Clare Fm - Podcasts

The lack of information on the current stage of the Limerick to Scariff Greenway has been branded as "disappointing". Killaloe Municipal District has revealed that a peer review of the preferred route corridor of the long-awaited greenway has taken place and public consultation on the project will be held on the peer review group and Transport Infrastructure Ireland have concluded discussions. On foot of a motion tabled by Maghera Fianna Fáil Councillor Pat Hayes at this week's meeting of East Clare representatives, it's been agreed that Waterways Ireland will be invited to attend the next meeting. Councillor Hayes says landowners in particular deserve more detail on the plans.

The family of Aoife Johnston have met with the Health Minister to press for a statutory inquiry into her death after waiting hours for treatment at University Hospital Limerick. The 16-year-old from Shannon died from bacterial meningitis on December 19th, 2022 after waiting more than twelve hours on chairs to see a doctor in the ED, despite presenting with an urgent GP referral letter querying sepsis. Aoife’s death has resulted in two inquiries and disciplinary proceedings against six senior staff over the circumstances of her final hours. Thursday’s meeting with Health Minister, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill came about due to a request from the Johnston family, who wrote to her through their solicitor last month. That solicitor is Damien Tansey, who joined Alan Morrissey today. Photo(C): Aoife Johnston RIP

Donald Trump says he will attempt to get US pharmaceutical companies back from Ireland. It comes after the US President signed an executive order to impose a 25 per cent tariff on cars imported into the United States. He sees tariffs as a tool to raise revenue, to offset his promised tax cuts, and to revive a long-declining US industrial base. President Trump, who cited Ireland in his comments in the Oval Office, has his sights set on getting other companies back as well Tanaiste Simon Harris said Ireland was engaging with both EU and US To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Tanaiste Simon Harris said Ireland was engaging with both EU and US, Kevin Thompstone.

On Friday’s Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey spoke to Clinical Child Psychologist, Dr. Toby Sachsenmaier about collaborative & proactive solutions. This week’s topic centered on the playground—how to handle the moment when it’s time to leave, but a tantrum seems imminent.

It is time for the thirteenth episode of our second season of The Village Tour. With The Village Tour, we here at Morning Focus are aiming to highlight the smaller villages and townlands around the county. By doing this, we hope to showcase their unique character, while also bringing their diversity and individuality to life for you, the listener. During each episode of The Village Tour, Alan Morrissey chats with various people from a particular village or townland in Clare: from locals and business owners to those involved with local sports clubs, community representatives and many more. In our latest episode of The Village Tour, Alan paid a visit to Meelick...

To preview the sporting fixtures, Alan Morrissey was joined on Friday’s Morning Focus by Clare FM’s Derrick Lynch. Games Previewed: Division 1B National Camogie League Final: Clare v Antrim (Saturday, Abbotstown, 2pm) Soccer: Ennis Carpets Clare Cup Semi-Finals The last remaining spots in the Ennis Carpets Clare Cup semi finals will be filled this weekend. · The standout tie sees defending champions Avenue United make the trip to take on Newmarket Celtic in a repeat of last years final. · The Lees Road Astro hosts the meeting of Fairgreen Celtic and Shannon Olympic, while Moher Celtic have home advantage against Bridge United in Lahinch. · Clare FM analyst Jim Madden feels the Bridge will have enough to come through a tricky test against the North Clare side.

Volunteers across Clare are out in force today to collect funds for essential cancer services. Today is the 37th annual Daffodil Day, which is the main funding drive for the Irish Cancer Society. The charity provides night nurse services, transport to hospital treatments and counselling for patients. Maggie, who's been collecting in Ennis, outlines its importance.

Ennis's local representatives have described a cut to the area's roads funding for this year as "unacceptable". Both the county town and Shannon will have less money to put towards roads maintenance in 2025, while the county's other municipal districts have seen their level of funding increase. Clare County Council has revealed that its total roads maintenance budget this year is €27.44 million which is up 12% on 2024. The budget is supplemented by various Government funding streams, while a total of €3.21 million comes from the local authority's own resources. The increased funding is welcome given that newly-released figures show the county's roads maintenance works have gone over budget by €2.42 million in the last three years, with 2024's works alone going €1.48 million over budget. While the Killaloe, Kilrush and Ennistymon municipal districts have each had their funding boosted this year, Ennis and Shannon's allocation's have been cut by 12% and 7%, respectively. Clarecastle Sinn Féin Councillor Tommy G

The Mayor of Ennis claims roads maintenance isn't being given priority by the Government. Both the county town and Shannon will have less money to put towards roads maintenance in 2025, while the county's other municipal districts have seen their level of funding increase. Clare County Council has revealed that its total roads maintenance budget this year is €27.44 million which is up 12% on 2024. The budget is supplemented by various Government funding streams, while a total of €3.21 million comes from the local authority's own resources. The increased funding is welcome given that newly-released figures show the county's roads maintenance works have gone over budget by €2.42 million in the last three years, with 2024's works alone going €1.48 million over budget. While the Killaloe, Kilrush and Ennistymon municipal districts have each had their funding boosted this year, Ennis and Shannon's allocation's have been cut by 12% and 7%, respectively. A special meeting of Ennis Municipal District this week

Celebrations are underway today at the graduation of Clare's next generation of aviation safety experts. AirNav Ireland, which oversees the safety of all flights arriving and departing Shannon, Cork and Dublin Airports has conferred 23 new cadets at a ceremony in the Strand Hotel this lunchtime. Among them are a Clare contingent of three new Air Traffic Controllers and four Air Traffic Safety Electronic Engineers.

Coming up on the show, we will look ahead to Clare's National Camogie League Division 1B final, and hear from Clare football boss Peter Keane to reflect on their league campaign There's another big week coming up for Clare's U20 hurling and football sides, and we will look ahead to the quarter-finals of the Ennis Carpets Clare Cup

A Northern Irish public transport service dubbed "The luas on wheels" has been proposed as a cost effective alternative to the Shannon Rail Link. The 'Glider' which is a rapid transit intercity bus system, with a light tram design and capacity for over 100 passengers in a single carriage, was first rolled out in Belfast in 2018 at a cost of €120m. Although the Government has set a target of providing rail connectivity to Shannon Airport by 2030, a delegation of elected representatives and officials are expected to visit Belfast to test the Glider's feasibility. Clonlara Independent Councillor Michael Begley is confident it can work here.

The HSE is being urged to bring Clare ambulance patients to Galway where possible, during periods of severe overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick. It's estimated that on average 1,820 patients from this county attended UHL's ED every month last year, with similar trends expected this year. By contrast, last month, 160 patients from Clare were admitted to University Hospital Galway's Emergency Department. HSE Regional Health Forum West member Ennis Fianna Fáil Councillor Antoinette Baker Bashua says the measure should be explored while Clare awaits the construction of its own ED.

Clare County Council has submitted a funding application under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) for the delivery of significant new public realm regeneration and enhancement projects in Crusheen and Killaloe-Ballina. The proposed multi-million-euro schemes include the reopening of Crusheen Railway Station and the development of a multi-purpose community enterprise hub and crèche in the village, as well as revitalising the public realm in Killaloe-Ballina town centres and transforming the vacant Killaloe Courthouse into a cultural and musical venue. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Senior Planner and Killaloe MD Coordinator for Clare County Council, Brian McCarthy. Photo(C): https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1281922090415310&set=pb.100057925933323.-2207520000

This Sunday is World Bipolar Day. World Bipolar Day is an annual awareness day to bring awareness to bipolar disorders and aims to provide education and information. This Sunday is the 30th of March, and this date was chosen, because it is the birthday of Vincent Van Gogh, who was posthumously diagnosed as having bipolar disorder. To discuss the challenges with detection, diagnosis & the impact on family members, Alan Morrissey was joined by Ennis psychotherapist, Margaret O'Brien. Margaret has specialist training having completed an MSc in Adolescent psychotherapy. Photo(C): atlasstudio via canva

St. John’s National School in Shannon will be holding their annual bake sale and coffee morning this Friday. To find out more, Alan Morrissey was joined by Principal of St John’s National School in Shannon, Kevin Twomey. Photo(C): Igor Ovsyannykov from Pexels via canva

A new Virtual Ward in University Hospital Limerick which uses technology to provide patient care at home has saved more than 2,000 inpatient bed days since its introduction last summer. A total of 325 patients have been cared for at the Virtual Ward since July 1st, using technology to link them with UHL for monitoring two to three times daily - and in the process freeing up 2,053 bed-days for hospital treatment of more acutely ill inpatients. To find out more, Alan Morrissey was joined by Nurse and Midwifery Informatics Officer, who led the implementation of the Virtual Ward at UHL, Patricia O’Gorman. Photo(C): Clare FM

This year’s Odd Socks Cycle will take place this coming weekend. The cycle, in aid of Down Syndrome Clare, will be held on the 30th of March. To learn more about it, Alan Morrissey was joined by Coordinator of the Odd Socks Cycle for Down Syndrome Clare, Louise Craig. https://eventmaster.ie/event/xLV5iPyS91?fbclid=IwY2xjawIsAd1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHZLS_PByFX3u9mgfcm2ExIAVkpFR4CEKuRrsmGNaB3JK-aM1auPTwaVB-A_aem_Th28CtkH-VZcgNdEXf6oKw https://www.idonate.ie/donate/raffle/OddSocks2025 Photo(C): Clare FM

George Murphy and the Rising Sons are coming to Clare! If you like trad folk and rock ‘n’ roll, then the Forge in Miltown Malbay is the place to be on Saturday, the 5th of April. This seven-piece band, who are selling out shows all over Ireland, are not to be missed. To find out more, Alan Morrissey was joined by singer songwriter, George Murphy. Photo(C): https://www.facebook.com/groups/LocalEventsCountyClare/posts/2777159202468325/

As you’ve been hearing in Clare FM’s news bulletins, Bon Secours Health System is creating 300 new jobs at its state-of-the-art private hospital in Ballysimon, Limerick, set to open its doors later in 2025. This significant expansion, which will see the hospital double its workforce, will include a wide range of roles across several medical and non-medical disciplines, with a particular focus on nursing and specialised medical teams. As part of the recruitment drive, the hospital is seeking skilled healthcare staff for a variety of positions to support its expanding services and the provision of quality care to a growing number of patients in the Mid-West region. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by CEO of Bon Secours Hospital Limerick, Jason Kenny. Photo (c) anyaberkut from Getty Images Pro via Canva.com