Clare Fm - Podcasts

New figures show a sharp rise in the number of US citizens seeking asylum in Ireland, with applications increasing more than fourfold in the past year. At the same time, immigration from the United States has nearly doubled, as growing numbers of Americans look to leave amid political tension and fears over personal safety at home. We’re going to explore what’s driving this trend, the difference between asylum and other migration routes, and what these figures tell us about life in the US right now. On Monday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey spoke with Simon Ó Treasaigh, Manager of the Clare Immigrant Support Centre.

Road safety remains a major concern here in Clare, particularly after a sharp rise in crashes on the M18 and N18 late last year. With public anxiety growing and emergency services pointing to dangerous driving as a key factor, the Government says new legislation could help turn the tide. Joining Alan Morrissey on Monday's Morning Focus was Seán Canney TD, Minister of State with responsibility for Road Safety, to discuss whether these new laws will make a real difference on Clare roads. Photo (c) Pat Flynn

The Transport Minister has poured cold water on the prospect of a rail link to Shannon Airport being progressed in the lifetime of this government. Responding to a parliamentary question on its exclusion from the Rail Project Prioritisation Strategy published in December last year, Darragh O'Brien says the project is "intended to be progressed in the longer term". This is despite the rail link being included in the All-Island Strategic Rail Review which was produced in July 2024. Shannon Sinn Féin TD Donna McGettigan says people are growing impatient.

It's been claimed Ennis's local elected representatives are only being told "dribs and drabs" regarding money being spent on the town's future. Clarecastle Fianna Fáil Councillor Tom O'Callaghan has requested a copy of a report on submissions gathered at three public consultation events on Ennis 2040 plans held in January 2024. In response, Ennis 2040 says a summary of the feedback was presented to councillors in May 2024. Councillor O'Callaghan says he wants more transparency.

On this week’s Atlantic Tales, Pat Flynn chats with magician, entertainer and author Anthony Galvin-Healy. From Ennis, Anthony’s book on the Limerick drug war was Ireland’s top selling non-fiction book of 2004 and also the most shoplifted book in the country. He once applied for astronaut training with NASA and to work as a postman on Antarctica. He also appeared on Britain's Got Talent in 2016.

There are calls to review the leave disparity between pregnant SNAs and teachers in Clare. As it stands, pregnant school employees may be placed on Health and Safety Leave where a risk has been identified which is not possible to remove from the work environment. SNAs are only entitled to 19 days of paid absence unlike their teacher colleagues who have unlimited paid leave. Ennis Fianna Fáil Councillor Antoinette Baker-Bashua, who raised a motion on the issue at the latest meeting of Clare County Council, claims it's simply "not fair".

Clare is expected to see a 6% rise in job openings during 2026. The 2025 Review & 2026 Trends Forecast report produced by FRS Recruitment reveals recruiters are forecasting a rebound in the national jobs market this year. This comes after a challenging 2025 which saw a 17% decline nationwide in advertised job vacancies. General Manager of FRS Recruitment Lynne McCormack says it's a positive change.

It's been suggested that a village in Clare is being referred to by the wrong name. At this month's meeting of Ennis Municipal District, Mayor of Clare Fine Gael Councillor Paul Murphy has claimed he has reason to believe his native village's name was never formally changed to Clarecastle. The settlement was initially referred to as 'Clare' and first appeared on a map as 'Clarecastle' in 1900, with this name coming from the structure known as 'Clare Castle' which stands on an island of the River Fergus. Councillor Murphy says if it's found that the original name is correct, this name should be used.

Fr Brendan Quinlivan leads our Sunday Prayer at the begining of Catholic Schools week.

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.