We opened this morning's show hearing from Clare TD Pat Breen who has been made a Junior Minister for Jobs. Pat Breen, from Ballyncally, was first elected to Dail in 2002 and was successfully re-elected in May 2007 with an increased mandate. In the General Election 2011, Pat Breen topped the poll in the Clare Constituency with 9,855 first preference votes, the highest vote ever achieved by a Fine Gael Candidate in County Clare. In June 2011, the Taoiseach Enda Kenny appointed Pat as Chairman of the Oireachtas Foreign Affairs & Trade Committee.
Next we heard about schools under threat in West Clare. Schools that are unable to keep up with their day-to-day running costs could be forced to close, according to officials at the Department of Education. A brief for the new minister Richard Bruton warns that funding is now a 'critical' issue. One school principal in west Clare has been highlighting the problem faced by non-State schools (formerly religious-run and other voluntary schools) who only receive 70% of their funding from the government. Mary Crawford principal of St Joseph's Seconary School in Spanish Point is a member of the Joint Managerial Board (JMB) for non-State schools and she's been lobbying government intensively to provide 100% funding for the sector. She says fundraising to make up the 30% shortfall has become “extraordinarily difficult” in West Clare where the population is declining and aging. Mary Crawford told Pat more.
Then we asked if the rail corridor is still viable due to risk of flooding. Listeners will remember that Dep Timmy Dooley told Tuesday's Morning Focus that the recent closure of the Ennis-Limerick line for five months will discourage people from using the rail link. He's also hit out at the ongoing stalemate between Irish Rail and the OPW over who's responsible for carrying out works. To discuss the wider implications of these recurring closures, Pat was joined on the line by Colman O Raghallaigh of West on Track – advocates for the full reopeneing of the railway line along the Western Rail Corridor.
After the ten o'clock news we heard about an Ennis Enterprise Town event. The Business and Community Expo – takes place on Friday and Saturday, May 27 and 28 at St Flannan's Colllege, Ennis. The event will be addressed by a host of local and national figures from the world's of business, sport and entertainment. The event is a Bank of Ireland initiative. Colin Ryan, Branch Manager Bank of Ireland, Ennis gave Pat the details.
Yesterday evening saw the Opening of PolskaÉire at the Ennis Library. It's part of a nationwide celebration of Irish-Polish friendship and culture. There are events taking place around Ennis all weekend, including storytelling and dance workshops tonight at Waterpark House and a family activity day at the Fairgreen from 1 pm on saturday. Clare FM's Cian Kearns went along to the opening yesterday and spoke to some of the people there.
Next we heard from a listener who wanted to give a special thanks to Clare FM. At the start of the month, Philomena O'Brien from Ennis told Morning Focus of the plight of her niece Samantha who is a wheelchair user. Samantha uses the DPOC transport service when she visits her aunt on holidays from the UK. Philomena told the show how the impending closure of the transport service earmarked for today (Mon. May 20) – would impact on her niece, but she also expressed concern for those who use it on a daily basis. Deputy Joe Carey told us on Tuesday that the DPOC transport service would be retained (thanks to intensive work to transfer it to Clare Bus under the National Transport Authority, and with the interim support of the HSE) and Philomena got in touch to thank Clare FM for its support.
Siobhan Mulcahy, Clare County Arts Officer, was in studio for the weekly Arts Round-Up. She mentioned:
Literature: Saturday's Children's Book Launch of Natures Hidden Adventures.
Festivals: PolskaÉire Festival and Fleadh Nua – Riches of Clare lunchtime concerts.
Music: Sunday Opera in Ennis.
Visual: Ongoing – Fionnathan – Kilkee; Thursday – Isabelle Gaborit& Saskia Byrne at Mountshannon. Film: Bealtaine film screenings are taking place this week in Kilkee, Scariff and Kilrush Bursary. The Big Bang – The National Youth Council of Ireland’s Summer School closing date.
Next we heard about a West Clare entrepreneur and her healthcare start-up. Carol Meere is the founder of an innovative healthcare start-up called Indu, which aims to enable families with ageing loved ones source quality and specialised home care supports in a seamless and timely manner. Just last week she entered a pitch for my business into Virgin Media Voom 2016. This is a competition for start-up and growth companies in the UK and Ireland which offers an opportunity to pitch to Richard Branson along with a substantial financial prize and mentoring over a 12 month period. The closing date is Monday May 23. Carol Meere was on the line to tell Pat more.
On The Friday Panel were Patricia McCarthy, Former Cllr, Mayor of Clare & Shannon; Martin McMahon, Clare Co Chair ICMSA and Mary Cashin a Solicitor with Cashin & Associates, Ennis. They discussed TD Pat Breen's Junior Ministery position, the collapse of the Roche sale, Whistleblowers and the O'Higgins Report controversy and the new government's first week.
Finally today we heard from a sailor who's set himself a tough challenge for charity. Beginning May 2016, Gary ‘Ted’ Sargent, a sailor from Dublin, will attempt to single-handedly sail a 13-foot dinghy around the entire coastline of Ireland, starting and finishing in Schull, Co. Cork. Taking the trip on in such a small single-handed sailing dinghy, gives the trip an added edge and makes it a significant physical and mental challenge. The challenge will take place under the banner of ‘One Wild Ride’ and will raise funds for ChildVision, the only place in Ireland totally dedicated to the education and therapy needs of blind and multi-disabled children. In addition to charitable fundraising, the challenge is intended to showcase sailing as a sport, our coastline heritage, and in the spirit of adventure, encourage others to challenge themselves and find their extraordinary.
