On Fridays Morning Focus John began by speaking to the Minister for Housing and Planning Jan O'Sullivan. The Clare Citizen Information Service along with the Alliance of Social Protection of Recipients is hosting a seminar in Ennis on Friday May the 2nd starting at 9.30am. – looking at the key issues that need to change in order for those in the rental market to be able to source suitable and adequate accommodation that meet the required standards. The conference comes following concerns on Morning Focus this week about Council Housing Waiting Lists, and the difficulties for Rent Allowance Recipients to source Private Rented Accommodation. John spoke to Minister O'Sullivan about some of the issues that listeners are concerned about.
An open day will take place a t a new development of 12 homes for independent and assisting living for senior citizens in Kilmaley, County Clare, this Sunday (May 4th) at 11.30am. The new houses bring to 24 the number of Independent/Assisted Living housing units being provided adjacent to the existing Kilmaley Day Care and Health Centre. The properties has been developed by Kilmaley Voluntary Housing Association Ltd. and funded by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government. John spoke to Councillor Tom McNamara Director, of Kilmaley Voluntary Housing Association about the development and what it means for Clare.
Martina Keane from Ennis got in touch with the show. She has recently taken on a guide dog pup for 12 months training. This week is "Shades week for Guide Dog" so Martina is selling badges and would like to highlight the cause. . It costs €38,000 to train 1 dog with no help from the government. She got in touch with Morning Focus as she's annoyed that election callers and canvassers wouldn't support the cause when they visited her home to ask for her vote.
Resident Dr. Maire Finn, from Ennis Family Medical Centre, joined John in studio to give the people of Clare some tips on Kidney and Urinary infections
Dr. Finn also answered questions and queries sent in from listeners in relation to this topic.
A Clare teenager with cerebral palsy will brave the pain barrier to be pushed 50km in a loop from the county's west coast next weekend, just months after serious spinal surgery. Nicole Norton has convinced over 100 of her Transition Year peers, plus teachers, from around the county to push her along the challenging, undulating route in West Clare to raise awareness and funds for the Clare Crusaders centre. The centre was founded eight years ago by her mother Ann and others to deliver key therapies to children with special needs and does so now for over 350 children annually across Co. Clare. John was joined in studio by Frank Cassidy, Financial Director of The Clare Crusaders, Barefield and Lorraine McInerney TY Student at St. Flannan's College, Ennis to hear about the wheelchair push how people can get involved and how the money raised will be spent.
Lots of Festivals and events to enjoy this May Bank Holiday weekend – and we'll start in Corofin, where the Festival of Finn is already underway and there's lots more to happen Anne Campbell and Martin Waldron in Corofin preview the highlights including the annual World Stone Throwing Championships and Best Beard Competitions. Whitegate Councillor Pat Bourke told John about the annual pony racing festival kicks off in Whitegate on Saturday. It includes the Dinny Ryan 10k road race on Monday and this year they also have a qualifier heat for the all Ireland turf footing championships. The Loop Head Walking Festival is also taking place this weekend Laura Foley gave us a run down of the event she also let listeners know what will be happening at the Corofin Oyster Festival this weekend.
If you have a story, comment or query for Morning Focus email Focus@clare.fm or write to us – Morning Focus, Clare FM, Francis Street, Ennis, Co. Clare.
