Morning Focus broadcast live from the National Ploughing Championships, Athy, County Kildare on Tuesday morning

The Ploughing Championships are described as the single biggest outdoor agricultural event in rural Ireland - and possibly the biggest in Europe each year as hundreds of thousands of people turn out to attend the Festival of Farming that has become so much more over the years

The environmental beauty and importance of the Cliffs of Moher and Burren region were recognised on a global fashion yesterday afternoon, with the site declared a UNESCO Geopark
There are 78 such sites across the globe, 26 in Europe and as of today, three here in Ireland - the honour has been bestowed on County Clare at a ceremony in Langesund, Norway yesterday afternoon

Over 440,000 septic tank owners around the country will have to pay a once off registration fee next year
The charge of no more than 50 euro is being imposed under new legislation following a European Court of Justice ruling in 2009
An inspection of tanks by local authorities will also begin in 2013 - primarily in areas close to drinking water sources
Phil Hogan says Ireland will face significant fines if the measures are not introduced

The Irish Psychiatric Nurses Association says that Clare staff have been advised that all Community Nursing Services will cease from Monday next due to the HSE decision to discontinue agency and overtime as a means of staffing residential facilities
The PNA last evening met with Minister Kathleen Lynch and Minister Roisin Shorthall to outline our concerns re the continuing undermining of Mental Health Services due to Government Policy and HSE mismanagement

Clare Councillors voted to formally nominate the County Louth based Dragons Den TV Star who has now received support from the required number of local authorities to ensure his name will be on the ballot paper of October 27th
All Clare Fine Gael Councillors abstained from the vote as they're backing party candidate Gay Mitchell, but said they would not block Sean Gallagher by voting against him, while 15 councillors, made up mainly of Fianna Fail members voted in favour of his nomination

On Monday's Morning Focus Katherine Webster, Director of the Cliffs of Moher Visitors Experience asked visitors not to come to the North Clare attraction this morning as high winds continue
As the stormy conditions continue, The Cliffs of Moher are said to be extremely hazardous today so anyone intending to visit is being urged not to - or to ring the centre ahead of their visit to check on conditions
Contact the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience on 065 7086141.

On Friday's Morning Focus we looked back on memories of 9/11 as we approach the 10th anniversary of the September 11th attacks when almost 3,000 people lost their lives, and many were injured in the terrorist attacks that struck America and shook the world
Preparations are continuing across the US for memorial services
The alert level has been raised at US military bases, however officials say it's a precautionary move, as no credible allegation or threat has been received