Ennis

PLANS for a mixed-use development at Bank Place, put on hold following the collapse of the property boom, have been refused an extension of the period of planning permission by Ennis Town Council.

  FOLLOWING the “tremendous success” of last year’s Clarecastle Regatta, organisers are optimistic that people from all over the county will once again row behind the event by coming out to enjoy the fun.The 2012 Clarecastle Regatta takes place on Saturday, July 14 at the quayside, starting at 1.30pm. This is the third regatta to take place since 2010 following an initiative by the Clarecastle GAA to revive the regatta after a lapse of many years. “This year’s event has a huge variety of attractions and if we are lucky enough to be blessed with similar weather to last year, it promises to be a great family day out,” said Veronica Talty, secretary of the regatta committee.All proceeds from this year’s events will go to three worthy causes: Sr Mary Barry’s Mission in Kenya, the local branch of the St Vincent de Paul and the Clarecastle Development Committee Playground Fund. Entry to the quayside is free, however, there will be …

TRANSPORT Minister Alan Kelly has approved funding totalling €100,000 for a new walkway and cycleway in Oranmore.

THE Ennis Street Festival is set to run from  this Friday to July 8.

  ENNIS could become a bilingual town by 2018, according to the organisers of a project aimed at promoting local businesses to use the cúpla focal in a bid to increase business and tourism in the town.Inis Dom!, funded by Foras na Gaeilge, is being undertaken by Chláir as Gaeilge and already the response from businesses has been “phenomenal”. According to Domhnall Ó Loingsigh of Conradh na Gaeilge Inis, “We have a five-year plan to make Ennis a bilingual town and we think we can do this by 2018. Our message is, let’s do this and get everybody behind this.”The Inis Dom! project was first launched late last year but this week sees efforts step up a gear. A survey has been sent out to businesses throughout the town to ascertain the amount of interest in achieving bilingual status as well as to find out the level of Irish speaking that is currently out there. Bainisteoir Brónagh Ní Choitir has …

IT was a case of home sweet home in Ennis this week as a new social housing development for six people with intellectual disability, undertaken by Banner Housing Association, was officially launched by Minister for Housing Jan O’Sullivan.

COUNCILLOR Pat Daly is set to be named as the new Mayor of Clare this Friday, making him the fifth Ennis councillor to take the chains of office.

ENNIS friary has welcomed more than 1,200 visitors in the first seven days since the historic building was reopened.