Today on Morning Focus, we were joined in studio by Tony Killeen, Former Fianna Fáil TD and Minister and Patricia McCarthy Former Mayor of Clare as we took a look at how the Clare Constituency is lining up as the General Election approaches.
It’s not expected that Labour or Social Democrats will run a candidate here, while Sinn Féin is due to hold a selection convention in the coming days. People Before Profit have not responded to attempts by us to establish if they will have a name on the ballot.
We may also see a few Independents emerging – but for now we looked at who has declared and how local and national trends might indicate how those candidates will fare.
Those candidates are:
Three Fine Gael candidates – sitting deputy’s Joe Carey and Pat Breen, as well as Senator Martin Conway
Three Fianna Fail candidates – sitting TD Timmy Dooley, as well as Cllr Cathal Crowe and Rita McInerney
One Green Party candidate – Cllr Roisin Garvey
Two Independents – Former Labour TD Martin McNamara and Beef Plan’s Joseph Woulfe
If you missed it, you can listen back below:
Before that, we opened the show by hearing the thoughts of the people of Clare as they spoke to Clare FM’s Robyn Flanagan about what issues they think should be addressed in the upcoming General Election. The most prominent issue wanting to be addressed is Healthcare.
Next on the show, a change from the General Election discussion as we were joined on air by Paddy Kelly, as he is preparing to cycle around Ireland. Paddy, from Doonbeg, is going to spend 19 days taking the high roads and by-roads of the country to raise funds for Cancer Care – in honour of the late Paddy Culligan who passed away last August after a battle with cancer. Michael O’Doherty from Doonbeg also joined us on air to chat about the fundraising cycle.
The cycle will kick off on April 4th – but is being launched at the Temple Gate Hotel in Ennis this evening.
After today’s News headlines, we were joined in studio by Dr Máire Finn for this week’s Ask the GP.
If you missed Ask The GP, you can catch it below:
Following from that, we heard all about ‘Flights’, a darkly funny new play by award-winning Clarecastle playwright, John O’Donovan. The play is set in Ennis on a dark and stormy night when three friends gather on the anniversary of the death of a friend in a road accident.
If you missed it you can listen back below:
To wrap up the show today, John Underhill of Burren Vets joined us in studio for this week’s Ask the Vet.
You can listen back below:
