Tag Archives: Ennis Municipal District

MOTORISTS have been locked in a ‘stalemate’ with other drivers due to a lack of pull-ins on a narrow road leading to a Clare cemetery. A meeting of the Ennis Municipal District heard calls for the pull-ins to be put in place on the road from Templemaley graveyard to the bottom of Templemaley Hill. Proposing the action, Councillor Pat Daly outlined that the route is very narrow and is popular with walkers. “Pull-ins are definitely required, people have to reverse back and it’s just not good enough in this day and age.” Barry Conway, senior executive engineer, told the meeting, “The L-4146-4 at Templemaley is a narrow road bounded on either side by stone walls. “The addition of pull ins would be most practical in the vicinity of existing gateways or field entrances and would require the cooperation of landowners. Ennis Municipal District will examine the location to identify if suitable locations exist and if so, engage with landowners to …

A BOYCOTT of Russian goods in response to the invasion of Ukraine has been called for by Ennis councillors, who have also urged the people of Clare to support local efforts to provide relief for the war-stricken country. Councillor Clare Colleran Molloy, speaking at the monthly meeting of the Ennis Municipal District, urged that retailers who are stocking products made in Russia withdraw them from shelves as she described President Vladimir Putin as a “modern day Hitler”. She said that the people of Ireland are “repulsed” by recent events in Ukraine. She acknowledged, “This is not the Russian people, they are in the dark, this is being done by a megalomaniac who is detached from reality. He doesn’t care about Russian soldiers in Ukraine who thought they were going in on exercises. This is an appalling betrayal of his own people. But this shouldn’t deter us from boycotting Russia economically.” Mayor of Ennis, Councillor Ann Norton praised the people of …

THE tragic death of teacher Ashling Murphy sparked calls for an audit to be carried out of Ennis’ public spaces to ensure they are safe. This week’s meeting of the Ennis Municipal District heard Councillor Mary Howard urge that the examination be carried out with a focus on lighting levels, footpath conditions and hedgerow maintenance starting with the Fairgreen and Lees Road. She said she was inspired to propose the motion following the “awful events” of last January in Tullamore when the teacher was killed while out jogging. “In light of recent events I believe it is important to ensure our public spaces / physical environment are safe,” she said. The councillor cited a United Nations Women’s Safety Audit as an example of what could be used to determine how safe the local environment is. “I’m putting this forward because women are asking me to, they just felt some places might be a little bit overgrown? The lighting mightn’t be …

Enforcement of planning conditions were brought up at Ennis MD, as alternatives for return of popular walking bus at Ennis school are explored ALTERNATIVE options are being examined by an Ennis school to allow for the return of a popular ‘walking bus’ after access to its traditional meeting point at the Westpoint Retail Park was prevented. A meeting is due to be held between council officials and public representatives and the board of management of Ennis National School this week in a bid to find a solution which will allow the walking bus to go ahead in another location. Questions are also being asked about Clare County Council’s enforcement of planning conditions, with Ennis councillors insisting that the facilitation of the walking bus was part of a previously granted planning application. The walking bus had operated from Westpoint Business Park every morning for eight years, and late last August parents of school children were informed that the facility was cancelled due …

“SYSTEMATIC and organised” beggars on the streets of Ennis are taking advantage of the generosity of well-meaning local people, with some collecting up to €200 a day, it has been claimed. A meeting of the Ennis Municipal District this week heard calls for an investigation to be carried out by An Garda, Revenue and other State Agencies, with councillors saying organised begging is taking much needed funds away from local charities. The issue was highlighted by Councillor Johnny Flynn who said that people are being dropped off in the town centre to beg before being collected later. He said these are not local homeless people, but instead are “people plying their trade, it’s a business”. He insisted that Ennis is “one of the safest and friendliest towns in the country” adding he is proud of the actions of gardaí when dealing with criminal behaviour. He said that the actions of organised beggars “has to be called out” and an investigation …

WHILE students might not usually want to get in deep water with their teachers, one Ennis school is turning the tide when it comes to learning new skills. Scoil Chríost Rí’s ‘Kayak le Chéile’ club has been making waves with students since it was launched in 2020. Now efforts are being made to improve the experience even more with plans in place to install a ramp to allow greater access to the river for the club. A recent meeting of the Ennis Municipal District heard that discussions are underway with stakeholders about the design of the ramp. The need for the ramp to be installed was raised by Councillor Mark Nestor who described the establishment of the county’s first school kayaking club as a “great achievement”. He acknowledged teacher Joe Garry for his efforts with the club which has gone from strength to strength. He said that a ramp would be “the final piece” in the development of the kayaking …

RESIDENTS of neighbourhoods in Ennis are “living in a nightmare” fearing a return of flood waters, a meeting of councillors heard, as it was confirmed funding has been made available to carry out a feasibility study aimed at finding a solution to the issue. The worries of residents from Victoria Court, the Lahinch Road and lower Cloughleigh were highlighted at a recent meeting of the Ennis Municipal District. Councillor Pat Daly stated that flooding is a “big issue” for residents in these areas. He pointed out his brother is among those affected saying, “They are living in a nightmare, always worried there could be a flood in their gardens and houses.” At the meeting Councillor Johnny Flynn sought an update on previous requests for a solution to the flooding affecting properties in the area. He recalled flooding in 2012 / 2013 left one businessperson counting the costs after €30,000 in catering equipment was destroyed. “This urgently needs to be addressed,” …

ENNIS’ deputy mayor has admitted he was “mortified” to discover he had accidentally used a disabled parking space, sparking calls for a re-paint of the spaces to make them more noticeable. Councillor Paul Murphy made the admission at the monthly meeting of the Ennis Municipal District saying parking in the space was “not deliberate”. He explained he had reversed into a space at the Active Ennis John O’Sullivan Park Lees Road in the dark and it was only on his return to the vehicle that he realised it was a disabled parking space. “I was mortified, it is something I have always frowned on,” he said. “The colour of the space wasn’t even blue, just in spots. The wheelchair sign was there, but it was extremely faded.” Following the incident, he brought the need to re-paint the spaces to the attention of Ennis Mayor, Councillor Ann Norton who as well as her role in the council is a well known …