FOUR Fianna Fáil candidates have been selected for convention to see who will be co-opted onto Clare County Council and fill a vacant seat in the Ennis Municipal District. This follows the departure earlier this year of former Ennis Municipal District councillor Mark Nestor who announced he was leaving politics to join the priesthood. The Ennis Fianna Fáil Comhairle Ceantair have confirmed that Bernard Hanrahan, Amanda Major, Darragh McAllister and Tom O’Callaghan will be vying to fill the open seat on the local authority. The convention to determine who will take the place of Nestor is set to take place later this month. Clarecastle’s Bernard Hanrahan is no stranger to the chambers of Clare County Council and is a staunch member of the Fianna Fáil party having served as a councillor in the Ennis area for a decade from 1999 to 2009. Amanda Major, who is originally from Nigeria, has lived in Clare for 18 years becoming an Irish citizen …

A NEW film featuring Clare award winning writer and poet Doireann Ní Ghríofa has been released this week, and people in the Banner county will have the opportunity to see it on the big screen in Ennis. Described as an intimate exploration of Doireann’s world and creative process, Aisling Trí Néallaibh: Clouded Reveries is a film about memories, motherhood and the mysterious nature of creativity. The acclaimed poet and essayist, raised in Kilnamona, was catapulted into the international literary spotlight in 2020 with the publication of her debut novel A Ghost in the Throat. Lauded by critics from the New York Times to the Guardian, it went on to win the Irish Book of the Year. Aisling Trí Néallaibh: Clouded Reveries is an exploration of Ní Ghríofa’s world and creative process. Captured through intimate performances of her own work and in-depth interviews, the film reveals Ní Ghríofa’s creative impulses and journeys with her to the heart of her inspiration, her home place …

ENNIS has once again claimed the title of ‘Ireland’s Friendliest Place’. The county capital scooped the award at the AIBMS Retail Excellence Awards ceremony at the Galmont Hotel last weekend which also saw Clare’s Wild Atlantic Optician win Optician of the Year. Ennis retail stores made a huge impression on the mystery shoppers in July of this year to secure the town a shortlisting for this award, along with Ashbourne and Moynalty in County Meath, Monaghan Town and Carrick-on-Shannon in County Leitrim. This was followed by a public vote which took place in October.   Mayor of Ennis Municipal District, Councillor Clare Colleran Molloy said, “This recognition is testament to all those retailers in the town who are committed to making Ennis a great place to visit and shop. I would also like to take the opportunity to thank everyone who took the time to vote for Ennis.” She added that this award follows other recent successes for the town with awards …

GLÓR’S director Orla Flanagan will be stepping down from her role in the new year the venue’s chair and board have announced. After six years at the helm of the Ennis cultural venue, Ms Flanagan is set pursue her own artistic interests and to embark on new creative projects. She has been appointed as senior producer for Once Off Productions and said she intends to remain living in Clare. “I am very proud of what we have achieved in glór over the past six years,” Ms Flanagan commented. “I will really miss the great staff, supportive board and our fantastic partners and artists as well as the buzz of the events and the vibrancy of the building. “I am especially proud of our collaborations with a range of artists and projects as well as the many exceptional artists celebrated and featured as part of the MÓRglór Award.” She said she is looking forward to working with a wide range of …

AN Ennis mother has been named Clare Family Carer of the Year by Family Carers Ireland. The  national charity supporting Ireland’s family carers, has announced that the 2022 Netwatch Clare Family Carer of the Year is Anne Micks from Ennis. Anne cares full time for her daughter 20-year-old Ciara who lives with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS), a debilitating condition which affects the connective tissues of the body and causes complications including chronic pain, fatigue and partial dislocation of joints. In nominating her mother for the award, Ciara said that Anne gave up a high-profile job in order to care for her, fought incredibly hard to secure a diagnosis and is an amazing advocate for her and other families affected by EDS. She describes her mum as her hero and her idol and says she couldn’t be more proud of her. Now in their 15th year, the Netwatch Family Carer of the Year Awards seek to recognise and shine a light on the …

A SURVEY should be carried out to ensure the condition of housing estates in the charge of the local authority is “kept up to a certain level” with an annual maintenance programme put in place, an Ennis councillor has suggested. Councillor Ann Norton was speaking at a recent meeting of the Ennis Municipal District councillors where the “appalling condition” of footpaths and the road surface in a residential area of Ennis was highlighted. An assessment of the Maiville estate in Ennis was sought by Councillor Mary Howard who stated, “The footpaths and road surface in Maiville is in an appalling condition, man-hole covers are a number of inches above the road surface and are a health and safety risk.” She stated that the man-hole covers are “very dangerous” and she urged the council to take action “as a matter of urgency”. Ian Chaplin, acting senior executive engineer confirmed that the estate is in the charge of the local authority and …

THE now famous Clare Quilt has found a new permanent home right here in the county that inspired its design. The impressive quilt featuring 60 individual handmade squares depicting scenes from across the county was unveiled this week at its new home in Cois na hAbhna, the regional centre of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann in Ennis. This comes after Comhaltas were the lucky winners of a special raffle for the quilt which raised funds for two local charities West Clare Cancer Support and Sláinte An Chláir. It was thought that the quilt would be brought to Comhaltas headquarters in Dublin, however Labhrás Ó Murchú, Ardstiúrthóir generously suggested that if a home could be found in Clare then it should stay in the county. The creation of the quilt was the brainchild of Valery Larkin, who previously spear-headed the creation of the world’s largest knitted blanket with help from knitters all over the world. She was seeking a project to keep her occupied …

PLANS for the delivery of a “much needed” local bus service for Ennis town and its environs are driving forward with confirmation the National Transport Authority have “advanced” their design and are due to undertake a route inspection this month. However, former mayor of Ennis Councillor Johnny Flynn, who has been a long time campaigner for the service has criticised the “snail’s pace” of the project and is calling on the county’s Oireachtas members to attend the next meeting of the Ennis Municipal District and push for the service’s delivery. Details of the progress of providing a local bus were outlined at a recent meeting of the Ennis Municipal District where the service’s importance was emphasised by local councillors. Seeking an update on the service, Councillor Paul Murphy insisted that a local bus service is “vital” for the town of Ennis. “I am requesting a progress update on provision of a much needed local bus service for Ennis Town and …