On Monday’s edition of The Afternoon Show Gavin Grace spoke with David Hall, Director of the Irish Mortgage Holders Organisation. Organisations working with homeowners in mortgage arrears say not enough is being done to address the crisis. Figures released by the Central Bank last week show the number of loans in difficulty is continuing to rise – with over 142 thousand mortgages in some form of arrears. More than 95 thousand 500 accounts are behind on repayments by over 90 days – representing 12.3 per cent of the total number. Just under 80 thousand mortgages have been restructured – of which 76 per cent are meeting the terms of their new deals.
Dr. Sean Healy of Social Justice Ireland also joined the show and discussed how the Government can still save 3.1 billion euro in Budget 2014 without hitting the most vulnerable. That’s according to Social Justice Ireland who has published their own budget which will introduce a minimum corporate tax rate and a maximum income tax rate. There are also plans to increase welfare rates by 5 Euro as well as tax credits for workers. Social Justice Ireland also wants the Government to bring in a financial transaction tax and Dr. Sean Healy says this could bring in millions of Euro for the exchequer.
Clare FM’s Denise Woods has been to the annual Spancilhill Horse Fair this morning and met with those looking to buy and sell ponies and horses and everything in between. We heard from those attending about the importance of the annual fair, the traditions and more. Gavin was also joined by Aidan O’Connell, one of the many judges on hand today for the show classes, Michael Slavin and also John Leahy from Lahinch. John’s Connemara pony has won the Champion of the Fair, Pride of Spancilhill competition this lunchtime and is delighted with the achievement.
Aisling Walsh is from Spanish Point, but now lives in Dublin, and joined Gavin on foot of her success in breaking a world record. Aisling (30), has broken a Guinness World Record for the world’s highest ever speed date at an altitude of 35,000 feet, as she flew with other European singletons to the capital of romance, Venice, on the inaugural Expedia ‘Holidate’. The Guinness World Record attempt was part of a social experiment designed to prove the link between travel and love, with daters taking part in a series of over 20 different dates in over 24 hours, in a chartered flight to Venice and while in the city of love itself. 60 male and female singletons, including six daters from Ireland, signed up for the dating experiment through Expedia.
Also in studio with Gavin this afternoon was Adam Howell and actress and singer Sarah Ayrton. Adam is the writer and musical director of Angela’s Ashes: A Musical. Adam read Angela’s Ashes when he was 15 years old and was taken by the humour and comic scenes throughout the book. With a grandmother from Macroom, Co. Cork and a grandfather from Trim, Co. Meath, Adam grew up with a strong sense of being Irish. Now 26 and many trips to Limerick later he has his first original musical score under his belt – Angela’s Ashes: A Musical. Angela’s Ashes: A Musical premiered in Derby Theatre last year with a mix of professional actors, students and community actors. The Lime Tree Theatre will host the show from the 17th to the 20th July. It seems the perfect fit to bring the musical to Limerick, back in Frank McCourt’s hometown.
To contact the show please email afternoon@clare.fm
