On today’s edition of The Afternoon Show Gavin Grace spoke with Niamh Ui Cheallaigh – a spokesperson for PACUB – Parents Against Cuts to Child Benefit. She joined the show to talk about how parents were left in fear of more cuts to child benefit after Education Minister Ruairi Quinn indicated he would spend the money elsewhere. He said he wanted to start a debate about providing a second year of free pre-school care by using some of the €2bn spent on child benefit every year. PACUB- Parents against cuts to child benefit – feel they are robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Eddie Downey is the Deputy President of the Irish Farmers Association and was also a guest of the show to discuss the ongoing fodder crisis that is having a serious impact on farmers. He spoke of how the first consignments of hay sourced in France will be distributed to farmers through their co-ops, marts and merchants in western counties today, and over the weekend. The group says the delivery of French hay is timely as good quality hay from the UK is running short. The heavy rain and lower temperatures in recent days will have an ongoing impact on farms. Further supplies will arrive in the coming days with co-ops, marts and merchants booking over 3,500 tonnes for their customers.
Aidan Stacey is the Head of Fundraising at the Irish Heart Foundation and spoke to Gavin about the staggering figures that show one hundred thousand people are clinically diagnosed with stroke or coronary heart disease in Ireland each year and in Clare on average five people die every week from these illnesses. According to the national charity, 273 people are diagnosed here every day with stroke or heart disease, enough to fill two and a half double decker buses daily. Today is the launch of the charity’s May Happy Hearts Appeal. To donate or find out more please contact the group on lo-call 1890 432 787, alternatively you can donate €2 directly by texting the word HEART to 50300.
Mary O’Callaghan is a native of the Kilmurry – Sixmilebridge area and is currently living in New Zealand. Mary took part in our weekly “Calling Home” feature. Mary originally left Clare and moved to Australia to find work and has since moved to Christchurch where she is working in the construction sector there. She spoke to Gavin about her reasons for leaving and her future plans. If you or a loved one is living abroad we’d love to hear their story – please contact gathering@clare.fm
Fiona Linnane is a Composer and is behind a special initiative in North Clare this month. “Bells Across the Burren” is a music project, which will run for the month of May during the Burren in Bloom festival, with concerts, an exhibition and a ‘music trail’ on the grounds of the Burren College of Art. The music trail features musical instruments placed on an old nature trail, which visitors can play and explore. Bells Across the Burren is an Artist in the Community project supported by the Arts Council of Ireland and the Clare Arts Office.
Stephen McDermott – our Clare FM Movie Reviewer was also in studio to discuss the latest instalment in The Fast and The Furious franchise that features Vin Diesel.
To contact the show please email afternoon@clare.fm
