Clare FM Sideline View Friday June 5th

Clare Immigrant Support Network Fears EU Pact Will Lead To Hasty Unfair Decisions

The Clare Immigrant Support Network is raising concerns the new EU Migration Pact will lead to hasty and unfair decisions against international protection applicants. The EU wide agreement comes into effect from today and will aim to expedite asylum claim processing times across the bloc, meaning decisions have to be made between 3 and six months depending on the circumstances of the case. There are currently over 33,500 pending asylum applications awaiting decision in Ireland. Clare Immigrant Support Network Co-Ordinator Simon Ó'Treasaigh has been telling Clare FM's Daragh Dolan the system needs to be properly resourced for the changes.

Sports Preview – 12th of June 2026

Derrick Lynch was joined live in-studio by Clare FM’s Alan Morrissey to chat about the upcoming sporting fixtures for the weekend. - The final round of club football league games - The Patrick Wickham Memorial Day in Quilty - Clare's Kennedy Cup team reaching the 2026 Shield Final Image (c) Clare FM

Doolin Folkfest 2026 Kicks Off Today

Today marks the beginning of this year’s Doolin FolkFest.  The Doolin FolkFest brings together some of the finest artists in Ireland and beyond for a weekend of folk, roots, and traditional music across multiple stages – from intimate acoustic sessions in The Attic to high-energy headline acts in The Barn.   Across the next three days, festival goers will be able to catch live performances from Beth Orton & Sam Amidon, Mick Flannery and Susan O’Neill, Martin Hayes & Brian Donnellan, Cormac Begley, and many more.     For more on Doolin FolkFest 2026, Alan Morrissey was joined by Susan O’Neill, Ennis singer-songwriter, and Kieran O’Connell, singer-songwriter from Rineen Miltown Malbay. Image (c) Doolin Folk Fest

Cheap Imports To Cost More Under New EU Customs Rules

Irish consumers who regularly snap up bargain buys online could soon find that cheap shopping is no longer quite so cheap.  A new €3 customs charge on low-value parcels arriving from outside the European Union is due to come into effect from July 1, adding an extra cost to millions of purchases from popular retailers in Britain, China and the United States.   Business representatives say the move could encourage more people to shop locally, while consumers accustomed to low-cost fashion, electronics and household goods may see the overall cost of online bargains begin to rise.  To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Margaret O’Brien Chamber, Ennis Chamber CEO, and Pat Clarke Browne, Munster Business in Shannon. Photo (c) HAKINMHAN from Getty Images via Canva

ISME Calls For Budget To Break ‘Dangerous Overreliance’ On Multinationals

Ireland's economic success has long been built on a combination of strong indigenous businesses and foreign direct investment.    However, the small business representative group ISME is now warning that the country has become overly reliant on a relatively small number of multinational corporations, particularly when it comes to tax revenues and economic growth.     In its pre-Budget submission, ISME is calling for a renewed focus on supporting Irish-owned businesses, encouraging entrepreneurship, improving access to capital and investing in skills and training.    To discuss the challenges and opportunities facing indigenous enterprises, and what changes ISME would like to see in the upcoming Budget, Alan Morrissey was joined by ISME National Council member and owner of St Tola's Goat Cheese, Siobhán Ní Ghairbith. Image (c) ISME