Clare Fm - Podcasts

Fr Brendan Quinlivan presents our Sunday Prayer for Sunday 11th January 2026 the Baptism of the Lord.

Fr Brendan Quinlivan presents our Sunday Prayer for Sunday 11th January 2026. the Baptism of the Lord.

It's feared the development of a new hospital in Ennis could be hamstrung by objections, unless a proposed reform of the planning system comes to pass. Ennis Municipal District has confirmed it's working with Clare County Council to identity sites suited to accommodate a new hospital in the county town. There was much excitement when the Health Minister committed to progressing all three recommendations of HIQA's review of emergency care capacity in the Midwest in the tail end of last year. Since then, the question of where the region's new model 3 hospital with an emergency department will be located has been to the forefront of the minds of local representatives in Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary. At this week's meeting of Ennis's local elected representatives, Fianna Fáil Councillor Pat Daly has urged Ennis Municipal District to "take the lead" in finding a serviced site in the vicinity of the county town that can accommodate a new hospital. In response, Ennis MD says it's working with the Clare C

Clare County Council is being urged to submit "ambitious plans" to ensure communities along the Shannon Estuary see the benefit of a major infrastructural project. Gas Networks Ireland confirmed in November that Cahiracon in Kildysart will be the location of Ireland’s first strategic gas emergency reserve which will act as a backup to the country’s gas supply. It’s expected the development will create 300 to 400 jobs during construction as well as 40 to 50 each year when operational. Quilty Fianna Fáil Councillor Michael Shannon believes the county must seize the opportunity to significantly improve surrounding infrastructure.

While the mock exams are for practice, many students find them at least as stressful as the actual state exams. This can be due to the fact they usually take place in January or February, a time of the school year when students tend to feel ill-prepared. Another cause of stress is that the students receive the results of their mocks in front of their friends, as opposed to in the summer and online for the state exams. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Principal of thetuitioncentre.ie, Dan Sheedy.

The European Union Copernicus Climate Change Service has confirmed that 2025 was the third warmest year on record and that global temperatures from the past three years have averaged more than 1.5C above the pre-industrial levels. It also confirmed that the past 11 years have been the 11 warmest years on record. This is the first time the level of global warming, over a three-year period, has exceeded 1.5C. For more on this, Alan Morrissey was joined by Leading Climate Expert of NUI Maynooth, Professor John Sweeney. Image (c) Valentin Petrescu's Images via Canva

Health Care Assistants may go on strike next month unless the HSE comes to the table for talks on working conditions. 95% of SIPTU staff in the Home Support Service have voted for industrial action, up to an including strikes. They say it's due to the employer's failure to honour improvements in terms and conditions which were agreed 8 years ago. Services in Clare, Limerick, Cork, Kerry and Donegal could all be affected if a strike goes ahead. To find out more, Alan Morrissey was joined by SIPTU Organiser, Graham Macken. Image (c) Kzenon via Canva

On Wednesday's Morning Focus with Alan Morrissey was joined by the marine biologist, local guide, and narrator of the stunning new TG4 series Aillte / Cliffs, Cormac Mac Fhionnlaoich. Raised on the towering edge of Sliabh Liag and now guiding along the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren, Cormac brings a rare insider’s perspective to Ireland’s wild Atlantic cliffs. In this powerful two-part documentary, he weaves science, folklore, wildlife and lived experience into a love letter to these ancient giants and the communities and creatures shaped by them. Photo (c) Pat Flynn

On Wednesday's Morning Focus with Alan Morrissey, we brought you an update from a Clare based charity who are currently in Kenya working on a building project in a primary school Colum McGrath is in Mombasa with the Ray of Sunshine Foundation, following the completion of the project he witnessed the start of, in September. He caught up with some of the volunteers. Photo (c) Ray of Sunshine

The Labour Court has now heard the case and adjourned to consider its ruling, following the breakdown of talks at the WRC and last year’s strike action that affected thousands of schools nationwide. To discuss the latest developments in the long-running school secretary pensions dispute, Alan Morrissey was joined by Rena McGrath, Vice-Chairperson and Treasurer of the Fórsa School Secretaries Branch on the Clare/Galway border, and Bernie Dillon, Secretary at St Senan’s Primary School in Kilrush. On Wednesday's Morning Focus they discussed what this latest step means for school secretaries and caretakers, and what happens next. Photo (c) Clare FM

It's feared the centralisation of GP services in Clare could become the norm unless meaningful steps are taken. Over 900 medical card holders in Newmarket-on-Fergus were forced to switch to the Saffron and Blue Medical Clinic in Clarecastle on January 1st after the HSE failed to find a new premises in Newmarket. A Department of Health report published last July shows this county will need 41 new GPs by 2030. Newmarket-on-Fergus Fianna Fáil Councillor David Griffin insists no one should have to travel to an urban centre to access GP care.

The Dáil has heard that vapes are contributing heavily to littering and pollution in Clare. TDs have debated a bill which is seeking to ban single-use vapes and only allow vendors to sell devices intended to be re-used. The legislation has been challenged by Sinn Féin, with Shannon Deputy Donna McGettigan describing it as a "piecemeal approach" and claiming it only targets products already being phased out. She says many in this county are complaining about the incorrect way in which single-use vapes are being disposed of.

A Kilrush-headquartered conservation group has expressed cautious optimism that the government will abide by an EU directive to provide a greater amount of protected marine habitats. It comes as Fair Seas, of which the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group is a member, has appeared before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs to discuss delayed maritime protection laws. The Irish Government has committed to protecting 30% of its seas by 2030 but at present, less than 10% are currently designated as protected. Marine Policy and Advocacy Officer with the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, Eva Lambert, says progression is urgently needed to prevent further sharp declines in marine life populations.

On Tuesday’s Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Fergal O’Keeffe, Ennis Native and creator of Travel Tales with Fergal podcast. On this week’s Travel Tales, Fergal shared his ski experiences in Austria and Switzerland.

It is almost time for what will be four nights of great entertainment in East Clare. The Tulla Drama Group will be putting on two One-Act plays ‘I Do’ written by Siobhan Donnellan and ‘A Dog’s Life’ by Pam Valentine in Tulla courthouse from Wednesday, 21st - Saturday, January 24th. Daragh Leamy from the Morning Focus team sat down with two of the members from the drama group to find out more about their productions. Photo (c) Tulla Drama Group Facebook

University Hospital Limerick's Emergency Department is expected to remain under intense pressure into next week amid a spike in presentations. HSE Mid West is once again urging the public to consider all options before attending the facility, following a 27% year-on-year increase in presentations between January 2nd and 11th. A total of 127 patients were waiting for a bed at the hospital this morning, which was up from 125 yesterday. Consultant in Emergency Medicine and Clinical Director in Urgent and Emergency Care at HSE Mid West, Dr Damien Ryan, has been telling Clare FM's Seán Lyons continued high numbers are expected to come through the doors in the coming days.

If January can feel like a long, quiet month, one Clare village is about to fill with words, stories and conversation once again. After a few years’ hiatus, Doolin Writers’ Weekend is back, promising a mix of workshops, readings, music, open mics and late-night conversations in a place where storytelling has always felt at home. The festival will run from the 16th to the 18th of January, with a stellar line-up including Roddy Doyle, Elaine Feeney and many more. To tell us more, Alan Morrissey was joined by the General Manager of Hotel Doolin, Donal Minihane. Photo (c) Doolin Arts

Alan Morrissey was joined by James Lafferty, Irish Red Cross Clare Honorary Treasurer on Tuesday's Morning Focus. James shared details of their successful fundraisers in 2025 and looked ahead to 2026.

Groups representing those living with disabilities are calling for urgent Government action as the Dáil returns this week. The Clare Leader Forum is asking elected representatives to support an Emergency Winter Payment for disabled people, highlighting the extra and unavoidable costs faced during the winter months – from heating and electricity to transport and assistive supports. The proposal would apply universally, including to disabled people who are in work, and follows renewed calls for fairness and inclusion in how disability-related costs are recognised. Speaking with Alan Morrissey on Tuesday's Morning Focus was Michael Meere, Member of Clare Leader Forum.

The Government's new immigration bill is an 'absolute shambles' according to the Social Democrats. The measures going to Cabinet tomorrow include restrictions meaning those granted refugee status won't be allowed to bring immediate family members to Ireland for three years. The move is part of wider reform, which is being criticised by the Irish Refugee Council. For more on this, Alan Morrissey is joined by Simon Ó Treasaigh, Clare Immigrant Support Centre Manager. Image (c) Clare Immigrant Support Centre