Clare Fm - Podcasts

The days of teams getting changed in "buses and corners" at a West Clare sports ground are expected to come to a close soon with a new development coming on stream. Kilmihil People's Park has secured planning application for the provision of dressing rooms and public toilets at the amenity which opened its gates in 2021. The project is supported by an almost €70,000 Sports Capital Grant awarded last October. Quilty Fianna Fáil Councillor Michael Shannon, who was a representative on the planning application, has been telling Clare FM's Seán Lyons the park demonstrates the merit of funding community endeavours. Photo (c) Kilmihil People's Park via Facebook

A Clare Planning Consultant believes the court's process for assessing the validity of a judicial review should be maintained. It comes as the Government has published a 30 point plan to advance critical infrastructure projects. Clonlara Independent Councillor Michael Begley says if any issues are discovered, developers should be allowed to rectify them immediately rather than going through the courts again

The Tulla Music Society performed musicals in Tulla every Christmas between 1998 and 2005. Each of those years, the musicals involved a significant number of people from the local community. Later this month (Saturday, 20th December), Cnoc na Gaoithe in Tulla will screen highlights from these productions. To chat further about this, Alan Morrissey was delighted to welcome Anita O’Loughlin, former director and producer of Tulla Musical Society on Thursday's Morning Focus.

On Thursday's Morning Focus, we were focusing on the ecology of the sand dunes a Bishop’s Quarter in Ballyvaughan. That is because there appears to be an issue at the dunes, which is being described as “environmental vandalism.” To tell us more about what has been going on, and how serious it is, Alan Morrissey spoke with Kevin Lynch, Coastal geomorphologist physical geographer environmental scientist at University of Galway. Photo (c) Tripadvisor

The Kilfenora Players return to the stage this coming weekend. The group will perform Bryan McMahon's “The Bugle in the Blood”. It will run at Kilfenora Community Hall this Friday, Saturday and Sunday (5th – 7th December, 8pm). To tell us more about this, Alan Morrissey was joined by Fr Ned Crosby, Director of the play and Judith Davoren, who helped with sound design.

On this week's episode of Clare Women In Business, Pat Flynn chats with Gillian Ennis, co-owner of Carrigerry Country House near Newmarket on Fergus. Clare Women in Business is funded by Coimisiún na Meán with the television licence fee.

The Minister for Defence, Tánaiste Simon Harris, has appointed a new Assistant Chief of Staff to the Irish Defence Forces...and it is a Clare man. Brigadier General Neil Nolan has served for more than 35 years as an infantry officer. He is well known in the Defence Forces and has served in a variety of roles across the military as well as deployments with the United Nations, NATO and the EU. Neil’s most recent appointment was as Director of the Army Force Design office with responsibility for planning and designing the future structures and capabilities of the Army. He has also served as Director of Infantry of the Defence Forces. Alan Morrissey spoke with Neil on Thursday's Morning Focus. Photo (c) Irish Defence Forces Facebook

Conor Murray enjoyed a 15-year career with Munster, winning two URC titles during his time with the province. The former scrum-half also earned 125 caps for Ireland, winning five Six Nations titles including two Grand Slams, as well as earning eight test caps with the British and Irish Lions. He has written a new autobiography. In Cloud Nine: My Life in Rugby, written with Tommy Conlon, the Limerick man describes the ups and downs, the mental and physical challenges and the fun he had during a rugby career. Conor will be signing copies of his book at the Ennis Bookshop this Saturday, the 6th December at 12.30 p.m. To find out more, he joined Alan Morrissey on Thursday's Morning Focus. Photo (c) Easons

Clare Gardaí will take on Clare Masters in a charity football match. The game, in aid of Little Blue Heroes Foundation, will be held at Éire Óg in Ennis, this Sunday the 7th of December from 2pm. For more on this, Alan Morrissey was joined by Cathal O’Gorman, member of Clare Garda Football and based in Ennis Garda Station. Image (c) Official Clare GAA via Instagram

The Government has launched what it is calling a radical 30-point plan to speed up crucial decisions on infrastructure projects. It includes plans to fast track projects which are in the national interest and changing the fee structure for legal costs when taking judicial reviews. It comes at a time when legal decisions are slowing up plans for the Metrolink and the Greater Dublin Drainage project. For more on this, Alan Morrissey spoke with the Tulla Fianna Fáil Minister of State, Timmy Dooley.

A Clare environmental group claims no environmental consideration has gone into plans for a new gas terminal on the Shannon Estuary. Gas Networks Ireland has announced that Ireland's first strategic gas emergency reserve, which will act as a temporary natural gas facility in the event of disruption to the country's supply, will be located at Cahiracon near Kildysart. The Stop Shannon LNG coalition has labelled say the project would represent a "reckless and unnecessary shift towards long-term fossil gas infrastructure" and that it would be in "direct conflict" with Ireland's climate obligations. Emanuela Ferrari of Futureproof Clare, which is part of the coalition, believes it's purely an economic endeavour.

Shovels are finally in the ground at the site of what's soon to be Clare's first Renal Haemodialysis unit. Having been granted planning permission for the facility in May, Fresenius Medical Care has now secured a commencement notice, allowing construction to begin this week. The unit will be located in the Clare Technology Park on the Gort Road in Ennis, and it's estimated it will serve at least 80 patients when operational next June. Ennis Fianna Fáil Councillor Pat Daly says it's a significant breakthrough for the county.

Fr Gerry Kenny leads our Sunday Prayer for today the 7th December 2025, the Second Sunday of Advent. Fr Gerry is joined by Students and muscians from St Joseph's Community College in West Clare.

It's a busy time across County Clare for Christmas markets! On Wednesday’s Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey caught up with organisers from Mountshannon, Broadford, Kilrush, Lahinch, Kilkee, and Miltown Malbay to hear what locals and visitors can look forward to at this year’s festive markets. Alan spoke with Frank Bouchier in Mountshannon, Karen O’Connor in Broadford, Brid Meaney in Kilrush, Susan Harrington in Lahinch, Deborah Hickie in Kilkee and Neil Hynes in Miltown Malbay. Photo (c) Oleksandr P from Pexels via Canva

The West Clare Cancer Centre has honoured long-time supporter Matt Keating, presenting him with a special appreciation award for his many years of dedicated fundraising. The gesture, made by Mary McGrath and the team, recognises the vital role Matt has played in helping the centre continue its outstanding work supporting people in West Clare affected by cancer. Alan Morrissey spoke with Matt on Tuesday's Morning Focus. Photo (c) West Clare Cancer Facebook

On Wednesday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey spoke with Tommy Corbett from Carey Corbett Financial Solutions. This week, Tommy spoke to us about how a person can make the most of increased earnings and avoiding so-called 'Lifestyle Creeps'.

County Clare has been awarded the title of European Volunteering Capital 2027. The Banner County was awarded the title by the Centre of European Volunteering (CEV) at the European Volunteering Capital Winner announcement, in Barcelona. Clare now joins a distinguished list of previous European Volunteering Capitals, including Barcelona, Lisbon, London, Berlin and Gdansk. Sligo was the only Irish winner to date, in 2017. For more on this exciting news, Alan Morrissey was joined by Sharon Meaney, Manager at Clare Volunteer Centre on Wednesday's Morning Focus. Photo (c) Clare County Council

Transport Infrastructure Ireland is being accusing of being "asleep at the wheel" regarding the surge in road traffic collisions on the main route between Ennis and Limerick. More than 35 crashes have taken place on the Clare stretch of the M18 motorway and N18 dual-carriageway since the start of September, with the vast majority occurring between Junction 11 Dromoland and Junction 5 Cratloe. The TII has recently committed to a conducing a review which will examine the cause of the incidents and recommend safety measures. Cratloe Fianna Fáil Councillor Pat O'Gorman wants to see average speed cameras to deter unsafe driver behaviour.

Eilish McCarthy has just published her memoir, "Two Islands", about growing up in County Clare. Eilish shares about her youth spent between Liscannor, the Aran Islands and boarding in an Ennis school It will be launched this Saturday the 6th of December at 7pm in McHughs, Liscannor. To find out more, Alan Morrissey spoke with Eilish McCarthy on Wednesday's Morning Focus.

Management at University Hospital Limerick have asked the public to first consider all available healthcare alternatives before attending the Emergency Department there, which is currently prioritising treatment of the sickest, most seriously injured and frailest patients. This follows the huge demand the Dooradoyle facility has experienced for its services. In the 24 hours between Monday and Tuesday, upwards of 350 people attended the Emergency Department there in the past 24 hours. For more on this, HSE Mid-West Regional Executive Officer Sandra Broderick joined Alan Morrissey on Morning Focus. Photo (c) Clare FM