Santa Claus is coming to town on Friday 29th of November and will join Mayor of Ennis Municipal District, Cllr. Johnny Flynn, for the official switching on of the Christmas Lights and the launch of the ‘Christmas in Ennis’ programme in O’Connell Square from 5pm.
The Mayor will be joined by two Students from Senior Infants in the Holy Family Junior school showcasing their design & creativity in the painting of the hoarding surrounding the Christmas Tree, as Winners of the Ennis MD Art Competition. With Colum McGrath as MC and a guest appearance by Eimear Considine, AKA “the Eimearnator”, this is an event that cannot be missed.
Santa Claus is excited to attend this event which will also feature children’s entertainment, carol singing, hot chocolate, face-painting and much more. In conjunction with the switch-on of the Christmas Lights (planned for 6pm), the Lions Club of Ennis will launch their Remembrance Tree intiaitive in aid of Cahercalla Hospice at 5.25pm.
Road closures will be in place in O’Connell Square and O’Connell Street as advertised from 3.00pm. to 8.00pm to facilitate this highly anticipated event. Don’t forget that this event coincides with Black Friday so while in town why not a grab a bargain in the shops or a Christmas gift for that someone special.
On Saturday, the 30th November, the festivities continue at the Music in the Market Event from 2pm to 6pm. This event highlights the musical talents of local groups, bands & choirs who will be entertaining the crowds, while the little ones enjoy a range of activities including face painting, gingerbread decorating & Christmas decoration upcycling workshop. Santa Claus will also make an appearance on the day!
To spread a little more Christmas cheer, Ennis is delighted to welcome “Retro Drive-In Movies” from Friday 6th December to Sunday 8th December 2019. Enjoy festive classics such as Home Alone and Elf on the “world’s biggest LED screen” with the sound coming through your car stereo at the Clare Co-Operative Marts Car Park, Quin Road, Ennis. Tickets can be booked through www.retrodrivein.ie/ennis
“The Speks” present a lively show of Christmas themed nursery rhymes and sing-along songs at Glór theatre at 2pm on Saturday 7th December. This is just one of a fantastic selection of festive entertainment at Glór throughout the Christmas period. Log onto glor.ie/events for for further details.
Visit the Ennis Christmas Village in Abbey Street Car Park from 13th-15th December to soak in all of the festive atmosphere. This Christmas Market showcases creative crafts and food including a large fun Carousel, Santa’s Grotto and other festive surprises. One of the highlights of the Ennis Christmas Market will be a Light/Illumination Show on Dec. 15th (the final night of the event). The Light Show will be projected on the O’Brien’s Sandwich Café building in Abbey Street Car Park and is not to be missed!
The Christmas in Ennis programme, which is hosted Clare County Council and supported by the Ennis Chamber, welcomes the highly anticipated return of the “Christmas Express Train” operating through the town from Friday the 20th December to Sunday 22nd December inclusive. Train fares will cost €2 with all proceeds raised going to local charities.
The streets of Ennis will come alive to the sound of Christmas music from 14th December, when Christmas Street Radio returns until Christmas Eve. Well-known local radio presenter Ger Sweeney will be broadcasting daily from Ennis Market with the broadcast being relayed on street speakers throughout the town.
Commencing on Friday 29th November 2019 there will be no charge in public car parks from 2pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays up to and including Sunday 5th January, 2020. There will be additional parking available at Clare GAA/Rear of the Cloister Car Park from 29th November 2019 to the 5th January 2020; Waterpark Campus, Drumbiggle on Saturdays and Sundays in December including 23rd & 24th December as well as 4th & 5th January 2020. Don’t forget the Holy Family Primary School car park is available at weekends during the month of December – only €3 for the day.
The ‘Christmas in Ennis’ programme concludes on Sunday, 5th January 2019 with the Irish International Christmas Tree Throwing Championship taking place at Active Ennis Tim Smyth Park. Organised by Clare County Council, the 9th annual event is a novel way to turn Christmas Tree recycling into a sport, while at the same time raise funds for a worthy cause. The Championship, which is based on age-old lumberjack traditions, sees members of the public competing to achieve the longest distance for throwing a standard 1.5 metre tree. There will be trophies for the longest throw in various age categories with a trophy for the overall champion.
Mayor of Ennis MD, Johnny Flynn has complimented the collaborative approach adopted by Clare County Council and the local business community in making Ennis an ‘attractive shopping destination’ in the weeks leading up to Christmas. With the quality and range of shopping outlets in the town set against the wonderful array of festive entertainment on offer, the Mayor added, “Ennis, as the county town, has something for everyone this Christmas”.
Follow ‘Christmas In Ennis’ on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or visit www.clarecoco.ie for more details.