Morning Focus opened with news that a group of five Independent TDs, including Clare's Dr Michael Harty, have decided to intensify discussions with Fine Gael with a view to forming a government.
Deputy Harty, along with Mattie McGrath, Michael Colilns, Noel Grealish and Denis Naughten, have issued a joint statement saying that Fine Gael is "in the driving seat" with a view to forming a government in the national interest.
The group insist they haven't decided on who they will support for Taoiseach, but that they are seeking an early meeting eith Enda Kenny.
They also believe no agreement can be achieved without Fianna Fáil, and that what they call an "ongoing stand-off by all parties" is not in the national interest.
The show returned to the topic of the Brussels attacks, which have shocked Europe. Caitriona Garrihy's son, David, was at Zavantem Airport yesterday (Tue. March 22) as two blasts ripped through the facility. Khalid and Ibrahim El Bakraoui are believed to have blown themselves up in the departures area – taking 14 people with them. David's been working in Brussels for around 8 years and she's visited him for Mother's Day. She told Gavin she's hugely relieved that David escaped yesterday's blasts withouth injury.
A review of security is being carried out at Shannon airport in the wake of the Brussels terror attacks.
Clare's Chief Superintendent John Kerin has revealed that he spoke with authorities at Shannon in light of the deadly blasts at Brussels' main airport yesterday,
He was speaking to members of the county's Joint Policing Committee, and also told them of a significant drop in the number of burglaries this year, and of concerns about Garda resources.
Afterwards, he outlined some of the main findings to Clare FM's Ronan Moyles.
Austerity measures including a ban on school middle-management posts are are impacting mental health supports for pupils, a study has found.
In a survey of 1,749 teachers and principals commissioned by the ASTI, 82 per cent of principals state that the moratorium on middle-management posts has undermined pastoral care structures. More than 40 per cent of principals report that Department of Education guidelines on student mental health are not adequately implemented in their schools.
Schools have lost an average of six middle-management posts (known as posts of responsibility) since 2009. These posts are focused on student pastoral care structures and include Year Heads and Class Tutors whose responsibilities typically incorporate student attendance, student engagement and monitoring students at risk.
The research, conducted by Millward Brown in February, also found teacher workload has increased across a number of areas. For example, 78 per cent of teachers say they have more administrative duties to complete compared to last year. Teachers cite the amount of administrative work and after school meetings as the key sources of job dissatisfaction.
Gavin spoke with Peter Quinn, Clare ASTI Representative
Newmarket-on-Fergus has taken tourism honours this week with news that it now ranks in the top 10 Irish destinations, as chosen by users of the travel review website, TripAdvisor. The south Clare town has knocked Doolin off the list. which is topped this year by Dublin. Newmarket has the honour of being the only destination in the Banner County to make this year's top ten.
Gavin spoke with Pol O Conghaile, Travel editor, Independent.ie & Irish Independent and with Tracey Daly Heritage & Arts Officer Obair, Newmarket-on-Fergus.
Gavin heard from teacher and author Colm Wallace on the case of Kilnamona man who escaped death penalty. With the centenary of the Easter Rising on the horizon, the issue of State executions may well spring to mind. The practise continued well after the formation of the Irish Free State, and a Clare man, convicted of murder in the 1920s, almost had the very dubious honour of being the first man executed after Independence.
John Hogan was sentenced to death for killing James Cullinane, a neighbour of his in Kilnamona, on Hallowe'en Night 1922. Hogan eventually won a reprieve and his story is among those documented in a new book by Galway author Colm Wallace.
Colm Wallace is the author of 'Sentenced to Death – Saved from the Gallows'.
More than 18 months ago (August 3, 2014) a young English man set out on a 10-thousand mile coastal walk along the shores of Britain and Ireland. Alex Ellis Roswell is completing the marathon journey in support of the RNLI and has raised more than 12-thousand pounds sterling so far. He spoke to Gavin from Kilrush and can be supported on the following platforms:
www.facebook.com/alexellisroswell
www.twitter.com/ellisroswell
mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/longwalkround
Roger Casement letters on show in Clare
As part of the county's commemoration of the centenary of the 1916 Rising, a series of letters to and from the revolutionary Roger Casement will go on display from tomorrow (March 24) at Clare Museum.
The letters to and from Casement in the three years leading up to his execution are part of the Roger Casement Papers originally donated to Clare County Council in 1969, but the late solicitor Ignatius M Houilhan.
Gavin was joined in studio by Rene Franklin, Clare County Archivist.
The centenary of 1916 will be celebrated in a unique way in Lahinch this summer when a local publican marks the anniversay of the sale of his family's pub.
Ken Kenny of Kenny's Bar will hold a photo exhibition later this year to celebrate a 100 years since his great granduncle, the Gauger Hassett, bought the pub from the Skipper Lynch. Ken's told Gavin he's now putting out a call to locals and people abroad who might have old pics of the pub.
*Ken can be contacted at 087 9559571, by calling to the pub or email ing kennyspub@hotmail.com. Alternatively, photos can be posted to the timeline on https://www.facebook.com/KennysBar/
The group Seo Linn were formed over a summer spent at the Irish college Colaiste Lurgan in Connemara. After their interpretation of Avici's 'Wake Me Up' went viral (clocking up 20 million views), the six members are hoping to be the first bilingual artists to have a number one hit with their new single 'Music Makers'.
Seo Linn will perform the song as part of RTÉ's "Centenary" – a special television event to mark the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Rising – on Easter Monday.
Stiofán Ó Fearail, Keith Ó Briain, Daithí Ó Ruaidh and Kevin Shortall joined Gavin in studio.
