Ennis

A PAST pupil of Ennis Community College went back to school this week to share with current pupils some interesting facts about being part of the European Union as part of the Back to School scheme. Aisling Naughton now works with the EU, with the European Food and Safety Authority in Parma, Italy. She works in a team giving administrative support to the scientists working on food safety policy for the EU.This week, Aisling was one of more than 90 employees of EU institutions who headed back to their old schools to talk to senior pupils about the EU and possible career opportunities. She also visited Coláiste Mhuire to address pupils. Two other former Ennis pupils, Clare McNamara and Fergus O’Regan, will visit their former schools, Coláiste Muire and St Flannan’s College in November, as part of the same scheme.The scheme is also a chance to let pupils know about issues of broader interest such as climate change and the …

IT is the end of an era for one Ennis business and its customers as one of the town’s well-known retailers confirmed that he is shutting up shop next week because of a major downturn in business.There were signs advertising a closing-down sale at Tonie’s Fashions on Market Street for a number of weeks but this week, Tony Molloy confirmed that he is closing the shop with effect from next week, October 24.Tony has owned Tonie’s Fashions for 21 years and before that, worked for nine years in Denis Moran’s clothes shop. “All of my adult life, I’ve worked in the clothes retail business in Ennis. I’ve had this shop since 1989 and I’ve put so much time, effort and money into the shop. I have very loyal customers here and many friends who I’ve made purely through my business. It’s like a small institution and in many ways, I don’t know what I’m going to do when I’m not …

THE developers of a new private hospital in Ennis, granted planning permission lastweek, have to pay development contributions of over €1.3 million to Clare County Council, before work can commence on the project.Planning permission for the €40 million five-storey 100-bed hospital off the Shanaway Road in Ennis was granted at the end of last week subject to numerous conditions and development contributions.Originally, a planning application was made for 120 beds earlier this year but revised plans were submitted to Clare County Council at the end of August seeking permission for 73 in-patient beds, seven gynae/cardiology beds and 20 day surgery beds, a total of 100 beds. The developers have predicted that the construction of the new hospital will create over 100 jobs, with between 400 and 500 full-time jobs directly generated once it becomes fully operational in 2012. The new private hospital will provide a full range of medical and healthcare services including general surgery, urgent care, cardiology, radiation, oncology, …

The lobby group opposing the controversial extension of Limerick City into parts of South-East Clare has vowed to organise more public demonstrations if the Government fails to heed their message.Following last Sunday’s boundary protest at Westbury, Clare Against the Boundary Extension (CABE) chairman, Jim Gully said, “I am not ruling out the possibility of staging more demonstrations or protests in the near future. This could happen if the Government doesn’t listen to the committee and take our views on board.”Mr Gully said Environment Minister John Gormley needs to meet the group as soon as possible and has written to him to set up a meeting. “We will do whatever it takes to oppose this boundary extension. We tried to meet Denis Brosnan and his committee and they refused to meet us,” he said.A decision on further plans of action was due to be discussed at a committee meeting on Wednesday night.In a short address to the crowd at Westbury Housing …

Clare County Council this week rezoned land on the outskirts of Ennis, clearing the way for a private hospital to be built on the site.  Land at Shanvogh, Shanaway Road, had been zoned as residential under the Ennis and Environs Development Plan 2008-2014 and following a planning application for a private hospital, members of Clare County Council had to decide whether to contravene the plan and change the zoning.Three-quarters of the county councillors had to agree to the material contravention of the plan in order for it to be passed. The motion was carried by 28 votes to three, meaning a hospital can now be built on the site.Council planners had previously recommended that planning permission be granted for the 100-bed hospital subject to conditions and councillors passing the motion. Councillor Johnny Flynn, who is also a member of Ennis Town Council, stated that he supported the proposal to change the zoning because it provided a health service and job …

A NEW group entitled Clare Action for Unemployment has arranged for an address by MEP Marian Harkin to take place at the Community Centre on Chapel Lane on Friday.Dermot Hayes is one of the founders of the new group and he says it is vital that the unemployed, who are most affected by the economic collapse of recent years, have their voices heard.“I live across from the social welfare office and the amount of people that are going there for the dole is crazy. I know 10 people that have emigrated from Ennis alone, not to mention the rest of the county. At the same time, the country is putting €50 billion into the banks and no one is saying stop.”He works with people with disabilities and said that there have been serious cutbacks in this area, while there are delays in getting money to people when they become unemployed.Mr Hayes says the first thing that the new body will …

Bishop of Killaloe Kieran O’Reilly attends St Columba’s Church during this year’s harvest festival on the invitation of Canon Bob Hanna.  It was the bishop’s first visit to a Church of Ireland church since his appointment. Photograph by Declan Monaghan

NEW draft casual trading bylaws being proposed by Ennis Town Council are seeking to designate the Island car park at Cloughleigh for the sale of Christmas trees from December 1 to 24.