PERMANENT partial pedestrianisation of O’Connell Street in Ennis will come into effect from Monday (March 2nd).
Vehicular access will be permitted on O’Connell Street from 6am to 11am daily to facilitate business deliveries, drop offs and refuse collection. After 11am, the street will operate as a pedestrian-only zone until 6am the following morning.
Clare County Council are introducing the measures under Section 38 of the Roads Act following public consultation. A Section 38 of the Roads Act allows a local authority to introduce or alter road layouts such as pedestrianisation, cycle lanes, or traffic calming by public consultation, without needing a full planning application process.
Temporary pedestrianisation was first introduced in Ennis Town Centre from March 2020 to September 2021 to enable social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Following a pedestrianisation survey in October 2021, the Ennis MD advertised a temporary road closure to run from April 8th 2022 to March 19th 2023.
Long-running public realm works in the town centre which lasted from October 2023 to November 2025 led to the closure of Ennis to vehicular traffic.
Mayor of the Ennis Municipal District, Cllr Mary Howard (FG) said the partial pedestrianisation “hails a new era and new opportunities for the town of Ennis. The pedestrianisation of O’Connell Street also builds on the Ennis Public Realm Works and the Ennis Streetscape Enhancement Scheme 2026. It forms part of Clare County Council’s broader commitment to positioning Ennis as an attractive place to live, work, visit, and socialise”.
Director of Service for the Ennis MD, Jason Murphy stated that it was “designed to balance the operational needs of local businesses with the public’s call for improved pedestrian spaces. Our goal is to create a lively town centre, support the night-time economy, and open new opportunities for businesses along O’Connell Street and the wider town centre”.
Senior engineer in the Ennis, Paddy Tiernan commented, “This decision is grounded in extensive engagement with the public and local businesses through online and in-person surveys. We also considered submissions received during the Section 38 process. The majority of participants expressed support for pedestrianisation of some form, with more than half favouring full pedestrianisation and 90% supporting at least partial pedestrianisation”.
