Tag Archives: Ennis

THE road in the Tobarteascáin area of Ennis is being used as a ‘rat run’ prompting calls from residents for speed ramps to be installed in the area. The Ennis Municipal District has confirmed that traffic and speed surveys are to be carried out in the location. Highlighting the matter at the monthly meeting of the local authority, Councillor Mary Howard stated, “I have received numerous complaints from residents from Tobarteascáin regarding ongoing traffic issues.” She said, “There are certain sections of the road where people can’t cross because of the speed of the traffic. It’s being used as a rat run and it’s only getting worse.” She added that drivers are “going around corners at speed” and she urged that more speed ramps be installed. The motion was seconded by Councillor Johnny Flynn who acknowledged the improvement works that have been carried out in the area in recent years. “Unfortunately with upgrades to roads some drivers don’t take into …

THE face of Ennis journalist and television presenter Colm Flynn is being used by scam artists to target victims on Facebook, it has emerged. Colm, who is currently based in Rome and working as the Vatican correspondent for a global news network, has warned people to beware of the scam which is being used to obtain people’s credit card details. While the fraudsters have used the name ‘Colm Fllyn’ for the Facebook page, they have used a number of photographs of the real Colm alongside many videos of his various television reports in order to make the page seem legitimate. Under the profile photograph the page states it belongs to the “broadcaster from Ireland based in Rome, Italy! I love people and their stories.” The page goes on to state that ‘Colm’ wants to share his joy with followers on Facebook by randomly choosing somebody to win €1,000. It then urges people to follow a separate link to enter a …

Gardaí have seized drugs worth in excess of €30,000 and arrested two men during a planned operation in Ennis. The operation yesterday was carried out as part of ongoing investigations targeting the sale and distribution of illegal drugs and associated criminal activity in the Clare Division. In the course of the operation a number of locations were searched including a house in Ennis where cocaine with an estimated value in excess of €30,000 (analysis pending) was seized by investigating Gardaí. Two men aged in their 30s were arrested and brought to Ennis Garda Station. Both men are currently detained under section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996 and can be held for up to seven days. The investigation is ongoing.

ENNIS’ Temporary Covid-19 Town Centre Mobility Plan, resulting in parts of the town closed to traffic, has been described as “very conservative” with calls being made for restrictions to be lessened. The Ennis Municipal District have confirmed that a review of the plan is scheduled to take place after the current lock-down measures are eased. Speaking at the monthly meeting of the local authority, Councillor Pat Daly urged that the council and the mobility stakeholder group keep the traffic situation under constant review with a view to re-opening selected streets if the county’s Covid numbers continue to improve. He said that many business owners are “tired and upset” over the ongoing street closures. “The pandemic has caused severe damage to their livelihoods” he said, expressing the hope that there may be “light at the end of the tunnel” in the near future. Councillor Clare Colleran Molloy voiced her support to the motion, saying the pandemic has been “very, very hard …

THERE was shock in Ennis this week with the confirmation that one of the county town’s most popular establishments would be closing its doors for good. The multi-award winning Food Heaven has been a firm favourite since it was first opened on Market Street in 2006. However on Friday it was confirmed that the cafe and delicatessen had closed permanently. Since the announcement owner Noirin Furey has been “overwhelmed” with the number of good wishes which have been described as “very humbling”. A post on Food Heaven’s social media page stated, “I am very saddened to announce that Food Heaven will close on a permanent basis, on Saturday, April 3 2021. I sincerely thank all those who over the last 14 and a half years have worked closely with me, and have made such a positive contribution to the success and reputation of the business. It was a pleasure having you on this journey.” The statement continued, “I would like …

THE parklet on O’Connell Street in Ennis has been described as an “aesthetic abomination” and “a pustule” this week, by a local trader, who has said there have been reports of rats being seen around it. Meanwhile Clare County Council have defended the parklet, saying it was brought in to support elderly people and those with reduced mobility, that the public reaction to it has been positive and that the parklet hasn’t led to an increase in vermin in the area. In a letter sent to the HSE and Clare County Council, a local trader complained of seeing rats at the parklet, close to their premises. “I, myself, observed rodents scurryting around and under this structures on Thursday, March 11, as I was cleaning the outside of my premises. I approached the street cleaning lorry and my observation was corroborated by them. Another street cleaner can bear witness to this also. “Before this sighting, I have never seen rats in …

ENNIS is “becoming a problem area” with calls being made for the setting up of a special Joint Policing sub-committee with a specific focus on the county capital. This week’s meeting of the Ennis Municipal District saw councillors raise concerns about anti-social behaviour which has been linked to the use of tourist buildings as homeless accommodation. Residents of Hermitage and Considine’s Terrace in Ennis have reported anti-social behaviour including incidences of drug dealing and intimidation associated with some living in Ashford Court under the Winter Initiative Project. While concerns have also been raised about residents at Westbrook House, a former bed and breakfast on the Gort Road being used for emergency accommodation. Councillor Johnny Flynn raised the issue at the meeting, requesting a report on the planning and development status of the ongoing homeless and emergency accommodation use of tourist accommodation buildings at both Ashford Court, and Westbrook.  He insisted that all councillors are “fully committed” to providing social housing. However …

THERE is tension in the Hermitage area of Ennis at the moment, with anger among residents at some of the behaviour that has been associated with the Ashford Court. Homeless people have been housed there for some time under the Winter Initiative project, designed to help rough sleepers. One woman said that there has been a lot of problematic behaviour in recent weeks. “It used to be a boutique hotel, you’d have had a lot of stags and hens there, and as residents we didn’t mind, they weren’t causing any issues. But the carry on that you’ve had lately is just disgraceful.” She said that there has been drug dealing in the vicinity. “You see people hanging around waiting to sell drugs or buy the drugs from someone there. The language, the vulgarity, I’d say they are so off their face they don’t realise it.” In general, there has been a very serious level of anti social behaviour in the …