Clare Fm - Podcasts

It's hoped the current 27 week average waiting time for a driving test in Clare will soon be significantly slashed. The Road Safety Authority has published a national action plan to reduce waiting lists that will see driving tests conducted in evenings, on weekends and even bank holidays. New centres will also be opened in Dublin, Kildare and Louth to ease the backlog, with the RSA setting the goal that no motorist will wait longer than 10 weeks for a test after September this year. Chris Curran from the Chris Curran Driving School in Ennis believes it could work.

A meeting of Ennis's local representatives has heard that parked vehicles are preventing the town's streets from being properly cleaned. Fianna Fáil Councillor Antoinette Baker-Bashua is calling on Ennis Municipal District to publish its schedule of street sweeping in local areas so residents know when to move their cars and other obstacles such as bins. The response issued by Ennis MD says roughly 50% of its planned maintenance is "reactive" to the likes of litter and flooding, and because of the size of the area, it isn't "operationally practical" to commit to a fixed schedule. Councillor Baker-Bashua says if residents had notice, there could be a more thorough clean.

Fr Gerry Kenny presents Beyond Belief for today, the 25th May 2025. He visits the church in Carrigaholt which has recently reopened after it was damaged by smoke resulting from a fire last November. He talks to Fr Michael Casey and Mary Maloney from the Parish Pastoral Council about how the damage has been repaired and the church reopened. Fr Gerry also talks to a Jesuit Theolgian Fr Gerry Whelan about the legacy of Pope Francis and finds time to catch up with Stephen Fletcher over a coffee and some cake.

Stephen Fletcher presents our Sunday Prayer for today the 25th May 2025, the 6th Sunday of Easter

Ennis Chamber is expressing confidence that the newly approved Penney's store will benefit the whole town. Primark LTD has now been granted planning permission to construct a three-storey flagship outlet on Harmony Row. The store is expected to generate €14m in revenue in 2029 and Penney's claims it will act as a catalyst for inward investment in the local economy. Ennis Chamber President Diarmuid McMahon says all local retailers should see a footfall boost.

It's claimed Shannon is keenly poised to become an electric aircraft development hub. It's after US firm Beta Technologies debuted its Alia C-TOL, the first battery powered aircraft flown in Ireland at Shannon Airport this week. The event was hosted by Atlantic Aviation, the Irish Aviation Authority and Future Mobility Campus Ireland, while Shannon Airport itself has been identified as an aviation technology testing hub in the programme for government. Future Mobility Campus Ireland CEO Russell Vickers is confident his dream of 'air taxis' for the Ryder Cup will be realised.

Coming up on the show, we will look ahead to the start of Clare's All Ireland camogie championship campaign, preview Clare's senior and minor hurling championship outings, hear from Tulla United and Newmarket Celtic ahead of the Ennis Carpets Clare Cup final, Clare ladies footballers on their Munster Senior B final and Greyhound Focus too.

To preview the sporting fixtures, Alan Morrissey was joined on Friday’s Morning Focus by Clare FM’s Derrick Lynch. Games Previewed: Limerick v Clare (Sunday, TUS Gaelic Grounds, 4pm) Clare v Wexford (Saturday, Zimmer Biomet Pairc Chiosiog, 2pm) Newmarket Celtic v Tulla United (Saturday, Doora, 5pm) Marty Morrissey also joined the chat to discuss the Special Camogie Congress.

It is time for the twenty first episode of our second season of The Village Tour. With The Village Tour, we here at Morning Focus are aiming to highlight the smaller villages and townlands around the county. By doing this, we hope to showcase their unique character, while also bringing their diversity and individuality to life for you, the listener. During each episode of The Village Tour, Alan chats with various people from a particular village or townland in Clare: from locals and business owners to those involved with local sports clubs, community representatives and many more. In our latest episode of The Village Tour, Alan paid a visit to Ballyea.

The rich heritage and vibrant cultures of Africa will take centre stage in Ennis this Saturday (24th May). The events in the county town will form part of a nationwide effort marking Africa Day 2025. To find out more about Africa Day and what will be happening this Saturday, Alan Morrissey was joined by Joseph Idowu, African living in Scariff and Simon O'Treasaigh, Coordinator at Clare Immigrant Support Centre.

The Minister of Transport has hailed a new bridge in East Clare as "transformative" for the region. Fianna Fáil Minister Darragh O'Brien attended the unveiling of the long-awaited Brian Boru Bridge on Thursday afternoon. The €88 million project connects the twin towns of Killaloe and Ballina while also providing a new 6.2 kilometre Killaloe Bypass as well as regional road enhancements. Clare FM's Seán Lyons headed to the Clare/Tipperary border to cover the event where the Minister was subject to some early accusations.

Earlier this week Alan Morrissey spoke about the near 200% increase in the number of children waiting over one year for initial speech and language therapy in the last three years. During the chat, we heard calls for ‘less talk and more action’ to reduce waiting times for special needs supports In Clare. Alan spoke with Kilfenora native Deirdre Linnane, who told us about her son, Jack. The two-year-old is among the children awaiting an assessment of needs, as well as speech and language therapy. Deirdre told us she feels her son is being let down by the system. On Fridays Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Michelle Ryan a listener who knows all about the system. Michelle, who lives in Inch, is a parent of two autistic children, and both have been diagnosed through the CDNT – Children’s Disability Network Team - in Clare. NDA hope to hear from families on their experience of the Children’s Disability Network Team service model. Further details and survey link can be found at the followin

An impending report to determine if another Emergency Department is needed in the MidWest is not expected to recommend which county it should be located in. HIQA's review of urgent and emergency care capacity in the region is due by the end of the month and will outline solutions to deal with issues such as persistent overcrowding and ambulance response times. However local campain group, Friends of Ennis Hospital believes that based on discussions with elected representatives and the health regulator, the location of any new ED would likely be left to government. Chairperson Angela Coll says our politicians need to speak up.

The chair of the Clare branch of the Irish Kidney association has been recognised for his immense volunteering efforts to multiple organisations at an event hosted by Clare's Older People Council. The event was held yesterday afternoon in Hotel Woodstock in the county town. The ceremony was attended by almost 200 people and included a special guest speech from singer and Clare Age Friendly Ambassador, Mike Hanrahan. The Clare Older People's Volunteer of the Year Award was won by John Logan, in absentia, for his work with the Ennis Lyons Club since its inception in 1976 with John now the only surviving active charter member. Another plaque was handed out to celebrate the 10th iteration of the awards. Disability rights activist Dermot Hayes was the recipient for his unwavering commitment in recent times to both the Clare branch of the Irish Kidney Association and the Clare Leader Forum. Dermot says he was in complete shock to be given the award. The chair of the Clare Older People's Council says it's a m

On Thursday's Morning Focus Alan Morrissey was joined by Lisa Clancy. Lisa, a native of Corofin, has created a fascinating new book on insects! The book, called Insect Portraits, includes stunning macro photographs of all sorts of Irish insects.

On this week's episode of Clare Women In Business, Pat Flynn chats with Holly Butler, who formerly worked at The Ritz in London and later Adare Manor before establishing her own business in Kilkee.

Ireland's energy emissions are at their lowest level in over 30 years. They reduced by 1.3 per cent last year according to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. It means there has been an overall decrease of 11 per cent ever since carbon emission targets were introduced in 2021. To find out more on this, Alan Morrissey was joined by Scariff Futureproof Clare Spokesperson and University of Galway Lecturer Dr Sineád Sheehan and Bridget Ginnity.

On Thursday’s Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Chef Martyn Whyte. This week, Martyn shared a delicious recipe for a beef brisket. Ingredients: 1kg side of brisket 100g brown sugar 20g Cajun spice, paprika, chili powder, garlic powder 100g wild garlic 250ml olive oil 50g pine nuts 50g Parmesan 10g honey 10g mustard 25ml rapeseed oil 10ml white wine vinegar ½ cup self raising flour ½ cup Greek yoghurt Pinch of salt Method: Combine the sugar, Cajun, paprika, chili powder, garlic and apply to the brisket on both sides. Place in an oven dish with a lid and roast in an oven for 12 hours at 90 degrees. For the last 30 minutes take off the lid. Blend the wild garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan and olive oil together for the pesto, season with salt for taste. Mix the honey, white wine vinegar, rapeseed oil and mustard together for the dressing. For the flatbread, Mix together the flour and yogurt so they come together, knead for a minute. Form a ball shape and cut into desired sizes. With t

The Rás Tailteann is Ireland's major international cycling stage race which was first held in 1953. The exciting news for Clare is the announcement of the stage three finish in Miltown Malbay and the stage four start in Ennis. For more on this Alan Morrissey was joined by Race Director, Gearóid Campbell and Maurice Reidy, stage end organiser and member of the Miltown Malbay Development Company.

We are right in the middle of European Mental Health Week, a time to reflect on how we’re really doing. This year, there’s some eye-opening new data to consider. It shows a worrying link between low mental wellbeing and harmful drinking habits – particularly among young adults. On Thursday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Dearbhla O’Brien, CEO of Drinkaware. She’s explained why more people are struggling, how alcohol is being used – often in the wrong ways – to cope, and what we can all do about it.