Morning Focus – Wednesday 28/06/17

The midweek edition of Morning Focus covered a range of lively topics from older people driving to unemployment among Clare’s younger population.

The show opened with a discussion of tourism figures with Michael Vaughan a Lahinch hotelier and former President of the Irish Hotels Federation. Michael told Gavin that while the overall news is good, there are concerns that British visitor numbers are down due to the currency exchange rate. Listen back below:

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The next topic for discussion was the proposed West Clare Railway Greenway. Members of Clare IFA have concerns about an inspection of lands along the route from Ennis to Lahinch. Morning Focus producer Fiona McGarry spoke to Clare IFA Chairperson Willie Hanrahan.

Listen back below:

Gavin then heard about concerns for almost 500 young people in Clare who’ve been jobless for six months or longer. He was joined by James Doorley of the National Youth Council of Ireland.

The issue of coding being added to the school curriculum was next up for discussion. Gavin was joined on the line by Corofin native and Vice President of the INTO Joe Killeen, who outlined the steps the teaching union would like to see put in place to facilitate the new subject. Listen back below:

Clare hurlers are to take on Tipp in Boston in November. It’s part of the second AIG Fenway Hurling Classic and will be played at the Fenway Park, the home of the Boston Red Sox. Listen back below:

With the summer months here, even if the sun’s not shining all time time, the Irish Skin Foundation is urging people to be aware of the risks. Gavin was joined on the line by Michelle Dolan of the Irish Skin Foundation. Listen back below:

Kitty Leyden was Gavin’s next guest. She got in touch with the show after a discussion of older people’s driving. Kitty says she drivers very safety and believes older people aren’t a danger on the roads.

Colm Wallace has written a new book, The Fallen, about Gardaí who’ve lost their lives in the line of duty in the early years of the State. He told gavin about the Clare cases he’s researched, on Detective Timothy O’Sullivan and Garda Thomas Dowling.

Two photographers who believe they’ve taken Ireland’s ‘highest’ wedding photo then joined Gavin on the line. David Olsthoorn from Lahinch and his partner Laurie Brosnan run Awake and Dreaming and they recently captures a picture of a Clare couple on the top of Carrauntoohil. They told Gavin how they got the shot.

Marie O’Connor has scooped Gold at the World Transplant Games. The Lahinch native spoke to Clare FM’s James Mulhall about her achievement.

The show concluded with a look ahead to an event in Ennis on Saturday at the Peace Park. Dr Keir McNamara told Gavin about the ceremony to remember the Clare men and women who lost their lives in World War One.