Clare’s Water Safety Officer Liam Griffin joined John Cooke in studio on Wednesday’s Morning Focus to make an urgent appeal to bathers to be extra vigilant in this fine weather
He said some people are not adhering to the council and lifeguard warnings about bathing in unsupervised or dangerous area
This resulted in a massive amount of rescues in recent days
Liam is very concerned that if people don’t begin to be more careful there will be a fatality.
Farmers around the county are making the most of the current fine weather and excellent grass growing conditions to replenish winter fodder stocks
A good summer is critical to ensure that enough fodder is saved for next winter after the disastrous 12 months of difficult weather. Cereals, fruit and vegetable crops are also benefiting from the fine weather
Ardnacrusha farmer Andrew Dundass – Clare Chairperson of the IFA – had a word with John.
Katherine Webster, Director of the Cliff of Moher Visitor Experience, also spoke with John
Business is booming at the Cliffs of Moher this week with the sun and clear skies
The Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience in County Clare recorded a 10.5pc increase is visitor numbers between January and June compared to the same 6-month period in 2012.
Clare’s rural transport programme has been secured
Under plans just announced by Junior Minister Alan Kelly to overhaul the network nationwide – Clare Accessible Transport has been given a direct award to operate services in the county
There had been fears that the current system would have been scrapped or amalgamated with other local authorities as part of government plans to create 18 transport units – down from the 35 community based companies
Donnagh Cronin, Clare Accessible Transport Fleet Manager, joined John in studio to welcome the news and discuss the service they provide.
Mary McMahon from Feakle is a CAT service user
She spoke with John saying that she is hugely relieved -as are others who rely on this service- that it is not being effected
She added that the service is invaluable to people in rural areas, who, without it, would not be able to leave their homes.
Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton joined John on the line
He has been appointed as Fine Gael’s Director of Elections for the referendum to abolish the Seanad as the legislation is currently passing through the Dail and the Seanad.
Minister Bruton said abolishing the Seanad would save €100 million over a Dáil term.
He also commented on The Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill that is going to be voted on by the Dail later tonight
Minister Bruton
Carmel Madigan of the Loophead Summer Hedge School was heading off to the Rocky Shore when she spoke with John
The Countys first working Hedge School in 200 years- The Loophead Summer Hedge School begins today
There are a huge variety of events taking place inclusing environmental and creative experiential leisure learning. Outdoor/indoor school encompassing guided botanical walks/slide shows, rocky shore explorations/slide shows, tasting & saving the hedgerow events, rugged way walk and lots more
See www.loopheadsummerhedgeschool.com
The Clans of Clare series
The Tribe of Dal gCais is a new 15 part series in which 15 Clan names were chosen who’s origins are based in Co. Clare. Each Clan name descends from the The Tribe of Dal gCais who were a powerful network of Families from the 10th Century that ruled the Kingdom of Thomond.
The series was produced by Denise Woods and we’ll be featuring a different tribe each day over the next three weeks.
Today we heard about the O’Halloran Family.
Paul Wolfe of Clare Citizens’ Information Service joined John in studio to answer listeners’ queries.
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