Speaking to Gavin Grace on The Afternoon Show today was Michelle Murphy, a Research and Policy Analyst with Social Justice Ireland. Rural Ireland and rural communities are coming under unprecedented pressures and many are fighting for survival, according to Social Justice Ireland. In the review of Rural Development contained in Social Justice Ireland’s 2013 Socio-Economic Review published this week it shows poverty is more likely to occur in rural areas than urban areas. Some of the most alarming findings include; in 2011 the risk of poverty in rural Ireland was 4.6 percentage points higher than in urban Ireland with ‘at risk’ rates of 18.8% and 14.2%respectively. Those in farming comprise just one quarter of the rural labour force. Agriculture, forestry and fishing account for only 85,600 people employed in Ireland. Direct CAP payments comprised 73% of farm income in 2011. 65% of farms in Ireland have an income of less than €20,000 per annum. The report in full is available on http://socialjustice.ie/content/socio-economic-review-2013
Dr. Billy O’Connell, a Miltown Malbay GP and Owen O’Mahony from Clare Suicide Bereavement Support were also guests of the show today. Billy, as a doctor and community activist, has long campaigned to raise awareness of mental health issues, depression and suicide. Owen gave us details of their special Healing Programme, which begins this coming Monday night in Mullagh (8pm in the Parochial House, Shandrum). Billy also discussed plans for a positive mental health initiative later in May, which will aim to highlight and raise awareness of suicide through positive means. If you are finding it difficult to cope with a death by suicide of a family member or friend contact the Clare Suicide Bereavement Support group on 086 056 5373 or 087 369 8315.
Also on today’s show we heard another episode in the “Calling Home” series. Gavin spoke with Killaloe native Tony Grimes, who now lives in Indio, California. They discussed the many changes he’s witnessed in his 49 years in the USA, his memories of home, the culture shock he experienced when he arrived in California in the early 60’s and he talked about what it’s like to live in the desert! Tony reminisced about his visits home over the years and about his upcoming trip home to Killaloe in June.
We want to hear your stories – if you or a loved one has emigrated we’d like to hear from them. Please email [email protected] or contact Clare FM on 065 682 88 88, alternatively log on to www.clare.fm for more details.
We also heard from Brian Kavanagh who has organised the 3rd annual Clare Die Cast Model Show, which is taking place in the West County Hotel, Ennis on April 7th (10 to 6pm) and spoke about how this year the event hopes to raise money for the Church Restoration project in Kilkishen.
Stephen McDermott our Clare FM Movie Reviewer also joined us for his weekly cinema review. Today he talked about Jack the Giant Slayer and the latest with Tom Cruise – Oblivion.
To contact the show please email [email protected]
