Tag Archives: Ennis

ON Friday, Rice College Secondary School will host a fashion extravaganza dubbed ‘Shop & Style’ at Treacy’s West County Hotel at 7pm. Proceeds from the fashion show will go towards the provision of additional facilities and classrooms in the newly acquired school building. The event has already garnered plenty of support locally, according to organisers at the school with a host of local fashion outlets set to showcase their upcoming collections in the show. A spokesperson for the school said, “Local businesses and community groups have all rallied to sponsor the show, which promises to be a fantastic evening for all fashion-conscious ladies and gents featuring spring/summer collections from many stores.” Professional models will assisted by some of the Rice College teachers, who have sportingly agreed to participate.  MC for the evening is Ciana Campbell. And if all that style isn’t enough, there will also be a very special guest, which is sure to draw in the crowds. The Liam …

THE recent closure of a number of high profile long established businesses in Ennis has prompted calls for a Government strategy to revitalise rural towns like Ennis. The decision of Leavy Shoes to close its O’Connell Street outlet after 36 years in business  last weekend surprised local retailers and shoppers. Customers with any outstanding gift vouchers and credit notices are being advised to present them at their retail outlets in O’Connell Street and William Street in Limerick City. Moody Cow Milkshakes, Abbey Street, Clowntown tattoo parlour and Charlie Stewart’s pub in Parnell Street,  Ennis have all shut their doors. Efforts by the Clare Champion to obtain a comment from the operators of these premises about the circumstances that led to their business demise proved unsuccessful. A spokesman for Seasons 22 confirmed that while Charlie Stewart’s pub had closed the restaurant would continue to operate upstairs in the premises. Leavy Shoes director, Thomas Leavy confirmed the Ennis retail unit employed one …

THE Parish Mission in Doora-Barefield  opens on this  Sunday and runs until Fridaynext. The mission will incorporate the three churches of Doora, Barefield and The Church of our Lady, Roslevan. The mission begins in Doora Church on Sunday with an opening ceremony at 7pm, to which everyone is invited. From Monday through to Friday each morning, mass will be celebrated in the Church of Our Lady, Roslevan at 7am and again at 9.30am. Each evening, from Monday to Thursday, mission ceremonies focusing on a theme, will take place in Doora at 7pm and Barefield at 8.30pm. The mission closing ceremony will take place in Barefield Church on the Friday at 7pm. On Wednesday, a special mass of Anointing of the Sick will be celebrateed  in the Church of Our Lady, Roslevan at 12 noon. According to Fr Jerry Carey, “The parish mission takes place just a week into the season of Lent. We hope it will be an opportunity for …

THIS Friday,  The Pat Kenny Show will be in Ennis to broadcast live from the Temple Gate Hotel. This will be the first time that Pat Kenny will broadcast from Clare in front of a local audience since joining Newstalk last year. As well as bringing you analysis of news and current affairs, Pat will be speaking to Ciana Campbell, chairperson of the Ennis Book Club Festival as well as local authors and book club members. After each serving 15 years on death row for murders they did not commit, Sonny Jacobs and Peter Pringle will be discussing their incredible story of strength and survival, while well -known priest Fr Harry Bohan will be looking at the problems with rural isolation. The show, which will air from 10am, will also hear from local families, businessmen and farmers about the recent flooding, coastal erosion and the effects these have had on day-to-day life. Musical entertainment will be provided by  Kate Purcell.

GARDAí at Ennis, are quite literally looking into  matters following an unusual find. They  are investigating the theft of manhole covers in the locality and have  arrested two young men, 17 and 19 years, this Wednesday afternoon. They are detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at Ennis Garda Station. In total 15 manhole covers were recovered following the search of a vehicle at Monreagh, Tubber. The theft/removal of manhole covers is potentially lethal to road users and has been highlighted by An Garda Síochána and the Road Safety Authority.

THE death occurred recently of Bernie Wrafter, Roslevan, Ennis. A native of Ennis, she was a member of the well known Dunne family from Clare Road. A daughter of the late Freddie Dunne, who was a CIE bus inspector and Mary Dunne, Bernie was educated at the Convent of Mercy, Ennis and Ennis Vocational School and at the young age of 17 years emigrated to America. She was employed in New York for the next 10 years, during which time she met her husband to be, Alo Wrafter, who was a native of Tullamore. They got married after returning to Ireland and made their new home in Tullamore. However, some time later they decided to return to New York and after five years made a return journey home in 1967. On this occasion they lived in Dun Laoghaire where Bernie had a thriving guesthouse business overlooking the pier. To her credit she made her rooms available in the off-season holiday …

By CAROL BYRNE A CLARE group of musicians have made it through to the semi-final of the Le Crunch Apple of My Eye song contest with Today FM, having been selected from nearly 1,000 entries nationwide. Ardsollus, featuring Ennis Gospel Choir, have been selected as one of the 10 semi-finalists. The group is made up of Daithí Moore on bazouki and lead vocals; Tony Walker on keyboards; Tola Custy on fiddle; Siobhán Peoples on fiddle; Blackie O’Connell on uilleann pipes; Zyn O’Halloran on harp; Alf Duggan on dobro and Connor Myers on drums. Ardsollus, which was only formed weeks before the competition opened to entries, chose to do a cover of Rudimental’s Feel the Love, which was selected by competition judges to make it through to the semi-final on The KC Show last week. Tony, who is from Quin, said they have put a trad feel into their version of Feel the Love and he outlined how their entry came about. …

SUPPORTING an amazing 55 charities since its foundation in 1964, the Ennis and District Soroptimist Club have been at the forefront of charitable fundraising for five decades. A celebration of the 50th anniversary of the organisation was held in Ennis at the weekend, with current president Deirdre Power O’Donnell describing it as a “wonderful occasion.” Guest speaker at the event in the Old Ground Hotel was Minister of State for Housing and Planning Jan O’Sullivan, with an address by Soroptimist National President Noreen Walshe. There were attendances not only from local members, past and present, but also representatives from ten other Soroptimist clubs around Ireland. Deirdre, daughter of founding member Maura Power, recalled how her mother and the other founders Peg Ruttle, Tras Honan, Marie O’Gorman and Ann O’Driscoll started the organisation 50 years ago. And she said that the spirit that encouraged the founders to work for the good of the local community continues on in the organisation’s current …