Clare Fm - Podcasts

Stephen Fletcher presents this Sunday's Beyond Belief and talks to Vatican Correspondent Colm Flynn about Pope Leo's papal visit to Turkey and Lebanon. Stephen also talks to local Kilrush solicitor Geariod Williams who was recently awarded a honour by Pope Leo for his work for the church and helping a charity supporting Christians in Jerusalem and the Holy Land. Fr Gerry Kenny joins Stephen in Kilrush for a chat over coffee and mince pies and also provides a reflection for the 2nd Sunday of Advent

The Dáil has heard that Clare families living in dwellings built with defective concrete blocks fear their house will collapse whenever a weather warning is issued. It comes as the Government has published new proposed legislation containing a number of policy changes regarding grants for homeowners affected by defective construction materials. A key aspect of the new legislation is that homeowners who received a grant determination before October 23rd 2024 and have incurred eligible building costs since March 29th 2024 can seek an increased grant. Addressing the Housing Minister in the Dáil, Shannon Sinn Féin TD Donna McGettigan says at least 25 Clare households are still locked out of the scheme.

Clare saw an increase in its car sales figures last month despite a significant drop being recorded across the country. Data from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry shows 11 new vehicles were sold in the county last month compared to four at the same time in 2024. The number of new registration vehicles sold nationwide in November was down 25% on the same month last year meanwhile despite the overall figure for the first 11 months of 2025 being above the number sold in all of 2024. SIMI Director General Brian Cooke says the news is ultimately positive for Ireland's car market.

Coming up, we will look ahead to this weekends U21 A hurling final, hear the thoughts of Chloe Moloney on the proposed rule changes for ladies football, look ahead to the weekends soccer action, hear about a unique football game taking place on Sunday and a few other bits also.

Dee Fitz is an independent artist from Galway now living in Dublin. Only really got into music as covid hit. Released a song called 'Sweet Nothing', it's an indie pop song blending electric guitar, synth, bass guitar and drums. Lyrically it is all about falling short on your worth but finding your way back.

Conor Madden is an actor from Newmarket-on-Fergus, who has starred in shows such as Love/Hate, Vikings and The Twilight Zone. Conor is with me to talk about a short book he has helped to put together, of maps and local knowledge about forgotten places in Newmarket on Fergus. It will be launched this Saturday. Alan Morrissey was delighted to chat with Conor on this on Friday's Morning Focus. Photo (c) Plex

The Local Enterprise Office Clare is hosting a Women in Business networking event at The Old Ground Hotel, Ennis, from 10am–1pm. To find out what we can expect from the festive morning, Theresa Mulvihill, LEO Clare and Alison McGrath from First Steps paid a visit to Clare FM to speak to Alan Morrissey on Friday's Morning Focus.

Over 12,000 Clare people have attended the emergency department at University Hospital Galway in the last three years. New figures released by HSE Mid West to Mayor of Ennis, Fine Gael Councillor Mary Howard, show a total of 12,516 people with Clare addresses presented at the ED in Galway from the beginning of 2023 to the end of October of this year. The data also reveals that 3,436 Clare residents have travelled to the facility this year alone. Councillor Howard has been telling Clare FM's Seán Lyons people should be able to access treatment closer to home.

The RNLI is launching its Christmas fundraising appeal, as its volunteer lifeboat crews selflessly prepare to spend their Christmas on call. On average, RNLI lifeboats launch over 100 times during the Christmas period* every year, with 119 launches in 2024. Whatever weather winter throws at them, RNLI crews including those at Kilrush are ready to leave their celebrations with friends and family to battle the elements and save lives at sea. For more on this, Charlie Glynn from Kilrush RNLI was on Friday's Morning Focus with Alan Morrissey. Photo (c) Kilrush RNLI

June Dillon, Clare Aontu Representative and nurse, has called for a national testing programme for haemochromatosis in Ireland, stressing the importance of early detection and treatment. Haemochromatosis, also known as “iron overload disorder,” can cause serious health problems if left untreated, including liver damage, heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis. However, early diagnosis through a simple blood test can prevent these complications and greatly improve quality of life. Ireland has one of the highest rates of haemochromatosis in the world. June has seen the impact of the condition first hand Alan Morrissey spoke with June on Friday's Morning Focus. Photo (c) Irish Central

Soroptimist International is running the Orange the World Campaign, part of a UN initiative to raise awareness about gender-based violence. Sadly, Clare is not immune to this issue. According to Women’s Aid, over 269 women have been killed violently in Ireland since 1996, most at the hands of a current or former partner. As part of the campaign, stores across Ennis are displaying orange shoes in their windows to highlight violence against women and to remember those who have lost their lives. On Friday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey spoke with Rosalie Byrne-Muir and Dr Gwen Flynn, Ennis and District Soroptimist Club live in-studio.

The Clare Branch Of Irish Kidney Association will host its Christmas Dinner on Thursday, the 7th of December at the Temple Gate Hotel from 1pm. Special guests on the day include Dr Liam Casserly, Consultant Nephrologist at UHL and one of the key figures behind the new dialysis unit in Ennis, and Carol Moor, CEO of the Irish Kidney Association, who will speak about the range of supports available to patients and their families. To find out more, Alan Morrissey spoke to the Chair of Clare Kidney Branch, Dermot Hayes.

Comhairle na nÓg is holding an Open Day on Saturday, 13th December, aimed at encouraging more young people to get involved. The event will give attendees the chance to find out more about Comhairle’s work and hear about exciting new plans for the year ahead. To find out more, Alan Morrissey was joined live in studio by Comhairle na nÓg members, Holly Downes and Doireann McMahon.

Gardaí are increasing patrols in Ennis for the Christmas period. This comes as Retailers of Ennis - the representative group for Ennis businesses - claims violence and anti-social behaviour have become the norm in the county town due to a lack of Garda presence. For more information, Alan Morrissey was joined by Sergeant Dominic Regan from Ennis Garda Station. Photo (c) Clare FM

Ryanair says the Government must play ball in order to allow it to expand its operations at Shannon Airport. The budget airline has this week confirmed that it's carried 22 million passengers through the Clare base since it first came to the facility in 1987. The airline will have a fourth based aircraft at Shannon for the first time for summer 2026 as a result of a $400 million investment, with new routes going to Rome, Madrid, Warsaw and Poznan. Ryanair Director of Communications Jade Kirwan says Shannon must be included in the Regional Airports Programme to ensure its growth isn't stifled.

The survival of a North Clare business is under threat following a controversial planning decision. Clare County Council has refused permission for Patrick and Mary Nagle to continue operating the Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk Car Park in Liscannor, which has been providing parking, toilets and changing facilities for tourists since 2012. The local authority has argued that as the Cliff Walk remains closed at Hag's Head, and along the entirety of the Southern Trail, the car park isn't required and would be a haphazard development. Mary believes the council's judgement is short-sighted.

The Clare-based chairperson of the Oireachtas Education Committee is suggesting primary schools hire dedicated Irish language teachers as a solution to the recruitment and retention crisis. Former primary school teacher, Meelick Fianna Fáil TD Cathal Crowe, has proposed having teachers tasked solely with teaching Irish "to uphold the quality of Irish in schools". The move, he says, would allow those without Irish, such as non-nationals, to purse careers in primary school teaching. Speaking in the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Youth, Deputy Crowe claims it would open up opportunities for "qualified" and "highly competent" people from different backgrounds to become teachers.

It's hoped the Kilrush Town Centre First Plan will vastly improve the town's offering for both locals and tourists alike. Two consultation sessions will take place in Kilrush Town Hall on Thursday December 4th, from 4pm to 5pm and 5:30pm to 6:30pm, while people can also voice their opinion through a poll on the Clare County Council website. A draft version of the plan will be available to view at Kilrush Library and Kilrush Town Hall until December 18th, aswell as at both sessions. Chairperson of Kilrush Town Team, Hilary Gleeson, says she's optimistic the plan will reinvigorate the area.

Éamon Little has directed a documentary called Born That Way, which focuses on the life and work of Patrick Lydon. Patrick Lydon was born in Massachusetts to an Irish family, before returning to Ireland during the early 1970s and, with his wife Gladys, setting up the innovative Camphill Community. Born That Way will begin a run at the Arc in Ennis, from this Friday, the 5th of December. For more on this, Éamon joined Alan Morrissey on Thursday's Morning Focus.

The magic of Christmas will come alive at glór this winter, with programme of events for audiences of all ages. Following the success of last year’s celebration, glór is reprising A Very Clare Christmas on Saturday, 13th December, promising an evening filled with tradition and the vibrant creativity of Clare. On Thursday's edition of Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey had a chat with Marie O'Byrne, glór Director and producer of the show. He also spoke with Charlotte O'Brien, one of the younger members of the orchestra and Nichola McEvilly, Actress and Singer. Photo (c) Glór