Clare Fm - Podcasts

For most 14-year-olds, running away to another country is just a dream. But back in 1980, German teenager Michael Denninger packed a tent, grabbed his guitar, and travelled alone across Europe to County Clare after meeting two Irish sisters on holiday. What followed was a summer of music, adventure, and friendships that would last a lifetime — and a love of Clare that still inspires him today. Alan Morrissey had a chat with Michael on Thursday's Morning Focus. Photo (c) German flag (c) by Paul Scheelen from Pexels via Canva & Irish Flag by by powerofforever from Getty Images Signature via Canva.

Poetic Keys An Ode to County Clare - We Believe in Hurling [Durcan] by Clare FM

Shannon-based artist Asha Murray is making waves on the national stage, featuring in a major new exhibition opening this evening at the Royal Hibernian Academy in Dublin. Key Learnings from Cross-Market Synergetic Alignment brings together nine contemporary artists exploring everything from branding and packaging to consumer culture and the domestic space — and Asha’s bold, cartoon-inspired work is right at the heart of it. Recently named one of the Irish Times Magazine’s Top 50 Artists to Watch in 2026, it’s an exciting moment in her career. Asha Murray joined Alan Morrissey on Thursday's Morning Focus. Photo (c) RHA Gallery

James Wiley from Ennis spoke with Alan Morrissey on Thursday's Morning Focus to express his frustration over parking at University Hospital Limerick. James took to social media recently, after finding himself waiting for some time to enter a car park during a recent visit to UHL. Photo (c) Alan Place

Residents near Sixmilebridge have endured 11 power cuts in the past 14 months — with some lasting several days. However, the cause wasn’t storm damage or faulty equipment. Instead, ESB Networks has confirmed the outages were due to woodpeckers damaging electricity poles. Fine Gael TD Joe Cooney has been raising the issue on behalf of affected householders, and he spoke with Alan Morrissey on Thursday's Morning Focus. Photo (c) Image (c) great spotted woodpecker by hfoxfoto from Getty Images via Canva.

February marks Global Congenital Heart Disease Awareness Month, and with up to 600 babies born with congenital heart disease in Ireland each year, it’s a condition that affects thousands of families across the country. Heart Children has developed a new Individual Healthcare Manual to help schools better support children living with CHD. Joining Alan Morrissey on Thursday's Morning Focus was Emma Moloney from Tulla in County Clare, whose three-year-old son Cormac was born with a complex heart condition, and Sheila Campbell, CEO of Heart Children. Photo (c) Africa Images via Canva

Clare County Council is being urged to rescind new information that it’s released around burial ground rules. Elected Representatives have claimed that burial plots and fees for monument works applications are far too expensive. The local authority also heard that some sculptors risk being delisted by the council if they don’t comply with what’s been described as arbitrary rules. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined on Thursday's Morning Focus by Shane Talty, Ennistymon Fianna Fáil Councillor and Michael McTigue, Kilnamona monumental sculptor. Photo (c) Pat Flynn

It's claimed Pyrite affected homeowners in Clare are bleeding money at every stage of the rebuild process due to compensation shortfalls. Under the Enhanced Defective Blocks scheme, remuneration is capped at €462,000 , while foundation works are not currently covered. Clare County Council estimates that 620 private residences and 240 social homes here are affected by the defective mineral. Speaking in the Oireachtas Housing Committee, Dr Martina Cleary of the Clare Pyrite Action Group says urgent amendments are needed.

The Mayor of Clare has proposed building a flyover between Ennis and Clarecastle to solve safety concerns at the Clareabbey Roundabout. Fine Gael Councillor Paul Murphy was one of five local elected representatives to put his name to a motion at this week's meeting of Ennis Municipal District calling for immediate progress on the "long-delayed" pedestrian and cyclist safety scheme at the notorious junction. The motion describes the recent proposal of pedestrian crossings at the roundabout as "unsuitable" and states that the provision of a pedestrian underpass or overpass is the "only acceptable solution". Councillor Murphy believes however that crossings should be implemented in the short-term, with the long-term focus on the construction of a road going over the roundabout to connect the county town to Clarecastle.

The 2026 Russell Weekend is just around the corner. The annual Irish traditional music festival held in Doolin is a remembrance event celebrating the world famous traditional musician Russell family from the area; Micho, Packie and Gussie. This year’s festival will run from Friday, 20th to Monday, 23rd of February. To find out more Alan Morrissey spoke with committee member, Pat Sweeney and the Chairman of the Russell Committee, Martin Davis. To get a flavour of what to expect, Sarah Clarke performed live in-studio on her concertina.

A Kilkenny man who has spoken out about conditions in an ICE detention centre in Texas says he is in fear for his life Seamus Culleton is being held at Camp East Montana - almost 4 thousand kilometres away from his home in Boston - after he was picked up by ICE agents last September. He has been living legally in the United States for almost 20 years, is married to a US citizen and runs a plastering business in the Boston area. On Wednesday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey spoke about this with Lorcan Shannon, New York-based immigration lawyer, from Doolin.

There’s something new coming to the heart of Ennis! Gate 96 is a brand-new restaurant opening at the Temple Gate Hotel, designed to become a go-to destination for dining, celebrations and memorable moments. Gate 96 at The Temple Gate Hotel opens this Friday the 13th of February, just in time for Valentine’s. For more on this, Alan Morrissey was joined live in-studio by Stephen Higgins, Head Chef and John Gavin, Co-Owner/Director.

Poetic Keys An Ode to County Clare - The Piper [O Suilleabhain] by Clare FM

The Sixmilebridge community has been deeply saddened by the passing of Louise Lynch — a woman whose kindness, energy and generosity touched countless lives. Louise was a tireless supporter of Sixmilebridge GAA and, for forty years, the heart of St. Caimin’s Community School in Shannon. To reflect on her remarkable contribution and the legacy she leaves behind, Alan Morrissey was joined by Syl O’Connor, Chairperson of Sixmilebridge GAA, and Maria Sheehan, Principal of St. Caimin’s Community School.

A major new housing initiative for Lisdoonvarna could shape the future of the town. Clare County Council has unveiled plans for 12 serviced sites under the Croí Cónaithe Ready to Build scheme — aimed at first-time buyers, families, and older residents who want to build and live in the community. To talk us through the Croí Cónaithe pilot schemes in both Lisdoonvarna and Feakle, and what it means on the ground, Alan Morrissey was joined by Adrian Headd, Clare County Council Senior Engineer Housing Delivery, Infrastructure Provision and Land Activation Directorate and Joe Garrihy, Lisdoonvarna Fine Gael Councillor. Photo (c) Clare County Council

Clare County Council will assist elected representatives in submitting an objection to An Coimisúin Pleanála over Uisce Éireann’s plans to build a 170km pipeline from the Parteen Basin to Dublin City. The project which will cost at least €4.5bn euro has sparked concerns for tourism in East Clare given the potential impact it would have on water tourism at Lough Derg. Uisce Éireann claims the project will take just 2% of the flow from the Parteen Basin, but councillors have vociferously called for this plan to be scrapped, with some stating the biggest problem in Dublin is leakage. Cllrs Tony O’Brien and Cathaoirleach of the Killaloe MD Pat Burke spoke to Clare FM’s Daragh Dolan. Image (c) Uisce Eireann

The Government is facing pressure to produce a progress report for the Shannon Rail Link. Despite being included as an end of the decade objective in the All-Island Strategic Rail Review, no funding has been allocated by the Department of Transport for it this year. The proposed infrastructure would see Shannon Airport connected to the railway network at either Sixmilebridge or Cratloe. Shannon Banks Sinn Féin Councillor James Ryan says real commitment is needed.

Clare LGFA Manager Graham Shine After Down Loss by Clare FM

The 10th of February marks safer internet day. Safer Internet Day 2026 will explore ways to empower children and young people with the critical thinking and digital literacy skills they need to evaluate content, recognise bias, protect their privacy, and make responsible decisions, and be Safe, Smart and in Control. The theme for this year’s event is: “AI Aware: Safe, Smart, and in Control.” To discuss the importance of safer internet day, on Tuesday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey spoke with the CEO of the Irish Internet Hotline, Mick Moran. Photo (c) Safer Internet Day 2026

The latest talk hosted by the Old Kilfarboy Society takes place this evening,Tuesday, 10th of February. The event will be held at the community centre in Miltown Malbay and is titled Memories and Memorabilia: Telling GAA Stories Through Objects. The guest speaker is Siobhán Doyle, author of History of the GAA in 100 Objects. To find out more., Siobhán joined Alan Morrissey in studio on Tuesday’s Morning Focus.