Moroney's Bar

On the 1st September the former World Heavyweight Champion Muhammad Ali will visit Ennis the birthplace of Abe Grady , his great grandfather. He has accepted an invitation from the Town Council and the Mayor of Ennis Frankie Neylon to visit the Turnpike area where Abe lived before emigrating from Cappa Pier in Kilrush to the USA in the 1860's. Ali who is now 68 will be the first person ever to be given a civic reception by the council and an oak tree will be planted in the Turnpike area near where a local family reside.( the O Donovans ,live opposite O Dowd's shop are distant relations of Ali. The late Mrs O Donovan was O Grady)

Abe on arriving in the USA settled in Kentucky where he married an African -American woman. Their son also married an African-American and one of the daughters of that union was Ali’s mother,… Read more

There is a new face behind the counter of Moroney's in the person of Trevor Chandler from Hermitage. From a very popular town family Trevor for his sins is also a Leeds United fan and last night found himself serving the Ennis Branch of the Leeds United Supporters Club who were holding their AGM in Moroney's. On the night Trevor joined as a member so he can now get used to hearing the Leeds anthem Marching On Together sung while he's pulling pints of Arthur !

Good to have you on board Trevor and all at Moroney's wish you an enjoyable time behind the bar of one of the town's oldest public houses.

At Fraher Field in Dungarven on Wednesday evening last the Clare U21 hurleres finally broke their duck after 46 years in winning the Munster U21 title in a thrilling game vs Waterford. To John Minogue the manager and his management team of Sean O Halloran, Cyril Lyons and Alan Dunne ( himself a Waterford man and teacher in St Flannan's) there is enormous credit due especially after the heartbreak of last year's defeat to Tipperary in Cusack Park.

The game was televised on TG4 and there was a vocal support in Moroney's for the game and obviously a great atmosphere in the bar after Ciaran O Doherty ( his father Gerry is from the Turnpike ) lifted the trophy. Hoprfully this will kick start a revival in Clare hurling fortunes. Next up for the U21's is Galway in three weeks time with a venue to yet be announced. Congratulations to… Read more

All roads lead to Cusack Park, Ennis tomorrow evening for the eagerly awaited All Ireland Hurling Qualifier between Clare and Galway which has a throw in time of 7pm. This is the last chance saloon for Mike Mac's men after a disastrous League campaign and defeat to Tipperary in the Munster Championship three weeks ago.

As always the game will be shown live in Moroney's on the three screens so the atmosphere should be electric. As we write I just received a text from Whitegate hurling fanatic Liam Jones who says he'll be in Moroney's before the game with eight others East Clare men so have the sandwiches ready. Not a bother Liam we'll sort ye out as always. Now lets hope we hear The Banner Roar ringing out on Saturday evening after a Clare victory.

Congratulations to our good friend and Ennislusc member Enda Howard and his lovely wife Mags on the birth of their son at 6.30am today. The little bundle of joy weighed in at 7lb 4 oz and both mother and son are doing well. It looks like the names Luke and Tom are top of the list and all at Moroney's send the Howard family their good wishes. Oh and yes Enda has said he's a Leeds supporter !

As they say you need fine weather for painting and certainly that was the case last week when the outside of Moroney's got a makeover. For five days painters John Brasil and Tony Roche washed, sandeded and painted the walls, windows and timberwork and now the front is the envy of the Market. Along with that four new window boxes adorn the first floor window sills and this certainly gives Moroney's a very colourful look heading into the summer months.
Incidentally Tony is 72 years old and to see him three storys up on a ladder painting away happy as larry gives a new meaning to as young as you feel. Míle Buíochas lads on a job well done.

On Saturday next the 13th of June Paidge Murphy, Circular Road ( who ran The Corner Bar in Parnell St ) and his fiancee Valerie Murphy from Newmarket On Fergus will get married. Paidge is well know in the cycling circles having been a All Ireland Champion in his teens and cycled against none other than Lance Armstrong. As well as running the Corner Bar Paidge also worked in The Firkin Bar ( formerly Pauline's ) in the Upper Market and as anyone that know's him is not short of a story or two.

Valerie who's father Sean hail's from The Turnpike ( near The Alymers Rest) works with EFG in the Airport and in an ironic twist of faith she worked with Paidge's father Paddy for many years in Aer Rianta. Their wedding reception is in Magowna House Hotel, Inch and all their friends and colleagues are invited to the… Read more

On Saturday night last Michael and Vera Dunleavy celebrated their 40th Wedding Anniversary with a party for their family and friends in Moroney's. Their daughter Louise, her brother Michael along with his wife Rachel were all there on the night to enjoy the celebrations. There were songs and storys, plenty of food and drink during the night and a unique achievement in this day and age was celebrated in style.

All at Moroney's congratulate Michael and Vera on their Ruby Anniversary and wish them long life health and happiness for the next forty.

Today Ennis loses one of it's most eligible bachelors Pat Hennessy when he marry's the gorgeous Karrieann McDonald from Clarecastle. Pat is an adopted Ennisman having arrived in the town from Dublin ( he was posted to Moneypoint with the ESB ) in the late 70's and played with Hermitage and later served as an officer with Cloughleigh Celtic. To all who know Pat they will know that his only love over the years was for Man United but that's all going to change now me think.
Both Pat and Karrieann are fitness fanatics so it's safe to bet their honeymoon will involve a lot of exercise ! All their friends at Moroney's wish the happy couple long life ,health and happiness. Congratulations - United at last.

Last year to celebrate 21 years playing soccer together Martin O Brien and Ger Hanrahan decided that we should honour the occassion and go to Barcelona to watch Barca play in the famous Camp Nou. Such was the success of the trip that it was decided to try and make these an annual event and this weekend we are off to the home of hurling Kilkenny. We will be staying in the Kilford Arms which has great connections with Ennis through the Dinan family from St Michael's Villas. Indeed it was through this connection that Ger Hanrahan got in touch with his old next door neighbour Michael (Champ) Dinan and now everything is planned for a great weekend.

As always one can expect some great laughs and the odd sing song but is'nt that what friendship is all about. Squad For Kilkenny ; Ger Hanrahan, Martin O Brien, John Casey,… Read more

At lunchtime on Saturday next Moroney's should be rocking when two supporters clubs meet to see their favourites do battle in two do or die games. The Celtic and Leeds United Supportes Clubs which both have Moroney's as their local will be glued to the TV's when Celtic play arch rivals Rangers in the top of the table Premier League fixture and Leeds play Millwall in the 1st leg of the League 1 play off.

As both games are timed only fifteen minutes apart, the Celtic (KO 12.30) followers will encamp in the lower bar while the Leeds (KO 12.45) faithful will take to the front bar and also the smoking area. The banter should be good and if both teams win then you can be sure The Fields of Athenry and Marching On Together will be heard ringing around the Market.

Two new paintings that are due to adorn the walls in Moroney's shortly are paintings by well know Ennis artist Harry Guinnane. Indeed regulars on the website will be acquainted with Harry's work as he has done two paintings already relating to the pub one of the front of Moroney's and the other of Gerry and Mary Moroney which can bee seen in the picture gallery.

On this occasion the first of the paintings depict one of the original bottle labels that was used when Moroney's bottled their own stout. The date shown on the painting is the 13th of September 1923 which is from the original bottle label and was bottled by Gerry's father John. Bottling in Moroney's was carried out until 1964 and when the pub was renovated over four years ago 100 dozen bottles were disposed of from that era.

The second painting is of an original paper… Read more

Well the last weekend of March '09 will last long in the memories of Leeds football coaches Terence Potter (Chief Academy Scout), Christopher Coates (Under 12 Academy Coach), Philip Wilson (Under 16 Academy Coach) and Denis Oates (Under 14 Academy Coach) thanks to the hospitality of the Avenue United club and members of the Ennislusc club. The coaches were in Ennis to conduct a coaching weekend at the Lees Road Complex and also to sample some of the Ennis nightlife. On the Friday night they visited Moroney's along with Gearoid Mannion, Kevin Keenan, Gary Seery, Gerry Costelloe and Gearoid Walsh of Avenue United for their monthly 200 Club Draw. Incidentally the winner of the €1,000 top prize on the night was Patricia O Donnell who is physio with Avenue United and in a very gererous gesture she bought a round of drinks for the house.

Representing Ennislusc on the night… Read more

On Friday 27th of March at 9pm in Moroney's Avenue United will hold their 200 Club Draw. There to make the draw on the night will be Leeds United football coaches ( Terence Potter Chief Academy Scout, Christopher Coates Under 12 Academy Coach, Philip Wilson Under 16 Academy Coach and Denis Oates Under 14 Academy Coach) who are in town for the weekend as guest of Avenue and will be holding coaching sessions in Lees Road on Saturday and Sunday.

Given that Moroney's is home to the Ennis Leeds United Supporters Club it's ironic that over twenty five club members will be in Elland Road on that weekend for the clash of Leeds and the MKDons. However Ennislusc will be well represented on the night and it's hoped to make a presentation to the coaches on behalf of the supporters club. Ennislusc and Moroney's are also sponsoring the Avenue Utd… Read more

Last September we brought you the story of the Rineanna Syndicate and the greyhound pup the bought from the Buckley family in Doon, County Limerick. Well the greyhound is now fourteen months old and has been named officially with the ICC as Delta One. Now for those of you not in the know Delta might mean a plane ( belong to Delta Airlines ) or a financial brokerage company and you would be correct in your assumption. However to the syndicate which is made up of many Airport Police officers and Moroney regulars it is one of the taxiways in Shannon Airport which they patrol many times a day as part of their duty.

Now it's time for the syndicate to decide who they will get to train Delta and this will be decided before the end of the month as it's hoped Delta will start training in April. Then it's… Read more

On Friday next Ger Hanrahan ( ex Avenue Utd, Newmarket Celtic and Villa Utd star) will retire from Element Six ( former De Beers) after over 31 years service. Ger however does'nt intend to give up work completely for the good life and has some plans up his sleeve. However he does intend to play a little more golf ( a dab hand he's at that too), continue to play indoor soccer on Tuesday night's in St Flannan's and spend time with his good wife Mairead and their daughters Janice and Sarah along with grandchildren Colin and Sean Thomas. Looks like Hanna will have a full diary ahead of him .

All at Moroney's wish Ger a long happy and healthy retirement and hope to see him for a few celebratory pints !

On Friday 31st of January last the Ennis Chelsea Supporters Club brought over Kerry Dixon, the great Chelsea striker of the 80's to meet their members and visit the town. The club who meet in Moroney's for matches and meetings introduced Kerry to their members and locals alike and the hero obliged by signing autographs and posing for photographs.

It was all thanks to the efforts of Jim McMahon, Tony Guilfoyle, Colm Fitzgerald, Michael Ryan and Donie Walsh that took Kerry over to Ennis and he also attended their social evening in the Templegate Hotel on the Saturday night. Kerry was fascinated that in the pub supporters of Liverpool, Man U, Everton, Leeds and otheres mixed freely with Chelsea fans something which in his experience would not happen in an English pub. As their was a trad session in the pub at the time ( Siobhan Peoples and friends) he… Read more

Along with our regular Trad Sessions on Wednesday and Thursday nights which have been a great success since Moroneys was refurbished, Brian John McCarthy has added a Friday night session to the schedule. This have been running for the past number of weeks and it has proved such a success with Siobhan Peoples and friends that Brian has made this a permenant session.
Now one can enjoy three nightly sessions in a row with top class musicians in a quaint atmosphere. Thanks to Brian John and all his staff, Moroney's is securing a great reputation for traditional music. Well done to all concerned.

Put the Tuesday the 3rd of March in your diary as Moroney's Second Annual Sports Quiz in aid of Cahercalla Hospital will take place at 9.00pm. Teams will consist of three members at €30 per team and last year over 20 teams took part. This year it is hope to at least equal if not better this figure for such a worthy cause that touches all in our society.
As always you'll be guaranteed a great night with food, spot prizes and plenty of crack on offer. HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE !

Two well know townies and Tage men Pat Millie Ryan and Shaun Bombs McCarthy spent Christmas at home in Ennis. Pat is living in Hamburg with his wife Marian and three kids while Shaun lives in the USA with his wife Maureen and their two daughters. Maureen's dad is Simon O Donnell one of the founders of Eire Og and of course Shaun brother Brian John runs Moroney's.

It was Pat first time spending Christmas in Ennis in twelve years and he really enjoyed his time meeting all his old friends and family and also drinking a pint or two in Moroney's. Shaun on the other hand is a regular visitor home since his transfer from Roche in Clarecastle to their base in the States some years ago. He met up with his friends Paul Nihill, Eoin Doohan and Enda Howard over the Christmas and no doubt they discussed the fortunes… Read more