Sunday pedestrianisation in run-up to Christmas

ABBEY Street, O’Connell Square and O’Connell Street in Ennis will be pedestrianised on certain days in the lead-up to Christmas.
The streets will be closed to vehicles on three Saturdays, December 5, 12 and 19 as well as Sunday, December 20 and Christmas Eve. Pedestrianisation will apply from 11am to 6pm each day.
There will be parking available at Ennis National School, the Holy Family School and Coláiste Muire on those days and to maximise space for consumers, there will be free parking at the Ennis Town Council Car Park and the courthouse for town-centre employees.
Guy Flouch of Ennis Chamber said that the town’s retail sector needs support.
“In the current environment,  it is more important than ever that local businesses are supported at the busiest time of the year. Ennis has a unique character and attractiveness, which is an asset to be highlighted for economic advantage.”
Town clerk Eddie Power said pedestrianisation goes down well with the public.
“We are conscious of the need to bring business to the town particularly in the current economic climate. The town has a lot to offer the Christmas shopper and the proposed pedestrianisation initiative will enhance the shopping experience. Pedestrianisation has proven popular among shoppers in the run-up to Christmas in previous years. Traffic-free streets enable people to move with ease in a more pleasant shopping environment and shoppers are facilitated by the close proximity of the car-parking facilities to the centre of the town.”
The Christmas lighting scheme in the town centre, along with the Christmas tree in the Market will be officially switched on three weeks before Christmas on December 4.