Sinn Fein's Donna McGettigan On Early Predictions by Clare FM

Shovels will enter the ground for a highly anticipated regeneration project in East Clare at the beginning of next year.

The Killaloe Municipal District has confirmed that construction for the Scariff Town Regeneration Project will begin in January of 2025, with the development of a greenfield site as a car park to be the first aspect of the project to get underway.

Following the car park's completion, work will begin on the renovation of the vacant Merriman Tavern as a Community and Enterprise Hub, as well as public realm enhancements in Market Square, with the €11 million project to conclude construction in mid to late 2027.

Senior Planner with Clare County Council and Co-ordinator of the Killaloe Municipal District, Brian McCarthy, says the car park should be up-and-running within a year.

Coming up on the show:

We will have an in depth preview of Truagh-Clonlara's All Ireland club semi final showdown with St Vincents, we look ahead to the U21 A, B and C football finals, along with the U21 A hurling semi final, and a big weekend for Clare clubs in FAI Junior Cup action too.

An Ennis retailer insists businesses wouldn't need Black Friday if they received adequate Government support.

As shops across the country are unveiling their seasonal discounts today, many smaller traders are taking a different approach.

Once confined to the US, Black Friday is now very much a part of Irish retail culture.

Falling on the Friday after the US holiday of Thanksgiving, the day marks the beginning of the Christmas shopping season and is usually characterised by sales and reductions in shops, both in-person and online.

Eric Flynn of Ennis Electrical says the day is a major consideration for his business as they prepare for the winter months.

Since its arrival in Ireland, smaller traders haven't been shy in expressing their dislike of Black Friday, claiming it's more difficult for them to slash their prices, given the margin they're forced to work with.

Freya's Boutique in Ennis doesn't operate a Black Friday sale, but instead offers reductions to its loyal customers throughout the year.

Its owner, Monica Keane says her shop is dependent on its strong links with its customer base.

It's often argued that days like Black Friday unfairly force smaller businesses to compete with larger ones with a greater ability to offer generous discounts.

Bernadette Clune of Scéal Eile Books in Ennis says in her experience, the people of Clare are only too happy to support local.

The rising cost of doing business has been a key issue of the General Election campaign.

The standard rate of VAT is 23% at present, and Mark Sutton of Sutton's Lighting is arguing that if retailers were properly supported by the State, they wouldn't have to depend on flash sale days like Black Friday.

The 2025 budget has seen Housing and Building projected expenditure soar by €3.9 million from last year, while Road Transport and Safety expenditure is up by €1.8 million and Water Services expenditure is down by almost €1.5 million.

Maghera Fianna Fáil Councillor Pat Hayes insists rather than punishes traders by increasing commercial rates, more funding is needed from central government.

A brisk voter turnout has been reported across Clare's 102 polling stations for General Election 2024.

Over 96,000 people in this county are eligible to have their say today on who will represent this county in Dáil Eireann for the next five years.

So far, Clarecastle is leading the democratic stakes in the county, where 21% of voters have cast their ballot.

Voting is aslo continuing at a steady pace in West Clare, where more than 11% of voters turned out in Kilkee and Bansha ahead of the lunchtime rush.

Kilkee resident Manuel Di Lucia is expecting polling to ramp up this evening as the weather improves.

Ennis is also in line with the county trend, with 17% of the eligible electorate having cast their ballot.

O'Callaghan's Mills is also continuing at a steady pace, where over 11% voters fulfilled their democratic duty before 11am.

The polling station in Newmarket-On-Fergus meanwhile has already seen 15% of its registered voters.

Voters have until 10pm tonight to decide which 4 Clare TDs they want to represent them in the 34th Dáil.

You will not need a polling card going to your polling station, but you must bring ID, , where supports will also be in place for anyone with a visual impairment.

Clare's Returning Officer Rita Considine who's taking charge of her first ever General Election in this county is encouraging voters to exercise their democratic right.

Amanda Atherton is an author who is promoting her latest book, titled If Time Were Real.

She is putting in the hard yards to promote it by traveling around the world!

Amanda’s latest stop is County Clare.

To talk more about the book, Alan Morrissey was joined by in-studio Amanda Atherton.

Photo (c): Clare FM

Noel Wallace previously joined us on Morning Focus to discuss his Multiple Myeloma diagnosis eleven years ago, plus his battle against the odds to be here now, many years beyond the limited timeframe he had initially been given.

Noel recently held a very successful fundraiser night in aid of Multiple Myeloma Ireland at Bunratty Manor.

He has also released his version of what is arguably the country’s favourite Christmas song, along with launching an iDonate page for Multiple Myeloma Ireland.

To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined in-studio by Noel Wallace.

You can donate here: https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/11547769

Photo (c): Clare FM

A former Mayor of Clare is urging the next representatives of Clare in Dáil Éireann to "start a conversation" around the funding of local authorities.

The outgoing head of Clare County Council has described the current funding model as "piecemeal" following the adoption of the Council's almost €192 million budget for the coming year.

At first glance, there appears to be little to complain about as Clare's elected councillors have agreed to adopt a Revenue Budget for 2025 of €191.9 million - an increase of €5.5 million on last year.

Many present at the special meeting at Áras Contae an Chláir have sounded their discontent with the level of funding the local authority receives however, with several accusations made that county councils are being treated by the Government as "the poor relation".

A standout aspect of this year's budget - and a welcome development for struggling local businesses - is that there will be no increase in commercial rates in the coming year.

Council Chief Executive Pat Dowling, whose tenure comes to an end next week, doesn't think keeping rates at the same level will be tenable for long.

The 2025 budget has seen Housing and Building projected expenditure soar by €3.9 million from last year, while Road Transport and Safety expenditure is up by €1.8 million and Water Services expenditure is down by almost €1.5 million.

Maghera Fianna Fáil Councillor Pat Hayes insists rather than punishes traders by increasing commercial rates, more funding is needed from central government.

Addressing councillors at the meeting, Chief Executive Pat Dowling said "the additional services, infrastructure and the impact of inflation over the last Council term explains the challenges we have faced and will face over the term of the new Council".

Clonlara Independent Councillor Michael Begley says there doesn't seem to be any consideration for local authority funding at a national level.

Regina Nathan, a world-renowned soprano and a former guest of ours for In Profile, will be performing in Clare very soon.

She is due to perform in Knockerra Church next Thursday, December 5th, before her Christmas Spirit Annual Christmas Concert in St. Columba’s Church of Ireland on Bindon Street here in Ennis on the following Saturday, December 7th.

To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Regina Nathan and Veronica Keating, who is involved in the December 5th show.

Photo (c): Clare FM