Morning Focus began by speaking with local GPs give their reaction to Shannondoc's decision to scale back services in Killaloe, Kilrush and Ennistymon.
Dr Michael Kelleher, Lahinch GP & member of the IMO GP committee, and Dr Brendan Thornton, Ballina-based GP, joined Gavin on the line.
Gavin then spoke with Clare's Junior Minister who has hit out over the decision by ShannonDoc to scale back services in East and West Clare. The out-of-hours GP service is blaming a decline in doctor numbers for the controversial decision to cutback on services in its clinics in Kilrush, Ennistymon and Killaloe. Dep Joe Carey, FG, spoke with Gavin about the matter.
Morning Focus then looked at the winter of 2015/16 won't be forgotten in areas of Clare afflicted by flooding. Large parts of the county were affected, including communities along the Riber Shannon, most notably Springfield, Clonlara. Now, however, a warning about the upcoming winter. In some parts of the country, last month was the wettest September in 10 years and measurements of the River Shannon show it rose by more than a foot in the past month. I've been speaking with Professor of Hydrology at UCD Michael Bruen who's been giving me this assessment.
Gerardine Quinlivan Resident of Springfield, Clonlara, came on to give her reactioin to the Professor.
We then had our County Football Final preview with Michael Talty, Chairperson KIB, Paul Shanahan, KIB, Siobhán O'Gorman, PRO, Cratloe John Ryan, Cratloe
Next we had our Arts round-up with Siobhán Mulcahy Clare County Arts Officer. The events were as follows:
Music
Sat & Sunday – Silence & Voice – Ennis
Tues – Breaking Wind in Church – Miltown Malbay
Thursday – Dublin Burning – glor
Literature Fri – Record break, Ennis
Weds – Gordon Darcy, Tubber Visual Arts
Friday – Maeve Collins – Ennistymon
Saturday – Art for Calais in ennistymon
Throughout the month – Shannon – 1916 exhibition
We then had a round up of weekend events:
1) From Ennistymon with Love – This Sunday (Oct. 8) there's a charitable event in Ennistymon collecting money to help the 1000 children trapped in Calais without their parents. All money received is going straight to the child refugees. The day begins with a chance to try out Ashtanga yoga and includes a charity surf shop, discount book shop and a farmers market. Róisín Garvey Care4calais.org
2) Clarecastle Village Market on Sunday next (Oct 9) in the Abbey Hall, from 11am to 3pm. **Over 20 stands to see on the day, including home baking, garden furniture, floral arrangements, crochet, hand sculpted candles, handmade soaps, handmade jewellery and teddy bears. READ-OUT ONLY
3) West Coast Motor Cycle Club – Motorbike Poker Run in aid of Maternity Hospital Limerick, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Sunday, Oct. 9, leaving the One Mile Inn, Ennis at 1pm. Registration at 12noon – €20 per bike. John Murphy
Morning Focus then had its usual Friday Panel, topics discussed this week were
* Donald Trump's tax affairs
* Scaling back of Shannondoc service
* Budget 2017
* Kardashian-West case; are we oversharing on social media?
Brian Meaney, Former Green Party member of Clare Co Co
Sharon ,Cahir Cahir & Co. Solicitors, Ennis
And Dermot Hayes Community activist all joined Gavin in studio.
Morning Focus finished with a look at Emerald Isle Express, a luxury eight day rail cruise that carries 50 passengers along Ireland’s Ancient East and Wild Atlantic Way, showcasing all the beauty and splendour that Ireland has to offer. The guests enjoy breakfast and lunch onboard the train before being escorted to five star hotels or castles where they’ll dine and spend the night including locations such as Waterford Castle, The Park Killarney and the Shelbourne Hotel. Clare FM's Michael Glynn caught up with passengers on the train when they stopped off recently in Ennis.
