*Crowds at the homecoming in Ennis. Photograph: Tom Micks
A “FESTIVAL weekend” was experienced by businesses in the county town off the back of Clare’s success in the All-Ireland senior hurling championship.
Pubs, takeaways and restaurants in Clare were the big winners from an economic perspective as celebrations began on Sunday and entered right across the week.
Supporters unable to secure tickets or make it to Croke Park for the final provided plenty of atmosphere in pubs and bars across the county where strong sales were recorded, this continued into Sunday night.
Crowds in excess of 36,000 attending the official homecoming in Ennis on Monday evening offered a further lift, particularly to the Ennis economy.
CEO of Ennis Chamber, Margaret O’Brien told The Clare Echo, “Everyone across the Banner delighted in the Clare Senior Hurlers All-Ireland victory at the weekend, not least the businesses operating in the Evening & Night-time Economy (ENTE) in Ennis.
“It was like a festival weekend from start to finish in the county town, and then there was the bonus of the ‘homecoming’ on Monday. The pubs, take-aways and restaurants were ‘wedged’ across town from Monday afternoon until the early hours. We checked-in with several of our member businesses yesterday (Tuesday), they were exhausted but thrilled with the lift in business over the weekend,” she added.
Clare’s win has provided a timely shot in the arm for the Ennis economy, Margaret flagged. “Ennis is not alone in experiencing a downturn in its night-time economy post Covid, it’s a trend across Ireland and further afield. Given that backdrop the boost that the All-Ireland win has given to the local economy is very welcome and much appreciated. With the profile of Ennis riding high, there is now a great opportunity to promote Ennis, to encourage domestic tourists to the town and county over the coming weeks and months”.
Ennis hotelier, Paul Madden told The Clare Echo, “people that I know that are away or living abroad have been contacting me to see what is the mood like in Ennis and the one thing I keep saying is that everybody and anybody is on cloud nine”.
Members of the Clare panel stayed in The Temple Gate Hotel on Monday evening, “we were delighted to have an association with the team following the All-Ireland success. We’ve been feeding the team following all of their Munster championship games since Brian Lohan came in as manager and we were delighted that they came back here following the homecoming on Monday evening”.
Clare’s hurlers along with their partners and family had a private event at the four star hotel following the homecoming. “The players really appreciated getting to stay together as a group to celebrate the win, we can’t underestimate how special this was for them to be together before they all split up and went off in different directions”.
Activity in the town has increased but so has support for the county team, Paul noted. “I can notice a huge sense of people supporting this Clare team under Brian Lohan the support that he has garnered is incredible, I haven’t seen it before and I can remember back to 1995 and 1997”.
Given that the condition of Ennis Town Centre and access to the county town has been criticised in recent months with the €11.5m Ennis public realm works ongoing, a positive story for the county town is to be welcomed, Paul said. “I don’t think anyone in Ennis Town Centre on Sunday or Monday made one reference to the roadworks in Ennis Town. Clare County Council and the Ennis Municipal District did great work in organising the homecoming as did the clubs in Clarecastle and Shannon who put in a huge effort”.
Owner of T O’Donnell Sports, Tommy O’Donnell said the sale of Clare jerseys was strong and keeping them on their toes to maintain stock in their store on the heart of Abbey Street. The Crusheen man admitted it was “hard to say” if demand for Clare gear exceeded levels of 1995 and 1997 but flagged the two week lead-in for the All-Ireland final was difficult for businesses to ensure they had an adequate amount of stock for the demand of such a big sporting occasion.
Cian Guilfoyle, owner of Patrick’s Bar in the Market in Ennis said it was “a brilliant few days. The atmosphere was incredible all weekend. It has been a brilliant boost for business. You can’t beat the Clare supporters to show up in force for their team”.
