Clare FM

On Atlantic Tales this week we continue our series ‘Music Makers’, musicians who also make musical instruments. Pat Flynn travels to Slieve Callan to meet musician and bodhrán maker Ben March. We’ll also hear from professional percussionist, Brian Fleming, who plays more than one of Ben’s instruments.

This week on Morning Focus, our series ‘The Future of Disability Services’ focuses on Employment & Opportunities. Pat Flynn visits Ennistymon to meet Trish McNamara. This feature, 'The Future of Disability Services' is funded by the News Reporting Scheme.

A group of women poets known as The Seven Sisters are coming together for a series of readings across Clare, with the performances raising funds for Record Break café and vinyl record store in Ennis.  Following a successful first event at Shannon’s literary festival, the second reading takes place this Saturday at Easi Artists Studios, with a third event planned for Ennistymon in October.  Alan Mo...

Ennis is celebrating after retaining its Purple Flag accreditation, recognising the town’s safe, vibrant and diverse evening and night-time economy.    Assessors praised everything from its cultural venues and traditional music to its public spaces, with the De Valera County Library, Súil Gallery and Glór all singled out.    To discuss what the accreditation means for the town and how Ennis can co...

Obesity can be a difficult and complex issue, involving not just physical health but also our relationship with food, our bodies and our own self-worth.     A weekend workshop taking place in Ennistymon next month will explore the latest medical evidence around obesity alongside the emotional and psychological challenges people can face.    Alan Morrissey was joined by Dr Brendan O’Shea, Assistant...

This Sunday, people across Clare will come together as part of Walk in Our Shoes 2026, a grassroots initiative calling for a family court system that is transparent, trauma-informed and trustworthy.  In Ennis, participants will walk from Ennis Cathedral to Ennis Courthouse, carrying children’s shoes as a symbol of the childhoods affected by family court decisions.  Joining Alan Morrissey to explai...

On Wednesday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey spoke about a growing concern for young people across Ireland — the decision of whether to stay or seek opportunities abroad. New research from the National Youth Council of Ireland finds that 68% of 18 to 24-year-olds are considering moving abroad, with housing, the cost of living and employment among their biggest concerns.  To hear what that looks li...

It's claimed new figures showing Clare has the highest admission rate to University Hospital Limerick of any Mid-West county reinforce the case for an acute hospital in this county. Figures released at this month's meeting of the HSE's Regional Health Forum Midwest show that 7,334 of the 23,696 Clare patients who attended UHL last year required admission. That represents an admission rate of 31%,...

Clare's Dog Warden has expressed outrage after a deceased pet was found dumped in a rubbish bag in a ditch. The incident occurred over the weekend on a back road near Lee's Road John O'Sullivan Park, which has emerged as an illegal dumping blackspot. Frankie Coote came across the scene, where he recovered a non-microchipped six-month-old terrier. He's told Clare FM's Morning Focus that incidents o...

Ennis showjumper Coen Williams has added another major international achievement to an already remarkable season, winning silver at the FEI World Young Horse Championships in Lanaken, Belgium.  The 20-year-old was just 0.04 seconds away from the world title, riding the five-year-old Irish-bred GLC Mr President. It’s Coen’s first World Championship medal, adding to an impressive collection of Europ...

A special event is taking place in Newmarket-on-Fergus this weekend (Sunday, 27th September) to remember Anthony “Sconey” Kilmartin, the former Clare senior hurler who died tragically in New York earlier this year.   Sconey was remembered as a natural leader, a hugely positive presence and a much-loved member of the Newmarket community.  A tractor run featuring tractors, trucks, motorbikes and car...

On Tuesday’s Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Fergal O’Keeffe, an Ennis native and creator of the Travel Tales with Fergal podcast. This time, Fergal told us about his tour of the French Basque Region. Image (c) Clare FM

There’s significant investment on the way for sports facilities in Kilrush, with two major projects at the Clare County Council-run Kilrush Sports Complex.     Work is set to begin on a €145,000 refurbishment of the dressing rooms, while a further €96,000 project will see lighting installed on the cross-country and walking track.  The projects, supported by Sport Ireland, are expected to improve f...

On Tuesday’s Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by William Cahir, Cahir & Co. Solicitors for this week’s legal advice. William told us about what to expect financially when filing for divorce. Image (c) Cahir & Co Solicitors

Clare is preparing to celebrate its title as European Volunteering Capital 2027, recognising the thousands of people across the county who give their time to support their communities.   The official launch of County Clare's programme as European Volunteering Capital 2027 will take place at Treacy's West County Hotel in Ennis on Thursday (24th September).  Joining Alan Morrissey on Tuesday's Morni...

Leadership development is coming to the heart of County Clare, with Corofin set to host the launch of a new LIFT Ireland programme.  The initiative will give school leaders the opportunity to become certified LIFT facilitators and bring a values-based leadership programme to students and communities across the county.  The first facilitator training takes place on September 26th in St Patrick’s Ha...

Ardscoil Mhuire in Corbally has reached another major milestone in plans for a brand-new school campus.   The all-girls secondary school, which has just under 600 students, has now been given approval to proceed to tender for enabling and demolition works, bringing the multi-million-euro redevelopment a significant step closer.  The school has already secured planning permission, with designs for...

As energy prices continue to rise, there are growing concerns about how older and vulnerable households in Clare will cope with the cost of heating their homes this winter.     Home-heating oil has seen a significant increase in price; since June, the average price of a 1,000 litres of home heating oil in Clare has increased by 32% to €1,654.    There are now calls for the Government to introduce...

The start date for the Ennis Town Bus service has been revealed. Sunday October 18th has been confirmed as the first day the service will operate across the county town. The service will consist of two routes, with ‘NS1’ operating between Ballymaley Business Park and Clarecastle, with ‘NS2’ running between Shanaway Road and Tulla Road. Meelick Fianna Fáil TD, Cathal Crowe, says it's vital the serv...

It's claimed vulnerable and struggling Clare households can't wait until budget day for home heating oil supports. Sinn Féin will table an emergency motion in the Dáil later today calling on the Government to remove carbon tax on Kerosene. Since June, the average price of a 1,000 litres of home heating oil in Clare has increased by 32% to €1,654. Shannon Sinn Féin Representative Shane Doody says c...

Loads to look back on over the weekend with the four semi finalists now confirmed in the TUS senior and intermediate football championships, along with the final pairing in the Clare Credit Unions senior camogie championship and the local soccer action continues also

It's claimed more needs to be done by agencies to ensure rental properties across Clare are up to standard. A recent report into Clare County Council's performance found 76% of all rental accommodation failed their first inspection in 2025. 721 of 1,145 rental properties assessed in Clare in 2025 failed to meet regulatory standards on their first inspection. Clare's failure rate of 76% came in bel...

Illegal Dumping CCTV will be operational at two Clare locations from this week. Clare County Council has commenced a pilot programme, with cameras being installed at bring banks in Tulla and Kilrush. The system will be in place for eight weeks, after which the results will determine whether further cameras are deployed countywide. Tulla Tidy Towns Chair Tim Humphries has been telling Clare FM's Da...

Alan Morrissey was joined by Clare FM’s Derrick Lynch to review the weekend’s sporting fixtures. ~ T.U.S. Clare Senior Football Championship Quarter-Finals ~  - Kildysart 0-21 Lissycasey 1-17 (Saturday, Ennis) - St. Josephs Milltown Malbay 3-18 Ennistymon 1-20 (Saturday, Ennis) - Doonbeg 0-16 Kilmurry Ibrickane 1-15 (Sunday, Cooraclare) - Eire Óg 3-20 St. Josephs Doora Barefield 2-11 (Sunday, Enni...

The Harvest Music & Garden Festival returns to Ennis Showgrounds on September 27th, and this year the event is bigger than ever.   There’ll be nine bands across two stages, including the brand-new Pink Potato stage, along with workshops, demonstrations, arts and crafts, food, community groups and more than 30 interactive stalls.   Alan Morrissey was joined by Nick Bromfield from UR Productions and...