Today’s show opened with Niamh McDonnell the Clare Chairperson for Saint Vincent DePaul. Nationally, the organisation has said over 6,000 parents have contacted them this summer for help with back to school costs, a 20% rise from last summer. Transition year is also said to be cause of financial strain with some schools asking for up to €900 to cover extra activities. If you are in need of assistance you can contact Saint Vincent DePaul on 065 682 4188.
Then Gavin spoke with Mary Fogarty from INMO (Irish Nurse and Midwives Organisation). She reacted to the on going overcrowding at UHL as numbers cross over into the 60s in the Emergency Department this week. She blames the lack the shortage of nurse staff with UHL boasting 75 nursing vacancies. Numbers are expected jump more once the winter hits.
Ending the show’s first hour we heard from Ennis mass goers. They gave their view of the 2018 Papal Visit and of the Pope himself. This comes after an Ipsos MRBI Poll in the Irish Times said over half of people thought the Pope didn’t go far enough in addressing clerical abuse while 80% of people said the Papal Visit did not change their view of the Church.
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Moving into the show’s second hour we heard once more from Valery Larkin. Valery has finally succeeded in her goal to break the record for World’s Biggest Blanket. After receiving knitted squares from all over the world, the 60,000 square blanket reached a size larger than 15,000 square feet. After a quick assessment at the show grounds at Ennis the record is officially held by Ennis.
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Then, the show heard from a group of Clare based volunteers currently working in Uganada. We’ve heard from members of the group on the show before but today it was group leader John Conroy who we had on air. The group has worked with the following charities Hospice Jinja, which was founded by retired G.P.s from Ennis, Dr Frank and Patricia Hassett and Soft Power Education, a British Charity and Ugandan NGO. The group is primarily focused on providing palliative care at a local special needs school.
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Then the show discussed a disease we may not know well but one we’ve all been tested for nonetheless. Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an inborn error of metabolism that results in decreased metabolism of the amino acid phenylalanine. Untreated, PKU can lead to intellectual disability, seizures, behavioral problems and mental disorders. It may also result in a musty smell and lighter skin. Singer David Maguire, who was diagnosed with PKU early in life, told Gavin more.
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Finally the show ended with our animal welfare update with Clare County Dog Warden, Frankie Coote.
