Moroney's Bar

Ennis Leeds United Supporters Celebrate Promotion Back To The Premiership

Tuesday, 06 May 2025

Last Saturday at 12.30 pm Moroney's was buzzing as Leeds United took on Plymouth Argyle in the last game of The Championship. Knowing victory would confirm them going up as Champions regardless of the result in the Burnley vs Millwall game there was shock horror as The Robins went ahead on eighteen minutes. This is the way is stayed until HT while Burnley were drawing 1-1 at the interval and heading up as Champions. Thankfully on 53 minutes Gnonto equalised for Leeds only for news to filter through that The Clarets were 2-1 up to Millwall so only victory for Leeds would guarantee them The Championship.

Heading into five minutes of injury time and still needing a goal Leeds supporters were praying for a spark of genius to win the game. Thankfully Manor Solomon on loan from Spurs weaved his way into the penalty area on 91 minutes and scored a spectacular goal. To say the roof nearly lifted off the pub is an understatement and despite five minutes of injury time showing the referee played seven just to test our heart rates. Then the whistle went with Leeds heading back to The Premiership as Champions. Queue Marching On Together blaring through the bar speakers with one and all singing along. A great day was only beginning and thanks to Maurice, Tomas, Hanna and Ronnie for their hospitality to the Ennislusc club. Now lets enjoy the summer before we think of The Premiership next August. MOT

Cheltenham Racing Festival 11th - 14th March 2025 In Moroney's

Saturday, 08 March 2025

Tuesday next sees the Cheltenham Racing Festival kicking off at 1.20 with the Supreme Novice Hurdle and this promises to be a great four days of racing. As always Moroney's will be running a Cheltenham Leaderboard where one picks a horse for each of the 28 races over the four days with one entry per person and all for twenty euro. It certainly is a great way of having an interest in each race and following your favourite horse. It promises to be an exciting week racing and if you are not heading across the water then Moroney's is the next best place to soak up the atmosphere, enjoy the craic while food will be provided each day to patrons. Good luck with your choices and enjoy the fun which is Cheltenham.

Happy Birthday Ennis Leeds United Supporters Club

Monday, 20 January 2025

Today marks the founding of Ennislusc ( 2001) that started over a few pints in Fafa Considines Bar in Parnell Street which at the time was run by Paul " Nuggy " Nihill. The late great Mike McNamara, Shaun " Bombs" McCarthy, Cyril " Slim" Corry and Nuggy hatched an idea to form a club given the interest in Leeds United with the idea of hopefully in the future organising trips to Elland Road. And boy has their dream of a supporters club grown beyond theirs and ours wildest dreams.

Trips to Elland Road became an annual event and on many occasions we had the pleasure of meeting footballing legends of our youth who previously we only saw on TV. The likes of Eddie Gray, Peter Lorimer, Mike Jones, Paul Madeley,Johnny Giles etc who always had time for a chat and a photo on days we'll never forget. The friendships we have made through the club are ever lasting and treasured. Sadly we have lost members since our founding but they are never far from our thoughts and times we had together are fondly spoken about often especially on trips to Elland Road.

Thanks to the foresight of a group of Leeds United mad Ennis fans we today have a super Ennislusc Supporters Club which is well respected in supporter club circles. We have had a club website from day one which has undergone many changes over the years and it's a history in photos and articles on our wonderful club. We are always open to ideas for any changes to the site so feel free to tell Mike Jones of any ideas you may have to enhance the site. The club has been based in Moroney's Bar since 2007 and is the mecca in Ennis for Leeds and indeed football fans in general.

Finally thanks to each and every member of Ennislusc down the years for your tremendous support which is the lifeblood of our super club. Now all we need to complete a great season is promotion to The Premiership !!!

MARCHING ON TOGETHER

Happy New Year To All Our Loyal Customers And Many Friends

Tuesday, 31 December 2024

As we enter 2025 Moroney's Bar will celebrate 185 years in business. The Market area has certainly seen many changes over the years as has Moroney's. The bar thankfully has retained that feeling of the local pub where everyone is welcome. However without our tremendously loyal customers this would not be possible and we are truly in debt for your continued support.

To All our loyal customers and friends we sincerely wish you and your families a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year. Maurice, Ronnie, Hanna, Tomas and Teresa look forward to your continues support in 2025.

Last Newsagents Closes In The Market , Ennis

Friday, 20 December 2024

On Christmas Eve O Connor's newsagents will close its doors after 43 years in business. It was first opened in 1981 by Mrs Joan O Connor and for many years has been run by her daughter Sheila. An extremely popular shop where one always got a great greeting from Sheila and Teresa Reynolds it certainly will be a huge loss to The Market landscape. When Mrs O Connor took over the shop it was located in the Lower Market where Brownies Barbers is today and run by Mrs Maura Keane. Originally this news agency was Hewitt's in Chapel Lane ( opposite Jim Casey Trophies) so this now sees the end of an era. Indeed many will remember Shinners Newsagents in the Lower Market when run by Josie Cronin and Michael Tierney also worked there.

There were always two newsagents in The Market but sadly with newspapers on line the newsagents are closing their doors. Once a great place for young and old to meet, greet and keep up with the news of the day that sadly will be no longer. We wish Sheila, the O Connor family and Teresa sincere best wishes on their retirement and thank them for brightening up our days for the last forty plus years. You will certainly be missed from The Market.

Hon The Townies Senior County Football Champions 2024

Thursday, 31 October 2024

A superb performance by Eire Og saw them capture their third county senior football title in four years when they defeated Kilmurray Ibrickane in a dominant display at Cusack Park on Sunday on a scoreline 1-10 to 0-06. Indeed it was appropriate that The Townies captured the new Jack Daly trophy as Jack himself was steeped in Ennis GAA affairs. Jack won Minor B hurling honours in 1954 and Minor A honours in 1956 with St Johns GAA club in Ennis. He then joined Eire Og and lined out at full forward in their senior county final win of 1957 as they defeated Whitegate. He also became the youngest ever county board chairperson in his mid 20s as he succeeded John Jones N.T in the chair on January 27th 1963. So it was a proud moment when Eire Og captain Aaron Fitzgerald lifted the trophy to the huge town following on the pitch in Cusack Park.

Eire Og under the brilliant stewardship of manager Paul Madden have only lost one of their last 21 championship matches and that to Cratloe last year in the semi final after a penalty shoot out. And to show their unbelievable drive they have only conceded three goals in all that time which is testimony to their brilliant defence. Indeed Eire Og's entire panel is probably the strongest that has ever been assembled by a club team in the county and now they look forward to a home game on Sunday week to the Limerick champions in the Munster Club. The prospect of another home fixture in the Munster Club Championship if they happened to win this game will certainly drive this team on but for now as Paul Madden would say its one game at a time. We salute each and every member of the panel and all the backroom staff on a fantastic achievement and wish them continued success as the set out on the Munster Club. HON THE TOWNIES

Ennis Blacksmith And Craft Festival Sept 28th & 29th

Thursday, 26 September 2024

This weekend will see a collection of blacksmiths and craft workers take over the indoor Market Street car park for a brand new festival. This is the brain child of French craftsman Guy Urbin who last year moved to Ennis along with his wife and opened an art and craft gallery in Curtain's Lane opposite The Market Bar & Restaurant. Guy was the resident blacksmith at the National Heritage Centre in Wexford where he also organized the Steel Bangers Festival in Enniscorthy for many years. He is also a regular at The Bloom Festival and in his own words " I organized this festival to thank the people of Ennis for the fantastic welcome , making us feel that we were born here and also to pass on our knowledge even if it is only visual as many people have never seen a forge in action"

When Guy first spoke to me at the beginning of the year about his idea for the festival I told him that the indoor Market Car Park was the original site of Paddy Darcy's forge and it would be the ideal site for the event. The council have been extremely helpful with accommodating the event and Guy is very grateful for their help. All going well Guy hopes to make it a biannual event to make the public aware of local talent and to make Ennis & Clare an interesting place to visit. We wish Guy, his blacksmiths and craftspeople a successful festival and thank him for his efforts in giving Ennis a new festival to look forward to. The Mayor Of Clare Cllr Alan O'Callaghan will open the festival to the public at 10.30am on Saturday morning.

Clare Hurlers Win 5th All Ireland Hurling Title In A Thriller

Sunday, 21 July 2024

Clare 3-29 Cork 1-34 ( After Extra Time)

What an unbelievable day as a Clareman to be in Croke Park and see our magnificent hurlers claim the Liam McCarthy Cup for the 5th time in our history. It's been touted as one of the best All Ireland finals ever with Tony Kelly's goal being lauded also as the best ever scored in a final. The atmosphere from early on was electric and with Clare down seven points by the 12th minute no one could predict the massive turn around by the Clare team. Shane O Donnell the hero of 2013 started it by setting up a goal and following up with the next two points to cut the deficit. Coming up to the half time Clare were up a point but a super Darragh Fitzgibbon point in first half injury time had the teams on level terms when the whistle was blown.

The sides exchanged five points in the early exchanges in the second half with Cork edging a point ahead before a superb run from Mark Rodgers right through the Cork defence resulted in the Cork net billowing for a superb goal. It was nip and tuck from there on but with six minutes remaining Clare found themselves four points up and Liam looked on it's way to the Banner County. However credit to The Rebels and after five minutes of injury time was shown by the fourth official it was the Championships highest scorer of all time Patrick ( Hoggie) Horgan who leveled the scores. Then up stepped Man Of The Match Tony Kelly with an amazing point over his shoulder to edge Clare ahead again. The drama didn't end there and when Clare substitute Aaron Shanagher fouled Ger Mellerick along the Hogan Stand it was left to Hoggie to level the scores and he didn't disappoint under tremendous pressure. So ten minutes each way extra time beckoned to find a winner.

A brace of points from Shane Kingston gave Cork an early advantage but comets the hour comets the man and TK hit two super points to level it level again at HT in extra time ( Clare 3-25 Cork 1-31) . Cork substitute Robbie O Flynn and Aidan McCarthy after a foul on himself exchanged early points at the start of the second period of extra-time. Then came the turning point in the game. Robbie O Flynn bearing down on goal went for glory with less than four minutes to go for goal with a point at his mercy but Clare goalkeeper Eibhear Quilligan saved brilliantly. I'm sure if he had his time all over again he'd have tapped it over the bar but hindsight is a great thing. But another piece of outrageous skill from Tony Kelly for a Clare point with Aidan McCarthy and substitute Shane Meehan added points to put Clare three up. Once again Cork's talisman Patrick Horgan pulled two points back (one from a free, one from play ) with ninety seconds left on the clock.

Then a moment of drama came and one of the biggest talking points of the game. Once again it was Robbie O Flynn at the centre of attention. He had a chance to level it again but put the ball wide. TV replays suggested O'Flynn's jersey was pulled by Conor Leen ( something he owned up to in TV interviews afterwards) as he struck the ball but the decision stood and Clare are champions after a game no one will ever forget. After throwing away a nine point lead against Limerick in the first round of the Championship in Cusack Park Ennis and losing to them in a third consecutive Munster Final not even the die hard Clare supporters would have seen us winning an All Ireland this year but the resilience, skill and drive of Brian Lohan and his team proved the doubters wrong. Hon The Banner

Clare: E Quilligan; C Cleary, A Hogan, C Leen; D Ryan, J Conlon, D McInerney; T Kelly, C Malone; D Fitzgerald, S O Donnell, M Rodgers; A McCarthy, P Duggan, D Reidy.

Subs: D Lohan for Malone (T) 38 -40; R Taylor for McCarthy 55, A Shanagher for Duggan 66, I Galvin for Reidy 59, D Lohan for Clear 71 R Mounsey for Rodgers 73, S Morey for Malone 87

Subs in ET: A McCarthy for Mounsey at start of ET; S Meehan for O Donnell (78), C Galvin for Ryan 78.

Cork: P Collins; N O Leary, E Downey, S O Donoghue; M Coleman, C Joyce, R Downey; T O Mahony, D Fitzgibbon, D Dalton, S Barrett, S Harnedy; P Horgan, A Connolly, B Hayes.

Subs: S Kingston for Hayes 42- 47;- E Twomey for Dalton 48m, J O Connor for Connolly 64, S Kingston for Barrett 66, R O Flynn for Harnedy 68, T O Connell for R Downey 75.

Subs in ET; G Mellerick for S O Donoghue (74), L Meade for T O Mahony 85

Referee: Johnny Murphy (Limerick

Patrick Morrissey Lysaght's Lane

Tuesday, 04 June 2024

This weekend a beautiful mural was completed in Lysaght's Lane as one enters the car park area behind Paddy Quinn's Bar . Over the last number of weeks as the painting was progressing many of the locals were wondering what the scene was going to depict and now we can revel that it commemorate the death of young Patrick Morrissey ( 5 years & 10 months ) of Lysaght's Lane on 14th August 1915. Thanks to Larry Brennan of the Clare Roots Society who published a history of the event entitled " Patrick Morrissey The Troubles 1921" we now know that Patrick was playing marbles in Scabby Lane with another boy when he was hit in the cross fire between The Volunteers and Black and Tans .

The volunteers had attempted to take a revolver from one of the two RIC constables on O Connell Street but following a struggle both fled towards the Market area. The constables followed them firing as they were running wounding both volunteers in the process. Unfortunately during the firing, Miss Hewitt of Ennis was wounded by being shot in the thigh, shoulder and lung and six year old Patrick Morrissey received a bullet wound through the shoulder and lung which resulted in his death. Morrissey was playing marbles in the lane with another boy when he was struck. He died while being conveyed to the County Infirmary.

There is also a commemorative plaque on the wall of The Community Centre to Patrick which was unveiled by the then Mayor of Clare Mary Howard . This is a fantastic mural and certainly gives a huge lift to the lane while also remembering Patrick.

Check out our The Photo Gallery under the heading Patrick Morrissey Lysaght's Lane to see photos of the mural and plaque.

Josie Hester RIP

Friday, 03 May 2024

It was with deep shock and sadness that on Wednesday last, news filtered through of the passing of our great friend and ex President of Ennislusc Joe ( Josie) Hester. I had only met Josie in The Market a few weeks back outside O Connor's Newsagents as he collected his weekly Clare Champion and the Connaught Tribune. A proud native of Mayo most of us got to know Josie in St Flannan's College where he taught French, and was well liked by all the students that had the pleasure of having him as a teacher. Indeed in my time in St Flannan's I had no idea that Josie was an avid Leeds supporter and was a mine of history on the club. It was only years later his great friend and teaching colleague the late John Finn said to me that Josie would like to join the supporters club.

I told John to bring Josie down to one of the Leeds televised matches in Moroney's where he'd be made very welcome. On entering the premises the first one to greet him was his ex pupil Brian Woods and thus Josie became an integral part of our club. One of our greatest days out as a club was on 3rd Jan 2010 when we hired a bus out to Teach Ol in Tulla to watch Man United play Leeds in the FA Cup and Josie was part of the 16 crew. Given Leeds's status back then we weren't given a chance but a late goal from Jermaine Beckford sealed a shock win for Leeds. To say we went hooting and hollering after the win is an understatement while Josie calm as ever smiled away and in a barely audible voice said " Johnny this is mighty "

Josie also travelled to Elland Road on club trips and was elected President of Ennislusc for the 2018/19 season something he was very proud of when receiving his chain of office. It was always a pleasure to meet Josie on the streets of Ennis, when he'd usually have a paper or book tucked under his arm. The conversation would revolve around his beloved Mayo footballers, Leeds United or how the Harty and Dean Ryan teams in St Flannan's were performing. Now following Mayo and Leeds Josie certainly went through the ringer. He would have loved this weekend with Mayo playing Galway in the Connacht Final while Leeds need a miracle to get automatic promotion but perhaps Josie might put in a word for us for that miracle.

Over 50 years since I entered the corridors of St Flannan's, I have the great pleasure of calling Josie a teacher, mentor and in later years a great friend who always had a smile on his face and was a pleasure to be in his company. Josie loved being a member of Ennislusc, meeting a whole new circle of like minded friends and all of us club members have lost a sincere friend who enhanced all our lives.

To his wife Mary, daughters Marie and Clare, brother Tom, sister Bernadette , nephew Robert and extended family we offer our sincere condolences on the passing of a beloved husband, dad and dear friend.

Rest In Peace Josie

En Marchant Ensemble Dans Le Feu!

Marching On Together