First up on this morning's show was the mystery of the Quilty sunken car. Searches are due to continue off the coast of West Clare this morning after a car was taken from the water there last night. Emergency services removed the car from the sea after being called to the scene at Quilty at around 8 o'clock last night. The alarm was raised at around 8 o'clock when eye witnesses reported seeing the vehicle crashing into the water from the end of the pier in Quilty. The Doolin and Kilkee units of the Irish Coast Guard were dispatched to the scene, along with the Shannon based search and rescue helicopter. However, when the car emerged from the water no passengers were found inside. It's not yet known how the vehicle got into the water. Searches are due to resume this morning in the area. Martoni Vaughan, Officer in Charge, Kilkee Coastguard was on the line to tell us the latest from the search.
Then we heard about sexting teens. Recent reports suggest that Irish teens are engaging, in greater numbers than their European peers, in so-called 'sexting' that's sending sexually graphic messages. Irish teenagers were found to be the fourth highest in the EU for sending explicit messages, images or video, by Dr Sheri Bauman, an expert in peer victimisation and cyberbullying and a professor of counselling at the University of Arizona, who addressed a major conference in Ireland last week. The high rate of sexting here has been blamed on a lack of relevant and coherent education on the topic in the country’s schools. Margaret Slattery, CEO Clare Youth Service, was in studio to discuss the problem with Gavin.
Six months from the devastating flooding experienced in South East Clare and at locations along the River Shannon, The Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group held its third open day last Friday. The Group headed up by Clare McGrath, Chairperson of the Office of Public Works, outlined efforts to prevent a recurrence of scenes witnessed last November and December when flooding caused the evacuation of a number of homes in Springfield, Clonlara. Geraldine Quinlivan is one of the resident there and she attended last Friday's briefing. Geraldine says she first learned of Friday's open day through Clare FM. She's raised the issue of communication with the Working Group who've undertaken to improve their systems. Geraldine says she was disappointed to find the agencies operating at separate stands at the Open Day, rather than sitting around the same table – she feels that doesn't bode well for their ability to cooperate. Geraldine Quinlivan, resident of Springfield Clonlar, told Gavin more.
Next, Sgt. Joe Downey, Crime Prevention Officer at Ennis Garda Station was in studio with Gavin for our weekly Garda Focus slot.
Then we turned to the Orlando shooting. The Taoiseach says Ireland stands with the United States at this time of immeasurable grief. Enda Kenny has written a letter to US President Obama, to express his condolences to the victims and families affected by the yesterday's nightclub shooting in Florida. Mr Kenny also said that words cannot capture the shock and revulsion felt in Ireland towards these senseless killings. Yesterday's attack marks the 15th time that President Barack Obama has had to respond to a mass shooting in his country. President Obama says the shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando was an attack on civil rights. Brian Sheehan, Kilrush native and executive director of GLEN, was on the line to discuss the attacks.
A group which aims to help the community sector get more involved in Clare County Council’s decision making structures is holding an introductory meeting next Wednesday (June 15th). Clare Public Participation Network (PPN) is holding the public meeting and registration evening at 7.30pm in the Old Ground Hotel in Ennis. The meeting is open to the general public and will include an introduction to the purpose and work of the network by coordinator, Sarah Clancy. She joined Gavin in studio this morning to give Gavin the event details and tell him more about their work. PPN’s new website: www.clareppn.ie
We then continued Addiction Stories, our series on addiction and its impact on families. So far, we've heard from Sean – a young man who was a chronic alcoholic and drug user, who fell into drug dealing to feed his habit. He told us how he came through a chaotic period in his life and is now clean for the last 16 years. We also heard from Rita, the wife of a so-called 'functioning alcoholic'. Rita explained how she's now made the break from her husband – in the interests of herself and her young son – and is building a new life. Today, we'll hear from Roisin. Like many people, she started drinking in her mid-teens. Alcohol soon consumed her life and lead her into drug use. Again like many people, Roisin describes herself as a 'binge drinker'. She didn't drink every day and not even every weekend. For her, the issue was the affect of alcohol. It lead her into a spiral of depression and suicidal feelings. She describes the impact of drinking as a 'darkness' descending on her. In this interview she focuses on the experience of recovery – after going to treatment at Bushypark Addiction Treatment Centre in Ennis. In this interview, Roisin begins by telling Morning Focus producer Fiona McGarry about when she first started drinking.
On our sports panel this morning, Peter O'Connell from the Clare Champion and Derrick Lynch from Clare FM sport discussed the Clare Footballer's weekend defeat, previewed Ireland's opening Euro 2016 game and paid tribute to the late Tom Downes, describing him as the godfather of Clare football. We also heard from Donal Kirby, Clare League Secretary, who is in Paris for the game this evening.
On the Fleadh News, we heard details on caravan and camping during the event. Paddy Coleman from Paddy Coleman & Associates, is Chair of the Caravan and Camping Sub Committee and Joe Hanrahan is also on the committee. They both joined Gavin in studio.
Finally today, we heard how two special evenings of music and song are on the way as Clare's Lismorahaun Singers begin their Mid-summer concerts. The first takes place at St Fachnan’s Church, Kilfenora this Wednesday (June 15th) at 8 PM, with proceeds to benefit the “Aid to Haiti Project”. The following Tuesday, (June 21) at 8 PM, the choir returns to perform at St. Columba’s Church, Ennis—one of the best venues in the county in which to hear choral singing. The Lismorahaun Singer's summer concerts will again feature works of great masters including Bach, Mozart, and Wagner, as well as familiar toe-tapping favourites from Gershwin, Cole Porter & John Lennon.Artistic Director, Archie Simpson, was in studio to tell Gavin about the background of the Lismorahaunm Singers. We also had Fr. Ned Crobsy, Kilfenora PP, on the line and he explained how the benefit concert came about and why the work of the Aid to Haiti project is so important.
