Tag Archives: Ennis

  The development of a new state-of-the-art Ennis primary school will “stand the test of time” for future generations, according to An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. Speaking at the official opening of Scoil Chríos Rí, Cloughleigh, Ennis, on Friday morning, the Taoiseach told students and staff they had an “incredible campus” with “wonderful new school buildings”. The new modern spacious facility has resulted in the demolition of old prefabs and the provision of high-tech equipment in each classroom for the 210 pupils and 26 staff. Deputy Leo Varadkar said he was delighted to be present to open these “magnificent school buildings”. The Taoiseach said this modern new learning space was a credit to everyone in Ennis and the country. He said all the Oireachtas members who were present on the day including Minister of State, Pat Breen, Deputy Joe Carey, Deputy Timmy Dooley and Senator Martin Conway were all strong advocates for the county. The Taoiseach was also joined for the …

THE late Laura Brennan was remembered very fondly at a service of remembrance in Ennis Cathedral on Wednesday afternoon. Laura’s father Larry paid tribute “to the many people who have supported the family including, the people of Ennis who have wrapped their arms around us since Laura went public with her campaign.” The cathedral was packed and heard from chief celebrant, Fr Pat Malone that Laura “is testimony to a great truth, that one person can make a difference.” Among the hundreds of people who attended were Colonel Liam Condon, Aide de Camp to President Michael D Higgins, Caroline Burke, Aide de Camp to An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, Health Minister, Simon Harris and RTE broadcaster, Ryan Tubridy. They heard Laura described by Fr Malone as “a selfless giver who spent her energy to her last so that others may be spared the ill health that she experienced.” Laura had been laid to rest earlier in Drumcliff Cemetery in Ennis at …

A SLOVAKIAN man whose driving was today described as “reckless” and showed “a propensity for risk taking”, has been sentenced to six years in prison, with the final two suspended, and has been banned from driving for 15 years. Rene Miko (21) of Place de Plouzane in Kilrush pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Eugene McNamara on October 26, 2016 at Lifford, Gort Road, Ennis. At his sentence hearing today, Monday, at Ennis Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Gerald Keys said it was the court’s duty to protect the public from illegal driving of this kind. “A message must go out that anyone who drives in this manner, faces a serious sentence being imposed, and a significant ban on their licence. It must be seen as a deterrent to those who are seen to drive irresponsibility,” he said, He said the actions of Miko had a devastating consequence on the McNamara family, and said left them now with “an …

CLARE County Council has opened a Book of Condolence in memory of Laura Brennan, RIP, in the public foyer of Áras Contae an Chláir, Ennis. The Mayor of Clare, Councillor Michael Begley, has invited members of the public to sign the book and join people from all over Ireland and beyond in marking Laura’s legacy as “an inspiring and courageous advocate and ambassador for the HPV Vaccination Programme.” “Many knew Laura for her advocacy work in favour of the HPV Vaccine after receiving a diagnosis of terminal cervical cancer.  To those who knew Laura personally however, it was her courage and her amazing positivity that defined her,” said Mayor Begley. He continued, “When Laura first approached the HSE in 2017, she made it clear that every parent in Ireland who was about to make the decision whether their daughter was to be vaccinated against HPV, would hear her story first.  Laura’s story was most certainly heard when she appeared on …

HPV vaccine campaigner Laura Brennan has lost her battle with terminal cancer on Wednesday. The Ennis woman who had become one of Ireland’s leading patient advocates and campaigners for the HPV vaccine passed away on Wednesday at University Hospital Limerick. In a statement the Brennan family said, “Laura was a light in the life of everyone who knew her; a wonderful daughter, sister and friend. We are lost without her. “We are all incredibly proud of the work she did in the last 18 months to help protect other young women like herself from the cancer that has taken her life today. Laura used her voice, her generosity and her energy to help parents to make informed choices and protect their daughters from cervical cancer. She wanted to make a difference, and use the time that she had to right what she felt was a great wrong.” The family have appealed for privacy. Funeral arrangements are yet to be finalised. …

THE objections of local residents to a new 1,000,000ft² data centre counted for little on Monday, as a proposal to vary the County Development Plan to facilitate the project at Toureen, on the outskirts of Ennis, was unanimously passed by Clare County Council. The council claims that the project could deliver 200 permanent data centre jobs, another 150 ancillary jobs and 50 maintenance jobs. Some 1,100 construction jobs would be supported over five years of construction. At the council meeting, director of service Liam Conneally reiterated his view that if the project goes ahead, it will be “a game changer” for Clare and Ennis. However, the data centre would not be one of the three largest employers in the county even if what is projected comes to pass. Prior to the meeting, members of the council got a report from chief executive Pat Dowling, which summarised a number of submissions that had come in from the public, including one from …

PLANNING permission for the permanent use of a site at Tullassa, Ennis for clay shooting hasbeen denied. The planning application had also sought additional recreational use, including archery, golf driving and compact sport clay shooting. Local residents claimed that the noise from the site is unbearable, said that they have to leave their homes when shoots are happening, in a series of objections they made to Clare County Council. Describing the area in question, the Clare County Council planning report stated, “The subject site is located in the townland of Tullassa, approximately 3km north-west of Ennis town. The site is a greenfield site accessed by a dense network of narrow local roads with poor vertical and horizontal alignment and with sections with restricted forward visibility. The roadway serving the site is narrow (2.5m) and there is no space for two cars passing. Sections of the road have deep drains on either side, with no margin to pull in, in the …