Ennis MD candidates stance on Ennis 2040 projects

*An artist’s impression of the Abbey Street development.

ONE of the big election issues dominating the conversation in the Ennis Municipal District is the Ennis 2040 Strategy.

Launched in October 2021 by then Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Leo Varadkar (FG) to much fanfare and little resistance, the economic and spatial strategy has turned out to be one of the most divisive matters within the town of Ennis.

Such an atmosphere has been reflected at meetings of the Ennis MD which have been described by elected representatives as “toxic” and “nasty”.

From the get-go there have been nine transformational projects identified under Ennis 2040. In their most latest update, Ennis 2040 Chief Operating Officer, Kevin Corrigan indicated that the strategy would result in a €28m additional spend, a sustained annual spend of €3.5m, 220 plus long-term jobs and 526 plus short-term jobs during construction of various projects.

All thirteen candidates in the Ennis MD have been asked by The Clare Echo for their stance on each of the projects*.

Abbey Street car park riverside project:

Antoinette Baker Bashua (FF) – against
Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) – for
Cllr Pat Daly (FF) – against
Bridget Ginnity (GP) – against
Tommy Guilfoyle (SF) – against
Cllr Mary Howard (FG) – for
Ruairí Keenan (IND) – against
Jacek Kwaśny (IND) – against
Amanda Major (IND) – against
Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) – for
Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF) – against
Seamus Ryan (LAB) – against
Hilary Tonge (SD) – against

Wetlands project

Antoinette Baker Bashua (FF) – for
Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) – for
Cllr Pat Daly (FF) – for
Bridget Ginnity (GP) – for
Tommy Guilfoyle (SF) – undecided
Cllr Mary Howard (FG) – for
Ruairí Keenan (IND) – undecided
Jacek Kwaśny (IND) – against
Amanda Major (IND) – for
Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) – for
Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF) – for
Seamus Ryan (LAB) – for
Hilary Tonge (SD) – for

Friar’s Walk:

Antoinette Baker Bashua (FF) – for
Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) – for
Cllr Pat Daly (FF) – for
Bridget Ginnity (GP) – for
Tommy Guilfoyle (SF) – for
Cllr Mary Howard (FG) – for
Ruairí Keenan (IND) – for
Jacek Kwaśny (IND) – undecided
Amanda Major (IND) – for
Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) – for
Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF) – for
Seamus Ryan (LAB) – for
Hilary Tonge (SD) – for

Cornmarket Preccint:

Antoinette Baker Bashua (FF) – for
Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) – for
Cllr Pat Daly (FF) – for
Bridget Ginnity (GP) – undecided
Tommy Guilfoyle (SF) –undecided
Cllr Mary Howard (FG) – for
Ruairí Keenan (IND) – for
Jacek Kwaśny (IND) – against
Amanda Major (IND) – for
Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) – for
Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF) – for
Seamus Ryan (LAB) – for
Hilary Tonge (SD) – undecided

Harvey’s Quay:

Antoinette Baker Bashua (FF) – against
Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) – for
Cllr Pat Daly (FF) – against
Bridget Ginnity (GP) – for
Tommy Guilfoyle (SF) – against
Cllr Mary Howard (FG) – for
Ruairí Keenan (IND) – against
Jacek Kwaśny (IND) – against
Amanda Major (IND) – against
Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) – for
Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF) – against
Seamus Ryan (LAB) – against
Hilary Tonge (SD) – undecided

Post Office Field:

Antoinette Baker Bashua (FF) – against
Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) – for
Cllr Pat Daly (FF) – for
Bridget Ginnity (GP) – against
Tommy Guilfoyle (SF) – against
Cllr Mary Howard (FG) – for
Ruairí Keenan (IND) – against
Jacek Kwaśny (IND) – against
Amanda Major (IND) – against
Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) – for
Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF) – for
Seamus Ryan (LAB) – against
Hilary Tonge (SD) – against

Former Ennis NS school:

Antoinette Baker Bashua (FF) – for
Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) – for
Cllr Pat Daly (FF) – for
Bridget Ginnity (GP) – for
Tommy Guilfoyle (SF) – for
Cllr Mary Howard (FG) – for
Ruairí Keenan (IND) – for
Jacek Kwaśny (IND) – for
Amanda Major (IND) – against
Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) – for
Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF) – for
Seamus Ryan (LAB) – for
Hilary Tonge (SD) – for

Ennis Data Centre:

Antoinette Baker Bashua (FF) – undecided
Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) – for
Cllr Pat Daly (FF) – for
Bridget Ginnity (GP) – against
Tommy Guilfoyle (SF) – against
Cllr Mary Howard (FG) – for
Ruairí Keenan (IND) – undecided
Jacek Kwaśny (IND) – against
Amanda Major (IND) – against
Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) – for
Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF) – for
Seamus Ryan (LAB) – against
Hilary Tonge (SD) – against