Clare Fm - Podcasts

The role of artificial intelligence in business and next year’s economic outlook for Irish SMEs will be the key topics at the annual Business Networking Morning hosted by Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Clare later this week. The event takes place at the Future Mobility Campus Ireland in Shannon this Friday (28th November) from 10am to 1pm. The half-day gathering brings together entrepreneurs, startups and small business leaders from across Clare to discuss innovation, share knowledge and make new contacts before the festive season. Alan Morrissey was speaking with Theresa Mulvihill, LEO Clare’s Senior Enterprise Development Officer, and President of AI Ireland, Mark Kelly, who will deliver the event’s keynote address on how AI can transform not only startups but also established businesses. Photo (c) Local Enterprise Office

Calls are being made for CCTV cameras in Shannon Town Park to be switched on. While the cameras are in place, they cannot be activated until Part 5 of the Digital Recording Devices Act 2023 is commenced. That requires the Garda Commissioner to submit a code of practice to the Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan. To discuss this, Alan Morrissey was joined by Shane Doody, Shannon Sinn Féin representative. Photo (c) Clare FM

Áine Mae Crowley is the writer behind Episode 51 of Maddie and Triggs, titled 'Sound Tennis'. The Lahinch native, who lost her eyesight due to diabetic retinopathy, uses her episode to promote sports inclusion and to encourage greater understanding of impairment and sight loss among young children. The series, which is also available on the BBC, forms part of a broader effort to support education and awareness through engaging storytelling for smallies everywhere. Áine Mae Crowley joined Alan Morrissey on Tuesday's Morning Focus to tell us more. Image (c) Maddie + Triggs Character Design by Laura Perkins

The Tánaiste and newly-anointed Finance Minister was in Clare on Friday. On invitation from Bodyke Fine Gael TD Joe Cooney, Simon Harris visited Kilkishen where he had the honour of turning on the village's Christmas lights. The Wicklow native was treated to musical entertainment courtesy of children from Kilkishen National School before he attended a meeting of local Fine Gael branch members. Clare FM's Seán Lyons was at the event where he had the opportunity to speak to the Tánaiste on a number of local issues.

Fans of The Chase should make their way to Sixmilebridge later this week! St. Finnachta's National School will host The Chase Is On this Thursday, 27th of November at 7:30pm. It is modelled on the hugely popular TV game show hosted by Bradley Walsh, where contestants play against a professional quizzer, known as the "Chaser", who attempts to prevent them from winning a cash prize. For more on this, Alan Morrissey was joined by Gareth Heagney, Principal at St. Finnachta's National School in Sixmilebridge and Aoife Keogh, parent & member of the organising committee. Image (c) St Finnachta’s N.S. Sixmilebridge

A new report from Social Justice Ireland says the cost of living is continuing to have a substantial impact on older people and those in low-income households. The data in their Poverty Focus 2025 report highlights how core essentials have risen sharply, with families having to make impossible choices on everyday items. This comes as the cost of home-heating oil is surging as the winter sets in. For more on this, Alan Morrissey was joined by Clare Social Democrats Chair, Fiona Levie. Alan also spoke with with Deborah Kett, a mother living in Crusheen. Image (c) Social Justice Ireland

Transport Infrastructure Ireland is facing pressure to install warning signage on a notorious North Clare bend. It follows a series of incidents at Drumnagown Hill on the N67 near Ennistymon. The collisions have largely been single vehicle crashes, which have knocked out local power and telecoms lines. Local Councillor Shane Talty says action is needed.

Almost 6,000 people have visited the Inis Cealtra Visitor Experience in Mountshannon since its opening. Newly-released figures show a total of 5,784 visitors have passed through the gates of the visitor centre from the day it opened its doors on June 25th to the day it closed for the season on October 26th. During this period, 419 boat trips to the island were booked while the facility's social media brand awareness campaign enjoyed a reach of 166,300 people. Local Fine Gael Councillor Pat Burke says he's pleased with what the data shows.

Clare FM's Derrick Lynch and Kieran Madigan our football analyst gave us their thoughts on a busy weekend of GAA sporting fixture on Monday's Morning Focus with Alan Morrissey. Games Reviewed: Munster SFC Club Championship Semi Final: St. Finbarr’s 3-20 Éire Óg 0-14 (Sunday, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh) Munster IFC Club Championship Semi Final: Corofin 0-11 An Ghaeltacht 1-13 (Sunday, Corofin) Munster Junior Club Camogie Final: Clooney-Quin 1-5 Patrickswell 2-15 (Sunday, Zimmer Biomet Pairc Chíosóg)

Judy Beck from Clonroad garden centre was live in-studio for Monday's Morning Focus with Alan Morrissey. This week, Judy focused on Christmas trees and answered your questions!

It’s time for another episode of our newest feature on Morning Focus, Traditional Greats. Traditional Greats is presented and produced by Therese McInerney. This captivating 26-part series celebrates the enduring legacy of traditional Irish music in our county. Each episode pays tribute to a legendary Clare musician who has passed on, but whose influence continues to inspire generations. Therese speaks with musicians from across the county, exploring how these iconic figures shaped their musical journeys and contributed to Clare’s unique cultural heritage. Throughout the series, the timeless sounds of these greats are brought vividly to life, weaving their legacy into the very fabric of Clare’s musical identity. Listeners will enjoy a rich and heartfelt journey through the melodies, stories, and traditions that define our county’s proud musical history. In the latest episode of Traditional Greats, Therese pays tribute to Kitty Hayes, with help from Geraldine Cotter.

The Inis Creative Writers Group are launching their second Anthology, thirteen years after their first Anthology! To find out more, Alan Morrissey was joined live in studio by Elizabeth Daly and Donough Macnamara from the Inis Creative Writers steering group.

The Government is being forced to bring in emergency regulations to stop companies attempting to subvert the new auto-enrolment pension. About 750,000 workers are set to be signed up to the My Future Fund auto-enrolment pension from early January. It has emerged, however, that some companies are trying to avoid having their staff signed up to My Future Fund because they do not want to handle the administrative burden and cost involved. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Ivan Dunne, Head of Financial Services with Campion Insurance. Picture (c) ADragan from Getty Images via Canva

Rice College has been awarded Erasmus+ Accreditation, as part of a consortium with Ennis CBS, Barefield NS and St Flannan’s College. This will see the Ennis secondary school involve in several targeted projects with Langenfeld, Germany, the twinned town with Ennis. To find out more, Alan Morrissey was joined live in studio by Dara Glynn, Secretary of the Ennis-Langenfeld Twinning Board.

A Clare woman says she was left stranded, stressed, and out of pocket after returning to find her car clamped at Ennis train and bus station — despite having paid for her parking. Maureen McKeogh had left her car there for three days with a valid ticket. But when she returned, she discovered a clamp on her wheel and a demand for €120. Alan Morrissey spoke to Maureen on Monday's Morning Focus to find out more. Photo (c) djumandji via Getty Images

There has been a breakdown in discussions over pensions for school secretaries and caretakers. Last Thursday night saw the talks come to a halt at the Workplace Relations Commission. The aftermath saw Fórsa pointing the finger of blame at the Department of Education for failing to engage meaningfully on a range of proposals. Over 2 thousand secretaries and caretakers went on strike for eight days at the start of the school year. Forsa says further strike action cannot be ruled out. To find out more, Alan Morrissey was joined by Rena McGrath, Vice-Chairperson and Treasurer of Fórsa School Secretaries Branch on the Clare/Galway border and Bernie Dillon, Secretary at St Senan’s Primary School in Kilrush. Photo (c) Riccardo Mojana via Canva

It's hoped the Health Minister will finally commit to a new hospital for the MidWest region at a meeting this week. Jennifer Carrol MacNeill is set to meet with 14 TDs and Senators from Clare, Limerick and Tipperary on Wednesday to discuss the recommendations of the HIQA review. The cross party group is in favour of expanding services at UHL and extending its campus, but is also seeking a firm commitment to the construction of a new Model 3 Hospital on a greenfield site to serve the region. Clare Fine Gael TD Joe Cooney says the time for action is now.

On this week’s Atlantic Tales, Pat Flynn meets Ennis-based self-taught tattoo artist Dave Donnellan. He grew up in Scarriff obsessed with skateboarding and over the years developed his artistic side. He draws, paints and takes photographs for fun but tattooing is his profession and passion.

On this week’s Atlantic Tales, Pat Flynn meets Ennis-based self-taught tattoo artist Dave Donnellan. He grew up in Scarriff obsessed with skateboarding and over the years developed his artistic side. He draws, paints and takes photographs for fun but tattooing is his profession and passion.

It's hoped the development of new infrastructure in West Clare will encourage people with reduced mobility to swim. It follows a grant of €25,000 in funding, which will provide four sea shelters across Kilkee and Spanish Point. The funds will also provide for non-slip matting and accessible hand rails to enter and exit the water. Founder of Snamhaí Sásta June Curtin believes it will be hugely beneficial.