On today’s Afternoon Show, Education Correspondent with the Irish Examiner, Niall Murray joined Gavin Grace to discuss a new international study, which has found that Irish primary school students scored above the average in reading, maths and science. However, we failed to make it into the top performing countries in any of the three – particularly maths and science. The PIRLS and TIMMS tests studied 4th class students in over 60 countries. Ireland was ranked 10th in reading out of 45 countries; 17th in maths out of 50 countries; and 22nd in science out of 50 countries. The Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn says a large proportion of time in schools is spent teaching Irish and religion – and he would like to see more devoted to science and maths.
Miriam O’Neill from AA Roadwatch also spoke to the show to advise listeners of what to do on the roads as Winter weather takes hold. Driving in bad weather cannot be avoided at times. The advice from AA is to slow down, leave yourself more time to complete the journey and keep your distance.Most importantly – use your dipped headlights. Remember to reduce your speed and to drive a safe distance from the car in front of you. For all details on how to stay safe on the roads during the Winter months you can visit the AA’s website – http://www.aaireland.ie/AA/Winter-Zone/Driving/Hazards-of-Winter-Driving.aspx
Also joining Gavin in studio was Clare FM’s Kevin McGillicuddy to discuss the latest news on how Kilmaley and Clarecastle face fines of €3,000 after the Clare County Board proposed suspensions varying from 4 to 8 weeks for mentors involved in the row at the County Minor Hurling A Final in October, in which Kilmaley won by a point. A Bord na Og spokesperson has confirmed to Clare FM that Clarecastle’s Tommy Howard, Stephen Sheehy and Anthony Daly as well as Kilmaley’s Niall Romer received notice yesterday of their bans and have until Thursday to lodge an appeal.
Tom Clonan is a former Army Officer and is the author of “Blood, Sweat and Tears: An Irish Soldier’s Story of Love & Loss”. The book is a raw and open account of the experience of Irish troops in Lebanon. Through the eyes of a young officer on his first tour of duty overseas, the reader is brought to the Lebanon, to deal with a young man coming to terms with loss of innocence and loss of ideals in a time of war. Tom served in the Irish Army for 11 years and speaks eloquently about the experience of young men in service. Tom spoke about his experiences with Gavin Grace.
Aine Hensey is the Cultural Projects Animator with Oidhreacht an Chlair. She joined the show to let us know about how the Oidhreacht an Chlair collections of local history and traditional music have been expanded considerably in recent months. They are having an open night at Áras Oidhreacht an Chlair, Flag Road, Miltown Malbay, on Friday 14th December at 8.30pm for a presentation on the archive and how the public can access and use the facilities. With the assistance of the Arts Council’s Deis scheme, music, songs and conversations recorded by Liam Ó Frighil on reel-to-reel tape recorders during the 1970s have now been digitised and made available to visitors. This collection will be officially launched on the night and some of the musicians featured in the recordings will be present to play a few tunes and to take you on a trip down “bóithrín na smaointe”.
Clare Quinlan from Oxfam Ireland also spoke to The Afternoon Show as there is only a few weeks to Christmas and Oxfam’s charity gift range, Unwrapped, has alternative charity gifts for friends and family. Whichever gift is picked, the outcome is the same; it will be helping to transform someone’s life. Over the past nine years, over 140,000 Unwrapped gifts have being purchased by Irish people, through their generosity Oxfam Unwrapped has raised over €5 million helping to transform the lives of more than 500,000 people in countries like Tanzania and Malawi.
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