Tag Archives: Ennis

TO commemorate Nigeria’s Independence Day next Tuesday, the Association of Nigerian Community in Clare (ANCC) has planned a series of activities in Ennis that include football, a party with dancing, singing, fashion and Nigerian food. It is 53 years since the first Independence Day. The activities start on Sunday with a football match against the Moroccan football team in Clare. The grand finale of the celebration will be a party organised by the Association of Nigerian Community in Clare. The association has invited mayors of Ennis Town Council and Clare County Council, Bishop of Killaloe Kieran O’Reilly and garda representatives to join the occasion. One of the prime objectives of the Association of Nigerian Community in Clare is to foster closer working relationships within all communities and also with the Nigerian embassy in Dublin. It exists as an advocate and to support the welfare needs of Nigerians as well as to progress integration and to be valued residents of Clare. …

The Restaurant Association of Ireland has kick-started a campaign to highlight how critical it is that the reduced VAT rate of 9% is kept in place for 2014 and beyond, in order for the Irish economy to remain competitive. The nine-day campaign began on September 9 and getting behind it is Ennis bar and restaurant The Cloister, run by husband and wife Dermot and Noreen Fetton. The couple are in their first year of business at this premises and are hugely concerned that the forthcoming budget could see a VAT hike, something that would make trading extremely difficult for them going forward. In embarking on the campaign to maintain the current VAT rate, The Cloister has lobbied Deputy Timmy Dooley for support. Mrs Fetton said the reason they got behind the campaign  is to stave off any further increase in overheads in their sector and to ensure jobs are retained and a quality service is maintained, while remaining competitive. “We …

ENNIS has been named Ireland’s Tidiest Large Urban Centre for the fifth time in the 55-year history of the National Tidy Towns  Competition. The result was announced today by Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Phil Hogan, at the 2013 National SuperValu Tidy Towns awards ceremony in Dublin. Ennis, which finished joint third place overall,  beat off stiff competition from other large urban centres such as Kilkenny City. The Clare County capital has previously won the award in 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2012. Meanwhile, Ennis has won this year’s Mid-West Regional Award and has also retained the Clare County Award for the 15th successive year, while it has received its 13th Gold Medal in as many years. Kilrush was commended in the County Award category.

Fáilte Ireland today confirmed Ennis has made the shortlist of ten top towns from across the country selected for their 2013 Tourism Towns Award. The shortlist was announced at the National Tidy Towns Awards in The Helix, Dublin. Ireland’s Top Tourism Town in 2013 will now be selected from this shortlist and announced this November. The shortlisted towns are: Cobh, Cork Drogheda, Louth Ennis, Clare Kenmare, Kerry Kilkenny City. Kilkenny Letterkenny, Donegal Mulranny,  Mayo Murrisk, Mayo Tralee, Kerry Westport, Mayo

A radical new design concept has been put forward for the first phase of a planned re-vamp of Ennis’ market. Phase one of the redevelopment of the market will begin at Garraunakilla, the site of the current Farmer’s Market. The plans involve creating a ‘covered’ market, with the first phase part of a wider scheme of improvements to the entire market area. Consideration had been given to having ‘umbrella’ style covers of the market. However, the new design unveiled this week involves the creation of a permanent roof for market goers made of patent glazing or plexi-glass. The concept includes the creation of a landmark entrance from a new pedestrian forecourt in a highly visible location on the boundary between Market Place and Garraunakilla. The new enclosure design features a covering of the entire public circulation areas of the market with the permanent roof with retractable awnings giving cover to stalls on market days. It is proposed that the space …

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 …

THE discovery of iron fittings attached to old sluice gates in Ennis dating back to the mid-1800s has been described as significant find in the industrial heritage of the county town. That’s the view of Clare County architectural conservation officer and archaeologist, Risteard UaCróinín after archaelogists from Limerick-based ÆGIS Archaeology Limited found a large volume of iron cogs, ratchets, bolts and other iron fitting totalling about a ton, which came from old sluice gates, near the Fish Pass on the Mill Road. These ironworks are now in the possession of Ennis Town Council and may be exhibited at a future date. Consulant archaeologist Frank Coyne, who was part of the team monitoring flood-relief works in the town since last March, agrees this find is very important in assessing the industrial heritage of the town. “They were part of the sluice gates controlling the River Fergus dating to the mid-1800s. The sluice gates rotted and they fell into the river. The …

A PLAN to show the All-Ireland hurling final on a big screen in Ennis has resulted in mixed reactions. It has been suggested the idea could negatively impact on pubs, hotels and restaurants that would otherwise benefit from the day, although members of the business community do not appear to see this as a material issue, according to town manager Ger Dollard. “The views of all members of Ennis Town Council have also been canvassed and there is unanimous support for such a proposal if it is financially and logistically feasible and would receive public support,” he said. Ennis Chamber CEO Rita McInerney said the overall consensus among members is the benefits of providing a big screen as part of a major event would outweigh any possible negatives. The town council is to make a decision later this week if it will organise a large event at a town centre venue and provide a big screen for supporters who are …