Ennis

FOLLOWING years of fundraising, Rice College officially opened a new state-of-the-art Home Economics room this week. Current and past Parents’ Associations drove the fundraising effort and as a result the school is finally in a position to offer Home Economics as a Junior Cycle subject to the current First Years. A Home Economics teacher, Meagan Bourke, was appointed last summer and a conversion of an existing classroom into a custom designed practical room with 10 stations, disability access and high spec fixtures and fittings took place. Louis Mulqueen, principal, welcomed the development saying, “The broadening of the curriculum that this room allows, along with the obvious skills that will be developed by our students, life skills, the meeting of the Junior Cycle Indicators of Wellbeing – Active, Responsible, Connected, Resilient, Aware, Respected -is a fantastic achievement for the college. “We have long hoped that this day would come and thanks to the hard work and dedication of our parents, staff …

Traffic management plans will be operational in Ennis from 8am on Tursday, March 17 to accommodate the St Patrick’s Day Parade. Diversions will be in place and pedestrian access will be available. The roads being closed on a rolling basis include Steele’s Terrace/Newbridge Road (from Kelly’s Corner roundabout to the Club Bridge); New Road from its junction with Tulla Road to Newbridge Road; College Road (local access only); Mill Road in an easterly direction from the Maid of Erin roundabout to its junction with Bindon Street; Harmony Row; Abbey Street; Francis Street from Francis Street car park to Abbey Street; Abbey Street car park (closed to parking from 8am with exit from the car park restricted during the parade); O’Connell Square; O’Connell Street; Bank Place; Bindon Street; Harvey’s Quay (Parnell Street) car park (restricted access and no through access); Old Friary Lane; High Street and Salthouse Lane. To access more detailed information on the traffic management plan for St Patrick’s …

A CLARE school is one of five nationwide that has achieved Yellow Flag status at a ceremony to mark their efforts in tackling racism and promoting inclusion of all cultures, ethnicities and religions. Holy Family Junior School, Ennis was awarded the flag along with schools – two primary and three post primary – from Dublin and Kerry at an online event hosted by RTE Presenter and author of The Same but Different, Emer O’Neill. Speaking at the ceremony teacher Miriam Lowe of Holy Family Junior School, Ennis said; ”The Yellow Flag Programme provides Holy Family Junior School with a flexible framework through which to showcase the rich diversity within our school and to capture and celebrate the inclusion this diversity enables.” To be awarded schools must complete eight steps of the intercultural Programme which aims to improve educational outcomes for all children through a learning environment where diversity is valued and celebrated. Part of their efforts must include establishing a …

ARCHAEOLOGICAL testing is to be carried out ahead of the creation of a new community recreation park in Clarecastle in an area deemed to have “high archaeological potential”. Planning permission has been granted by Clare County Council to Clarecastle Community Amenity Ltd for the development of the park which includes an all-weather multi-purpose playing pitch and walking track. Due to the proximity of the site to recorded monuments mitigation measures have been put forward to ensure the preservation of features of archaeological interest. The community group’s original plans were adjusted including altering the location of the pitch to avoid any direct impact on the recorded monuments in the area. There are two recorded monuments within the bounds of the site itself, levelled earthworks which are likely to be early medieval ring-forts. An intact ring-fort is also located immediately adjacent to the site. Permission for the development was granted subject to a number of conditions of planning including the engagement of …

IN a sign of things to come efforts are being made to upgrade a popular Ennis initiative which has been helping to bring history to life for more than a decade. The Ennis Historic Town Signage was introduced back in 2009 and has proven to be a welcome addition to the town for both tourists and local people alike. However, condensation issues, stickers and graffiti are affecting the posters encased within the signs and calls are now being made for an update, with QR codes for use with mobile phones among the suggestions being made. The condition of the signs was raised at a meeting of the Ennis Municipal District by Councillor Mary Howard. “These signs have been a great addition to the town since they were introduced back in 2009. However I believe they now need some refurbishment as most displays have condensation issues, this is affecting the integrity of the information posters within the frames.” She asked was …

A BOYCOTT of Russian goods in response to the invasion of Ukraine has been called for by Ennis councillors, who have also urged the people of Clare to support local efforts to provide relief for the war-stricken country. Councillor Clare Colleran Molloy, speaking at the monthly meeting of the Ennis Municipal District, urged that retailers who are stocking products made in Russia withdraw them from shelves as she described President Vladimir Putin as a “modern day Hitler”. She said that the people of Ireland are “repulsed” by recent events in Ukraine. She acknowledged, “This is not the Russian people, they are in the dark, this is being done by a megalomaniac who is detached from reality. He doesn’t care about Russian soldiers in Ukraine who thought they were going in on exercises. This is an appalling betrayal of his own people. But this shouldn’t deter us from boycotting Russia economically.” Mayor of Ennis, Councillor Ann Norton praised the people of …

THE tragic death of teacher Ashling Murphy sparked calls for an audit to be carried out of Ennis’ public spaces to ensure they are safe. This week’s meeting of the Ennis Municipal District heard Councillor Mary Howard urge that the examination be carried out with a focus on lighting levels, footpath conditions and hedgerow maintenance starting with the Fairgreen and Lees Road. She said she was inspired to propose the motion following the “awful events” of last January in Tullamore when the teacher was killed while out jogging. “In light of recent events I believe it is important to ensure our public spaces / physical environment are safe,” she said. The councillor cited a United Nations Women’s Safety Audit as an example of what could be used to determine how safe the local environment is. “I’m putting this forward because women are asking me to, they just felt some places might be a little bit overgrown? The lighting mightn’t be …

Enforcement of planning conditions were brought up at Ennis MD, as alternatives for return of popular walking bus at Ennis school are explored ALTERNATIVE options are being examined by an Ennis school to allow for the return of a popular ‘walking bus’ after access to its traditional meeting point at the Westpoint Retail Park was prevented. A meeting is due to be held between council officials and public representatives and the board of management of Ennis National School this week in a bid to find a solution which will allow the walking bus to go ahead in another location. Questions are also being asked about Clare County Council’s enforcement of planning conditions, with Ennis councillors insisting that the facilitation of the walking bus was part of a previously granted planning application. The walking bus had operated from Westpoint Business Park every morning for eight years, and late last August parents of school children were informed that the facility was cancelled due …