Tag Archives: Ennis

CLARE has experienced its most severe snowfall in decades, with virtually all parts of the county badly affected. Commercial life in the county was almost non-existent today, with many businesses closing and few people leaving the safety of their homes. Shannon Airport is closed until tomorrow morning, while the annual Ennis Book Club Festival, which was due to be held this weekend, has been cancelled. This afternoon all but a handful of businesses in Ennis town centre were closed. Very few vehicles made their way into the central parts of the town, and some of those that did were clearly struggling with the conditions. With inches of snow lying on the footpaths it was also very difficult for pedestrians. “I’ve never seen the likes of this before,” said Councillor Joe Cooney, of the conditions around East Clare. “A number of roads are impassable today and will be tonight as well,” he added. In the west of the county things are …

ENNIS is pulling out all the stops when it comes to reaping the benefits of coach tourism, including job creation and increased visitor numbers. The county capital will shortly be the first in the country to offer an accredited course for tour guides. It is expected that the Certificate in Arts in Local Heritage Tour Guiding, run through Limerick Institute of Technology, will be up and running in the coming months. Details of the initiative were unveiled at this week’s meeting of members of the Ennis Municipal District. Councillor Johnny Flynn, a member of the Ennis Coach-Friendly Committee, called for financial support to be given for its delivery. The course will be run as a joint tourism initiative between the local authority, local businesses, Ennis Chamber and LIT. The venture is the result of efforts being made to capitalise on Ennis’ achievement of Coach-Friendly Destination accreditation last year. Brian McCarthy, acting director of services, explained, “A working group/committee was formed …

BUSINESS people at Barrack Square and Old Barrack Street in Ennis were invited to an exhibition of new proposals for the area at The Old Ground Hotel on this week. Some raised concerns about what the proposals would mean for access and parking in the area. The preliminary proposals for the area include: • Introduction of a one-way traffic flow westwards, from O’Connell Street to Market Place; • Creation of a traffic-calmed pedestrian-priority plaza, with high-quality surface materials; • Increased footpath widths along Barrack Street to encourage improved pedestrian linkage between the Market and Square; • Provision of a central focal feature/gathering area, comprising a lightweight canopy structure; • Removal of on-street parking; • Provision of a loading and short-term parking bay; • Introduction of distinctive street furniture, including public seating, lighting, public artwork and new trees; • The retention of vehicle access to Westby Lane and existing residential properties. A council document on the proposals states, “Currently, the opportunities …

PLANS for a development on the site of Our Lady’s Hospital, expected to generate hundreds of jobs, have been given a new lease of life. JJ Enterprises Limited is applying to Clare County Council to extend previously granted planning permission for the development of a healthcare facility at the historic site on the Gort Road. Permission had been granted to Duesbury Limited back in 2013 for the development, subject to 23 conditions. The application to extend that permission has been lodged with Clare County Council and was at the pre-validation stage at the time of going to press. The initial plans include the construction of a four-storey healthcare facility over the basement building, linked to the existing protected structure. It is proposed to provide a full range of medical and related services, including 97 in-patient beds, 30 recovery cubicles, consultants’ suites, administration, office accommodation, pharmacy shop, catering facilities, crèche, energy centre, plant rooms and all ancillary accommodation. The development will …

John Burke, mountaineer and founder of the charity Elevate, has been named Grand Marshal of this year’s Ennis St Patrick’s Day parade. Mayor of Ennis Councillor Paul Murphy today said that John is receiving the honour in recognition of his efforts to bring wellness programmes to young people in Clare, as well as his achievement of becoming the first Clare person to summit Mount Everest in 2017. John will join Mayor Murphy in leading the parade in a horse-drawn carriage, which will be followed by approximately 50 groups representing the many aspects of life in Ennis and County Clare. Mayor Murphy commented, “During my term as Mayor, I have committed to promoting positive mental health initiatives and individuals and groups who are working in the area. John through his own remarkable personal achievements and through Elevate is playing a key part in ensuring that the most vulnerable in society are protected and supported. That is why I am delighted he …

THE national launch of Catholic Schools Week will take place in St Flannan’s College, Ennis on Wednesday at 10.30am. Bishop Fintan Monahan, Bishop of Killaloe, and local school principals will be in attendance along with student representatives and representatives from the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference. Catholic Schools Week is an All-Ireland annual event, which invites Catholic schools to give expression in a special way to the ethos of Catholic education. Catholic Schools Week runs from January 28 to February 4. This year’s theme for Catholic Schools Week connects with the upcoming World Meeting of Families due to take place in Dublin in August. The week invites Catholic schools to reflect on and celebrate the relationship that exists between home, school and parish with the theme; “Catholic Schools: Called to be a Family of Families” On Sunday, February 4, Bishop Monahan will be the chief celebrant at mass for the conclusion of Catholic Schools Week 2018.  This mass will be broadcast …

MEMBERS of the Garda Armed Response Unit assisted Clare County Council with an inspection at a site in Ashline on the Kilrush Road in Ennis today. Council officials inspected the site  where there are six burned out housing units. While the site has been used for Traveller accommodation in the past, Clare County Council are planning to put a new social housing development in place there.  The local authority is currently seeking a High Court injunction against Bernard and Helen McDonagh, which would compel them to leave the site.    

THE Mayor of Ennis said the announcement that the county capital is Ireland’s Cleanest Town is “testament to the year-round effort” by volunteers, Ennis Tidy Towns Committee, Clare County Council and the business community. Councillor Paul Murphy said, “Ennis is a vibrant tourism town and a popular shopping destination, which benefits greatly from the collective efforts of residents, visitors, the local authority, businesses and voluntary groups to keeping the streets and public spaces free of litter. The greatest example of this work was seen during Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann when the streets were kept clean, as more than 400,000 people visited the town,” he said. He added that the recent naming of Ennis as a Coach Friendly Destination and as winner of the Retail Excellence Ireland Friendliest Place Award is “a vote of confidence in the partnership approach adopted by Clare County Council, Ennis Chamber and the local community to developing and promoting the Clare county capital”. Meanwhile Minister of …