This Friday’s Afternoon Show featured the Friday Panel and joining Máire Moynahan in studio was Aine Mae O’Mahony from Lahinch, Rosalie Muir, a member of the Ennis and District Soroptimists from Kilfenora and Chairman of Promote Ennis and Rowan Tree Café proprietor Brian O’Neill. The panel talked about the major news stories of the week including how 50 new jobs have been announced for Ennis with the establishment of a new commuter and tourist bus service. The Dublin Coach Company is to commence regular bus journeys from Ennis to Dublin in an extension of it’s Limerick services, as well as tourist routes around Clare’s popular attractions.
They also talked of how the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform says any voluntary hospitals or health agencies in breach of official policy on pay have to be addressed. It’s emerged that a number of voluntary hospitals are giving some of their senior executives top up payments from private sources, such as shops on hospital campuses. They also discussed the broad welcome to the news that President Michael D Higgins will make an official state visit to the UK next year. It will be the first time any Irish head of state has made an official trip there and follows Queen Elizabeth’s successful visit to Ireland in 2011 – the first by a reigning British monarch in a hundred years. Also as today marks the 50th anniversary of the death of John F. Kennedy – whose assassination sent shockwaves throughout the globe – we asked is there any one person who would command such attention? Ireland also is to bid to host the Rugby World Cup in 2023. The panel spoke of the massive impact it could have on our economy should we be successful in the bid and how sport can really lift the mood.
Jane Halloran Ryan is the Chair of Tulla Reaching Out – she joined Máire in studio to talk about how Tulla and the group are featured in a new TG4 show. Tar Abhaile is a new six part bilingual series on TG4 that follows local Irish communities as they welcome people from across the globe in search of their Irish ancestors. The premise is simple: reverse genealogy. Instead of waiting for people of Irish origin to trace their roots, groups of community volunteers work together under the auspices of Ireland Reaching Out (or: Ireland XO) to trace those individuals and families who left their local area throughout the 1800’s and 1900’s. Episode 2, which is on Sunday 24th November – features Brenda Cavillin from Sudbury, Ontario, Canada and Blake Dickie from St. Louis, Missouri and Tulla Reaching Out. Accompanying Jane was Brenda who spoke of her experience of tracing her roots and finding family in Tulla.
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