Clare Fm - Podcasts

A campaign is underway in County Clare to encourage and support eligible homeowners to apply for fully funded upgrades under the Warmer Homes Scheme (WHS). Across Clare, around 3,000 homeowners are eligible for a fully funded energy upgrade through the SEAI’s Warmer Homes Scheme, but many people who qualify aren’t yet aware of it or haven’t applied. To share more, Bridget Ginnity, member of Ennis Sustainable Energy Community joined Alan Morrissey on Wednesday's Morning Focus.

53 lives were saved from drowning thanks to the swift and selfless actions of rescuers who have been recognised at Water Safety Ireland’s National Annual Awards. The ceremony, which took place on Tuesday, honoured 73 individuals, including a number from Clare, whose bravery prevented water tragedies across Ireland and abroad. On Wednesday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey chatted to Oisín McGrath; one of the deserving Clare recipients. Alan Morrissey was also joined live on the line by Keith McDonagh, Kilkee resident and paramedic and Caoimhe Moroney, 15-year-old from Kilfenora. Image (c) watersafety.ie

Minister James Brown, who has defined it as “unacceptable in a housing crisis”, has brought a memo to Government on Compulsory Purchase Orders at local Council level. Minister Brown’s declaration of war on dereliction follows a warning to Local Authorities from Junior Housing Minister John Cummins that “inconsistency” in tackling vacancy and dereliction is “undermining national efforts”, as he accused some councils of being “too slow to take decisive action”. To delve into this in more detail, Alan Morrissey was joined by John Crowe, Chairperson of Clare County Council's Social Development SPC and Carmel Greene, Senior Executive Officer of Land Activation, Derelict Sites and Property Management at Clare County Council.

The Cathaoirleach of the West Clare Municipal District believes an outer relief road will be needed in Ennistymon within the next decade. It comes as the High Court has dismissed an application for leave to bring a judicial review challenge against the Compulsory Purchase Order for an inner relief road in the North Clare town. The project has been in the works since 2010 and is intended to alleviate long-standing traffic congestion at Blake's Corner. Fine Gael Councillor Bill Slattery previously lobbied for an outer relief road to be constructed and he believes it could still be required.

Clare's senator is calling for a "stress test" of State sports funding structures to ensure people with disabilities aren't being excluded. Senator Martin Conway has once again requested a debate in Seanad Éireann on the steps being taken to include all willing participants in sport. The primary means of providing Government funding to sport and community organisations is the Community Sports Facilities Fund - the aim of which is "to foster an integrated and planned approach to the development of sports and physical recreation facilities" according to the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport. Speaking in the Seanad, Senator Conway says everyone deserve to be as active as they physically can.

Last week on Morning Focus, the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group spoke about them being chosen as National Finalists in this year’s National Lottery Good Causes Awards. The Kilrush based group, Ireland’s leading cetacean conservation charity dedicated to the protection, research, and welfare of whales, dolphins, and porpoises, were shortlisted in the Heritage category. The great news for the Group is that they ended up winning their category! Alan Morrissey was joined by Gemma O'Connor, coordinator of the IWDG Live Stranding Network on Tuesday's Morning Focus. Photo (c) Julia Iredale

We’re continuing our brand-new feature on Morning Focus, which will also broadcast each evening on The West Wind. In this episode of “Traditional Greats”, Therese pays tribute to Gussie Russell of the Russell Brothers, which features Charles Monod.

The ancient farming tradition of Winterage will be celebrated in the Burren this October Bank Holiday weekend, 24th to 26th October 2025. The weekend will include a packed programme of guided walks, workshops, storytelling, music, the Burren Food Fayre and the iconic Burren Winterage Cattle Drive. To find out more, Alan Morrissey was joined in-studio by the Head of Burren IFA, Michael Davoren and the host of this year's Winterage Cattle Drive, Frank McCormack. Alan was also joined on the line by Robbie McCauley of Homestead Cottage in Doolin and Siobhán Ní Ghairbhith of St Tola Goats cheese. Image (c) Burren Winterage

Ferns Wellness, a Family run Health Food Store in Ennis is set to close by the end of October. For more on this, Alan Morrissey was joined in studio by James Ferns of Ferns Wellness. Picture (c) Ferns Wellness via Facebook

On Tuesday’s Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Sharon Cahir and Joanne Mitchell of Cahir & Co. Solicitors to discuss family disputes and wills.

Calls are being renewed for seasonal clock changes to be scrapped. The clocks will go back by an hour on Sunday the 26th of October, marking the end of daylight saving. It has kickstarted the debate at the European Parliament on abolishing the practice of moving clocks back and forth every summer and winter. MEPs will question senior EU officials on the issue in Strasbourg this week. On Tuesday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Ireland South Fianna Fáil MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú and Ireland South Fine Gael MEP Seán Kelly to discuss this further. Image (c) Alexas Fotos from Pexels via Canva

A new three-year €1.5 million fund that will directly impact communities in County Clare has been launched. The Clare Communities Fund is a collaboration between Rethink Ireland, the Michael Guinee Charitable Foundation and the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (DRCDG) via the Dormant Accounts Fund. On Tuesday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey discussed this news with Tanja Buwalda, Business Development Director at Rethink Ireland. Photo (c) ReThink Ireland

This week is National Brain Tumour Awareness Week, October 20th-26th 2025. To mark the week, Brain Tumour Ireland has developed a guide for members of the public on identifying brain tumour symptoms in children and teenagers. For more on this, Alan Morrissey was joined by Paediatric Oncologist at CHI Crumlin, Dr Noelle Cullinan. Image (c) braintumourireland.com

Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan will bring draft legislation to cabinet, which will see those convicted of the crime publicly named. Jennie's Law is named in honour of Jennifer Poole, who was murdered by her ex-partner Gavin Murphy in 2021. Jennifer's brother, Jason, has been campaigning for the legislation for years. To discuss this further, Siobhán O’Connor, Manager of Services at Clare Haven and Siobhán O’Leary, Executive Director of Rape Crisis Midwest spoke with Alan Morrissey on Tuesday's Morning Focus. Photo (c) Counter Currents

Clare's opposition TD claims she's angered by the government's lack of action on the defective concrete block crisis. It follows a motion put forward in the Dáil by Donegal TD Charles Ward last week calling for the crisis to be declared a national emergency. Over 1,000 properties in the county are believed to be impacted by the defective mineral pyrite, with the maximum payout under the grant currently capped at €462,000. Shannon Sinn Fein Deputy, Donna McGettigan, says it's 'shameful' to see the government overlook the lived experiences of those living in Pyrite affected homes.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland is being urged to conduct a safety assessment of the M18 in Clare amid a "concerning" spike in the number of crashes taking place on the road. Several road traffic collisions have occurred on the motorway in recent weeks, resulting in injuries varying in severity as well as traffic congestion and detours. Among these was a multiple-car collision between Junction 10 Newmarket-on-Fergus and Junction 11 Dromoland last week, while emergency services dealt with two incidents on the route on the same day in late September. Newmarket-on-Fergus Fianna Fáil Councillor David Griffin says the cause of the incidents has to be determined.

On Monday's Morning Focus with Alan Morrissey, Clare FM's Derrick Lynch and Tommy Guilfoyle discussed a busy weekend of sporting fixtures. Games Reviewed: TUS Clare PIHC Final: O'Callaghan's Mills 2-19 Clarecastle 1-16 (Sunday, Zimmer Biomet Pairc Chiosóg) TUS IHC Final: Inagh-Kilnamona 1-20 Smith O’Brien’s 2-18 (Sunday, Sixmilebridge) Clare Credit Unions Senior Camogie Final: Truagh-Clonlara 1-14 Inagh-Kilnamona 2-14 (Saturday, Zimmer Biomet Pairc Chiosóg) Soccer: Bridge United V Avenue United 1-0 Newmarket Celtic V Tulla United 3-1 Fairgreen Celtic V Moher Celtic 6-4 Ennis Dons V Bunratty Cratloe 2-0

There's a call for the Government to allocate Clare County Council additional funding to ensure road markings meet safety standards. Ennis Fianna Fáil Councillor Antoinette Baker-Bashua claims many markings in the county town are "faded, worn or barely visible" which she fears "compromises road safety" for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. Ennis Municipal District says it conducts a quarterly review of all road markings in the region but admits "it can be difficult" to prioritise them because they are "expensive in terms of cost and labour". Councillor Antoinette Baker-Bashua has been telling Clare FM's Seán Lyons the dangers are especially prominent at nighttime.

Judy Beck from Clonroad Garden Centre, Ennis was back on Monday's Morning Focus to answer all your gardening queries. This week, Judy spoke about feeding the songbirds in your garden. If you have any questions for Judy, contact the show on 0818 400 964 or send a text or WhatsApp to 086 1800 964.

Siobhán Mulcahy, Clare County Arts Officer was back in studio on Monday's Morning Focus with Alan Morrissey to talk about some of the many events happening in Clare.