Clare Fm - Podcasts

An increase in Clare tenancies compliant with building regulations has been described as positive, but it's claimed there's a lot more work to do. Over 78% of the 1,063 rental properties inspected in Clare last year did not meet regulatory requirements, but this is still the third-best compliance rate recorded here in the last fifteen years. A total of 641 property improvement notices were also issued to landlords in this county, which is down 20% in a year. Clare Strategic Housing Committee Chair Fine Gael Councillor John Crowe has been telling Clare FM's Daragh Dolan that while things are moving in the right direction, more resources are needed.

The show kicked off with Alan Morrissey chatting to John O’Brien and Tony Cogan about the Restaurants Association of Ireland’s Cost of Doing Business 2025 Survey. Next, Alan spoke with Manufacturing Director of Ireland Operations, Tom O'Carroll and EMEA VP of QARC & Reg. Affairs, Frank Moloney. They discussed all things Zimmer Biomet. The conversation then shifted to Miltown Malbay AirBnB host, Lorna Cahill. She joined us on Morning Focus to discuss the remarkable finding from new research by Airbnb. Later, Alan was joined by Engineering Manager, Linda Phillips, Senior Chemist, Ahmad Ziaee and Chemist, Neville Murphy. They all chatted to Alan about the new investment on the talent development and retainment in the southwest region specifically Shannon, Clare. This was followed by the weekly Garda Focus segment with Sergeant Edel Burke, from Kilrush Garda Station. To follow, Alan was joined by Avril Collentine, Solicitor at Cahir & Co for our Legal slot. Next was our weekly episode of In the Garden Sl

A Clare café owner claims supplier price gouging is forcing businesses to close and putting undue pressure on those that survive. With a new survey indicating a spike in food businesses closing their doors this year, proprietors are pointing to rising costs as their greatest challenge. A total of 150 restaurants, gastro pubs or other food businesses ceased trading in the first three months of this year, according to new figures from the Restaurants Association of Ireland. Of the 170 respondents to the RAI's survey, 65% reported a decline in financial performance last year, compared to 2023. The finding is unsurprising given RAI data indicates that between 2022 and 2025, the price of fruit and vegetables has gone up by nearly 50%, while beef is up 96% and chocolate has soared by a startling 157%. It's also reported that menu costs haven't kept pace with these rising input costs, increasing by just shy of 17% for lunch and less than 19% for dinner. Frank Landy of Sweet 'n' Green in Ennis believes large su

Tommy Marren is taking his latest play to Clare! Tommy – the man who penned It’s The Real McCoy, 3 Hail Mary’s and Nobody’s Talking To Me – will bring Matches and Old Flames to Glór on Friday, the 9th of May. A crack cast – including Tommy himself – will perform a comedy where love is put to the test like never before! To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Tommy Marren. Photo(C): https://www.facebook.com/100057499267506/posts/1152627493330549/?_rdr

On Monday’s Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Tom Stewart from Keane’s Garden Centre to chat about An Edible Selection For Your Hanging Basket. Tom also answered your gardening questions! If you’d like to get in touch, email focus@clare.fm

On Tuesday’s Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Avril Collentine, Solicitor at Cahir & Co, who discussed Why Good Fences Make Good Neighbours! If you have a legal question for Cahir & Co. Solicitors, email us at focus@clare.fm

More Irish people have been to Spain than Clare! That’s the remarkable finding from new research by Airbnb. It reveals that, while 74% of Irish people holiday abroad at least once a year, almost half - 48% - of people in Ireland want to see and explore more of their own country and almost 1 in 10 would like to visit Clare for the first time. To help Clare welcome more visitors to the region and spread the benefits of tourism through rural communities, Airbnb has announced the Rural Tourism Fund - committing €100,000 in grants to support innovative tourism projects in rural Irish communities. Projects supporting local tourism in County Clare could receive up to €10,000 in grant funding through the Fund. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Miltown Malbay AirBnB host, Lorna Cahill. Photo(C): John Tekeridis from Pexels via Canva

150 restaurants, cafés, gastropubs and food businesses shut their doors in the first three months of the year. That's according to a survey by the Restaurants Association of Ireland, which says it offers a sobering snapshot of an industry grappling with rising costs and shrinking margins. Four in five restaurants expect they'll cut staff hours, while 70 per cent expect to reduce overall staff numbers. CEO of the Restaurants Assocation of Ireland, Adrian Cummins says there's been a slowdown in closures, down from around 300 during the same time last year.. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by John O’Brien, An Teach Bia Maith in Kilrush and Tony Cogan, from Cogan’s Bar and Restaurant in Miltown Malbay. Photo(C): https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=823830546412506&set=a.768920478570180

The number of people claiming unemployment benefit in Clare has dropped by 12.5% in the last year. At the end of April, 3,827 people were on the live register in this county, 550 fewer than this time twelve months ago. The Ennistymon electoral area saw the greatest drop with the unemployment rate reducing from over 1,000 last year to 643. Managing Director of the Ailwee Burren Experience and ISME Council Rep Nuala Mulqueeney says they've seen a modest spike in business.

A major sporting event taking place next year is expected to strengthen ties between Clare and Limerick. The Shannon Region has been successful in its bid to host the TAFISA European Sport for All Games 2026. Now in their third year, the games will feature demonstrations and performances of traditional sports and games, modern sports, dance, heritage and cultures from across Europe. Lissycasey historian Daniel McCarthy expects the event to present the part of Ireland in a very positive light.

Fáilte ar ais chuig eagrán nua de Ar An Lá Seo ar an 5ú lá de mí Bealtaine, liomsa Lauren Ní Loingsigh. I 1978 tháinig an nuacht amach go mbeadh athruithe chuig rialachán foirgníocht agus go mbeadh an costas de na tí nua ag dul suas 50%. I 1989 tháinig sé amach nach raibh na daoine a raibh ag bunú gnó nua ag úsáid an airgid a thug an rialtas dóibh I gcóir an ghnó nua, bhí siad ag úsáid é I gcóir rudaí eile. I 1978 bhí earnáil na turasóireachta sásta go mbeadh an samhradh go maith sa chontae an bhliain sin. I 2000 bhí na daoine sa chontae buartha faoi na háiseanna easnamhach san ospidéal in Inis. Dúirt an choiste forbairt go raibh róphlódú san ospidéal agus ní raibh mórán leaba acu. Sin The Bee Gees le Night Fever – an t-amhrán is mó ar an lá seo I 1978. Ag lean ar aghaidh le nuacht cheoil ar an lá seo I 1969 tháinig The Beatles amach lena amhrán Get Back I Meiriceá. Tháinig John Lennon amach I 1980 agus dúirt sé go raibh roinnt rudaí faoi Yoko Ono agus dúirt sé go raibh Paul McCartney ag féachaint uirth

A legendary daughter of County Clare could soon be immortalised in mural form. Kilfenora Tidy Towns is seeking planning permission for the erection of a mural of famed aristocrat Máire Rua O'Brien on the east-facing wall of the Burren Sonas Steiner Kindergarten which was formerly is Máire Rua Craft Shop. If granted approval, the piece will be designed by Liscannor-based artist Marcus O'Connor with funding provided by Corofin Fianna Fáil Councillor Joe Killeen along with Doolin Ferries. Edel Barry of Kilfenora Tidy Towns believes Máire's legacy has been unfairly tarnished over the centuries.

A Lahinch business has won its battle to save what's been described as a vital social space for the town. A complaint was made to Clare County Council at the beginning of the month relating to the presence of a public bench outside the Coffee Hatch premises on the promenade, which has been in place since 2020. The Coffee Hatch then applied for a permit to retain the bench, which was backed by a petition with over 700 signatures. Owner Carmel Connaire says it's a huge boost for the community.

A former Clare senator is urging the county's elected representatives fight for funding which she insists is "absolutely mandatory". It comes as the Ennistymon to Moyasta section of the West Clare Railway Greenway project has been denied funding by Transport Infrastructrure Ireland. In response to a parliamentary question from Bodyke Fine Gael TD Joe Cooney, TII says it will "give consideration to funding the progression of the Ennistymon to Miltown Malbay and Miltown Malbay to Moyasta Greenway sections in 2026 taking cognisance of the limited funding available to TII generally and the many competing demands for such funding". Inagh-based Green Party Deputy Leader Róisín Garvey says it will be a waste of money and hard work if the project doesn't come to fruition.

Clare FM's Derrick Lynch speaking with Clare boss Peter Keane, coach Eoin Curtin and captain Cillian Brennan ahead of the Munster SFC final v Kerry

Fr Gerry Kenny presents this Sunday's Beyond Belief which features and extended interview with Fr Martin Browne from the Vatican's Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity. Fr Martin talks to Fr Gerry about the involved process of the Conclave works. Fr Gerry also chats over coffee with his colleague Stephen Fletcher and Sr Ann Crowley provide her reflection.

Stephen Fletcher leads our Sunday Prayer for today the 4th May 2025, the third Sunday of Easter.

The new President of Shannon Chamber claims the institution has been "Shannoncentric" and "elitist" in the past. Former Managing Director of Dromoland Castle Hotel, Mark Nolan, has been appointed the new President of Shannon Chamber, succeeding Eoin Gavin of Eoin Gavin Transport who held the office for three years. Nolan has been a director of the chamber of commerce since 2009 and is also the founder of Hallmark Management Limited which undertakes small design and fit-out projects for five-star hotels. He says areas like Newmarket-on-Fergus deserve the chamber's full attention.

Clare fans are being advised to allow plenty of time to get to Kerry for the Munster Football Final. Peter Keane's side are travelling to Fitzgerald Park in Killarney tomorrow to take on Kerry with throw-in at 1:45pm. As the match takes place on the same day as the Rally of the Lakes, Kerry Gardaí are urging motorists to leave "very early" to avoid being caught in severe congestion. Turnstiles at the stadium will be open from 12pm and Inspector of Roads Policing and Events in the Kerry Garda Division, Gary Carroll, says the roads will be jam-packed.

We will look ahead to Sunday's Munster football final as Clare go to the Lion's Den of Fitzgerald Stadium to take on Kerry We will also hear from both the Clare minor hurling and football camps ahead of huge games for them, the Clare minor ladies footballers are searching for consecutive Munster B titles, and Alan Troy will be along with Greyhound Focus.