Morning Focus Wednesday 23rd April 2014

On Wednesdays Morning Focus; 850 delegates will represent 32-thousand primary school teachers in the Republic and 6-thousand in the North at the second day of the INTO conference in Kilkenny.  Issues including class sizes, cuts to funding and IT resources are on the agenda.  John spoke to Sean McMahon, INTO Vice President and Mullagh National School Principal about how he feels about the issues and leading the Irish National Teachers Organisation for the year ahead. 

A Ennis listener got in touch with the show as she has major concerns about the ambulance service in Ennis.  Nuala McGrath from the Circular Road in Ennis called the show to tell us her story.  Nuala has to ring an ambulance last Thursday night for her 6 and a half month old Josh who got into breathing difficulties.  She called for an ambulance at 3 minutes to 1 in the morning.  When there was no sign of the ambulance arriving she called again she was then informed that an ambulance had to be sent from Ennistymon as others were busy.  When the ambulance did arrive at the house the paramedic informed Nuala they had to come from The Cliffs of Moher.  Josh spent 2 nights in Limerick.  He was put into a ward at 6am at 7am he became very distressed again.  Didn't see a doctor from when he arrived until 11.30.  Josh spent 2 days in hospital – the whole thing was very distressing for Nuala and her baby.

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Up next we heard from The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin who was in Clare yesterday to inspect flood defence works along the River Fergus in Ennis and he also visited Ennistymon and Doolin for the signing of contracts for the new Doolin Pier.

Cllr Tom Prendeville has decided not to contest the upcoming elections.  Tom has spent the last 30 years in public office.  He has cited "family considerations" for the decision.  The Fianna Fail was rejected at the local convention and was not added to the party ticket, this had led to local speculation that Tom would bow out of public life.  John spoke to Tom about his decision not to run this year. 

Bishop Kieran O' Reilly SMA Bishop of Killaloe has launched the St. John Paul Car sticker. The car sticker seeks the protection of the new saint, St. John Paul for all who will travel. As the most travelled Pope in history, the protection of the Saint will be a source of reassurance for all who travel on our roads and in the air, that they will do so in safety. The car sticker features the last recorded photo of John Paul on Irish soil at Shannon Airport, Blessing the people before he flew from Shannon Airport to the United States. John spoke to Shannon Parish Priest Fr. Tom Ryan about the sticker and the meaning behind it. 

Irish traditional music harmony group The Voice Squad perform in GLOR May 1st. This tour celebrates the release of their third album in nearly three decades – Concerning of Three Young Men.   Formed in 1985 the trio have become house names for their use of a capella close harmony treatment of traditional Irish songs.  John spoke to members of the group Phil Callery, Fran McPhail and Gerry Cullen.  The trio also preformed 2 songs. 

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.