Morning Focus opened with security on the farm. If you're in the farming community, you'll know all about the importance of security and how useful it is to have CCTV camera in place. What you may not know however is that you could be leaving yourself open to a massive security and privacy threat. That's if you don't change the default passwords on your cameras. Footage from farm sheds, yards and homes from Cork to Donegal is being streamed live by an international website to anyone who logs on.
Morning Focus opened with security on the farm. If you're in the farming community, you'll know all about the importance of security and how useful it is to have CCTV camera in place. What you may not know however is that you could be leaving yourself open to a massive security and privacy threat. That's if you don't change the default passwords on your cameras. Footage from farm sheds, yards and homes from Cork to Donegal is being streamed live by an international website to anyone who logs on. The website, Insecam.org, is described as the world’s biggest directory of online surveillance security cameras. It is currently streaming footage from more than 70 security cameras in Ireland and thousands more security cameras worldwide that have not been password-protected by their owners. Irish farms, homes and churches are among the sites that can be viewed. Gavin was joined on the line by Caitriona Murphy, Deputy Editor of the Irish Farmer’s Journal.
Following this talk turned to honouring a Clare heroin. The late Caitriona Lucas has been named Clare person of the year for 2017. The 41-year-old Ballyvaughan woman lost her life when a Coastguard boat capsized during a search for a missing man off the Kilkee coast in September. The mother-of-two is being recognised for her efforts as a coastguard volunteer, as well as her work with children through Clare's library service. Gavin spoke with Bernard Lucas, Caitriona’s husband.
The decline of rural Ireland is a subject we've touched on many times on Morning Focus. With concerns over services like broadband, GP cover, policing, shops and post offices – and now a threat to some bus transport links, it can seem like the odds are stacked against rural dwellers. Gavin’s next guests had a keen interest in the issue and are proposing a new approach to rural regeneration which involves voluntary rejuvenation committees made up of all of those involved in local, rural life. Gavin was joined by Dr Michael Harty, Independent TD, and Jim Connolly from Kilbaha, founder of Rural Resettlement Ireland.
Gavin then spoke about an important yearly event. Milford Hospice are holding their ‘Light Up A Memory 2016’ event next Sunday (Dec. 11) at 6pm. It will mark its 17th anniversary and is one of the most important annual fundraisers for the hospice. Each year the tree at Milford is adorned with thousands of sparkling lights, each one shining in honour of someone special in our thoughts. Gavin was joiend by Pat Quinlan, chief executive at Milford Hospice.
Following this we had our weekly Arts Round-Up with Siobhán Mulcahy, Clare County Arts Officer.
Visual Arts
Edge to Edge – Glór
Music
Little Green Cars – Glór – Friday
Kilshanny House – Friday
Singing in Miltown – Friday
Donal Lunny – Glór – Saturday
Gaellyn Lee – Mountshannon – Saturday
Carols with Helen Houlihan – New Quay
Shandrum Ceili Band – Sunday
Trad Singing in Miltown – Tuesday
Film
Derby O’Gill – Sat – Kilkee
Gangsta Granny – Mon – Kilrush
Dance
Dancemasters Show – Glór – Thursday
After this we had our round-up of weekend events.
1)Christmas Peace Concert with the Three Tenors & St Conaire's NS Choir *Sunday, December 11 at 8pm. Tickets available from Eason's, Quinn's Butchers or the Parish Office. (The choir also sang at Mercy on the Mall on Thursday).
2) East Clare Community Co-operative Society is organising a three day Christmas themed market-this Friday (Dec.9) and Saturday and again on Friday week (Dec.16) each day from 11-4pm with mulled wine, raffle and lots of goodies to bring home for Christmas. The market will be indoors in the Sustenance building – no fear of being snowed on!
Next up we had our Friday Panel, guests this week were Michael Guilfoyle, Former Ennis Mayor, Verena Tarpey from Rape Crisis MidWest and Michael McNamara, Barrister & Former Labour TD for Clare. Topics discussed this week were the Lack of Funding for Regional and Local Roads, Lack of New Garda Recruits Being Sent to Clare, Trump Being Chosen as Time’s Person of the Year and the Idea of Shopping Locally or Abroad for Christmas?
To finish the show we had a wonderful story. Everyone is a fan of a comeback story but they’re few and far between. Well we have a rather remarkable one here today. Toby Bourke sang with George Michael on a song he wrote called Waltz Away Dreaming which hit the top 10 in the UK. Unfortunately Toby was in an accident eight years ago and was told he would never play the guitar again. Well after years of physio and effort, he has just released his newest song ‘In Your Eyes’, and he’s here today to play for us.
