Clare Fm - Podcasts

Tomorrow (Saturday, 4th October) is World Stoma Day. There are approximately 50,000 people living with inflammatory bowel disease in Ireland (Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis are the most common) and, to mark the day, Crohn’s and Colitis Ireland will host an online event “Breaking Barriers: Real Talk on Living with a Stoma”. To find out more, Alan Morrissey was joined by June Curtin, Founder of Snamhaí Sásta and Victoria Spillane, the Chief Operations Officer at Crohn’s and Colitis Ireland. Photo (c) Sheila Alonso Getty images via Canva

The Irish Cancer Society has launched new figures that highlight only 3 of 28 defined targets have been met in the National Cancer Strategy. With Ireland’s cancer mortality rate the third highest in Western Europe, the Society has warned that things will get worse unless increased investment is provided in budget 2026. John Wall who is living with Prostate Cancer spoke with Alan Morrissey on Friday's Morning Focus.

The HSE is highlighting the benefits of holding your baby close through safe skin-to-skin contact in supporting feeding, bonding and recovery after birth this National Breastfeeding Week, which takes place from 1 – 7 October. On Friday’s Morning Focus, Alan was joined by Petrina O’Halloran who is the Founder of Birth and Beyond and also runs Mama’s Boobie Box, mum Blogger and writer for online magazine Boobingit.com.

Visitor numbers to Ireland’s lighthouses have more than doubled since 2018, with over 350,000 visits recorded in 2024, according to a new socio-economic report. On Thursday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey spoke to Dave Ward, Commercial Manager of Irish Lights and Sharon Malone, Assistant Sales & Marketing Manager with Clare Tourism West. Photo (c) Visit Clare

A new analysis from the Central Statistics Office shows in one age range, there was a 40% disparity in annual earnings. According to the report, the average Clare person had an income of €48,481 last year, this rises to €54,159 for men and falls to €42,998 for women. To explore this in further detail, Alan Morrissey was joined by Sheila Lynch, Partner Cashin/ Clancy Solicitors on Friday's Morning Focus.

Carol Daly, who hails from Bodyke and lives in Feakle, is hiking and walking from the top of Diamond Hill in Galway, to the top of Croagh Patrick. Alan Morrissey had a chat with Carol before she set off on her challenge. You can help by donating here: https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/CarolDaly Image (c) Feakle GAA via Facebook

The Chair of Clare's Tourism Advisory Forum believes the lifting of the Dublin Airport Passenger Cap would not only increase visitor numbers in this county, but also boost Shannon's traffic. It comes as the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation has been calling for budget supports amid a 11% drop in overseas visitors numbers so far this year. The organisation has previously identified that 40% of those flying into Dublin ultimately travel to the Wild Atlantic Way. Co-Owner of Hotel Woodstock Seán Lally believes boosting funding caps for Shannon and passenger limitations for Dublin would bring major benefits.

On Thursday’s Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Danny Lynch, chef at Le Chéile, Barefield. This week, Danny treats us to a casein chicken wrap which he calls 'A Slice of History'.

Schools across Clare are being asked to support children living in poverty around the world by registering for Ireland’s most loved Christmas appeal. Team Hope, the charity that delivers gifts into the hands of children living in poverty across Africa and Eastern Europe, is calling on children and families in the county to get involved in this year’s Christmas Shoebox Appeal. To find out more, Alan Morrissey was joined by Donnchadh Kelleher, Principal at Scoil Seanáin Naofa in Clonlara on Thursday's Morning Focus. Photo (c) Team Hope

Two local therapists are helping to mark World Mental Health Day in a big way this year. Ann Lynch and Dipu Biswas will be with us on Thursday morning at 10:20 to talk about a full day of free workshops happening at the Chapel Lane Community Counselling & Psychotherapy Centre in Ennis on October 10th. Alan Morrissey was joined live in studio on Thursday's Morning Focus by Ann Lynch and Dipu Biswas.

The Health Minister is being urged to take "swift and decisive action" in order to provide a safe emergency care environment for patients and staff in the Midwest. Following the release of HIQA's review examining urgent and emergency healthcare services in this region, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has told the Dáil expanding services at University Hospital Limerick or extending the campus are her preferred options. Figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation show 99 people were waiting for a bed on a trolley or chair at the Dooradoyle facility this morning. INMO Assistant Director of Industrial Relations for the Midwest, Mary Fogarty has been telling Clare FM's Seán Lyons she believes the Government should choose the solution with the quickest results.

Mhairi Killin joined Alan Morrissey on Thursday's Morning Focus to chat about the latest Burren Annual Exhibition. This year’s exhibition, On Sonorous Seas, features new work by Mhairi, an artist based in Iona, an island located in the Inner Hebrides, off the west coast of Scotland. On Sonorous Seas focuses on the dwindling population of Hebridean whales in relation to marine military presence in that area. Picture (c) via Instagram @mhairikillin

Last May, Dee Collins told us about representing Ireland in a somewhat novel athletic event, the Six Nations Mountain Running Championship. The Sixmilebridge athlete finished fifth in her category at the competition in Italy – a great achievement. Dee was on Thursday's Morning Focus with Alan Morrissey, to chat about leading Ireland’s senior team at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships. Photo (c) Ennnis Track via facebook

Family Carers Ireland has said it looks forward to seeing how the Government will deliver on the promises made to family carers during the last election campaign and in the Programme for Government. Reports of increases to the Carer’s Support Grant and further easing of the means test for Carer’s Allowance are positive signals. However, family carers want clarity on how these initial steps will form part of a clear roadmap towards the full abolition of the means test and meaningful progress on respite. On Thursday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey spoke to Fiona Hartigan, Carer Supports Manager with Family Carers Ireland and Sinéad O’Brien, Netwatch Clare Family Carer of the Year 2023. Photo (c) by Kzenon via canva.com

Registered Nutritionist, Grainne Trevors joined Alan Morrissey on Thursday's Morning Focus to discuss the world of vitamins and supplements. Grainne highlighting their benefits and offered practical advice on when they might be truly necessary. Picture (c) Stel Antic from corelens via Canva

Alan Morrissey was joined by Clare-based dog trainer and behaviourist Deirdre Ryan to explore the growing importance of digital detox, online well-being, and mental wellness—especially for young students navigating today's tech-driven world.

John Conlon has a new venture.The two-time All-Ireland winning Clare hurler and his partner, former Clare camogie player Michelle Caulfield have opened a new coffee shop, 1312 Brew, in their native Clonlara. To find out more about this new venture, Alan Morrissey was joined by John Conlon on Thursday's Morning Focus. Picture (c) 1312 Brew via Facebook

A Gaza-bound Clare poet is among at least nine Irish citizens detained by Israeli forces. Sarah Clancy, who’s Head of the Clare Public Participation Network and lived in Ballyvaughan for over a decade, was on board ‘The Spectre’, one of 21 aid flotilla boats intercepted overnight. To get the very latest on this, Alan Morrissey was joined by Ennistymon native and Barrister Leigh Brosnan, who is a member of Lawyers for Palestine on Thursday's Morning Focus. Pictured Sarah Clancy (c) Clare FM

A North Clare childcare provider claims it's building a new facility to cater for a "baby boom" in the area. Boston Community Childcare has been given approval to construct a community childcare facility after being awarded almost €429,000 through the Building Blocks Extension Scheme earlier this year. The service has been operating out of a prefab behind Boston National School since it was set up in 2012 and will be able to offer 20 additional spaces once its new building is up and running. Committee member Olga Kearns says they're looking after families across a "wide area".

A striking new sculpture of an eagle can be seen at Mountshannon Harbour. The sculpture, titled Caimin, the Eagle, was created by local blacksmith and metalworker Mark Wilson together with artist Lynn Kirkham. It commemorates Caimin, one of Ireland’s oldest breeding white-tailed eagles, who died last May after almost two decades soaring above Lough Derg. The piece celebrates not only Caimin’s legacy but also the wider success of the white-tailed eagle reintroduction project in East Clare. For more on this, Alan Morrissey had a chat with Mark Wilson, Local blacksmith and metalworker. Photo (c) Vera O'Rourke Photography