This Monday’s Morning Focus kicked off by discussing Pope Francis’ visit to Ireland.
Based on a recent survey by the Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) at four regional venues across Ireland pressure is mounting for the Pope to address the issue od clerical and institutional sexual abuse. This comes especially after recent revelations in the US State of Pennsylvania, where 300 priests abused over 1,000 children over seven decades. While the Pope has issued a statement condemning the situation as ‘criminal’ and assuring people he is on the side of victims it hasn’t stopped people demanding he address the issue while in Ireland. Among other issues people would like addressed are the role of women in the Church, priesthoods and vocations, LGBT issues and reform in Church governance and worship. Fr Tony Flannery from ACP discussed the survey results further with Pat Flynn this morning.
Then the show heard from Eugene Banks, the Principal Officer, Reception and Integration Agency for the Department of Justice and Equality. A Standards Advisory Group has drafted national standards for those living in State-provided accommodation. The Department of Justice and Equality is now planning to run a number of consultation meetings with asylum seekers currently living in Direct Provision, including those in Clare.
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Finally the hour ended with Rita McInerney, a Doonbeg business person and Fianna Fáil election hopeful. She stopped by to emphasize the importance of a meeting last night in Doonbeg which aimed to save Doonbeg post office. The meeting follows similar meetings in Lissycasey and Cooraclare.
Moving into the show’s second hour we had our weekly Garda Focus segment with Clare Crime Prevention Officer Sgt Tríona O’Riordan.
Then artist Ronan Murphy and ceramics instructor Pat Looney joined Pat in studio. Ronan is an Ennis-based artist who works across a number of disciplines including ceramics, writing and illustration. His creative practice is currently supported at the Dulik Centre in Ennis. Recently he had his work displayed in an exhibition curated by the studio artists of KCAT, Callan as part of Kilkenny Arts Festival. The exhibition called ‘Unhindered’ featured work from artists working in supportive studio settings across the country.
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Then it was time for this week’s Monday Sports Panel. This week the panel featured Eoin Brennan from the Clare People and Clare FM Sport’s own Derrick Lynch. The focus, of course, was very much on Limerick’s week end All-Ireland win.
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Lastly, the show ended with Pat Neville from the 12 O’Clock Hills voluntary group. The group is currently organising a charity climb of Ireland’s highest peak, Carrauntoohil, for September 22nd. They’ll be holding a launch event at the Old Ground Hotel on this Thursday (23rd August).
