On Thursday’s Morning Focus John Cooke spoke with Joe Carey TD of Fine Gael about the Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill resumed
He also asked him to comment on the reversal of cuts to Special Education resources.
There’s been a mixed response to the agreement on the Common Agriculture Policy
European Agriculture ministers have reached consensus on changes to the deal – with a vote by the European Parliament due later
The CAP accounts for 40 per cent of EU spending – and pays out over 1.2 billion euro a year in farm grants to Irish farmers
Young farmers are welcoming a top-up to their funding – while an abolition of sugar quotas by 2017 is being hailed as a ‘new dawn’ for the Irish sugar industry
But other farmers groups say the agreement – if passed – will mean significant cuts for tens of thousands of farmers
Eddie Punch, General Secretary of the Irish Cattle Sheepfarmers Association and Cratloe farmer, gave his reaction.
The Government has unveiled a compensation scheme worth up to 58 million euro for the survivors of the Magdalene Laundries
The scheme will be available to around 700 women who were kept in the laundries – with payments ranging between 11-thousand and 100-thousand euro depending on the length of their incarceration
Dr. Katherine O’Donnell of the Justice for Magdalenes Advisory Committee Member gave the groups reaction to the scheme
Connect Counselling would like to remind anyone distressed by the announcement of the redress fund that they will be open from 6-10pm each evening for the rest of the week
They can be reached at free phone 1800 477 477
Jim O’Callaghan is a Genealogist with Clare roots who has spent the past few years studying the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis family tree and says that the first lady was half Irish
Her mother’s family came from Clare – most of her ancestors coming from Shandrum, near Mullagh
O’Callaghan discovered that on her maternal line, all eight great-great grandparents and two of her four great-grandparents were born in Ireland, making her more Mullagh than Montpellier
Jim spoke with John from his Dublin home and said his granny was a Corry from Mullagh
Also joining him on the line was Connie Corry – living in Inagh but with roots in Mullagh
Connie is Jim’s 2nd cousin and he explained how stories of his aunts about their relatives in the US inspired him to ask Jim to investigate the Jackie Kennedy link.
If you think you might be connected to the Merrits or the Corrys contact Jim by emailing [email protected]
Lismorahaun Singers Musical Director Archie Simpson joined John in studio ahead of the launch of their latest album
Internationally acclaimed mezzo-soprano Naomi O’Connell will launch Seada on Friday at 8 pm in St Fachtnan’s RC Church in Kilfenora
This collection marks a journey of some 15 years; not only for the choir but for the many talented young people who came to Lismorahaun over the years for weekly singing lessons with Archie, and who now enrich the lives of others in the wider world with the gift of their music.
This event is free of charge, and includes the launch itself, a brief performance by the choir and selected soloists, and refreshments in Vaughan’s Barn nearby, afterwards
We heard some tracks some Seada including ‘She Moved Through the Fair’, ‘An Irish Blessing’ and ‘Macushna’.
The Crawford Family Gathering is taking place this weekend in Spanish Point
The launch of The Crawfords of County Clare – their History and Genealogy is taking place this Sunday at the Armada Hotel, Spanish Point at 4pm
Mary Crawford of the Crawford Committee and Mathew Lynch, Editor of The Crawford’s of County Clare joined John in studio.
If you have a story for Morning Focus email [email protected]
