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Politically, Ennis has always been considered a [[Fianna Fáil]] stronghold. Many of the Town's past councils are made up of members of this party.However in the 2009 Local Elections the party was reduced to just one member out of nine on Ennis Town Council. A monument to [[Éamon de Valera]], founder of the party and former President of Ireland, stands outside Ennis Courthouse.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/people/eamon.htm |title=Clare People: Eamon De Valera |publisher=Clarelibrary.ie |date= |accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref>
Politically, Ennis has always been considered a [[Fianna Fáil]] stronghold. Many of the Town's past councils are made up of members of this party.However in the 2009 Local Elections the party was reduced to just one member out of nine on Ennis Town Council. A monument to [[Éamon de Valera]], founder of the party and former President of Ireland, stands outside Ennis Courthouse.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/people/eamon.htm |title=Clare People: Eamon De Valera |publisher=Clarelibrary.ie |date= |accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref>

An interesting and underestimated fact about Ennis is that it has the highest population of inter-family weddings. It has been a tradition in Ennis for many centries to marry their first cousin to increase the size of their road frontage.


The River Fergus runs through the middle of Ennis, and is a well-known trout and salmon fishery. At one time small sailing boats made their way up river from the Shannon and berthed in the centre of the town at Woodquay.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goireland.com/clare/walks-in-clare-county-page1.htm |title=Walks in Clare , Ireland Page 1 |publisher=Goireland.com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref> This area of the Town along with Parnell Street and Mill Road was routinely susceptible to flooding, but the flood defence system put an end to the event in Parnell Street and the Mill Road areas,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prlog.org/10056021-ennis-flood-relief-scheme-to-help-resolve-centuries-old-problem-says-killeen.html |title=Ennis Flood Relief Scheme To Help Resolve Centuries-Old Problem Says Killeen |publisher=Prlog.org |date=2008-03-10 |accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref> although in November 2009 other parts of the town experienced severe flooding.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/ireland/eymhojkfojql/ |title=Hottest day of year today &#124; IOL |publisher=Breakingnews.iol.ie |date=2009-11-20 |accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref> A new [[pedestrian bridge]] named "Harmony Row Bridge" was built over the river Fergus in June 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.archiseek.com/content/showthread.php?p=87562 |title=Ennis developments and built environment - Page 2 - Irish Architecture Planning Forums |publisher=Archiseek.com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref>
The River Fergus runs through the middle of Ennis, and is a well-known trout and salmon fishery. At one time small sailing boats made their way up river from the Shannon and berthed in the centre of the town at Woodquay.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goireland.com/clare/walks-in-clare-county-page1.htm |title=Walks in Clare , Ireland Page 1 |publisher=Goireland.com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref> This area of the Town along with Parnell Street and Mill Road was routinely susceptible to flooding, but the flood defence system put an end to the event in Parnell Street and the Mill Road areas,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prlog.org/10056021-ennis-flood-relief-scheme-to-help-resolve-centuries-old-problem-says-killeen.html |title=Ennis Flood Relief Scheme To Help Resolve Centuries-Old Problem Says Killeen |publisher=Prlog.org |date=2008-03-10 |accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref> although in November 2009 other parts of the town experienced severe flooding.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/ireland/eymhojkfojql/ |title=Hottest day of year today &#124; IOL |publisher=Breakingnews.iol.ie |date=2009-11-20 |accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref> A new [[pedestrian bridge]] named "Harmony Row Bridge" was built over the river Fergus in June 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.archiseek.com/content/showthread.php?p=87562 |title=Ennis developments and built environment - Page 2 - Irish Architecture Planning Forums |publisher=Archiseek.com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref>

Revision as of 11:22, 27 March 2012

This article is about the Irish county town. For other uses, see Ennis (disambiguation).
Ennis
Inis
Town
CountryIreland
ProvinceMunster
CountyCounty Clare
Dáil ÉireannClare
Elevation
3 m (10 ft)
Population
 (2006)
 • Urban
24,253
Irish Grid ReferenceR333780
Websitewww.visitennis.ie

Ennis (Irish: Inis, meaning "island") is the county town of Clare in Ireland. Situated on the River Fergus, it lies north of Limerick and south of Galway. Its name is a shortening of the original Inis Cluain Ramh Fhada ("long rowing meadow island").

The town is 19 km (12 mi) from Shannon and Shannon Airport. Geographically located near the mouth of the Fergus estuary, it is now a gateway to the West of Clare via the N85 Western relief road for people travelling from the Limerick and East Clare regions.[1]

The 2006 census indicates that Ennis had a population of 24,253 making it the largest town in Munster and the sixth largest town in Ireland.[2] It is the 11th largest urban centre in the country.

In 2005 Ennis won the Irish Tidy Towns Competition.[3] The town has maintained this high status over the years coming 2nd in 2008, an improvement on the previous year.[4]

History

The name Ennis comes from the Irish word "Inis", meaning "island". This name relates to an island formed between two courses of the River Fergus on which the Franciscan Abbey was built. The past of Ennis is greatly associated with the O'Brien family, who were descendants of Brian Boru. During the 12th century the O'Briens who were Kings of Thomond, left their seat of power in Limerick and built a royal residence at Clonroad on the then island. During 1240 King Donnchadh O'Brien ordered the construction of an extensive church grounds which he later donated to recently formatted followers of St. Francis. The centuries which followed bore great activity. The Friars keep was expanded and students came in great flocks to study at the theological college. The Friars, who were free to move about, met the spiritual needs of the local population. It was a religious centre until the Dissolution of the Monasteries. Because it never had town walls it became a location for many Catholic merchants from Limerick when Catholics were forbidden to reside in the walled towns by the Penal Laws, and much of its past prosperity is attributable to this influx.

The Town contains several old British military barracks, which were built over the centuries. The Clare Road and Clonroad areas contain terraced cottages, built in the Early 20th century to house soldiers. On Station Road, once stood a prison. Many Ennis men fought for the British Army during The First World War.

Politically, Ennis has always been considered a Fianna Fáil stronghold. Many of the Town's past councils are made up of members of this party.However in the 2009 Local Elections the party was reduced to just one member out of nine on Ennis Town Council. A monument to Éamon de Valera, founder of the party and former President of Ireland, stands outside Ennis Courthouse.[5]

An interesting and underestimated fact about Ennis is that it has the highest population of inter-family weddings. It has been a tradition in Ennis for many centries to marry their first cousin to increase the size of their road frontage.

The River Fergus runs through the middle of Ennis, and is a well-known trout and salmon fishery. At one time small sailing boats made their way up river from the Shannon and berthed in the centre of the town at Woodquay.[6] This area of the Town along with Parnell Street and Mill Road was routinely susceptible to flooding, but the flood defence system put an end to the event in Parnell Street and the Mill Road areas,[7] although in November 2009 other parts of the town experienced severe flooding.[8] A new pedestrian bridge named "Harmony Row Bridge" was built over the river Fergus in June 2009.[9]

Heritage and economy

Clare became a county under rule of Elizabeth I and Ennis was chosen as its capital because of its central location and it because of its great influence by the Earls of Thomond. Ennis got a grant to hold fairs and markets in 1610 and some years later a Charter for a Corporation with a Provost, Free Burgesses, Commonalty and a Town Clerk.[10]

Ennis continued to expand in the following centuries in a slow but steady fashion, mainly as a market town and later as a manufacturing and distributing centre. Many commodities were then conveyed by river to Clarecastle for shipment abroad.[11]

Ennis is an historically important market town. The market square today is still home to market stalls on each Saturday through the year and with the rise in the town's commercial retail sector in recent years, the market has shifted its traditional trading from agricultural produce to mainly textiles and home hardware. The market has added a vibrant organic farming element over the previous years.[12]

River Fergus going through Ennis.

The Town Centre consists of medieval narrow streets and laneways, which are overshadowed by simple elegant structures built over the last 1000 years . Of the main thoroughfares, Parnell Street has been pedestrianised, while the others, O'Connell Street, Bindon Street and Abbey Street are one way. The Cathedral of Saint Peter and Saint Paul is situated on the fringe of the old town centre.

Ennis serves as a major regional hub for County Clare. Among its emergency services, it contains the Ennis Regional Hospital, the HQ of the Clare Divisional Garda, the Clare Fire Brigade and Civil Defence. Ennis also includes many relief organisations, such as The Samaratans, Clare Care and St. Vincent De Paul. Among its civil services, it contains Clare County Council, Ennis Town Council, Clare Revenue Commissionairs, as well as Social and Family affairs.

Ennis has been a center for Irish Traditional Music, and since 1974 has hosted the Fleadh Nua[13] in late May each year, the second largest traditional music festival in Ireland. There are other traditional festivals held in the town as well such as the Ennis Trad Festival held annually in November.

Transport

Ennis is served by both bus and rail links to all major cities and towns in Ireland. The main bus depot is adjacent to the town's train station and both are located about one kilometre distance from the town centre. The station is situated on the Clon Road toward the east of the town, which links to the main N18 in either direction.

Bus services are provided to Shannon Airport, Galway, Limerick, Cork, Dublin and all routes in between and run nearly every hour. Shannon Airport is 15 minutes from Ennis, providing daily flights to European and US destinations.

In 1976 passenger trains were withdrawn on the railway line from Limerick to Claremorris via Ennis. County Clare thus became the only Irish county outside Ulster without a passenger train service. The closure of Ennis station proved to be only temporary; twenty rail services per day are now provided to and from Limerick City, from where connecting rail services are available to both Dublin and Cork. The Western Railway Corridor north of Ennis (to Athenry and Galway) reopened 30 March 2010 with 5 return services daily. The next phases, to Tuam and Claremorris, originally scheduled to reopen by 2014, is subject to budget review.[14]

Ennis was formerly the starting point of the West Clare Railway, a narrow gauge railway which ran from Ennis to Ennistymon, Miltown Malbay and onwards to the towns and villages along the West Clare coastline. Trains ran from the same railway station as still used by mainline Irish railway services. The line was CIÉ's last narrow gauge railway and was finally closed in 1961, despite investment in new diesel trains in the early/mid 1950s.

Education

Primary Schools in Ennis include Ennis National School, established in 1897 (Formerly Boys National School), Cloughleigh National School, Gaelscoil Mhichíl Cíosóg, Holy Family School, CBS and the multi-denominational Ennis Educate Together National School which opened in 1998. [15] There are several secondary level schools located in Ennis, including Rice College, Ennis Community College, Colaiste Muire, St. Flannan's College, and Gaelcholaiste an Chláir. Mid-West Management Training is a FETAC approved provider of further education and training up to Level 6 of the National Framework of Qualifications. The Ennis Business college is one of Ennis's 3rd level facilities.

St. Flannan's College, one of the oldest extant school buildings in Ireland.

Culture

Ennis is a stronghold of traditional music with many musicians in residence and regularly playing locally. The Ennis Book Club Festival, in association with Clare County Library, runs annually on the first weekend in March. It attracts readers and authors from all over Ireland and beyond. Glór Theatre is a concert and events venue and is located in the town centre.

Sports and leisure

Cusack Park is the main county Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) playing grounds is situated in the town centre on Francis Street. Ennis has numerous Football Clubs (Soccer, GAA & Rugby) that play in various Leagues from Schoolboys to Senior. Ennis has many Sports facitities including the Lees Road Sports and Amenity Park (See Main Article), The Fair Green which has a Childrens Playground and numerous football pitches. The Ennis Leisure Centre has a fully equipped Gym with a 25m pool, Saunas etc. There are a number of Hotels around Ennis that have their own Leisure facilities including Gyms and 15m to 20m Pools.

Lees Road Park

The Lees Road Sports and Amenity Park, just 1km from the town centre, is set in 134 acres of wood and park land. There is ample car parking and the main building includes modern changing rooms, showers and toilets. Among the facilities available are - 4 conventional playing pitches, full size all weather floodlit playing pitch, floodlit 400m synthetic running track and a purpose built cross country running track. There is a Childrens playground and Skateboard Park. There are marked Walks and Trails throughout the Woodland area.

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in the Republic of Ireland

Twin towns — Sister cities

A sister city of Ennis is Phoenix, Arizona.[16] Each summer an average of four 4th/5th year students partake in the Phoenix Youth Ambassador Program, which is facilitated by the city of Phoenix twinning committee and the Ennis Chamber Of Commerce.

It is also twinned with the town of Saint-Paul-de-Fenouillet; in Southern France.[17] Ennis is also twinned with the town of Clare, South Australia and the city of Clare, Michigan, United States

Information Age Town

In September 1997, Ennis became Ireland's first and only Information Age Town. The town was greatly enhanced by the project's IR£15 million investment, which saw 4200 computers provided to residents, a computer lab for every school and every primary school classroom been provided with a computer. Elderly residents were given the chance to become computer users also as a result. The project also gave Ennis Ireland's first high speed ISDN line infrastructure, which connected all the town's businesses together. Ennis was also used as a test site for VISA Cash, which allowed users to top up a Chip and PIN card with petty cash and purchase goods in local stores. Funding for the project ran out in 2000.

Gallery

  • A monument to Irish nationalist hero Daniel O'Connell stands atop a tall column in O'Connell Square, the site of the old courthouse where he won the Clare by-elections in 1828.
    A monument to Irish nationalist hero Daniel O'Connell stands atop a tall column in O'Connell Square, the site of the old courthouse where he won the Clare by-elections in 1828.
  • The River Fergus flows through Ennis.
    The River Fergus flows through Ennis.
  • Ennis Friary, constructed in 1242.
    Ennis Friary, constructed in 1242.
  • St Columba's Church, Ennis.The disestablishment of the Church of Ireland from 1871 by an Act of Parliament led that Church to sell many of its estates and bishops' palaces, in the process laying off many Protestant workers who themselves then moved away. However the wealthy protestant William Murphy donated land outside the town centre for the building of this quaint church.
    St Columba's Church, Ennis.The disestablishment of the Church of Ireland from 1871 by an Act of Parliament led that Church to sell many of its estates and bishops' palaces, in the process laying off many Protestant workers who themselves then moved away. However the wealthy protestant William Murphy donated land outside the town centre for the building of this quaint church.

People

Cultural references

  • Ennis is mentioned in the songs "Isobel" by British performer Dido, and "At The Ceili" by Celtic Woman.

See also

References

  1. ^ www.ennisbypass.ie
  2. ^ "Clare History: Census figures 2002-2006 (Clare): Population of towns ordered by size, 2002 and 2006". Clarelibrary.ie. Retrieved 2010-06-08.
  3. ^ "Welcome to TidyTowns Ireland". Tidytowns.ie. Retrieved 2010-06-08.
  4. ^ "News and Press Releases - Tidy Towns success for Ennis". Ennistowncouncil.ie. 2008-09-10. Retrieved 2010-06-08.
  5. ^ "Clare People: Eamon De Valera". Clarelibrary.ie. Retrieved 2010-06-08.
  6. ^ "Walks in Clare , Ireland Page 1". Goireland.com. Retrieved 2010-06-08.
  7. ^ "Ennis Flood Relief Scheme To Help Resolve Centuries-Old Problem Says Killeen". Prlog.org. 2008-03-10. Retrieved 2010-06-08.
  8. ^ "Hottest day of year today | IOL". Breakingnews.iol.ie. 2009-11-20. Retrieved 2010-06-08.
  9. ^ "Ennis developments and built environment - Page 2 - Irish Architecture Planning Forums". Archiseek.com. Retrieved 2010-06-08.
  10. ^ "Clare Places - Ennis: Historical Background". Clarelibrary.ie. Retrieved 2010-06-08.
  11. ^ "About Ennis Town". Ennistowncouncil.ie. Retrieved 2010-06-08.
  12. ^ "Ennis County Clare". Lookaroundireland.com. Retrieved 2010-06-08.
  13. ^ "Ennis Under Siege for Fleadh Nua". Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. 2009-02-18. Retrieved 2009-03-21.
  14. ^ "No schedule for further rail expansion | Connacht Tribune". galwaynews.ie. 2010-05-27. Retrieved 2010-06-08.
  15. ^ "Ennis Educate Together National School". Eetns.ie. 2010-03-26. Retrieved 2010-06-08.
  16. ^ Weaver, Cynthia (2008-10-20). "Phoenix Sister Cities Celebrates 20 Years of Friendship with Ennis, Ireland". City of Phoenix, Arizona. Retrieved 2008-10-28. [dead link]
  17. ^ "Section 15 Freedom of Information Manual for Ennis Town Council (pdf format)" (PDF). Retrieved 2008-10-26. [dead link]
  18. ^ Figure is total for Ennis UD and Ennis environs. http://www.cso.ie/census and www.histpop.org for post 1821 figures, For a discussion on the accuracy of pre-famine census returns see JJ Lee “On the accuracy of the Pre-famine Irish censuses Irish Population, Economy and Society edited by JM Goldstrom and LA Clarkson (1981) p54, in and also New Developments in Irish Population History, 1700-1850 by Joel Mokyr and Cormac O Grada in The Economic History Review, New Series, Vol. 37, No. 4 (Nov., 1984), pp. 473–488.
  19. ^ "Ennis honours Muhammad Ali". RTÉ News. 2 September 2009. Retrieved 2 September 2009.
  20. ^ Dervan, Cathal (13 January 2012). "Ennis to celebrate Muhammad Ali on his landmark 70th birthday". Irish Central. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  21. ^ Ali's NOT from Ennis; & HIS GREAT-GRANDFATHER WAS BORN IN.. KENTUCKY.
  22. ^ Claims of Ali’s Ennis connection ‘a total con job’

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ennis.
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