MORNING FOCUS TUESSDAY 11TH NOVEMBER
Sean and Fiona are the parents of Donal and Ruby – their ten month old twins who were born to a surrogate mother paid for her services in an Indian Clinic. Their story was featured in a TV Documentary – "Her Body; Our Babies". This comes on the back of comments from Leo Varadker over the last few days where he has promised new legislation around the issue of surrogacy following a case brought to the Supreme Court. Fiona joined John to talk about her experiences of surrogacy and her hopes for new legislation
On Monday 10th November the Shannon Group (now an independent plc) announced the relaunch of Shannon Duty Free, taking it back to its original title but with a fresh new look. Established almost 70 years ago, it is the first and oldest duty free in the World. From humble beginnings it went on to offer top international names in products. The brainchild of Dr Brendan O'Regan, it all began with Ms. Kitty Downes who set up a small kiosk in the terminal building at Shannon, where she sold souvenirs, Irish linen goods and other locally produced goods. From such inauspicious beginnings, a blueprint was created for the world-wide, multi-billion euro duty free industry we know today. John was joined by Andrew Murphy Chief Commercial Officer of Shannon and Jimmy Kelly who worked at the originally duty free from 1952 up until his retirement in 1990.
Clare County Council has passed a number of motions calling for a shift in government policy with regards to water charges.The Council has called for Irish Water to be scrapped, while Fine Gael Councillors supported motions calling for charges to be suspended until a comprehensive Dáil debate on the State Utility. Anti-water charges protestors, who had picketed outside last evening's Council meeting, applauded Councillors from the public gallery at the end of their debate on water charges.
Local representatives had passed three motions relating to the controversial state utility, including two which had sought the suspension of water charges while until such time that Irish Water had been overhauled. Cllr Joe Cooney of Fine Gale and Cllr Pay Hayes of Fianna Fail were on hand to speak to John about the issue.
As the cold evenings really start taking holds this week and with reports suggesting we could be in for on eof the coldest winters on record. Gerry Bredin our resident DIY expert was in studio to take a look at Insulation and Draft excluders and how they can really help with heating homes over the winter period.
A journal and autograph book that provides a unique insight into life and conditions at Frongoch prisoner of war camp, where an estimated 1,800 Irish participants of The Easter Rising were interned between June and December 1916, has been acquired at auction by Clare Museum.
Belonging to IRA Volunteer and future Clare T.D. Patrick Brennan, from Meelick, the album features accounts of life in the North Wales camp, poetry in Irish and English, and coloured illustrations of the camp and its inhabitants.John Rattigan Curator of Clare Museum and Padraig Og O'Ruairc Historian and Author spoke to John about the importance of these documents.
Clare Dog Warden Frankie Coote joined John for his regular slot with advice on proper animal care and animal owners' legal responsibilities. Contact Clare Animal Shelter on 065 6820393 .
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