Morning Focus – Thursday, November 12

Morning Focus returned to the issue of overcrowding at UHL. The number of people waiting on trolleys reached 44 — 17 more than any other hospital in the country. While management at UHL have unveiled a 'Winter Initiative' to tackle ongoing overcrowding, efforts to curb overcrowding (which include the opening of additional beds for CF and stroke patients) didn’t yet appear to be yielding results. Pat was joined by Cllr PJ Ryan, from Sixmilebridge, a member of the HSE West Regional Health Forum and received a statement from UHL.
Pat was joined by Richard Cahill who had just declared as an Independent candidate for Clare in GE 2016. Richard said he hadn’t yet ruled out joining an Indepdendent alliance, but said it would have to be one without a whip system.
Pat heard about plans to rejuvenate a historic market place in Ennis. The Ennis Market Rejuvenation project has just gotten underway at Garraunakilla, marking an investment of close to €2 million in the site. When completed, the location will have a dual use — providing a fully covered Farmer's Market and, when not in use by traders, will be available for car-parking. Eamon O'Dea Engineer, Clare County Council joined Pat in studio and Cllr Johnny Flynn, FG member of Ennis MD joined the discussion by phone.
Dr Máire Finn of Ennis Family Medical Centre spoke to Pat about colon cancer.
Ahead of the Doonbeg One-Act Drama Festivals, Rita Mcinnerney and Fiona Stack performed an extract from 'Babysitting Calvin’.
Mary Behan, an Ennis woman living in Abu Dhabi and working as a nurse at the Cleveland Clinic joined Morning Focus by phone. Mary was crowned Best Dressed Lady at the Dubai World Cup in March of this year. 
Pat spoke with Eddie Sullivan of The Royal Showband.
Joe Quinlivan (79) joined Pat in studio to discuss the memoir he’s written. Joe left Lissycasey at the age of 16 and worked in London building the motorway system from England to Scotland. He met and married Scotswoman Brigetta Collins and settled in Falkirk. His marriage sparked a series of romances between Clare natives with the Scots. Along his travels, Joe kept notes of his experiences and those he met and he's used this to write the book.
Ahead of a very special show at Culturlann Sweeney in Kilkee Tickets legendary musicians Martin Hayes and Denis Cahill performed in studio.