Friday’s Morning Focus came live from Wood Brothers Cafe and Bistro in Killaloe, our host for Morning Focus’ coffee morning in aid of Clare FM’s 50 Cent Appeal.
John Cooke was joined for a chat by representatives of the four local charities we are collecting for;
John O’Reilly, a retired Garda Inspector from Killaloe volunteers with Rape Crisis Midwest, Majella Fagan of the Irish Wheelchair Association, Deirdre Mowat of Kincora Kids Community Childcare and Carmel O’Brien of Kilmaley Daycare Centre.
Paul Smith is a well known and respected musician who runs the Kincora School of Music
He’s also involved in the Tipperary Fleadh and a new monthly Ceoltas Night being set up in working towards application for Clare & Munster Fleadhs
Paul plays the flute and was joined by flute player Leon Agnew and bodhran player Michael Hackett to play a few reels
John was joined by some local tourism and heritage interests, James Whelan of Killaloe River Cruises who spoke about plans for The Gathering 2013 and a meeting that’s being held this Tuesday 27th about the Gathering in Killaloe Ballina. Also John Grimes, Chairperson of the Feile Brian Boru, spoke about plans to honour Brian Boru in 2014
They just received news of a grant of €4,000 for the festival in an announcement by Tourism Minister Michael Ring TD
Stephen McKeogh of the Killaloe Ballina Heritage Group also spoke about the rich heritage in the area, Stephen is a heritage Studies tutor- Clare VEC Adult Education Service.
Diane Daly, a violinist – National Chamber Orchestra and Boris Hunka, also a musician joined John for a chat
Together the couple founded Music in the Glen shortly after they built a house in ‘the Glen’, in the Clare hills, looking down on Killaloe from one side and Limerick on the other
Fiona Ward of Boru Three Peaks and the local Triathlon Club also had a chat about the inaugural event and plans to run a duathlon next year with two other Clare clubs.
Boru 3 Peaks is an annual intergenerational community event in the surrounds of the picturesque twin towns of Ballina/Killaloe, in the counties of Clare and Tipperary, nestled between the 3 peaks of Tountinna, Moylussa and Keeper Hill
Brona Moriarty of the Killaloe/Ballina Community and Family Resource Centre spoke about ongoing projects they are running like the Older Person’s Network
Currently the KBFRC are working towards establishing a Men’s Shed – which is a community-based, non-commercial organisation which is open to all men where the primary activity is the provision of a safe, friendly and inclusive environment where the men are able to gather and/or work on meaningful projects at their own pace, in their own time and in the company of other men and where the primary objective is to advance the health and well- being of the participating men
Kathleen Gibbons of the Community Garden Group also came along for a chat
The Killaloe Ballina Community Garden is located next to the Killaloe Playground in the Bane Field and is manned by a volunteer gardening team
They are liaising with a lot of groups around the green space in the centre of town – possibilities of a children’s area and nature trails – they have about 19 volunteers involved at any given time – contact them on 061 622 909.
Killaloe based rock-a-billy band ‘Sound’ made up of musician and singer Derek Lyons, and Tom Goss and Adam Rowat joined John for a chat and they played for the cafe’s punters
John Wood – our host this morning – spoke about how business is going for himself and his wife Brenda
Jos Lowry of the Ballina Killaloe Sports and Community Development Company (Clarisford) Ltd – the new leisure amenity set to benefit of young and old in Killaloe and Ballina – had a word about how their development is going
The Clarisford Development, on the Clare shore of the River Shannon, will finally see sports and recreational facilities in the twin communities of Ballina and Killaloe brought in line with the growing local need
Tony O’Brien of Smith O’Brien GAA Club spoke about their fundraising drive to build a new community centre and indoor sports facilities for the town
They are currently fundraising and are holding a Brendan Grace concert in the coming weeks.
Thank you to all of those who joined us this morning in Killaloe, those who contributed with words and music and those who kindly donated to our worthy causes!
If you have a story, comment or query for the Morning Focus team email [email protected]
