On todays Morning Focus with Gavin Grace
Planning permission is being sought to put 200,000 tonnes of boulders along a beach in Clare to prevent further erosion of the golf course at Doonbeg Golf Resort in Co. Clare. Joe Russel, from Trump International Golf Resort Doonbeg GM, talks about the plans with gavin. The golf course suffered substantial damage during storm weather last year with up to 10 metres of dunes being washed away from the beach. Plans show that the coastal protection works would reach 4 to 5 metres above the beach and will not be higher than the height of the existing cobble bank. A public exhibition of the planned works is continuing today at the nearby community hall in Doonbeg and an environmental impact statement, which is currently being completed, is due to be lodged with Clare County Council before the end of the year.
The Garda Commissioner has proposed the creation of a new motoring offence to penalise drivers who fail to carry special emergency equipment in their cars. According to documents released under the Freedom of Information Act, gardaí want to make it an offence not to carry a working torch, breakdown triangle, high-visibility vest, first-aid kit and a fire extinguisher at all times while driving. Earlier this year the Road Safety Authority held a public consultation about the possible introduction of emergency packs in private cars. Conor Faughnan from AA Roadwatch told us about what everyone should have in their cars at all times in case of emergency.
Ann McNamara is a Mountshannon native and an Assistant Country Director for Goal in Antakya on the Turkish/Syria border. She wants to highlight importance of keeping the Syrian war in the news, we mustn’t forget that we are dealing with people in Turkey who cant get out or don't want to leave. The focus is currently on those migrants who have crossed the border making their way into central Europe. Ann says out off all projects she has been with involved with this crisis is Dealing with huge emotions, the young boy, Aylan pictured washed up on the beach was from a village linked with the work that Ann and her team are carrying out so it has been a hugely difficult time. Ann will also speak her experience in Turkey and working remotely with Syria and Goal staff who are in Syria. She can also give you the latest on what is happening inside Syria.
Gardai have urged the estimated 200 thousand people heading to Ratheniska in the coming days to plan their journeys in advance. John J Donnellan, the Clare Director of the Ploughing Championships, discusses the infamous agriculture show with Gavin. This year's edition of the biggest outdoor exhibition and agricultural trade show in Europe will be officially opened by the President later, and there will also be a heavy political presence over the 3 days, as the budget and a general election loom on the horizon. There are six ploughmen from the county taking part this year.
The Money Doctor is back this week. John Lowe answered all your Financial queries on buying a new home, motor insurance, first-time mortgage cap and 'rent-trap'.
New research from MummyPages.ie reveals that nearly half of mums (48%) surveyed condone the practice of leaving children unaccompanied in a car if it is ‘only for a short time’, while 55% of mums describing this type of behaviour as ‘commonplace.’ While no parent wants to wake a sleeping baby, leaving young children unaccompanied in a car even for ‘just a few minutes’, it is dangerous and the results can be potentially fatal. Since MummyPages’ research highlights just how common this practice is here, the online parenting community wish to inform and educate parents as to just how unsafe it is to leave a young child unaccompanied in a car. Talking to Gavin about this, Laura Haugh, Mummy in residence on MummyPages.ie, discussed her views.
Limerick antique specialist George Stacpoole will be stepping onto the national stage and sharing his passion for Irish antiques at the 50th Irish Antique Dealers Fair in Dublin's RDS from September 24-27. George has been in the business for 50 years and is president of the Irish Antique Dealers Association. As one of Ireland's leading experts George talked about how antiques and collectables have changed and how people can discover treasures they didn't realise they had.
Frankie Coote, the County Dog Warden and Clare ISPCA Officer told Gavin about a man fined for 1250euro for cruelty to a dog kilkee, an Ennis man was fined 600euro for cruelty to a cow and there are dangerous dogs on the loose in Clare last week.
John Whyte of Motivation Weight Management, and Denise Quinn, from the Sales department in Clare FM, joined Gavin to follow up on Denise's weightloss journey with Motivation Weight management. They talked about diet and health regimes. John answered queries by the listeners.
Riya Hassan joined Gavin on Morning Focus. She is the European coordinator of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions National Committee in Palestine. Ms. Hassan, who is a Palestinian activist raised in the southern village of Laquia in the Naqab desert heads up the campaign across Europe and is visiting Clare as part of a tour of Ireland. Her tour marks 10 years since the campaign was launched. The boycott campaign against Israeli goods, similar to the one targeting apartheid South Africa, has grown significantly in those 10 years. She will be hosted by the Clare branch of the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign. Riya’s talk will take place in the Temple Gate Hotel at 8pm and entry is free.
The Ploughing Championships gets underway today and Clare FMs Sean Reidy is out and about in County Laois and he spoke to local Clare people, Eddie Hannon and Jason Quinn, involved in the annual Ploughing event. As well as that, Clare FMs Edel Bane went out to East Clare to meet the Scariff Foroige Club. They have been chosen as one of four youth clubs across the country that will work with Well Know Garden Designer Diarmuid Gavin to create a garden, based on the theme of time travel, at the National Ploughing Championships this week.
