Moroney's Bar

Following on from the AGM of the Chelsea Supporters Club on Tuesday night last they have now confirmed that they will be returning to Moroneys for all their televised games. The club is run by a great committee comprising of Jim McMahon, PJ Gilligan and Tony Guilfoyle to mention but a few.

Also returning to Moroneys will be the Ennis Leeds United Supporters Club and Charlie will have his first experience of the club for the televised 3rd Rd FA Cup game on Monday 9th January vs Arsenal. One think for sure is he'll have to get to know the words of the Leeds anthem Marching On Together. Both clubs would also like to acknowledge the kindness and generosity of Brian John McCarthy and his staff over the years and hope he's on the road to a full recovery.

After a year in which Moroneys was closed from the 24th June to 25th November due to Brian John retiring from business and renovations taking place it's great to be back open for the festive period. It's four weeks since Charlie O Mara took over the reins at Moroneys and he's been thrilled with the response he's received from his old customers in The Usual Place and the loyal following that BJ had built up.

Charlie his wife Susan and all his staff John, Majella, Diane, Hanna and Irene would like to wish our loyal customers, their families and friends a Happy and Peaceful Christmas and hope that the New Year brings health and happiness to you all. Hopefully we will get to meet a lot of our friends over the holiday period and especially those who have returned home for the Christmas. You can be assured of a great… Read more

Following the retirement of Brian John from Moroneys the pub has been closed since the 24th of June but thankfully will reopen on Friday night next under the stewardship of Charlie O Mara. While closed we took the opportunity to do some work on the premises and we were very lucky to have the services of some top class tradesmen on hand. When one decides to do some renovations you always seem to find something extra to do but none of that phased our top team of Brian Fitzgerald (Builder and Carpenter), Tony Guilfoyle ( Painter & Decorator),TJ Scanlon ( Steel Fabricator) and Marty Ryan ( Electrician).

Interestingly Tony, TJ and Marty are townies and although Brian hails from Inagh his offices are overhead Cahill's Shoe Shop across from the pub so we didn't have to go far for talent. While a lot of the changes are in the background such… Read more

On Friday night next 25th November Moroney's will re open it's doors and the new gaffer in charge will be none other than Charlie O Mara. Many of you will know Charlie from The Usual Place in the Upper Market which he has ran in one capacity or another since Clare All Ireland winning year of 1997. There is not a lot that can be said about Charlie other than the Moroney family are extremely lucky to have him on board such is his standing in the bar trade. He has been extremely professional in his approach and has been hands on with changes in the bar.

Charlie has a great team around him in the Usual Place in John White and Diane Clohessy ,both of whom have been with him for years and will now be behind the counter of Moroneys. Also some old faces will be seen with… Read more

Clare Intermediate Hurling Final Eire Og Ennis 1-14 Ruan 0-06

After three years in the Intermediate ranks Eire Og are back in the senior hurling championship. The final which was played in a constant downpour on a superb surface in Clarecastle, the Townies proved too strong for Ruan who were tasting defeat in the final for the second year running. On a day when scores were hard to come by freetaker Danny Russell was superb as were ex Inter County Seniors Barry Nugent and Fergus Flynn who was nominated as Man Of Match. On the other hand Ruan's freetaker John Punch had a off day but in the conditions this was quite understandable.

Great credit must go to the team management of Michael ( Chief) Chandler, Tony and Martin Nugent and team trainer John O Mara who hails from Sixmilebridge. As captain Mark Fitzgerald said in his acceptance speech they have been… Read more

It was with deep regret last June that Brian John McCarthy (know to all his friends and customers as BJ) let it be known that he would have to retire from managing Moroneys due to health problems. When BJ took over the reins in 2005 he quickly established Moroneys as a popular pub for sport, trad music and a great pint. BJ always prided himself in cleaning all the beer, lager and guinness lines every ten days and it was this diligence that insured you received a top class pint.

Of course every man needs a good team around him and in Tracy, Colm McNevin, Cathal McCarthy, Ethan McCarthy Irene Hehir, Ger Hanrahan and many more too numerous to mention (but not forgotten) BJ had the A Team. Gerry Moroney and all the Moroney family wish to thank BJ for his outstanding and tireless work and are indebted to him… Read more

It was with deep sadness we learned of the passing of our dear friend John Butler RIP, know to all as JB on Sunday evening last. JB although a fanatic Man United fan was always seen at Leeds televised matches in Moroneys along with his great friend Colm McNevin. He loved the slagging with the Ennislusc supporters and if the truth be told I would say he was slightly envious of our club despite our lack of success on the playing field.

One day which we remember fondly in the company of JB was the 3rd Jan 2010 when Man United played Leeds United in the televised 3rd of the FA Cup. It was decided that Ennislusc would travel to Teach Ol in Tulla for the game so JB was enlisted to drives us there and back. He arrived to pick us up in Moroneys decked out in his Man U… Read more

Tonight Moroney's will close it's door for the last time as Brian John reluctantly has to retire for health reasons. Since BJ took over the pub in June 2005 it has been our home for all televised matches and if the walls could talk some tales would be told. Not least our despair at relegation and play off finals, our ecstasy at gaining promotion to The Championship, the visit of the Leeds United coaching staff,the mighty sing songs we had and of course all the friends we made over the years in Moroneys.

On a sad note we also remember those true friends who enjoyed those night in our company and are sadly gone to their eternal rest and will in our eyes never be forgotten. Brian John has asked me to convey his sincere thanks to all the Ennislusc supporters for the custom, generosity, wit, songs and friendship over the… Read more

Tonight in Moroney's Mary Fenton from Ard na Greine will celebrate her 50th birthday in the company of her brother's Tony, Jimmy Jnr, Brendan and her sister Veronica along with her many friends. The Fenton name has been synonymous with Moroney's for over 70 years as Mary's late father Jimmy was a regular on his way to bingo in the CYMS in Chapel Lane and has often been said was the best dressed gentleman of his day.

Like her later father Jimmy, Mary too worked in Shannon Airport Catering Division for over 25 years until she retired some years ago and now has the time to pursue many of her hobbies. All at Moroney's and her many friends wish Mary a sincere Happy Birthday and remind her that at 50 you are only reaching your peak :-)

You know the Leaving Certificate Examinations are looming when the Fleadh Nua comes to town. Even as a young lad I looked forward to the Fleadh more so then for the magical parade on the final Sunday than the music as the town would be packed to the wrafters and we always seemed to get great summers back then. Now it's all about the music as the crowds have dwindled to a trickle but the musicians and singers are still coming in their droves.

The Fleadh Nua has been held every year in Ennis since 1975 and now is one of the main events of the year in the town. As always Moroneys will be featured on the Session Trail and you can be assured of a Cead Mile Failte and some great music and singing during the week. Brian John, Cathal, Ger and Irene look forward to seeing all their… Read more

It was with deep sadness that we learned on Sunday evening last that our neighbour Mae Quinlivan ( nee Frawley) of 33, Lower Market Street had passed to her eternal rest at the fantastic age of 102 ! Mai lived all her like across the road from Moroneys and indeed was at the re-opening night of the pub on 30th May 2005. She was great friends with Gerry Moroney ( who is now in his 91st year) and to listen to both of them talk about old Ennis was a history lesson of epic proportions. Mai's late husband Jim was a well know Clare hurler in his early days and was a native of Tulla but won a county medal with Ennis Dalcassians in 1941 ( beating Clooney in the final) alongside such great townies as Larry Blake, Michael Aoner Sheridan and Christy Glynn.

Mae was a deeply religious woman and… Read more

Mac Would Have Loved It (Script-Paul Nuggy Nihill)

On Saturday April 9th last, the greatest day in the short history of Ennis LUSC took place at Ennis Golf Club. Some months ago The Ennis Leeds United Supporters Club (www.ennislusc.com) announced that “The Mike Mac Memorial Golf Classic” would be held this year in memory of our much loved former President Mike Mac. Mike sadly passed away last summer and has been missed by all his friends and family since. Originally from Newmarket-on-Fergus, Mike spent most of his working life in Ennis where he worked with Tool and Mould in Beech Park, and became widely known and very popular amongst friends and colleagues alike over a long number of years. Mike played soccer for Newmarket Celtic and Lifford among others, and also starred for Ennis RFC on many occasions. He was a keen sportsman and a lifelong follower of all things Leeds… Read more

On Sunday next 13th March Christopher O Loughlin (or Lockie to all his friends) and Pat O Connell who are scout leaders in the Ennis Scouts are organizing a 10K walk in The Burren for their friends in Moroneys. The boys who are well used to outdoor hiking have a gear list drawn up for those wishing to join them on the walk and this can be checked out when signing up in the bar. The one no no for the hike are jeans and it's also advisable to bring a packed lunch.

On the way home the group will be stopping in Bofey Quinn's for soup and sandwiches and of course the odd pint of porter. They plan to be home around 7pm and will adjourn to Moroneys for a debriefing :-) Hopefully the weather will pick up for Sunday and a enjoyable day will be had by one and… Read more

We are now just a month away from our Mike Mac Golf Classic at Ennis Golf Club and things are progressing well. Presently we have 15 teams on the timesheet, our main sponsors are on board, the tee box sales are somewhat slow but as has been said at many of our meetings these only take off in the last ten days. The Dunne family have sponsored a beautiful trophy for the winning team and we got confirmation last Saturday that Johnny Giles would most definitely be there on the day.

We will be having both a raffle and auction on the day and our staunch clubman Steve Underwood has secured both signed Republic of Ireland and Leeds United jerseys for the occasion.Great work Steve ! And not forgetting the Johnny Giles signed jersey which will also be on offer on the night. Our posters for the event are up around… Read more

Last night in Moroneys the Ennislusc committee that has been designated with running the inaugural Mike Mac Golf Classic met and got the wheels turning for the classic tee off on April 9th in Ennis GC. As one would expect there is a wealth of experience on the committee who have lent their time and effort to insure the success of this classic where the funds will be evenly divided between Cahercalla Hospice Ennis and the Johnny Giles Foundation (theses funds will be spent only in Clare area ).

The committee are now in the process of getting four main sponsors for the event, tee box sponsorship, posters printed and of course most important a time sheet in place for the event. To further publicize the event Phil Brigdale has a page on Facebook ( under events section, Mike Mac Classic) and regular updates will be found on moroneysbar.com and this… Read more

Having got out of bed at 4.50am this morning I wasn't looking forward to my first day back at work after a weeks holidays but then again I didn't expect the call I received at 11.23am either ! You know when you see a number appear on your phone with no name it's someone looking for something,a long lost friend or else a wrong number. As my ringtone Marching On Together rang out I wondered who could be at the other end of the line.

When I heard the words Hello Johnny, this is John Giles I didn't know whether to roar or start singing Marching On Together. He had promised us on Saturday at the launch of the Walk Of Dreams in the Auburn Lodge that he would let us know by Wednesday if he was available to take part in our Mike Mac Memorial Golf Classic on the 9th… Read more

Today five members of Ennislusc (who's home base is Moroney's) had the pleasure of meeting ex Leeds great and Republic Of Ireland captain / manager Johnny Giles at a private audience in the Auburn Lodge. Johnny is in town to launch the Walk Of Dreams which is being promoted by the John Giles Foundation and will take place on March 27th and also to present the schoolboy/girl awards.

We were invited by CSSL Chairman Ronnie Pyne and Vice Chairman Mickey Guilfoyle to meet Johnny in relation to our proposed Golf Classic on 9th April at Ennis Golf Club and for their kindness we're eternally grateful. The classic which is being run in memory of our ex friend and club President Mike McNamara is also collecting funds for the Johnny Giles Foundation and Cahercalla Hospice in Ennis.

With this in mind we asked John about his availability to play on the day and… Read more

On Wednesday night while the trad session was in full swing Peter Clements ( Director Of Irish Tours, harpandeagletours @yahoo.com)) from Milwalkee wandered into Moroneys with some of his friends who were staying in the Old Ground Hotel. As luck would have it they had been in John O Dea's for a drink when they bumped into Anthony ( Bulldog) Pigott who said he was heading down the Market to Moroneys for the weekly Wednesday night session and they were welcome to join him.

Peter runs the County Clare Irish Inn & Pub In Milwalkee ( www.countyclare-inn.com) and they based their Irish Tours in the Flynn owned Old Ground Hotel. They will be running tours to Ireland so wanted to sample some of the pubs in the Ennis area and Peter exchanged his business card with Brian John on the night. He also met some of the local Ennis Leeds United… Read more

As always there was a great crowd in Moroneys for the Annual Christmas Draw and Brian John and all the staff were delighted to welcome many of their regulars,friends and indeed some cousins who were at from home for the holiday period on the night. Stories were told ,songs sang, crack was had and porter drank on what was as one of those great night. As the saying goes Go mBeirimid Beo ar an ainm seo aris.

Moroney’s Christmas Draw 2010

1) Weekend for 2 in Kilford Arms Kilkenny – Ronnie Delaney
2) 19 Inch LCD TV – Chris Shannon
3) Massive Christmas Hamper- John McInerney
4) Slab of Heineken- Michael Durack
5) Slab of Bulmers- Conor O Sullivan
6) Slab of Budweiser – Willie Donnellan
7) Bt of Brandy- Aine Derrane
8) Bt of Jameson – Bella Hehir
9) Bt Of Vodka – Fiona Lyons
10) Bt Of Bacardi – Flan Mangan

Thankfully Brian John has made a full recovery from his recent illness scare and is looking forward to the New Year with gusto. We'll be seeing him pounding the roads in the new year as he begins a new fitness regime so when you see him walking the bypass give him a beep or a wave of encouragement. Unfortunately Brian's dad Sean broke his elbow in a fall just before Christmas and he too thankfully is now on the road to a full recovery. Good luck with the training BJ from all your supporters in Moroneys.