Clare Fm - Podcasts

Clare is set to benefit from a boost to its Garda numbers. It follows confirmation that six of the latest 154 Gardaí attested at Templemore will be based at Ennis Station. It comes just three weeks after a further 15 Gardaí were announced for the Shannon division. Clare Fianna Fáil TD Cathal Crowe is hopeful there's more to come.

Two tourists were injured in West Clare when set upon by a dog while out walking. It's understood the dog, which has since been removed from the property, escaped and chased after the pair. Clare's Dog Warden says although there were no bites suffered, the tourists sustained minor injuries during the altercation. Frankie Coote is reminding owners large breeds can still cause damage without biting the injured party.

It's claimed not enough is being done to harness the potential of one of the counties most historically significant tourist spots. Clare's Aontú rep, June Dillon, claims Craggaunowen Castle & Crannóg has the ability to contend with the Cliffs of Moher and Bunratty Castle as one of the county's main tourist attractions. Implementing a shuttle service to and from the site, along with installing cafe and playground facilities have been proposed as ways of increasing footfall to the amenity. The Kilmurry McMahon native, says Craggaunowen is hamstrung by its location without functional transport links.

Stephen Fletcher leads our Sunday Prayer for today, the 24th August 2025, the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time and the 10th Sunday after Trinity. The reader is Kathleen Fitzpatrick

Galway songwriter Jamie McIntyre has been riding the crest of a wave this past year with his 2024 summer single “Over Galway Town” becoming a viral smash hit amassing over 4 million streams on Spotify sitting amongst some of the world’s biggest artists in the viral charts. Last year, he was selected by Gavin James to join him as support in Paris on his European tour as part of Three’s City Stages initiative which also led to him working with Imelda May and performing at Electric Picnic, followed by performances with Liverpool songwriter Jamie Webster on his sold out shows at 3Olympia in Dublin and The Telegraph Building in Belfast. The success of “Over Galway Town” has seen his music reach to far flung places across the globe and shows no signs of slowing down. 2025 has continued that trajectory with McIntyre’s debut Irish tour selling out shows in Dublin, Limerick and his hometown of Galway. His recent EP, “Chapter 23”, continues to grow his following with songs like “West is Home” and “Grá” quickly becom

Leaving Cert students in Clare are pouring over their results this afternoon. Over 1,500 young people across the county have been receiving their final grades since 10am this morning. The anxious wait is over for Clare's 1,412 Leaving Cert and 103 Leaving Cert Applied students, who have been receiving their results online and in person at schools across the county today. This year's results are down due to grade deflation, with top grades down by around 2 per cent. It's the first stage of phasing out grade inflation, which was brought in during the pandemic. Close to 100 Ennis Community College/Gaelcholáiste an Chláir alumni gathered in person to see how they fared and these students have been telling Clare FM how they got on. It begins a busy week for the county's outgoing leaving cer students, with the first round of CAO offers issued on Wednesday, before the appeals window opens on Sunday, August 31st. Guidance Counsellor at St Joseph's Secondary School in Tulla, Donna Ní Ghallchobhair, is advising

The Government is being encouraged to act now to make Ireland a better place for the older population of the future. ALONE and Social Justice Ireland have come together calling for the cycle of waiting for a crisis to happen, to end. In their pre-budget submissions they want social care, health and housing needs met, and investment in policies to benefit all ages. For more on this, Alan Morrissey was joined by Eugene Philips, Active Retirement Ireland's first Digital Ambassador from Quin.

The Minister with Responsibility for the Coast Guard claims Shannon's aviation services are now safer, faster and more efficient than ever before, following the official launch of its new fleet. As part of Bristow Ireland's take over, two fixed wing Beechcraft B200 King Airs will be based at Shannon for the first time ever, while six new purpose built Leonardo AW189 helicopters have been allocated nationwide. There had been early transitional issues with the new provider, leading to complications with medical evacuation calls and shift rostering, while some concerns had been raised over the helicopter's head room and range. Clare FM's Daragh Dolan was in Shannon Airport yesterday for the official launch, he began by speaking to the Director of the Irish Coast Guard Mícheal O'Toole.

On Thursday’s Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Petrina O’Halloran for Parenthood in Focus. Petrina is the founder of Mama’s Boobie Box, mum blogger and writer for online magazine Boobingit.com. This week, Petrina spoke about the closure of Private Midwives Ltd.

This Sunday marks the 20th anniversary of the death of Ann Walsh. The West Clare woman was just 23 when she was strangled by her former boyfriend on the grounds of the local church on August 24th, 2005. Raymond Donovan confessed to her murder and was subsequently sentenced to life in prison. Donovan was eligible to apply for parole last April, having had his previous application refused in 2023. For more on this, Alan Morrissey was joined by Ann Walsh’s brother, Stephen Walsh.

In this episode, we focus on the HSE’s BowelScreen campaign, which now offers free bowel cancer screening to everyone aged 59 to 70. To explore the importance of early detection and share a personal perspective, Alan Morrissey was joined by Dr. Sarah Fitzgibbon, a Cork-based GP who has been living with stage four colorectal cancer since her diagnosis in 2014.

There’s Clare representation on the Irish team competing at the World Transplant Games. Marie O’Connor, a kidney transplant recipient from Lahinch, is part of Team Ireland at the event in Dresden, Germany. Marie had two kidney transplants in 1996 and 98, after an infection from a sore throat led to a virus attacking the lining of her kidney. To find out how she is getting on, Alan Morrissey was joined by Marie O'Connor, Lahinch.

Over 1,500 Clare students will receive the results of their state exams today. The portal to view both Leaving Cert and Leaving Cert Applied results opens at 10am this morning. 1,412 students sat the Leaving Cert this summer, while a further 103 undertook the LCA examination. This year marks the first of the State Examination Commission’s attempt to return grade levels to that of 2019, the last pre-pandemic Leaving Cert year. Alan Morrissey was speaking with Donna Ní Ghallchobhair, Guidance Counsellor from St Joseph's Secondary School in Tulla. To give advice for students going out tonight to celebrate receiving their Leaving Cert results, Alan morrissey was joined by Sergeant Dominic Regan, community policing sergeant for Ennis and Garda Eoin Cummins, operational garda in Ennis.

Nurses are warning of critical incidents at University Hospital Limerick this Winter if gross overcrowding continues. It's after 124 patients were recorded on trolleys at the MidWest region's main hospital yesterday. Of those, 52 were without a bed in the emergency department, which was greater than the total of all patients on trolleys at all wards at the next busiest facility; University Hospital Galway. INMO MidWest Assistant Director of Industrial Relations Mary Fogarty says the HSE needs to act urgently.

Thursday's Morning Focus broadcasted live from the Ennistymon Digital Hub in the heart of North Clare, as part of Clare FM’s Summer Tour. Eoin Troy, Senior Executive Officer and North Clare MD Coordinator spoke about the latest infrastructure developments and community plans across the district. Derrick Lynch was joined by Councillor Pat Hayes to discuss the future of the Western Rail Corridor, defending its importance as a key piece of transport infrastructure while highlighting Iarnród Éireann’s ambitions for rail expansion and innovation. Local artist and gallery owner, Sara Foust gave a colourful preview of her upcoming “Ask the Artist” event and shared stories from her life in the creative world. Rising music star Séamus Harty joined Derrick ahead of his final Irish tour stop at Pot Duggans, reflecting on his recent single The Butterfly House and his journey so far. PJ Carmody, Senior Executive Technician, West Clare Municipal District, Clare County Council and Dr. Eamon Doyle of the Burren and Clif

A Clare auctioneer has labelled the total number of house sales closed here in June as 'abysmal'. New figures from the Central Statistics Office show 44 tranactions were recorded in this county throughout the month. Of this, 12 were sold to first time buyers, representing 27% of the total, with 11 of these in Ennis and one recorded in the Shannon LEA. Managing Director of DNG O’Sullivan Hurley in Ennis, Douglas Hurley, has been telling Clare FM's Darragh O'Grady that Irish first time buyer's inability to get on the property market is a worrying trend.

There's further optimisim for the reopening of Crusheen's Rail Stop following recent comments from Iarnród Eireann. It comes as Irish Rail's Chairperson Steve Murphy has stated that the preservation of the Western Rail Corridor as a is an absolute priority following suggestions that some sections near Mayo and Sligo could be repurposed as a greenway. Clare County Council, meanwhile, is currently awaiting a decision on its funding application for enabling works to reopen the halt at Crusheen. Western Inter County Railway Committee Member and Maghera Fianna Fáil Councillor Pat Hayes says that will be make or break.

Boots will be on the ground in Lahinch in October to completely refurbish the town's playground which has fallen into disrepair. The West Clare Municipal District has confirmed it will be carrying out the works in addition to the installation of an outdoor gym at Fanore beach. Liscannor, Miltown and Ballyvaughan will also benefit from footpath upgrades this Autumn, with coastal protection works alos to be carried out at Spanish Point and Aughinish Island. West Clare MD Senior Executive Officer Eoin Troy says there's a productive few months ahead.

Lisdoonvarna Fáilte is appealing for assistance to help to save the 'jewel in the crown' of the Pavilion park. The only playground in the town is facing the threat of closing its gates due to urgent safety concerns, with a GoFundMe page set up raise the much needed funds. The amenity recently received a funding boost of €2,000 but requires a further €5,000 to carry out repairs to bring the park up to the required safety standard. Co-Manager of Lisdoonvarna Fáilte, Spella Zupanihle, says restoring the playground is one of the enterprise's top priorities.

On this week's episode of Clare Women In Business, Pat Flynn chats with Katie Naughton who runs not one, but two businesses. Clare Women in Business is funded by Coimisiún na Meán with the television licence fee.