In the aftermath of the Brussels attacks, Morning Focus opened with a look at the state of international security. The question of Ireland being attacked is a real one, according to security analyst Declan Power. Writing this week, in the wake of the Brussels attacks, he says Ireland isn't immune from such attacks, but our main defence has been the fact our Islamic population is small and most of whom do not wish this country ill will.
However, he says that until there is a proper European-wide policy and structure in place for all EU member states on countering violent extremism and sharing effective intelligence and similar laws to deal with this, Ireland will continue to see Islamic fundamentalism prosper. Gavin was joined by Declan Power, security & defence analyst and author
This week, Rob Heffernan and Olive Loughnane have been upgraded with Olympic bronze and World gold medals respectively after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld six appeals filed by the IAAF against Russian athletes.
Heffernan was awarded the Olympic bronze medal for the 50km walk from the London Games in 2012 while this rubberstamps Loughnane being upgraded from silver to gold over 20km in the 2009 World Championships in Berlin.
Rob's first coach, John Hayes, is originally from County Clare and he joined Gavin to discuss Rob's outstanding achievement.
Ahead of the Easter ceremonies, Gavin was joined in studio by Fr Brendan Quinlivan, Communications Officer for the Diocese of Killaloe.
As a new exhibition on Holy Island, in Lough Derg, opened, Gavin found out more about the sacred site. It derives its name from 'Inis Cealtra', meaning the 'island of the burial ground' or 'island of monastic cells'. It's regarded as the most important monastic site in Ireland with strong links to Brian Boru. The island is around a kilometre from the mainland and close to Mountshannon. Pilgrims travelled here for hundreds of year’s right up to the mid-19th century. Last year, Clare County Council confirmed it's to buy Holy Island in a bid to attract up to 20-thousands visitors a year.
The council aims to improve visitor access to the 43 acre island, while also protecting the island's sanctity and tranquillity.
The plan to open access to the island is supported by Waterways Ireland, who say it could form part of a heritage trail along Ireland's inland waterways. Gavin was joined in studio by Caimin Jones of Caimin Jones Communications
To discuss the Clare FM Easter Schedule, Gavin was joined in studio by Padraic Flaherty, Operations Manager Clare FM and by Celia Donoghue, documentary producer
The Morning Focus Friday Panel discussed the Brussels attacks; local councillors pay demands; the 1916 centenary; and the recent news that Newmarket has been included in the TripAdvisor Top 10 Destinations. Gavin's panel were John Quinlivan, Gabriella Hanrahan and Dermot Hayes.
