Morning Focus Friday March 29

Marian Egan was joined in studio by Franciscan Fr. Caoimhin O’Laoide of the Ennis Friary on Friday’s Morning Focus

Fr. Caoimhin spent some time in the Holy Land and described what it’s like there at Easter time

Fine Gael’s Helen McEntee has retained the seat of her late father, Shane, in the Meath East by-election
The results also showed a resurgence in support for Fianna Fáil, and a collapse in Labour’s share of the vote
Ms McEntee received 11,473 votes ahead of Fianna Fáil’s Thomas Byrne who got 9,582 votes on the third count

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Joe Carey TD of Fine Gael canvassed for Helen McEntee ahead of the Meath East by-election – he had a word about her triumph
Michael McNamara TD of the Labour Party also reacted to Labour’s poor performance yesterday.

The Restaurants Association of Ireland is condemning the ban of alcohol sales on Good Friday, saying that the law is unacceptable at such a busy time for the tourism, restaurant and hospitality industry
Marian spoke with Adrian Cummins, the Chief Executive of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, who said the law is not only affecting our image abroad, but business internally as well and that the restaurant sector is the biggest employer within the hospitality industry, employing over 64,000 people- he said this law affects more than just the diners who want a drink, it affects thousands of people on a busy weekend when restaurants simply won’t open.

In our Morning Focus health today Dr Maire Finn of the Ennis Family Medical Centre joined Marian in studio to talk about  family planning

Doctor Maire Finn is from the Ennis Family Medical Centre, and will be joining us again next Friday for more medical advice
You can always send us your thoughts and queries by email [email protected], but if you have concerns or queries about your own health right now please contact your local GP

Author, journalist, broadcaster and public speaker Mary Kenny ‘s play ‘Allegiance’ is being staged in Glor tonight at 8pm
The play looks at the relationship that developed between Michael Collins and Winston Churchill during the Treaty negotiations of 1921 when Eamon de Valera ordered Collins to travel to London, with the Irish delegation, to negotiate the Treaty that followed the Truce and the War of Independence
Churchill was Colonial Secretary in charge of Ireland, and the two men were prepared to detest one another
Yet, at a point when the Treaty talks seemed to be in stasis, Churchill and Collins spent a night drinking together, talking, arguing, even singing and reciting poetry
They emerged from this session fascinated by each other – as Mary explained.

Maurice Quinlivan, Sinn Fein Councillor from Limerick City, had a word to give details of their Easter commemoration
This year it will take place in Clooney Cemetery at the graves of Con McMahon, Patrick Hennessy and Joe Considine
Councillor Quinlivan will be the guest speaker at the event.
 
Roisin Garvey, An Taisce’s Green-Schools Travel Education Officer in Clare had a word about a free event taking place this weekend
There will be 10 bike mechanics at the teach Ceol Ennistymon across from Super Vale tomorrow from 3pm to 6pm to help people fix their own bikes
Also, this weekend, a community cycle will take place in conjunction with the Stephen Roche Atlantic Challenge
Stephen himself will be leading the 8km cycle that will be all along the great new cycle lane that now runs from Ennistymon to Lahinch.
The cycle will start at 10 am Easter Sunday from the prom in Lahinch to Ennistymon with a stop for some refreshments and back again It is aimed for new and rusty cyclists and young people and their families.

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