The Friday edition of Morning Focus features the inspirational story of a Kilrush man who is facing terminal Motor Neurone Disease with humour and courage.
Michael Clancy, who is the face of the MND Association’s latest campaign, told Gavin he’ll never allow the disease to steal his sense of humour. This month sees a campaign which calls on us to become more aware about the condition, and to drink tea for MND and fundraise for the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association. Listen back below:
The show opened with a discussion about the jobs crisis in three areas of the county. The CSO has identified Kilrush, Kilkee and part of Ennis as unemployment blackspots. Gavin was joined on the line by Cllr Ann Norton, Mayor of Ennis; Cllr Ian Lynch (West Clare MD) and Cillian Murphy, a businessman from Kilkee. Listen back below:
Gavin’s next guest was Rosie Foley, sister of the late rugby legend, Anthony ‘Axel’ Foley. Rosie is cycling with friends and family as part of the ‘Axel Grinders’ who are raising funds in Axel’s memory for a range of educational projects for the under-privileged. Gavin was also joined on the line by one of Axel’s team mates from the 1992 Irish Schools Rugby Tour to New Zealand, Gareth Davies, one of the founders of the Axel Grinders.
Today (Friday), the group are cycling from Killaloe to Thomond Park and back. Listen back below:
Arts events for the coming days were then detailed by Siobhán Mulcahy, Clare County Arts Officer.
Ultra-cycling was the next topic for discussion, when Gavin was joined in studio by Ennis man Noel Cusack who’s set to get involved in a major event, the Donegal Atlantic Way Ultra Cycling Race on June 23. The race involves cycling 555km of Donegal’s coastline in under 40 hours.
The Friday Panel was made up of Clare Fletcher-Burke, Pat O’Neill and Ronan Judge. Listen back to their lively discussion below:
The show concluded with a chat with Paul McGovern who is walking from Mizen to Malin Head to raise funds for Multiple Sclerosis; and with Pamela Brooks who heads up staff charity initiatives with Shannon Group. She told Gavin about the Bank of Ireland Runway Night Run at Shannon Airport.
