Clare Fm - Podcasts

On this week's Where in Clare, Colum went aboard the Spirit of Killaloe to find out all about Killaloe River Cruises from James Whelan!

It is time for the eighteenth episode of our newest feature on Morning Focus, Village Tour, where Alan Morrissey paid a visit to Inagh. 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.

A very special evening is in store later in Spanish Point. The Armada Hotel will host An Evening of Art and Song, which will feature the renowned Ennis-born artist, Mick O’Dea and the Clare-based singer/songwriter Tim Dennehy in conversation with Peadar King. To chat more about the event, Alan Morrissey was joined by Ennis Artist Mick O' Dea and Kilkee Book Author Peadar King.

Our latest guest for In Profile is none other than Des Lynam! For more than four decades, Des was a legendary sports presenter on both television and radio in Britain. He hosted television coverage of many of the world's major sporting events, presenting Match of the Day, Grandstand, the World Cup, the Olympic Games Wimbledon, the Grand National and Sportsnight. Des also presented non-sporting programmes such as Holiday, How Do They Do That? and Countdown. Des has also just published his new books, Now Who’s Talking 1 & 2.

Orla Foley's world was turned upside down in 2016, when her brother, Munster and Ireland rugby great Anthony Foley, died suddenly in Paris. Orla used her grief as fuel to honour her brother, by embarking on the charity initiative, “Orla’s Wild Ways”. Tomorrow (Friday) morning will see Orla host a coffee morning in Killaloe, where people can learn more about her activities, which help to raise vital funds for a host of charities. To dsicuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Orla Foley on Thursday's Morning Focus. You can donate here https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/ORLASWILDWAYS Picture (c): Orla's Wild Ways via Facebook

The new Cathaoirelach of the Killaloe Municipal District claims the future of many East Clare businesses is dependent on tourist traffic. Outgoing Mayor of Clare Joe Cooney will be chairing meetings of East Clare's local representatives for the coming year while Maghera Fianna Fáil Councillor Pat Hayes will take up the mantle as Leas Cathaoirleach. Bodyke Councillor Cooney was the first candidate over the line in his Local Electoral Area in the recent local elections, having claimed 27% of first preference votes. With many tourism sites located in the east of the county, the Fine Gael councillor says attention must shift towards his region instead of being focused on West and North Clare.

A Clare TD claims she feels like she's living in the twilight zone due to the lack of progress on the Ennis dialysis unit. Over 15 months on from Junior Health Minister Anne Rabbitte saying a tender would be submitted to the HSE "in the near future", a timeline is yet to be provided for the Contracted Satellite Hemodialysis Unit service in the county town. The highly-anticipated service has long been lobbied for due to the volume of Clare residents who can only access renal care at the University of Limerick or its satellite centre on the Dock Road. Addressing Minister of State Martin Heydon in the Dáil, Clare Independent TD Violet-Anne Wynne says the time for talking is over and "elderly, frail people" in this county in need of renal care need clarity.

On Morning Focus and Clare FM News we have been keeping you updated every step of the way on the situation affecting the Ukrainian refugees who were living in Phoenix House in the Shannon Town Centre, but who now have been relocated to Lisdoonvarna. Efforts are being made to relocate the Ukrainians back to Shannon and, to that end, Joanne has sent a letter to the Minister for Integration, Roderic O’Gorman. To find out more Alan Morrissey was joined by Joanne Begley from the Shannon Community Integration Forum, Siobhán Boyd, a Shannon resident and Clare Regional Integration Community Forum member and Donna McGettigan, Sinn Fein Councillor, Shannon MD.

A Clare principal is calling for stronger legislation around the use of vapes which he claims are "completely unregulated" at the moment. It comes as legislation to raise the age at which tobacco products can be legally purchased has been approved. The week leading up to the Dáil summer recess is typically characterised by TDs and senators frantically striving to get legislation over the line. This week is no different as attention has turned to the minimum age at which cigarettes can be legally purchased. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has received Cabinet approval for the Public Health Tobacco Amendment Bill 2024 which sees the age at which someone can buy tobacco products raised from 18 to 21. Although the smoking rate has dipped significantly over the past twenty years, it's seen a slight increase in recent times as 18% of adults currently smoke. Research shows that those between the ages of 18 and 21 are at the highest risk of becoming a smoker. Principal of St. Flannan's College Father Ignatius

A Clare women's protection service insists nothing short of systemic change will bring about justice for victims of gender-based violence going forward. Protests are continuing around the country today in solidarity with Natasha O'Brien whose attacker Cathal Crotty from Ardnacrusha received a fully suspended sentence last week. The Taoiseach has strongly condemned the handling of the vicious assault's aftermath by the Defence Forces and has questioned if others are "hiding with convictions" among its ranks. Clare Haven Director of Services Siobhan O'Connor says questions must be asked about the manner in which judges are appointed and the training they receive.

On this weeks Sport In Focus, Three Clare girls are set to take part in the Irish U20 volleyball squad who feature in the European championships in the coming weeks. Two of the Banner representatives joined Clare FM's Derrick Lynch to talk about their journey in the sport.

On Wednesday’s Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Tommy Corbett from Carey Corbett Financial Solutions, to review the mid-year financial landscape and discuss market updates.

The US city of Phoenix, Arizona is one of the cities twinned with Ennis. The process involves these Youth Ambassadors home hosting a young person from Phoenix, with the Ennis ambassadors then travelling across the Atlantic Ocean to spend some time in Phoenix. On Wednesday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Mary Howard, Fine Gael Councillor who is involved with Ennis-Phoenix Twinning Board. Jack Healy, Ennis Youth Ambassador and Alex Wimsatt, Phoenix Youth Ambassador also joined Alan in studio.

Legendary former GAA commentator Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh has died. He passed away on Tuesday morning at the age of 93. His voice became synonymous with Gaelic Games over his 60-year career. To remember the late, great Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh, Alan Morrissey was joined by Syl O’Connor, Clare FM GAA Commentator and Marty Morrissey, RTÉ GAA Commentator. Picture (c): Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh via RTÉ Archives.

The incoming Cathaoirleach of the Shannon Municipal District claims he'll work harder than ever to advance the Shannon Town and Environs Flood Relief Scheme. Cratloe Fianna Fáil Councillor Pat O'Gorman will serve as Chairperson of the south-east Clare municipal district over the coming year - succeeding Sinn Féin Councillor Donna McGettigan who'll serve as Leas Cathaoirleach. O'Gorman was first elected to Clare County Council in 1999 and wore the county's mayoral chains from 2003 to 2004 before losing his seat, only to return to local politics in 2020 as a co-optee following Cathal Crowe's election to Dáil Éireann. He says having adequate flood defence is crucial to the town's working population.

A culture of glamourisation and social acceptance has been blamed for the almost three-fold increase in cocaine use in Clare. New Health Research Board data has revealed 81 people in this county were treated for cocaine use as a main problem last year which is almost treble the 30 cases recorded here in 2017. The number of people seeking help for cocaine use nationwide is up by 200% since 2017 while this figure is 388% for women. Polydrug/Cocaine Initiative Co-Ordinator at Bushypark Addiction Treatment Centre in Ennis Maurice Crowe says the recent soft stigma around cocaine doesn't reflect the devastating long-term harm it can cause.

A Clare Hotelier is warning the IALPA Pilot's strike will have a detrimental impact on this county's tourism industry. It comes as Aer Lingus has already cancelled 220 flights due to the industrial action planned by the pilot's union. Of the flights that have been cancelled so far, two of them are services from London-Heathrow that were due to arrive in Shannon Airport on Saturday. According to a Clare hotelier though, the real danger for the local economy, the real danger lies in the cancellation of transatlantic flights. Research from Fáilte Ireland shows that 73% of all visitors to the Banner county last Summer, travelled from overseas and so far Aer Lingus has also been forced to cancel five inbound transatlantic fights to Dublin from New York JFK. Both sides in the dispute are attending separate meetings of the Labour court this afternoon in a last ditch effort to avoid industrial action, which is due to get underway at midnight with a work-to rule, before an 8-hour stoppage on Saturday. Co-Owner o

A Clare healthcare campaigner claims adopting the stance of the Catholic Church on assisted dying would see the State "watch people suffer". It follows the publication of a pastoral letter which has criticised the recommendations of the Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying - suggesting the proposed legislation would "undermine the confidence of the terminally ill". First assembled in 2023, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying published its final report in March of this year. The report recommends that the Government introduces legislation allowing for assisted dying in restricted circumstances. As per the report, assisted dying should be an option for terminally ill people with less than six months to live, or 12 months if they are suffering from a neurodegenerative conditions. It's also stated that when a person's capacity to make a decision is in question, a functional test would be introduced as part of the assessment for eligibility. In a pastoral letter issued this week, Irish Catholi

It's hoped some of Shannon's main employers will reap the benefits of a new multi-million euro initiative. It comes as the Department of Enterprise has announced a new 300 million euro fund that will be administered by the IDA to help client companies to decarbonise the sector. Over 8,600 in Clare currently work in manufacturing industry and the government is aiming to reduce emissions in the sector by 35% by 2030. Shannon Chamber CEO Helen Downes believes the scheme could lead to a local employment boost.

On Tuesday's Morning Focus, we turned our attention towards menopause. Menopause is the most difficult time in a woman’s life, yet many women feel it goes unspoken. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Sallyanne Brady, the founder of the group Irish Menopause. Alan was also joined by Ann Reidy O'Connor. Ann who hails from Tulla shared her own story with the Morning Focus listeners. Picture (c) by Ines Fraile from Getty Images Signature via Canva.