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| Ennis has become an important centre of Irish traditional music over the last fifteen years, and, late in May each year, hosts the '''''Fleadh Nua''''', the second largest traditional music festival in Ireland. | Ennis has become an important centre of Irish traditional music over the last fifteen years, and, late in May each year, hosts the '''''Fleadh Nua''''', the second largest traditional music festival in Ireland. | ||
| A statue of ] councillor Joe Arkins was erected in the square in Ennis in November 2006. However, it was recently removed, as many visitors to the town unfamiliar with the bearded public offical believed it was in fact a statue of action movie hero ]. Mr. Norris has no connections with Ennis. | |||
| ==Railway links== | ==Railway links== | ||
Revision as of 16:39, 8 February 2007
This article is about the the Irish county town. For the city in Ellis County, Texas, see Ennis, Texas.For people named Ennis, see Ennis (surname).
Template:Infobox Irish Place Ennis (Irish: Inis) (also referred to as "The Big E") is the county town of Clare in Ireland. Situated on the River Fergus, it lies north of Limerick and south of Galway on the main N18 road connecting these two cities. Its name is a shortening of the original Inis Cluain Ramh Fhada ("Long Rowing Meadow Island").
Ennis had a population of 34,204 (including rural area) at the 2006 census.
Heritage
Ennis grew up around the Franciscan friary. The large building was an important seat of learning in its peak. It was built by the O'Brien family in approximately 1242 and was a religious centre until the Dissolution of the Monasteries.
Ennis was an important market town historically. The market square today is still home to market stalls. The latter practice has steadily decreased through the years. The foot and mouth disease crisis of 2001 in Ireland had a severe impact on such markets around the country. Thanks to stringent restrictions on movement of animals and such markets, the country avoided a major outbreak, but markets such as that at Ennis struggled to recover.
Ennis town centre consists of often narrow streets and many old buildings. One thoroughfare, Parnell Street, has been pedestrianised, while other main streets such as O`Connell Street and Abbey Street are one way. On busy days cars and people jostle for space. Many small shops, both old and new, make Ennis an interesting place in which to shop. The Pro-Cathedral of Saint Peter and Saint Paul can also be found in the town.
Ennis has become an important centre of Irish traditional music over the last fifteen years, and, late in May each year, hosts the Fleadh Nua, the second largest traditional music festival in Ireland.
A statue of Fine Gael councillor Joe Arkins was erected in the square in Ennis in November 2006. However, it was recently removed, as many visitors to the town unfamiliar with the bearded public offical believed it was in fact a statue of action movie hero Chuck Norris. Mr. Norris has no connections with Ennis.
Railway links
Ennis was the starting point of the West Clare Railway, a narrow gauge railway which ran from Ennis to Ennistymon and onwards to the towns and villages along the West Clare coastline. Trains ran from the same railway station as used by mainline Irish railway services. This station still forms part of the Irish railway network today, with mainline commuter services to Limerick. The mainline north to Athenry is not used at present, see Western Railway Corridor.
Education
Primary Schools in Ennis include Ennis National School, established in 1897 and Cloughleigh National School. Five secondary level schools are located in Ennis such as:
Sister cities
A sister city of Ennis is Phoenix, Arizona. Each summer an average of 4 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.
Gallery
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A monument to Irish nationalist hero Daniel O'Connell stands atop a tall column in the aptly named O'Connell Square, the center of Ennis.
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The River Fergus flows through Ennis.
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Ennis Friary, constructed in 1242.
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St. Columba's Church, 1871.
Trivia
- Ennis is mentioned in the song "Isobel" by British performer Dido.
- Daniel O'Connell, MP returned for the Clare electoral area, was known as "The Liberator" for his winning of Catholic Emancipation in 1829.
- Thomas Dillon, record-breaking Triathlon athlete, was born in Ennis in 1964 and attended St Flannan's College there.
- Boxer Muhammad Ali's great grandfather Abe Grady was from Ennis. Grady emigrated in the 1860s to Kentucky where he married a freed black slave.
- Des Lynam, the legendary former Match Of The Day presenter, and nicknamed 'The Silver Fox', was born in Ennis.
Reference
External links
- Official Ennis website
- The World Music Central guide to Ennis. For cultural travelers interested in local music, venues, CD shops, instrument makers, etc.