Hopes for national saint to boost local economy

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, the business community and other stakeholders, it is proposed to hold the parade on St Patrick’s Day itself. “This also has regard to tradition,” he stated.
The theme chosen for this year’s parade is Ennis – A Town of Many Cultures and at this stage previous participants in the parade have been notified.
The parade will follow the established route from the Courthouse, along Newbridge Road, to Abbey Street, O’Connell Square, O’Connell Street and terminate in the market.
The parade will begin at 11am and is expected to take between an hour and an hour and a half to pass the reviewing stand, which will be located in the square.
“The parade itself attracts considerable local interest both from participation and the onlookers’ perspective,” added Mr Cleary. As in previous years, pre-parade entertainment will be provided in the square and at Lifford by the Gospel Choir and Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann.
“As this is a bank holiday weekend, it is proposed to try and maximise the economic benefits of the St Patrick’s Day weekend for the town. Saturday is an important trading day for businesses. In this regard, it is hoped the increased footfall from visitors to the town for the parade could be converted to an afternoon shopping experience and weekend social event.
“In order to heighten awareness of this initiative, it is proposed to implement a parking incentive on Saturday if it is linked to pedestrianisation of the streets. It is viewed as important that some piloting of pedestrianisation would occur on festive occasions to provide the customer with an alternative Ennis experience,” he said.
He added while it is envisaged that there will be some kind of parking incentive “logistics will have to be taken into account”.
Mr Cleary urged the town’s business community to “put the shoulder to the wheel” to maximise the economic benefits to the town. He outlined that local businesses are planning to sponsor face painters and other street entertainment.
Councillor Tommy Brennan welcomed that the parade would be held on St Patrick’s Day itself, commenting, “I never ate my Christmas dinner on St Stephen’s Day”.
Councillor Peter Considine urged people to get involved with making the parade “colourful and exciting”. Mayor of Ennis, Councillor Michael Guilfoyle added, “I am calling on all organisations to get involved with the celebrations this year. It is a national holiday but there will be people working on the day and making an effort to keep jobs and create an atmosphere in the town.”
Councillor Johnny Flynn encouraged businesses to pay their rates saying, “Without that, the town wouldn’t be able to be so generous with regard to parking initiatives. I am asking the business community to be as prompt as possible with their rates.”
The meeting heard that the Deputy Mayor of Lagenfeld, Germany, Dieter Braschoss together with a delegation from the town council and management will be in Ennis for the parade.
Councillors also agreed that the Mayor of Ennis would not attend the St Patrick’s Day celebrations in New York. While acknowledging the importance of international visits such as this, particularly on St Patrick’s Day, it was decided the mayor would stay in Ennis.
The councillors were told that town manager, Ger Dollard will be in New York for a tourism event in his capacity as a member of the executive of Clare County Council at the time and was happy to represent Ennis as part of his planned trip.