We opened this morning by hearing from Kilkee where bathing restrictions at the West Clare beach remain in place this afternoon. Following consultation with the HSE, Clare County Council is advising people not to swim in the sea in Kilkee. The advisory was issued on Wednesday afternoon (June 8) after elevated levels of bacterial contamination were recorded in a routine bathing water sample. Manuel di Lucia is the Former Kilkee town councillor. He believes the ban isn't anything to worry about. He's been swimming himself since it was imposed, however, he does belief a long-running ban would be bad for local business. He was on the line to tell Gavin his more.
Next we turned to a threatened raise of the 9% hospitality sector VAT rate. The reduced rate was put in place to help a struggling tourism industry during the downturn. Now, however, there are calls for it to be restored to 13.5%. Michael Vaughan, Lahinch Hotelier, and Chair of Irish Hotels Federation, Paul Madden MD The Temple Gate Hotel, Ennis discussed the implications for Clare.
As boxing legend Muhammad Ali is laid to rest in his native Louisville, Kentucky, today, his Clare connections will be celebrated in a special ecumenical ceremony in Ennis. The service takes place at the Turnpike, from where Ali's great grandfather Abe O'Grady emigrated in the 1860s, at 7pm this evening (Fri. June 10). Michael Guilfoyle, Former member of Ennis Town Council told Gavin about Ali's connection to Clare and why his visit was so important to Ennis.
Then we heard how hundreds of young people from across the county are heading to Lees Road this Sunday (12th June) for the community games county athletics finals. The athletes will compete across a range of age categories and disciplines to secure a place in the All-Ireland finals in Athlone in July. We heard a report from Clare FM's Cian Kearns who, yesterday evening, paid a visit to the Lees Road track to meet some of the competitors as they made their final preparations.
Travel writer Manchán Magan will be in Kilkee this weekend to launch the “Loop Head Food Trail” this Sunday (June 12) as part of the 3rd annual 'Taste the Loop' event at the Bandstand in Kilkee. Nine members of the Loop Head Food Circle, The Old School B&B from Cross, The Long Dock, Sealyons Seafood, Rahona Roots and Glencarrig B&B from Carrigaholt and The Stella Maris Hotel, The Pantry and Murphy Blacks from Kilkee, have combined their considerable talents and developed an exciting new ‘Foodie ” experience for visitors to the Loop Head Peninsula showcasing the very best of local produce and what can be done with it in the hands of creative people who care about it. Mary Redmond of Murphy Blacks Restaurant, Kilkee and Manchán Magan, travel writer, author and documentary-maker told Gavin more.
Next, Siobhan Mulcahy, Clare County Arts Officer, was in studio to give us the weekly arts round-up.
Festivals
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Doolin Folk Festival
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Killaloe Chamber Music Festival.
Music
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Friday, Oiche Argentina – Suas Coffee House; Concertina – Old Ground Hotel
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Sat: Music from Ireland, Finland and beyond – Kilkee
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Wednesday: Riches of Clare lunchtime concerts Lismorahaun Singers in Kilfenora
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Thursday: Kirtan Music lecture Scariff Public Library at 7pm; Carlene Carter in Concert – Glór, Ennis
Theatre
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Weds: God Bless The Child – Glór, Ennis at 8pm
Visual
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between sky & stone – caitriona & Cormac O'Leary Sat – 25th June – Russell Gallery, New Quay
As part of our weekend events slot, Paul Walsh from Castle Antiques, Arts & Crafts was on to tell us about the Clarecastle 'Super Market'. Clarecastle Village Market & the Castle Courtyard have amalgamated to form a Super Market next Sunday (June 12) 10am to 2pm. The market will offer fresh fruit & veg, all your summer bedding needs, local Home baked goods, and a variety of stands selling locally hand crafted goods – crochet, fairy doors, Gift frames and signs and hand sculpted candles. The market is located to the rear of The Castle – Antiques, Arts & Crafts Centre, which will also be open on Sunday from 10am to 2pm.
Then Terri Shoosmith from Rockvale Garden Studio, told us about an Open Garden Event at Rockvale Garden Studio, near Tubber on Sunday June 12, between 1-5pm. Situated on the eastern edge of the Burren, the Garden has a wildflower meadow that includes a number of species of native orchids and the wildlife pond which is home to frogs, newts and many other small creatures. All proceeds from the event will support Cystic Fibrosis Ireland’s Galway Hospital Group and Irish Seed Savers. Tea, coffee & cake will be available throughout the afternoon.
We also had breaking news from Paul Moroney, senior engineer with Clare County Council. He informed us that after more testing this morning, the bathing restrictions have been lifted at Kilkee beach.
On the Friday Panel today, Cianna Campbell, Communications specialist and former RTE presenter, Gearoid Howard, Crimmins Howard Solicitors, Shannon, and Pat Kelly Manager Skycourt Shopping Centre, Shannon were in studio to look at the big stories of the week. They discussed Muhammed Ali's passing, a proposed 'rainy day fund' for Ireland, planned protests against Trump's visit and their own Leaving Cert memories.
Finally today, we heard from how an Ennis Polish community event was honoured at Aras an Uachtaran. The Polska Eire Festival, organised by a committee here in Clare, was honoured at a special Garden Party at Aran an Uachtarain this week (Tue., June 7) The annual event was recognized by president as a prime example of integration. Marcin Piotrowski, one of the main organizers of Ennis PolskaEire Festival, was among the representatives of the Ennis polish community there. He spoke to told Gavin about the special day and why an inclusive community is so important.
