On Friday's Morning Focus with John Cooke
It'll take up to a week to confirm if Ireland has its first case of BSE since 2013. Tests are being carried out on a dairy farm in County Louth where the fallen animal was found. The Department of Agriculture has stressed that the cow in question didn’t enter the food chain. Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney's stressing there's no risk to humans. Locally we heard from Cratloe Farmer Eddie Punch General Secretary of the ICSA with the latest on this.
For the first time, Holy Island is wholly owned by the state following the completion of this deal. The Council is hoping to market what is called "the jewel of Lough Derg" in what could be a major boost to the East Clare area. The Council has been keen to stress that it is looking to respect and preserve the island's history – it has been earmarked for designation as a UNESCO world heritage site.Tom Coughlan CEO of Clare County Council spoke to John before boarding the boat to Holy Island this morning. East Clare Historian Gerard Madden of Holy Island Tours hopes the Council's involvement will now see Holy Island become a much more popular attraction, he also spoke with us.
Weekend Events
Mai Farrell Vice President Ennis Apolostic Work Society spoke to us prior to the 60th Annual Exhibition of Mission Work at the Scout Hall Ennis – Exhibition open Friday June 12th from 3 pm and continues Sat 2-6 pm and is a free event.
Antonio Cebas Founder of The Tweed Cycle in Klrush, says to celebrate National Cycle Week 2015 the 4th Kilrush Tweed Ride takes place Saturday the 13th of June. This is an annual, informal and leisurely cycle along the streets of Kilrush and the beautiful Vandeleur Wood adn Gardens.
Cllr Pat Burke Whitegate filled us in ahead of the Whitegate Pony Races on Sunday, June 14th. The horse and pony races are finally getting underway on Sunday in Whitegate at 1pm, weather is good, ground conditions are excellent, entries are well maintained and the finishing touches are being put in place for what promises to be a great days entertainment. A great selection of kids entertainment is all free on the day, and adult entry is €10.
Finance Minister Michael Noonan has been in Ennis this morning. The Minister addressed a Fine Gael-organised breakfast event at the Old Ground Hotel, and afterwards he spoke with Clare FM's Gavin Grace on issues including BSE, Limerick Regional Hospital and first, news of voluntary redundancies at Shannon Airport.
Our panel of three guests from around the county join us in studio next to take a look back at this week biggest news stories including the Health Crisis and consistent rise in Trolley Numbers at Hospital Emergency Departments. This Weeks Panel included Mary Cashin of Cashin and Assoc's Solicitors Ennis, Con Woods Retired Guidance Counsellor St Flannan's College and John Quinlivan Chairman of Friends of Shannon Airport
During our Friday Panel we heard from an Ennis caller Mary (80), who contacted the show regarding her recent experience in A&E Limerick – last Tuesday (June 2nd) Mary was left on a chair that afternoon at 3 pm until 3 am Wednesday morning when she was finally given a trolley where she spent a further 16 hours before been given a bed. Mary explained she observed the A&E during her time waiting for a trolley and says it was like something you have never seen before – and stresses she never wants to go back there. She spoke to John Cooke.
This Saturday is WB Yeats's 150th Birthday, to mark this, Doonbeg native Mairead Ashe Fitzgerald author and publisher of many poetry books including " Best-Loved Yeats" and “ A Terrible Beauty” Poetry of 1916 and Colm Farrell of Colm Farrell's Auctioneers Gort and of the Thoor Ballylee Society both joined John Cooke in studio. Thoor Ballylee in Gort Co. Galway the tall, fortified, 16th Century tower house into which Yeats moved his young wife Georgie soon after their marriage, will re-open its doors tomorrow in celebration of one of Ireland's best loved poets 150th anniversary.
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