Ennis

DOG owners are being urged to clean up their act when it comes to ‘scooping the poop’. Ennis Town Council are launching personal poop-scoop dispensers, which will be available for free, making it easier for pet owners to ensure they can always clean up after their dog.One of the objectives of Ennis Town Council’s Litter Management Plan is to work in partnership with the Dog Warden Service to introduce initiatives to reduce the fouling of public places by dogs. At the January meeting of Ennis Town Council, it was agreed, by the elected members, that a renewed effort would be undertaken to remind dog owners of their responsibility regarding dog fouling.Leonard Cleary, town clerk, explained, “As part of its Anti-Litter Awareness campaign 2011/2012, Ennis Town Council is now launching personal poop scoop dispensers. These fit directly on to a dog lead so dog owners won’t forget to bring them with them.  Ennis Town Council environmental wardens will be working closely …

WITH both St Patrick’s Day and Mother’s Day falling on a bank holiday weekend in March, hopes are high that the festive weekend will bring a boost to the local economy.Plans for this year’s St Patrick’s Day parade were unveiled this week by Ennis Town Council, including proposals for a parking incentive and possible pedestrianisation.The meeting also saw councillors decide that the Mayor of Ennis would not be going to New York this year for the St Patrick’s Day celebrations, While a deputation from Lagenfeld in Germany will be among the visitors to the town for the event. Town clerk Leonard Cleary told the meeting the fact that St Patrick’s Day falls on a Saturday this year requires some consultation and planning in relation to the impact of street closures on businesses. “It is also an opportunity to maximise the economic and social benefits of this festive weekend, including the Bank Holiday Monday.”He explained that after consulting with elected members, …

MUSIC, song, drama and smiling faces were everywhere in Barefield school this week as everyone put the finishing touches to rehearsals for the annual spring concert. The concert takes place in two instalments with the playschool, junior and senior infant concert being staged in the school hall this Thursday followed next week by the main spring concert, which opens in Glór next Tuesday night at 7.30pm. The event is already a sell-out as the staff and pupils welcome parents, grandparents, family and friends to a diverse feast of entertainment with most sketches being original pieces penned by class teachers. The senior children will fine tune their performances at a full dress rehearsal on the day of the concert.School principal John Burns expressed appreciation to everyone, pupils, teachers and parents, for their efforts in preparing the programmes for both concerts.The programme for the senior concert in Glór will feature the Barefield Céilí Band, ranganna 1 performing Poor Granny; Dreams performed by …

THE spirit of the late Fr Michael McNamara, former parish priest of Doora-Barefield, continues to live on with the new chapel in Roslevan named in honour of the popular priest.Moreover, it was announced this week that the Roslevan Pastoral Council have been shortlisted to represent Clare in the EBS Community Fund for the chance to win €10,000 and are urging members of the public to vote and show their support.The newly developed chapel at Fahy Hall has been named the Church of Our Lady, with Fr Jerry Carey explaining, “This is really a tribute to Fr McNamara. He would have had a great affection for the Lourdes pilgrimage each year. Our Lady of Lourdes was someone very strong on his spiritual journey, so we felt a fitting tribute to him would have been to call it the Church of Our Lady. I think he would have been very proud with what has been done.”The €550,000 redeveloped Fahy Hall, Roslevan Community …

THE surprise decision of the Abbey branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann to withdraw Ennis’ bid to host Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in 2013 could pave the way for the county town to host the prestigious competition in 2014.According to Micheál Ó Riabhaigh, chairman of the local Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann working group, the organisation are now targeting 2014, the 1000th year celebration of Brian Boru, as Ennis’ time to host the fleadh.He believes Clare’s role in stepping back from the bid for 2013, which was awarded to Derry at the weekend, will be looked on favourably. “I think the work for 2014 will start next week but fortunately the intensive work is already behind us and we have built up good relationships. I’m sure and very hopeful that our gesture will definitely be appreciated,” he commented.“It would have been by no means certain that Derry would have got it if we had not stood down. We felt it would have …

PROPOSALS for Glór to become the centre for a variety of nationally important cultural events “warrant further research”, local councillors have been told.At a recent meeting of Ennis East Electoral Area councillors, Councillor Johnny Flynn put forward a number of potential uses for the Ennis venue to be put before the board of Glór.Glór is currently undergoing processes to develop both a company strategy for 2012 – 2014 and a three to five-year business plan. According to Councillor Flynn, the facility could become the home for a National Centre of Welcome in 2013, the Year of the Gathering and into the future. He also urged that Glór, in association with Clare local authorities and local heritage societies, consider making an application to the Minister for Arts and the National Famine Commemoration Committee for consideration of Ennis to host the sixth National Famine Commemoration in 2013. “There would also be the potential use of Glór at the centre of a year-long …

CLARE dentists have been getting their teeth into learning about advances in their profession after forming a local study group. The group of 10 dentists meet regularly in the Old Ground Hotel, working together to identify the gold standard of dentistry.The idea for the group came to Ennis dentist Niall McCarthy while he was studying for high-profile exams, which he passed first time.In the last two months Niall has successfully completed exams to become a member of the elite Joint Dental Faculty at the Royal College of Surgeons in London and also passed another set of exams for membership of the Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh, Scotland.“It was a major achievement to get these honours from two of the most respected medical colleges in the world. I was only one of two dentists in Ireland to get both awards this year. And there is quite a significant failure rate in both exams. It …

THERE was harsh criticism of the National Roads Authority this week, with warnings that Clare’s county councillors would be “only cutting our own throats” if Part 8 planning permission is given to plans by the NRA to build a salt depot on the old GAMA site at the Tulla Road Interchange.At this week’s meeting of Ennis East Electoral Area councillors, Councillor Tommy Brennan criticised the plan describing it as a “farce” in light of the fact that Clare County Council recently developed three new salt barns to deal with the county’s roads.The NRA are planning to take over maintenance of the motorway network throughout the country, with plans to establish similar depots in other regions. The proposed Clare depot would be used to maintain the motorways in Clare as well as parts of Galway and Limerick. Speaking at this week’s meeting, Councillor Brennan stated, “This Part 8 is for the very people who are objecting all around the country to …