On Wednesday’s Morning Focus with Gavin Grace
The Irish Independent has revealed that childcare for two young children can cost as much as an average Irish worker earns in a year. A survey of more than 150 crèches across the country found that costs can be as high as €25,200 in Dublin. The national average was more than €19,600 for two children under the age of three. Last year, half of those at work – 964,000 people – earned less than €28,500 before tax. The survey by the Irish Independent was conducted over the past week, and compared prices for full day care for two children for one year throughout the country. The Manager of the Clare Family Resource Centre Maureen Keane told us that a number of parents have raised the issue of childcare costs.
Fancy having a storm named after you? Well members of the public here are getting a chance to do just that. Experts hope it will make people take severe weather more seriously. Suggestions can be tweeted to Met Eireann using #nameourstorms – sent in via Facebook or by email. Irish meteorologists are teaming up with their British counterparts at the Met Office to compile a list. Gavin was talking to a Forecaster with Met Eireann, John Eagleton. John says they haven't received any wacky suggestions just yet.
Next on the Morning Focus was Fiacre Hensey, the General Manager of Clarecare. Next weekend will see 120 people asking for your help throughout Clare. Over a hundred collectors will be involved in the Clarecare Annual Church Gate Collection which takes place at parishes around the county on Saturday and Sunday the 12th and 13th of September. All the money raised will be a vital contribution towards the much needed support services for vulnerable people which are provided by the Clarecare charity and which are not fully funded by statutory grants. Contact Clarecare on 065 6828178.
Gavin then spoke about the refugee crisis with Aiden O Neill from Ennis, a representative for Forcefield Agriculture. Moved by the images of the dead Syrian toddler Aylan Kurdi, Aiden says he is willing to foster or adopt one of the refugees. He is also urging other like-minded families to do the same. Aiden says the children could be taken in by families in Ireland until their own families get back on their feet. He has said that the response has been phenomenal. The first 300 children are to be brought over to Ireland by January. Aiden says their Call Centre (the above mentioned office space) is their most vital component and so looking for people to come forward and volunteer their time to that.
Next on to talk to Gavin was Gary Dempsey from Realfim Ltd based in NUIG business Centre. The new 3D Realisation option is available to use on any heritage site/object but in this workshop that Gary is heading this morning's free workshop taking place in teach cheoil Kilrush (11.45-12.30). What is Photogrammetry and how can we make use of it in transcription and recording of graveyards? Gary spoke about 3D realisation on Graveyard Headstones mainly dating from 18th to the 19th century. The workshop is been run by Clare County Council in association with the Clare Roots Society. The project is engaging with communities to give them skills and expertise in graveyard recording and transcription.
Bill Bradshaw spoke to Gavin Grace on his new film The Long Night Followed. He has just won Best Short Narrative at The TOFF International Film Festival in New York. Last month, the lead actor, Zeb Moore was nominated for Best Actor at The 12 Month Film Festival in Romania and, this week, they were awarded Official Selection to The Miami Independent Film Festival and The Los Angeles CineFest. From the Banner to The Hollywood Boulevard….. The Long Night Followed was filmed in Feakle Co Clare and post produced in Ennis. The film was a co produced between Scorpion Films (Ennis based) and Black Umbrella Productions (Ennis based until last month). Bradshaw is the 12 minute short director/ writer and producer. With Zeb Moore of Limerick’s Magic Roundabout, as main actor – playing a character, a man haunted by the ghosts of times past.
An Post Rás na mBan runs from Wednesday 9th to Sunday 13th September. It's based in Ennis and once again comprises of six stages in five days. There is a record entry of 24 teams with 110 riders from 14 different countries. Gavin spoke to the reigning Irish National Road Race Champion Lydia Boylan about the experience. Several riders are using the event as their final preparation for the World Road Race Championships in the US later in September. The Best Irish Rider will wear the Clare County Council green jersey.
The Irish Wildlife Trust is pleased to announce the launch of its Irish Lizard Survey. After the success of the Irish Wildlife Trust National Newt Survey, this Irish environmental charity is now conducting a pilot lizard survey with a view to running a future “Citizens Science” survey of this little known Irish animal, the viviparous lizard. The viviparous lizard (Zootoca vivipara) is Ireland’s only native species of reptile. The lizard resides in areas such as bogs, coastal sites and uplands, is about13cm long and hunts invertebrates like insects, spiders and snails. This is a legless lizard that was introduced into the Burren,Co. Clare in the 1970s and its current status is unknown. Gavin spoke to Kieran Flood , the IWT Lizard Survey Coordinator about the creatures.
Caroline Collins Of Ennis Bookshop gave Gavin a great review on these books:
1.‘This is the Burren’ – A collection of photographs of the Burren by Carsten Krieger. This is a new publication from The Collins Press and it’s a beautiful book.
2. ‘Two Fridays in April’ a novel by Roisin Meaney, a Limerick based writer.
