Morning Focus opened the news of the identity of the Clare rural GP candidate for GE16. Dr Michael Harty was unveiled as the candidate to stand on the 'no doctor, no village' ticket. Dr Harty from Kilmihil was the 14th into the race and he spoke to Gavin ahead of his formal campaign launch in Corofin.
While flooding in some part of Clare is beginning to clear, there are ongoign concerns over sections of the Gort – Tuam M17/M18 motorway route. Parts of the €550 million motorway may have to be raised due to flooding, according to leading hydrologist,
Prof Paul Johnston of Trinity College Dublin who spoke to Gavin about his concerns.
The two representative groups for publicans are calling on the Minister for Justice to change the law banning the sale of alcohol on Good Friday. The Licensed Vintners Association and the Vintners Federation of Ireland are calling on the Government to introduce legislation to permit all licensed premises to sell alcohol as normal on Good Friday. They say the archaic (it dates back to 1927), discriminatory law has no place in a modern country. Gavin spoke with Charles O'Meara, Chairperson of the Clare Vintners' Association.
A support group for Clare diabetes sufferers is setting out its wish-list ahead of the General Election. Grainne Flynn of Clare branch of Diabetes Federation of Ireland (DFI) spoke to Gavin about the organisations meetings – which take place on the second Tuesday over every month at the Temple Gate Hotel, in Ennis. More information is available by emailing [email protected].
County Dog Warden for Clare, Frankie Coote, advised listeners to keep a close eye on their dogs during the lambing season.
As the World Economic Forum opened in Davos, Switzerland, a new report revealed that just 62 people make up the world's wealthiest one percent. That elite group of billionaires own as much as the poorer half of the world’s population – a figure that has fallen from 80 last year and 388 just five years ago. Sorcha Nic Mhathuna of Oxfam Ireland, spoke to Gavin about the latest findings.
Clare FM's Siofra Mulqueen produced a special package on an appeal for instruments for Scoil Chriost Ri, Cloughleigh, Ennis, and the music that they're making with them.
Morning Focus looked at the issue of autism, which can be a challenging and puzzling condition for those who live with it and for their families and friends. The Autism Spectrum is a very wide one, with people affected in a variety of ways and no two people on the spectrum are affected in exactly the same way. However, the areas of difficulty for those on the spectrum can largely be summed up under 4 headings: social communication; social imagination; social interaction and sensory processing
As I Am is an organisation that aims to provide accurate information about autism (to educate the general public and those with ASD)and to advocate for those with ASD.
Towards the end of last year, As I Am was awarded funding from the Department of Justice to develop an Autism Awareness Campaign aimed at 15-22 year olds. The campaign will be delivered by a number of local Autism Support groups including EVA (Ennis Voices for Autism). The purpose of this campaign is to create a greater understanding, respect and appreciation for those with Autism in youth settings such as sports and activity clubs, social venues, university and work places, and a public meeting takes place tomorrow night (Wed., Jan. 20, 7pm) (at the Temple Gate Hotel) to discuss how the campaign will develop. More details are available, at any time, from [email protected]. Joan McDonald of Ennis Voices for Autism spoke to Gavin about her organisation's plans.
Miltown Malbay's Shona Blake is a singer-songwriter who performs as part of a duo with her husband Paul McCabe. Her songs have been described as 'hauntingly poetic'. With the release of her debut album, 'Explore', she joined Gavin in studio to perform two of her songs, 'Bones' and 'Swimming'.
