Clare Fm - Podcasts

The Burren Annual Exhibition for 2024 is underway. This year’s exhibition features Scottish artist, Keith McIntyre, who explores coastal geological phenomena through mural scale drawing, print, performance and film. Mullach Mòr, translated from Irish Gaelic means ‘the big rock’, will run until the 23rd of October. To talk more about this, Alan Morrissey was joined by Keith McIntyre. Photo (c): https://visualartists.ie/events/mullach-mor-burren-annual-exhibition-2024-keith-mcintyre-at-burren-college-of-art/

Team Hope is launching its annual Christmas Shoebox Appeal, to support communities in Africa and Eastern Europe this winter. Since 2010, the campaign has delivered over 2.5 million shoeboxes packed with essential items, toys, and school supplies—often the only gift these children receive all year. This year, Team Hope aims to send as many shoeboxes as possible to children in countries like Romania, Ukraine, and Malawi. To tell us more about the appeal, Alan Morrissey was joined by the Christmas Shoebox Appeal Manager from Team Hope, Theresa Wood. Photo (c): https://www.teamhope.ie/christmas-shoebox-appeal/

Fleming Medical has continued to support the invaluable work of the Irish Red Cross. The humanitarian efforts both locally and internationally are truly inspiring, and it has put Fleming Medical in a position to support James’ fundraising efforts. Fleming Medial look forward to continue their partnership and supporting the Irish Red Cross Clare Branch to carry out their vital work To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by the Clare Area Treasurer of Irish Red Cross, James Lafferty. Photo (c): Clare FM

The sale of the 4-star facility: a 70-bedroom hotel, bar and restaurant in Ennis brought to an end the Madden family’s lengthy and eminent association with the hotel industry in Clare. A new era begins at the Temple Gate Hotel, though, with its purchase by a Co Clare hotelier, Kelvin Hotels Ltd. It is now owned by two well-known local hoteliers, Dermot Kelly and John Gavin, who are owners and directors of Shannon Springs Hotel located close to Shannon International Airport. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by John Gavin and Dermot Kelly. Photo (c): Clare FM

The HSE has come in for harsh criticism for failing to deliver a second primary care centre in Ennis. In November 2018, the organisation confirmed plans for two facilities in the county town and although the first of those opened on Station Road last year, the proposed Tulla Road site has yet to come to fruition. The HSE says it's experienced significant delay with the development and is not in a position to renegotiate the original contract with the developer, but will re-advertise the project in Q4 of this year if necessary. HSE Regional Health Forum West member and Ennis Fine Gael Councillor Mary Howard says the vacuum of information has been inexcusable.

Clare firefighters admit "there's a possibility" they'll resume industrial action following their rejection of WRC proposals. Retained firefighters, who are members of SIPTU, have voted 55% against and 45% in favour of the Workplace Relations Commission proposals which were agreed to by union representatives and Government representatives in August. As per the proposals, firefighters would receive a guaranteed weekly income, new entrants would get €483 per week which would rise to €500 by year eight, and station officers would be paid €667 per week, rising to €752. Shop Steward of Clare's retained firefighters Edward Moloney says members don't want to go on strike but may be faced with no alternative if the Government doesn't listen.

Clare FM Commentary - TUS Clare SHC Semi Final - Extra Time And Penalties - Sixmilebridge V Inagh Kilnamona

On Atlantic Tales this week, Pat Flynn travels to Leamanagh Castle to hear the story of one of 17th century Clare’s most powerful and formidable women, Máire Rua who also achieved a degree of notoriety, with many stories told of her cruelty and cunning. We delve into the facts but also the myths and legends.

It's claimed the lack of a nearby Emergency Department is preventing GPs from working in rural Clare. The HSE has received no suitable applications for a General Practitioner vacancy in Kilrush, despite advertising the role on five separate occasions since January 2023. It's also emerged, just six practices in this county are offering dental services to medical card holders under the Dental Treatment Services Scheme; spread across Ennis, Killaloe, Sixmilebridge and Scariff. HSE Regional Health Forum West member, and Cathaoirleach of the West Clare Municipal District Fianna Fáil Councillor Rita McInerney says enhanced recruitment incentives are urgently needed.

Its claimed necessary plans as part of the school transport scheme were not put in place in Clare. Kilrush Independent TD, Violet Anne Wynne, made the point when speaking in the the Dáil this week regarding the rollout of the scheme. It was recently revealed that €2.4 million was spent on on taxis to bring Clare children to school in 2023, and Deputy Wynne claims that simultaneously, parts of rural Clare went without an operating bus service. Kilrush TD, Wynne says an apt contingency plan was not put in place, particularly when it came to 'massive increases' in costs .

An East Clare General Election candidate insists better services are needed in this county to ensure those experiencing mental health issues don't spiral into addiction. Matthew Moroney has announced he'll be running as an Independent in the upcoming General Election. The Broadford farmer ran under the banner of Independent Ireland in the recent Local Elections, receiving 860 first preference votes, but has since left the newly-formed party. He claims due to inadequate mental health supports, many people in this county are developing a dependency on substances as a means of coping.

Beyond Belief - Sunday 6th October 2024 by Clare FM

It's hoped legacy nightmare flooding issues will soon come to an end for businesses and residents of a West Clare community. It comes as Clare County Council has submitted a planning application to An Bórd Pleanála for a flood relief scheme for Kilkee. The proposed works will involve road reconstruction, the provision of flood defence walls and new embankments and will aim to protect 134 local properties from becoming engulfed by overflowing water from Victoria Stream. Former Kilkee Councillor Cillian Murphy says its a significant milestone for the town.

Electric vehicle sales in Clare have been below 2023 levels every month so far this year. In the first nine months of the 2024, just 227 vehicles with an electric engine have been sold here, indicating a drop of 45% from the 410 sold in the same period last year, according to statistics from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry. In September, just 13 of the 94 vehicles sold in Clare were electric. General Manager of Sheils Ennis Eddie Rynne says a reduction in grants has caused demand for electric vehicles to drop across the board.

Stephen Fletcher leads our Sunday Prayer for the 6th October 2024, the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time and the 19th Sunday after Trinity.

It's hoped the Ennis Town Bus Service will be up-and-running by the end of next year. The long-awaited public transport link in the county town is just one of two town bus services named in Budget 2025 as projects to be supported as part of the Department of Transport's €3.9 billion allocation. The service will feature two routes, one of which will traverse Ennis from the Lahinch Road to the Tulla Road, while the second will go from Clarecastle to Ballymaley via Friar's Walk. Inagh Green Senator Róisín Garvey, who worked extensively on getting the project over the line, has been telling Clare FM's Seán Lyons its inclusion in the Budget is a massive victory for Ennis.

Clare County Council is being urged to exhaust all avenues to expedite public realm enhancement works in Ennis. It comes amid severe frustration for traders in the town, who claim the phased delivery of the project has been a business disaster. Having commenced in April of 2023, the €11.5M Ennis Public Realm Project has set a long-term goal of increasing footfall and spending in the town through streetscape and public infrastructure enhancements. The works have been scheduled over 8 phases in a bid to minimise disruption to local businesses, however the persistent road closures have been a point of extreme discontent for local traders, who say footfall has dropped dramatically. Vanessa Spencer from Munster Technology Centre in Ennis says her hours have reduced due to the lull in activity and fears the town has lost many customers who cannot be recovered. Local traders have also bemoaned the perceived lack of progress with the works. The High Street phase of the project was scheduled for completion in Ju

Residents of a West Clare village plagued by persistent water issues are said to be "pulling their hair out" once again this week due to widespread discolouration. A large watermain burst has resulted in discoloured water in many homes and businesses in Doonbeg as well as parts of Kilrush, Cahermurphy and Moneypoint. Uisce Éireann says repair works have taken place and discolouration "is not unusual" following such works, while it's advised customers not to drink discoloured water and to run the tap for several minutes in order to restore water to a clear colour. Doonbeg resident Jennie Drysdale, whose husband suffers from multiple sclerosis meaning they need constant access to clean water, says people in the area are sick and tired of seemingly never-ending problems with their water supply.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Each year, around 3,500 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in Ireland, and about a third of these people will have cancer detected through screening. Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women in Ireland. For an extended conversation about breast cancer, Alan Morrissey was joined by Tulla-based oncology nurse, Anne Murphy, Celine O'Donovan who is a breast cancer survivor and Kate Conway from Bravelle Post-Mastectomy Bras and Swimwear. Picture (c) by Arthon Meekodong via Canva

The National Association of Boards of Management in Special Education will hold its annual conference later this month. The theme of the conference, which will be held in Athlone, is Belonging. For more on this, Alan Morrissey was joined by the Chairperson of The Conference Committee and Vice Chair of NABMSE, Mary Crawford and Professor of Disability and Children’s rights at QUB, Prof. Bronagh Byrne. Photo (c) midlandsprint (c) NABMSE