Doolin Folkfest 2026 Kicks Off Today

Conleth McGeary - Irish Artist Of The Week

Conleth Mc Geary’s latest single ‘Beverly’ is an acoustic folk ballad built around melodic vocals and intimate guitar, carrying the ache of leaving home and the quiet comfort of family as a refuge. With post-breakup travel, nostalgia, and emotional storytelling at its core, it sits naturally beside Dermot Kennedy and Damien Rice. Speaking on the track, Conleth says: “This song is about relying on family for healing. I think most Irish people have some relation to either living away in America or Australia, and I went to my big cousin for a summer in Boston on a J1 visa. I was lucky enough to have someone to lean on during that time, and I had the summer of my life.” ‘Beverly’ marks Conleth’s first release since signing with Rubarb Music - the newly launched Irish artist development label from Grammy Award-winning producer and mix engineer Ruadhri Cushnan and music industry veteran and 2025 Dublin Entrepreneur of the Year, Shea McNelis - just in time for Conleth’s upcoming tour of Ireland and the UK, including a sell-out headline show in Belfast’s Empire Music Hall. Blending sounds of folk and home, Conleth Mc Geary has been pursuing the dream of making music which connects with people - both at home and away. Seeking inspiration from the likes of Foy Vance, and more recently, Amble and Ye Vagabonds, Conleth's style has been created through years of graft as a solo musician across Ireland and the UK, touring both extensively, and supporting artists such as The Coronas. Having made his way to Australia with The Coronas on their 'Thoughts and Observations' tour in 2024, Conleth followed it up with a rousing headline appearance on the Emerging Artists stage at Misneach - a festival curated by Dermot Kennedy - in Sydney in March 2025.

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