Morning Focus Friday May 24

On Monday’s Morning Focus John Cooke was joined in studio by Fine Gael Deputy Pat Breen to discuss his recent trip to China where he met Xi Jingping, President of the People’s Republic of China
Deputy Breen presented the newly elected President with a photograph of Xi Jingping, the calf which was named after the President when he visited the farm of James Lynch in Sixmilebridge during his visit to Clare last year.

The Environment Minister has expressed concern that two Clare beaches were stripped of their Blue Flag status due to a statistical glitch
Lahinch and White Strand Miltown Malbay have lost the coveted award which was presented to six other bathing areas in the county yesterday
Minister Phil Hogan has admitted the consequences of the flaw in calculating the level of water quality on Clare’s beaches can be serious and will be raising the issue with the European Commission

We heard some of the comments made by Patricia Oliver, Director of Education with An Taisce, when she spoke with Trudy Water on our main lunchtime yesterday, Patricia said it’s an extremely regrettable saituation and can only be altered at EU level

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Pat Conway from Lahinch expressed his utter surprise at the beach losing Blue Flag status
Pat has swam at Lahinch beach for decades – he said he was extremely surprised and disappointed as he thinks the water is crystal clear and clean
Pat is the founder of the Annual Burren Chernobyl Project Swim the first began in 1972, the sponsored swim in about 2 miles long.

Fr Peter McVerry was in Ennis yesterday to open the Substance Misuse Services Information event that took place in the Templegate Hotel, Ennis yesterday
Organised by the Mid-West Regional Drugs Task Force and members of the community, the aim was that people would go and make themselves aware of the various services for individuals, families and communities in this area – these range from educational opportunities to family support, treatment and rehab services
Niamh McNamara was there and spoke with him.

In our Morning Focus Health Matter slot John was joined by Dr Maire Finn of the Ennis Family Medical Centre
Today Dr Finn discussed Hayfever and answered listeners’ queries.

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.

Lorie and John Robinson are visiting Ennis this week for their 25th wedding anniversary
They live in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia and met in Murphy’s Bar in Ennis on May 24th 1986 and later married in 1988
Two years ago they were interviewed on Morning Focus
Lorie is originally from New York and John is from Australia, they have two daughters – they joined John in studio on their return trip and spoke about their memories of Ennis and their delight to be back over twenty five years later.
 
A special gathering to inaugurate the East Clare Cluster comprising the parishes of Scarriff, Mountshannon/Whitegate, Bodyke/Tuamgraney, O’Callaghan’s Mills/Kilkishen, Flagmount/Killanena, Feakle, Tulla & Ogonnelloe will
take place on Sunday at 7pm in Tuamgraney
Jim Collins, Chairman of the East Clare Cluster, spoke with John ahead of the event.

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