Clare County Council is to write to the Housing Minister to request that planning permission fees are waived for pyrite affected homeowners. Under the current enhanced defective blocks scheme, applicants can receive up to €462,000 to demolish and fully rebuild a dwelling impacted by the faulty mineral.But, if the home isn't built on the original si…

It's hoped €7.5m worth of upgrade works carried out by Uisce Eireann will end the threat of future pollution in a North Clare community.It comes as the Ballymacraven Water Treatment Plant, which serves a population of 6,000 in Ennistymon and its surrounding areas has been removed from the utility's remedial action list.In May of 2023, an uncontroll…

A new shuttle bus service to the Cliffs Of Moher to be rolled out later this year will come with free entry to the landmark.The complementary service by Clare County Council will be ran as a pilot through the peak tourist months of June, July and August both this year and in 2026 and will be extended to May and September depending on demand.There w…

Clare Gardaí are reportedly growing increasingly frustrated due to people recording videos of criminal incidents instead of intervening in or reporting them.Ennis Superintendent John Ryan and Shannon Inspector Morgan O'Donoghue held a private briefing with the county town's elected representatives this week where a number of topics relating to loca…

A new shuttle bus service to the Cliffs Of Moher to be rolled out later this year will come with free entry to the landmark.The complementary service by Clare County Council will be ran as a pilot through the peak tourist months of June, July and August both this year and in 2026 and will be extended to May and September depending on demand.There w…

On this week’s Atlantic Tales, Pat Flynn takes a walking tour of the historic town of Ennis with expert guide Dr Jane O’Brien.Jane has been providing guided tours of Clare's county capital since she established Ennis Walking Tours in 2005.על ידי Clare FM

Coming up on the show:We hear about Clare's latest provincial football success and look ahead to Sunday's National Football League clash with Fermanagh.It's a busy Saturday afternoon in the North Clare area where Tubber hosts the Banner's opening game of the National Camogie League while St Flannans go to Gort for the Croke Cup quarter-final.We loo…

The National Transport Authority and the Minister for Transport are being urged to intervene, amid complaints over an Ennis bus service said to be in decline.Representatives from Dublin Coach are to be invited to attend a meeting of the county town's elected councillors amid reports of a "growing number of issues" with its Green Bus service from En…

A funding boost of almost €40m has been announced to upgrade and restrengthen local and regional roads in Clare.The allocation has been confirmed today by the Department of Transport and will see over €17.5m invested in restoring the network, while €13.3m will go towards the completion of the Shannon Bridge Crossing.Over €370,000 will fund new spee…

The world's only LGBTQ+ matchmaking festival returns to Clare this weekend for its 12th iteration with some of the biggest names in drag in attendance.The Outing festival, will take place at the Inn at Dromoland and will see cameo's from Charra Tea, Paul Ryder and Victoria Secret in drag and comedy shows, while Irish heritage will be celebrated at …

To preview the sporting fixtures, Alan Morrissey was joined on Friday’s Morning Focus by Clare FM’s Derrick Lynch.Games Reviewed:National Football League Division Three - Clare v Fermanagh (Sunday, Cusack Park, 1:30pm) All-Ireland Post-Primary Schools Croke Cup Quarter-Final - St. Flannan’s v Presentation College Athenry (Saturday, Gort, 2pm) Natio…

It is time for the seventh 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…

You could join Marty Morrissey in Calpe, Spain, this October from the 2nd to the 9th for some sun, entertainment, and lots more besides.To find out more about the Marty Party in Calpe, Marty Morrissey joined Alan Morrissey in-studio.Photo (C): Clare FMעל ידי Clare FM

A new recruitment campaign is underway that will aim to boost numbers in the Clare Garda Division and nationwide. There are now 48 fewer Gardaí serving in this county than there were 15 years ago. The recruitment process is open until February 27th for any interested candidates aged 18 to 49 and open days will be held at stations across the county …

Today is, of course, Valentine’s Day.It may be the day of love, but that doesn’t mean that everyone is in love with the day itself! So, how do you feel about Valentine’s? We sent Morning Focus researcher, Adam McCallig out to get the thoughts of the Clare public on Valentine’s Day.Photo (C): IvanMikhaylov from Getty Images via canva…

Can you imagine having to be resuscitated and how traumatic an experience it must be? Now imagine what it is like to be resuscitated 32 times...as a baby? One man who knows what that is like is Michael Teehan, because he lived through it. Michael, a native of Clare who now lives in Dublin, was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect shortly after …

Enable Ireland’s annual ‘Spring Clean’ campaign has launched, asking Ennis residents to 'break up with their stuff' and donate once-loved items to support vital services for people with disabilities.To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Regional Area Manager, Mary HynesPhoto (C): https://www.facebook.com/actionondisability/…

A Clare hotelier fears widespread job losses in the hospitality sector will be unavoidable in 2025. It comes as Finance Minster Paschal Donoghue announced this week that any decisions on further reductions to the hospitality VAT rate won't be made until Budget 2026. It has already been confirmed that some sectors will see a reduction to 9%, however…

Representatives from Dublin Coach are being asked to meet with Ennis's elected representatives amid claims their service in the town is a "ghost bus". This week's meeting of Ennis Municipal District has heard fiery criticism of the service known as the "green bus" which goes between Ennis and Dublin. Fine Gael Councillor Mary Howard has raised a mo…

Clare is said to be "in limbo" due to the absence of a forum to discuss crime-related issues with local Gardaí. All Joint Policing Committees nationwide were disbanded last year and will be replaced by Local Community Safety Partnerships which will be headed up by independent appointed chairpersons. The closing date for expressions of interest for …

Long delays in getting work underway on the Limerick Northern Distributor road have been branded as "ludicrous" by a Clare TD. Construction of the long-awaited artery is set to commence next week, with the project due to be delivered in phases. Phase One will focus on a dual carriageway linking Coonagh with Knockalisheen and Meelick, and this secti…

The Garda Commissioner will be invited to a meeting of Clare's elected representatives following a reported surge in crime throughout the county. In one week of January alone, Gardaí appealed for witnesses in relation to burglaries in Ennistymon, Ennis, Sixmilebridge and Scariff, a further vehicle theft in the county town, and an incident where a w…

A Clare GP who'll be leading this year's Ennis St Patrick's Day parade believes the acknowledgement shows the value society places on the discussion of women's health issues.Dr Máire Finn of Ennis Medical Centre has been named alongside renowned uilleann piper Blackie O'Connell as a grand marshal for this year's annual procession in the county town…

Clare’s Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) has announced the launch of the Healthy Clare Micro Fund for 2025 as Part of Healthy Ireland round 4 . This fund aims to support initiatives promoting health and wellbeing across the county, aligning with Healthy Ireland’s vision where good health means achieving complete physical, mental, and so…

This week, Randy Lewis prepared Valentine's Day tapas.To get an insight into the recipe, Alan Morrissey was joined by Randy Lewis, Randaddy’s Restaurant, Lahinch.Image (c): Mizina from Getty Images via Canva & Aesthetic squiggle line by Sandi Dwi Prasetyo from Sandidwipr via Canvaעל ידי Clare FM

It is time for another wonderful tale from the one and only Eddie Lenihan, which means it is time for Seanchaí Corner.Seanchaí Corner sees Eddie, the renowned author, storyteller, lecturer, and broadcaster regaling us with a memorable story from his extensive collection of old Irish tales and fables.This week, Eddie told us about the fairy reel.…

The Wings Festival is back! This year’s festival, which is held in Shannon, will run from the 17th to the 23rd of February. A host of great acts and gigs will take place across the festival.To find out more about the Wings festival, Alan Morrissey was joined in studio by Eoghan Neff, Ashley O’Toole and Carolyne Deer.Photo (C): Clare FM…

This Sunday (16th February), the second episode of the new series of Hugh Wallace's The Great House Revival will air on RTÉ One. For the second episode he visits an incredible renovation in The Burren, owned by Aoibheann MacNamara. Aoibheann is the owner of Galway's ArdBia restaurant so doing the renovation of has Old Herdsman’s Cottage in the Burr…

This year’s All Ireland Young People in Alcoholics Anonymous Convention will once again be held in County Clare.The seventh edition of the annual event will see it return to the Falls Hotel in Ennistymon, from Friday, 28th February to Sunday, 2nd March.To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Niamh, Mark, and Ella.Photo (C): RyanKing99…

This month is Oesophageal Cancer Month. Lollipop Day, the annual Oesophageal Cancer Fund (OCF) awareness and fundraising campaign, takes place this year on Friday, 28th of February, and Saturday, 1st of March. To find out more, Alan Morrissey was joined by CEO Oesophageal Cancer Fund, Carmel Doyle, on Thursday's Morning Focus.Photo (C): https://www…

Enterprise Ireland Irish medtech client company Aerogen recently announced details of a €300 million transformational scaling and investment plan, which will result in the creation of 725 new jobs in Shannon and Galway over the next 10 years. This announcement was made in conjunction with Enterprise Ireland’s End of Year Results for 2024, which con…

Overseas tourists are being urged not to alter their travel plans as the Cliffs of Moher remains widely open for business. Although the southern coastal walking trail and a section of the northern route remain closed for remedial works, the main interpretive centre, visitor centre and viewing stations remain fully operational. The landmark welcomed…

A Clare Government TD says cost shouldn't be a factor in futureproofing the county against further storm damages. A multiagency review into the fallout experienced is currently being conducted by Clare County Council, to put measures in place to prevent similar damages as seen during Storm Éowyn. 44,000 homes, farms and businesses were without powe…

A local campaign group is calling for urgent updates on the Ennis 2040 projects over what it's described as an "information vacuum." It follows revelations that interest repayments on the company's €10m loan are expected to reach €650,000 per year.על ידי Clare FM

A local campaign group is calling for urgent updates on the Ennis 2040 projects over what it's described as an "information vaccum." It follows revelations that interest repayments on the company's €10m loan are expected to reach €650,000 per year.על ידי Clare FM

A decision to determine if a second emergency department is needed in the MidWest will be made in May. HIQA has confirmed that its review of urgent and emergency care in the region will be complete in the next 90 days, with an interim report set to be published later this month. The Department of Health made the announcement following a parliamenta…

There's calls for urgent transparency surrounding the assets and expenses of the Ennis 2040 DAC. It's after this week's meeting of Clare County Council revealed that interest repayments on the designated activity company's €10m loan are expected to cost €650,000 per year, when the full amount is drawn drown. It's anticipated the remaining €7.8m wil…

It’s hoped a new tenancy registration scheme will prevent illegitimate tenancy terminations in Clare.Data released last year based on Census 2022 figures, indicates that 11% of rental properties in this county are not registered with the Residential Tenancies Board.Under a new campaign launched by the RTB in conjunction with Clare County Council te…

The Clonlara musician is gearing up for his highly anticipated debut headline show at Little Whelan's in Dublin on the 19th of February.It's all part of Arren’s preparation for his forthcoming debut album, Dark Earth..To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined in studio by Arren.על ידי Clare FM

Educational Consultant John Burns addressed parents' questions on a range of topics, including school absenteeism, the cost of living, and teen pregnancy.על ידי Clare FM

The stigma surrounding DEIS schools is serving to undermine the confidence of students. That’s the view of teachers, which is highlighted in a new survey. The survey, by the Think-tank for Action on Social Change and commissioned by the TUI, asked 227 teachers and 49 school leaders about their attitudes towards the scheme. While 62 per cent said th…

You may not be aware, but this week is National Singing Week, so sing it from the rooftops! This week-long celebration of group singing invites people across Ireland to experience the joy, connection, and power of singing together. There is Clare involvement in National Singing Week 2025, with the Ennis-based Cantare Choir taking part. To find out …

It's claimed the closure of a North Clare post office would sound the death knell for the community.An Post has advertised a vacancy in the Lisdoonvarna Post Office on two occasions to no avail and is currently advertising it for the third time.February 28th is the closing date for applications and information can be found on the An Post website.Lo…

Parents of students at Clare schools forced to close today amid a security threat are being advised that it is safe for them to return.The schools in the Ennis and Shannon areas closed this morning on the advice of An Garda Síochána, after a "communication" was sent to a number of educational facilities.Gardaí say they are now satisfied that the se…

Clare County Council has called for the implementation of a large scale plan to address the countywide issue of the proximity of trees to broadband cables and parts of the electricity grid.It comes ahead of the release of the local authority’s review of the multiagency response to Storm Éowyn and its aftermath.A rigid proposal involving the removal…

Further clarity has also been sought about legislation surrounding the cutting or felling of trees on private land. O'Callaghan's Mills Councillor, Conor Ryan, claims there is a misconception that land owners are unable to cut trees outside of a designated open season. He says many people also wrongly believe that a designated felling license is re…

The Government is being advised to maintain ties with Ireland's closest trade partners to ensure the survival of Clare's small and medium businesses.In light of US President Donald Trump's pledge to impose further tariffs on the EU, the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association has conducted a flash survey of SMEs to assess their exposure to s…

It’s claimed a response is required on a municipal district level in Clare to ensure the extent of damage caused by Storm Éowyn is never seen again. It follows a meeting of Clare County Council last evening, which called for an extensive plan to be put in place to remove trees in close proximity to power lines. At the peak of the storm, over 44,000…

A Clare farming representative claims irresponsible dog owners aren't just risking the lives of livestock but their own lives as well. The Irish Farmers' Association has launched its 'No Dogs Allowed' campaign for 2025 which is pushing for dog owners to be "confronted about their failure to take responsibility for the actions of their pets". Among …

Clare's Aine Keane After Win Over Westmeath In LGFA Leagueעל ידי Clare FM