We started this morning by looking at vacant housing in Clare. Preliminary results are in from this year's Census and a cursory look shows that there are now 118,627 people living in Clare. However, the figures also highlight the large number of vacant properties in the county. On the night of the census, nearly 6,500 homes were vacant, along with another 4,700 holiday homes. That's nearly 20% of the county's housing stock, and the sixth highest of any county in Ireland. Tracey Reddy, Client Services Team Leader with Mid West Simon and Shannon Cllr Gerry Flynn were on the line to discuss the issue with Gavin.
Next we heard from a Clare man caught up in the horrific Nice attack over the weekend. Tomás McKenna was holidaying in Nice with his family and when the latest terrorist attack took place. The Miltown Malbay resident was an eye witness to the tragedy. He took a call to tell Gavin what he saw and how he tried to help the injured in the immediate aftermath.
2020 Galway’s ‘Making Waves – Landscape, Language and Migration’ theme was chosen as the successful winner of the European Capital of Culture 2020 at the National Concert Hall in Dublin. The winning city fought off stiff competition from Limerick and a joint bid from Waterford, Kilkenny and Wexford and will co-host the title with the Croatian city of Rijeka. The title is worth an estimated €170 million to the winner in terms of funding and tourism and it could also bring several thousand new jobs. Siobhan Mulcahy, Clare County Arts Officer, was in studio and she thinks Clare will benefit too.
On our weekly Garda Focus slot Ailish O'Keefe from Ennis Garda station was in studio to recap some of the crimes of the last few days.
Two Leaving Certificate Students from West Clare are just back from London where an innovative mentor programme saw them immersed in a week long internship in Tech, Fashion, Beauty, Publishing & PR industries. The See it – Be it programme was set up by Clare woman, Louise McGuane, who hopes it will offer real world business experience for young women from rural west Clare within industries otherwise out of their immediate reach. Louise McGuane, Director of the See it – Believe it Programme and participant Aibie Hanrahan from Kilrush were in studio.
Then it was time again for Fleadh News. This week we heard about Seachtain na hÉigse / Fleadh Lectures. Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann has three very well known elements: competitions, concerts and street sessions. However, the Fleadh also hosts a range of events focusing on Irish culture and learning. These include the Fleadh Summer School Scoil Éigse and a programme of lectures and related events featuring a range of distinguished authors and historians. This year lectures will cover a range of from the Famine to Irish music, song, dancing, language and poetry; and medieval architecture as well a number of events around 1916 and World War 1 themes. Anne Jones from the Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann Organising Committee and Áine Hensey who will give a lecture on Tomás Ó hAodha were both in studio with the details.
Finally today, we had our weekly Sports Panel in to analyse the weekend's sporting action. Peter O'Connell, from The Clare Champion, and Joe Garry we both on and they discussed the Clare footballers' big win over the weekend.
