Morning Focus began with a look at cannabis. Medicinal cannabis is now likely to be legalised in Ireland by next Easter. It's after the Government decided not to oppose legislation put forward by People Before Profit TD, Gino Kenny. Deputy Michael Harty is one of those who voted against the Bill on the basis that it could, inadvertently, legalise cannabis for recreational use. Dr Harty joined Gavin live in studio.
Morning Focus began with a look at cannabis. Medicinal cannabis is now likely to be legalised in Ireland by next Easter. It's after the Government decided not to oppose legislation put forward by People Before Profit TD, Gino Kenny. Deputy Michael Harty is one of those who voted against the Bill on the basis that it could, inadvertently, legalise cannabis for recreational use. Dr Harty joined Gavin live in studio.
After this, a campaign is underway to encourage those of us living in rural areas to stand up to save bus services. Unions representing Expressway workers are to travel to towns and villages in the coming weeks as they fight a planned restructuring of the bus service, which they say could hit some rural areas. The bus workers have formed an organisation called Save Our Bus Service (SOBS) and are arguing that the planned modernisation is another attack on rural Ireland which is already fighting to keep vital services such as post offices, banks and garda stations. These public information meetings have already started and will continue through December and into January, with an event at the Lady Gregory Hotel in Gort next Wednesday evening (Dec. 7). **Bus Éireann has indicated that it wants to separate Expressway from the rest of the company, reduce staff and introduce pay cuts. It also wants to change terms and conditions of employment and sub-contract a number of routes. **In a letter to staff earlier this year, chief executive Martin Nolan said Bus Éireann’s finances are in a critical position. He said the company had lost €5.6m last year and had projected losses of €6m in 2016. Dermot O’Leary from the National Bus and Rail Union joined Gavin on the line.
It probably won't shock you to hear that nine out of every ten adults in Ireland now has access to a smartphone. But it might surprise you to hear that nearly three quarters of those aged 18-24 check their phone in the middle of the night. The research was carried out by Ipsos MORI on behalf of Deloitte and found that 87% of those aged 18-24 use their devices "always" or "very often" when using public transport, meeting friends, shopping or watching TV. Over a third said they reach for their smartphone within five minutes of waking up, with messages the first thing to be checked, followed by social networks and personal emails. 16% of those aged 25-34 said they have arguments once or several times a week with their partners over mobile phone usage. Colm Gorey, journalist with Silicon Republic, joined Gavin on the line.
This Sunday (Dec. 4) will see the 5th annual remembrance service in Ennis Cathedral (4pm) for families who've experienced the loss of a child. The Lights Of Love Remembrance service offers families and friends the opportunity to come together to remember their loved ones as Christmas approaches. As some listeners may recall, the event was inaugurated by Laura O'Connor (from Maurice's Mills) who tragically lost her newborn son, Gavin. Her good friend Louise Brooks is also involved with Lights of Life. She has a special interest in the area as she's a coordinator in Ireland of 'Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep', a network of people who provide 'remembrance photography'. This service is now recognised by the HSE as an integral part of the perinatal bereavement support process. Louise Brooks joined Gavin live in studio.
Next up we had another book. Where I Find God is a thought-provoking book where many of Ireland’s finest thinkers share where they have found, and continue to find, the Divine in their lives. It is the brainchild of Clare natives Cora Guinnane and Joanne O’Brien who have spent years compiling and developing the idea. All royalties from the book will go to the Peter McVerry Trust and Focus Ireland. The book includes contributions by Mary McAleese, Brent Pope, Sr Stanislaus Kennedy and Fr Peter McVerry amongst others, in which they reflect on where they encounter God. Where I Find God will be launching in the Temple Gate Hotel @ 7 pm tonight (Dec. 2). The authors will also be doing a signing on Sunday next @ 2 pm in the Ennis Bookshop. Authors Cora Ginnane and Joanne O’Brien both joined Gavin live in studio.
Following this we had our weekly Arts round-up with Clare County Arts Officer, Siobhán Mulcahy.
Film
Friday – glor – Meet me in St. Louis
Saturday – glor – Frozen Sing Along
Saturday – Kilkee – Momma Mia
Weds – Kilkee – Casablanca
Thursday – The Queen of Ireland – glór
Theatre
Thursday – The Queen of Ireland / High Heels in Low Places
Saturday – Small halls and Potholes – Russell Gallery, New Quay
Literature
Friday – Poets Corner – Ennis
Friday – Where I Find God – Ennis
Music
Friday – jaskane Trio – Ennistymon
Saturday – Singing Circle – CD Launch in Ennis
Sunday – Ceili in Ennis and Singing Circle in Kilshanny
Weds – A night with the stars – glór
Exhibitions
glór
Clare Crafts – Museum
Then we had our round-up of weekend events.
- Activities in Ogonnelloe * Timber / Turf Auction: We appeal for timber and turf for our parish auction which will take place on Saturday December 3rd at 3pm. We need timber and we need people to cut timber so if you can give a little time please contactGerard O'Brien 087 6349429 or any pastoral council member. The auction is in aid of church funds. * Buttons and Bows Concert: featuring Manus McGuire will take place in St. Mary's Church Ogonnelloe on Saturday December 3rd at 8pm. Tickets are €15 and are available from pastoral council members or from the parish office. Concert is in aid of church funds. * Ogonnelloe Exchange Christmas Market will take place on Saturday December 3rd from 11am to 3pm in the Ogonnelloe Hall.
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- Strictly Come Dancing Strictly Come Dancing will take place on Saturday 2nd December at 8pm in the Armada Hotel in Spanishpoint. The 2nd year it’s been run and it’s raising money for multiple GAA clubs around the county each of whom have sent in a dancing couple to represent them, who have been practicing since early September. Niamh Madigan **FOR MENTION: This community run market, situated on Chapel Lane in the Community Centre in the heart of Ennis, has been run on a weekly basis since March 2015. It has become more and more popular as the weeks have passed for locals and tourists alike as they find unique, handmade, locally produced crafts at affordable prices in this market. The Christmas Weekend Markets will run Friday – Sunday 2-4 December and 9-11 December, opening times: Friday 6-9pm Saturday 10am-5pm Sunday 11am-4pm
After this we had our Friday Panel, guests this week were Pamela Clancy from Clancy Solicitors, Tom McEvoy, Funding and Advocacy, Pieta House and Margaret O’Brien, self-employed journalist. Topics discussed this week were Water Charges, Access to Orkambi for CF Sufferers, Bertie Ahern and Smartphone overuse.
To finish the show we had a bit of live music. Harpist Aisling Lyons and her brother, singer, Sean Lyons are fundraising for St Vincent de Paul by playing Christmas music at The Chapel Lane Market tomorrow (Sat. Dec. 3) and Sunday.
