Joining Gavin Grace on The Afternoon Show today was Dr. Ross Morgan of ASH Ireland and John Mallon of Forest Eireann. They discussed how stringent anti-tobacco laws came into effect in Australia, requiring manufacturers to package cigarettes in drab olive green packs with pictures of ill babies and diseased body parts. The legislation, considered the toughest in the world, strips packs of all branding, bright colours and logos, leaving only the name printed in identical small font. Australia’s plain-packaging laws are a potential watershed for the global industry, which serves one billion regular smokers, World Health Organisation statistics show. ASH Ireland is focused on reducing the impact of tobacco use in Irish society. Approximately 5,500 Irish citizens die each year from the effects of tobacco related disease – and ASH Ireland is determined to reduce this staggering statistic. Forest Eireann, meanwhile, is the voice of the smoker in Ireland. Launched in August 2010, they represent the views of consumers who choose to smoke, are aware of the health risks, and are fed up being treated like children.
Grainne O’Leary is the Head of Education and Support with Arthritis Ireland. She spoke to Gavin about an information event taking place in Ennis this week. A ‘10 Steps to Easier Living’ – a practical 10-step guide to treatment, services and lifestyle choices for people with arthritis. It’s admission-free and takes place on Wednesday December 5th in West County Hotel, Ennis at 7:30pm. Featuring a number of expert speakers, including rheumatology nurse specialists specially trained in the 10 steps ethos, physiotherapy, dietician and occupational therapy clinics, blood pressure testing, foot scanning and gait analysis, the event will focus on the 10 key steps that people with arthritis employ to manage their condition better and improve their quality-of-life.
Also on today’s show Gavin spoke about a new book for kids – Chicken, written by Mairead Maguire from Corbally. Diarmuid Maguire, Mairead’s husband spoke on her behalf as Mairead suffers from MSA. Mairead is a former Limerick special needs teacher hasn’t allowed her diagnosis of a debilitating neurological condition to undermine her passion for education and writing with the publication of her new children’s book, which will raise much-needed funds for the Parkinson’s Association of Ireland. Mairead was forced to retire as a teacher at Scoil Ide in the city in 2009 when she was diagnosed with Multiple Systems Atrophy (MSA), a very rare condition in which the nerve cells degenerate, causing restricted mobility and other complications. The proceeds from the sale of Mairead’s book, ‘Chicken’, are being donated to the Parkinson’s Association of Ireland, which represents approx. 8,000 people in Ireland who are living with Parkinson’s Disease.
Joe Garry is the 6th class teacher at Criost Ri National School in Cloughleigh, Ennis, he and his students; Christopher Donohue, Molly Moloney and Niamh O’Connor joined Gavin in studio to talk about how they have set up a school company to raise funds for Barnardos and for their junior class in the school whose jigsaws were damaged when the water tank broke in the school. They are selling reindeer food ahead of the Christmas season and proceeds are being donated to the children’s charity and to fund repairing damage at the school.
And also today Martina Robinson from Wicklow Chamber spoke to the show about an unusual news story where a giant inflatable snowman – missing since the early hours of last Monday morning in Wicklow – has been returned. Gardaí got an anonymous call this morning to say that Snowy was in Wicklow’s Fitzwilliam Square, with a note saying “Sorry”!
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