Morning focus opened with a look at a recent, worrying spike in global terror and violent attacks.
Recent violent events in France, Japan, Germany and elsewhere have caused a wave of revulsion. The murder yesterday (Tue., July 26) of an 84-year-old priest in Normandy, by militants belonging to the so-called Islamic State, has been condemned universally and described the pope as “a barbarous killing”.
The attack comes 12 days after a 31-year-old Tunisian killed 84 people in the city of Nice during Bastille Day celebrations on 14 July. The so-called Islamic State claimed that attack.
Separately, there have been violent mass killings in German and in Japan.
Yesterday (Tue.), a doctor was shot dead at in a university clinic in southwestern Berlin. That attack followed a number of other violent incidents. On Sunday, a Syrian asylum seeker blew himself up outside a music festival and wounded 15 other people in Ansbach, six days after four passengers on a train and a passer-by were wounded in an axe attack by another asylum seeker in Wuerzburg. Islamic State claimed both attacks.
On Friday, nine people were killed in a shopping centre shooting rampage in Munich by a German-Iranian teenager with a history of psychological problems. Also in Germany, a Syrian refugee killed a 45-year-old Polish woman with a large kebab knife on Sunday.
In Japan, 19 people were killed in a town close to Tokyo after a disgruntled ex-employee of a care centre broke in and went on a murderous rampage.
Gavin spoke to Declan Power, security and defence analyst.
Gavin was then joined in studio by Elaine Clifford from MABS in Clare to discuss the launch by the Credit Unions of the 'It makes sense' small loans scheme
The government and Credit Unions have launched a small loans scheme aimed at giving people another option to moneylenders.
The 'It Makes Sense' loan provides emergency credit of up to 2-thousand euro for low-income families. The scheme has been trialled in 30 Credit Unions since last November.
The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) has welcomed the iniative, saying it's a way for those on low incomes to avoid racking up huge debts to loan sharks.
MABS in Clare can be contacted via two offices: 8 Harmony Row Ennis Co. Clare. Tel : 0761 07 2430. Fax: 065 684 3177. Email: [email protected]; or the Community Office,Unit 1,Business Centre,Shannon, Co. Clare, Tel: 0761 07 2790; or online at www.mabs.ie.
The passing of JT McNamara was marked on Morning Focus by an interview with Clare jockey Derek O'Connor. Tributes have flooded in for the late John Thomas McNamara following his passing. ‘JT’, from Limerick, was paralysed following a serious fall at Cheltenham in 2013 when thrown from his mount, Galaxy Rock. He was immobilised from the neck down after fracturing two vertebrae in his neck during the fall at the first in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup.
He suffered complications on Friday night before being transferred to University Hospital Limerick and then discharged to spend his final days with his family.
The Morning Focus Book Club discussed the novel, Enchanted April, by Elizabeth Von Arnheim.
We then heard that a number of GAA clubs have come together to cycle 400 miles from London to Gort in memory of a young player who passed away in London in 2012.
'The Cathal Cycle' will remember Cathal Forde who died from Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome, SADS while training with the Kilburn Gaels. Cathal was a former member of Gort GAA, and was a cousin of David, Colm and Brian Forde from Ogonnelloe. Friends and family have taken on the cycle over the four days of the Bank Holiday Weekend. Among those cycling will be Kilburn Gaels, London; Gort; Kilbeacanty and Clooney/Quin GAA Clubs. The cycle will raise funds for 2 charities – the Cormac Trust (set up following the passing of Tyrone GAA player Cormac McAnallen).
It will also raise funds for MS Ireland and former Clooney/Quin player, Noel Harrison, trained the Kilburn Gaels Senior team to the London County Championship, which was Captained by Brian Forde. Noel will be returning home to Clooney in early August, and will be receiving ongoing treatment for his Multiple Sclerosis condition from the Limerick Branch of MS Ireland. Members of Clooney/Quin GAA will join the cycle in Dublin on Sunday, July 31 and cycle the 185Km route to Gort. Sponsorship cards are available both in Gort and Clooney/Quin if people would be so kind to donate or via the Go Fund Me Website. Further information is available on www.cathalcycle2016.com
Gavin was joined on the line by Liam Forde, the brother of the late Cathal Forde.
There was music live in studio ahead of the Scarriff Harbour Festival from young Feakle-based band, RIAL.
Ask the Vet focused on plants that are poisonous to animals with John Underhill of Burren Vets.
