Visit Ennis Brochure
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www.visitennis.ie e [email protected] This brochure is a production of Promote Ennis, a local community initiative that is a partnership between Ennis Chamber, Ennis Town Council and Shannon Development. Promote Ennis is implementing a strategic marketing initiative to boost visitor numbers to the town. Ennis Tourist Offi ce Arthur’s Row, Ennis, Co. Clare. t 065 682 8366 e touristoffi [email protected] International dialling codes To call any number in this brochure internationally dial 00 + 353 and omit (0) Main Photography © Mike Mulcaire Print: Realprint 065 684 4545 www.mphotographx.com Design: Edel Butler www.visitennis.ie Welcome I am delighted as Mayor of Ennis to have this opportunity to welcome all visitors Welcome to Ennis and County Clare. to our town. On behalf of Ennis Chamber of Commerce and the business community in County Clare, Ennis is the home of traditional Irish music. While you are in Ennis, please take the I would like to welcome you to our beautiful opportunity to meet the people of our town in the wide range of quality shops, town and county. fi ne restaurants and lively places of entertainment in local pubs, hotels and Glór Ennis is a great base to explore and theatre. Ennis itself has its own character and uniqueness. I am sure you will fi nd experience the best of what Clare has to off er the town’s narrow streets bustling with shoppers and a hive of activity as you and hopefully this guide will help you to do stroll through the town. so with ease. Our town’s narrow streets and Ennis is an ideal location from which to visit the world-renowned tourist attractions laneways are a pleasure to ramble and off er of County Clare. For example the Burren and its unique limestone landscape, is many opportunities to visit some of our unique only a short drive from Ennis. One of the country’s largest visitor attractions, the and diverse boutiques, shops, cafés and Contents Cliff s of Moher and Visitor Centre, are also within a relatively short distance. The restaurants. The meandering river Fergus can beautiful East Clare lake-lands and West Clare estuary coast off er a unique visitor best be experienced by doing the river walk experience. where you can also view some of our town’s 01 History fantastic sculptures. I hope that your stay in Ennis will be an enjoyable one and will encourage you to 04 Transportation/Getting Here If you are visiting for a couple of days the return again to our town where you can always be assured of a warm welcome. Farmers Market on Friday morning and all-day 06 Where to Stay Cllr. Michael Guilfoyle, Mayor of Ennis. Saturday Market are well worth a visit. 08 What to Do On your day trips try some of the fantastic attractions around the county from the 12 What to See majestic Cliff s of Moher to the Loop Head 16 Where to Shop peninsula to the tranquil Lough Derg or one of my personal favourite places Mullaghmore 20 Map of Ennis mountain in the Burren National Park. All of your accommodation providers or our local 25 Health & Beauty tourist offi ce will be delighted to assist you 25 Local Services with any information you may need. Ennis and County Clare are world famous 26 Cafés as the home of traditional Irish music and 28 Evening Entertainment “It’s the place to stay if you want a bit of hopefully you will get the chance to unwind urban fl air; from Ennis, you can reach at one of the many music sessions on in the 32 Day Trips from Ennis any part of Clare in under two hours. towns bars and restaurants. 34 Annual Events The town’s strengths are its food, I hope you enjoy your experience in Ireland’s lodging and traditional friendliest town. 36 Top Tips entertainment.” Lonely Planet Brian O’Neill, President, Ennis Chamber of Commerce History of Ennis “I have a long association with Ennis. My father worked The town takes its name from “Inis”, meaning an island which was in the Old Ground Hotel formed between two streams of the River Fergus. The history of Ennis in the 1960s, my sister was is intimately linked with that of the O’Brien family, descendants of Brian born when we lived here. Boru. I have many fond memories Ennis is also associated with some of the great political leaders of of Ennis and Kilkee where I the past. 1828 marked the return to parliament of Daniel O’Connell, spent many summers.” who, by being elected M.P. for Clare forced the passing of the Catholic Bobby Kerr Emancipation Act of 1829. Dragon’s Den Entrepreneur Ennis, with its narrow streets and lanes, represents a pleasant blend of the historic past and the active present. Major Historical Event In the summer of 1828 Ennis candidate but the Catholic clergy was host to an event that was ‘persuaded’ their congregation hugely signifi cant in history - the to vote for the Catholic. Voters world’s fi rst democratic, peaceful, marched to Ennis from all around revolution. the county. They cast their votes The Catholic Association put in the Old Courthouse (where the forward Daniel O’Connell to O’Connell Monument now stands). contest the Clare Election of 1828 Marshalled by the Catholic as a means of challenging the rule Association not a single incident, where Catholics were not allowed of violence or drunkenness, was to hold a seat in Parliament. The reported. Daniel was proclaimed landlords wanted their tenants elected on the 5th of July 1828 to vote for the other (their) and history was made. Clare’s landscapes and musical traditions have been “What I have come to enjoy through several holidays to Ennis shaped over centuries of life’s is not only the charm of an old world town with narrow streets events – come and experience both. and historic Abbeys and squares, but the bustle of a modern Martin Hayes community.” Bobby Collins Former President - Charleston Chamber of Commerce, “Most Courteous City” visit ennis 1 Initiatives Ennis 2020 Twinnings “Working with the people of Ennis Phoenix, Arizona to shape their future’ Ennis formally twinned with Phoenix, Arizona, since 1988. The twinning was as a direct result www.ennis2020.ie The people of Ennis and its surrounding areas of Ennis Chamber of Commerce and Ennis can give ideas on how to make Ennis a better Town Council representatives who visited community for everyone in the future. Working Phoenix as part of a trade delegation. Initially, in line with the National Spatial Strategy (NSS) contacts were established by Clare people to help Ennis reach its full potential. living in Phoenix. Since 1991, many cultural/ educational exchanges have taken place with over 100 students participating in the annual Create the Magic Youth Ambassador. Create the Magic was launched in March 2011. It is intended to bring positive energy, pride and success into the community and enable St. Paul de Fenouillet Ennis to be the fi rst out of recession and to Ennis is twinned with Saint Paul de Fenouillet, Accolades be considered the friendliest town in Ireland. which is located in the Languedoc Roussillon region in the South of France, since 1989. Ireland’s Information Age Town Top 60 Public Spaces Saint-Paul de Fenouillet is situated within an The Gathering 2013 Initiative In 1997 Ennis was named Ireland’s fi rst www.pps.org hour’s drive of the Pyrenees Mountains and ‘Information Age Town’. This meant it was The Project for Public Spaces named www.thegatheringireland.com the Mediterranean Sea. The town is proud of chosen to pioneer the introduction and O’Connell Street, Ennis, amongst “60 of the Ennis is looking forward to hosting events its famous vineyards and its two rivers running popularisation of Information Technology in World’s Great Places” defi ned as “places we for The Gathering 2013 which is a year-long along the chain of the Southern Corbières Ireland and was the largest community project remember most vividly, the places where series of celebratory events to showcase leading to the famous Cathar castles. all that is great about Ireland – the natural of its kind in the world. serendipitous things happen, the places we In 2005, to highlight the twinning of the two beauty, culture, history and entrepreneurial tell stories”. towns, the courtyard between the Temple spirit. Gate Hotel and the Clare Museum in Ennis was Tidy Towns / Entente Florale The well-cared-for street has everything from pubs and music halls to department stores Some of these cultural, sport and heritage named the “Place de St. Paul de Fenouillet”. Ennis Tidy Towns is a voluntary grouping and and chemists, making it relevant day and events will be new while others will be has been in operation for over 30 years. It night, for all ages and interests. familiar. But they’ll be better than ever in 2013! aims to encourage people to work together to make the most of their local environment and encourage community development. Success was fi rst achieved in 1997 by winning a Silver Lonely Planet (10th Edition 2012) Twinnings Medal in European Entente Florale. From 1997 “As the capital of a renowned music county, Lagenfeld, Germany on Ennis won national, regional and county Ennis is bursting at the seams with pubs Ennis has developed a strong friendship with awards and since 2001 has achieved Gold featuring live sessions almost every night of Lagenfeld, Germany with a view to establishing Medal status annually.