The midweek edition of Morning Focus heard from the newly nominated Clare Person of the Year for 2018, mountaineer and hotelier, John Burke of the Elevate Foundation.
Gavin spoke with John and with the Chairperson of the Clare Association in Dublin, Gerry O’Reilly. Listen back below:
The show opened with an discussion on the future of rural post offices and the potential offered by postal banking. Gavin spoke with Seamus Maye, the Joint Chair and Spokesperson for the Public Banking Forum of Ireland and then with Ind TD, Deputy Mattie McGrath who has supported moves in the Dáil to legislate on the issue.
Then, the talk turned to the ongoing hitches with formulating an agreement on the nature of the Border with the North. Gavin was joined by an expert in the area, Associate Professor Ray Friel of the School of Law at the University of Limerick.
Afterwards, we heard from the 2018 Clare Person of the Year, Everest mountaineer and hotelier, John Burke, who is founder of the Elevate Foundation. Gavin was also joined on the line by Gerry O’Reilly of the Clare Association in Dublin. Listen back below:
The protection of our national anthem, Amhrán na bhFiann was the next topic for discussion following efforts in the Seanad to draw up guidelines to respect and protect it.
Clare FM’s Emerald Kenny went out and about to hear people’s views and Gavin was joined in studio by Dr Pádraig Óg Ó Ruairc a leading Clare historian.
There were fond recollections then of Marian Avenue in Ennis when Gavin was joined in studio by Ollie Byrnes who has just produced a book celebrating the estate. Listen back below:
Afterwards, there was live music and song in studio when Gavin was joined by singers Eithna Walsh and Caitriona O’Sullivan. Listen back below:
The controversy around blood diamonds was the next topic for discussion when Gavin heard from Seán Clinton who will give a talk on the issue on December 12 at the Old Ground Hotel. The event is organised by the Clare branch of the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign.
The show rounded off with a discussion of the third Mercy on the Mall event which will see Bishop Fintan Monahan and 20 priests offering confessions at the Sky Court Hotel in Shannon on Friday (Dec 8). Listen back below:
