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It's claimed high blood pressure is a "silent killer" in Clare. The local authority has confirmed it will explore the establishment a blood pressure monitor lending initative at libraries countywide. According to the Irish Pharmacy Union, more than half of people over 50 are living with the condition. Ardnacrusha Councillor Fianna Fáil Rachel Hartigan proposed the initiative and believes it would be hugely beneficial.

It's hoped Clare's older population will have access to a free shingles vaccine in the near future. Health Minister Jennifer Carrol McNeill confirmed the vaccine was being considered following a push from Clare Fine Gael TD Joe Cooney. The National Immunisation Advisory Committee states the vaccine should be considered for those aged over 65 due to the 'greater burden and severity of the disease'. Bodyke Deputy Joe Cooney, says it's likely the vaccine will be made available to those aged over 75 first.

Fr Brendan Quinlivan presents this Sunday's Beyond Belief which includes a report from the Installation of Tulla native, Bishop Ger Nash as Bishop of Ossory, which took place in St. Mary’s Cathedral in Kilkenny city last weekend. There’s also a piece on the Beatification of Archbishop Fulton J Sheen which takes place in St. Louis Missouri on Thursday next 24th September.

Fr Gerry Kenny leads our Sunday Prayer for Sunday 20th September 2026 the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

A Clare TD claims specialist Irish teachers need to be installed in schools to prevent students becoming functionally illiterate. A meeting of the Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth this week heard that the Irish language has experienced systemic decline since the turn of the millenium. Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth, Meelick Deputy Cathal Crowe, claims children are still struggling with basic language concepts when they move into second level education. He says the standard of Irish has been 'vastly watered down' in recent years.

A new half a million euro investment in rescue equipment for Clare's Fire Service has been hailed as transformative for the force. Ten sets of new battery-operated rescue equipment have been provided for the service to use during call outs. It comes after the local authority announced that the project to deliver a new Ennis Fire Station headquarters has moved to the next stage following the appointment of a design team. Clare County Council's Chief Fire Officer, Adrian Kelly, says the new sets of equipment will be far more efficient than those they are replacing.

Coming up on this weeks show we preview the TUS senior football quarter finals along with looking ahead to the semi finals of the Clare Credit Unions senior camogie championship

Dan Egan is an Irish folk/indie singer-songwriter from County Offaly whose music blends heartfelt storytelling with energetic acoustic arrangements. Influenced by artists such as Noah Kahan and Mumford & Sons, Dan combines honest lyrics with memorable melodies to create songs that feel both intimate and uplifting. After completing a Law degree at the University of Limerick while performing across the Midlands and Mid-West, Dan committed to pursuing music full-time. He has built an audience of more than 10k followers across Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook and has performed internationally in Spain and Greece. A multi-instrumentalist, Dan incorporates guitar, banjo, and piano...

Alan Morrissey was joined by Clare FM’s Derrick Lynch to preview the weekend’s sporting fixtures. ~ T.U.S. Clare Senior Football Championship Quarter-Finals ~  - Kildysart vs Lissycasey (Saturday, Ennis, 3pm) - St. Josephs Milltown Malbay vs Ennistymon (Saturday, Ennis, 5pm)  - Doonbeg vs Kilmurry Ibrickane (Sunday, Cooraclare, 2pm) - Eire Óg vs St. Josephs Doora Barefield (Sunday, Ennis, 4:40pm) Image (c) Clare FM

Mushrooms, herbalism, traditional healing and community care are all at the heart of the Mushrooms & Roses Festival, taking place from October 2nd to 4th at Common Knowledge, outside Kilfenora and Lisdoonvarna.   The festival, presented by Savage Craic, brings together practitioners, artists and community organisers to explore traditional and emerging approaches to healing, nature and ecological care.  Organiser Llewyn Maire joined Alan Morrissey earlier to tell us more. Image (c) Mushrooms & Roses Festival

Former Clare GAA joint President Naoise Jordan has passed away.     The Whitegate native, who later lived in Parteen, was elected joint President of Clare GAA in 2020, having given more than seven decades of service to the association.     He played senior hurling for Clare during the 1960s and was also involved in preserving and recording the history of Clare hurling.     Naoise Jordan will be laid to rest in Ballycannon Cemetery, Meelick, on Sunday, following funeral Mass at St Patrick’s Church in Parteen.     He is survived by his daughter Ruth, sons Tony and Raymond, grandchildren and extended family.

More than 13,000 Clare drivers currently have penalty points on their licences, with speeding accounting for almost two-thirds of penalty-point offences nationally.    And with road deaths continuing to be a major concern, there are also financial consequences for motorists, with penalty points potentially affecting insurance premiums.    Alan Morrissey was joined by Garda Superintendent Eddie Golden and driving instructor Chris Curran to discuss what’s behind the figures and what can be done to improve driver behaviour on our roads. Photo (c) Noey smiley via Canva

Just 13% of 25- to 34-year-olds in rural Ireland attend Mass weekly, according to a new Ipsos/B&A poll, despite 57% of people saying they consider themselves religious.     At the same time, priest shortages are forcing changes to parish life and prompting renewed calls for a greater role for women and lay people in the Church.   To discuss what these figures tell us about the future of the Catholic Church in rural Ireland, Alan Morrissey spoke with by Bishop Fintan Monahan, Bishop of Killaloe earlier this morning. Photo (c) Clare FM

Ireland’s agricultural heritage will be brought to life at Bunratty Folk Park this Sunday for a Traditional Harvest Day.  Visitors can step back in time with vintage tractors and machinery, traditional crafts, music, dancing, storytelling and a demonstration of the age-old tradition of threshing.  Joining Alan Morrissey was Marie Brennan, Events Manager at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, to tell us more about the day and how it will showcase rural life and the spirit of community that was so important during harvest time. Photo (c) Clare FM

Bees and biodiversity will be in focus in Corofin next week, as the Corofin and Ruan Tidy Towns committees come together to host The Plight of the Bumblebee.  The documentary explores the vital role bees play in our ecosystems, while also looking at their place in Irish folklore, culture and history. It will be accompanied by a live traditional Irish music score.  Joe O’Connell from Corofin and John Bell from Ruan Tidy Towns joined Alan Morrissey to tell us more about the event and the importance of protecting our local biodiversity. Photo (c) Clare FM

There’s growing concern about the level of abuse, harassment and intimidation being faced by elected representatives, both online and in public.  It follows the assault on Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae in Dublin this week, while here in Clare, councillors have raised concerns about harassment of politicians and their families, and the safety implications of having home addresses publicly listed on ballot papers.  So, are things getting out of hand, and is the increasingly hostile environment putting people off entering politics?  Joining Alan Morrissey to discuss it were Fianna Fáil TD for Clare Cathal Crowe and Sinn Féin TD for...

A traffic nightmare in North Clare could soon be coming to an end. Clare County Council has commenced a procurement process for the construction of the N85 Inner Relief Road at Blake's Corner in Ennistymon. The local authority has put a value of €30m on the contract and has estimated the project, which will involve the construction of a new bridge 80m upstream will take around 18 months. Ennistymon Fianna Fáil Councillor Shane Talty says it will make a major difference.

It's hoped a new set of road markings on the M18 in Clare will help reduce the number of accidents along the route. Chevrons have been marked on the road along a stretch of the motorway where a large volume of road traffic collisions have occurred. Motorists will be advised to remain at least two chevrons behind the car in front at all times. Transport Infrastructure Ireland Communications Director, Seán O’Neill, is optimistic it will deliver a reduction in accidents on Clare's motorway.

The Government is being urged to step in and ensure there's no funding deficit for maintenance of Clare's road network. It comes as the local authority has confirmed it will enter an overdraft facility next year due to budget overruns. The council is facing a €3m overspend on its roads budget for 2026, which it attributes to inflationary increases in material costs. Maghera Fianna Fáil Councillor and member of Clare County Council's Audit Committee, Pat Hayes, has been telling Clare FM's Daragh Dolan this county's road network cannot sustain funding cuts.

The Irish Red Cross Clare will hold a Open Night on this Thursday (today 17th) from 7.30pm to 9.30pm at their Ennis Training Centre at V95 X258.  All are welcome, so come alone and discover how you can make a difference in your Community. Image (c) Irish Red Cross Clare

This Sunday, the Michael Cusack Heritage Centre in Carron is holding a special Cusack Day, celebrating the birthday of one of the key figures in the history of the GAA.  It’s also a very special year for the Heritage Centre, marking 20 years since the exhibition centre opened its doors.  There’ll be music, entertainment, refreshments and demonstrations, with the open day running from 12 to 3pm and admission free.  Joining Alan Morrissey to tell us more was Tim Madden, Manager of the Michael Cusack Heritage Centre. Image (c) Michael Cusack Centre

Oktoberfest is returning to Ennis on Friday evening as part of Culture Night, celebrating the longstanding twinning between Ennis and Langenfeld in Germany.    Now in its fourth year, the event aims to bring German culture, music, food and community spirit to the town while strengthening the links between the two communities.   Alan Morrissey was joined by Ennis councillor and Oktoberfest organiser Cllr Mary Howard, and Phil Miesle, who is also involved in the event. Image (c) Ennis and Langenfeld Twinning Committee

Thursday's Morning Focus talked about homework, and new research from the University of Limerick suggests that when it comes to secondary school students, it may be frequency rather than volume that matters most.  The study found that short, regular homework assignments can be linked with improved performance in maths and science, while also highlighting questions around teaching styles and the growing use of AI by students.  To tell us more about the findings and what they could mean for students, teachers and parents, Alan Morrissey was joined by Dr Darragh Flannery from the University of Limerick. Photo (c) Karola G fr...

New EU rules aimed at restricting children's access to social media will be published today.     The EU Kids Act will set out new protections for under-18s, while under-13s will be directed towards child-friendly alternatives to social media platforms.     European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says young Europeans are spending between four and six hours a day looking at screens.     Communications Minister Patrick O'Donovan says social media companies will be held to account under the plans.    So, what could these changes mean in practice, and how achievable are they from a technology perspective?  To discuss this, Alan Morrissey has been spe...

It’s a big weekend for Lisdoonvarna, with the town’s famous September celebrations continuing and a brand-new event getting underway — the very first Lisdoonvarna Fringe Fest.  Running from tomorrow, September 18th, to Sunday the 20th, the free festival will bring music, theatre, dancing, art, storytelling, book launches and historical tours to venues around the village.  It’s all about celebrating local culture, heritage and, of course, plenty of craic.  Joining Alan Morrissey to tell us more was one of the organisers, Dermott Petty. Image (c) Lisdoonvarna Fringe Fest

The Burren & Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark has joined a new all-island partnership bringing UNESCO sites from across Ireland and Northern Ireland together.   ‘UNESCO Together’ aims to promote collaboration in heritage, culture, sustainability, education and tourism, with plans for community exchanges and potentially an all-island UNESCO Tourism Trail.   To tell us more about the initiative and what it could mean for Clare, Alan Morrissey was joined by Dr Eamon Doyle, Geologist with the Burren & Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark and Clare County Council. Photo (c) Brian Arthur via Clare County Council

On this week's episode of 'The Future of Disability Services' , Pat Flynn chats with Michael Meere, a director on the boards of several disability organisations. This feature, 'The Future of Disability Services' is funded by the News Reporting Scheme.

Thursday's Morning Focus took a look behind the scenes at Vincent’s charity shops as part of the Society of St Vincent de Paul’s “Donate Well. Shop Well. Do Good.” campaign.  From the moment you drop off a bag of clothes, to sorting, preparing and giving those items a second life, there’s a lot more involved than you might think.  To tell us more about donating thoughtfully, shopping pre-loved and supporting people in our local communities, Alan Morrissey was joined by Bridget Healy, SVP’s Mid-West President. Image (c) St. Vincent de Paul

Alan Morrissey was joined on Thursday's Morning Focus by Katie Smith, a mother from Feakle who is raising awareness of Irish Sign Language and the importance of communication and inclusion for profoundly deaf children, and Tommy Guilfoyle.  Katie’s own son faces significant challenges communicating with children his own age, and she is passionate about ensuring that sign language is more widely available in schools.  She’s also helping to organise a fundraiser at Peppers Bar marquee on September 25th, with a fantastic line-up of local performers, all in support of Irish Sign Language lessons.  Photo (c) Kevin Malik from Pexels...

Doonbeg is still reflecting on an extraordinary few days, with the Irish Open, Fáilte Fest and the visit of US President Donald Trump bringing huge attention — and large crowds — to the village.   But alongside the excitement, there was frustration among some locals and businesses over security barriers, traffic restrictions and the impression that Doonbeg was closed off.   Alan Morrissey was joined by the new Morrissey’s Bar owner Eamonn Vaughan and local Fianna Fáil councillor and business owner Rita McInerney to discuss the experience and what lessons can be learned. Photo (c) Clare FM

Clare farmers are set to benefit from an over €11m funding boost. Approximately 5,051 individuals in this county will receive an allocation under the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme. The average payment , which is designed to support farmers on land affected by difficult conditions will come to just over €2,200. Clare IFA Chair Stephen Walsh says it's hugely important at this time of year.

Clare's opposition TD has hit back at the Taoiseach over comments he made about Sinn Féin's approach to Irish Unity. Sinn Féin, along with Plaid Cymru and the SNP signed the Cardiff agreement which aims to work towards independence from Downing Street. Michael Martin criticised the memorandum of understanding, claiming Sinn Féin set back Irish unity by collaborating with Wales and Scotland. Shannon Sinn Féin TD, Donna McGettigan, says the Taoiseach needs to 'get the finger out' and start laying the groundwork for unification.

Mr Justice Seamus Henchy by Clare FM

A Clare agtech company fears it will be a long time before farmers return to a cash-positive position. True North Technologies, which is based in Shannon, is one of hundreds of exhibitors at the National Ploughing Championships, which kicked off in Offaly yesterday. Nearly 290,000 spectators and competitors are expected in Screggan over the course of the three-day event. Rising costs for farmers are one of the main topics on everyone’s lips at the event, and Executive Director of True North Technologies, Diarmuid McSweeney, has been telling Clare FM that while it's been a challenging year for farmers, there are so...

The futures of two of Clare's largest employment sites will feature heavily on the agenda at an upcoming visit of Ireland's inward investment agency. The Industrial Development Authority is set to meet councillors in the coming weeks to discuss progress in attracting foreign direct investment here. It comes amid the imminent closure of the Daktronics plant in Ennistymon which will lead to 100 redundancies, while efforts are still underway to secure new industry at the Roche site in Clarecastle. Clarecastle Sinn Féin Councillor and Mayor of Ennis Tommy Guilfoyle has been telling Clare FM's Daragh Dolan that new economic drivers a...

Brazilian music is coming to Ennis this Culture Night with Som do Brasil – A Celebration of Brazilian Popular Music.   This Friday's concert, which will take place at Súil Gallery, will explore the rhythms of samba, bossa nova and MPB, featuring music from some of Brazil’s most celebrated artists and composers.  Joining Ennis singer-songwriter Amanda Ní Sheannáin are Brazilian musicians Cairo Rocha and Tony Sozza, who are bringing a taste of Brazil to Clare — with a touch of the Irish language woven into the performance. Photo (c) Clare FM

On Wednesday’s Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Tommy Corbett from Carey Corbett Financial Solutions. This week, Tommy discussed how to prepare financially for Christmas, especially with the current cost of living crisis. If you want to send in any questions for Tommy contact 0861800964 or email focus@clare.fm Photo (c) Tommy Corbett

The Social Democrats are calling for the planned carbon tax increase to go ahead, while proposing a windfall tax on energy companies to help households struggling with high energy bills.     The party is also putting housing, climate action and the cost of living high on its political agenda.  To discuss those issues, Alan Morrissey was joined by Hilary Tonge of the Clare branch of the Social Democrats. Image (c) Social Democrats

If you’re a fan of Elton John and Billy Joel, there’s a special night of music coming to Glór in Ennis this autumn. The Piano Man – Elton John & Billy Joel: A Live Celebration has been selling out venues around Ireland, and it’s coming to Clare for the very first time.  The show features John Forde and the 52nd Street Band performing some of the biggest hits from two legendary artists. John joined Alan Morrissey to tell us all about the show and what Clare audiences can expect. Image (c) John Forde

Tourism figures for Clare are raising concerns about the number of visitors making their way to East Clare.   While more than 611,000 people visited the county’s seven main attractions in the second quarter of this year, just 1,358 visited Inis Cealtra, despite the opening of a new €5.3 million interpretative centre last September.  So, what can be done to attract more visitors to East Clare and ensure the area benefits from Clare’s strong tourism numbers?   Earlier, Alan Morrissey spoke about this with Arlene White, Chairperson of Tourism East Clare. Photo (c) Clare County Council