Morning Focus opened with a look at the housing crisis and how it's affecting County Clare. The ESRI has warned there won't be enough houses built to meet demand until the year 2018 at the earliest. Its latest report predicts economic growth of around 5 percent this year, but says there needs to be high level intervention in the housing shortage.
The new mortgage lending rules mean first time buyers need a 10 per cent deposit. Cormac O'Sullivan of DNG O'Sullivan Hurley told Gavin the lack of housing and accommodation could be a major disincentive to new businss opening in Ennis.
A Kilkee businessman has welcomed the recent completion of works to repair the damage done by severe stroms of 2013/2014. The second phase of the reconstruction of the 19th century seawall at Kilkee was recently completed, but John Redmond, who runs The Strand Bistro and Guesthouse, is critical of the length take to complete the works – saying his business lost thousands of euros while they were underway.
Mr Redmond is particularly annoyed at the fact that his premises on the Strand Line was impacted just as the Wild Atlantic Way was being promoted. He says that the venue looked like 'a bomb site' with hoardings up and warnings about the works.
Mr Redmond told Gavin that while the reinforcement and repair works will ultimately benefit Kilkee, but he says the losses to his business cannot be compensated for.
The President of the Royal College of Physicians has warned that Ireland's drinking culture has changed dramatically.
There was a further decrease in alcohol consumption in 2015, continuing a long-term trend of decline over the last fifteen years, but health experts say we're still having too much.
New research by DCU shows that we drink more that the OECD average, at over 11 litres per year.
Gavin discussed the issue with Gerry Murphy, Team Leader at Bushypark Addiction Treatment Centre.
The final day of this year's Cheltenham Festival was even bigger than usual and Gavin spoke to Rupert Bell, Sports broadcaster & Director Lloyd-Bell Productions.
Dublin Burning is a show which tells a story of Ireland’s 1916 rising through songs, music, poetry and stories of the era spanning 1890 to 1916. Gavin was joined by one of its authors, Clare's Mike Hanrahan, and by Brendan Begley. Dublin Burning incorporates songs familiar to generations of Irish people . These include ' Oro se de Bheatha Abhaile', 'The Tri Coloured Ribbon', 'A Nation Once Again', 'James Connolly' and 'A Soldiers Song'. The show comes to Culturlann Sweeney, Kilkee, on Friday, March 25 and to glor, Ennis, Thursday, October 13.
A Clare school and local student have been shortlisted in this year’s Bord Gáis Energy Student Theatre Awards
St Anne’s Community College, in Killaloe, has been shortlisted in the Best Musical Number category for its rendition of ‘Master of the House’ in the school production of ‘Les Misérables’.
Seventeen year old Emma Collins is also shortlisted in the Best Performance in a Supporting Role for her portrayal of Madame Thernardier in the play. She joined Gavin to discuss the school's achievements.
Siobhan Mulcahy, Clare County Arts Office joined Gavin for her weekly round-up of arts events.
The weekly Friday panel. The topics included Forced Evictions and Housing Crisis; the US Presidential Election; What it means to be Irish and What Makes a Great Hotel Stay.
Gavin was joined in studio by Verena Tarpey of Midwest Rape Crisis Centre; Michael Vaughan; Lahinch Hotelier and Former President of the IHF; and by Geraldine Gregan Food Scientist and Chairperson of Clare Fine Gael.
