Clare Fm - Podcasts

On this week's episode of Clare Women In Business, Pat Flynn chats with artisan cake maker and founder of Nordic Twist, Silvi O’Brien.

A serious issue affecting hundreds of thousands of people across Ireland, the growing financial strain on asthma patients. A new survey from the Asthma Society of Ireland has revealed that one in four people with asthma have had to skip medication in the last three months due to cost pressures. It's a startling and deeply concerning finding, especially as we approach Budget 2026. To discuss the realities behind these numbers, and what needs to change, Derrick Lynch was joined by Dr. Aidan O’Brien, Consultant Respiratory Physician at University Hospital Limerick.

Urgent action is needed to embed nursing home care within a rights-based, sustainable and person-centred system, according to stakeholders. Nursing Homes Ireland is warning the sector faces deepening fragmentation, widening inequities and unsustainable pressure on residents, families and staff. A new Insights Paper identifies 10 thematic priorities, including human rights, safeguarding, equitable access and workforce planning. It says a person-centred approach must shape all future policy decisions. To discuss this further, Derrick Lynch was joined by Maurice Harvey, Clare Older People’s Council Chair and Madge O’Callaghan, Kilbane resident.

Synthetic cannabinoid HHC or Hexa hydro cannabinol has been classified as an illegal drug by the Government. This means that the import, export, production, possession, sale and supply of products containing the man-made substance is banned. HHC, as well as 13 other substances, has now been categorised as a Schedule 1 controlled drug Misuse of Drugs Act 1977. A Clare mother has called for this ban after her daughter’s experience with HHC. To discuss this further, Derrick Lynch was joined by Clare mother.

A heart-warming community effort in Kilrush last Sunday saw locals come together for a Coffee & Dip Fundraiser in support of Milford Hospice and the result was nothing short of incredible, raising an amazing €35,000. To tell us more about the day, Derrick Lynch was joined by Imelda Bourke, the organiser behind the event.

With schools closed and holiday season in full swing, balancing work and family can be a challenge, especially if you're working remotely. But in County Clare, local DigiHubs are offering a practical solution. Operated by Clare County Council, these Connected Hubs provide quiet, professional workspaces across the county. From Kilkee to Ennistymon, making it easier for working parents and holidaymakers to stay connected while enjoying summer with the family. To tell us more, Derrick Lynch was joined by Jackie Dermody, IS Analyst Developer at Digiclare with Clare County Council.

The Tánaiste has announced another €2m euro in funds to support the delivery of food to Gaza. The additional funding for the World Food Programme comes as a UN watchdog declared famine was now underway there. Meanwhile, Both sides of the Atlantic have reacted after Britain's Keir Starmer announced a plan to recognise Palestine. France has congratulated the UK for 'following its lead'. Donald Trump says Britain didn't discuss the move with him. Israel claims the UK's 'rewarding' Hamas. Others accused the British Prime Minister of 'dangling' Palestinian statehood like a 'bargaining chip' Canadian Prime Minster Mark Carney announced yesterday that Canada is planning to recognise the State of Palestine at a meeting of the United Nations in September. US President Donald Trump has said it will be difficult to make a trade deal with Canada, after the country announced it is backing Palestinian statehood. And, Two leading Israeli rights organisations say the country's conduct in Gaza constitutes genocide

A Clare Government TD claims he'll work to ensure funding for small businesses in the county isn't slashed in the next Budget. A Department of Enterprise response to a parliamentary question from Bodyke Fine Gael TD Joe Cooney has revealed businesses supported by Enterprise Ireland in Clare have risen by 7% in the last year, bringing the total amount of EI-supported jobs here to 5,566. Clare's Local Enterprise Office received over €1.3 million in funding in 2024 which resulted in 228 small businesses and 1,300 jobs here being supported. Deputy Cooney says amid much economic uncertainty the level of financial support being offered to Clare businesses mustn't be allowed to drop.

It's claimed the people of Meelick won't stand for a proposed road closure on the Clare-Limerick border. In a joint project, both local authorities plan to close the Knockalisheen Road from Brennan's Cross to Hartigan's Villas for a four week period commencing on August 11th, to facilitate upgrades of the Northern Distributor Road. Clare County Council and Limerick City & County Council are accepting public submissions on the plans until August 5th. Cratloe Fianna Fáil Councillor Pat O'Gorman says there's a number of issues.

Clare's Munster Council representative Bernard Keane is questioning the timing of the proposed changes to the Munster Football Championship structure. The new proposal would see Cork take the place of Clare as a seeded county for 2026, based off a higher National Football League position. The current seeding system has been in place since 2015, and would see Clare given automatic progression to the semi final, on the opposite side to reigning champions Kerry, on account of reaching the provincial decider this year. Keane says its 'ironic' changes are being floated now Clare have slipped out of contention in Division 2.

Doonbeg will be hoping to keep their 2025 TUS Clare Senior Football Championship campaign alive this weekend. They face off against Lissycasey in Miltown on Saturday evening, knowing a defeat will likely see them knocked out of the championship. Lissycasey kicked 21 points in a comfortable victory over Kilmihil last time out, while Doonbeg suffered a one point defeat to Ennistymon in Round 1. Clare FM analyst, Joe Garry, says the close-fought nature of that defeat may just give Doonbeg an edge this weekend.

One of the biggest earthquakes in modern history has been picked up in North Clare. A magnitude 8.8 event struck the Kamchatka peninsula on Russia's Pacific coast last night, prompting evacuation orders in a nearby port town as well as in Japan where two million were advised to vacate to higher ground. The quake, which is the largest since 2004's magnitude 9.1 event near Indonesia's Sumatra Island which prompted a tsunami that killed roughly 220,000 people, was captured by the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark's seismometer in Ennistymon. Geologist with the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark, Dr Eamon Doyle says while it's early days, it doesn't seem to have caused serious damage so far.

Fáilte ar ais chuig eagrán nua de Ar An Lá Seo ar an 1ú lá de mí Mheán Fómhair, liomsa Lauren Ní Loingsigh. I 1978 cheap daoine go raibh an Fhéile Rose of Tralee chun nach mór 2 milliúin punt a thabhairt isteach. I 1988 chuaigh na bpáistí ar ais chuig an scoil agus bhí bagairt ann go mbeadh cur isteach mór de bharr gearradh siar ar na múinteoirí agus go mbeadh fadhb leis an chlár ama. I 1988 ghoid duine 7 míle punt ón chlub galf I Lahinch. I 2005 bhuaigh na Wolfe Tones I gcoinne Newmarket on Fergus 2-16 go dtí 11 pointe sa chraobhchomórtas iománaíochta. Sin The Commodores le Three Times A Lady – an t-amhrán is mó ar an lá seo I 1978. Ag lean ar aghaidh le nuacht cheoil ar an lá seo I 2002 fuair Coldplay a dara huimhir a haon sa Bhreatain lena halbam A Rush Of Blood To The Head. I 2005 fuair Barry Cowsill, giotáraí The Cowsills – bás ó ghortú a fuair sé ó Hairicín Katrina. Agus ar deireadh breithlá daoine cáiliúla ar an lá seo rugadh Dr Phil I Meiriceá I 1950 agus rugadh amhránaí Gloria Estefan I gCúba

One of West Clare’s most vibrant cultural events is just around the corner — the Kilrush Traditional Festival returns from Thursday, July 31st to Bank Holiday Monday, August 4th. With music, dance, song, and storytelling across five packed days, it’s a celebration of all things trad, right in the heart of Kilrush. To find out more, Derrick Lynch was joined by Vincent O'Halloran and Anne Hayes.

As Wexford Town gears up to host Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann this August, all eyes are on the talented musicians representing County Clare. From Broadford to Lisdoonvarna and Drumquin, Clare’s rich musical heritage is alive and well in the hands of rising stars and seasoned performers alike. Brian Cavanagh and Sinéad Mulqueen (Broadford), Bethan Marsh (Lisdoonvarna), and Tim Howard (Drumquin) are the names carrying Clare’s musical torch as they compete for a coveted place in the All-Ireland finals.

Clare’s coastal gems are now easier than ever to reach, without a car. The new TFI Local Link Route 351 connects Galway City to Doolin Pier and the Cliffs of Moher, with up to five services daily. The service opens up key Wild Atlantic Way destinations including Ballyvaughan, Fanore, and Doolin, and links with ferry departures to the Aran Islands. It’s a major boost for sustainable travel and local tourism. To find out more, Derrick Lynch was joined by Liam O’Brien, owner of Doolin Ferry.

Two Shannon Companies, namely medical technology manufacturer Hooke Bio LTD and leading radar technology developer Provisio have been included in the Department of Enterprises €28m Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund, which are targeting three initiatives nationwide. Firstly Hooke Bio LTD, along with the University of Galway and lIFT Biosciences have a pool of €11.9m available to them for their work in treating Metastatic Tumuors that are no longer responding to treatment. Provisio, meanwhile, along with University of Limerick and Robert Bosch Ireland LTD are developing Advanced Driver Assistance Systems and have €6.9m of funding available to them for their project which aims to achieve safer driving outcomes. To discuss this further, Derrick Lynch was joined by Éamonn Boland, Provizio co-founder and program lead.

Clare County Council is preparing to mark a major historical milestone next month, as it hosts a weekend of events in Ennis to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the birth of Daniel O’Connell. Known as “The Liberator,” O’Connell’s legacy will be honoured through music, lectures, exhibitions, and a special community celebration. For more on this, Derrick Lynch was joined by Dolores Meaney, Senior Executive Libarian and Sean Lenihan, Clare County Council Senior Engineer.

The Social Democrats have criticised the Government's proposal to raise the size limit for cabins or garden homes to 45 sq.m, calling it a "half-baked plan" to relocate people into what they describe as "glorified garden sheds." The Cabinet was informed that a public consultation on the proposal to increase the permitted size for such structures to 45 sq.m will launch today. This is larger than the original suggested upper limit of 40 sq.m. Under current rules, an extension to the rear of a property is exempt from planning once it is 40 sq.m and is attached to the property. Under the plan, the units must comply with building regulations while the size of the residual private garden space of 25 sq.m must be retained and set back from boundary walls. To discuss this further, Derrick Lynch was joined by Timmy Dooley, Tulla-based Fianna Fáil Minister of State and Donna McGettigan, Sinn Féin spokesperson on Further and Higher Education, Shannon TD.

Shannon is set to benefit from a significant boost to its Garda resources. It comes amid confirmation that 15 new recruits from Templemore will be deployed to the district in September. It follows an escalation of anti-social behaviour in the catchment area along with a number of incidents at Shannon Airport. Clare Fianna Fáil Minister of State Timmy Dooley believes it will have positive knock on effects for the whole county.