Clare Fm - Podcasts

116 Clare men face a prostate cancer diagnosis each year, according to National Cancer Registry of Ireland - and half of those who undergo prostate cancer treatment will go on to experience urinary incontinence (UI). These figures form the backdrop to the launch of ‘Dispose with Dignity’, a new campaign from hygiene services company PHS Group, supported by the Irish Cancer Society and the Irish Men’s Sheds Association. The initiative aims to break the stigma surrounding male incontinence and improve access to hygiene facilities, such as sanitary bins and vending products, in men’s public toilets nationwide. New research released as part of the campaign reveals that a lack of suitable toilet facilities and low awareness about male urinary incontinence (UI) are having a serious impact on men’s mental health and daily lives. John Wall, healthcare campaigner who’s living with Stage 4 Metastatic Prostrate Cancer spoke with Alan Morrissey on Thursday's Morning Focus. Photo (c) pixelshot via Canva.com

On this week's episode of Clare Women In Business, Pat Flynn chats with Niamh McCoy owner of The Barn Boutique a new business based near Crusheen in Co Clare. Clare Women in Business is funded by Coimisiún na Meán with the television licence fee.

Haemochromatosis, also known as 'iron overload' is a genetic disorder which can cause the body to absorb too much iron. Ireland has the highest number of cases in the world, with an estimated 20,000 people undiagnosed according to the Haemochromatosis Association of Ireland. Clare FM's Daragh Leamy spoke with Clare native, Caoimhe Guinnane. Photo (c) Haemochromatosis Association Of Ireland Facebook

Airbnb has announced eleven new recipients of the Rural Tourism Fund, an initiative aimed at boosting community-led tourism across rural Ireland. The fund provides grants of between €1,000 to €15,000 to support local projects, with this year’s winners including The Doonbeg International Jazz Festival, Sli Ború, and Spanish Point Cycling Tours in Co. Clare. Open to community groups, small businesses, social enterprises, and cultural organisations, the Rural Tourism Fund celebrates the people and projects that make rural Ireland unique, helping them share creativity, culture and landscapes with the world. On Thursday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Kevin Moroney of Spanish Point Cycling for more on this. Image (c) Kevin Moroney via LinkedIn

Kevin Dundon is coming to Clare! The celebrity chef will bring his kitchen magic, in preparation for the Christmas season, to Glór in Ennis on the 19th of November. An Evening of Festive Food and Fashion with Kevin Dundon and Fashion by Pamela Scott is being hosted by the Ray of Sunshine Foundation, with our own Colum McGrath as M.C. for the evening. The Ray of Sunshine Foundation is a charity based in Co. Clare who carry out building of schools in the poorest areas of Mombasa, Kenya. Alan Morrissey was joined by one the directors of Ray of Sunshine, Olive Halpin and Celebrity Chef, Kevin Dundon. Image (c) Ray of Sunshine Foundation

Clare County Council is calling for a targeted housing & rehousing strategy that caters to elderly people, particularly those living alone in isolated rural areas. The call follows a motion submitted by councillors Joe Garrihy, Tony Mulcahy and John Crowe at this month’s meeting of the local authority. Their motion asked that the Council “resolves to prioritise the development of housing solutions for the aging population in County Clare, with a specific focus on those living alone in isolated rural areas.” This comes ahead of the Government’s new housing plan, ‘Delivering Homes, Building Communities,’ which will be officially launched this morning, Thursday 13th of November. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Sixmilebridge Fine Gael Councillor & Social SPC Chair John Crowe and Shannon Fine Gael Councillor Tony Mulcahy. Photo (c) Studio-Pure from Getty Images Pro via Canva

Calls have been made for average speed cameras on the Clare M18/N18. It comes as Transport Infrastructure Ireland is currently reviewing a spate of road traffic collisions along the route. Fixed speed cameras are currently in place at nine locations in Ireland including , Limerick, Galway,Tipperary, Cork Mayo, Donegal, Waterford, Carlow and Dublin. Cratloe Fianna Fáil Councillor Pat O'Gorman believes it's the only way to ensure motorists slow down.

A Clare TD claims the three options put forward by HIQA as part of their review into emergency healthcare into the region should be implemented gradually. It follows the request put forward by 14 Midwest Oireachtas members to meet with Health Minister Jennifer Carroll McNeill to discuss the options put forward by HIQA. The health watchdog's Chief Executive Officer, Angela Fitzgerald, this week stated a new model three must be considered by the Government. Bodyke Fine Gael TD, Joe Cooney, says expanding the UHL site is a good first step, but more measures must follow in due course.

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 Nell Galvin, featuring Joan Hanrahan.

There was a time when DJ Carey didn’t need a surname. The Kilkenny hurling legend, famed for his dazzling skill and easy charm, was one of Ireland’s most beloved sportsmen. But behind the glory, rumours swirled whispers that would one day reveal a shocking truth. Two decades after his glory days, Carey stands accused of faking cancer to con money from friends and fans who once idolised him. Journalist Eimear Ní Bhraonáin spoke with Alan Morrissey about the rise and fall of former Kilkenny hurler DJ Carey. Photo (c) Irish Academic Press

It's claimed specfic policies targeting the rental markey need to be implimented by the Government in order to combat rising monthly rents in Clare. It comes as the latest Daft.ie quarterly report shows the price of newly leasing a three-bed home has risen to more than €1,600 a month, while the average cost of renting a room in Clare has also increased to €609 monthly. Meanwhile, Cabinet has this morning signed off on its new housing plan, which aims to deliver 300,000 homes by 2030 and will also include plans to invest €2.5 billion in the Land Development Agency. Economist at Trinity College Dublin and author of the Daft.ie report Ronan Lyons has been telling Clare FM's Darragh O'Grady that it's unlikely capacity can increase quick enough to deliver on those targets.

Shannon Airport is hailing Ryanair's route and aircraft expansion as a major endorsement of the Clare base. It comes as the budget airline has confirmed it will operate four new routes on Shannon's Summer schedule, namely Madrid, Rome, Warsaw and Poznan, which is a service available from the MidWest for the very first time. Additionally, frequency will be increased on routes to Manchester, Alicante, Barcelona-Reus, Malta and Lanzarote. Shannon Airport Director Niall Kearns has been telling Clare FM's Daragh Dolan that both multinational businesses and passengers had expressed demand for more connectivity.

As RSV season peaks, parents are being warned to watch for early symptoms of the virus. According to the HSE, RSV symptoms often begin with what appears to be a common cold. RSV infects most children by age two and is a leading cause of respiratory infections in infants. To find out what signs to look out for, Alan Morrissey was joined Máire Finn, GP at Ennis Centric Health on Wednesday's Morning Focus. Photo (c) Photo (c) by Kaspars Grinvalds via Canva

Gardaí and the family of Eoin Joy are appealing for information on his whereabouts. Eoin is described as being about five foot ten in height, of medium build, with brown hair and blue eyes. When last seen, he was wearing a beige fleece, mid-blue jeans, and dark trainers with a white stripe. It’s believed Eoin may have travelled to County Clare, and both Gardaí and his family are deeply concerned for his well-being. Sally-Ann Barrett spoke to Eoin's sister Dee Dalton on Morning Focus. Anyone with information on Eoin’s whereabouts is asked to contact Henry Street Garda Station on (061) 212400, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.

County Clare has celebrated a fourth year in a row of success at the annual IPB Pride of Place Awards, held on November 7th at the Strand Hotel in Limerick. Obair Newmarket-on-Fergus beat off competition from across the island of Ireland to be named joint winner of the Creative Community category in recognition of its leadership in local development and promotion of social inclusion, education, and environmental sustainability. To find out more, Alan Morrissey was joined in studio by Kathy Coleman, Pride of Place Coordinator at Clare County Council and Eimear Murphy, Service Coordinator at Obair Newmarket-on-Fergus.

The Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) is urging Government to introduce an emergency winter payment for people with disabilities, following deep disappointment that Budget 2026 once again failed to deliver a permanent Cost of Disability Payment. Without targeted support this winter, thousands of people with disabilities will face increased hardship, isolation, and impossible choices between heating and eating. To discuss this in detail, Alan Morrissey was joined by Anne-Marie Flanagan, Clare Disability Rights Activist with Clare Leader Forum and Niamh O’Callaghan, a Shannon resident disabled due to a car crash and now bearing the costs of rehab. Image (c) Irish Wheelchair Association

A €424,000 paint scheme has been announced for businesses affected by Public Realm Works in Ennis. With the €11.5m street scape enhancement of the town to conclude imminently after over 2 years of traffic and mobility disruption, the paint grant will aim to subsidise shopfront design and makeovers for local retailers. 406 businesses in the town are understood to be eligible and can receive up to €1,000 in funding. Ennis Municipal District Senior Engineer Paddy Tiernan believes it will bring major benefits.

Clare blood donors are being urged to make a life saving donation as Ireland's universal blood supply is eight days below the desired rate. The Irish Blood Transfusion Service is holding blood donation clinics today and tomorrow in Kilrush Community School from 5pm until 8:20pm both days. Supplies of O Negative blood are being sought, with just over two days of stock remaining nationwide, however donations of all blood types will be accepted. Broadford-based Irish Blood Transfusion Service Donor Recruitment Executive Alex O'Connor, says ideally hospitals would want 10 days supply of each blood type.

The newly inaugurated Uachtaráin na hÉireann could be making a visit to Clare very soon. It comes as plans to host a civic reception for President Catherine Connolly have already been set in motion. Catherine Connolly has officially received her seal of office this lunchtime and is now forever more in the history books as the tenth President of Ireland and the third female to hold the position. At her inauguration ceremony at Dublin Castle, President Connolly read the Declaration As Gaeilge, after prayers and reflections were offered by 11 groups, including the Catholic Church, Church of Ireland, Presbyterians and both the Jewish and Islamic communities. Speaking at the event, Connolly says she will be a President for all. Closer to home, Clare County Council has formally congratulated the newest permanent resident of Áras An Uachtaráin and will send an official letter in due course, but one elected representative is wishing to go a step further. Clarecastle Sinn Féin Councillor Tommy Guilfoyle has writ

Clare's County Dog Warden claims extra vigilance is required to combat bird flu, given the high numbers of foreign birds migrating to Ireland for the winter. It follows the confirmation of another case amongst a turkey flock in Clontibret in Co.Monaghan, despite a nationwide Poultry Housing Order came into effect yesterday morning. Over 50 different species of wild birds are expected to arrive in the country as part of winter migration patterns. County Dog Warden, Frankie Coote believes, however, the spread of the influenza has the potential to be stopped before it gets out of hand.