On todays Morning Focus with Gavin Grace
The Jobs Minister says the decision by the web summit to move the convention to Lisbon is "a natural step". Founder Paddy Cosgrave says the event's going to Portugal from next year for at least three years because of better transport and hotel infrastructure. The Taoiseach says he's disappointed at the decision. Colm Carey, Journalist of Silicon Republic spoke to Gavin about the change of destination of the Web Summit.
Former President of The Teachers Union Ireland / Deputy Chair of Teaching Council. The Education Minister is being urged to take action to reduce the cost of sending children to school. Clare County Council has passed a motion calling on the government to request that schools standardise uniforms and that crests could be bought separately and sewed on. However, Barefield Independent Councillor Ann Norton told us that she thinks those crests aren't needed at all.
Clare FMs Fiona Cahill spoke to Gavin about the breakdown of rental figures in Clare. The average rent paid for a home in Clare is just short of 518 euro. This represents a modest increase of 9 euro in the past year, but the last time rents were this high was in the summer of 2012. A further breakdown of the figures on a town-by-town basis paints a different picture however. Rents in Killaloe and in Newmarket on Fergus are over 590 Euro, on average. In Sixmilebridge and Shannon, monthly rent bills average nearly 570 a month while in Ennis, this number is 523 euro. Only in Kilrush, where rents are 418 euro, are prices less than the countywide average.
Patricia McCarthy of Associates Property and Relocation Services from Newmarket-on-Fergus spoke on the show about the housing crisis. The Taoiseach says his Ministers of Finance and the Environment will meet in the coming days to discuss how to ease the housing crisis. It comes after new figures showed rents rising by over 7 percent across the country in the second quarter, while in Dublin the increase hit over 9 percent. Enda Kenny says "it's difficult" to get the housing sector moving again after the property market collapse, and it will take some time to do so. He says Micheal Noonan and Alan Kelly will work on a plan to kickstart housing supply in the coming days.
In our Morning Focus Health Matters slot we spoke with Dr Finn from the Ennis Family Medical Centre. Today's topic was the flu vaccine. You can always send us your thoughts and queries by email [email protected], but if you have concerns or queries about your own health right now please contact your local GP.
Fears have been expressed that Clare people will be unable to get to work or college in Limerick after restrictions were placed on a local bus service by the National Transport Authority. The Dublin Coach service, known locally as the green bus, has been operating from Ennis to Arthur’s Quay in Limerick as part of its wider service serving Clare, Limerick and Dublin. The NTA is now restricting the route from Ennis to Limerick City with busses no longer able to drop passengers off at Arthur’s Quay during morning rush hours or collect passengers from there at peak times in the evening. Caller Ollie Hayes spoke about how his son used this route to get to college in the University of Limerick and the bus getting cut is of great inconvenience.
Gavin spoke to Michelle from Busy Bee Garden Centre & Tea Rooms, Clondrinagh Ennis Road, Limerick for 'In The Graden'. She spoke about onion sets and how to plant garlic as well as winter flowering heathers. Michelle will join us again next week for more “In the Garden” – queries and suggestions to [email protected].
Journalist of the Irish Examiner, Noel Baker talked to Gavin about the ICMSA farming survey. Three-quarters of farmers are in favour of prenuptial agreements being recognised in law, according to an Irish Examiner/ICMSA opinion poll. Anger over online release of payment details, Farmers are incensed that details of their EU direct payments can be published. Almost four out of five farmers believe the decision this year to publicise the details of those receiving the payments is an invasion of privacy.
This weekend sees the Ennis Food Festival takes place. A celebration of food from Co Clare and beyond over a busy weekend 24-27th September of festive fun for all ages. In addition to our Food Village at glór, the festival will see many foodie events in Ennis restaurants and other food venues; and a food trail of gourmet tastings is envisioned. Ennis Food Festival aims to promote quality food and hospitality in Ennis making our town a first class foodie destination. Speaking to Gavin about the event, Brian O Neill of the Rowan Tree Café Bar, who is on the Festival Committee and Paul Madden of Temple Gate Hotel, also on the Committee, told us what to expect at the weekend. The main event of this year’s Ennis Food Festival is the Gourmet Food Village on Saturday 26th of September. Taking place between 11am and 5pm, the event will see glór transformed into a bustling food market place with lots of free samples from Ennis Restaurants and Cafes. Entry is only €5 per adult and children go free. The Food village is proud to host the first Clare Honey Show, which will be accessible to visitors in the afternoon.
Gavin then spoke to Cillian Murphy, festival committee member and Paddy Mulcahy about the CHÈ DO BHEATHA Fest – The west Clare town will once again come alive to the sound of all things Latin American between September 25th and 27th. Kilkee Chamber of Commerce has promised an electric line-up of music, dance and theatre over what has become the signature festival for the town. With its history of combining traditional Irish and Latin American music the festival has always created a party atmosphere and this year will definitely live up to that billing as the headline act, Sharon Shannon, playing to a limited ticket only event at the Diamond Rocks Cafe on Saturday the 26th. This years line up also includes, Baile an Salsa, Los Paddy de las Pampas, Serious Mischief, The Troubadour Mules and La Orquesta Kalamares with music workshops and family fun events such as an attempt at the longest conga line on the beach, previous record of 504 was set in 2013, face painting, capoeira exhibitions and salsa classes.
