Morning Focus opened with the story of owner of two shops in Kilmaley, one of which includes the local post office, is concerned that his business could have to close as works get underway next month (April 4) to connect a local windfarm to the electricity network.
Laurence O'Brien employs 12 people in the village and says he may have no choice but to close this shops as 24-hour road closures come into force until May 13. He's also concerned about access to Kilmaley for the emergency services, if needed.
The works involve the laying of a high-voltage cable and Mr O'Brien believes the developer (West Clare Renewable Energy), the county council and Eirgrid (who will untimately own the cable) could have looked at an overground option, but didn't because that would involve a planning application. He's hoping the council will consider keeping the road partically open, with a stop-go system, for the duration of the works.
In response to the item, Clare County Council said that a consultation process regarding the proposed road closures is currently underway. This process involves a 4-6 week consultation process including a 2 week consultation period (closing date this Friday 18 March – see attached) where members of the general public may make submissions, to be followed by a period to assess the submissions and to make a decision regarding the outcome of the process.
A public meeting will be held at 8.30pm tonight at Kilmaley Hall to discuss the 9 month closure of the Miltown Malbay-Ennis road because of the proposed 110KV electrical cableworks from Slievecallen. Major traffic disruption to commuters & businesses is inevitable. All are welcome.
Gavin also spoke to Mandy Dennehy a childcare worker who got her job back in Kilmihil following the closure of the West Clare Early Years service.
Rupert Bell, Sports broadcaster & Director Lloyd-Bell Productions gave Gavin an update on the opening of the Cheltenham Festival.
Five years after the outbreak of war in Syria, the Lions Club are to create refugee 'safe centres'
Lions Clubs throughout Ireland are to raise funds to help create a cluster of ‘Safe Centres’ for refugee children in the Lebanon.
The Centres, which will be funded by Lions Clubs from a number of countries, primarily here in Ireland and in Scandanavia, will service refugee camps by providing basic health and education facilities.
Since the outbreak of the war five years ago, around 250-thousand people have died adn approximately five million people, half of them children, are in camps in Jordan, the Lebanon and Turkey, and they desperately need humanitarian aid.
The project will see 10 ‘Safe Centres’ put in place with the aid of the Lions in the Lebanon, the Lebanese government, UNICEF and the NGO ‘Beyond’ at a cost of approximately 2 million dollars.
Gavin spoke to Terence Mangan, Lions Clubs International Foundation Coordinator for Ireland
Many shops in rural areas and small villages have closed due to intensive price competition from large multiples and dwindling population bases. Ireland South MEP Deirdre Clune told Gavin that government led incentives should be put in place to allow communities to reopen those shops.
MEP Clun says that in many small communities in rural Ireland, people need to travel long distances to buy basic necessities like milk and bread. Older people in those small villages are often dependent on their neighbours to help them with groceries and basic necessities, and she's says it's time that we looked at a series of incentives to reopen shops, but in the hands of the local community.
According to Clune, this model has worked well in the UK with a long term survival rate of a community shop in the UK of 96 percent.
Gavin was joined by actress Aoibhin Garrihy who stars in Breaking Bad at UCHL.
Health experts are warning retailers to ask for I.D. to ensure they don't sell energy drinks to anyone under 16.
The Safe Food group, says the drinks aren't suitable for children and wants to see a voluntary code introduced which would only allow adults to buy them.
The latest research shows that there's been a massive surge in the number of energy products on the market, with some brands containing up to 16 teaspoons of sugar in a single can.
The highest consumers are officially boys between 15 and 24. Gavin was joined by Dr Ciara Kelly, GP and Nutrition Expert
Grainne Golden passed away in hospital on February 24 after a life-long battle with CF. Before she passed, the 21-year old Sligo native, who has strong family links to West Clare, begged her family to keep up the fight for others suffering from the condition. The Golden family have described as Grainne's 'dying wish', her desire to help other CF sufferers. Grainne's family are now determined to push for greater access to the revolutionary drug, Orkambi.
Before her death, Gráinne signed a change.org petition calling on the HSE to fund a life-changing Cystic Fibrosis drug Orkambi. She wrote:
"I have cystic fibrosis. This drug will change my life. We all need this drug! To put a price on Life is so unfair! Shame on Irish Government! And shame on Leo Varadkar". Gavin was joined by Grainne's mother Terri Golden, who lives in Sligo, and by Pauline Hickey from Kilmurray-McMahon who is Grainne's aunt and godmoather.
Tonight (Tue. Mar 15) at 7.30pm, lecturer and teacher Pearse O'Sheil will give a talk on the activities of his grandfather, Harry Sheils during the Easter Rising. Harry was a member of the IRB and fought during the Rising on North King Street. Part of his duties during the Rising included guarding his friend Bulmer Hobson – who had different views on the best way to end British Rule – at a house in Cabra for three days. Pearse is particularly interested in this time and the discussions that may have taken place. His grandfather was later shot and had to have an arm amputated.
Gavin was joined by Pearse O'Sheil, lecturer and teacher from Mountshannon.
