Clare Fm - Podcasts

A Clare member of the HSE's Regional Health Forum believes the case for a maternity hospital in this county needs to be examined. New figures released by the Health Service Executive shows there were 3,892 births at Limerick's Maternity Hospital last year, which was by far the most on the Western Seaboard and 47% above Galway's total. Additionally, there were 674 Clinical Incidents reported at the MidWest's maternity hospital, with 23 of these categorised as major or extreme. Ennis Fianna Fáil Councillor Antoinette Baker Bashua believes there's an overcrowding issue.

On Wednesday’s Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Tommy Corbett from Carey Corbett Financial Solutions. This week, Tommy provided some advice and tips on why you should consider investing over leaving money on deposit. If you want to send in any questions for Tommy contact 0861800964 or email focus@clare.fm

Harvest - Music & Garden Festival is back at Ennis Showgrounds this Sunday, the 28th of September. The sister event to the Clare Garden Festival, it will be a celebration of gardening with the joy of music at the wind-down of the season. The festival will feature a stage full of music for all ages, workshops for children and adults and interactive stalls including crafts, food, garden and music related ones. To chat more on this, Alan Morrissey was joined on Wednesday's edition of Morning Focus by Paddy Mulcahy of Los Paddies Continental Clare, Lenka, along with Siobhan Gallagher of Colourful Creations Garden Centre and Carmen Cronin, festival manager and founder.

For the first time ever, a regular season NFL game is set to take place in Ireland. Ahead of their historic game against the Minnesota Vikings at Croke Park on September 28th, the Pittsburgh Steelers began their cross-country tour of Ireland. As part of the tour, former Steelers offensive tackle and two-time Super Bowl Champion Max Starks visited iconic locations across the country, including the Cliffs of Moher this afternoon. Alan Morrissey was joined by a very special guest on Wednesday's Morning Focus by Max Starks, former Steelers player and two-time Superbowl Champion. Photo (c) Former Pittsburgh Steelers player and two-time Super Bowl Champion Max Starks

The Spanish Point Energy Fair is taking place on Wednesday the 24th of September from 7:30-9pm at The Armada Hotel. To find out more Alan Morrissey was joined by Conor Tubridy of Spanish Point Community Group and Colm Garvey of Clare Community Energy Agency on Wednesday's Morning Focus.

Men in Ireland are dying too young of causes that are largely preventable. That is according to new findings from the Real Face of Men's Health report launched by Movember. Alan Morrissey was joined by Ennis GP Fergus Glynn on Wednesday's Morning Focus to discuss this further. Image (c) Movember logo via Facebook

A North Clare school is in a race against the clock to ensure its survival into the future. Clare's smallest primary school, Furglan National School, has just six days to boost its complement of pupils to 11 before the Department of Education closes its books for the 2025 to 2026 to school year. If the school, which currently has seven enrolled, fails to reach this number, it won't have a guarantee that it will remain open next year. Clare FM's Seán Lyons has been to Furglan to speak to its principal Patricia Vaughan.

The Ennis 2040 DAC says it will be aiming to maximise the value of a newly acquired site in the town. The Designated Activity Company has purchased the 1.7 hectare site of the former Ennis Boys National School on the Kilrush Road for just over €3m. The lands are currently zoned for large mixed-use development including commercial, residential, and retail with car parking. Ennis 2040 Interim Chief Operating Officer Padraic McElwee says they want to make sure it enhances the town.

An appeal has been launched for people from all backgrounds to join a revamped version of Clare's Joint Policing Committee. It's expected this county's first Local Community Safety Partnership meeting will take place later this year and this panel will be made up of elected representatives, businesses, residents and state agencies. The Clare Public Participation is particularly seeking expressions of interest from marginalised groups such as the Travelling and LGBTQ+ communities, with application deadlines closing on Monday October 13th. Clare LCSP Co-Ordinator Ashlene Reyburn says they want as diverse a field of participants as possible.

It's being suggested Clare County Council's winter maintenance programme could be significantly impacted if workers agree to go on strike. The local authority's outdoor staff are to be balloted for industrial action within the next two weeks as part of an escalation in a dispute with management. SIPTU, which represents those being balloted, claims the action is a result of "management’s refusal to engage with the State’s own industrial dispute resolution system", and that the issue stems from vehicle usage policies including parking arrangements. SIPTU Organiser Arek Muszynski has been telling Clare FM's Seán Lyons the local authority hasn't engaged appropriately.

A West Clare community is being praised for its response to the abandonment of a large number of chickens in recent days. Clare's County Dog Warden received a report last Thursday of chickens which had been left in various locations across Lissycasey. Locals and rescue services assisted in rounding up the roughly 60 animals which have since been re-homed. Frankie Coote says it's a highly unusual incident and credits those who gave their time to help out.

At just 17 years old, Eoghan Hayes from Ennis is already making a name for himself on the local music scene. A talented guitarist and songwriter, Eoghan first picked up the instrument thanks to a friend and what started as a laugh soon turned into a serious passion for live performance. Eoghan joined Alan Morrissey on Tuesday's Morning Focus in studio for a chat and a song.

As part of Mental Health Week 2025, the West Clare Mental Health Association is proud to present an important and timely information talk by Dr. Mary O’Kane, No. 1 best-selling author of Anxious Children in an Anxious World. This event, titled Supporting Anxious Children and Teenagers, is designed to offer valuable insights and practical advice to parents and guardians navigating the challenges of raising children through uncertain and stressful times. Dr Mary O’Kane, lecturer in psychology, parenting and early childhood education and Mary O’Donoghue, Coordinator of the West Clare Family Resource Centre spoke with Alan Morrissey on Tuesday's Morning Focus. Photo (c) Books Ireland

Junk Ensemble present Dances Like a Bomb this Wednesday, the 24 September in Glór. Created by multi-award-winning dance innovators Junk Ensemble, Dances Like A Bomb is a powerful and uplifting duet that explores the complex terrain of ageing and care. Blending visceral imagery, movement, music, and text, the work reclaims the ageing body—exposing its strength, beauty, vulnerability, and humour. To find out more on Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Megan Kennedy who is involved with the Concept, Direction & Choreography. Photo (c) Garter Lane

On Wednesday, September 24th, 2025, Munster GAA will be celebrating our Culture with an Oíche Ghaelach in Clarecastle GAA Club. On Tuesday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Síle ní Dheargáin, Oifigeach Gaeilge for Clarecastle GAA, teacher in Gaelcholáiste an Chláir and Aedín ní Bhrian, Oifigeach Gaeilge for Munster GAA.

On Tuesday’s Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Avril Collentine from Cahir & Co. Solicitors to discuss farm matters, with some queries from farmers.

Taking place from 22nd to 26th September, Simon Week asks a direct question: “Who cares?” At a time of rising homelessness, growing public frustration, and unmet political commitments, the Simon Communities’ answer is clear: We do. With 16,058 people currently experiencing homelessness in Ireland, growing public frustration, and unmet political commitments, the Simon Communities’ is highlighting that they care. Simon Week spotlights Ireland’s target to end homelessness by 2030, highlighting the urgent need for cross-government action and serious investment in frontline solutions. With Budget 2026 fast approaching, Simon Communities has a number of key asks of the Government, including a cross-departmental strategy to end homelessness by 2030. For more on this, Alan Morrissey spoke with the CEO of Midwest Simon, Niall Garvey on Tuesday's Morning Focus.

With the Presidential election set for Friday, 24 October, time is running out for people to register to vote, check their details, or update their information on the electoral register. There are key deadlines coming up for both postal voting and in-person registration, and many people, especially first-time voters, may not be aware of what they need to do to ensure they can cast their ballot. To explain what voters need to know and the supports available to help them, Alan Morrissey was joined by Mary Clare O’Sullivan, Head of Electoral Integrity & Research at An Coimisiún Toghcháin.

Concerns are growing over reports that a small number of farmers in the county are attempting to manipulate land sales by encouraging unauthorised individuals to occupy neighbouring fields. Farmers are now being urged to report any such behaviour to the Gardaí and to stand together against this form of intimidation To outline the seriousness of the issue and to call for solidarity within the farming community, Alan Morrissey was joined by Meelick Fianna Fáil TD Cathal Crowe on Tuesday's Morning Focus. Picture (c) by Jonathan Borba from Pexels via Canva.

Clare County Council may have decided not to nominate any candidate for the Presidential Election at a special meeting yesterday, but the occasion wasn't without its drama. One candidate accused the council of actively blocking her campaign to get on the ballot, while the Mayor of Ennis branded one hopeful as unprofessional and disrespectful and said their presentation was a disservice to the women of Ireland. The field of 5 candidates involved activists, Gaeilgeoirs and Mathematicians, but ultimately no budding President obtained the magic number. Clare FM's Daragh Dolan has this report from Áras Chontae An Chláir.