Works have begun on the county's first crematorium – one of a tiny handful outside of Dublin. Diggers have been on-site at Illaunumanagh for almost a week.
The 1.3 acre site was approved for sale – controversially – by members of Clare County Council in March of this year.
In a long-running saga, a number of residents fought the project intensively. However, with graveyard space at a premium, the project is set for completion and likely to cater for several funerals every week. Pat spoke with crematorium developer, Jim Cranwell.
Crematorium developer
Concerns were raised about the condition of green areas at Ennis Railway Station ahead of the opening this Sunday (Aug. 14) of Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann. Former Clare County Councillor, Tony Mulqueen got in touch with Morning Focus to highlight the issue. He fears the overgrown grass and ragwort create a bad impression of the town for the tens of thousands of people who will arrive in Ennis by rail and bus. Following a discussion of the issue, Iarnrod Eireann confirmed to Morning Focus that they have teams in place today (Tue. Aug. 9) carrying out works at the station in advance of the Fleadh.
With the Fleadh almost upon us, the excitement in Ennis – and across the county – is reaching fever-pitch. As you heard yesterday (Mon. Aug. 8) on Morning Focus, the event (which runs from August 14 to 22) is expected to deliver a €40 million euro boost to the local economy. The really good news is that tourism officials say they expect a long-term spin-off for the entire county.
The festival returns to Ennis next year, but it's hoped that the exposure received by the town and county will encourage many tourists to return in the years to come. Fáilte Ireland have provided grant funding for this year's Fleadh, and their Client Services Manager for the Wild Atlantic Way, Michael Fitzsimons, told Gavin Grace there will be long-term dividend.
Regular listeners will remember Cratloe man, Marty Holland, who joined us on Morning Focus back in May to tell us about his plans to walk the entire Irish coastline to raise funds for the Irish Cancer Society. Dubbed by some as a 'couch surfing pensioner', Marty – a former lecturer at Mary I – decided to undertake the mammoth (4,000km) journey after losing two friends to cancer.
Since setting off from Galway-Clare border on May 24, Marty has had hundreds of offers of accommodation, he's raised thousands and he's even met comedian Graham Norton. He's also gotten rather annoyed about the amount of litter along the Irish coast and he's on the line now to give us an update on his travels.
Morning Focus then heard the extraordinary story of 5 Clare natives who spent their lives making maps for the British Empire.
Pat was joined from England by Dr Charles Drazin – the grandson and grandnephew of the 5 military surveyors, born in Quin, who emigrated to joing the Royal Engineers. Charles knew nothing of this ancestor's past until his mother – a native of Quin – was told that she was dying. That prompted recollections of her early life that she had never confided before: of the village where she had grown up, and of her father.
Soon afterwards her own death left her son to go through alone the relics of her life. They included a box of old photographs, a battered suitcase stamped with the initials of the grandfather he had never known, and the service records of Patrick’s brothers. All of the Quin natives had all enlisted in the Royal Engineers in the early 1900s. Mapping the Past is the title of Charles's book, which will be launched on August 25.
Ennis woman, Rose Hally was Pat's next guest in studio. She's the former Head of Business Finance in Clare has recently taken on senior role with Community Finance Ireland. The charity has up to €100 million available in funding for the community and voluntary sector. With Rose having not only significant management experience, she has a strong background in voluntary roles in many diverse organisations throughout the county. She told Pat she hopes this background will contribute greatly to her new role.
There's no doubt that the Tullamore Show is one of the country's premier agricultural events, attracing tens of thousands of people from every walk of life.
What you mightn't know is that one of the brains behind the event – which celebrates its 25th anniversary next Sunday (Aug. 14)- is a Clare native.
Pat was joined on the line by Freda Kinnarney from Clonlara. She's the show's secretary and has been instrumental in growing it from a two-acre site with a few thousand people to a 250-acre site with 60,000 people expected to attend.
The show will be opened by the Agriculture, Food and Marine Minister, Michael Creed at 11.30am on Sunday, August 14.
