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clareecho.ie
Sep 21 2023
THOSE WERE THE DAYS
‘Big Dig’ in Ennis wasting more money by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie
l Former Ei Electronics employee, Gerry O’Looney looks on in joy at a selection of photos from the company’s sixty years in Shannon Photo by Joe Buckley
COMMENCEMENT of the ‘big dig’ on one of the county’s most prominent car parks has been labelled as “another waste of money” by a former Mayor of Ennis. Dublin company, Archaeology and Built Heritage Ltd (ABH) on Monday commenced ground investigations in Abbey Street car park in Ennis having been granted an archaeological licence by Clare County Council. Such excavations are in advance of plans to build an office and retail development as part of the Ennis 2040 Strategy. Save Ennis Town, a group of business persons and concerned citizens has been formed in opposition to the plans. They held a brief demonstration on Wednesday morning. Chairman of Save Ennis Town, Gearoid Mannion said the dig was taking place “without any public consultation and clearly indicates that Clare County Council and Ennis 2040DAC intend to push ahead with their destructive plans for this vital
public amenity despite widespread public opposition”. Speaking to The Clare Echo, Cllr Flynn said the ‘big dig’ was “another waste of public money. This loss of up to 25 scarce carparking spaces for over five weeks is to enable Ennis 2040 progress their unnecessary big box development proposed for on the carpark”.
l Digging underway at Abbey Street Carpark photo by Ray Conway
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