Clare FM

Residents in Ennistymon are raising concerns about early-morning noise from the road sweeper, which they say has been waking people as early as 6am on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.   One local, Patricia Dunne, with the help of her cousin Anne Kinnane, has taken to the Ennistymon Town Forum Facebook group to call on Clare County Council to change the schedule, suggesting the town could be visite...

Some listeners may find the following segment upsetting.    Clare Animal Welfare have raised concerns over the treatment of animals in the county following an incident of serious abuse against Gloria, a year-old Whippet.    Gloria spent three days and three nights in hospital, nearly losing both of her paws, after allegedly being attacked by a gang of "youths". Thankfully, she was rescued by a mem...

An extraordinary legal case heard in Ennis more than 220 years ago is now the subject of a new play by playwright and former UCC lecturer Derry Cotter.  The case dates back to 1804 and involved Reverend Charles Massy, whose wife Mary Anne eloped to England with the Marquis of Headfort, Thomas Taylour.  Reverend Massy subsequently brought a legal action against the Marquis for what was then known a...

Sixmilebridge is one of 26 towns across the country selected for a new pilot initiative aimed at revitalising town centres by turning vacant commercial premises into thriving local businesses.     The plan, proposed by Minister of State for Retail Alan Dillon, will see local authorities, regeneration officers and Local Enterprise Offices work together to match empty properties with the needs of th...

A local councillor has raised concerns about the condition of Drumcliffe Cemetery following the recent cemetery blessing, where a number of gravestones were left covered in grass cuttings and dirt on the day families gathered to remember their loved ones.  Mayor of Ennis and Clarecastle Sinn Féin Councillor, Tommy Guilfoyle has expressed his disappointment following an experience relayed by a list...

Clare County Council is seeking developers to carry out the development of 12 serviced residential sites in Lisdoonvarna. The project, valued at up to €1.2 million, consists of sites for new private homes along with the construction of a new service road and ssociated footpaths, provision of public amenity open space, and required site services. The project is set to be the first of its kind deliv...

Shannon Municipal District's seven councillors have each been awarded €49,000 in General General Municipal Allocation funding for the cominng year. Overall the MD is set to benefit from a collective total of €343,000, which can be distributed to small scale community developments. The collective allocation remains the same as last year's, with no increase to the GMA seen since 2023. Shannon MD Cat...

Clare FM brings you our latest feature, Clare FM’s Road Safety Initiative. In this episode, Clare FM’s Lily Collins is joined by Rachel Hartigan, Ardnacrusha Fianna Fáil Cllr and member of the Clare Road Safety Working Group. Rachel discusses the current state of road safety infrastructure in Clare and the process of obtaining traffic calming measures in the council. Funded by the Coimisiún na Meá...

The latest Simon Communities of Ireland report has highlighted just how difficult it has become for people relying on the Housing Assistance Payment, or HAP, to find affordable rental accommodation. Just 12 properties across 16 areas surveyed were available within HAP limits in September, a 40% decrease on the previous report. While Clare wasn't included in the survey, the findings raise serious q...

A new report has highlighted significant capacity pressures across hospitals in the Mid-West, with an average of 38 patients every day occupying acute hospital beds despite being medically approved to move to another appropriate care setting. The findings come from a new Mid-West Hospital Capacity Tracker, prepared by Bartra Healthcare, which examines hospital capacity between January and Septembe...

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. Joining Alan was Pat Sexton from Clare Sports Partnership and the EVC2027 steering group. image (c) Natasha Barton

We often take our coastline for granted, but the waters and cliffs around Ireland are home to some of the most remarkable seabirds in the world. From puffins and gannets to guillemots, razorbills and kittiwakes, Ireland is an internationally important location for seabird populations. And here in Clare, we are particularly fortunate to have some spectacular coastal habitats, including the Cliffs o...

Joining Alan was Mike Hanrahan, musician, songwriter and one half of the legendary Stockton’s Wing. Mike has recently received European recognition for his song A River Rolls On, which has been acknowledged as a dementia anti-stigma message for change. Inspired by his own mum, the song is a beautiful reminder of the power of music to connect, comfort and challenge perceptions around dementia. Imag...

The days of ordering a €3 dress, a €2 household gadget or cheap jewellery from international online shopping platforms without additional charges are changing. The European Union is tightening the rules on low-value parcels entering the bloc, with additional fees targeting platforms such as Shein, Temu and AliExpress. Around 5.8 billion parcels valued at less than €150 entered the EU last year, an...

Upgrades to wastewater infrastructure in a west Clare village are being hailed as a gamechanger for the region. It comes as Uisce Éireann has received the go ahead for the full redevelopment of the Kilmihil Wastewater Treatment Plant. The new infrastructure is set to cater for the village's needs for the next three decades, with hopes of major development in the area off the back of the works. Wes...

Coming up on the show, we will reflect on Inagh-Kilnamona's win over Glen Rovers in the Munster club hurling championship along with Clooney-Quin's victory in the Clare Minor A hurling final. We look back on the weekend's local soccer action and Moy GAA Club are the focus of More Than A Club

Clare FM’s Derrick Lynch took us through the weekend’s sporting fixtures. ~ Munster Senior Club Hurling Quarter Final ~  Inagh-Kilnamona 1-21 Glen Rovers 1-14 (Cork) (Sunday, Páirc Uí Rinn)  ~ Clare U21 A Football Championship ~ Image (c) Clare FM

Broadcaster, adventurer and storyteller Hector Ó hEochagáin is back with a brand-new seven-part travel series on TG4 called Hola Hector – Ó Bogotá go Buenos Aires.   Twenty-five years after his first adventure in South America, Hector returns to explore seven countries, meeting extraordinary people, discovering fascinating cultures and, as always, getting himself into some interesting situations a...

Judy Beck from Clonroad Garden Centre, Ennis was back on Tuesday’s Morning Focus to answer all your gardening queries. This week, Judy told us about the hardy Buxus, or Box, plant. If you have any questions for Judy, contact the show on 0818 400 964 or send a text or WhatsApp to 086 1800 964. Image (c) Clonroad Garden Centre

This year marks a very special milestone for the Lisdoonvarna & Burren Active Retirement Group, as they celebrate 20 years of friendship, fun and community spirit.   Established in 2006 with just 25 members, the group has grown to around 60, bringing people together from across North Clare and beyond through social events, outings, exercise and plenty of activities.   Joining Alan Morrissey to tel...

There's a significant change for learner drivers in Ireland, with tougher rules around the renewal of learner permits coming into effect yesterday (Sunday, 1st November).  Under the new regulations, anyone applying for a third or fourth learner permit must have actually sat a driving test within the previous two years. Those who reach the end of a fourth permit without obtaining a full licence wil...

On Monday’s Morning Focus, it was time again for our Arts Slot with County Art’s Officer Siobhán Mulcahy. Siobhán provided our listeners with all the details of this week’s live events for entertainment lovers in Banner County. Photo (c) Clare FM

The homelessness crisis continues to deepen, both nationally and here in County Clare. The latest monthly figures, which were due to be published last Friday, were postponed by the Department of Housing because of ongoing public sector industrial action and incomplete data.  The last available figures for August showed a record 17,885 people in emergency accommodation across the country, including...

Get ready for an exciting weekend of adventure as the Cannonball Overland 4X4 Adventure rolls into County Clare from November 13th to 15th.     Up to 70 impressive 4X4 vehicles, including Land Rover Defenders, Ford Raptors, Bentley Bentaygas and even a Tesla Tank, will explore some of Clare's most spectacular landscapes, from the Burren to the Cliffs of Moher and Loop Head.     It's a weekend of i...

On Monday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was chatting to local artist Leigh O’Connell about an exciting new community project, Faces of Lisdoonvarna.   Leigh, Artistic Director and a familiar face on the local arts scene, will be working alongside her team of Burren Artists to create a vibrant mural celebrating the people, personalities and stories that make Lisdoonvarna so special.   With commun...