Clare Fm - Podcasts

People are being advised to avoid coastal areas and not to make unnecessary journeys as Storm Ashley is due to make landfall. A status orange wind alert will come into affect for the county from midday until 9pm tomorrow Sunday while a status yellow warning has been issued for the rest of the country from midnight tonight. Fallen trees leading to dangerous road conditions, spot flooding and power outages have been identified as potential impacts of the storm. Senior Engineer of Clare County Council, Cyril Feeney, says storm surges are expected along the coast of the county and that these areas should be avoided unless necessary.

There's a push for greater accessibility of supports in order to makes local shops in Clare more viable. Doonbeg Fianna Fáil Councillor Rita McInerney is pledging to establish Social Enterprise grants for local shops in rural communities where staying on tops of costs can be a challenge. Areas in Clare not currently served by a local shop include Carrigaholt, Killimer, Knockerra, Cranny, Coolmeen, Mullagh, O'Callaghan's Mills, Bodyke, Ogonnelloe, Boston/Tubber and New Quay/Bell Harbour. Councillor McInerney insists having a shop in a small community can create life and provide residents with a place to meet and socialise.

Works to resolve major visibility issues on a prominent road near a school, shopping centre and a housing estate in Shannon are finally underway. It follows longstanding concerns for motorists and pedestrians on Bóthar na Rinne, including a number of reported near misses in recent weeks due to street light outages. In response, the Shannon Municipal District has appointed a contractor to install new LED bulbs and increase the height of each pole by 2 metres, with the works expected to be completed over the next 6 to 8 weeks. Shannon Sinn Féin Councillor Donna McGettigan says the outages have been incredibly dangerous for road users.

Stephen Fletcher leads our Sunday prayer for today Sunday 20th October 2024, the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the 21st Sunday after Trinity.

It's claimed Uisce Eireann's best option to fast-track a new Wastewater Treatment Plant for Kilkee is to draw up a new plan and not appeal the council's latest decision to An Bord Pleanála. The local authority has refused the utility's application for a plant just 600m away from Kilkee Cliff Walk, citing concerns over its proximity to the attraction and that it wouldn't have the capacity to service visitors adding to the local population. Uisce Eireann has stated the project is necessary to prevent effluent discharge into maritime areas and estimated the construction of a new plant would take between 18-24 months. Former Kilkee Councillor Cillian Murphy has been telling Clare FM's Daragh Dolan the utility failed the town abysmally by not listening to local concerns.

Hopes First Ever MidWest Undergrad Medicine Course Will Bring More Doctors To Region by Clare FM

A Clare Financial Advisor is cautioning that the latest recommended cut to interest rates won't be a silver bullet for first time buyers. It comes as the European Central Bank has slashed the rate for the third time this year, to leave it at 3.25%. The latest 0.25% cut effectively means a consumer holding a tracker mortgage worth €200,000, will save €25 per month, however the decision to pass the saving on, is at the discretion of the bank. Tommy Corbett from Carey-Corbett Financial Solutions in Ennis says it will all depend on inflation.

It's hoped new safety measures in the vicinity of an Ennis primary school will give parents the confidence to allow their children to walk or cycle. As part of the Safe Routes to School Programme, which has been developed by the National Transport Authority and Green Schools, works worth €175,000 will be carried out on the Kilrush Road near Ennis National School. The project includes new ramped controlled and uncontrolled crossings as well as drainage kerbs, bollards and signage. Principal of Ennis Natinal School Ray McInerney says once it's clear that walking or cycling along the route is safe for a child, parents will feel more comfortable letting them do so.

Alan Morrissey visited Sláinte an Chláir to have a look at their premises and its various services. Alan sat down to chat with Caroline and Lena O’Rourke, both of whom also attend Sláinte an Chláir, as well as counsellor, Marie Guiney Kelly, and reflexologist, Julianne O’Connor. Photo (c) Clare Cancer Support via Facebook

Earlier this week, Alan Morrissey paid a visit to Sláinte an Chláir to see firsthand their setup and to have a chat with some of those who either work at the centre, or avail of its services. One of the people who attends Sláinte an Chláir is Lyndsey Walsh, who was good enough to take the time to share her story with Alan Morrissey. Photo (c): Clare Cancer Support via Facebook

Alan Morrissey recently had the opportunity to speak with Theresa Murrihy, the Honorary Chairperson of Sláinte an Chláir. Theresa knows only too well what it is like to deal with cancer, having survived it not just once, but twice. Theresa joined Alan Morrissey in studio, and Alan began by asking her to take him back to when she was diagnosed with cancer for the first time. Photo (c): Clare FM

Alan Morrissey was joined by Marie Phelan, Treasurer for Sláinte an Chláir. Marie shared her own cancer story and highlighted the vital service that Sláinte an Chláir provide. Photo (c): Clare FM

Concerns have been voiced that the designation of lands in Clare as an Economic Strategic Development Zone could be "forgotten about altogether" if action isn't taken soon. Clare County Council and the University of Limerick applied in February for 2022 to the Government to designate lands north of the University as an Economic SDZ, which it's predicted would enable the creation of over 3,500 jobs and and add almost €2 billion to the Irish economy each year. Little or no progress on the project has been made since this time however, and a joint motion at this week's meeting of Clare County Council has called for the Government to sign off on the designation of the lands. Killaloe Fianna Fáil Councillor Tony O'Brien, who was among those behind the motion, believes the Council must take matters into its own hands to ensure the survival of the SDZ comes to pass.

A multi-million euro investment is being sought to complete the redevelopment of Clare GAA's Centre of Excellence. Clare County Board is currently awaiting planning approval for a revamp of the Caherlohan facility, that would include 3 new playing pitches, a new gym, dressing rooms, floodlights, a farmer's market and sensory gardens. The full project will cost over €5m, and the Department of Sport is being urged to commit the maximum state grant permitted under the Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Scheme of €3.48m to progress the plans. Responding to Clare Senator Timmy Dooley in the Seanad, Minister Malcolm Noonan has pledged to put his own loyalties aside to help the cause.

An "exit strategy" is being sought for County Clare with regard to the use of tourist accommodation for Ukrainian refugees and International Protection Applicants. This week's meeting of Clare County Council has heard several councillors request a "clear plan and timeline" for the return of tourist beds to the tourism market, as well a "recovery and investment plan" for areas where businesses have suffered due to beds being taken out of the market. Tabled by Lisdoonvarna Fine Gael Councillor Joe Garrihy, Doonbeg Fianna Fáil Councillor Rita McInerney, Ennistymon Fianna Fáil Councillor Shane Talty and Sixmilebridge Fine Gael Councillor John Crowe, the motion was framed as critical for the survival of Clare's tourism economy. The four councillors had two main asks, one of which was that Integration Minister Roderick O'Gorman instruct his department and IPAS to "set a clear plan and timeline that will return hotels and tourist accomodations that have been used in Clare to house refugees through an emergency pe

The meeting heard that North Clare communities such as Lisdoonvarna and Ballyvaughan have been put under particular pressure in recent years and that while they've extended a warm "céad míle fáilte", there's only so much they can be expected to do. Figures from the Central Statistics Office show that the Ennistymon region, which encompasses most of North Clare, has the highest proportion of Ukrainian refugees of any Local Electoral Area in the country at over 12%. Councillor Rita McInerney believes it's also important that the welfare of those living in hotels and B&Bs is taken into account.

A Clare-based new appointee to a board of HSE MidWest says he'll do all in his power to ensure the recommendations of the Clarke report are implemented. Lahinch healthcare campaigner John Wall has been appointed to the organisation's Programme Improvement Board as a patient advocate, meaning he'll have an input on funding, spending, decion-making and will be a figure with which members of the public can raise concerns. It's now a month on from the publication of the report carried out by former Chief Justice Frank Clarke into the death of Shannon teenager Aoife Johnston at UHL which found that her passing was "almost certainly avoidable", and made 17 recommendations to the facility's Emergency Department. John Wall says although his influence will be limited in his new role, he'll endeavour to make sure the recommended improvements are made.

Excitement levels in Feakle and Sixmilebridge are ratcheting up, ahead of Sunday’s TUS Clare senior hurling final. Sixmilebridge are hoping to lift the Canon Hamilton Cup for a 16th time, in what is their first final appearance since 2020. However, Feakle’s absence from the county’s hurling showpiece stretches back much farther; the last of their six county titles came in their last final appearance all the way back in 1988, with a 44-year gap being bridged on that day. Sunday’s decider in Cusack Park throws in at 3pm – a game you can, of course, hear live on Clare FM. To preview the 2024 TUS Clare senior hurling final, Alan Morrissey was joined by Clare FM's GAA Commentator, Syl O'Connor, Manager of Sixmilebridge, John O'Meara, Clare FM's Hurling Analyst, Tommy Guilfoyle and Feakle Club Secretary, Val Donnellan. Photo (c): Clare FM

Former One Direction star Liam Payne has passed away at the age of 31 after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Showbiz Editor of RSVP Magazine, Mikie O’Loughlin and host of Clare FM's Out The Gap, Lauren Lynch. Photo (c): https://www.instagram.com/p/C35k21VId7t/?igsh=MXdvdXAxM3I3ODB5dw==

Ewelina Hrynkiewicz-Kucybala, who is based in Shannon, is the current Irish and European bodybuilding champion. She is hoping to represent Ireland at the World Championship in Japan. Of course, travelling to the Far East is not a cheap thing to do, so Ewelina is trying to raise funds to enable her to compete. To find out more about her story, Alan Morrissey was joined by Ewelina Hrynkiewicz-Kucybala. You can visit the GoFundMe page here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/ifbb-world-championship-in-japan Photo (c): Clare FM