Clare Fm - Podcasts

This July, a new online Parent Support Group led by Michelle Nelligan is launching — created specifically for parents who want to share their experiences in a safe, non-judgmental space. Michelle, an autistic woman and mum to three autistic daughters, will guide the group with empathy, insight, and lived experience. To discuss this further, Peter O'Connell was joined by organiser Michelle Nelligan.

On Thursday's Morning Focus, Peter O'Connell was joined by Tommy Hayes. Tommy is a man of many talents. The renowned musician/percussionist has made his mark on the musical landscape, having played with Stockton's Wing, Altan, and Riverdance amongst others. He has been to the forefront of traditional Irish music for over 40 years, performing on more than 400 albums. Tommy also has an impressive array of film appearances on hsi CV, including Titanic, The Devil's Own, Rob Roy, In the Name of the Father, and The Field. Tommy’s latest project, 'The Garden Where The Praties Grow' is described as “a cinematic story of the potato and its lasting impact on Irish culture told through traditional Irish music, song and dance.” The premiere of the film is taking place on July 1st, with further screenings scheduled – including at Glór in Ennis on the 15th of July 15th. PHOTO CREDIT: The Garden Where The Praties Grow via Youtube

The Midwest will become the centre of the golfing world in 2027, when the Ryder Cup comes to the region. The 2027 Ryder Cup – the showpiece golfing matchup between Europe and the United States, will take place at Adare Manor in County Limerick, from September 13th-19th, 2027. The event in 2027 will be the centenary staging of the biennial contest. It will also see the Ryder Cup return to Irish shores for the first time since the K Club in Kildare back in 2006. How will Clare benefit from this massive event? To discuss this further, Peter O'Connell was joined by Sean Lally, Chair of Clare's Tourism Advisory Forum, Ennis Hotelier. PHOTO CREDIT: Ryder Cup

A Co. Clare salon has picked up prizes at a prestigious salon of the year awards. The Skin & Make Up Studio in Ennis was named as ‘Best Independent Salon Ireland’ at the 2025 IIAA Salon of the Year Awards. They also claimed the ‘Community Champion’ award at the ceremony in London, which saw skincare and makeup professionals from Ireland and the UK gather to celebrate their successes across categories that recognised achievements in client results as well as business growth. For more on this, Peter O'Connell was joined in-studio by Maureen Considine, owner of Skin & Make Up Studio in Ennis. PHOTO CREDIT: Maureen Considine

Tributes are being paid to a humanitarian from County Clare who passed away last weekend. Mike McDonagh, late of Miltown Malbay and formerly of Ennis, died last Saturday. Mike was a former United Nations official who also worked for Concern for more than 20 years, including serving as country director in Laos, Somalia, Angola, Rwanda, North Korea, and Zimbabwe, amongst numerous locations. Mike is survived by his wife Sarah McNiece, daughters Saoirse and Molly, and extended family and friends. His funeral mass will take place in St Joseph’s Church, Miltown Malbay on Friday (from 5pm – 7pm). To Discuss this further, Peter O'Connell was joined by David McMahon of the United Nations and Paul Heslop, who knew Mike in Angola (1994), they shared a house together in Khartoum (2004-2006) and also from Libya and Oman CONF

A young man is putting one foot in front of the other, all the way from the South-East of England to the West Coast of Ireland to raise awareness and funds for mental health. Frazer Last, from East Sussex in England, is walking over 800 kilometres across two countries, with the final stretch of the epic journey bringing him to Labasheeda. To find out more, Frazer Last joined Peter O'Connnell in studio.

There’s only one day left to make submissions on the Ennis Transport Plan. Over 50 residents living near the Old Mill Road in Ennis attended a protest yesterday over council plans to create a one-way traffic system with a cycle lane on a prominent thoroughfare in the town. Under the Draft Ennis Local Transport Plan , its proposed to make the southbound lane of Mill Road stretching from Carmody Street to Harvey Quay's a one way street, to facilitate a footpath, which can't be built at present as a protected structure which cannot be knocked protrudes onto the roadway. It's proposed in this case that Northbound traffic will be re-routed through a residential and commercial area of Cloughleigh. Clare FM’s Darragh Dolan was at the protest yesterday and he first spoke to Cloughleigh resident Mary McNamara. A traffic survey by local Garage Owner Pat Foudy has indicated that the new plans will bring up to 5,990 additional vehicles a day up Old Mill Road, and that just 0.2% of traffic analysed on the pro

The Child and Family Agency has confirmed it will be doubling its number of social workers in Clare. There are currently just 3 TUSLA staff working on the Clare children's care team, who are responsible for 43 children between them. A further 77 children in this county are on a waiting list for social care and TUSLA has now indicated its intention to bring its social worker staffing complement up to 6 in the coming weeks. Clare Fine Gael TD Joe Cooney says it's desperately needed.

The CEO of the Shannon Airport Group says she's viewing a prestigious award bestowed on her as a reflection of the "collective effort" of her team. Mary Considine is this year's recipient of the Clare Association Dublin's Clare person of the Year Award. The Lissycasey native came to Shannon Airport in 2007 as Head of Finance and Corporate Affairs and served in a variety of roles before being named Group CEO in 2019. She says the success of the facility over the years is thanks to the hard work of all of its staff.

Clare Coach Kevin McNamara Ahead Of All Ireland Minor Hurling Final

Clare FM's Derek Dormer Previewing Clare v Monaghan LGFA All Ireland IFC Quarter Final

Over 50 residents near the Old Mill Road in Ennis have staged a public demonstration today against plans to create an effective northbound ring road, running through a residential area. Local Resident Mary McNamara believes it will add more congestion to an already challenged area and present a serious safety concern for children.

Clare is believed to have a shortage of over 1,000 hotel beds. Incentivising the construction of new tourism accommodation is just one of the aims of a new scheme proposed by Clare County Council's Economic Development Strategic Policy Committee. Public consultation is to take place on a waiver scheme that would give a reduction in commercial rates to certain businesses in Clare over a three-year period. Under the proposal, new-build hotels, hostels, recreational vehicle campervan sites, nursing homes and creches would all be eligible for a reduction. Those redeveloping vacant units for hospitality or nursing home purposes would also be able to avail of the scheme, as would businesses located on ground floors where the upper floors are converted to residential accommodation from 2026 onwards. Figures from the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment show there are currently 9,574 hotel bed spaces in Clare which is 337 fewer than in 2023. Clare County Council Economic Development SPC member, Quilty Fia

One Local Business Owner even conducted his own traffic survey to demonstrate the volume of traffic that would be forced to traverse the Old Mill Road, if controversial plans for a one-way system come to pass in the town. Garage Owner on Pound Lane Pat Foudy claims the plans would bring at least an additional 5,990 vehicles up their road instead, something which he believes would be exacerbated when schools return.

The Owner of a protected building in Ennis, which is at the centre of a controversial proposal to create a one-way street, claims he was not consulted by the local authority on how to solve the safety issue. Over 50 residents living on the Old Mill Road have today staged a public demonstration against plans to create an effective northbound ring road, running through a residential area. It comes amid council plans to close one lane of traffic on the mill road, in order to safely facilitate a footpath beside the 18th Century Ennis Cormarket Store, which protrudes onto the street, but cannot be knocked due to its status. Building Owner and Ennis Businessman Michael Barry says the proposed solution will only lead to traffic chaos and serious road safety concerns.

Fáilte ar ais chuig eagrán nua de Ar An Lá Seo ar an 25ú lá de mí an Mheithimh, liomsa Lauren Ní Loingsigh. I 1982 bhí M.P a bhí ag obair san Eoraip ó Éirinn ag fáil níos mó ná 40 míle punt gach bliain. I 1993 bhí an cumann foirgníochta agus na bainc dúshlánach de bharr a tairiscint speisialta. I 1993 bhí daoine a bhí ina chónaí I nDroichead an Chláir buartha faoin uisce a bhí truaillithe. I 2004 tháinig sé amach go mbeadh urrúsú mór chun a bheith sa chontae nuair a bheadh Uachtarán George W Bush chun a bheith ann. Sin Britney Spears le Everytime – an t-amhrán is mó ar an lá seo I 2004 Ag lean ar aghaidh le nuacht cheoil ar an lá seo I 1977 shroich Marvin Gaye uimhir a haon I Meiriceá lena hamhrán Got To Give It Up agus bhí sé a tríú huimhir a haon I Meiriceá. I 2009 fuair Michael Jackson bás ag aois 50 de bharr cliseadh croí ag a teach I Beverly Hills. Bhí sé a ochtú páiste den chlann agus bhí sé páirteach den Jackson 5 I 1964. Bhí Michael Jackson cáiliúil de bharr go raibh a físeanna iontach agus dúr

Clare is believed to have a shortage of over 1,000 hotel beds. Incentivising the construction of new tourism accommodation is just one of the aims of a new scheme proposed by Clare County Council's Economic Development Strategic Policy Committee. Public consultation is to take place on a waiver scheme that would give a reduction in commercial rates to certain businesses in Clare over a three-year period. Under the proposal, new-build hotels, hostels, recreational vehicle campervan sites, nursing homes and creches would all be eligible for a reduction. Those redeveloping vacant units for hospitality or nursing home purposes would also be able to avail of the scheme, as would businesses located on ground floors where the upper floors are converted to residential accommodation from 2026 onwards. Figures from the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment show there are currently 9,574 hotel bed spaces in Clare which is 337 fewer than in 2023. Clare County Council Economic Development SPC member, Quilty Fia

Joe Riley, is an 84-year-old author originally from Pound Street in Kilrush, now living in Southport, UK. Joe has dedicated his later years to preserving and reimagining the stories of his hometown through a series of powerful books. His latest release, The Quiet Man from Scattery Island, is a gripping, action-packed thriller that blends military suspense with heartfelt Irish storytelling. Set along the beautiful Shannon Estuary and West Clare, it’s a tale of redemption, justice, and home. Joe has written four books about Kilrush, from vivid memoirs of life in the 1940s and ‘50s to ghost stories, and now this compelling fictional thriller. Time is precious for Joe, who’s been told he has just months to live. To discuss this further Alan Morrissey was joined by, Joe Riley, author from Kilrush.

A new documentary on Natasha O’Brien will air on RTÉ One this evening (Wednesday, June 25th). Natasha O’Brien was attacked by Cathal Crotty, who was then a member of the Irish Defence Forces, in 2022. Crotty, from Ardnacrusha, Co. Clare was given a three-year suspended sentence in June 2024. An appeal was lodged the following month, and the sentence was overturned by the Court of Appeal in January this year (2025), and he was sentenced to two years in jail. The documentary, called Natasha, can be see from 9:35pm. To find out more on this, Alan Morrissey was joined by Natasha O'Brien. PHOTO CREDIT: Ayesha Ahmad

On Wednesday’s Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Tommy Corbett from Carey Corbett Financial Solutions. This week, Tommy provided Alan and our Morning Focus listeners with advice on equity release for older people in Ireland