Clare Fm - Podcasts

The Clare VFI chair fears more pub closures will happen unless long-awaited legislation addresses the "crisis" in the sector. The Vintners' Federation of Ireland and the Licensed Vintners Federation are calling on the Government to finally implement the Sale of Alcohol Bill which was first tabled in October 2022 and would see, among other measures, the standardisation of opening hours of pubs. Recent analysis by the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland shows the number of Irish pubs is down 22.5% since 2005, with an average of 114 pubs each year closing their doors. Charlie O'Meara, who runs O'Dea's Pub in Ennis, says time is of the essence for struggling publicans.

Clare's Water Safety Officer urges the public to stay safe as they enjoy the county's waterways this weekend. The county's beaches are expected to be busier than normal for the next few months as the summer season comes into effect. Advice has been issued to check all swimming gear to make sure it's in working order before using it on the water and to swim safely in bodies of water that have a lifeguard present. Clare Water Safety Officer Claire McGrath says the safest place to swim is between the marked areas under lifeguard supervision.

The Chair of Cahercalla Hospital's Board says there's no cause for concern despite a HIQA report identifying moderate risks to patient privacy, dignity, infection control and fire safety. Following an unannounced inspection by the Health Information and Quality Authority in March, the regulator identified repeated incidents of non-compliance in resident's rights, staff development and infection control. HIQA also noted the majority of staff had no training to understand how patients with dementia and other conditions expressed physical discomfort. Former Clare TD Dr Michael Harty has been telling Clare FM's Daragh Dolan though that the safety, health and welfare of patients is not in doubt at the centre.

Housing and anti-social behaviour were the main topics of discussion at the latest of Clare FM's Local Election debates. With just over a week to go to polling day on June 7th, candidates are competing for 28 seats across 5 electoral areas. Six of the 15 candidates running in the Shannon electoral area have taken part in the first of two debates covering the South East of the county.

2,285 admitted patients were left waiting for beds at University Hospital Limerick in total this month, which is 1,180 more people on trolleys than the next busiest facility; Cork University Hospital. The INMO says that despite an expert team being in the Dooradoyle facility for the month of May, there was only six days when there was less than one hundred people on trolleys at UHL. This week, the Government has announced that by 2028 an additional 84 acute inpatient beds will be delivered at UHL, an additional 48 will come on stream at Ennis General, and 24 beds will go to Nenagh Community Hospital. Speaking to Clare FM's Morning Focus though, the Health Minister admits increased capacity is needed immediately to combat overcrowding in the region, but insists the delivery of beds takes sufficient time. Stephen Donnelly says that capacity alone won't solve the problem and that patient care reforms at UHL need to come in line with national trends. The leader of the main opposition party, meanwhile, claim

Motorists can expect to see an increased Garda presence on the roads this weekend. The RSA and An Garda Síochana have launched their June Bank Holiday Weekend road safety campaign. They are urging both drivers and motorcyclists to be more cautious on the roads this bank holiday weekend and into the late summer months. There is extra enforcement on the roads across the country until 7am on Tuesday morning. Meanwhile, a Morning Focus listener wants to highlight awareness around excessive drinking, ahead of the Bank Holiday weekend. Josie O’Brien, from Roslevan, knows only too well about excessive consumption of alcohol and the negative impact it can have. Josie struggled with alcohol for many years, but now – thankfully – has been sober for many years. Josie joined Alan Morrissey in studio to share her story, in the hope that it can be of comfort or even inspiration to other Morning Focus listeners. Picture (c): Unsplash

Music lovers both in Clare and further afield will be delighted to hear that Doolin FolkFest will return this June. Taking place against the majestic backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean, and between the Burren, the Cliffs of Moher, and the Aran Islands, the event will run from June 14 to June 16, with thousands of people from all over the world expected to descend on Doolin. To find out what is in store, Alan Morrissey was joined by Donal Minihane, the Director of Dollin Arts and Managing Director of Hotel Doolin. Picture (c): Doolin Arts via Facebook

On 'Ours To Protect' this week, we’ll hear about the importance of your seas to us and the planet. Pat Flynn meets Dr Simon Berrow, CEO of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group and lecturer in Marine and Freshwater Biology at the Atlantic Technological University in Galway.

The Ennistymon North West Clare Agricultural Show will take place this weekend. The event will be hosted on the grounds of the Falls Hotel. To find out what will be on offer, Alan Morrissey was joined by Mary Devitt, the show's Secretary. Picture (c): Ennistymon North West Clare Agricultural Show via Facebook

Additional beds for the Midwest healthcare region have been announced under the new Acute Hospital Inpatient Bed Capacity Expansion Plan 2024-2031. The plan has been introduced in response to the ongoing Health Service Capacity Review and aims to bring the number of beds in HSE Midwest from 2 per 100,000 people to 2.7. To discuss this further, on Friday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined on the line by the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly.

The Chair of Clare's Joint Policing Committee says he "can't understand" why Clare is lagging behind other counties regarding the provision of traffic calming measures. The number of recorded speeding offences in this county is up 15% so far this year, with 1,135 separate incidents detected by Gardaí between January and April. At the most recent Shannon Municipal District meeting, Fine Gael Councillor John Crowe has called for traffic calming on the approach roads to Sixmilebridge, Cratloe and Newmarket-on-Fergus. The Sixmilebridge representative insists the local authority and Gardaí must work together to combat the concerning rise in speeding.

The manager of the Clare Senior footballers insists there's no illusions over the task that lies ahead of their trip to Tyrone this weekend. The Banner travel to Healy Park in Omagh on Sunday for the seond round of the All-Ireland Football Championship group stage. Clare and Tyrone will both be needing a win to keep their hopes of qualification alive, having suffered opening round defeats to Cork and Donegal respectively. Clare Boss Mark Fitzgerald is confident his players will produce a strong showing. Throw in on Sunday is at 1.30pm with commentary on Clare FM in association with Ennis Home Furniture Quinn road Business Park, Ennis and Tubridy’s bar and Restaurant Doonbeg.

The Clare Ladies Football Boss says his side are well equipped for their trip to Clones this weekend. Wayne Freeman's charges will face into a six-hour round trip on Sunday for the opening round of the All-Intermediate Ladies Football Championship against Monaghan. It will be Clare's first competitive outing in almost three months since overcoming Roscommon in the Dvision Three National League Final back in April. Clare Manager Wayne Freeman is confident the work put in by his squad in the lead up will stand to them on the day.

A member of the Clare Minor Hurling backroom team is confident his side have what it takes to reach the last four of the All-Ireland Championship this weekend. Clare will be hoping to keep the defence of their title alive on Monday when they take on Wexford as part of a double header in Semple Stadium Thurles. The Banner come into the clash with no new fitness concerns, but will be without talisman Marc O'Brien who sustained a knee injury during the win over Limerick. Clare Selector Fintan Leamy insists his players are fully focused on the task in front of them. Throw on Monday is at 3 in FBD Semple Stadium Thurles with live commentary on Clare FM in association with Keatings bar and Restaurant Kilbaha, Loop head.

On ‘Clare Women in Business ‘ this week, Pat Flynn meets Niamh Hogan who established Agile Digital Strategy in 2020.

On Thursday's Morning Foucs, Alan Morrissey was joined in studio by Niamh Regan, who is gearing up for the release of her new album tomorrow. Come As You Are will be released on Friday, via Faction Records. The Galway singer will also be doing a free pop-up show at Pot Duggan’s in Ennistymon later today.

The topics of off-shore wind energy development and rural decline were most prominent in the latest of Clare FM's Local Election debates. With just over a week to go to polling day on June 7th, candidates are competing for 28 seats across 5 electoral areas. Twelve of thirteen candidates in the Kilrush Local Electoral Area have taken part in the third of six debates taking place in the Council Chamber at Áras Contae an Chláir over the coming week.

Today is World MS Day. The aim of the day, which takes place every year on the 30th of May, is to raise awareness of Multiple Sclerosis and bring together those who are living with the condition to share their stories. The theme for this year is diagnosis. Alan Morrissey was joined by John McDonald, Clare MS Ireland Community Worker and Shirley Keane O'Brien, who has MS, from Bunratty.

On Thursday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey spoke with Taoiseach Simon Harris on a range of topics such as healthcare, housing, immigration policy and more.

Confidence is being expressed that a new allocation of hospital beds announced for the MidWest will be enough to meet future patient demand. Under new government plans, 156 new beds will be delivered in the region by 2028, including 48 new beds at Ennis General and 84 at University Hospital Limerick. Although UHL remains consistently the most overcrowded facility by far nationwide , the plans have pledged 34% fewer new beds to the MidWest than any other HSE health region over this timeframe. Mountshannon Fianna Fáil Senator Timmy Dooley though believes the new beds will make a substantial difference here.