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Ennis

Photos reveal the fun of the Fleadh Nua

THE very first Fleadh Nua in Ennis was held in 1974 and, as the festival prepares to celebrate its 40th milestone, one family recalls those first days, having uncovered a set of photographs documenting its rich heritage. In 1961, the prominent public house on O’Connell Street, now known as Brogan’s, was owned by the Hogan family. Brian Hogan and his wife, Joan, ran the business there up until November 1976. It was then, as it is now, renowned for its traditional music and entertainment and, when the Fleadh Nua began in the town, it was one of the moments they recall with great fondness. The Hogans’ son, Senan, who lives in Kildysart, was given a stack of old photographs by his aunt, Kitty Heffernan from County Waterford, who used to travel to Ennis to help out the Hogan family during this busy festival period. It is believed that these photographs date to between the first Fleadh Nua or, at the …

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Financial foundation laid for Rock Road amenity

IN one of the final acts of Ennis Town Council, funding has been arranged for an amenity scheme for the Rocky Road and water-based leisure facilities at Ballyalla, both a couple of miles on either side of the town. The council, in its last financial statement, has recommended that credits available in its current account be assigned to a number of areas, including specific funding of €22,697 for the Rocky Road and €25,765 for Ballyalla. The statement recommends that development contributions paid and due for recreation and amenity projects be assigned to recreation and amenity improvements, open space redevelopment and development at Ballyalla. The allocation of funding to the Rocky Road and Ballyalla was welcomed by all councillors. Other recommendations in the annual financial statement include that tenant purchase redemptions be assigned to improvement works on the housing stock of Ennis Town Council; that development contributions paid and due for car parks be assigned to the acquisition and improvement of …

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Ennis girls win Young Social Innovators Award

YSI Team from Coláiste Muire, Ennis has been named the “Young Social Innovators of the Year 2014”. Their project Beware of IT aims to educate young people about the increasing dangers associated with internet usage. The Ennis students’ project was one of over 400 youth-led social innovation projects undertaken this year in over 200 second level schools and youth organisations throughout Ireland. Sr Stanislaus Kennedy, co-founder, Young Social Innovators and Anne O’Leary, CEO Vodafone Ireland presented the winning team with their award at a ceremony in Dublin following the 13th Young Social Innovators Annual Showcase, which was supported by the Vodafone Ireland Foundation. The prize for the Ennis team inclued €1,500 to develop their project. Runners-up were Mount Mercy College, Model Farm Road, Co. Cork for their project on Sexual Assault Must Come To A Halt. Congratulating the award winners and all the participants in this year’s YSI Social Innovation Programme, Sr Stan said “ Social Innovation champions youth led, …

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Laughing all the way to a national title

CIARAN Ennis has laughed his way to a national title. The founder of the locally based Ennis Laughter Dragons was named Irish Laughter Champion in Galway at the weekend. “It felt brilliant to be named the winner, and I will definitely be back next year to defend my title,” he told us. The event was held in aid of Galway charity, Jigsaw, a free and confidential support service for young people, their mental health and wellbeing. Ciaran and Angie Lindenau, lead the Laughter Dragons, a laughter yoga club, every Tuesday at 6pm in the Gaelscoil. The community laughter group meet to explore the benefits of laughter yoga. He explained, “It’s a group where we meet once a week and it’ all about learning to laugh for no reason at all. We use laughter yoga, which comes from India. And we use laughter as an exercise, its one of the most powerful, dynamic exercises. The whole reason why we use laughter …

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Town councils’ final meetings

THE reality of local government reform will hit home in County Clare this Tuesday when Ennis Town Council, Kilkee Town Council and Shannon Town Council meet for the last time. The final meeting of Kilrush Town Council takes place on Thursday night. The meetings will recall the contributions which members of the respective councils made to their local communities over the decades, as well as the improvements which the authorities brought to the towns. The councils will also be able to look back at how the local authorities acted as a springboard to national politics for many members.

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Ruairi Quinn to open new Ennis NS

THE new Ennis National School will be officially opened next month by Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn. As well as the minister, the official opening on May 16 will also be attended by Bishop Kieran O’Reilly. A series of activities and events have been organised for the day to mark the occasion. Among these will be the publication of a new book exploring the history of Ennis National School. The new state of the art school at Ashline opened its doors to its first pupils back in August. Among the many benefits of the school’s new location is the greater ease of access and increased parking. There was a concerted effort between Ennis Town Council, Clare County Council, An Garda Síochána and the school authorities prior to the school’s opening relating to the Travel Plan. And it is hoped that sustainable travel methods – walking, cycling, ‘walking bus’, car-pooling – will be used by increased numbers of students in keeping …

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Ennis students showing concern

A GROUP of Ennis students have proved they can talk the talk after making it to the semi-finals of a national competition. The newly formed St Flannan’s College debating team have reached the semis of the Concern Debates, Concern Worldwide’s flagship school’s activity. For the semi-finals the St Flannan’s team will debate Coláiste Bhríde, Carnew, County Wicklow on this Tuesday  in the Irish Chartered Institute of Accountants Building, Pearse Street Dublin. The motion is ‘Confidence that world leaders will take meaningful action on the latest IPCC report is misplaced’ and St Flannan’s will propose the motion. Almost 150 schools initially entered the competition this year. Saint Flannan’s College have triumphed in their previous six rounds and are now down to the four top debating schools in the country. In the group stages, Saint Flannan’s College have beaten Presentation Secondary School, Limerick, Saint Caimin’s Community School, Shannon, and Salesian’s Secondary School Limerick. In the group’s decider, St Flannan’s defeated Laurel Hill …

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