The midweek edition of Morning Focus saw the start of a special series following up on the controversial opening in Lisdoonvarna of a Direct Provision centre for asylum seekers.
Clare FM’s Fiona Cahill visited the centre at the former King Thomond Hotel and heard the stories of some of those who are being accommodated there. She joined Gavin in studio to discuss the background and the ongoing efforts of the community to come to terms with the centre and support those living there.
The series will run until Friday next on Morning Focus.
Listen back to Wednesday’s item below:
Then, the talk turned to a proposed ban on smoking in outdoor dining areas. Gavin heard first from Adrian Cummins, CEO of the Restaurants Association and later by Orla Vaughan of Vaughan’s Barn in Kilfenora.
In the second hour of the show, Gavin heard from Frank Landy and a team of volunteers going to Uganda to work on a major development project. He was also joined by John Conroy, a long-time volunteer with Hospice Jinja and Soft Power Education, and by Catherine Ryan a breast cancer survivor from Ennis who went to Uganda as a mark of gratitude after her health battle.
Listen back below:
The cost of raising kids was back in focus today, with new research showing that it costs an average of €122 extra per week to provide for children at secondary school. Gavin spoke to Niamh O’Donnell of the St Vincent de Paul in Clare.
There was a look ahead to the Clare Garden Festival with Joe Lillis, Carmen Cronin and and Fiann Ó Nualláin (horticultural therapist, Bloom’s Show Garden Designer and TV gardener). The festival takes place on April 29.
Listen back below:
The Morning Focus Book Club gathered to discuss ‘All We Shall Know’ by Donal Ryan. This month, the title was reviewed by Vincent Ryan from Scariff Library and Dolores Meaney from Clare County Library.
Listen back below:
The show rounded off with some drama.
Involved for several years with the very successful Corofin Players, James Raleigh brought a one-man show on the road in recent months, as he performed Flann O’Brien’s ‘The Brother’
It’s a comedic tale with a number of humourous incidents, and the show heard one of those, as performed by James.
Listen back below:
Incidentally, Corofin Dramatic Society has qualified for the All-Ireland Drama Final in Athlone with ‘Big Maggie’. As part of their preparation, they’ll be putting on that show on in glor on May 4 and 5.
