Clare Fm - Podcasts

On Thursday’s Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Danny Lynch, chef at Le Chéile, Barefield. This week, Danny shared a delicious recipe for creamy pesto pasta with garlic bread & snickers cheesecake.

People who eat lots of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) may be at greater risk of dying early. That is according to a new study, which estimates that in the UK and the US, where UPFs account for more than half of calorie intake, 14% of early deaths could be linked to the harms they cause. To discuss this, Alan was joined by Smaranda Maier. Smaranda is the Owner and Founder of Authentic Health, a Qualified Integrative Nutrition and Metabolic Health Coach.

Kilmurry Ibrickane is behind an interesting charitable initiative this coming weekend. The 12 Hour Training Session, in aid of Pieta and Jigsaw, will run from Friday evening into the early hours of Saturday morning. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Kilmurry Ibrickane club chairman, Michael Considine. Photo(C): https://www.facebook.com/100064491918197/posts/1155425199950533/?_rdr

Alan Morrissey was joined by our fitness and wellness coach, Kieran McMahon. Kieran is an online personal trainer. He is also the founder of KM Fitness and the Better online coaching mentorship. This week Kieran will be talking about Unhealthy Eating Habits.

A Clare-based dog trainer, behaviourist, and science graduate is warning that social media and gaming companies are using the same psychological techniques as dog trainers - only with far more harmful consequences. Deirdre Ryan has spent over 22 years working in animal behaviour. She has developed a fun, science-based school workshop after realising that the same reward-based training used to teach dogs is also being used to keep children hooked on their screens. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Deirdre Ryan, DR Dogcare. Photo(C): https://drdogcare.ie/

Losing a loved one can be unbearably painful. When somebody near and dear dies, it’s understandable that one would want to hold onto anything that helps to keep their memory alive. However, sometimes it’s not possible to hold on to all their belongings, quite often for very practical reasons. Susan, who lives in Ennis, lost her husband two years ago. He was a real lover of music, and, during his life, amassed a very large record collection. Susan has decided the time has come to part with her husband’s huge collection of vinyl records. Alan paid a visit to Susan’s home to find out more.

People are using third-party apps to skip the queue for a driving test. Internet bots are being used to go through the RSA website and secure cancellation slots to sell to people waiting months. In Ennis the average waiting time for a test is 5 months and 3 weeks. In Kilrush it's 4 months and 3 weeks and in Shannon it's 5 months, two weeks. Brenda Bolger, from Bolger School of Motoring, says it's understandable some people are turning to this option... To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Chris Curran of Chris Curran Coaching in Ennis. If you wish to contact Chris, you can contact him via email chriscurrancoaching@gmail.com Photo(C): Getty Images via canva

The Department of Transport is coming under pressure to explain why Coast Guard Helicopters can't respond to emergency medical evacuation calls on behalf of the HSE in Clare. Bristow Ireland, which took over the state contract for search and rescue aviation services last year, is currently not licensed to take stretchers on board when responding to medical support calls. Shannon Airport is the only base in the country where this situation currently applies, as sites at Dublin, Sligo, and Waterford are still operating under the old contract. Clare Fine Gael TD Joe Cooney says it's an absurd situation.

The Health Minister has repeatedly mistakenly referred to a new "960 bed block" coming on stream at University Hospital Limerick when questioned on overcrowding in the Dáil. The comments were made in response to Labour TD Conor Sheehan, who raised concerns over UHL being by far the busiest hospital in the country yesterday, when the INMO recorded over 100 patients on trolleys. The first of two new 96 bed blocks is expected to be built at Dooradoyle by September, but this will only increase bed capacity in real terms by 71. Responding to Deputy Sheehan, Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill says the discharge rate at the hospital is improving.

Fáilte ar ais chuig eagrán nua de Ar An Lá Seo ar an 7ú lá de mí Bealtaine, liomsa Lauren Ní Loingsigh. I 1976 bhí ocht bhfear SAS ar héileacaptar go rúndacht ag dul ar ais chuig an Tuaisceart de bharr gur bhannaigh siad iad. I 2004 fuair daoine amach go raibh daoine a raibh ag obair ag AIB ag fáil níos mó airgead óna chustaiméirí nuair a bhí siad ag fáil airgead ó thír eile. I 1993 bhí a lán bóthair sa chontae an-dainséarach agus bhí siad ag fáil níos measa agus bhí an chontae mar ceap magaidh den tír. I 2004 tháinig sé amach go raibh na mílte daoine sa tír a raibh ag ceannach tí don chéad uair ag fanacht I gcóir cúpla bhliain go dtí go raibh siad ábalta tí inacmhainne a cheannach. Sin ABBA le Fernando – an t-amhrán is mó ar an lá seo I 1976. Ag lean ar aghaidh le nuacht cheoil ar an lá seo I 2000 chuaigh Britney Spears chuig uimhir a haon sa Bhreatain lena amhrán Oops I Did It Again. Scríobh Max Martin agus Rami Yacoub an t-amhrán, na scríbhneoirí céanna a scríobh a amhrán Baby One More Time.

It's hoped a proposed healthcare facility in Clare's county town will put an end to years of hardship for many people. It comes as a planning application has been submitted for a renal dialysis facility in the Clare Technology Park which is located off the Gort Road in Ennis. As many as 80 members of the Irish Kidney Association's Clare branch currently travel to Limerick or Galway each month for dialysis. The facility is expected to be up and running by June of next year, and Ennis Fianna Fáil Councillor Pat Daly has been telling Clare FM's Seán Lyons it's been a long time coming.

Alans next guest was Clara Blodau. Clara is a student at Gort Community School. She is behind a campaign for safer cycle infrastructure on the Ennis and Galway Roads... To find out more, Alan Morrissey was joined by Student at Gort Community School and Leading Campaign for safer cycle infrastructure on the Ennis and Galway Roads, Clara Blodau. Photo(C): ClareFM

Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy is the recipient of this year’s MÓRglór Award. The hugely popular week-long summer school in traditional music and set dance is held annually at Miltown Malbay, Glór will host a very special concert for the MÓRglór Award 2025 on Saturday, 17th of May. To find out more, Alan Morrissey was joined by Committee Members, Harry Hughes and Deirdre Comber. Photo(C): Clare FM

In this week’s History in Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by local historian and author, Colm Liddy to focus on the 18th Century Brain Drain. If you have any stories you would like to share with Colm about your town, you can contact him at colmliddy@eircom.net or Clare FM at focus@clare.fm.

The process of electing the next Pope gets underway today. All the cardinals taking part in the secret conclave to elect a new pontiff have arrived in Rome. More than 130 will be involved in choosing a successor to Pope Francis, who died last month. The process will start behind the closed, wooden doors of the Vatican's Sistine Chapel today. To find out more about what is involved in the process – and who may emerge to become the new Pontiff, Alan has been speaking with Colm Flynn, the Ennis native and Vatican correspondent for EWTN, the Global Catholic Television Network...

FASD Ireland will be hosting their first ever conference later this month. The organisation, which provides awareness, education and support in relation to Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, is headquartered in Ennis. Hotel Woodstock in the County Town will be the venue for the conference on the 22nd of May. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by CEO of FASD Ireland, Tristan Casson-Rennie and Chair of FASD Ireland Advisory Board, Kate Fitzherbert. Photo(C): https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1020128886903709&set=pb.100067198224232.-2207520000

Businesses in Ireland are taking a “wait and see” approach to capital investment, amid ongoing uncertainty over US tariffs. That's according to the Government's Annual Progress Report, which has been published. It highlights the unpredictability of US trade policy, as President Donald Trump continues to threaten sweeping tariffs. In the report, the Government has revised down its economic growth forecasts due to global uncertainty and warned that a transatlantic trade war will lead to a further economic weakening. It expects Ireland's domestic economy to expand by 2.5% this year, down from an earlier forecast of 2.9%. In the event of a tariff war between the EU and US, it said growth this year would be forecast at 2%, falling to 1.75% next year. Alan has been discussing this with the Ennis economist and Assistant Professor of Social Policy at UCD, Micheál Collins.. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Tulla-based Fianna Fáil Minister of state, Timmy Dooley.

Clare County Council is being urged to use EU law to boost the county's low disability employment rate. Under Article 20 of the European Union's Public Procurement Directive, public bodies like Clare County Council can restrict some tendering processes to firms where 30% of the workforce is disadvantaged. Currently, just one-third of disabled people over the age of 15 in Clare are in employment, which is almost 20% below the EU average. Scariff Independent MEP Michael McNamara says the legislation needs to be implemented without delay.

There's been a 12% spike in bovine tuberculosis in Clare. Figures released by the Department of Agriculture show there were 1,310 TB reactors in this county in the first three months of this year which indicates a 12% increase on the same period in 2024. The rate of TB among cattle has seen a 38% surge nationwide and Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, says "stakeholders are taking the necessary steps to control this disease and continue to work together". O'Callaghan's Mills farmer and Secretary of the Clare branch of the Irish Creamery and Milk Suppliers Association, Martin McMahon, believes tackling wildlife carrying the disease is the answer.

Fáilte ar ais chuig eagrán nua de Ar An Lá Seo ar an 6ú lá de mí Bealtaine, liomsa Lauren Ní Loingsigh. I 1972 bhí fuadaitheoir ar eitleán I Washington an oíche roimhe agus dúirt siad leis an phíolóta chun an t- eitleán a leaindeáil agus chuir siad cheist I gcóir 115 míle punt chun 48 paisinéirí a scaoil. Ar deireadh fuair sé an t-airgead agus d'eitil sé. I 1983 bhí níos mó ná 900 duine breise ag fáil an dole agus dúradh go mbeadh níos mó ná 1,300 duine eile an mhaidin sin de bharr gur chaill a lán daoine a bpost. I 1972 bhí nach mór 50 míle duine cláraithe chun vóta a dhéanamh don reifreann nua agus bhí an rogha acu chun sea nó níl a rá. I 1983 bhí daoine ag cur cheist chun níos mó airgead a fháil do chothabháil bóthair agus bhí cúpla moladh déanta. Sin Tony Di Bart le The Real Thing – an t-amhrán is mó ar an lá seo I 1994. Ag lean ar aghaidh le nuacht cheoil ar an lá seo I 2002 tháinig sé amach go raibh Bohemian Rhapsody ó Queen an t-amhrán is cáiliúla sa Bhreatain. Tháinig John Lennon lena amhrán Ima