Clare Fm - Podcasts

Clare's Aontú rep claims new e-scooter regulations will be pointless without an adequate Garda presence to ensure their enforcement. It comes as the Government is considering tougher e-scooter safety rules following a rise in serious injuries, including among children. Plans under review include compulsory helmets and high-visibility jackets, along with stronger enforcement of speed limits and the existing ban on under-16s. Chair of the Safer Clare Campaign, June Dillon, says while the legislation looks good in principle, it will prove to be futile without an increase in Garda numbers to impose the laws.

Clarity Sought On Efforts To Bring Large Employer To Clare by Clare FM

Fr Gerry Kenny presents this Sunday's Beyond Belief for 18th January 2026. Fr Gerry talks with Carmel Honan, director of the forthcoming Ennis Choral Festival taking place at the end of January in the County Town. Also Fr Cesare Sposetti SJ chats with Pat Coyle about the link between faith and justice issues.

Coming up on the show We will look ahead to a brilliant occasion for Clare hurling as St Flannan's and St Joseph's Tulla go head to head in Pairc Chiosiog in the TUS Dr Harty Cup semi final We look forward to this weekends All Ireland club hurling final through the eyes of a parent, we hear from St Joseph's Spanish Point after their brilliant win in the Munster Ladies Football Senior A semi final, how you can support the Clare senior footballers on the countdown to the National League, local soccer and greyhound focus all to squeeze in too.

Joshua Burnside is an experimental folk songwriter, singer and producer. He takes influence from alternative electronica trad, and Irish folk, chopping and blending them with a mixture of found sounds, world music and unorthodox production methods. Joshua shares new single ‘Something Else’. It is now the third single to be released from Burnside’s upcoming album, It’s Not Going to be Okay, due for release on Nettwerk on 20 March 2026. It’s Not Going to be OK is a record born out of loss and the fragile act of continuing. Written and recorded in the wake of the death of Joshua’s closest friend, the album is his most stripped-back and unguarded work to date. “I wrote and recorded this album after the death of my best friend Dean Jendoubi. He was an incredible person, and I miss him every day. “Grief has always been a big part of my music; it’s the reason I started writing songs when I was 13. And so, as I did all those years ago, I reach for the guitar, try a few chords and sing a few words and for a brief

Shovels could be in the ground for Ennis's largest ever housing development as early as next week. Four years on from having its original plans turned down by Clare County Council, Glenveagh Homes Limited has secured planning permission for almost 300 homes in the county town. An Bórd Pleanála gave the green light in for a 289-unit Strategic Housing Development on lands at Ballymacaula, Drumbiggle, Keelty and Circular Road in Ennis in April of 2023. In June of last year however, the Kildare-based developer submitted a new application - this time for 300 dwellings - to replace the original plans. Granting permission this week, Clare County Council has told the applicant to omit two units to create car parking space for users of a proposed childcare facility. At 298 homes, it's set to be the largest private residential development ever built in Ennis and will be delivered on a phased basis. Local Fianna Fáil Councillor Clare Colleran-Molloy says some of the homes could be at turnkey stage within a year.

Clare County Council is calling on the Central Bank of Ireland to clarify if they're still playing a role in the sale of Israeli war bonds. In response to public and political pressure, the Central Bank confirmed last September that it would no longer be approving the prospectus for the sale of the bonds. While this responsibility has since moved to Luxembourg, Westbury Sinn Féin Councillor James Ryan has said at this week's meeting of the local authority that he has reason to believe that the Central Bank is still involved in facilitating the sales. He says people deserve to know the truth.

Three Clare schools are set to benefit from the allocation of new special education classrooms in time for the 2026/27 school year. It follows the announcement by Minister for Special Education, Michael Moynihan that 168 classes have been allocated to 159 schools nationwide.. Ennis National School, St.Flannan's College and Scariff Community College are the beneficiaries, with the classrooms consisting of one teacher and SNA catering for six students. Meelick Fianna Fáil Deputy, Cathal Crowe, is optimistic this allocation is the building block for further classes to be delivered this year.

Clare FM's Derrick Lynch sat down with Alan Morrissey live in-studio to discuss two major GAA fixtures. Games Discussed: Clare's defeat in the Munster Senior Hurling League against Cork Dr. Harty Semi-Final against St. Flannan's, Ennis and St. Joseph's, Tulla

We’re back in Kenya this morning with another update from the Ray of Sunshine Foundation building project in Likoni, just outside Mombasa. The piece begins with a song from one of the teenage girls living at Sunshine House, before Colum introduces us to the people helping to change lives there. Photo (c) Ray of Sunshine

It is time for another wonderful tale from the one and only Eddie Lenihan, which means it is time for Seanchaí Corner. Seanchaí Corner sees Eddie, the renowned author, storyteller, lecturer, and broadcaster regaling us with a memorable story from his extensive collection of old Irish tales and fables. This week, Eddie told us the strange tale of a meeting at Bun na hAbha.

On Friday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was delighted to be joined by today one of the great storytellers of Irish music, Mike Hanrahan. Alongside Eleanor Shanley, Mike will be bringing an intimate evening of songs and stories to Áras Chrónáin as part of the Clondalkin Tradfest on January 21st. Both artists have been at the heart of Irish music for over three decades, with Mike’s career spanning Stocktons Wing, acclaimed solo work, collaborations with legends like Ronnie Drew and Finbar Furey, and most recently co-presenting RTÉ’s Songs for Ireland. Mike and Eleanor have just released their first-ever duet, Craggy Hill, a beautiful new collaboration that’s already striking a chord. Photo (c) Mike Hanrahan and Eleanor Shanley

We’re shining a light on the incredible contribution older volunteers make right across County Clare. The Clare Older People’s Volunteer Recognition Awards are back for 2026, and this year they’re a little different, with a renewed focus on not just the volunteers themselves, but also the community groups they support. Applications open this Friday, and the awards will be celebrated in Glór on the 3rd of June. For more on this, Alan Morrissey spoke with Age Friendly Programme Manager, Shanelle Warin and Chair of the Clare Older People’s Volunteer Recognition Awards Sub-Committee, Mike Cusack.

Three emerging Clare businesses are set to put the county on the global stage this week at the Local Enterprise Showcase in the RDS. Moher Soap Company, Mama’s Boobie Box and Gealach Candles will be among more than 100 Irish craft and design companies meeting international buyers from across Europe, the US and beyond. The event, organised by the Local Enterprise Offices as part of Showcase 2026, could lead to major new orders and long-term partnerships. To find out more, Raquel Rudio of Moher Soap Company, Petrina O’Halloran of Mama’s Boobie Box, and Chloe Whelan of Gealach Candles joined Alan Morrissey on Friday's Morning Focus. Photo (c) Local Enterprise Office

32 People in Clare were before local courts on burglary charges in the first 9 Months of last year. That is according to data being highlighted by Ireland South MEP and former barrister Cynthia Ní Mhurchú. She’s been analysing new figures from the Irish Courts Service which show that a relatively small number of repeat offenders are responsible for a disproportionate number of burglaries across the country. The data highlights burglary hotspots, rising concerns for rural communities during the dark winter months, and raises questions around temporary prison release and community safety funding. Cynthia Ní Mhurchú has also been calling for stronger supports for local communities and better protection for older people living alone. She spoke with Alan Morrissey on Friday's Morning Focus. Photo (c) BrianAJackson from Getty Images via Canva.com

Clare's MEP is to play a key role in efforts to ban nudificiation apps at an EU level. Independent MEP Michael McNamara, has taken up the position of Lead Negotiator for the EU's AI Act Revision with the duties of overseeing the European Commission’s legislative package amending key elements of the EU Artificial Intelligence Act. Central to the amendment of the act is a proposal for the ban of nudification apps, with Grok's sexual image generation setting now blocked in Ireland. The Scariff native says one of the big challenges of his new role is the ill-preparedness of some EU states to implement new legislation around "high risk" systems set to come into effect in August.

There's a push for all parts of Clare to be eligible for affordable housing as the housing crisis is said to have reached "absolutely everywhere" in the county. Ennis and Shannon are currently the only two areas where applications can be made under the affordable purchase scheme. Clare County Council says the Department of Housing has indicated that local authorities will be required to assess housing need demand to inform the next housing delivery action plan and that the Council expects "the assessment and the plan will relate to the entire county". Chairperson of Clare County Council's Social Development Strategic Policy Committee, Sixmilebridge Councillor John Crowe, believes young families in particular are in need of assistance.

On Wednesday’s Morning Focus, you heard a conversation with Bobby McMahon, the Mountshannon native who currently lives in Japan. Bobby is the frontman for the Eirfoyl, a Japanese band, although they more closely resemble a miniature, musical version of the United Nations! Eirfoyl are releasing their debut album this Friday the 16th of January. Alan Morrissey, on Thursday's Morning Focus had a chat with Eirfoyl: Bobby McMahon, American guitarist Jim Lewis, drummer Edwin Huits from the Netherlands, and Japanese bassist Holy. Photo (c) eirfoyl.com

On Thursday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey spoke with Mel Mercier — Tony-nominated, multi-award-winning composer, sound designer and director of the Irish Gamelan Orchestra, MÓNCKK new music ensemble and PULSUS, Ireland’s first traditional percussion ensemble. His new album First Conviction, released tomorrow (Friday, 16th January), features his powerful soundtrack for the RTÉ podcast and TV documentary of the same name, performed by the RTÉ Concert Orchestra alongside an international line-up of outstanding musicians. Blending orchestral strings, African guitar, jazz piano, traditional flute, voice and electronics, the music reflects one of the most compelling documentary stories of modern Ireland. Photo (c) Design and creatives by Michael McKeon, Sean Malone, Scott Bryan, John Kilkenny and Darragh Treacy.

On Thursday's Morning Focus with Alan Morrissey, we spoke with Dawn Bennett, owner of Cocolemon in Kilrush, who recently shared the difficult news that the much-loved local business will be closing its doors next month (10th of February) after six years at the heart of the community. Cocolemon has been a place of friendship, fun and familiar faces for so many in Kilrush and beyond, and this morning Dawn spoke about the journey, the memories, and what this goodbye means for her, her team and the town. Photo (c) Cocolemon, Kilrush