Ennis

ENNIS is set to host the 28th Annual Ennis Tradfest this November with a line up of top international, national and local traditional music stars. Amongst the stars will be Anxo Lorenzo, a virtuoso award-winning Galician piper renowned for his energetic and inspiring performances.  Over 1,000 are expected to travel from the US, Canada, Spain and the UK for Ennis Tradfest 2022.  From its early years, Ennis Tradfest has established itself as one of the most vibrant and dynamic traditional music festivals in Ireland with fans and visitors returning year after year. Michael ‘Blackie’ O’Connell, widely recognised as one of the best pipers in the world, has been tirelessly building this festival over the years into an extravaganza of traditional music.  Tradfest 2022 is no exception, boasting a stellar line-up of musicians including the Galician Anxo Lorenzo Band, legends Sean Keane (formerly of The Chieftains) and Gay Mc Keon, John Carty and Mike McGoldrick, Damien and Conor Connolly and popular concert band Jiggy.   …

ENNIS Players’ Annual Supper Theatre is back with three offerings to whet your theatrical appetite this November. Rehearsals are well underway for this four-night production, offering the finest of theatre and the finest of food in the surrounds of the Old Ground Hotel, Ennis. This year’s production will showcase performances of Elysium Nevada by Barry McKinley; Trapped, by Barry Woods and Tony Layton’s Where there’s a Will. Elysium Nevada is set in a retirement village in the sweltering Nevada desert. Two residents reflect on life, youth and how they got there. They are joined by a mysteriously silent woman whose presence adds an entirely new dimensions to the discussion. Directed by Saoirse Byrne, and features Hugh Gallagher as Bob, Conor Lynch as Mike and Amy McEnnis as Constance. Trapped sees Faye respond to a distressed phonecall from her best friend. They discover information that is both profound and life changing. A ten minute play about the unexpected parts that people …

Ennis has enjoyed more high profile success in the national Tidy Towns competition, being named this Friday as Ireland’s Tidiest Large Urban Centre for 2022. Announcing the winners, Minister Heather Humphreys said, “I want to sincerely congratulate Ennis and all of its TidyTowns volunteers. “This is a moment of great pride for Ennis and indeed the wider county of Clare. Having won the overall prize in 2021, Ennis today continues to showcase all that is good about community and volunteerism. “I have no doubt that the Tidy Towns Group in Ennis will receive a warm and deserving homecoming as they celebrate this wonderful occasion. “The level of competition was extremely high this year with the third highest number of entries ever recorded. “I want to pay tribute to all the winners today but, above all, I want to say a huge thank you to the thousands of TidyTowns volunteers across the country. “The time and effort that you put in …

AFTER more than three decades in existence the Ennis Mental Health Association has confirmed this week that it will fully cease operations at the end of the month. Maria Molloy, chair of the registered charity, explained that the board of directors believes the time is right to retire after many years of service locally. Like-minded local organisations and charities have been presented with the organisation’s remaining funds, she added. Ms Molloy expressed appreciation for the “generous support” the organisation has received over the years. And she reminded anyone with concerns about their mental health that support is available from Mental Health Ireland. She said, “Ennis Mental Health Association has operated in the town of Ennis and its environs for over 32 years. “Following much consideration, and after many years of commitment, the Board of Directors of Ennis Mental Health Association has decided that the time has now come for them to retire.” She continued, “We are extremely grateful for the …

THE ability of Clarecastle’s coastal flood barrage, built in the middle of the last century, to protect Ennis and its surroundings needs to be examined “urgently” a local councillor has insisted. Councillor Johnny Flynn has urged the local authority to prepare a report on the barrage in light of the current “climate crisis”, while renewing his call that the critical infrastructure be moved. Senior Engineer Sean Lenihan has acknowledged that the barrage is a “key piece of infrastructure” saying the benefits of Ennis’ flood defence schemes “absolutely depends on a fully functioning and optimally fit for purpose barrage.” The monthly meeting of the Ennis Municipal District heard that the council are in the process of commissioning engineers to prepare a brief for the appointment of experts to carry out a structural assessment of the barrage. Speaking at the meeting Councillor Flynn outlined he was “very concerned” about the historic barrage which was designed and build in the mid 20th century …

THERE will be planning applications next year for two major projects involving retail, office and housing in Ennis town centre. Briefing councillors this week, chief operating officer of Ennis 2040 Kevin Corrigan said it is intended, between office and large retail, to develop about 5,000 square metres of space, including more than 50 apartments. Mr Corrigan, outlining a number of masterplans, claimed significant progress is likely to come in the next two years. “We’ll be lodging two planning applications for town centre sites in 2023, so between office and large retail we intend to develop about 5,000 square metres of space, 50+ apartments,” he told county council members. “The funding models are still being developed, we’re hoping the construction will start after it goes through planning in 2024,” he added. “We’ll be doing a masterplan next year for the Post Office field and we’re hoping to commence construction in 2024 or 2025.” Restating some of Ennis 2040’s purposes Mr Corrigan …

LINKING Ennis’ traffic light system would be “less pedestrian friendly” a council engineer has explained in response to calls for the lights in the town to be synchronised. Councillor Mary Howard raised the issue at a meeting of the Ennis Municipal District where she said a number of people had suggested the idea as a way of improving traffic flow at busy times. She outlined that the return of students to school has led to a number of “pinch points” at drop-off and pick-up times with the majority of traffic moving in the same direction. Ian Chaplin, acting senior executive engineer responded, “Having consulted with our Traffic Lights providers, it is possible to link the traffic lights in the town but this is now considered old technology. “Linking would have been in operation historically when other traffic light solutions were not available. “For instance, Kilrush Road/Carmody street junction has a MOVA (Microprocessor Optimised Vehicle Actuation) operated set of traffic lights, …

THE Australian Ambassador to Ireland His Excellency Mr Gary Gray will visit Ennis this week, giving a talk on Tuesday, October 11 at the Old Ground Hotel. The event, organised by the Clare Labour Party, will be held at 7.30pm in the Ennis hotel. The special guest is an experienced Australian Labour Party member having served in the Bob Hawke and Paul Keating Governments, going on to become a minister. He also worked in the energy sector in Western Australia. Denis Vaughan, chair of the Clare Labour Party says all are welcome to attend this Tuesday’s talk. “In 1985 it was calculated that a third of all Australians were of Irish extraction and coincided with the first Irish state visit to Australia by President Paddy Hillery. This met with widespread acclaim including front page coverage in all the major newspapers and TV coverage. “Australia and Ireland have many cultural and sporting links. You only have to mention Ned Kelly and …