On Friday's Morning Focus with John Cooke
A long-running battle for a new pier in Doolin has come to an end, with the new facility there to be opened today. Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin will be in North Clare to perform the ceremony. The pier is used by ferry companies to bring 100,000 visitors a year to and from the Aran Islands, and the greatly-enhanced facilities being opened today are seen as being of huge importance to North Clare. The pier cost around €6 million to develop. Minister Howlin spoke to Clare FMs Gavin Grace ahead of his appearance in North Clare and says he is really looking forward to it.
Doolin's Mattie Shannon says people in the area have been fighting for this new pier for decades and today that fight is finally over, as he explained to John. Ferry operators are confident that the improved access will see them carry more passengers. Eugene Garrihy of Doolin2Aran Ferries says this will be good for all of North Clare . . . He also spoke with John Cooke on the show.
John Hillery has announced he won't be running for Fianna Fáil in the next General Election. The Milltown Malbay native and son of former President Patrick Hillery had previously stated that he would seek a nomination to run on the Fianna Fáil ticket. Now, however, he's surprisingly changed his mind because he feels he does not have enough time to run a proper campaign ahead of the selection convention, which is expected next month. John spoke to Morning Focus following his decision .
Marina Keane from Kilkee and solicitor with Ennis firm Michael Houlihan & Partners joined us in studio ahead of a special event that sees local solicitors offer a unique insight into Clare economy – Clare and Limerick solicitors will come together in Ennis Friday for a learning and networking event designed with the needs of the local area in mind.
Round-up of Weekend Events
2,000 runners will pound the runway of Shannon Airport in a near-unique event tonight. There will be a midnight start for the Bank of Ireland Runway Night Run, provided there are no late arriving planes. This year's entry is nearly double that of last year's innaugural event. Proceeds from tonight's event go to Shannon's chosen charities for 2015, namely TLC4CF and Milford Care Centre in Limerick. Niall Maloney Director of Operations Shannon Airport says they are really looking forward to the event.
Ennis based Brid Coonan Chairperson of The National Association of Irish Floral Artists spoke to us ahead of the National Flower Festival coming to Ennis for the first time this weekend to support IMNDA. With the official opening Friday night, floral exhibits on view throughout Saturday and Sunday at The Cathedral & St Columba's Bindon Street and Festival Concert Saturday night in The Cathedral.
North Clare will be the national epicentre for cycling this Saturday, when over 2,000 cyclists will cycle a combined distance of c. 218,400 KM for the 2015 An Post Tour de Burren. Monies raised reinvested back into the community through the work of the Clare Sports Partnership and also by the local work of the Burren Cycling Club. Patrick O’Donoghue of the Burren Cycling Club told us more.
Morning Focus Friday Panel
Our panel of three guests from around the county join us in studio to take a look back at this week biggest news stories including the devastating events in Berkeley this week, the New York Times Article criticising the J1 Programme and Trump for President of the US? This Weeks Panel were Ailish Connolly Co Owner of Kilbaha Gallery and Crafts Loophead, Bernie Ruane Member of the Teaching Council of Ireland and Lahinch Hotelier Michael Vaughan of The Vaughan Lodge Lahinch.
There's great excitement in the air in Kilrush this weekend, as well as the sound of traditional music. For the first time in nearly fifty years, the county fleadh has returned to the West Clare town. Competitions begin today and run throughout the weekend, in an event which has seen people flock from far and wide. Ann Hayes of Lissycasey is the Secretary of Comhaltas County Clare and Ruan's Joe Arkins Vice Chair of Comhaltas County Clare both joined us in studio along with musicians Aisling McMahon (14) from Quin Playing the flute and Rachel O'Dea (13) From Ballybeg on concertina.
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