Morning Focus Thursday January 23

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Clare County Council is commencing emergency flood defence works along the County Clare coastline near Quilty over fears that up to 15 homes could experience flooding 

Recent storms caused significant coastal erosion at Clohaninchy leaving private residential properties exposed to flooding by sea water 

The local authority is investing 50,000 euro, which it says it will seek to recoup from any future funding allocation from Government, to install approximately one thousand 1-tonne bags of rock and sand as an interim flood defence barrier

 

On Thursday’s Morning Focus John Cooke spoke with local residents John O’Connor of Tromera and Michael Neenan, Chairman of the Clohaninchy Action Group to get their reaction. 

 

Eddie Downey, newly elected President of the Irish Farmers Association, was in Ennis on Tuesday night for an AGM of the local IFA branch 

Eddie’s a Meath farmer who thinks the challenges facing farmers and Irish agriculture have never been greater – he discussed this with John 

He also mentioned the issue of rural isolation and how vulnerable people are feeling, he called for stronger sentences for those who rob or victimise vulnerable people in society.

 

Clare sports tourism interests can learn how they can get a slice of the €450bn global Sport Tourism industry in a major think-tank with international experts set for Limerick next May

The inaugural European Sport Tourism Summit, which will take place at Thomond Park Stadium, Limerick on Thursday May 15th, will also deliver recommendations that will be presented to Government regarding how Ireland can increase its share of the fastest growing sector in the global travel industry

Mark O’Connell of Killaloe based W2 Consulting – event organisers – joined John in studio to explain 

See www.sporttourismsummit.ie

 

Last week in conjunction with the Irish Coastgaurd we ran a competition to mark to the commencement of the new helicopter transition to all Coast Guard bases to name the Shannon based helicopter 

Declan Geoghegan of the Irish Coastguard joined John in studio to announce the winner and runners up – they will receive a flight in the New Shannon based Sikorsky S92 helicopter and also a tour of the Coast Guard base at Shannon Airport

The winner was Caoimhe McMahon in Ennistymon who suggested the name of ‘Banri na Speir’ (Queen of the Skies)

The runners up were Francie Mangan, John O’Loughlin and Liam Browne

 

See www.safetyonthewater.ie<http://www.safetyonthewater.ie> before you commence any leisure or water based activity

 

International talks are taking place in Switzerland aimed at finding a solution to the war in Syria

The UN says more than 100-thousand people have now been killed in the conflict

The country’s government is facing fresh allegations of war crimes after a report claimed to show systematic killings and torture

Anne O’Mahony, Concern’s Head of International Programmes, had a word with John 

Anne has just returned from Syria and spoke about these latest developments as well as the peace talks. 

 

Breda McCullough joined John in studio to urge people in the Toonagh community to attend a meeting they are holding next week to examine way they can fundraise for repair works on the roof of Toonagh Hall that was badly damaged during the stormy weather. 

 

John Underhill of Burren Vets joined John in studio to answer listeners’ queries.

 

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