Clare County Council is urging members of the public to remain vigilant with storm Henry expected to peak at later today. Tom Tiernan, the senior engineer with Clare County Council, spoke to Gavin this morning about the storm. A mid-level orange weather alert remains in place for the country from 10am until midnight tonight with winds of up to 80 kilometres per hour forecast and gusts of up to 130 kilometres. The local authority is advising people to avoid exposed coastal areas due to the stormy conditions and high seas. Storm Henry is expected to reach its peak this afternoon or early evening.
Padraig McLochlainn joined Gavin on the line to talk about the Petitions Committee to report on US use of Shannon Airport. Committee Chairman and Sinn Fein TD, McLochlainn, says they are calling for the matter to be tackled by the new Dail. A referendum could be held to enshrine Ireland’s neutrality in the constitution, following an investigation into whether the policy has been breached at Shannon Airport. The cross-party Oireachtas Justice Committee has interviewed senior Ministers and visited Shannon as part of their investigation into the US military’s use of the Airport. Its report will now be published before the Dail dissolves this week. Gavin also spoke to Senator Tony Mulcahy, a Shannon-based member of the Petitions Committee, and Dr John Lannon of Shannonwatch.
Victims of recent severe flooding along the River Shannon are to come together tomorrow night, Tuesday February 2nd, in Athlone with a view to rallying support for a planned national protest on February 20. PJ O’Connor, the Spokesperson for Athlone Flood Victims, spoke on the show about the gathering which is to highlight the situation flood victims are struggling with, ahead of the General Election, and to speed up flood prevention and compensation measures. Tuesday night’s meeting takes place at 8pm at the Shamrock Lodge Hotel in Athlone.
Nuala Mulqueeney, Director of Aillwee Cave, spoke to Gavin this morning about the 40th birthday of the north Clare tourist attraction. The Irish Association of British and Irish Showcaves is to hold its AGM this week at the Aillwee Cave to mark the occasion. The association will host its yearly meeting at the cave from February 2nd to 4th. This will see a group of up to 25 people, both show cave owners and operators, getting together to discuss matters such as energy efficient, eco-friendly business and underground cave lighting. There will be three UNESCO Geoparks represented including the Marble Arc Caves Global Geopark, the English Riviera Global Geopark, and the Burren and Cliffs of Moher Global Geopark.
Cratloe-based artist, Jane Murtagh, joined Gavin in studio to talk about her design for Jack & Jill Foundation’s “Hares on the March” campaign. Jane created ‘Harris the Hare,’ a colourful fibreglass sculpture, along with the pupils of Villiers Secondary School, Limerick. The campaign involves 110 hares that have been designed by a host of Irish artists including Pauline Bewick, Graham Knuttle, and Martin Gale. Hugo Jellett, the incoming CEO of Jack & Jill spoke to Gavin about the foundation, which provides direct funding to families of children with brain damage up to the age of 4 who suffer severe intellectual and physical developmental delay, enabling them to purchase home respite care. The hares will be on display at over 50 locations in Dublin until the end of February, for people to enjoy and possibly purchase via auction.
February 1st marks the first day of spring in the traditional Irish calendar. Fr Denis Crosby of Liscannor spoke to Gavin this morning about St Brigid’s Day, which has its roots in the pagan festival of ‘Imbolc’, one of four ‘fire festivals’ of the year. Folklorists believe that for hundreds, if not thousands of years, it’s been a day of pilgrimage and the tradition is alive and well in Liscannor where up to 200 people will attend St Brigid’s Day mass later today.
Clare FM’s own Derrick Lynch and Peter O’Connell from The Clare Champion joined Gavin for the weekly sports panel to discuss the sporting events that took place over the weekend.
Nicky Maloney, and Ennis Scout Group Leader, spoke to Gavin about a special appeal for more adult leaders to join Ennis Scouts. The success of the organisation means more and more children want to get involved in scouting, but not all can be catered for currently due to a lack of adult volunteers. Seamus Mulligan, a Beaver Leader, and Karen Kelleher, a Scout Leader also spoke to Gavin about being an adult volunteer.
Fr Brian Darcy also joined Gavin on the phone this morning to talk about the sad passing of beloved Irish broadcaster, Terry Wogan.
