On today’s Morning Focus Lahinch Councillor Bill Slattery and Tubber Councillor
Michael Kelly spoke to Clare FM’s John Cooke about the issue of signage throughout the county. Do you know the way to Ruan, Tubber, Kinvara or Spancillhill? Good if you do, but local councillors have voiced concerns that a lack of signage along the M18 means visitors to the county or those on business can’t find some of our best known villages. It’s the latest in a long list of complaints about NRA signage from omissions to bad spelling.
Claire O’Sullivan is a Journalist with the Irish Examiner. She joined the show to talk about cyber bullying. With the deaths of Irish schoolgirls Phoebe Prince in 2010, and Ciara Pugsley, just a few weeks ago, is it time we took the websites that allow Cyber bullying to task? Today’s Irish Examiner features a special report on teens and cyber bullying. ‘Doing hate’ is the new term to describe the activities of kids who call each other ‘fat’, ‘slut’, ‘attention whore’ and ‘ugly’.
Dr. Rose Fitzgerald is a Specialist in Public Health Medicine with the HSE Mid West.
The HSE is urging people in at-risk groups to get vaccinated against influenza, as the flu season is now here. She spoke of how Flu can be a very serious illness, especially for people who are older or who have a long-term illness. The vaccine and consultation are free for those with a Medical Card or GP Visit Card. The following groups of at-risk people need to be vaccinated against seasonal influenza:
• Everyone aged 65 years and over
• Anyone over six months of age with a long term illness requiring regular medical follow-up such as chronic lung disease, chronic heart disease, diabetes or those with lower immunity due to disease or treatment
• Pregnant women
• Children or teenagers on long-term aspirin therapy
• Residents of nursing homes and other long stay facilities
Paddy Waldron is the PRO of the Kilrush & District Historical Society. He spoke to John Cooke about their bid to host a special commemoration next year. Also joining the conversation was Congella Maguire, Heritage Officer with Clare County Council. Kilrush Town Council and Clare County Council this week formally submitted a detailed bid for Kilrush as a host location for the 2013 National Famine Commemoration. The annual observance in Ireland commemorating the Great Famine has been organised officially by the Government since 2009. The main commemoration event is held in a different province each year and will be held in Munster in 2013.
John Quinlivan of Clare Connect also joined Morning Focus.Clare Connect is a network for unemployed supervisory and executive personnel to support them in their quest for work or in self employment. The network is going well with between 12 and 15 people attending each meeting. 23 turned up after the initiative was highlighted previously on the show. The next meeting is Thursday October 11th at 10 am in the Information Age Park, Gort Road Ennis.
Ray Ellard is Director of Consumer Protection with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. He spoke to John about the dangers of foraging for mushrooms. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland says nobody should eat any part of a mushroom they’ve found in the wild, without consulting an expert mushroom forager. Last year – 22 cases of food poisoning related to wild mushrooms were notified and so far this year, there have been seven cases. Consumers with food safety queries about wild mushrooms can contact the FSAI’s Advice Line on 1890 33 66 77, or the Poisons Information Centre of Ireland on 01-8092166 or at www.poisons.ie
Anne Marie O’Reilly of the Clare Citizens’ Information Service was also in studio to answer your citizen’s information queries.
If you have a comment or query for Morning Focus please email the show at [email protected] or text Clare FM followed by your message and name to 53030.
