Ennis (Irish: Inis) is the county town of Clare in the Republic of Ireland. Its population is approx 19,000. 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”).
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’Brian family in approximately 1242.
Ennis was an important market town historically. The market square today is still home to market stalls and some live animal trade. 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. Some of these have now been pedestrianised, or made one way, but on busy days cars and people jostle for space. Many small shops, both old and new, make Ennis an interesting place to shop in.
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.
Related Travel Information
Newmarket-on-Fergus (Irish: Cora Chaitlín) is a town in County Clare, Ireland. The town is situated about halfway between Limerick and Ennis, and near to Shannon Town and airport. The main N18 Limerick–Ennis road passed through Newmarket until the town was bypassed in 2003. Dromoland Castle is located a small distance from Newmarket, along the road towards Ennis.
Ennistimon or Ennistymon (Irish: Inis Diomáin) is a small town in County Clare, Republic of Ireland, near the west coast of Ireland. A popular tourist town it has a typical Irish main street, with many traditional pubs. A river runs through the town, behind the main street, which has some small rapids known as "the Falls". A bridge across the river leads to nearby Lahinch, on the N67 road. The town is connected to Ennis by the N85 (which is actually the main street through the town). Until the late 1950s the West Clare Railway also passed through the town,
Quin (Cuinche in Irish) is a small town in County Clare, Republic of Ireland, situated north of Limerick city and near Ennis in the Midwest of Ireland.
The town's main attraction, Quin Abbey, is open to the public, and although mostly ruined, much of the structure remains. The abbey was built on the foundations of an earlier castle, and the foundations of its corner towers can still be seen.
Inagh (Eidhneach in Irish, meaning "place abounding in ivy") is a village located 14 km west of Ennis in County Clare, Ireland, on the N85 road to Ennistymon. The parish of Inagh comprises seven townlands lying north-east of Mount Callan.
Home of 2005 St. Flannans College Croke cup winning goalkeeper Patrick Shapes Kelly
Lissycasey (Lios Uí Chathasaigh in Irish, meaning "Fort of the Caseys") is a village in County Clare, Ireland. It forms one half of the parish of Clondegad-Kilchrist. The village straddles the N68 Ennis-Kilrush road for some 3.5 km. The area stretches east-west from Caherea to Crown and north-south from Frure North to Cloncolman.
