Clare Fm - Podcasts

It's hoped the recent addition of a major European business hub to Shannon Airport's route offering will encourage more carriers to expand in Clare. From next April, Lufthansa subsidiary, Discover Airlines will be running a twice weekly service to Frankurt, Germany. It's hoped the route will target holiday makers, businesspeople and will add convenience to connecting flyers. Meelick Deputy Cathal Crowe who's also Fianna Fáil's Spokesperson on Aviation says efforts are ongoing to expand to Brazil and Poland.

It's claimed Clare patients languishing on waiting lists have been missing out on free cross border treatment unawares. It follows a new survey which shows 79% of people in this county have no knowledge of the Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme. Medical costs for operations involving hip replacements, knee replacements, ACLs, hysterectomies and gall bladders are among those which can be 100% reimbursed by the HSE. Clare GP Liaison at Belfast's Kingsbridge Hospital Dr Barry McKee says it's a very convenient option.

The funeral mass of a Clare mother and her children who were killed in a shooting incident at their Fermanagh home eleven days ago has heard their family can take comfort in the fact they will be within eachother's arms forver more. Large crowds descended in Barefield today to remember Vanessa Whyte and her teenage children Sara and James Rutledge.

Stephen Fletcher leads our Sunday Prayer for today, Sunday the 3rd Aughust 2025, the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time and the 7th Sunday after Trinity. The Gospel is read by Kathleen and the Reflection is written by David Lose.

Formed in early 2019, The Florentinas comprises Paddy Boyd (vocals), Jacob Kane (bass), Luke Swann (guitar) and Jakob Swann (drums), who met at secondary school in Bangor, Northern Ireland. Their hook-heavy indie rock has garnered attention at home and beyond, signing a publishing deal with BMG in 2020. The band have supported Nothing But Thieves, The Amazons, Stereophonics and Snow Patrol, as well as performing at Stendhal Festival, Electric Picnic and Other Voices in 2022.

Gardaí are imploring motorists in Clare to slow down this Bank Holiday weekend amid concerns over a rising number of road traffic incidents. So far this year, Gardaí have responded to 592 crashes in this county alone. Additionally, 94 people have been caught drink driving in Clare, an increase of 45% from this time last year. Clare Community Engagement Functional Area Superintendent John Ryan has been telling Clare FM's Daragh Dolan there'll be extra patrols and checkpoints in the coming days and that it's not worth taking a risk.

Mid-West Simon Community has been named as one of the 28 community organisations to receive funding from Safefood as part of their Community Food Initiatives Programme 2025-28, a €1.5 million investment to positively influence the eating habits of people in low-income communities across the island of Ireland. The four-year initiative will support 28 community organisations in setting up and implementing their work. The project which serves communities in Limerick, Clare and North Tipperary will deliver classes in food budgeting, cooking, meal planning, reducing food waste as well as cultural food sharing events. The project also plans to create simple, participant-driven recipe collections and budgeting tips aimed at low-income households, vulnerable groups and isolated individuals in the local community. For more on this, Derrick Lynch was joined by Dr Aileen McGloin, Director of Nutrition at Safefood and Paul O'Sullivan, Fundraising Co-ordinator.

On 'Ours To Protect', we take a closer look at biodiversity, sustainability and the broader issue of Climate Change as it relates to Clare. This week, Pat Flynn finds out more about electric vehicles and how they are playing a central role in Ireland’s Climate Action Plan. Ours to Protect brought to you by Clare FM, the IBI and funded by Coimisiún na Meán, with the Television Licence Fee.

There has already been a strong backlash in Clare to the decision by Munster GAA to reintroduce seeding to the provincial football championship. Last nights meeting of provincial delegates saw them back the move to keep the two highest ranked teams in the National League apart in the semi final draw, with Clare voting against the proposal. The move has been introduced for a three year term, with no details released of how other county delegates voted on the matter. It means Kerry and Cork will be kept apart for 2026, with Clare's delegates being the central driving force behind trying to stop the move from happening. To discuss this further, Derrick Lynch was joined by Bernard Keane, present at the meeting.

As the August Bank Holiday approaches, Drinkaware is urging the public to stay safe and make informed choices around alcohol and driving. New findings from the Drinkaware Barometer 2024 show that 89% of adults now agree that any amount of alcohol can impair your ability to drive, up from 86% last year. But only 80% believe that driving the morning after a night of drinking is just as dangerous, revealing a gap in awareness that could have serious consequences. For more on the campaign, Derrick Lynch was joined by Alex Ainsworth, Digital Media & Content Specialist at Drinkaware.

“Wipe out that sadness and weave the dress of impossible from the tears.” These striking words come from a poem by 13-year-old Roaa Al-Masri from Gaza. Roaa’s work is part of a powerful new exhibition, Moon Tell Me Truth, featuring poetry and illustrations by children in Palestine, opening at Ennis De Valera Library from Wednesday August 6th to Saturday August 16th. The exhibition has been kindly brought to Ennis by the Kinvara Palestine Solidarity Group, in partnership with UK-based charity The Hands Up Project, founded by Nick Bilbrough. For more on the project and the voices behind these poems, Derrick Lynch was joined by Nick Bilbrough, founder of The Hands Up Project.

This year marks the 81st edition of the much-loved West Clare Kildysart show. While it continues to celebrate farming heritage, crafts, and community, something new is stirring. A rising tide of youth participation is bringing fresh energy to every corner of the event — from the show rings to the baking tents, from vintage tractors to hand-written poetry. The show takes place this Sunday, August 3rd and to find out more about it, Derrick Lynch was joined by Chairman, Peter Donnellan and Bridget Garry, PRO of Kildysart Agricultural Show.

Lone parents continue to be one of the most vulnerable groups when it comes to poverty and deprivation. According to the report, 33% of children in lone-parent families were persistently deprived between 2016 and 2023. One in five were persistently at risk of poverty, meaning they lived below the income threshold two years in a row. These families are also among the most likely to experience material deprivation, going without essentials like adequate heating, proper meals, or warm clothing—not just occasionally, but consistently. Earlier, Derrick Lynch spoke with Ursula, a lone parent from Kilshanny and began by how it affects her. As we widen the lens, Derrick Lynch was also joined by Ann Marie Flanagan, a disability rights activist, to talk about another group the ESRI identifies as being at high risk: households with a working-age adult who has a disability. While the overall poverty rate has declined in recent years, the report shows that material deprivation has actually increased, especially

A West Clare teacher claims schools aren't sufficiently resourced to teach reformed curriculum coming in this September. At the beginning of the coming school year, nine new and revised Leaving Cert subject specifications will be introduced, with each of these to be worth 40% of students' final grade in the Leaving Cert. Teachers' representatives associations have previously called for the reforms to be delayed amid concerns around preparedness. St Joseph's Kilkee Community College teacher and former Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland president, Geraldine O'Brien, believes it's rushed.

An Ennis family business is aiming to give back with a charity auction fundraiser, ahead of its closure this weekend. Madden's Furniture on Station Road will close for the final time on Saturday evening, after 49 years serving the town. A key fixture of the Madden's journey since the 1980s, has been their larger than life teddy bear 'Henry the Christmas Hippo', who will be awarded to the highest bidder by 12 noon tomorrow in a competition on the store's facebook page, with all proceeds going to charity. Owner Michelle Madden is hopeful he will find a good home, while raising vital funds.

Kilmurry Ibrickane and St.Breckan's do battle this evening for control over Group 3 in the TUS Clare Senior Football Championship. The top two meet in the tie of the round in Miltown after recording opening round wins a fortnight ago. Kilmurry's young players came to the fore last time out with Cathal Talty nailing five points while Caoilfhionn O’Dea added 1-2 for David Egan's men. Clare FM analyst Kieran Madigan says in the absence of big names they've found a wider range of scoring threats.

A model four hospital for Clare has been recommended in a pre-budget submission. It will be presented to both the Finance and Public Expenditure Ministers, and claims a new acute hospital with an emergency department is the only solution to chronic overcrowding in the region. The document, published by Friends of Ennis Hospital highlights that the MidWest has the oldest population, highest level of multimorbidity and lowest amount of consultants of any health region in the country. Chairperson Angela Coll has been telling Clare FM's Daragh Dolan that the findings are clear.

Today marks the release of a powerful new ballad by one of Ireland’s most iconic songwriters, Phil Coulter, joined by Cork folksinger Roy Buckley. Their collaboration, For Another King and Country, tells a tragic and true story from World War I. For more on this, Derrick Lynch was joined by Phil Coulter, Award-winning Singer-Songwriter.

SeniorLine, the national telephone service for older people, has seen a rise in male callers this year—from 23% in 2024 to 32% so far in 2025. Loneliness and mental health concerns top the list of reasons for calling, with the service welcoming the shift as a sign that more men feel comfortable asking for help. For more on this, Derrick Lynch was joined by Anne Dempsey, Communications Manager with Senior Line.

A protest is set to take place this Friday, August 1st at 7:20pm in Killaloe, as locals voice their frustration over changes to the use of the historic 18th-century bridge. The walking protest will cross the new Brian Ború Bridge and return, aiming to highlight the lack of consultation with local businesses and communities. For more on this, Derrick Lynch was joined by Eddie O’Gorman, organiser,