has launched an illustrated guide to key historic sites in the county capital.
The bilingual guide forms part of the Historic Towns Initiative, which is part-funded by Fáilte Ireland under the National Development Plan. The concept is developed around the interpretation of Ennis’ heritage and facilitates visitors to the town through a range of tourist signage, including orientation, interpretative and information boards, along a designated historic route.
Historic sites featured in the new guide include The Fair Green, Ennis Friary, CBS Monastery, Ennis Union Workhouse, Clonroad Quay, the Courthouse, Cusack Park, Steele’s Terrace, and the site of O’Brien’s Castle. Visitors using the Ennis town trail can enjoy a short and longer route, which will both start and finish at Clare Museum in the town centre.
Launching the guide recently, Mayor of Ennis Tommy Brennan said, “Of the 32 historic trails developed throughout the country, the Ennis trail is by far the most comprehensive thanks to the wealth of history and heritage sites in the town. Significant work was undertaken to research and compile the trail in 2008 and 2009. I am confident that the guide will help to promote the trail which has already further enhanced the tourism potential of the town.”
Ennis Town Clerk Eddie Power added that the new guide presents a valuable opportunity for Ennis to further establish its reputation as one of Ireland’s most historic towns.
“Established in the 13th century when the O’Brien’s of Thomond built an Abbey on the banks of the River Fergus, Ennis has long thrived as a bustling market town and is famed for its narrow, winding streets. The town is associated with pivotal moments in the careers of some of Ireland’s most famous political figures, including Charles Stewart Parnell, Daniel O’Connell and Eamon de Valera. This rich history helps to underpin the attractiveness of the town as a visitor location and improve the overall tourism product on offer,” Mr Power explained.
He also said that Ennis Town Council would like to hear from potential stockists of the new guide to help attract even greater numbers of tourists to the town.
“Guesthouses, hotels, tour operators and other local businesses can all play their part to promote the valuable tourism asset we have at our doorstep”, he stressed.
The Historic Town Initiative in Ennis consists of four routes, which are marked by 126 colour-coded, bilingual finger post signs. Each route commences and finishes outside the Clare Museum building. There are 41 interpretation boards erected at key locations in Ennis’ history, including O’Connell Square and Ennis Abbey, as well as the Cathedral, West Clare Railway, Workhouse, Causeway and Gaol.
The approach in the design and presentation of the interpretation boards is in scrapbook format using black and white photos as a central theme. All interpretation boards were designed and produced by Highway Safety Developments Ltd, and the mapping was prepared by True North Mapping.
The Historic Towns Initiative forms part of the Tourism Product Development and Infrastructure sub-programme of the National Development Plan 2007-13. The initiative is also a component of the Tourism Infrastructure Fund, which supports local authorities and other infrastructure providers to develop facilities for tourists, such as walking and cycling routes, jetties and moorings, angling stands, and access paths to areas of environmental and scenic interest.