Morning Focus Thursday May 3

Cardinal Seán Brady has said he does not intend to resign following new allegations about a 1975 church inquiry into the activities of paedophile priest Fr Brendan Smyth.
A BBC documentary claimed the failure to pass on details of abuse allegations put the other children at risk.
Speaking to RTÉ News, Cardinal Brady said that the programme misrepresented his role in the case, describing him as an investigator rather than a note-taker.
He also rejected any accusation that he had deliberately refused to take responsibility.
Cardinal Brady said he was "outraged, appalled, and felt betrayed" to find out that this information about Brendan Smyth had not been acted upon.
He insisted he was just a note taker in the inquiry into Brendan Smyth
Cardinal Brady was also asked if he had considered resigning in the wake of the BBC documentary’s revelations about the abuse the Brendan Smyth went on to commit

On Thursday’s Morning Focus John Cooke spoke with clerical abuse survivor Marie Collins who says she thinks that the Cardinal should resign at once
In February Marie addressed a symposium in Rome on the crisis over clerical sex abuse in the Catholic Church
Speaking to over 100 bishops and 40 religious superiors, Mrs Collins spoke in graphic terms of the abuse she suffered as a 13-year-old in a hospital at the hands of a paedophile priest, and the subsequent cover-up.

Clare tourism operators are optimistic that the 2012 tourist season, which runs from May to October, will record an increase in overall visitor numbers compared to the same period last year
The Clare Tourism Forum, which comprises in excess of 80 tourism and hospitality sector members, today reported an “extremely positive” start to the year, despite national tourism trends showing a 1.2% drop in overseas visitors during the first three months of the year
John discussed with Barbara Faulkner, Chairperson of the Clare Tourism Forum and of the Ailwee Caves and Bird of Prey Centre and Eugene Garrihy of Doolin to Aran Ferries who said people are tired of package holidays- they want to get back to seeing places themselves.

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Psychiatrist and former Fianna Fail Candidate in the 2011 General Election Dr. John Hillery will be in Clare this Saturday to facilitate the Cancer Man to Man Support Group for men affected by cancer- this includes current patients and survivors
Dr Hillery will focus on the vital importance of positive mental health and resilience in dealing with cancer diagnosis and treatment
Taking place this Saturday at 10:30am, Slainte an Chlair, Clare Cancer Support
Contact 087 691 2396 or visit website www.clarecancersupport.com for details

Ryan Keith is launching his book ‘Travels with Ernest’ in Banner Books in Ennistymon on Friday at 7.30pm- all are welcome
A longtime vistor and tourist of Ireland Ryan has particularly great memories of Ennistymon and the Clare coast
It’s a quirky account of his travels in Northern Ireland- he was inspired by one of his visits to County Clare where he one day discovered to his embarrassment that he had been driving on someone’s lawn thinking it was the road
He was a scooter mod in his youth- his vespa, named Ernest, was his travel companion
His choice of route around Ireland’s shoreline follows the sites of shipwrecks from the Spanish Armada which lie dotted along the coast.

The Twelfth Annual World Stone Throwing Championships take place in Corofin this weekend
Organisers are expecting participants to come from all over the world to compete for the ladies and  gentlemen’s cups
All monies raised go towards Christmas lights for the village of Corofin
Organiser Johnny Campbell had a word with John.  The championship takes place on Sunday at 3pm.

John Underhill of Burren Vets answered listeners’ pet and livestock health queries.

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