Morning Focus began with a look at the first of three US Presidential Debates, an estimated 100 million people watched Hilary Clinton and Donald Trump go head to head in their first TV debate overnight.
The US Presidential candidates clashed over trade, foreign policy and tax.
Mrs. Clinton accused her rival of being a racist, while Mr. Trump said she doesn't have the
stamina for the White House.
While neither thought that other deserved to lead.
Gavin was joined by Dr Michael Courtney, Lecturer in American Politics in School of Law + Government, DCU.
Gavin then spoke about how Clare FM's own Ennis has been named as Ireland's Tidiest Large Urban Centre in this year's Tidy Towns Awards.
The county town, which has traditionally been a strong performer in the competition, has
received the honour at today's awards ceremony which is ongoing in Dublin.
It also won a gold medal. Mountshannon has won silver, while bronze medals have been
awarded to Ballyvaughan, Kilkee, Quin, Tuamgraney and Ballynacally.
Skerries in Dublin was awarded the title of Ireland's Tidiest Town.
Gavin was joined first by Josephine Cotter-Coughlan, Chairperson of Ennis Tidy Towns, and Elizabeth Brady, Chairperson of Kilkishen Tidy Towns before being joined by Mary Arthur, Secretary of Kilkee Tidy Towns.
Morning Focus then took a look at new figures revealing that a sixth of 15 to 16 year-olds have been involved in a fight and a tenth have been in trouble with gardaí after the consumption of alcohol.
The study found 10 percent of 15 to 16 year-olds have had sex without a condom and 7 percent of girls had unwanted sexual advances as a result of their own and others’ drinking.
The Ireland report for the European Schools Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs 2015 survey also found that 10% of girls that age had deliberately harmed themselves after drinking.
Significantly, the findings come against a background of falling consumption. Thirty-six percent of 15 to 16 year-olds in 2015 reporting having consumed alcohol, compared to 50 percent in 2011 and 69 percent in 1995.
Alcohol Action Ireland has welcomed the reduction but says alcohol-fuelled incidents such as these can have very serious and lasting consequences for these young people, and tragically, for some, they can be fatal.
Gavin spoke to Conor Cullen, Head of Communications & Advocacy, Alcohol Action Ireland.
Gavin spoke about the opinions of professionals in the childcare sector who warn that the system is already over-stretched and on the verge of a crisis; despite the fact that the forthcoming budget has promised supports for struggling parents.
According to Early Childhood Ireland the sector is suffering due to continued under-funding by the State. It says affordability for parents is only one side of the story and that the government can’t tackle that without also addressing sustainability for operators and quality assurance for children.
It notes that many childcare providers can’t recruit and keep staff, and are just about keeping themselves afloat.
In a report to be published later this week by Early Childhood Ireland on the real cost of providing childcare in Ireland, it warns that the average childcare service in Ireland, whether private or community run, urban or rural, operates on a break-even basis.
Gavin had Dónall Geoghegan, Director of Policy & Communications, Early Childhood Ireland on the line to discuss this.
Morning Focus then spoke with Colin Brennan, an Ennis native has just set out on a special mission to help some of the world’s poorest people in East Africa.
30-year- old Colin, from Woodhaven, has joined Ireland’s largest international aid agency to help people living in extreme poverty in Uganda.
Colin will be assisting Concern’s aid workers in the country’s poorest regions where they provide crucial health, water, sanitation, nutrition and education services to impoverished Ugandan people and to the thousands of refugees arriving from neighbouring war-torn South Sudan.
Colin has previously worked in Haiti with the agency, NPFS, working with special needs children.
Much of his work in Uganda will be in the Karamoja region where Concern Worldwide responded to the famine that hit there in the early 1980s before and returning again in 1990 in reaction to the HIV and AIDS pandemic.
**Anyone who would like to support the work of Concern Worldwide is asked to make a donation by calling 1850 410 510 or to find out more details on www.concern.net
Gavin then had John Leech from Irish Water Safety on the line to discuss recent reports of a deadly Portuguese Man-of- War jellyfish in Lahinch in recent days.
The blue-tinged sea creature, which looks like a jellyfish but is actually a jumble of tiny organisms filled with toxins in order to catch its prey, have been spotted washed up on Keel Beach, Keem Beach, and Boat (or Bog) Dock in Co Mayo.
The Achill Island Coast Guard have released a safety warning and Mayo County Council have erected signs warning members of the public and frequent beach users of this new danger.
Members of the public are advised not to touch the jellyfish, as their tentacles’ sting can be deadly whether they’re dead or alive.
The result of coming into contact with the creature’s sting can range from a severe allergic reaction to death, depending on the level of exposure.
If you do come into contact with the creature, dial 112 immediately.
Morning Focus then reported that Shannon Airport has been awarded a prestigious international prize.
The airport has taken top honours at the World Routes Marketing Awards, in the Best Marketing of Airports in the world under 4 million passengers category.
It’s the fourth year in a row that the airport received a nomination, and was awarded Highly Commended in the same section last year.
The award ceremony took place in Chengdu, China today.
The focus then turned to the Second Annual Clare Garda Division Youth Awards where young people who’ve made an outstanding contribution to their community will be honoured later this year.
The awards, run in association with Shannon Airport, will honour young people aged between 14 and 19 and presentations will be made at a gala event on December 8.
Anyone can make a nomination by completing a form and returning it to the Community Policing Office at Ennis Garda Station, by Friday (September 30).
Forms can be downloaded in the next few days from www.garda.ie or www.shannonairport.ie. They can also be picked up at your local Garda Station.
**Queries to 065 6848164 or email sandra.m.heelan@garda.ie.
**Students/teenagers nominated last year can be nominated again.
Gavin spoke with Ruth Nolan, Kilrush, Garda representative.
Gavin was then joined by fellow Clare FM presenter Brian Flynn to discuss a new song, which researchers at Sony have unveiled as the first pop song written by artificial intelligence.
The song, called ‘Daddy’s Car’, was written by the FlowMachines system which writes music based on a database of previous songs.
The lyrics and arrangement were written by French composer Benoit Carré, but the chords and melody line were written by the software.
Critics say the song sounds similar to the Beatles.
Gavin then spoke about the ‘Rocky Ramble’, a fun for all charity walk in aid of the Clare Alzheimer’s Society Day Centre (at Cuan an Chlair, Cahercalla Road, Ennis) which takes place this Saturday (October 1).
Registration is in the Eire Og clubhouse at 11am. You can contact the ASI office on 065 6868621 for full details.
Gavin was joined by Mari Maloney from the Alzheimer’s Society, Clare and Jim Cooney from Eir Óg.
Gavin spoke about how three quarters of Irish drivers admit to using their vehicles for storage – and we’re talking here about everything from toiletries to bales of hay.
Carzone have asked more than 500 Irish drivers about what they keep in their cars and the answers might surprise you. The survey highlights the rise of the ‘cardrobe’- that’s a wardrobe on wheels. Clothes are the most popular item to keep in the car (78%) followed closely by shoes (67%) and sports gear (64%). More unusual items stored in cars include bales of hay, Christmas turkeys and a concert-sized xylophone.
Gavin spoke with Ailish Tully, Brand manager, Carzone
