Clare Fm - Podcasts

Ireland’s teacher recruitment and retention crisis is not a temporary fluctuation but a system challenge that threatens the quality of education and equity for young people. This was the message conveyed to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education by ASTI General Secretary Kieran Christie on Wednesday. Mr Christie referenced recent ASTI and RedC research which found that the teacher supply crisis is impacting on every part of the school system, including 75% of schools advertising posts for which no applicant applied, and many second-level schools relying on non-qualified, out-of-field, or casual teachers. The ASTI is calling for a number of measures to address the current teacher supply crisis. To talk about this was Cathal Crowe, Chair of Oireachtas Committee on Education and Meelick Fianna Fail TD and Geraldine O’Brien, Former ASTI President and teacher at St Joseph’s Kilkee Community College on Thursday's Morning Focus with Alan Morrissey. Photo (c) Aflo Images via Canva

Clare Pickleball has been established with the support of Clare Sports Partnership to give adults across the county the chance to try one of the fastest-growing sports in the world. The fun game blends elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. The sport is quickly gaining popularity for its accessibility, social atmosphere, and easy learning curve. Alan Morrissey was joined by the Chairperson of Clare Pickleball, Brian Moore. Photo (c) Clare Pickleball

The Ennis Lions Club is bringing festive cheer back to the town this weekend with the return of its annual Santa Project in The Square. Santa and his helpers will be on hand this Sunday, December 14th, from 11am to 5pm. Tom Carey, Project Leader of the Remembrance Tree joined Alan Morrissey on Thursday's Morning Focus to share more.

Hauliers say they may go on strike if TII doesn't allow them discounts they're entitled to at the toll booth. Industry representatives met with the Taoiseach on Wednesday to highlight the issue. They've accused toll oper­at­ors of mak­ing it delib­er­ately dif­fi­cult for truck­ers to claim dis­counts when pre-paying for the toll. To find out more, Alan Morrissey spoke with Eugene Drennan, Former President of the Irish Road Haulage Association.

Public Health doctors in the Mid West are calling on parents of eligible babies to avail of the free RSV immunisation as the catch-up campaign enters its final week. The programme for babies born between March 1st and August 31st ends this Friday, and there are concerns that some families may miss out on the protection before winter illnesses peak. Clare mother Lynsey Duhig, whose twins Aaron and Avery have already received the immunisation, is urging other parents to do the same. Lynsey joined Alan Morrissey on Thursday's Morning Focus to discuss this further. Photo (c) by Kameleon007 from Getty Images Signature

Morning Focus listeners have been getting in touch with us to highlight their concerns over the cost of blister packs. From the 1st of January, the State will stop funding weekly blister-packed medicines. Charges of €2.50 per tray will follow, even for medical card holders, meaning the disabled and OAPs will be required to pay between 10 and 25 euro for the service. There are concerns that this could create extra hardship for those already struggling with rising costs and could even lead to confusion over medication management among older patients. To find out more, Alan Morrissey was joined by the President of the Irish Pharmacy Union, Tom Murray. Image (c) PublicDomainPictures from pixabay via Canva

What could be provided for Clare if it was funded to European norms? It turns out just 8% of public spending in Ireland occurs at a local government level, compared to 23% across the EU. This was raised in a council motion from the Sinn Féin Councillor Tommy Guilfoyle, who spoke with Alan Morrissey on Morning Focus. Alan was also joined by Fianna Fáil Councillor Clare Colleran Molloy, for more on this topic. Photo (c) Clare County Council

The Health Minister is being urged not to "water down" HIQA's recommendations on the urgent and emergency healthcare services in the Midwest. The HSE Mid West Regional Patient and Service User Council has met with Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill to discuss the recommendations of the review published in September. During the meeting, the council explained that it favours options A and B of the review which would see bed capacity at UHL increased along with the extension of the campus to a second site under a shared governance and resourcing model. The minister is due to make a decision on the recommendations before Christmas, and Lahinch-based HSE Mid West Patient Advocate John Wall says there's "no reason" why construction can't begin next year.

Ennis Municipal District says there's a "diverse range of opinions" on the pedestrianisation of the county town's main street but claims "a lot of the public" are in favour of it. A survey on future access, traffic flow and pedestrianisation of O'Connell Street is running until January 4th and can be accessed on Clare County Council's website. Physical copies of the survey are available in council buildings including libraries and the findings are to be released in the new year. Ennis MD Acting Senior Engineer Paddy Tiernan says the goal is to find out what level of pedestrianisation people want on the street in order to formulate a plan for its future.

It's hoped the scourge of widespread illegal dumping will soon be effectively tackled in Clare. It comes as the local authority has given a commitment to elected representatives that it will have legislation in place to install surveillance at black spots within the first quarter of next year. In November alone, Clare County Council received 39 complaints in relation to illegal dumping. Maghera Fianna Fáil Councillor Pat Hayes says action is long overdue.

Health Officials are urging parents in Clare to bring their children to one of four free-of-charge flu vaccine clinics over the next ten days. It comes amid a surge in flu cases across Clare, Limerick and Tipperary with more people, including children, being admitted to hospital with the virus. HSE Midwest is holding a clinic at the Primary Care Centre on Station Road in Ennis next Wednesday, December 17th from 12 noon until 6pm, while there will be three other clinics in Limerick on the 13th and 18th and in Thurles on the 16th. Consultant in Public Health Medicine, Dr Breda Cosgrove says the vaccine can protect your child against a nasty illness and prevent them from passing it on to elderly or vulnerable family members over the Christmas period.

The people of Ballyea have made a submission to the Ennis Travel Plan to continue the pathway/cycle lane past Edenvale up the Kilmorane Hill on the N68 Kilrush road to the turn off for Ballyea. This 1 Km section is described as extremely dangerous for walkers and cyclists to access the town. Their request was not successful in getting advanced at this time as it was outside the limited area the Plan covers. Locals are now looking for a hard shoulder to be installed on this 1km section between Edenvale and Ballyea cross. To find out more, Pat Meaney, who is the Chairperson Ballyea Community Text Alert Group and Susan Griffin, Ballyea resident spoke with Alan Morrissey on Wednesday's Morning Focus. Photo (c) Pat Meaney change.org

The annual event honours and celebrates the tireless efforts and actions carried out during the year by Clean Coasts groups, individuals, communities, and businesses to protect their local coastline and its surrounding environment. Four groups - Banner Gleo, West Coast Surf Club, Wild Earth and Coffee Hatch, Lahinch were shortlisted across four categories in this year's awards, for their ongoing efforts in protecting and preserving their adopted beaches and coastline in county Clare. They all received honours in making the shortlist across three categories: Emerging Group, Youth Initiative and Community Champion. For more on this, Alan Morrissey was joined by Sarah Hegarty of Banner Gleo and Lee Bradley, who attended the awards event on behalf of Wild Earth.

Ireland has secured a three-year extension to the controversial nitrates derogation. The EU has voted to extend the Nitrates derogation up to the end of 2028. The current derogation was due to expire at the end of the month. Farming organisations have welcomed the decision, saying it is sensible and recognises the country's grass-based system. Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon says an extension will be positive for farmers here. For more on this, Alan Morrissey was joined by Michael McNamara, Scariff-based Ireland South MEP and Eddie Punch, Former ICSA General Secretary, Cratloe Farmer. Photo (c) JA Huddleston from Pixabay via Canva

On this week's episode of Clare Women In Business, Pat Flynn chats with Michelle Nagle who is the commercial director with Clare Ireland Recycling based in Clare. Clare Women in Business is funded by Coimisiún na Meán with the television licence fee.

A new report on GAA demographics has found that 66% of Clare’s population growth in recent years has been attributed to migration, both foreign and domestic, while the county is judged to have a low birth rate. Another significant finding from the demographics report is that Clare, along with Kerry, Cavan, Waterford, Tyrone, Donegal and Laois, has an outlying single large club, which was found to be affecting the competitive landscape. The GAA's National Demographic Committee have unveiled recommendations to tackle the issues outlined in the report, including targeted growth of new and existing clubs and support for clubs that struggle to field 15 players. To find out more, Alan Morrissey spoke with Clare GAA’s Demographics Officer, Neil O’Brien.

Clare County Council says it won't be possible to treat all of the county's regional roads over the next month. It comes as the local authority has been requested to enhance its Winter Roads Maintenance plan, with freezing conditions expected in the coming weeks. Concerns are being raised that border areas of County Clare won’t see grit. To find out more, Alan Morrissey was joined by Whitegate Fine Gael Councillor Pat Burke and Clonlara Independent Councillor, Michael Begley. Photo (c) Trenchcoates from Getty Images Signature via Canva

Clare County Council says it won't be possible to treat all of the county's regional roads over the next month. It comes as the local authority has been requested to enhance its Winter Roads Maintenance plan, with freezing conditions expected in the coming weeks. The council says it can grit up to 714km of the county's road network per night, however due to the workload involved, it has to prioritise the most heavily trafficked and important routes. O'Callaghan's Mills Fine Gael Councillor Conor Ryan claims many popular routes are missed.

As the New Year approaches, dancer and choreographer Claire O’Meara is inviting locals to explore her new range of dance classes designed to kick-start your 2026 resolutions. With the long winter nights upon us, now is the perfect time to get out, stay active, and support both your physical and mental wellbeing. Alan Morrissey was delighted to talk to Claire on Tuesday's Morning Focus.

The great Fergal O'Keeffe was back on Tuesday's Morning Focus with Alan Morrissey for another Travel Tales with Fergal. This week, Fergal talked to us about holiday plans for the Christmas period.