This morning the show opened with a look at poverty in rural Ireland. Poverty is more likely to occur in rural areas than urban areas, according to the latest research by Social Justice Ireland. The organisation's latest review shows that poverty rate in rural Ireland is 4.5 percentage points higher than in urban Ireland. The Border, Midlands and Western Region has the highest poverty rate and the lowest median income in the state. Worryingly, the BMW region has also seen one of the greatest reductions in full-time employment since 2008 and has one of the lowest levels of IDA supported employment. Latest figures show the trend of falling agency assisted employment in rural areas continuing, albeit at a slower pace in the South West, Mid-West and West. Gavin spoke with Fr Sean Healy from Social Justice Ireland.
An Army bomb squad carried out a controlled explosion on a vintage grenade that was handed into Ennis Garda station yesterday (Mon.). The man dropped the live grenade into the front office of the station after he found it while working at a building site near Ennis. The grenade, believed to date back to the War of Independence, was taken to a safe area at the rear of the station while the bomb squad was alerted. An Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team from Cork arrived at the scene at 1.50pm and identified the grenade as a viable War of Independence era grenade. A Defence Forces spokesman confirmed that the grenade was removed to a nearby quarry where it was disposed of by controlled explosion. The spokesman also advised that members of the public come across any item that they suspect could contain exposive material they should not attempt to move it. Supt. Brendan McDonagh from Ennis Garda Station provided more details.
More than 400 people are feared dead after a number of boats capsized in the Mediterranean sea yesterday (Monday). It's understood migrants had been trying to reach Italy from Egypt – and fewer than 30 have been rescued. Among those on board were people apparently fleeing violence in Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea. Italy's President Sergio Mattarella says there's been a migrant tragedy – after up to four boats carrying hundreds of migrants capsized in the Mediterranean. Clare FM's Cian Kearns recently travelled to refugee camps in the Greek capital, Athens, and on the island of Lesbos. He joined Gavin in studio to describe what he found Cian Kearns.
Don Barrett, Chairperson of the Clain Ros Leamhain Residents Association, told Gavin about a recent meeting held on the topic of dog fouling, which they say is an ongoing problem in the area. He told Gavin that two new signs in the area, threatening dog owners with a fine to €3,000 for dog fouling have had no impact. He says he's approached dog owners himself and been told where to go. He believes that an on-the-spot fine system, whereby offenders would be charged €50, would be far more effective.
The Burren in North Clare was once the site of three law schools and in the middle of the 16th century was to the forefront of Ireland's prevailing Brehon Law. Keeping the tradition of legal learning alive is the annual Burren Law School which brings together some of the foremost figures in contemporary law – Irish and international. This year's law school conference takes place from Friday, April 29 to Sunday, May 1, and looks at the theme of 'Vested interests and the law – a contemporary and brehon perspective'. Among this year's speakers are Professor Frances Ruane former Head of the ESRI, Jonathan Portes Principal Research Fellow NIESR UK and Isolde Goggin Chair of the Competition Authority. The Burren Law School is facilitated by the Burren College of Art Ltd., a charity dedicated interalia to the heritage and cultural development of the Burren. More details are available on www.burrenlawschool.org. Peter Ward spoke to Gavin to tell him more.
Next we continued our series of radio essays by Dr. Tomás MacConmara, marking Clare’s part in the Easter Rising of 1916. In today’s essay we deal with Art O’ Donnell a 25 year old Volunteer from near Kilrush. He and his brothers were isolated from the action in Dublin during Easter Week, by the countermanding order from Eoin MacNeill, which threw Volunteers around the country into confusion. As the week wore on Art planned one lonely but defiant act of solidarity with the Rebellion, on the streets of Kilrush… Anne Marie Kennedy reads “Against the Gale” Producer was Paula Carroll. Against the Gale was made with the support of Clare Co. Council’s 1916 Centenary Fund
Luka Bloom was in studio to promote his latest album Frúgalisto. A Kildare native, but Clare resident, Luka Bloom, is one of Ireland’s best-respected contemporary folk artists. Having produced 20 albums since the 1970s, Luka continues to push the boundaries of what his music can do with his album new Frúgalisto. Luka Bloom has the power to bring audiences to a hush as his poetic lyrics bounce over melodies in a beautiful, captivating way. The same artist can rouse the spirit of the audience to the ceiling when he changes the tempo.
A programme that aims to increase activity levels amongst older people has been heralded as life changing. An evaluation by Clare Local Sports Partnership found that participants in the Older Adults Physical Activity Programme have greater mobility, suffer less pain and require less medication. The initiative, which is funded primarily by the HSE and supported by Go for Life, involves gentle exercise sessions organised on a weekly basis in rural and urban communities. John Sweeney Coordinator of the Sports Partnership joined Gavin in studio to tell him more.
