Morning Focus Wednesday February 20

Gardai are appealing for the public’s help following a violent armed raid in Kilkee
A female member of staff was threatened at knife point during the incident at an off- licence in the West Clare town last week
It’s lead to calls for greater community involvement in helping to police an increasing number of towns and villages due to the closure of Garda stations and a decreasing number of officers on the ground

On Wednesday’s Morning Focus John Cooke spoke with the business owner Ger Haugh of the Next Door Off Licence, Kilkee and Myles Creek Bar, Kilkee- he spoke about the shock this has caused the employee concerned and hoped people would get in touch with the Gardai with information

Kilkee Town Councillor Lily Marrinan Sullivan also spoke with John
She had gone into Next Door near Myles Creek off licence just minutes after last Monday’s armed raid on the premises and encountered a deeply shocked member of staff
She said that local Gardaí do have a regular presence in the West Clare town but believes the ongoing cutbacks in the force is having an impact.

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Gardai in West Clare are appealing for witnesses – contact 065 905 6002

Garda Confidential Line-  1800 666 111

The government is today inviting women who were in the Magdalene laundries to contact them to express their interest in a special fund set to help them
It follows the historic and emotional apology delivered by the Taoiseach Enda Kenny in the Dail last night
Mr Kenny described the laundries as a "national shame" and he said the Government wanted to respond with compassion
Judge John Quirke has been appointed to devise a package of supports for the women over the next three months

We heard some of Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s emotional speech in the Dail last night and John spoke with Claire McGettrick of the Justice for Magdalenes group who said she hopes this apology will help survivors draw a line under their past.

Connect provides professional telephone based counselling at freephone 1800 477 477

John Healy, the Maitre D’ of ‘The Restaurant’ has written a book about his life – A Perfect Heart
In it the popular TV star opens up about his present health fears, as well as his past traumas, revealing the sexual abuse he suffered as a child and the hidden side of a drug and alcohol-fuelled lifestyle that quickly spiralled out of control
A Perfect Heart charts John’s incredible journey towards a new beginning with warmth, humour and honesty – he spoke with John.

This year marks Sr Ethel Normoyle’s 25th anniversary in Missionvale
A group of volunteers from Clare are just back in the last week
Oliver O’Loughlin, Chairperson of Missionvale Ireland, from Rockmount, Ennis joined John in studio ahead of a programme about
Sr Ethel and her work that will feature on RTE’s Nationwide tonight

This year four St Flannan’s College, Ennis Transition Year students  travelled to Missionvale along with the main group to volunteer with Sr Ethel Normoyle- they arrived back just last week and are keen to discuss their experiences
This was a pilot, with a view to making it an annual event, to bring on the next generation of volunteers
 
Tiernan McDermott from Clarecastle and Cian Moran from Edenvale are TY students at St Flannan’s college joined John to talk about  how they fundraised for the trip, the work they did while in Missionvale, what they found most surprising and disturbing about life in the township and the difference it has made to their lives

The Importance of Being Ernest – Oscar Wilde’s theatrical masterpiece – is widely-acknowledged as one of the greatest comedies in the English language and has delighted millions since its first London performance in 1895
Wonderful characters, sparkling dialogue, gloriously improbable plot twists and a sprinkling of romance – The Importance of Being Earnest has it all – as Michael Cabot, directing the production for London Classic Theatre explained
The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde presented by London Classic Theatre will be at Glór this evening and tomorrow evening from 8pm.

If you have a story, comment or query for the Morning Focus team email [email protected]