Clare's newly elected senator claims it would be a 'retrograde step' for the county if Clare had no representation in the upper house of the Oireachtas. First elected to the Seanad in 2011, Martin Conway was reinstated for the fourth time as a member of the administrative panel surpassing the quota on the tenth count yesterday afternoon. The Fine Gael man at the moment stands to be the county's only senator for this term after fellow Ennistymon native Ann Marie Flanagan, Clarecastle's Leonora Carey and Shannon Councillor Tony Mulcahy were unsuccessful in their election campaigns. Conway says the Seanad plays a vital role in the country's political system and says he now offers an extra voice to highlight the major issues and concerns within Clare.

It's claimed Clare's economy will experience a major lift if the Cliffs of Moher's northern trail can be fully reopened by St. Patrick's Day. It's after the Clare Local Development Company, which manages the trail, confirmed the 6km southern route from Hags Head would likely remain closed for the rest of the year for urgent health and safety works. A 500m stretch connecting the visitor centre to the Doolin trail has also been closed since August, but the CLDC has expressed hope than an agreement can be reached with the relevant landowners to carry out works in time for the peak season. Ollie Gleeson of Ollie's Tours says it's crucial for the region.

Stephen Fletcher leads our Sunday Prayer for today the 9th February 2025, the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time and the 4th Sunday before Lent.

To discuss the sporting fixtures last weekend, Alan Morrissey was joined on Tuesday's Morning Focus by Clare FM’s Derrick Lynch, Rory Hickey, and Derek Dormer.

Games reviewed:

National Football League Division Three: Clare v Leitrim (Sunday, Cusack Park)

TUS Dr Harty Cup: St. Flannan’s College v Thurles CBS (Saturday, Mallow)

Ladies National Football League Division Two: Roscommon v Clare (Sunday)

The first payment date for the Residential Zoned Land Tax was deferred by one year, an announcement which was made as part of Budget 2024. The bad news for those liable for the Residential Zoned Land Tax is the payment date has already arrived! The 1st of February was the first payment date.

However, a Clare auctioneer believes that the Residential Zoned Land Tax will have ‘huge implications’ for landowners in Clare.

For more on this, Alan Morrissey was joined by auctioneer, Diarmuid McMahon from Sherry Fitzgerald McMahon in Ennis.

Picture (c) by AndreyPopov from Getty Images via Canva

There’s so much talk these days about artificial intelligence – or A.I. - and what impact it can have on the world. Along with this, there is plenty of discussion about whether the impact that A.I. could have will be positive or negative.

Could artificial intelligence play a crucial role in improving or helping to ease our housing crisis?

For more on this, Alan Morrissey was joined by Garry Miley, Ogonnelloe Architect and Lecturer at the Department of Architecture at the South East Technological University.

Picture (c) by piotr_malczyk from Getty Images via Canva

Today is World Cancer Day. World Cancer Day is an international day marked on the 4th of February each year, to raise awareness of cancer and to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment.

To mark the day, the HSE’s National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) is hosting a free public health webinar, for people to learn how to reduce their risk of cancer.

To find out more, Alan Morrissey was joined by Bernadette Mullins, Senior Health Promotion and Improvement Officer – Cancer Prevention, Health and Wellbeing, HSE Mid West.

Visit www.QUIT.ie or Call Quit Mid West on 065 686 5841 for free support to quit smoking.

Visit www.askaboutalcohol.ie for information on alcohol consumption, you can find a drinks calculator on the website that can help show how much you are drinking and limits.

Photo (c) Clare FM

On Tuesday's Morning Focus, it was time again for our Arts Slot with County Art’s Officer Siobhán Mulcahy.

Siobhán provided our listeners with all the details of this week’s live events for entertainment lovers in the Banner County.

This week, Siobhán told us about the Edna O'Brien film, a macrame workshop in Scariff, Concertina Cruinniú, and much more.

On Tuesday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Tom Stewart from Keane’s Garden Centre in Kilcolgan.

This week, Tom gave listeners advice on growing your own fruit.

If you have a question for Tom, contact the show on 0818 400 964 or send a text or WhatsApp to 086 1800 964.

There's been a call for greater regional balance in Clare County Council's gritting operations.

During the recent cold spell, the local authority treated roughly 12,250 kilometres of road using over 1,600 tonnes of salt.

This week's meeting of Shannon Municipal District has heard Westbury Sinn Féin Councillor James Ryan ask for grit boxes to be strategically placed around the county in times of bad weather going forward.

He says there are areas in the south-east of the county which are neglected during extreme weather events.