Moroney's Bar

It's that time of the year again when the Fleadh Nua returns to the capital of the Banner County. First held in 1970 the Fleadh has been held in Ennis every year since 1975 and although it does not draw the huge crowds off old it still a very important commercial and tourist attraction for the town. As usual there will céilithe, music, song and dancing workshops, street entertainment and of course the parade through the streets on Sunday 30th.

During the Fleadh Moroneys will be hosting trad sessions along with it's now famous Wednesday night session with Marcus Moloney. The programme in Moroneys is as follows:

Friday 28th May : Noely Ryan, Laura Kerr and Grace Kelly, Session Begins at 9.30pm

Saturday 29th May : Alan Kelly, Fabian Joyce, Jessie Healy, Session Starts at 9.30pm.

Sunday 30th May: Maebh O Hare, Ann Marie McCormack, John Joe Kelly,Session Starts at 7.00pm

Looking forward to… Read more

Our good friends in the Rineanna Syndicate are really gone to the dogs now. Having purchased their first greyhound two years ago and named him Oscar Two they have now gone along and bought two pups from Kieran Browne of the famed Burnpark Kennels near Kilmihil. All the lads work in Shannon Airport and now that Oscar has recently been sold ( he'll continue his career racing in Scotland) the lads felt it was time to purchase once again. Having scoured the papers and internet for possible new recruits for the syndicate news finally filtered through that there may be a chance of purchasing a pup from the Burnpark dynasty.

On Tuesday evening Austin Clair, Mike McNamara (who was born next door to Moroneys but now resides in Tulla) and Johnny Moroney went back to Kilmihil with the intention of buying a 11 month old pup for the syndicate. Two hours… Read more

On Sunday next in Doora the Clare Soccer League team will endeavor to win the Oscar Traynor Trophy for the second time in their history (their fist success was in 2005) when they entertain the Wexford League with kick off at 2.30pm. When Davie Russell leads out the team on Sunday they will be thinking of their late great manager Hughie Kelly who sadly passed away little over three weeks ago and has been a driving force in Clare soccer for over 25 years. Indeed Hughie managed the team to it's 2005 triumph and as the present team will testify was more like a father figure than a manager.

Last Sunday in Turners Cross (Cork) the Clare League beat the current holders Cork AUL by 1-0 with inspirational captain David Russell scoring the all important goal just before half time. With selectors John O Malley, Don McMillan, Donie Garrihy and Pat… Read more

Tonight we welcome Ger Hanrahan ( better know to one and all as Hanna) to the staff of Moroneys and we are delighted he was come on board. Ger is well know in Clare sporting circles as one of the best footballers ever to grace the soccer fields having lined out for St Michaels, Villa United, Newmarket Celtic and Avenue United winning numerous League titles and Cup medals. In a week where Clare play Wexford in the Oscar Traynor Final I'm sure Ger like all the rest of us will be in Doora on Sunday to shout on the boys as Hanna played for many years on such Oscar teams for the county.

Ger retired from Element Six ( former De Beers) last year and has since been seen regularly on the bypass cycling mad and he's also playing more golf another sporting passion of his. Many will know Ger's brothers… Read more

It was a great weekend in Moroneys for both the Ennis Leeds United Supporters Club and the Chelsea Supporters Club who both had plenty to celebrate. After three years in League 1 and having endured misfortune in the play offs for the previous two season the Gods finally smiled for Leeds fans on Saturday and boy how the needed it. With Brian John, Colm McNevin, Paul Nuggy Nihill and Dom O Rourke working all morning to get an internet connection for the game (as it was not being shown on the normal channels) all seemed fine until just before kick off. Then we lost the pictures but we had commentary and looking back it probably added to the tension on the day.

A man down after 30 minutes, a goal down three minutes into the second half and Moroneys looked like a morgue with desperation etched on all the Leeds fans.… Read more

All roads lead to Wembley next weekend for eight of the Ennis Chelsea Supporters Club members and volcanic ash or not Jim McMahon, Eugene Ryan, Colm Gallagher, Pat Dingle Daly, Mike Considine, Matt and Darragh Kelly along with Ger and Ethan Butler will be there to shout on The Blues. Having secured the Premiership on Sunday last the elusive double is now on and it will be some experience for the lads if Frank Lampard and the boys defeat Portsmouth to win the cup.

As everyone knows it next to impossible to get your hands on cup final tickets but with Jim McMahon in charge and the standing of the supporters club this did not pose a problem. All at Moroneys wish you the best of luck, safe travel and bring home the cup. Blue Is The Colour

On Sunday 24th April the late Aoner Sheridan was laid to rest in Drumcliff and with his passing the town lost one of it's great characters. He served for 27 years on the Urban Council and was Chairman in 1975 but it was his prowess in GAA circles that he first came to prominence. He grew up in Barrack Street and played hurling with the Market in the town leagues and later with the Turnpike where he resided for most of his life at 22 Dalcassian Park but it was with Ennis Dalcassians or The Dals as they were better know as that he made his name.

Aoner won two County Senior Medals with The Dals in 1934 and 41, a Clare Cup medal in '37 and an Intermediate title with Ennis Faughs in 1945. Among those on the Faughs team of '45 were Paddy Duggan ,Ralphie Burns, Brudsy NcCarthy, Miko… Read more

No one in Cusack Park would have given the Eire Og U21 hurlers a chance when they trailed Sixmilebridge by 8 points ( 1-05) to no score after fourteen minutes in the County U21 hurling final but as team mentor Declan Coote ( himself the last man to captain a winning Eire Og U21 team in 1977) said in an interview afterwards, this team has character in abundance. It was a tremendous game played in a true sporting manner and with superb performances and scores from both sides. Eire Og could be backed at odds from 3/1 to 5/1 depending where you went and many of the team themselves could not resist a flutter and who could blame them.

The Bridge had beaten Clarecastle by over 30 points in the semi final whereas Eire Og had to beat Clonlara and Inagh Kilnamona to reach the final, two extremely tough games that… Read more

Today at 3.45pm Eire Og will do battle with arch rivals Sixmilebridge in the Clare U21 hurling final at Cusack Park. Having defeated Inagh /Kilnamona and Clonlare in the semi final the Townies are very much up against it as the BRIDGE destroyed Clarecastle in their sem final and are rank outsiders with the bookies.

However this will suit Kevin Brennan ( Capt and goalkeeper) and co down to the ground and with Alan Dunne having them in tip top shape don't write these guys off. With talent such as Kevin Moynihan ( surely this years county U21 centre back), David O Halloran, Danny Russell, Graham Glynn and Ciaran Hanna in their ranks an upset is on the cards. It's all of 33 years since Eire Og won the cup with a team that had Declan Coote as captain and formed the bases of the teams that won the Senior Championships… Read more

Well the Edinburgh 16 are home and can look back on some great memories and laughs from a great weekend in Scotland. The drama started before we even departed these shores when on arriving at Shannon Airport we found that Brian John had no boarding pass printed. Panic set in, computers were found thanks to kindness of the Airport Police but as we had not the correct email address our plight looked doomed. With twenty minutes to take off BJ was told to go back to the Ryanair desk and see could he purchase a late ticket. Just as the aircraft door was closing who appeared like a mirage but BJ complete with suitcase and boarding card. Even now a week later we are still wondering how he pulled off this miracle traveling with Ryanair but he's putting it down to his charm !

On arrival at Edinburgh airport we had… Read more

Next Friday it's off to Edinburgh for Martin O Brien's Indoor Soccer Boys who are now in their 23rd year playing footie together. What started off as a serious attempt at winning the Ennis Inter Pub competition many years ago has now lead to some long lasting and loyal friendships. While the years have passed and we've got slower the skills and will to win can be seen every Tuesday night in St Flannan's when for an hour we do battle in a six a side game.

When Edinburgh was decided upon as the destination for a weekend away it was only natural that we couple that with a football game and what better place to go than Parkhead and watch Celtic play. Our decision to go to watch them play Kilmarnock has proved a great one especially since Robbie Keane has signed. We will be watching the game from the… Read more

Well St Patrick's Day is upon us and everyone is in good spirits following the great spell of fine weather we've had for the last four weeks. Hopefully it will keep up for the parade tomorrow which starts at 11.00am and finishes in the Market.
Paddy's Day is also a huge day of sport and tomorrow is no different with racing from Cheltenham and most of all the All Ireland Club Hurling and Football Finals in Croke Park.

However it's the football final which will capture all Clare people attention with Kilmurray Ibrickane being the first ever Clare team to contest a football final. Their opponents are the experienced St Gall's from Antrim who where beaten in the 2005 final and will be hot favourites on the day. That will suit the men from the Quilty / Mullagh parishes who relish the roll of underdogs and will not be found wanting.… Read more

All at Moroneys were shocked and upset to hear that our good friend JB Butler was diagnosed with a serious illness recently and had to enter the Galway Clinic for treatment. JB who is an avid Man United fan had driven 16 Leeds fans out to Tulla on 3rd Jan for the FA Cup game between both sides which was shown live on Sky and just to irk the boys he dressed up in full Man U gear. Needless to say he endured some slagging on the way out but when Leeds scored and went on to win he was given the mother and father of a going over from the boys.

However in true spirit JB dropped the boys back to Moroneys, parked up the bus and then went down to drink porter with them and endure more slagging. Little did we know then that JB was so ill. However… Read more

It was was with deep regret during the week that we learned of the death of Hughie Kelly father of John Joe Kelly the well know and highly acclaimed bodhrán player. All trad fans will know John Joe for his great sessions here in Moroneys and although we all know him as a extraordinary bodhrán player he is well able to play the banjo too as Marcus Moloney will testify to.

All at Moroneys wish John Joe and his family our sincere sympathy and are thinking of him at this sad time.

This year Hermitage football club will celebrate fifty years in existence with a host of events culminating in a Dress Dance in the West County on Saturday 5th of June. The Tage as they are better know throughout the county and beyond were founded in 1960 by Johnny Quinn, Haulie Molloy, Paddy Woods, Tex Corry and John Hayes. It's home ground was originally the Fairgreen and then they transfered to the One Mile Inn thanks to the generosity of the late Club President Senator Michael Howard and today they play their home games back in the Fairgreen. Over the years the club was in the guiding hands of people like Joe Shannon, Arthur Greer, the late Tommy Blake, Frankie Coote, Mike Quinn , Freddie Dinan and many more great people too numerous to mention.

Down through the years Hermitage was a great family club with numerous brothers playing alongside each other… Read more

On Wednesday night last Moroneys was rocking for the FA Cup replay between Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur. As most people in Ennis know Moroneys is the home of the Ennis Leeds United Supporters Club and Brian John McCarthy who runs Moroneys is a die hard Spurs fan as is his son Ethan so obviously the crack was going to be good. After the first game ended 2-2 with Leeds scoring from the penalty spot in the 95th minute, the roof nearly lifted off the pub when Beckford scored so this game was always one not to be missed.

With Ennislusc fans having their flags up in the lower bar, the front was decked out with Spurs flags so the scene was set for some fun. With standing room only in the bar Spurs took a deserved lead through Jermaine Defoe but in first half injury time Leeds equalized and the… Read more

Last weekend when the whole country was brought to a standstill on the roads and people struggled with frozen and broken pipes we too at Moroneys had our own troubles thanks to the freezing conditions. On Saturday morning (9th Jan ) after temperatures dropped to minus 11 overnight the pipes going to the ladies and gents toilets froze even though they were doubly lagged. Despite the best efforts of Colm McNevin and Paddy Dunne they were unable to free the pipes and the decision was reluctantly taken to close the bar on Saturday until such times as they could be freed.

Despite been closed over the weekend we were very luck in that the pipes did'nt burst unlike our neighbouring businesses Tony's Fashions and The Wine Rack who opened their doors on Monday morning to be greeted by the sight of water. On Monday morning TJ Scanlon (Ventilators & Ventilation… Read more

Moroneys party night is always a great event to thank customers for their continued support during the year and one of the highlights of the night is the annual Christmas draw. With music, food and crack the order of the night it needs not be said that it was a huge success once again. Congratulations to all the winners and sincere thanks to all our loyal customers,looking forward to seeing you in 2010.

Draw Results

1st Deirdre Hussey ( Weekend away in the Kilford Arms Hotel,Kilkenny)

2nd Barry O Loughlin ( TV and DVD Combo)

3nd Pat O Connell ( Massive Christmas Hamper)

4th Paddy Daffey ( Slab of Heiniken)

5th Trevor Chandler ( Slab of Bulmers)

6th Conor Dempsey ( Slab of Budweiser)

7th Lockie ( Bottle of Brandy)

8th Edel Murphy ( Bottle of Jameson)

9th Louise Dunleavy ( Bottle of Vodka)

10th Ethan McCarthy ( Bottle of Bacardi)

Tuesday night the 29th December will be another great night in Moroneys as the annual customer party and draw will take place. With lines selling at €2 a go for the 200 Club there has been a great take up by the locals and with a top prize of a weekend away in the Kilford Arms Hotel Kilkenny it's easy to see why they are being snapped up. Other prizes include a TV and DVD Combo, slabs of Budweiser,Bulmers,Heiniken, Guinness along with numerous bottles of wine, whiskey and brandy.
As always there will be plenty of food and music and a great night is assured. So come along and join us for a evening and night to rememer in Moroneys.

When I think of Doonbeg I always think of playing football there with Hermitage and the wind blowing a storm on Doughmore Beach and wondering what on earth I'm doing here on a Sunday morning instead of staying in bed. However nowadays it's associated with the five star Doonbeg Hotel and Golf Club and it was with anticipation that I traveled there (on Sun 6th Dec) via the villages of Kilmihil and Cree to meet my good friend Travis McDonagh. Travis who now resided back in Canada came to Ennis in the early 90's and set up a thriving chiropractor practice in the town opposite the Vocational School. Today they are based in the Grove Shopping complex on the Tulla road and it was through my wife Marian who works for the clinic that I got to know Travis.

Travis to those that don't know him is a true all rounder… Read more