Clare Fm - Podcasts

The Midwest Hospital Campaign Group insists the Government has no choice but to scrutinise the clinical advice preventing the reopening of Ennis's accident and emergency unit. It comes ahead of the group's 'Drive to Save Lives' protest tomorrow which is pushing for the reopening of the A&Es and Ennis, Nenagh and St. John's. The convoy will meet at the Clare Mart Complex in Ennis at 11am before continuing to St. John's Hospital in Limerick for 12pm and proceeding to the HSE Regional Offices at Houston Hall in Raheen. Ballyvaughan-based Midwest Hospital Campaign Group spokesperon Noeleen Moran has been telling Clare FM's Seán Lyons the advice suggesting that reopening Ennis's facility would be unsafe doesn't take the current unsafe conditions at UHL into account.

Clare County Council is urging local residents to hear the call to adventure around the Banner. The local authority and the Clare Tourism Advisory Forum have launched the 'Be a Tourist in Your Own County' promotion, with free and half price admission being offered at local visitor attractions across the county next weekend. Meanwhile, a Fáilte Ireland report published this week shows two million additional visitors toured the Wild Atlantic Way in 2023 compared to ten years ago, with the tourism industry now worth €3 billion per year in the region. Clare's Head of Tourism, Deirdre O'Shea, says there are many great attractions that normally only foreign visitors ever hear of.

On our weekly series 'Ours To Protect', we take a closer look at biodiversity and sustainability in Co Clare.    This week we hear about BannerGloe Liscannor Bay Association a coastal community association working to support the natural capital and ecological integrity of Liscannor Bay. Pat Flynn has been speaking with BannerGleo co-founder Sarah Hegarty.

Brid Dilleen is the Clare Older People's Volunteer of the Year. Brid, from Shanaway Road, Ennis was the choice for the top prize from the 15 nominees at the ceremony, held at Hotel Woodstock on Wednesday. She won the award based on her numerous volunteering roles, including being Treasurer of both Ennis Tidy Towns and Probus; as Chairperson of Banner GAA; and caring for orphans in Kenya. Hosted by the Clare Older People’s Council and supported by Clare County Council, this year’s awards attracted a record number of entries. Clare FM’s Alan Morrissey (and also one of the three adjudicators for this year’s awards) caught up with Brid after her fantastic win to find out how she felt.

It is time for the eighth episode of our newest feature on Morning Focus, Village Tour, where Alan Morrissey paid a visit to Tuamgraney. With the Village Tour, we here at Morning Focus are aiming to highlight the smaller villages and townlands around the county. By doing this, we hope to showcase their unique character, while also bringing their diversity and individuality to life for you, the listener. During each episode of Village Tour, Alan chats with three people from a particular village or townland in Clare: from locals and business owners to those involved with local sports clubs and community representatives.

Actor and writer Lisa O’Connor, originally from Dysart, recently wrote and starred in her first short film, 'Fleeting'. The film, based on the repeal the 8th Referendum on Abortion, focuses on highlighting a changing Ireland. Lisa joined Peter O'Connell to discuss the film, how it came about, and more. Picture (c) Lisa O’Connor

Today is 65 Roses Day, which is the National Fundraising Day for Cystic Fibrosis Ireland. On Friday's Morning Focus, Peter O'Connell was joined by Deborah Kett from Crusheen, Deborah is a mother to 21 year old Hannah who is living with cystic fibrosis. Cystic Fibrosis Ireland hope to raise €300,000. Deborah will be at Dunnes Stores in Ennis today as part of the fundraising drive.

A newly adopted strategy will aim to guide and enhance Clare's socio-economic development for the next six years. The local and economic community plan for 2024 to 2030 has set out six high level goals for this county across the fields of healthcare, housing, transport, tourism, education, business and agriculture. The plan is underpinned by an evidence based approach that will aim to put Clare's best interests at the forefront of future local and national policy decisions. Clare County Council Rural and Community Development Administrative Officer Brendan Boyce is confident the plan will bring far-reaching benefits.

The Government has expressed its intention to proceed with the delivery of a primary care centre in Ennistymon in the coming months. Although four primary care centres were promised for Clare in 2021, the Station Road facility in Ennis is the only which has come to fruition so far. There are currently 13 primary care centres across the Midwest and the Government has recently conducted a review of the delivery model for such facilities. Addressing Ennistymon Fine Gael Senator Martin Conway in the Seanad, Minister of State Joe O'Brien says submissions for the Ennistymon facility will be sought between now and June after which point the project will move to the next stage.

Confidence has been expressed that emergency funding will be secured for Clare roads in need of urgent remedial works. It follows a meeting held between a Clare County Council delegation and Transport Minister Eamon Ryan during his visit to Ennis yesterday. The Department of Transport recommends that 10% of each county's road network is strengthened and resurfaced on an annual basis, though it's understood this target has been regularly missed in Clare due to a lack of resources. Mayor of Clare and Bodyke Fine Gael Councillor Joe Cooney believes the Minister fully understands the gravity of the situation.

Rhob Cunningham is coming to Clare. The Dublin musician, who has ten independently released albums to his name, will be performing at The Attic, Hotel Doolin Friday, 12th April. To find out more about the concert, Alan Morrissey was joined by Rhob on Thursday's Morning Focus.

A two-time former Mayor of Ennis will be stepping down after a decade of public service at the end of this council term. Barefield Independent Councillor Ann Norton has announced she will not be seeking re-election having served on the council since 2014. Cllr Norton is also the manager of the Clare Crusaders Clinic which provides therapy and specialist treatment to over 450 children with special needs in the county, but is now in need of urgent funds to keep its door opens. She says while she is immenseley proud of the progress made for the disability community while on the council, there are other priorities to focus on for now.

It's feared the Ennis Post Office Field development will have a detrimental effect on the site and its environs. Fresh concerns are being raised about developing on the prominent floodplain as public consultation dates have been announced for the proposed works. Located behind Bank Place and across the river from the Parnell Street Car Park, the Post Office Field has been synonymous with controversy and conflict for over twenty-five years. Following public pressure surrounding an attempted €14 million commercial development, the former Ennis Town Council purchased the 2.5 acre site in 1998. Since this time however, a number of proposals have been put forward for the site, including a home for the new public library, a dance centre and an underground car park. The site is unique in that is a floodplain and a nesting area for waterfowl located in the heart of an urban centre. Fast forward to today, plans are afoot for a development on the site consisting of an elevated boardwalk designed around river biod

It's claimed the prospect of unsewered Clare communities receiving government funding is in serious doubt. The Department of Local Government has issued a deadline of May 1st to Clare County Council for further technical information in order to deliver wastewater infrastructure in Cooraclare and Broadford. The villages were included in the first round of the €50m rural water programme in December and since then business cases for a follow-up round have been prepared by the local authority for Carrigaholt and Doolin. Scariff Independent Deputy Michael McNamara believes the Governments lack of action has put the schemes future in jeopardy.

Push For Clare People To Have Access To Greater Variety Of Banks by Clare FM

On Thursday’s Morning Focus, Alan welcomed Kieran McMahon on to the show for the Fitness and Wellness slot. Kieran is an online personal trainer and is also the founder of KM Fitness and the Be A Better Man online coaching mentorship. This week, Kieran gave us advice on making the most of longer evenings.

Welcome to this week’s episode of Clare Women in Business on Clare FM. In 2016, Caitriona Considine decided to start her own business. She did so on the Wild Atlantic Way at St Brigid’s Well near Liscannor where her husband Kevin grew up and his family operated a pub and farmed locally. They set about converting a 150 year old stone cottage beside the family home. It was the perfect location to establish a design led, destination gift and coffee shop. Catriona gave up years of working in the corporate sector and commuting between Clare and Dublin to set up Moher Cottage.

Eamon Ryan is in Clare today. The Green Party leader, Minister for the Environment, Climate, and Communications, and Minister for Transport is in Ennis today to attend the official launch event for the Local Authority Climate Action Plans in the Old Ground Hotel. All 31 local authorities, including Clare, have been preparing their local climate plans over the past year, and all plans have now been adopted by the elected members. The launch was organised by CARO, Climate Action Regional Offices.

Today is World Parkinson’s Day. The annual event is aimed at raising awareness about Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that causes tremors, rigidity, bradykinesia, and other movement-related symptoms. The day is also dedicated to promoting research for new treatments and cures for Parkinson’s disease. Alan Morrissey was joined live in studio by Fiona Staunton, who lives with Parkinson's, and Irene Treacy, Ireland's only dedicated Parkinson's coach. Picture (c) by pixelshot via Canva

Clare lost out to Kerry in their opening game of the Phase Two series of the Munster U20 football championship. An early goal for the Kingdom set the tone for a 1-13 to 0-5 victory. Clare played with the elements in the opening half with the sides heading for the dressing rooms level, but the Banner failed to register any score in the second period. Manager Michael Neylon says while it was a disappointing performance, they have to move on quickly