Morning Focus – April 27th, 2020

Today’s programme began with an interesting suggestion on the easing of COVID-19 restrictions.

Lockdown is in place until next week, Tuesday May 5th, and there are fears among some that it will be extended beyond that date. However, Killarney Cllr. Donal Grady argued that the restrictions should be eased on a regional basis, as incidences of the disease here are not as serious as in other areas. His comments provoked a strong, and mixed, response from the audience.

Next, how will we shop once the lockdown is eased? Businesses are contending with how they’ll do business in the near future, with questions being asked over how social distancing can be implemented, for one. David Fitzsimons of Retail Excellence, the Ennis-based retail lobby group, joined Gavin.

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After that, HSE Senior Community Dietician Olivia Kelly talked about how we can give our children a healthy breakfast, before Sgt. Triona Brooks joined us for our weekly Garda Focus slot.

After that, Brother Liam O’Meara of the Burren Chernobyl Project joined us as COVID-19 spreads through some of the institutions and facilities supported by the charity, and by extension the people of Clare, in Belarus. Brother Liam talked about the ongoing efforts to help those affected, and the need to maintain awareness of this issue, as you can hear below:

We followed that discussion with a focus on sight loss. Gavin was joined by Kevin Kelly of the National Council for the blind, and Ennis resident Josh Brande – both of whom have visual impairments. The NCBI is concerned that people who have sight loss will cocoon even more at this time, adding to any feelings of isolation. Anyone seeking support can call their national helpline 1850 33 43 53.

Finally, we finished the show in the way some of us finish the day, by dreaming. Paul Gill, who is a Hypnotherapist, Psychotherapist and Dream Interpreter, examined some dreams sent in by Morning Focus listeners, and explained why we dream in the first place