Morning Focus Thursday August 2

A tenth of Irish Parents may be choosing between paying their household bills, or preparing their child for going back-to-school
New research from Children’s Charity Barnardo also shows some are missing out on food in order to meet the school costs
 

Catherine Joyce, Barnardos Advocacy Manager, explained and discussed the findings with John Cooke on Thursday’s Morning Focus.

The discussion inspired Morning Focus listeners – who are themselves parents and grandparents – to get in toch and give their viewpoints. They were Mary, Maureen, Jackie and John in West Clare.  

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Following very successful training with Shannon Development, the Promote Ennis Welcome Team are now on the streets of Ennis welcoming tourists and visitors to our town from both home and abroad
Businesses in the town centre also undertook the training with Shannon Development as part of the Welcome Team, primarily in retail and hospitality, who are the frontline in meeting and greeting the visitors to Ennis
Over 35 people from nearly 30 businesses undertook the training and have received their ‘Welcome Team’ stickers to display in their business or on their shop window so visitors and tourists know that they are welcome to call into these premises for information or advise
This is all part of the Ennis initiative to be Ireland’s Friendliest Town
Kevin Neylon is an Ennis Chamber intern who acts as a Street Ambassadors giving advice and directing visitors using the Visit Ennis brochure
He joined John in studio and said he has been getting a good response to this so far and that people really seem to appreciate this touch
The Rowan Tree Café and Hostel is one of the Ennis businesses involved in the initiative – Brian Brian O’Neill explained the benefits.

Every morning this week we’ve been giving away a pair of tickets to the U21 hurling final Clare V Tipp in Cusack Park on Wednesday, August 8th at 7pm

The recently published recommendations in the report by Dr Geoffrey Shannon – the Government’s special rapporteur on child protection
The report calls for more early intervention and support of families and proposes changes in law which would allow anyone to ask the courts to place an ‘at risk’ child in care
Tanya Ward, Chief Executive of The Children’s Rights Alliance, discussed these recommendations.

The Cooraclare Rose of Clare Festival begins this Saturday and runs until Friday August 10th
Gerard Kelly of the organising comimittee had a chat about the music, dancing, golf outing, and other events taking place culminating in the crowning of the winning Rose of Clare

The 10th annual Waterways Ireland Scarriff Harbour Festival kicks off this weekend
There will be plenty of water activities, street theatre, interactive workshops, music and entertainment as Harry O’Meara explained.

The ancient Lughnasa Festival will be celebrated this weekend at the Craggeaunowen visitor centre Quin
John Ruddle of Shannon Heritage explained what will be happening there. 

Michael Fitzpatrick encouraged people to come alone to this weekend’s Kilmihil Festival of Fun 
It’s a family festival with the Dan O’Halloran fun run in aid of the Declan O’Shea Trust will also include cycling this year
 
John Underhill of Burren Vets was in studio to answer your pet and livestock health queries.

If you have a story, comment or query for the Morning Focus team email [email protected]