Morning Focus Friday July 27

On Friday’s Morning Focus with John Cooke, Cooraclare Councillor and Kilrush Electoral Area Chairman Bill Chambers claimed that law and order is breaking down in Kilrush and the town is in a state of economic decline
He wants to see more Gardai on the beat in Kilrush and the surrounding areas saying the recruitment embargo must be lifted saying that in rural areas the incidents of break-ins is terrifying people

Mayor of Kilrush Mairead O’Brien said that Councillor Chamber’s remarks were harsh and that the Town Council are constantly working to make Kilrush a safer place and criticism isn’t helpful
On Wednesday local representatives in Kilrush met with senior Gardai, weeks after they expressed concerns about incidences of theft, anti-social behaviour and purported illegal money lending
She `welcomed the outcome of the meeting but Kilrush Town Councillors are warning that any extension of the town’s CCTV systems could take some time, despite hopes that it would help tackle levels of crimeFollowing the meeting, moves to expand the town’s camera monitoring system are to continue, but Councillors admit it could be some time before it is up and running

Mary Rose Coonhan of the Kilrush Chamber of Commerce welcomed the announcement of extended CCTV saying that any step to make the town are more pleasant place for shoppers, locals and tourists.

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Taoiseach Enda Kenny was in Ardnacrusha yesterday to mark the 85th anniversary of the founding of the ESB
Enda Kenny attended a special ceremony at Ardnacrusha Power station two celebrate 85 years of electricity in Ireland and to honour two of his predecessors  –  WT Cosgrave, and his son Liam – the former Taoiseach
Ardnacrusha was formally opened by WT Cosgrave, the President of the Executive Council in the first Free State government, in July, 1929, and he was accompanied at that ceremony by his son Liam who was 12 at the time
The country’s first power station and was built at a cost of 5.2m old Irish pounds and 5,000 people were employed during the two year massive construction project

Clare FM’s Deputy Head of News Trudy Waters was in Ardnacrusha yesterday and joined John in studio
We heard from Former Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave and Trudy speaking with Taoiseach Enda Kenny; Catherine Halpin, Plant Manager Ardnacrusha, and local man Brud Skeehan.

Giveaway – to celebrate their amazing promotions now on instore Rochford’s Pharmacy on Parnell St in Ennis have given us five beauty hampers to give away each morning this week on Morning Focus
Each hamper is worth €250 and is packed with fantastic beauty products including Clinique, Estee Lauder, Lancome, Clarins and Chanel
 

Siobhán Breatnach, News editor at The Irish Post in London had a word with John from London on the opening day of Olympics – LONDON 2012
The Taoiseach will travel to London today to meet with the Irish Olympians taking part in the games

Niamh Ni Chroinin from Corofin has been working on the Olympic Stadium as an Engineer/ Bid Manager
Niamh went to London in August 2008 after hearing there were opportunities at the Olympics for engineers
In 2010 she began a Masters in Construction Law and Dispute Resolution at Kings College London and in 2011 a position came up for a deputy bid manager for the Olympic Legacy Contract and she was put forward
The tender was a success and she was given another tender to manage
NOw she is working on taking the Olympic Park from the games phase and transforming it into the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

Joe Hurley from Bealaha and retired Principal Doonbeg NS spoke about the Clare man who won two Olympic Gold medals – Pat ‘The Babe’ McDonald was a Doonbeg native won an Olympic gold medal representing the United States in 1912 for the shot put and another in 1920 for the 56lbs weight throw
He was a massive man 6’4” and over 260 pounds 
He still has relatives living in Doonbeg – emigrated when he was a young man from a farm in Killard to NY- where, on Ellis Island, they spelt his name wrong – he was McDonnell- but afterwards known as McDonald

Kevin McGillicuddy of Clare FM Sport joined John in studio for a word on Ireland’s hopes for Olympic success and a special Sideline View tonight from Doonbeg

Paul Fahy, Artistic Director of the Galway Arts Festival, had a word ahead of the final weekend of the festival
 
The Clare County Agricultural Show is taking place this Sunday at the Showgrounds in Ennis
Bernard Hanrahan, Chairman of The Clare County Show, and PRO Mary Stafford joined John in studio

The inaugural Clare Gardening Festival will take place at the show- Organiser Carmen Cronin had some details of the schedule of the day.

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