The almost €7m funding announced for the refurbishment of the 17th century Cloister building in Ennis will be transformative for the town centre, providing new community spaces and fresh footfall.
That was the message from Clare County Council, as the local authority welcomed news from the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne announced that €6,997,047 in funding has been awarded for the sustainable adaptive reuse of The Cloister through THRIVE – the Town Centre First Heritage Revival Scheme.
Co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union, THRIVE empowers local authorities to reimagine and adapt heritage buildings to create useful, vibrant and sustainable cultural and community hubs.
Welcoming the announcement Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council Cllr Paul Murphy described the Ennis project as “a transformative initiative that will repurpose and adaptively reuse the Cloister building at 49 Abbey Street, Ennis.”
“The Cloister Project will transform a key vacant heritage building in the town centre into a vibrant multi-use community space known as “Teach an Phobail.” The project will provide six artist studios, two classrooms, conference, exhibition, and heritage spaces, while retaining the existing café and kitchen, creating a dynamic hub for culture, learning, and community engagement supporting the values of the New European Bauhaus.”
Clare County Council Director of Services Economic Development & Ennis Municipal District Dr. Carmel Kirby said the investment into the Cloister building will encourage further footfall into the town centre and open up new spaces and opportunities for the local community.
“I am delighted with today’s announcement, as this project has the potential to reactivate the town centre and bring a new lease of life to one of the most iconic parts of Ennis. Adjoining the historic Friary, the Cloister building is ideally located to open up this historic part of the county town not just to tourist, but to the local community and businesses. The knock on economic, social and community benefits promise to be significant.”
Clare County Council Town Regeneration Officer Joan Tarmey said the project reflects a citizen-led vision for regeneration.
“This project has been driven by consultation and community engagement from which came the reimagining of the Cloister as a welcoming and inclusive space that places heritage, creativity, and community at the heart of Clare’s cultural and civic life. From mid-2024 there was extensive engagement with councillors and the public, including four in-person citizen and stakeholder public consultation engagement sessions and workshops. In addition Clare Public Participation Network, Rural & Community Development Officers and the Clare Arts Office were invited to offer their input and suggestions. The result is a plan for an accessible, community space.”
The Cloister “Teach an Phobail” was identified as a key project in the Ennis Town Centre Integrated Urban Strategy (a heritage-led strategy for Ennis Town Centre)
THRIVE is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the ERDF Southern, Eastern and Midland Regional Programme 21-27. The scheme has been co-designed by the Regional Assemblies and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to address European, national and regional policy objectives. Further information is available on the www.southernassembly.ie
