Moving to Ennis

kernow · 23-08-2011 12:37pm #1

Hi all this is my first post so please be nice lol

Anyway me and my partner are moving to Ennis next Thursday from Limerick. So was wondering what is there to do in Ennis like is there any good pubs that show the rugby I'm a Munster fan also would like pub that's not half full of kids.
I'm not really in to clubing as the music recs my head but do like live music like read stuff etc. Hopping to find somewhere I can call a local

Also what alse is there like museums and restaurants etc.

Many thanks for your help

Ps the misses is a Clare girl so its moving home for her

BobLoblaw77 · 23-08-2011 6:01pm

kernow wrote: »

Hi all this is my first post so please be nice lol

Anyway me and my partner are moving to Ennis next Thursday from Limerick. So was wondering what is there to do in Ennis like is there any good pubs that show the rugby I'm a Munster fan also would like pub that's not half full of kids.
I'm not really in to clubing as the music recs my head but do like live music like read stuff etc. Hopping to find somewhere I can call a local

Also what alse is there like museums and restaurants etc.

Many thanks for your help

Ps the misses is a Clare girl so its moving home for her

As regards pubs, there should be a few that would be decent for games. Knox's is pretty good for all live sport, be it Rugby, soccer or GAA. I watched the Ireland match and Mayo/Kerry match in O'Keeffes at the weekend and they had a good crowd for both, with no kids. Few other pubs like Ciarans that would be good also. Ciarans does trad music as well some nights but ts not really my thing.

No idea about museums in ennis. Few decent places to eat. Old ground/town hall, knoxes, milanos, brogans... Depends on what sort of food you are looking for. There's a supermacs as well

willow tree · 23-08-2011 7:43pm

We are always nice on the clare board:D

i dont go out in ennis much anymore but fafa's (maybe someone will help me out with real name) on parnell st is nice..
theres a good thai at the bottom of parnell st, rogues and the town hall are really good and a decent indian (my favourite) beside the youth centre.
what kind of museums are you looking for? there is one in the library but for art glor often has exhibitions on. glors also really nice for a coffee or lunch and obviously shows and things are on there..
welcome to clare, hope ye are happy here:)

Daniel S · 23-08-2011 7:48pm

Ah! The Limerick people are trying to plant Clare so they can claim the bit of road ahead of toonagh:pac:

I see what your at.... :cool:

(Yea, +1 on Knox's

)

BobLoblaw77 · 23-08-2011 8:36pm

willow tree wrote: »

We are always nice on the clare board:D

i dont go out in ennis much anymore but fafa's (maybe someone will help me out with real name) on parnell st is nice..
theres a good thai at the bottom of parnell st, rogues and the town hall are really good and a decent indian (my favourite) beside the youth centre.
what kind of museums are you looking for? there is one in the library but for art glor often has exhibitions on. glors also really nice for a coffee or lunch and obviously shows and things are on there..
welcome to clare, hope ye are happy here:)

Fafa's is Considines. Haven't been in it in years but know someone who drinks there and they have sung it's praises. Wherebis the youth centre? I eat in the Mogul Indian which is quite nice. Looks a lot better than than the Punjab used to be..

willow tree · 23-08-2011 9:22pm

Thats it, considines. the indian, its around the corner from the ennis national school. If you were going from the mill rd towards limerick, just after crossroads/lights.. hmm, indian, i'd eat it every day if i could. i havent tried the mogul yet but i have heard good things..

Auldloon · 23-08-2011 10:02pm

Few years now since I last lived in ennis but there are loads of great pubs. Rugby is well followed. Ciarans was my local back then and it was a great bar with loads of great characters. Rugby, racing and gaa. A great pint as well. Not sure what it's like now but I doubt it's changed that much.
You will find somewhere that suits you no bother and it will be great fun exploring. You will get plenty of stick when Clare are playing Limerick:)

Battleflag · 24-08-2011 12:47pm

Lucas's always has the rugby matches on, always a good crowd in there, nice pub too

pepe00 · 24-08-2011 12:49pm

they have lovely sicilian restaurant in ennis

kernow · 24-08-2011 1:02pm

Hi all thanks

Sounds like there a few good places to go then will have to check them out once were settled in. So what's the best Chinese in town?

By museum I mean something like the history of Ennis I'm interested in history I end up wondering around places for hours on end looking at the architecture of the buildings etc so I can get a feel for the place and wonder who lived and worked in these places. Not really in to the art thing though I don't mind some of it

Will look forward to checking out some of the pubs and having a good pint of Guinness. I try to avoid soccer like the plague well mainly the English stuff the only time I really watch it is wen Ireland are playing. I follow rugby mainly and the gaa. Hopefully will catch with some of you lads sometime for a pint or 2.

I'm not from Limerick or Ireland originally I'm from cornwall near England been living over here for a few years now lived in Donegal for few months then moved to Limerick now getting out of there as we have had enough of it there. Unfortunately the place is going down hill fast.

Niall_G · 24-08-2011 1:46pm

Clare County Museum is worth a visit (and it's free). It's in the centre of town, beside the Temple Gate hotel:
http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/claremuseum/index.htm

You might also enjoy the Ennis walking tour:
http://www.enniswalkingtours.com/

moss.ie · 24-08-2011 3:23pm

Battleflag wrote: »

Lucas's always has the rugby matches on, always a good crowd in there, nice pub too

big +1 for Lukies

Chalky126 · 24-08-2011 8:47pm

try the Rowantree Café too - nice choice of food and staff are nice

stovelid · 24-08-2011 8:52pm

Fawls, Pa Quinns and The Halfway House would be my favourite pubs.

I'm a dub living in Dublin but married to a Clare woman and I know the town well.

CptSternn · 25-08-2011 8:36am

Fawls is a kip and the staff are possibly the worst in Ennis. They hate tourists and if you check any of the online rating sites you will see pages about how they often won't serve people who are not from town. I have experienced this myself when I had friends over from America. I made the mistake of going in there only to at first be made to feel out of place by the staff who intentionally ignored us, and then after serving us another lady came in and asked us to leave. Thats a good way to encourage tourism. Friendliest town my arse - any tourist that ventures in there will say different, and they are already online.

Lukies is a grand spot for rubgy. You can also watch it next door at Charlies. I also like watching it @ Brandons as they have the large projection screen and the best prices for pints in town.

BobLoblaw77 · 25-08-2011 9:55am

CptSternn wrote: »

Fawls is a kip and the staff are possibly the worst in Ennis. They hate tourists and if you check any of the online rating sites you will see pages about how they often won't serve people who are not from town. I have experienced this myself when I had friends over from America. I made the mistake of going in there only to at first be made to feel out of place by the staff who intentionally ignored us, and then after serving us another lady came in and asked us to leave. Thats a good way to encourage tourism. Friendliest town my arse - any tourist that ventures in there will say different, and they are already online.

Lukies is a grand spot for rubgy. You can also watch it next door at Charlies. I also like watching it @ Brandons as they have the large projection screen and the best prices for pints in town.

Never been into the Fawls, but seen some of the ratings also. Unreal.. There are some bars in town that are locals.. some places which may be better to watch a match... and other places where you might wander into on a Saturday night to check the talent.

I'd say Considines, Lucas's, O'Keeffes, Paddy Quinns, Ciarans etc would be locals.. and would each serve a pretty good pint.

Knoxes would be a decent place to watch a big match (or multiple sporting occasions).

Charlies is a place that only seems to have atmosphere when it's full (although quite often that is a pretty young crowd). That happens probably only on a Saturday night. My main problem with the bar is that it's too big. It's also away from the other main pubs in town (bar Lucas's and McQs) so it doesn't keep a crowd well anymore. I'd say quite often you would get a similar crowd in Lucas's as you would in Charlies. Yet Lucas's main bar is about 25% of the size

Inkyhead · 25-08-2011 1:00pm

Fawls beer garden is grand! And there's often a good trad seisúin on the go at the weekends. But it tends to be full of old drunks, just ignore em. Never heard of em asking anyone to leave though!

Best pint of Guinness in town is in O'Dea's pub just up the road from Fawls beside the Cathedral.

stovelid · 25-08-2011 1:40pm

CptSternn wrote: »

Fawls is a kip and the staff are possibly the worst in Ennis.

I withdraw what I said. How could I possibly have a different opinion to yours based on years of going into the place.

Shapey Fiend · 25-08-2011 5:30pm

Staff in Fawls are sound. I often drop in there to buy smokes after 11pm and they nip into the off licence for me.

Lukies gets gold star for service though. They'll spot you three people back from the bar when trying to order and I never end up standing around cos they've forgotten to top up my Guinness.

Clareman · 25-08-2011 6:06pm

I've never had a problem with the Fawls, sorry to hear about your experience Cpt.

People have mentioned a lot of nice places, there are also nice places outside of town depending on where you are living, The Halways, Gallow's, Gleeson's and Grove are all nice pubs outside of town. I believe Patrick's is 1 of the official Munster match venues as well. The 1 thing that Ennis doesn't seem to have a problem with is kids in pub, well not that I've noticed anyway. You also have a few options for places to go to watch a match while having something to eat, a lot of nice pub grub places.

Enjoy the town, I guess we could include you on a Clare night out, if you were lucky of course

CptSternn · 25-08-2011 7:37pm

Clareman wrote: »

I've never had a problem with the Fawls, sorry to hear about your experience Cpt.

The 1 thing that Ennis doesn't seem to have a problem with is kids in pub, well not that I've noticed anyway.

Actually that I think is the reason we were asked to leave. Our group had a three year old with us. He was well behaved, sitting in a chair and having a black currant sure. The first lady told us we had to keep him in the front area. The second lady a few minutes later gave out to the first lady and then told us to take the kid and leave. Since then someone said there is now a sign saying no children in the pub.

I guess they don't like them walking around looking so happy, young, and carefree when the clientèle is a bunch of old men with no work drinking on a Tuesday afternoon. It must remind them too much of reality.

That or they feel they don't drink enough to take up space in their pub.

Either way, it was the worst experience I ever had in a pub in Ennis sure. Very unprofessional. I even contacted VFI to get the owners details and then rang them. Got their voicemail, they never returned my calls. I also emailed them. Seems they don't care too much about what people think sure.

maiden · 25-08-2011 7:48pm

Inkyhead wrote: »

Best pint of Guinness in town is in O'Dea's pub just up the road from Fawls beside the Cathedral.

Ah Jesus, dont be tellin' the outsiders about our jewel in the crown!!!

Inkyhead · 25-08-2011 8:19pm

CptSternn wrote: »

Actually that I think is the reason we were asked to leave. Our group had a three year old with us. He was well behaved, sitting in a chair and having a black currant sure. The first lady told us we had to keep him in the front area. The second lady a few minutes later gave out to the first lady and then told us to take the kid and leave

That's totally different to what you said first, in fairness. If you're going to make statements destroying a places reputation at least get your story straight.

Clareman · 25-08-2011 9:30pm

O'Dea's, now there's a place I haven't been in a long time, best pint ever

kernow · 28-08-2011 8:08pm

Hi thanks again lads for the ideas sure will be checking them out.

Sure will take you up on the offer for some Clare drinks if I'm aloud and the misus let's me out lol.

Another question I have is where is the best DVD rental places apart from extra vision?

Also did ask the other day what's the best Chinese in town.

Thanks again for all your help.

willow tree · 28-08-2011 11:21pm

im not huge into chinese but ive had chinese from the place out in roslevan beside the grove and it was good.

CptSternn · 30-08-2011 8:15am

kernow wrote: »

Hi thanks again lads for the ideas sure will be checking them out.

Sure will take you up on the offer for some Clare drinks if I'm aloud and the misus let's me out lol.

Another question I have is where is the best DVD rental places apart from extra vision?

Also did ask the other day what's the best Chinese in town.

Thanks again for all your help.

Asking about the best Chinese is like asking about a persons favourite pub. Everyone has a different opinion on that.

I like Golden Mill, but if you ask anyone else in town you will usually get a different answer, especially since there are like seven around now.

kernow · 30-08-2011 8:30am

That's true I guess never thought about it like that.:)

Clareman · 30-08-2011 8:31am

I wouldn't be a big fan of the Golden Mill but Mrs. Clareman loves it, the normal places for us is if we want Satay we go to the Silver House on O'Connell St. if we want anything else we go to Fortune House in the Market, if we are hungover on a Sunday we go to the place out in Roselvin for the buffet.

The only place in town for DVDs really is Xtra-Vision, a mirade of places tried to setup in the past and didn't survice long.

kernow · 30-08-2011 9:22am

Cheers Clareman was just trying to get an idea of what the best Chinese are in town as CptSernn says everyone has their own choice in what they think is the best I guess we will have to find find them out for our selfs.

Shame about dvd places as we rent a fair few of them always found xtra vision crap for selection we use movie drome in Limerick have found they have a great selection and ur man who runs the place is very helpful. Unlike xtra vision plus would like to put money in to a local business than something like xtra vision.

CptSternn · 30-08-2011 11:41am

New Dynasty in Clarecastle in my fave, but they don't deliver to town so Golden Mill is my second choice and I order from them almost weekly.

Inkyhead · 30-08-2011 12:29pm

Coco is nice, but they do 'fusion' now so it's not all Chinese.

Daniel S · 30-08-2011 12:32pm

Inkyhead wrote: »

Coco is nice, but they do 'fusion' now so it's not all Chinese.

That means they serve chips too doesn't it?

:pac:

Clareman · 30-08-2011 2:23pm

I was a big fan of Coco when it was the Jasmine, went in there a couple of times after it changed over and I wasn't impressed, I'll have to give it another try, if I'm going out for a meal I usually go to either The Dining Room, Seasons 52 or The Town Hall.

ClareVisitor · 30-08-2011 5:10pm

Clareman wrote: »

I was a big fan of Coco when it was the Jasmine, went in there a couple of times after it changed over and I wasn't impressed, I'll have to give it another try, if I'm going out for a meal I usually go to either The Dining Room, Seasons 52 or The Town Hall.

Is The Dining Room good Clareman? I'm only over a couple of times a year and we went to Rogues on recommendation last week. We did see The Dining Room and were thinking of eating there when we're next over maybe.

Clareman · 30-08-2011 6:10pm

The Dining Room is fantastic, they did a great menu, I liked their lamb, steak and chicken curry (nom nom), Mrs. C. loved their seasfood starter as well as some of their fish dishes, I don't eat seafood, disgrace I know considering we live on an island. I was doing a lot of hosting of work dos for a while, I was there 9 times in 2 weeks, I think I just ate there too often so I haven't been there for a while

Inkyhead · 30-08-2011 7:28pm

Excuse my ignorance folks, where's The Dining Room?

golden8 · 30-08-2011 7:35pm

At the Kilrush Road Traffic Lights on the Market side.

Inkyhead · 30-08-2011 8:25pm

Used to be Henry Js?

Clareman · 30-08-2011 9:30pm

That's the place, I did have a chuckle to myself the first night I was there with the thoughts of some of the things I did in Henry's

Battleflag · 31-08-2011 9:26am

So that pizzeria is no more where I "think" the Dining Room is now?? Assuming from the name it isn't a pizzeria, shame because they did really nice pizzas in there

Inkyhead · 31-08-2011 10:43am

Yep, same place - the pizzeria is gone. True for ya though, they had a daycent pizza with goats cheese mmm.

Shapey Fiend · 31-08-2011 11:35pm

The Dining Room is excellent. Best food in town by some margin.

There used be 10 or 15 rental places in the 90's but the bottom fell out of that market about 5 years ago. The reason Xtravision weathered it is they're selling games consoles, blu ray players, cameras and such. In fairness the Ennis branch is fairly solid.

I think the only other one left is the snappily named "Internet + DVDs" on Carmody St. I haven't set foot in there in 15 years so I'm not sure what the selections like. It's pretty tiny.

Inkyhead · 01-09-2011 9:11pm

Shapey Fiend wrote: »

The Dining Room is excellent. Best food in town by some margin.

That's high praise, if you're takin' the Town Hall and Rowan Tree into consideration. Looking forward to checking it out!

thesandeman · 14-09-2011 10:13pm

Ill hijack this thread for a minute if its ok with the OP and Mods.
Moving town soon and Ennis is one of the places Im considering.
Just wondering what its like for live music (non trad)? Im in my 40s and into Blues, Rock, Folk etc. (bit of a hippie). I remember years ago there used to be a cool place at the end of town near a bridge (think there was a refugee hostel upstairs) that I used frequent.
Also whats the food choices like for a vegetarian? Cheers ;-)

Shapey Fiend · 14-09-2011 10:35pm

There's definitely 2 or 3 decent bands with members in their 40s doing blues and rock. I know them to see but fecked if I can remember what they're called . Brandons book them fairly frequently and they play in other places round town now and then. There are a couple of decent younger cover bands about as well that mainly play 70's rock covers rather than Kings of Leon, thank goodness.

Vegetarian food choice probably isn't that amazing. I'm trying to remember what my cousin was eating I think he lived mostly on chinese takeaway hehe. He wasn't very interested in food anyway. If you're ever in Cork city check out Cafe Paradiso. All vegetarian and easily my favorite restaurant in the country. It's all stuff that'd be hard to source or prepare yourself so you feel like you're actually getting something you couldn't do yourself at home.

thesandeman · 15-09-2011 1:49am

Ta. Im not a cookin person unless its microwaved so Ill be helping the economy whereever I move to.
Think the 70s lads you refer to might be The Alvin Purple Experience. Used to love them lol. Ive been around most of the towns im thinking of moving to so 'culture shock' wont really hit me.

willow tree · 15-09-2011 10:11am

i'm a vegetarian too and i'd say there's no where outstanding for veggie food.. well the indian is good and the thai as would be usual for that kind of food. The town hall do a good veggie option but no choice really and the rowentree have a few choices. Us veggies are not well catered for in most towns i find. the swell berries and bushplant play a lot in ennis. good luck with the move..

kernow · 15-09-2011 10:20am

Shapey Fiend wrote: »

The Dining Room is excellent. Best food in town by some margin.

There used be 10 or 15 rental places in the 90's but the bottom fell out of that market about 5 years ago. The reason Xtravision weathered it is they're selling games consoles, blu ray players, cameras and such. In fairness the Ennis branch is fairly solid.

I think the only other one left is the snappily named "Internet + DVDs" on Carmody St. I haven't set foot in there in 15 years so I'm not sure what the selections like. It's pretty tiny.

Went to that one on Carmondy St the other day not much of a selection of DVDs apart from a few X rated ones and a few old VHS videos didn't think there was much use for those nowadays.

Had a good chance to explore around now found a few good places to go. Town is very handy form where we are on the Kilrush road takes about 10 to 15 mins to walk in. There is handy little shop at the end of our road and the Mace store is handy to for a few bits and peces they have a fairly good deal there at the moment on coal wood kindling and briquettes €20.00 on that subject who is the best around here for coal turf wood also who is the best for oil and bins.
Thanks again for all your help hope to get out some time soon for a pint or 2

summerskin · 15-09-2011 10:34am

+1 for The Dining Room.

Went last week and the food was the best i've had by far in Ennis, in fact possibly the best I've had in the whole country. We had 7 of us there and all ordered different to try and get a taste of everything.

manhattan28 · 12-01-2013 1:22pm

kernow wrote: »

Hi thanks again lads for the ideas sure will be checking them out.

Sure will take you up on the offer for some Clare drinks if I'm aloud and the misus let's me out lol.

Another question I have is where is the best DVD rental places apart from extra vision?

Also did ask the other day what's the best Chinese in town.

Thanks again for all your help.

Hi Kernow...how are you settling in. I'm a new guy in Ennis, wife from here so we moved the young family here and like you I'm looking for things to do . Any advice appreciated

Moving to Ennis

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