Clare Fm - Podcasts

Coming up on the show: We have two very special guests lined up to take us through on the final show of the year, with details for you on how you can support Clare's hurling and camogie teams for 2026, along with chatting to one of the counties favourite sons.

Gráinne is a 23-year-old Irish singer -songwriter based in Dublin. Her music offers a candid glimpse into her world, with honest lyrics that offer a look at the chaos of early adulthood. She's got a quiet confidence you find in artists who've maybe strayed away home and lived a little, and it shows on her debut single, "Twentysomething". Gráinne's journey to this moment is as unique as her sound. A native of Wexford, she spent the last four years studying music in Finland, where she started putting her thoughts and experiences to paper, writing her first original songs. She has collaborated with many talents, including songwriters and producers from Elements Music on EDM-inspired projects- some of which have been recently released. It might seem like a world away from her current sound, but those sessions were valuable-honing her songwriting skills. Now, back on home turf, Gráinne is ready to share her own story with a voice that is both vulnerable and powerful. She’s not just hoping to make a mark; she'

Kieran Keating was elected unopposed for his fifth and final term as chairman of Clare GAA at this weeks’ Annual Convention. Clare FM’s Derrick Lynch spoke with the Naomh Eoin clubman to reflect on his time in the role and look ahead to the 2026 campaign. Photo (c) Clare GAA

Over 8,000 people will pass through Shannon Airport today as the facility welcomes scores home for the festive season. The Christmas spirit is in the air at the facility which is seeing a 10% boost in its passenger numbers this Christmas. It’s one of the busiest days of the festive period for the Clare base which is seeing 125,000 come through its gates in the few days before and after Christmas. It marks a 10% increase in Christmas traffic for Shannon which has seen significant growth in the past year. Passengers coming home for Christmas were greeted in the arrivals lounge by the sounds of the St Flannan’s College choir.

One of Clare’s most uplifting musical events is set to return early next year, as the Ennis Choral Festival comes back to Ennis from January 30th to February 1st, 2026, bringing three days of competition, workshops and community singing under the theme “Spring Into Song.” With choirs travelling from across the country and beyond, it promises to be a real celebration of choral music in the county. Speaking to Alan Morrissey on Friday's Morning Focus was Carmel Honan, Director of the Ennis Choral Festival, Peter Murphy, Head of Marketing & CSR at Ei Electronics and Margaret O' Brien, CEO Ennis Chamber. Photo (c) Ennis Choral Festival Facebook

Jack O'Dea is a volunteer with Clare Civil Defence and was named their Volunteer of the Year recently. He was honoured with the John Cuddihy Volunteer of the Year Award for 2025 for the pivotal role he played in saving the life of an old age pensioner. Alan Morrissey was speaking with Jack on Friday's Morning Focus. Photo (c) Clare Civil Defence Facebook

This Christmas, a long-running partnership between Brady Family and FoodCloud is helping ensure thousands of families across Ireland can sit down to a festive meal. For the fifth year running, premium ham and turkey joints are being donated to charities and community groups nationwide — at a time when demand for support has never been higher. To tell us more about how this food reached local communities and the impact it has on the ground, Alan Morrissey was joined by Siobhán O’Driscoll, Head of Operations at Obair on Friday's Morning Focus. Photo (c) Obair

As homes across Clare get ready for Christmas, the county’s fire service is urging people to take simple precautions to avoid unnecessary emergencies over the festive period. December is one of the busiest months for fire crews, with call-outs often linked to chimney fires, overloaded sockets and unattended candles. On Friday's Morning Focus with Alan Morrissey, Adrian Kelly, Chief Fire Officer with Clare County Fire Service, was in-studio with some important advice on how to stay fire-safe and enjoy a safer Christmas. Photo (c) Clare County Council

Seanchaí Corner sees Eddie Lenihan, the renowned author, storyteller, lecturer, and broadcaster regaling us with a memorable story from his extensive collection of old Irish tales and fables. This week, Eddie told us the strange tale of Three Candles in Bouleavan.

The Killaloe/Ballina Christmas day swim will take place at Two Mile Gate and is raising vital funds for the Brothers of Charity Killaloe–Ballina, supporting people in the local community. With a new service building recently opened and a growing need for assistive communication technology, the swim aims to make a real difference — and everyone is invited along to cheer on the swimmers and enjoy a warm cuppa on Christmas morning. To find out more, Alan Morrissey was joined by organiser Jonathan McGrath and Service Manager at Killaloe Ballina Brothers of Charity, Camille Nolan. Image (c) Killaloe/Ballina Christmas Day Swim via Facebook

According to the latest figures from Focus Ireland, almost 290 children in Clare and Limerick will face Christmas without a home this year — part of a record 5,274 children now homeless across the country. As the charity renews its Christmas Appeal and No Child Without A Home campaign, it’s calling on the Government to act and urging the public to support families in crisis. Alan Morrissey was joined by Lorraine Toner, Head of National Community Fundraising with Focus Ireland to discuss this further.

Clare County Council is set to explore interventions to improve the national secondary road network. It comes amid persistent calls for upgrades to be carried out on the N68 connecting Ennis to Kilrush, and for the completion of the realignment project on the N85 which connects Ennis to Ennistymon. In a statement to Clare FM, the local authority has confirmed that the proposed works which include alterations to the N67 have all undergone various environmental and design assessments. Doonbeg Fianna Fáil Councillor Rita McInerney says a major investment is needed.

Catherine Ryan from Clare Sports Partnership joins me in studio. She told us all about the showcase of her collection of cribs that will be taking place at De Valera Public Library here in Ennis this Saturday, the 20th of December, 11am-4pm. Catherine was live on Thursday's Morning Focus with Alan Morrissey.

Unsightly and unhealthy – mould, damp and condensation problems are common in our homes. As temperatures drop, condensation becomes a critical issue for homeowners across the country. Left untreated, this moisture transforms into mould, which is known to exacerbate respiratory infections and allergy symptoms. To educate us all on this was Jerry Galvin, Damprite provides services in Clare who spoke with Alan Morrissey on Thursday's Morning Focus. Photo (c) Chris Steer Getty Images via Canva

A Clare farming representative is urging the Government to follow through on its pledge to oppose a deal which it's feared could jeopardise livelihoods across the county. Feakle-based chairperson of the Clare branch of the Irish Farmers Association Stephen Walsh is one of thousands who've taken to the streets of Brussels today to oppose the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement. The deal would give South American countries like Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay unprecedented access to EU markets, allowing 99,000 tonnes of low-tariff beef into Europe. Stephen has been telling Clare FM's Seán Lyons the viability of communities in Clare is dependent on the deal being rejected.

Anne Donnellan recently launched her latest collection of writings in Ennis. De Valera Public Library was the venue for the Clare launch of the Ennis native’s newest collection, ‘If Only We Could Bottle It’. To find out more about the collection and the launch , Anne joined Alan Morrissey live in-studio.

On Thursday's Morning Focus with Alan Morrissey Jo, a Crisis Helpline therapist with Pieta based here in Clare. Pieta is urging communities to get involved in its Light Up the Darkness appeal, taking place today (Thursday, 18th of December), as the charity prepares for one of its busiest times of the year. With demand for support rising over the Christmas period — and more than 300 people expected to reach out on Christmas Day alone — Jo spoke to us about what the festive season is like on the helpline and why compassionate, round-the-clock support is so vital at this time of year. Photo (c) Pieta House Facebook

On this week's episode of Clare Women In Business, Pat Flynn chats with Áine Gleeson, founder and leader of the Wowwee.ie. In 2004, she set about designing elegant Christmas stockings, hand-embroidering each one with children's names. Áine later launched Co Clare’s first e-commerce website and introduced her personalised gifts to the window of the world.

Club Clare memberships are now open for 2026, with all funds raised going toward supporting Clare’s hurling and camogie teams for the coming season, from adult to underage levels. To discuss this and more, Clare senior hurling manager Brian Lohan joined Alan Morrissey on Thursday’s Morning Focus.

Ahead of the Christmas season, Rothaíochta na Sionnaine presented a timely gift to Down Syndrome Clare. Proceeds from the fourth annual Odd Socks Cycle totalled €21,723, warmly received by Down Syndrome Clare. A record 350 cyclists took part at the end of March. Participants completed 50km and 100km routes, starting in Shannon and taking in scenic East Clare. On Thursday's Morning Focus, Committee member of Down Syndrome Clare, Seán McKillen outlined the details of the event. Photo (c) Club Rothaíochta na Sionnaine via Facebook