Clare Fm - Podcasts

Gary Kiely and John Moloney were two of four cyclists who recently undertook a 400km cycle to raise funds for the Clare To Kabwe, Zambia trip. To find out more about the Clare to Kabwe trip, and the cycle, Alan Morrissey spoke with Gary Kiely, the Owner Manager at Landscape and Leisure ltd, Kfitt Athletic Owner & Co founder of K-Fitt Gym Kilrush and cyclist John Moloney. Picture (c): Clare to Kabwe via Facebook

The Clare District Soccer League has accused Clare County Council of neglecting its bid to access vital grants under a fund which aims to recognise settlements hosting large numbers of Asylum Seekers and Ukrainian Refugees. Almost €5m has been allocated to Clare voluntary and sporting organisations under the Community Recognition Fund to date, however in both of the past two years, the local authority has excluded proposed upgrades to Frank Healy Park from it's funding application. In a letter seen by Clare FM, the local authority has advised the CDSL, it's latest application for works worth €480,000, "may be more suited to the Sports Capital Grant Scheme". The CDSL claims local soccer clubs received less than €13,000 last year, while one council led project at Ballyalla was allocated €132,500 alone. CDSL Assistant Secretary Richard Cahill says accountability is urgently needed.

It's hoped the new public fountain drinking water scheme to be rolled out in Clare and across the country will transform habits in local communities. The €2m programme announced by government this week, will provide funding for over 350 water refill stations at public buildings, civic spaces, bathing areas, beaches and greenways. According to refill.ie, over 146,000 single use plastic bottles go without being recycled every single day. Mountshannon based Green Party local election candidate Audrey Flynn believes the scheme will combat littering countywide.

The Clare branch of the Irish Farmers Association is urging local and European election candidates to outline their stance on farming policies in an online survey, where the results can be viewed by the public. Local candidates will be asked if they're in favour of a reformed planning system, actively farmed lands being exempt from Residential Zoned Land Tax, a Roadside Ash Dieback Scheme, new farm inspection protocols and increased investment in rural infrastructure. While European candidates will have to declare their views on increased CAP payments, Over-regulation, the Nitrates Derogation and environmental fairness. Clare IFA Chair Stephen Walsh says political support for farmers has never been more important.

Clare's Green Party Senator is defending the level of support given to people hoping to retrofit homes and purchase electric vehicles. Betweeen January and March, the number of households in this county that availed of solar panel fundig from the SEAI increased by 42% despite the maximum available grant falling by €300. While Last month the SIMI reported a 40% reduction in New EV sales in Clare, coming almost a year after the grant for purchasing an EV fell from €5,000 to €3,500. Inagh Green Party Senator Roisín Garvey insists the funds have been reinvested in public transport and other beneficial projects.

Clare's County Dog Warden is calling for Animal Control Officers to be urgently granted greater enforcement powers. It follows the death of a 23 year-old woman, who was killed in a dog attack at a domestic residence in Ballyneety, Co. Limerick last night. Gardaí from the Regional Armed Support Unit attended the scene, where they encountered a number of aggressive dogs which were subsequently seized, while the dog involved in the attack was destroyed. An investigation is currently underway and Rural Affairs Minister Heather Humphrey's is due to meet with the Chair of the working group on dog control this afternoon on foot of the incident. Clare County Dog Warden Frankie Coote has been telling Clare FM's Daragh Dolan he believes several more incidents will occur unless more dogs are added to the restricted breeds list.

A European Election candidate for this region claims the EU's migration pact is not rooted in human rights. It comes amid flaring political tensions over the proposed legislation which consists of five separate regulations and promises a faster, more efficient and fairer Asylum Seeker application process. Although the pact has been opted into by a number of EU member states, including Ireland, its policies will not come into force until 2026. Sinn Féin Senator and Ireland South candidate Paul Gavan says the pact not only detracts from Ireland's sovereignty but lacks the urgency required to tackle migration issues.

Infrastructure and rural crime were the main talking points of the final Clare FM local election debate. It's just two days until polling on June 7th when 59 candidates will be vying for 28 seats on Clare County Council. Seven of the nine candidates running in the Killaloe Electoral Area have participated in today's debate at Áras Contae an Chláir.

Clare Mela is back this year in the beautiful setting of Shannon Town Park. Fidget Feet and Clare County Council have teamed up with Creative Places Shannon and Shannon Tidy Towns to bring an impressive lineup of music, dance, children's entertainment and much more Clare Mela, a free award-winning arts event to celebrate cultural diversity, will take place this Saturday. To find out more, Alam Morrissey was joined by Chantal McCormick, the Creative director of Fidget Feet and Derek Clune, the Chairperson of Shannon Tidy Towns. Picture (c): Clare Mela via Facebook

Claire, a social care worker and expert in community development and humanitarian aid from Clare, is preparing to travel to the West Bank and Gaza. Her mission is to provide medical aid to Palestinian children affected by the ongoing conflict. Claire, a member of Hustle Fitness Gym in Ennis, is supported by the gym through a fundraiser this Friday and Saturday. On Wednesday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey welcomed Claire to the studio to discuss her upcoming trip and the importance of the fundraiser. To get involved you can contact Claire at Claireliddy01@gmail.com and to donate visit the link https://whydonate.com/en/fundraising/mission-to-help-heal-gaza Picture (c) Claire Liddy via Facebook

Clare students getting their state examinations underway today are being urged not to burn the candle at both ends over the coming weeks. Over 3,000 students from this county will begin their leaving and junior certificate examinations today with English Paper 1 and English respectively. For the leaving cert students that decided to take transition year during the pandemic, this will be their first time sitting a state exam. ASTI President and St. Joseph’s Kilkee Community College teacher Geraldine O'Brien says its vital, students play to their own strengths when they open the exam paper.

Pat O'Connor Previews Clare V Limerick Munster SHC Final

Projects at three prominent Clare tourism sites are set to benefit from a significant funding boost today. It comes as the Department of Tourism has distributed over €16m for outodoor recreation projects nationwide. In Clare, the Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk will receive €500,000 for repairs and upgrades to the existing path. The Kilrush Wood River and Cycleway has been granted over €165,000, while the Tuamgraney Trail Head & Trail Linkage project will get over €191,000 in funding. Community Representative on the Cliffs Of Moher 2040 Board Bill Slattery says the funds will enable urgently needed visitor safety improvements.

A Clare Developer believes large construction projects may soon grind to a halt on foot of a new tax being introduced by the Department of the Environment. From September 1st, builders will face a €10 charge for every tonne of stone or soil taken from sites and used to either backfill quarries or for other projects. The charge can be only be avoided by taking waste to a specialised recycling facility, which industry experts say are extremely lacking in Ireland. Ciarán Breen from Ciarán Breen construction in Ennis has been telling Clare FM's Daragh Dolan that the new charge will significantly drive up the cost of building new homes.

An Ireland South European Election candidate believes Irish people working abroad should be granted a two-year tax break when they return home in order to tackle labour deficits. According to a report from the Technological University of the Shannon , 284,000 additional and reskilled construction workers will be required by 2030. While during the twelve months to April last year, 29,500 Irish emigrants returned home from either work or extended travel abroad. Corofin based Irish Freedom Party Candidate Michael Leahy says radical incentives are needed.

A European election candidate is proposing Ireland's migration policy move towards something similar to the UK's Rwanda Plan. The UK government's plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda in order to process their claims there have passed by Parliament in the last month. The Supreme Court in Britain ruled last year that the policy is unlawful as there's an "evidence based finding of fact that Rwanda is not a safe country" and a "high risk Rwanda sending asylum seekers to place where there is a risk they would be subjected to persecution and ill-treatment". Barrister and Independent candidate Una McGurk believes however that a similar policy in Ireland would ease pressure on our international protection system.

Attracting inward investment and looking after forgotten towns and villages have been the main topics of discussion at the latest of Clare FM's Local Election debates. It's now just a few days out from polling day on June 7th, and candidates are competing for 28 seats across 5 electoral areas. Seven of the 15 candidates running in the Shannon Electoral Area have participated in the second of two debates covering the county's south-east region.

On Tuesday's Morning Focus, it was time again for our Arts Slot with County Art’s Officer Siobhán Mulcahy. Siobhán provided our listeners with all the details of this week’s live events for entertainment lovers in Banner County. This week, Siobhán discussed the Fleadh Cheoil an Chláir, The Shannon Mela, Kilkee Youth Theatre and much more!

On Tuesday’s Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by John Burns, retired Deputy Principal at Rice College and Director of the Burns Study Centre in Ennis. This week, John gave advice to students sitting the state examinations.

You may not be aware of it, but this week is International HS Awareness Week. HS is an acronym for hidradenitis suppurativa, a painful, long-term skin disease. Hidradenitis suppurativa affects around 70,000 people in Ireland. To discuss this further, on Tuesday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Barry McGrath, from Parteen, who lives with HS.