On today’s edition of Morning Focus local councillors joined the program to discuss how Clare County Council has heard claims that people cannot be laid to rest near their home places, because graveyards are full and can’t be expanded. Local representatives have spoken of instances where families are being turned away from their local graveyards, due to a lack of space, and say that in some instances, requirements for archaeological assessments mean expansion is too costly. Joining the discussion was Fine Gael Cllr Oliver Garry from Kildysart and Fianna Fail Cllr PJ Kelly from Lissycasey. Both met with concerned locals in Ballynacally recently after a sign was erected at Kilchreest Cemetery saying “No Future Burials here”. The sign has since been removed but council rules and archaeological restrictions could see problems for other communities where new burial plots are sought.
The vast majority of Clare’s 158 graveyards are community-run, with only 31 under Council control. Also joining the show was Fianna Fail Cllr. Tom McNamara of Kilmaley (Ennis West). He spoke about how, in Kilmaley, they came up with their own solution due to the graveyard need. They established a new burial ground with a private landowner.
John Stewart of the Irish National Organisation for the Unemployed (INOU) spoke to Clare FM’s John Cooke in light of yesterday’s ESRI report. The ESRI has withdrawn a paper which showed that 4 out of 10 working families would be financially better off on the dole. The Government think tank has said the document was a "work in progress document" and represented un-refereed work by researchers who are solely responsible for the content and the views expressed. It’s taken the unprecedented step of withdrawing the paper because the underlying analysis in it needs major revision and overstates the numbers of people who would be better off on social welfare. The ESRI says it’s concerned that the public could be misled by the content of the paper.
Also on today’s show, Maureen Forrest is the Director and Founder of the Hope Foundation spoke to John Cooke about how this week marked the tenth annual World Day against Child Labour (Tues). The 2001 national census of India estimated the total number of children involved in labour, aged 5–14, to be at 12.6 million. India has the worst child labour figures in the entire world. HOPE are working directly with children affected by child labour and child trafficking and are raising awareness of their horrendous consequences of this and the difference Irish people and can make and have made through the 64 projects operated by HOPE. For more details on the HOPE Foundation please see www.hopefoundation.ie or call their Cork office on 021 4292993.
Motor Neuron Disease Global Awareness week takes place from June 18th to the 25th and to discuss the illness, John Cooke was joined by Shannon man Noel Mulderrig. His mother in law Brigid Fitzgerald, also from Shannon, suffers from Motor Neurone Disease. Noel discussed the challenges sufferers face on a daily basis and the effect on the family. MND Nurse Specialist Fidelma Rutledge also discussed the condition and the events taking place this week to raise awareness. Jimmy Magee and Actor Mary McEvoy together with the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association are encouraging people to hold ‘tea events’ during Motor Neurone Disease Global Awareness week. To support the campaign you can contact the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association for a free “tea pack” on free phone 1800 403 403 or email [email protected] or log on to www.imnda.ie
2012 is the international year of the Co-op and is also the 25th anniversary of East Clare Community Co-op in Scariff, the first and only Community Co-op in Ireland that acts as a non-profit charitable organisation. To celebrate this, Presidential Michael D Higgins will be visiting the Co-op tomorrow. Joining John Cooke on the show was Arthur Watson, one of the founding members of the East Clare Co-op and Olivia Hahne who discussed the honour of President Higgins’ visit. The President will arrive at the Co-op at 4pm and this will be followed by a puppet show at 5pm and garden party at 6pm, all taking place at the Co-op. The President will also be in Ennis for a Civic Reception in honour of his homecoming to County Clare as President tomorrow at 12noon. Tune in to Clare FM for further details and coverage of the event on Thursday. For more details or to find out the work carried out at the Co-op see www.eastclarecommunitycoop.com or call 061 921536
The first Clare Garden Festival will be held on 29th July and will be aligned to the County Clare Show at Ennis Show grounds. To talk about the event, its organiser Carmen Cronin was in studio. The festival will be free-of-charge for all show visitors and will feature talks and demonstrations in the areas of ornamental and vegetable gardening by national gardening celebrities to be announced. The festival will be held in line with the County Clare Agricultural Show, on Sunday 29th July at the Ennis showgrounds, Drumbiggle Road, Ennis. For more see www.claregardenfestival.com
Paul Wolfe of the Clare Citizens’ Information Service was in studio to answer listener’s queries and if you have a comment or query for Morning Focus or would like to get in touch please email [email protected] or text the show – Clare FM followed by your message to 53030
