Morning Focus Thursday January 9

 

On Thursday’s Morning Focus we discussed the recently published comments of former President Mary McAleese She says she doesn’t like her church’s attitude towards homosexuality and that it was been in denial over the issue for decades

The comments were made at a lecture in Glasgow in December during which she also called on the Scottish Cardinal who was forced to stand down last year to admit publicly that he is gay – they were published by the Glasgow Herald on Tuesday

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John discusssed this with Fr Tony Flannery of the Association of Catholic Priests who welcomed McAleese’s comments on homosexuality and the Catholic Church and GLEN’s Tiernan Brady who also welcomes the former President’s call for a change in attitude and teaching by the Catholic church towards lesbian and gay people.

Flood victim John O’Connor from Tromera, Quilty spoke with John about the situation at his home and in the surrounding area almost a week on from the devastating flooding after the seawater came into their home in the middle of the night 

They are currently staying in a council provided house in Mullagh but are anxious to get back into their own home. 

The Ballina pub that played host to the appearance of Jewelery designer Jenny Lauren this week has been the focus of much international attention

Publican Michael O’Donovan of Brian Boru on the Hill explained to John that they have been hosting the Killaloe Circuit Court for two years in the downstairs function room 

It came in for a lot of attention this week when Jenny Lauren – niece of fashion designer Ralph Lauren – appeared there when charged with being drunk and abusive on board a Delta Airlines flight that was diverted to Shannon on Monday

Michael is hoping this publicity will add to what’s hoped to be a good business year in the Lough Derg area with the centenary celebrations of Brian Boru. 

The recent storm and the damage it ravaged on the coastline was discussed by climate change expert Professor Robert Devoy of University College Cork 

The general public will have a chance to ask researchers, scientists and engineers any burning questions they may have around what is perhaps the greatest threat to our way of life – climate change at a free event dedicated to the divisive topic, next Thursday in UCC.

Eamon Timmins of Age Action Ireland spoke with John about the government clampdown on grants that allow elderly and disabled people to remain in their homes 

These will reduce the grants given to people to improve their homes and make it more difficult for people to qualify

Those in receipt of the housing adaptation grant for disabilities, the housing aid and the mobility aid grant will all be hit

The Department of Environment says the measure will mean a more focused distribution of the grants – to make sure that those who need them most will get them

 

We heard about a community clean-up in Kilbaha yesterday from Ailish Connolly

She said it was a fantastic effort by residents of the West Clare village. 

John Underhill of Burren Vets joined John in studio to answer listeners’ queries.

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