The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
IT will be lights out early in the county capital this festive season in response to the ongoing energy crisis.
The Ennis Municipal District has confirmed that while the town will have its traditional Christmas lights, the festive display will shine for a reduced number of hours each evening.
Details of this year’s Christmas in Ennis programme were released at the monthly meeting of the local authority this week with plans including free parking initiatives, pedestrianisation, street radio, a Christmas village and the return of retro drive-in movies.
The official turning on of Ennis’ Christmas lights will take place on Friday, November 25 in Abbey Street Carpark, with the lights to stay on for 12 hours from 3pm to 3am every day.
The move to reduce the time of the lights in a bid to conserve energy was welcomed by councillors at the meeting, with Deputy Mayor Mary Howard quipping, “We do our best to be on the nice list and not the naughty list.”
Street Radio will return to bring some seasonal favourites to the town from Friday, December 9. And from December 1 to December 4 Abbey Street Car Park will be transformed into a Christmas Village. Clare Marts will host retro drive-in movies on December 18.
The council has confirmed that there will be no charge for public car parks from 2pm between November 25 and January 2, though on-street parking will be charged as normal.
Additional parking is being provided in the headquarters of Clare County Council and Waterpark House Drumbiggle, while the Clare GAA parking at the Cloister will be open from 9am to 6pm.
Temporary pedestrianisation measures will continue to apply to O Connell Street which is car free from 11.30am to 4.30pm seven days a week.
Councillor Johnny Flynn said the plan will result in a 50% reduction in energy consumption. He commented that Ennis is “embracing Christmas”, pointing out that it can be a difficult time for families.
He encouraged people to take a trip into Ennis and take advantage of the parking initiatives, adding that there has been improved pedestrian access to the council headquarters.
The councillor appealed to the town’s workers not to take up parking spaces for prolonged periods saying, “I hope people will be courteous to shoppers and visitors”.
Supporting the move to reduce the Christmas lighting, Councillor Ann Norton said, “Everybody is very concerned abut energy at the moment and the cost of electricity.”
“Christmas is a season which a huge amount of people look forward to, it is an opportunity to gather family and friends together. It is a time when people do visit the town from all over the county and outside, and it is important that the lighting is on during the evening hours when the streets get dark.
“We should have lights on within the hours of 3pm and 3am, if they are switched off for the remainder it shows we are taking into consideration the cost of electricity and as a county that we are serious about our energy saving.”
Councillor Pat Daly urged workers to take advantage of parking at the Cloister and “give spaces to the people from rural parts of the county” who are visiting and shopping in the town.
