Clare Fm - Podcasts

A new book is challenging the very foundations of our relationship with technology and power. Writer and campaigner Gerry McGovern has just released “99th Day: A Warning About Technology,” a forensic examination of Big Tech, environmental collapse, and the culture driving both. To tell us more, Gerry joined Alan Morrissey on Thursday's Morning Focus. Photo (c) Keep Tulla Untouched

The East Clare Musical Society is set to bring a wonderfully wicked production of The Addams Family to the stage this February, running from the 19th to the 22nd at Scarriff Community College Hall. On Thursday’s Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey caught up with two members of the cast: Patsy Coyne, who plays the outrageously eccentric Grandma Addams, and Laura Dawson, the youngest cast member at just 11 years old, starring as Pugsley Addams.

On this week's episode of Clare Women In Business, Pat Flynn chats with Elaine Haugh-Hayes, proprietor of Naughton’s Restaurant and Naughton’s Yard in the seaside town of Kilkee in West Clare. Clare Women in Business is funded by Coimisiún na Meán with the television licence fee.

The CAO deadline is this weekend, Saturday, February 1st at 5pm. Students are being urged to get their applications in on time and to remember that you don’t need to have every decision made just yet. Dan Sheedy, from Newmarket-on-Fergus, Principal of the Tuition Centre spoke with Alan Morrissey on Thursday's Morning Focus. He reminded us about the key deadlines, common mistakes to avoid, and the wide range of education and training options available to students in 2026. Photo (c) AS Photography from Pexels via Canva

The use of imported Brazilian beef by Dawn Farm Foods has sparked anger among Irish farmers, with critics saying it creates a conflict of interest for Bord Bia chair Larry Murrin, whose role is to promote Irish food. Protests are ongoing outside Bord Bia offices, and the issue is now heading to the Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture. Meanwhile, farmers are expressing concern as China closes off its market to Irish beef again, after this week's outbreak of bluetongue. Four herds in County Wexford have now tested positive for the disease as authorities look to limit its spread. China has suspended imports of Irish beef as a result - a decision the Minister for Agriculture has called "disappointing". Joining us now on all of this are Stephen Walsh, Clare County Chair of the IFA, and Joseph Woulfe, Chairman of Beef Plan Movement Clare. Photo (c) Agriland

There has been a major boost for youth services in East Clare. Fishbowl Youth in Scariff has secured over €274,000 in national funding to transform the old Scariff co-op into a dedicated youth and community space. Alan Morrissey was joined on Thursday’s Morning Focus by Emma Sams, a volunteer youth leader with Fishbowl for more than 23 years. Photo (c) Marekulisaz Getty Images via Canva

‘A Night for Cillian’, will be a very special fundraising event taking place on Saturday, February 7th at 8pm in Dánlann an Chláir. The night marks the final major event in a year-long Bring Cillian Home campaign, supporting young Cillian O’Brien following a catastrophic brain injury. To find out more, Alan Morrissey was joined by the musical director and organiser of the event, Una Clune and organiser of the Bring Cillian Home Fund, Rory O’Connor.

We focused on the ongoing crisis in emergency healthcare in the Mid-West. Shannon Sinn Féin TD Donna McGettigan is chairing an upcoming public meeting in Clare on the delivery of emergency healthcare services, bringing together politicians, healthcare experts, frontline workers and patients. It will take place this evening in the Temple Gate Hotel here in Ennis on the 29th January, 7pm. Alan Morrissey spoke with Donna on this matter on Thursday's Morning Focus. Photo (c) Alan Place

The Taoiseach has conceded that the trial of five members of An Garda Síochána, including two with strong connections to Clare, had a "severe negative impact" on the careers of those involved as well as on garda morale. Micheál Martin has pledged to speak to the Justice Minister about the case of a retired superintendent and four senior gardaí who have this week been found not guilty of perverting the court of justice. The charges were in relation to alleged attempts to terminate tickets for road traffic offences. Responding to Meelick Fianna Fáil TD Cathal Crowe in the Dáil, who's demanded an apology for the Garda Commissioner, the Taoiseach says a review "needs to happen" to examine the implications of the case.

A Clare TD has told the Dáil that her nephew was forced to wait for treatment for hours on a chair at University Hospital Limerick's Emergency Department after a failed suicide attempt. Shannon Deputy Donna McGettigan has made the contribution during a debate on a Sinn Féin motion calling for the Dáil to note a Mental Health Commission report which reveals "international best practice" isn't available in EDs in Ireland. Data recently released to the party by the HSE shows the Midwest doesn't currently have a mental health clinical nurse specialist. Deputy McGettigan says families like hers have felt let down by inadequate mental health services.

The number of patients treated at Ennis' Local Injury Unit increased by more than 15% last year. New figures show 18,573 people presented to the county town's LIU over the past twelve months. According to HSE MidWest, there have been an average of 280 daily attendances to University Hospital Limerick's Emergency Department this month. Mayor of Ennis, Fine Gael Councillor Mary Howard has been telling Clare FM's Daragh Dolan that the Ennis injury unit is a vital resource for reducing waiting times.

Community spirit is alive and well in Shannon, and next week local groups and residents will come together to build on it. Next week’s event at the Future Mobility Campus celebrates what’s been achieved across Shannon in 2025 and looks ahead to new collaborative projects for 2026 — a real example of civic engagement and community participation in action... To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Denise O’Brien, PRO and Board Member, Shannon Community Partnership on Wednesday's Morning Focus. Photo (c) Shannon Community Partnership Facebook

Joining Alan Morrissey on Wednesday's Morning Focus was Tim Humphries, a Tulla Tidy Towns volunteer, and Councillor Pat Hayes from Maghera. They discussed the ongoing issue of illegal dumping in Tulla, which has frustrated volunteers and residents alike, despite the village’s recent success in the Tidy Towns competition. We heard about the latest incidents, what’s being done to tackle the problem, and how the community can help prevent future dumping. Photo (c) Tulla Tidy Towns Facebook Page

Suicide is an extremely important topic, and we took the opportunity to focus on suicide prevention, making aware of the help available to them, and how to talk to friends and loved ones who may be affected. Alan Morrissey spoke with Mick Collins, Resource Officer for Suicide Prevention, HSE Mid-West Mental Health Services on Wednesday's Morning Focus. Photo (c) Pixelshot via Canva

Donald Trump has been holding a rally in Iowa - as he appears to be trying to deflect from the backlash over fatal shootings by immigration officers. Two protestors have been killed in Minneapolis, Minnesota this month. The President has softened his stance, telling Fox News he's going to "de-escalate" a bit. Alan Morrissey spoke with Natalie Nugent O’Shea, Executive Director and co-founder of the Celtic Junction in St Paul, Minnesota, as tensions remain high in the Twin Cities following the fatal shooting of ICU nurse and US citizen, Alex Pretti by federal agents and the subsequent scaling back of the US immigration enforcement operation. Alan was also joined by Sean Murray, Journalist at the Irish Examiner who was in Minneapolis last week. Border Partol at the US Mexico border in San Diego Image (c) stellalevi from Getty Images Signature via Canva

The Government has confirmed that all cabinet and junior ministers will travel abroad this St Patrick’s Day, with representatives visiting 50 countries, including eight ministers heading to the United States at a time of strained EU-US relations. The Taoiseach is also expected to meet President Donald Trump in the White House, a move that has sparked political debate and public concern, with a recent poll showing a clear majority of the public believes the Taoiseach should not go through with the visit. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Tulla-based Minister of State Timmy Dooley. Photo (c) The White House via X

A Clare TD is demanding the Garda Commissioner to issue a formal apology to the four senior Gardaí and retired Superintendent cleared of perverting the course of justice. On Monday, the group of five who served at stations across Clare and Limerick were found not guilty on all 39 counts the jury had to consider, with the charges relating to alleged attempts to terminate tickets for road traffic offences. The case, which involved a seven-year investigation, is estimated to have cost the state €3m in legal fees, throughout which time, all the accused were suspended on full pay. Clare Fianna Fáil TD Cathal Crowe says it's a farcical situation.

It's feared there could be widespread procedure cancellations in the MidWest as a key branch of healthcare personnel have threatened industrial action. Clinical Measurement Physiologists represented by Fórsa are set to meet HSE officials at the Workplace Relations Commission today, in a long-running dispute over pay and conditions. CMPs deliver diagnostic services across cardiac, respiratory, neurophysiology, gastrointestinal and vascular care, and Fórsa claims its members will engage in a work-to-rule from Friday if an agreement can't be reached. Fórsa Secretary Linda Kelly claims there's a myriad of issues.

A homeless charity which operates a small family hub in Clare fears new legislation could incentivise landlords to impose no-fault evictions on tenants. From March 1st, landlords will be prevented from increasing rents by more than 2% annually or the rate of inflation if this is lower than 2%. Rental agreements will also be standardised at six years but smaller landlords will be allowed to end a tenancy if they need to give the property to a family member or if they find themselves in financial hardship. Head of Advocacy and Communications at Novas, which operates a facility in Ennis, Una Burns, says some landlords may look for ways to evict tenants in order to reset rents.

Cloughleigh Drama Group is back on stage with a brand-new production! They’re presenting The Maiden Aunt, a hilarious three-act comedy by Jimmy Keary, with performances in February (on the 6th, 7th, 13th and 14th of February) at Cloughleigh Community Centre. Alan Morrissey was joined live in-studio by, Andrea O’ Regan, Eamonn O’Callaghan, Marie O’Connor, and Claire Guthrie who are the cast members to tell us about the play, the laughs in store, and how the community can get tickets. Photo (c) Cloughleigh Drama Club