The community of Ennis was saddened by the death of Marek Skiba, a Polish national who was found dead in his home on Christmas Day. Comedian Brendan O’Carroll came forward and volunteered to cover the funeral costs of Mr Skiba funeral after it emerged he had been lying in a morgue in Limerick since his body was found.
The 51 year-old is believed to have died of a heart attack. Homeless campaigners who knew Mr Skiba made an appeal for help with his funeral arrangements and Clare County Council offered a plot free-of-charge. In response to the appeal undertaker, Cyril Cusack, said he was prepared to organise the funeral arrangements for free. However, comedian Brendan O’Carroll later came forward with an offer to cover the expenses involved.
Gavin spoke with Fr Tom Hogan, Administrator Ennis Parish; and Cyril Cusack an undertaker from Ennis.
The issue of employment in Clare was discussed by Sixmilebridge businessman, Richard Cahill, and Independent candidate in the forthcoming General Election. He was also joined by Mayor of Ennis Pat Daly and Cllr Richard Nagle.
Morning Focus looked at the idea of telemedicine and the role it might play in the trolley and rural GP crises. Dr Ronan Flynn, Clare GP behind an app that claims to offer the benefits of a GP visit via your laptop or smartphone spoke with Gavin.
MeeDoc provides an app that enables patients to consult GPs remotely, and its developers say that greater take-up of telemedicine would free up GP time and lead to fewer non-critical cases presenting to Emergency Departments.
Dr. Ronan Flynn, Clinical Director of MeeDoc in Ireland and a Shannon-based GP believes there are a range of factors contributing to the current crisis in the health system, and that tech solutions – such as telemedicine apps – have an important role to play in tackling these. He spoke to Gavin about the advantages and limitations of the system.
Cllr Mary Howard was added to FG ticket in Clare and joined Gavin in studio to discuss her campaign.
Morning Focus looked at the issue of upport for bereaved parents. Anam Cara, the organisation that supports bereaved parents and families, spoke to Gavin about their first Parent Evening of the new year (on Wednesday January 13, 2016).
Anam Cara has also teamed up with Jigsaw Galway to develop a bereavement support programme for 15-25 year olds who have lost someone close to them. This is the first such programme in the country and will be piloted in February. Gavin spoke with Sharon Vard, Founder of Anam Cara.
Fis Nua also unveiled a General Election candidate for Clare. Niamh O'Brien from O’Callaghan’s Mills woman is the leader of the ‘Clare Says No To Water Charges’ campaign. She was the 13th candidate to declare in the Clare constituency.
Ms O’Brien previously ran in the local elections in 2014, narrowly missing out on the final seat in the Killaloe District.
The issue of breastfeeding in public was disucssed with Patricia Neary and Bianca Szostak, who both attend La Leche League meetings in Ennis. The mission of La Leche League is to provide information, and education, and to promote a better understanding of breastfeeding as an important element in the healthy development of the baby and mother. It has branches around the country and the Ennis group meets on the second Friday of the month at 10.30am at Clonroadmore Business Park, Ennis.
As the world came to terms with the death of David Bowie. Gavin discussed the man, his art and his music with Dr Eoin Devereux
Associate Professor, Sociology & Assistant Dean, Research at UL. Dr Devereux is co-editor of 'David Bowie: Critical Perspectives' (with Aileen Dillane and Martin J. Power).
