Clare Fm - Podcasts

An Ennis butcher is no doubt celebrating after winning a prestigious award. B. Molloy Master Butchers picked up the award at the 2024 Great Taste Awards for their Dry Aged T-Bone Steak. For more on this, Alan Morrissey was joined in-studio by Derek Molloy, B. Molloy Master Butchers.

This Friday sees the Heritage Month programme from Common Knowledge get underway with a bang! An “unforgettable evening of social dancing and traditional music” is promised at Common Céilí with Louise O Connor. This comes ahead of an open air céilí in Ennistymon, as part of the Rekindle Festival of Lost Skills. To find out more, Alan Morrissey was joined by Aoife Hammond, the Coordinator of Homeworks Project, Common Knowledge and Ceili dance instructor Louise O' Connor.

Childcare providers are threatening to exit Government Core Funding programme, in what is the biggest escalation of the sector’s protests to date. The Association of Childhood Professionals, Childhood Services Ireland/Ibec, the Federation of Early Childhood Providers, and Seas Suas, which together represent 80% of the childcare providers in Ireland, both community and private, say they have serious concerns that nearly half of the childcare providers may be forced to leave core funding due to unsustainable rising costs and chronic underfunding of the sector. Should this happen, it will result in an increase in fees of 30 - 40% for impacted parents. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Nora Custy of Teach Spraoi in Ennis.

The Clare Pyrite Action Group insists the EU's legal action against Ireland over alleged construction failures must centre around the influence of suppliers. The European Commission has opened an infringement procedure against the Irish Government for not carrying out market surveillance in the construction industry as required by law. The Commission states "several thousand houses in Ireland suffered very serious damage" due to "defective construction products" and has given the Government two months to address the alleged shortcomings. Crusheen native and Clare Pyrite Action Group Founder Dr Martina Cleary believes the large suppliers have too much lobbying power and this is an area which must be addressed at an EU level.

A Clare member of the Western Inter-County Railway Committee is urging the Government to act with haste to implement the recommendations of the All-Island Rail Review. The 37 billion euro plan will aim to connect Shannon Airport to the rail network, with a spur to be provided from either Sixmilebridge or Cratloe. The strategy will also involve new routes to Shannon through the reopening of the Foynes line, but has not promised to reinstate the Crusheen Rail Stop as part of the Western Rail Corridor. Maghera Fianna Fáil Councillor Pat Hayes has been telling Clare FM's Daragh Dolan that while efforts to reopen Crusheen are ongoing, action must be taken now to improve connectivity and bolster growth opportunities for Shannon Airport.

A Galway Human Rights Professor says he expects a "significant attack" on Israel in response to the events of the past 24 hours. Iran's president has vowed to make Israel regret what he calls its "cowardly action" following the assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in a raid on his residence in Tehran. It comes as Israel has confirmed it has "eliminated" Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut after it accused him of being responsible for a rocket strike on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights in Syria. Human Rights Professor at the University of Galway Professor Ray Murphy believes Iran is unlikely to take the escalation of violence lying down.

Students at six Clare schools will be the latest to beneficiaries of free hot meals under a government programme. It comes as Minister Heather Humphrey's has today announced the inclusion of 168 additional schools in the hot school meals programme. Among the new additions announced today are Inagh, Barefield, Drumindoora, Kilmihil, Lakyle and Lissycasey National Schools. Ennistymon Fine Gael Senator Martin Conway is confident more schools in this county will soon be announced.

Pieta House has witnessed what it's described as a considerable increase in the number of young people accessing its services here in the wake of the pandemic. It's a member of Mental Health Reform, a coalition of organisations calling for an additional 20 million euro in Budget 2025 to deliver services and reform, as funding has remained stagnant in recent years, despite growing demand for supports. Pieta House has focused its post-covid strategy on supporting those under the age of 18, by increasing the volume of therapists in centres or through online or phone services, to cater for that age cohort. Ennis-based Spokesperson Tom Mc Evoy says only 13% of the organisation's funding comes from government sources, with the remainder from fundraising and reserves and he insists it's vital that adequate supports are available to those in need. Pieta House can be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling 1800 247 247 or texting 'help' to 51444.

A song that could legitimately claim to be the feelgood song of the summer had major Clare involvement! “The Spark”, a song and video created by a group of young rappers - The Lisdoonvarna Crew from Clare and The Kabin Crew from North Cork - received millions of views across YouTube, X and other social channels. “The Spark” was released as part of Cruinniú na nÓg, Europe's only national free day of creativity for young people. For more on this, Alan Morrissey was joined by members of the Lisdoonvarna Crew; Treasure Onyinyechukwu Kanikwu, Trinity Chisom Kanikwu, Tuana Rrudhani, Elene Kurtanidze, and also by David Giblin, Assistant Manager of Lisdoonvarna Direct Provision Centre. Photo (c) Kabin Crew via Spotify

On Wednesday’s Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Mindfulness and Positive Psychology Coach Louise Lynch to discuss mindfulness and positive psychology techniques for teenagers. Louise provides 1:1 coaching for teenagers. To get in touch with Louise, you can contact 0868732210, visit www.mindfulmoments.ie or visit mindfulmoments.ie on Instagram and Facebook.

Marty Morrissey released a new song, The Marty Party Song. To find out how it all came about, Marty joined Alan Morrissey on Wednesday's Morning Focus.

A quarter of teenage girls who have been in relationships have endured physical or sexual violence from their partner. The World Health Organisation says it equates to 19 million girls who will have experienced partner-related violence by the time they turn 20. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Clare Haven Director of Services, Dr Siobhán O’Connor and Executive Director of Rape Crisis Midwest, Siobhán O’Leary. Rape Crisis Midwest support line is available on 1800 311 511 or info@rapecrisis.ie Clare Haven support line is available on 065 682 2435 ISPCC Teen Line is availabe on 1800 833 634 or text 50808

Sinn Féin's General Election Candidate in Clare believes the most vulnerable in society will be hit the hardest by the latest fuel hike. From today, excise duty on petrol and diesel will be increased by four cents per litre and three cents per litre respectively which is the second such hike in three months. Almost €6 billion was collected by the Government is excise duty receipts last year which was up over 3% on 2022. Shannon Sinn Féin Councillor Donna McGettigan expects the increase to punish those who are dependent on their cars to get to and form vital commitments.

It's claimed families across Clare are facing an increasing struggle to keep their children in education. A new survey from Barnardos has found that over 70% of parents with secondary school children and more than half of those with primary children are worried about meeting costs this year. The charity is now calling for mandatory affordable uniforms to be rolled out in all schools and for the free school books scheme to be extended to all years of secondary students. President of the Clare branch of St Vincent De Paul, Denis Carthy says a growing number of households across this county are struggling.

Clare FM's Derrick Lynch speaking with Joe Garry and Paudie Carmody to preview the opening games of the 2024 TUS Clare SFC & IFC SFC Fixtures Friday @ 7.30pm KIB v Eire Óg in Cooraclare (G1) Cratloe v Miltown in Clarecastle (G3) Barefield v Breckans in Corofin (G2) ======= Saturday Kilmihil v Lissycasey in Kilrush at 2pm (G1) Ennistymon v Doonbeg in Miltown at 6pm (G3) Kildysart v Corofin 7pm in Clarecastle (G2) ================ IFC Friday KIlrush v Banner in Lissycasey at 7.30pm Saturday Coolmeen v Liscannor in Quilty at 3pm Cooraclare v Killimer in Doonbeg at 2pm Tones v O'Curry's in Lissycasey at 6pm Naomh Eoin v Clondegad in Miltown at 4pm Sunday Shannon Gaels v Ennistymon in Quilty at 12pm

Threshold is reminding Clare renters that legislation is in place to protect their rights even if the property in which they live isn't registered. It follows a new CSO analysis which has revealed that over 73,000 rental properties in Ireland aren't currently registered with the Residential Tenancies Board. At 11%, Clare has the joint-highest percentage of possible formal rentals - meaning tenancies which have the traditional characteristics of a private rental property but aren't logged with the RTB. Threshold National Advocacy Manager Ann-Marie O'Reilly has been telling Clare FM's Seán Lyons that although not registering a property leaves both the tenant and landlord potentially vulnerable, the Residential Tenancies Act means safeguards are in place.

A Clare disability activist insists a state apology to thalidomide sufferers is the best way to honour the legacy of the late Leigh Gath. The HSE has paid tribute to the Newry native and thalidomide sufferer who passed away at her Limerick home over the weekend, saying she "campaigned for equality on many fronts, particularly for people living with disability". Gath led a sleep-out outside the Department of the Taoiseach in 2012 to protest against cuts in personal assistance for people with disabilities and in 2014 became the first office holder of the position of confidential recipient for HSE-funded services. Ennistymon native, Clare Leader Forum spokesperson and friend of Gath, Ann Marie Flanagan, says after a lifetime of work, the State must acknowledge its past mistakes regarding thalidomide.

It’s been all change recently for Clare band Scoth. They have just released their new singlecalled “July”. The other big news is that they are no longer called Scoth! For more on what’s been going on in their world, Alan Morrissey was joined by Evan Flaherty and Darragh Purcell.

In this week’s History in Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by local historian and author Colm Liddy to discuss Pat McDonald, a Clare man who participated in the olympics 100 years ago. Colm will also be giving a talk on Irish history at Kilkee Library on Wednesday the 31st July at 8pm. 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.

To discuss the latest in the entertainment world, Alan Morrissey was joined by Clare FM’s Colum McGrath, on Tuesday’s Morning Focus. This Week, Colum reviewed what's worth watching (or skipping) in cinemas!