On Friday’s edition of Morning Focus, courtesy of United Airlines, Gavin gave another listener a chance to win two tickets to New York! The competition came to a close today ( Friday, March 16) and a winner was chosen!
At 9 am, Seán O’Driscoll from the Irish Daily Mail, joined Gavin on the show to discuss Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s assertion that he had made a call to Clare County Council after receiving representations from Donald Trump on a wind farm development the billionaire feared would affect his Doonbeg golf course.
Listen back below:
Following that, Deputy Martin Conway and Deputy Timmy Dooley debated the issue.
Listen back below:
After that, Gavin was joined by Tommy Comerford of Doonbeg who discussed Trump’s possible visit to the Doonbeg Golf Course.
At 10 am, Councillor Paul Murphy, Mayor of Ennis MD, and Bernie Haugh of the Clare County Council, chatted with Gavin about the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Ireland’s ‘friendliest’ town; Ennis. The parade will start at 11 am at the Clare County Council Headquarters and will finish at the Holy Family National School at approximately 12:45 pm. This year they have chosen John Burke to act as Grand Marshall.
Then, Gavin spoke to Gerry O’Reilly of Muintir an Chláir and Dr Tom Hillery who is a member of the Clare Association. They talked about Clare Association’s talk on rural regeneration and also about the launch of a yearbook.
Next, Clare County Arts Officer, Siobhán Mulcahy, gave Gavin the low down on this weekend’s (16th – 18th March) art events in the region.
After that, Gavin spoke to some St Patrick’s Day organisers in the Clare region:
Orla Vaughan of Kilfenora announced that their parade will begin shortly after 11 am mass, approximately at 12 noon, at the back of Vaughan’s. The focal point of their parade is the ‘Father Ted’ roundabout.
John Drysdale of Shannon announced that the parade will be starting at 1:30 pm on the road between St. Caimin’s School and the cemetery on Saturday, the 17th of March. This year, Aidan Quish is their Grand Marshall.
Tom Clohessy of Kilrush announced that the parade will be starting at 2 pm on Saturday, the 17th of March at the top of Henry Street. This year their Grand Marshall is
John Grimes of Killaloe announced that their parade will be starting at 1 pm at the GAA pitch in Ballina on the Tipperary side of the bridge on Saturday, the 17th of March. Their Grand Marshall this year is ‘St. Patrick’.
Michael Hehir of Miltown Malbay announced that the parade will be starting at 2 pm on Saturday, the 17th of March. People will start gathering at the national school for the parade at 1 pm. This year their theme is ‘The West is Alive’ and John Burke is also their Grand Marshall.
At 11 am, Gavin was joined live in studio by three lovely panelists for Morning Focus’s Friday Panel! This week his guests were, Anne Rynne of Miltown Malbay, Michael McNamara, former Labour Party TD and barrister, and, Martin Waldron, Corofin businessman, and owner of ‘Craft Works Craft Shop’ on Parnell Street in Ennis.
They discussed Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s visit to the White House and the revelations about their previous contact over a controversial West Clare wind farm; the state’s handling of asylum seekers, direct provision centres; claims that Catholic Church is’misogynistic and how Irish people are perceived on a global level.
Listen back below:
To round off the show, Gavin spoke to some more organisers from the Clare region about St. Patrick’s weekend:
Murdoch Gleeson of Tulla announced that the parade will be taking place on Saturday, the 17th of March, at 4:30 pm. The parade will be led by the local GAA camogie club and they will be backed by the Tulla Pipe Band and the Tulla Choir. The parade begins at the national school and this year’s theme is ‘Clare, my heart, my home’.
Padraic Giblin of Gort announced that their parade will be taking place at 12:30 pm on Saturday. the 17th of March, on Tubber Street. This year they have 3 Grand Marshalls who are all European Champions; Aisling Rock, Clíona Darcey, and Sophia Burke-Cahill.
John Richardson of Ennistymon announced that their parade will be starting at 1:30 pm on Saturday, the 17th of March. It starts at Deer Park opposite SuperValu. Their Grand Marshall this year is Matt Devitt.
