Clare Fm - Podcasts

A free arts event celebrating culture is returning to Shannon this bank holiday weekend. Clare Mela 2025 will take place in Shannon Town Park on Monday, the 2nd of June, from 12-5:30pm. The award-winning event will include spectacular performances, aerial acts, street theatre, live music, and lots more. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Creative director of Fidget Feet, Chantal McCormick and Chairperson of Shannon Tidy Towns, Derek Clune. Photo(C): Clare FM

Tomorrow (Saturday, May 31st) is World No Tobacco Day. Clare County Council is reinforcing its commitment to protecting children's health by expanding the ‘Not Around Us’ campaign across all council-owned playgrounds. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Healthy Clare Co-ordinator, Clare County Council, Samantha McCarthy and Rory Hickey from Éire Óg Inis GAA club. Need Support to Quit Smoking? Visit HSE Quit Services HSE QUIT Mid West is your free, local QUIT service. From setting a QUIT date until you are 12 months smoke free QUIT Mid West offers in-person, telephone / telehealth support and free NRT if you sign up to the programme. Everyone who uses the QUIT service is given a stop smoking advisor to guide them on their QUIT journey. QUIT Mid West can be contacted on 065 6865841 / Email quit.midwest@hse.ie Photo(C): Clare FM

The funeral takes place this weekend of 20-year-old Éanna Rouine, who passed away on Tuesday. The Ennistymon GAA clubman was a talented athlete who played for Clare and University of Limerick teams as well as his local club. He was also an accomplished musician and beach lifeguard. Books of condolence have opened at the West Clare Municipal District Office on the Ennis Road in Ennistymon and Áras Contae an Chláir on New Road in Ennis and members of the public have been invited to sign it. Éanna will be laid to rest on Sunday following funeral mass in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Lahinch. He is survived by his parents John and Caitríona, brothers Eoin and Dara and sister Bríd-Áine. To remember Éanna, Alan Morrissey was joined by Chair of Ennistymon GAA Club, Shane Talty and Des Forde, Lahinch Parish Priest Rev.

Over 2,500 patients presented at University Hospital Limerick's Emergency Department with mental health concerns last year. On average 211 people attended the ED with a mental health crisis every single month last year, with the greatest number of patients seen in May with 261 and the fewest in September with 174. HSE MidWest says it provides a 24-hour crisis liason service at UHL, which involves a specialist team of nurses, doctors and psychiatrists. Shannon Banks Sinn Féin Councillor and HSE Regional Health Forum West Member James Ryan says many patients have to turn to the private sector due to lengthy waiting lists.

The Minister for Agriculture insists payments will be made to Clare farmers for non-productive investments under the ACRES scheme no later than September. A non-productive investment, or NPI, is a small-scale environmental action like the creation of field margins, wild bird cover or the planting of trees. Speaking in the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food, Bodyke Fine Gael TD Joe Cooney says some farmers in the likes of the Burren and the Slieve Aughty Mountains are waiting two-and-a-half years for payments. Fine Gael's Martin Heydon says progress is being made.

It's claimed Clare children with disabilities are being forced to travel well beyond the county bounds for basic care. It follows revelations that two funded dietitian posts for the West Clare Children's Disability Network Team have remained unfilled for the past 18 months, The roles concerned involve Senior Dietitian post and one Staff Grade Dietitian post that would normally assist children aged 0-18 years. Clare Fine Gael TD Joe Cooney has been telling Clare FM's Daragh Dolan the HSE needs to prioritise recruitment of these roles with urgency.

A Clare TD has corrected the Dáil record following what he's admitted was a "woeful" factual inaccuracy in a contribution made yesterday. Speaking during a debate on measures the Government can take in light of the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza, Meelick Fianna Fáil Deputy Cathal Crowe said the British army has never retaliated to the actions of Irish republican paramilitary groups by "bombing or shooting the civilian population of Ireland". Addressing the Dáil this morning, Deputy Crowe apologised to "the victims of British state terror and atrocities". He's been telling Clare FM's Seán Lyons he didn't realise what he said yesterday until he was presented with a transcript late last night.

Clare Women In Business - Breige Grogan - Episode 6 by Clare FM

The Best of Clare Awards 2025 in association with Ei Electronics will take place on Friday, the 30th of May at the Old Ground Hotel. The winner of this year's Local Hero Award is Maureen O’Neill Regan, the President of the County Clare Association of New York. Maureen, a proud native New Yorker with deep roots in Labasheeda through her late father, has long been a passionate ambassador for County Clare in the United States. As President of the New York Clare Association, Maureen has dedicated decades to preserving and promoting Clare’s rich heritage, culture, and tourism. Through her tireless efforts, the saffron and blue of Clare have flown high at St. Patrick’s Day parades, Irish festivals, and cultural events across New York. Her unwavering commitment ensures that Clare’s spirit continues to thrive across the U.S. On Thursday’s Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey spoke with Maureen O’Neill Regan to ask her what it felt like to win the Local Hero award. Photo(C): Clare FM

Sean Collins is a singer/songwriter from Dublin with familial connections to Clare. Sean released his debut single ‘A Step Into The Dark’ earlier this month. He will play his first headline show in Clare on Saturday, the 31st of May at the Cultúrlann Sweeney in Kilkee. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Dublin singer-songwriter, Seán Collins. Photo(C): Clare FM

On Thursday’s Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Danny Lynch, chef at Le Chéile, Barefield. This week, Danny shared a delicious recipe for a House Beef Burger & Lemon Cheesecake. Photo(C): Clare FM

Socks in the Frying Pan are back! The traditional trio from Ennis are coming off the back of another sold out tour of the US and the success of their latest, fifth studio album, Waiting for Inspiration. The lads are preparing to play a special show at Glór this Saturday, the 31st of May at 8pm as part of Fleadh Nua in the County Town. Aodán Coyne, Shane Hayes and Fiachra Hayes joined Alan Morrissey live in-studio on Thursday's Morning Focus. Photo(C): Clare FM

Bunratty will be the canine capital of Clare on Sunday week! Bunratty Castle and Folk Park will be hosting its first-ever Bark in the Park event Ireland’s newest dog show is set to offer a packed programme of light-hearted competition as canines of all shapes, sizes, and temperaments take centre stage at the County Clare visitor attraction. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Events Manager at Bunratty Castle & Folk Park, Marie Brennan and Tom Mernagh, Guide Dogs for the Blind. Photo(C): Marie Brennan

Over 13 thousand people sought help for problem drug use last year. New figures from the Health Research Board show it's the highest annual number recorded to date, and an increase of 191 cases compared to 2023. Cocaine is the most common drug, accounting for 40 percent of all drug treatment cases - this is a 7 per cent increase on the figure for 2023. Sara Cassidy, Head of Clinical Services at Aiseirí says there's an increasing trend of cocaine use amongst people in rural areas... To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Polydrug/Cocaine Initiative Co-Ordinator at Bushypark Addiction Treatment Centre, Maurice Crowe. Photo(C): pixelshot via canva

The Clare Federation of the Irish Countrywomen’s Association (ICA) is marking its 80 years as a Federation soon. They will be holding a Gala Dinner in the Woodstock Hotel, Ennis on the 6th of June. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Clare Federation President, Mary O'Halloran. Photo(C): https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=506340954858567&set=a.449677633858233

Two years ago, we were joined by the woman behind a new volleyball club in Ennis. Anastasia Goriva, a Ukrainian refugee, founded social volleyball club Sunflowers VC, the group which practiced weekly at Coláiste Muire. Sunflowers VC grew its membership and even gained official recognition from Volleyball Ireland. The good news is Sunflowers VC is back! To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Ukrainian refugee in Ireland, Founder of the volleyball club called ‘Sunflowers VC’ in Ennis, Anastasia Goriva. Photo(C): Anastasia Goriva

There’s big news for the social scene in Shannon, with the imminent reopening of one of Clare’s iconic venues. The bar, formerly known as O’Regan’s and Shannon Knights is set to open its doors once again. The venue closed last November but is expected to reopen under new management in the coming weeks. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Steve Guiney.

Questions are being raised over the reported recommendation against building a new Model 3 hospital in the Mid-West region. HSE Mid-West has reportedly recommended not constructing such a hospital. That’s despite numerous calls for a Model 3 hospital in the region. The reported recommendation has been described as “very difficult to reconcile with the persistent crisis in unscheduled emergency care at University Hospital Limerick (UHL)”. That comment came from the Independent MEP for Ireland South, Michael McNamara, who joined Alan Morrissey this morning... Photo(C): Tharakorn arunothai via canva

HIQA is once again being urged to recommend another Emergency Department for the MidWest, when it publishes its landmark report, which is due in the coming days. The health watchdog has spent the last eight months reviewing emergency and urgent care capacity across Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary, and is expected to present its findings to the Health Minister this week. However HIQA has been unable to confirm if it will meet its target of publishing the report this month. Shannon Sinn Féin TD Donna McGettigan says the need for an ED in Clare is beyond clear.

Sinn Féin's calling on a Clare TD to clarify claims in the Dáil that the British army never shot at or bombed Irish civilians "even in the worst of days". Meelick Fianna Fáil Deputy Cathal Crowe was speaking during a debate triggered by a motion brought forward by Labour on actions the Government can take in response to Israel's ongoing war on Gaza. According to London-based NGO Action on Armed Violence, at least 188 civilians were killed by the British military in Ireland during the Troubles alone, 86 of which had no obvious motive or pattern of killings. Sinn Féin TD spokesperson for Gaeilge, Gaeltacht, Arts and Culture, Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD, has called on Deputy Crowe to apologise and correct the record. Speaking in the Dáil Deputy Crowe said the level of violence against civilians in Gaza is unprecedented.