The Dawn chorus walk is set to take place tomorrow, on the 26th of April, with Ennis Tidy towns.

Another will take place in the Burren on the 11th of May.

To find out more, Alan Morrissey was joined by Ennis Fine Gael Councillor, Cllr Mary Howard and Tom Lynch, from Bird Watch Ireland.

Photo(C): ClareFM

On Wednesday’s Morning Focus, we were joined by Cathal Crowe.

The Meelick Fianna Fáil TD was refuting reports he called for the reinstatement of Shannon Airport Stopover Rule.

The rule, which compelled transatlantic flights to the Republic of Ireland to stop at the Clare airport, was ended in 2008, following the EU-US ‘Open Skies’ agreement.

According to the trade publication Travel Extra, Deputy Crowe had recently called for legislation demanding that flights stop at Shannon, in line with the “stopover” rule.

This led to the CEO the DAA, Kenny Jacobs describing any resurrection of the rule as “bizarre”.

To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Owner of Travel Extra, Eoghan Corry.

A huge security operation is underway in Vatican City today ahead of Pope Francis’s funeral tomorrow.

At least 200,000 people are expected to attend Saturday’s outdoor service at St Peter's Square.

It will draw heads of state and government from around the world, including US President Donald Trump, while President Michael D Higgins, Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tanáiste Simon Harris are all expected to attend.

President Higgins and his wife Sabina will pay their respects at the Pope's lying in state today.

Other world leaders, including Donald Trump, are expected to arrive in Rome this evening.

To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Fr Brendan Quinlivan and Bishop Fintan Monahan.

An MEP for this region is denying that an invitation sent to the President of the European Commission to come to Clare is a PR exercise.

Ireland South Fianna Fáil MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú has written to Ursula von der Leyen inviting her to this county next month to tour the local pharmaceutical and medical technology sector.

The aim of the tour, according to Ní Mhurchú, would be to demonstrate the role that this county plays in Europe's "life sciences economy".

She says it's her duty to represent workers who may feel their future is uncertain at present.

A Clare special needs assistant is calling for assessments of needs for children to be expedited.

Education Minister Helen McEntee has announced that as of September of this year, SNAs will be redeployed to schools where vacancies exist instead of being made redundant in the event that the number of roles allocated to their school changes.

The Fórsa union has described the initiative as "seismic" for the 23,000 SNAs working at national and secondary schools nationwide.

Tubber native Liz O'Donoghue says schools are under immense pressure to provide SNAs to children awaiting assessments.

For the sixteenth episode of the village tour, Alan Morrissey paid a visit to Liscannor.

With The Village Tour, we here at Morning Focus are aiming to highlight the smaller villages and townlands around the county.

By doing this, we hope to showcase their unique character, while also bringing their diversity and individuality to life for you, the listener.

Photo (c): Clare FM

Ruth O’Neill is originally from just outside Waterford City but in her teens, moved with her family to South Kilkenny.

After finishing secondary school she worked in Germany as an au pair and learned to speak the language fluently while on her return to Ireland, she studied marketing and languages in Dublin.

It wasn’t long however before Ruth was back travelling again, spending several years working overseas including in the Middle East during the second Gulf War.

When she finally returned to Ireland to settle, Ruth established her business, Charm Bee, in Labasheeda on the Shannon Estuary.

Before that, it was mostly in the aviation sector she worked.

The gang at Corofin Dramatic Society are no doubt cock-a-hoop after qualifying for the All-Ireland Drama Festival Finals!

The finals take place in Athlone on the 11th of May.

They will be preparing for the big occasion with a performance of Catch The Weir in Corofin on this weekend.

To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined in-studio by the Chairperson of Corofin Dramatic Society, Maura Clancy, and lighting designer, Noirin Lynch.

Photo (c): Clare FM

The Clare Garden Festival is coming this weekend!

It takes place on Sunday, April 27th from 11am-5pm at Ennis Showgrounds.

Over 75 Garden, Plant, Craft & Food stalls from all over Ireland join the popular festival every year on the last Sunday in April with stallholders coming from all over Ireland.

The festival offers a great series of Garden Expert talks from an accessible stage and has much to offer and discover for young and old.

To find out more, Alan Morrissey was joined by Master Organic Gardener, Jim Cronin, Chairman of Clare Agricultural Show society, Joe Lillis, and Festival manager and founder, Carmen Cronin.

Photo (c): Clare Garden Festival

B. Molloy Master Butchers has received a 5-Star Award in this year’s Easter Lamb Display Competition.

It’s great recognition for the Roslevan-based butchers.

For more on this, Alan Morrissey was joined in-studio by Derek Molloy, of B. Molloy Master Butchers.