Clare Fm - Podcasts

Garda Numbers Two Garda staff associations, representing the bulk of members, do not believe that Government targets to increase the Garda strength to 15,000 in five years can be met. The Garda Representative Association (GRA) and the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) also said the morale crisis among members stems from a belief that Garda management is “not listening” to their concerns. For more on this, Alan Morrisey was joined by Clare AGSI Rep Brian Howard CONF

On Thursday’s Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Danny Lynch, chef at Le Chéile, Barefield. This week, Danny shared a delicious recipe for Pancakes!

The Cabinet has signed off on plans to buy Dublin's Citywest Hotel and campus for 148 million euro. The State has been leasing the site since 2020, and it's been used to accommodate international protection applicants and those fleeing the war in Ukraine since 2022. The site has the capacity to accommodate up to 2,300 people, and is currently used for housing international protection applicants and those fleeing the war in Ukraine. The Justice Minister says it's an opportunity to deliver a State-owned accommodation centre. Will the State’s Citywest Acquisition Pave the Way for Similar Actions on Clare Hotels? For more on this, Alan Morrissey was joined by Lisdoonvarna Fine Gael Councillor Joe Garrihy and Michael Vaughan, of Vaughan's Lodge in Lahinch.

On Thursday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Comedian, Tommy Tiernan. The hugely popular Irish comedian is bringing his new stand-up show “tommedian” to the Marquee in Cork. His show on Saturday, the 5th of July is sold out, but an extra date on Friday, the 4th of July has been added. PHOTO CREDIT: TommyTiernan.ie

Clare Poetry Collective is holding its bilingual poetry event this coming weekend. The foyer at Glór is the venue for Saturday afternoon’s gathering (21st June, from 12:30pm). Music will be provided by Cairo Rocha from Phoenix and Wolfe. For more on this Alan Morrissey was joined by Poets Éire Ní Fhaolain and Amanda Shannon.

It’s time for another edition of one of our newer slots on Morning Focus: Ageing Well. Ageing Well, as the name implies, is aimed at older members of the community in Clare. This month, Aisling Ní Mhaoileoin, Revenue’s National PAYE Manager, joined Alan Morrissey to discuss main tax credits and reliefs available to older people and their carers, including medical expenses, nursing home fees, and pension taxation.

The much-anticipated Clarecastle Regatta is set to return on Sunday, the 22nd of June, promising a spectacular day of family entertainment down at the quay from 1:30pm until evening. This year's regatta offers something for everyone, with continuous music throughout the day, vintage car display, market stalls, curragh race, boat rides, hanging tough, face painting and a variety of food ensuring no one goes hungry. To find out more on this, Alan Morrissey was joined by Siobhán Purcell, Committee co-chair of Clarecastle Regatta. PHOTO CREDIT: Clarecastle Regatta

On Thursday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined in-studio by Liam Bluett. Liam was previously on Morning Focus to talk about his extremely impressive collection of autographed photos of Irish actors which he amassed over many decades. At the time, Liam had donated over 560 signed photos of Irish actors to the National Library in Dublin. Liam spoke about the Bluett Collection of Irish Actors at the National Library of Ireland.

New one way streets, tiered parking prices, park and stride hubs and pedestrian priority could all be trialed in the coming years to reduce traffic congestion in Ennis. Over 200 submissions have now been made to Clare County Council on the Draft Ennis Transport Plan, which will aim to guide investment in infrastructure and optimise the economic, social and health opportunities of transport in the town for at least the next 15 years. The plan will also aim to improve road safety, proposing 116 active travel upgrades and other route alterations across the Ennis catchment area, however the public can very much weigh in and make their own opinions heard, but they have just 8 days left to do so with submissions closing on Friday June 27th. Clare FM's Daragh Dolan has been having a closer look at what impact the plan could have on the future of the town.

The state body responsible for accelerating housing supply says it'll consider modular wastewater infrastructure plants as a means of expediting construction in Clare. Bodyke Fine Gael TD Joe Cooney has proposed wastewater treatment plants to be constructed off-site and assembled on-site as an interim solution to delays in unsewered settlements. It follows a motion tabled by Lisdoonvarna Fine Gael Councillor Joe Garrihy at this month's meeting of Clare County Council which called on the local authority to consider developer-led systems. Responding to Deputy Cooney at a meeting of the Oireachtas Housing Committee, Housing Agency CEO Martin Whelan says in such a time of crisis, all solutions have to be looked at.

A Clare-based MEP is calling for an end to trade between the European Union and Israel amid what he refers to as a genocide being "fuelled" by Germany in Gaza. Independent Member of the European Parliament Michael McNamara is seeking the immediate suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. Under the agreement which was put in place in 2000, trade between the EU and Israel is governed by a free trade area. Speaking in the European Parliament, the Scariff native claims European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is responsible for her county once again being on the wrong side of history.

Clonlara will be hoping to exact a degree of revenge for their 2024 championship quarter final defeat to Sixmilebridge this weekend. The sides face off in the semi of the WillWeGo.com Clare Cup on Sunday afternoon in Newmarket on Fergus. When they last met in the latter stages of last years championship, The Bridge ran out three point winners en route to the final. Clare FM analyst Tommy Guilfoyle says Clonlara will hope for a good showing after a disappointing 2024.

Fáilte ar ais chuig eagrán nua de Ar An Lá Seo ar an 18ú lá de mí an Mheithimh, liomsa Lauren Ní Loingsigh. I 1976 tháinig an aire airgeadas Richie Ryan amach go mbeadh reachtaíocht nua ag teacht amach chun srian a chur ar na mbainc chun an pá ar ardú. I 1993 bhí fearg ar na hoibrithe Aer Lingus agus bhí siad ag iarradh cruinniú a bheith acu leis an Tániste faoi Pháirtí an Lucht Oibre. I 1993 bhí feachtasóir áitiúil ag teacht le chéile chun troid an bhagairt chuig na haerfort agus an todhchaí a bhí ann do 10 míle duine a bhí ag obair ann. I 2004 bhí cúig dhuine a bhí sa pháirtí neamhspleách ar barr chun a bheith I gcumhacht don tseachtain seo chugainn do chomhairle chontae an chláir. Sin Adele le Rolling In The Deep – an t-amhrán is mó ar an lá seo I 2011 Ag lean ar aghaidh le nuacht cheoil ar an lá seo I 1964 bhí The Beatles ar turas san Astráil agus chan siad ag Stad Sydney. Bhí sé bhreithlá Paul McCartney agus bhí sé aois 22 agus tar éis an seó tháinig 17 cailíní taobh thiar den stáitse agus bhuaigh

A Clare Government TD says he's fully in favour of more robust aircraft inspections at Shannon Airport to ensure Ireland is not breaching its neutrality. It comes as the Social Democrats have written to the EU's fraud watchdog 'OLAF' calling for it to investigate if the state is facilitating Israel's war in Gaza, by failing to inspect "high risk" flights into Shannon. Among the notable alleged incidents is that a cargo plane used to transport weapons to Israel, spent 14 hours at Shannon Airport in March, while the Department of Foreign Affairs has also confirmed it does not search any military aircraft. Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Aviation and Logistics, Meelick Deputy Cathal Crowe has been telling Clare FM's Daragh Dolan that many internal investigations are ongoing.

Speculation is mounting as to the identity of the country's newest multimillionaire. The 250 million euro pot is the largest amount of money ever won here. The National Lottery has confirmed the ticket was bought in a shop and not online. It says the lucky winner will be in shock, but is asking them to get in touch as soon as possible. These people have been telling Clare FM's Darragh O'Grady what they'd do, if they had the golden ticket.

A Clare financial advisor says the winner should take measured decisions, assemble a team of experts and tell no-one. Tommy Corbett of Carey Corbett Financial Solutions has been telling Clare FM's Seán Lyons that given the nature of Irish communities, it'll be "very difficult" for the successful ticket-holder to keep it quiet for long.

On Wednesday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Joe O'Reilly, Principal of St. Joseph’s NS, Miltown Malbay. A big day lies ahead for St. Joseph’s National School. They will be opening their new astro turf facility and sensory garden.

The team of volunteers at Shannon Town Community Wetlands held a number of on-site events recently, to celebrate Biodiversity Week 2025. Meanwhile, Shannon Archaeological & Historical Society successfully launched the latest volume of their journal The Other Clare. To find out more, Alan Morrissey was joined by Micheál Mac Gearailt, of Shannon Archaeological Society & Shannon Town Community Wetlands and PJ Ryan, Chair of the Shannon Archaelogical & Historical Society. PHOTO CREDIT: Hilary Gilmore

Just over 1,600 Clare homes, businesses and farms near Labasheeda will be able to connect to fibre broadband on National Broadband Ireland’s (NBI) network by early autumn. These homes, farms, and businesses are among 32,000 premises across Ireland that have been brought forward from 2026 to 2025 in National Broadband Ireland’s delivery schedule. For more on this, Alan Morrissey was joined by Peter Hendrick, Chief Executive Officer of National Broadband Ireland PHOTO CREDIT: NBI

A beekeeper from Tuamgraney outpaced nearly 3,500 competitors to become the first athlete from Clare to claim victory in the Cork City Marathon recently. Chris Jeuken, running for Derg AC, a club based on the Clare-Tipperary border delivered an outstanding performance, completing the challenging 26.2-mile course in 2 hours, 18 minutes, and 56 seconds — finishing a full six minutes ahead of the second-place runner, Michael Fox. Remarkably, the former accomplished cyclist (with Burren Cycling Club) missed breaking the course record by just 18 seconds, with the standing record being 2 hours, 18 minutes, and 37 seconds. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Chris Jeuken, Beehive manufacturer of Apis Bee Supplies in Tuamgraney. PHOTO CREDIT: Chris Jeuken