Clare FM

Coming up on the show, we will hear from Katie Taylor after her visit to the county earlier this week ahead of what is now set to be a sell out in Croke Park on September 5th We will hear of this years plans for the 2026 South of Ireland championship at Lahinch Golf Club, a special day of football and music in Quilty, Alan Troy will have Greyhound Focus and Cooraclare are the focus of this weeks M...

Conleth Mc Geary’s latest single ‘Beverly’ is an acoustic folk ballad built around melodic vocals and intimate guitar, carrying the ache of leaving home and the quiet comfort of family as a refuge. With post-breakup travel, nostalgia, and emotional storytelling at its core, it sits naturally beside Dermot Kennedy and Damien Rice. Speaking on the track, Conleth says: “This song is about relying on...

The Clare Immigrant Support Network is raising concerns the new EU Migration Pact will lead to hasty and unfair decisions against international protection applicants. The EU wide agreement comes into effect from today and will aim to expedite asylum claim processing times across the bloc, meaning decisions have to be made between 3 and six months depending on the circumstances of the case. There a...

Derrick Lynch was joined live in-studio by Clare FM’s Alan Morrissey to chat about the upcoming sporting fixtures for the weekend. - The final round of club football league games - The Patrick Wickham Memorial Day in Quilty - Clare's Kennedy Cup team reaching the 2026 Shield Final Image (c) Clare FM

Today marks the beginning of this year’s Doolin FolkFest.  The Doolin FolkFest brings together some of the finest artists in Ireland and beyond for a weekend of folk, roots, and traditional music across multiple stages – from intimate acoustic sessions in The Attic to high-energy headline acts in The Barn.   Across the next three days, festival goers will be able to catch live performances from Be...

Irish consumers who regularly snap up bargain buys online could soon find that cheap shopping is no longer quite so cheap.  A new €3 customs charge on low-value parcels arriving from outside the European Union is due to come into effect from July 1, adding an extra cost to millions of purchases from popular retailers in Britain, China and the United States.   Business representatives say the move...

Ireland's economic success has long been built on a combination of strong indigenous businesses and foreign direct investment.    However, the small business representative group ISME is now warning that the country has become overly reliant on a relatively small number of multinational corporations, particularly when it comes to tax revenues and economic growth.     In its pre-Budget submission,...

One of the most prestigious events in amateur golf is just around the corner, as Lahinch Golf Club prepares to host the 124th South of Ireland Amateur Open Championship from the 22nd to the 26th of July.     With the Walker Cup also coming to Lahinch this September, this year's championship is expected to attract one of the strongest fields in its long and distinguished history, featuring many of...

Community organisations in Clare working to improve education, training and employment opportunities for disadvantaged groups are being encouraged to apply for a share of a new €1.5 million national fund aimed at preparing people for the future world of work.   The Skills for Tomorrow Fund, launched by Rethink Ireland in partnership with Deloitte Ireland and the Department of Rural and Community D...

As part of World Refugee Week, a unique event is taking place in East Clare that shines a light on the stories, cultures and experiences of people who have made Clare their home from countries across the world.   Migrant Voices – Every Voice Matters is a collaboration between the Clare Local Authority Integration Team and Cuimhneamh an Chláir, bringing together members of migrant communities to sh...

The European Central Bank has announced its first interest rate increase in almost three years, raising its benchmark rate as it seeks to tackle rising inflation across the eurozone.     The move comes amid growing concerns over the impact of the conflict in the Middle East on global energy prices and the wider economy, and it's a decision that will have real consequences for mortgage holders, sav...

The planning stage for a long-awaited Ennis housing development has been completed. Ennis Municipal District has confirmed the Causeway Quarter project on Francis Street can now proceed to construction stage subject to funding. The 39-unit development had been held up due to the presence of an illegal encampment on the site. Fianna Fáil Councillor Pat Daly, who requested an update on the project t...

A Clare TD fears artists in this county will inadvertently be discriminated against in the selection process of a Government support scheme. The 2026 to 2029 edition of the Basic Income for the Arts Scheme will provide €325 a week to 2,000 artists selected at random. A total of 54 Clare artists benefitted from the pilot version of the scheme introduced in 2022. Speaking in the Dáil, Bodyke Fine Ga...

Shannon four-piece soft rock band Sinéad and The Bugs have released their first single, “Call It Happy Hour”. The band features Sinéad Walsh (vocals and guitar), Sam O’Malley (drums), Robert Park (bass), and Igor Zurakowaski (lead guitar). The track explores short-lived relationships and emotional “happy hour” moments, delivered through their signature storytelling style. Photo (c) Clare FM

A new community-led initiative aimed at restoring and protecting Clare's peatlands has been launched at The Common Knowledge Centre in Kilfenora. "Peatlands in Practice" will see ecologists, educators, cultural practitioners and local communities come together over the next six months through free tours, workshops and events focused on restoring bog habitats, preserving local heritage and tackling...

The State Examinations Commission has apologised after an error was discovered in this year's Leaving Certificate Higher Level Biology paper. While teachers and students have generally described the exam as fair and accessible, a mistake in a genetics question caused confusion for some candidates. To discuss the paper, the SEC's response, what it means for students, and the Leaving Cert in general...

A unique evening of storytelling is coming to East Clare. Balor Otherworld will be bringing tales from the land, the old ways and beyond to Alfa Steiner Secondary School in East Clare on Saturday, June 13th. The evening promises stories inspired by Irish mythology and folklore, with themes of nature, imagination and the rich traditions of Ireland's Otherworld. Joining Alan Morrissey earlier to tel...

Ireland's largest inclusive sporting event is almost here, with more than 1,200 athletes from across the country preparing to compete in the Special Olympics Ireland Summer Games 2026 in Dublin from June 18th to 21st.   Among them will be athletes from County Clare's Shannon Flyers Special Olympics Sports Club, a volunteer-led club that provides year-round sporting opportunities for people with in...

Concerns have been raised locally about the potential impact on sporting and recreational facilities at St Flannan's College if plans proceed to relocate St Joseph's Hospital onto lands associated with the college. A motion before this month's meeting of the Ennis Municipal District is calling for greater clarity, public engagement and assurances that important community amenities and sporting inf...

Clare bodybuilders are working to revive Ireland’s national bodybuilding federation, aiming to rebuild structure and support for athletes competing both at home and internationally. Among those leading the effort is Clare athlete Ewelina Hrynkiewicz, who recently returned from the European Championships with two silver medals. To reflect on competing at elite level, the challenges Irish bodybuildi...

The Summer Festival at Vandeleur Walled Garden is set to return to Kilrush from June 26th to 28th, promising three days of music, comedy, family entertainment and community celebration in one of Clare's most beautiful settings. This year's line-up features internationally acclaimed singer Brian Kennedy, the legendary Kilfenora Céilí Band, comedian Bernard Casey and a host of local favourites. To t...

Coastal erosion and rising sea levels are posing an increasing threat to communities around Ireland, and a new report from the University of Galway is warning that urgent action is needed. The study estimates that thousands of properties and hundreds of kilometres of roads are already at risk and calls for a national masterplan to help communities adapt to the challenges ahead. To discuss the find...

This weekend, County Clare will join communities across Europe in celebrating European Archaeology Days, a three-day event highlighting the importance of archaeology and heritage through walks, talks, exhibitions and hands-on activities. Taking place from June 12th to 14th, this year's programme has a particular focus on heritage at risk and encouraging young people to engage with the fascinating...

An approved variation to Clare’s County Development Plan is being hailed as a win for the county. The move sees an additional 250 acres of land zoned for housing countywide, while a further 350 acres of strategic residential reserve sites have been unlocked for immediate use. Questions have been raised over whether this will make any difference given Clare’s serious wastewater deficits, with 50 to...

The Taoiseach has pledged to intervene on a West Clare's school bid to expedite an upgrade of its toilet facilities. It's after Clare Fianna Fáil TD Cathal Crowe raised the case of St Joseph's Secondary School in Spanish Point in the Dáil. It was claimed the school currently has 216 female students sharing just four cubicles between them and that a request to build an additional ten was approved b...