Tag Archives: Ennis

THE Society of St Vincent de Paul is urging those with unwanted gifts to donate them to their shop in Ennis, where they will be used to help those in need. The society is delighted with the generosity shown by members of the public during their recent flag day collection in Ennis. “Without that support we simply could not do our work. This allowed us to support the many families who needed our help during the festive season and into the New Year. We also wish to thank all those people and schools who donated toys and food items.” Donations or unwanted gifts can be sent or dropped in to the SVP Shop at 84 Parnell Sreet, Ennis.

GARDAÍ in Ennis are investigating after shots were  fired at an occupied house in Ennis on the morning of New Year’s Day. A firearm was discharged at Childers Road, Cloughleigh at approximately 5am. It is understood that although the house was occupied at the time no persons were injured during the incident. A man, aged 46, was arrested in connection with the garda investigation and was detained at Ennis Garda Station under the provisions of Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939 to 1998. He has since been released without charge and a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. Investigations are ongoing and anyone who can assist the gardaí with their enquiries is asked to contact them on 065-6848100.

A NEW free to caller number for the Samaritans was launched this week at the Clare branch in Ennis. The number, 116123, is being trialled in Clare and a few other areas around the country before being rolled out nationwide next year. Mayor of Clare Joe Arkins and Mayor of Ennis Mary Coote Ryan joined Samaritan volunteers for the launch. Angharad Harding, director of the Clare and Ennis branch, said; “This is a very welcome initiative for Clare. Our experience has been that the worry of the cost of phone calls prevents people in distress from calling Samaritans. Many of the people who contact us are not suicidal, but may be struggling to cope with their problems and our volunteers provide a safe space for them to talk. “Despite the strong public response to our existing number, it is still not as widely known as we would like it to be. 116 123 is an easy number to remember and …

There was an opportunity to get a sneak preview of the new 2014 Nissan Qashqai recently, when the car arrived at Dulick Motors for one day only, as part of a national tour in advance of the car’s January launch. While it’s clearly an evolution of the current Qashqai, up close, the new car is a lot more defined and seems to be sharper and more masculine as a result. The interior is a big step up from the old car, with higher quality materials and a fresh new look. As I reported last week, this new Qashqai features a whole host of up-to-the-minute technology, some representing a class first. Most buyers will choose a diesel, of course, with the option of a 1.5 or 1.6 litre unit. A competitive petrol option, a 1.2 litre DIG-T, will also be offered and for lower mileage or urban drivers, this could be an ideal choice. Deliveries will start early in 2014 and …

DRUG dealers and moneylenders are openly operating in Ennis’ town centre, it has been claimed by local traders. Lower Market Street Resident Traders have also raised concerns about anti-social behaviour in the area, with the matter now on the agenda for the next meeting of the town’s Joint Policing Committee. While confirming the issues will be discussed at the JPC, Superintendent Derek Smart stated there have been no complaints made to gardaí and he urged that if anyone has concerns, to contact them. “The agenda for the JPC is the only record I have of any issues there; nobody has come forward to give any details of any incidences. From the reporting to me, there is nothing out of the ordinary compared to any other area of the town,” he said. The concerns of the traders were outlined at a recent meeting called by the Purple Flag Steering Committee and Ennis Chamber on the continuation of extended opening hours, or …

A HUGE star in this country since the success of the White Ladder album more than a decade ago, David Gray is on his way to Glór as part of his Irish tour. In October, announcing he would be coming to Ireland for a tour entitled Sounding Out in early December, he came up with a unique method of deciding where he would visit. People were asked to register on his website for tickets and to indicate what county they’d like him to visit. He said the decision on venue would be made either by the strength of numbers or the “compelling eloquence” of the arguments. When the venues were announced, Clare had made the cut on December 10. Speaking about the tour on his website, he said he wanted to play in some of Ireland’s smaller venues. “When you get venues over a certain size, it’s sort of incumbent on me to make more of a show of it …

A SERIES of photographs has been rediscovered, providing an invaluable link to life in Abbey Street, Ennis from the late 19th Century. Leonard Costello, who uncovered the photographs in his Dublin home recently, outlined his family background and details of the photographs, some of which feature his father, Robert, as well as Carmody’s Hotel, where a number of people were killed when a floor collapsed during an auction. Leonard is trying jog people’s memories about stories or anecdotes in relation to Abbey Street and would also welcome old photographs. He is yet to confirm the names of some people in the photographs, while the photographer is also a mystery. Leonard has a very special reason for piecing together all the details. “The 100th anniversary of my father’s birth is coming up in two years time and I want to create a family book to commemorate his life. He contributed a great deal as a doctor, especially during his years working …

COMEDIAN Kevin McAleer has been talking nonsense for 30 years and shows little sign of stopping. One of the founding fathers of modern stand-up, he has influenced a whole generation of comedians in Ireland and the UK. On November 8, he comes to Patrick’s Bar in the Market, Ennis after a very long absence from the Clare stand-up scene. “I haven’t been to Ennis for a long time, too long…some hotel back in the mists of the 20th century I think, but the best pint of Guinness I ever had in my life was in Ennis with a friend around 1993. We both cried. “It was a very emotional moment. We still reminisce fondly about it. Maybe I can reconstruct that moment when I am there,” he said. The Tyrone ‘space cadet’ shot to fame back in the 1990s with his regular appearances on RTE’s Nighthawks, leading to sold-out nationwide tours and the best-selling EMI video Turn it On. He …