Clare Fm - Podcasts

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".

Fáilte ar ais chuig eagrán nua de Ar An Lá Seo ar an 1ú lá de mí Dheireadh Fómhair, liomsa Lauren Ní Loingsigh. I 1976 thug daoine comhairle chuig múinteoirí agus tuismitheoirí chun seiceáil a dhéanamh leis na foilsitheoirí an raibh an praghas ró-ard do leabhair don scoil. Dúradh go raibh na foilsitheoirí ábalta an praghas a ardú go dleathach mar ní raibh aon phraghas socraithe ann. I 1993 tháinig na Gardaí amach ag rá go raibh pléascóg thine nua agus dainséarach ann agus go mbeadh pléasc mhór ann. Bhí siad iompórtáilte chuig an tír agus tháinig sé amach go mbeadh páistí ábalta iad a fháil roimh Oíche Shamhna. I 1982 bhí aiféala ann sa chontae de bharr go bhfuair iománaí a raibh 17 bliain d'aois bás ó Droichead Abhann Ó gCearnaigh. I 1993 chuaigh dornálaí ó Inis, Brian Crowley chuig an bhabhta ceathrú ceannais den chraobh na sóisear na hEorpa. Sin Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince le Boom! Shake The Room – an t-amhrán is mó ar an lá seo I 1993. Ag lean ar aghaidh le nuacht cheoil ar an lá seo I 1983 tharla comh

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

Blood donations are said to be urgently needed in Clare ahead of what's been described as a "crunch point" for the health service. With only three days supply left of O+ which is the most common blood type in Ireland, the Irish Blood Transfusion Service is holding its only blood donation clinic in Clare this month in Shannon today and tomorrow. The clinic takes place in the Oakwood Arms from 4pm to 7:20pm each day and donors can call 1800 222 111 to make an appointment. IBTS Recruitment Executive Alex O'Connor has been telling Clare FM's Seán Lyons it's vital their stocks are boosted ahead of the October Bank Holiday.

An Garda Síochána has launched a new recruitment competition. To tell us more, Alan Morrissey spoke with Sergeant Dominic Regan from Ennis and Student Garda Michael Frawley.

An American who travelled all the way to County Clare to find love has achieved her goa! Mary Blair-Elizabeth Timby headed to the Matchmaking Festival in Lisdoonvarna after hearing it referenced in a popular US TV show and found a man. Mary Blair-Elizabeth Timby spoke with Alan Morrissey on Wednesday's Morning Focus. Photo (c) Mary Blair-Elizabeth Timby via Facebook

Last week, we told you how Clare's smallest primary school was in a race against the clock to ensure its survival into the future. To find out how close the school is to avoiding closure, Alan Morrissey was joined by the Principal of Furglan NS, Patricia Vaughan. Picture (c) Clare FM

October 1st is International Day of Older Persons. This year’s theme, “Older Persons Driving Local and Global Action: Our Aspirations, Our Well-Being and Our Rights”, highlights the transformative role older persons play in building resilient and equitable societies. For more on this, on Wednesday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Mike Hanrahan, Age Friendly Ireland Ambassador for Clare. Image (c) agefriendlyireland.ie

A new model three hospital is one of three options recommended by HIQA to address ongoing overcrowding issues in this region. To delve into this further, Alan Morrissey spoke with Meelick Fianna Fáil TD, Cathal Crowe and Friends of Ennis Hospital PRO Deirdre Culligan. Hospital UHL ED Photo (c) Alan Place

The Health Minister has indicated that HIQA is not prioritising a new hospital for the MidWest, despite including it in its recommendations following a landmark review of the region's emergency capacity. Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has told the Dáil that the health watchdog believes expanding services at Dooradoyle or extending the campus would be a less costly and time consuming option than building a new hospital. In the meantime, the first of the two new 96 bed blocks, which will increase UHL's capacity in real terms by 71, is expected to open imminently. Responding to Clare TD Cathal Crowe, the Health Minister says it could open this week.

Clare's opposition TD has criticised HIQA for a lack of decisiveness in its review. The regulator had previously questioned the need for a second emergency department in the region following an inspection which highlighted the effects of gross overcrowding at UHL in 2022. Despite now recommending that either expanding or extending University Hospital Limerick would be a more timely solution for patient safety, it does say that a new hospital elsewhere could address long term bed requirements. Shannon Sinn Féin Deputy Donna McGettigan says this should've been obvious for some time.

What do Eddie Lenihan and Taylor Swift have in common? They do both know Jason Kelce, the former American Football player with the Philadelphia Eagles. The world’s biggest pop star is engaged to Jason’s brother Travis Kelce, who plays for the Kansas City Chiefs. Jason Kelce was in Ireland recently, and paid a visit to Clare to hear Eddie, the folklorist, storyteller and broadcaster do his stuff! Eddie Lenihan, folklorist & storyteller joined Alan Morrissey live in studio on Tuesday's Morning Focus.