On Thursday’s Morning Focus show, listeners learned about a fascinating story – that of the special agents who helped bring down the drugs empire created by the notorious Colombian criminal, Pablo Escobar.
Steve Murphy was a Drugs Enforcement Agent whose work – alongside his partner Javier Pena – inspired the hit Netflix series, ‘Narcos’.
Steve will be speaking about the fall of the Escobar empire at the Lime Tree Theatre on Monday, May 21. Gavin interviewed Steve Murphy about this dangerous but incredibly important assignment.
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To kick off the show, Deputy Timmy Dooley spoke out about the a controversy surrounding Minister Denis Naughten. The Communications Minister is under fire over claims he made comments to a lobbyist over the attempt by INM to take over Celtic Media.
With calls in this county for a national committee to tackle the fodder crisis, plans are being made to accept an offer from Shannon Airport to cut the grass there. An inspection is taking place this morning at the facility, and, subject to conditions, it’s expected cutting to begin in the coming days. Gavin spoke with Willie Hanrahan who is the Clare Chair of the IFA.
Kilmaley Voluntary Housing Association has been named one of the overall winners at the National Age Friendly Recognition and Achievement Awards 2018. The Association, which was nominated by the Clare County Council Age Friendly Development Officer, won the Age Friendly Housing Award in recognition of An Cluinín Retirement Village in Kilmaley, a development of 24 independent living houses with a Daycare and Health Centre. Gavin chatted with Tom McNamara, Mayor of Clare and founding member of ‘Meitheal’ Kilmaley Development Association and, Mary Ita Griffin Kilmaley Housing Development Association & Manager of the Kilmaley Daycare and Health Centre.
Then, Gerry O Halloran, member of Cuan Beo and, Ruairí Ó Conchúir of the Local Authority Water and Communities Office, joined Gavin in studio to talk about the ‘Living Bay’ initiative. Cuan Beo (the Living Bay) is a recently formed community based organisation established with a mission of improving the quality of life, environment, economy and heritage around Galway Bay. Cuan Beo will hold a public meeting tonight (Thurs) at Burren College of Art, Ballyvaughan from 7.30 pm to 9 pm. Everyone is welcome to attend.
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Next, an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest knitted blanket is happening in Clare right now. Based in Ennis, the blanket is being assembled from individual squares (which have been donated from far and wide), and that process is underway at the new Red Cross office in Tobartascáin. Help is needed to stitch the blanket and volunteers are welcome, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings from 10 am to 1 pm. The initiative is the brainchild of Valery Larkin from Ennis who joined Gavin in the studio to talk about the potentially record-breaking blanket.
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We take light and heat, at the flick of a switch, for granted. It’s hard to imagine the days when the Banner County was without electricity, but power only came to some parts of rural Clare in the 1960’s. Brian McMahon, manager of the ESB archives had a chat with Gavin and is also giving a talk entitled ‘How the ESB brought electricity to everyone. The talk will take place at 8 pm tonight (April 19) at the Old Ground Hotel.
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To round off the show, Gavin welcomed Dr Barry O’Donoghue of the National Parks and Wildlife Service onto the show. Dr Barry is part of the Curlew Task Force. Curlews, are a group of eight species of birds, characterised by long, slender, down-curved bills and mottled brown plumage. A Curlew Task Force was established in Ireland under the stewardship of Barry in 2016.
Dr O’Donoghue is concerned that there is a decline in curlew numbers in Clare.
Saturday April 21 is World Curlew Day. Anyone who’d like to contact the Curlew Task Force can phone Elaine on 087 2240934.
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