Attending the TownAir Air Quality Talk at DeValera Library are Vaios Moschos, TownAir; Shona Brid O’Sullivan, TownAir; John Wegner, TownAir; Cllr Mary Howard, Cathaoirleach of Ennis MD; Anne O’ Sullivan, Senior Engineer, Transportation Road Design, Clare County Council and Brendan Flynn, Senior Executive Engineer, Environment Department, Clare County Council.
AIR QUALITY in Ennis is to be investigated as part of a new research project.
Clare County Council are teaming up with researchers from University of Galway and University College Cork in the TownAir project. Funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), it aims to determine the sources of air pollution in Irish towns.
Ennis’ high rate of air pollution led to its selection for the EPA funded project.
At seventeen different locations in the town, air quality sensors have been installed to see how air quality varies. These results will be used to better understand air pollution patterns in Ennis and to support the development of effective strategies to achieve cleaner air.
Detailed measurements of air quality have been recorded by the TownAir researchers since November 2025 at a site which is collocated with the EPA Air Quality monitoring station, located within Clare County Council grounds at Drumbiggle.
Senior Executive Engineer in the Environment Department at Clare County Council, Brendan Flynn, said, “We are committed to improving air quality in Ennis and the TownAir project team are providing us with the evidence we need to support meaningful action. The involvement of the community is essential. We encourage homeowners and residents to take part in the TownAir survey to help shape a cleaner, healthier future for our town”.
As part of the project, the TownAir research team also met with students from Rice College, Coláiste Muire and St Flannan’s College. Participating students learned how air quality is measured, what causes air pollution and the practical steps communities can take to improve local air.
Preliminary results from the project were presented at the de Valera Library earlier this month. They indicated that emissions from fires and stoves in the home make the largest contribution to particulate matter, the air pollutant that impacts most on human health. Actions to improve local air quality were presented and discussed at the event and the TownAir home heating survey was launched.
Professor of Chemistry at University College Cork, John Wenger, said, “TownAir is the most detailed study of its kind, giving us the ability to accurately measure air quality so that we can better manage it. The data being collected in Ennis will allow us to pinpoint where pollution comes from and how it varies across the town. This insight will guide effective, science‑based solutions”.
Chairperson of Ennis Tidy Towns and Mayor of the Ennis Municipal District, Cllr Mary Howard (FG), commented, “Clean air is important for both our health and the environment. We welcome this initiative and encourage residents of Ennis to complete the short three minute survey and help the TownAir researchers and Clare County Council better understand how local heating practices influence air pollution levels.”
The survey is available both electronically and in print, with the printed copy available at reception at Áras Contae an Chláir. Email greenerclare@clarecoco.ie if you require a printed copy or multiple copies of the survey.
