Ennis
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| Ennis Inis | ||
| Location | ||
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WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: | ||
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| Irish Grid Reference R333780 | ||
| Statistics | ||
| Province: | Munster | |
| County: | County Clare | |
| Elevation: | 3 m | |
| Population (2006) | 24,253 | |
| Website: www.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 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").
The 2006 census indicates that Ennis had a population of 24,253 in 2006 making it the largest town in Munster and the sixth largest town in Ireland. It is the 10th largest urban centre in the country
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[edit] Heritage and economy
Ennis grew up around the Franciscan friary. The large building was an important seat of learning at its peak and was built by the O'Brien family in approximately 1242. It was a religious centre until the Dissolution of the Monasteries.
Ennis is an historically important market town. The market square today is still home to market stalls on each Saturday through the year, although the practice has steadily decreased over the past few decades.
The Town Centre consists of narrow streets and laneways dating back to medieval times, and many fine old buildings. Of the main thoroughfares, Parnell Street has been pedestrianised, while the others, O'Connell Street, Bindon Street and Abbey Street are one way. The Pro-Cathedral of Saint Peter and Saint Paul can also be found in the town.
Ennis has several major shopping centres and the Town Centre itself (consisting primarily of O'Connell, Parnell and Abbey Streets and the Market area) contains numerous shops, restaurants and pubs.
Ennis has become an important centre of Irish traditional music over the last fifteen years, and hosts the Fleadh Nua in late May each year, the second largest traditional music festival in Ireland.
[edit] Transport (bus, rail & air services)
Ennis is served by both bus and rail links to all major cities and towns in Ireland.
Bus services are provided to Shannon Airport, Galway, Limerick, Cork, Dublin and all routes in between and run nearly every hour. Shannon Airport is 20 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; fourteen 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) is expected to reopen in 2008.
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.
[edit] Education
Primary Schools in Ennis include Ennis National School, established in 1897, Cloughleigh National School, Gaelscoil Mhicíl Cíosóg, Holy Family School & CBS. There are several secondary level schools located in Ennis, including Rice College, Ennis Community College, Colaiste Mhuire, St. Flannan's College, and Gaelcholaiste an Chláir.
[edit] Culture
Ennis is a stronghold of music of all types from rock to traditional, with many musicians living and regularly playing locally. The town is host each May to the annual Fleadh Nua, a traditional music festival and is home to the Glór Irish Music Centre, which hosts music concerts, comedy acts and plays.
[edit] Sister cities
A sister city of Ennis is Phoenix, Arizona.[1] 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.
[edit] Gallery
Ennis 02.jpg
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. |
Ennis r-fergus.jpg
The River Fergus flows through Ennis. |
Ennis Friary.jpg
Ennis Friary, constructed in 1242. |
St. Columba's Church in Ennis.jpg
St. Columba's Church.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 center for the building of this quaint church. |
[edit] People
- 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 the Turnpike area of Ennis. [2]
- Former Match Of The Day presenter Des Lynam was born in Ennis.
- Singer Maura O'Connell comes from the market area of Ennis
- The scriptwriter Mark O'Halloran, who wrote the screenplays for the films Adam and Paul and Garage, is from Ennis.
- William Mulready (1786 - 1863) - Genre Painter
[edit] Trivia
| Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones. |
- Ennis is mentioned in the song "Isobel" by British performer Dido.
- Parts of Father Ted were filmed in Ennis.
[edit] References
[edit] See also
- List of abbeys and priories in the Republic of Ireland (County Clare)
- List of towns in the Republic of Ireland
[edit] External links
da:Ennis de:Ennis es:Ennis eu:Ennis fr:Ennis ga:Inis (baile) it:Ennis lt:Enisas nl:Ennis nn:Ennis pl:Ennis (Irlandia) pt:Ennis sv:Ennis
