Ennis retains Purple Flag accreditation
Ennis retains PURPLE FLAG accreditation
Ennis is celebrating as it proudly receives Purple Flag accreditation, a recognition of its commitment to creating a dynamic, secure, and vibrant evening and night-time economy.
Following an overnight assessment (5pm to 5am) the appointed Purple Flag assessors gave Ennis the green light for continued Purple Flag accreditation. The assessors had full disclosure to crime stats for the past three years and liaised closely with Gardai on the overnight assessment.
Purple Flag aims to raise the standard and broaden the appeal of town and city centres between the hours of 5pm and 5am. This prestigious award highlights Ennis’s blend of entertainment, dining and culture, all while ensuring the safety and well-being of residents and visitors in the evening and night-time economy.
A spokesperson for the ATCM (Association of Town Centre Management) commented, “Key successes in Ennis’s submission include the fantastic offering through the De Valera County Library and Súil Gallery, which opened in late 2024, alongside Glór, a brilliant concert and events venue. Ennis should also be praised for its combination of historic character, traditional music, cultural venues, public spaces and active streets which create an inviting evening experience.”
The Chair of Ennis Purple Flag Committee and Mayor of Ennis, Cllr. Tommy Guilfoyle said, “The Ennis Purple Flag committee added two new satellite areas to our Purple Flag offering this year – Clare Youth Services (centre at Kilrush Road and The Junction, Cloughleigh) together with John O’Sullivan Park, Lees Road. The assessors were very impressed with both. Sometimes we take what we have for granted, seeing the remarkable service provided by committed youth workers and the world class amenities at Less Road through new eyes, made us all re-appraise and fully appreciate what we have in our community.
Margaret O’Brien, CEO, Ennis Chamber and co-ordinator of Ennis Purple Flag said, “Over the 8 years I have been involved in Purple Flag assessments, like all towns and cities, the nighttime economy in Ennis has undergone significant change.
Late-night gyms are likely to be as busy as pubs, and many of those have closed over that time. While we can’t control a change in habits and preferences the businesses in Ennis can cater for changing tastes. There’s a real opportunity to continue our daytime economy into our nighttime economy and thankfully some businesses in Ennis have already risen to meet that opportunity.
For example, Kaiféin, the coffeehouse on the corner of The Queens Hotel opens late until 9pm at weekends, while The Well Café, O’Connell Street offers a series of evening time events across the year, including a regular bookclub, fashion shows and seasonal supper club. We need more of these sorts of initiatives to drive footfall into the evening time.”
Ennis is one of 9 areas receiving a Full Renewal accreditation across the island of Ireland, with 8 areas receiving an Interim Renewal accreditation, so far this year.
There are 100 Purple Flag destinations around the globe, across the UK, Ireland, Sweden, Malta, New Zealand and Australia. Purple Flag has represented the gold standard of evening and night-time economy management for 16 years.
