Following on from Tuesday’s shock press conference by the Irish Women’s Soccer Team over their playing conditions, especially when compared to the men’s team, Morning Focus featured a discussion on women’s sports. Sports Journalist and Sixmilebridge native, Marie Crowe and Clare GAA player Carol O’Leary, who hails from Newmarket-On-Fergus joined Gavin for a chat, which you can listen back to below:
Speaking of sports, Ian Dinan, the vice-Chairperson for Clarecastle GAA was in studio to have a chat with Gavin about Sudden Adult Death Syndrome. Those who are fit are especially at risk to SADS, so Ian has organised a screening day this weekend at Clarecastle GAA. He was joined by Lauren Burkhead of Advanced Medical Screening who explained what puts people at risk and what’s involved in a screening process.
In fact, plenty of medical issues were discussed on the show today. We heard from Mary Skehan, a Tulla woman, who is the Chairperson of a new organisation which represents cancer patients and is outlining a number of ways in which the treatment and care of a person suffering from cancer could be improved.
We also heard from Finnoula Murphy from the National Council for the Blind, Ireland. She was speaking to us about the waiting times for Ophthalmology patients in the mid-west, and how their vision could be irreparably damaged by the delay. We then had a call from Tina Ryan in Kilkee, who gave her own experiences of the delays, and how it affected her father and uncle.
We heard from Fr Harry Bohan, the parish Priest in Sixmilebridge, who is addressing the AILG conference in Ennis this weekend. He spoke to Gavin about his views of a two-tiered Ireland, and how action needs to be taken on rural Ireland.
A lot of people would probably like to not be paying tax – but one think tank has suggested that we should, actually, be paying more. This is the view of Social Justice Ireland who thinks that a three percent increase in tax take between now and 2021 would bring an average €9 billion euros into the economy every year. Fr Sean Healy, the director of SJI.
Speaking of paying tax (subtle nod to the US election debates), we heard of the West Clare village that is rallying around one of the most powerful men in the World, in a bid to protect his family’s five-star golf resort! Liam Ryan and Margaret McMahon from the Doughmore Bay Sand Dunes Action Group joined Gavin to explain why they think that the ‘Doonbeg Wall’ – a coastal protection measure sought by Trump Doonbeg is necessary.
Finally, we heard from Lorna Byrne. Lorna says she sees angels as clearly as you or I would see another person. She’s written several books on the topic and Gavin had a chat with her ahead of her upcoming national tour.
