Tag Archives: Ennis

THE Soroptimists Ennis & District Club is digging deep when it comes to plans to celebrate the 100th birthday of Soroptimist International. The Ennis chapter of the club is planning on burying a time capsule with the hope that in another 100 years it will be found and the work and activities of its members will be remembered in the future. The capsule will be buried in the Ennis Memorial Garden near glór and the planned new library, and the local organisation is inviting suggestions from the public for what items are to be included. Sarah Malone, outgoing President explained, “Soroptimist International is celebrating its 100 birthday this year. “What started in California in 1921 has grown to be a worldwide organisation of women, with 72,000 members in 121 countries dedicated to improving the lives of women and children. “To celebrate this the Ennis Club will bury a time capsule to ensure that its work and members are remembered 100 …

Clare Local Sports Partnership showcases initiatives to Minster Frank Feighan at Lees Road PROJECTS aimed at ensuring all members of society have an opportunity to take part in physical activity and sport were showcased during a visit of Minister of State Frank Feighan to Ennis last week. The Minister of State with responsibility for Public Health, Well Being and National Drugs Strategy witnessed two of the projects in action which have been led by Clare Sports Partnership while he was at Active Ennis John O’Sullivan Park, Lees Road. John Conroy from Fitness for Fun, led an outdoor exercise class which has become a popular weekly event among older adults. Also, James O’Donohue, disability representative to Clare Sports Partnership, and Liam Casey, a wheelchair user from Ennis also showcased handcycles for those who use wheelchairs. The TD was met by board members and staff of Clare Local Sports Partnership including chairperson to the board, Tim Forde, Councillor Ann Norton, Mayor of …

THE frustration of residents in Corrovorrin who are awaiting the introduction of much sought after traffic calming measures has been highlighted at a meeting of Ennis councillors. Speaking at a meeting of the Ennis Municipal District, Councillor Johnny Flynn commented, “The residents of Corrovorrin are getting very frustrated, they are wondering when the work will be done.” He said that locals had hoped to see works progressing over the summer months, when schools are closed, however the works are now not likely to go ahead until the autumn or winter. The councillor raised the issue as he proposed that in addition to the proposals for Corrovorrin, that the council look at providing additional traffic calming measures east and west of the railway bridge. He pointed out that there are 15,000 vehicles a day on the main Tulla Road, suggesting pedestrian crossings should be introduced in locations such as the Lifford Road and New Road junctions. He said there is an …

A WELL known Ennis estate agent has made his own move to raise much needed funds for charity. Last Saturday Diarmuid McMahon, of Sherry Fitzgerald McMahon, took the plunge and swam from Clare to Galway, across Galway Bay, in aid of Cancer Care West. The former chair of Ennis Chamber has raised almost €2,500 for the charity, with funds still being donated. Speaking to the Champion, Diarmuid described the response to the fundraiser as “phenomenal” and he has expressed his appreciation to everybody who has shown support. His solo togs swim was part of this year’s virtual Frances Thornton Galway Bay Swim which over the years has raised more than €900,000 for Cancer Care West. The funds raised are used to help meet the costs of residential and cancer support services, which are provided free of charge to cancer patients and their families. This is the 16th year of the annual swim, which would normally see 150 people cross the …

THE Mayor of the Ennis Municipal District has been sharply critical of a lack of action on illegal dumping on a number of sites around the county, including one on the Tulla Road. Councillor Ann Norton asked a series of detailed questions ahead of the July meeting of the local authority looking for a progress update – in terms of waste removal and remediation – on hotspots across Clare. The Independent member also sought an update on staff resources and the number of enforcement notices served over the last three years. Welcoming an official reply, which said that 97% of complaints made since 2018 had been resolved, Councillor Norton voiced disappointment at the fact that the Tulla Road site has not been tackled. “I was first asked to raise this issue some years ago,” she said. “Now, once again, there are questions over what is being done. The 3% of unresolved dumping sites are always an issue. This includes the …

PLANS for a new Aldi store in Ennis are “good news” for the county capital insists hurling legend Brian Lohan. The Clare hurling manager alongside Inch businessman Martin O’Malley are behind plans to develop the Westpoint Retail Park on the Kilrush Road. If given the go-ahead, the discount store will be an anchor tenant in the second stage of Westpoint’s development, with a HSE Outpatients Department already on site. Mr Lohan has lodged a planning application to Clare County Council for a change of use from retail warehouse to a discount food store at Westpoint. According to Aldi this new store will create 30 new permanent jobs at the store, and up to 50 construction jobs, if given the green light. It aims to open the 1,000sqm store in late 2023. Mr Lohan told The Clare Champion that they have been working in partnership with Aldi for a number of months ahead of lodging this planning application. He said he …

ATTEMPTS to promote biodiversity are resulting in a “huge problem” for residents committees and Tidy Towns groups, according to Ennis’ deputy mayor. Councillor Paul Murphy is calling for funding to be put in place to help gather up the “huge volume” of excess cut grasses in green areas following delays in cutting due to efforts to promote biodiversity. Speaking at a meeting of the Ennis Municipal District, the councillor said, “I am requesting that a budget is sought by Ennis Municipal District  to facilitate the engaging of an appropriate contractor to gather and dispose of the huge volume of excess cut grasses that are on our green areas across the Municipal area. This is as a result of later starting dates for grass cutting in order to promote biodiversity. However, while welcoming this initiative, many residents committees and Tidy Towns groups now have a huge problem with the unkept appearance of our public spaces.” Eamon O’Dea, senior executive officer, responded …

BUSINESSES in Lifford are “feeling a bit left out of the loop” when it comes to lighting up the town centre at night. The Ennis Municipal District has installed festoon lights in the town as part of efforts to support outdoor dining and encouraging people to visit the town, however according to one local councillor parts of Ennis are “feeling forgotten about”. Councillor Mary Howard, speaking at a recent meeting of the Ennis Municipal District, called on the local authority to reconsider hanging festoon lighting in the Lifford area. “The businesses in that area would appreciate the lights being installed for the summer months,” she said. She said that Ennis is “looking so well” with the new lights adding, “The people in Lifford are feeling a bit left out of the loop.” She recalled how efforts were made a number of years ago to extend Christmas lighting into the Lifford area and questioned why this cannot be done again. “They …