Clare Fm - Podcasts

Fr Gerry Kenny presents Beyond Belief for Sunday 6th July 2025

Fr Brendan Quinlivan leads our Sunday Prayer.

Clare have been beaten in the quarter final of the All Ireland Senior Camogie championship. John Carmody's side saw their season come to an end in Croke Park after a 2-20 to 2-10 defeat to Waterford. Aine O'Loughlin struck two superbly taken goals in the opening period and it looked as though the sides would go in level at half time, however, Annie Fitzgerald hit the net for the Deise to give them the advantage at half time. Niamh Rockett added a second goal in the dying stages to cap off a 10 point victory a score which Clare FM analyst Anne Marie McGann believes wasn't reflective of the game.

The Government insists it's not backtracking on its commitment to providing wastewater infrastructure in two unsewered Clare communities. In December of 2023, Broadford and Cooraclare were included in a €50 million pilot scheme devised to address the wastewater collection and treatment needs of villages without access to public wastewater services. In March of this year, Clare County Council stated the systems are expected to be in place within the next three to five years. Responding to Bodyke Fine Gael TD Joe Cooney in the Dáil, Minister of State Christopher O'Sullivan says engagement with local authorities is ongoing.

Chilly Clancy, Brrr Lougnane and Gritsmilebridge will be among the vehicles enlisted to salt Clare's roads this Winter. It follows the results of Clare County Council's inagural 'Name Our Gritter' competition, which received 122 entries from 18 schools. The winners coming from Clouna, Coolmeen and Knocknerra National Schools rounded off naming the seven strong fleet with the addition of 'Carriga-cold', Kilfenora Gritter Blaster and Kilfreeze and all decals will be added in the coming months. Clare County Council Senior Engineer Cyril Feeney says they'll play a vital role in keeping roads safe.

Coming up on the show, we preview a historic weekend for Clare Camogie There is also a novel ladies football game taking place in Kilmihil, and a few other bits also

Hailing from Galway, KONNO has spent the last number of years dipping his toe in the music scene, producing and collaborating with other artists, including working behind the scenes on a number one single for RACHEL and opening for the Saw Doctors throughout the UK and Ireland with Darragh O'Dea and The Delicate Dogs. Now, it is time for KONNO to take centre stage. Known for his deeply personal lyrics, guitar driven sound and memorable hooks, KONNO released his self-produced debut single 'Meet Me Later' at the end of 2024. 'Dream Talks is an anthem for anyone who's ever been messed over' so says KONNO of his upcoming release, adding, 'writing this song nearly killed me. I was dealing with a situation where I felt betrayed by a person I thought had my best interests at heart. There were lots of anxious nights but looking back at it now, I'm proud of how I handled everything. It was cathartic to get that all out in the new record.' Alongside this release, KONNO is gearing up for an exciting summer ahead. W

Retailers of Ennis have imposed a blockade at the delivery entrance of a local supermarket amid claims of "bully-boy" tactics. It follows the erection of an electronic barrier by Dunnes Stores, which is denying delivery trucks access to Cook's Lane and O'Connell Street businesses. The barrier, which is operated by Dunnes Stores, has been in place since Thursday morning, and retailers aren't taking the development lying down. Since the arrival of the supermarket titan in Ennis decades ago, the loading bay located between it and the adjacent multi-storey car park, which extends as far as Cook's Lane, has been used by nearby traders for deliveries, as well as staff parking. This access has become all the more vital for the likes of Custys, Heaslips, Brogans and Cook's Lane Café in the last year with the pedestrianisation of O'Connell Street. Traders and concerned residents have responded to the barrier's installation this morning by blockading the area, thereby preventing Dunnes Stores delivery drivers from

Fáilte ar ais chuig eagrán nua de Ar An Lá Seo ar an 4ú lá de mí Iúil, liomsa Lauren Ní Loingsigh. I 1975 bhí méadú sa chostas I gcóir leaba san ospidéal. I 2003 bhí plean ann chun tí saor a thógáil, dhíol agus maoiniú. I 1997 leag na taistealaithe amach a tí I ngairdín Easpag Willie Walsh. I 2003 tháinig grúpaí a raibh ar barr le chéile don troid d'Aerfort na Sionainne. Sin Evanesence le Bring Me To Life – an t-amhrán is mó ar an lá seo I 2003. Ag lean ar aghaidh le nuacht cheoil ar an lá seo I 1982 phós Ozzy Osbourne Sharon Arden a bhí mar iníon de Don Arden. Tháinig Ozzy amach ag rá gur phós siad ar an 4ú lá de mhí Iúil ar Lá na Saoirse ionas go gcuimhneoidh sé a comóradh pósta gach bliain. I 1990 fuair Paul Stanley ón bhanna ceoil Kiss gortaithe ar an muineál agus a dhroim nuair a bhí sé I dtimpiste carr I New Jersey. Agus ar deireadh breithlá daoine cáiliúla ar an lá seo rugadh giotáraí Jeremy Spencer sa Bhreatain I 1948 agus rugadh amhránaí Post Malone I Meiriceá ar an lá seo I 1995 agus seo chu

To preview the sporting fixtures, Alan Morrissey was joined on Friday’s Morning Focus by Clare FM’s Derrick Lynch. Games previewed: All Ireland Senior Camogie Quarter-Final: Clare v Waterford (Saturday, Croke Park, 2:30pm) WillWeGo.com Clare Cup Final: Clonlara v Inagh-Kilnamona (Sunday, Dr. Daly Park, 1pm)

Welcome to another episode of Ours To Protect on Clare FM. Today we'll hear how nearly half of all bird species in Ireland have been found to be in decline, with many populations severely depleted. One in eight bird species globally is currently threatened with extinction. Much of this is as a result of climate change. Birdwatch Ireland carries out extensive scientific research and survey work into our bird populations. The Clare branch is one of the busiest in the country and was co-founded by Ornithologist John Murphy back in 1990. Since then, John has seen a marked decline in bird species in Ireland, much of which has been caused by climate change.

Lissycasey GAA Club will honour some of its most esteemed club and community members this weekend. Sunday’s event (13th July, 3pm) will also see the club’s pitch officially named in memory of the late P.J. Kelly, while the stand at Páirc na Muintire will be officially named in honour of the late Gearóid O’Sullivan. For more on this, Alan Morrissey was joined by Paudie Carmody. PHOTO CREDIT: Lissycasey GAA Club

The Co. Clare Agricultural Show is coming up next weekend! The show, which has played an important part in the agricultural heritage of the county for well over a century, will take place at the Ennis Showgrounds on Sunday, the 13th of July. To discuss more about what we can expect, Alan Morrissey was joined by Joe Lillis.

A young man is finalising preparations for a huge challenge, that will see him run from his late mother’s homeplace in Co Clare to Co. Sligo. Paul Connolly, who hails from Sligo, will undertake the 168km journey to the cemetery where Bridget Connolly is laid to rest. Bridget hailed from Quin in Co. Clare. Paul’s trek will see him raising money for a very worthy and apt cause (the North West Hospice). Fore more on this, Alan Morrissey was joined by Paul Connolly. You can support Paul here: https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/ClaretoSligoNorthWestHospice11

Féile Brian Ború is underway! The annual festival in Killaloe and Ballina is running from the 2nd to the 6th of July, with a packed programme of events for all ages – from music and culture to family fun and historical re-enactments. The festival has grown steadily since it began in 1993, becoming a much-loved fixture on the summer calendar for locals and visitors alike. To discuss this year’s celebrations, Alan Morrissey was joined by Arlene White, one of the organisers behind Féile Brian Ború. PHOTO CREDIT: Féile Brian Ború

An open call has been issued for artwork submissions from Clare artists or art students to have their work feature as part of the 2025 Ennis Trad Fest. The chosen artist will have the opportunity to have their artwork represented as part of this year’s edition of the popular annual festival. For more on this, Alan morrissey was joined by David Stone, Chairperson of the Ennis Trad Fest. PHOTO CREDIT: ennistradfest.com

The Government is being told it must stick to its promise to reinstate the 9% reduced VAT rate for food-led hospitality businesses or face the consequences of further closures, job losses and long-term damage to Ireland’s tourism economy. The warning is coming from the Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI), which has launched its Pre-Budget Submission, outlining urgent policy measures needed to safeguard thousands of restaurants, cafés and gastropubs across the country. The RAI’s submission highlights the specific risks faced by counties like Clare, where restaurants, cafés and gastropubs are key employers and vital to rural life and economic survival. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joiend by Frank Landy of Sweet N Green in Ennis, Rony Barobhuiya, Co-owner of Henry’s Bistro in Ennis and Andrew Flood from Clonlara who runs An Beag Café on Henry Street, Kilrush.

The company contracted to transport US soldiers to and from Shannon Airport on civil flights has been granted 31 weapons exemptions in just the past six weeks. New figures released to Labour show that Omni Air International was granted 37 exemptions in total over the period, with six of these relating to flyovers. According to Transport Minister Darragh O'Brien, the flights were granted permission to carry unloaded personal weapons only, with no ammunition. Shannonwatch founder Dr Edward Horgan claims it's inconceivable these flights are not supporting military operations.

Over 100 family carers in Clare will receive an increased allowance from this week. The Department of Social Protection has announced that the weekly income disregard for Carer's Allowance has been bumped up to €625 for a single person and €1,250 for a couple. Over 5,200 recipients of the allowance will now avail of a higher rate of payment including 107 in Clare. Clare family carer and Chairperson of EDS Ireland, Anne Micks, claims however that carers are being forced to survive on an amount below the living wage.

Over 100 family carers in Clare will receive an increased allowance from this week. The Department of Social Protection has announced that the weekly income disregard for Carer's Allowance has been bumped up to €625 for a single person and €1,250 for a couple. Over 5,200 recpients of the allowance will now avail of a higher rate of payment including 107 in Clare. Clare family carer and Chairperson of EDS Ireland, Anne Micks, claims however that carers are being forced to survive on an amount below the living wage.