Moroney's Bar

The recent makeover to Moroney's was completed on Wednesday last when the new sign was mounted over the front of the pub. The work was carried out by Peter Cronin Snr and Junior of C Signs, Upper Market Street who also erected the the previous sign which read James Moroney & Sons Family Grocers Ltd and it is a tribute to their professionalism and expertise how well it turned out. This was what was on the original sign from 1840 and later changed to J Moroney but now reads simple Moroney's with Established 1840 and Public House written in gold leaf lettering. Since it was erected it has got great reviews from the locals and hopefully has added to the street scape of the town.

Check out Moroney's Makeover Sept 2016 in the Photo Gallery to see photos of the new front sign and window design.

On Tuesday 13th September the annual Moroney's Bar outing to the Listowel Races took place with this year trip under the supervision of new boss John White who took over the running of Moroney's on 1st September from Charlie O Meara. The traveling part was collected by Glynns Coachs Ennis from The Market and the first stop on the journey was The Swanky Bar in Tarbert which is run by the Prendiville family. This is a great greyhound hot spot and all the walls are adorn with photos of the great Swanky greyhounds and of course All Ireland winning Kerry teams. John Prendiville always has a great welcome for us and provides a feast of food plus of course a few pints before we head to Listowel.

This racing festival is one of the highlights on the National Hunt calendar and attracts huge crowds. Lucky for us the weather was kind… Read more

We took the opportunity last week to revamp Moroney's, closing for three days as we ushered in an new era with John White at the helm. Thanks to the skill and dedication of painter Eddie Hayes, steel fabricator and master of all trades TJ Scanlon, plasterer Eamonn Kenny, upholster Kevin Greene, TV specialist Enda Heaney and electrician Marty Ryan the pub reopened for business at 5pm on Friday last looking like a new pin. Also not forgotten are Ronnie Delaney, Pat McCarthy and Mikey Ryan who helped no end in getting the pub spic and span for the reopening, Míle Buíochas one and all.

The reaction to date has been extremely positive with everyone commenting on the new colour scheme and how bright the pub now looks. While the smoking area has now been turned into a non smoking beer garden with the addition of a 42 inch TV combined with… Read more

Tonight Charlie O Meara calls time for the final occasion in Moroney's after nearly five years at the helm. During that time Charlie has built up a huge loyal clientèle and the Moroney family are eternally grateful for the way he ran the bar which has been part and parcel of the town since 1840. While Charlie is stepping aside he will not be breaking all ties with Moroney's as he will lend a hand to John White who will be stepping into his shoes.

Of course every man needs a good team around him and in John White, Ger Hanrahan and Diane Clohessy along with many more too numerous to mention (but not forgotten) Charlie had a super team keeping the show on the road. A special mention must be made for Charlie's good wife Susan who was always on hand to feed everyone and her home cooked ham sandwiches… Read more

Today the first traders took up residency in the new covered Market in Garraunakilla which is situaated in the Upper Market area. Although there were only six stalls there today it was great to see it finally open. It is geared more towards the farmers market and some of the traders that were there today will not be taken up residency as they are there due to no trading allowed in the lower market while the Fleadh is in progress.

Many of the local businesses including The Food Haven, Murphy Shoe Repairs, Meers's Butchers, Safeway Tyres and O Connors Newsagents and vegetable shops have suffered badly due to the road closures over the last months but hopefully now that the facility is open things will pick up. When not in use it will revert to an indoor car park all be on the small side.

We have take a photographic voyage… Read more

After all the months of waiting the big day has finally arrived when the Fleadh Cheoil returns to Ennis. Having been here previously in 1956 and 1977 it is a fantastic boast to the town and huge thanks must go to the local Comhaltas branches, the local authorities, the Clare Vintners and local business people who left no stone unturned in winning the right to hold this years Fleadh. This is the culmination of four years of hard work and all we need now is good weather. The town has never look so well and certainly the grant the council made available of €750 to paint local businesses has certainly helped. Indeed I expect we will make a bold bid to win the Ireland's Tidy Town's Title this year so well is Ennis looking.

All at Moroney's wish the Fleadh committee continued success and hopefully this will be one of the… Read more

Yesterday evening James Guilfoyle closed the door at Dalcassion Printers, 61 O Connell Street, Ennis for the last time signaling the end of one of the towns oldest printing houses. After 59 years working on the printing presses James took the decision to retire from a business that he took over from his later father Paddy (Whack) Guilfoyle in 1987. Paddy had served his apprenticeship with The Clare Champion, then working in Galway and England before returning to Nono's Printing house in O Connell Street. Later on he bought out the business and changed the name to Dalcassian Printers which printed posters,match sheets, handbills, circulars, window cards, raffle tickets, acknowledgement cards, memorial cards, calendars and bill heads.

While the business was situated on O Connell Street access was gained through the archway at the lane between The County Boutique and Pat McCarthy shoe shop. They had a very loyal local… Read more

Tonight in the Ennis Golf Club our great friend and founder member of Ennis Leeds United Supporters Club, Cyril Slim Corry will celebrate his 50th birthday. I know many of you will say he looks a lot younger but he's aging like a good wine. While Slim has packed away his playing booths having been an excellent centre half with Cloughleigh Celtic, he has now found a new niche with the golf clubs. Presently he sits in second place for golfer of the year award at Ennis Golf Club and hopefully later on in the year we'll have reason to have another celebratory night for him when he picks up the award. He has extended a invite to all his friends to come and join him for a night of song, dance and reminiscing.

All his friends at Moroney's would like to take this opportunity to wish our esteem friend a… Read more

While it has generated quite an amount of talk with opinion divide on it's value to the town the building is progressing at pace and well on target for it's July opening. Many have refereed to it as a concrete eyesore but like all projects one must wait to see it's completion before offering a firm opinion. While it must be testing the patience of the business people in the area with road closures, constant dust and noise I feel that the building will enhance the area and can only be a positive move for the Market area. As part of our pictorial project of the building we have added 18 new photos of the works in our photo gallery under the title Garraunakilla. Take a peek and see what you think of the new building.

One of the towns most iconic sights the Mill wheel near the Maid Of Erin is back up in full running order thanks to Ennis Civic Trust and Clare County Council.The completed restoration cost €110,000 and was carried out by Lenihan’s Ltd of O’Callaghans Mills. The wood and iron waterwheel, which is a protected structure and a recorded national monument, is the last remaining component of Ennis Corn Mill (later Whiting Mill which was owned by the McGuinness family who also owned Ennis Lifts ) which was constructed on the River Fergus during the 1830s and demolished in 1983. It was local man Martin Higgins who had the knocking of the Mill adjacent to what was then the Ennis Tennis & Pitch and Putt Club. Indeed I was luck enough at the time to purchase five lorry loads of cut stone from him at a total cost of £400 which… Read more

On rambling down the Market now one will see a mass of concrete rising from the ground where the old car park was and the public reaction so far has been mixed. However one has to bear in mind that it is presently a building site and hold judgment until it's up for occupation in July. Personally I think it will enhance the Market and entice people to come into the town plus one must remember it's only phase one in the long term plans for upgrading the Market area.

In our photo gallery under the heading Garraunakilla we have a pictorial progression of the works since the beginning and to this end we added 15 new photos which bring us up to 28th February. Peruse and enjoy.

Phase One of the redevelopment of the Market at Garraunakilla, the present site of the Farmer's Market started on 17th November last. Of course for generations of Clare people the Upper and Lower Market areas were synonymous with the Saturday Market were everything from calves, bonaves, farm fresh vegetables, clothes, shoes and in the summer apples by the tea chest full were for sale from Seanie Moroney and Polo Guilfoyle. Unfortunately over the last 10-15 years the Market has declined but thanks to the Councils foresight and after many years in the offing the new building is due to open in July 2016.

Clare County Council awarded O’Brien Builders and Civil Engineering Contracts Ltd., Miltown Malbay, the contract (€1.471m) to undertake the works which will include a covered building for traders, parking, roads and footpaths, the upgrading of existing public roadways, site lighting, street furniture, the demolition of the existing… Read more

With festive season upon us it's great to see so many faces home from far and wide for the Christmas and New Year as this is a time for family and friends.

To all our loyal customers and friends we sincerely wish you and your families a Happy and Prosperous New Year. Charlie, John, Hanna,and Diane look forward to your continued support in 2016.

At a presentation at the Old Ground Hotel yesterday evening Moroney's Bar where honoured by Ennis Tidy Towns Committee for their shop front floral display. This is indeed a tremendous honour for the premises as Ennis were only two points off the overall winning total in the countries tidiest town award and won a Gold Medal for the 15th consecutive year. This is Moroney's sixth award since 2006 and plans are already afoot to increase the display for next year as the All Ireland Fleadh hits town along with the centenary celebrations for 1916. Thanks to one and all who voted for Moroney's and continued success to Ennis Tidy Towns in their drive to win the ultimate award.

Well the winter is here although in fairness the weather has been very good to us and it's time for the Ennis Trad Festival once again. Following the launch of the All Ireland Fleadh Cheoil in Glor on 23rd October the town is gearing up for the week long festival next August and what better way to get into the spirit of things than with the trad festival.There is an superb line up of top class musicians, a session trail and master classes for the fiddle, flute, accordian, concertina and uilleann pipes. So get along to some of the sessions and all at Moroney's would like to wish the trad committee every success this year.

It's all of 25 years since Eire Og hurlers brought the Canon Hamilton back to the town and on Sunday next in Cusack Park the team will be honoured at half time in the senior final.On that infamous day The Townies beat The Mills 1-5 to 1-03 in what in truth was a dire game. If my memory serves me well The Mills missed a lot of scores in the first half with their free taker Tim Canny in particular being off target.The turning point was Pete Barry's goal into the Aldi end six minutes into the second half which drove The Townies on to their six and last county title. One of the stars of the team was 17 year old Tomas Corbett who went on to captain St Flannan's to Harty and Croke Cup title the following year.

A special word of congratulations to Ennis Leeds United Supporters… Read more

Our great friend Paddy Daffy retired last week from the outdoor staff of the Clare County Council after 35 years service. Paddy was a familiar sight to young and old around Ennis where he kept the streets and laneways clean as a whistle. He is rightly very proud of the towns recent achievements in the National Tidy Towns competition of which he was an integral part.

Paddy now hopes to take things easy,go on a few holidays and spend some time with his wife Mary and children William and Pamela. All his friends at Moroney's wish him a long,happy healthy retirement and look forward to seeing him for his usual tipple every Saturday.

Once again Ennis has registered a fantastic score in the National Tidy Towns Competition being just two points short of the overall winner,Letterkenny. Ennis was awarded a Gold Medal and it is just reward for the local Council,Tidy Towns Committee and the hundreds of volunteers and local Resident Associations that put in some much voluntary hours to make the town look so wonderful. The council has a three year plan in place with the object of winning the overall title and on the following results and with a little extra push that dream could be realised sooner than we think.

• Tidy Town Result Report Max Points Marks Awarded 2014 Marks Awarded 2015

Community Involvement & Planning 60 47 49

Built Environment & Streetscape 50 42 43

Landscaping & Open Spaces 50 47 47

Wildlife,Habitats &Natural Amenities 50 34 34

Sustainable Waste & Resource Mgt 50 19 20

Tidiness & Litter Control 90 55 56

Residential… Read more

At the closing ceremony in Sligo last weekend Mayor Of Ennis Pat Daly addressing the event said that 'Today you pass on the torch to Ennis. In doing so we have been tasked with matching your wonderful efforts and Derry and Cavan before you,in hosting this landmark event. And so the big drive to make the Fleadh 2016 a huge success begins now and what a task lays in front of the Abbey Banch of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann. They along with officials from Clare County Council, Clare Hoteliers and the Vintners Association who's President is our very own Charlie O Meara travelled to Sligo last weekend to see first hand what faced them next year.

They received some invaluable first hand information from publicans and hoteliers of what they encountered and how they overcame these hurdles. It certainly was an eye opener and they have invited representatives of the Sligo organising… Read more

Fr. Michael Hickey,Florida & Ennis.1935 - 2015

Fr. Michael Hickey, Naples, Florida, died peacefully on July 9th, 2015. A native of Lower Market St.,Ennis, he was son of Daniel & Eli who ran a public house down where Silver Lining is today. He was educated at Ennis CBS before joining the Redemptorists, where he was ordained in 1964. He studied in Rome, receiving a Doctorate in Theology. Later he transferred to Miami Diocese, Florida and continued further studies in law. He worked in various parishes in the Dioceses of St. Augustine & Venice. His funeral took place in Naples. He is survived by his Sister Benty, who lives in London and by relatives and friends.
Suaimhneas síoraí tabhair dó a Thiarna, agus go lonraí solus suthain air.