Joining Clare FM’s Máire Moynahan on today’s edition of The Afternoon Show was Brendan Hennessy, a member of the SVP Social Justice and Policy Team. The Society of St Vincent de Paul has warned of a potential money-lending crisis in Ireland and has called on the Central Bank to publish baseline data to take money lending out of the shadows. SVP members are becoming increasingly alarmed at the prevalence of money lenders in the communities they serve. Of particular concern to the SVP is that vulnerable households are being offered money by doorstep credit firms without sufficient background information being sought. To contact the Society of St. Vincent de Paul see www.svpclare.ie or contact MABS, the Money Advice and Budgeting Service in Ennis on 0761 072430.
Paul Gillen works with men’s health in the HSE West and joined Máire to talk about how men, on the island of Ireland, experience a disproportionate burden of ill-health and die too young. This has far-reaching repercussions. It affects industry and commerce, impacts upon families, friends and wider communities, and limits the life chances of men, themselves. However, this is not a ‘lost cause’ – research shows that preventable risk factors account for a high proportion of male illnesses. International Men’s Health Week 2013 – which launches today – seeks to challenge this situation. For more information visit the Men’s Health Forum in Ireland website www.mhfi.org or see their Facebook page www.facebook.com/MensHealthForumIreland
Garry Jackson from The Gathering Gaming Store in Limerick also let listeners know about a special gaming event in the city this weekend. More than 300 people from all over Europe are expected to gather at Thomond Park from June 14th-16th to participate in the 15th annual Conclave Games Convention. Participants will compete for National and European gaming titles while the Convention will also feature stands hosted by traders from all over Ireland and some of the world’s biggest games manufacturers, such as Mantic Games, Airfix, Games Workshop and Ironwind Productions. The event, which forms part of the Gathering Ireland 2013, is considered one of Ireland’s and the UK’s largest gaming conventions.
Also today’s programme featured our weekly Calling Home series. In today’s episode, Máire spoke with Imelda Farrell. Imelda is a native of Kilrush but is now living in North Potomac, Maryland, USA. She left West Clare 27 years ago for Central and South America before heading to the US. She married and settled in the city of North Potomac in the state of Maryland where she still lives with her family.
If you or a loved one are living abroad we’d love to hear their story – please contact gathering@clare.fm
John Moynes, a Comedian and writer was also a guest of the show to talk about his upcoming performance in “Box of Frogs”. The show deals with the theme of mental health and uses comedy and frank discussion to highlight the stigma associated with mental ill health. Ennis’ Glór Theatre will play host to John and actress Mary McEvoy who will share their own stories of personal experience with mental health problems on Thursday, 13th June. This specially commissioned theatre piece embarks on a national tour as part of the national Green Ribbon campaign to encourage open discussion of mental health.
To contact the show please email afternoon@clare.fm
