On Thursdays Morning Focus the Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has announced his resignation from the Cabinet. He says he doesn't want to be considered for a post in the reshuffle line-up – that is expected to be announced next week. The 68-year-old has also announced he won't contest the next general election. Minister Quinn says the future needs to be with new Labour people. Marian spoke to Sean McMahon INTO President and Mullagh Principal about the implications this will have on our education system.
This month marks six months since towns and villages across Clare were battered by two separate storms. It devasted communities across the county from Lahinch to Kilkee and Quilty to Kildysert. Farmers saw their lands flooded, businesses were forced to close their doors and home owners had to flee their properties. The government has granted 16.8 million euro towards an estimated repair cost of 36 million euro. Things are said to be improving across county – for some slower than others. Marian spoke to some of those people worst affected including Ailish Connolly in Kilbaha, Michael Neenan in Quilty and Joe Garrihy in Lahinch.
ESB says its joint broadband project with Vodafone will see regional towns get access to faster broadband than Dublin or Cork. The 450 million euro venture will be rolled out to 500-thousand premises across 50 towns in all 26 counties by 2018. Marian spoke to Denis O'Leary – Head of Smart Energy Technologies ESB about how this will improve things for internet users in Clare.
There's speculation just three of the five Garth Brooks concerts will go ahead at Croke Park. According to the Irish Independent, Dublin City Council bosses are considering granting a license for only three of the five gigs. It's believed they're looking into whether two of them could be moved to the Aviva or the RDS. Garth Brooks is due to play five nights at Croke Park from Friday 25th. Marian spoke to Paul O'Donoghue – Journalist with the Irish Mirror about how this may affect all those people across Clare that have purchased tickets to see the country legend.
This year marks the millennium of east Clare's most famous warrior, slain at the scene of his greatest victory at the Battle of Clontarf on Good Friday 1014. But how did he emerge from the relative obscurity of east Clare to dominate first Munster and later the whole island? Was he really Imperator Scotorum ['emperor of the irish'] or just another local warlord whose wider dominance was fleeting? History Ireland is bringing a Hedge School to Killaloe this Saturday to explain just that. Tommy Graham – Editor of History Ireland spoke to Marian about what people may learn this weekend.
A Clare based Sculptor has recreated the famous game of Thrones Throne with hurleys collected from across the county. Paul Berg from East Clare used hundreds of pre loved sticks to build the piece. Morning Focus producer Amy Ryan spoke to Paul about his work just ahead of what promises to be a super weekend of hurling.
Finally Eire Og GAA Club in Ennis have kindly organised a Sponsored Walk in aid of Ennis Voices for Autism & Eire Og. It's called the 'ROCKY RAMBLE' because it incorporates part of an ancient Pilgrims Way between Ennis & Ballyea.
It's a lovely route through trees and over rough terrain which starts across the road from the Eire Og Club. Marian was joined in studio by Gearoid Mannion of Ennis Voices for Autism and Pat McInerney – Committee Member of Eire Og GAA Club about how people can get involved.
If you have a story, comment or query for Morning Focus email [email protected] or write to us – Morning Focus, Clare FM, Francis Street, Ennis, Co. Clare.
