Clare Fm - Podcasts

It's claimed Government negligence to invest in Clare's roads and community facilities has diluted opportunities in the tourism market for accommodation providers. It comes as one third of hotel and b&b beds here are being used to house either Ukrainian refugees or International Protection Applicants. There are now 789 International Protection Applicants living in Clare, which is an increase of 40% in the past year. Kilkee based Independent Ireland local election candidate Kevin Hassett claims enhanced infrastructure is needed to develop a county proud to promote tourism.

Safety information billboards could be installed at Clare's beaches this summer. The local authority is considering the approach after a request to provide signage at all green flag and blue flag bathing areas to display daily updated information for visitors. The billboards would show emergency numbers, low and high tide times, swimming conditions, the sunburn index and lifeguard hours of operation. Doonbeg Fianna Fáil Councillor Rita McInerney says the measure will be crucial to safety in peak season.

Ahead of Monday's Munster MHC final clash with Cork, Clare FM's Derek Dormer spoke with Clare coaches Donal Moloney and Damien O'Halloran along with player Harry Doherty to look ahead to game.

Three Clare communities will benefit from a Government fund aimed at addressing challenges such as dereliction and vacancy. Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys has today announced €680,000 will go to to 68 towns nationwide under the Town Centre First Town Team Support Fund. Clarecastle, Lisdoonvarna and Tulla will each receive €10,000 to either support existing Town Teams or develop teams where they are not already established. Clarecastle Fine Gael Councillor Paul Murphy has been telling Clare FM's Seán Lyons that today's announcement is the first step on a long road towards building a better future for the fishing village.

Hope has been expressed that the green space at Waterpark Campus in Drumbiggle can be preserved and repurposed for community use. Clare County Council recently withdrew plans to construct a 122 space car park at the site, but has since confirmed its intention to resubmit an ammended application, following engagement with residents, Councillors and the public. A petition of local residents objecting to the development garnered almost 500 signatures during the initial planning process, with strong criticism mounted over the potential loss of a valuable recreational area and biodiversity habitat. Ennis Fianna Fáil local election candidate Antoinette Baker Bashua says the amenity must be developed for the best interests of the community.

A former Mayor of Shannon who's called time on his 25-year career in local politics says having no party affiliation has been both a blessing and a curse. Shannon Independent Councillor Gerry Flynn has announced he won't be running in the upcoming local election, having first been elected to Shannon Town Council in 1999 while a member of Fine Gael. The Miltown Malbay native played a central role in securing €27 million in Government funding for the Shannon Town and Environs Flood Relief Scheme in 2018, and made national headlines one year later when he was re-elected to Clare County Council only by having more first preference votes than fellow candidate Garret McPhillips. Councillor Flynn says being an Independent representative forced him to think on his feet and stay in tune with the issues of the day.

The head of East Clare Tourism believes accommodation supply must "catch up" if tourism in the region is to flourish. Bunratty Castle and Folk Park has declared its intention to become Ireland's number one visitor attraction by 2027, with a 150-seater restaurant due to open at the site by Christmas this year. A five-bed residency at Knappogue Castle and Gardens is due to be brought on stream this July and is expected to be "at five-star standard". General Manager of East Clare Tourism, Stephen Hanley says while his department is doing what it can, it's up to Clare County Council to push for more bed capacity.

This week on ‘Ours To Protect’, we hear what will be happening in Clare for National Biodiversity Week which begins today Friday, May 17th. Pat Flynn has been speaking with Barry O’Loughlin, Biodiversity Officer with Clare County Council.

It is time for the fourteenth episode of our newest feature on Morning Focus, Village Tour, where Alan Morrissey paid a visit to O’Briens Bridge. 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 Village Tour, Alan chats with three people from a particular village or townland in Clare: from locals and business owners to those involved with local sports clubs and community representatives.

Next Monday is International Clinical Trials Day. To mark the occasion, Cancer Trials Ireland is hosting a public webinar on cancer clinical trials. The webinar will hear from an oncologist on the importance of cancer trials, along with a patient on their experience of taking part. To find out more about this, Seamus Cotter, an Ennis native and the chair of the Irish Lung Cancer Community, joined Alan Morrissey on Friday's Morning Focus. After taking part in a clinical trial for cancer, Seamus Cotter received the all-clear and was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer.

New regulations will require e-scooters to be safe, roadworthy and must not "endanger, impede, or inconvenience the driver, other road users, or members of the public". Children under the age of 16 using electric scooters in a public place is to be prohibited starting next Monday. Under the Road Traffic (Electric Scooters) Regulations: - The ordinary speed limit for an electric scooter on all public roads is 20km per hour. - Using an e-scooter to carry more than one person at the same time will also be prohibited. It says an electric scooter should not be fitted with a seat. - The regulations also include strict requirements around braking and lighting. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey spoke with superintendent Eddie Golden of the Clare Tipperary Roads Policing Unit, who is welcoming the legislation. Alan was also joined by Claire Cassidy from Ennis, who’s visually impaired and involved with the Disability Advocacy Group; the National Council of the Blind.

A highly-anticipated infrastructural project in East Clare is due to begin its phased opening later this year. The Killaloe Bypass, which will provide an alternative route to the west of the town, is expected to be operational by the final quarter of 2024. Works are expected to conclude on the Shannon Bridge Crossing, which will be roughly 1km south of the existing Killaloe Bridge, between January and March of next year, while the completion of the existing R494 regional road between Ballina and Birdhill in mid-2025 will see the project finished. Project Liason and Clare County Council Civil Engineer Padraic Cullen says a key advantage of the new road will be the segregation of cyclists and motorists.

It's claimed a balance between community and tourism investment is urgently needed in West Clare. Currently the settlements of Mullagh and Urban Kilrush are listed among the Top 100 in Pobal's deprivation index. It's raised concern locally over a lack of visitor opportunities to stimulate economic activity in areas that don't feature on the Wild Atlantic Way. Mullagh based Fine Gael local election candidate Theresa Doohan says new amenities must be developed to attract footfall.

Clare FM's Derrick Lynch speaks with Clare's David Fitzgerald after he was named the PwC GAA/GPA Hurler of the Month for March

A state owned commercial building in Shannon that had been tipped for use as International Protection Applicant Accommodation will be repurposed. The Department of Transport has confirmed that Unit 153 in the Shannon Business Park will become the site of its new vehicle registration and motor tax office. Previously, plans had been drawn up to provide up to 70 bedrooms in the building, but in the coming months it will instead be fitted out for driver and vehicle computer services. Meelick Fianna Fáil Deputy Cathal Crowe has been telling Clare FM's Daragh Dolan that the facility was wholly unsuitable for Asylum Seekers.

A protest taking place in Ennis this weekend will push for greater community consultation on a development which organisers of the demonstration have deemed "insane". A group of retailers, local representatives and community activists are highlighting their opposition to the proposed Abbey Street development as part of the Ennis 2040 Spatial and Economic Strategy. The 'Save Ennis Town' Group, which was formed last May, will be holding the demonstration on Saturday afternoon from 2 o'clock in the Square in Ennis. A key bugbear of the group is the proposed construction of multi-storey mixed-use development on the Abbey Street Car Park, which it's claimed will lead to a loss of a vital civic space, as well as much-needed car parking spaces. According to Ennis 2040 DAC, the development will consist of "a large retail space at ground and first floor levels together with office accommodation on the upper floors" in a building which will "respect and integrate with the existing historical development of Ennis".

Clare's longest ever serving politician insists preventing the decline of rural Ireland should be the greatest priority for future governments, as his career comes to a conclusion. PJ Kelly attended his final meeting of Clare County Council on Monday after a fifty year tenure, which spanned ten council terms and 114 colleagues. The Lissycasey Fianna Fáil veteran was first elected in 1974 and in his most recent contest in 2019, he topped the pole in West Clare after exceeding the quota by 500 votes on the first count. Cllr Kelly says that for communities to benefit most going forward, power needs to be stripped from Dublin and given to local authorities.

One of Ireland's longest running food festivals makes a return in North Clare this weekend. The Burren Slow Food Festival makes its anticipated return this Sunday at the Pavilion in Lisdoonvarna, with the theme of "Wellness in the Burren" It offers a wide variety of nutritious cullinary delights ranging from artisanal cheeses to freshly caught seafood alongside their respective local producers to share stories behind their products. The festival includes a selection of free diverse yoga classes for all ages and Instructor at Limestone Yoga, Colette Nagel says the festival will be the perfect day out for mind and body.

To talk about metabolic health and why it is so important, on Thursday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Smaranda Maier. Smaranda is the owner and Founder of Authentic Health, a Qualified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach with a Background in Healthcare. Cooking for life masterclass, which focuses on metabolic health, is taking place on the 25th of May, in Bia Innovator, Athenry. To find out more visit: https://smaranda-maier.mykajabi.com/25th-may-metabolic-health?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR23tezzKYu0l8jnhaKXGZ-fd3Miq2w3QG7oMaRsxtv9Vk6srq45qL6NVL0_aem_AXokcFo1yezhdSpOVg4kA1jjR7sNm7qOswoYviT8CKpc6Hkk1ZPTezr6dqadZESII2-C7UhBNWYtcq7wk962xzcV or Whatsapp Smaranda on 085 196 8088.

On Thursday’s Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey spoke to Clinical Child Psychologist, Dr. Toby Sachsenmaier about Neurodiversity.