The show opened this morning with a look at standards in customer service from Revenue and other public bodies. A suggestion that the local authority should contact the Revenue Commissioners to express dissatisfaction with their approach to the general public prompted a wider discussion on the issue of customer service at a meeting this week of Clare County Council. A motion was tabled by Cllr Anne Norton calling on the authority to ask Revenue to introduce a new system for responding to public phone queries in a timely way. Cllr Anne Norton Ind, Ennis and Cllr Gerry Flynn Ind, Shannon spoke to Gavin.
The debate over standards in customer service from public bodies continued when Cllr Pat Hayes FF, Killaloe and Cllr PJ Ryan Ind, Shannon joined to give thier view.
Next up, Gavin spoke to Graham Doyle from SUSI. While the organisation was beset with 'teething troubles' when it started up 5 years ago, the student grant system, SUSI, is promising that this year its operations will be smoother than ever. Last year, SUSI processed over 108,000 applications with in excess of 83,000 students (new and renewal) awarded grants for the 2015/16 academic year. It is expected that the number of applications to SUSI for the upcoming academic year will exceed 110,000. In order to meet the challenges posed by such numbers and in building on its continuous learning, SUSI has introduced a number of further key improvements for 2016/17, including and early application openeing date and use of Eircode to help calculate distance from an educational institute.
A Bunratty haulier is facing a fine of nearly 7500 euro because of what is described as a deeply flawed approach by the UK's border force. Eoin Gavin has seen one of his vehicles impounded until he pays the money. The fine is being levied because migrants had previously been detected on board the vegicle, even though it had been cleared to progress to Britain by officials in France. Eoin says the fine is "immoral and unjust." He has also taken part in talks with UK Border Force officials at Leinster House. Eoin Gavin, the Bunratty-based haulier & former President of the IRHA, spoke to Gavin about the matter.
Derke Lynch joined Gavin in studio to preview the Allianz Football League Clare V. Kildare game but first we heard from students around Clare who told us what they think of Clare's chancds.
A unique Clare perspective of the 1916 Rising will be delivered on Saturday night as extracts from a 100 year old diary of an O'Gonnelloe man will be part of a parish event to mark the anniversary. Bodyke native Tim Lynch, who was born in 1891 but came to live in O’Gonnelloe in 1897, kept a meticulous diary from 1913 onwards that includes a priceless local perspective of the historic events around the Easter Rising based on news filtering through from the capital. Michael McNamara Ogonnelloe spoke to Gavin to tell him more.
Siobhan Mulcahy joined Gavin in studio for the weekly Arts round up.
Next we heard an episode from a unique series of concerts commemorating the 1916 Centenary, glór's Ergodos, with 'Left Behind: Songs of the 1916 Widows'. The songs have been performed for President Michael D. Higgins, and Tánaiste Joan Burton as part of the commemoration ceremonies for the Rising.
An FCA colour party will lead events in Corofin outside the offices of Sinsearlann an Chlair with members of the Corofin Dramatic Society representing the role of the volunteers . Both local national schools in Kilnaboy and Corofin will take part in singing Pearse’s rebel song of “Oró Sé do Bheatha Bhaile” . A special plaque to commemorate the local volunteers will be unveiled by Dr. Michael Harty TD and a wreath laying ceremony will be performed by the Cumann Staire is Dúchais Uachtarán, Dr. Maccon Macnamara. Declan Kelleher Cathaoirleach Cumann Staire is Dúchais Chora Finne
Ger Hoey, Chairperson of the Board, Clare Accessible, spoke to Gavin to fill him in on a fundraising raffle for Clare Accessible Transport taking place on May 23, night of AGM. Tickets available from outlets around the county, drivers.
Joining Gavin in Studio for the Friday panel were Margaret O'Brien Journalist with The Sunday Business Post, Ronan Judge Journalist with Clare People Brian Meaney Former member of Clare County Council. They discussed a range of issues, including rates incentive to tackle vacant business premises, Reduced Funding for Mental health, Brexit and the proposed Sugar tax.
To round off the morning, we come to the last of our series of radio essays by Dr. Tomás MacConmara, marking Clare’s part in the Easter Rising of 1916. In this essay Tomás considers the role played by the Irish Republican Brotherhood, or the Fenian Brotherhood, in inspiring those who became the main players of the 1916 Rising. He does this by examining the stories of 2 generations of the Slattery family from Feakle. Paula Carroll reads “Unswerving Fidelity” MF_JimmySlattery BACK CREDITS: ‘Against the Gale’ is a Rag and Bone Production for Clare FM. It was written by Dr. Tomás MacConmara. Today’s reader was Paula Carroll, who also produced the series. The editor was Anne Marie Kennedy. ‘Against the Gale’ was made with the support of Clare Co. Council’s 1916 Centenary Fund.
