Send flowers to Ennis, County Clare

About Ennis and where it sits in Clare

Ennis is the county town of Clare, in the mid-west of Ireland, and is the largest town in the county. At the 2022 census it had 27,923 residents, which makes it the sixth largest town in Ireland. It lies on the River Fergus, a little north of where the river widens into the Shannon Estuary, and it is only about 14 km from Shannon Airport. The Irish name, Inis, means island or river meadow, and it refers to the land between two courses of the Fergus.

The town centre has medieval lanes and narrow streets. Parnell Street is pedestrianised, while O'Connell Street, Bindon Street and Abbey Street are one-way. That layout matters if you are planning a delivery to a shop or business in the centre: the driver may have to park nearby and walk. For private homes, give the estate or road, the town, Ennis, County Clare, and the Eircode.

A town with a record for looking good

Ennis has done very well in the Irish Tidy Towns competition. It was named Ireland's tidiest town in 2005 and again in 2021, and has won the large urban centre category on several occasions. Visitors often notice window boxes, hanging baskets and planted corners in the centre, so a bouquet sent to Ennis arrives in a town where flowers are already part of civic pride. That also makes plants and long-lasting arrangements a good option for a gift that stays on show.

Music, books and local occasions

Ennis is a stronghold of traditional music. The Fleadh Nua has been held in late May since 1974 and is the second largest traditional music festival in Ireland, and the Ennis Trad Festival runs every November. The town also hosted the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in 2016 and 2017. The Ennis Book Club Festival takes place on the first weekend of March, bringing readers and authors from across the country. Glór Theatre in the town centre is a regular venue for concerts and shows.

Those events are useful to know when you are choosing a delivery date, because accommodation, parking and deliveries can be busier around festival weekends. If the recipient is a musician or performer, a bouquet sent to the venue should go to the organiser well before the evening, with the performer's name clearly on the card.

Occasions: birthdays, anniversaries and Mother's Day

For a birthday, pick something bright and seasonal. For an anniversary, roses and lilies remain the classic choice. In Ireland, Mother's Day is Mothering Sunday, the fourth Sunday in Lent, so it usually falls in March. Flowers ordered for that weekend are best booked a few days ahead so you can pick a date that works for the family. For a new baby, keep the colours soft and the scent mild, and check first whether the mother is still in hospital or has already gone home.

Sympathy and funerals in County Clare

In Ireland a funeral usually follows within two to three days of a death. The family often holds a wake at home or a removal to the church, and the funeral Mass comes next. The notices on rip.ie give the details and sometimes say "family flowers only", which means the family would prefer that others donate to charity or send a Mass card. If flowers are welcome, send them to the funeral director or to the family's home. Ennis is the seat of the Bishop of Killaloe, whose cathedral is the Cathedral of Saint Peter and Paul on the edge of the old town centre, so large funerals sometimes begin there.

Flowers for patients in Ennis

Ennis Hospital is listed among the town's emergency services. Before you order flowers for a patient, ring the ward and ask whether flowers are accepted, because intensive care and some other units do not take them. Always give the patient's full name and the ward. If you are not sure whether the person is in hospital in Ennis or in one of the larger hospitals nearby, check with a family member before you order. A bouquet for the home after discharge is often the safest choice.

Choosing your delivery date

Flowers for Ennis are ordered online with a delivery date of your choice. Saturday has a street market in the town square, so Saturday mornings are busy around the centre. Weekday deliveries are usually the smoothest for workplaces, and you can add a message of up to a few lines on the card. If you are sending flowers to someone who lives outside Ennis in a village such as Clarecastle, give the full address and Eircode and add a mobile number for the recipient if you have one.

Did you know? Ennis was named Ireland's tidiest town in 2005 and again in 2021.