Clare Fm - Podcasts

A pygmy goat has been crowned as this year’s Clare Nose of Tralee. The Nose of Tralee is a spin on the Rose of Tralee, with its focus being on pets. Clare’s top prize went to pint-sized goat Baaaanjo. We are joined by Baaaanjo’s proud owner, Maddy Dunne. PHOTO CREDIT: Pet Sitters Ireland

Ireland is expected to nearly experience a heatwave this week. The temperatures - although very high - aren't expected to meet the criteria. It could get to 28 degrees in places over the weekend. Met Eireann says it must be 25 degrees for five days to be described as a heatwave To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Matthew Martin, Forecaster with Met Eireann.

Cosmic Garden Fest made its eagerly awaited return last month, with a host of acts performing across two stages. The Inagh-based music festival returns with another quality bill this weekend, including great original and cover acts. For more on this, Alan Morrissey was joined by people behind Cosmic Garden Fest, Debbie & Stax Green.

Clare FM’s Therese McInerney took a trip to Miltown Malbay to the Willie Clancy Summer School. The Willie Clancy Summer School is a week-long summer school in traditional music and set dance held annually at Miltown Malbay.

A unique collaboration involving Glór and the Galway International Arts Festival is underway at the festival. Oh.... is the debut performance by Mikel Murfi. Set in the main tank of Galway Atlantaquaria, Oh... uses the underwater environment as a poetic space and is described as pushing “the boundaries of traditional theatrical form.” For more on this Alan Morrissey was joined by Kellie Hughes, Theatre Artist & Artistic Director of the Ad Astra Academy Performing Arts creative mentorship programme in University College Dublin. PHOTO CREDIT: Galway International Arts Festival

Our attention now turns to Shannon, where there is concern over the condition of green spaces. The focus of this concern is centred on Ballycasey Park and the green area running to Carraig Hill, where there is frustration in relation to overgrown grass apparently making these areas unusable. To find out more, Alan Morrissey was joined by Ronan McNamara, Shannon resident. PHOTO CREDIT: Jill Y Nightingale from Getty Images

The Munster Community Games is coming to Clare this weekend. Shannon will be the location for the games, with a number of venues around the town hosting various games, from football and hurling, to soccer, rounders, skittles and more. To get the full picture on what will be happening, Alan Morrissey was joined by Rob Stephen, Chairperson of Clare Community Games.

A festival to mark 150 years of Lisdoonvarna will take place later this month. The Sesquicentennial Festival, which will run from Friday, 18th to Sunday, the 20th of July will explore the history of Lisdoonvarna which revolves around "the waters" of the wells. The festival with its free events will take place in different locations around Lisdoonvarna. Here to tell us more about what lies in store, Alan Morrissey was joined by Pat Dowling and Dermot Petty, of the festival committee. PHOTO CREDIT: Lisdoonvarna Sesquicentennial Festival

On Wednesday’s Morning Focus, we brought you extensive coverage of the Draft Ennis Local Transport Plan, from a fiery and tense meeting of Ennis Municipal District on the plan, to the community group Better Ennis welcoming it. We are returning to the issue now, with the deadline for submissions as part of the public consultation process coming at midnight tomorrow (Friday, 11th July). The Clare Green Party Chair is challenging a former Ennis councillor’s views on the Draft Ennis Local Transport Plan. In his submission to the plan, ex-Fine Gael Councillor Johnny Flynn claimed that a “distinct anti-car approach” is driving the plan. However, Susan Griffin, the Greens’ local party Chair has a different perspective on the draft plan. For more on this Alan Morrissey was joined by ex-Fine Gael Councillor Johnny Flynn and Susan Griffin, Clare Green Party Chair.

Ryanair's decision to create 35 new jobs at Shannon has been hailed as a major vote of confidence for the airport's future. The airline is expanding its cabin crew at the Clare base in order to facilitate its enhanced Winter schedule. The $400m investment announced last month has seen a fourth aircraft added to Shannon, along with three new routes to Madeira, Lapland and Madrid. Shannon Airport Group CEO Mary Considine says it's an exciting new chapter for the region.

It's claimed the Government still has a serious job to do to bring insurance premiums down for Clare retailers. It comes as the Coalition has confirmed it won't be implementing a recommendation from the Judicial Council to increase personal injury pay-outs by 17%. According to the Alliance for Insurance Reform, providers have avoided €76m in legal fees in just the last year by availing of the Injuries Resolutions Board. Clare-based Retail Excellence CEO and Owner of Willow's Boutique in Ennis Jean McCabe says these savings are not being passed on to local businesses.

Clare County Council has committed to conducting a safety assessment of public lighting in Ennis's lanes and laneways. It follows a call from Ennis Fianna Fáil Councillor Antoinette Baker-Bashua who claims the "current lack of adequate lighting poses significant safety concerns for residents and visitors". Ennis Municipal District says the local authority will "liaise with its public lighting maintenance contractor" to undertake a "lighting design assessment on the existing lighting provision within the laneways off the central town streets". Councillor Baker-Bashua believes women feel particularly vulnerable in certain areas.

The boss of the Clare minor ladies football team says his side must be clinical if they're to secure their place in the All Ireland Final. The Banner travel to Roscommon this evening to take on Monaghan in their last four tie in Tarmonbarry. Clare come into the game off the back of an impressive showing last time out, where they claimed the Munster title with a six point win over Tipperary. Manager, Barry Donnelly, says the Ulster side will prove a stern defensive test and that his side will need to ensure their conversion rate is high. Throw in this evening is at 7:30pm.

There were widespread celebrations in Clare's capital amid the official opening of a new social housing development. The €3.65m age friendly An tArd complex has finally been unveiled to the public, trigger scenes of joy and relief among those in attendance. Clare FM's Daragh Dolan began by speaking to one of the new residents, Sinéad Clancy

The chairman of Clare GAA claims Brian Lohan's decision to stay on as manager of the Clare senior hurlers represents a great vote of confidence in the potential for the coming years. At last night's meeting of the county board delegates, it was confirmed Lohan would remain at the helm, with the Wolfe Tones clubman committing to a further three years in charge. Meanwhile, the county's underage management will also remain together, with both Terence Fahy and Ger O'Connell to continue in charge of the Under 20 and minor teams respectively Clare GAA Chair, Kieran Keating, has been telling me that keeping all three management teams intact will allow the sides to hit the ground running when the new season rolls around.

Fáilte ar ais chuig eagrán nua de Ar An Lá Seo ar an 9ú lá de mí Iúil, liomsa Lauren Ní Loingsigh. I 1982 bhí fiachas ann timpeall an tír de 800 milliúin punt I gcomparáid leis an bhliain seo chaite. I 1993 bhí clúdaigh sláinte chun ardú mar go raibh VHI chun 6% níos mó a fháil. I 1976 bhí an GAA An Chláir chun teacht ar ais chuig an pháirc thaispeántais in Inis. I 1982 bhí daoine ag meas go mbeadh 5 milliúin punt ag teacht isteach ó fhéile cheoil. Sin The Real Thing le You To Me Are Everything – an t-amhrán is mó ar an lá seo I 1976 Ag lean ar aghaidh le nuacht cheoil ar an lá seo I 1977 d'fhág Elvis Costello a bpost mar ríomhchláraitheoir ag Elizabeth Arden Cosmetics chun a bheith mar cheoltóir lánaimseartha. I 2004 chuir David Bowie ceolchoirm ar ceal san Eoraip de bharr go bhfuair sé obráid chroí. Bhí obráid aige an mhí roimhe sa Ghearmáin chun artaire a ghlanadh. Chuir sé 11 ceolchoirm ar ceal chomh maith de bharr gur ghortaigh sé a ghualainn. Agus ar deireadh breithlá daoine cáiliúla ar an lá se

Clare FM’s Therese McInerney took a trip to Miltown Malbay to the Willie Clancy Summer School. The Willie Clancy Summer School is a week-long summer school in traditional music and set dance held annually at Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare.

On Wednesday’s Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Tommy Corbett from Carey Corbett Financial Solutions. This week, Tommy joined Alan for a Mid-Year Economic Review & Markets Update.

The Finance Minister says it's not possible to remove sunscreen from the highest VAT rate, due to an EU directive. Despite calls for change, Paschal Donohoe says the 23 percent VAT rate will not be reduced, as it’s deemed a “non-essential item”. That's despite skin cancer being the most common form of cancer in Ireland, with 11 thousand cases diagnosed every year. Meanwhile, cancer delays are causing avoidable deaths. That is the stark warning from the Irish Cancer Society today as it highlights new data showing delays in cancer tests and treatment across Ireland. The Society is calling for increased investment in Budget 2026 in cancer staff, buildings and equipment to ensure target waiting times are met. For more on this, Alan Morrissey was joined by Karrieann McDonnell, Ennis-based personal trainer.

On Wednesday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Asia O’Brien. Asia, who hails from Clonlara, is a cabin crew member for Emirates Airlines. Followers of Asia’s TikTok account – and she has over 140,000 of them get a glimpse into Asia’s life and career in the fast-paced, globe-trotting world of international aviation.