On Monday's edition of Morning Focus with John Cooke,
Prince Charles is coming to County Clare.
Clarence House has released the itinerary for his visit to Ireland this month, and have confirmed that he will finally come to the Burren, over a decade after he was initially expected to do so. They say that Prince Charles will travel to the Burren on the afternoon of Tuesday May 19th, his first day in Ireland. – He is due explore its rare landscape and to learn about the challenges facing its farming community there. The Royal press release describes the Burren to the international media as being "famous for its wild and rocky terrain, rare plant life, biodiversity and archaeology" and there are already hopes that his visit will showcase this internationally. Joe Queally, Clare Historian, Frances Connole, Manager, The Burren Centre Kilfenora and Michael Davoren, Burren IFA Spokesman all gave their reaction to the news.
It was reported that Parents had been banned from taking photos of their children at Communion and Confirmation ceremonies in the Church or on the Church grounds. The Irish Independent reports that each diocese in Ireland has been directed to have specific guidelines governing the photography of children while they are on church grounds. According to the paper, the rules derive from the 'Safeguarding Standards' guidelines, introduced by the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in 2008, it was established in response to the clerical abuse scandals. Fr. Tom Ryan, Parish Priest, Shannon outlined the policies they abide by in the Shannon Parish, saying that parents are asked to give consent or not at the beginning of the school year with regard to having photographs of their children included on the Parish website etc.
Michelle Davitt, Co Founder of Mykidstime.ie also gave her opinion on the issue of taking photographs at these ceremonies saying that her children's school in Galway video the ceremony on behalf of the parents and so everyone has a copy. Michelle's daughter is due to make her First Holy Communion this coming Saturday.
Garda Focus next, with Sgt Joe Downey Crime Prevention Officer Ennis Garda Station- Appealing for your help in solving recent local crime.
Organisers of the 2015 Darkness into Light walks for Pieta house say almost 7000 people turned out in Clare for this years event. Walkers and runners gathered across the county at 4.15am on Saturday morning to raise funds in the fight against suicide. An crowd of almost 3,000 took part in the event in Ennis, with over 600 people completing the first ever Darkness into Light walk in Miltown Malbay. Almost 1000 people gathered in Kilrush, while in Killaloe an estimated crowd of 1,200 took part, with similar figures in Shannon. We heard a taste of the atmosphere in Miltown on early Saturday Morning . . .
Jon Kenny Limerick Actor and comedian joined us in studio next, with Mary McEvoy Actress known for her role as Biddie in the long running series Glenroe, spoke to us on the phone ahead of their performance of John B Keane's classic, The Matchmaker at the Lime Tree Theatre Limerick this week on Wednesday May 13th & Thursday May14th.
Our Resident Wildlife Expert, John Murphy of the Clare branch Birdwatch Ireland joined John next this week to speak about the Seabirds Festival at the Cliffs of Moher and the Dawn Chorus coming up this weekend . . .
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