Kilkee Brontë Festival Returns This July

Atlantic Tales - ITMA - Liam O Brien - Episode 255

On this week's Atlantic Tales, Pat Flynn visits the Irish Traditional Music Archive in Miltown Malbay and meets acclaimed concertina player Liam O’Brien who will tell us about his work digitising and cataloguing Clare-related materials currently housed in ITMA’s extensive collection in Dublin.

Over 12,500 Clare People Remain On At Risk Public Water Supplies

Over 12,500 Clare people remain on an at risk public drinking water supply. According to the EPA's latest annual report, both the old and new Water Treatment Plants in West Clare continue to experience issues managing trihalomethanes. Measures aimed at combatting the problems are not expected to be implemented until 2032 and 2030 respectively. Environmental Protection Agency Programme Manager Noel Byrne has been telling Clare FM's Daragh Dolan that the water is still safe to drink.

Kilkee Brontë Festival Returns This July

The Kilkee Brontë Festival returns later this month, celebrating the unique connection between one of the world's most famous literary families and the West Clare seaside town where Charlotte Brontë spent part of her honeymoon.   This year's festival, running from the 17th to the 19th of July, features talks from leading Brontë experts, along with art, local history and guided tours.   Joining Alan Morrissey were the Festival Director, Jenny Bassett, Principal Curator of the Brontë Parsonage Museum in Yorkshire, Ann Dinsdale, and award-winning writer and journalist Sharon Wright, who has co-authored a new book on the Brontë family with Ann, called Let Me In: The Brontë's in Bricks and Mortar. Portrait (c) Branwell Brontë via Wikipedia

SVP Pre-Budget Submission Prioritises Child Poverty

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is urging the Government to make tackling child poverty and the rising cost of living its top priority in Budget 2027.   In its pre-Budget submission, the charity is calling for higher social welfare payments, greater supports for families, more affordable childcare and measures to ease the burden of housing and energy costs.   Gerardine Power is President of Clare SVP and joined Alan Morrissey earlier.  Image (c) SVP - Society of St. Vincent de Paul Ireland via Facebook

County Clare Show 2026 Returns

This year’s County Clare Show is looming large on the horizon.  The show, which has played an important part in the agricultural heritage of the Banner County for well over a century, will take place at the Ennis Showgrounds on Sunday, 12th July.  Joining Alan Morrissey to fill us in on what we can expect from this year’s show was Joe Lilis, Chairman of the County Clare Show. Image (c) Co. Clare Agricultural Show Society