Tag Archives: Ennis

THE best of County Clare will be broadcast into millions of homes across the United States this autumn as part of a popular travel series. Peninsula Television will be filming at multiple locations throughout the county this week, from Tuesday to Thursday, June 22 to 24, as part of its ‘Ireland: County by County’ series, which has been viewed by millions of US viewers since its launch in 2020. The 30-minute programme will air on the Create/PBS television network and will be fronted by Irish television presenter Ciara Whelan, who is best known for hosting Virgin Media’s prime-time travel series, ‘The Holiday Show’. The production will concentrate on various cultural, sporting, social and heritage aspects of County Clare. Filming commences this Tuesday with a focus on Ennis and Clare’s international reputation as home to some of the best golf courses in Ireland. The production crew will depart to Shannon Airport to highlight this key asset of the county, before taking …

MEMBERS of the Clare Ladies Cycling Club are attempting to cycle a combined total of 50,000km over the summer, to raise funds for Sláinte an Chláir. “We did a couch to 50k, just before Easter. The idea was that everyone would be back on the bike for the summer. I suppose it was like a prequel to what we’re doing with Sláinte an Chláir, we’re hoping to cycle 50,000km between us over 16 weeks and to raise funds,” said chairperson Eilis Neville. “Forty-five of us have signed up for it out of a club of 91, which is pretty good going,” Eilis added. Members cycle in small groups twice a week, and there are a couple of women abroad who are helping to get the kilometres up. “On a Wednesday night we would cycle a max of 40km, we leave Ennis around 6.45. On a Sunday we offer three routes, a short route of around 40km, a middling route of …

ENNIS Tidy Towns are staying on track when it comes to their efforts to keep the county capital looking good. The local voluntary organisation have once again joined forces with Ennis Track Athletic Club to encourage youngsters to think reduce, reuse, recycle. Their latest initiative aims to get plastic litter on the run by developing colourful re-usable bags for runners and track shoes. Cormac McCarthy, chairman of Ennis Tidy Towns explains, “Ennis Tidy Towns has continued their collaboration with Ennis Track in driving sustainability as part of the clubs activities. Two years ago this involved supplying the club with reusable bottles which were given to participants in their kids road race. “This year we worked with them to develop re-usable bags for dirty runners and track shoes. It was observed that lots of shoes were being place in single use plastic bags and given the dirty nature of the shoes, these bags were being disposed of. The new drawstring bags …

“ENNIS is open for business”, the town’s new mayor Councillor Ann Norton exclaimed as she took the chain of office. The Barefield-based representative was elected as mayor of the county capital at the recent AGM of the Ennis Municipal District. Her vision for her term as mayor is to encourage recovery from the “disastrous effects” Covid-19 has had on Ennis. The founder of Clare Crusaders has also vowed to highlight the issues facing carers during her term in office. She was nominated to take the role by Councillor Pat Daly who stated she “is capable of becoming an excellent mayor”, pointing to her heavy involvement in the local community. The proposal was seconded by Councillor Johnny Flynn who spoke of her leadership qualities while also acknowledging the work of outgoing mayor Councillor Paul Murphy in what has been a “very difficult year”. This is Councillor Norton’s second time as mayor, having previously been elected in 2016, while Councillor Murphy was …

AN ENNIS principal has appealed to the education minister for a speedy conclusion to talks on the system of allocation of secondary school places in Ennis. In recent years, there has been an unprecedented demand, with some schools receiving more than twice as many applications as available places. As Minister Norma Foley visited Gaelscoil Mhíchíl Cíosóg this week, Príomhoide Dónal Ó hAiniféin availed of the opportunity to highlight the issue. He said the stress of trying to secure a place gave the “wrong impression” of secondary school as students were making a key transition out of primary education. Referring to an ongoing consultation process, which was developed in response to the controversy, Mr Ó hAiniféin expressed the hope that it might soon be brought to a successful conclusion by the autumn. “For children in sixth class, it gives the totally wrong impression,” he said. “I’m certain the secondary schools will benefit from the positivity that will come from this, and …

MONDAY saw the return of outdoor drinking and dining, with hundreds of people taking the chance to return to Clare’s bar and restaurants. Since then the Abbey Street car park in Ennis saw large numbers gathering in specially assembled areas linked to the various licensed premises in the area. General manager of Knox’s Declan Kelly said that the reopening has gone well, and the bar/restaurant has done quite a lot of business. “It’s been very good, people have been enjoying it and behaving themselves. There has been no drama, it’s been very good to be honest. “We’ve been tipping away. We were very busy on Monday as it was the first day. Last night (Tuesday) we filled all our tables out the back, which was great. We were very happy with that, we weren’t expecting it as such. There’s a good oul buzz around it, people are looking to come back out and socialise.” One thing about outdoor drinking and …

AN Ennis-based designer has been chosen to showcase her work at the British Museum, writes Jessica Quinn. Laetitia Sorohan told The Champion she is “delighted” to have been selected, among other designers, to sell her pieces alongside the “Thomas Becket Murder and the making of a Saint Exhibition” in London. The exhibition will take place at the British Museum from May 2021 until August 22. Laetitia is the Irish-based French designer behind the locally-based brand NAIIAD Contemporary Designer Jewellery. She explained that her pieces were selected for the British Museum because of the link between her designs, which are inspired by chainmail, and the medieval period on which the exhibit is focused. One of the star objects in the show is an alabaster plaque showing the murder of Thomas Becket, featured on the exhibition posters and book, and has armoured knights wearing what is likely to be chainmail. A selection of Laetitia’s designs have been chosen by the British Museum …

FOR the second year running Fleadh Nua will not be taking place in Ennis due to Covid 19 restrictions, organisers have confirmed. But Fleadh Nua chairman Frank Whelan is looking forward to the return of the festival in 2022, when he promises it will be bigger and better than ever. In the meantime, he hopes that memories of the great Fleadhannas down through the years will sustain the many lovers of traditional music, song and dance for whom the Fleadh Nua has become a much anticipated annual event. “Those of us who are old enough remember the ‘70s and ‘80s when the Fair Green became a tent village for the last week in May,” said Frank. “Then there were the huge parades and colorful floats winding their way through the narrow streets of the town, with set dancers batterin’ away on the back of a moving truck, and no one ever fell off! But sadly Health and Safety regulations did …