There has been an increase in the distance between homes and places of employment, resulting in longer commutes for people, due to the attraction of living in small rural villages.

This finding comes from a new research study involving the participation of 1,000 people from seven small towns across Ireland – including Ennistymon and Lahinch in Co. Clare – as well as two towns in Maryland in the United States.

The study was carried out using a combination of an online survey of residents and a series of interviews with commuters, community leaders and other local stakeholders.

To find out more Alan Morrissey was joined by Dr. Brendan O'Keeffe, who led on the Ennistymon-Lahinch case study, Ben Bennet from Surf School & Surf Shop in Lahinch, and Sean Lenihan, Director of Service for Economic Development at Clare County Council.

Photo (C): Hans from pixabay via Canva

Clare Coach Eoin Curtin After National League Win Over Fermanagh

Clare Camogie Manager John Carmody After National League Win Over Westmeath

It's hoped €7.5m worth of upgrade works carried out by Uisce Eireann will end the threat of future pollution in a North Clare community.

It comes as the Ballymacraven Water Treatment Plant, which serves a population of 6,000 in Ennistymon and its surrounding areas has been removed from the utility's remedial action list.

In May of 2023, an uncontrolled sludge discharge at the plant caused the death of up to 2,000 fish in the downstream Ballymacraven River.

Kevin Noonan from the Restore Ballymacraven River Association says it's a significant step forward.

Clare County Council is to write to the Housing Minister to request that planning permission fees are waived for pyrite affected homeowners.

Under the current enhanced defective blocks scheme, applicants can receive up to €462,000 to demolish and fully rebuild a dwelling impacted by the faulty mineral.

But, if the home isn't built on the original site, the household will have to foot the bill for planning fees, along with connections to water supplies and the electricity grid.

Kilrush Independent Councillor Ian Lynch says it's a bill aggreived families shouldn't have to foot.

A new shuttle bus service to the Cliffs Of Moher to be rolled out later this year will come with free entry to the landmark.

The complementary service by Clare County Council will be ran as a pilot through the peak tourist months of June, July and August both this year and in 2026 and will be extended to May and September depending on demand.

There will be multiple pre-determined routes with stops at Miltown Malbay, Lahinch, Liscannor, Kilfenora, Lisdoonvarna, Liscannor and Doolin.

Local Fine Gael Councillor Joe Garrihy is hopeful it will be a success.

Clare Gardaí are reportedly growing increasingly frustrated due to people recording videos of criminal incidents instead of intervening in or reporting them.

Ennis Superintendent John Ryan and Shannon Inspector Morgan O'Donoghue held a private briefing with the county town's elected representatives this week where a number of topics relating to local criminality were discussed.

The meeting heard that between 2023 and 2024, incidents of shop theft in Ennis dropped by 85, while minor assault fell by 20 and anti-social behaviour warnings saw a decline of six.

Mayor of Ennis Fianna Fáil Councillor Clare Colleran-Molloy says the Superintendent's feelings about social media being certain individuals' first port of call were palpable.

On this week’s Atlantic Tales, Pat Flynn takes a walking tour of the historic town of Ennis with expert guide Dr Jane O’Brien.

Jane has been providing guided tours of Clare's county capital since she established Ennis Walking Tours in 2005.

Coming up on the show:

We hear about Clare's latest provincial football success and look ahead to Sunday's National Football League clash with Fermanagh.

It's a busy Saturday afternoon in the North Clare area where Tubber hosts the Banner's opening game of the National Camogie League while St Flannans go to Gort for the Croke Cup quarter-final.

We look ahead to Avenue United's date with destiny in the FAI Junior Cup and Alan Troy will be along with Greyhound Focus too

The world's only LGBTQ+ matchmaking festival returns to Clare this weekend for its 12th iteration with some of the biggest names in drag in attendance.

The Outing festival, will take place at the Inn at Dromoland and will see cameo's from Charra Tea, Paul Ryder and Victoria Secret in drag and comedy shows, while Irish heritage will be celebrated at the many 'Gaylís' taking place.

Organisers of the festival have also put foward a bid for the Midwest to host Europride in 2028, which would see up 75,000 people from around the world descend on the region to celebrate LGBTQ culture.

Festival Director, Eddie McGuinness, says a successful Europride bid could be worth millions to the economy.