ENNIS councillors have moved to ‘preserve history’ by promoting signage on the Clare Road.
The Clare Road, stretches from Darcy’s Corner in Ennis – where DNG O’Sullivan Hurley’s offices are – to the periphery of Clarecastle village. However in recent decades, it has incorrectly garnered the unofficial title of the Limerick Road.
The notice of motion submitted by Cllr Paul Murphy (FG), stated: “This Road, to the Village of Clarecastle/Clare, starts at Darcy’s Corner, Ennis and continues down as far as the Clare GAA HQ entrance at Clareabbey. Over time, the road, unfortunately, appears to have unofficially acquired the name of ‘Limerick Road’. I am requesting that Ennis Municipal District erect some more ‘Clare Road/Bothar an Chlair’ signage/wallplates at appropriate locations in an effort to both preserve history and to enhance awareness of its proper name.”
The publication of the Ennis Roots Society book ‘Clare Road’ by Larry Brennan sparked Cllr Murphy to bring forward the motion.
“Forever and a day that stretch of road … was always the Clare Road. Over the years it has acquired the name, Limerick Road, which is a major anomaly because that road never brought you to Limerick. It brought you to Clarecastle, or Clare as it was once known, and onto Newmarket-on-Fergus before then bringing you to Limerick. It’s a serious, serious mistake.
“This is an attempt to give it its rightful name.”
Currently, a plaque on the wall at Captain Mac’s Cross says Clare Road. There’s also a stone marking on the Clare Road as you approach Clareabbey Roundabout however Cllr Murphy says more clear and visible signage needs to be erected to make people aware of the correct name. “History is critical and it’s incumbent on us to respect that,” he noted.
The Clarecastle native also questioned whether Clarecastle was unofficially renamed many years ago. “I’ve been doing research on it, I’m only getting going on it. It seems the name of Clare village was never rightfully changed to Clarecastle… in the 1881 census it was the town of Clare.” Pushed on whether he would seek to have its name restored to ‘Clare’, Cllr Murphy didn’t rule anything out saying he would be researching the matter further.
Cllr Mary Howard, who launched the book in question, seconded the notice of motion. “There is great passion about the fact that it is the Clare Road and not the Limerick Road.”
There was overwhelming support from all those in attendance, with local postman Cllr Tommy Guilfoyle (SF) noting that even in the post office, the road is commonly known as the Limerick Road, “which it is not”. “It is the Clare Road all the way down and it’s incumbent on us to make it known that it is the Clare Road as described”.
In his official reply, Senior Engineer Patrick Tiernan, stated, “Ennis MD have researched this issue and having reviewed historic mapping we agree that the correct name of this road is the Clare Road (Bothar an Chláir). We will endeavour to erect name- plate signage as requested.”
