This morning's show opened with Ulster Bank's announement last night (Wednesday) that it's to sell off €100m of agricultural loans. It comes as part of a total loan book sale of €2.5bn. The bank will also sell 900 distressed home loans that are on the brink of repossession. To speak about concerns among those in farming sector, Pat was joined by Pat O'Toole, journalist with the Farmer's Journal.
Next we heard how the emotive issue of evictions hit the news in the Banner County. As you'll have heard on Clare FM News this weekend, a video of an attempted eviction from a house in Corofin has been trending online. The video was captured by members of the Anti-Eviction Task force. They were also supported by members of the New Land League who travelled from around the country. Unfortunately, evictions are becoming increasingly common – among both home owners and tenants, as the rising homeless numbers in this county prove. [New figures from the Department of the Environment show 16 people in the county were without a home at the end of last month, a rise of three since the beginning of the year.] 213 people were homesless in Clare and Limerick in April, 48 of those children. To offer advice to homeowners and tenants in difficulty, Diarmaid O'Sullivan, Services & Outreach Manager at Threshold and Elaine Clifford from Clare MABS joined Pat on the line.
Last Tuesday, Lisdoonvarna-based Theresa O'Donohoe pitched her idea for public participation in energy transition at the Social Entrepreneurs Ireland (SEI) Bootcamp in Dublin. The programme offers funding and support to for innovative ideas with the potential to solve particular social problems. Theresa wants to set Clare up as a trial region for local community engagement with the National Energy Transition Plan. She says, “We have to start taking public participation, at pre planning stage seriously. Too many companies are reaping the rewards of our common resources all without consideration for the people, community or environment they make their profits from.” Theresa joined Pat in studio to tell him more.
Hundreds of hand-written tributes by friends and family on colourful ribbons will adorn a special memorial tree in the grounds of Milford Care Centre, next Sunday (May 29). The personal messages, in memory of loved ones who have used the services of Milford Hospice, will follow a 5km Memorial Walk, launched this week to help raise much needed funds for a state-of-the-art purpose-built 34-bed singled roomed hospice unit serving Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary. Work on the new multi-million euro Hospice is due to start later this year at the Castletroy Care Centre. Registration and sponsorship cards are available at the Fundraising Department at 061 485859, between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday; by email to [email protected] or by post to Fundraising Department, Milford Care Centre, Castletroy, Limerick. Pat Quinlan, Chief Executive Milford Hospice, told Pat why raising these funds is so important.
Next Michael Crowley from My Foot First, Ennis, was in studio to discuss foot care. He explained the importance of walking correctly and the effect it can have on your feet. His company, My Foot First offer orthotics which can help reduce back, hip and foot pain.
Next we heard about a living with Dementia in Rural Ireland. There are over 48,000 people diagnosed with dementia across Ireland – many more could be living with the condition unknowingly. Carmel Geoghegan's mother, Angela, got a late diagnoses of Vascular Dementia in 2011. Since Angela passed away in 2014, Carmel has been trying to build awareness of dementia and end of life care in our communities. She's organised a conference in Galway next Monday (May 30) to highlight what dementia means and the importance of an early diagnosis.
On our weekly gardening slot, Michelle Flannery from the Busy Bee Garden Cente and Tea Rooms, Clondrinagh spoke about bedding plants.
Then we heard how PJ Murrihy helped fulfill a special wish. A Shannon lady who lost her dad when she was just two years of age called Morning Focus some months ago to tell Gavin about her dearest wish – to have a song written about her yearning for a father. Mairead was in studio and she's was joined by the man who's made her wish come true, PJ Murrihy.
With thanks to United Airlines, Clare FM has traveled stateside to attend the Clare Association of Chicago's 50th Anniversary. In the last of our four-part series, Clare FM's Gavin Grace and Fiona Cahill speak with descendants of those who left the banner county in the search of a better life.
Finally on this morning's show we heard from sing/song writer Gavin James. Gavin is well on his way to becoming one of the country's international success stories. Fresh from whirlwind tours with Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith and Kodaline, Gavin has just released his debut album – also called 'Bitter Pill'. He's also just at the start of a major tour which will take him to the Marquee in Cork on June 10. Gavin spoke this week to Morning Focus producer, Fiona McGarry, and began by giving his reaction to the success of the album.
