*O’Connell Square.
EXPERIENCE ENNIS, a company formed in the last two years aimed at promoting the county town is to cease trading.
Promote Ennis which trades as Experience Ennis was established on April 26th 2021 and lists TTM Healthcare Ltd as its registered address.
High quality social media videos had been a feature of Experience Ennis. The Piping Heaven Piping Hell music festival held in April and organised by Blackie O’Connell was the event it promoted. The ArtWays of Ennis mural project was developed by Experience Ennis.
Queries had been raised by elected representatives at recent sittings of the Ennis Municipal District on the future of Experience Ennis.
Speaking at the July meeting of the Ennis MD, Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) reminded the top table that councillors had sought clarity on whether Experience Ennis was still trading.
Addressing the meeting, senior executive officer, Leonore O’Neill stated, “We have been notified by the Board of Directors that they are currently winding down the company and a report will be issued to Clare County Council and the elected members”.
In response, Cllr Flynn suggested, “in light of the difficulty of voluntary bodies and the company in promoting the tourism of Ennis, we might have an agenda item at the next meeting on how the new Tourism Directorate could take responsibility for this”.
This recommendation was quickly shot down, “I would respectfully suggest we have a discussion first,” Ms O’Neill replied.
Further questions were then raised by Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF), “Was there public monies involved and will there be a report on that issued,” he asked.
General Municipal Allocation funding had been issued to Experience Ennis “in previous years,” Leonore advised. “A report is submitted in respect of each years funding as is standard practice for all recipients, those are on file”.
€200,000 was previously allocated for a festival to be ran by Experience Ennis that has not taken place. “Those monies hadn’t been paid across and won’t be, that money will be available for allocation,” she confirmed.
Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) queried if the final report from the entity would be issued to the local authority.
“They are preparing a booklet which will be circulated to all members of Promote Ennis and we have a requested a copy for all councillors,” O’Neill outlined.
Both Colleran Molloy and Cllr Mary Howard (FG) had been nominated by the Ennis MD to attend meetings of the Experience Ennis Board but both confirmed to The Clare Echo that they had been unable to attend any such gatherings this year due to scheduling clashes.
