Ennis (Inis)

 town, county town - UK/Ireland

Ennis (Irish: Inis) is the county town of Clare in Ireland. Situated on the River Fergus, it lies north of Limerick and south of Galway on the main N18 road connecting these two cities. Its name is a shortening of the original Inis Cluain Ramh Fhada ("Long Rowing Meadow Island").

Ennis grew up around the Franciscan friary. The large building was an important seat of learning in its peak. It was built by the O'Brien family in approximately 1242.

Ennis was an important market town historically. The market square today is still home to market stalls. The latter practice has steadily decreased through the years. The foot and mouth disease crisis of 2001 in Ireland had a severe impact on such markets around the country. Thanks to stringent restrictions on movement of animals and such markets, the country avoided a major outbreak, but markets such as that at Ennis struggled to recover.

Ennis town centre consists of often narrow streets and many old buildings. One, Parnell Street, has now been pedestrianised, while many of the other main streets have been made one way. On busy days cars and people jostle for space. Many small shops, both old and new, make Ennis an interesting place in which to shop. The Pro-Cathedral of Saint Peter and Saint Paul can also be found in the town.

Ennis has become an important centre of Irish traditional music over the last fifteen years, and, late in May each year, hosts the Fleadh Nua, the second largest traditional music festival in Ireland.