Clare Fm - Podcasts

Stephen Fletcher prsents this Sunday's Beyond Belief on 11th May 2025. He visits the FCJ Spirituality House and talks to the Director Noirin Lynch sitting in the sunshie overlooking the atlantic Ocean. After the announcment of Pope Leo XlV Steohen discusses the appointment with Fr Gerry Kenny overcoffee. Liam Lawton provides a Gardener's Prayer.

A west Clare community group has been awarded almost €2 million by the Department of Agriculture to carry out a sustainable farming project. Loop Head Together CLG has been awarded €1.75 million to conduct a soil carbon enhancement project to determine the feasibility of restoring soil health in coastal farming regions of Ireland. It forms part of an overall investment of €17.8 million in eleven projects under the European Innovation Partnership, which forms part of the Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan. Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Tulla Fianna Fáil Deputy Timmy Dooley, says the Loop Head project will help develop better practices nationwide while aiding in hitting sustainability targets.

Coming up on the show, we look ahead to a massive day for the Banner's hurlers when Tipperary come to Zimmer Biomet Pairc Chiosiog, and preview the Munster U20 hurling final between the two also. We get the views of Clare camogie players and officials on Skortgate, look ahead to another busy weekend of local soccer and we will have Greyhound Focus too

The 24-year-old Slieverue native cites his musical influences as including Dermot Kennedy and Kingfishr, with a sprinkling of R&B and pop. However, it was through his fascination with Ed Sheeran, and Sheeran’s ability to create new sounds with the guitar, Dowling’s real journey in music began. The then 15-year-old bought a Martin LX1-E – Sheeran’s famous guitar model – and set off on a journey busking around Ireland. This was a formative experience for Dowling, who despite graduating from University of Galway with a BSc in Science, has tenaciously pursued a career in music since. It is Dowling’s unique commitment to Irish music storytelling that has propelled him to perform in venues such as Galway’s famous ‘Róisín Dubh’ and ‘Uisce Beatha’ in Waterford City. Through his songwriting, he’s developed an introspective meditation on love, longing, and the importance of remembering where you come from. With his heartfelt lyrics, Dowling injects a unique and vivacious energy from Ireland’s South East region.

Fáilte ar ais chuig eagrán nua de Ar An Lá Seo ar an 9ú lá de mí Bealtaine, liomsa Lauren Ní Loingsigh. I 1986 bhuail airí agus múinteoirí arís an mhaidin sin I gcóir uair na cinniúna cainteanna faoi mhargadh chun díospóireacht a shocrú. I 1997 cheap daoine nach raibh Sinn Féin chun a bheith ag na cainteanna leis na páirtí eile nuair a bhí siad chun tosú arís I mí an Mheithimh. I 1970 fuair dhá aire sa rialtas briseadh as a bpost I gcóir a baint a bhí acu san iarracht gunnaí mídhleathach a thabhairt isteach chuig an tír chun iad a úsáid sa sé chontae. I 1986 bhí fadhb mór mar go raibh róphlódú sna barda san ospidéal in Inis agus tháinig sé seo suas an tseachtain roimhe chomh maith mar dúradh go raibh sé dainséarach de bharr an acht seirbhís dóiteáin. Sin Falco le Rock Me Amadeus – an t-amhrán is mó ar an lá seo I 1986. Ag lean ar aghaidh le nuacht cheoil ar an lá seo I 1965 I rith turas ceol sa Bhreatain chan Bob Dylan I gcóir dhá oíche sa Royal Albert Hall. Bhí The Beatles go léir sa lucht féacha

The Health Minister has already been called upon to outline the winter plan for University Hospital Limerick, given concerns with ongoing overcrowding. UHL remains the busiest facility in the country today, with the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation recording 81 patients on trolleys this morning, representing more than one-fifth of all patients without a bed nationwide. According to the HSE's own workforce report, the MidWest also has the lowest number of consultants per population in the country. Speaking in the Seanad Fianna Fáil Senator Dee Ryan says measures must be put in place to ensure there isn't a further exodus of staff to the new Bon Secour's Private Hospital due to open in September.

Staff and students of an Ennis secondary school are expressing disappointment as plans for a bus shelter appear to have hit a dead end. After engagements with Clare County Council, the National Transport Authority and the Department of Education, there remains no clear funding stream for the much requested piece of infrastructure. Roughly two years ago, the Student Council of St Flannan's College made it known to school management that a bus shelter had been identified as a priority project by the student body which currently numbers 1,280. Those who avail of a school bus service at St Flannan's currently have to wait on the footpath beside the school gates on Cusack Road which although sheltered by trees has no protection from the elements. Leaving Cert student Brendan O'Halloran, who sits on the Student Council, says it deters people from wanting to get the bus. After becoming aware of the problem, the school's principal, Father Ignatius McCormack, wrote to the National Transport Authority to request t

To preview the sporting fixtures, Alan Morrissey was joined on Friday’s Morning Focus by Clare FM’s Derrick Lynch. Games Previewed: Clare v Tipperary (Saturday, Zimmer Biomet Pairc Chiosiog, 6pm) Munster Minor Football Semi-Final: Clare v Kerry (Monday, Quilty, 7pm) Munster Ladies Football Senior B Championship: Clare v Kerry (Sunday, Zimmer Boimet Pairc Chiosiog, 2pm)

It is time for the nineteenth episode of our second season of The Village Tour. With The Village Tour, we here at Morning Focus are aiming to highlight the smaller villages and townlands around the county. By doing this, we hope to showcase their unique character, while also bringing their diversity and individuality to life for you, the listener. During each episode of The Village Tour, Alan chats with various people from a particular village or townland in Clare: from locals and business owners to those involved with local sports clubs, community representatives and many more. In our latest episode of The Village Tour, Alan paid a visit to Kilmurry McMahon.

The Camogie Association is set to host a Special Congress later this month to address the skorts controversy. Kilkenny and Dublin were given an ultimatum to abandon their Leinster Semi-Final last week unless they changed back into skorts after warming in shorts in protest of Camogie Association Rules. All-Ireland Champions Cork have since committed to wearing shorts for this weekend’s Munster Final and are prepared to abandon the game if necessary. The association says it has listened to player feedback and is 'committed to representing the voices of players who wish to have a choice in their playing attire'. The Special Congress will take place on May 22nd, when delegates will consider motions to allow players an option to wear shorts or skorts. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Clare Camogie Player, Clare Hehir and CFM Analyst and St. Flannan’s Coach, Ann Marie McGann. Photo(C): https://www.facebook.com/100064858621260/photos/1096528282519116/?_rdr

Transition Year students from St. Flannan’s College took on a big challenge, in aid 3 charities last Friday, the 2nd of May. Following last year’s successful climb of Croagh Patrick, they took to the mountain once again, to raise funds for Cahercalla Community Care, Milford Hospice, and Cancer Care West. To find out more about the climb, Alan Morrissey was joined in-studio by Transition Year Students, Dylan Lehane & Oscar O’Gara and teacher, Edel Vaughan. To support, please visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/st-flannans-college-ty-students-climb-for-cancer

The new Pope will lead his first holy mass since being installed as head of the Catholic Church this morning. Robert Prevost - now known as Leo the 14th - will be joined by cardinals in the Sistine Chapel at 10 o’clock. The 69 year-old's surprise election came yesterday - with white smoke billowing above the Vatican after just four rounds of votes. He's the first ever American pontiff - and in Chicago, his brother Louis is celebrating... Professor of theology, Father Francesco Giordano, has met the new pontiff. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined in studio by Bishop Fintan Monahan and Fr Brendan Quinlivan. Photo(C): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1636300713236060/posts/robert-is-the-new-pope/2701507646715356/

Clare has the third-highest rate of business closures so far this year. An analysis of data from the Companies Registration Office by business utility consultancy procure.ie has found that the Banner County has had 60.2 closures per 100,000 businesses in the first three months of 2025. A total of 77 businesses have ceased trading here since January 1st, with Dublin and Louth being the only counties with a higher closure rate. Owner of St Tola Goat Cheese and Irish Small and Medium Enterprise Association National Council member, Siobhán Ní Ghairbith, says staffing is one of the greatest challenges.

Relive the closing stages of Clare's dramatic Munster-U20 Hurling Semi-Final win over Cork, including breathtaking saves from netminder Mark Sheedy, the all-important winning goal from Diarmuid Stritch and all the heroics in between.

Fáilte ar ais chuig eagrán nua de Ar An Lá Seo ar an 8ú lá de mí Bealtaine, liomsa Lauren Ní Loingsigh. I 1971 bhí dochtúirí ag iarradh saol cailín a shábháil tar éis a loisceadh í agus dhá uair dhiúltaigh lena tuismitheoirí aistriú fola a dhéanamh. I 1987 d'fhan an polaisaí pá don rialtas I rith comhréiteach den ESB agus d'fhan sé faoin ráta boilscithe timpeall 3.4%. I 1971 bhí siopa saor ó dhleacht oscailte I gcríochfort aerfoirt na Sionainne I gcóir daoine a raibh ag teacht isteach ar eitleán mór. I 1998 bhí an Tíogar Ceilteach an tsonraíocht timpeall Sionainn mar tháinig sé amach go raibh 200 post nua ag teacht. Sin Starship le Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now – an t-amhrán is mó ar an lá seo I 1987. Ag lean ar aghaidh le nuacht cheoil ar an lá seo I 1976 fuair ABBA a tríú huimhir a haon sa Bhreatain lena amhrán Fernando agus bhí sé an t-amhrán a dhíol den chuid is mó don bhanna cheoil le níos mó ná 10 milliúin chóip. Chum Benny agus Bjorn an t-amhrán. Níor tháinig ABBA amach leis an amhrán ar dtús

A new report has found the water quality at all of Clare's bathing water sites to be "excellent". The Environmental Protection Agency's Bathing Water Quality Report for 2024 has deemed 81% of bathing waters nationwide to be of "excellent quality" which is the highest rate since 2014 when the classification was introduced. All 14 of Clare's bathing waters have received the top grade which indicates an improvement on last year when the quality of the water at Cappagh Pier in Kilrush was only found to be "good". Programme Manager with the EPA's Office of Evidence and Assessment, Jenny Deakin, has been telling Clare FM's Seán Lyons "continued ongoing sustained investment" will allow this trend to continue

HSE MidWest's Patient Advocate says he's shocked and concerned over the continued lack of access to cancer medicines here. A new report from the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association shows that just 25% of new cancer medicines are available in Ireland, the second-lowest rate in Europe. Of the 56 oncology medicines licensed by the European Medicines Agency since 2020, just 14 are available here. Lahinch-based Healthcare Campaigner John Wall who's living with Prostate Cancer and has been forced to travelled abroad for treatment has been telling Clare FM's Daragh Dolan that patient outcomes are suffering as a result.

The Burren Slow Food Festival takes place this weekend. Sunday’s event at the Pavilion in Lisdoonvarna, will mark the 20th anniversary of the festival. The best elements of food culture in Clare from the local growers, producers and traders will be on show. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Colette Nagle, from Limestone Yoga, Bronagh O’Rourke of Burren Premium Beef and Chef Peter Jackson from the Roadside Tavern and Burren Storehouse. You can book tickets on: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/the-yoga-bit-of-the-burren-slow-food-festival-tickets-1296498916159 Check out! - Colette's Limestone Yoga: https://www.limestoneyoga.ie/ - Bronagh's Burren Premium Beef: https://burrenpremiumbeef.ie/ https://burrenfarmexperience.ie/

Dara Ó Briain returns with his latest live show. One of Ireland’s greatest comedians will bring his new show, Re:Creation to the Marquee in Cork on the 29th of June, ahead of a run of shows at Vicar Street. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Comedian, Dara O Briain. Photo(C): https://www.facebook.com/Liveatthemarqueecork/photos/-join-one-of-irelands-finest-ever-live-comedians-dara-%C3%B3-briain-with-his-new-show/647260671299585/?_rdr

Ballymorris Pottery was established by Hannah Arnup in 1994 after she and her husband John acquired a 17th century farm in rural Co. Clare. It took several years to persuade the owner to sell the property to Hannah and John. While both the cottage and farm were very run down, the couple took on what was a major undertaking to refurbish the site. Hannah established a pottery initially and later a pottery school and the business continued to expand over the years to include a new workshop and a retail outlet, both located in a renovated hay barn....