Clare Fm - Podcasts

This Friday,the 21st of June, the Samaritans Suicide Awareness Team will partake in a static cycle at the square in Ennis. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Peadar White, the organiser of the static cycle, and Pat White, the Director of Clare Samaritans. You can donate on their website here www.idonate.ie/cause/SamsClare. If you need to contact the Samaritans, you can do so on 116 123 or by emailing jo@samaritans.ie

The Chair of the Clare Tourism Advisory Forum believes lowering the hospitality VAT rate in this region would benefit businesses and consumers alike. It follows the tabling of a Dáil motion by the Rural Independent Group to bring the VAT rate in the tourism and hospitality sectors down from 13.5% to 9% - while Cork TD Michael Collins has proposed reducing it to 5% outside of Dublin. Countries such as Italy, Hunrary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Romania and Portugal have all availed of the EU Reduced VAT Rates Directive to lower VAT rates in peripheral regions. Clare Tourism Advisory Forum Chairperson and Hotel Woodstock co-owner Sean Lally insists the measure should be introduced and he claims the current rate is simply not working.

Clare's IFA Chair claims the Nature Restoration Law can only viable if the Government puts appropriate compensation supports in place for farmers. Under the legislation passed by the EU Council of Environment Ministers this week, all member states will have to introduce measures to restore nature on 20% of their land and sea areas by 2030. Ireland will not have to implement its plan until 2026 and Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue has moved to reassure farmers that any associated schemes will be "entirely voluntary". Feakle-based Clare IFA Chair Stephen Walsh says the government needs to clarify how this will work in practice.

A Clare MEP elect has described as "profoundly undemocratic" a Dáil vote on the EU Asylum and Migration Pact today. TDs will this evening be asked to vote on the adoption of seven measures of the pact which Taoiseach Simon Harris says represents a "united effort across Europe" on the issue of migration. If the Government wins the vote as expected, it will be required to increase the number of staff processing applications, build new processing and accommodation centres, enhance border security and increase the collection of fingerprints. Scariff Independent TD Michael McNamara, who says he's voting against opting-in to the measures, has been telling Clare FM's Seán Lyons that elected representatives should have the option to vote on individual measures rather than taking them all together

The Education Minister is being called upon to recognise the independence of Clare's only post-primary Gaelcholáiste. Despite first opening it's doors in 1993, Gaelcholáiste An Chláir, which shares a building with Ennis Community College, still does not have a roll number of its own. As a result, up to 700 pupils from Irish language primary schools in Ennis, Kilrush, Shannon and Moy cannot access the free transport scheme for Irish language development as the Gaelcholáiste is not classed as their nearest school. Kilrush Independent Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne says the situation is negatively affecting families and the native tongue.

Clare's Water Safety Officer is reminding the public that when it comes to swimming, water and alcohol don't mix. National Water Safety Awareness Week is currently underway and the campaign is intended to highlight to need to give water safety the same attention as road safety over the summer months. There's been an average of 10 drownings every month in Ireland over the last five years, with males making of 70% of drownings and 57% of such incidents being preceded by land-based activities. Clare County Council Water Safety Officer Claire McGrath, who's Chair of Water Safety Ireland, says particular precautions must be taken around alcohol use when near bodies of water.

On this weeks’ Sport in Focus, Clare Local Sports Partnership was recently honoured as the Best Sports Partnership in the country at the Sport Ireland awards. To find out more about what they do, Clare FM's Derrick Lynch spoke with CEO John Sweeney.

Evangeline May Farr, a 24-year-old author based in Clare, has recently published her first book, "Love Conquers All." To delve deeper into her inspiration, writing process, and the journey of bringing her book to life, Evangeline joined Alan Morrissey on Wednesday's Morning Focus. The book can be found here:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Love-conquers-all-Evangeline-Farr/dp/B0D195DQ78

Eamon Ryan has confirmed he is stepping down as leader of the Green Party. His decision comes after the Greens lost both their seats in the European Parliament in the recent elections and although they did slightly better than expected in the locals, they still didn’t fare that well, losing half their seats. The Environment Minister announced the news after Tuesday morning's Cabinet meeting. To assess what this means for Eamon Ryan, the Green Party and the Government, Alan Morrissey was joined by Green Party Senator, Roisín Garvey, and Fianna Fáil TD, Cathal Crowe. Picture (c): Eamon Ryan via greenparty.ie

A North Clare senator is calling on the Integration Minister to provide a sustainable long-term plan for Ukrainian accommodation. It comes as 75 Ukrainian refugees living in Shannon's Phoenix House have been told they'll be relocated to Lisdoonvarna next Monday unless they find their own accommodation in the meantime. There are 5,581 Ukrainians benefitting from temporary accommodation in Clare at the moment - 2,992 of which are located in 39 multi-occupancy facilities throughout the county. Speaking in the Seanad, Ennistymon Fine Gael Senator Martin Conway says the Government must move away from an emergency response and look to the future.

A leading Clare mental health support service has secured a new facility after an extensive search. The Haven Hub, which first opened in the Tracklands Business Park in Ennis in 2019 had been without a physical location for the last three weeks, but has now found a new premises at the Ennis Yoga Studio in the Friary Car Park. The peer support and suicide prevention service, which has made 748 interventions to date in the MidWest, is open to the public every Saturday from 8pm until 1am. Haven Hub Founder Leona O'Callaghan says its vital that people in need avail of their supports.

Clare's Green Senator says the leader of their party had to step aside for personal reasons. Eamon Ryan will formally announce he's stepping down as leader of the party at a press conference this afternoon, having already informed the parliamentary party and Government leaders of his decision. It comes after the Greens lost both their seats in the European Parliament in the recent elections and although they did slightly better than expected in the locals, they still didn’t fare that well, losing half their seats. Eamon Ryan is the second coalition leader to stand down this year, after former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar resigned as Fine Gael leader in April. Inagh-based Green Party Senator Roisín Garvey has been telling Clare FM's Daragh Dolan she believes Eamon Ryan will leave a positive impression on Ireland for generations to come.

A Clare Travel Counsellor expects Aer Lingus and IALPA will reach a compromise at the eleventh hour. It comes as the pilot's union has again voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action. Aer Lingus is currently operating four services to and from Shannon, namely flights to London Heathrow, New York JFK, Boston - Logan and Paris Charles De Gaulle. Yesterday , pilot's union IALPA voted for industrial action for a second time after Aer Lingus dismissed the results of a first e-ballot. But the paper ballot was equally clearcut, with 99% of pilots voting in favour. The union is required to give just seven days notice to the airline ahead of any planned strike action, which means flights could be cancelled as early as next week. Aer Lingus Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Donal Moriarty fears this would cause significant disruption for passengers. A Clare Travel Counsellor believes the pilots hold the upper hand at the negotiating table and it's highly likely a compromise will be reached at the eleventh h

A new report of refugee accommodation involving 100 Ukrainians living in Clare has found that 1 in 3 rated their accommodation as poor or very poor. It follows a new online survey from Migrants Rights Group Doras, which analysed the experience of over 1,000 beneficiaries of temporary protection nationwide. 10% expressed concerns for gender based violence in their accommodation centres, while one in six respondents expressed concerns for the safety of their children. Doras CEO John Lannon says many are living in shocking conditions.

Clare's SVP President claims a new report demonstrates the need for the Government to bring income supports in line with the rising cost of living. The charity's latest Minimal Essential Standard of Living Report has identified issues around the adequacy of the National Minimum Wage, with the national income shortfall of urban single adults in full-time minimum wage employment now at €130. Food costs also remain a concern, with the report showing the average food basket cost is up 1.5% in the last year, and up 21.2% since 2020. President of the Clare branch of Saint Vincent De Paul Denis Carty has been telling Clare FM's Seán Lyons that the findings are much-needed evidence that the minimum wage and welfare rates aren't sufficient in this economic climate.

A Clare Recruitment Agent claims the onus is now firmly on employers to attract skilled personnel to the workplace. It follows new research from the Stepstone Group, which shows that 50% of Irish workers would not take a new job unless it comes with a hybrid or fully remote working option. The figure is significantly higher than the global average of 29% , while results from Census 2022 show over 16,500 people in Clare are working from home. Co-Founder of Career Wise Recruitment in Shannon Joe Robbins says the cards are stacked in favour of employees.

On this week’s History in Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by local historian and author Colm Liddy to discuss The Silken Thomas Rebellion. If you have any stories you would like to share with Colm about your town, you can contact him at colmliddy@eircom.net or Clare FM at focus@clare.fm.

Last Monday evening saw a meeting take place to discuss the future of Tulla. Members of the local community attended the meeting, which was held at Tulla Courthouse, to have their say on the future of the village. To find out what was up for discussion, Alan Morrissey spoke with Ann Reidy O'Connor, a Tulla Native and Owner of Reflections Hair Salon.

The Kilfenora Ceilí Band will be playing the beautiful surrounds of the Vandeleur Walled Garden & Visitor Centre later this month. The show forms part of this year’s Vandeleur Festival Kilrush. The band will have superb support, in the shape of Cratloe’s Ger O’Donnell.

On Tuesday’s Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by John Burns, Retired Deputy Principal and Educational Consultant. This week, John gave advice to students moving into 3rd level education or into the workforce.