Clare Fm - Podcasts

"Wordsmith – Part 1" explores the life and work of one of the greatest literary voices of our time, Edna O’Brien. Produced by Clare FM's Programme Director & Head of Operations, Padraic Flaherty. Email: pf@clare.fm

To review the sporting fixtures, Alan Morrisey was joined on Monday’s Morning Focus by Clare FM’s Derrick Lynch and Tommy Guilfoyle. Games reviewed: TUS Clare SHC Quarter-Finals: Ballyea 2-13 Clonlara 0-16 (Saturday, Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg) Kilmaley 1-21 Sixmilebridge 1-8 (Saturday, Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg) Clooney Quin 1-20 Feakle 1-11 (Sunday, Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg) Éire Óg 3-21 Inagh-Kilnamona 1-17 (Sunday, Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg) TUS Clare SHC Relegation Semi-Final: Newmarket-on-Fergus 1-19 St. Joseph’s Doora Barefield 2-15 (Saturday, Tulla) Corofin 0-13 Scariff 3-20 (Sunday, Tulla)

The sister of Clare rugby legend Anthony Foley will be among the speakers at an upcoming event for families affected by a sudden cardiac death or living with an inherited cardiac condition. The Friends of CRY is taking place in Barberstown Castle Hotel, Straffan, Co Kildare this Saturday (13th September from 9.30am to 3.30pm). The free event is organised by CRY – which stands for Cardiac Risk in the Young – Ireland the national charity supporting patients and families who have lost someone to sudden cardiac death. Orla Foley, creator of the charity initiative ‘Orla’s Wild Ways’ that celebrates the life and legacy of her late-brother, Munster rugby great Anthony Foley, will speak at the event. To discuss this further Alan Morrissey was joined by Orla Foley, sister of Clare rugby legend Anthony Foley. Photo (c) CRY Ireland via Facebook

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 Banner County.

A Clare charity has been making a huge difference thousands of miles from home. The Ray of Sunshine Foundation has transformed the lives of disadvantaged children in Kenya through schools, rescue centres, and health projects — all powered by Irish volunteers and generosity. This week, our own Colum McGrath is in Africa for the very first time to see that work up close. You can support the Ray of Sunshine charity here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/building-hope-clare-to-kenya-with-ray-of-sunshine. Photo (c) Ray of Sunshine

The Mid-West Simon Community’s Annual Fundraising Ball will take on Saturday, the 11th of October. Limerick Strand Hotel will be the venue for the event. For the second year in a row, the Ball will focus on raising funds for the Mid West Simon Social Grocery, a pioneering project designed to combat food poverty in Limerick City. To find out more, Alan Morrissey was joined on Monday's Morning Focus by the CEO Mid-West Simon Community, Niall Garvey.

Alan Morrissey was joined on Monday's Morning Focus by Margarita Urdenko. Margarita, who hails from Ukraine, has swapped international tankers for Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, where she now helps passengers sail to the Aran Islands and cruise beneath the Cliffs of Moher as a deck officer with Doolin Ferry. The Odessa native is the only female crew member at Doolin Ferry, and she’s carving out her own unique path in Ireland’s maritime world. As Ireland’s school leavers consider their next steps, one woman on the Wild Atlantic Way is showing that the sea holds more opportunities than many might imagine.

Schools across the country will today try and tackle the backlog of work that built up as a result of the strike action by school secretaries and caretakers that lasted for over a week. The striking workers had been picketing schools, demanding access to public sector pensions and other entitlements. The Minister for Education Helen McEntee welcomed Forsa's agreement to suspend strike action last Friday night, to allow for talks at the Workplace relations commission. The Union representing school secretaries and caretakers says the key element of the agreement is a Government commitment to negotiate comparable pension entitlements for their members. Alan Morrissey was joined by Rena McGrath, Vice-Chair of Fórsa School Secretaries Branch on the Clare/Galway border and Bernie Dillon, who’s been Secretary at St Senan’s Primary School in Kilrush for over twenty years.

Clare County Council will aim to deliver 9,850 social homes over the next decade. It follows a review of the National Planning Framework, which has identified the need for 985 new units to be delivered here annually until 2035. As it stands over 2,800 households are on this county's approved social housing list. Clonlara Independent Councillor and Planning Consultant Michael Begley says the plans will hinge on the availability of serviced sites.

A new report suggests Ennis has had the worst air quality in the country so far this year. Data from the Environmental Protection Agency shows the daily limit for particulate matter in the air has been breached on seven occasions in the county town this year which is more than anywhere else nationwide. Particulate matter is made up of solid particles and liquid droplets which are harmful to human health and largely created by the burning of solid fuel. Mayor of Ennis, Fine Gael Councillor Mary Howard, is calling for a clampdown on the selling of smoky coal.

It's claimed Clare's contractors and landowners have been the subject of harassment for cutting dangerous hedgerows outside the official season. It comes as the Department of Nature, Heritage, and Biodiversity has responded to Clare County Council's request for roadside hedges to be exempted from the Wildlife Act. Minister Christoper O'Sullivan's office stated that while this would require a legislation change, there are lawful exemptions under both the wildlife and road safety acts where hedgerows can be trimmed on public health or safety grounds. Kilmurry Fianna Fáil Councillor Alan O'Callaghan says it's a vital provision.

On this week’s Atlantic Tales, Pat Flynn visits Shandrum, Mullagh to meet the singing farmer, PJ Murrihy. PJ has worked on the family farm all his life and rears a breed of Japanese cattle for their world famous Wagyu beef. When he’s not farming, PJ is usually performing or writing songs, not just for himself, but also for some of Ireland’s best known artists.

Car sales in Clare were below 2024 levels for the second month in a row in August. New statistics from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry have revealed that 143 vehicles were sold in the county last month which was down 7% from the 154 sales recorded in the same month in 2023. Electric vehicles appear to be making a comeback in Clare however as sales are up almost 61% to 344 units so far in 2025. Director of the Society of the Irish Motor Industry, Brian Cooke, says after a disappointing year last year, EV sales are back to where they were in 2023.

Stephen Fletcher presents the first Beyond Belief after our August break. His special guest is the former RTÉ journalist who talks about growing up in a small Church of Ireland community in Dublin, getting an early taste for radio while still at school, becoming a Pirate radio presenter before coming legitimate by joining the BBCin Ulster then moving on to RTÉ where he advanced through different journalist positions becoming their main News Anchor until his retirement in 2024. Bryan also talks about his family and his faith and illustrates his journey with his choices of music.

Fr Gerry leads our Sunday Prater for today Sunday 7th September 2025, the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dog owners in Clare are being urged to control their pets during hedge cutting season in order to avoid accidents. Heavy good vehicles have been visible on the county's rural roads in recent days with the arrival of hedge cutting season which begins on September 1st and concludes at the end of February. Due to the high likelihood of dogs being startled by such machinery, Clare's County Dog Warden is issuing an advisory to dog owners to protect their pets from any potential injuries. Frankie Coote insists keeping them on a short lead is the best way to guard against unwanted incidents while ensuring hedge cutting operations aren't disrupted.

A new piece of public artwork is expected to enhance the appeal of a North Clare village for both locals and tourists while celebrating one of the region's most iconic figures. Kilfenora Tidy Towns has secured planning permission to erect a mural of 17th century aristocrat Máire Rua O'Brien on the east-facing wall of the Burren Sonas Steiner Kindergarten which is located on the village's main street. Liscannor-based artist will paint the mural which is expected to be in place before the end of the year. Edel Barry of Kilfenora Tidy Towns expects the impact it will have on the village to be significant.

Clare FM's Derrick Lynch previews the weekends TUS Clare SHC quarter finals and relegation playoffs with Tommy Guilfoyle & Kevin Sheehan

The Ultras a new Irish Indie Rock Band. Built around loud guitars, louder drums, and an unshakable urge to swap instruments mid-set the band features Jay O’Donoghue shouting beautifully at the front, Bernard McDonnell hitting drums, playing guitar and backing vocals, not all at once lol, Jack Kelly doing the absolute most on strings or sticks, Luke Whearity slicing through the noise on lead guitar, and brand new bassist Matthew Gaffney figuring it all out in real time. They’ve already played a packed out Workman’s cellar in May and the main room in June like they owed them money and now they’re back live, with their debut single, ‘’With the Sound’.

The Government is said to be at risk of "wiping out" post offices in Clare unless it moves towards a sustainable operating model for the postal service. The contracts for both Shannon and Carrigaholt's post offices have gone to tender following the resignation of their postmasters. In a statement to Clare FM, An Post says it has "two opportunities to partner with An Post in providing post office and financial services to the people of Shannon and Carrigaholt". The vacancies, it says, "arise out of the resignation of the current Postmasters", and its hopes to "attract suitable candidates for both contracts". It's not the first time the threat of a post office closure has loomed for a Clare community this year. Five months ago, doubt was cast over the future of Lahinch Post Office until local business owner Robert Kennedy stepped in to take the postmaster's reins. With Shannon and Carrigaholt now in a similar position, concerns have been raised that if the two facilities closed, it could result in job los