Morning Focus – Thursday 19/09/19

On today’s busy Morning Focus, we had the first part of a special feature on the amazing work of Sláinte an Chláir! We received legal advice from Sharon Cahir & we looked ahead to a packed Culture Night right around the Banner County!

On today’s show we got an overview of what’s to be expected at Culture Night in Clare. Godknows Jonas (who is Culture Night Ambassador for Munster) will have his video projected onto the outside of the Oak House Apartments in Drumgeely Shannon as part of Culture Night. Siobhán Mulcahy, Clare County Arts Officer joined us on air to tell us more. We also heard from Ruairí Ó Choncúir about a major exhibition of the work of Dorothea Lange and a host of local photographers. That’s in Ennistymon tomorrow night (20 Sept) at the Fall’s Hotel.

Now, there’s no doubt but that wills can create division within families. It’s even been said that where there’s a will there’s a war. To avoid those kinds of scenarios, Morning Focus was joined by Sharon Cahir of Cahir & Co Solicitors for our legal advice slot, who has advice on creating a roadmap to protect relationships.

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Next, on the show, it was discussed how the Environmental Protection Agency has granted Irish Cement a licence to burn alternative fuels at it’s Mungret plant. Over 4,500 people expressed concern over the plans including Mayor of Clare, Councillor Cathal Crowe who is concerned about the impact on the neighbouring towns of Meelick, Cratloe, Shannon, Bunratty and Sixmilebridge. Objectors have been informed by email that the go-ahead has been given to burn 90,000 tonnes of alternative fuels, including used tyres, plastics and animal waste tissue. The company plans to replace fossil fuels, as part of a ten million euro plan, which it says will result in the creation of 60 new temporary jobs and secure the future of 80 staff working there. Morning Focus producer Fiona McGarry spoke to Claire Keating of Limerick Against Pollution who says the group will appeal the EPA decisions and they’re appealing to the people of Clare to join a major protest on October 5.

Following on from that Morning Focus highlighted an issue which probably affects all of us at some time or other, and that’s the problem of food waste. Whether we buy too much, don’t use produce in time or simply cook too much and end up binning food, we could all do with being more vigilant – especially when you consider that over a million tonnes of perfectly edible foods ends up in Irish bins every year. That’s at a time when millions go hungry. To highlight the issue, Gavin spoke to Eimear Murphy who’s from the team at Obair in Newmarket-on-Fergus, who use the services of the FoodCloud organisation, will be opening a pop-up restaurant tonight (Thurs, Sept 19) using food that would otherwise be dumped. They’ll be charging a small amount and that money will go towards their busy Meals-on-Wheels service.

Morning Focus celebrated Ireland’s biggest coffee morning as today (Thurs, Sept 19) sees coffee mornings being held in homes, businesses and schools right across the country, all in aid of hospice care.

Here in Clare, Cahercalla Hospice has recruited more hosts than ever with a view to raising thousands of euro to help them buy the much-needed, expensive equipment to provide essential care to people at their greatest hour of need.

Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning is run in conjunction with Bewleys and since its inception has raised over €37 million euro for hospices nationwide. Mary Moloney, Fundraising Manager with Cahercalla Hospice joined us on air to tell us more.

On tomorrow’s programme, Morning Focus will highlight the work of Slainte an Chláir, or Clare Cancer Support, with a special programme from their centre in Kilnamona. On the show, you’ll hear from some of those who provide services there, and also from many more who use them.

Today’s show offered listeners a preview of that programme and an insight into one of the many services provided by Slainte an Chláir. Physiotherapist Aideen Farrell leads a bone-strengthening class for some of those who attend Slainte an Chláir, including Lucy Walshe from Kilnamona. Gavin has been speaking with them both, after first seeing the class in action.

Now, Clare is, of course, a county that is known worldwide for its incredible traditional music scene. The Banner County also has a wealth of musical talent in other genres and with a view to highlighting that, Ronan Summerly has set up a group called ‘Originality Clare’ which helps contemporary artists who write and perform original music get their work in front of audiences. For Culture Night (Fri, Sept 20), the acclaimed Norma Manly (who has been a guest on this show previously) will be performing at a free event at the Sanctuary at the Queen’s.