On Monday's edition of Morning Focus with John Cooke,
Following the Marriage Referendum result in favour of a YES vote over the weekend, we spoke to many guests on the show to get their reaction. First John spoke with Kilfenora Medical student Darren O'Gorman who was campaigning for a yes vote, before Friday he wrote and delivered a letter to people in his parish asking them to vote in favour and what it would mean to him if this referendum passed.
There was jubilant scenes at Ennis Courthouse on Saturday when Country Registrar Pat Wallace annouced Clare's result in the Marriage Referendum. These people told Clare FM of their joy on hearing the result. Clare FM's Fiona Cahill delivered this report.
In studio, John was joined by Bernadette Kenny from Ennis and her partner Heidi Hummel who were the first Clare couple to register a same sex civil partnership under the new Civil Partnership Bill which became law early 2011. Based in North Clare – the couple were legally married in Heidi's native California and hope to make it official in Ireland now too. Orla Vaughan from Kilfenora, who was a big part of the YES Campaign locally also explained that for the first time in her life she felt like an equal. Deputy Pat Breen also gave us his reaction. And Brian McMahon Ennis based solicitor advocating a NO vote congratulated the Yes campaign on the success.
Garda Focus next with Sgt Joe Downey Crime Prevention Officer, Ennis Garda Station who was appealing for your help in solving recent local crime.
Barbara Molloy from Newmarket is chair of the Clare Parents Unite for Suicide Awareness group, she called the show to outline that their memorial Tree of Hope had been vandalised over the weekend and was appealing for the person (s) responsible to come forward.
Kevin O'Loughlin PRO of Clare Community Games wanted to pay tribute to John O Sullivan, the President of Clare Community Games who passed away suddenly on Friday last and was a very well known person in the County.
Clare Fms Sport Derrick Lynch joined us with reaction from the weekend's live action. On Saturday it was the Munster Football Quarter-final with Clare versus Limerick which saw Clare progress to the Munster semi-final. On Sunday the Munster hurling championship kicked off with Clare versus Limerick in Semple Stadium, but sadly Clare missed out by a point.
Our Resident Wildlife Expert John Murphy of the Clare branch Birdwatch Ireland also joined us to answer your birdwatching and wildlife queries. Today he called for sights of Curlews and Tree Sparrows.
If you have a comment or query for Morning Focus please email focus@clare.fm
