| Ennis A borough, and
market-town, in the parish of Dromcliffe, barony of Islands, county
of Clare, (of which it is the chief town), and province of Munster, 18
miles (N. W.) from Limerick, on the main road to Galway, and 1113/4 (S.
W.) from Dublin ; containing 7711, and within the new electoral boundary,
9747 inhabitants. This place derives its name, formerly spelt Innis or
Inish, signifying an island, from the insulation of a considerable plot
of ground by the river Fergus. According to the Ulster Annals, it was
anciently called Inniscluan-ruadha, and one of its suburbs is still
called Clonroad. Mac Curtin states that it was eminent as a seat of learning,
upwards of 600 scholars and 350 monks having been here supported by O’Brien,
prince of Thomond, after the arrival of the English. About the year 1240,
Donough Carbarac O’Brien erected a noble monastery at Ennis for Franciscan
friars, which in 1305, according to the Annals of Innisfallen, was rebuilt
or repaired and much adorned by another branch of that family. It was
for a long period the place of sepulture of the princes of Thomond, and
occasionally of the chiefs of the sept of Mac Namara ; and its prosperity
appears to have been in these times dependent on this circumstance. In
1306, Dermot, grandson of Brien-Roe, at the head of a body of native and
English forces, entirely destroyed the town. In 1311, Donogh, King of
Thomond, bestowed the whole revenue of his principality for the enlargement
and support of this monastery, and some time after the refectory and sacristy
were built by Mathew Mac Namara. It is recorded in the Ulster Annals that
Terence O’Brien, bishop of Killaloe, was here barbarously slain,
in 1460, by Brien O’Brien. The friary was reformed by Franciscans
of the Strict Observance : it remained in the Crown for some time subsequent
to the Reformation, and was granted, in 1621, to Wm. Dongan, Esq. In 1609,
Donogh, or Donat, Earl of Thomond, obtained a grant of a market and fairs
to be held here ; and in 1612 "the town of Inish," was created
a borough. In 1661, the goods of some of the towns people were seized
in payment of salary due to Isaac Granier, one of their representatives
in parliament, but were released on their stating, that he had agreed
to serve gratuitously as their representatives.
It is situated nearly in the centre of the county, on the principal or
south-western branch of the river Fergus, which surrounds a portion of
the town and its north-eastern suburbs ; two of the principal streets
form a continuous line following the winding of the river, and a third
branches off from the court-house towards Limerick. The most populous
of these is very narrow and irregularly built, and the entrance from Limerick
is rendered equally inconvenient by a projecting angle of the court-house,
which, from its dilapidated state, requires to be rebuilt. In 1831 the
town comprised 1104 houses, and within the new electoral boundary, 1390
; the suburbs, which are very extensive, consist chiefly of cabins. A
new street of superior houses has been lately built between the county
infirmary and the river ; and a handsome bridge of a single arch, with
parapets of hewn stone, has been recently completed, at an expense of
£800, on the site of a former one nearly opposite the abbey. The town
is not lighted, and the police perform the duty of a nightly patrol. A
county club-house has been established ; there are also two subscription
news-rooms ; and races are held annually in the autumn, which generally
continue five days. The numerous seats in the vicinity are noticed under
the head of Drumcliffe and the adjacent parishes, in which they are situated.
The woollen manufacture, which formerly flourished here, has greatly declined
; but the trade in corn, butter, and other produce has much increased.
About 60,000 barrels of wheat, 100,000 of oats, and 30,000 of barley,
are annually sold in the market, and chiefly shipped at Clare, about two
miles distant, to which place the Fergus is navigable for lighters, and
thence to the sea for vessels of considerable burden. A plan for improving
the navigation between Ennis and Clare, is noticed in the account of the
latter town, which is considered the port of Ennis. A weighing-house for
butter, of which a large quantity is annually exported, was built in 1825,
and there are several large corn stores. Ennis Mills, which have been
recently enlarged, are capable of producing 30,000 barrels of flour annually
: the produce is much esteemed in the Limerick market. At Clonroad is
the extensive brewery of Messrs. Harley and Co., who are also about to
re-establish a distillery formerly carried on at that place ; and there
is a smaller brewery in the town ; the Ennis ale is in great repute. Branches
of the Provincial and Agricultural Banks, and a savings’ bank, have
been established. A market for the sale of country produce is held daily,
but the principal markets are on Tuesday and Saturday, and are abundantly
supplied with provisions of every description. Fairs are held in the town
on April 9th, and Sept. 3rd, and at Clonroad on May 9th, Aug. 1st, Oct.
14th, and Dec. 3rd ; of the latter, the first three are large fairs for
cattle and horses, and the last is chiefly for pigs.
By the charter of the 10th of Jas. I. (1612), the corporation, under the
style of "The Provost, Free Burgesses, and Commonalty of the Town
of Ennis," consists of a provost, twelve free burgesses, and a town-clerk,
with power to admit an unlimited number of freeman to constitute a "commonalty
; " but no freemen have been appointed for many years. The provost
is elected by the burgesses from their own body, on the 24th of June,
and sworn into office on the 29th of Sept. : until lately he appointed
a deputy, called the vice-provost. The burgesses are elected for life
by the provost and burgesses, who also appoint the town-clerk. The provost
is empowered by the charter to hold a court of record, with congnizance
of debts not exceeding £3. 6. 8. late currency, arising within the limits
of the borough : this court was held until within the last 12 years, by
the vice-provost, who also acted as weigh-master. By the charter the provost
is a magistrate within the old borough, and the vice-provost formerly
acted as such ; but latterly no exclusive jurisdiction, either civil or
criminal, has been exercised. The borough sent two members to the Irish
parliament prior to the Union, since which period it has returned one
to the Imperial parliament : the right of election, formerly limited to
the provost and free burgesses, was, by the act of the 2nd of Wm. IV.,
cap. 88, extended to the £10 householders ; and a new boundary was formed
for electoral purposes, comprising an area of 469 statute acres, and comprehending
the entire town and suburbs, which is minutely described in the Appendix.
The number of voters registered, in March 1836, was 254, of which 7 were
free burgesses, and the remainder £10 householders ; and the number polled
at the last election was 194 : the provost is the returning officer. The
spring and summer assizes, and the January, April, and October quarter
sessions for the eastern division of the county, are held in the court-house.
Petty sessions are held every Friday ; and a court for the manor of Clonroad,
which was granted by Jas. I. to the Earl of Thomond, and now belongs to
the Earl of Egremont, is occasionally held by the seneschal, for the recovery
of debts not exceeding £10 late currency. The county gaol, situated on
the south side of the town, is an extensive modern building on the radiating
principle, with detached prisons for females and debtors, lately erected
in front : it contains 10 day-rooms and airing-yards, 73 sleeping cells,
and 12 other bed-rooms, and has a treadmil. The total expense of the establishment,
for 1835, was £2522. 7. 10. The constabulary police force, including an
extra force called the peace preservation police, is under the control
of a resident stipendiary chief magistrate and a sub-inspector ; the barrack
is a commodious building, formed out of the old county gaol. A party of
the revenue police is also stationed in the town.
The parish church, which forms part of the ancient abbey, was much injured
by lightning in 1817 ; the abbey tower was also damaged and the bell destroyed.
The late Board of First Fruits granted £2000 for its renovation, and the
tower was subsequently heightened by the addition of battlements and pinnacles
: a grant of £146 has been recently made by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners
for the further improvement of the church. The organ was presented, in
1825, by the Earl of Egremont. The R. C. district of Ennis comprises the
eastern part of the parish of Dromcliffe, including the whole of the town
and suburbs : the R. C. chapel is an old building, situated in an obscure
part of the town. A chaste and elegant cruciform structure, from a design
by Mr. Madden, was commenced in 1831, on a more eligible site, under the
superintendence of the Very Rev. Dean O’Shaughnessy, P. P., which
is intended for the cathedral of the R. C. diocese of Killaloe : the tower
will be surmounted by a spire rising to the height of 140 feet. The estimated
expense is £5000, towards which Sir Edward O’Brien, Bart., of Dromoland,
contributed £100 : the site was presented by Francis Gore, Esq. A small
society of Franciscans has a chapel which is open to the public ; and
to the east of the town is an Ursuline convent, established about seven
years since. There are meeting-houses for Primitive Methodists and Independents
; and a congregation of Separatists meet in the court-house : the Methodist
meeting-house is a modern building, erected chiefly at the expense of
Mr. Leach. Ennis college is one of the four classical schools founded
by the munificent bequest of Erasmus Smith. The school-house, which is
situated at a short distance north of the town, was built about 70 years
since by the trustees, who have recently added wings and out-offices,
and made other extensive improvements, at an expense of nearly £1200 :
it is now capable of accommodating more than 100 boarders, and a large
number of day scholars. The building, which presents an imposing front,
is approached from the extremity of the promenade called the "College
walk" by a handsome gateway of four octangular pillars, and, together
with the extensive play-ground, is surrounded by a high wall. The head
master receives a salary of £100 from the trustees, and is allowed the
full benefit of the establishment as a boarding and day school ; the second
master also receives £100 ; and the third, £80. The course of instruction
comprises the ancient and modern languages, mathematics, and English composition,
and there are usually ten free day scholars on the foundation. The parochial
school, in Jail-street, is supported by subscription ; a school is held
in Cook’s-lane meeting-house, and a Sunday school in the church.
Near the town is a large and substantial school-house, built in 1830,
at an expense of £800, of which £200 was contributed by the National Board,
by whom the school, in which are about 400 boys, is partly supported,
and partly by collections at the R. C. chapel. About 200 girls are instructed
by the nuns of the convent, by whom they are also taught every description
of useful and ornamental needlework. Connected with the nunnery-school
is a preparatory establishment for very young girls, under the patronage
of Dean O’Shaughnessy, who contributes £6 per ann. towards its support.
The County Infirmary, situated on the north side of the town, is a substantial
building, containing four wards for male and two for female patients,
with a dispensary, and accommodations for a resident surgeon and apothecary.
The Fever Hospital is situated in a confined part of the town, but one
for the county is now been erected in a more appropriate situation and
on a larger scale, to which a cholera hospital will be attached. The House
of Industry immediately adjoins the infirmary, and contains three male
and four female wards ; it was built by subscription about the year 1775,
and is governed by a corporation under an act of the Irish parliament.
A loan fund, for the benefit of the poorer classes of tradesmen and farmers,
has been for some time in operation, and a mendicity society was established
in 1832. The remains of the Franciscan abbey, founded by the Kings of
Thomond, of whom several where interred in it, still present many traces
of its ancient grandeur. Of these, the principal is the grand eastern
window, upwards of 30 feet high, consisting of five lancet-shaped compartments,
separated by stone mullions, and universally admired for its exceedingly
light proportions and beautiful workmanship. In the chancel is the "Abbot’s
chair," which, with the altar, is richly sculptured with figures
in high relief ; and some of the ancient monuments, also profusely sculptured,
still exist.-See Dromcliffe.
County Clare A History and Topography
by Samuel Lewis
Courtesy of Clare Local Studies Project
<< Ennis: Historical Background
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