Clare FM - Beyond Belief

Marian Maloney is a member of the Galway Visually Impaired Activity Club and talks to Stephen Fletcher about how blind and visually impaired people can enjoy cycling and tennis. She also talks about how important her faith has been throughout her life and how she qualified to teach Irish Dancing at the age of 18. 

Originally broadcast on Beyond Belief on Clare FM on Sunday 24th April 2022

Fr Gerry Kenny talks to the President of the Clare Branch of the Society of St Vincent de Paul about the SVP Christmas Appeal.

Joanne talks to Noreen Lynch about the FCJ Spirituality House in Spanish Point, Co Clare.

Broadcast on Beyond Belief on Clare FM on Sunday 5th December 2021

Christine Hoctor talks to Beyond Belief about her work as a prison chaplain in Limerick prison.

Broadcast on Beyond Belief on Clare FM on Sunday 28th November 2021. 

(Due to rights reasons the music which originally formed part of this interview has been edited.)

In this Beyond Belief Podcast Stephen Fletcher discusses Faith and Football with a lifelong football supporter and priest in the St Albans Diocese Revd Peter Crumpler.  Peter Concludes with the Footballer's Prayer by Paul Cookson. 

Originally broadcast on Beyond Belief on Clare FM on Sunday 4th July 2021 

Revd Peter Crumpler can be found on Twitter at @PeterCrumpler 

See  http://paulcooksonpoet.co.uk/the-footballers-prayer from @paulcooksonpoet

Stephen Fletcher talks to Aidan O'Sullivan from the Church of Ireland community in Spanish Point about plans to repair and refurbish the 12th century cathedral in Kilfenora, which has been a place of worship since the 5th century.

Stephen Fletcher talks to Maureen Kelly and Dr Sue O'Brien from the Diocese of Killaloe about the initiative to bring the Stations of the Cross to the streets of Ennis during Holy Week.

First broadcast on Beyond Belief on Clare FM 21st March 2021.

Olive Halpin talks to Fr Brendan Quinlivan about the work of the charity the Ray of Sunshine Foundation in Kenya and how the pandemic has affected their work. 

Joanne O'Brien talks to Arlene O'Sullivan who is training to be a teacher at Mary Immaculate College in Limerick.  The pandemic has meant that she hasn't been at college for over a year as all teaching is now online.

Stephen Fletcher and Fr Brendan Quinlivan discuss an Ecumenical Holy Week initiative to bring the Stations of the Cross to the streets of Ennis.

Back in the Summer Stephen Fletcher spoke to Revd Annmarie Stuart and Revd Isabel Keegan, who had been Franciscan Sisters in the Roman Church,  about their ordination in the Anglican Church.  He updated the interview by talking again to Revd Annmarie about the the role she had played 40 years ago advising the Archbishop of Canterbury on the role of women in the early church.

Originally broadcast on Beyond Belief on Clare.FM on Sunday 10th January 2021

Stephen Fletcher talks to Revd Paul Fitzpatrick about the work of the Haven Hub in Limerick.  The charity supports people who are self harming or contemplating suicide as well as those suffering from mental illness and depression .

The charity has seen an increase in people seeking their help since the pandemic.

You can find out more about the charity HERE https://havenhub.ie/

Their phone number is 085 2019 250

This interview was first broadcast on Beyond Belief on Clare FM Sunday 10th January 2021

Joanne O'Brien, the Director of Youth Ministry at the Diocese of Killaloe, talks to Stephen Fletcher about her work in the Diocese.

Originally broadcast on Beyond Belief on Clare FM 19JUL20.

Don O'Sullivan, Chair of the Killaloe Diocesan Pastoral Council,  talks to Joanne O'Brien about the the work of the Diocesan Pastoral Committee and how they are supporting parishes as they reopen their churches.  He is also a member of the Shannon Folk Group and talks to Joanne about the numbers of different choirs there are in Shannon and he introduces the signature song of the group, Precious Jesus.

Here is the Podcast version of Beyond Belief of Sunday 28th June 2020.  For copyright reasons this is shorter than the broadcast programme and some of the music has been reduced.

Hear Beyond Belief in full broadcast Sunday 21st June 2020.

Andy Rooney was an American Radio and Television writer who was best known for his weekly broadcast, ‘A Few Minutes with Andy Rooney’ as part of the CBS ‘Sixty Minutes’ News programme from the years 1978 to 2011.

He was well known for his great lines. Joanne shares with us some of the wisdom Andy Rooney learned from his 92 years on this planet.

Pius Murray tells the story of his walk in the Burren and his discovery of Iníon Baoith’s Holy Well.

Broadcast on Beyond Belief on Clare FM on 3rd May 2020

Fr Tom Ryan the Parish Priest of Ennis and Vicar of the Abbey Pastoral area talks with Fr Brendan Quinlivin about the consequences of the global pandemic on the way priests can contnue to serve their parishes.

Broadcast on Beyond Belief on Sunday 26th April 2020.

Padraig Casey, one of the leaders of the Mid-Clare Youth Council, talks to Stephen Fletcher about how their group is continuing to communicate with their members during the COVID-19 lockdown using social media.

Broadcast on Beyond Belief on Clare FM on 26th April 2020

This weeks Podcast features Cathal Browne & Doireann Kinsella, students in U.L & Arlene O’ Sullivan & Sarah Fox, students in Mary I, together with students David Mc Inerney & Ciara O’ Connell from St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Tulla in conversation with Joanne O’ Brien & Fr Brendan Quinlivan about The Meitheal Youth Leadership Programme.

Fr Gerry Kenny interviews Joe Searson, a Diocesan Advisor on Religious Education,  and Carmel Coughlan Principle the Principal of Kilmihil NS.  

They discuss the provision of Religious Education in the local Catholic schools in the Diocese of Killaloe.

Broadcast on Clare FM Beyonds Belief on Sunday 19th January 2020

Bishop Fintan Monaghan, the Bishop of Killaloe, talks to Brendan O'Brien about Safeguarding and his recent visits to see refugees settling in Co Clare.

Broadcast on Clare FM Beyond Belief on Sunday 5th January 2020

On a recent visit to Ennis Fr Peter McVerry sat down and spoke to Brendan O'Brien about his childhood, his education and his campaigning for the homeless.

In this weeks podcast Brendan O'Brien talks to Norah Casey for Beyond Belief on Clare FM. 

Norah may have a reputation for being a Dragon (the rarer female variety) from her appearences onm Dragons Den but as Brendan finds out she is much nicer in real life. You might also know her as a magazine publisher and in more recent years as a television presenter, radio broadcaster and author.  But Norah is also a widow, a single mum, a former nurse and a passionate advocate for social change.  She talks to Brendan about coping with grief,  racial prejudice, homelessness, women’s rights and dying with dignity.

Stephen Fletcher tells Brendan O'Briens about some of the events happening in the Church of Ireland Parishes over Christmas.

Broadcast on Beyond Belief on Clare FM.

Fr Seamus Enright of the Limerick redeptorists talks to Brendan O'Brien about the Redemptorist Poor Campaign which is the social justice wing of their ministry and offers support to vulnerable families and individuals on a weekly basis. Fr Seamus talks about how they manage to provide thousands of food hampers to those most in need every Christmas and how individuals and companies can support this work.

Stephen Fletcher introduces our Sunday Prayer for Sunday 10th November 2019

Fr Gerry Kenny introduces our Sunday Prayer for Sunday 3rd November 2019

Maeve Kilroy talks to Joanne O'Brien about the Celebration of New Life and Blessing of Expectant Parents event to be held in Ennis Cathedral on Wednesday 30th October at 8pm.

Broadcast on Clare FM Beyond Belief on Sunday 27th October 2019

Fr Gerry Kenny introduces our Sunday Prayer for Sunday 27th October 2019

After his Welcome Service as the new Rector of the Church of Ireland West Clare Parishes Revd Kevin O'Brien came into the Clare FM studios to talk to Stephen Fletcher about his new appointment and his connections with Ireland.

Originally broadcast on Clare FM Beyond Belief on Sunday 20th October 2019

The music has been reduced in this podcast for copyright reasons.

Following his appointment as the new Rector of the Church of Ireland parishes of West Clare Revd Kevin O'Brien talks to Stephen Fletcher on Beyond Belief.

This was originally broadcast on Clare FM Sunday 20th October 2019 on Beyond Belief.

The original music has been reduced on this podcast for copyright reasons.

Fr Gerry Kenny introduces our Sunday prayer for Sunday 20th October 2019

This Sunday prayer broadcast on 13th October 2019 on Clare FM at 7:45am

This week Stephen Fletcher visits a new Christian community which was started in the 1980's in a turf shed in Kilrush by Mary Hamilton. 

About 18 years ago they were given use of the former Methodist Chapel in Kilkee which is where the West Clare Christian Fellowship now meet.

Stephen met up with Mary Hamilton in Kilrush to hear the story of how she came to start her own church.

On Sunday 1st September Beyond Belief returned to the Clare FM schedule after its summer break with a conversation with Nigel Bridge from Clare Castle. Nigel is known throughout Co Clare and beyond as a pianist, organist, choirmaster and compare. He talks to Gerry Kenny and Stephen Fletcher about his early life and influences and chooses four pieces of music to accompany the converstrion.
Broadcast on Clare FM

Back from their trip to Taize, the pilgrims Fr Jerry Carey, Cllr Mark Nestor with Kirsten Szmidt and Doireann Kinsella talk about their experiences with Joanne O'Brien.

Broadcast on Beyond Belief on Clare FM on 28th July 2019