Clare Fm - Podcasts

Following the release of his debut solo album, 'Commencer', Ro Yourell will be coming to Pot Duggans in Ennistymon! Best known as a member of the internationally sucessful Delorentos, Yourell’s solo sound focuses on meditative, intimate lyrics with a distinct poetic flair and driving melody. Ro Yourell is playing at Pot Duggans on Saturday, November 23rd. Photo (c): Cuppa Tea TV

Residents of a south-east Clare village are said to be "held captive in their own houses" due to the speed at which traffic passes by their homes. As of this month, speed limits on national secondary roads have been reduced from 100 km/h to 80 km/h, while on rural roads they're down from 80 km/h to 60 km/h. Reductions have also been seen in built up areas like housing estates from 50 km/h to 30 km/h, but Cratloe Fianna Fáil Councillor Pat O'Gorman is arguing that as his village has no housing estates, its roads aren't seeing any road safety improvements. He says the traffic on Cratloe's satellite roads is akin to a funeral procession at peak times.

The co-founder of the Midwest Hospital Campaign says the re-opening of Ennis's A&E would be a "top priority" of hers if in Government, but it wouldn't be a red line issue. The Social Democrats have published their General Election manifesto entitled 'For the Future' which includes a pledge to provide a Model 3 hospital in the Midwest with an emergency department. A recent study conducted by Ennis native Dr Sinéad Madden recommends a new 350-bed hospital in Ennis with an ED in order to serve the growing needs of this county's population. The Social Democrats have confirmed they're willing to go into Government with any party, and Ennis-based General Election Election candidate for the party, Hilary Tonge, says Midwest healthcare must be central to any discussion.

A legal team representing the family of Caitríona Lucas has given the government two weeks to pay legal costs the family must meet following the inquest into her death. The 41-year-old mother of two and Coast Guard volunteer died after the Kilkee Coast Guard Delta rigid inflatable boat (RIB) she was on capsized while searching for a man who was missing in September 2016. Catríona was the first Irish Coast Guard volunteer to die on duty. Her family’s legal team has called the state’s delay in covering these costs “inordinate and unacceptable.” To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Marine Expert acting on behalf of the Lucas family, Michael Kingston. Photo: © Pat Flynn

Ronan Collins is hitting the road again! The renowned musician, singer and broadcaster is in the midst of a nationwide tour with his new show, ‘Showbands Hits and Stories’. With his knowledge of the showbands, stars and songs of that golden era, Ronan will sing the hits and tell the stories from an amazing time in Irish life. The tour will visit Glór in Ennis at the end of the month. Photo (c): Dave Cooley

An event historic in its significance took place in Ennis yesterday as a commemoration to mark 1,000 days of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine was held at the 1916 Rising Memorial on Club Bridge. The event was attended by Ukrainian refugees from various different embattled areas of the country and now different areas of County Clare, who expressed their hopes for the future and told of the horrors they faced before arriving here. Clare FM’s Daragh Dolan was in attendance at the event, where he spoke to Milona Lori, who fled Kyiv; Anna Polovyk from Mykolaiv, who’s hoping to use her qualification as a doctor here; Katarena Raikova from Kharkiv, who’s now living and working in Lisdoonvarna; and the Ukrainian woman whose grandchild was born in a bomb shelter. The event also featured a rare extended edition of Amhrán Na Bhfiann, an anti-war anthem from Metallica, and firstly the English version of Ukraine's national anthem. Photo (c): Clare FM

The first general election debate was held at the Clare County Council Chambers in Ennis. Alan Morrissey was joined by Independent Candidate, Amanda Major, Fianna Fáil Candidate, Cathal Crowe, Aontú Candidate, June Dillon, Fine Gael Candidate, Leonora Carey, Independent Candidate, Matthew Moroney and Irish People Party Candidate, Michael Loughrey. Photo (c): Clare FM

Truagh Clonlara Joint Captains Ellen Horgan And Laura Foley After Munster Club Camogie Final Win

A revolutionary Clare priest is being remembered as a man who made a positive difference in the lives of thousands of young people. Tributes have been pouring in for former Inagh-Kilnamona Parish Priest, former teacher at Ennis Vocational School and founder of Clare Youth Service in 1969, Fr Seán Sexton, who passed away peacefully over the weekend. Today, the service has outlets in Lisdoonvarna, Killaloe, Kilkee, Ennis and Shannon and provides an array of learning supports and full-time education courses to over 3,000 adolescents every year. Clare Youth Service CEO Margaret Slattery says he was a truly inspirational figure who was far ahead of his time.

It's claimed Government "brainfreeze" is leading to an unregulated short-term let market in Clare and consequently forcing young people out of Ireland. The Short-Term Tourist Letting Bill drafted during the summer would require providers on platforms like AirBnB to have a valid registration number with Fáilte Ireland for their short-term lets. For the week beginning on November 25th, there are 799 available properties on AirBnB in Clare. Lahinch-based businessman and Independent General Election candidate Paddy Murphy says it's "disgraceful" that young people are competing with prospective short-term let providers for homes.

We’re firmly into the second week of campaigning for the General Election. The Clare electorate will cast their votes on the 29th of November, when they will choose the four TDs to represent the county in the 34th Dáil. Let’s get a flavour of what has been happening on the campaign trail. Both government parties and Sinn Féin were accused of insulting the electorate in last night’s televised election debate. During the debate, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil accused Sinn Féin of being unfit to govern - while the main opposition party highlighted the government’s failure to address the housing crisis or spending overruns. The government’s record on overspending came to the fore during last night’s debate, along with the housing crisis, immigration, and climate. The government parties were also criticised for not passing the Occupied Territories Bill by People Before Profit’s Richard Boyd Barrett and Ivana Bacik of Labour. Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman confirmed he would be willing to re-form a gov

On Tuesday’s Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by John Burns, Retired Deputy Principal and Educational Consultant. This week, John answered a variety of questions from parents and students, which included a question on leaving school to pursue a job, bullying and advice on Christmas exams preparation. If you have any questions for this, email focus@clare.fm Photo (c): Clare FM

Congrats to our 12 talented TY students who've just completed Clare FM's TY Media Week at Clare FM with Colum McGrath. They planned, produced and recorded their own show - TY Talks! TY Media Week is funded by Coimisiún na Meán through the Sound and Vision Fund and has been devised by Learning Waves in partnership with Clare FM!

For the past few years, Kathleen Austin has tried to bring an incredible amount of food and household items to families in need in the Ennis and Clare area. The Drive, which sees Ozone joining forces with a group of local volunteers, including Kathleen, does so much to help those in need at Christmas time. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined in studio by the General Manager of Ozone Health, Mike Hogan and Kathleen Austin. Photo (c): Clare FM

A calf health workshop is coming to Ennistymon this week. The information evening at the Falls Hotel will take place on Wednesday, the 20th of November. The workshop will help farmers to recognise serious conditions that affect the health of newborn calves and provide advice on how these conditions can be prevented next spring. To discuss this further, on Tuesday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined in-studio by John Underhill of Burren Vets in Ennistymon & Miltown Malbay. Photo (c): Clare FM

The Clare Poetry Collective will be performing in Ennis this coming weekend. Their poetry readings and open mic event will take place in the foyer of Glór on Saturday afternoon. To find out more, Alan Morrissey was joined by Amanda Shannon and Ben MacCaoilte, who are both poets. Photo (c): Clare FM

Clare County Council is encouraging people with vacant accommodation in Clare to play their part in preventing homelessness. Since the Homeless Action Team came into force five years ago, a number of family hubs have come on stream in this county including Laurel Lodge, Cusack Lodge and Westbrook. The local authority is now seeking more short-term emergency accommodation, however, for people moving between properties, such as those who have been forced to leave their home and awaiting local authority housing. Figures contained in the Council's latest monthly management report show 23 families, 99 adults and 53 children are availing of emergency accommodation from just 13 providers in Clare. Acting Senior Housing and Integration Executive with Clare County Council, Padraig McCormaic says they're seeking expressions of interest from B&B's, Hotels or home owners with offerings of one or two rooms, particularly in the North of the county.

Secondary School teachers across Clare are urging the Minister for Education to address the inherent unfairness of a newly proposed assessment model for leaving cert students. Under the plans, additional components assessment or non-exam work could potentially account for up to 40% of a students grade. In protest of the new system, teachers will sacrifice their lunch breaks today and take to the picket lines outside their respective schools. ASTI Rep and Science and Physics Teacher at St. Flannan's College John Conneely has been telling Clare FM's Daragh Dolan the idea would undermine classroom teaching and widen the gap for students from disadvantaged areas.

Fr Gerry Kenny Leads our Sunday Prayer for Sunday 24th November 2024, the Festival of Christ the King which represents the end of Ordinary Time in our Liturgical Year.

Campaigning is continuing for General Election 2024. The people of Clare will go to the polls on the 29th of November, when they will choose the four TDs to represent the county in the 34th Dáil. Let’s get a flavour of what has been happening on the campaign trail. Tánaiste Micheál Martin has said there is a real problem with Fine Gael election candidate John McGahon remaining on the party's ticket after the Sunday Times published pictures of the damage inflicted to farmer Breen White during an incident outside a pub in 2018. Fine Gael has been accused of trying to "bribe" parents with giveaways in the lead-up to the election, promising to lodge at least 1 thousand euro into a savings account for every baby born over the lifetime of the next government. A multi-billion euro disability plan is being put forward by the Social Democrats today. If it gets into government, the party would spend 1.1 billion euro a year between 2026 and 2030 to help people with disabilities. To discuss all of this and mo