Westbury Labour Councillor Paschal Fitzgerald joined Clare FM’s John Cooke in studio for today’s Morning Focus to discuss government plans to implement in full the recommendations in the Constituency Commission’s report. It says there should be a reduction in the number of electoral divisions from 43 to 40 – along with a shake-up in all but eight constituencies. The Commission is also calling for the number of TD’s to be cut by eight before the next General Election – from 166 Dail members to 158. Enda Kenny says the recommendations will form part of the Government plan to reduce the size of the Oireachtas. Mick Mooney from Shannon Banks and Noel Shinners from Gillogue also joined the programme to voice their concerns.
Both Mick and Noel are disappointed by the report and disagree with the idea that for general elections they must cast their vote in Limerick but for local elections they vote in Clare. Michael McNamara, Labour TD from Scariff and Joe Carey Fine Gael. TD from Clarecastle gave their reaction to the Constituency Commission Report and also to recent business closures in Clare’s County town.
Pam O’Connell is from Labasheeda joined John Cooke I studio to talk about her reasons for registering for this weekend’s Dip in the Nip event. She was on Morning Focus in 2010 when she made a free fall parachute jump in aid of St. Luke’s hospital at 78 years of age. She’s now 80 years old and will be wearing a wig, a feather boa and big smile on Sunday, when she braves the Atlantic. She says when one has suffered from cancer and come out the other side after surgery and radio therapy; raising funds is just a small way of saying thank you to all of the cancer specialists for the care given. See www.dipinthenip.eu for more details
Gwen Ryan, organiser of the Ballyvaughan Bay Hop spoke to Morning Focus as the sea trials for the Bay Hop initiative are set to begin on Monday morning – June 25th. Ballyvaughan Bay Hop will run a fast ferry service between Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare and Galway City during the week of the 25th June, culminating with a service to coincide with the opening ceremony of the Volvo Ocean Race on Saturday 30th June. Departing from the New Pier, Ballyvaughan, the service will run 3 times daily and will facilitate commuters from the North Clare area needing to travel to Galway. With ample parking available at the pier, commuters can park and ride across the bay directly into the heart of Galway city, leaving the stress of traffic jams and parking behind them. A 10-journey commuter ticket is cheaper than a tank of petrol, making the ferry a more cost-effective eco-friendly commuting option. The service will be operated by Rib West on behalf of Ballyvaughan Bay Hop in a fully licensed enclosed passenger rib as part of a pilot project to establish a community fast passenger service serving the North Clare region.
Dermot Moran, Spokesman for the Clonmoylan Bog Action Group discussed the resolution to yesterday’s peaceful protest at the bog near Woodford in South Galway. A large crowd had gathered for a peaceful protest at the bog near Portumna the day before yesterday when officials arrived to seize turf-cutting equipment. The stand-off continued through the night. Also joining the discussion was Carmel Haugh, Secretary and Padraic Haugh, President of the Clare Turf Cutters & Contractors Association who discussed the Galway case and closer to home – Tullagher Bog near Doonbeg in West Clare.
Jo Rynn of Home Share Clare spoke to John Cooke about One Night Only – a show being put on by a group of young people from Clare and Limerick, which hopes to raise some money to help the Home Share Clare program run by the Brothers of Charity. The event takes place this Friday night at LIT and the organisers have promised an inspiring night of performances that will feature music, song and dance. This group of young people are form different backgrounds Irish, Filipino, African but have one thing in common they all love dancing, singing and music. One Night Only, will be held in the Millennium Theatre, Limerick Institute of Technology on the 22nd of June and all proceeds will go to the Home Share Clare program of the Brothers of Charity. Tickets are €10.
Margaret Keane joined the show to talk about this weekend’s Kilfenora Hall Fundraiser. This coming Sunday a special fundraiser will be held in aid of Kilfenora Hall. Bill O’Brien Ferries is to donate the passenger fares for two runs to the Aran Islands to the fund. The committee are raising money to install a wheelchair ramp at the front of the hall and a wheelchair friendly toilet.
Joe Queally of the Clare RNLI was in studio to let us know about a fundraising walk in the hills of Ayleroe, between Kildysart and Labasheeda, which will take place on Sunday, June 24th. It’s in aid of the RNLI Lifeboats and will begin at 12.30pm, with parking and registration in Cyril Reidy’s field next to the hills. The stroll, which is approximately four miles in a looped walk, will start at 1pm, bringing people over the hills with spectacular views over the Shannon River and back to the hills, where people can sit and view across the river to Kerry and Limerick. The stroll will be led out by one of the oldest residents in the area, Tim McMahon. Further information is available from Charlie Glynn, Kilrush Lifeboat Station on 086 1996484 or Joe Queally on 087 6260301.
If you want to contact Morning Focus please email focus@clare.fm or text the programme – Clare FM followed by your message and name to 53030
