Clare Fm - Podcasts

Electric vehicle sales figures in Clare are below 2023 levels for the sixth month in a row. Just 46 vehicles with an electric engine were sold here in July compared to 78 in the same month last year which indicates a year-on-year drop of 41%. In 2024 to date, electric sales are down 43% while diesel electric hybrid sales have dropped by 45% but petrol plug-in electric hybrids and petrol electric hybrids have seen increases in their respective sales figures of 64% and 10%. Director General of the Society of the Irish Motor Industry Brian Cooke insists Budget 2025 must bring improved incentives to make owning an electric vehicle a reality for more of the population.

A popular Clare electrical goods shop claims e-commerce has become indispenable to almost all retailers. New Central Statistics Office data shows that between June of last year and this year, electrical goods retailers saw greater sales growth than any other type of retail businesses at almost 13%. The figures also reveal that across the month of June, 19% of electrical goods turnover came through online activity. Ennis Electrical Manager and former Vice-President of Expert Ireland Retail Eric Flynn says retailers in this day and age have no choice but to embrace the online.

Fr Gerry Kenny leads our Sunday Prayer for today the 4th August, the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Clare people are being advised to leave nothing to chance when planning for getting home from a night out this weekend. Across the August Bank Holiday Weekend last year, there were three fatalities on the roads, while eight serious collisions took place and 196 people were arrested for driving under the influence of an intoxicant. So far this year, 113 people have lost their lives on the roads, which is up 13 on this time last year and of this year's fatalities, one third were aged 25 or less. Roads Policing Superintendent of the Clare-Tipperary Garda Division Eddie Golden has been telling Clare FM's Seán Lyons that as many areas in Clare aren't served by taxis, pre-arranging a lift home with a sober friend or family member is vital.

The Chair of Clare's Older People's Council is doubtful a long-term commitment will be given on a 20 euro a month increase to the pension. Finance Minister Jack Chambers has indicated that a substantial package of support for pensioners and those least well off in society will be included in the pre-election budget. Older people's representative groups have called for a 20 euro monthly pension boost, amounting to a 1.5 billion euro additional cost, however Minister Chambers hasn't confirmed that's something he's considering. Older People's Council Chair, Maurice Harvey believes given the projected population increases for the coming years, the Government will be slow to give a long-term commitment, but he's confident pensioners will be better off after this year's budget.

It is time for the eight episode of our newest feature on Morning Focus, Energising Clare. This new feature will be about educating you, the listener, on renewables. On this week’s episode, Alan Morrissey was joined by the Head of Energy Storage Ireland, Bobby Smith and Joseph Devlin, who is Senior Analyst at Energia Group to discuss energy storage & green hydrogen.

Alan Morrissey was joined in studio by Ruth Dillon, Yvonne Tiernan and Juliana Erkonen. Together, they make up the folk/Americana band, The Raines. The Galway-based trio have a fantastic single out, while they are also doing a nationwide tour, which includes a gig in Ennistymon on Thursday, August 24th.

We are out and about across County Clare, experiencing some exciting adventures this summer. We have teamed up with Fáilte Ireland to help you experience the ‘Best Daycation Ever’. To get a sample of what is on offer, Colum McGrath has been visiting attractions across Clare for inspiration on how to plan your Best Daycation ever, and experience the feeling of a holiday all in one day, see discoverireland.ie This week, Colum visited the Michael Cusack Centre. Photo (c) Michael Cusack Centre

14 health issues have now been identified by scientists, according to a new major report from the Lancet Commission. If reduced or eliminated, these health issues could theoretically prevent nearly half of dementia's in the world. The report says middle-aged people and poorer countries have most to gain from targeting these risk factors. It predicts that the number of people living with dementia could more than double to 153 million by 2050. To discuss the role of Cholesterol, Alan Morrissey spoke with Metabolic Health Coach and CEO of Authentic Health, Smaranda Maier.

A Shannon resident left with life-changing injuries following a road crash is aiming to highlight the need for greater road safety. Niamh O’Callaghan was the driver of a car that was hit by an uninsured driver in 2015. To share her story, Niamh joined Alan Morrissey in-studio, on Friday's Morning Focus. Photo (c) by honglouwawa from Getty Images Signature via Canva

Earlier this week, we heard all about the Scariff Harbour Festival.  This year’s event, which will take place over the August Bank Holiday weekend promises a range of events, including riverside activities, music and lots more.   The festival will be opened by the first black mayor of Northern Ireland, the newly elected Mayor of Derry & District of Strabane, SDLP Cllr Lilian Seenoi Barr.

An Ennis man is set to take up a high-profile position within the Catholic Church later this month. Newly ordained honorary Archbishop of Árd Sratha in Co.Tyrone, Seamus Horgan will take up the mantle as the first ever Apostolic Papal Nuncio to South Sudan and will be the personal representative of Pope Francis in the country, where the Holy See will be key to help maintain peace following a civil war and famine which have both ravaged the nation, since its establishment in 2012. A mayoral reception was held at Áras Chontae An Chláir yesterday afternoon to mark the achievement of Archbishop Horgan who has previously held diocesan roles in Bodyke, Roscrea, Uganda and the United States. A capacity crowd turned out at Council HQ for the event and among them was Clare FM's Daragh Dolan, who spoke to childhood friend of Archbishop Horgan and Leas Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council Mary Howard, but firstly to the man of the moment, his excellency Seamus Horgan, who outlined his career in the church to

Clare's MEP believes the Department of Justice "hasn't a clue what it's doing" regarding the processing of asylum seekers. It comes as the High Court has ruled that the State's response to the needs of International Protection Applicants is in breach of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. Specifically, the High Court has found that the State's failure to provide accommodation to asylum seekers is in breach of their right to human dignity under Article 1 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. Scariff native and Independent Member of the European Parliament Michael McNamara claims the Justice Department's inability to process asylum seekers in a swift manner indicates it's not up to the challenge.

A south-east Clare business owner believes the Government must hold insurance companies' "feet to the fire" to push premiums down. The Alliance for Insurance Reform is calling on the State to do more to bring about reductions in insurance premiums one year on from the commencement of duty of care reforms. A survey of 690 organisations this year found that 87% of respondents' premiums hadn't come down despite the Government's prediction that the reforms would result in reductions. Sixmilebridge native, Managing Director of Crowes' Supermarkets and Alliance For Insurance Reform board member Flora Crowe says premiums shouldn't be putting this level of strain on small businesses.

A south-east Clare councillor is vowing to press Uisce Éireann on what he's called "unacceptable" metal exceedances in the region's drinking water supply. An Environmental Protection Agency audit of the Shannon/Sixmilebridge Water Treatment Plant has found that Uisce Éireann failed to notify the EPA of two separate incidents which resulted in the allowable level of the metal manganese being breached. In a statement to Clare FM, Uisce Éireann says remedial actions have been taken and upgrades to the plant "are currently being scoped with consideration being given to further enhancements to the treatment process". Sixmilebridge Fine Gael Councillor John Crowe has been telling Clare FM's Seán Lyons he'll be taking the matter further to ensure Uisce Éireann is answerable for the incidents.

The Clare-based Deputy Leader of the Green Party insists robust proposals are in place to improve wheelchair access on public transport. It comes as the Clare Leader Forum is seeking a meeting with the National Transport Authority over a lack of accessible infrastructure across the county. Earlier this week, the Government expanded the free travel pass to include those who have never been able to drive due to a disability, along with those who have been declared medically unfit to drive for at least a year. The latter element is primarily aiming to support those with Epilepsy who have suffered a breakthrough seizure, and it's estimated the move will now enable roughly 30,000 people to avail of free train and bus travel for the first time. For many members of Clare's disability community, though, the move is not tackling the root of the problem. There's currently just one designated wheelchair space available on both Bus Eireann and TFI Local Link Coaches, while many bus individual bus stops along popular

We are out and about across County Clare, experiencing some exciting adventures this summer. We have teamed up with Fáilte Ireland to help you experience the ‘Best Daycation Ever’. To get a sample of what is on offer, Colum McGrath has been visiting attractions across Clare for inspiration on how to plan your Best Daycation ever, and experience the feeling of a holiday all in one day, see discoverireland.ie This week, Colum visited Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. Photo (c): Bunratty Castle and Folk Park via Ireland.com

On Thursday’s Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Canadian chef and owner of Randaddy’s in Lahinch, Randy Lewis. This week, Randy shared a delicious recipe for mackeral salad. You can listen to the full interview below

It is time for the twenty-fourth episode of our newest feature on Morning Focus, Village Tour, where Alan Morrissey paid a visit to Fanore. 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.

Treacy’s West County Hotel in Ennis is the place to be this Saturday! (3rd August) Fans of music from the 60s, 70s and 80s would do well to head along there for Revive Social Disco. For more on this, Alan Morrissey was joined by the organiser, Dr Cora Stack.