Morning Focus opened with David Flynn from the West Clare Surf Club who told Gavin why there's opposition to plans to build rock armour at the Trump International Golf Resort at Doonbeg .
Surfers have described Donald Trump’s €10m rock barrier plan to protect his golf resort at Doonbeg as “heavy-handed”.
The billionaire businessman is seeking permission to build the 2.8km wall – the application has been referred to An Bord Pleanala.
The Clare resort faces onto Doughmore beach, which is the one of the most popular and highly regarded surf beaches on the west coast.
A new report reveals that women are at risk of low pay and Morning Focus heard more about why. The Quarterly Economic Observer from NERI (the Nevin Economic Research Institute) provides a comprehensive overview of one of the groups most at risk of low pay: female employees. The report shows that 60% of those classified as low paid are female, some 207,000 workers. On average low paid female workers earn less than low paid males. They are also concentrated in the retail, food and accommodation and caring sectors. Gavin spoke with Ennis native Micheal Collins of NERI.
After a stunning win at Cheltenham yesterday (March 15), Clare jockey Derek O'Connor joined Gavin to share his excitement at the victory.
Ahead of the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in Ennis, the call was put out for the oldest Patrick in Clare, who will act as its Grand Marshall.That man is Patrick, Pakie Wall, from Ballydineen, KilmihilHe's lived in the same farmhouse there since 1939, having come from Ballyea where he was born in 1918.Born long before the motor car became a common sight here, Pakie drove until he was over 90, and tomorrow he'll join the Mayor of Ennis Pat Daly in a horse-drawn carriage which will be followed by around 50 groups in one of the high points of the year. This week, Gavin met Pakie Wall who told me of how he came to be chosen to lead the parade in the county town
Failte Ireland is about to lauch virtual reality tours of Wild Atlantic Way and millions of people worldwide will be able to experience the highlights and sample the surf in County Clare, thanks to virtual reality technology. Failte Ireland this week (Mar. 15) unveiled a series of experiences including surfing the crest of a wave under the Cliffs of Moher and cycling through the Burren with Patrick O'Regan from Burren Way Mountain Bike Tours.
Piloted last week at the international tourism fair ITB in Berlin, the experiences will be shared on the Oculus store from which millions of people will be able to download them.
The tourism authority are also looking into the possibility of integrating the VR experiences across their Tourist Office network and ultimately offering it to trade and industry partners to use for their own promotional activity.
Gavin spoke with Amanda Horan, Sales Development Officer with Failte Ireland.
Ahead of St Patrick's Day, Morning Focus heard from Fiona Whelan on the Ennis Parade and from Anne Jones, who told Gavin about the Fleadh 2016 theme at Ennis Parade.
It was off to Kilfenora then to hear from Orla Vaughan, while John Drysdale provided an update on the Shannon Parade; from Gort, Padraic Giblin described preparations there and Fiona White told Gavin about the 21st annual Miltown Malbay event.
Morning Focus then heard from Young Social Innovators in Clare. Feminism, mental health and tatooing were among the subjects that have been explored by pupils of an Ennis secondary school as part of a programme for Young Social Innovators (YSIs). Three teams from Colaiste Muire recently unveiled their projects at the Young Social Innovators Speak Out in Limerick. Nationally, a total of 21 schools took part as part of the YSI Speak Out Tour 2016. Over 6,500 students throughout Ireland are taking part in Young Social Innovators this year working in 450 teams to tackle social issues affecting them and their communities. 60 teams will be shortlisted to compete for the national title of Young Social Innovators of the Year on the 10th of May 2016 in Citywest Hotel and Convention Centre. Gavin was joined in studio by Aine Kearins, Abby O'Connell and Shauna Green.
Once again, Clare performed strongly in list of 100 Best Places of Stay. Gavin was joined by John McKenna, one of the curators of the 100 Best list of Irish Restaurants and Places to Stay since 1992. He also spoke with Mary Ashton from Glencarrig Farmhouse B&B, Carrigaholt. The guesthouse made the list last year for the first time. The Clare list also included:
Gregan’s Castle, Ballyvaughan
Hotel Doolin, Doolin
Moy House, Lahinch
Sheedy’s, Lisdoonvarna
Stella Maris, O’Connell Street, Kilkee
Vaughan Lodge Hotel, Lahinch
Wild Honey Inn, Kincora Road, Lisdoonvarna
Morning Focus returned to preparations for St Patrick's Day Parades and spoke to Tom Clohessy from Kilrush, Olive Foley from Killaloe, and to Elaine Haugh from Kilkee. From Tulla, we spoke to Murdoch Gleeson and from Ennistymon, we spoke to John Richardson.
