Clare Fm - Podcasts

Stephen Fletcher presents this Sunday's Beyond Belief and talks to Vatican correspondent Colm Flynn and Damian Shorten the new Safeguarding Officer for the church of Ireland Diocese of Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe. He also chats weddings, weather and tourists with his friend and colleague Fr Gerry Kenny.

Stephen Fletcher presents this week's Sunday Prayer for the 7th July 2024 the 14th Sunday of Ordinary time, the 6th Sunday after Trinity.

Clare FM's Derrick Lynch & Tommy Guilfoyle analyse Clare's win over Kilkenny, along with reaction from manager Brian Lohan, Clare FM Patrick Bourke Menswear Man of the Match Adam Hogan and Tony Kelly

Relive Clare's dramatic two point win over Kilkenny in the 2024 All Ireland Hurling Championship Semi Final by listening to Clare FM's live commentary from the game.

Ollie Baker talks to Clare FM's Derrick Lynch ahead of the third instalment of Clare's All Ireland Hurling Semi Final trilogy with Kilkenny.

An MEP elected for this region is calling for the minimum age limit for starting a social media account to be increased to 16. New research from Cyber Safe Kids shows that 84% of Irish children aged between 8 and 12 have an account on social media, despite an age limit of thirteen years in place at present. It comes amid renewed concern over the psychological affects of young people accessing harmful, violent and sexually explicit content online. Fianna Fáil Ireland South MEP elect Cynthia Ní Mhurcú says the mental health impacts can be devastating.

Car sales in Clare were almost 60% below 2023 levels last month. June was the first consecutive month in which the number of vehicles sold here was lower than the same month last year. Just 26 car registrations were recorded in Clare last month compared to 62 in June 2023 - indicating a decrease of 58%. With the total number of car sales in Clare this year just 2% above the same period last year, Director General of the Society of the Irish Motor Industry Brian Cooke says stagnated sales growth is being experienced across the board.

No prizes for guessing where the focus lies this week as the trilogy is to be completed in Croke Park where Clare and Kilkenny do battle once again for a place in the All Ireland hurling final. We will get the views from both sides of the fence, and we will also be talking to a man from a different sphere that could be good omen for Clare

Ennis Chamber Launches Socio-Economic Profile Of County Town. More than half of those working in Ennis don't live in the town while almost two fifths of Ennis residents work elsewhere. These findings - and more - are contained in a new socio-economic report of the county town launched by Ennis Chamber today.

The Clare-based Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Drugs Use insists it's vital the long-term consequences of legalising drugs in other countries is examined before recommendations on the matter are made here. The committee, which was established to deal with the recommendations of the Citizens Assembly on Drugs Use, has this week resumed its discussions on decriminalisation, depenalisation, diversion and legalisation of drugs use. Among the recommendations of the citizens assembly was decriminalising drugs use, in favour of a health-led approach, however it didn't go as far as suggesting legalising drugs use. There have been calls for this in some quarters though and Chair of the Oireachtas Committee, Scarriff Independent TD and MEP elect, Michael McNamara says there's suggestions that doing so hasn't had the desired effect in other countries.

It's claimed Clare people have been neglected by government when it comes to shaping climate policy. It follows the new Climate Conversation Report from the Department of Environment which has identified a reluctance of men to eat less meat and young people to reduce flying abroad as barriers to tackling climate change. The report, which surveyed over 12,000 people nationwide also found that just 48% of respondents say they use public transport more often than their car. Co-Founder of Future Proof Clare and Clare Public Participation Network, Theresa O'Donoghue has been telling Clare FM's Daragh Dolan that while more personal urgency is needed, people deserve more say on decisions affecting daily life.

The Limerick and Clare Education And Training Board is calling on the Government to tackle inequalities in the education sector in the upcoming budget. Representatives have met with members of the Oireachas at the launch of the # Support Your Local ETB campaign, which was organised by Education and Training Boards Ireland, the representative body of 16 ETBs nationwide. The campaign calls for an increase the number and profile of Community National Schools and in the Deputy Principal allocation in ETB post-primary schools with DEIS designation. It also wants to see increased funding for Further Education and Training and for funding for youth work to be restored to pre-austerity levels, with pay parity for youth workers. Chief Executive of the Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board, George O'Callaghan hopes progress can be made in October's budget.

It is time for the fourth episode of our newest feature on Morning Focus, Energising Clare. This new feature will be about educating you, the listener, on renewables. On this weeks episode, Alan Morrissey was joined by Dave Linehan, the Head of Policy with Wind Energy Ireland to discuss the importance of our electricity grid.

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

The Clare Older People’s Council will hold their Annual General Meeting next week. The representative group of older people’s AGM is set to take place on Tuesday, the 9th of July. To find out more, Alan Morrissey was joined by Madge O'Callaghan, PRO of the Clare Older People’s Council. To register for attendance please telephone 065 6846240 or email agefriendlyclare@clarecoco.ie Picture (c): Clare County Council via Facebook.

The Health Minister is being called on to protect Ennistymon's two pharmacies from closure upon the opening of the town's primary care centre. Minister of State Joe O'Brien confirmed in April that updated submissions would be sought for the long-awaited Ennistymon Primary Care Centre before the end of June - after which point the project would progress through the review, planning and construction stages. There are currently 13 primary care centres in the Midwest - many of which contain in-house pharmacies. Addressing the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly in the Seanad, Ennistymon Fine Gael Senator Martin Conway says there are legitimate concerns that the viability of the town's existing businesses could be threatened by the new facility.

It's hoped the renewal of an industry approved training course in West Clare will allow locals to secure skilled employment in the offshore wind sector. It comes as ESB has decided to fund its Marine Mammal Observer Training Programme in Kilrush for a second year. The programme will have five vacancies for undergraduate or post-graduate students studying marine science and related disciplines, with the deadline for applications set for July 31st. ESB Ecologist and Marine Mammal Specialist Niru Dorrian says its vital communities to benefit from offshore wind can secure important jobs in the industry.

An urgent meeting between Clare County Council and Uisce Éireann is being sought to ensure the county's tourism-dependent regions can enjoy adequate water supply going forward. Following supply interruptions in West Clare due to a burst main on the Old Doolough supply on Sunday, Uisce Éireann has confirmed supply has been returned to customers in Miltown Malbay, Spanish Point, Quilty, Mullagh, Coore, Creegh, Cooraclare, Cahermurphy and surrounding area. With fears having been expressed that outages could be experienced during the upcoming Willie Clancy Week, the water utility has claimed there are no planned outages in the area from July 6th to 14th. Cathaoirleach of the West Clare Municipal District and Doonbeg Fianna Fáil Councillor Rita McInerney says she believes engagement is needed with Uisce Éireann to ensure they appreciate the importance of reliable water supply in West Clare.

Clare's Fianna Fáil TD believes the government will call an Autumn general election, despite insistence from a senior party colleague that the coalition will run its full term. It comes as Minister for Finance Jack Chambers has also confirmed Budget 2025 will be delivered a week early on October 1st. If the 33rd Dáil term runs its full term until next February, voters from this county will have to go to the poles twice as a by-election will have to be held by January to fill the seat soon to be vacated by Clare MEP elect Michael McNamara. Meelick Deputy Cathal Crowe still anticipates an early election though and insists the government must support struggling businesses and the squeezed middle in the upcoming budget.

A Clare community group has issued a renewed scathing criticism of the Road Safety Authority in light of mounting fatalities on Irish Roads. So far this year, 97 people have died in road traffic collisions across the country, with four such incidents in Clare. The overall figure is 14% above the number of fatalities recorded nationwide at this juncture of last year, although under the RSA's current action plan, its aiming to reduce serious injuries and road deaths by 50% by 2030. Better Ennis Spokesperson Síle Guinnane says the organisation needs reform as its failing on too many levels.