Clare FM

A major programme of works is due to get underway in a Shannon Housing Estate. Clare County Council has announced it will be carrying enhancements at Finian Park. The works will involve upgraded paving and footpath surfaces, expansion of existing green areas and the replacement of all existing energy columns with modern efficient units. Shannon Sinn Féin representative Shane Doody says it's urgently needed.

Community Groups in Clare are being urged to apply for a new funding stream for local projects before next week's deadline. Under the Circular Communication Programme, over €100,000 will be made available to groups to promote environmental campaigns. Grants of between €1,000 and €5,000 are available and will cover digital marketing campaigns and mentoring. Circular.ie Community Liaison Manager Evelyn Fitzpatrick says it would greatly suit Tidy Towns and community development groups.

Stephem fletcher presents Beyond Belief for Sunday 2nd November 2025

Fr Gerry Kenny leads our Sunday Prayer on today Sunday 2nd November 2925

Clare County Council is seeking a contractor to install a mini roundabout at a notorious Ennis junction. The local authority has published the tender for minor civil engineering traffic calming works at the junction of the Shanaway Road and the Lahinch Road in the county town. The works are valued at €200,000 and involve the realignment of the junction, the construction of a mini roundabout, the upgrading of the road and footpath, and the installation of pedestrian crossings. Mayor of Ennis Fine Gael Councillor Mary Howard says after years of lobbying for the measure, she's relieved to know the wait will soon be over.

The MidWest Region's maternity hospital will hold a remembrance service tomorrow. The mass will take place at the Church of the Holy Rosary on the Ennis Road in Limerick on Sunday at 3pm. According to the CSO, there were 18 neonatal deaths in the MidWest, including four new-borns from Clare. Fr Des McAuliffe says it's a very poignant and comforting occasion for bereaved families and staff.

Sideline View Friday October 31st

Carrie Baxter’s signature sound is a tapestry of experiences and influences that interweave to tell the story of her unique journey in music. This sonic fusion blends neo-soul, R&B and jazz with deeply personal confessional lyrics, heartfelt storytelling, and themes that explore the most profound depths of the human experience. Her debut EP, Placebo (2020), described by I Was Just Thinking… as an “audio therapy session”, unpacked Carrie’s childhood and early love of hip-hop and jazz, while exploring the realisation that nothing external can bring lasting fulfilment without first making peace with the soul. Her follow-up, What Now (2021), was born out of the comedown after her debut, a moment when she didn’t quite know where to turn or what to do next. Written from that place of uncertainty, the collection wrestled with love, heartbreak, and redemption, and was described by Earmilk as “a cathartic production that sees Baxter step out of her musical comfort zone.” "Under My Skin" is a song about the ache of mixed signals and the quiet pull of illusion. It’s about falling for the fantasy instead of facing the truth in someone’s actions — returning to a love that isn’t right, simply because the longing is louder than reason. It captures the moments when desire drowns out clarity, and the heart chooses what the mind already knows it shouldn’t. Sonically, it’s what we’ve come to expect from Carrie, nostalgic and soul-driven, with a backdrop of warm, 90s-style drums that anchor the track. Carrie’s comment “I think the song speaks for itself through its lyrics. What I know for sure is that it marked a turning point for me as a woman, a song written from a place of growing self-worth and value. The lesson that came with this person was something I didn’t want to face, but I knew I had to. And there was no better way to process it than through my music.

Fáilte ar ais chuig eagrán nua de Ar An Lá Seo ar an 31ú lá de mí Dheireadh Fómhair, liomsa Lauren Ní Loingsigh. I 1986 tháinig sé amach go raibh Samantha Nolan ar ais lena chlann I mBaile Átha Cliath tar éis obráid a shábháil a shaol. I 2003 tháinig sé amach go raibh RTÉ chun thaispeáin a lán sacar príomhroinn tar éis a rinne siad margadh chun thaispeáin cluichí gach Sathairn do trí shraith. I 1970 bhí méadú den cháin bhóthair sa bhuiséid nua. Bhí an méadú ann do fheithicil príobháideach, cáin ar só agus cáin do chomhlachtaí. Sin na rudaí a tháinig an aire airgeadas amach leis sa Dáil. I 2003 bhí bagairt ann go mbeadh ardú de na praghas de thí nua timpeall an tír ach tháinig Comhairleoir timpeall an chontae amach nach mbeidís chun é seo a dhéanamh. Tháinig siad amach ag moladh tobhach nua. Sin Fatman Scoop le Be Faithful – an t-amhrán is mó ar an lá seo I 2003. Ag lean ar aghaidh le nuacht cheoil ar an lá seo I 2005 dhíol siad culaith a chaith John Lennon ar an chlúdaigh den albam Abbey Road, I gceant do 118 míle dollar I Los Vegas. Dhíol siad Austin Princess a thiomáin John Lennon sa scannán faisnéise Imagine, do 150 míle dollar. Chuaigh cuid den airgead go dtí Amnesty International. I 2007 chabhraigh Leona Lewis leis an íoslódáil ar líne sa Bhreatain mar íoslódáil timpeall 1.7 milliúin daoine amhráin éagsúla I seachtain amháin. Dhíol Leona Lewis níos mó ná 106 míle íoslódáil de a amhrán Bleeding Love. Agus ar deireadh breithlá daoine cáiliúla ar an lá seo rugadh giotáraí Johnny Marr sa Bhreatain I 1963 agus rugadh amhránaí Vanilla Ice I Meiriceá ar an lá seo I 1967 agus seo chuid de amhrán. Agus sin é I gcóir Ar An Lá Seo – go raibh míle maith agaibh as éisteacht do bhliain ar fad agus is féidir libh dul ar clare.fm chun éisteacht siar ar aon dóibh. Welcome back to another edition of Ar An Lá Seo on the 31st of October, with me Lauren Ní Loingsigh 1986: Little Samantha Nolan was back in the arms of her family in Dublin after an operation that has probably saved her life. 2003: A feast of live premiership football was being promised by RTE after it secured a deal to screen Saturday afternoon matches for the next 3 seasons. 1970: Car owners were hit in the budget after An increase in the cost of road tax on private vehicles, wholesale tax on luxuries and direct taxation of companies were the features of the supplementary budget brought into Dáil Eireann by the new minister of finance. 2003: The threat of massive hikes in the price of new housing across the country was removed by Clare County Councilors when they rejected the draft scheme proposing a range of new levies at their adjourned October meeting. That was Fatman Scoop with Be Faithful – the biggest song on this day in 2003 Onto music news on this day In 2005 The white suit worn by John Lennon on the cover of the Beatles' Abbey Road album sold for $118,000 (£66,385) at an auction in Las Vegas. And an Austin Princess hearse driven by the late star in the documentary Imagine sold for $150,000 (£84,388). A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the items went to Amnesty International. 2007 22-year-old X Factor winner singer Leona Lewis helped boost UK online music downloads to a record 1.7 million in one week making it the biggest week ever for download sales. Lewis sold more than 106,000 downloads of her track ‘Bleeding Love.’ And finally celebrity birthdays on this day – guitarist Johnny Marr was born in the UK in 1963 and singer Vanilla Ice was born in America on this day in 1967 and this is one of his songs. And that ends our amazing Ar An Lá Seo over the last year – thank you so much for listening and to listen back to any of them you can head on over to our website clare.fm.

A Clare Approved Housing Body insists all of its developments are rigorously tested to ensure the best value for money. It follows a new report from the Housing Finance Agency which shows it cost Approved Housing Bodies €247,500 on average to build social homes in this county. The Inis Housing Association is one of the biggest contributors in this regard, and is responsible for over 90 homes in Clare. Chairperson Pierse O'Shiel has been telling Clare FM's Daragh Dolan that due diligence is done on every project.

On Friday's Morning Focus with Alan Morrissey, It was time to look ahead to this weekends sporting action with Clare FM’s Derek Dormer. Games Previewed: Munster Intermediate Hurling Championship Quarter-Final: O’Callaghan’s Mills v Abbeydorney (Kerry) (Sunday, 1.30pm) Munster Junior Hurling Club Championship Quarter-Final: Killrossanty (Waterford) v The Banner (Saturday, Lemybrien, 1:30pm)

The fourth annual Heritage Ireland 2030 Summit took place at Trinity College in Dublin on Wednesday. The annual conference brings together heritage practitioners to share knowledge and advance the national heritage plan, Heritage Ireland 2030. The engagement of young people with heritage was to the fore at the Summit, which heard about local ‘on the ground’ heritage projects from around Ireland centred on engaging young people with heritage and biodiversity in new ways. This included hearing about an interesting project from Clare, which involved the adoption of a ringfort behind their school by children from Inch National School. Keir McNamara, from Inch Tidy Town spoke with Alan Morrissey on Friday's Morning Focus. Photo (c) Eventbrite

'Beauty or Beast' the story of Púca. Produced by Clare FM's Programme Director / Head of Operations, pf@clare.fm

It’s time for another episode of our newest feature on Morning Focus, Traditional Greats. Traditional Greats is presented and produced by Therese McInerney. This captivating 26-part series celebrates the enduring legacy of traditional Irish music in our county. Each episode pays tribute to a legendary Clare musician who has passed on, but whose influence continues to inspire generations. Therese speaks with musicians from across the county, exploring how these iconic figures shaped their musical journeys and contributed to Clare’s unique cultural heritage. Throughout the series, the timeless sounds of these greats are brought vividly to life, weaving their legacy into the very fabric of Clare’s musical identity. Listeners will enjoy a rich and heartfelt journey through the melodies, stories, and traditions that define our county’s proud musical history. In the latest episode of Traditional Greats, Therese pays tribute to Frank Custy, featuring Garry Shannon.

Today is Halloween! It’s a day for spooky costumes, scary movies...and lots of trick or treating! We sent Daragh Leamy from the Morning Focus team out to ask the great Clare public about their feelings on Halloween. We also hear from Ann Massey McElroy, author, paranormal investigator, history and hauntings specialist and folklorist on Friday's Morning Focus with Alan Morrissey. Photo (c) by Jaspe via Canva

Consultant Gastrointestinal Surgeon at Oxford University Hospital Professor Nick Maynard joined Alan Morrissey on Morning Focus. Nick is renowned for his humanitarian work with the charity Medical Aid for Palestinians and has been volunteering in Gaza for the last 15 years. He will pay a visit to County Clare next month, when he will give a fundraising talk for Medical Aid for Palestinians, in Kilkee on the 30th of November from 6pm. Picture (c) Cultúrlann Sweeney

The Oakhill Players are bringing Big Maggie to the stage in Kilkee next month. They will perform John B. Keane’s ‘riveting story of money, land and secret sex’ over four evenings at Cultúrlann Sweeney, from the 13th – 16th November. To find out more, Alan Morrissey was joined live in studio by Veronica Keating of Oakhill Players.

Work is underway on the Tulla Road Active Travel Scheme in Ennis. The project will deliver a continuous 2.2 kilometre primary cycle route and enhanced walking and wheeling facilities on the Tulla Road. Pedestrian crossings are to be upgraded while new crossings will be introduced, junctions will be tightened and various other traffic calming measures will be implemented. Clare County Council estimates the works will take 18 months to complete and has confirmed construction will take place in seven phases, with phase one from Gort na mBláth and Hillcrest expected to take 12 weeks. Clare FM's Seán Lyons spoke with Clare County Council Senior Executive Engineer Anne O'Sullivan to find out more about the background to the project and the schedule of works. Photo (c) Clare County Council

The construction of the Tulla Road Active Travel Scheme in Ennis is expected to take 18 months. Clare County Council has announced that the project will be delivered in seven phases, with the first section from Gort na mBláth to Hillcrest to be completed within approximately 12 weeks. Works will take place from 8am to 6pm on weekdays and from 9am to 1pm on Saturdays while works impacting road operation will be carried out from 9:30am to 4:30pm from Monday to Friday, and from 9am to 1pm on Saturdays. It's understood a traffic management system will be in place for the duration of the operation, and Clare County Council Senior Executive Engineer Anne O'Sullivan says they'll strive to minimise disruption.

A proposed development which would see several warehouse units built in a residential area of a south-east Clare village has been given the green light. Clare County Council has approved Tekelek Group Holdings Limited's planning application to construct four warehouse units including office accommodation in what the firm has referred to as the "Portdrine Business Park" in Portdrine, Cratloe. A total of nine submissions were made in opposition to the development during the appeals process, with local Fianna Fáil Councillor Pat O'Gorman among those who objected. He believes the additional traffic arising from the development will overwhelm the area and create a road safety risk in the vicinity of the N18.