Clare Fm - Podcasts

A Clare farmer claims the agricultural sector in this county is being severely hindered by over-regulation. It comes amid renewed concern over the EU Nitrates Derogation which currently applies to large swathes of land in the North and East of the county, where farming activity will face the restriction. The measure was introduced following an EPA recommendation aimed at reducing instances of pollution in natural waterways from agricultural run-off. Lissycasey farmer and Irish Freedom Party candidate in the Kilrush Electoral John Hill believes the report enforcing the decision is entirely flawed.

On the show this week, we will have an in-depth preview of Sunday's Munster football final as check in with both camps ahead of the game. There's a huge game on Saturday for the Clare U20 hurlers, BOC's minors continue their winning streak and the Clare minor footballers prepare for the Munster semi final

Clare FM Commentary - Clare V Tipperary Munster MFC Phase One Final

A Clare Government Senator is calling for a third new 96-bed block to be approved and delivered at University Hospital Limerick in order to tackle legacy capacity issues. It comes as the third HIQA Report in a row, published this week found patient privacy and dignity continues to be impacted by overcrowding. On it's latest unannounced visit the Health Inspection and Quality Authority found the level of overcrowding at Dooradoyle's Emergency Department was not consistent with a human-rights based approach to care. According to HIQA, University Hospital Limerick's Emergency Department has planned capacity for only 49 service users, but last year an average of 219 patients atended the ED every single day. Despite this, a Clare member of the Oireachtas Health Committee claims reopening a 24/7 Accident Emergency Department in Ennis goes against the wishes of the INMO and the Irish Medical Organisation. There are currently two-new 96 bed blocks planned for UHL which promise to increase bed capacity by 167 in

Clare's roads policing superintendent is urging people to take control of their own safety on the roads this Bank Holiday weekend. Seven road deaths have taken place over the May Bank Holiday period in the last five years, including one last year and four in 2022. Gardaí have this week announced the locations of nine static speed safety cameras due to be operational by the end of the year on national roads in Limerick, Cork, Waterford, Galway, Dublin, Wicklow, Donegal, Carlow and Mayo. Head of the Roads Policing Unit in the Clare-Tipperary Garda Division Superintendent Eddie Golden has been telling Clare FM's Seán Lyons it's up to passengers in cars as well as drivers to encourage good practice on the roads.

A Clare branch of the RNLI is warning the public that time is of the essence it comes to preventing water-related deaths this weekend. An inter-agency appeal has been launched to encourage water safety and preparedness over the coming summer months. Coinciding with the May bank holiday weekend, Water Safety Ireland, the Irish Coast Guard and the RNLI are jointly appealing to people heading back to the coast to exercise caution when planning water-related activities. If on a boat or water vessel, the advice is to wear a lifejacket, carry a reliable means of communication, keep a mobile phone in a watertight case and ensure someone knows when you're going and when you intend to be back. When planning activities on the water, people are again advised to carry an effective means of communication, assess weather and environmental conditions in advance, and seek help immediately if you or someone else appears to be in trouble. Swimmers, meanwhile, are encouraged to wear a wetsuit to stay warm, allow yourself t

East Clare’s musicians are coming together to show solidarity and to raise much needed funds for humanitarian aid by staging an event East Clare Seisiún Mór for Gaza at the renowned Peppers of Feakle on Bank Holiday Sunday 5th May starting at 8pm. A roll call of East Clare’s finest musicians will be joined by respected speakers on the lineup for the event. To learn more about what we can expect from the event, Alan Morrissey was joined by Pat Hayes, Maghera Fianna Fáil Councillor, and Claire ni Grianna, Clare IPSC activist. For more visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/east-clare-seisiun-mor-for-gaza-tickets-888220440247?aff=oddtdtcreator

To celebrate Orchard Blossom Day, East Clare based Irish Seed Savers and the National Biodiversity Data Centre All Ireland Pollinator Plan, have come together to launch a new guide book. The guide was put together by both groups to provide information on how to create and manage traditional orchards and fruit trees for pollinators on the farm, garden or other areas of land. The guide was launched at the Irish Seed Savers centre at Capparoe near Scarriff by Ruth Wilson, Farmland Pollinator Officer with the National Biodiversity Data Centre All Ireland Pollinator Plan.

It is time to bring you another weird and wonderful tale, which means it is time for another edition of Seanchaí Corner. Seanchaí Corner sees the renowned author, storyteller, lecturer and broadcaster Eddie Lenihan regaling us with a memorable story from his extensive collection of old Irish tales and fables. In our latest installment of Seanchaí Corner, Eddie Lenihan tells a story about St. Patrick and the men from Gort.

Clare Suicide Bereavement Support will offer its annual healing programme starting next week. The eight-week course will get underway from next Tuesday, the 7th of May, with different themes each week. To shed some light on what to expect, Alan Morrissey was joined by Ciara Flynn, Volunteer with Clare Suicide Bereavement Support, on Friday's Morning Focus. To get in touch, please visit https://claresuicidebereavementsupport.com/

Students across the Shannon Estuary set out their vision for the future at the 4th Compass schools competition final. St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Spanish Point, were named as the overall winners for their movie, called ‘Turbine’. To find out more, on Friday's morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by students, Alysha Sexton, Roisin Molohon, Lucy O’ Keeffe and Tutor Ronan Daly.

Boston National School will be marking their 150th anniversary this coming weekend. A mass/blessing and Family Fun Day are on the cards for Sunday. To find out more, on Friday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Olga Kearns, past pupil, parent, and supporter of Boston NS, and Áine Ní Dhochartaigh, principal of Boston National School.

The Health Minister says he's not ruling out upgrading Ennis, Nenagh and St. John's hospitals to Model 3 facilities in the future. It follows the publication of yesterday's HIQA report on University Hospital Limerick which found that "dignity and privacy" of patients at the Dooradoyle facility was negatively impacted by overcrowding. Last week's inquest into the death of Shannon teenager Aoife Johnston at the facility heard from Emergency Consultant Dr James Gray that 300 extra beds would be needed there to eliminate the overcrowding crisis. Responding to Sinn Féin Health Spokesperson David Cullinane in the Dáil, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly says a review of the healthcare needs of each region is in progress.

Clare County Council has been accused of missing an opportunity in failing to develop a south-east Clare village to its full potential. Bunratty-based Aontú local election candidate John Haugh is calling for greater attention to be given to Newmarket-on-Fergus with a view to boosting tourism in the area. It comes in a week when Ennistymon, Killaloe, Querrin and Labasheeda were allocated a total of €1.1 million in funding for rural towns and villages regeneration projects. Montpellier native Haugh, who's a professional filmmaker and project manager, says he's frustrated that more efforts aren't being made to have Newmarket village and Dromoland Castle work in tandem with each other.

It's being argued a new funding boost for the community functions of Clare County Council must translate into real improvements on the ground. Clare's Local Community Development Committee has been awarded an additional €85,000 in Government funding for additional staff resources. It's part of a €2.9 million allocation from the Department of Rural and Community Development aimed at supporting the staffing of Local Community Development Committees. Clare LCDC Chairperson and Independent Shannon Councillor Gerry Flynn says while the funding is welcome, people in this county need to see enhanced services in their communities.

The introduction of rent pressure zones in parts of Clare has been blamed for the continuing exodus of landlords from the rental market in this county. It comes as a new report from the Residential Tenancies Board's has shown the gap between the monthly cost for new and existing tenants is widening. New tenants were paying just over €1,200 on average between October and December last year, up 20% on the same period in 2022, while in contrast, existing tenants were forking out €912, representing a jump of 9%. Douglas Hurley of DNG O'Sullivan Hurley in Ennis has been telling Clare FM's Fiona Cahill that while the impact of RPZs in Ennis and Shannon has yet to be fully felt here, it has tightened a market were demand is already outstripping supply.

A Clare TD has accused the Government of taking an "all or nothing" approach to immigration law in Ireland. The Cabinet sub-committee on migration is meeting today where updates are being heard on efforts to expedite the processing of asylum seeker applications. Coming in a week when the Government has received much backlash for its handling of immigration, today's meeting is discussing plans to implement a more efficient deportation system for people whose asylum applications are rejected. The Cabinet sub-committee which deals with migration is also addressing other means of easing the perceived immigration crisis such as finding more accommodation for international protection applicants currently residing here. Despite reports that the meeting would include discussion on changes to welfare payments for those fleeing the war in Ukraine, this isn't expected to be on the agenda. The meeting comes one day after the Rural Independents called for a debate on the EU Migration and Asylum Pact. Scariff Indepen

Clare Senior Hurler Shane O'Donnell says it's an honour to be involved with Darkness into Light this year. The event raises vital funds aimed at delivering nationwide intervention and bereavement therapy services and helping people make the brave and difficult journey from the darkness of suicidal thoughts and self-harm into a brighter, more hopeful future. Over 100,000 participants are expected to gather at 230 official walks in 14 countries on May 11th, with a number of events taking place in Clare in Ennis, Shannon, Whitegate, Kilmihil and Killaloe-Ballina. 2022 All Star and Eire Óg clubman Shane O'Donnell has teamed up with Electric Ireland to launch this year's Darkness into Light and he believes it's a worthy cause.

There are calls for urgent clarity of the mortgage value of Clare homes impacted by pyrite after remedial works are carried out. It follows a meeting held between the Clare Pyrite Action Group, the Department of Housing and the Banking and Payments Federation on the matter. Just three grants have so far been paid out here under the enhanced defective blocks scheme and it's understood the Department have refused to commit to a proposal that provide homeowners with early capital funding. Clare Pyrite Action Group Chair and Crusheen based Sinn Féin local election candidate Dr Martina Cleary says it's unacceptable.

Renowned Northern journalist Eamonn Mallie has published his new book. In 'Eyewitness to War and Peace', he takes us through his many eventful years working as a journalist in the North. Eamonn made a name for himself by covering the Troubles from the frontlines and the developments from the corridors of power. His career has seen him enjoy unparalleled access to political heavyweights such as John Hume, Gerry Adams, Margaret Thatcher, Ian Paisley, Bill Clinton, Tony Blair, and a host of other influential figures involved in the peace process. Alan Morrissey was joined by Eamonn, who highlighted his memoir, Eyewitness to War and Peace, on Thursday's Morning Focus.