There was only one story to open with this morning – Brexit: The UK has voted to leave. The out campaign won with 51.9 per cent of the vote. It performed strongly in towns and cities like Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Hartlepool in the north east of England – and also in Wales. 48.1 percent wanted to Remain.
David Cameron's announced his resignation as the future of the United Kingdom is being called into question. Both Scotland and Northern Ireland voted to stay in the EU. The Taoiseach Enda Kenny says the vote to leave has "very significant implications" for his country. The result has seen the pound suffer one of its biggest ever plunges in value. The Bank of England says it's monitoring developments closely and will "take all necessary steps" to ensure financial stability.
John Considine Lives in Ennis, Former Labour member of Humberside County Council and he gave his views to Gavin. Bridie Shaw from Inagh, Lifetime President of the Council of Irish County Associations, London was also on the line. Bridie's been living in England since 1964. She voted to leave the EU because she feels there are too many people in the country and they're putting pressure on the NHS on schools and on housing services. She feels the current government are unable to manage the immigration issue. She says that her generation of immigrants worked all their lives and contributed to the State, but she doesn't believe this applies nowadays. She says she's concerned by the impact of a Brexit on Ireland but believes much of the commentary on this amounted to 'scaremongering'. She doesn't believe the border would be put back in place with Northern Ireland in the event of a Brexit. She believes the Brexit debate has been divisive and that much of the Irish community has been split in their opinions.
We then heard about an Adoption Rights Alliance meeting. An event for adopted people (including those fostered/boarded out prior to 1952) natural mothers and family members takes place in this region tomorrow (Sat. June 26). At the event in Roscrea (at the Racket Hall Hotel, from 12-6pm), members of the Adoption Rights Alliance (ARA) will present a workshop on adoption information and tracing, offering practical advice and opportunities for questions and answers. There'll also be a presentation on adoption legislation, which will include a discussion on the information and tracing bill proposed by former Minister James Reilly in 2015. Dr Robbie Roulston from University College Dublin will also give a presentation on the historical context of Irish adoption. The following day (Sun. June 27) the third annual Sean Ross Abbey commemorative service will be held on the grounds of the former mother-and-baby home in Roscrea at 2pm. Philomena Lee and Jane Libberton will be at both events. Susan Lohan, Co-founder Adoption Rights Alliance, was on the line with all the details.
Next we asked ou listeners: what's your favourite dish? It's the question that the Ennis Food Festival committee are trying to find out with their survey of Clare foodies. The survey asks about your favourite ingredients and flavours and it's available on the Ennis Food Festival website for the next 2 weeks. Everyone who completes the survey will be placed in a competition to win a meal cooked and served in your own home by a team of top chefs. Dermot Fetton, Owner of The Cloister Restaurant & Chairman of Ennis Food Festival, Christian Heta Head Chef and Owner of The Dining Room and Carmen Cronin were all in studio to talk about the survey. For more info check out www.ennisfoodfestival.com or Facebook Ennis Food Festival.
Students from as far afield as South Korea, Israel, Argentina, Mexico and Japan are attending the 20th Blas Summer School at the University of Limerick, which continues to run until July 1. They're there to learn Irish traditional music, song and dance from some of Ireland's best-known exponents, including Andy Irvine, Paul Brady, Martin Hayes, Mairtín O Connor, Dónal Lunny, Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, Altan and Colin Dunne and many more. Apart from master-classes, Blas studens are enjoying a range of activities including lectures on Irish Traditional music topics, field-trips, sessions, Irish Language classes, lunchtime and evening concerts, céilís, and above all, the opportunity to share tunes with some of Ireland’s leading traditional musicians. Ernestine Healy, Director of the Blas Summer School and Elaine Hogan (Harp) Blas tutor were in studio to tell Gavin more about the Summer School and to play a few jigs on the harp and concertina.
As usual on a Friday, Siobhan Mulcahy, Clare County Arts Officer, was in for the weekly Arts round-up:
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Clare Crafts |
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Festival |
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Music |
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Glór |
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Lissycasey |
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Drama |
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Mid-Week |
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On the weekend events we heard from Anne Hayes Clare County Secretary, Comhaltas, about the Clare County Fleadh. Fleadh Cheoil an Cháir 2016 takes place in Kilrush from June 18 – June 26.
We also heard from Fawn Guilfoyle, one of the organisers of a fundraiser for Temple Street Children's Hospital which takes place this Sunday (June 26) at the Éire Óg Clubhouse, Clonroadmore, Ennis. Running from 12 til 7, there'll be a range of events and activities for all the family.
The to topic on the Friday Panel this week was, of course, Brexit. Our panel of Diarmuid McMahon, MD Sherry Fitzgerald McMahon, Ennis, Patricia McCarthy Former Clare County Councillor for Shannon area and Martin Waldron were in studio to discuss the decision. They also had the chance to briefly weigh in on Ireland's Euro 2016 Campaign.
Finally today, we about a band keeping the Sound of Bowie Alive. Last January (9th), Rebel Rebel took to the stage with David Bowie's guitarist and band leader, Gerry Leonard. It was a career highlight for the Bowie tribute act that should have kept them on a high for weeks. Instead, just hours later, they were crushed by the news that the famed singer was dead. Now the band are keeping the sound of Bowie alive and this Saturday they bring his iconic tunes to Glór. Peter Quinn Lead Singer with Rebel Rebel was on the line. Event details: Saturday (June 25th) in Glór, Ennis @ 8pm.
