Clare Fm - Podcasts

Now in its third year, Common Threads returns to the wild beauty of North Clare from October 10th to 12th, inviting audiences on a three-day journey of music, art, and cultural discovery through the breath-taking Burren landscape. Curated by Clare native Daithí Ó Dronaí and Peter Kelly, the 2025 programme features a rich mix of tradition and innovation. To find out more about this year’s vision for the festival, Derrick Lynch was joined by Daithí O Dronaí, co-curator of Common Threads festival.

Clare’s Alex O’Neill won gold on day two of the NationalTrack and Field Championships. The Quin woman crossed the line in a time of 2 minutes 4.53 seconds to win the Senior Women’s 800m event in Santry. O’Neill finished ahead of Irish Olympian Sarah Healy and Doheny Athletic’s Maeve O’Neill in the podium places to claim her first national senior title. To discuss this further, Derrick Lynch was joined by Alex O’Neill.

Well-known former Clare All-Star hurler Tony Griffin has set out on a 200km walk from his home in Ballymore-Eustace, Co. Kildare, to his native Ballyea, Co. Clare - a deeply personal act of solidarity with the people of Palestine. A writer and co-founder of the youth charity Soar, Griffin is undertaking the journey to raise awareness of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and to call for urgent action on the ongoing starvation, displacement, and occupation of the Palestinian people. For more on this, Derrick Lynch was joined by Tony Griffin, Former Clare All-Star hurler. You can support Tony here: https://www.idonate.ie/crowdfunder/TonyGriffin

A Clare MEP is pushing for the incentivisation of glass bottles as a means of cutting down on single-use plastics. The European Commission has commenced negotiations on the Global Plastics Treaty with the aim of clamping down on plastic pollution. The discussions will run until August 14th and follow the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on the Global Plastics Treaty which concluded in December of last year without an agreement. Scariff Independent MEP Michael McNamara says more needs to be done to encourage people to stop using plastic.

Kilmihil boss Mickey Doran says his side had full belief they'd get a result against Ennistymon after they had been written off ahead of their TUS Clare Senior Football Championship tie. Following a heavy opening round defeat, Doran's charges responded with a three point win over Ennistymon leaving Group 2 with all to play for headed into Round 3. Ciarán Downes lead the charge landing multiple first half two-pointers and finishing with 12 points in total. Doran says his forwards have the potential to hurt teams if primary possession can be secured. Meanwhile, Kilmurry Ibrickane captain Dermot Coughlan is hailing the impact they got from their bench as they picked up their second win of the campaign. David Egan's side are in pole position in Group 3 after their 0-18 0-15 win over St.Breckan's and face Wolfe Tones in the final round of the group stage. Man of the Match Coughlan says the subs dragged them over the line in a close fought affair.

Cratloe manager Colm Collins says his side's goal came at the perfect time as they got their first points on the board in the TUS Clare Senior Football Championship. Jamie Moylan fisted to the net as the south-east Clare side finished with a flurry of scores to claim a last gasp win over Kildysart. It means they now sit second in Group 1 ahead of a clash with Doora Barefield in the final round of the group stages. Collins says it was important to bounce back after a tough first outing. Meanwhile, St.Breckan's boss Pa O'Neill says his side weren't clinical enough as they fell to a three point defeat to Kilmurry Ibrickane in their Group 3 encounter. They now face Miltown in a couple weeks to determine who will be guaranteed a spot in the quarter final, with both sides sitting on two points after Round 2. O'Neill says they didn't make the most of the periods of the game where they were on top.

To review the sporting fixtures, Derrick Lynch was joined on Monday’s Morning Focus by Clare FM’s Kieran Madigan.

John Carmody has announced he is stepping away from his role as the manager of the Clare Senior Camogie side. Clare claimed Munster Junior honours in his first year involved as a joint manager of the Junior and Senior sides in 2022 and oversaw an All Ireland Junior title in his first season in the managers role. This year saw The Banner's senior side compete in Croke Park for the first time where they were defeated by Waterford in the All Ireland Quarter Final, having pushed Munster champions Cork to the pin of their collar in their group stage clash. Carmody says he hopes a fresh voice in the dressing room can help take the group to the next level.

On Tuesday’s Morning Focus, Derrick Lynch was joined by Tom Stewart from Keane’s Garden Centre in Kilcolgan. This week, Tom gave listeners advice on salads to plant now for Autumn & Winter harvest. If you have a question for Tom, contact the show on 0818 400 964 or send a text or WhatsApp to 086 1800 964.

On Monday’s Morning Focus, it was time again for our Arts Slot with County Art’s Officer Siobhán Mulcahy. Siobhán provided our listeners with all the details of this week’s live events for entertainment lovers in Banner County.

It’s World Breastfeeding Week, running from the 1st to the 7th of August. This year’s theme is ‘Invest in Breastfeeding, Invest in the Future’. The week aims to raise awareness of the vital support mums need—at home, in healthcare, and at work—to start and continue breastfeeding for as long as they choose. For more on this, Derrick Lynch was joined by Petrina O’Halloran, founder of Mama’s Boobie Box, mum blogger and writer for online magazine Boobingit.com.

On Tuesday’s Morning Focus, retired Deputy Principal of Rice College and Educational Consultant, John Burns, gave his advice on concerns in relation to returning to school. If you have any questions for John, please email focus@clare.fm.

The chairperson of the Policing and Community Safety Authority has described as "shocking" a report which shows that a substantial number of gardaí assigned to Roads Policing are not doing their jobs and have no interest in doing them. The Garda Commissioner has promised to publish the Crowe Report which also shows that gardaí who were not carrying out their duties did not care that they were being monitored, and that their managers were not dealing with the problem. Drew Harris called their actions "brazen and contemptuous" and the report's conclusions "sobering". The disturbing details in the report emerged on the day that the gardaí launched another of its road safety campaigns. An independent review of roads policing was launched after a garda whistleblower informed garda headquarters that a substantial number of the gardaí tasked with policing the roads were not doing their jobs. For more on this, Derrick Lynch was joined by Fianna Fáil Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy’s who’s brother was killed in a

The 38th edition of the Feakle Festival will kick off tomorrow Wednesday 6th to Monday 11th of August. The event will see people flock to the village for what promises to be a memorable week of music, song and dance! For more on this, Derrick Lynch was joined by the organiser, Aoife Hayes.

On Tuesday's Morning Focus, Derrick had the privilege of speaking about an incredibly brave and inspiring young girl — Layla Kelly. At just 12 years old, Layla, from Kilfenora and a student of Kilnaboy National School in Co. Clare, has faced more challenges than most of us will in a lifetime. Since 2023, she has been courageously battling Adrenocortical Carcinoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer. What began as simple back pain when she was just nine years old quickly escalated into a devastating diagnosis. Layla has since undergone two major surgeries, removing her adrenal gland, a kidney, and part of her liver, as well as enduring months of intense chemotherapy. Despite spending nearly seven months in hospital and facing setback after setback — including a failed immunotherapy attempt, Layla continues to show remarkable strength, grace, and resilience. Now, her journey brings her to a critical stage: Layla requires a highly complex and life-saving surgery that can only be performed by a specialis

Blood donors are being urgently sought in West Clare to keep regional hospitals supplied this week. The Irish Blood Transfusion Service is holding clinics both tonight and tomorrow Wednesday from 10 to 5 until 10 past 8 at Kilrush Community School. 65% of donations are generally used to treat cancer patients, with 30% going to routine and emergency operations and roughly 5% to births. Broadford based IBTS Donor Recruitment Executive Alex O'Connor says every donation makes a critical difference.

Under 18s can avail of free admission to guided tours of Ennis Friary and Scattery Island this month. The Office of Public Works is running the pilot project with the goal of boosting visitor numbers to this county's heritage sites.

Éire Óg boss Shane Daniels says his side still 'have loads to work on' despite booking their spot in the quarter finals of the TUS Clare Senior Football Championship. Colm Walsh O'Loghlen netted twice as the reigning county champions raised four green flags in their ten point defeat of Doora Barefield. The win sees The Townies through to last eight with a game against Kildysart still to be played. Daniels says with the club competing in both codes, getting through to the quarters as early as possible was crucial. Meanwhile, Doonbeg manager Brian Shanahan says they were rewarded for their determination as they kept their championship campaign alive. His side rescued a point against Lisscasey after Tadhg Lillis found the net with the last play of the game to force a 1-12 to 15 points draw. The result means Doonbeg will still have to beat Kilmihil in their final group game to progress to the next round. Shanahan says he's pleased his players have something to show for their perseverance in both champions

There's been another monthly surge in Clare's Electric Vehicle sales. The latest figures from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry show 92 EVs were sold here last month. Althought a sales boost is common given the new registration plates in July, the figure is double the 46 EVs sold here this time last year. SIMI Director General Brian Cooke says government supports need to be maintained to keep this activity going.

It's hoped a number of enhancement projects carried out in Ennis will highlight under-appreciated areas of the town. Supported by the European URBACT programme, Ennis Municipal District has collaborated with Ennis Tidy Towns and the Ennis Men's Shed to deliver improvements in a number of locations. Among these are the restoration of cast iron benches in the riverside park park linking Mill Road to Harvey's Quay, a public art project led by local artist Evelyn Sorohan located beside the Mill Wheel, and the installation of flower planters beside the Maid of Erin Roundabout. Don Cullinan of Ennis Tidy Towns and the Men's Shed says these areas that many locals rarely visit.