First up this morning we asked could Clare benefit from Brexit? News agency Bloomberg reports that the Irish government is targeting banks including Standard Chartered and Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc as it seeks to lure finance jobs here, should Britain exit the EU. The IDA has already spoken with companies, and are reported to have pushed Shannon as a destination for the firms. This story was broken yesterday by Bloomberg News. Their Dublin Bureau Chief Dara Doyle told Gavin more.
We then turned to tesco where staff are due to picket its outlets around the county – including those here in Clare – next Monday (May 16) in a row over pay and conditions. Member of the Mandate trade union say the action's been prompted by the company's confirmation that pay cuts and changes to the conditions of up to 300 of Tesco's staff will be immplemented. Proposed changes include the following: 15-35% pay cuts; cuts overtime; cuts to Sunday and unsociable hours premiums from double pay to time and a half; a reduction in the annual bonus; changes to rosters. Mandate say Tesco’s "campaign of attacks on workers with more than 20 years service" is disgraceful. Karen Wall is the Mandate Divisional Organiser for the Midwest and she had more details.
Yesterday Michelle Dempsey got in touch with Clare FM to make the following appeal… **My name is Michelle Dempsey and I'm writing to ask if you could help me with a request. My almost three year old grandson Rian was in Kilkee with his Mum yesterday Monday and has lost his most precious toy, a 10 inch soft bodied Mickey mouse. This is his bedtime buddy and he takes him everywhere. Our little man is devastated and we are desperate to try and unite him with his favourite toy. Rian's Daddy died last year from a brain tumour so this little boy has had a lot of trauma over the past couple of years.We hate seeing him upset so if there was any way of putting out an appeal for Mickey mouse we would be very grateful. We have searched and retraced our steps but unfortunately we have not been successful in finding him.We hope that you might be able to help us with this appeal. Rian's granny Michelle was on the line to ask the public for help.
Dr. Maire Finn from the Ennis Family Medical Centre Health was in for our weekly health slot. This week she focused on coping with depression.
A new film on Ireland's fishing industry has been described as "a wake-up call as chilling as a bucket of ice-cold seawater over the head" [by the Irish Examiner]. Atlantic is Risteard Ó Domhnaill’s second feature documentary and follows coastal communities in Newfoundland, Norway and Ireland struggling to maintain their way of life in the face of shrinking fishing quotas and mismanaged resources. Four years ago, two crowd-funding campaigns and a struggle for official funding in the making, the documentary is narrated by Brendan Gleeson and filmed mostly by Ó Domhnaill himself. Risteard's first film, The Pipe, tells the story of the struggle against the Shell gas project in Rossport, Co Mayo. The Atlantic will have two screenings in Clare (both followed by a Q and A with the director), the first is tomorrow night (May 13) at 8pm at the Courthouse Gallery Ennistymon and the second at Kilkee Library on Sunday, May 15. The film tells the story of who we deal with Ireland's natural resources compared to Norway and Newfoundland. Brendan Gleeson narrates the documentary. Risteard O Domhnaill was on the line with Gavin.
Michelle Flannery Busy Bee Garden Centre & Tea Rooms, Clondrinagh, Limerick was in for the weekly garden item. She had advice fore gardening container pots and hanging baskets.
There's feathery fun for all the family at the 5 day Cliffs of Moher Seabirds Festival beginning next Friday. Over 60,000 birds make their home at the cliffs during the breeding season including puffins peregrine falcons, choughs and ravens. Over the five days there'll be bird watching with a BirdWatch Ireland expert, daily free guided seabird tours and great family events including a Puffin Hunt on 14th May at the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre. Katherine Webster Director Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience was in studio to tell Gavin more.
Staying close, we next turned Lahinch and their Annual Safety at Sea Event. This Sunday will see life boats, rescue crews and maybe even the Shannon Rescue Chopper heading for Lahinch. Fortunately, there's no emergency. In fact, it's the Annual Safety at Sea Event. Tomsie O'Sullivan from Lahinch Rescue was in studio with Gavin.
A Clarecastle-based author is to publish his second fantasy novel for children Matt is originally from Co. Meath and now lives with his family in Clarecastle. Storm Weaver is his second novel on only just published by O’Brien Press. His first book was called A Cage of Roots. Matt is also graphic designer and has worked on many projects including merchandise for the films Back to the Future. Matt will be launching Storm Weaver at the Ennis Bookshop on Friday (May 13) at 5pm. He told Gavin about the book.
Finally today we heard about the Gospel Rising Music Festival. The seventh annual Gospel Rising Music Festival – Ireland's biggest gospel music festival – returns to Ennis next weekend (May 13-15) with choirs from all over Ireland and beyond performing in venues throughout Ennis. There'll also be a range of workshops by leading Irish and international choral experts in gospel music, performance and singing for choir and non-choir members. The festival is being hosted by The Really Truly Joyful Ennis Gospel Choir, and is supported Failte Ireland and the Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau. Niamh Hahessy and Monica Morgan joined Gavin in studio to tell him more and give their version of Hallelujah.
