*Works continuing on O’Connell Street in Ennis. Photograph: John Mangan
BUSINESSES IN Ennis Town Centre have been hit hard by the ongoing public realm works with a new poll revealing that 77 percent of businesses have been impacted negatively to date.
There is hope that the works will result in a fantastic looking streetscape but the current climate for businesses has not been aided by the construction works that have forced closures of many streets in the town centre since works began thirteen months ago in October 2023.
The Clare Echo this week polled eighty businesses situated on O’Connell Street, High Street, Bank Place and Abbey Street in Ennis to ascertain what affect there has been on business if any since the project commenced. This included businesses in retail, hospitality, finance and health.
44 percent of businesses surveyed said the public realm works had led to a reduction in business with a third of businesses in Ennis town centre admitting that the public realm works have had a significant negative impact on their trade.
A total of 18 percent said there had been no impact on their business, 5 percent said it had improved their business and led to increased footfall while 1 percent said the works have had a significant positive impact.
MH Young Interiors and Nuggers on O’Connell Street have been among the businesses to shut during the works with Nana’s Tea Room on High Street recently closing with the unit now up for sale.
Ongoing works are part of one of the largest infrastructural projects to be undertaken in Ennis in decades. It remains on course to be completed by late 2025 as initially scheduled.
From January to July of this year, High Street from Harvey’s Quay/Salt House Lane to Bank Place/O’Connell Square was the main focus of works. O’Connell Street has been shut to traffic since January 8th while a similar closure was implemented from Old Barrack Street junction to the Carmody Street junction from the spring.
In September 2023, Clare County Council signed a contract with Shareridge Ltd to deliver an €11.5m upgrade to the streetscape of High Street, Bank Place, O’Connell Square, O’Connell Street, Old Barrack Street and Barrack Square. A funding allocation to the tune of €8,576,920 was approved for the project which follows the successful delivery of significant public realm enhancements at Parnell Street and the Town Laneways and Bow-ways in 2020 and 2021.
Clare County Council in a statement at the time of the contract signing last year said “the project will be delivered in phases to minimise disruption to local business and traffic flow through Ennis”. The project is fundedunder the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) with 25% match funding from Clare County Council.
