On Wednesday's Morning Focus John Cooke was joined in studio by Mary Howard, Ennis Town Councillor and Ger Dollard, Director of Services with Clare County Council who have just returned from the 2011 World Cities Scientific Development Forum in Chengdu, China
They were invited by Ennis' sister city in Phoenix Arizona for the convention about disaster reduction and emergency management of cities in disaster situations. The strategic importance of Shannon airport was something that all delegates agreed on.

A recruitment drive for the nursing home sector is taking place in Dublin today.
Nursing Home Ireland claims that nearly 500 posts are currently unfilled around the country and 61 per cent of homes have at least one job vacancy.
The survey also indicated that up to 1,364 nursing posts will be created in the private and voluntary nursing home sector over the next 12 months.
Employers from across the country are attending the recruitment seminar in a bid to fill those posts.

The campaign by the Cliffs of Moher to become one of the new Seven Wonders has been dealt a blow
Michael Flatley's much publicised Lord of the Dance show planned for the world famous north Clare attraction next month has been cancelled
On Monday's Morning Focus John Cooke was joined in studio by Oliver O’Connell of MPO Promotions who said that The Edge of the Word outdoor event has been postponed due to the country's tough economic climate

John O’Connor, Brendan O’Connor and Ann Marie O’Connor of O’Connor’s Bakery in Ennis and beyond joined Clare FM’s Marian Egan live in studio this morning to discuss the bakery’s 50th anniversary. The brothers and sister of the landmark bakery that was established on Parnell Street in 1961 spoke about its history, their parents, Pat and Mary, the family’s hard work over the years and how the local bakery has evolved with the times.

On Thursday's Morning Focus John Cooke was joined in studio by Mike Ryan of the Clare Vocational Education Committee, 81 year old James O’Brien and 29 year old Keith Flaherty who returned to education to do their leaving and got their results yesterday
In total 42 Clare adults also received their results yesterday
They are students of the adult education centre on the Clonroad in Ennis and in Shannon
The mature students - from their mid twenties to over eighty years of age - received excellent results - ranging from A's to C's

Leaving Certificate Results are out today so on this morning's Morning Focus John Cooke spoke with Rose Tully of The National Parents Council Post Primary who had some words of advice for students and their parents.
She is also their Helpline Coordinator - their Exam Helpline 2011 offers information to students and parents - 1800 265165

On Tuesday's Morning Focus John Cooke spoke with Paula McNamara of the Ennis Open Fair and Seamus Ryan, also a Committee of the Ennis Open Fair about how things have been progressing since they launched at the end of July. 
This is a national movement of free, community-based talent exchanges, uniting people who have skills to offer with people who are in need of those skills

Writer, journalist and political commentator Fintan O’Toole joined John Cooke on Monday's Morning Focus
He will be speaking at the Merriman Summer School this Wednesday at 8.30pm- this year's theme is 'Changing Irish Childhoods'
Fintan also discussed the Presidential campaign in light of Gay Byrne declaring on Friday that he would not be running

It was reported that the Irish Prison Service can't cope the the number of people being sent to jail becuase they did not pay a fine imposed by the courts. Most fine defaulters arriving at the gates of a jail are turned away because there is no room for them inside. Ed discussed the issue of prison overcrowding with Fíona Ní Chinnéide, Campaigns & Communications Officer with the Irish Penal Reform Trust on Thursday's Morning Focus.