On Thursday's edition of Morning Focus with John Cooke
A 29 year old man has been jailed for life for the murder of a homeless man with West Clare links in the Phoenix Park in Dublin. Ciaran Moran, who is also homeless, changed his plea to guilty mid-trial, finally admitting that he'd killed Gerard Donnelly with a lump hammer before setting him on fire in November 2013. 36-year-old Gerard Donnelly's parents are both from West Clare. Francesca Comyn Courts Correspondent had more on this story.
We wanted to give you one final opportunity to hear from the YES and NO sides of the campaign, and the views of people here in Clare who have been looking to sway your opinion one way or the other. Orla Vaughan from Yes Equality Clare, ended the report from Clare FM's Gavin Grace. You also heard from Clare's TDs – Fine Gael's Joe Carey and Pat Breen; Fianna Fáil's Timmy Dooley and Labour's Michael McNamara – who are all campaigning for a YES vote. On the NO side, our speakers were Killaloe Diocesan Spokesman Fr. Brendan Quinlivan, solicitor Brian McMahon and Enniswoman Josephine McEvoy.
Manuel DiLucia, Kilkee spoke on Morning Focus on Friday April 3rd looking for people to come forward with the names of loved ones who lost their life off the coast of West Clare to be added to a Memorial Stone that was erected opposite the boathouse at Kilkee Coast. Due to the lack of Planning Permission from the Council to put this stone on Council property, the stone has been removed. However, Patrick McInerney (Stonemason) has taken the stone and they will continue to add names to it and before they can get planning permission. Cyril Feeney West Clare Municipal District Engineer, outlined the necessary steps to be taken when applying to use Council property.
In our Morning Focus Health Matters slot we spoke with Dr Maire Finn from the Ennis Family Medical Centre on today's topic: Pregnancy – The Early Stages. Next week Dr. Finn will take offer us medical advice on the later stages of pregnancy and the birth. Doctor Maire Finn is from the Ennis Family Medical Centre, and will be joining us again next Thursday for more medical advice. 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
A ceremony has taken place in China's Yunnan Province, to mark the beginning of a formal relationship between it and Co. Clare. A Clare County Council delegation has signed two agreements – one between this county and Yunnan, and the other between the Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark and its Stone Forest Geopark. Yunnan Province is in the South-West of China. It is bigger than Germany and has the same population as Spain and supporters of this friendship arrangement believe it can be of major benefit here. Earlier this week (Tuesday), Clare FM's Gavin Grace spoke with Council Cathaoirleach John Crowe, and first with Council Director of Service Ger Dollard who are in China, and have been updating him on their progress so far.
Anthony Moloney of Doolin Hostel and Cliff Coast Coffee spoke to John Cooke to highlights that members of the public and the wider tourism and hospitality sector are being invited to a networking evening and showcase event for Doolin, County Clare. Doolin Tourism will host its first networking evening at the Micho Russell Community Centre in Doolin this coming Thursday (21 May) at 7.30pm.
Matt Purcell Ennis based Sound Engineer and Documentary Maker joined us in studio to tell us about "A Cup on the Bus” a one hour documentary by Matt, about the Clare Hurlers in 1995 as they went in search of bridging that 63 year gap in winning a Munster Final. You’ll hear from the players , their manager and mentors as they talk about the lead-up to that momentous day against Limerick on June 4th 1995 as well as archive commentary from the Clare FM vaults. It’s one not to be missed.
If you have a comment or query for Morning Focus please email [email protected]
