Shepherd’s delight for residents as Ennis laneway named

A DECISION to rename an Ennis laneway ‘Shepherd’s Lane’ following a ballot of local residents has been described as “positive news” by the Mayor of Ennis Councillor Clare Colleran Molloy, as well as being welcomed by other members of the Ennis Municipal District.

As previously reported in The Clare Champion the residents of St Flannan’s Terrace had called for a proper name to be given to a back lane which had been known locally as ‘The Laneway’ and ‘The Car Road’.

A residents’ association was formed earlier this year and a ballot of all 46 houses in the area was undertaken to determine a suitable name for the site.

The results of the ballot saw Shepherd’s Lane come out as the favourite by the majority of the people who responded to the survey. Prior to 1912 the site on which the houses were built was known as the Shepherd’s Field.

This month’s meeting of the Ennis Municipal District was told plans are now underway to have the new name entered into official council records and new signage installed.

The residents’ campaign for a new name for the laneway was first raised at March’s meeting of the Ennis Municipal District by Councillor Paul Murphy who sought advice on the process of naming the site.

Speaking at this week’s meeting of the council, Councillor Murphy outlined that following the advice received in March, a residents’ association was set up “with the aim of protecting the terrace and its amenities. Naming the laneway was found to be the initial priority.”

The name ‘Shepherd’s Lane’ “has strong local historical significance” he said, describing the location as “much loved” among the locality.

The monthly meeting saw the request to rename the laneway submitted by four councillors for agreement, Councillor Colleran Molloy, Councillor Johnny Flynn, Councillor Murphy and Councillor Pat Daly.

Proposing the renaming, Councillor Colleran Molloy welcomed the “positive news” and acknowledged Councillor Murphy’s efforts in initially raising the matter with the council.

Councillor Johnny Flynn stated he is “delighted with the news that the laneway will be appropriately be called ‘Shepherd’s Lane’.

Councillor Pat Daly commented, “What we are doing is supporting the residents of St Flannan’s Terrace. It’s a lovely laneway, I often walk it.”

Councillor Ann Norton said she was happy to see the issue has been progressed. She asked why the matter which had initially been raised in March was now on the agenda at the October meeting with motions by four councillors.

Leonore O’Neill explained that at the March meeting it had been outlined that the process for changing a road name is provided for under Section 196 of the
Local Government Act 2001. This required that a ballot be undertaken before any renaming, and now that the information from the ballot has been received the proposal needs to be formally adopted.