Tag Archives: ballyalla

EFFORTS to improve a local beauty spot for the enjoyment of the entire county have been given a €50,000 financial boost, however a lot more funding is needed to complete the project. Funding of €50,000 has been approved for the Ballyallia Lake Amenity Enhancement Plan under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS). Mayor of Ennis Councillor Ann Norton, who worked with Barefield Tidy Towns in launching the Ballyallia Lake Amenity Enhancement Plan, while welcoming the funding announcement says she is hopeful that the project has now been “put on the map” when it comes to securing much needed additional money. “We are delighted that we are starting to see money coming in because there is quite a big project in Ballyallia and it will take a lot of money over a long period of time. “This is really the start of the opportunity to enhance Ballyallia. We have done the feasibility study, the recommendations are there, and we want to …

The development of a European standard campervan site off the motorway at Ballyalla Lake is among the ideas put forward in a recreational and sports submission to the Ennis and environs draft local area plan. In a 12-point submission, Councillor Johnny Flynn has given a lot of attention to injecting investment into the lake area, just a few miles from Ennis town centre. He wants consideration to be given to the provision of outdoor camping, motorhome and cabin/club sleeping accommodation in that area. Proposing a physical connection from Lees Road to Ballyalla Lake, the Fine Gael councilllor wants the “designation of lands at Lee’s Road, Drumcliffe and Ballyalla for an integrated connected sports and physical recreational hub for land and water-based sports and environmental activities.” This would include the development of a junior sailing training centre. Councillor Flynn has further called for the restoration of lake amenities that have fallen into disrepair.  

THE rich history and heritage of two well-known landmarks on the outskirts of Ennis were graphically illustrated during a recent outing as part of National Heritage Week. Last Friday evening, more than 40 people gathered for an outing organised by heritage officer, Congella McGuire and the Clare Archaeological and Historical Society. Society secretary, Edel Greene, and Ms McGuire led the group around the old church and graveyard at Templemaley and the adjacent Ballyhee Cut. Templemaley Church dates back to around the 10th or 11th century and very little is known about its founding saint, Maley, although his name lives on in Kilmaley and was previously associated with a spring well at Fountain, known as Tobermaley. In the 1830s, locals believed the church was founded by St Finghin of Quin and his feast day had previously been celebrated there. According to Ms Greene, Templemaley may have been a small monastic site that became a parish church after the church reforms of …