It’s been reported in recent days that a number of TDs, including Clare’s newly-elected Dr Michael Harty, have been having informal discussions with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael with a view to their support for a new government. Informal talks have been underway since late last week and Dr Harty has confirmed to Clare FM that he’s been approached by both of the major parties. He says that the critical element in any formal talks is the willingness of the parties to introduce reforms which would give Independents more rights (e.g. speaking time) in the Dail. Dr Harty says the situation remains uncertain and that’s and that he’s open to speaking to anyone who’ll speak with him. He stresses that no formal agreements have been made by him with any party or with any other Independent (as of Friday). It’s reported that Independents Noel Grealish, Mattie McGrath, Denis Naughten, Maureen O’Sullivan, and Michael Collins have also been in formal discussions with the parties.
The General Election race is over, but another election race is already underway. Seanad hopefuls are already beginning to gear up for the race to the Upper House of the Oireachtas. Fine Gael duo Tony Mulcahy and Martin Conway are looking to keep their seats, while Michael McNamara of Labour is also in the running. There are suggestions that more local candidates will follow, and one man who’s thrown his hat into the ring is Eoin Neylon. The Ballyea native is President of Ogra Fianna Fail and he told Gavin why he’s looking to be elected to Seanad Eireann.
The Spanish and Portuguese embassies are rowing in behind a major underwater exploration project aimed at locating the wreck of Spanish Armada vessels off the Clare coast. The leader of the San Marcos Project, Dr John Treacy, who spoke to Gavin this morning, says the embassies have been on board since the end of the last year and have arranged contact with underwater archaeologists from their countries. The project, which aims to find the remains of the 790 tonne, 25 metre long vessel, the San Marcos, which sank near Seafield, with the loss of 400 lives, in September 1588 has also teamed up with the Marine Robotics Research Centre at the University of Limerick (UL). This week, Dr Treacy, along with Dr Ger Dooley from UL presented the latest development to members of the West Clare Municipal District. Efforts are also progressing to excavate a possible mass grave off Spanish Point, where hundreds of Armada sailors could be buried. Local folklore has suggested for centuries that such a burial place might exist. Geophysical surveys conducted in July seem to support local legend.
Next on the show, Gavin spoke to Sergeant Joe Downey, Crime Prevention Officer, for the weekly instalment of Garda Focus.
A funeral director has decided to diversify into an area entirely unrelated to his core business. David McGowan spoke to Morning Focus about deciding to create an alternative glamping site close to the beach at the seaside village of Enniscrone in Sligo. He’s decided to convert trains, planes and automobiles into camping accommodation for holiday makers with a real sense of adventure. The plans are well advanced and David has bought a Boeing 767 from Shannon Airport.
Later on in the show, we heard from Sean O Nuanain, Chairman of Coiste Comoradh Eiri Amach 1916-2016, who spoke about a display in SkyCourt Shopping Centre. A year-long programme of commemorative events has gotten underway in SkyCourt in Shannon with a celebration for the Rising, interpreted through music, song, prose, poetry, and dance. It marked the opening of a display in the mall, initiated and organised by Duchas na Sionna, one of the groups involved in Coiste Comoradh Eiri Amach 1916-2016, a Shannon voluntary community initiative. As well as Duchas na Sionna it involves Club na Sionna, Shannon Archaeological and Historical Society, Glor na nGael, Comhaltas Ceoltoiri na Sionna, Conradh na Gaeilge, Wolf Tones and the Tiday Towns. Memorabilia in the display include a picture of Derryman, John Fox at the graveside of O’Donovan Rossa. John Fox was the grandfather of the late Aelish Browne, who lived in Shannon. The display will remain open for two weeks and the unit is open each day from 2.30-4.30.
The Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark has been shortlisted for a prestigious international award. The Geopark is one of three finalists in the Destination Leadership category of The National Geographic World Legacy Award. The award honours tourism groups who commit to sustainable tourism practices, and the Burren is up against competition from the US and Norway, with the winner to be announced in Berlin on Wednesday. Carole Gleeson, manager of the Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark, spoke to Gavin about the award.
Next on the show we heard about the week in sports from Clare FM’s Derrick Lynch and Peter O’Connell from The Clare Champion.
Cystic Fibrosis Ireland is hoping to have the biggest charity contingent in this year’s VHI Women’s Mini Marathon (Monday, June 6) with its announcement of an epic effort to recruit one thousand women to take part on its behalf and raise funds for vital services. There are approximately 1,200 people with cystic fibrosis living in Ireland and there’s an average of 30 new cases diagnosed each year. The concept behind the current campaign is to get as many participants as possible to recruit 10 other women to reach the magic 1,000 target. Women interested in joining the campaign can sign up at www.cfireland.ie. Marcella Clancy, a participant from Kilnaboy, spoke on the show about the campaign. She decided to do the mini-marathon in support of CF Ireland as her 17-year-old son has Cystic Fibrosis. He’s in good health currently and once a month attends the recently-opened state-of-the-art unit at University Hospital Limerick. Marcella is also a member of the TLC for CF Committee in Clare.
Kilmaley-based author, Gerry Harrison, spoke to Gavin this morning about editing his great-uncle’s WW1 diaries. To Fight Alongside Friends is the edited First World War 1 diaries of Captain Charlie May, Gerry’s great-uncle. The diaries were written in secret, away from Charlie’s army superiors. He kept the journals in his training camp and trenches. They reveal his warm personality, his regard for the other members of his battalion and his love for his wife, Maude, and his daughter, Pauline. Charlie died on the first day of the Battle of the Somme alongside 20,000 others. His diaries were recovered and delivered to his wife. Author, Gerry Harrison, was born in India, and educated in England. After school he became an actor in theatre, TV and film. He then switched to work as a runner before becoming an Assistant Director, gradually climbing the ladder until he became a Producer and Director. While producing he was continually developing proposals and scripts, and began to write himself. He is the author of The Scattering, about post-1945 Irish immigration to London, and To Fight Alongside Friends. Gerry opened Banner Books (now Salmon Poetry) in Ennistymon and now lives in Clare.
