Clare Fm - Podcasts

It is time for the twelfth episode of our newest feature on Morning Focus, Village Tour, where Alan Morrissey paid a visit to Spanish Point. 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.

On this week’s episode of Taste Of The Week, Alan Morrissey welcomed TV Chef Jack O’Keeffe to the show. This week, Jack prepared a toastie like no other! Grilled Asparagus, Prosciutto and Goats Cheese Toast Recipe: Serves 2 Ingredients: 4 sheets of prosciutto or Parma ham 1 bunch of asparagus 1 tsp of balsamic vinegar 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil Pinch of salt and pepper 4 tbsp of St Tola Goats Cheese Spreadable or any other soft goats’ cheese 2 large slices of sourdough 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 tbsp local honey 1 tbsp peanut rayu Method 1. Preheat your oven to 180°C. Line an oven tray with parchment paper. Lay out the ham sheets on the tray and bake in the oven for 10 to 12 minutes until they're wonderfully crispy. Once done, set them aside. (Pro tip: These crispy ham bits can elevate your pastas, salads, and more for up to 3 days in the fridge!) 2. Trim off the woody ends of the asparagus. Drizzle them with balsamic vinegar and 1 tsp of olive oil, then grill them on a hot griddle pan or frying

Our series, ‘Clare Women in Business’, seeks to showcase the accomplishments of women in business, foster gender equality, and inspire future generations of female leaders. This week, Pat Flynn chats with freelance marketing consultant and Co-founder of Síar Photography, Aoife Lenihan

Clare County Council is being urged to pay greater attention to roads and footpaths in Shannon which are said to be "in an awful state". It comes just two weeks after Clare was allocated over €2 million under the Local Improvement Scheme for repairs and improvement works on non-public rural roads and laneways. The Shannon Electoral Area accounts for 9% the county's roads network and has received 14% of the municipal road works budget for the coming year. Shannon Fine Gael local election candidate Tony Mulcahy insists people paying taxes for roads maintenance deserve to have proper infrastructure delivered.

Clare’s minor football manager says his squad will carry positive momentum into their Munster semi final clash with Cork. The Banner claimed Phase One honours for the first time since 2019 with an impressive 2-12 to 0-10 win over Tipperary. Second half goals from Shane O’Connell and Conor Burke helped Clare to the title, with Burke finishing the game on a personal tally of 1-8. Manager Dermot Coughlan says it was the best team performance he has ever seen.

Concern has emerged that a new support team aimed at alleviating overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick will only provide "sticking plaster relief". The taskforce will operate for the next month and will include the former President of the Irish Emergency Medicine Association and the HSE National Director of Acute Hospitals, along with clinical directors from Waterford University Hospital. It comes as the Health Service Executive has been granted planning permission for two new elective hospitals in Dublin, to be located in Blanchardstown and Crumlin. HSE Regional Health Forum West Member and Kilkee Fianna Fáil Councillor Cillian Murphy has been telling Clare FM's Daragh Dolan it's inexcusable at this point for government not to prioritise a second A&E in Ennis.

An MEP for this region admits farmers aren't receiving enough supports to facillitate environmentally-friendly farming. EU member states are expected to adopt proposed amendments to the Common Agricultural Policy, or CAP, on May 13th, which are expected to ease the administrative burden for farmers. Speaking at yesterday's meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council, Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue said "if we are asking farmers to achieve policy objectives, then they have to be at the heart of those discussions". Green Party MEP and Ireland South candidate Grace O'Sullivan says while farmers are getting good supports at present, more must be done to ensure a seamless transition to sustainable practices.

A local migrants rights group claims the Government is dealing with an immigration crisis of its own making, due to a failure to put proper reception conditions in place. New figures from the Department of Justice show less than 200 asylum seekers have been returned to the UK over a six-year period. It comes as an encampment of international protection applicants in Dublin has been removed this morning. On a week when the Irish and UK Governments have been at odds over the return of asylum seekers to the UK, the Justice Minister has now clarified the numbers presenting here from the north. Minister Helen McEntee prevously claimed over 80% of asylum seekers in Ireland have come over the border but has now pointed to Justice Department data which shows the true figure is in fact 91%. Despite this, a Downing Street spokesperson claims the UK has "no legal obligation" to accept the return of asylum seekers who cross the Common Travel Area. Under the Dublin III Regulation, which was a reciprocal return agree

The Principal of Clare's largest secondary school insists it's no surprise that students prefer a co-education model rather than attending same-sex institutions. It follows the findings of a new ESRI survey of over 2,300 teenagers nationwide which found that just 4% of students in Co-Ed schools said they would prefer to attend an all-boys or all-girls school. On the other two-thirds of students in same-sex schools said they would have preferred to attend a co-educational setting. Principal of St.Flannans College in Ennis, Fr.Ignatius McCormack believes attending a mixed school is much better for social development.

The Irish Blood Transfusion Service will be holding donation clinics in Shannon from today in order to increase stocks ahead of the Bank Holiday weekend. Fresh blood for adults can be held for up to 21 days, while supplies for children and infants can only be stored for five days and at present the IBTS only has a 4-day supply available. The Shannon donation clinics will take place this afternoon and tomorrow Thursday from twenty past four at the Oakwood Arms Hotel until 7. Broadford based IBTS Recruitment Executive Alex O'Connor is urging donors to come forward.

Munster will be hoping to build on their impressive display against Leinster in last weekend’s opening fixtures in the Men’s Junior Interprovincial Series when they host Ulster this Saturday. Munster drew 20-20 with the defending champions at Kilkenny RFC, a side they had lost to by 45-21 last year. Ennis Rugby Club will be the venue for Munster’s meeting with Ulster, a side who finished second last year, thanks to wins over both Munster and Connacht. For more on this weekend’s fixture Alan Morrissey was joined by Brian Farrell, President, Ennis RFC and Richard Murphy, Club Registrar, at Ennis RFC.

On Wednesday’s Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Tommy Corbett from Carey Corbett Financial Solutions. This week, Tommy joined Alan to discuss options for pensions.

Kevin Callinan, General Secretary of the FÓRSA Trade Union and former President of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, joined Alan Morrissey on Wednesday's Morning Focus to highlight his upcoming talk in Clare. Kevin, who has strong Clare roots, will be back in the Banner County this coming weekend; he will be in Corofin to both launch and speak at the Festival of Finn.

The government is being urged to "get its house in order" on immigration. It comes amid a dispute with the UK over returning asylum seekers to Britain, with Ireland working to close the loophole to send refugees back to the UK if they cross the border. The Cabinet has approved proposals from Minister for Justice Helen McEntee to quickly draft legislation so that the UK can again be designated as a safe country to return people seeking asylum. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Donnacha Ó Beacháin, a Newmarket on Fergus native, Professor of Politics at the School of Law and Government at Dublin City University, and John Lannon, CEO of Doras.

The Government is being called on to acquire Barrington's Hospital for use as a second MidWest A&E. The 53-bed Limerick City facility, established in 1829, has officially been listed for sale today with a guide price of €12.5m. It comes just one week after the inquest into the death of Shannon sixteen-year-old Aoife Johnston heard that overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick is systematic. Ennis Fianna Fáil Councillor Clare Colleran-Molloy believes acquiring the building is an open goal for the Health Minister to alleviate pressure in the MidWest.

Clare's Sinn Féin councillor is accusing the Government of conflating legitimate fundraising with gambling in a bill being tabled this week. The Gambling Regulation Bill 2022, which is being discussed in the Dáil today, would see the establishment of a Gambling Regulatory Authority, the creation of a gambling licensees register and would prohibit the participation of children in gambling activities. A recent survey by the Economic Research and Social Institute found over 400,000 people nationwide are now showing signs of a gambling addiction. Shannon Sinn Féin Councillor and General Election Candidate, Donna McGettigan is concerned clubs and community organisations will be unable to fundraise is the legislation is introduced.

A Clare GP is lending his voice to calls for the workload facing pharmacists to be drastically reduced. The Government is being called on to reform the funding model for pharmacies, amid complaints of burnout among staff members. Pharmacists and those working in pharmacies are said to be under "phenomenal pressure" due to workload increases coupled with medicine shortages.

Clare County Council will hire a second Dog Warden to focus on enforcing bye-laws on beaches this summer. The officer appointed to the role will have the authority to issue fines and remove dogs from the beach between the June and August period for any breaches of the rules. Since 2021, there has been one fine issued for dog fouling in Lahinch. County Dog Warden Frankie Coote says it was clear further resources were needed.

A Clare financial advisor is warning motorists of the "strenuous" process resulting from being involved in a crash with an uninsured driver. It comes as new data from the Motor Insurers' Bureau of Ireland shows there's been an 11% increase in the number of claims over accidents caused by insured cars in the last year. In Clare alone, there were 39 such claims last year which is up one from 38 in 2022. Tommy Corbett of Carey Corbett Financial Solution says while the fallout from any collision is stressful, being involved in an incident in which one party doesn't have an insurance can be a headache.

On this week’s History in Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by local historian and author Colm Liddy to talk about ancient church ruins. The list features: Templecronan church Fenloe graveyard Corcomroe Abbey Ennis Abbey Dysart O’Dea church Kifenora Cathedral Glencolmcille graveyard Rath Blathmaic Quin Abbey Canon Island If you have any stories you would like to share with Colm about your town, you can contact him at colmliddy@eircom.net or Clare FM at focus@clare.fm.