Morning Focus – Wednesday 15/03/17

Photo: © Pat Flynn

Wednesday’s edition of Morning Focus opened with a tribute from Kilkee Coastguard officer Martoni Vaughan to Captain Dara Fitzgerald who lost her life following the downing of Rescue 116 off the coast of Mayo.

The search for her three colleagues continues today off in Blacksod Bay. Listen back below:

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There’s anticipation that British Prime Minister Theresa May will trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty in the coming weeks. That’ll see Britain exiting the EU, with major consequences for Ireland. Gavin was joined on the line from London by Bernard Purcell, editor of the Irish World.

Our updates from the Cheltenham Festival continued with racing correspondent Rupert Bell.

There was a warning to be safe around the water over St Patrick’s Weekend, with Roger Sweeney of Irish Water Safety joining Gavin on the line from Galway.

Humanists in the midwestern region are calling for reform of school admission rules and for ‘neutrality’ on religion in the primary sector. Gavin discussed the call with Peter O’Hara of Midwest Humanists.

The Kilfenora Ceilí Band are appearing at the Lime Tree Theatre in Limerick on Saturday, March 18, and ahead of the gig, band leader John Lynch joined Gavin in studio.

Out in Scarriff, they’re celebrating 70 years of the Clare Drama Festival and Tom Hanley, PRO, joined Gavin to discuss how its changed over the decades.

The award-winning online magazine, The Journal of Music, in partnership with the arts offices of Clare and Galway County Councils, has announced two mentoring schemes for music writers. Toner Quinn, editor of the magazine, joined Gavin with the details. Listen back below:

Declan Power, Head of Aviation Development for Shannon Airport, was the next guest and he discussed the shortlisting of the airport for the Routes Europe Marketing Awards, 2017.

Morning Focus concluded with the weekly ‘Ask the Vet’ slot with John Underhill, who discussed efforts to keep regional veterinary laboratories open. Listen back below: