Clare FM

As part of National Heritage Week, the Kilkee Currach Regatta will celebrate one of Ireland’s oldest maritime traditions, while highlighting the work being done in West Clare to keep currach building and rowing alive.  With traditional boats, demonstrations, talks and a 1957 fishing currach returning to the water, it’s a celebration of both the past and the future of our coastal heritage.  Joining...

Colm Liddy, local author and historian was back in-studio on Tuesday’s Morning Focus for our regular history in focus slot. This week Colm took us through the life and legacy of William Smith O'Brien.

The Kilmurry Heritage Festival gets underway this Friday, bringing four days of music, family activities, sport, local history and community events to the village near Sixmilebridge.   Running from August 14th to 18th, the festival also forms part of the National Heritage Week celebrations, with heritage walks, talks and a chance to discover more about Kilmurry’s past.  Joining Alan Morrissey to t...

Heritage Week gets underway this week, with more than 80 events taking place across County Clare, celebrating everything from historic buildings and archaeology to traditional skills, music, storytelling and the county’s natural heritage.    This year’s theme is ‘Heritage at Risk’, highlighting the importance of protecting the places, traditions and landscapes that help shape our identity.     Joi...

On Tuesday’s Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by John Burns, retired Deputy Principal at Rice College and Educational Consultant. This week, John discussed the dreaded back to school rush and anxiety students and parents alike are feeling. Photo (c) Clare FM

This Saturday, the community in Carrigaholt will come together to remember a much-loved local man, Michael Troy, six years after his passing.   The annual Michael Troy Memorial Run has grown from a small community event into an important fixture, celebrating Michael’s love of sport, young people and his local community, while also raising funds for the West Clare Cancer Centre.  Joining Alan Morri...

Quin Friary is one of Clare’s most important historic landmarks, and now a new piece of technology is set to help visitors discover its stories in a whole new way.  The Quin Friary Visitor App combines audio, visuals and a guided tour to bring the history of the Friary to life for visitors of all ages.  The app is being officially launched this Sunday, and joining Alan Morrissey to tell us more we...

As Ireland’s population ages, the pressure on nursing homes and the wider care system is growing.   With nursing-home places in short supply, hospital patients facing long waits for onward care, and the ESRI projecting a need for thousands more beds over the coming years, there are growing questions about how we care for older people.  But is building more nursing homes the answer, or do we need t...

A prominent Clare activist says any engagement with Conor McGregor's upcoming fight is an insult to survivors of rape and sexual violence. The Dublin native who makes his return to MMA tomorrow morning was found civilly liable for the sexual assault of Nikita Hand in November 2024. A High Court Jury found that he raped Ms Hand in a Dublin Hotel Room in December 2018. Clare Leader Forum Co-Founder...

Coming up on the show, we will be reflecting on Clares loss to Limerick with Tony Considine and having a chat about the overall hurling year We will also look ahead to this years Will We Go Cusack Cup final and check in with the Junior Cycle Tour of Ireland which has been making its way across the county this week

Antanna is the latest musical project from Tony Hoyne. Born in Kilkenny, and living in Dublin, Antanna has emerged on the Irish indie folk scene with his deeply personal songwriting and evocative vocal delivery. Drawing on folk sensibilities, contemporary production and raw emotional honesty, he has built a growing following for songs that speak to heartache, hope and the complexity of relationshi...

Clare pet owners are being urged to take proactive measures following an outbreak of a viral disease with a high mortality rate in the West of the county. It comes as an animal shelter in West Clare has been forced to close due to an outbreak of Panleucopaenia. The An Cat Dubh Sanctuary at Cloonlaheen, near Miltown Malbay has confirmed blood tests in the case of a number of deceased cats and kitte...

Funding of up to €13m will be sought for the redevelopment of the Mars Cinema in Kilrush. It comes as the Kilrush Town Team has confirmed its intention to apply to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage for the allocation. Clare County Council meanwhile has signalled its intention to commence a Part X planning application for the Kilkee to Kilrush section of the West Clare Greenw...

Morning Focus was broadcasting live from Kilrush Town Square for the second leg of Alan Morrissey's Summer Tour. Firstly, Alan spoke to Aisling Leahy, Senior Executive Planner and Urban Designer, Town Centre First Team, Clare County Council, and Charlie Glynn, Co-Chair of Kilrush Town Team, about the transformation underway in Kilrush to revamp the town. Deirdre Culligan, Friends of Ennis Hospital...

Clare FM’s Therese McInerney is in Miltown Malbay for this year’s Willie Clancy Summer School.   Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy is the week-long summer school in traditional music and set dance held annually at Miltown Malbay.   Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy 2026 got underway on Saturday.   Therese brings us her latest report from the 54th Willie Clancy Summer School.

It's a busy couple of weeks ahead for the team at Zimmer Biomet in Shannon.   This weekend – the 11th and 12th of July - they'll host one of the biggest underage GAA festivals in Clare, with hundreds of young players taking to the pitches at Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg.   Then next weekend, a team of employees will swap the playing field for the water as they row 60 kilometres across Lough Derg to...

Family Carers Ireland is calling for carers' payments to rise to 325-euro a week.     The organisation says an increase is needed in October's budget, to reflect the real cost of providing full-time care to a loved one at home.     As part of its pre-budget submission, the group is also calling for the means test to be abolished. Fiona Hartigan, Clare Family Carer Support Manager, joined Alan Morr...

A Clare health campaigner says what she witnessed at University Hospital Limerick this week shows the Mid-West's healthcare crisis is far from over.   Friends of Ennis Hospital spokesperson Deirdre Culligan shared a first-hand account from the Emergency Department, describing corridors full of patients, staff under immense pressure and a system she believes is simply not coping.   Deirdre joined A...

A West Clare Animal Sanctuary says it's devastated following a "highly contagious" outbreak which has temporarily forced its closure. It's after blood tests confirmed the presence of Panleucopaenia in a group of dead cats and kittens at the An Cat Dubh Sanctuary in Miltown Malbay. The condition which attacks white blood cells is particularly harmful to kittens. Founder of An Cat Dubh Sanctuary Dr...

The Transport Minister is being urged to develop a review to maximise the use of Shannon Airport. It follows a Seanad Debate on the Dublin Passenger Cap Bill, which if passed would lift the restriction limiting the airport to 32 million flyers per year. Last year, Dublin Airport accounted for 85% of Irish Passenger Traffic, while Shannon accepted just over 2 million passengers. Senator Aubrey McCa...

Clare Haven says the epidemic of male violence against women in Ireland is being completely overlooked by society and government agencies. It comes as Gardaí continue to investigate the violent death of Jamie Carney, a US citizen who was found dead at her home in Kilarney on Tuesday. It brings the number of women killed in Ireland this year to eight, already surpassing the total for 2025. Clare Ha...

A unique celebration of Irish traditional music, Traveller heritage and living culture is taking place in West Clare this weekend.   The Long Grazing Acre, presented by Paddy Keenan in collaboration with Common Knowledge, will bring together musicians, storytellers and craftspeople for a weekend of performances, workshops and demonstrations.   It celebrates the huge contribution of Irish Traveller...

Alan Morrissey's guest has enjoyed a remarkable career as one of Ireland's most acclaimed singer-songwriters, but now he's taking on an exciting new challenge.   Declan O'Rourke is making his screen acting debut in the new feature film Almost With You, which receives its world premiere at the Galway Film Fleadh this week.    The film also features new music from Declan, including his latest single...

Thousands of people are expected to gather in Clarecastle this weekend for the annual Regatta, one of the highlights of the local calendar.   Revived in 2009, the event has grown into a major family fun day, with everything from boat rides and live music to children's activities, competitions and community displays.   Joining Alan Morrissey earlier to tell us more about this year's event were Chai...

Miltown Malbay businesses are revelling in a period of economic prosperity arising from the Willie Clancy Week.    The 54th Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy is in full flow and the West Clare town's pubs, restaurants, shops and casual traders are reaping the benefits.    For the first time this year, parking is prohibited on the main street, with free parking available next to Jones's Supervalu on th...