Stephen Fletcher leads our Sunday Prayer for Sunday 22nd February 2026, the first Sunday in Lent.

The Reader is Susan Rice and the music is provided by the Gloucester Cathedral Choir, the Sheffield Cathedral Choir and the Choir of Christ Church Lisburn.

A Clare organisation which delivers meals to homes across the county is hopeful a funding boost will mitigate its soaring food costs.

After first floating the measure in Budget 2026, the Government has announced a €2 million increase in the HSE funding allocation for Meals on Wheels organisations nationwide.

Obair in Newmarket-on-Fergus brings meals to roughly 300 service users each day and has 12 vans traversing the length and breadth of the county.

Eimear Murphy, who works with Obair, says it's getting more difficult to cover food bills.

Clare County Council says it's "actively examining" the possibility of having a full-time caretaker at an Ennis sports and leisure complex.

Clarecastle Sinn Féin Councillor Tommy Guilfoyle has called for the provision of a full-time operative at the Fair Green, also known as Tim Smyth Park, in the interest of allowing it to remain open for longer and enhancing security.

The local authority claims "work is progressing" to create such a role which it says would ensure " enhanced day-to-day maintenance, improved accessibility and user experience, and greater security and oversight within the complex".

Councillor Guilfoyle says it would improve the park's offering while making it a safer place for all.

Coming up on the show we will look ahead to what is a very busy weekend of action with Clare's four flagship sides out in National League action, we will hear about how Kilmaley GAA club are looking for the Toughest Tribe, and Alan Troy will be along with Greyhound Focus too

Dónal Martin is an Indie pop songwriter, singer and producer. His influences span from commercial pop and soft rock, to folk singer songwriter music and explores themes of love, loss, and personal struggles through his music, wrapping honest emotion in melodic, catchy production.

Off the back of a run of recent releases that have been picking up strong reactions online, Dublin-based songwriter Dónal Martin returns with his new single, ‘January Blues’. Drawing influence from artists like Gavin James, Harry Styles, and The 1975, his music feels both intimate and accessible.

‘January Blues' captures the quiet heaviness that lingers when routines return, days feel shorter, and emotions sit a little closer to the surface in the first part of the new year. ‘January Blues’ sees Donal Martin continue to showcase his gift for turning everyday feelings into heartfelt, resonant songs that linger in your head.

East Clare’s landscape has long inspired stories of magic, mystery and quiet wonder — and one local author is bringing that spirit to life for a new generation of readers.

Eric McNamara is the author of the Erica’s Light series, and he has just released his second book, Erica’s Light: The Ancient Scroll Awaits. Blending adventure with themes of kindness, community and curiosity, the series is deeply rooted in the beauty and heritage of East Clare — from Wood Park Woods in Mountshannon to the mystery of Inis Cealtra, Holy Island.

Eric joined Alan Morrissey in studio on Friday's Morning Focus to talk about the inspiration behind the series, his own personal journey back to storytelling, and why the Clare landscape continues to spark imagination.

Clare FM's Derrick Lynch was back to chat with Alan Morrissey on Friday's Morning Focus to look ahead to some sporting games that will be happening over the weekend.

Games Previewed:

National Hurling League Division 1B, Round 4:

Kildare v Clare (Saturday, St. Conleth’s Park Newbridge, 6.30pm)

National Football League:

Clare v Laois (Sunday, Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg, 2pm)

Centra Camogie League Division 1B:

Clare v Wexford (Saturday, Clareabbey, 2pm)

LGFA National Football League Division 3:

Clare v Laois (Sunday, Clarecastle Astro, 1pm)

One of the world’s biggest bands has surprised fans with a powerful and politically charged new release.

U2 have dropped a six-track EP titled Days of Ash, described as an immediate response to current global events and released ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The EP tackles themes of war, democracy, protest and human rights, and even features collaborations with Ed Sheeran and Ukrainian artist Taras Topolia.

To unpack the music, the message, and what it tells us about where U2 are creatively right now, Alan Morrissey was joined by Clare FM's Brian Flynn.

Hedgehog numbers are falling sharply across Europe, with dramatic declines recorded in recent decades and now a new Irish initiative is aiming to turn that around.

Four researchers and hedgehog advocates have come together to launch Hedgehog Conservation Ireland, encouraging communities to take simple steps to help protect one of our most loved garden visitors.

For more on this, Elaine O’Riordan from Hedgehog Rescue and the University of Galway School of Natural Sciences, joined Alan Morrissey on Friday's Morning Focus.

Photo (c) Sebastian Moldoveanu via Canva

Poetic Keys An Ode to County Clare - The Prelude [Wordsworth] by Clare FM