*Crowds on O’Connell Street in Ennis for St Patrick’s Day. Photograph: John O’Neill.
A PROMOTIONAL marketing video for Ennis is to be released by Fáilte Ireland while the old Boys NS site may be reopened for parking in efforts to boost business in the county town.
Ennis’ offering as a tourist town needs to be pushed in a stronger fashion, elected representatives for the county town have said.
Stressing the need to rediscover Ennis and boost footfall and revitalise business in the town, Cllr Antoinette Baker Bashua (FF) has called for the development of a pilot initiative aimed at increasing footfall in Ennis town centre and supporting local businesses.
This proposal is for the introduction of free parking in all Council-owned car parks, including the Old Ennis National School site, on Saturdays from the May Bank Holiday weekend to the June Bank Holiday weekend inclusive, as a trial period.
She said greater public use of Ennis, support for local commerce and enhancing the overall vibrancy needs to be strengthened following the completion of the public realm works. She said the Council can lead the way in creating “a festival-style atmosphere in the town on Saturdays by providing music through the town PA system (similar to the Christmas period) and by inviting local musicians and community music groups to perform at designated locations such as The Square and other key town centre areas”.
Engagement with businesses in the towns to push in-store promotions, events and “coordinated social media marketing to promote Ennis as a vibrant destination for shopping, dining, and socialising,” is needed, she said. “If successful, consideration should be given to extending the initiative throughout the summer months, particularly around planned events and festivals, with the aim of reinvigorating the town centre, supporting local enterprise, and encouraging more residents and visitors to spend time in Ennis”.
Acting senior engineer, Paddy Tiernan welcomed the suggestions to boost activity and vibrancy. He was slow to make parking available for free at weekends. “Weekend usage patterns show that town centre car parks are already well utilised, and current evidence does not indicate that parking charges are a barrier to weekend footfall”.
Alternative parking options could be made available, he said. “To support continued positive engagement with the town centre, we will examine the possibility of reopening the old Boys National School site and making additional Council owned car parks – such as at Áras Contae an Chláir and Drumbiggle – available during this period, should extra capacity be required. This approach will ensure that convenient parking options remain accessible to those visiting and supporting local businesses and events”.
Theresa Hughes-Lannon, acting senior executive officer noted the addition of festivals and events to the remit of the Council’s tourism directorate provides “additional opportunities to market, promote and showcase the county and all it has to offer to residents and visitors”.
Work is ongoing to progress a countywide strategic marketing plan, she confirmed. “As part of our ongoing marketing and promotion, there is a focus on Ennis following completion of the public realm works. The team are working closely with colleagues in the Ennis Municipal District and across Directorates to establish two new Council run events to take place in 2026 in Ennis at Easter and Christmas”.
A new campaign video with Fáilte Ireland will be launched soon, Theresa advised. “We are working closely with Fáilte Ireland in creating a promotional marketing video for Ennis with the central message ‘Welcome to Ennis – Fáilte go hInis we are open for business’ promoted through local and national media with Failte Ireland and Tourism Ireland”.
Public realm works have given Ennis a new look, Cllr Baker Bashua said. “It is beautiful to walk down the streets. The response although positive is we’re doing something but we can do more. I appreciate the work that is ongoing to promote Ennis following completion of public realm work, the transformation of town centre has been important”.
Energy and momentum is needed “to help people rediscovered town businesses,” the Hermitage woman stressed. “The car parks are fully utilised at weekends and the parking charges may not be barrier but a pilot of free parking on Saturday was seen as promotional measure, it would act as signal that town is open and attract extra visitors”.
Seconding the proposal, Cllr Tommy Guilfoyle (SF) stated, “We all try to work together to boost and create a buzz around the town. After the town was closed down for so long, it is about putting it out on the market that it is reopen”.
According to Cllr Pat Daly (FF), “free parking would be a huge commercial boost for the business people”. He said the top table of the Ennis MD “has come halfway” with their response on the free parking and urged them to take a step further. “Musicians on the streets would be lovely,” he added.
Ennis has an array of musical entertainers, Cllr Mary Howard (FG) noted as she recalled the ‘world tour of Ennis’ completed by Paddy Mulcahy and Lenka Hoffmannova “shortly after COVID”. She continued, “The only thing I caution about is free parking all day, with human nature as it is the staff take up the premium spots. We need to have the discussion on permits and where the cars can be parked. I parked at the Old Boys NS over Christmas, it was very easy to get into town and you felt very safe which from a woman’s perspective is very important”.
Council owned, Government owned sites and schools are not used at weekends and should be considered for parking, Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF) argued. He said the addition of the Cloister car park has been a success and suggested if housing is not provided on Francis Street that it be can considered for parking.
“It is a very good motion. We need to be thinking creatively about it and make people realise we have a fabulous town,” said Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF).
Talking to businesses about parking will “not be an easy conversation,” Cllr Baker Bashua cautioned. “This is an initiative for businesses too, if they ruin it by parking in the spots that is on them, you can bring a horse to water”. She added, “We are a county town, we are a tourist town, a lot of people are bused out from our tourist town to look at it so we need to offer more, park the car for the day and not worry about it, we’ve an awful lot to offer. I hope we do a pilot even if it is only one or two weekends”.
