Clare Fm - Podcasts

A member of the Ennis 2040 board has proposed putting aside funding for the upkeep of businesses affected by the ongoing public realm works in the county town. It follows previous calls from business owners for a moratorium on commercial rates in order to offset the loss of business caused by the disruption. Although the works to upgrade the streetscape of Ennis Town Centre only began last October, traders, residents and local representatives haven't been shy in expressing their frustration with the pace at which progress is being made. Clare County Council announced in September of last year that it had entered into an €11.5 million two-year contract with Shareridge Limited for the delivery of enhancement works at High Street, Bank Place, O’Connell Square, O’Connell Street, Old Barrack Street and Barrack Square. As per the contract, construction must conclude by next October or penalties could be incurred by the contractor. Following backlash from traders regarding the effect the works are having on the

The Clare based Deputy Leader of the Green Party believes a General Election is imminent. Speculation has ramped up over the date voters will be going to the polls after pallets of election posters belonging to Tánaiste Micheál Martin and billboards with Taoiseach Simon Harris were spotted across the country this week. Both party leaders have however expressed their desire for the Government to run its full term, until next February. But Inagh Green Party Senator Roisín Garvey believes given the recent lump sump payments included in Budget 2025 and the coalition's favourable position in the opinion polls, she's confident an election will be called for next month. Clare's Government TD meanwhile insists there's crucial work to be done before the Dáil can be dissolved, such as passing the Finance and Social Welfare Bills to make Budget 2025 legally binding. Meelick Fianna Fáil Deputy Cathal Crowe says there's a strong chance of a pre-Christmas election though.

The new season of Clare Museum’s Lecture Series will get underway this evening. Mary Cahill, an archaeologist and former Keeper of Irish Antiquities at the National Museum of Ireland, will give the opening lecture. Clare Museum’s lecture series runs from October through to May and, this season, talks will take place on the second Wednesday of each month, at 7.30pm. To learn more about this, Alan Morrissey was joined by Curator of Clare Museum, John Rattigan and Lecturer, Archaeologist and former Keeper of Irish Antiquities at the National Museum of Ireland, Mary Cahill. Photo (c): Clare FM

A recent social media post by the Mid-West Hospital Campaign group stated that they were contacted by people expressing major concerns at the current state of the Emergency Department in UHL, with plenty of online commentary about current overcrowding conditions there. According to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation’s Trolleywatch figures, yesterday the daily record for presentations at University Hospital Limerick was broken, while 118 patients were waiting for a bed at UHL on Tuesday morning. In early February last, one hundred and fifty patients were left waiting for beds at UHL - the worst day in history for hospital overcrowding at any facility in the country. To talk more about this, Alan Morrisey was joined by Clare Social Democrats election candidate, Hillary Tonge and Mid-West Hospital Campaign Limerick General Election candidate, whose daughter Eve passed away due a blood clot that went undiagnosed after spending 17 hours on a trolley in 2019, Melanie Cleary. Photo (c) Alan Place

We have spoken about anti-social behaviour in Shannon on Morning Focus before, and it appears to be an issue in the town once again. Mike O’Loughlin, who is a member of Shannon Community Group, has been highlighting incidents of anti-social behaviour in Shannon on social media recently. Mike has questioned the anti social behaviour in a Facebook post asking why the Garda in Shannon are not patrolling the streets. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Mike O’Loughlin. Photo (c) by Stephen Todd from Getty Images via Canva

Shannon Airport has topped a national customer experience ranking. Ireland's Customer Experience Insights (CXi) Report 2024, widely regarded as a benchmark for customer satisfaction, has ranked Shannon Airport in the top spot in the travel category and ranked 4th overall. The placement means Shannon Airport now leads the travel sector and ranks as the highest-rated airport in the country. For more on this, Alan Morrissey was joined by Head of Marketing for The Shannon Airport Group, Tim Ryan. Photo (c) Shannon Group

Clare County Council has expressed confidence that public realm works in Ennis will conclude by the end of next year. The local authority commenced an €11.5 million two-year contract with Shareridge Limited last October for streetscape enhancements at High Street, Bank Place, O’Connell Square, O’Connell Street, Old Barrack Street and Barrack Square. The ongoing works in the town form part of Phase Two of the Ennis Public Realm Regeneration Project and as per the contract, this phase must be wrapped up by October of 2025. Senior Engineer with Ennis Municipal District Seán Lenihan says penalties on the contractor can be applied if the works run on beyond the deadline.

It's claimed a landmark moment has been reached for Clare's disabled community. The Government has confirmed it will ratify the optional protocol of the United Nation's Convention on the rights of people with disabilities, over 6 years after the main body of the legislation was passed in Dáil Eireann. The measure will ensure a system is in place for people with disabilities to take complaints directly to the UN if they feel they're suffering a human rights violation in Ireland. Ennistymon Fine Gael Senator Martin Conway believes it's a major step forward, but admits much more barriers must be broken down to achieve equality.

A Government Minister claims investment is being put into Clare to protect the county's IDA-supported jobs. It comes as data from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has revealed the number of people employed in Clare as a result of foreign direct investment has dipped under 6,000 for the first time in a decade. The level of growth in jobs supported by the Industrial Development Agency in the Midwest region as a whole was just 2.6% last year compared to 5.8% in the Midlands. Speaking during a visit to Clare, Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and the Employment, Emer Higgins, has been telling Clare FM's Seán Lyons the Government is prioritising regional development to ensure counties like Clare remain as attractive as urban centres like Dublin.

The Clare branch of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service is warning further hospital cancellations in The MidWest are highly likely unless urgent supply issues are addressed. The IBTS has issued a pre-amber alert, which means all Irish Hospitals have been asked to conserve their use of blood. An additional 2,000 donations are needed over the next month to restore adequate blood supplies and clinics will take place at the West County Hotel in Ennis on Wednesday 18th and 23rd and in Kilrush Community Hall on Thursday 24th. Broadford based IBTS Recruitment Executive Alex O'Connor says hospitals will have difficult decisions to make, if supply isn't met.

A former Mayor of Ennis believes it's "disappointing" that environmental concerns have resulted in another setback for the Ennis Data Centre. After ruling to uphold Clare County Council's 2022 decision to grant planning permission for the data centre on the Tulla Road in April of this year, An Bórd Pleanála has now told the High Court it won't oppose an appeal to quash this decision. Following this week's decision, Art Data Centres will decide at a hearing later this month if they wish to defend their case. Ennis Fianna Fáil Councillor Pat Daly, who's previously spoken in support of the development, is hopeful the project materialises in the future as he believes it would be a net positive for Ennis and its environs.

It's claimed the Government's early childhood care and education scheme is failing children with additional needs in Clare. Children's Minister Roderic O'Gorman has been requested to visit a creche in Shannon to observe the plight of one child who has been cut off from accessing essential equipment and daily supports. The ECCE scheme allows qualifying parents to avail of free pre-school service for children aged from 2 years and 8 months to 5 years and six months. But there's one slight catch; participating children must reach the age threshold before enrolment on September 1st. Alex in Shannon, who began her term aged 2 years and 5 months, is just outside the cut-off point. Alex is also living with cerebral palsy and requires a wide array of additional supports, as she cannot sit unattended and requires specialised seating to keep her head and upper body in place, along with a walker. As Alex cannot qualify for ECCE, she's also not eligible for the Access and Inclusion Model (AIMS), which would provide

Gardaí in Clare claim they've caught motorists here watching movies while driving. With Road Safety Week now underway, members of an Garda Síochána are aiming to draw attention to the main causes of crashes on Irish roads which are driving under the influence, while distracted and at speed. 144 people have been killed in road traffic collisions in Ireland so far this year which is 10 up on the same period last year. Ennis-based Superintendent John Ryan says if you're not giving the road your full focus, you've putting your own life and the lives of others at risk.

If you are ready to start your fitness journey, then you could do a lot worse than head in the direction of Lisdoonvarna. This week has seen the start of a “Steps to 5k” programme in Lisdoonvarna’s Pavilion Park. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by class instructor at Doolin Yoga and Fitness, Tricia McDonnell and running coach, Sean Urquhart. Photo (c): https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=569526088732867&set=a.293107869708025

It is time for another wonderful tale from the one and only Eddie Lenihan, which means it is time for Seanchaí Corner. Every fortnight on Morning Focus, Seanchaí Corner sees Eddie, the renowned author, storyteller, lecturer, and broadcaster regaling us with a memorable story from his extensive collection of old Irish tales and fables. This week, Eddie told a strange tale about the navvy's widow.

Hotel Woodstock will be representing Clare in a big way at this year’s Family Business Awards. The Ennis hotel is a finalist in not one, not two, but three categories for the prestigious awards. The three categories are Innovative Family Business of the year, Hospitality Business of the year and Best In Customer Service To tell us more about it, Alan Morrissey was joined by Co-owner of Hotel Woodstock, Sean Lally. Photo (c): https://www.hotelwoodstock.ie/us/

The head of the Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau has been awarded for her contribution to Mid-West economy at this year’s Businesswoman of the Year Awards. Network Ireland’s annual Awards celebrate the success of women in business across eight categories. General Manager of the Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau, Karen Ronan received the ‘Judges’ Highly Commended’ award in the ‘Networker of the Year’ category. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Karen Ronan. Photo (c): Brownes Photograph

Today is World Dyslexia Day, with the entire month of October designated as Dyslexia Awareness Month. For Dyslexia Awareness Month, Dyslexia Ireland is focusing on the urgent issue of the lack of extra time in exams for dyslexic students in Junior and Leaving Cert exams. To talk more about this, Alan Morrissey was joined by Blossom4life founder, Una Buckley. Photo (c) Facebook, Blossom4life

Seamus O’Rourke brings his latest show to Glór called Indigestion tomorrow evening. Indigestion has been described as sensitive, hilarious, intelligent, absolutely compelling and refreshingly forthright. It is a story full of hope, where laughter and tears join hands and race the viewers through fifty years of a life. To find out more about it, Alan Morrissey was joined by Seamus O’Rourke. Photo (c): https://glor.ie/events/indigestion-written-and-performed-by-seamus-orourke/

The IFA has successfully secured funding to deliver the National Farmer Health Checks Project. This is being funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (DAFM) and carried out in partnership with Croí (Heart and Stroke Charity). The FREE Health Check will be coming to Ennis Mart on Thursday, the 10th of October at 10:30am. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Clare IFA Farm Family Chair, Caroline Lynch. Picture (c) Getty Images via Canva