Clare Fm - Podcasts

This Friday, the 24th of October, the people of Ireland will go to the polls to elect our next President. The electorate will decide whether Independent candidate, Catherine Connolly and Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys succeed Michael D Higgins in Áras an Úachtaráin. The name of Jim Gavin, Fianna Fáil’s candidate who withdrew from the race on the 5th of October, remains on the ballot paper. That means there will still be three names on the ballot, even though only two candidates remain active in the campaign. For some guidance ad advice on all this, Alan Morrissey spoke to Art O’Leary, Chief Executive of An Coimisiún Toghchain on Monday's Morning Focus. Photo (c) An Coimisiún Toghcháin

An inquest into the death of a Clare woman at University Hospital Limerick a day after suffering a miscarriage was told her family are “haunted” by fears that suspected sepsis was not acted upon in a timely manner. Leona Cusack, from Ballycasey in Shannon died on the 18th of February 2024. The 33-year-old was just over five weeks pregnant following IVF when she came to the maternity hospital in the early hours of 15th February. The inquest heard the clinical markers for sepsis were present when she presented at the hospital on the morning of 17th February, yet she did not receive broad spectrum antibiotics until 4pm, which doctors acknowledged was a breach of protocol. Alan Morrissey was joined by Damien Tansey, Solicitor for the Cusack Family on Monday's Morning Focus.

Clare farmers are set to receive €23m in advanced payments. According to the Department of Agriculture approximately 5,596 herds in this county have qualified for the Basic and Complementary Redistributive Income Sustainability Support Schemes. The new CRISS scheme works by redistributing CAP payments from large farms to small and medium holdings. Clare ICMSA Secretary Martin McMahon says the payments are particularly vital at this time of year.

On this week’s Atlantic Tales Pat Flynn visits Killaloe to hear about the town’s most famous son, an intelligent tactician and deadly warrior, leader of the Dalcassian Army and High King of Ireland. He reigned over a thousand years ago however the story of the legendary Brian Ború will never be forgotten.

The national planning body is said to be "flatly ignoring" passenger safety advice by allowing wind farms to be built close to flight radar in Clare. Meelick Fianna Fáil TD Cathal Crowe has told the Taoiseach that in spite from advice from the Irish Aviation Authority, wind turbines are being granted planning permission in the vicinity of radar infrastructure. This, he says, distorts the signal of where the aircraft are and "jeopardises passenger safety". Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy Crowe says expert advice must be heeded.

Pyrite affected homeowners in Clare could receive uplift payments before Christmas. It's understood opposition parties have decided to waive the pre-legislative scrutiny element of a bill that will enable households that previously received compensation under lower redress limits to be topped up. Last October the maximum payment under the Enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Scheme was increased from €420,000 to €462,000. Kilrush Independent Councillor Ian Lynch met with Housing Minister James Browne on the matter.

The parameters of a scheme offering subsidised painting works to Ennis businesses are to be announced in the coming weeks. Ennis Municipal District has confirmed that as the public realm works near completion, it expects to be in a position to progress the scheme early next year, with the painting to be carried out in the early spring. Mayor of Ennis Fine Gael Councillor Mary Howard proposed the scheme in October 2024 as a means of supporting businesses impacted by the public realm enhancement works. She believes having their premises painted at a discounted rate will be the "cherry on top" for traders.

Fr Brendan Quinlivan presents this week’s Beyond Belief which has a focus on mission, in a programme that brings us to Africa, South America, India, Corofin, Toomevara and Labasheeda.

Fr Brendan Quinlivan leads our Sunday Prayer for this morning Sunday 19th October 2025, the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

The Dáil has heard that people in West and North Clare are being "priced out of their own towns" due to the demand for holiday homes. Bodyke Fine Gael TD Joe Cooney has told the Minister for Housing that locals in Kilkee, Doolin, Quilty, Carrigaholt, Kilbaha, Fanore, Spanish Point, Lahinch and Ballyvaughan are unable to buy homes in their native areas as a result of their popularity as tourist destinations. The average price of a home in Clare in the period of July to September was €285,000 which was unchanged from the same period of last year. Deputy Cooney says if "sustainable rural development", more homes must be built in these communities.

A meeting of Clare County Council has heard that University Hospital Limerick is "embarrassingly unsafe" for patients. It comes as the local authority has passed two proposals calling for a model 4 hospital to be built in this county. The Health Minister has promised to make a decision on the matter in December and while the first of three planned 96 bed blocks opened at Dooradoyle this week, its still seen an average of 80 patients on trolleys every day since. Clonlara Independent Councillor Michael Begley says services must be established in Clare.

On this podcast: Clare FM's Derrick Lynch looks ahead to the 2025 Clare Premier Intermediate hurling, Intermediate hurling and Junior A hurling championship finals.

Clare FM's Derek Dormer speaking with Inagh-Kilnamona and Truagh-Clonlara ahead of the 2025 Clare Credit Unions senior camogie final

It's claimed new guidelines are restricting Clare Special Needs Assistants from helping children in the classroom. It comes as the Department of Education has also been requested to carry out a full review of additional needs school spaces in this county. A circular issued by the Department of Education in May states the role of the SNA is to support the care needs of a child and that responsibility for the overall progress of students lies with the classroom teacher. A recent report by the he National Council for Special Education has also indicated that SNAs should have no role in assisting children with behavioural difficulties, causing outcry in Clare. The local authority has now requested that Minister Helen McEntee calls for an urgent meeting with the NCSE to resolve the issues. Ennis Fianna Fáil Councillor and SNA, Antoinette Baker Bashua believes it's a glaring policy error.

It's claimed small and medium enterprises in Clare are losing the equivalent of 58 working days every year in unnecessary HR tasks. A new report from HR Locker estimates that companies are spending an average of €22,000 annually due to inefficient administration. The responses from over 100 firms nationwide indicate that businesses are spending at least 16 hours a week on wasteful errands. HR Locker CEO Crystel Robbins Rynne says outdated information systems are preventing progress.

An Ennis GP insists practical tools can be acquired by women to allow them to "thrive" in their later years. For the second year in a row, glór will play host to a free public information on World Menopause Day 2025 this Saturday the 18th of October from 9am. Supported by Creative Ireland and Healthy Clare, the event offers a programme designed to foster community wellbeing while offering advice on areas like health, nutrition, physical activity, and mental well-being during perimenopause and menopause. Dr Máire Finn of Ennis Medical says it will be a friendly environment where people can ask questions and gain valuable knowledge.

A decision on a design for pedestrian and cycling facilities at the Clareabbey Roundabout is believed to be "imminent". Ennis Municipal District has confirmed a preliminary design for a remodelling of the notorious junction located between Clarecastle and Ennis has been submitted to Transport Infrastructure Ireland for approval. It's understood a decision on this is "imminent" and the plans will proceed to the statutory consent process before Christmas, at which point the proposed works will be presented for public consultation. Clarecastle Fine Gael Councillor Paul Murphy believes the existence of a timeline is a cause for hope.

A review of available school places for children with additional needs has been requested in Clare. It's after the local authority backed a proposal calling for the Department of Education to analyse the current and projected future capacity for school places, staffing and facilities. The report will focus on reducing journey times, travel burdens and costs for families. Kilrush Independent Councillor Ian Lynch says the current state of affairs is causing severe stress and complications.

Almost a third of employees in Clare failed to take their full annual leave entitlements last year. A new report from FRS recruitment shows 31% of workers in this county did not use their full allocation of holidays in 2024. The survey also found that 2 in 5 people affected were not able to carry days over. Head of Technical Engineering & Life Science at FRS Gwen Leydon says staff often feel guilty about taking time off.

Monsters, Misfits and Mayhem are set to take over Bunratty Castle and Folk Park this October Bank Holiday Weekend from the 25th - 27th of October, turning the popular County Clare attraction into a frightfully fun Halloween village. Adrienne O Flynn, Sales and Marketing Manager joined Alan Morrissey to fill us in on what people can expect. Photo (c) Hospitality Ireland