Local representatives in Ennis have clashed over a call for Fleadh Nua to retain the use of a prominent car park for the 50th edition of the festival.
It comes after a Clarecastle councillor put forward a motion at this month’s Ennis Municipal District, a Clarecastle councillor asked that the municipal district “refrain from preventing” the committee from holding events in Abbey Street Car Park.
First held in 1974, iconic Ennis traditional music festival Fleadh Nua celebrates its 50th year next year, with the 10-day event kicking-off on the 25th of May.
Looking ahead to the occasion, Clarecastle Councillor Tom O’Callaghan, along with former Ennis Fine Gael Councillor Johnny Flynn, tabled a motion this week requesting that Ennis Municipal District “refrain from preventing” the festival from using the Abbey Street Car Park Civic Space.
Much controversy stemmed from the wording of the motion, with several attendees of the meeting suggesting the phrase “refrain from preventing” implied uncertainty around whether or not the local body would grant the festival the use of the space.
In a reply to the motion, Ennis Municipal District confirmed that as has been in the case throughout the history of the festival, Fleadh Nua will be permitted use of the car park for events.
Ennis Fine Gael Councillor Mary Howard, who called for the emotion to be withdrawn, believes the language in the motion risked putting “a spanner in the works” of relations between local representatives and the festival’s organiser Comhaltas.
You can listen to the full interview below.
Following calls from Councillor Howard as well as Councillor Clare Colleran-Molloy for the motion to be withdrawn, it was agreed that the motion will be revised and tabled at the next meeting of Ennis local representatives in January.
Fianna Fáil Councillor O’Callaghan has described the level of opposition to the motion as “a bit unusual” and claims his objective was to ensure no alternative plans were made for the site in the run-up to the festival.
You can listen to the full interview below.
A mixed-use multi-storey development on the site of the Abbey Street Car Park is included in the plans for Ennis 2040, with public consultation expected to take place in the New Year.
