Ennis Toastmasters Club resumes activities next week.

The County Town version of the Toastmasters International speakers club will meet next Tuesday at Hotel Woodstock.

To find out more Alan Morrissey was joined by Geraldine Gregan, Vice President Education Officer and Alan Davis, President’ of Ennis Toastmasters.

Photo: (c) Ennis Toastmasters Ireland via Facebook

On this week's episode of Clare Women In Business, Pat Flynn chats with Ciara Petty, founder and Creative Director of Ciara Petty Design Studio based in Ennis.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia is testing the limits of what is possible.

NATO jets shot down many of the drones in what was the first defensive action of its kind since Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Poland's prime minister Donald Tusk says those that 'posed a direct threat' were downed and confirmed there were no casualties.

He says it was 'likely' a 'large scale provocation'.

Tánaiste Simon Harris says America must now step up.

Alan Morrissey was joined on Thursday's Morning Focus by Donnacha Ó Beacháin, Newmarket-on-Fergus native and Professor of Politics at Dublin City University.

Photo (c) Yorkfoto from Getty Images Signature via Canva

Last month’s edition of Cosmic Fest proved to be another resounding success for the Inagh-based music festival.

Held on August 30th, the event featured a strong lineup of performers on the main stage, drawing an enthusiastic crowd.

This year’s Battle of the Bands was won by Old Crab Road.

Alan Morrissey was joined on Thursday's Morning Focus by the winning band and Ferdia O’Sullivan, who Oversaw Battle of the Bands stage.

A Clare woman is preparing to travel to Uganda to assist in voluntary projects in the African country.

Retired teacher Phil Molony will head to the South-West of Uganda to help out with two projects.

Phil has been involved in work in the Mbarara area in the western part of the country since 1993.

A fundraising coffee morning will be held in the Old Ground Hotel on Saturday, the 13th of September in the Town Hall Bistro.

Alan Morrissey was joined by Phil on Thursday's Morning Focus to find out more.

Photo (c) Phil Molony

Killaloe and Ballina have a striking new landmark thanks to Resonance Lough Derg and an acclaimed, international street artist.

The landmark, a glowing mural of the Salmon of Knowledge is the work of London-based artist David Speed.

It marks the countdown to the next Resonance Lough Derg Festival, a micro-festival of ideas, art, and performance taking place across multiple venues in February 2026.

Alan Morrisey was joined by Steve Coakley, Chairperson of Resonance Lough Derg to find out more.

Doonbeg Golf Club in County Clare, owned by US President Donald Trump, will host next year’s Irish Open.

The tournament will take place from September 10th to the 13th 2026.

Sources at Trump International in Doonbeg say it is unlikely the US President would attend the event next year.

However, Taoiseach Michael Martin says Donald Trump would be more than welcome.

On Thursday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by David Tubridy, Local businessman and Tommy Commerford, Community activist promoting Doonbeg, Secretary for Doonbeg Boatmen's group and Paul Murphy, Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council.

Photo (c) Pat Flynn

One of Clare's busiest emergency services is expected to benefit from a numbers boost. It's understood that a new firefighter has come on board at Shannon's station this week, and that two more are due to join imminently following a successful recruitment process. It would raise the station's current headcount from 11 to 14. Shannon Sinn Féin TD Donna McGettigan says it's vital these numbers are retained for the long run.

Fresh concerns have been raised that Clare farmers will be impacted by a controversial €4.5bn Uisce Éireann plan to pump water from the River Shannon to Dublin. The project involves the construction of a 170km pipeline that will extract 2% of the Parteen Basin's annual flow, to supply an additional treated water source to Dublin, Meath, Kildare and Wicklow. The IFA and ICMSA have agreed a compensation package with Uisce Éireann that's understood to be worth an average of 100,000 euro for affected landowners. However, Clare IFA Chair Stephen Walsh believes it could have unintended consequences.

A sudden speed limit drop on one of Clare's national secondary roads is said to be posing a danger to the lives of those living nearby. Fianna Fáil Councillor Antoinette Baker-Bashua is seeking a more gradual speed limit transition between the N85 and the Lahinch Road in Ennis. At present, the speed limit changes from 100 kilometres per hour to 50 kilometres per hour at the Texaco garage on the outskirts of the town. Councillor Baker-Bashua says traffic calming measures must be implemented to slow motorists down before they enter Ennis.