Clare Fm - Podcasts

Clare's Crime Prevention Officer is urging farmers to ensure livestock, vehicles, machinery and equipment are safely secured, to prevent against a devastating loss of assets. Sergeant Catriona Holohan is advising that in many cases, taking simple precautionary measures can have a hugely positive impact on the safety of your farm. She says it’s not all about high-end security equipment, but changes to the way things are run, and that there are several areas that can be easily overlooked which could reduce the risk of land being targeted. Sergeant Holohan, who's based at the Crime Prevention Office in Ennis, outlines some of the ways you can protect your farm from theft.

The 74th Corofin North Clare Agricultural Show will take place this coming weekend (Saturday 26th July). To find out more, Alan Morrissey was joined by Margaret Corry, Chairperson and Maureen Roche, Chief Steward.

There’s undoubtedly renewed frustration in East Clare as An Comisúin Pleanala has granted permission for a 7X 179 to 180m turbine windfarm at Lackareagh Beg near Broadford. EDF Renewables claims its project will power over 35,000 homes and has promised a €240,000 per year community benefit fund. Clare County Council had initially rejected the plans over visual amenity, wildlife and biodiversity concerns after receiving 80 objections in just two months, making the prospect of a judicial review seem likely. Alan Morrissey was speaking about this with Konrad Rumberger, who has previously raised concerns over wind farms in East Clare.

On Tuesday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey spoke to Joanne Mitchell of Cahir & Co Solicitors, Ennis in our weekly legal slot. This week, William spoke about the Capacity Act. If you have a legal question for Cahir & Co. Solicitors, email us on focus@clare.fm

On Tuesday’s Morning Focus, retired Deputy Principal of Rice College and Educational Consultant, John Burns gave insights into teaching at Secondary School Level as a career. If you have any questions for John, please email focus@clare.fm.

The Rose of Clare Festival is looming large on the horizon. The ever-popular event is held in Cooraclare/ Cree at the beginning of August each year. This year’s Rose of Clare Festival gets underway from the 3rd of August For more on this, Alan Morrissey was joined by Helen Kelly, of the organising committee. PHOTO CREDIT: Rose (c) by dipsantra44 from pixabay via Canva

Our first guest on today’s show was concerned about illegal dumping. My next guest’s issue is to do with lamps: specifically, one lamp in Ennis. To find out more about the lamp, where in the County Town it is located, and why our listener has such an issue with it, Alan Morrissey was joined by Cora Hahessy, Ennis resident.

We begin with the problem that never seems to go away: illegal dumping. This latest incident comes from an estate in Shannon, where there is not only illegal dumping taking place, but a burnt-out bench has been in situ for years. to discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Shane Doody, Shannon Sinn Féin Representative and homeless family support worker.

A Clare TD says the county is in urgent need of large-scale funding under the National Development Plan to prevent the death of rural Clare communities. A further €30 billion is to be be added to the revised plan, taking the total to €100 billion between 2026 and 2030. The amounts allocated to each department and utility will be announced later today while a full list of all projects set to receive funding is not expected for a number of months. Bodyke Fine Gael TD Joe Cooney says business closures and population decline will continue in rural areas if infrastructural issues aren't addressed.

The date a flood relief scheme in Clare is expected to be submitted for planning approval has been pushed back to next year. Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, Kevin Boxer Moran, said in April of this year that the Shannon Flood Relief Scheme would be submitted to An Coimisiún Pleanála "at the end of 2025". In a new response to a parliamentary question from Meelick Fianna Fáíl TD Cathal Crowe however, he says it's "scheduled to be submitted for planning approval in quarter two 2026". Newmarket-on-Fergus Fianna Fáil Councillor David Griffin insists that while it's a setback, it's important to take the time to ensure the application is watertight.

Clare SFC Manager Reaction - St Breckans And Lissycasey by Clare FM

The Dáil broke for its summer recess ahead of the weekend. TDs won't return to the chamber until the middle of September. Proceedings in the chamber led to heated debate between opposition and Government on the cost of living on the last day, as you heard in our news last week. So how has the Government done in its first 59 days it sat in the Dáil? To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by, Timmy Dooley, Tulla-based Fianna Fáil Minister of State and Donna McGettigan, Shannon-based Sinn Féin TD.

A Clare member of the HSE Regional Health Forum West claims children are being left in "constant, nagging pain" while on waiting lists. The latest figures from the National Treatment Purchase Fund show over 33,000 people were waiting on appointments at Ennis Hospital and University Hospital Limerick last month. A whole 67 children were on waiting lists in Ennis in June with eight of these waiting over a year for outpatient paediatric services. Ennis Fianna Fáil Councillor Antoinette Baker-Bashua, who's a member of the HSE Regional Health Forum West, has been telling Clare FM's Seán Lyons these children are being denied access to early intervention.

To review the sporting fixtures, Alan morrissey was joined on Monday’s Morning Focus by Clare FM’s Kieran Madigan and Derrick Lynch. Games Reviewed: Clare SFC Round 1: Friday 18th July Cratloe 0-11 Eire Og 2-23 (Zimmer Biomet Pairc Chiosog) Kildysart 1-12 Doora Barefield 1-12 (Clarecastle) Ennistymon 2-9 Doonbeg 0-14 (Miltown) Saturday 19th July Kilmihil 0-21 Lissycasey (Quilty) 0-6 St Breckans 0-13 Wolfe Tones 0-5 (Zimmer Biomet Pairc Chiosog) Kilmurry Ibrickane 2-15 Miltown 1-13 (Cooraclare) Clare IFC Round 1: Friday 18th July Clondegad 3-17 Coolmeen 1-10 (Kilmihil) Saturday 19th July Naomh Eoin 2-12 Corofin 1-18 (Lissycasey) Sunday 20th July Shannon Gaels 1-17 O’Currys 3-11 (Kilrush) Liscannor 0-9 Cooraclare 0-12 (Quilty) Ennistymon 1-10 Michael Cusacks 0-13 (Corofin) Kilrush Shamrocks 1-15 Banner 1-14 (Kilmihill)

On Monday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Tom Stewart from Keane’s Garden Centre in Kilcolgan. This week, Tom gave listeners advice on growing canna lilies for a beautiful tropical display If you have a question for Tom, contact the show on 0818 400 964 or send a text or WhatsApp to 086 1800 964.

Last week, we announced that Radio Bingo, in association with Sláinte an Chláir, will be coming to an end. It has been a much-loved feature on Clare FM for many years, and we’ve truly enjoyed bringing you the numbers each day. Alan Morrissey was joined by the Honorary Chairperson of Sláinte an Chláir Teresa Murrihy and John Martin, Managing Director of Play Print.

The Irish Road Haulage Association has accused the Road Safety Authority of massaging the driver testing figures by moving testers from articulated truck, bus and truck testing to car testing in order to reduce wait times for car driving tests – whilst waiting times for commercial driving tests increase exponentially. According to hauliers, this has caused the waiting lists for driving tests for a car to fall by 10% between April and June 2025, but has led to a significant increase in the wait times for truck (42%) and articulated truck (40%) between April and June this year. It has also caused a backlog in the testing of bus drivers. Hauliers describe it as a crisis in the making for the commercial driving industry. For more on this, Alan Morrissey as joined by Sophie Howard, Quin native, Clare’s Youngest Female Haulier and Eugene Drennan, Former President of the Irish Road Hauliage Association, Ennis haulier.

On Monday’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 the Banner County. This week, Siobhán told us about Ailish Malone in Kilkee, Tulla Music Festival , Riches of Clare Concerts and much more.

The countdown is on to a thrilling challenge set against one of Ireland’s most iconic natural backdrops. On Sunday the 27th of July, MS Ireland will host a cliff abseiling challenge in the Burren National Park in Co. Clare. The event aims to raise funds for vital services for people living with Multiple Sclerosis. So what’s involved, who can take part, and where do the funds go? For more on this, Alan Morrissey was joined by Melanie Cunningham, Fundraising Manager at MS Ireland. PHOTO CREDIT: Multiple Sclerosis Ireland

Cocaine treatment jumped from 1.5 to 93.2 per 100,000 people between 2020 and 2023. That's just one of the startling findings from new research by the Heath Research Board. It describes the use of the drug as a 'perfect storm' with higher availability, purity and affordability. Addiction Specialist Dr Garrett McGovern says despite work being done to prevent cocaine being sold here, the statistics continue to worsen. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Michael Guerin, Addiction Counsellor. PHOTO CREDIT: majo1122331 from Getty Images Pro via Canva