Speaking to Gavin Grace on The Afternoon Show today, David O’Sullivan, an INTO Representative, discussed how less than half of primary school teachers teach religion willingly in schools across the State. The new research, carried out by the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) and released today, also shows more than 70 per cent of primary teachers are spending more time preparing students for religious sacraments than officially allowed for in the curriculum. In a similar survey conducted by the INTO in 2002 only 20 per cent of teachers reported time overruns in sacramental preparation.
Dermot Goode from healthinsurancesavings.ie also joined the show to talk about the reasons why around 64,000 people dropped their health insurance last year, according to latest figures from the Health Insurance Authority. The average premium paid last year per person, including children, was €1,048, net of tax, an increase of 12% from 2011. The HIA does not say what has caused the decline but Laya Healthcare, VHI and Aviva Health have increased the price of at least some of their plans in recent months.
Sinead Madden is a Milliner from Ennis and talked about how she has received a prestigious award for her work. Sinead has been named Irish accessory Designer of the Year at the 5th annual Kerry Fashion Awards in the Carlton Hotel in Tralee this weekend.
Tracy Crawford of BallyO Promotions and Monica Meehan from Clare County Council are both members of the Clare Gathering Steering Committee and were in studio this afternoon following the launch of a new Clare anthem for the year of The Gathering 2013. The song received its very first airplay here on The Afternoon Show. Emerging young local group Socks in the Frying Pan was selected as the group to perform the song – The Gathering, which was written by Ennis native and song writer Peter Keane. It was formally launched this morning. To hear the song and see the accompanying video you can see www.clare.fm or http://youtu.be/DDN7_TSgGzE
Also on today’s show we heard another instalment of our “Calling Home” feature. Today Gavin spoke with Greg Doyle, a native of Shannon but who has been living in Salt Lake City in Utah, USA for the last 18 years. He talked about his life there now and what prompted him to leave Co. Clare. He also spoke about the many differences between living in Ireland and in Utah.
We want to hear your stories – if you or a loved one has emigrated we’d like to hear from them. Please email [email protected] or contact Clare FM on 065 682 88 88 or else log onto www.clare.fm
Ciaran O’Connell is the Co-ordinator of the Clare Rose of Tralee Centre and was in studio this afternoon to talk about this years search for a new Clare Rose. Joining him on the line was 2012 outgoing Clare Rose Orla McDonagh from Ennistymon. The search is now underway and young women throughout the county are invited to live the dream by downloading an application form to enter this year’s Clare Rose Selection. The 2013 Clare Rose will represent her county at the Regional Festival of the Rose of Tralee in Portlaoise and could go on to the International Festival in Tralee from 14th -20th August. For details see http://roseoftralee.ie/community/userprofile/clarerose
To contact the show please email [email protected]
