On Mondays Morning Focus John began by speaking to Galway's longest-serving County Councillor, Michael Fahy as he has come under fire after demanding 500 jobs on a massive motorway project should all go to Irish workers and not to "foreigners". Michael Fahy, insisted that he had "nothing against any other nationality". But the controversial south Galway public representative warned that if the construction jobs on the €550m Gort-Tuam motorway were to go to non-Irish workers, the money would leave the country. John also got the views of Orla Ní Éili Manager Clare Immigrant Support Centre. The Immigrant Council of Ireland described Cllr Fahy's comments as "offensive and unacceptable" and called on him to withdraw them.
Up next John spoke to Marie O'Connor – Lahinch who were both on the Irish Transplant Team who had great success at the European Transplant & Dialysis Games. The Irish team tally has 18 Gold, 18 Silver and 31 Bronze.
Marie won 4 Medals
– Gold for Golf last Wednesday
– Gold in Field Long Jump on Friday
– Silver Track 100m on Thursday
– Bronze Petanqu e Dbls on Sunday the 17th
Mary Sheehan from Parteen (who receives dialysis treatment) won bronze on Thursday – Darts Triples.
Clare's under 21 side are set to face Wexford in an all Ireland final following their win over Antrim on Saturday. The Banner strolled to a 4-28 to 1-10 win, a margin of 27 points, 5 more than when they last met in the 2013 All Ireland U21 Final. Morning Focus heard from full forward and man of the match Aaron Cunningham and Joint U21 manager Donal Moloney after the win on Saturday.
Sergeant Joe Downey, Crime Prevention Officer with the Clare Garda Division appealed for the public's assistance with information on crimes committed in the county over the past seven days.
Contact Ennis Garda Station on 065 68 48 100.
The Jack & Jill Foundation is launching the inaugural 'Gala Up the Hill for Jack & Jill' campaign which takes place in September nationwide to help fill the €200,000 funding shortfall facing the children's charity in 2014. The charity is urging the public to get their walking shoes on and climb a hill, big or small, in order to raise the much needed funds for Jack & Jill. Registration for the event, which runs throughout the month of September, is now open and it is easy to get involved by registering online at www.jackandjill.ie and then dropping into one of the 200 Gala stores nationwide to pick up the registration pack. John spoke to Mags Naughton. Jack and Jill nurse in Clare about the foundation and how it helps many families in Clare.
Students took part in the famous Feile Luimni and had several award winners. As well as creative drama and feiseanna students participated in the Leinster School of Music and Drama exams in April and each one received first class honours. However, two students (Audrey Rochford and Anna Moloney) were nominated for an excellence award for their outstanding achievement in drama and on the 5th July they performed for a panel of judges in Griffith College, Dublin. Anna has since been honoured with the Leinster School of Music and Drama Excellence Award and will be presented with her prize at the Gala Concert in Dublin in October. This accolade is only bestowed on four students in the entire country for their outstanding achievements in drama. John spoke to Aoibhin Garrihy of Actors and Reactors – Drama school in Ennis and Anna Moloney from Miltown Malbay – Winner of Leinster School of Music and Drama Excellence Award. We also had some in studio Drama from
Finally Dave Lyons- Wildlife Ranger, National Parks & Wildlife Service had a chat to John about a Bat Talk and Walk in Shannon – Part of National Heritage week. The event will let you discover the amazing world of bats through sights and sounds. Suitable for all ages. Meeting at Entrance to St Senans Rugby Club in Shannon Town at 9pm on Thursday 28th August
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.
