On today's Morning Focus with Gavin Grace
Now that last week’s rumours of an early General Election have, apparently, been put to bed, the candidates will have a little more time on the canvass before polling day. One of those is sitting Labour TD for Clare, Deputy Michael McNamara who’s just received the seal of approval to stand for the party again. At the party convention last night in Ennis, he was the sole candidate. Deputy McNamara joined gavin to discuss the rumours and the General Election.
Crime journalist Paul Williams came on the show to discuss the horrific Louth Murder Suicide Tragedy at the weekend.
We'll all be watching the unveiling of the Budget tomorrow with interest – perhaps none more so than the agencies who work to support the most vulnerable in society. Ahead of the budget, the network of Family Resource Centres – who offer a range of supports to parents and children (from counselling to childcare) – have spoken out about the strain on their services. To tell us more about the situation here in Clare, Gavin was joined on the line by Kees (CASE) Duson, Manager of the Killaloe/Ballina Family Resource Centre.
Heather Rosen spoke to Gavin about the Carrickmines fire tragedy that happened at the weekend killing 10 people including children and a pregnant woman.
Will it be the best Christmas shopping boom in 7 years? With rumours of income tax cuts in tomorrow's Budget, it seems we – as consumers – are getting set to spend more. And Christmas 2015 is being tipped as a bumper year for sales – the best in 7 years. That's according to Retail Ireland who've compiled projections for the coming festive season – which for those in the retail sector – is often the make-or-break sales period. Thomas Burke is Director of Retail Ireland and he joined Gavin on the line.
This week's Sports Panel Gavin was joined by Clare FMs Sports journalist Derrick Lynch and The Clare People's Eoin Brennan to discuss the County Hurling Final.
Clare resident launches book on the Beatles. My next guest first heard the music of the Beatles in the summer of 1963 on Radio Luxembourg. Seamus Moore, a native of Tipperary and a resident of Clare for the last 40 years was inspired to get into the music industry, playing trombone in showbands like the Jack Hanly Showband and the Skyrockets. Seamus now adds the title of 'author' to his CV and has just published a book dedicated to the lads from Liverpool. He's launching 'All together now, we love the Beatles' in Bunratty tonight and he's with us now in studio.
Commemorations for the 1916 Rising are now just months away and community and voluntary groups around County Clare are well advanced in their preparations. Last week in Dublin, County Librarian Helen Walsh was among those to present plans to mark the centenary of 1916. Helen Walsh, Clare County Librarian, was in studio with Gavin to tell us about what'll be happening here in Clare.
