A hectic Thursday edition of Morning Focus covered everything from reports of people driving the wrong way on the M18 to ongoing speculation about a rift in Fine Gael in Clare.
The show opened with Senator Martin Conway who was back on to defend his decision to support Minister Leo Varadkar in the battle to lead Fine Gael. A majority of local authority members have indicated they’ll back his rival Minister Simon Coveney. Listen back below:
The next topic for discussion was uptake in Clare of the Garda Text Alert Scheme. Gavin was joined on the line by Neil Garvey, from Inagh, who’s head of Muintir na Tíre.
The show then returned to the controversy around the new Emergency Department for the region’s main hospital. Yesterday, nurses called for the opening to be deferred on safety grounds, but today, Dr Michael Harty, Independent TD for Clare, said it should open as planned. Listen back below:
A caller got in touch with Morning Focus after a scary incident on the M18. She told Gavin she’d seen a woman driving the wrong way on the motorway and had had to call the Gardaí to avert an accident.
Pat Quinlan was Gavin’s next guest. The CEO of Milford Hospice outlined plans for the second Milford Hospice Memorial Walk on Sunday next (May 28).
Next up was Lisdoonvarna Science teacher John Simms. John’s team of students from Mary Immaculate Secondary School won top prizes at the Eco-Unesco Young Environmentalists Awards this week.
Dermot Hayes came to studio to outline the topic of a conference to take place in Ennis on Friday (May 25) on the transport problems faced by those with disabilities.
Gavin was then joined in studio by Rev Chinwe Obadeyi and Pastor Marie Carrig of Foundation Ministries in Ennis. They’re hold an International Family Workshop at the weekend with a focus on e-mentoring for women leaving abusive relationships.
Clare FM’s Ben Sweeney then presented a special package on the ‘Embrace’ project for artists with disabilities. Listen back below:
Following the second burglary in recent times at St Joseph’s Secondary School in Spanish Point, Principal Mary Crawford joined Gavin on the line from the scene.
The show returned to the theme of art with Vincent Killowry an artist involved in the ‘Art for All’ exhibition that’s taking place on Saturday (May 27) in Ennis Market. Listen back below:
Ennistymon Book Weekend is just around the corner and Gavin was joined on the line by Vincent Browne of Charlie Byrne’s Book Shop. Listen back below:
The show rounded off with a chat with John Jones of Jones’s Supervalu in Miltown Malbay. He’s organising the homecoming celebrations for Everest Mountaineer John Burke.
