Clare Fm - Podcasts

An era has come to an end at a petrol station in Shannon, with O’Connor’s Texaco changing hands. After 49 years, the O’Connor family have sold their “beloved” petrol station and shop. It has now opened under new ownership. The decision to sell the business and move on is undoubtedly a bittersweet one for the O’Connor family. To find out more, Alan Morrissey was joined live in studio by Darragh O'Connor of O’Connor’s Texaco in Shannon.

The €20 million Banner Plaza at Junction 12 off the M18 has officially been unveiled following a 14-year battle during which various legal challenges came its way. Clare FM's Seán Lyons attended the opening of the plaza and spoke to Supermac's Managing Director and founder Pat McDonagh. Photo (c) Rory Murphy

The founder of an Irish fast food restaurant chain claims its new service station in Clare will be its biggest one yet. The €20 million Supermac's Banner Plaza, which is located at Junction 12 off the M18 near Doora, has officially opened its doors. The complex supports over 120 jobs and has been in the works for 14 years during which time it's seen off various legal challenges. Founder and Managing Director of Supermac's, Pat McDonagh, says the need for it was clear.

Shannon businesses are leading the way with a new initiative aimed at making companies view waste as an opportunity instead of a problem. Shannon Chamber has developed the plan which seeks to match reusable company waste with businesses that can put it to productive use. The initiative has been spearheaded by Ei Electronics' Head of Sustainability and Electronics Bill Doran who has a background in finding local partners for repurposing and recycling company waste. Shannon Chamber CEO Helen Downes says companies can benefit from resources which others no longer have use for.

On this week’s Atlantic Tales Pat Flynn visits Ballyvaughan to meet and hear the Lismorahaun Singers, a unique choir founded in 1999 by Archie Simpson. We’ll hear from musical director Peter O’Donoghue from Fanore, an accomplished tenor who has toured internationally and began his singing career with the North Clare choir.

Fr Brendan Quinlivan presents this Sunday's Beyond Belief.

Over €100,000 in Government funding has been granted for a popular natural tourist attraction in West Clare. As part of €16.5 million announcement for 63 outdoor recreation projects nationwide, the Bridges of Ross Walking Trail Extension has been allocated a total of €108,000. The funding will allow for the elongation of the route thus providing a looped walking option. Kilrush Fine Gael Councillor Gabriel Keating says it's a uniquely peaceful place to visit.

Stephen Fletcher presents our Sunday Prayer for today the 9th November 2025

A Clare employment support service has told an Oireachtas committee that the work experience model for people with disabilities isn't fit for purpose. EmployAbility Clare is seeking the introduction of a programme that would allow those with a disability, health condition or additional support needs to work eight hours a week to "build confidence". The current Work Placement Experience Programme requires all participants to complete 30 hours per week. Speaking in the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Disability Matters, Marie Killeen of EmployAbility Clare says it's "unrealistic" for many people.

Over 2,500 new vehicles have been sold in Clare this year. The latest report from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry shows that 385 of these were electric, marking a 66% in the last year. While Petrol/Electric hybrids are the most popular selling cars in this county this year, accounting for over a quarter of the market share. SIMI Director General Brian Cooke says the electric market is enjoying a purple patch.

We look ahead to a busy weekend of action for Clare club football with all three Munster representatives out over the next two days. We will also have our Greyhound Focus slot and a few other bits also

The long-awaited opening of a new service station on the outskirts of Ennis is being hailed as a win for the economy of the county town and its surrounds. Following a lengthy battle, the Supermac's Banner Plaza at Junction 12 on the M18 has officially opened its doors this afternoon. The station is the result of a €20 million investment and is responsible for the creation of more than 120 jobs. Clare FM's Seán Lyons has been speaking to local Councillor Pat Daly at the Banner Plaza

Clare FM's Derrick Lynch was in-studio with Alan Morrissey for Friday's Morning Focus to look ahead to GAA fixtures taking place over the weekend. Games Previewed: Munster Club SFC Quarter-Final: Eire Óg v Rathgormack (Waterford) (Sunday, Zimmer Biomet Pairc Chíosóg, 1:30pm) Munster Intermediate Club Football Quarter-Final: Corofin v Stradbally (Sunday, Corofin, 1:30pm) Munster Club JFC Quarter-Final Killimer v Clonmel Óg (Saturday, Kilmihil, 2:30pm)

History was created in New York in recent days, with Zohran Mamdani winning the race to become the city’s mayor. He received more than fifty percent of the votes, defeating Democratic former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an independent after losing the nomination to Mr. Mamdani in the primary election, and the Republican candidate, Curtis Sliwa. The 34 year-old Democratic candidate will become the first Muslim mayor of the largest city in the US, as well as its youngest mayor in 133 years. Just days before his stunning victory, Zohra/n Mamdani paid a visit to the popular Murphy’s sports bar in the Big Apple, which is owned by Clare native, Rory Murphy. Murphy’s is located in Queen’s, where Mamdani lives. To find out more about this, Rory spoke with Alan Morrissey on Friday's Morning Focus live from New York. Photo (c) Rory Murphy.

A piece of Clare’s festival culture is coming to the theatre stage later this month. Lisdoon Nirvana, described as a “nostalgic coming-of-age tale”, is set against the backdrop of the legendary Lisdoonvarna music festival, which ran from 1978 to 1983. An Grianán Theatre will bring Lisdoon Nirvana to Limerick’s Belltable Theatre on the 13th of November. It is written and performed by Frankie McCafferty. Photo (c) Town Hall Theatre

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 Marty Marrinan, with the help of Grainne Fennel.

Felicity Hayes-McCoy will be joining forces with her fellow best-selling author, Roisín Meaney, for an event in the Banner bookshop in Ennistymon on the 11th of November. Felicity is the woman who penned the bestselling Finfarran series of novels, which feature a local librarian and are set in a fictional county in Ireland. They have been translated into nine languages. Her latest book, called Once A Year, has just been published. Indeed, the book has a connection to Ennistymon. Alan Morrissey had a chat with Felicity on Friday's Morning Focus. Image (c) Felicity Hayes-McCoy via Facebook

A new three-year plan is being launched to get more young people speaking Irish. It will be rolled out in primary and secondary schools and aims to foster positive attitudes towards Irish and an increased use of the language. It includes the establishment of a task force, and more language support hours. There will be a focus on inclusion to make sure children from diverse backgrounds and with different educational needs are included in Irish teaching. Cathaoirleach An Clár As Gaeilge, Dónal o hAiniféin joined Alan Morrissey on Friday's Morning Focus to discuss this further.

Clare has the highest home care waiting list relative to population...but why exactly is the question? The latest research from Home & Community Care Ireland (HCCI), “Home Support Waiting List Per 1,000 People,”, marks the first-ever county-by-county population analysis of HSE home support waiting lists. This study reveals that Clare is the county with the highest waiting list per 1,000 people, at 2.836 per 1,000 people. This population analysis shows that waiting lists in Clare are 157% higher than the national average. To find out more, Alan Morrissey was joined by HCCI CEO Joseph Musgrave on Friday's Morning Focus. Image (c) HCCI

Almost 200 Clare households contacted a housing charity focused on preventing homelessness between the months of July and September. Threshold has revealed that it worked with a total of 187 households in this county in the third quarter of this year and prevented 24 from becoming homeless. Its latest Impact Report states that the number of renters who've made contact with the service has risen by over 20% in the last year. Threshold National Advocacy Manager Ann-Marie O'Reilly says there's a growing feeling of insecurity among renters.