Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council Cllr Paul Murphy and Gerard O’Rourke, Maheera Mamun, Patrick Kilker and Daria Naimov of CBS Ennis pictured in O’Connell Square at the launch of the inaugural Ennis Easter Festival. Photo credit: Eamon Ward.
ENNIS’ inaugural Easter festival takes place today (Saturday).
Live music, street performances and children’s activities will take place across Ennis town from 12pm to 6pm on Easter Saturday.
Organised by Clare County Council, the aim is to draw visitors to the county town and support local businesses.
Family entertainment will include face painting and egg decorating while roaming costumed characters will provide photo opportunities. Traditional sessions, buskers and acoustic acts will perform across the afternoon.
A town‑wide Easter Egg Hunt Trail will act as the central attraction, starting from 12.15pm and 2.30pm at the O’Connell Monument. Families will follow clues to landmarks around Ennis, collecting stamps before returning to a finish point where children will receive an Easter egg.
Clare FM will broadcast its Big Weekend programme live from the festival from 12 noon, with interviews and reports from across the town.
A parade of uilleann pipers, led by Blackie O’Connell, will also take place as part of Piping Heaven / Piping Hell Tionól 2026, a three‑day piping celebration running in Ennis over the Easter Bank Holiday Weekend, from April 3-5. Pipers from Ireland and overseas are expected to take part in recitals and workshops across the town.
Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Cllr Paul Murphy (FG), said the festival would help drive footfall and highlight the newly enhanced town centre, “The event has been designed to encourage activity and create a lively atmosphere throughout the day while showcasing the recently upgraded public spaces, a project that has greatly enhanced the appearance and vibrancy of the town centre. The public realm works have created new opportunities for the town to host family‑friendly events like this, and it promises to be a fun‑filled day for all”.
Director of Service for Tourism, Festivals, Libraries and Cultural Services with Clare County Council, Siobhán McNulty, said, “This is an opportunity to showcase Ennis as a lively, family friendly destination during the Easter period. It is an opportunity to support businesses and to thank them for their patience in the delivery of the public realm scheme. The event will demonstrate the potential for Ennis to host events and as a base to promote the town’s tourism offering”.
