Clare County Council say it’s unlikely they’ll be able to trace the origin of animal carcasses found washed up on a Doonbeg beach. The decomposing bodies of a calf and a foal were found by a member of the public out walking on Whitestrand beach. One of the bodies has now been removed but council workers have still not located the second. Animal Rights Action Network (ARAN), are today urging the Department of Agriculture to investigate. John Carmody from ARAN spoke to Gavin on the issue.
Next on the show, Gavin spoke to a number of Councillors about the prospects of a Fianna Fail-Fine Gael coalition. Local political representatives are keeping their cards close to their chest over talk of a grand coalition between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail. It comes as the outgoing cabinet will meet this afternoon (Tuesday, March 1) for the first time since election. The meeting will include at least three ministers who lost their seats in the last election as under the constitution, the outgoing Taoiseach and government remain in place until a new one is elected by the Dail. Speculation is mounting as to who will form the next government. Speaking to Gavin this morning were; Cllr. Johnny Flynn, Fine Gael; Cllr. Pat Hayes, Fianna Fail; Cllr. Pat Daly, Fianna Fail; and Cllr. Joe Cooney, Fine Gael.
Next on the show for the weekly Garda Focus slot, Gavin spoke to Garda Robert Grant about recent crime in Clare.
Aline Fitzgerald, from Shannon Heritage and the general manager of GPO Witness History, spoke to Morning Focus today. Shannon Heritage, in collaboration with An Post, has today (Monday, March 1st) shown an advance preview of the 10 million euro GPO Witness History permanent visitor attraction, set to open this Easter to commemorate the events of Easter 1916. The final elements and memorabilia being added were evident at this preview event for the centre which will be opened by An Taoiseach on March 25th and officially opened to the public on March 29th. GPO Witness History is an immersive, interactive visitor attraction bringing history to life through technology, video and sound. Authentic artefacts are on loan from various donors, including photographs, diaries and letters from the time. Its special effects, soundscapes and heartfelt stories of real people in extraordinary circumstances will captivate all age groups, from the culturally curious international visitor to the well-informed history buff, there’s plenty to interest and engage individuals, families and touring groups.
Seachtain na Gaeilge (Irish Language Week) is an international Irish language festival and one of the biggest celebrations of our native language and culture that takes place each year in Ireland and many other countries. The Festival runs from March 1-17 every year. The event gives an opportunity to everyone to enjoy Irish, whether you’re a fluent speaker, learner or have a cupla focal, with a calendar of entertaining and fun events for every type of interest and every age group. Voluntary and community groups, local authorities, schools, libraries, and music, sports, arts and culture organisations organise events for Seachtain na Gaeilge in their local are. Speaking about the festival this morning was Aoif Ni Chonchuir from Clar as Gailge.
Later on the show Frankie Coote, the County Dog Warden for Clare spoke to Gavin about a number of topics including the animal carcasses found washed up in Doonbeg.
Donal Minihane, festival organiser and general manager of Hotel Doolin, spoke on the show next about Doolin Writer’s Weekend. A North Clare village once frequented by eminent writers such as George Bernard Shaw, J.M. Synge and Dylan Thomas will host a celebration of Irish literature this weekend (March 4-6). Hotel Doolin has announced a comprehensive line-up and programme for the fourth annual Weekend, featuring workshops, book launches and readings by leading writers. Gavin also spoke to Catherine Dunne this morning. Catherine Dunne is the author of nine novels including The Things We Know Now, which won the 700th anniversary Giovanni Boccaccio International Prize for Fiction 2013 and was shortlisted for the Eason Novel of the Year at the Irish Book Awards. She has also published one work of non-fiction; a social history of Irish immigrants in London, called An Unconsidered People. Catherine’s novels have been shortlisted for, among others, the Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year Award and the Italian Booksellers’ Prize. Her work has been translated into several languages. She was recently long-listed for the first Laureate for Irish Fiction Award.
Gary Graham, Bloom Manager with Bord Bia and Carmen Cronin, the Clare Garden Fesitval Manager and Founder, spoke today about Clare Garden Festival which is being launched today at the Mill Wheel in Ennis. Following the great success of the first Show Garden created at Clare Garden Festival in 2015, the festival organisers have decided to create a second garden at this year’s festival to be displayed on their festival date on Sunday, April 24 at Ennis Showgrounds. This year’s show garden will again be designed and built by Castleview Garden Design and for the first time supported by Clare County Council Gardening Section.
Dubbed by the Irish Times as ‘the outright king of comedy’, Jason Byrne celebrates 20 years in stand up with his new show. Jason spoke to Morning Focus about his new show, as well as his upcoming gig at the Lime Tree Theatre, Mary I, Limerick on Saturday the 5th of March. In 1996, Jason won the ‘So You Think You’re Funny?’ competition at the Edinburgh festival; he was nominated for the Perrier in 1998 and 2001, and is now the festival’s biggest-selling comedian. His TV credits include Live at the Apollo, Channel 4’s Comedy Gala, John Bishop’s Only Joking and Anonymous. His Radio 2 show won a Sony Gold Award for Best Comedy in 2011.
