Villages in west and north Clare are said to be "suffering" with no means of retaining their young population.

An action plan is being sought following the publication of new data revealing two of the county's five local electoral areas aren't experiencing population growth.

In the Ennistymon LEA, 176 births and 173 deaths were recorded in 2022, giving it an almost neutral increase rate of 0.2.

The region is often purported to be at the coalface of construction constraints, with the lack of adequate wastewater infrastructure as well as prohibitive planning legislation creating obstacles to development in many settlements.

Ennistymon Fianna Fáil Councillor Shane Talty claims it's especially difficult to build one-off homes along the Wild Atlantic Way.

Fáilte ar ais chuig eagrán nua de Ar An Lá Seo ar an 8ú lá de mí Lúnasa, liomsa Lauren Ní Loingsigh.

I 1986 bhí plean ag na dochtúirí chun stailc a dhéanamh ach ar deireadh níor tharla sé mar go raibh idirghabháil ón Chúirt Oibre.

I 1991 tháinig sé amach go raibh an costas chun páiste a chuir tríd bunscoil agus meánscoil timpeall 8 míle punt.

I 1975 d'oscail an Aire Gaeltacht scoil nua mar go raibh siad ag iarradh níos mó cuairteoirí agus chun na daoine ón chontae chun labhair níos mó Ghaeilge.

I 1991 tháinig sé amach go raibh an seomra in Inis chun dialann a fhoilsiú le caitheamh aimsire, imeachtaí agus spórt in Inis.

Sin Typically Tropical le Barbados – an t-amhrán is mó ar an lá seo I 1975.

Ag lean ar aghaidh le nuacht cheoil ar an lá seo I 1987 fuair U2 a dara huimhir a haon I Meiriceá lena hamhrán I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For óna albam Joshua Tree.

I 2010 bhí parúl Mark David Chapman, dúnmharfóir John Lennon, curtha siar go dtí mí Mheán Fómhair de bharr go raibh siad ag iarradh níos mó eolas a fháil ar an chás.

Agus ar deireadh breithlá daoine cáiliúla ar an lá seo rugadh aisteoir Dustin Hoffman I Meiriceá I 1937 agus rugadh amhránaí Shawn Mendes I gCeanada ar an lá seo I 1998 agus seo chuid de amhrán.

Beidh mé ar ais libh an tseachtain seo chugainn le heagrán nua de Ar An Lá Seo.

Welcome back to another edition of Ar An Lá Seo on the 8th of August, with me Lauren Ní Loingsigh

1986: Strike planned by doctors were averted following intervention by the Labour Court.

1991: It was reported that to educate one child from the beginning r primary school to the end of secondary level it would cost £8,000.

1975: The Minister of the Gaeltacht opened a new school in hopes to interest visitors and urge Clare people to return to Irish Heritage.

1991: It was reported that Junior Chamber Ennis would publish a social diary featuring all social activities, events and sports in Ennis

That was Typically Tropical with Barbados – the biggest song on this day in 1975

Onto music news on this day In 1987 U2 scored their second US No.1 single from their Joshua Tree album with 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For'.

2010 John Lennon's killer, Mark David Chapman, had his parole hearing delayed until early September so that officials could gather additional information.

And finally celebrity birthdays on this day – actor Dustin Hoffman was born in America in 1937 and singer Shawn Mendes was born in Canada on this day in 1998 and this is one of his songs.

I'll be back with you next week with another edition of Ar An Lá Seo.

To preview the sporting fixtures, Peter O'Connell was joined on Monday’s Morning Focus by Clare FM’s Derek Dormer.

Now to a truly inspiring journey unfolding across Clare and beyond this week — it’s the annual Step by Step Walk to Knock, raising funds and awareness for the incredible work of Mary’s Meals.

The walk began on August 7th and will continue right through to the 15th, with walkers making their way step by step across the country — passing through places like Clonlara, Killaloe, Feakle, and now heading toward Scarriff and Tuamgraney.

To learn more about the walk, how to support it, and the impact of Mary’s Meals Peter O'Connell was joined by walker and organiser Ger Silke.

Photo Credit: Ger Sike

A major new healthcare study has recommended that a Model 4 hospital be developed in Ennis, County Clare, as part of efforts to ease ongoing pressure at University Hospital Limerick (UHL).

The study was unveiled this summer at the prestigious International System Dynamics Conference (ISDC) in Boston, where it was recognised as a vital contribution to global healthcare planning.

Led by Irish researcher Sinéad Madden, the work uses advanced simulation to examine future demand for emergency and hospital care across the Mid-West (MW) region.

The model, called MIDCARE (Midwest Integrated Demand and Capacity Analysis for Regional Emergency-care), is the first of its kind in Ireland. It uses real-world data to simulate hospital needs over time, considering population growth, demand for emergency services, and workforce shortages.

Peter O'Connell spoke with Sinéad Madden, and she began by explaining what the MIDCARE study is all about.

Cassidy’s bar and restaurant in Carron, a landmark that dates all the way back to 1796, is now under new management, giving fresh hope to locals and visitors alike that this historic spot will thrive once again.

With deep roots going back to the Cassidy family, who have run the pub since 1830, this venue has seen centuries of change — from a Royal Irish Constabulary Barracks to one of Clare’s most famous watering holes.

To tell us more about its future, Peter O'Connell was joined by the new owner Kiril Marinoff.

Women and girls across County Clare are being invited to step outside, try something new, and embrace all the outdoors has to offer, as HER Outdoors Week returns for its fifth year.

Running from August 11th to 17th, the national initiative aims to boost female participation in outdoor sports and recreation. In Clare, there’s a packed schedule of events to get involved in, from surfing and snorkelling to hiking and cycling.

To talk more about what’s happening locally and why this campaign continues to grow in impact each year, Peter O'Connell was joined by by Jessica O’Keeffe, Outdoor Recreation Officer with Clare Sports Partnership.

A brand-new chapter begins for families in the Shannonbanks and Westbury area this week, as the Seanchoill Playground is officially opened to the public this Friday afternoon.

Located within the Seanchoill Sports Complex, the playground has been a much-anticipated addition for local children and families across Parteen, Ardnacrusha, Clonlara and beyond. The opening will be marked with a community celebration.

To hear more about how the project came together, Peter O'Connell was joined by James Ryan, Westbury Sinn Fein Councillor and Tom Buckley, from Seanchoill Sports.

A local electoral area in Clare is among 15 nationwide which had more deaths than births in 2022.

A new analysis of data by the Central Statistics Office shows the Kilrush local electoral area experienced the fifth-largest natural decrease rate in the country in the year in question.

The Kilrush LEA recorded 190 births and 213 deaths in 2022, giving it a natural decrease of 23, translating to a natural decrease rate per 1,000 of population of -1.

This makes the area one of just 15 in Ireland where there were more deaths than births in 2022.

The Ennistymon LEA's natural increase was close to neutral, with 176 births and 173 deaths occurring, resulting in a natural increase rate of 0.2.

The Ennis, Shannon and Killaloe areas all recorded natural increases with Ennis having the highest at 3.5.

The findings are in contrast to those of 2021 when each of the five LEAs in Clare experienced natural increases.

A vacant building in the heart of Shannon Town Centre is to get a new lease of life as a student accommodation complex.

UGP Shannon SC Limited has been given the green light to convert Phoenix House - formerly the Shannon Development building - to student accommodation.

The development will consist of 95 bedspaces as well as common rooms, laundry facilities, toilet facilities, waste storage and a proposed 96 bike parking spaces.

Shannon TD and Sinn Féin Further and Higher Education spokesperson Donna McGettigan says it'll be music to the ears of those attending Shannon College of Hotal Management.