Clare Fm - Podcasts

On Wednesday's Morning Focus Alan Morrissey was joined by Aoife Ní Eochaidh, a clinical independent expert in women’s health and pelvic floor dysfunction. Alan and Aoife spoke about an issue that has affected hundreds of women across Ireland, the devastating impact of transvaginal mesh implants. Despite being marketed as a routine solution for common pelvic health issues, these devices have caused long-term pain, complications, and a deep sense of betrayal among many patients. Mesh Survivors Ireland has been campaigning for over eight years to bring visibility, justice, and reform to this issue.

What is described as a life-changing evening is in store at CBS Primary School in Ennis this coming weekend. The Glory Experience: A Night of Power, Encounter, and Divine Transformation will take place on Saturday. According to the organisers, the evening will feature “powerful moments of inspiration, heartfelt testimonies, and spirit-led encounters designed to revive the soul and uplift the weary.” For more on this, Alan Morrissey was joined by Music Ministers, Goodness Adefabi and David Olawale and Dermot Hayes.

An exhibition by a Ennistymon-based artist – inspired by events in the Banner County – will take place in Galway this Saturday. Mary Fahy’s solo exhibition – entitled Well – is part of her Brigid’s Well series that explores collective grief practices at Brigid’s holy well in Liscannor. The OPW Portumna Castle Gallery in Galway will host the exhibition. For more on this, Alan Morrissey was joined by Mary Fahy, Ennistymon-based artist. PHOTO CREDIT: Aleksandra Skibniewska

One of Ireland's fastest-growing digital marketing agencies, Core Optimisation, has announced the acquisition of international PR agency, ClearStory. The acquisition forms part of a broader €500,000 investment in expanding the Shannon-based digital marketing firm’s operations to North America and the United Arab Emirates. For more on this Alan Morrissey was joined by Caroline Dunlea, Co-founder of Core Optimisation. PHOTO CREDIT: Core Optimisation

On Wednesday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Adrian Fleming, owner of Monk's Well in Quin and Cancer survivor Dave McGrath. Adrian is stepping up to support an incredible cause. On Wednesday, July 2nd, he’s hosting a special night of comedy and music in honour of Dave McGrath — a U.S. visitor and brain cancer survivor who’s undertaking an extraordinary walk from Shannon to Derry. All proceeds from the event will go to charity, and Adrian is calling on the people of Clare and beyond to come out, enjoy a great night, and show their support for Dave’s inspiring journey. PHOTO CREDIT: Quin Village Tidy Towns via Facebook

Clare FM has returned to another element of the Draft Ennis Local Transport Plan that is causing concern. The issue on this occasion centres around one of the recommendations in the plan, which is for a signalised yield system on the existing Drochaid na Gabhair bridge on the Drumcliffe Road. The activist group Hands Off Our Post Office Field is raising objections to this recommendation. For more on this, Alan Morrissey was joined by Councillor Tommy Guilfoyle and Mayor of Ennis, Mary Howard. PHOTO CREDIT: Drochaid na Gabhair - Make the Bridge Safe via Facebook

A West Clare village's growing population is said to be resulting in increased demand for childcare in the area. KCD Playschool, which is located in St Michael's Community Centre in Kilmihil and is operated by Kilmihil Community Development, has secured planning permission for an expansion of services. The facility will now be running services before, during and after school hours, with 50 children already on its books for its after school care service in September. Kilmihil Community Development Chairperson Martin Keane says they're grateful to be able provide such a sought-after facility.

It's claimed despite the rise in popularity of electric vehicles in Clare, there will always be a demand for traditional combustion engines in rural parts of the county. New data from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry shows that in the first six months of the year, 1,710 vehicles were newly registered in Clare, with electric cars making up 218 of those registered. Petrol cars remain the most sought-after with a 27% market share, closely followed by petrol-electric hybrids, which represent 22% of all purchases nationwide. General Manager of Sheils Motor Group, Eddie Rynne, says there's still some concerns over battery life of fully electric vehicles, leading to the popularity of hybrids models.

An elderly person has been hospitalised with serious injuries following an attack by a German Shepherd in Newmarket on Fergus. The Clare County Dog Warden has confirmed the person suffered multiple bites causing extensive damage which may require surgery. In a separate incident in Newmarket, a young girl was injured when also bitten by a German Shepherd, while a woman walking on the grounds of the University of Limerick suffered bites from a brown Bull Terrier. Frankie Coote says the Bull Terrier in question is still not contained and is advising people to exercise caution on the Clare side of the campus and contact him with information on any sightings.

It's claimed Clare students and their families have been plunged into financial uncertainty by new government plans. It comes as Higher Education Minister James Lawless has confirmed that the €1,000 euro third level fee reduction in place in recent years, will expire this September. The Minister has since signalled his intent to reform the SUSI Grant, while Tánaiste and Fine Gael Leader Simon Harris has indicated that new student supports will be in Budget 2026, but in a different form. However Shannon Sinn Féin TD Donna McGettigan, who's her party's spokesperson on Further and Higher Education has been telling Clare FM's Daragh Dolan that she believes a vital safety net has been taken away.

Popular hotspots for Irish tourists will see extremely high temperatures this week. A heatwave is continuing to affect countries like Spain, Portugal, Greece, France and Italy. A new heat record for June of 46 degrees was set on Saturday in Spain. With advice for people travelling abroad and how this heatwave may impact us here in Ireland, Alan Morrissey was joined by Michelle Dillon, Tullycrine native Met Éireann Forecaster and Michael Kelly, Travel counsellor based in Ennis.

The Courthouse Gallery in Ennistymon is preparing for its Summer Open Exhibition. The exhibition gets underway from Friday (4th July). The show, which will be curated by Gabhann Dunne, will feature an exciting mix of paintings, sculpture and multimedia works by selected artists. To find out more, Alan Morrissey was joined by Éanna Burt, Director and curator Courthouse Gallery & Studios. PHOTO CREDIT: The Courthouse Gallery & Studios, Ennistymon via Facebook

The 2025 edition of Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy gets underway this weekend. The 53rd Willie Clancy Summer School will take place in Miltown Malbay from the 5th to the 13th of July. As ever, instrument and dance classes, lectures, workshops, recitals and céilithe will run all through the week. As well as all of that, a brand-new type of harp will be launched during Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy. To find out more on this, Alan Morrissey was joined by Úna Ní Fhlannagáin.

The Booktown Festival returns to Ennistymon this weekend. On Saturday and Sunday (5th & 6th July), booksellers from across Ireland will fill every available space with books to suit everyone, from the general reader in search of a bargain to the avid collector in search of that rarity to complete their collection. To find out more, Alan Morrissey was joined by Jon Heddon, organising committee member and Vinny Browne, from Charlie Byrne's Booshop in Galway. PHOTO CREDIT: Ennistymon Booktown Festival via Facebook

On Tuesday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Derek Spaight. Derek, who lives in Ballina-Killaloe, lives with cerebral palsy and is a wheelchair user. To truly regain his independence and unlock his potential, Derek urgently needs a fit-for-purpose wheelchair accessible van. However, the cost for a suitable vehicle is approximately €35,000, which is why Derek has kickstarted a fundraising campaign on GoFundMe. Alan caught up with Derek to find out more, he first outlined his day-to-day-life, and what mobility looks like for him at the moment. You can help Derek by donating here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-derek-get-his-wheelchair-and-van

A new analysis of the supply and demand of GPs has warned of capacity constraints in areas of growing population in Dublin and its commuter towns in Cavan, Meath, Kildare, Louth, Westmeath and Wicklow. The paper 'General Practice in Ireland: An analysis of Supply and Demand' was published and produced by the Government's Economic and Evaluation Service at the Department of Health. The study identified 3,262 clinically active GPs in service in 2022. It found that 13% of GPs work at least 48 hours a week. It said that the workforce of GPs and GP practice nurses provide a reasonable level of coverage nationally, but some geographic areas have clear capacity constraints, often in areas of growing and ageing population. The paper also says that GP retirements in some areas of Clare, Mayo, Wexford, and other areas, put services at risk where there is no viable replacement of GPs. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Dr Michael Kelleher, Lahinch-based GP and IMO GP Committee Member.

The Clare Arts Office, in partnership with Cultúrlann Sweeney Library Gallery, will present a new solo exhibition by Clare artist Ailish Malone, running from July 7 to August 2. Titled ‘Flowing… a legacy from stitch to shoreline’, the exhibition captures the deep personal and coastal influences. To find out more on this Alan Morrissey was joined by Ailish Malone, visual artist and designer. PHOTO CREDIT: Fortitude Silk Scarf by Ailish Malone.

Clare musical societies were among the big winners at the AIMS awards. Three Clare-based productions were nominated by the Association of Irish Musical Societies (AIMS), the body supporting amateur musical theatre in Ireland. Ennis Musical Society took top honours for Best House Management for the second year in a row, winning the award with their immersive production of The Witches of Eastwick at glór. Elsewhere, Muse Productions in Shannon were recognised with a Special Adjudicator’s Award nomination for their bold staging of Forever Plaid performed in the Hope Café in Shannon, while Shannon Musical Society also received two nominations for their high-energy production of Cry-Baby. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Ennis Musical Society Chairperson, Ciara Lynch, Founding member of Muse and the director of the recent award-winning production “Forever Plaid”, Martin McNelis, and outgoing Chairperson of Shannon Musical Society, Vicky Cassley. PHOTO CREDIT: AIMS

The Chair of the ‘Safer Clare Campaign‘ has renewed her calls for an immediate increase of the numbers of emergency housing units for victims fleeing domestic abuse. June Dillon’s call comes as the latest figures from Women’s Aid Annual Report reveal that domestic violence levels are at their highest ever levels in the 50-year history of the organisation. For more on this, Alan Morrissey was joined by June Dillon, Aontu Clare Representative, Chairperson of Safer Clare Campaign and Louise Bailey, Clare abuse survivor. PHOTO CREDIT: doidam10 via Canva

It's being argued that Clare's allocation of Garda resources requires a review once its Local Community Safety Partnership is sitting. Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan has signed off on regulations providing for the establishment of Local Community Safety Partnerships which will be community-led groups to address crime-related matters and will replace Joint Policing Committees. An LCSP can now be established in every local authority in the country and these are to be made up of Gardaí, elected representatives, residents, businesses and state agencies. Maghera Fianna Fáil Councillor Pat Hayes says the number of boots on the ground here is a growing concern.