Neil Garvey, of Muintir na Tire, spoke on the show this morning about Operation ID. An innovative crime prevention programme is to be rolled out by Muintir na Tire in a bid to reduce rural crime rates across the country. Operation ID has just been launched in three pilot locations (Schull, Ballydehob and Goleen in County Cork) and it involves the use of high-tech engraving equipment, already widely used by UK police forces, to mark property in seconds. The technology aims to deter criminals and, in the cases where thefts do occur, to make recovery of stolen property much easier. Neil also spoke about Muintir na Tire appealing to all new TDs to ensure the issues facing rural Ireland are given prominence in the negotiations for a new government. The national association for community development has requested that specific measures, including the appointment of a senior Minister for Rural Affairs, be included in any new programme for government.
A leading charity for the elderly says we don’t have the infrastructure in place to expect older people to sell their homes to younger families. A report by the ERSI which looked at the option of ‘empty-nesters’ downsizing to smaller premises as a way to ease the current housing crisis has been accused of stigmatising pensioners. Researchers spoke to 8 thousand people over the age of 50, but found little interest in moving and little reason to offer incentives. According to the charity Alone, which works with the vulnerable older people, the report ignores the fact that there’s a shortage of suitable housing for older people. The organisation says that an estimated 3,312 units for older people will be needed every year until 2020 and an additional 400 older people per year will not have access to the nursing home care they need Alone has also said that half of the calls it received in 2014 were related to housing difficulties. Sean Moynihan, CEO of Alone, and Kay Murphy, from Shannon Active Retirement spoke on the show about the issue.
Next on the show, Gavin spoke to Dr Simon Berrow, Chief Science Officer and Acting CEO of the IWDG, about record numbers of dolphin strandings off the west coast. The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IEDG) have revealed that there were 28 dolphin standings in the first two months of this year – the second highest number ever recorded. Marine scientists with the group said the bulk of the strandings took place in north-western coastal areas of Mayo, Sligo and Donegal, with evidence showing that many of the dolphins got caught up in large fishing nets that have been attributed to super-trawlers.
Martin White, from Triple A Taxis, spoke about bogus taxi concerns. There’ve been calls for tighter control by the taxi regulator, after a fake driver was arrested in Dublin over the weekend. The head of the Taxi Federation has accused some drivers of lending their cars to people who don’t have a taxi licence. A man, using a fake sign, was taking a female passenger home when he was pulled over by Gardai on Friday night. The driver was found to be disqualified and had no driving licence or insurance, the car wasn’t taxed and didn’t have a valid NCT. According to the Irish Times (Monday, March 7) around 5,000 random checks a month are carried out on taxi drivers and their vehicles, the taxi regulator has confirmed. A spokeswoman for the NTA said it had significantly ramped up its compliance team after new legislation came into force in 2014. It carried out about 5,000 random checks a month, not just taxi ranks or in cities, but all over the country. “It’s pretty busy and it’s pretty full-on,” she said. The NTA prosecuted 99 individuals last year where the vehicle, the driver or both were not licensed. This was normally rectified on detection, the spokeswoman said.
With Seachtain na Gaeilge well underway, it’s a good opportunity for all of us to practice our ‘cupla focail’. One Ennis man who decided to do that, some years back, is Reg O Ruairc. After learning the language, he’s now a passionate about bringing more Irish into our daily lives. He’s been campaigning to keep the language visable in public signage. By law, public authorities must ensure the signs they use are both in Irish and English and Reg has put the spotlight on one organisation who haven’t been fully able to meet their obligations, and that’s Iarnrod Eireann, who say that electronic signage at Ennis Railway Station is in English only, as the software upgrade to enable bilingual display would be too expensive. Clare FM’s Emer Moroney caught up with Reg to find out more. He began explaining why he believes it’s so important that the Irish language has a visible presence in the community. Iarnrod Eireann have issued a statement saying: “Iarnrod Eireann is cognisant of its obligations under the Official Languages Act, and always makes every effort to comply. This includes in signage throughout Ennis Station and across our network, notices on trains, recorded announcements on trains and other provisions. In some areas, we have existing systems which are non-compliant but which require significant investment to replace. This includes our station information screens, which currently do not support the provision of bilingual information. We have advised the Irish language commissioner that we are not currently funded to upgrade these systems. Overall, we are operating in an underfunded environment, and safety investment will always take priority in such a situation. We have advised our funding authorities of the outstanding issues in achieving compliance with the Official Languages Act. However, until such time as sufficient funding is secured, we will not be in a position to upgrade the station information screens, including at Ennis.”
Following the passing of legendary producer, Sir George Martin, Clare FM’s Brian Flynn joined Gavin to discuss his career and his work with the Beatles.
The Shannon Airport Police Fire Service is this month set to make a nostalgic return for St. Patrick’s Day Parades in the US for the first time since ‘September 11’. Some 15 years after it last marched in the US for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, an 18-strong team of Police Fire Service from the airport will march in the second largest parade in the US, the Boston Parade on Sunday, March 20. It will provide a huge promotional opportunity for Shannon with a potential audience of millions. Alan Neville, Airport police officer and Shannon and Clare All-Ireland medal winning hurler, spoke to Gavin about the parade.
This week for Seachtain na Gaeilge, up to 50-thousand people have been taking part in a massive relay race spanning the length and breadth of Ireland. In Ennis, pupils and teachers from the Gaelscoil, Cloughleigh NS and Rice College joined in ‘Rith 2016’ which encourages fitness and a love of the Irish language. Clare FM’s Siofra Mulqueen caught up with some of those involved.
A Clare-based author joined Gavin in studio this morning to discuss the launch of his ‘anti-self help’ addiction memoir. Carl Ashley has written The Fox and the Scorpion Meet Cold Turkey which he’ll launch on Friday (March 11th) evening. He says that after drinking every day for about five years and smoking constantly for 25 years he decided that it was high time to quit, but quitting one without the other would be futile, and, since both habits fed the one another, he decided to quit both. Without patches, counselling, acupuncture or for that matter, any kind of planning, he set himself a goal of creating a ‘new me’. He says that he just woke up one day and said “enough” and took control. In his attempt to stay poison-free he says he experienced a period of emotional turmoil and self questioning. The book records his daily experiences and he now believes it could help others who fight an addiction battle. The book chronicles Carl’s battle with addiction, dealing with depression and striving to be a good husband and father. It also touches on his love for sport, more specifically, his devotion to Manchester City Football Club and his involvement with Clare Cricket. The book will be launched on Friday (March 11th) at 5pm in Suas Coffee House, Abbey Street, Ennis.
Eleanor Custy, a 2nd year student of International Development at UCC spoke on the show this morning about travelling to India with the Hope Foundation. Eleanor, from Dooagh, Ennis, first went to Calcutta for 2 weeks when she was 17 and a student at St. Flannan’s. The experience inspired her to study International Development at UCC. Eleanor is travelling to India in May with the Hope Foundation. Her family and friends are organising a fundraiser for the Foundation on Saturday evening at 9pm in the Grove, Roslevan.
Next on the show, we heard from John Underhill, from Burren Vets. John answered a listener’s query about a 4-day-old calf that won’t suck.
The 55th West Clare Drama Festival has been underway since last Saturday (March 5th) and we’re now at the half-way point with this celebration of national and international drama wrapping up next Monday (March 14th). Over half of the programme of plays will be performed by Clare groups, carrying on the strong tradition of drama in the county. In addition, the West Clare Drama Festival is welcoming groups from Tipperary, Cork, and Galway. Michael O’Hara, Adjudicator for the 10 nights of the festival spoke on the show this morning, giving an adjudicator’s update.
