Morning Focus Friday July 5

On Friday’s Morning Focus John Cooke spoke with Fianna Fail Deputy Timmy Dooley and Fine Gael Senator Martin Conway about the progression of the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill.

Nearly 30 retailers in Ennis Town are extending their opening hours
Shops in Ennis are responding to requests from visitors and residents to extend their opening hours and have come together collaboratively to offer Fabulous Fridays for the Summer months in Ennis
The launch of Fabulous Fridays will conveniently be in line with the official beginning of Ennis Street Festival today and the duration of the extended opening hours on Fridays has been set for at least July, August and September
John was joined in studio by Michele Madden, President of Ennis Chamber and David Woodford of The Irish Shop to speak about the new initiative.

Three Clare Garda Stations are up for sale
The premises formerly occupied by Gardai in Broadford, Carrigaholt and Labasheeda are being put on the market by the Office of Public Works following their Closure in the last year
The Minister of state at the OPW is now inviting Estate Agents to express their interest in disposing of 40 Garda stations throughout the country.
Minister Brian Hayes said his department has identified no alternative State use for these properties, though he added he’s received requests from various community groups expressing an interest in some of the former stations and will be making a further announcement in relation to this later in July
PJ Mason of the Broadford Action Group and Robert Smith – Chairperson of the Labasheeda Community Centre – reacted to the news.

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GPs are calling on the Government to reduce planned cutbacks – which they say will lead to long waiting lists
The Irish Medical Organisation says over 150 million euro has been cut from GP services in recent years – and further cuts will be a ‘nail in the coffin’
It’s calling on the Health Minister James Reilly to explain the cuts
Morning Focus Producer Niamh McNamara spoke with Dr Padraig McGarry of the GP Committee of the Irish Medical Organisation.

The Willie Clancy Summer School gets underway tomorrow and runs until 14th July
It’s dedicated to promoting the study and practice of Irish Traditional music, song & dance
This year will be the 41st Willie Clancy Summer School
Held annually since 1973 in memory of the piper Willie Clancy, the Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy is Ireland’s largest traditional music summer school
Harry Hughes, Administrative Director of the Willie Clancy Summer School had a word with John
For more information see www.visitmiltownmalbay.ie or www.oac.ie

Ruth Marshall is a storyteller and author based between Bodyke and Broadford
This Saturday she will launch her latest book ‘Clare Folk Tales’ in Glór from 2:00pm to 4:00pm as part of the Ennis Street Festival

Clare Folk Tales features interesting characters like Biddy Early, Lon Mac Liofa, a three-handed, one-legged smith of the Tuatha Dé Dannan and Brian Ború, to name but a few
Ruth joined John in studio to speak about the book, tell a few stories and talk about folklore collecting.

The Ennis Street Festival begins today until Sunday
See www.ennisstreetfestival.com

The Ennis Music Project aims to bring young people together through music – this weekend they will launch a CD as part of the Ennis Street Festival
 
David Naughton of the Ennis Music Project joined John in studio along with 19 year old Lewis Mc Cahill from Ennis who is studying Arts in Galway, Fina Wurmm from Newmarket-On-Fergus is 16 and plays the classical flute and the piano and 19 year old Shane Killowry from Ennis who is a member of ‘Fried Spider’
He’s studying sound engineering in Cork and plays the guitar as well as writing songs
Fried Spider’s track ‘The Sun’ features on the CD- Shane performed the song live.

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