Clare Fm - Podcasts

It's been suggested the sheer scale of Clare's Garda Division means it doesn't lend itself to facilitating good quality community policing. The annual conference of the Association of Garda Superintendents taking place this week has heard descriptions of the Operational Policing Model introduced by Commissioner Drew Harris last year as "idealistic" and "rushed or forced through without consideration" of its affect on communities and Garda personnel. Particular aim has been taken at the Clare/Tipperary Division by the Association's President who's pointed out that only one superintendent is now based in this county compared to four prior to the model's introduction. Maghera Fianna Fáil Councillor Pat Hayes, who's long been critical of the merger, believes people in his area feel more vulnerable now due to a perceived disconnect between them and their local Gardaí.

The end of legacy water supply issues could soon be on the horizon for a prominent West Clare village. Uisce Eireann has taken the decision to elevate the replacement of 6km of water mains in Doonbeg to the top of its regional priority list. It follows persistent outages caused by bursts on the network's obsolete infrastructure this year, which is also the main artery to Loop Head and has caused significant disruption for tourists, residents, local businesses and farmers. Kilrush Independent Councillor Ian Lynch says while it's a positive step, funding must be secured in budget 2025 to bring the project to fruition.

The Health Minister has defended his Department's response to enhancing capacity, staffing and resources across the UL Hospitals Group in the face of consistent and worsening overcrowding this year. It follows a fiery debate held in the Dáil on the matter in light of the harrowing findings of former Chief Justice Frank Clarke's Report into the Death of Shannon Teenager Aoife Johnston at University Hospital Limerick. The overcrowding crisis at UHL has once again dominated headlines this week, following the publication of the Clarke Report, which determined the circumstances surrounding Aoife Johnston's death "were almost certainly avoidable". 2024 remains on course to be the worst year on record for trolley numbers at Dooradoyle with the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation documenting 2,225 admitted patients without beds up to July . Sinn Féin TD Maurice Quinlivan whose party called for last night's debate insists too many families have unnecessarily lost loved ones at UHL in recent times due to the con

The overcrowding crisis at UHL has once again dominated headlines this week, following the publication of the Clarke Report, which determined the circumstances surrounding Aoife Johnston's death "were almost certainly avoidable". 2024 remains on course to be the worst year on record for trolley numbers at Dooradoyle with the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation documenting 2,225 admitted patients without beds up to July . Sinn Féin TD Maurice Quinlivan whose party called for last night's debate insists too many families have unnecessarily lost loved ones at UHL in recent times due to the conditions.

It's claimed rising property prices in Ennis are impeding social and economic growth in the town. The Real Estate Alliance's latest quarterly report for the period of July to August shows the average price of a second hand three-bed home in Clare is now €270,000; an increase of €20,000 in the last three months. The issue is most acute in the county town, though, where homes are now achieving up to 20% above the listed guide price. Liam Browne from Paddy Browne Real Estate Alliance in Ennis has been telling Clare FM's Daragh Dolan the current generation are facing unprecedented obstacles to owning a home.

A Clare-based environmental group has travelled to Dublin this afternoon to push for a long-awaited piece of conservation legislation to be given the full focus of elected representatives. A rally is being held outside Leinster House by the Fair Seas campaign which is a coalition of what it describes as "Ireland's leading environmental non-governmental organisations and environmental networks". The key goal of the demonstration is to highlight the perceived lack of progress on the Marine Protected Areas Bill which was approved in December of 2022 and aims to legally protect areas of seas and coastline from activities that damage the habitats, wildlife, and natural processes that occur there". Chief Science Officer and Acting CEO of the Kilrush-based Irish Whale and Dolphin Group Simon Berrow is at Leinster House has been telling Clare FM's Seán Lyons that with a potential change of Government on the horizon, the time for action is now.

Susan O'Neill is known as a songwriter of many depths, with a timeless voice and a growing reputation for standout live performances. In the past 3 years since the release of her duet album In The Game with Mick Flannery, Susan has been invited to share stages across North American, Europe and the UK with Phoebe Bridgers, The Teskey Brothers, Calexico and Valerie June to name a few. Selling out headline tours in her native Ireland, and laying the seeds across all territories for her next chapter which began on the 20th of September with the release of the new album ‘Now in a Minute’. To find out more, Susan O'Neill joined Peter O'Connell on Wednesday's Morning Focus. Photo (c): MrsRedhead Photography

True Colours - Episode 8 - Orla Vaughan by Clare FM

The Irish Thoracic Society is marking World Lung Day today, September 25th. They want everyone to join them to promote better lung health for all. To tell us more about it, the CEO of Irish Thoracic Society, Orla Veale joined Peter O'Connell on Wednesday's Morning Focus. Photo (c): 7activestudio from Getty Images via Canva

The Madden family’s eminent association with the hotel industry in Clare comes to an end with the sale of the Temple Gate Hotel in Ennis. The landmark, 70-bedroom hotel, bar and restaurant will continue to operate through a seamless transition retaining staff and services at the popular, town centre, 4-star facility. People and service underpin the culture of warm hospitality and attention to detail, created by legendary founder John Madden. This ethos is assiduously cultivated by his son Paul, who has overseen the hotel operations for more than twenty years. To talk more about this, Peter O'Connell was joined by the former owner of the Temple Gate Hotel in Ennis, Paul Madden. Photo (c): Clare FM

As we heard across Clare FM’s news bulletins on Tuesday, the process of exhuming the body of Patrick Nugent started yesterday in Feenagh graveyard in Sixmilebridge. Patrick died in February of 1984 from injuries sustained after a function in Bunratty Castle where he worked as banqueting manager. Addressing the media at a press conference yesterday, Inspector David Finnerty of Shannon Garda Station said that even a seemingly insignificant piece of information could be invaluable to the cold case investigation. To discuss this further, Peter O'Connell was joined by the Nugent family solicitor, Kevin Winters of KRW LAW in Belfast. Photo (c): Nugent family

The Health Minister has been requested to hold a special briefing for elected representatives in the MidWest. It follows the harrowing findings of inquests and investigations this year into the deaths of Shannon residents Martin Abbott and most recently sixteen-year-old Aoife Johnston at the Emergency Department of University Hospital Limerick. The results of a HIQA review to determine if another ED is needed in the MidWest are not expected until next Summer, which would be after the next programme for government is formed. Speaking in the Seanad Ennistymon Fine Gael Senator and Oireachtas Health Committee member Martin Conway says the situation is ridiculous.

Shannon Airport is urging airlines to recognise there's no passenger cap in place at facilities outside of Dublin. It follows the launch of Ryanair's Winter Schedule for Clare's international airport which will see increased frequency on routes to Kaunas, Krakow, London, Manchester and Tenerife. Currently, Dublin Airport is restricted to handling 32 million passengers per year, while Shannon Airport has the capacity to take over 3 million additional passengers with the infrastructure already in place. Shannon Airport CEO Mary Considine insists the current situation is unsustainable and Shannon is part of the solution.

Sporting organisations across Clare are set to benefit from a funding boost of over €9m announced today. The allocation has been made under the Sports Capital Grant and approximately 84 projects across the codes of Gaelic Games, Soccer, Rugby, Cricket, Athletics, Aquatics and Swimming will benefit in this county. Among the biggest winners are the Clare District Soccer League which will receive over €400,000 for upgrades to Frank Healy Park and Clare GAA which has been granted over €478,000 for an all-weather pitch at Caherlohan. Clare Fianna Fáil Senator Timmy Dooley believes the funding will drive Clare's sporting success for years to come.

Clare FM's Derrick Lynch speaking with all eight clubs involved in this weekends TUS Clare SFC 1/4 finals

True Colours - Episode 7 - Ed Slattery by Clare FM

One person has been hospitalised following what's been described as a horrific dog attack in South East Clare. Two people were out jogging on land near Sixmilebridge yesterday evening, when they were set upon by two Sheep Dogs. Emergency services were alerted and Gardaí, as well as Clare's County Dog Warden were dispatched to the scene. The dogs were brought under control a short time later and have been surrendered to the Dog Warden, with a view to being destroyed. It's understood a woman in her twenties has been taken to University Hospital Limerick for treatment for what's been described as serious injuries. Clare's County Dog Warden, Frankie Coote says the person's injuries are the worst he's ever seen from this particular breed of dog.

A fresh investigation has been launched into the death of a Clare man who passed away 40 years ago as a result of injuries sustained during an incident in Bunratty. Gardaí have confirmed that the exhumation of the remains of Patrick Nugent commenced this morning, as part of a new investigation into the circumstances of his death. On the evening of February 10th 1984, 23-year-old Patrick Nugent was working as the Banquet Manager for a 40th wedding anniversary celebration, at which roughly 60 people were in attendance in Bunratty Folk Park. In the early hours of the following morning, at approximately 4am, when Gardaí say around a dozen people remained at the event, an incident occurred in the carpark, during which Patrick sustained serious injuries. After receiving First Aid CPR at the scene, he was transferred by ambulance to Barrington's Hospital in Limerick where he passed away as a result of injuries sustained during the incident. Following a Garda investigation, a man was charged in connection with P

Passenger numbers at Shannon Airport are set to take off, with the announcement that Ryanair is to introduce extra flights on five routes from the Midwest Airport this year as part of its Winter Schedule. The airline has confirmed today that due to passenger demand, it's three state of the art Boeing 737 Gamechanger Aircraft currently based in the MidWest will operate additional weekly services to Kaunas - Lithuania, Krakow - Poland, London Stansted, Manchester and Tenerife South. During a presentation at Shannon Airport today, the airline unveiled its plans to boost its passenger count at Clare's International Airport to 3 million by 2030, but this will be dependent on the Government lifting respective passenger caps at regional airports and at Dublin. Ryanair Head of Communications, Jade Kirwan has been telling Clare FM's Daragh Dolan though that using Shannon Airport as a vehicle to ease congestion in Dublin is not a straightforward process.

A small group of local people are undertaking a momentous challenge to raise not only funds but awareness around Oesophageal Cancer. They will depart Clooney Quin on Sunday, the 29th of September. Cycle4Des is named after Des Lynch who passed away from Oesophageal Cancer on 30th September 2021. For more on this, Peter O'Connell was joined by Co-organiser of the cycling fundraiser, Fergal Lynch. Photo (c): Clare FM