Clare Fm - Podcasts

Clare County Council is inviting landowners across the county to put forward lands that could be suitable for new housing, as part of efforts to accelerate housing delivery and plan for future growth. A non-statutory public consultation, now open until this Friday, the 19th of December, is seeking proposals for residentially suitable lands in towns and villages — including greenfield, brownfield and regeneration sites — in line with national housing targets. To explain what the council is looking for, who can make a submission, and how this process will help meet Clare’s housing needs, Clare County Council Senior Planner, Helen Quinn joined Alan Morrissey on Morning Focus. Image (c) Clare County Council

Lisdoonvarna Tidy Towns has teamed up with local Transition Year students to help the community better prepare for severe weather and emergencies. Members of Lisdoonvarna Tidy Towns, Brian Dowd and Sharon Donnelly recently spent an afternoon with students from Mary Immaculate, kicking off a new Severe Weather Preparedness Project that will see practical guides created for homes and businesses ahead of future storm seasons. Brian ans Sharon joined Alan Morrissey on Morning Focus to talk about the project, the student involvement, and why community preparedness is so important. Image (c) Lisdoonvara Tidy Towns via Facebook

New figures show a sharp rise in drug-driving cases, with prosecutions up 37% nationally so far this year and a staggering 105% increase in Clare. More than 2,050 people have appeared before district courts for drug driving in the first ten months of 2025 alone — the highest level on record. 39 people before the Clare district court system on drug driving charges during that period. Ireland South Fianna Fáil MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú says these cases are just the tip of the iceberg and is calling for tougher enforcement and expanded roadside drug testing this Christmas. Alan Morrissey was joined by Cynthia Ní Mhurchú to discuss the growing dangers on our roads and what needs to be done to tackle it. Image (c) RSA.ie

The amount of funding for school repair works to be carried out in Clare during the Summer months has dropped by over a million euro since 2020. New figures obtained by Sinn Féin shows this county received just over €336,000 under the programme last year. There were 42 applications for works in Clare last year, but just 9 were approved. Shannon TD and Sinn Féin's Spokesperson on Further and Higher Education Donna McGettigan says it's not good enough.

Over 50 environmental groups and almost 500 individuals has signed an open letter to the Minister for the Environment expressing their opposition to an LNG terminal in Clare. Gas Networks Ireland announced plans last month for a strategic gas emergency reserve at Cahiracon on the Shannon Estuary, with the development expected to create up to 400 jobs during construction and roughly 50 while operational. Futureproof Clare has initiated an open letter to Minister Darragh O'Brien calling for the plans to be abandoned and so far, 55 groups, 491 individuals and nine political representatives have lent their support. Ennis-based Futureproof Clare spokespeson Emanuela Ferrari doesn't believe Ireland's gas supply is as vulnerable as the Government makes out.

This year’s Rice College Christmas Concert is just around the corner. Glór will host a showcase of the impressive talents of students from the Ennis secondary school this Wednesday, 17th December, at 7:30pm. On Monday’s Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was delighted to chat with Clare FM’s Joan Hanrahan, along with students Cian Moroney, Kate Howard, Síofra Hogan, Emilia Geraghty, Cailean Rynne, Robbie Whelan, Aoibhe Lecathelinais and Doireann Egan, who are among those taking part in the concert.

Anthony Dargan, a local historian from Ennis, is reaching out to anyone with connections to a specific family from Ennistymon. He is seeking any information and encourages anyone who can help to get in touch. Anthony joined Alan Morrissey on Monday's Morning Focus to share what he hopes to uncover. Photo (c) Synthetic - Exposition from Getty Images via Canva.

On Monday's edition of Morning Focus with Alan Morrissey, we had Judy Beck from Clonroad Garden Centre for In The Garden. This week, Judy told us about rhubarb and the low-maintenance and the high-reward from growing it. If you have any questions for Judy, contact the show on 0818 400 964 or send a text or WhatsApp to 086 1800 964.

Tomás Meade is the organiser of the upcoming Light The Way tractor and truck run. The event is due to take place at Doora-Barefield GAA grounds this coming Saturday (20th December). It is in aid of Slainte an Clár and Pieta House. Tomás was live in-studio on Monday's Morning Focus with Alan Morrissey. Photo (c) Light The Way Facebook

The Irish Blood Transfusion Service is warning time critical operations could be at risk in the MidWest over the Christmas period. The IBTS is hosting blood donation clinics at the Fall's Hotel in Ennistymon both tonight and tomorrow Tuesday from 4.50pm until 8.10pm. Roughly two-thirds of all donations will be used for cancer treatment, with the remainder to emergency surgeries and general operations. Broadford based IBTS Donor Recruitment Executive Alex O'Connor has been telling Clare FM's Daragh Dolan that they need to build up as much supplies as possible.

The Christmas period, it’s a special time for many — but it can also be a challenging one, particularly for older people and those who may be isolated or vulnerable. With colder weather, shorter days and the busy pace of the season, a little extra care and awareness can make a huge difference. To share advice on how older people can look after themselves this Christmas — and how families, friends and neighbours can help support those who may need it — we’re joined by former President of Active Retirement Ireland and Shannon resident, Kay Murphy, and disability rights activist, from the Clare Leader Forum, Ann Marie Flanagan... On Monday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Kay Murphy, former President of Active Retirement Ireland and Shannon resident and Ann Marie Flanagan, Disabled woman, human rights and climate justice activist. Photo (c) Truecreatives via Canva

County Art’s Officer Siobhán Mulcahy joined Alan Morrissey for the last Arts Slot of 2025. Siobhán provided our listeners with all the details of live events for entertainment lovers in Banner County. This week, Siobhán told us about Wreath Making in Kilfenora, Suil Gallery Ennis, Pantos in Ennis and Kilkee and much more.

There’s been a surge in scam calls from UK numbers in recent weeks — with some people receiving several in a single day. As Christmas approaches, experts warn that scammers become even more active, targeting the rise in online shopping and banking activity. ComReg says it plans to crack down on these calls with a new system that uses advanced analytics and machine learning to detect and block suspicious activity. It’s expected to go live in the first half of next year and aims to stop both Irish and international scam calls before they ever reach the public. To explain why these scams are on the rise, how they work, and what protection this new system could offer, Alan Morrissey was joined by tech expert Pat Clarke Browne from Munster Business in Shannon and Kevin Tierney, Managing Director of IT Solutions provider Tierney’s. Image (c) Karola G from Pexels

Christmas can place extra pressure on people for many different reasons and for those already finding things difficult, the festive season can feel particularly overwhelming. As these pressures build, there are concerns that vulnerable individuals may experience increased stress, anxiety, or isolation over the holiday period. For more on this, Alan Morrissey was joined by Celia Brett, Integrated Mental Health Counsellor and Psychotherapist. Image (c) Anna Tarazevich from Pexels

Twelve-year-old Emily Coffey from Rice College in Ennis has had her piece, titled “Warmth,” selected for the 2026 Texaco Children’s Art Competition Calendar. Her drawing, which won second prize in the 12–13 age category, is one of just 13 chosen for the national calendar and will appear for the month of January. The judges praised Emily’s use of colour and her depiction of the bond between owner and pet. Calendars are now available in select Texaco stations nationwide. Emily Coffey joined Alan Morrissey live in-studio on Monday's Morning Focus.

There are calls for more bus shelters in West Clare. Alan Morrissey spoke with the Quilty Fianna Fáil councillor, Michael Shannon about calls for the erection of more bus shelters in the west of the county. A spokesperson for Clare County Council said: “West Clare Municipal District has recently met TFI Local Link and discussed the provision of additional bus stop shelters and bus stop poles in West Clare. The provision of a bus stop shelter could be accommodated by the Section 38 process, but as was evidenced by the discontinued low-cost safety scheme in Kilmihil last year, buy-in from residents is also important. In addition, please note that West Clare Municipal District and Clare County Council’s Road Design Section are continuing to work with TFI Local Link on progressing locations for poles and shelters throughout the Kilrush Local Electoral Area. Further progress on agreeing a programme of works on this is expected early in 2026.” Image (c) Pixabay

The HSE is facing calls to invest in upgrading or rebuilding St Joseph's Hospital in Ennis. It's after An Coimisúin Pleanála rejected contentious plans for a 100 bed replacement facility to be constructed on a green space at St Flannan's College. The community hospital was due to cost €25m, but the development has been refused due to wastewater capacity issues. Ennis Fianna Fáil Councillor Pat Daly believes the funds should be redirected to the site of the existing community hospital on the Lifford Road.

Shannon residents are reportedly waiting over six months for the council to assess build-ups of mould in social housing estates. The issue is understood to be particular prevalent in homes in Cúl Na Gréine and others near the river. Clare Council has stated that it does investigate instances of mould whereby heating and ventilation systems are affected. Shannon Banks Sinn Féin Councillor James Ryan says this needs to be expedited.

A North Clare animal welfare charity says it will likely be reduced to emergency cases only following a funding cut. Four organisations in this county received funding under as part of a €6.4m government grant scheme, with €31,475 going to Second Chance Animal Rescue, €20,000 to Clare Animal Welfare and €10,000 to the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group. While the Burren Animal Rescue in Tubber was allocated €20,475, it marks a 50% reduction on the grant the voluntary group received last year. Chairperson Sheena Twist says they're baffled by the decision.

Fr Brendan Quinlivan presents this edition of Beyond Belief which includes an interview with Sr. Marie McNamara on the Advent scriptures and figures as well as reflecting on her ministry leading priests in scriptural reflection in lectio divina. We hear from Sr. Helen Culhane, founder of the Children’s Grief Centre in Limerick. I’ve also included edited highlights of Colm Flynn’s interview with Eduard Habsburg, the outgoing Hungarian ambassador to the Holy See. Fr. Gerry’s reflection on the Advent hymns closes the programme.