Clare FM Clare FM

14 year-old Kate Reidy from Sixmilebridge and a member of the Clare Sixmilebridge scout group, recently completed the Crean Challenge Expedition, an annual Scouting Ireland Challenge taking place over 7 months.

To find out more about the expedition, Alan Morrissey spoke with Kate on Friday's Morning Focus.

Those who commute between Clare and Limerick will be pleased to hear that the National Transport Authority (NTA) has opened a public consultation on plans to significantly enhance bus services from Limerick to the Banner County, including the much-maligned 343 bus service from Ennis to Limerick.

The public consultation is now open and will remain so until Thursday, the 9th of May.

Clare FM's Seán Lyons spoke to National Transport Authority Communications Officer Michael Sinnott.

For more on this, on Friday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Donna McGettigan, a Sinn Féin General Election Candidate and Cathaoirleach of the Shannon Municipal District and Pat Barry, Independent Local Election Candidate and Shannon MD.

Picture (c) Clare FM

It's claimed a North Clare community has been treated with the height of disrespect by the Department of Integration. Dromcreehy Country House in Ballyvaughan is expected to accommodate up to 34 International Protection Applicants comprised of family units in the coming days after the provider, Alber Capital LTD signed a one-year state contract. Public representatives were first informed of the development late on Wednesday evening, but it's understood local residents, healthcare services and businesses dependent on bookings at the guest-house had no prior engagement. Lisdoonvarna Fine Gael Councillor Joe Garrihy says the local community have been completely overlooked.

Clare Gardaí are warning that any motorists caught speeding will be punished to the full extent of the law during a special operation today. As part of National Slow Down Day which goes on until 7 tomorrow morning, Gardaí will be carrying out high visibility speed checks nationwide. So far this year, 3,922 fixed charge notices have been issued to drivers exceeding the speed limit in Clare, while there has been one fatality on this county's roads. Roads Policing Superintendent of the Clare-Tipperary Garda Division Eddie Golden says all motorists have a part to play in reducing road traffic collisions.

The Manager of the Clare U-20 footballers insist there is still vital experience to be gained by his side in what remains of their provincial campaign.

It comes as the Banner suffered their second consecutive loss of the campaign after shipping a 1-10 to 0-07 defeat to Tipperary in Ardfinnan.

Clare could still qualify for the final though but will need to be comprehensive winners against Cork in the final round and will require a favour from Kerry when they face Tipperary.

Clare Boss Mikey Neylon says his young squad need to be playing against the best to develop at senior level.

Shannon is to receive another boost, with the announcement of 30 new trainee positions at Atlantic Aviation Group.

AAG, one of Europe's largest aircraft maintainance companies, is seeking to recruit trainee aircraft technicians to help the firm service its expanding client base.

In partnership with the Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board, the company will open two recruitment periods for its traineeship programme this year, with the first phase of recruitment beginning on June 10th and the second phase beginning in October.

AAG Chief Aviation Services Officer Eva O’Keeffe says the partnership aims to address the global shortage of qualified aircraft maintenance technicians.