Clare Fm - Podcasts

Clare's Emmet McMahon After Munster SFC Semi - Final Win Over Waterford

A South East Clare Councillor says the community of Clonlara will rally around the family of Shay Lynch, after he drowned in a tragic incident at hotel swimming pool over the weekend. The seven-year-old was pronounced dead at University Hospital Limerick following the incident at the Lakeside Hotel in Kilalloe on Saturday afternoon. Shay was a 1st class pupil at Scoil Seanain Naofa in Clonlara, which had celebrated confirmations earlier that day. Clonlara Independent Councillor Michael Begley says it's hard to comprehend that something like this could happen to a young child enjoying himself on a happy day.

An Ireland South MEP insists meaningful supports are forthcoming for Clare farmers impacted by the prolonged inclement weather. Farms have been fighting an acute shortage of fodder coupled with limited opportunities to plant crops this year and in March alone, the level of rainfall recorded at Shannon Airport's weather station was 67% above the long-term average. On Friday, EU lawmakers, agriculture specialists and farming representatives gathered for a conference in Carlow to address financial losses and funding concerns. Ireland South Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly who organised the event believes the Government is firmly committed to compensating affected farmers.

It's claimed investment in active travel infrastructure is urgently needed in Ennis to safeguard public health. New figures from the EPA show the level of PM10 particles, which can cause serious long-term damage to the heart and lungs when inhaled, exceeded national standards on six occaisions in January alone in the county town. In 2022, Ennis also recorded 22 PM10 breaches, which was by far the highest total recorded nationwide. Ennis Green Party Local Election Candidate Bridget Ginnity believes people need an incentive not to drive their cars in the town centre to improve air quality.

On Monday’s Morning Focus, Alan Morrisssey was joined by Tom Stewart from Keane’s Garden Centre in Kilcolgan. On this week’s In the Garden, Tom provided listeners with all the information for planting flowers in hanging baskets. If you have a question for Tom, contact the show on 0818 400 964 or send a text or Whatsapp to 086 1800 964.

Kilkee Waterworld and Drift Cafe have been approved for more than €500,000 of grant support from the SEAI under the Better Energy Communities Scheme. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Fianna Fáil Councillor Cillian Murphy from Kilkee and Tracey Lynch, the Manager of Kilkee Waterworld & Drift Cafe, on Monday's Morning Focus. Picture (c) Kilkee Waterworld CLG

The Shorelines Trio, featuring world renowned singer and flute player Nuala Kennedy, with Clare fiddle maestro Tara Breen and the exceptional Dublin guitarist Tony Byrne, will take to the stage in Glór this Thursday, the 25th of April at 8pm. For more on this, on Monday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined in studio by Nuala Kennedy.

Madigan Traditional Masonry, based in Ennistymon is holding an event on the use of Irish lime mortar to conserve and repair our historic buildings on the 26th and the 27th of April. The event will consist of talks and demonstrations from Conservation Engineers and Craftspeople. The main aim it to empower homeowners to make informed decisions when restoring their own buildings. To find out more about it, on Monday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined in studio by Eóin Madigan of Madigan Traditional Masonry.

From a small corner in the Agricultural Show at Ennis Showgrounds back in 2012, to this year’s tenth edition, it’s been quite a journey for the Clare Garden Festival. The 2024 Clare Garden Festival will take place at Ennis Showgrounds on Sunday, the 28th of April. Its huge Garden, Plant, Craft, and Food Fair will be in place, with over 80 stalls from all over Ireland featuring some of the old favourites as well as 26 new stallholders. All-day expert garden talks will run on its accessible stage. And there will also be large-scale outdoor demos as well as workshops, masterclasses and displays this year. To find out more, Alan Morrissey was joined by Carmen Cronin, Festival founder and manager, Kitty Scully, a Master Organic Garden currently on RTE with the Homegrown series; and Joe Lillis, Chairman Clare Agricultural Show society. Picture (c) Clare Garden Festival via Facebook

Tesco is set to open a new store in Shannon Town Centre, taking over the unit currently occupied by Dealz. Dealz is in the process of relocating to a different location; once relocated, Tesco will move into the vacated retail unit. To find out more about this addition to Shannon, Alan Morrissey was joined by Kacper Zybert, Manager of the Shannon Town Centre. Picture (c) shannontowncentre.ie

Ennis recorded the greatest number of air quality breaches of any town in the country in the first quarter of the year. New EPA figures show the level of PM10 particles, which can cause long-term damage to the heart and lungs when inhaled, exceeded national standards in the county-town on six occasions in January alone. Throughout last year, The Environmental Protection Agency documented 11 PM10 breaches in Ennis, which was also the highest amount on record nationwide. Lead Inspector of the EPA's National Ambient Air Quality Unit, Patrick Kenny, says there's major cause for concern.

Clare Gardaí will be aiming to tackle a worrying trend in offences for driving under the influence in a new high visibility campaign. All uniformed Gardaí across the county are now carrying out a minimum 30 minutes of roads policing operations per shift, involving speed checks, checkpoints and patrols, following a new directive from Commissioner Drew Harris. To date this year in Clare, 35 motorists have been detected driving under the influence of either drugs or alcohol. Superintendent of the Clare Community Engagement Functional Area Garda John Ryan says at this time of year in particular, full focus is crucial behind the wheel.

Clare Manager Brian Lohan After Limerick Loss

Clare Manager Mark Fitzgerald After Munster SFC Semi Final Win Over Waterford

On this week’s episode of Atlantic Tales, Pat Flynn visits the Tulla Stables Artists Studios set up by the Clare Arts Office to provide workspaces for artists in the county.

The community of south-east Clare is in mourning after a young boy lost his life in a tragic drowning incident at a hotel swimming pool. The 7 year old had been attending a birthday party at the facility in Killaloe, and was pronounced dead at University Hospital Limerick. A post-mortem examination will be carried out while a full examination of the circumstances of the tragedy will also be undertaken, but Gardai say foul play is not a factor. Killaloe Fianna Fail councillor Tony O'Brien says it is a tragic incident for all involved

A €400K public realm enhancement of a prominent East Clare town has been put out to tender by the local authority. Clare County Council is now accepting bids from contractors to complete paving and landscaping works as part of the Mountshannon public realm and mobility plan. It's envisaged the works will begin within the next two months and the project is expected to be completed later this year to coincide with the opening of the new visitor centre at Holy Island (Inis Cealtra). Whitegate Fine Gael Councillor Pat Burke is confident there will be minimal impact to local business during construction.

Clare's Green Party senator has predicted towns will become "homogenised" unless small businesses are supported. Inagh Senator Róisín Garvey has called for a raft of measures to support the 309,000 small and medium-sized businesses nationwide, including reducing commercial rates and extending the terms of SCBI loans for businesses. The Annual Rate of Valuation in Clare was reduced by 4.4% last year, meaning six in 10 businesses have seen a reduction in their commercial rates owed to Clare County Council. Addressing new Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Peter Burke in the Seanad, Senator Garvey says multinationals will rule the roost if small businesses aren't given the attention leg-up they need.

There are calls for decisive action to be taken once and for all on a road that's been described as Clare's national embarrassment. In the last month alone, three people have been hospitalised following road traffic collisions on the N85 main Ennis to Ennistymon Road. The latest spate of incidents has sparked calls for Transport Infrastructure Ireland to immediately provide funding for the Kilnamona Re-Alignment Project, which plans to remove bends on a 4.5km stretch of the route as far as Whelan's Quarry. Ennistymon Fianna Fáil Councillor Shane Talty says locals and tourists alike are risking their lives on the road every day.

A Clare firefighter believes the lifting of the mandatory retirement age will act as an incentive for people to join the fire service. Government approval has been granted for increasing the retirement age for both full-time and retained firefighters from 58 to 62. The move is among a number of Workplace Relations Commission recommendations being implemented such the provision of 12 firefighters in all retained fire stations and guaranteed fixed minimum earnings in excess of €20,000. Shop Steward at Killaloe Fire Station Edward Moloney predicts the measure will give firefighters the opportunity to continue earning later in their careers.