Morning Focus – Tuesday 12/11/19

Today on Clare FM, Ger Sweeney joined us on-air ahead of the launch of his new book, ‘Launching Clare FM’. 

Thirty years after the launch of Clare FM, Ger Sweeney has compiled the stories of those who were there at the start of the station’s history….including himself! ‘Launching Clare FM’, chronicles the beginning of the radio station which first went on air in September 1989. The book will be officially launched tonight at 7pm by Cormac MacConnell at The Civic Room, Buttermarket Building (formerly Ennis Town Council), Drumbiggle, Ennis. To find out what bookshops are stocking ‘Launching Clare FM’ visit emeraldconnection.net.

If you missed our trip down memory lane with Ger, listen back below:

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Before that, members of the Love Shannon Facebook group, Niamh O’Callaghan and Darragh O’Connor joined us in studio to discuss some of the issues that have been affecting the local community, including the feared closure of the town’s Citizens Advice Centre. They highlight these issues positively in an aim to make a change and bring their community together. Their page is available to like and follow here.

If you missed our discussion with the Love Shannon Group, you can listen back below:

Next on the show Cllr Cillian Murphy and Rural & Community Development Officer, Margaret Cotter joined us on the line, as Carrigaholt Development Association in conjunction with Clare County Council are piloting a community car-sharing model on the Loop Head Peninsula.

The intention of this voluntary initiative is to connect those in rural communities without transport with those private drivers within the community willing to provide transport.  This will be enabled by a specially designed mobile app on which registered volunteer drivers can post their local transport offerings which could then be taken up by local users (transport seekers) who have posted their needs on this same app, for example a lift to the local doctor’s surgery or shop or post office or a third level student trying to get a lift home from the bus stop to Loop Head after a week at college.

Joseph Woulfe joined us on Morning Focus today to announce that he is running in the upcoming General election. He’s a Quilty-based farmer and formerly worked as a mobile barber. Joseph is best known as the Chair of the Beef Plan Movement in Co. Clare

For our Financial Advice slot this week we discussed Tax with Tommy Corbett of Carey Corbett Financial Services. As the 2018 tax deadline approaches, now it’s time to rustle up those receipts and either get your accountant, or yourself, on the case. Gavin and Tommy discussed ways to reduce your tax bill.

If you missed it you can listen back below:

To finish up today’s Morning Focus, Frankie Coote, Clare County Dog Warden joined us in studio for an Animal Welfare Update.