Clare Fm - Podcasts

Clare manager Brian O'Connell speaking after his sides win over Cork in the Munster MHC

On Friday’s Morning Focus, it was time again for our Arts Slot with County Art’s Officer Siobhán Mulcahy. Siobhán provided our listeners with all the details of this week’s live events for entertainment lovers in Banner County. This week, Siobhán discussed Culture Night, the Irish Concertina Orchestra and much more!

The Health Minister, Stephen Donnelly, is to initiate a review into urgent and emergency care capacity in the Mid-West region. The review will determine whether a second emergency department is required, in light of a big increase in the population in recent years and ongoing pressures at the ED at University Hospital Limerick. Smaller emergency departments in the region closed when configuration happened back in 2009. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Oireachtas Health Committee member and Meelick Fianna Fail TD, Cathal Crowe and Friends of Ennis Hospital Spokesperson, Deirdre Culligan.

Growing concerns for both politicians and their staff members have led to calls for all members of the Oireachtas to be provided with personal panic buttons. This follows the recent protests outside the homes of Taoiseach Simon Harris and Integration Minister Roderic O'Gorman. Justice Minister Helen McEntee was also the recipient of a hoax bomb threat, on her family home. Clare politicians and local election candidates are no stranger to these issues, either; the Ennistymon Fine Gael, Senator Martin Conway is behind the proposal that members of the Oireachtas be provided with personal panic buttons, after he was harassed on five occasions over the past six weeks, both on the street and on public transport. Meanwhile, the Independent candidate for the Local Elections, Amanda Major has been subjected to harassment while erecting election posters in Ennis. To discuss this further, on Friday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Fine Gael Senator from Ennistymon, Martin Conway and Independent Local E

It's claimed HIQA's upcoming review into the need for a second MidWest emergency department must consider the journey times facing patients in rural Clare. The terms of reference will be finalised in the coming weeks, to allow the findings of an independent inquiry into the death of Shannon Teenager Aoife Johnston at University Hospital Limerick in 2022 to be taken into account. It's estimated that over 20,000 Clare patients attended the ED in UHL last year. HSE Regional Health Forum West member Kilkee Fianna Fail Councillor Cillian Murphy says the review's outcome must benefit patients in isolated areas.

Threshold supported 128 Clare households experiencing difficulties in their private rental tenancies last month. Newly published figures show interventions from the housing charity prevented 15 adults and 12 children in this county from entering homelessness in April. According to Threshold, 65% of notices to quit issued here last month, were attributed to landlords leaving the market. National Advocacy Manager Ann-Marie O'Reilly says the problem is much more prevalent in Clare than elsewhere in the country.

A 24-hour fully-serviced drop-in mental health centre is being proposed for Shannon. The suggestion comes from Independent local election hopeful Pat Barry who's described the ongoing mental health crisis in Clare as well as nationwide as "appalling". Shannon's Hope Café played host to its first mental health conference in January where Azim Khamisa, who's been celebrated by the Dalai Lama, Al Gore and Bill Clinton, as well as renowned psychotherapist Robert Carley, were guest speakers. Long-time Shannon resident Barry, who was one of the event's organisers, insists the town needs a full-time accessible mental health service.

An Ireland South Candidate in the European Elections claims the Government has created a shambolic immigration system through a failure to invest. It comes as efforts continue today to move International Protection Applications from tented encampments in Dublin City Centre - as accommodation is unavailable elsewhere. At present there are now 758 IPA's residing in Clare, which is an increase of 35% in the last year. Social Democrats candidate Susan Doyle believes the state could be managing the immigration situation much better.

A new building for Tubber National School has been granted approval by Government. The school authority submitted an application to the Department of Education in December 2022 for additional accommodation and the project has now been approved to proceed to delivery stage. The development will consist of two mainstream classrooms, a special education tuition classroom, office, reception area and staffroom. Responding to Meelick Fianna Fáil TD Cathal Crowe in the Dáil on behalf of Education Minister Norma Foley, Deputy Alan Dillon says funding will be made available in the coming days to allow the school to bring the project to the next stage.

The Parish Priest of Ennis says no words can relieve the pain of the family of an 18 month old boy, who's lost his life in a road traffic incident on the outskirts of the town. The toddler, named locally as Hunter Molloy, died in an incident involving a car shortly early yesterday afternoon, at the Ballaghboy Halting Site on the Quin Road. He was transferred to University Hospital Limerick, where he later passed away from his injuries. Fr Tom Ryan held a prayer service last night and says it's impossible for both his family and community to comprehend.

The EPA is warning that a large volume of households in Clare continue to risk human health and the environment due to faulty septic tanks. It comes as a new report by the Environmental Protection Agency has found that 55 domestic wastewater treatment systems here in this county that have failed inspections since 2013, have not been fixed. The prevailing issues include sludge discharge entering local water streams and ecosystems and potentially ending up in drinking water where households use private wells. Programme Manager of the Waste Water Enforcement Team, Noel Byrne says there are serious issues to address in Clare.

It's claimed Clare could overcome its homeless problem by accommodating people in vacant properties. At the end of March, there were approximately 79 adults along with 36 dependents in this county living in emergency accommodation. While outside of holiday homes, GeoDirectory research shows that 5,091 properties here are currently unoccupied. Clare based Uplift campaigner Leigh Brosnan believes local politician should be taking action on the issue.

It's feared this county's economy will suffer if further childcare closures are seen. It comes as the Federation of Early Childhood Providers has launced a new publication asking the Government to implement measures to protect the sector from the cost-of-living crisis. In the past two weeks alone, 28 childcare providers have indicated their intention to close their doors. This means over the last 14 months, approximately 150 nationwide providers nationwide have ceased operating. The concerns of struggling providers have been captured in a new report entitled "United We Stand" from the Federation of Early Childhood Providers. This examines the "dire" situation many members are finding themselves in and asks Government to boost the level of funding being given to the sector to insulate providers from inflationary pressures. Noel Mulderrig is the manager of the Kidz Haven creche in Shannon and will begin the process of closing his business next month. He says the greatest problem facing providers is attra

The Health Minister is to initiate a review to determine if a second Emergency Department is needed in the MidWest. HIQA has been asked to lead the review which will commence after the independent investigation by former Chief Justice Frank Clarke into the death of Shannon Teenager Aoife Johnston at UHL in December of 2022 has been published. Accident and Emergency Departments at Ennis, Nenagh and St.Johns were closed as part of a reconfiguration in 2009 which favoured a centre of excellence at University Hospital Limerick. UHL has consistently been by far the most overcrowded facility in the country since then and remains the only model four hospital in the country without a supporting model three hospital in the same community healthcare organisation area. The announcement has received a broad welcome including from the Friends of Ennis Hospital, Clare members of the Oireachtas Health Committee; Meelick TD Cathal Crowe and Ennistymon Senator Martin Conway and the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation. Clar

Our series, ‘Clare Women in Business’, seeks to showcase the accomplishments of women in business, foster gender equality, and inspire future generations of female leaders. This week, Pat Flynn chats with Shannon based HR and Business Consultant Elaine Ryan.

On Thursday’s Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Canadian chef and owner of Randaddy’s in Lahinch, Randy Lewis. This week, Randy shared with a delicious recipe for Pork BBQ with Mexican Kimchi (fermented cabbage).

It is time for the thirteenth episode of our newest feature on Morning Focus, Village Tour, where Alan Morrissey paid a visit to Cratloe. 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 Village Tour, Alan chats with three people from a particular village or townland in Clare: from locals and business owners to those involved with local sports clubs and community representatives.

In addition to the more than 130 providers who have closed their doors for good since March last year, 28 childcare providers have notified parents that they intend to close over the past two weeks. Childcare providers say they feel bullied by the Department of Children. The Federation of Early Childhood Providers has launched a new publication asking the Government to boost funding and protect businesses from the cost-of-living crisis. This must be extremely worrying news for parents, childcare providers and their staff. To discuss all of this, including the implications of these closures, Alan Morrissey spoke with Noel Mulderrig, owner of creche Kidz Haven in Shannon and Elaine Dunne, Chairperson of the Federation of Early Childhood providers. Picture (c) by wragg from Getty Images Signature via Canva

The Local and European Elections will take place in a month’s time; on Saturday, the 7th of June. To discuss the upcoming elections and to provide voter information, Alan Morrissey was joined by Art O’Leary, CEO of An Coimisiún Toghcháin on Thursday's Morning Focus. Picture (c) electoralcommission.ie

Protestors at Clare County Council buildings have called for actions instead of words from Government in relation to the ongoing bombardment of Gaza. The demonstration, which took place yesterday, was organised by a group called People of Clare Against Genocide in response to Israel's seizure of the Rafah crossing on the border between Gaza and Egypt. It comes as Rafah's largest hospital has ceased operations and the World Health Organisation is warning the city's remaining healthcare facilities only have three days of fuel left. Ennis native and People of Clare Against Genocide member Sarah Geraghty believes every councillor must urge Government representatives to take stronger action.