Clare Fm - Podcasts

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

On this week's episode of Clare Women In Business, Pat Flynn chats with Laetitia Sorohan, a jewellery designer and founder of Naiiad Contemporary Designer Jewellery. Clare Women in Business is funded by Coimisiún na Meán with the television licence fee.

New data has revealed that more than one million visits are being made from Ireland every day to illegal streaming websites — highlighting just how widespread piracy and so-called ‘dodgy boxes’ have become. To unpack what’s driving this trend and what it means for consumers and businesses, Alan Morrissey had an interesting chat with Pat Clarke Browne, Technology Expert with Munster Business in Shannon on Thursday's Morning Focus. Photo (c) Zeshi89 from pixabay via Canva

Golf Ireland has unveiled a major boost for the women’s amateur game with the launch of a new national championship circuit for 2026 — and it’s a development that couldn’t come at a better time. Joining Alan Morrissey on Thursday's Morning Focus was Ennis native and Lahinch member Aideen Walsh, the 2025 Bridgestone Women’s Order of Merit winner, to get her reaction to the new North, South, East and West of Ireland Women’s Championships and what it means for the future of the game. Photo (c) Clare FM

A Government scheme providing hot meals to primary school children is being praised for tackling food poverty — but serious concerns are now being raised about how it’s being run. An Oireachtas committee has heard that the programme may not be sustainable, with principals warning of heavy administrative burdens, food quality issues and rising waste. Clare FM’s Sean Lyons has been speaking about this with Meelick Fianna Fáil TD Cathal Crowe, Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth. We also heard from Colm Davoren, Assistant Principal of CBS Primary School in Ennis and Gareth Heagney, Principal of Sixmilebridge National School who spoke with Alan Morrissey on Thursday's Morning Focus. Photo (c) rimmabondarenko via Canva

Concerns are growing over road safety along the stretch from Senan’s rugby pitch to the Camogie roundabout in Shannon, with residents warning that speeding, illegal parking and the lack of footpaths are putting pedestrians and cyclists at risk. The road serves multiple sports facilities and nearby housing estates, and locals say traffic volumes and dangerous behaviour have increased significantly in recent years. On Thursday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey spoke with Sinn Fein Shannon MD councillor, James Ryan, who has confirmed he’s raising the issue with the council following concerns highlighted by a local resident. Photo (c) Clare FM

A Clare forester has described the over €2 million issued to forest owners in Clare as "pitiful". The payment has been issued under the annual income tax free forestry premium payments related to 4,840 hecatares of land across the county. In total, €23.5m has been paid out by the Government to more than 6,500 forest owners across the country. Darragh-based forester and former Ennis councillor, Brian Meaney, says in comparison to those received by beef and dairy farmers, the grants are piecemeal.

New rules governing short-term lets are set to come into force ahead of the 2026 tourist season, with major implications for Airbnb hosts right across Clare. With Rent Pressure Zones now nationwide and new planning and registration requirements on the way, there’s growing uncertainty for people renting out short-term accommodation. Joining Alan Morrissey on Thursday's Morning Focus to discuss the impact of this was Lahinch Fine Gael councillor Bill Slattery, who’s raised the issue at Clare County Council, and North Clare Airbnb host Lorna Cahill. Photo (c) Guillermo Spelucin via Canva.

A long-running refuse problem in one of Ennis’s busiest public car parks has left a local business at breaking point. Laura Cahir of An Binsin Luachra Boutique says she’s been raising concerns with Clare County Council for over two years about persistent waste and poor standards at Moran’s Car Park, with no action taken. Alan Morrissey has been speaking with Laura on Wednesday's Morning Focus. During their chat she explains the situation and why she feels going public is the only option left open to her. Photo (c) Laura Cahir

Clare County Council has announced its intention to introduce permanent partial pedestrianisation on Ennis's main thoroughfare. The local authority is submitting a proposal under Section 38 of the Roads Act to keep O'Connell Street pedestrian-only from March 2nd with the exception of the period of 6am to 11am when vehicular access will be allowed to facilitate business deliveries and refuse collection. It follows a survey which ran from December 8th to January 4th, with almost 90% of respondents supporting some form of pedestrianisation and more than half advocating for full pedestrianisation. Ennis Municipal District Acting Senior Engineer Paddy Tiernan says it's the will of the people.

Spanish Point Mentor Eimear Considine On Munster LGFA PPS Senior A Semi Final

Fr Brendasn Quinlivan presents this Sunday's Beyond Belief which is a Heart to Heart with Fr. Liam McCarthy OFM from the friary in Ennis. He shares reflections on his life, vocation and ministry for over 70 years as a Franciscan as well as choosing some pieces of music special to him,