Morning Focus began with a look at €5 million worth of cocaine discovered in a ‘torpedo type’ device in Liscannor. Clare FM’s Fiona Cahill spoke to Maritime Operations Manager with Revenue, Andrew Ryan who told her how the discovery came about.
Fiona then spoke about a debate set to happen later today. Our senators will be debating what’s being described as one of the most important pieces of legislation to come before the houses of the Oireachtas in the term of the current government. The Public Health – Alcohol Bill – proposes the introduction of a number of controls on the price, availability and advertising of alcohol. Today, the Bill will be discussed in the Seanad. However, it’s been widely reported that Senators have been lobbied intensively in a bid to water down the provisions of the Bill. Fiona spoke with a man who’s seen the impact of alcohol addiction on a daily basis. Gerry Murphy is team leader at Bushypark in Ennis.
Morning Focus then took a look at Alzheimer’s and its effects on Clare. Fiona spoke with Rhonda Murphy of the Clare Branch of the Alzheimer’s Society about the issue.
Fiona then spoke with Clare FM regular Roisín Garvey who is collecting all manner of donations for Calais; she’s also heading off today to help clear the notorious Jungle camp where refugees are living in atrocious conditions.
As you've been hearing this morning on Clare FM News, there are new figures that underline just how big the problem of de-population is in the west of the county. Data from the Central Statistics Office show that – over the last year – just six homes sold or built were by first-time buyers. Because first-time buyers are more likely to include young families, there are concerns over the lack of younger people setting up home and rearing their children in West Clare. Those figures have prompted us to look at the wider issue of the state of rural part of our county. Fiona was joined live in studio by Jim Connolly of Rural Resettlement; Neil Garvey from Inagh who's with Muintir na Tire and Independent Councillor Ian Lynch from Kilrush.
Now, if you – or someone you know – suffer from a skin condition known as psoriasis, you'll know just how uncomfortable it is. Sufferers experience sore, itchy and flaking skin – usually on a chronic basis. As well as this, new research shows that psorasis sufferers also experience problems with their self-confidence and can even be discriminated against because of their condition. A major survey called 'Clear About Psoriasis' found that around 80 percent of sufferers experienced discrimination or humiliation. One-third reported being asked if the condition was contagious. To discuss the research and to find out what sufferers of psoriasis can do to ease their condition, I spoke earlier with Dr Nicola Ralph. Dr Ralph is a consultant dermatologist with the Mater Hospital in Dublin and I began by asking her to explain what psoriasis is and how many people are affected by it.
Fiona’s next guest Dr Simon Berrow is a marine scientist with the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, based in Kilrush. Next Saturday (Oct. 29), on TG4, a documentary will be screened following Simon's research in Ireland, Malta and Cap Verd. Simon joined Fiona on the line to discuss the documentary.
On a recent visit to Clare, the Agriculture Minister Michael Creed paid a huge compliment to Morning Focus’ next guests. He cited the Burren as a model that could be applied in other parts of the country in terms of conservation of the landscape. For thousands of years, Burren farmers have marked the end of summer by herding their cattle onto ‘winterage’ pastures in the limestone uplands where they spend the winter grazing. The Winterage is also a time of celebration and a major festival begins tomorrow involving among other things farm tours, demonstrations, talks and a cattle drive. Fiona was joined live in studio by Brigid Barry, Burren Beo, Frances Nagle, Christy Roche and Michael Moroney.
We then had our monthly book club Fiona was joined by Teresa O’Shea and Seamus Ryan from Clare County Library to discuss the Icelandic crime thriller Dark Skies by Anuldar Indridason.
To finish off the show we had our weekly segment with John Underhill, our resident vet.
