On today’s show Gavin Grace was joined by the Friday Panel, which included Pat O’Neill from Employability Clare, Clare FM Commentator Syl O’Connor and Claire Gallagher from The Clare People. The panel discussed how the Taoiseach has described as disgraceful comments by an Independent TD about the Government’s welcome of the Obama’s in recent days. United Left Alliance Deputy Clare Daly described it as "unprecedented slobbering" over the American First Family. Do we fawn over foreign visitors, particularly American visitors? The panel discussed, given our cultural and economic ties (including our record of emigration), whether or not this is a bad thing?
Also up for discussion – the government is being warned that further cuts to teaching hours for children with special needs is driving them out of mainstream schools. Parents and teachers in Clare have been expressing their frustration and anger with the decision, which the National Council for Special Education says is necessary given the increase in children qualifying for the service. Is this an acceptable explanation, or a cut too far? Meanwhile Clare take on Cork in the Munster semi-final on Sunday. The panel spoke of what would it mean for the county if the team reached the provincial final?
Also Mark McCausland and Oisin Leech, collectively known as The Lost Brothers, were guests of The Afternoon Show ahead of their performance at the Clare Connections concert in Ennis this evening. The Irish musical duo, Mark from Omagh and Oisin from Navan, are renowned for their tight, two part harmonies and country tinged folk songs. The Irish Times say “they sound like the ghosts of The Everly Brothers whispering a secret to Hank Williams.” Their third and latest album “The Passing Of The Night”, was recorded in Nashville, produced by Brendan Benson of The Raconteurs and released on Benson’s Readymade Records. The duo has just completed a UK tour in support of Billy Bragg and last September they were guests of Glen Hansard, on a coast to coast trip across the USA and Canada. They’re on stage in the Abbey Street car park this evening.
To contact the show please email afternoon@clare.fm
