On Wednesday's edition of Morning Focus with John Cooke
Labour has denied there is any connection between the removal of rebel TD Michael McNamara from the Oireachtas health committee and his attempts to hold hearings on abortion. The Clare TD has claimed the timing of the move is “strange”. Having been added to the committee justone day before he lost the Labour whip in May, the TD had been particularly keen to advance his work on drafting legislation on fatal foetal abnormalities, which he said was more restrictive than previously published bills. Michael McNamara spoke to John.
70 West Clare farmers who are still feeling the effects of flooding during last year's winter storms are facing into another winter without improved flood defences. Farmers in Ballynacally and Kildysart met with Minister Simon Harris yesterday, to press the case for funding that they say would help avoid a repeat of the floods in early last year. His department is awaiting a cost benefit analysis before making a final decision on funding, following which it's hoped the project will be fast-tracked. But Tom Finn, a Suckler Farm owner from Lacknashanna, Kildysart says regardless of when an annoucement is made, it's now too late in the year to begin that kind of work – he joined us on the show along with Seamus Murphy the Clare IFA representative Kildysart
It may just have been a couple of short weeks since school broke up for the summer but many parents of school going children are already bracing themselves ahead of the back to school shopping season. The cost of school going children to parents is a significant financial burden and can put pressure on other areas of the family budget. The Irish League of Credit Unions has this year taken a look at just what the costs for both primary and secondary school children are. Frank Conway Spokesperson for the League of Credit Unions gave us the breakdown- he spoke to John Cooke.
Following the passing of officially, the oldest living Irish person in History this week – Kathleen Snavely nee Hayes org from Feakle passed away at the age of 113 years and 140 days on Monday in New York – this sparked another Investigation into another East Clare lady, Biddy Fox buried in Kilmurry graveyard Sixmilebridge in 1905 – and detailed as a 116 year old lady. This morning, John was joined by FF Cllr Alan O'Callaghan from Sixmilebridge who first got in touch with a picture of Biddy Fox's Gravestone and Oral Historian Tomàs MacNamara from Tuamgraney who explained the possible links to Biddy Fox and how one can find out more about her and her age.
A series of public consultation workshops are being held throughout Clare in the coming weeks as part of the development of an integrated Local Economic and Community Plan for the county. The Clare Local Community Development Committee which was set up last year to enhance the delivery of public services, is working with Clare County Council's Enterprise & Economic Development Committee to deliver the strategy. Michael Neylon from the Tourism and Community Development Department Clare County Council had the details.
Have your say in the preparation of the Clare Local Economic and Community Plan by attending public consultation workshops on 8th July, Falls Hotel Ennistymon, 7.00pm / 9th July, Temple Gate Hotel, Ennis, 7.00pm / 20th July, Oakwood Arms Hotel, Shannon, 7.00pm / 22nd July, The Lakeside Hotel, Killaloe, 7.00pm. To register your attendance please contact Deirdre on 065 6846498.
Craic agus Ceol has never been more alive than in West Clare this week where Scoil Samhraidh Willy Clancy returns for another year, as old friends meet again to enjoy the music and the atmosphere, Producer Edel Hynes headed to Miltown Malbay to join in the fun.
Michael Fahy from Quin called the show regarding the earlier discussion on Biddy Fox buried in Kilmurry Graveyard Sixmilebridge to say he is the Grand Nephew of Biddy Fox and always recalls his late mother referring to her aunt Biddy who passed away aged 116 – he spoke to John.
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