Further traffic hitches are expected in Ennis when the Clare Road closes to facilitate Irish Water's rehabillitation of the water mains.
Gavin reported from a public information evening where officials of Clare County Council and contractors Ward & Burke explained how the phased road closures will work from January 13.
Recent severe flooding along the River Shannon and in other river catchments has lead to repeated calls for our main water courses to be dredged. Morning Focus asked if such a measure will bring about a long-term solution to the problems seen in places like South East Clare; and whether the Irish authorities actually do this while we're bound by European environmental rules like the Water Framework Directive.
An Taisce hit out at ‘self-styled experts' – many of them advocating dredging – who claim to have the answers to the flooding problem. According to the environmental watchdog, dredging is not always the solution. They believe that it may help to sort out a local problem, but may also transport the problem downstream, sometimes from rural to urban areas where, they say, the damage to properties and economic activities could be much higher.
Gavin was joined by Charles Stanley-Smith of An Taisce.
Morning Focus looked at the findings of a recent survey which found that almost one-in-five children (17%) in first class in primary school have spoken to a stranger online.
The Digital Trend Report was compiled by Irish start-up Zeeko, which is based at Nova UCD.
Last year the company visited over 45 schools across Ireland – providing training for children, parents and teachers, and surveying 2,200 children about their online activities.
Zeeko was founded in 2013 and Gavin spoke to its founder and CEO, Joe Kenny.
Court sittings in Killaloe are still being held in a public house and reacting to the situation, Dep Michael McNamara, Lab.
TD and barrister told Gavin the situation is unacceptable in this day and age.
With a huge contingent of Clare secondary school pupils taking part in this year's BT Young Scientist Exhibition in Dublin, Gavin spoke with science teacher John Simms of Mary Immaculate Secondary School, Lisdoonvarna; and with his students Deirdre O'Connell, Emma Kelly and Amy Woods.
Clare Women's Network are offering leadership training in Miltown Malbay in association with An Cosan in Tallaght which is a Virtual Community College (VCC). To discuss this innovative training course that's bringing third-level education into Clare,
Elaine Dalton, Project Coordinator of Clare Women's Network joined Gavin in studio. He was also joined by Elizabeth Waters of
An Cosan.
Morning Focus marked the 12th day of Christmas and the feast of Nollaig na mBan or Women's Christmas. Although Nollaig na mBan is slowly dying out, in many parts of Munster, the tradition remains very strong. Dr Margaret Humphries of the UCC Department of Folklore and Ethnology told Gavin about the origins of Nollaig na mBan.
A set of draft on busking in Ennis went on display at Aras Chontae an Chlair. Regulations mooted include a three-metre 'exclusion zone' between buskers and the doorways of homes or business premises. The draft document also recommends a curfew for buskers between 11pm and 9am; and a ban on amps. No busker would be allowed, under the draft bye-laws, to remain in the same spot for more than two hours at any time of the day.
Gavin was joined in studio by A.U. McCoy, who has been busking in Ennis for 20 years, mainly on Parnell Street. He believes Ennis has always been a very popular town with buskers, attracting some of the best street musicians, including Barney McKenna of the Dubliners and the Travelling Pipers. Hugh estimates there are around 10 regular buskers in Ennis. He disagrees with the concept of bye-laws and believes busking should be self-regulated. Before coming to Clare, Hugh busked at locations on the London Underground, where, he says, bye-laws were ignored. A.U. also performed one of his own songs live in studio.
In the month of January, Clare Samaritans noted that people can feel overwhelmed and challenged. Gavin was joined in studio by Clare Samaritans volunteer Kevin Phelan who called for volunteers to join the organisation.
The Samaritans can be contacted 24 hours a day on free-phone 116 123, via email on [email protected] or by calling into the Ennis branch on the Kilrush Road between 10am and 10pm daily.
Morning Focus showcased more oral history from Cuimhneamh an Chláir, with a special pacakge on women's work – growing vegetables, tending fowl, working on the bog, drawing water, raising children. Today's feature included the memories of Susan Williams from Kilfenora; Teresa Flynn from Mountshannon; and Nora Canavan from Doolin (who, at 107, is one of Clare's oldest citizens).
Cuimhneamh an Chláir thanked the interviewees who have shared their memories for future generations to experience and more information and memories are available at www.clarememories.ie. The feature was a Rag and Bone Production for Clare FM and the producer was Paula Carroll.
Clare Care joined the annual fitness initiative, Operation Transformation, in a bid to contribute to its aim of losing a million pounds. Ailish Neville joined Gavin to explain how Clare Care will roll out daily exercise options from walking and swimming to jiving and line-dancing to its 500 employees.
