Clare Fm - Podcasts

It's been suggested a masterplan for a south-east Clare village would pave the way for funding and growth opportunities in the years to come. As of the most recent Census, Newmarket-on-Fergus has a population of 1,887, making it the fifth largest area in the county. Sixmilebridge and Kilrush have both benefitted from the Department of Community and Rural Development's Town Centre First Initiative, having received €100,000 and €30,000 in funding, respectively. Newmarket-on-Fergus native and Fianna Fáil local election candidate David Griffin believes having a similar plan for Newmarket-on-Fergus would open the door to endless opportunities for the community.

Uisce Eireann is confident that recent works completed across Clare will bring legacy supply issues to an end. It comes as the utility has replaced 3km of damaged water mains with new modern pipes across Ennis, Creegh in Kilrush and Ennistymon. Uisce Eireann is currently progressing with similar works on a 670m stretch in Balinoosky, Newmarket-On-Fergus that will aim to address high levels of leakage, while further projects are planned for Doonbeg and Sixmilebridge. Programme Manager Jack Cronin insists there will be long lasting benefits for local homes and businesses.

The Mayor of Ennis believes a Henry Kissinger-like figure is needed to facillitate meaningful consultation on the controversial Ennis 2040 plan. At this week's monthly meeting of representatives in the county town, Fianna Fáil Councillor Pat Daly has raised a motion seeking a "concilitation and arbitration type process" to give greater input to individuals and community groups concerned about the future of the town. Ennis Municipal District has said in response that it's always "open to engagement with all interested stakeholders" and is "happy to discuss and engage with any individual or group with a contribution to make or an issue to raise". Councillor Daly says an inclusive discussion must be had in the interest of bringing the town forward.

Fr Gerry Kenny presents this Sunday's Beyond Belief.

Fr Gerry Kenny leads our Sunday Prayer celebrating the Ascension of our Lord.

Clare County Council has confirmed it will be employing sixteen dedicated staff members to manage beaches this summer. Four of the beach operatives will have responsibility for Kilkee, Cappagh, White Strand Doonbeg, Carrigaholt and Seafield, while the other twelve will look after Lahinch, Doolin, Fanore, White Strand Miltown Malbay and Spanish Point. Their duties will include upkeep of beach facilities, litter control and assisting visitors. Lisdoonvarna Fine Gael Councillor Joe Garrihy is confident it will bring major benefits for the tourist season.

The Government is being accused of punishing rural people in this county with the latest fuel tax hike. The rate of carbon tax on home heating fuels has risen by €7.50 to €56 per tonne, while natural gas customers now have to pay 1 cent extra per kilowatt hour. Based on the average annual consumption, each household will now face a carbon tax bill of €122. Westbury resident and Sinn Féin local election candidate James Ryan believes the policy doesn’t take older homes with inferior insulation into account.

There are 70 patients on trolleys at University Hospital Limerick today according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation. Although this is a 25% reduction on the number of people without a bed there yesterday, the level of overcrowding at UHL today is still above that of the next two busiest facilities combined. A Clare Oireachtas Health Committee Member believes the staff on the frontlines experiencing this situation on a near daily basis are best placed to advise on additional capacity in the region and must be consulted in the review. Meelick Fianna Fáil TD Cathal Crowe insists though that regardless of who's leading Leinster House next year, HIQA's recommendation must be included in the new programme for government. The Friends of Ennis Hospital is remaining firm in its view that any new emergency department must be located in this county Kilrush based Spokesperson Deirdre Culligan insists that even if it means constructing a brand-new facility, providing another ED in Tipperary or Limerick

A Clare Oireachtas member fears "serious" violence will soon be visited upon a politician in Ireland amid a surge in harassment of public representatives. A growing numbers of TDs and senators have given accounts of abuse and threats from the public in recent weeks, leading to calls for increased security around politicians. Simon Harris, Roderick O'Gorman, Paul Murphy and Holly Cairns are just a handful of the TDs who've been subject to intimidation and threats in recent weeks. In January of this year, Social Democrats leader Deputy Cairns was forced to close her Bandon constituency office due to security concerns after previously admitting to being left "absolutely terrified" when an online stalker began appearing at her home. Just this week meanwhile, a man in his 20s has been arrested on suspicion of stalking Fianna Fáil Senator Lisa Chambers - an incident Gardaí have described as "sinister and disturbing". A video has emerged in recent days of Ennis Independent local election candidate Amanda Major

An illegal dumping incident in south-east Clare has sparked renewed calls for surveillance to be installed in litter blackspots. Residents of Gallows Hill in Cratloe have been greeted this week by the sight of a mound of rubbish containing tyres, concrete blocks and various plastic items at the entrance to a popular nature amenity. 44 complaints of illegal dumping in Clare were made in April alone, bringing the total number for the year so far to 242. Following the recent introduction of legislation allowing local authorities to combat illegal dumping through CCTV and drones, Cratloe Fianna Fáil Councillor Pat O'Gorman has been telling Clare FM's Seán Lyons that areas known for dumping must be monitored.

A European election candidate for this region claims climate action in Ireland is "going backwards and punching downwards" with initiatives like the Deposit Return Scheme. It comes as Re-turn, the company which operates the reverse vending machines, has revealed it's had to replace seven machines nationwide this week due to functionality issues. It's claimed the number of drinks containers being processed reached 2.39 million on Tuesday compared to just two million items over the entire month of February - the first month of the scheme. Cork City South-East Councillor and An Rabharta Glas candidate for the Ireland South Constituency, Lorna Bogue, says people need greater incentives to move towards more sustainable living practices.

This week on 'Ours To Protect', Pat Flynn visits the Burren where Caher Bridge Garden, a haven for biodiversity, was created by Carl Wright from what was once a dense hazel and blackthorn scrub.

Cuppa Tea TV are it again; with yet another great gig lined up for this weekend! The Loft, Shannon Golf Club will host a night of fantastic original music on Saturday, with a bill including SAL, David Hope and Padraig Jack. To find out more, Alan Morrissey was joined by Singer-Songwriter David Hope and Damian O’Rourke from Cuppa Tea TV.

Corofin Dramatic Society are preparing to tread the boards this weekend. They will bring the John B Keane classic ‘The Field’ to the stage at St. Patrick’s Hall in Corofin from Friday to Monday. On Friday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by the PRO for Corofin Dramatic Society, Mary Kelly, the Chairperson Neil Haran and Actor Martin O’Donoghue.

Clare manager Brian O'Connell speaking after his sides win over Cork in the Munster MHC

On Friday’s Morning Focus, it was time again for our Arts Slot with County Art’s Officer Siobhán Mulcahy. Siobhán provided our listeners with all the details of this week’s live events for entertainment lovers in Banner County. This week, Siobhán discussed Culture Night, the Irish Concertina Orchestra and much more!

The Health Minister, Stephen Donnelly, is to initiate a review into urgent and emergency care capacity in the Mid-West region. The review will determine whether a second emergency department is required, in light of a big increase in the population in recent years and ongoing pressures at the ED at University Hospital Limerick. Smaller emergency departments in the region closed when configuration happened back in 2009. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Oireachtas Health Committee member and Meelick Fianna Fail TD, Cathal Crowe and Friends of Ennis Hospital Spokesperson, Deirdre Culligan.

Growing concerns for both politicians and their staff members have led to calls for all members of the Oireachtas to be provided with personal panic buttons. This follows the recent protests outside the homes of Taoiseach Simon Harris and Integration Minister Roderic O'Gorman. Justice Minister Helen McEntee was also the recipient of a hoax bomb threat, on her family home. Clare politicians and local election candidates are no stranger to these issues, either; the Ennistymon Fine Gael, Senator Martin Conway is behind the proposal that members of the Oireachtas be provided with personal panic buttons, after he was harassed on five occasions over the past six weeks, both on the street and on public transport. Meanwhile, the Independent candidate for the Local Elections, Amanda Major has been subjected to harassment while erecting election posters in Ennis. To discuss this further, on Friday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Fine Gael Senator from Ennistymon, Martin Conway and Independent Local E

It's claimed HIQA's upcoming review into the need for a second MidWest emergency department must consider the journey times facing patients in rural Clare. The terms of reference will be finalised in the coming weeks, to allow the findings of an independent inquiry into the death of Shannon Teenager Aoife Johnston at University Hospital Limerick in 2022 to be taken into account. It's estimated that over 20,000 Clare patients attended the ED in UHL last year. HSE Regional Health Forum West member Kilkee Fianna Fail Councillor Cillian Murphy says the review's outcome must benefit patients in isolated areas.

Threshold supported 128 Clare households experiencing difficulties in their private rental tenancies last month. Newly published figures show interventions from the housing charity prevented 15 adults and 12 children in this county from entering homelessness in April. According to Threshold, 65% of notices to quit issued here last month, were attributed to landlords leaving the market. National Advocacy Manager Ann-Marie O'Reilly says the problem is much more prevalent in Clare than elsewhere in the country.