This week Morning Focus began by discussing the water shortages facing the country due to the ongoing dry spell.
Clare has been identified as an ‘at risk’ area by Irish Water. Duane O’Brien, Irish Water Operations Lead for Clare joined us on the show to talk about the situation further.
Then, how free is free education? When you add up the costs of uniforms, books and so-called ‘voluntary’ contributions education can become quite expensive. Seamus Ryan talked about Labour’s proposals to make schoolbooks free and do away with ‘voluntary’ contributions. Niamh McDonnell, Clare Area President of St Vincent de Paul gave an account of how the costs are affecting families.
Keeping with education, Morning Focus concluded its first hour by talking with Pádraic Hogan, co-founder of a new company, jumpAgrade. The company is an online service, based in the Nexus Centre at UL, which aims to support exam students and address the shortage of available markers for the Junior and Leaving Cert. The company has already won a national innovation award through LEO.
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Opening the show’s second hour we had our weekly Garda update.
Then, we heard from Timmy Creed, retired dual code GAA player and up and coming actor. After leaving behind 21 years of GAA Timmy has decided to pursue theater. His new show ‘Spliced’ is coming to Ennis CBS Squash Club in association with Ennis Steet Arts Festival on Saturday July 7th and Sunday July 8th. Timmy while performing also wrote the play in collaboration with visual artist, David Mathúna and composer, Chris Somers. The play looks at the man behind the sportsman’s mask, opening conversations about identity and mental health within the GAA.
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Finally, the show ended with a somber Monday Sports Panel where we all felt Clare’s loss against Cork at the weekend. The panel included Eoin Brennan of the Clare People and Clare FM Sport’s own, Derrick Lynch.
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