Tag Archives: Ennis

Poignant Christmas song hits number 2 on iTunes, just behind Mariah MOVE over Mariah Carey, it looks like there is a new queen of the Christmas song – and she lives in County Clare. Ennis-based Deirdre Devally, an MA Creative Writing student, has penned a new song ‘Christmas in Dublin’ in a collaboration with Niall Teague which is proving to be a festive hit. Sung by Anne Brennan the track is 60-year-old Deirdre’s first song release and recently reached number two in the iTunes holiday song chart for Ireland. “It was behind Mariah Carey, in front of Michael Bublé, Bruce Springsteen and other huge names. It has got USA and Irish airplay,” she told The Champion. She described the reaction to the song as “phenomenal” saying she couldn’t believe it when she saw its position in the Irish charts. “It’s so thrilling and exciting.” Deirdre, who is originally from Dublin but has lived in Ennis for 24 years, explained that …

A GROUP of Ennis students will brave the elements this Friday in a bid to highlight the plight of those who have been ‘Locked Out of Education’. Gaelcholáiste an Chláir Transition Year students have launched a campaign to raise awareness of the barriers to education many young people face because of rising rents and other costs, while also raising funds for the St Vincent de Paul. As part of this, on Thursday, December 9 from 9am to 6pm they will be taking over the running of the St Vincent de Paul shop in Ennis while on Friday night the students will be sleeping out at the school. The campaign is part of the students’ Young Social Innovators project and money raised will go towards the St Vincent de Paul’s work in supporting struggling students. Gaelcholáiste an Chláir Transition Year Co-ordinator Martina McNamara explains that the students were moved to act when they discovered that over 230,000 students attend third level …

THE legacy left by founding leader of Fianna Fáil Éamon de Valera was lauded by An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, at the 40th annual commemoration of his statute in Ennis on Sunday. Flanked by Deputy Cathal Crowe and Senator Timmy Dooley, Mr Martin laid a wreath at the foot of the de Valera memorial in front of Ennis Courthouse to mark this commemoration. A second wreath was laid by former Clare Deputy and Senator, Brendan Daly, who is one of the surviving members of the local committee that organised and secured funding for the statue, which was erected by Kilbaha-based sculptor, Jim Connolly. The 1916 Proclamation was read by Clare Fianna Fáil Comhairle Dáil Ceantair secretary, Rita McInerney, and this ceremony was hosted by the local ceantair. De Valera commanded the Boland Mills garrison during the 1916 Rising. After the surrender of the main leaders, he was sentenced to death, but later it was decided to sentence him to life imprisonment. …

AN Ennis girl who touched the hearts of the nation with an appearance on last weekend’s Late Late Toy Show has described the experience as “amazing”. 12-year-old Isabella Sydney Mulvey was born with Lumbosacral Agenesis which necessitates her using a wheelchair as her legs were amputated at the age of seven. On the show, which has been watched by 1.8 million people all over the world, Isabella spoke with host Ryan Tubridy about her favourite sensory toys and her ‘Adventure Book’ which includes all her favourite wishes including a dream to visit the Louvre in Paris. She was then surprised by Ryan who revealed she and her family would be going on a magical trip of a lifetime to the French capital including a visit to Disneyland Paris. Speaking to The Clare Champion this week Isabella said, “Being on the show was great, it was amazing. Ryan was really lovely and nice.” She said she is “very much looking forward” …

WORKS are underway to provide updated maps outlining the areas benefiting from the Ennis South Flood Relief Scheme, the Ennis Municipal District has confirmed. The flood maps may be used to assist the insurance industry in determining the cost and provision of flood cover to homes and businesses in the local area. Details of the works were outlined at a recent meeting of the Ennis Municipal District following a notice of motion by Councillor Paul Murphy. The councillor had sought on update on a response received in February after requesting the municipal district and Clare County Council collaborate  with stakeholders such as Ennis Chamber of Commerce, Ennis Traders Group and Retail Excellence Ireland in preparing a document, detailing the improvements to the flood defence system and outlining how the risk of flooding has been minimised as a result of the works completed. “Information provided in the requested document was to meet the requirements of Insurance providers from a risk management …

WOOL might be more closely associated with Christmas jumpers at this time of year, but one Ennis school has used their knitting skills to create a very special addition to the festive season. Ennis National School’s ‘Crafty Crew’ have created a community Christmas tree with the help of parents, grandparents and others. The tree is now standing proudly in the window of Insomnia in the Ennis Shopping Centre on Francis Street for all to see. The tree and accompanying festive display is made of hundreds of squares of knitting. Earlier this year the school put out a call to the public to donate squares of knitting which have joined the patches created by the students. Teacher Ciara Harding tells us they were delighted with the response, and the students were thrilled to see their tree put on display. “Over the past three years we have combined our work at school with squares from parents, grandparents and friends of Ennis National School …

Following the official opening on Friday 30th November 2001 by Minister Síle de Valera before a specially invited audience, over 60 great Clare performers – three generations of the best players of Clare music took to the glór stage, including Tony McMahon, Paddy Canny, James Cullinan, Tony Linnane, Noel Hill, Siobhan Peoples, Martin Hayes, Josephine Marsh, Maura O’Connell, the Tulla Ceili Band, and the Kilfenora Ceili Band, to present a night of music such as has never been heard before. With Martin Hayes and the Sawdoctors performing over the next two nights, without doubt the opening weekend of glór was one of the best three nights of music ever staged in County Clare. The opening night concert was broadcast in full by Clare FM, and RTÉ Radio One transmitted the second half. Built at a cost of €8.5m, glór was the largest investment in the Arts in County Clare. With two auditoria, seating 485 and 65 people respectively, glór hosts …

CHRISTMAS pedestrianisation of Ennis’ main street begins this weekend, while free parking at public carparks is also being introduced at certain times for the festive season. O’Connell Square and O’Connell Street will be car free from 11am to 6pm on December 4, 5, 11, 12, 18 to 24 inclusive. The Ennis Christmas Market takes place in Abbey Street Car Park from this Friday until Sunday and as a result, the west of the main through road, adjacent to the river between Costa Coffee and O’Briens, is unavailable from 6pm Wednesday, November 30 until 8am on Monday, December 6. Abbey Street Car Park will be unavailable during these times. Until Sunday, January, 2 there will be no charge in public car parks from 2pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Additional parking free of charge has been made available at Clare County Council headquarters on December 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19 from 9am to 6pm. Free parking is also available at …