“Fun, relaxation, good humour and decent human friendliness await all visitors to Ennis,” declares the town’s tourist website – and indeed this true, if my recent visit to this very charming town in Co. Clare, was anything to go by. I have never been to anywhere quiet like this and my excitement at my visit was definitely increased as I had used Ennis as the location of one of my noir short stories, Every Move You Make, the title of which was taken from that classic stalker song by Police.

It can feel a little strange to mix fact with fiction in this way, but I chose Ennis because it is has so much natural charm and old fashioned hospitality that it seemed ideal for my noir story, which is based in several Ennis locations – some of which are identifiable from these photos. It might be fun to try and spot them; I will add the link to my story below.

Getting back to the real town of Ennis, which is situated on the River Fergus, just north of where it enters the Shannon Estuary. The town lies north west of Limerick and south of Galway and is also only a short drive away from Shannon Airport, which gives access to many flights to the US – and there are often many American accents to be heard when out and about in the town!

The Irish name for the town is short for Inis Cluain Ramh Fhada; meaning “island of the long rowing meadow” which is quite beautiful don’t you think?

My short featuring characters Finola and Declan is the first in a series of Ennis adventures, with the second already written (but without a home as yet) and the third in construction. If you enjoy a noir tale or a stalker story why not check it out the first story here?  pulpmetalmagazine.com/…/every-move-you-make-by-sonia-kilvington

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“It’s difficult,” she muttered nervously.

“In your own good time,” replied Declan as graciously as he could on a very dull Monday morning, to an equally dull looking client, who was already testing his patience.

Finola felt out of place in this tired, dreary office. She had already tried to craft a reasonable explanation for her visit. One that wouldn’t sound too ridiculous or paranoid, although from his weary, world-worn expression; she imagined that Declan had already heard many stories which were much more harrowing than her own. Still avoiding his gaze, her eyes strayed to a fragment of loose wallpaper hanging off the moldy smelling wall, next to her chair. She fought a strong urge to grasp the scrap between her fingers and peel it away, slowly, slowly, until it rested in the palm of her hand.

Declan cleared his throat purposefully, in a manner which implied that his time was not only valuable, but highly billable, too,

“So, what is it that you think I can I do for you?” he asked directly…Read more