Morning Focus – Thursday 25/01/18

The Morning Focus team got to sample some Belgian chocolate treats on Thursday’s show, as Pat Flynn met a woman who went from office work to running her own confectionery company.

Audrey McCormack-Koschlick of Greens Cottage Chocolate in Knockalough joined Pat in studio to share her story. Listen back below:

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Thursday’s show opened with an interview with MEP for Ireland South, Seán Kelly (FG). He spoke to Morning Focus producer Fiona McGarry about the case of Tom and Mary Clair who lost out on farm payments due to an issue with their cattle tags. The case came before the European Parliament’s Petitions Committee.

Then, Pat spoke to Cllr Gerry Flynn (Ind) who is calling on the Government to do more to support those who missed out on pension payments due to breaks in their working lives. He believes recently announced measures are just a cosmetics job.

Afterwards, Deputy Eoin Ó Broin joined Pat to discuss recommendations on a recompense scheme for those who bought defective homes during the Celtic Tiger era, and whether or not it could help those affected in Brú na Sionna in Shannon.

The Merriman Winter School gets underway this weekend in Ennis. Ahead of it, Pat was joined by Sara Nic Conmara of An Clár as Gaeilge and Liam Ó Dochartaigh, Joint Director of the Merriman Winter School. Listen back below:

The impact of Brexit on manufacturing in the midwestern region was then discussed by John Whelan, former CEO of the Irish Exporters’ Association who will speak at a major conference at City West, Dublin on January 31. Listen back below:

The high cost of going to college and the financial pressures facing students was discussed with Michael Kerrigan, Presidents of the Union of Students of Ireland (USI).

With a possible health insurance price war on the horizon, Pat got some advice for listeners form Dermot Goode of TotalHealthCover.ie.

Clare FM’s Stephen McDermott joined Pat in studio to review the Oscar nominations, announced this week, and to assess the chances of the Irish nominees. Listen back below:

Then, Pat heard from Dr Eamon Doyle of the Burren Geo Park. He found a fossil in the 1980s which has been recently identified as a 435-million year-old star fish. Listen back below:

There was more historical interest with Dr Ralph Kenna, Professor of Theoretical Physics at Coventry University who has produced some ground-breaking research on Brian Ború’s Battle of Clontarf, lending support to the theory that it represented Ború’s victory over the Vikings. Listen back below: