Clare Fm - Podcasts

There's a call for the local authority to wake up to "reality" and replace the car parking spaces that have been "lost" in Ennis. Clarecastle Fianna Fáil Councillor Tom O'Callaghan is claiming the number of available space s in the county town has reduced by as much as 239 since 2023. In response, Ennis Municipal District has stated spaces haven't been "lost" but rather "repurposed" for improvement works and projects like road widening and the installation of traffic calming measures. Councillor O'Callaghan believes businesses are suffering as a result.

Clare County Council is calling on the Government to drop the age limit for free breast cancer screening by ten years. At present, the HSE only offers free breast checks to women aged 50 to 69. Roughly 3,100 people are diagnosed with breast cancer in Ireland every year, with 23% of diagnoses occurring in women under 30. Mayor of Ennis Fine Gael Councillor Mary Howard believes the this should be reflected in healthcare policy.

Oireachtas members from Clare and Limerick have given their backing to a three-tier plan to expand hospital capacity in the Mid-West, following publication of HIQA’s review of urgent and emergency care capacity in the region. At a meeting in Limerick on Monday morning, eight members of the Oireachtas agreed that all three options proposed by HIQA should be advanced in parallel to relieve ongoing pressure at University Hospital Limerick. Joe Cooney, Bodyke Fine Gael TD and Labour Tipperary TD, Alan Kelly discussed this matter with Alan Morrissey on Tuesday's Morning Focus. Photo (c) Alan Place

Former rugby player Fergus Farrell shared his story of survival after a life changing spinal injury in his new book, Rebuilding a Man. When Fergus suffered a spinal cord injury in October 2018, doctors gave him a zero per cent chance of walking again. What followed was a journey marked by an overwhelming sense of failure and unimaginable lows – including battling depression, losing his marriage and losing his business. Fergus joined Clare FM’s Daragh Dolan on Tuesday's Morning Focus. Photo (c) Gill Books

Colm Liddy, Local Historian and Author was back in studio for our Clare History in Focus slot. This week, on Tuesday's Morning Focus with Alan Morrissey, Colm delved into the early 1800's. Photo (c) Colm Liddy

The National Lottery has announced the 35 Good Cause beneficiaries that have been chosen as National Finalists in this year’s National Lottery Good Causes Awards. The great news from a Clare perspective is that the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group is among the 2025 finalists. The Kilrush based group, Ireland’s leading cetacean conservation charity dedicated to the protection, research, and welfare of whales, dolphins, and porpoises, has been shortlisted in the Heritage category. On Tuesday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey spoke with Cian Ó Nialáin, the Education and Outreach Officer. Photo (c) Clare IWDG Facebook

21 river bodies in Clare have declined in ecological status since 2019. The Environmental Protection Agency's latest Water Quality Report shows that 25 rivers in this county have now been assigned poor ecological status, the fourth highest total nationwide. The Annagh River was one six in the country assigned bad status, while Alewnaghta and Lickeen were two of 13 lakes nationwide aside bad status, while Cullaun Lough was one of 8 lakes assigned good status. EPA Senior Water Quality Scientist Dr Eoin McAleer says there are a number of issues affecting Clare.

Laura Koltunik from Sixmilebridge celebrated her 1st birthday at St. John’s in Crumlin, having been diagnosed with Hepatoblastoma before she even turned one. A fundraiser is underway to help little Laura in her fight against cancer. Laura’s dad, Adrian Fijolek, spoke with Alan Morrissey to share his daughter’s story and raise awareness of her journey. You can donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/my-friends-11-months-she-have-cancer Photo of Laura (c) Alicja Koltunik via GoFundMe

On Tuesday’s Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined in studio by John Burns, Retired Deputy Principal and Educational Consultant. John discussed the key qualities of a happy and successful secondary school student.

This week is National Fire Safety Week, 13th October – 19th October 2025. This year’s theme is ‘Together Against Fire’. The week sees people being urged to check in on vulnerable neighbours to help ensure their homes are safe from fire. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined in studio by Michael O'Brien, Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Fire and Building Control Department of Clare County Fire Rescue Service.

Clare is celebrating a world champion! Bartek Bartnik has claimed the world title at the ITF Taekwondo World Championships in Croatia. To share more about his incredible achievement, Bartek and his coach, Adrian Byrne — owner of Shannon Taekwon-Do Club joined Alan Morrissey in-studio.

The first of three planned 96-bed blocks at University Hospital Limerick has been officially opened. The €105 million project is the largest development to be delivered by the HSE this year and will bring inpatient bed capacity at the facility to 650. Fine Gael Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill was at the Dooradoyle site yesterday to open the new block. Clare FM's Seán Lyons was at the unveiling where Minister MacNeill said when it comes to fixing overcrowding in the Midwest, "all options are on the table". Photo (c) Clare FM

The Managing Director of Supermac's says they'll fight "tooth and nail" to defeat a new challenge to its planned service station in Clare. Uisce Éireann has stopped working on a wastewater connection to the new Banner Plaza located at Junction 12 outside Ennis due to High Court legal action launched against the water utility in August. The action is being taken by the group Friends of the Irish Environment on the grounds that the Clareabbey Wastewater Treatment Plan is "already overloaded" - a claim disputed by Supermac's. Pat McDonagh says there's no basis to the challenge and insists the plaza will be open to the public in the near future.

Eire Óg Captain Aaron Fitzgerald After TUS Clare SFC Final Win

Corofin's Jamie Malone After TUS Clare IFC Final Win

On Monday's Morning Focus with Alan Morrissey, Clare FM's Derrick Lynch, Kieran Madigan and Chairman of Éire Óg, Brian Howard reviewed a busy weekend of sporting fixtures. Games reviewed: TUS Clare SFC Final: Éire Óg 1-16 St. Joseph’s Doora Barefield 2-6 (Sunday, Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg) TUS Clare IFC Final: Cooraclare 2-9 Corofin 2-14 (Sunday, Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg)

The Health Minister says all options are on the table when it comes to fixing the overcrowding crisis in this region. Fine Gael Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill is at University Hospital Limerick today to open the first of three planned 96-bed blocks on the Dooradoyle campus. It comes two weeks after the publication of the findings of HIQA's review of emergency care capacity in the Midwest which recommended either increasing capacity at UHL, expanding the site or building a new hospital with an emergency department in the region. Minister MacNeill has been telling Clare FM's Seán Lyons that a decision will likely be made by Christmas but short-term solutions are required in the mean time.

Judy Beck from Clonroad Garden Centre, Ennis was back on Monday's Morning Focus to answer all your gardening queries. This week, Judy spoke about the best trees for an autumn colour. If you have any questions for Judy, contact the show on 0818 400 964 or send a text or WhatsApp to 086 1800 964.

The Johnny Fean Rhythm & Blues Festival will take place in Shannon this weekend. The event, in honour of Johnny Fean, the late Horslips guitarist who hailed from Shannon, will see a host of great acts performing across the three days, from Friday, the 17th to Sunday, the 18th of October.

Anne Gildea is bringing her new show in Clare later this week. The comedian will perform Anne Gildea - Further Adventures in Womaning at glór on Saturday, the 18th of October. To find out more, Alan Morrissey spoke with Anne on Monday's Morning Focus. Photo (c) Glór Facebook