Joining Clare FM’s Gavin Grace on The Afternoon Show today was Professor Colin O’Dowd from the School of Physics at NUI Galway. He discussed how the University is the proud recipient of a special grant from the ESA. The threat of widespread flight cancellations because of volcanic ash clouds could soon be a thing of the past. Researchers at NUIG have secured €2.1 million from the European Space Agency to carry out research on the issue. Professor O’Dowd hopes we’ll never see a repeat of the travel chaos in 2010.
Dermot Browne is the Chairman of Missing in Ireland and spoke to Gavin about how a free phone line has been set up for missing people to send Christmas messages to their families. Support service Missing in Ireland says that while it respects someone’s right to remain missing, it understands the heartache and worry felt by those at home. The “Message Home” help line number is 1800 911 999 – it’s a 24/7 service and calls cannot be traced. 8,511 people were reported missing last year with 28 cases still unsolved. They have also set up a number that can be used from outside of Ireland, 00353 1 90 200 90.
Niamh Quinn is from Miltown Malbay and is a former teacher at Quilty National School who now lives in Papua New Guinea. She spoke to Gavin from Wellington in New Zealand where she’s spending Christmas with friends. Last June we met with Niamh, a primary school teacher who was swapping life in Clare for Papua New Guinea. Papua New Guinea has lower literacy levels than many developing countries; the children are, on average, two years behind the reading age of those in similar countries. Niamh is part of the Language Support Programme, which aims to address this problem through teacher training colleges, giving young teachers the tools to teach children how to read and write. She has experienced earthquakes; lightning storms and rain like never before but is really enjoying a new culture!
Also on today’s show – business woman, stylist and former model, Celia Holman Lee spoke with Máire Moynahan as she prepares for the annual Mid West Bridal Exhibition, a yearly expo of all things wedding related. They discussed how business has been this year and about looking forward to this year’s exhibition which takes place at the University Sports Arena at the University of Limerick on January 5th and 6th 2013 and is expected to draw a large number of couples who are getting married next year and the year after. Celia also spoke about the current fashion trends for wedding attire and indeed what we should and shouldn’t wear this Christmas!
Arun Kapil is a Spice Specialist and Chef at Green Saffron. He provided us with some useful tips and advice ahead of the biggest cooking day of the year – he also offered some interesting alternatives for Christmas dinner and answered your cookery queries and conundrums!
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