Clare FM

Morning Focus is marking County Clare Men’s Health Week 2026 (15–21 June) with the theme “What’s Your Small Step?” as part of a week-long series of activities, discussions, and ways to take part.   The initiative, supported by Clare County Council and the Men’s Health Pledge, encourages men to make small, practical changes to improve physical and mental wellbeing.  We will explore how small, reali...

With fans around the world dealing with some late-night kick-offs during the World Cup, disrupted sleep is likely to become a familiar challenge.   Fear not, though, because help is at hand!  Claire Connellan, Well Being Teacher with LCETB and Natural Health Practitioner, joined Alan Morrissey earlier.  Claire is here to share practical advice on how lack of sleep can affect physical and mental we...

Earlier this month, Alan Morrissey was joined by Kevin Haugh, to chat about the upcoming 2026 European Transplant Games.  Kevin, a former school principal and accomplished athlete from Carrigaholt and Doonaha, was one of two Clare athletes who are part of a 25-strong Team Ireland that is travel to Arnhem in the Netherlands for the Games.  The European Transplant Games get underway from this Sunday...

Emergency services were once again called to the scene of a road traffic collision on the N68 at Darragh on Sunday afternoon, a stretch of road that local residents and public representatives have repeatedly highlighted as a safety concern.   While no serious injuries were reported, the latest incident has renewed calls for action, including a reduction in the speed limit and other safety measures...

The main opposition party is blaming the Government for Clare's dereliction problem. The coalition will announce plans for a new derelict property tax today, which will be administered by revenue after a launching a scathing criticism on local authority efforts to grapple the issue. Clare County Council says it has billed 60 sites this year to a value of over €510,000, however just over €48,700 of...

An Oireachtas committee's been told that a housing development in East Clare has been stalled for three years due to wastewater capacity issues. Kilkishen is one of three villages in Clare where according to Uisce Éireann, there's no additional wastewater capacity or projects planned to address this. In 2024, the local authority refused plans for a 60-unit scheme in the village due to sewerage def...

University Concert Hall is set to welcome audiences to the return of the Limerick Summer Proms from 19th to 21st June 2026, for a spectacular three-day celebration marking the Summer Solstice.   Sponsored by Ei Electronics, the much-loved festival brings together world-class performers including the Irish Chamber Orchestra, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and the Military Pipes and Bands of the Defence...

A welcome boost for North Clare’s hospitality scene has seen three long-closed pubs and restaurants reopen during April and May.     Cassidy’s in Carran, Kilshanny House—now trading as The Hedgerow—and Bofey Quinn’s have all returned to business after extended closures, bringing renewed activity to their local communities.    Cassidy’s has been reopened as a bar and restaurant by Robbie Cassidy, w...

Iran and the United States have reached a peace deal, with an official signing due to take place in Switzerland on Friday.   US President Donald Trump says it will "bring peace and security to the whole region" - while Tehran claims it "forced" the US to accept its terms.   The agreement was announced last night by Pakistan's prime minister, who has been acting as a mediator.  Meanwhile, Foreign A...

Judy Beck from Clonroad Garden Centre, Ennis was back on Monday’s Morning Focus to answer all your gardening queries. This week, Judy told Alan Morrissey about the benefits of long flowering summer perennials. 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

A Clare-based group of musicians and fundraisers is appealing for public support for Babies in the Bush orphanage in South Africa, with a fundraising target of €1,500 to help provide new beds for the facility.  Breda McNamara, Gearóid McNamara and colleagues, working alongside organiser Lorraine Keenan, have been involved with the project since 2019 and say they remain closely connected to its wor...

Alan Morrissey was joined earlier by Chris Dixon O’Mara, author of a new book celebrating the remarkable success of Kilrush Shamrocks GAA Club during the 1970s.  The book revisits the club’s golden era when Kilrush Shamrocks achieved an unprecedented five senior football championship titles in a row—a feat that has never been matched before or since.   Chris joined Alan in-studio to discuss the in...

A Clare mother has completed a three-day fundraising cycle over the weekend in support of Clare Crusaders, and she joins me on the line now.  Sue Corcoran took on the 3-day challenge from Friday 12th to Sunday 14th, raising funds for the charity that has supported her son Conor since he was just eight weeks old.    Conor, who was born with Down syndrome and a rare form of severe epilepsy, is now a...

Morning Focus is marking County Clare Men’s Health Week 2026 (15–21 June) with the theme “What’s Your Small Step?” as part of a week-long series of activities, discussions, and ways to take part.   The initiative, supported by Clare County Council and the Men’s Health Pledge, encourages men to make small, practical changes to improve physical and mental wellbeing.  We will explore how small, reali...

A blood donation can take less than an hour, but the impact can last a lifetime.     This Wednesday, Clare County Council is partnering with the Irish Blood Transfusion Service to host a special blood drive in Ennis, organised in memory of Dylan Costelloe Clohessy, who tragically lost his life following an accident in Indonesia in 2024.    The initiative is being led by Dylan’s mother, Edelle Cost...

There has been strong anger and concern in Ennistymon following Clare County Council’s decision to proceed with the removal of mature, decades-old trees in the town square as part of ongoing public realm regeneration works.     The felling of the first tree last week prompted immediate reaction from local residents, who are now urging the council to pause the works and reconsider the layout to pre...

The rising cost of living continues to dominate kitchen-table conversations across the country, with energy bills increasing again, inflation remaining stubbornly high and more than half a million household energy accounts now reported to be in arrears.   Against that backdrop, Sinn Féin is holding a public meeting in Shannon this evening as part of its campaign calling for further government acti...

A Clare childminder fears Government regulations will result in lots of people leaving the sector in the next year. It comes as 18 childminders in Clare have collectively received €18,000 through the 2026 Childminding Development Grant which supports the purchase of toys, childcare equipment and other essential items. Under regulations published by the Department of Children in 2024, all childmind...

The speed limit outside a Clare primary school could soon be halved amid serious road safety concerns. Clarecastle Sinn Féin Councillor Tommy Guilfoyle is calling for speed ramps to be installed outside Doora National School and the adjacent MaryK's Childcare. Ennis Municipal District says as the current speed limit is 60 kilometres per hour, ramps can't be put in place, but an ongoing speed limit...

One in four Clare farms failed environmental inspections last year. New EPA figures shows the local authority inspected 221 farms in this county in 2025, with 25% failing initial inspections and 75% failing on follow-up visits. The Environmental Protection Agency says most failures were caused by uncontrolled run-off from farmyard manure, inadequate management of silage pits and slurry and effluen...

An Ennis theatre is being called on to clarify its position for hosting politicial events by local Fianna Fáil Councillors. It's understood Glór refused to host a commemoration marking 100 years since the party's establishment last month. It comes just over two years after the ALDE Europe Party held a conference on the future of renewable energy policy at the venue. Ennis Fianna Fáil Councillor An...

Fr Gerry Kenny presents this Beyond Belief which features the Archavist of the Irish Jesuit Province discussing the Census of 1926. Also Fr Patrick Cahill continues his discussion with Wendy Grace about Suffering.

Fr Gerry Kenny leads or Sunday prayer for 14th June 2026, the Second Sunday after Trinity.

It's claimed as little as six regular Gardaí were policing the entire county of Clare on one day during the last weekend in May. It comes as elected representatives have once again raised concerns over stretched garda resources locally. The latest meeting of Clare County Council heard that on the day in question, just one Garda Car was policing the Western seaboard from Kilrush to Kinvara. Ennisty...

A Clare TD is expressing concern that regular households are being priced out of embracing renewable energy. Bodyke Fine Gael Deputy Joe Cooney has asked the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment if it's looked at the impact of high electricity prices on the uptake of the likes of heat humps, electric vehicles and home batteries. Ireland is aiming to reduce its carbon emissions by 51%...