On Mondays Morning Focus with Gavin Grace
Up to 20 homes in Miltown Malbay were flooded on Church Road and the Lahinch Road, while homes and businesses in Cree and Doolin were also flooded Friday night. Issues were reported in Mullagh, Quilty and Liscannor, with people having to be rescued from their cars after being stranded in floods. Paul Moroney a Senior Engineer with Clare County Councils Environment Department discussed the issues with Gavin.
The Fine Gael Convention took place on Friday night. Clare Fine Gael TDs Pat Breen and Joe Carey have been selected to represent the party in the upcoming general election. The two Dáil representatives were given the backing of party members at the Fine Gael selection convention in Ennis Friday night, defeating Ennis Councillor Mary Howard in a vote. Of the other candidates, Ger O'Halloran of Quin had withdrawn prior to the event, while Senators Martin Conway and Tony Mulcahy did not put their names forward for the ballot. Gavin caught up with the TD's on the night to discuss the general election.
Gavin was the joined by Clare FMs Derrick Lynch and Peter O'Connel, the sports journalist from the Clare Champion for the sports panel. In local sports news, the Clare Senior Football Championship took place. A second half goal from Podge McMahon was the crucial score, as the Ballynacally based side won by 1-12 to 0-11. It also means Cratloe have lost both the Jack Daly and the Canon Hamilton in the space of 7 days. Clondegad will now face Cooraclare in the last four, after the Sky Blues left it late to beat O'Currys by 1-11 to 1-10. The other semi final sees Miltown go up against St Breckans. The North Clare men have a strong second performance to thank for a 2-9 to 1-7 win over Kilrush, while Miltown withstood a late comeback from Ennistymon to win by 1-13 to 0-13. It means the most recent champions left standing in this years race for Jack are Cooraclare, who last won the title in 1997. The semi finals are provisionally set for two weeks time. In premiership news, Liverpool will take on Manchester United this weekend. In the Clare Ladies Football, the Banner are the senior champions once more after they beat West Clare Gaels 3-13 to 1-10. A historic 5-in-row & 7th title in 8 years. Miltown are the Clare Ladies Intermediate Football champions after a 2-10 to 1-9 win over Burren Gaels. It means Miltown are back up to the senior ranks.
Staying in the sports theme, John Sweeney, the coordinator of Clare Sports Partnership, then joined Gavin in studio to talk about a new initiative. Clare Sports Partnership and Clare Local Development Company have created an exciting new sports coaching course for long term unemployed people.This fourteen week course is a first step in becoming a sports coach or trainer. Trainees will learn about the skills and knowledge required for Football and Hurling, Soccer, Basketball, and Triathlon. The course which will also help people develop job seeking and computer skills begins on the 6th October in Quinn and runs until Christmas. It is open to all long term unemployed people with an interest in sport and fitness. The course is free and will not effect Department of Social Welfare payments.
Clare FMs Sean Reidy went out this week to see what it's like to walk on the moon, and have a go on the Alter G Anti-gravity Treadmill. He met Michelle Herbert, who is the rep for Ireland for Alter G, she talked him though what exactly the treadmill does and the benefits of it."
The Anti Gravity treadmill is in Ennis full time in Active Ennis, available for all types of rehab.
