On today’s edition f The Today Show Gavin Grace spoke with Diarmuid de Paor, Deputy General Secretary of the ASTI and Jackie O’Callaghan, PRO of the National Parent Council (Post Primary). They discussed how 64% of second-level schools are considering dropping one or more subjects from their Leaving Cert programme as a result of Budget 2012 education cuts, according to a study commissioned by the ASTI. The Leaving Cert subjects most likely to be dropped by schools in September 2012 are accounting, chemistry, physics, and economics. Amalgamation of higher, ordinary and foundation level classes is another likely response to Budget cuts. Fifty-seven per cent of schools indicated that they are likely to amalgamate some classes at Leaving Cert level. Thirty-two per cent said they are considering amalgamating some 5th and 6th year classes.
Ollie O’Flaherty is a Surfer from Lahinch. He spoke to Gavin about how he is in the running for one of big wave surfing’s most prestigious prizes for his ride on a monster Co. Sligo wave last month. Ollie, aged 24, has been nominated in the Biggest Wave category of the Billabong XXL 2012 contest for a wave he was towed into at Mullaghmore Head on March 8th. The category carries a $15,000 prize.
Today we also heard another episode of “Through the Ages”, which features the school children of Clare. Today’s pupils from across Clare bring to life memoirs and folklore collected by students 75 years ago as part of an oral history project set in motion by what was then the Folklore Commission in 1937. Children in national schools all over Ireland were asked to gather as much of their local folklore as possible from their elderly family members and neighbours and to write it all down just as they heard it. The essays that resulted from this project form a unique record of the customs, beliefs, stories and songs of that time. They include tales, traditions, old cures, riddles and jokes – and are reanimated by today’s pupils from across Co. Clare. Today we heard from the students of Broadford National School.
Ailbhe Howard, a native of Lisdoonvarna, Andrea Baskill, Fergal Curtis, Alex Otterman and Maria Hughes joined Gavin in studio today. All are members of the Dublin Youth Opera Company. DYOC travels nationwide touring and raising money for charity. They are currently in the middle of their ‘big brother’ tour and are stopping off in Clare on the 10th of April. Big Brother is a juke-box opera where they’ve taken different songs from musicals and put them together in a new and amusing way! All money raised goes to charity; their selected charity for the Clare concert is ‘Slainte an Chlair’ Clare Cancer Support. The show will be held in Sea-world Hall, Lahinch Ennistymon. At 7.30pm, 10th of April.
Julie Hyde, Founder of the Clare Veg Group spoke to The Today Show about tonight’s Vegetarian and Vegan evening, which takes place in Primavera Restaurant, Ennis at 7pm. It’s hosted by the Clare Veg Group – made up of vegans and vegetarians from across the county who meet every month.
If you would like to take part or send a comment to The Today Show please email today@clare.fm or text Clare FM followed by your message and name to 53030
