Wednesday’s Morning Focus came live from Kilrush Town centre
As long awaited road works on Moore Street come to an end local residents and businesses are looking forward to major improvements and a revitalised street this Christmas
The Moore St Promotion 2011 is gathering pace, including a look at Moore Street past and present through photographs from its earliest times – displayed in windows along the street, the preparation of a 2011 time capsule and culminating in a Christmas Street Party on December 17th
Locals say the event is about family fun, remembering the past, and looking to a brighter future for Moore Street and Kilrush Town Centre, while also boosting local business in tough times
John Cooke was joined by many guests including Moore Street Traders Maria Hartman of Hartmann’s Jewellers; Town Councillor Marian McMahon Jones of The Fashion Gallery; Elizabeth Saunders of Saunders Shoes and Paul Edson of The Family Store to chat about the community spirit on the street and how they hope the reopening will invigourate business
Other guests included Matt Heslin, CEO of Kilrush Credit Union who announced that the Credit Union are launching a free draw to run for the next eight days before Christmas
Simply drop in your receipt from shopping in Kilrush and you will be entered into a free draw to win vouchers to spend in town
Mary Rose Coonhan, Secretary of Kilrush Chamber of Commerce said the immediate goal is to get through Christmas and support the voucher scheme – Kilrush Chamber Voucher Scheme 2009- this voucher can be redeemed in any shop that is a Chamber member– 163,800 have been sold since the launch
She urged people to shop local this Christmas and support local businesses and services
They are also fundraising on Friday night for new Christmas lights for the town
A Junior Certificate School Project Initiative under way in Kilrush Community College has seen Niamh heery from the Galway Film Centre invited to co-ordinate a group of students from disadvantaged areas of the town to write, act, direct and edit a 5 to 7 minute movie based on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet
Kilrush natives John O’Brien and Chloe Scully aka Romeo and Juliet joined Niamh and John for a chat about how production is going
The aim is to enter the final product in various competitions in Ireland such as the Limerick Film Fleadh and the Fresh Film Festival
As the last of the roadworks continue here on Moore Street – locals businesses and residents hope they’re paving the way to a brighter future for what was once the main commercial street in Kilrush
It’s a street steeped in history and there’s a lot of local pride for those who call Moore Street their home, so ahead of today’s show John took a trip down memory lane with local resident and businesswoman Carmel Buggle to find out more
Brid Hedderman of the Kilrush Community Garden joined John with the aim to get the community involved and to expand gardening, beekeeping, poultry and sustainable living in Kilrush
The kilrush Musical Society are currently in the middle of rehearsals for their next show ‘Hello Dolly’
The whole town is involved- it’s a huge cast which includes local talents and children from the Community College
Volunteers are invited every year to build and paint the sets, prepare the costumes, create the make-up and wigs, compose and publish advertising and programmes and act as ushers and front of house staff
Ger Rush, Producer of Kilrush Musical Society and Charles Clancy who plays the role of Vandergelder in Hello Dolly joined John for a chat.
Mezzo Soprano Edel O’Brien joined John to highlight a very special evening of seasonal and classical favourites that will take place in St. Senan’s Church, Kilrush on Friday, 16th December at 8pm.
Performing popular Christmas carols and tracks from their new CD ‘Where Corals Lie’ will be local mezzo soprano Edel O’Brien with Moya O’Grady, cello; David O’Doherty, violin and Geraldine O’Doherty, harp.
Tickets cost €10 and are available from the Parish Office, Anchorcraft Giftshop and Pen 2 Paper.
Proceeds will go to St. Senan’s Church Restoration Fund.
If you would like to contact the Morning Focus team email [email protected]
