Clare Fm - Podcasts

Only one dog fouling fine has been issued in Lahinch in the past three years. The information comes as Green Party Councillor Liam Grant has urged Clare County Council at this month's meeting of the West Clare Municipal District to address the "serious" dog fouling issues in the coastal town. In response, the local authority says it's requested its Dog Warden service provider carry out additional patrols on Clare beaches to combat the issue. Councillor Grant says people must behave responsibly and believe harsher fines would be a step in the right direction.

An Irish travel expert is predicting a bumper visitor season for Clare this summer despite acute accommodation shortages. It follows a conference of local tourism operators at the Inn at Dromoland last night, where national industry leaders analysed specific challenges and solutions for this county's sector. Top of the agenda, was that 33% of all available bed nights in this county across 28 participating hotels are contracted to the state to host Asylum Seekers and Ukrainian Refugees. Irish Independent Travel Editor Pól Ó'Conghaile says despite this, the quality of experience tourism in Clare is creating a new and sustainable day-trip visitor market.

Clare Camogie Joint Captain Ciara Grogan At Rice College Sports Fundraiser

The Government and the opposition have clashed in the Dail over University Hospital Limerick. It comes as scheduled surgeries at five hospitals run by the UL Hospitals Group aren't going ahead once again today, as the Dooradoyle facility remains in its highest state of escalation. 99 people were waiting for a bed at University Hospital Limerick this morning, according to figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, in a week in which numbers rose above 140. In the Dáil, Sinn Fein Leader Mary Lou McDonald accused the Government of being delusional on its record when it comes to dealing with hospital overcrowding. Minister for Enterprise Simon Coveney has rejected Sinn Fein criticism, however, in relation to hospital overcrowding at UHL. A Clare general practicioner, meanwhile, is dismissing suggestions that reopening Ennis's A&E is the answer to overcrowding at the facility. Lahinch GP, Dr Michael Kelleher has been telling Clare FM's Seán Lyons that although the emergency department at the re

Concern has emerged that Ennis Train Station is becoming a "flashpoint" for anti-social behaviour. Iarnród Eireann has appeared before a meeting of local representatives to address concerns over persistent illegal dumping and fly tipping at the site. In the latest Irish Business Against Litter Report, Ennis Train Station was one of three areas in the town to be classed as "heavily littered". According to Ennis Tidy Towns, on one day alone last week sixteen bags of household rubbish and six bags of leaves were recovered from the site, shopping trollies were observed abandoned there and graffiti was removed. In the first six months of 2023 alone, 44,000 passengers passed through the doors of Ennis Train Station. Ennis Tidy Towns Chair and Fine Gael Councillor, Mary Howard believes the lack of maintenance is blighting a key entry point for visitors to the county. Iarnród Eireann is now calling for further support from the local authority to combat what it's described as a "severe spate" of fly tipping. Th

A major event will take place at Shannon Airport tomorrow which will aim to demonstrate the advantages of a career in engineering to second-level students. Over 60 companies and educational institutions will gather at the Departures Hall from 5pm to 9pm on Thursday for the 'Experience Engineering Showcase' which is the largest exhibition of its kind in the country. Engineers Ireland predicts that 8,000 new jobs will be created in the sector this year. UL Chairperson, Professor Ann Ledwith believes Clare and wider the MidWest region will have a major role to play.

The Ennis Tennis & Badminton Club has been in existence since 1887. In recent years, the club has seen its membership double to almost 600 across both disciplines. To chat about the club, Bill Twomey & Mary Browne joined Clare FM's Derrick Lynch on Wednesday's Morning Focus.

On Wednesday’s Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Tommy Corbett from Carey Corbett Financial Solutions. This week, Tommy joined Alan to discuss the financial implications that are involved with separation & divorce.

On Wednesday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Joseph Woulfe, a native of Quilty and Clare Beef Plan Chair to discuss an issue with water in Quilty, specifically, with rising water levels. The issue appears to be linked to a structural problem with the recently built model. Joseph raised this issue in his Facebook video which can be found below: https://www.facebook.com/763497782/videos/1778345059333344/?idorvanity=108353209276887 Picture (c) Joseph Woulfe

It's claimed children and visitors to North Clare are crossing the road in peril due to an anti-rural funding decision. A briefing document presented to councillors in September stated that the National Transport Authority would be focusing on large urban areas for active travel works, with priority to be given to Ennis and Shannon. Prior to this, its understood works to the value of €175,000, which included footpaths and pedestrian crossings were proposed for the region. Lisdoonvarna Fine Gael Councillor Joe Garrihy insists that while Clare County Council should step in to fund the works, the Transport Minister must be held to account.

An Ennis bookshop is fearing for its future following the announcement of a free schoolbooks scheme. Education Minister Norma Foley has revealed details of an initiative worth €68 million which will eliminate the cost of all schoolbooks for Junior Cycle students. The news has been welcomed by many but is expected to put pressure on retailers, with Bookselling Ireland previously estimating that schoolbooks make up 30% of all book sales on average. Manager of O'Mahony's Booksellers in Ennis Teresa Meade says no support system is in place for retailers who'll be losing a crucial source of revenue.

New schemes for trees and farm incomes will be up for discussion at the Armada Hotel in Spanish Point on Tuesday 5th at 7:30pm. Farmers will be able to learn about a range of new schemes available to those of them who are interested in bringing more trees onto their farms. To find out more, Alan Morrissey was joined by Ray Ó Foghlú from Hometree and Noel McMahon, Farmer from Miltown Malbay.

A wonderful new children’s book with plenty of Clare interest is now available. Legends of the Cliffs of Moher is full of stories inspired by the Cliffs of Moher, including The Mermaid of Moher, The Hag, The Lost City, The Magic Foals, and many more... To find out more, on Tuesday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by author Eithne Massey.

On This Week's History in Focus Alan Morrissey was joined by local historian and author, Colm Liddy to chat about the various minority groups of medieval Clare. If you have any stories you would like to share with Colm about your townland you can contact him at colmliddy@eircom.net or Clare FM at focus@clare.fm.

A Clare Government TD insists pressure must be kept on the Health Minister to reopen the Ennis A&E. It comes amid fresh calls for the expanison of the Ennis facility this week, in light of extremely high ED attendances at University Hoapital Limerick and a repeated surge in the level of overcrowding there. Just under a month on from a record-breaking 150 patients recorded on trolleys at the region's main hospital, the number of people without a bed at the facility has risen above 140 once again this week. That number has dropped to 115 today, according to the latest figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, but the Dooradoyle facility remains by far the busiest in the country. Just two weeks ago, the HSE issued a letter outling its reasons against reopening the A&Es at Ennis, Nenagh and St. John's which were closed in 2008. Defending this position, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has doubled down on his view that having an A&E in Clare's county town would be "unsafe", but he's pledged to

To discuss the latest in the entertainment world, Alan Morrissey was joined by Clare FM’s Colum McGrath, on Wednesday’s Morning Focus. This week, Colum discussed the latest highlights from Celebrity Big Brother.

It's claimed Clare's economy would receive a welcome boost by reducing the minimum waiting time for Asylum Seekers to work in this country. It comes as cabinet is set to discuss measures that would allow International Protection Applicants to work after two months of residency in Ireland, rather than the current six months. At the end of last month, there were 744 people living in IPAS centres across this county. Co-Ordinator of Clare Public Participation Network, Sarah Clancy believes the change would bring benefits for all of society.

It's hoped regenerative works in a North Clare village could attract people to live long-term in the area. Public realm works are set to commence in the village of Corofin and community gardens, artist studios and bus stops are among the additions locals will see in the coming months. Enhancements such as landscaping, new street furniture, signage, cycle parking, street trees and green areas will also be seen while the works will include major projects such as the upgrading of the Corofin Union Workhouse. Local Fianna Fáil Councillor Joe Killeen says the improvements will make the village more appealing and could draw people in who could add renewed life to the region.

This week is Fostering Awareness Week. The theme for this year’s event is ‘Growing Hope: Fostering the Future’. On Tuesday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Tony who is a foster carer. Tony shared his experience and hopes that this will encourage others to do the same. Picture (c) by Kiattisak Lamchan via Canva

A Shannon-based company expects air taxis to lead the way for sustainable tourism in Clare in the coming years. Future Mobility Campus Ireland, which has its headquarters in the Shannon Free Zone, is pledging to launch Ireland's first electric air taxi service for people and goods by 2027. The firm will be taking part in the Transport Research Arena Conference 2024 which is running all this week in the RDS. Future Mobility Campus Ireland CEO Russell Vickers says the new mode of transport will allow tourists to access remote parts of Clare in an environmentally-friendly fashion.