Clare Fm - Podcasts

The GAA are seeking expressions of interest for a provider to broadcast games currently shown on GAAGO. The media rights will be for the games which the streaming platform currently broadcast within Ireland, and which were previously behind the Sky Sports paywall. GAAGO has faced plenty of criticism from both the public and some politicians over the number and importance of the games behind a paywall on a service that is dependent on broadband. For more on this, Alan Morrissey was joined by Michael Verney, former Offaly Hurler and Sports Journalist and Timmy Dooley, Fianna Fáil Senator, from Mountshannon, Oireachtas Communications Committee Member.

Landlords in Clare are being encouraged to install solar panels on their properties for the benefit of themselves as well as their tenants. It comes as new data from the Green Collective shows July was the second-best month on record for solar energy in Ireland with 3.5% of all energy generated coming from solar panels. Of the 15,902 properties fitted with solar panels nationwide so far this year, 505 have been in Clare. Inagh Green Senator Roisín Garvey says installing solar panels brings down electricity bills and also increases the value of a property.

There’s good news for a number of sporting facilities throughout County Clare. Twenty projects in total are set to benefit from a significant chunk of a multi-million euro government funding boost. Over €16m has been ringfenced for 189 projects around the country by the Department of Community and Rural Development. A total overall investment of €1.7m will go to the Clare projects, meaning this county will benefit from 10% of the national funding. For more on this Alan Morrissey was joined by Joe O'Reilly, Pricipal of St. Josephs in Miltown Malbay, Christine Glynn, North Burren Community Group and Eoin Conlon, General manager of Leisure Centre in Lahinch.

A long-serving East Clare councillor is dismissing calls for the Local Property Tax to be scrapped - claiming it's essential to the provision of vital services. The public are being asked to have their say on the controversial tax ahead of a meeting of the county's elected representatives next month to decide the rate for the coming year. Clare FM's Seán Lyons reports. ===== The local property tax is an annual levy on residential property in Ireland. Property owners are required to pay it but it also applies to tenants with a long-term lease of more than 20 years as well as those who have a right to live in a property for life, for more than 20 years or a right to live there "to the exclusion of others". Local authorites such as Clare County Council can vary the basic Local Property Tax rate on properties in their area within the range of 15% which is known as the local adjustment factor. Next month, councillors in Clare will meet to consider the rate for the coming year. Shannon Sinn Féin Councillor

The general manager of a Clare Leisure Centre is hailing the increase in funding for local sports facilities as more kids are being inspired to take up new sports by the ongoing Olympic Games. It comes as Clare is set to receive over €1.7m as part of the government's Community Recognition Fund. The amount of money allocated will be based on the number of new arrivals to the area and will look to provide long term benefit to the communities. Clare has had funding approved for 20 projects with a total funding allocation of €1,702,000, representing over 10% of the total funds allocated countrywide. Lahinch playground is set to receive one of the highest sums in the county. The playground's refurbishment project is set to receive €165,000 to upgrade the facilities at of of the busiest playgrounds in the country. General manager of Lahinch Leisure Centre, Eoin Conlon, says providing access to a wider range of sports is crucial to kids development Another of the beneficiaries in the county is St. Joseph's Na

It's hoped a charity cycling event coming to Clare this week will raise vital funds for down syndrome services in this county. The 2024 Tour de Munster will come from Cork to Killaloe on Thursday before arriving in the Temple Gate Plaza in Ennis on Friday. Now it its 24th year, the event has raised over €5 million across the five branches of Down Syndrome Ireland nationwide since its establishment. Maeve Crawford of Down Syndrome Ireland's Clare branch says the Tour de Munster is the organisation's most important fundraiser of the calendar.

On Tuesday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Tom Stewart from Keane’s Garden Centre in Kilcolgan. This week, Tom gave listeners some advice on easy to grow plants and shrubs for containers this August. If you have a question for Tom, contact the show on 0818 400 964 or send a text or Whatsapp to 086 1800 964.

On Tuesday’s Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey spoke to William Cahir of Cahir & Co. Solicitors, Ennis, in our weekly legal slot. This week, William discussed protected disclosures, an important legislation in employment law. If you have a legal question for Cahir & Co. Solicitors, email us at focus@clare.fm

Kilkee Beach is the venue for a big game of tag rugby this August Bank Holiday weekend. On Saturday (10th August, 2:30pm), Limerick Leprechauns will take on Kilkee Falling Stars. The game is in aid of the Limerick Dragons. For more on this, Alan Morrissey was joined by Amanda Jordan, PRO for the Limerick Dragons, Vidette Ryan Molyneaux, Chairperson for the Limerick Dragons and Mary O’Sullivan, Breast Cancer Ambassador .

The 2024 Tour de Munster is getting closer. The annual charity cycling event raises vital funds for Down Syndrome Ireland. This year’s Tour de Munster - the 24th edition of the event - is set to take place on Thursday August 8th to Sunday August 11th. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Maeve Crawford, organising committee members of DSI Clare.

It's been Ireland's most successful Olympics ever; from the swimming pool to the rowing, to the pommel horse and the boxing ring, we have seen our athletes bring home medals of various colours. There is Clare involvement on Team Ireland at the Paris Olympics Ballyvaughan's Liam Jegou - the slalom canoeist went so close to winning a silver medal. Medals are also on offer for the Irish equestrian team in the final of the individual showjumping event. Alan Morrissey was joined by Olympian Liam Jegou, Slalom Canoeist, from Ballyvaughan and Michael Blake from East Clare Equestrian Centre and Chef d'Equipe / High Performance Director with the Senior Irish ShowJumping Team to discuss Clare's involvement in this years olympics. Photo (c): 2024 Summer Olympics via Wikipedia

Clare Primary School Set To Reap The Benefits From State-Of-The Art Renovation. by Clare FM

It's claimed projects in North Clare have been sent forward ten years following a major investment in local amenities. In the latest tranche of Community Recognition Funding, the region has received over €660,000. The allocation wille enable the development of new playgrounds in Lahinch and Miltown Malbay along with enhancement to community facilities and car parks in Bellharbour, Lisdoonvarna and Ballyvaughan. Lisdoonvarna Fine Gael Councillor Joe Garrihy believes the benefits will be reaped by generations to come.

Cratloe Manager Colm Collins After Win Over Miltown In TUS Clare SFC

Eire Og Manager Paul Madden After Win Over KIB In TUS Clare SFC

It's claimed the proliferation of potholes from Ennis to Kilrush is posing a serious danger to motorists. It comes as repairs are scheduled to take place this Friday on a section of sunken road past Moyasta on the N67. It follows a high volume of concerns raised by constituents who noted vehicles crossing lanes or encroaching onto private property in order to avoid the hazard. Kilrush Independent Councillor Ian Lynch says the region's road network has reached crisis point and requires urgent intervention from the Department of Transport.

A new pilot project will aim to restore 30% of Clare's church grounds at ten sites across the county to nature by the end of the decade. Broadford, Clarecastle, Kilmaley, Moy, Inagh-Kilnamona, Mullagh, Kilrush, Killimer, Cooraclare and Miltown Malbay are the parishes that have been chosen by the local authority for the programme. The project will aim to establish new habitats on church grounds, through the development of initiatives such as pollinator friendly fruit trees, wildflower meadows and barn owl boxes. Clare County Council Biodiversity Officer Barry O'Loughlin says there's a superb community effort involved.

The Chair of the Clare Tourism Advisory Board claims increased tourist traffic doesn't necessarily mean greater profits for tourism-dependent businesses. The latest Central Statistics Office figures show the number of foreign visitors to Ireland in June was up 8% compared to the same month last year with 669,500 having visited our shores across the month. The average vistor spent €1,437 over the course of their trip with €458 going towards accommodation - up from €435 in June 2023. Hotel Woodstock Co-Owner and Clare Tourism Advisory Board Chair Sean Lally says hotels aren't hiking their prices but are in fact being forced to offer more competitive rates.

The Head of Roads Policing in Clare is encouraging motorists to lock their phones in the glove box this Bank Holiday Weekend to avoid a serious incident. It comes as new Road Safety Authority data has revealed 9% of motorists were observed using a mobile device last year which was up 6% on on 2022. Drivers of light goods vehicles had the highest mobile device usage rate at 13% while rates for drivers of other vehicle types ranged between 6% and 8%. Roads Policing Superintendent of the Clare-Tipperary Garda Division Eddie Golden says while drivers taking calls has historically been a problem, it's now common to see people checking social media while driving.

An Ennis retailer is hopeful newly-proposed legislation will safeguard the role of cash in society. Cabinet has approved the Finance Provision of Access to Cash Infrastructure Bill 2024 which is seeking to guarantee safe and effective access to cash for all citizens. The legislation would put obligations on banks such as ensuring a specified percentage of the population is within no less than five kilometres and no more than 10 kilometres of an ATM. James Ferns of Ferns Wellness in Ennis says as well as giving people greater control over their finances, cash is better for business.