On Fridays Morning Focus Marian Egan presented the show live from Kilkee. As part of our Summer outside broadcasts Morning Focus is trying to revist those areas that were worst hit by the storms earlier this year. It’s been 6 months to the day since Kilkee was hit.
Marian began the show by hearing from a number of people in the area, visitors and locals alike, which spoke to Clare FM’s Cian Kearns about how the place is looking now that we have put the bad weather behind us.
Up next Marian spoke to Eileen Mulcahy of Kilkee Thalassotherapy Centre and Elaine Haugh Hayes of Naughton's Bar about how trade is going after the storms. They also spoke about how the town is fairing in attracting visitors this season.
Up next Bernie Keating of Keating’s Bar, Kilbaha and Ailish Connolly of Kilbaha Gallery and Crafts about how their area is handling the post storm tourist season and how new businesses and Loophead lighthouse is drawing more visitors to the area, with visitor numbers up 4% when compared to this time last year.
Earlier this year Loop Head Peninsula and the Hanging Gardens were named as Clares Hidden Gem in a competition run by Dublin Coach and Clare FM. The area was nominated by Laura Foley of The Long Way Round which provides guided walks and hikes in the area. Clare FM’s Cian Kierns was taken on a tour of the tourist attraction and filed a report that gave listeners a feel as to why it was chosen as Clare’s Hidden Gem.
Marian was then joined by Brian O’Neill of the Rowan Tree who represented Dublin Coach as part of the Clare’s Hidden Gems Competition and Killian Murphy of Murphy Blacks Restaurant to chat about why this area was picked as Clare’s hidden gem.
When we talk about activities to do in Kilkee it’s hard to look past water sports. Marian was joined by David Neville of Nevsail to talk about Kayaking, Canoeing, Surfing, Sailing, Windsurfing, Rock-climbing, Power-boating, Coasteering and in the current craze- Stand Up Paddle Boarding. Marian heard how she can improve her fitness levels by trying some Stand Up Paddle Boarding!!!
Finally we were joined by local musicians Aine Heslen and Niamh Considine who played a few tunes. They gave listeners an insight as to what can be heard around Kilkee this long weekend.
If you have a story, comment or query for Morning Focus email Focus@clare.fm or write to us – Morning Focus, Clare FM, Francis Street, Ennis, Co. Clare.
