Tag Archives: Ann Norton

AN historic area of Ennis with the highest vacancy rate in the town “risks further decline” unless regeneration action is taken, a meeting of the local authority has been warned. Calls have been made on the Ennis Municipal District by Councillors Johnny Flynn, Ann Norton and Clare Colleran Molloy to “urgently” develop an action plan for Chapel Lane. Speaking at the monthly meeting of the local authority Councillor Flynn suggested that Chapel Lane could be redeveloped to facilitate artists to live and work in the area, spearheading further regeneration of the town. “With the public realm upgrade of Parnell Street and the 29 lanes and bow-ways I believe that developing a regeneration of Chapel Lane to, for example assist artists and crafters working and living in the lane, could be a blueprint for regeneration of other areas of the historic town centre,” he said. Recalling the history of the lane he outlined that the Historic Town Atlas of Ennis map …

RESIDENTS of a historic part of Ennis have pledged to fight a proposed new housing development “tooth and nail”. At an on-site briefing over the ‘Buttermarket Development’, a number of residents told Mayor of Ennis, Ann Norton of their concerns about the plan. If granted permission, it would see a total of 46 homes, a café and a digital hub built on a site that fronts onto Drumbiggle road, Buttermarket Street and Simm’s Lane. The briefing took place on Tuesday evening and was also attended for a time by Councillor Mark Nestor. It heard from a number of residents who have submitted detailed objections to Clare County Council, as well as a petition with 130 signatures. Residents recalled how Áras Uí Cochlainn, a block of apartments in the area, had been the scene of some anti-social behaviour, before eventually being demolished around two decades ago. They also pointed out that site in question has been the subject of intense interest …

“ENNIS is open for business”, the town’s new mayor Councillor Ann Norton exclaimed as she took the chain of office. The Barefield-based representative was elected as mayor of the county capital at the recent AGM of the Ennis Municipal District. Her vision for her term as mayor is to encourage recovery from the “disastrous effects” Covid-19 has had on Ennis. The founder of Clare Crusaders has also vowed to highlight the issues facing carers during her term in office. She was nominated to take the role by Councillor Pat Daly who stated she “is capable of becoming an excellent mayor”, pointing to her heavy involvement in the local community. The proposal was seconded by Councillor Johnny Flynn who spoke of her leadership qualities while also acknowledging the work of outgoing mayor Councillor Paul Murphy in what has been a “very difficult year”. This is Councillor Norton’s second time as mayor, having previously been elected in 2016, while Councillor Murphy was …

The lack of capacity at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) came into focus this week, after it emerged there was no bed to accommodate an Ennis patient in a wheelchair. Councillor Ann Norton has confirmed that there was no bed available to accommodate her daughter, Nicole, who suffers from Cerebal Palsy and a number of other medical conditions, when she attended the new Emergency Department (ED) on Thursday last. With 51 patients on trolleys in the new €24 million state-of-the-art ED at UHL on Tuesday morning, councillors from Clare and Limerick tabled numerous related motions about overcrowding and bed capacity at UHL at a HSE West Forum meeting later that afternoon. In recent days, the UL Hospitals Group outlined that activity has been very high, with 186 attendances in the 24 hours up to midnight on Sunday, September 24; 244 attendances in the 24 hours up to midnight on Monday, September 25 and 214 attendances in the 24 hours up to …

ENNIS Tidy Towns has gone ‘wild’ about biodiversity. The local organisation launched its Wild About Ennis Biodiversity Plan for 2017- 2019 last Friday in the Gordon Drive Community Garden. Mayor of Ennis Ann Norton officially launched the plan with members of the local community in Cloughleigh, Chamber CE Scheme, who manage the Garden, Department of Social Protection, Ennis Chamber, Clare County Council and students from Cloughleigh Primary School in attendance. This community-led plan was developed with the support of local individuals and community groups through online questionnaires and two dedicated workshops. Ennis Tidy Towns also invited groups from throughout the county to assist with the development of the plan, thereby ensuring many of the ideas and skills learned during the process were distributed around the county. “We look forward to implementing this ambitious plan with the help of the local community as well as local stakeholders, including Clare County Council, National Parks and Wildlife Service and Inland Fisheries Ireland.It also …

Clare County Council is open to considering a new twining link for Ennis, according to a local councillor. Commenting on moves to officially link the county town with Ennis in Texas, USA, Mayor Ann Norton said the normal procedure is to build a relationship with a location before a decision on a more formal arrangement is made by the twinning committee. Ennis is currently twinned with Phoenix, Arizona and an official link with the Lone Star State would open possibilities for new cultural, tourism and business links between County Clare and the US. The possibility of a formal tie-up with the two towns emerged this week after Ronan Bradley from Corofin helped to arrange a visit to council headquarters by Texan County Judge Mark Riley on May 25. Having started a new Facebook page entitled Ireland’s Inner Beauty, Mr Bradley said he is looking forward to Mr Riley’s visit to the Banner County, which he hopes will be the start …

LEGALISING the prescription of medicinal cannabis is an idea whose time has come, according to Clare County Council. At Monday’s meeting, Councillor Clare Colleran Molloy put forward a motion that the council “ask the Minister for Health Simon Harris to prioritise legislation legalising the prescribing of medicinal cannabis in Ireland, where those suffering and in need, as highlighted by the recent walk of Vera Twomey across the country, will have their lives hugely improved.” Ms Twomey had walked from Cork to Dublin in an attempt to draw attention to the issue. Her motion was supported by Councillor Ann Norton. “For a lot of people, medication doesn’t take away the severity of the pain,” she noted. Regarding medicinal cannabis, she said it could be “legalised and monitored like other drugs”. She added that many patients already use the drug illegally and can be fined up to €2,500 for a first offence and imprisoned for subsequent transgressions. While she said she wouldn’t …

‘Ennis – A Multi Cultural Town’ is the theme of the 2017 Ennis St Patrick’s Day Parade which takes place on the feastday of our national saint. Among the international visitors lined up are a group of 50 from Langenfeld, Ennis’ German twinning partner, and a 100- strong Russian group. In excess of 10,000 people lined the streets of the county capital during last year’s parade, which featured 50 groups representing the many aspects of life in Ennis and County Clare. The theme for this year’s parade, according to the local authority, provides participating groups, organisations, bands, schools and individuals a broad scope within, which they can reflect the various cultures in their float or group activity. There will be an overall prize for best group or float, while all parade participants will be included in an open draw for prizes. Mayor of Ennis Ann Norton, said, “The parade offers an opportunity to the people of Ennis and Clare to …