Morning Focus – Monday 16/09/19

On today’s Morning Focus we heard from Sinead Kennedy who helped create the inspirational documentary about Laura Brennan’s story entitled This is Me. The documentary is set to air on RTE tonight (Monday) at 9.35pm.

Following the Newspaper review, we met Aisling Meehan, Agricultural Solicitor from Newmarket on Fergus. Aisling launched #UnderstandAgriculture Campaign which she hopes will act as a counter-campaign against billboards with emotionally charged anti-agriculture images and messages which are regularly seen. In particular on a week, in which the national media turn their attention to agriculture, Aisling is promoting a Public Educational Advertising Campaign that aims to educate the public about agriculture and farming. It seeks to enable farmers to promote their industry through promotional materials such as billboards being hosted on their land with pro farming messages.

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Now, as you’ll no doubt be aware, further concern’s been expressed about the downward direction of passenger numbers for Shannon Airport, with the CSA showing a further decline of more than three percent for the first half of this year. That’s prompted strong words from some in political circles, including former Labour TD Michael McNamara who said not enough was being done to promote the facility.
Well, this morning, we spoke with political representatives, Dep Joe Carey and PJ Ryan Member of Shannon MD, to gauge their views.

On today’s show, we discussed how our Beef farmers have been divided over a new deal. Farmers continue to hold pickets across the country despite a plan to keep beef on Irish shelves. The deal was agreed during talks over the weekend, and outlines the introduction of a beef task force and increases to bonuses. The agreement is dependent on pickets being lifted at meat plants around the country. We heard from PJ Baldwin, a farmer from Kiltartan, Gort, County Galway and Eddie Punch of the ICSA to hear what they had to say on the topic.

Next, we heard from Sgt. Tríona O’Rourke, Clare Crime Prevention Officer, who highlighted incidents which have taken place this week.

Next Morning Focus remembered two inspirational Ennis women – mother and daughter, Katie Drennan and Linda Lee Drennan. These women will be celebrated this weekend when more than one hundred trucks take to the roads to raise funds for Cystic Fibrosis support services. Eugene Drennan, father of the late Katie, joins us in studio to tell us more about such an amazing event. Katie was just 24 when she passed away after a life-long battle with CF. Her mum Linda, who worked tirelessly, organising previous Truck Run events, died earlier this year. In their memory, the third truck run gets underway on Saturday and Sunday next, from the Auburn Lodge Hotel in Ennis. The run has proven hugely popular with participants and supporters alike and we’ll hear more about the route from John Moloney of Clare Gardaí who wishes to reassure people that all issues will be reported and the impact locally made to traffic will be kept to a minimum and the final preparations.

Then, we heard from Marie Connole. an Artist from Liscannor and Séamus Mac Mathúna, Oidhreacht an Chláir who joined us on air to tell us about Culture Night which will be taking place next Friday (20th September)
Malbay is named in mythology after the cailleach Mal, who died in amorous pursuit of Cú Chulainn off the West Clare coast. That legend will be celebrated on Friday next (Sept 20) for Culture Night in Miltown Malbay. Some of the events which will be taking place include, Mal’s Bay in Art at 7:00pm, Liscannor artist Marie Connole exhibits and talks of her paintings based on the myths and folklore of the coast of Clare. At 8.45 pm there will Songs and Tunes from the West Clare Coast. Some of the musicians involved are Joe Cullen, Bríd O’Donahue and Sinéad O’Brien. The event will be presented by Tim Dennehy and Róisín White. Admission is free.

Lastly, Gavin was joined by Clare FM’s Darren Kelly, for a discussion of the weekend’s local and national action in sport.
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