On Monday’s Morning Focus John Cooke was joined in studio by Declan Kelleher, retired Principal of Scoil Mhuire Naisiunta, Corofin, Former President of the INTO and former Independent Seanad Eireann candidate
Declan retired in October and is still involved with the Irish National Teachers Organisation
He stood in the 2011 election to Seanad Eireann as an independent candidate on the National University of Ireland panel
At the end of May he narrowly missed out on a seat in the NUI count
He is outspoken on a number of issues: education, rural infrastructure, political reform and Shannon Airport Declan is a Clare native
He attended Kilnaboy and Corofin National Schools and St Flannan’s College, Ennis.
He qualified as a primary teacher in St Patrick’s College of Education, Drumcondra in Dublin and he later studied in UCD (BA) and Trinity College (H Dip Ed).
While in St Patrick’s College he was elected President of the Students’ Union
Since he started teaching in St. Brigid’s Boys’ National School in Killester in Dublin he has been active in the INTO. When he moved back to his native Co Clare he taught in Ennis National School and since 1979 has been the teaching principal of Corofin NS
Declan gave his views on the vital importance of primary education and what needs to be invested in it.
clare.modus.ie online poll- let us know how you feel:
As the government considers new child protection laws, should smacking children be banned?
• Yes – 32%
• No – 62%
• Don’t know –6%
Chris Quin, a Cluain Airne resident, Shannon reported that over seventy people turned up to the Anti Household Charge meeting he organised that took place on Saturday
The Clare campaign against the government’s household charge kicked off at the weekend when Chris held a public meeting in Tullyvarraga Hall on Saturday at 1.30pm to oppose the 100 euro levy
Chris spoke with us on Thursday and said that he simply cannot afford to pay the charge and is prepared to go to jail for his stance
The single father of one is down to a three day working week at Servisair in Shannon Airport and believes there are many others in the same boat as him. Contact 1890 98 98 00.
Sergeant Joe Downey, Crime Prevention Officer with the Clare Garda Division joined John for this week’s Garda Focus where he appealed to the public for information on a number of crimes committed in Clare in the past week.
Contact Ennis Garda Station on 065 68 48 100.
The Money Doctor John Lowe discussed mortgage debt, shared his 10 ways to kick-start your savings habit and, as always, answered listeners personal finance queries.
See www.moneydoctor.ie
Kilkee Moments Project is a project in aid of The Kilkee Marine Rescue Service
Kilkee Moments is a high quality, hard back, full colour, coffee table book of photographs submitted by the public about Kilkee
The book is due to be published in summer 2012 and all profits will go to help purchase a new rescue boat next year
They are hoping to raise 4000 euro on Irelands crowd funding site www.fundit.ie to help with publication costs
They currently have around 905 euro raised and have 9 days left to reach our target of 4000- see www.fundit.ie to support
Haidee McCaffery of the Kilkee Moments Project appealed to the public for their support.
John Murphy of the Clare branch of Birdwatch Ireland joined John to answer your bird and wildlife queries.
Contact the Morning Focus team by emailing Focus@clare.fm
