Clare Fm - Podcasts

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Day will take place this Sunday. There are approximately 40,000 people in Ireland living with inflammatory bowel disease or IBD. On Wednesday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Sarah O’Connor, from Crusheen who has been diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease to discuss World IBD day. Picture (c) worldibbday.org

The Taoiseach insists forward planning is taking place with regard to healthcare bed capacity in the Midwest. It's over a month since the Health Minister announced up to 25 step-down beds would be brought on stream in Clare between July and September of this year but the tender for this project remains open. No clarification has been given from the Government or the HSE as to why Cahercalla Community Hospital was initially named as the location of these beds despite the facility claiming to have no knowledge of any such plans. Responding to Scariff Independent TD Michael McNamara in the Dáil, Taoiseach Simon Harris admits increased capacity and improved governance and management are of pivotal importance in this region.

Clare County Council is set to review its procurement policy following a motion inspired by the ongoing conflict in Gaza. It follows the formation of a new protest group here, BDS Clare, which has launched a campaign urging local stores to discontinue carrying Israeli products and register as Apartheid Free Zones. Over 35,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 7th according to the Gazan Health Ministry, while in the past week the UN estimates over 450,000 civilians have fled the border town of Rafah. Maghera based Fianna Fáil Councillor Pat Hayes says the local authority must ensure it's not investing in countries responsible for human rights violations.

The Pope has nominated a Killaloe Priest as Apostolic Nuncio to South Sudan. Monsignor Séamus Horgan, who will be based in the city of Juba, is also appointed by Pope Francis to the titular See of Árd Sratha - Ardstraw, CoTyrone. A native of Tobarteascáin near St. Flannan’s College where he completed his secondary schooling, Monsignor Horgan entered St Patrick’s College Maynooth in 1987 before being ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Michael Harty in 1994 at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Ennis. Commenting on the appointment, Bishop of Killaloe Dr. Fintan Monahan said, "I warmly congratulate Monsignor Séamus Horgan on his appointment by Pope Francis to be Nuncio to South Sudan based in the city of Juba. He is also appointed to the titular See of Árd Sratha - Ardstraw, County Tyrone." Bishop Monahan continued, "Monsignor Horgan brings a wealth of pastoral and practical experience with him to his new role. A conscientious, diligent and prayerful pastor, his engagement with people is marked with

On this week’s History in Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by local historian and author Colm Liddy to talk about the 1400s and castles in Ireland. If you have any stories you would like to share with Colm about your town, you can contact him at colmliddy@eircom.net or Clare FM at focus@clare.fm.

An MEP for this region claims the European Union should be held responsible for prolonging Wars in Ukraine in Gaza. It comes as a new front has opened in the North-East of the country after Russian troops were able to make territorial advances due to delays in western military aid reaching Ukraine. While on March 1st, 393 of the 543 sitting MEPs voted against an Israeli arms embargo proposed by the left group. Ireland South Independents 4 Change MEP Mick Wallace believes the EU is not serving the best interests of its people.

Clare dog owners are being reminded it only takes 10 minutes for a dog to die if left in a car. The County Dog Warden was alerted to a situation in recent days in which two dogs were left in the back of a van for a lengthy period of time in 23-degree heat. Dogs that are overweight, of advanced age or have lung or heart disease are especially at risk of heat stroke or death as their respiratory systems are already suppressed. Clare County Dog Warden Frankie Coote says dog owners need to be aware that their pets can do little to fend off extreme heat when locked in a vehicle.

Controversy over GAA GO continues, with Simon Harris now entering the debate. The Taoiseach remarked that the GAA have "gotten this wrong", while Tánaiste Micheál Martin said "I've huge concerns about it, I don't understand it, in terms of the promotion of the game of hurling”. The Taoiseach was among those criticising the streaming service in the aftermath of last weekend’s classic Munster Hurling Championship clash between Cork and All-Ireland champions Limerick, which was available only on GAA GO. To discuss this further Alan Morrissey spoke with Derrick Lynch, Clare FM Sports Editor. Rory Hickey, Clare FM Football Analyst and Timmy Dooley, Clare member of the Oireachtas Media Committee Senator on Tuesday's Morning Focus.

Ger Staunton will be bringing his unique brand of comedy to Clare this summer. The stand-up comedian and actor, hailed as “one of the best comedy writers in Ireland” by the International Comedy Club, will perform at Glór on the 6th of July, in what will be his first-ever show in the Banner County. Alan Morrissey was joined by Comedian and Actor, Ger Staunton on Tuesday's Morning Focus. Picture (c) Glór.ie

Micheál Garrihy from Lisdoonvarna has recently graduated from a US college, where he was on a soccer scholarship. Micheál, who was also awarded Student Athlete of the Year, joined Alan Morrissey on Tuesday's Morning Focus.

You will have heard Colum McGrath reference a very scary incident involving his children on the Breakfast Show on Monday. Colum took his daughter and youngest son, along with a friend of his daughter swimming in Lahinch over the weekend. However, what should have been a lovely day out at the beach for all concerned almost ended in unspeakable tragedy, only for the help of some alert surfers. It has raised the issue once again of lifeguards at Clare’s beaches. To tell us what happened, Colum McGrath joined Alan Morrissey on Tuesday's Morning Focus. Alan was also joined on the line by Richard Brangwyn, a Lahinch Surf Instructor, Liam Grant, a Lahinch Green Party Councillor & Former Lifeguard and Ollie O’Flaherty, Owner of Ollie’s Surf Academy in Lahinch.

Clare County Council is calling on the Government to address the "huge failures" of reconfiguration and the HSE in the MidWest. It’s after a proposal was passed with cross-party support at this week’s meeting of elected representatives; just four days after the Department of Health announced a review to determine if a second Emergency Department is needed in the region. HSE MidWest Regional Executive Officer Sandra Broderick is due to appear before the council next Monday for an in-camera workshop to discuss local service deficits. Shannon Independent Councillor Gerry Flynn says the HSE must recognise that serious action is needed here now.

It's predicted Clare's primary schools will have to ramp up their fundraising efforts due to cuts to their funding from Government. The Department of Education has announced that the annual grant for primary schools has been cut by €16 per pupil - down from €96 to just €80. It comes one year on from the roll-out of the free schoolbooks scheme which was introduced for all primary school students for the 2023/24 year, meaning over 563,000 benefitted. Clare INTO representative Brendan Horan suspects the Government hasn't thought about the long term repercussions cutting funding will have on certain schools.

Avenue's Conor Mullen After Winning CDSL Premier Division Title

The Minister for Rural and Community Development predicts a major funding boost will make an East Clare town a more attractive place to live, work and invest in. As part of a €164 million funding announcement today, Scariff has been granted over €8.7 million under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund. The allocation will go towards the almost €11 million Scariff Integrated Rural Regeneration Project, which will see the renovation of an existing vacant building as a community and enterprise hub, as well as the enhancement of the Market Square. Speaking at the launch of the newly-refurbished Loop Head Lighthouse Visitor Experience today, Minister Heather Humphreys has been telling Clare FM’s Seán Lyons the Government is committed to addressing vacancy and dereliction throughout rural Ireland.

A Clare developer is predicting a major change in building practices in order to stem the housing crisis. It follows a recent report, which found Ireland's competitiveness is at risk, due to the current state of the property market.

On Monday’s Morning Focus, Alan Morrisssey was joined by Tom Stewart from Keane’s Garden Centre in Kilcolgan. This week, Tom gave listeners advice on plants to grow in shaded areas. If you have a question for Tom, contact the show on 0818 400 964 or send a text or Whatsapp to 086 1800 964.

The Government is being criticised for dragging its heels on a major renewable energy project off Clare's coast. Under the Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce plan, the state is aiming to harness 30 GW (Gigga-Watts) of offshore green energy and to create 50,000 jobs in the region by 2050. Despite being launched last year though, no projects in the Shannon Estuary Maritime area have been zoned for wind energy development. Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce Chair Barry O'Sullivan says local authorities should have the power to zone offshore sites to expedite the process.

To discuss the latest in the entertainment world, Alan Morrissey was joined by Clare FM’s Colum McGrath, on Monday’s Morning Focus. This week, Colum discussed the results of this year's Eurovison Song Contest and much more!

The students at St. Anne’s Community College in Killaloe are hosting their inaugural arts and music festival later this week. The Fresh Eyes Festival, which will take place on Thursday (16th May), is a youth led arts and music festival that has been organised by and is being run by the college’s Transition Year students. To find out more about the event, Alan Morrissey spoke with students Aisling O'Connor and Sara Lancaster.