On Friday’s Morning Focus John Cooke spoke with Fr. Harry Bohan, Parish Priest of Sixmilebridge, Sociologist and Leading Commentator, Found of the Ceifin Centre and the Rural Resource Organisation and former Clare Hurling Selector
Well known religious and social commentator and former Clare Hurling Selector Fr. Harry Bohan has added his support to a new campaign to raise awareness of cancer among men.
The Sixmilebridge Parish Priest is currently recovering from major surgery after he was diagnosed with bowel cancer earlier this summer, but he’s hoping to make a return to normal parish duties soon.
Fr. Harry revealed he went for personal health tests after helping many families cope with the loss of a loved one through cancer this yea and he endorsed the Blue September Initiative, launched this week, which aims to raise awareness of men’s cancer and save lives through early detection and treatment
Fr. Harry Bohan has now come through that operation ok and though’s he concentrating on getting back to full health, he did manage to make it back to the ‘bridge in time for the mart opening last Saturday and he’s hoping to be up to attending local masses this weekend.
John spoke to him about the possibility of renewal in the catholic church in light of the most recent scandals – including the Cloyne report into Child Sexual Abuse and the brewing clash between Church and State over the handling of such controversies
Lisdoonvarna Matchmaker Willie Daly and his daughter Claire joined John in studio ahead of the 2011 Matching Festival in Lisdoonvarna.
It was reported recently that the veteran matchmaker is celebrating his most successful year since he first started introducing couples half a century ago
He says 237 couples he’s brought together have walked down the aisle in the past 12 months
He’s putting his success down to the recession because people are desperate to get married because of the security it gives them and also says women are becoming less picky
It’s great news for lonely bachelor farmers who, he says, have their best chance in decades of bagging a bride at next month’s matchmaking festival in Lisdoonvarna
One high profile person planning to travel to the event is man-hungry Sinead O’Connor! – Can Willie offer any help?
Matchmaking is one of Ireland’s oldest traditions and, for the last couple of hundred years, a good deal of it has taken place in Lisdoonvarna during September and early October
This week’s Clare FM online poll:
How are you paying back to school costs this year?:
• Income or Savings 46%
• Loans 40%
• Back to School Allowance 14%
Clare FM Voxpop – Collette Sexton asked people in Ennis town how they were coping with the expense of school
The Tulla Pipe Band are going international tonight as they perform at the Aviva Stadium for Ireland’s Euro 2012 qualifier against Slovakia
26 members of the long running East Clare traditional music group will adopt an Eastern European Flair for the the match as they’ve been asked to play the Slovakian National Anthem!
Clare FM’s Pat Costello met the band during a practice session earlier this week.
Aidan Courtney of the Ennis Bookshop joined John in studio to look at children’s books: in this week’s Book Focus.
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