President Michael D. Higgins today makes his first official visit to County Clare when he officially opens a new dementia care centre in Killaloe

On Wednesday's Morning Focus John Cooke spoke with Caitriona Lavelle, Manager of  Waterman's Lodge Day and Respite Centre in Killaloe
The Waterman's Lodge Day Care and Respite Centre provides up to 2,000 day care places and 4,000 respite days and nights per year to patients in East Clare, North Tipperary and Limerick and is being opened by President Higgins, who is Patron of the Alzheimer Society of Ireland
While today marks his first official visit to Clare since his election, locals will not have to wait long for his next return to the Banner County - President Higgins, who spent much of his childhood at Ballycar, Newmarket-on-Fergus, will  return to the county next Thursday, when a civic reception will be held in his honour at Aras Chontae an Chlair

John also spoke with Patrick Blaney, a carer from Castlelough, Tipperary whose wife Camilla has Alzheimer’s disease and attends the centre twice a week for day-care and respite care.

See www.alzheimers.ie or call the helpline on 1800 341 341.
 
2863 Clare students are among the 116,774 students who begin the state examinations this morning, as the Leaving and Junior Cert exami