Tag Archives: Save Ennis Town

A RALLY in opposition to controversial Ennis 2040 plans for the transformation of the Abbey Street Carpark as well future proposals for Parnell Street carpark will be held in the heart of the town this Saturday. The event at 2pm in The Square has been organised by the ‘Save Ennis Town’ group who are calling for a halt to what they describe as plans for “the destruction of the town’s riverside civic amenities”. They say the gathering will give the people of the town and surrounding areas an opportunity to demonstrate opposition to the proposed Ennis 2040 plans to build on carparks in the town centre. The development of a retail and office space at the Abbey Street Carpark according to Ennis 2040 will result in 100 permanent jobs once complete and 200 jobs during construction, and create a town centre footfall of 20,000 shoppers a week. The Ennis 2040DAC have outlined that the aim of their plans is to …

Ennis councillor Johnny Flynn (FG) has made the surprise announcement he is to leave the political arena and will not contest the local election in June. “Coming up to an election, all politicians have to consider their position and with the election looming I had to consider it, and decided to give other candidates an opportunity.” He contacted his fellow councillors to tell them his decision over the weekend. And now he has made the announcement, many members of the public have thanked him for his service over the last after 20 years. “It is all about the constituents rather than the politicians really,” he said. Councillor Flynn has been interested in, and involved with environmental issues over his tenure at Clare County Council, and said there is “satisfaction” in leaving after the recent Clare Climate Action Plan 2024 – 2029 was adopted. “I am delighted with the final plan,” he said highlighting that the work done over the last …

A petition of 3,500 signatures requesting county councillors to halt plans to build on two riverside car parks in Ennis, was presented to Ennis Mayor, Pat Daly at Clare County Council buildings this morning. This was following a silent march of over 200 townspeople and business owners who marched from the Abbey Street car park to Clare County Council’s buildings on the New Road. The atmosphere on the morning was convivial with a number of marchers holding a large inflatable elephant to symbolise the potential of the proposed development becoming a ‘white elephant’. The march was organised by the Save Ennis Town voluntarily group who are opposed to the council and Ennis 240 DAC proceeding with plans to build on the two car parks. The group says the move would deprive the town of vital civic and amenity spaces and view such plans as “destructive”. Joan Duggan, a concerned citizen with limited mobility delivered the red petition box to Councillor Daly and …

THE war of words between Ennis 2040 DAC and Save Ennis Town has heated up in recent days with Ennis 2040 DAC responding to claims made by the voluntary group about the Abbey Street Car Park in Ennis. The claims came at the start of an archaeological dig at the car park last week, ahead of controversial plans to develop the area. The Save Ennis Town group had described the re-development plans as “destructive” to the town. The ‘big dig’ as it is being referred to locally, are excavations undertaken by Archaeology and Built Heritage Ltd, under licence, to investigate the ground at the site and obtain archaeological and heritage information. It is hoped the findings will shed light on the archaeological heritage of the site before any proposed development, and will inform the design process of a landmark building. Ennis 2040 Designated Activity Company (DAC), the entity responsible for delivering nine transformational projects for Ennis town, has rejected a …

A new group has circulated a petition urging Clare County Council to stop the proposed development of riverside car parks in Ennis and to abandon what has been described as the “transfer of public land to a private company, Ennis 2040 DAC”. The “Save Ennis Town” group has collected almost 700 signatures from its online petition since it started a new campaign on Monday. This is a group drawn from community, business, retail and political representatives. It formed after a public meeting on 4th May in the Temple Gate Hotel where more than 200 people voicing opposition to the Ennis 2040 plans. In a statement issued to the Clare Champion, the group stressed it aims to have constructive engagement with Ennis 2040 DAC and develop a plan that will enhance the county town for everyone. Group members include Gearoid Mannion, chairman; Edel Cassidy; Joan Duggan; Councillor Johnny Flynn; Bridget Ginnity; Cora Hahessy; Teresa McGrath; Councillor Tom O’Callaghan; Michelle O’Connell, John …