Morning Focus – Friday 04/08/2017

Friday’s Morning Focus was the usual round-up of a week filled with important news stories.

The show began with Gavin’s look at the papers, accompanied by Clare FM’s Ben Sweeney, before speaking to Patrick Donohue and Martin McMahon about the incentives being offered to social welfare recipients who are willing to work as farm hands.

Next Gavin spoke to Senator Mark Daly about the possibility of a united Ireland, post-Brexit, which led to a heated debate about the cost involved with sending an over one thousand paged booklet relating to the future of Ireland.

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Pat Conway then spoke to Gavin about the annual Lahinch to Liscannor swim that is taking place this Sunday. The swim, which raises much needed funds for the Burren Chernobyl Project , is in its 45th year and in all that time, Pat has only missed one swim! You can listen back to the interview with Pat below:

After the news, it was over to our Friday Panel to discuss the big news stories of this week. Our panel was made up of Kilfenora business woman, Orla Vaughan, National Fundraising and Advocacy manager with Pieta House, Tom McEvoy, with a late appearance from former Anglican Minister, Bob Vernon! The panel discussed the knock-on effect of the closure of Kilkee beach on tourism in Clare, the soaring prices of car insurance, back to school costs and mothers in the workplace. You can listen back to the Friday Panel below:

To finish up the show, Gavin took a look at upcoming events in the county and spoke to Denise Downes about a Colour-Run being held in Scariff for CF, Michael Fitzpatrick about the Kilmihil Festival of Fun this weekend and Rachael Tierney about the Kilkee Family Fun Day. With all these events and so many more going on this weekend, you’ll find it hard to be stuck for something to do this Bank Holiday weekend!