Clare Fm - Podcasts

Tommy Hilfiger and Eddie Lenihan are two names you would never usually put in the same sentence, but recent events have changed that. They ended up spending some time together recently, when the iconic fashion designer paid a visit to the Crusheen home of the folklorist, who also fronts Seanchaí Corner here on Morning Focus. To find out more about how this unlikely union happened, Alan Morrissey was joined in-studio by Eddie Lenihan. Photo (c): Clare FM

The Clare branch of the Community Action Tenants Union claims the Government is deliberately making it difficult to crackdown on rule-breaking in the rental sector to keep landlords on side. It comes as the Residential Tenancies Board says it may seek new powers to inspect properties suspected of being unregistered tenancies. An analysis by the Central Statistics Office earlier this year found that as many as 11% of tenancies in Clare could be unregistered, which was the joint-highest percentage nationwide. Chairperson of CATU's Clare branch, George Stavrou, believes vested interests are preventing politicians from lobbying for the RTB to have more power.

Ennis is set to benefit from a €50,000 grant for five projects, that will aim to boost Christmas footfall in the town. The funding, announced by the Department of Local Government, will go towards contemporary lighting on O'Connell Street, a projector to screen festive images, along with lighting for trees and Christmas markets. Ennis Chamber, meanwhile, is in the process of organising an outdoor Christmas market in the courtyard of the Temple Gate Hotel for the upcoming season. President Sheila Lynch is hopeful the plans will provide welcome relief for traders, who've had a challenging year.

A listener got in touch to share her story. She has been in homeless accommodation for a number of years. She has two children, one of whom is autistic, and has faced difficulties, including numerous moves to different accommodation, along with unwelcome visitors of the furry type to where she lives. Our listener called into the studio recently to explain her situation. Alan Morrissey was also joined by Independent TD from Kilrush, Violet-Anne Wynne, who has worked closely with her from the start. Photo (c): by plp609 from pcess609 via Canva.

A very special event will take place at Glór on Halloween night. Catherine Young Dance will present Floating on a Dead Sea. This is an intensely powerful film offering a glimpse into life under occupation in Palestine, which will then be followed by a live dance performance. For more on this, Alan Morrissey was joined by Catherine Young. Photo (c): https://glor.ie/events/catherine-young-dance-presents-floating-on-a-dead-sea/

ESB is warning of a risk of recurring power outages across Clare for up to the next two days. It follows the aftermath of Storm Ashley, which has resulted in power lines, conductors and electricity poles across the county suffering extensive damage. At the peak of the storm, roughly 5,000 homes and businesses experienced long-term outages, while up to 19,000 premises across the county were affected in some capacity over the weekend. At present, around 150 properties remain without power near Kilshanny, Kilnamona, Knockerra and Drumquin. ESB crews are currently on site and are hoping to restore electricity in the Kilnamona and Kilshanny areas by half 2 today, while Drumquin and Knockerra are not expected to have power back until 7pm tonight. The ESB's Clare Area Manager is warning that as the brunt of Storm Ashley has significantly weakened this county's electrical infrastructure, recurring power outages are likely for the next two days. Alan Hogan insists it's vital that all members of the public tr

On Monday’s Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Tom Stewart from Keane’s Garden Centre in Kilcolgan. This week, Tom gave listeners some advice on potting up season plants in containers. If you have a question for Tom, contact the show on 0818 400 964 or send a text or Whatsapp to 086 1800 964.

The scourge of illegal dumping has come back into focus in Clare after it was raised by not one but two councillors at a recent meeting of Clare County Council. Clarecastle Fine Gael Councillor Paul Murphy and Ardnacrusha Fianna Fáil Councillor Rachel Hartigan have called for surveillance technologies such as CCTV to be brought into use in Clare as a means of monitoring illegal dumping blackspots. The GDR-compliant use of such technologies as part of waste enforcement by local authorities is provided for in the Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022. Those found to be responsible for, or involved in, the unauthorised disposal of waste can face a maximum fine of €5,000 as well as a 12-motnh spell in prison. Clare FM's Seán Lyons headed off to find out the extent of the problem in Clare, and began by chatting to Councillor Paul Murphy who tabled a motion on the subject at the local authority's most recent meeting. Photo (c): Clare FM

On Monday’s Morning Focus, it was time again for our Arts Slot with County Art’s Officer Siobhán Mulcahy. Siobhán provided our listeners with all the details of this week’s live events for entertainment lovers in Banner County. This week, Siobhán told us about the thrive consultations in Ennis, Laura Mulcahy's Song Writing Workshop in Kilrush, the Common Knowledge Movement Workshop and much more!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Christine Franks was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent mastectomy at the age of 19. A bake sale evening for breast cancer will take place next week in Quin on Tuesday 22nd from 7-9pm. To discuss this in more detail, Alan Morrissey was joined by the organiser of the bake sale, Joanne Quinntuite and Christine Franks. Picture (c) Joanne Quinntuite

It is busy times for Ennis Gospel Choir! They are continuing preparations for a big fundraising concert. The Choir is also holding an upcoming open night for new members. To talk more about this, Alan Morrissey was joined by the director of the Ennis Gospel Choir, Jessica Coyle and choir member, Siobhán Mungovan. Photo (c): Clare FM

This week is National Brain Tumour Awareness Week. A special line-up of events is planned for the week, including a workshop involving Saoirse Rafferty. Saoirse is undertaking a “Write Your Story” workshop series in the Clare Cancer Support Centre, Kilnamona, for family carers as part of the week. Saoirse lost her brother, Rohan to a brain tumour just over two years ago. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Saoirse Rafferty. For more information, you can visit the link here: http://www.braintumourireland.com/ Photo (c): Clare FM

At least 247 homes and businesses in the greater Ennis, Drumquin, Ennistymon, Kilrush and Scariff areas remain without power this morning, after gusts of up to 106 kilometres per hour battered the county. ESB crews are working to restore power to those affected, with faults in most areas expected to be dealt with by half past two this afternoon, though some face a longer wait until evening. Between 3am on Sunday and 2am this morning, Clare County Council and Clare County Fire Service responded to over 50 different callouts to incidents across the county due to adverse weather conditions caused by Storm Ashley. Clare's Chief Fire Officer Adrian Kelly spoke with Clare FM Head of News Fiona Cahill earlier this morning about the operation. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by ESB Clare Area Manager, Alan Hogan. Photo (c) Clare County Council

The cleanup operation continues in Clare today, in the wake of Storm Ashley. At least 247 homes and businesses in the greater Ennis, Drumquin, Ennistymon, Kilrush and Scariff areas remain without power this morning, after gusts of up to 106 kilometres per hour battered the county. ESB crews are working to restore power to those affected, with faults in most areas expected to be dealt with by half past two this afternoon, though some face a longer wait until evening. While all Shannon Airport services operated to schedule yesterday, thirteen flight diversions have been facilitated by the Midwest Airport, seven of those originally due to land at Cork Airport and six due at Dublin. Between 3am on Sunday and 2am this morning, Clare County Council and Clare County Fire Service responded to over 50 different callouts to incidents across the county due to adverse weather conditions caused by Storm Ashley. Clare's Chief Fire Officer, Adrian Kelly says it was a powerful storm that led to downed trees and power lines a

A perceived lack of progress on introducing CCTV in Clare to tackle illegal dumping has been branded "extremely frustrating". The Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022 permits local authorities like Clare County Council to use technologies such as CCTV in a GDPR-compliant manner in order to combat illegal dumping and littering. Responding to Clarecastle Fine Gael Councillor Paul Murphy's most recent call for such technology to be brought into use in Clare however, the local authority says having surveyed a number of alleged "blackspots", it doesn't deem them to "meet the proportionality threshold which would warrant the use of CCTV". Councillor Murphy insists there are many areas where surveillance should undoubtedly be brought in due to the prevalence of litter there.

Clare County Council is facing calls to provide affordable housing in villages with available wastewater capacity. According to Uisce Eireann's register, there are 17 villages in this county in a position to give sewerage connections for new construction projects. By the end of this year, the local authority will have delivered 10 affordable homes in Shannon, while plans are a foot for a further 39 units on Francis Street, 10 homes on the Lahinch Road and another 11 homes on the Tulla Road in 2025. Inagh-based Green Deputy Leader Senator Roisín Garvey believes much more progress can be made.

On this week's Atlantic Tales, Pat Flynn visits Clooney House built in the 17th century and owned by the prominent Bindon family. We’ll also hear about the work members of the Clooney Spancilhill Maghera Community Development Group are doing in their local area.

Clare's Government TD is urging the International Protection Accommodation Services not to renew Asylum Seeker contracts in Lisdoonvarna and Ballyvaughan. As it stands, there are currently 1,007 International Protection Applicants living in Clare, which is a 44% increase in the last year. The Ennistymon Electoral Area is hosting 329 International Protection Applicants alone and over 2,200 Ukrainian refugees. Meelick Fianna Fáil Deputy Cathal Crowe says the region's resources are "buckling".

It's being argued "there's a will" from the Government to prioritise Clare sewerage infrastructure projects despite a recent report highlighting human health and biodiversity concerns here. The Environmental Protection Agency has found that raw sewerage is being discharged from Ballyvaughan and Kilkee's wastewater treatment plants each day, while Lahinch's facility isn't in line with EU standards. Water issues in Kilmihil have also led the EPA to include the area in its priority list which means upgrade works on its wastewater treatment plant are urgently needed in order to prevent harm to local waterbodies. Responding to the report, Clarecastle Fine Gael General Election Candidate Leonora Carey says the Government appreciates the important of these upgrade works but consistent engagement with Uisce Éireann is required.

Stephen Fletcher presents this week's Beyond Belief which features an interview with John Quinn the Director of Strategy at Alpha Ireland and explains what Alpha is and how it is growing across different denominations across Ireland. He also talks to Fr Brendan Quinlivan, recently returned from Rome and joining the Killaloe Diocese Pilgrimage to Lourdes. He then had his usual Coffee and Chat with Fr Gerry Kenny.