Sensors installed in 17 locations in Ennis to investigate air quality in town

A network of air quality sensors has been installed across the town to see how air quality varies

Attending the TownAir air quality talk at De Valera Library are Vaios Moschos, TownAir; Shona Brid O’Sullivan, TownAir; John Wegner, TownAir; Cllr Mary Howard, cathaoirleach of Ennis MD; Anne O’Sullivan, senior engineer, Transportation Road Design, Clare County Council; and Brendan Flynn, senior executive engineer, Environment Department, Clare County Council. Picture: Eamon Ward.

A network of sensors have been installed at 17 locations in Ennis, to assess the air quality of the town.

Clare County Council has teamed up with researchers from University of Galway and University College Cork to do the research.

The TownAir project, funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), aims to determine the sources of air pollution in Irish towns. Ennis was selected for the project due to air pollution regularly observed during winter months, which is attributed to home heating.

Since November 2025, detailed measurements of air quality have been recorded by the TownAir researchers at a site which is collocated with the EPA air quality monitoring station, located within Clare County Council grounds at Drumbiggle, Ennis. The collected data will be used to determine the sources of air pollution.

Brendan Flynn, senior executive engineer in the environment department at Clare County Council, said: “We are committed to improving air quality in Ennis and the TownAir project team are providing us with the evidence we need to support meaningful action. 

The involvement of the community is essential. We encourage homeowners and residents to take part in the TownAir survey to help shape a cleaner, healthier future for our town.

As part of the project, the TownAir research team also met with students from Rice College, Coláiste Muire, and St Flannan’s College. Participating students learned how air quality is measured, what causes air pollution and the practical steps communities can take to improve local air.

Preliminary results from the project were presented at the De Valera Library on March 10, and indicated emissions from fires and stoves in the home make the largest contribution to particulate matter, the air pollutant that impacts most on human health. 

Professor of chemistry at University College Cork, John Wenger, said: “TownAir is the most detailed study of its kind, giving us the ability to accurately measure air quality so that we can better manage it. The data being collected in Ennis will allow us to pinpoint where pollution comes from and how it varies across the town. This insight will guide effective, science‑based solutions.” 

Ennis residents have been encouraged to complete the survey, which can be found here.