Ennis

ENNIS Joint Policing Committee meetings are of greater benefit without the media present, according to a senior official with Ennis Town Council.

TALENTED Ennis artist Naomi Higgins has created a unique sculpture made out of old tyres for the annual Electric Picnic music festival in County Laois next weekend.The 11ft x 9ft Gaia’s Messenger weighs almost a tonne and has a wingspan of 15.5ft. It was made from 97 old inner tyre tubes on a base of salvaged steel and wire mesh. Naomi was commissioned by Bin Your Empties recycling company to submit a work made from recycled materials for the festival.She explained that the title comes from the Wiccan belief that the Earth is an intelligent, conscious, living organism, named Gaia, after the Greek goddess, who they believed created the universe. Naomi said she considers it to be an angel, which motivates people to think and care about the Earth. “The inspiration for the piece came from a news item regarding the burying of tyres and their subsequent damage to the environment. This led me to think about how the Earth …

A FORMER member of the production staff of The Clare Champion, Ennis man Paddy Brennan, has compiled a book depicting Clare, Ennis and its people through the generations.A Window in Time – Clare, Ennis and its People Framed Through the Generations includes many fantastic photos, including sports events, school children, street and entertainment scenes dating back many years, as well as genuine heartfelt accounts of local stories covering aspects of local life.Paddy retired from his role as production manager of the newspaper last year, having spent 49 years as an employee. He started work as a 16-year-old as a machine minder, later becoming a compositor, then a lino operator and moved on to the computers when that transition occurred. For the last 15 years of his years in the paper he was production manager. Paddy said he started to collect photographs more than 20 years ago. “I loved photography. I won a camera when I was 14 for running in …

BUSINESSES in Ennis reaped the benefits of up to 4,000 visitors in the county at the weekend due to the Sky Ride Etape Hibernian Cycle. Shannon Development has estimated that the event generated in the region of €1.5 million for local businesses, including eateries, hotels, bars and shops.CEO of Ennis Chamber, Rita McInerney, said the chamber is delighted with the success of the cycle and the benefits it brought to businesses, in its first year.“Town was certainly busy over the weekend, especially on Sunday in the Market area of Ennis. We will be carrying out a review of the event to determine the benefits to local business but I can say without a doubt that business was certainly up. Hotels and B&Bs had high occupancy rates. Of course, the Merriman Summer School was also in, which also attracted people to Ennis. There would have been up to 4,000 visitors here over the weekend due to the cycle and Shannon Development’s …

THE chairman of the Ennis Joint Policing Committee and organiser of the Clare Anti Headshop campaign, town councillor Paul O’Shea, has claimed that the ban on unregulated and unlicensed products sold in headshops has had limited success in reducing the problem of legal highs in Ennis..

A QUESTION-and-answer discussion with former world featherweight champion Barry McGuigan will be the highlight at an event to mark the first anniversary of boxing legend Muhammad Ali’s visit to Ennis last year. Celebrating The Greatest – An evening with Barry McGuigan will be held at Glór in Ennis at 8pm on Wednesday, September 1.

An Ennis hotel played host to its oldest overseas visitor when 100-year-old LeVere Gray checked in earlier this week.

ENNIS Town Councillor Paul O’Shea has called on the Government to reconsider the introduction of a public service levy on electricity that will see prices go up by 5% for low and middle-income families.