Clare Fm - Podcasts

On this week's episode of Atlantic Tales, Pat Flynn visits the Burren Art Gallery near Tubber to meet artist and curator Andrew Waterhouse who saved a 230-year-old church from ruin, to create an incredible artist's space.

Clare have taken a huge step towards qualifying for the Munster Senior Hurling Final. Brian Lohan's side defeated Waterford by just a point in Cusack Park on a score of 4-21 to 2-26. Scarriff's Mark Rodgers hit the winning score for Clare from a 65 after Shane Bennett had levelled the game with a penalty for Waterford The win leaves The Banner in second place in the Munster Table ahead of next weekend's clash with Tipperary at Semple Stadium

A significant funding boost for Scariff is expected to have a knock-on effect on communities across East Clare. The market town has been granted over €8.7 million under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund to go towards the €11 million Scarriff Integrated Rural Regeneration Project. The announcement was made by Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys during her trip to Clare yesterday. Tulla Fianna Fáil Senator Timmy Dooley is hopeful the investment will result in enhanced infrastructure in Scariff and beyond.

The lack of progress on finding a safe solution to a notorious junction on the outskirts of Ennis has been described as "frustrating". It follows a motion raised by Fine Gael Councillor Mary Howard at this month's meeting of the Ennis Municipal District to the junction where traffic emerges from the Shanaway Road onto the Lahinch Road. Clare County Council has confirmed it's working with Transport Infrastructure Ireland to implement a raised pedestrian crossing as an interim safety intervention, and is "progressing a preliminary design" for an eventual mini roundabout at the junction. Councillor Howard says the issue is particularly pressing because of the speed at which motorists emerge from Shanway Road.

In this week's Beyond Belief Fr Brendan Quinlivan has a special guest, Fr. Eamonn Kelly LC, Kilkeedy Parish (Tubber and Boston) who currently works and ministers in Magdala on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. He shares the story of his life and ministry and reflects on the impact that the current conflict has had on people in his care. Fr Brendan also talks to a Tanzanian priest who is working in Thurles with the Pallotine Fathers and is currently visiting parishes in the Killaloe Diocese to make the annual mission.

Fr Gerry Kenny leads our Sunday Prayer on the Day of Pentecost 19th May 2024.

It's claimed Government negligence to invest in Clare's roads and community facilities has diluted opportunities in the tourism market for accommodation providers. It comes as one third of hotel and b&b beds here are being used to house either Ukrainian refugees or International Protection Applicants. There are now 789 International Protection Applicants living in Clare, which is an increase of 40% in the past year. Kilkee based Independent Ireland local election candidate Kevin Hassett claims enhanced infrastructure is needed to develop a county proud to promote tourism.

Safety information billboards could be installed at Clare's beaches this summer. The local authority is considering the approach after a request to provide signage at all green flag and blue flag bathing areas to display daily updated information for visitors. The billboards would show emergency numbers, low and high tide times, swimming conditions, the sunburn index and lifeguard hours of operation. Doonbeg Fianna Fáil Councillor Rita McInerney says the measure will be crucial to safety in peak season.

Ahead of Monday's Munster MHC final clash with Cork, Clare FM's Derek Dormer spoke with Clare coaches Donal Moloney and Damien O'Halloran along with player Harry Doherty to look ahead to game.

Three Clare communities will benefit from a Government fund aimed at addressing challenges such as dereliction and vacancy. Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys has today announced €680,000 will go to to 68 towns nationwide under the Town Centre First Town Team Support Fund. Clarecastle, Lisdoonvarna and Tulla will each receive €10,000 to either support existing Town Teams or develop teams where they are not already established. Clarecastle Fine Gael Councillor Paul Murphy has been telling Clare FM's Seán Lyons that today's announcement is the first step on a long road towards building a better future for the fishing village.

Hope has been expressed that the green space at Waterpark Campus in Drumbiggle can be preserved and repurposed for community use. Clare County Council recently withdrew plans to construct a 122 space car park at the site, but has since confirmed its intention to resubmit an ammended application, following engagement with residents, Councillors and the public. A petition of local residents objecting to the development garnered almost 500 signatures during the initial planning process, with strong criticism mounted over the potential loss of a valuable recreational area and biodiversity habitat. Ennis Fianna Fáil local election candidate Antoinette Baker Bashua says the amenity must be developed for the best interests of the community.

A former Mayor of Shannon who's called time on his 25-year career in local politics says having no party affiliation has been both a blessing and a curse. Shannon Independent Councillor Gerry Flynn has announced he won't be running in the upcoming local election, having first been elected to Shannon Town Council in 1999 while a member of Fine Gael. The Miltown Malbay native played a central role in securing €27 million in Government funding for the Shannon Town and Environs Flood Relief Scheme in 2018, and made national headlines one year later when he was re-elected to Clare County Council only by having more first preference votes than fellow candidate Garret McPhillips. Councillor Flynn says being an Independent representative forced him to think on his feet and stay in tune with the issues of the day.

The head of East Clare Tourism believes accommodation supply must "catch up" if tourism in the region is to flourish. Bunratty Castle and Folk Park has declared its intention to become Ireland's number one visitor attraction by 2027, with a 150-seater restaurant due to open at the site by Christmas this year. A five-bed residency at Knappogue Castle and Gardens is due to be brought on stream this July and is expected to be "at five-star standard". General Manager of East Clare Tourism, Stephen Hanley says while his department is doing what it can, it's up to Clare County Council to push for more bed capacity.

This week on ‘Ours To Protect’, we hear what will be happening in Clare for National Biodiversity Week which begins today Friday, May 17th. Pat Flynn has been speaking with Barry O’Loughlin, Biodiversity Officer with Clare County Council.

It is time for the fourteenth episode of our newest feature on Morning Focus, Village Tour, where Alan Morrissey paid a visit to O’Briens Bridge. 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.

Next Monday is International Clinical Trials Day. To mark the occasion, Cancer Trials Ireland is hosting a public webinar on cancer clinical trials. The webinar will hear from an oncologist on the importance of cancer trials, along with a patient on their experience of taking part. To find out more about this, Seamus Cotter, an Ennis native and the chair of the Irish Lung Cancer Community, joined Alan Morrissey on Friday's Morning Focus. After taking part in a clinical trial for cancer, Seamus Cotter received the all-clear and was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer.

New regulations will require e-scooters to be safe, roadworthy and must not "endanger, impede, or inconvenience the driver, other road users, or members of the public". Children under the age of 16 using electric scooters in a public place is to be prohibited starting next Monday. Under the Road Traffic (Electric Scooters) Regulations: - The ordinary speed limit for an electric scooter on all public roads is 20km per hour. - Using an e-scooter to carry more than one person at the same time will also be prohibited. It says an electric scooter should not be fitted with a seat. - The regulations also include strict requirements around braking and lighting. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey spoke with superintendent Eddie Golden of the Clare Tipperary Roads Policing Unit, who is welcoming the legislation. Alan was also joined by Claire Cassidy from Ennis, who’s visually impaired and involved with the Disability Advocacy Group; the National Council of the Blind.

A highly-anticipated infrastructural project in East Clare is due to begin its phased opening later this year. The Killaloe Bypass, which will provide an alternative route to the west of the town, is expected to be operational by the final quarter of 2024. Works are expected to conclude on the Shannon Bridge Crossing, which will be roughly 1km south of the existing Killaloe Bridge, between January and March of next year, while the completion of the existing R494 regional road between Ballina and Birdhill in mid-2025 will see the project finished. Project Liason and Clare County Council Civil Engineer Padraic Cullen says a key advantage of the new road will be the segregation of cyclists and motorists.

It's claimed a balance between community and tourism investment is urgently needed in West Clare. Currently the settlements of Mullagh and Urban Kilrush are listed among the Top 100 in Pobal's deprivation index. It's raised concern locally over a lack of visitor opportunities to stimulate economic activity in areas that don't feature on the Wild Atlantic Way. Mullagh based Fine Gael local election candidate Theresa Doohan says new amenities must be developed to attract footfall.

Clare FM's Derrick Lynch speaks with Clare's David Fitzgerald after he was named the PwC GAA/GPA Hurler of the Month for March