 I think that literally is the basis of the entire song. As long as it rhymes, it's good. Yeah, I didn't check if it all rhymes. It just says lots of stuff. What would the modern one be? Oh, could be dodgy enough now. No, I wouldn't be going there now, but I'll be going here now, because Mary Rogers and Aramore is celebrating her birthday today, and it comes in from your grandchildren, Colin and Enya, and Carraghan's wishing you well. There you have it, Greg, have a good show. All right, Lee, you have a good year, all right. See you tomorrow for your last show of the week. It is the 9.00 shoot, 9.00 till noon show now, though, and at 9 o'clock. Let's get a news update and say good morning for the first time on this program to Donald Kavanaugh. Thank you, Greg. Good morning. A government minister says, cabinet could consider some targeted measures to bring down a few costs. It comes as new ESRA research shows almost three in every 10 households are living in energy poverty. That figure is set to rise to four in 10 if energy costs continue to rise into another quarter. The ESRA says targeted measures would help, but junior agriculture minister Pippa Hackett says non-targeted measures such as VAT cuts also have their place. I think it's unfair to say that they're ineffective. I think they, you know, they support people in different ways. They might, in fact, bring about different behavioral changes in people, which is, you know, in the longer term is an important thing. But I would agree that certainly targeted measures will have to be looked at. Leonard Kelly Milford, Minister of Districts, been told keeping the town open will be a major priority for Garthee over Rally Weekend. The councillor, Dr. McMonagle, who chairs the Joint Policing Committee, says there have been very productive discussions between the council, Garthee, Letter Kenny Chamber and the Rally Organisers to ensure that disruption is minimized. Donegal County Council is being asked to consider allocating its vacant houses through a choice-based letting model, which would involve advertising vacant properties and inviting people to register in interest. The change was suggested by councilor Michael McBride, who said it could speed up the letting process. Officials told him why choice-based letting will be used for properties that have had a number of refusals. An extension of that model isn't envisaged in the short term. It is however been kept under review. Councilor McBride believes a change would help streamline the system. If we look at the turnaround on county council houses, some of them could take up to a year to get them re-let again. I think that's totally unacceptable, particularly in the current housing climate. Three to four months is, in my opinion, more than ample time for the turnover in a house. I know if it was in the private sector, they'd be torn over in a couple of months, and I think it's wrong that we have council houses lying empty, taking that long to turn over, and I think we'll have to change that. Parts of the country will see a mini heatwave before the weekend, but it will largely bypass Donegal, temperatures hitting 22 degrees in parts of the country this afternoon. That'll rise to almost 25 degrees tomorrow. The weekend will see cooler temperatures and more unsettled weather. Alan O'Reilly from Carlow Weather says the southeast will see the best of it. Temperatures getting up to 22 degrees in some sunshine today, and possibly even as high as 24 degrees for a time on Friday. But really, apart from the southeast, it will be much cooler in the north-west with temperatures struggling to get above 18 or 19 degrees. Cloudy with patchy rain at times this morning, brightening up this afternoon, temperatures ranging, as Alan said, there between 15 and 19 degrees Celsius, light to moderate southerly winds. Cloudy tonight with rain becoming heavier and more prolonged toward morning overnight lows, 12 to 14 degrees. That's Highland Radio News, back with news in full at 10 o'clock. If you are 65 or over, or you have a weak immune system, you can now get your second COVID-19 booster vaccine. Your vaccine is due four months after your last vaccine. It will improve your protection from COVID-19. You can book a vaccination center appointment on hsc.ie or contact a participating GP or pharmacy. For more information on your second booster or to book an appointment, visit hsc.ie or call our team in HSE Live on 1800-700-700 from the HSC for us all. The 9 till noon show with letter Kenny Credit Union now offering mortgages from 40,000 to 600,000 euro with no hidden fees or transaction charges. Letter Kenny Credit Union 9102127. And now it's time for the talk of the Northwest, the 9 till noon show with Greg Hughes on Highland Radio. Hello, good morning to you. Three minutes past nine on this Thursday, the 16th of June. I was here in Dublin mentioning the weather and looking at some of the temperatures around the world in Spain. They're heading into their second heatwave if they're already up around close to 40 degrees. North America the same. I don't know, maybe they're pushing to get to 18 or 19 in our areas. Not the worst thing in the world, is it? Oh wait, 660-25,000. WhatsApps and texts to that number, please. Give us a call at 0749-125,000. A very good morning to you as you join us. If you choose to, to watch us on our website, highlandradio.com. We stream live for you there. We can see the show. Most of our guests, too, join us on video, so it could be entertaining for you. If you prefer, go directly to our YouTube and Facebook channels. Get involved there. Right, let's look at the newspapers. This morning, Chicano Tribune Government fails mica families again. A year to the day, since 20,000, back the first mica march in Dublin. The latest proposals for redress from the housing minister have fallen flat because Dara O'Brien has ruled out pre-legislative scrutiny and a number of other key objectives of the campaigner's pre-legislative scrutiny has been one of the red lines all along for the campaigners who now say they've given up on this government after two attempts to get it right. The mica campaigners may now be forced to look beyond this government for a solution after the next general election. Pressure will now mount on the Donagalls government deputies to support the campaign. And this will intensify between now and mid-July. And if the mica campaign is forced back on the road to Dublin, there'll be no hiding place for the politicians. And I was listening back to a couple of programs in 2019, leading up to October 2019 and the day of the announcement of that mica redress scheme, the 9010, the so-called 9010. And my word, a lot of it was like deja vu. It feels very much like history could be about to repeat itself again. Here's hoping that is not the case. The Dairy People Donagall News this morning, three special sittings of Latter-Kennedy District Court have been organized for this weekend to deal with arrests made at the Donagall rally. The unprecedented number of sessions have been confirmed as a guard tried to head off a repeat of last year when 53 people were fined or prosecuted. The arrests were made despite the cancellation of official rally events due to the pandemic. The bulk of the summonses were related to driving offenses, but penalties were also issued for misuse of drugs, public disorder and other relatively minor crimes. And I suppose if we're out in the roads, you know, even if you're a careful driver, you just don't know what the other person's going to have to do. And if someone else is being irresponsible, we have to keep our wits around us, don't we, to ensure that we're not dragged into their RTC. It'd be lovely if we could think nothing like that's going to happen, but unfortunately it may. And that's the sad reality. And also too, it's not really the rally. It's people that probably won't see one stage of the rally that will be up doing their thing. And it tarnishes then the reputation of the actual rally, which is obviously very professionally run and generally watched by true rally fans that are actually doing all the diffing and what have you. It has, though, taken many months to finalise cases largely due to the number of defendants from outside the county and, in some instances, Northern Ireland. That's just to wrap up the front of that paper there. The Donegal old Democrat tells us that a 47-year-old male has been charged with people trafficking in County Donegal. Andriano Keilo Alves Piexoto, a Brazilian with an address at Dunwiley Roadster and Aller, was granted bail under strict conditions when he appeared at Falkara District Court, guardie from the Human Trafficking Investigation and Coordination Unit at the Garda National Protective Services Bureau carried out an operation in Leicester County on Monday. It was related to an ongoing investigation into organised crime, human trafficking, organised prostitution and money laundering. Detective Garda Peter Breen of the Human Trafficking Investigation and Coordination Unit gave evidence of arresting the gentleman at Leicester County Garda Station on June 14th, 2047 p.m. And if they're involved in running, you know, obviously any allegations that people are involved in running prostitutions, there are obviously lots of people must be availing of such services. And I wonder was any documentation secured in that regard? The dairy news this morning, new principles confirmed for two dairy schools. Pupils at two dairy schools will be greeted by new principles when they return to class after the summer break. St. Joseph's Boys and St. Celia's College, both in the Cregan area of the city, have confirmed the new headteachers to succeed at going principles. They are Mary Jo Carroll and Kira Dean, both pictured on the front of the paper today. I have no good news for you in terms of the cost of living, unfortunately, because the year Sarai has done a study as it relates to where our bills might be going. And this is covered in the front of the Irish Independent and all papers as well. We are in an absolute crisis. Already almost a third of us are in fuel poverty by definition. And judging by some of the predictions, it's going to get much worse for many more people. Again, people happen to make very tough decisions as it relates to heating and food and other essentials, not luxuries, essentials. People have to, many people listening to this programme are choosing between essentials. It's not whether or not they'll downgrade their sky sports package or whether or not they'll not go away this summer. It's actually whether or not they can buy the same amount of food to cover fuel charges or whether or not there'll be no heating for the winter, so as to ensure that children can be dressed for school and a meal heading out in the morning. That's the reality. A lot of people living in that reality. And of course, all eyes are on the government to say, well, what are you going to do about it? Governments govern. And if its people are in a crisis and there's spare money available, you utilise that money, don't you, to try and help people. I hope no one's looking at their legacy and saying, you know, what will history record in 15 or 20 years that, you know, we balanced the book and we had the economy and growth in this year and that year as we predicted. I hope people are looking at the money, the decision makers and saying, right, if we have a few billion here now, now is the time to help the people. And not everyone and not the rich, but the people that struggle the most. We know who they are because the system is set up as such. You know, use any money you have available to help those that need it most, not those that don't need it or those that are very well off because on targeted action, that's what it does. So they need to take this money, any money that they have, and you know, they've been told that they have some money, they need to take it and give it to people to alleviate not only the problem of living when you've got very little money, but everything that goes with that, the stress on relationships, on family, the impact on children, none of us would want money sitting in the bank account, would we, if it could be used to help people. But anyway, this is the background to that ramble. Inflation is plunging record numbers of households into energy poverty with the ESRI warning that household bills could now rise by as much as 2,000 a year and over 3,500 when the cost of filling your car is included. So I think we can presume we're going at the higher figure here because the majority of us simply have to have a car. A new report by the ESRI suggested the possibility of a Christmas bonus-style double welfare payment to offset rising energy bills after finding that the weekly cost of household energy consumption rose by more than 21 euro a week in the first four months of this year and could rise by over 36 euro a week if energy prices go up by another 25%. Now my understanding of this is, well not my understanding, but my presumption and it's not clearly explained is that they're not talking about waiting to Christmas to give a bonus. Presumably what they're saying is that the government has on file those that receive a double payment at Christmas and those are through means testing what have you the worst off and what they could do is use that system now next week, whatever it might be, to target those people with cash payments to help them cover some of these costs and to ease some of the pressure. It's within their gift. They simply just have to decide to do it. The money is there, the technology, the databases, they just have to decide that now is the time for us to help the people and that is, they can debate it back and forwards on different radio shows and you can listen to the opposition or whatever it might be, but the bottom line is that they have the money, they have the database, they have the ability to do it, it's just whether they decide to spend money that's there, a few billion that's there, we're about six billion I think ahead of where they thought we would be. So there's a lot of money there that they didn't know that was there. They know who needs the money, they just have to make the decision to give it to people to help them. It's as simple as that. All the arguing and optics around that is it doesn't add or take away from the very simple decision they simply have to make if they want to. Including motor fuel, the ESRI estimates that energy inflation between January and April pushed household consumption up by over 38 Euro a week and a further rise of 25% will increase household consumptions by just over 67 Euro a week. And I don't wish to labor the point, but before these price increases happened, there were people working people or not, I'm not making a distinction there, but people who after they paid their bills and got the essentials had nothing left, nothing left. And now they're seeing their bills increased by 67 Euro a week. What do people do in that situation? And that is why it is on the government to do what they can to help those people. Onto the Irish times and the families of 28 intellectually disabled victims of sexual abuse at a health service executive run disability centre in Donegal will not be told about what happened a new HSE report says. The abuse involving 11 perpetrators was inflicted on 42 residents of the now-closed Shauna Hare units at St Joseph's Hospital in St. Aulor between 1991 and 2002. More residents were moved to the nearby Ard Griania Court complex in 2008 where one of the 11 perpetrators known as Brandon continued to abuse. The report does not say whether any of the other 10 perpetrators were moved to Ard Griania Court. Brandon, who was the subject of the investigation by the National Independent Review Panel completed last year, was found to have perpetrated upwards of 108 instances of abuse on at least 18 victims between 2003 and 2016 with the full knowledge of staff and management. The latest report known as the Validation Report was completed in May and is a review of two previous file reviews by two HSE serious instant management teams. But it's the HSE investigating again. The HSE didn't get it right the first time. Why is it not being looked at externally is an important question and also, you know, is it a case that really we're hearing about just as little as is possible? You know, why are we, is this being drip-fread to us, this information. RTE bosses, this is the Irish Daily Mail. RTE bosses are to be brought before an Oculus Committee to answer questions about alleged transphobic discussion on LiveLine after Dublin Pride cut ties with the National Broadcaster. The organizers of the Dublin Pride Festival described discussions on the RTE radio on program as unacceptable, triggering and extremely harmful. The topic of the removal of the word woman from the Maternity Act began on last Thursday's broadcast of the show, presented by Joe Duffy and continued through to Tuesday's program. LGBTQ plus campaigners have claimed the discussion encouraged anti-trans speech. RTE chiefs will now be grilled by TDs and senators as they'll be invited to appear before the Oculus Media Committee next week. A spokesperson said RTE will attend next week. We will be replying to accept, sorry, we will be replying to accept the invitation tomorrow. Onto the Farmers Journal now on a new scheme to pay farmers up to 250 euro per hectare. In next cap, farmers could be paid up to 250 euro under the revamped organic farming scheme in the next cap. A five-fold increase in funding for the new scheme is aimed at attracting in excess of four and a half thousand new farmers into organics. A proposed plan detailing the higher payment rates has been submitted to the European Commission for approval. Right, let's go to the Irish Daily Star now and they tell us that the monkeypox virus is to be renamed over concerns it's racist as furious of its unusual spread ramp up. The World Health Organization acted after a group of scientists from African countries wrote of the need for an underscrimitory and non-stigmatizing name. Now this is not unusual because obviously the Spanish flu, people started calling the COVID China flu and they thought that's not fair, we have to give it a name, so they did. So I'm not surprised by this. They refer to the virus as the HMPXV in their paper and said calling it the African virus was also wrong. WHO guidelines state that viruses should not be named after animals or geographical areas, okay, so. Now on to the sun here and we've had this same commentary from hoteliers in Donegal now hearing it from TDs. Hotel chiefs have been blasted by politicians for their sky-high prices. The Irish Hotels Federation execs with yesterday told crippling room costs in Dublin are destroying Irish tourism. The Arctis Committee on Tourism also grilled bosses from Fulcher Island about the issue. Politicians quoted room prices of up to 790 euro over the summer as they claimed businesses were engaging in price gouging. Finney LTD Brendan Griffin warned that the prices in Dublin were out of this world. You probably stay on Mars for cheaper. And Fina Falls Senator Shane Castles let rip at hotels for ramping up prices anytime there is a gig or big sporting fixtures. But the IFO CHF, IFO CHF, the IHF CEO Tim Fenn claimed, the average room rate in Dublin was 177 euro for May an increase of 15% on the 2019 figure. He said the sky-high prices that have been headlines are due to supply issues. There are 25,000 Dublin hotel rooms with three and a half thousand to be added next year but officials claim more are still needed but did they ask them right? Okay, just because say you've got a hundred rooms and 90 of them are sold, why are the final 10 three or four times the price? Did any of the TDs ask them that? What is the business model? Why don't you price rooms, okay? So as soon as they run out, they run out. Why is a situation that because a hotel has three rooms and you want one of them and it's busy that you have to pay three or four times that? Did any of the TDs ask them that? Explain that price structure, how that works. Finally, the Irish Daily Mirror tells us that the government banked an extra two billion euro in VAT takings in May on the back of soaring costs of living. Okay, so this is the money that's there that I was talking about. The Irish Mirror says that the ex-chequer is making a killing while ordinary families and consumers suffer because the more price rises the more the tax man collects in VAT. But despite the increased takings for the government, honestly, of Radcar said again this week that there will be no more help on the cost of living until October's budget. So what they're saying, okay, what they are saying this is not political or anti-government, okay? Because it is what they're saying. They're saying that we have extra money here. We know what's going on in the country but we're not gonna do anything until October. That is just pretty much what they are saying. All right, we'll be back with our first guest on the Nine Till Noon Show after these messages. The newspapers are courtesy of Kelly Sentra, mountaintop, Letter Kenny. The Nine Till Noon Show with Letter Kenny Credit Union is your bank leaving town. Letter Kenny Credit Union is now offering myCU current account and debit mastercard, bringing full banking features with no appointment necessary to open your account. Busseran are recruiting professional bus drivers nationwide for seasonal work commencing April 2022. All you need is a full category D license, digital taco and CPC. Root and fleet training will be provided. For further information and to apply online go to buseran.ie forward slash jobs. New cap scheme to pay farmers 250 euro per hectare. For more on this week's Farmers Journal, is Paul Mooney. Farmers in the new scheme will also be offered priority entry to the new rep scheme. As the 1,000 euro silent scheme is set to open, we reveal details on when you'll be paid. And former T. Shook John Bruton, Warren Zireland, could have to enforce EU border. Plus, don't miss the Irish Farmers Journal, a junior newspaper written for young farmers. Inside this week's Irish Farmers Journal on sale now. Daird Fest Castle Daird, Saturday the 30th of July. Featuring Sigma, KC Lights, plus support acts, all under the big top tent. For ticket information, check out Daird Fest Music Festival Facebook page. This ad is kindly sponsored by McKelvie Construction Castle Daird. Attention, all pet lovers and owners, Gary's Pet World Letter Kenny is open seven days per week, offering the very best value on all pet foods, accessories, grooming, and care products. Call in and let our staff help you spoil your pet today. You will be amazed by the range of product for all pets with exceptional value on all leading brands. Alternatively, you can browse and buy online at petworld.ie and we will deliver to your home. Michael promised to teach the kids to fly their blue kite the next sunny day they had. There's an act to it. Run as fast as you can. Let the wind catch it. Give me more string, Molly. That's it. Always ask yourself the question. Are you sure it's safe? When flying kites, drones, or remote control planes, always look out for overhead electricity wires. Stay safe. Stay clear of electricity wires. For emergencies, call 1-800-372-999. ESB Networks, serving all electricity customers. All right, as I said in the show yesterday, and I said it again this morning, a lot of the conversations we're having, it feels very much like 2019 all over again. I don't know the ins and outs of the Microscheme. There's a lot more people that are far more knowledgeable about me, but looking at it and looking how it's set up, and I've said this on social media weeks ago, it looks like it's doomed to stall or doomed to fail if it goes through as it is, even with some of the minor changes. But as I say, I'm not an expert. We're gonna speak to one now, Dr. Ambrose McCloskey of MA McCloskey Ltd. Thanks for joining us, Ambrose. It's nice to speak to you. I believe it's the first time we've spoken, actually. I think it is, yeah. Right, okay. So with what we know from what was mentioned yesterday, what was agreed yesterday at cabinet, but also what we've known is coming for the last number of weeks or months, how optimistic are you that this enhanced scheme, even with a few tweaks, will actually work? Personally, it wouldn't be that optimistic. I personally believe that it'll take a lot more than tweaks to make the scheme workable. I think there's some fundamental things that have been must by government from the start, and that even going back as far as the 2017 expert panel report, whereby additional research was proposed to be done, none of that has actually been done, and we're now seeing, well, first of all, from my own point of view, we were told that as engineers that this is largely a free-style issue, and it's MECA and don't go off. And the first number of houses I looked at, I saw houses as far back as 2013, 2014, that were done as well outside any frost zone. So I always thought that there was something possibly other than MECA causing the issues, and now you were seeing international experts having a look and saying that, yeah, there's all the deleterious materials present here that may be actually worse than the MECA, and then combined with MECA, then we do have the perfect storm to create sort of exponential damage in some cases. But I do believe that it's not necessary possibly to demolish every house that's got MECA. There needs to be a lot more looking into this, and there needs to be a few experts here, expert in looking at this particular thing, such as Andreas Lehman, and they need to come on here, take a look at what we've got, and give us advice as to what levels of each deleterious material we can live with, or if we can't, then we need to know that. But they seem to be intent on pushing this scheme through and ignoring a lot of the science, which is very disappointing as an engineer. You know, as an engineer, we want to give a solution that we can happily walk away from and say, that's your house fixed now, you won't have an issue. As such, your house is insurable, your house is mortgageable, and you're back to square one again. But the scheme as it stands, certainly will not provide that, you know. Who wants to do a fix that there's, you know, it's a finger in the wind to see whether this lasts or not, and then we'll tell you what, if it doesn't last, you can go through the same thing again in six or seven years. But that's precisely as this scheme is being laid out, and that's what confuses me and maybe you can educate me on this, because we are talking many billions of taxpayers' money, and there's a great responsibility in how that is spent. What we have a situation is where we could, we could examine what needs to be done and the best way to spend that money, that would be the option, and I think that you're advocating. But what they've agreed with, what they're agreeing and what they seem to accept is, is that, no, well, what we'll do is we'll fix up almost like what we can see, and then if that's the wrong decision and there's more cracks, well, you can come back in at the grand scheme and we'll go at it again. Now, I presume doing an external leaf only and then maybe coming back and doing internal, so whatever else might need to be done or if the foundation started to show weakness, that's not a prudent way of spending money. If you're going to get anything done, you try and get everyone on site at the same time and get what needs fixing, like it feels like we're literally setting this up to paper over the cracks with a view to ripping off the wallpaper and replacing the wall down the line. Yeah, well, you also, you know, people forget as well that that's not really an option. If you do the outer leaf now, you can't come back and do the inner leaf solely on its own in five years time. Your outer leaf that you've done now is gone as well because to get at the inner leaf, the inner leaf's the one doing the chai and it's going to be chai on your floors and your roots. So you must take down the outer leaf that you've replaced five years ago, even if that's okay, because you cannot replace the inner leaf of a house and leave the outer leaf. So, you know, the money it's spent is gone, is wiped. So it's, you know, the taxpayers are possibly complaining that, oh, this is a 2.7 billion scheme and all this, but they potentially are wasting their money. It would not take a lot of money to research on the grand scheme of things. Two to three million pound probably given to the right experts for a year, 18 months, they could come back, I would imagine with an answer and say, yep, if you've got X percent mica and no priority or whatever, your house is fine, it'll last for 50 years plus or whatever. Those tests have not been done. No targeted research has been done. We've had a few people, you know, there's a lot of, the term experts has been used very loosely here. There's a lot of experts, but in reality there really is no experts that have really looked into this in any great detail. And a lot of it's sort of based on hunches and hearsay and anecdotal evidence, but we as an engineer, I would like to see the science being looked into in detail and a proper fix being provided and that we can all stand over and the homeowners can be happy. And also the taxpayers can be happy that their money has been spent correctly and the fix is done. Have you concluded what the resistance might be to this? Because even privately, the government is suggesting to its ministers that this could be upwards of four billion. It doesn't have to be front loaded. This is clearly over a very long period of time. With everything that you've just outlined and what most people seem to say would be the right thing to do, have you concluded why there might be a resistance to the government going along with the likes of what you're suggesting there? Why would you resist such a thing? I honestly don't know, but there does appear to be certainly resistance from high level in terms of looking into this problem or investigating it properly. And there's one thing that I would say as well is, but disappointing is they brought on this damage threshold, which I believe will rule a large number of people from getting their houses fixed at all onto this scheme. What there needs to be- Can you explain that? Sorry, Ambrose, because I think that's just an important point and some might be hearing it for the first time. There's a damage threshold whereby your house has to reach to a certain level of damage before you're even accepted onto the scheme. And from what I hear, it's going to be something like cracks of 1.5 millimeter wide throughout extensively, which hasn't been properly explained to our engineers at all yet, but when your house reaches the stage of one and a half millimeter wide cracks extensively, it's pretty well gone. So that means we would be deciding who gets onto this scheme effectively with a ruler? Yeah, basically that's what seems to be the case. That's what I can lead. But again, sorry, as well, we haven't been given any details. Well, I don't really know. You know, I'm only listening to what you're listening to and to comment on that. So I haven't seen any detail of the new scheme, but that's what we've been told. But what I believe there should be is there's a number of houses out there that are certainly very badly damaged to me or to any engineer or what they're salt, looking at them can easily turn around and say, that house is a goner, that house needs to be demolished. And those people living in those houses are potentially going to be unsafe shortly. Those houses need to be prioritized. And, you know, we need to be able to get away of getting those maybe 5, 10% of the houses flexed immediately and onto a scheme and get it sorted. While we get the answers for the rest of the houses, there may be certainly a lot of houses that could be saved or are going to be fine. So we don't know that, but what we need to do is prioritize the ones that need fixed work and get some kind of a mechanism for that. So my concern for a while has been, though, that, be it department officials or whoever it might be, that it's that what this could look like, okay? What this could look like is the delivery of a 100% multi-billion euro scheme, okay? That is destined to stall or not work afterwards. And the government would be able to stand back or the department officials would be able to stand back and say, look, we've delivered this multi-billion euro scheme. This is a standoff between engineers and whatever other parties might be involved. And the government can say, well, we've done everything we can. This is not our problem. We've set it up. It's passed through the doll. It's passed through the channel. It's signed into law. What else can we do? It's unimaginable, is it, that a scheme has been designed in such a way not to work? Yeah, well, it certainly seems that way. They don't want to listen. They haven't listened right from the expert panel in 2017. They're still not listening. We're commenting as much as we can on what we feel is necessary. But there seems to be nobody at the top listening. They seem intent on employing on on a certain pathway. And there's no deviating from that. But it's very disappointing because I think there's an opportunity there to do the thing right. And it has been must to do it. And it seems to be going to be must again. This is the second time we've been here with the scheme. To me, it's destined for failure because, you know, if someone comes to me and says, right, we test the block, or there's blocks there, the housing agency says that that house doesn't look too bad. We'll do an outer leaf on that. But what the scheme seems to involve is that the housing agency handed it to officers and engineers and say, right, sort out, you know, design that remedial and stand over it and watch that done and sign it off. But who's going to sign that off? Because it's not what we've decided the house needs, first of all, because it's decided by someone else. And secondly, it's not what we would have decided because we don't have the scientific research or... So in the absence of... All they have said is that last... In the absence of that scientific information that you're talking of, right? I mean, any engineer, that's a sweeping statement, but what engineer would sign off on something really not knowing where that house could be in four or five years, knowing that, you know, maybe the inner leaf is bearing much of the weight? Like, would or can they... Will they find a team of engineers that will sign off on this? I mean, will... But importantly, you see, what they've tried to do, I think, to try and encourage engineers to do that is this second entry to the scheme. They're saying that, look, if things go bad, you get on the scheme again. Now, I don't know if that protects the engineer from the sign off, but to me, it's a very, very bad way of engineering anything. You know, I have never walked away from anything that I have designed and thought to myself we'll see, I think, work and it might not. You know, let's just not engineer. I think a lot of what has got us into this position is a lack of oversight, a lack of enforcement, a lack of scrutiny along the way. And if that had been done, we probably wouldn't be having this conversation. Yet we are setting up a scheme, right, that actually is to fix houses half-arrest. Pardon the expression. You know what I'm on about? So we're actually legislating to do the kind of stuff that got us into this mess in the first place. That's it, and just on that as well, like we have, there are standards there that have clearly not been legislated and not been policed by the powers that be. And it's these powers that be that are now seem to be introduced in this scheme. And there is absolutely no guarantee at present that the blocks that we are gonna be putting back in these houses that are potentially gonna be revoked. And on that, I don't think a lot will be getting the demolition on this new scheme. But the new blocks and the new houses, the legislation is still not being policed and the necessary tests are not being put into place to ensure that those blocks aren't exactly the same as the ones that were taken out in 10 years time, 15 years time. So the government hasn't even put policies in place to police the industry that it is. So, you know, it's beyond belief to me. It's really strange that we've got to where we're at. Well, it's certainly, it's hard to believe, but it's reality. Yeah, how can you properly scrutinize any new product if you don't properly scrutinize the old product determine exactly why it was failing? Exactly, yeah. What's your views on foundations? And there's mixed reviews on controversial ones. I think the majority are that they believe they need changing. Of course, we had a guest on the program who's named Justice Gates, the one Adrian, I can't remember his surname. He didn't know how. Yeah, who says in his experience, he does not believe foundations are gonna be a big issue here. That obviously wasn't met with a lot of approval locally here. Do you have an opinion on it? I would have an opinion on it, yeah. I know, Master O'Connell looked and said that the concrete's obviously a lot more dense. It's not as porous and that's more to get into it a lot, but if the prioritize is present, we've seen a really strong reinforced concrete and an advocate being completely destroyed by prioritize. So certainly it'll be prudent to test the foundations. I'm not saying they all need to come out, but what I would say is if you're gonna take a house and spend 420,000 euros and rebuild it, for the sake of a further 5 to 10,000 euros, I would certainly be taking the foundations out and leaving nothing to chance. But we need to test the foundations and see what actually is present. Again, it's the research, if we tested a number of foundations, tested them with their sound and checked the levels of all the materials that are in them, quickly we could come back and say, look, if you call your foundations and their x strength and x levels of material, they should be fine or they will be fine, then that's fine, possibly they could be left to place. But until that is done, then the safe thing is take them out. But as I say, it's a lack of research that's really frustrating because we've been asked to stand over things that we've absolutely no idea what way they'll perform in the future. Yeah, you wouldn't expect a consultant in the hospital to perform operations or administer treatment if they didn't know the full facts. And I'm not, I hope I'm not conflating there, but I mean, we're asking experts to do stuff without all the information. And as I say, and you say in the wider scale of things, the amount of money we're talking about is small. There are national, international experts that could be gathered to do that relatively quickly. It would let us know exactly where we're at. Yes, certainly. And that's what should be done and should have been done. And that should have been done since 2017. We would know where we stood, but certainly as I say, people won't want to see a delay to the scheme, actually, and all that. But I still think the worst houses need to be done immediately because we need to ensure that people are safe. And there's no question that quite a lot of those houses, you see them on social media, need to be demolished and rebuilt. So why not just get along with that for a while? Do a two-track system. Finally, Dr. McCloskey, finally, like, could it be that if we have the information through an independent analysis that the government's afraid that this won't be, you know, six or seven thousand houses in Donegal, you know, five or six hundred in Clara, whatever it might be, is it possible that if we have the information that you talk of, that if we started boring houses left, right, and centre that maybe even blocks were got from multiple companies that they're trying to limit the scale of this? That's quite possible. But on the other hand, it's possible that we look at these and say that the levels are low enough that, you know, there's a lot of houses there with certain levels of maker that may not need demolition. So you said the threshold. Yeah, we said thresholds. That's what we want to do. You said the threshold to see what's acceptable and what's not because, you know, there may well be houses there that last a lifetime, but we're not 100% sure because we don't know the exact combination that's causing all the damage. So once we find that out, then we can look into it in more detail. What I would say to you is that, you know, I heard last night that there's maybe going to be a rushed PLS available, you know, but I'm not so sure, you know, I would love that to be the case and love what the homeowner reps and all the engineers and all say will cause the thing to be made correct. But I think the looking at the scheme, it's fundamentally flawed and it needs rather than maybe a few tweaks, it needs stripped back and start again with where we go in terms of the AS465 and the, you know, the scheme itself, I just think that it needs major review. I don't think a few tweaks that are going to be done one day is potentially going to cause, make it okay, but that's possibly just a personal view. Very funny, are we seeing a trend away from the use of blocks within the industry? I mean, Yeah, well, there's a lot of, I suppose, timber-freeing houses going up and things like that, but the obviously of blocks on the outside leaf, although they're not good there, there are people looking into all sorts of things, but, you know, it's a bad indictment on the government and this country and the industry and that one of the simplest things and that can be produced is a rectangular piece of concrete block as a building block to produce all sorts of different types of buildings and property that can't be made right. There's no reason that it can't be made right and made to last 100 plus years. It's an indictment on the government, I believe, and the industry that we can't get that right. There's no reason why it can't be got right. All right. The right legislation needs to be in place and needs to be policed. There's no reason why blocks can't be used in the future. All right, this is all very interesting. Thanks for your time this morning. I appreciate it. No problem. That's Dr. Ambrose McCloskey there of MA McCloskey Ltd. I mean, if you're living in a home affected by defective concrete blocks, it's perhaps not the most encouraging, but look, there is a pathway there to get this right. I think that's it. It's just the neat requires a will is that the groundwork is there, but you're hearing from experts and there are different views on it, of course, and I understand that and I respect that and I don't want to upset anyone, but there are different views, different takes on it. But listen, unless you get the experts together and commission them to look into all of this, how can you do it right? Proud sponsor of Callum Divine Motorsport. Tickets are now on sale for Century Complex VIP meal deal, which includes a two-course meal and backstage, admission to selected movies in Century Cinemas VIP screenings, a combo with popcorn, soft drink and a free refill, all for $33.95 per person. For further information and to get your tickets, visit CenturyCinemas.ie. Support parking is available exclusively when you book with Atlantic. We are stress-free summer holiday on the Algarve. Call Atlantic Travel in Neterkenny today on 911-26193. Peek that cost of Brexit with no customs charges. Do you need a UK address for your limited company or personal use? Space Hub in Derry can provide you with your own mailbox. Have your post and parcels delivered to Space Hub and collected your convenience. There's brand new 20-foot shipping containers now in stock, ideal for all your storage needs at our Springtown and Coomor depots. Find us on Facebook at spacehubderry.com or call 04871 87 8 077 for more details. Bunkrana Music Festival Saturday and Sunday, July 2nd and 3rd. Dan McKabe, Monk Reef, Hot House Flowers, Paddy Casey, The Britellies, Hudson Taylor, Leah Hart and many more. Early bird tickets end this Friday. Visit BunkranaMusicFestival.com. A caller says, I'm sorry, Greg, welfare again. What about two working families who worked all through the pandemic? Nothing as per, oh, you have land, farm, blah, blah, blah. I'm so sick of this country. The welfare people get more. Those worked squeezed again, so sick of it all. Sorry, maybe I didn't make myself clear. By the way, I was talking about the very poorest in this country, the government know who they are. Okay, the people with the least. But I believe I also reference the fact that there are people who are working as well. And I said I didn't want to differentiate between the two. When we start fighting amongst each other, trust me, the governments, governments in any country love that. So when people who are working point the finger at people with welfare or point the finger at, point the finger at workers or they point the finger at Ukrainian refugees, they love it. As soon as songs were in fighting, that's fantastic. No, but they also have the same information as it relates to working families who are in poverty as well, by the way. And I thought I'd made that clear, but clearly I didn't. It was in relation to the targeted welfare payment, but also of course, there are ways and they have the information as it relates to the majority of people, middle income earners and inverted commas who were in the exact same situation. And it was they who I was referencing, by the way, about the money running out once all the bills are paid. We are all in this together. I know that was an oft-used phrase during the last crisis, but if we start fighting amongst ourselves, I'm telling you, it makes things very easy for the decision makers, because then you look after one group and that's just enough to get you over the line at an election. And I think that's probably been what are failing as a people in that we divide rather than unite. Okay, now there are other problems that are ongoing that compound everything else that we're trying to deal with, one of them being, you know, the basic right to running water on a regular basis. Elizabeth Jordan joins us on the program now. Elizabeth, thanks for taking your time out of the morning to speak to me. I appreciate it. Hello, Greg, how are you? I am not bad at all. Right, okay, so, Talus, you are a resident in the Ross Bracken Pluck area. You're just outside Letter of Kenny. What's been your experience over the last while? My experience is that every, every couple of weeks, the water stops, there's a bust of pipe. The pipe down the road needs to be replaced. And every couple of weeks, the water's, the pipe busts, and then we have no water. And then how long does it take normally for it to come back on? And how long then does it take for the water kind of to be usable, Elizabeth? Well, you have to go over the rigmarole or ring an Irish water. And then you have to ring the councillors. You have to ring all these people to get a speed on it, like. Right now, if it was on yesterday, again, at three or four o'clock, but it's the fact that you have to ring all these people to try and get a bit of water. Like, when I got up yesterday morning, I had no water. And they knew that the pipe was gonna bust because it had been leaking from the week before, had it busted at the week before, and it had been leaking on another part and they didn't bother coming out to fix it, like. And this goes on and on the whole time. And now, of course, this particularly affects everyone, but I suppose people, you know, carers or people with children trying to get them out to school or whatever, people trying to get washing done. I mean, all the obvious consequences of these frequent water bursts. Well, I was sitting on the phone yesterday morning and the Irish water and trying to say, Chair, are the Moeans going to school? That shouldn't be the way. They should be able to come out and fix it properly. Like, it's not a say that it's the first time I've rang or it's the second time even. This has been on and on the last couple of years. At Christmas Day, we had no water. No. Do we know how big a job it would be to replace this pipe? It's not that big a job. It just needs a new pipe. It's not that big a job, like. It doesn't seem any reason as to why they're not doing it then from your perspective, Elizabeth. No, and if you ring them, Greg, and you say, have you got a call? They'll say, no, you're the first person who have called about it, which that is a total lie because my neighbours is all right, like. Yeah. All right, OK, listen, we're going to make contact with Irish water as well. I believe the local, some local councillors are making representations and we'll see what Irish water have to say about it officially by way of a press statement. We'll chase that up, Elizabeth. Thanks very much. All right, no problem. Have a good day. Take care of yourself. 08, 6, 60, 25,000. The caller says, what about the people who are working and struggling to put petrol in their car to get to work? Thus is on top of everything else. Nothing left. It doesn't seem worth going to work anymore, indeed. And of course, that is the talk. These are the people that we're talking about. Greg, when they say give the money to the most in poverty, they need to stop child allowance for the rich. Also, the 200 euro off the wealthy is people was wasting money that should have been given to the needy, but there is a need to abolish child allowance for the wealthy means tested. Child children's allowance is not for mom and dad, though. I think it's a right for every child. That's complicated, but I agree with you. You know, like the recent reduction in excise on fuel was not insignificant to the exchequer. But, you know, if you have the bigger your car, the more miles you travel, the more you benefited from that. You know, it didn't really... It helped someone driving and no harm to you if you have a lovely big cruiser. But if you can drive around the place, you know, towing something or other, whatever it might be. You know, you save more money with the excise cut in fuel, whereas wouldn't it be better targeting those types of measures at those that actually can't go to work because they can't afford to put in the minimum units at the petrol pumps. And I think a lot of people would agree that the ESP bill is well given everyone 200 euro off their bill. A lot of people still haven't got that yet either, by the way. It didn't get it all once the vat was taken off. You know, that is not targeted. That's probably some would say not a useful use of the money. We want the money to go to... That's why we all donate charity so much. That's why we all help each other so much is because we see that, right, you know, some people are in a position where they've got a little bit of extra money and they want to give that to the likes of St. Vincent de Paul to help people that perhaps don't have as much money. So I think there would be a will amongst the people to do, you know, more targeted approaches to this kind of stuff. Right, OK. I have to take one more quick break and then we're going to go to Tory Island. Stay where you are. The Ninetal Noon Show is brought to you by Letter Kenny Credit Union with monster loans available up to 60,000 euro for all occasions. Visit letterkennycu.ie. It's the right price tiles and wood flooring biggest ever sale. Ten million euros worth of stock in store and ready to take home. All tiles, all wood flooring, all batware. Everything slashed in price. Right price tiles and wood flooring, Ireland's biggest range, best prices and in store to take home today. Sale extended until Sunday. Happy Father's Day. This Father's Day. Choose Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Cool Water, Diesel, one million, Jean-Paul Gartier. Choose McGee's Chemist, Main Street Letter Kenny. Great gifts for great dads. Click McGee's.ie. In a show, Credit Union has recently launched Cultivate, an agricultural loan at only 6.55%, APR 6.75%. Call any of their four offices for more information or to make an appointment. Inichon Credit Union, Bongkranakarndona Movil and Moff, supporting local farmers. 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Find the perfect gift for dad with trending summer style at Dunn stores. Treat him to a classic shirt for just €10 or spoil him with new knitwear from just €20. Pick out a polo and shorts combo he'll love or a sophisticated shirt in 100% linen from our exclusive designer, Paul Costello. Whether he needs a wardrobe update or something new for his next night out, you'll find a gift for dad at Dunn stores. Dunn stores, always better value, terms and conditions apply. OK, you're welcome back to the programme. Delighted sake and morning to William Doohar. Hi, William. How are you doing? Just to give some people the background to this story, now, the councillor confirmed that it's got no responsibility for the completion of Tory seawall. The seawall on the island was started a number of years ago but was never finished due to a lack of funding. And at a recent Glenty Municipal District meeting, it was stated that the councillor's liaised with the department regarding the completion of the project. OK, so, I mean, obviously it might seem obvious to you, William, but what is the function of this seawall and how far on to completion is it? Well, in 2008, there was money allocated for the first phase of it was to extend the capping on the seawall, which was carried out in 2009. And it was supposed to then do phase two in 2010 to extend the capping, which acts as a handrail and a wavebreaker. And that was never carried out. And phase three was to extend the seawall itself, towards the point at the front of the island here, by 35 metres, which was never done. And due to the storms last year, the behind the seawall where it finishes is starting to erode. So something needs to be done with it to prevent any more damage. Yeah, so really this is, and this is similar to what we've saw, what we've witnessed in Greencastle. If money is not spent now, the money that's already spent is going to be effectively washed out to sea. It will be washed out to sea as, no point crying over skulls and out from the damage is done. It's now it's time to act and get the project finished. What do you think of the council saying that it's not their responsibility to finish it? I presume they have a role to play, though, in trying to get funds together or put pressure on the department to spend the money. They have a role to play because they started the project in 2009. And we were promised at time as residents here that they'd be done in three phases. And it was never carried out. Yeah, of course, because, you know, the recessions in the timeline here as well, of course. What would be the benefits if this was finished to completion? It would save about nine, ten houses on the seafront there. There's tours, they use the walkway, which you can see in the pictures in front of you. There's a ten foot drop off the seawall there. And it's a bit of a gust of wind around in Gomsik, but end up down in the shoreline there. But there's bike tours that goes around the island. They use the walkway. And plus there's kids here that play around the area and they use it. So it's beneficial for a lot of people to get this project finished. In the meantime, have locals on the island been doing a bit of work themselves? We actually done a bit of work for it. We extended the kind of the road to make it a wee bit safer for tourists to use. And we done a bit of just surface re-surface in the area so that it's safe to walk on it. The council needs to step in and whoever's involved needs to step in and finish the project. Does this fall under Charlie McConnell's marine portfolio? Wonder obviously has been celebrating and announcing quite a bit of funding for peers. I would imagine that Breitwater falls under his office. Have you had any word from him or any interaction with him? The only person I had word back was Michael McCafferty yesterday and he told me the council wasn't taking any responsibility of it. But at the moment anyway, I had a meeting with Marjorie there yesterday and the core comment were actually going to issue a few letters and stuff on where they get the ball moving on the issue. Send them in to us. Keep us updated, William. We will indeed. All right, thanks very much indeed. That's the resident of Tory Island. William, do her there. Stay with us. Cracking two hours on the way. But we're going to take a break now for the news and obituary notices. The Ninetal Noon Show with Letterkenny Credit Union now offering myCU current account and debit MasterCard bringing full banking features delivered with the same local trustworthy service of your credit union. Get ready for Rally Weekend at Voodoo Venue Letterkenny. Donegal's Premier Entertainment Venue where tomorrow night playing live at Sailor Bill. Exquisite luxury and incredible entertainment at Voodoo Venue Letterkenny. Proud to associate sponsor of the Donegal International Rally. The award winning Genesis Aesthetics and Skin Care Clinic, Edo, now offers a wide range of skin boosters. The injectable moisturizer for under eyes that improves dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles. Also treating the face, neck, chest and hands. This amazing treatment works from the inside out resulting in brighter, smoother plumper skin. For help choosing the right aesthetic treatment for you, contact Mary Ferry, your aesthetic practitioner. You can download the Genesis app or call 0749532575. Treat your garden to a makeover at GMG Stone Letterkenny. We offer great value on decorative stone, garden paving, slabs and artificial grass. All tailored to your needs with home delivery available. We also supply railway sleepers, whiskey barrels and place sand. All available for pickup or delivery. 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Signs.ie, creating signs that create business from stationery to shopfronts, logo design to number plates and tending. Let our in-house design team create the best solution to your brandy needs. The specialist in vehicle graphics and motorsport livery. Signs.ie, quality you can see. Live on Air Online and on the Highland Radio app. This is Highland Radio News. Good morning. It's 10 o'clock. Donald Kavanaugh at the Highland Radio Newsdesk. An engineer has again raised concerns with the defective concrete block scheme, saying he doesn't believe the enhanced scheme agreed this week will adequately address the problem. Dr. Ambrose Matlowski says there is still not enough information about the exact nature of block degradation. He says previous recommendations that there be more research have not been followed through. On today's 9 to noon show, he told Greg Hughes there is evidence of other deleterious materials in blocks, some of which are worse than Micah. But he says it seems this is not being addressed by government. They seem to be intent on pushing this scheme through and ignoring a lot of the science, which is very disappointing as an engineer. We want to give a solution that we can happily walk away from and say, that's your house fixed now, your house is insurable, your house is mortgageable and you're back to square one again. The scheme as it stands will not provide that. He wants to do a fix that's a finger in the one to see will this last or not? And then if it doesn't last, you can go through the same thing again in six or seven years. A government minister says cabinet could consider some targeted measures to bring down fuel costs. It comes as new ESRI research shows almost three in every 10 households are living in energy poverty. That figure is set to rise to four in 10 if energy costs continue to rise into another quarter. The ESRI says targeted measures are what's necessary and questions whether non targeted measures are effective. Junior Agriculture Minister Pippa Hackett says, however, that measures such as cuts to VAT do have a role to play. I think it's unfair to say that they're ineffective. I think they, you know, they support people in different ways. They might, in fact, bring about different behavioural changes in people, which is, you know, in the longer term is an important thing. But I would agree that certainly targeted measures will have to be looked at. Letter Kelly Milford, a municipal district, has been told that keeping the town open will be a major priority over the course of rally weekend. Councilor Jerry McMonigal, chair of the Joint Policing Committee, says very productive discussions have taken place between the Council, Guardi, Letter Kelly Chamber and the rally organisers. He says all bodies are working together to ensure that disruption is minimised over the next four days. Donegal County Council is being asked to consider allocating its vacant houses through a choice based letting model, which would involve advertising vacant properties and inviting people to register in interest. The change was suggested by Councilor Michael McBride, who said it could speed up the letting process. Officials told him that while choice based letting will be used for properties which have had a number of refusals, an extension of the model isn't envisaged in the short term, although the situation is being kept under review. Well, Councilor McBride believes a change would streamline the system. If we look at the turnaround on county council houses, some of them could take up to a year to get them real at again. I think that's totally unacceptable, particularly in the current housing climate. Three to four months is, in my opinion, more than ample time for the turnover in a house. I know if it was in the private sector, it would be turned over in a couple of months. And I think it's wrong that we have council houses lying empty, taking that long to turn over, and I think we have to change that. The PSNI is urging young people who have been sexually abused to come forward. It comes after a dairy baseman in his 20s was sentenced last week for sexually abusing children with more detail. Here's Emma Ryan. A week ago today, on Thursday, June 9th, a 26-year-old man from the dairy area was sentenced to 10 years at Kulrian Crown Court. Joshua Alfort was sentenced for a number of serious sexual offenses against children. He will be placed on the sex offenders' register for an indefinite period and will be subject to a sexual offences prevention order for 10 years. In a statement, Detective Sergeant Emerson says the offenses committed by Joshua Alfort are sickening and no child should ever have to suffer and have their innocence taken away from them in this horrific way. He stressed the PSNI remains committed to investigating all reports of sexual offenses against children and young people and urged anyone who has experienced any form of sexual abuse to contact police. And parts of the country are set to see a mini heatwave before the weekend, but it will largely bypass Donegal. Temperatures set to reach 22 degrees in parts of the country this afternoon, rising to almost 25 degrees tomorrow. However, the best of that weather will be in the southeast. Temperatures will, we're told, struggle to hit 20, the further north and northwest that you go. And looking at the weather forecast from Metairan and Metairan tell us that indeed it would be cloudy with patchy rain at times this morning, brightening up somewhat in the afternoon, but top temperatures will range between 15 and 19 degrees Celsius, like to moderate southerly winds. Tonight, cloudy with rain becoming heavier and more prolonged toward morning, lowest overnight temperatures 12 to 14, mostly moderate southerly breezes. Tomorrow morning and early afternoon will see rain, but that will clear to give some sunny spells, highest temperatures on Friday, 15 to 20 degrees Celsius. Moderate southwest winds veering westerly as the rain clears. And that's Island Radio News. We're back with news headlines again at 11 o'clock. Oobetrain notices for Thursday morning, June 16th. The death has taken place of Roof Elizabeth Roberta Young Nea McGoyan. Service of Thanksgiving in her late home, 27 Curry Free Road, Watterside, tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m., followed by burial in St Michael's burial ground, Dona Manah. Family flowers only, donations in lieu if desired, to WH and SCT, Altney Galvin Hospital ICU, care of Mrs. Roof Hay Funeral Director. The death has taken place of Maureen Gill Nea McEleney, 29 Ard Raven Road, Bunkranna. Remains are reposing at her residence. Funeral from there tomorrow morning at 10.20, going to St Mary's Church Cock Hill for 11 o'clock recrim mass with burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery. Family time, please, from 9 p.m. The death has taken place of Seamus Boyle Ereté Manor Cunningham. Seamus's remains are reposing at his late residence and will remain at his home while recrim mass is being offered at All St. Church Newton Cunningham, tomorrow morning at 10 a.m., which can be viewed live on churchservices.tv. Funeral Cortège leaving his home at 11.30 a.m., travelling via Ereté Bray and down the Nause, going to Lakeland Crematorium Cavern for private cremation. Family flowers only, please. To nations in lieu of flowers if desired to the Modern Neuron Disease Association, care of any family member. The death has taken place of Theresa Macaulay, K. H. N. Newton Cunningham, formerly of Broca St. Johnson. Theresa is reposing at her late residence in Newton Cunningham. Funeral from there tomorrow afternoon at 12.30 p.m., going to All St. Church Newton Cunningham for one o'clock recrim mass with burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery. Mass can be viewed on newtoncalayparish.com. Family flowers only, please. Donations in lieu if desired to the Dunningall Hospice letter, Kenny, care of any family member or Kelly's funeral directors. Family time, please, from 10 p.m. to 12 noon. The death has occurred of Thomas Cannon, Thelon Street, Ballet Mote, County Slago, formerly of Kelly Beggs, County Dunningall. Removal from Thomas's residence in Ballet Mote today to the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Ballet Mote, to arrive for mass as a resurrection at 12 noon, burial afterwards at St Columbus Cemetery. Family flowers only, donations in lieu if so desired to the Irish Heart Foundation. Funeral mass will be streamed live on the Ballet Mote Parish website. For more details, including any family health guidelines for weks and funerals, please go to highlandradio.com. With inflation rising, we're all feeling the squeeze, but EnPos money can help you take the power back. Start today with our free money manager tool for current account holders, helping you track your income and spending, set and stick to budgets, and much more. Ready to take the power back? Visit EnPos.com forward slash money manager. EnPos is authorized by the Minister for Finance to provide payment services and is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland in the provision of such services. Okay, welcome back to the second hour of the nine till noon show and good morning to you. And you're welcome to the program if you're just tuning in. This corner says our original house was built many years before mica, but we had a huge extension built on a few years ago that might well be all mica. I wonder if the scheme will help us in this situation. Well, I don't want to mislead you in any way, shape or form. My understanding is it might not. But as I say, let's just wait to see what they finally agree on and then we'll know. I imagine it's an incredibly stressful situation for you as a family as well. Hi, could you inquire why hospitals and surgeries ring you on a private number? And if it's missed, you've no way of ringing them back. Thank you. I think you probably answered your own question in the answer is they don't want you to have the number for you to ring them back. I would suggest, I would imagine that's the reason why. And it means they can use multiple lines that may not be always manned all the time to be answered. But anyway, I would say that's precisely why they ring you on a private number, but it would just be, I think it would be better if there was a system because of course with all the scams going on now and withheld and unknown numbers are kind of a feature of the scam calls we get that maybe if there was some sort of a system through the regulator whereby hospitals or GP surgeries, it would just say GP. You know, if they want to withhold the number, that's fine, but even have a system whereby their ID is GP or ID as hospital, it might be helpful. Let me see, where am I going here? My daughter and a boyfriend were going to get the bus to get to the airport. They did not book their tickets online. There was then what looked like an empty bus, five passengers and two free seats. I felt so sorry for the poor bus driver. This was only going to get worse the rest of the journey and they were clearly so upset. So can you please put a call out to people? 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With trade stands, show and shine, tractor competition, live music from David James and the Children's Entertainment. It's sure to be a family fun day at the Finn Valley Show. This ad is sponsored by Kilpatrick Brothers Contracting for all your agree needs. Mowing, raking, billing, GPS so inks, slurry or manure spreading. Call Ray or Davey on 087-212-1760. The Saturday stretch week seven is here. Every Saturday throughout June, visit Oakfield Park Ruffeau from 11 until late. This week, there's live music from La Pomp after six with later running trains, food specials and buffers restaurant, craft beers and wines and live music from different acts each week. It's the perfect family day out. Normal gate fees apply, no booking required. Season pass and goal pass holders enter free. That's the Saturday stretch at Oakfield Park. Looking for the ultimate makeover for your home? Revive a special room conservatory or sunroom? Look no further. Hardwood Plantation Shudders is your answer. A stunningly beautiful piece of furniture that will totally enhance the look and bring ambience to any area of your home. Luxurious and classically modern and manufactured here in the Northwest. Any size, shape or color. Call or check out our website, Plantation Shudders Ireland also on Facebook and Instagram. Okay, we welcome on to the program now. Jerry McLaughlin, Jerry, thanks for taking the call today. No problem. I was just reading through what you've been through and I'm so sorry that, you know, when you needed people to be there to look after you that they ought to guide you or whatever that you were failed by them. It's an awful situation and I'm so sorry that you had to go through it. Yep. You're now living in Meville for over 20 years and you're among a group of men, sex abuse survivors who are going to be meeting Pope Francis. What happened to you, Jerry? There was eight of us in the group all together. We met Pope Francis on Monday. Last Monday, sorry, my mistake, sorry. And what happened to me? I was 11 years of age. I'd left my home in Scotland. I thought I'd application to become a priest. I left my home in Scotland, all my friends and family behind to go to a seminary in my field. And I was only there for about two or three months when the priest that was responsible for looking after the junior boys, he told me that I needed to, I can't remember, some medical condition or something like that. I can't remember what it is now. But he said the cure for it, he'd spoken to a doctor and the cure for it was for me to take a cold shower every morning. Well, this was in November time, which was in Yorkshire, it was pretty cold. But what he would do was he would come down. Well, see, there's other showers that the rest of the boys can take on the same floor as a dormitory, but this one was two floors down, right down in the basement, and that was to take my cold showers there. But he would come in, pull the curtains and watch me with a ring in his hands and he would offer to sponge me down and soak me down, which turned down, I think probably Alfred Hitchcock would appreciate a scene like that in the shower, naked in the shower. But then, I didn't give in to him, but I kept on going. After about two or three weeks, he stopped coming, but I kept going for about seven weeks. I was a bit afraid really to stop, as he told me to do it. So the next time it happened, so that was in second year when I was 12 years of age, I got an injury in the football field, it was a groin strain, and I asked him if I could leave the match, it was just a practice match. And he said yes, and to go up to the dormitory and go into bed there. So I did that, and I was very surprised because he was a referee of the match. About a couple of minutes later, he arrived, he must have told him just to get on with it themselves. And he kept asking if he could have a look and examine it. And I kept saying no. But he just kept on doing it, and I kept saying no. But at one point he was saying, look, don't you want to get better again? I could help to get it better. And I was thinking, well, I don't really like this, maybe should I let him have a look anyway? When he suddenly said, his father Valmadge weighed you. And I thought, what's that about? What does it matter whether he's weighed me or not? But it seems father Valmadge was the epitophile priest there along with father Pinkman. And it shows that they must have known about each other because he said, okay, if he hasn't weighed you, I'll get you booked into the infirmary. So I went and he took me along, and the infirmary was just where the boys went when they were sick, something wrong with them. I mean, it was obviously something serious so he'd go to the hospital. But father Valmadge, he wasn't qualified in anyway. He wasn't a doctor or a nurse, whatever. But he was in charge of the infirmary. And it seems what he used to do, so I discovered later was that he'd just book and he'd have all the boys' names in it. And he would tell them that he has to weigh them every so often, and they would have to take off their clothes, obviously, to be weighed properly. And he was abusing, there was another guy in the infirmary when I was there, a guy called Anthony Summers. But on the first day, father Valmadge would come in and said to Anthony Summers that he needed to get out, he was cured. And he said, no, I don't feel any better. He said, Adam, get out, get out. So he got out and then he locked the door. I was wondering why he was locking the door. And then he told me to take down my trousers and it seems the cure for a groin strain was cold, which he rubbed on my penis and testicles. I thought that was a bit odd, I thought, how could I fix it? But I was there seven or eight days in which he would do that twice a day. And he kept saying to me, make it go up. I was very lucky because I was 12 and I was only about a few weeks away. I think this was in June 65. And in July 65, I had puberty. So I was very lucky then. But it's on the other side. Sorry, you were gonna say others weren't so lucky. How long did this go on for, Jerry? Oh, this went on for years. And just you, I mean, obviously, I presume your family were very proud of you, that you were taking an interest in the spiritual life and what have you. Like were you able to speak to anyone to sort of figure out what was going on here? Did the other students talk amongst themselves? Were you able to reach out or did you trust any family members? So was that in other words, you weren't to bring shame on yourself or embarrassment on yourself? Like, what was it like dating with that emotionally? I never told anybody about it at all. My brother went to the same place about three years later. And later we spoke about it. We never spoke to anybody else in the family or anybody else about it. In fact, my best friend, there was a guy called Frank McGinnis. Now, Frank McGinnis was being abused at the same time as me, but the first we told each other about it was at a reunion about 40 years later. My word. But Frank was, Frank was, he spent the whole of the three years he was there trying to avoid Father Pinkman. Because what Father Pinkman would do, he would come into the area where the boys are, the recreation area, and he would... We'd try to be too graphic, Jerry, if that's okay. And that's not to diminish what you all went through, just with it being a sort of an early morning thing, Jerry. But I hope you understand why I say that. No, no, no, no, I understand. But all I was going to see was he would click his finger and that meant that Frank, to Frank, and that meant Frank had to go up to his room and wait for him to be abused there. Unbelievable stuff. This is going back to 1964. 1965, yeah. 1965, I beg your pardon. At what stage did you... At what stage did you leave this training school or what happened to you then through your teenage years and into adult life? I was actually... It was Easter 67 when there was three of us told to go and stand outside Father Rector's door. I wondered why. But the first guy that came, he came out and he said, I've been expelled. And then the second guy went in and he came out and he says I've been expelled. So I thought, oh my God, because this was like, this had really kind of taken over as my family, you know, the guys, they were my brothers. Some of the priests were, you know, our fathers, et cetera. So I went in, I was suspended for a year. I wasn't kicked out, I was suspended for a year, but after a year, I decided I wouldn't, you know, like I'd seen the other... What do you think the motivation was that? Was it to get, you know, obviously, the perpetrator wasn't going to be removed. Was it to, why do you think you three were expelled? What was their motivation for doing that? I think there was, well, Father Pinkman, he who had, he was one of the ones involved in abuse me, he actually told me, he came into the dormitory when I was there by myself, and he was kind of like a lover scorned or something, he says, you have told, I've marked the new Father Rector's card about you, because this Father Rector had only been there three months. So I've marked him about you and he's surprised that they're letting someone like you stay here. So I was a bit frightened by that, and I thought he's only bluffing, he's only kidding me, but obviously he had done that. So he told them supposed things that I'd done, and so therefore the new Father Rector decided to, well, it kicked the other two out, but he just suspended me, but I decided not to go back after that. And I mean, obviously you're having to deal with this through the years I mentioned. At what point did you sort of say, right, you know, a very serious wrong was done to me, a crime was committed against me, very, very seriously. To sort of try and pursue some justice for that, Jerry. At what stage of your life did you begin that, or feel ready to begin that process? Well, I think probably in my fifties, because there was a reunion. Well, I had been a couple before I went to one, but there was a school reunion that I went to, and then the boys, well, there were men obviously then, they started talking about it, and then other people came to the reunion, and then one of the guys decided that he was actually pursuing them for 27 years for an acknowledgement and an apology that could board the missionaries, but they wouldn't do it. So he had got himself a lawyer and was pursuing them there. So I thought to myself, there was other ones that were in the group. But the reason we got to the list, because he wanted a statement from each of us, saying that we had been abused to help his case. So we did that. And we thought, well, why don't we do that as well? And Justin, in speaking amongst each other, was it clear the kind of, and everyone would be different, the key, clear the kind of impact this abuse had on you throughout your lives up to the age of, I presume most of you were in your fifties at that point. Yeah. Other than what you would deal with internally, how had it affected your lives? Well, I mean, I weren't sort of going to an individual. Of course, yeah. But there's a pattern of alcoholism and breakups of marriages. Some of them go back, like Frank McGinnis, my best friend, his marriage broke up. 17 years later, I think him and his wife became good friends again. But there was an anger as well amongst them, just an anger at things about society and how life had treated them. So it was anger, and that was alcohol helped with that, but that didn't help with their marriages, which so many of them broke down. And as you say, the Kamboni missionaries, they denied it ever happened or frustrated the process of trying to get to the truth for the one gentleman that was pursuing them? It happened all those years ago, and some of the priests are not with us anymore. But we know they've got records because through our lawyers, we demanded to see any of the records they had about us. So I had my records from the first and second year. I was able to read that Father Pinkman had said about me that he couldn't get through to me at all. I was like a block, I would. What did that feel like reading that? And obviously knowing that it was written so long ago from the hands of your abuser as well, as a middle-aged person at this point, if you don't mind me saying so, like I'd class myself in that category as well. What was that like emotionally? Because whatever way you've been dealing throughout the years, it must have been like, did it feel like stepping actually back into that time again? Well, it was kind of a bit shocked because I did well in school and I think I had, you know, when I came here from, I lived in Greenoke in Scotland, at St Mary's School there. And I got the prize for ducks, which is the person who's taught for the top class. So, you know, I kind of expected that they thought, you know, this is a reasonable catch there, but all they said was that I was like, I couldn't get through to me at all. I was like a block, I would. So... In safe to injury, perhaps. So, when they finally did the Camboni missionaries, they finally settled, I suppose you could call it, is that, did they admit what went on? I mean, they paid compensation to 11 of the abused survivors in 2014, but they still, even at that point, weren't saying, you know, we're doing this because such and such happened. And is that still their stance? This, effectively, according to the Camboni order, did this abusive you and your fellow classmates, did it ever happen as far as they're concerned? Well, they never happened. The guy that was in charge of the Cambonis, while we were trying to pursue them, he was in the class, he was in our classes at school, and everybody else, you know, at some stage in their lives, must have sort of suspected it happens, but they basically, they were talking through their lawyers and their insurance company, and they were advising them what to say. And the advice was, don't admit anything. When we told the Pope that on Monday, he said, yes, they think they can buy it, they could go away buying their way out. He says that he was gonna set up a meeting between us and them, and he says there'd been no lawyers. But the Pope was very much on your side. Let's talk about that meeting because just for the listeners' perspective, this is what the Camboni order felt was the value of what you went through, 9,370 euro, almost an insult, really. And at the same time, not acknowledging formally that it happened. Before we talk about your meeting... Can I just... Yes, please. One thing there, and they say it didn't happen, but one of the reasons why we settled was because our lawyers said there's a statute of limitations, you know, you're too late. And also, they were doing it, they were gonna take 33% of whatever we got, but they said from here on, you have to pay for it yourself, and we just didn't have the funds to do that. Right, okay. So how did it come to pass that a meeting was arranged with the Pope? Is this something that you individually wanted, Jerry? Or were you approached by someone saying it might be? Like, how was this meeting framed and how did it come to happen? Well, there's a group of eight of us, including the guy who's been trying for 27 years to get them to admit it. We knocked on lots of different doors, we just kept going and going and didn't give in. And finally, we talked to a guy called Charles Cicluna, Cicluna, who's the Archbishop of Malta, but he's also the Pope's appointed by the Pope to investigate critical sex abuse among children. And the first time we contacted him, you're like, maybe he wasn't strong enough, he put it forward, but then he did. And he spoke to us, and we asked him, could you tell the Pope, because you can get through to him, could you tell the Pope what's happened to us? He says, okay, he says, write it all out, what happened to each of you, eight of you, or nine of us at the time. And then he looked at it, he says, it's too long, cut it to two pages each. So we cut it to two pages each, we gave it back to him. He had it translated into Spanish, and then he gave it to the Pope, and the Pope read it, and he said to Charles Cicluna, he says, go to London and speak to them. And so that's what happened. He came back and reported what we said to the Pope, and the Pope said that he wanted to see us in the Vatican. And that's how it came about. This is very unique, by the way. You said perhaps the first group of individuals that have had an audience with the Pope in this location under these circumstances. Exactly, that's what one of the priests there at the Vatican told us, we were the first ones ever. You've seen other ones before, other survivor groups, like when he came to Ireland, they met some in various places, but this is the first time that any group has been invited to the Vatican. And part of that is, because the Pope, he'd already read what happened to us, but he wanted to talk to us, and he wanted to hear what we thought and get our advice on it. And so we gave it to him. Right, now, you might individually, I think you were the sixth to meet the Pope. How long did you have with him, by the way, before we talk about the conversation? We were supposed to have an hour from nine o'clock to 10, but the one in front of us was a bit delayed. So we were talking about between 20 past nine and half past nine. And we didn't get out until after 11 o'clock. So we had a well over an hour and a half with him. If it's not a personal question prior to the meeting, and not prior to the meeting, but post what you went through, did you turn your back on religion? Did you, were you angry at it? Or what was your sort of status? If that's not personal, if it is, just ignore the question, Jerry. We'll move on. But that is fine. I gave up on religion about running. I was running up at the same time as I left the college, but I don't think it was to do with that. I just didn't believe it anymore, even while I was still there. Right, so... But there are other ones amongst us, like there was one guy, one of our guys, Chris, he actually, he didn't speak, but he wrote it all down in a letter because he says he wouldn't be able to do it. Chris is homosexual, and he wrote down in the letter that he'd been told by many priests and people in the Catholic Church that he wasn't able to take communion anymore, and that he said he was psychologically disturbed, being homosexual, et cetera. And so because he wasn't allowed to take communion, he thought, I'm not going to Mass, it's a second-class citizen. So he gave up going to Mass 26 years ago, and that was in the letter to the Pope. The Pope didn't say anything. Well, while we were leaving, he shook hands, he went to the door, he shook hands with each of us, we had a picture taken with him, and he beckoned to Chris to, because it was a wheelchair, to come a bit closer. And Chris went closer, and he said to him, take communion. And when I went outside, I saw Chris, he was totally in tears at a breakdown that the head of the church, of which he had been a second-class citizen, and stopped going to Mass, had told him that he was free to go to communion, which I'm sure you've got, you've got homosexual listeners out there who will be glad to hear that they are welcome in the Catholic Church again. Yeah, that must have meant an awful lot to Chris, because you can just imagine for 26 years. Okay, right. So talk to me about how it felt walking into the room, the conversation with the Pope. What do you believe he wished to get from? His conversation with you, Jerry? I think he was looking to, I mean, he knew what had happened just before, but so we told him a little bit, but it was mainly advice. Like, one of the pieces of advice that I gave him was that what they used to do, the Koboni missionaries, was if a priest had been found out as being a pedophile priest, he'd been abused in the boys. What they tended to do was send them to the missions in Africa. Like Father Pinkman, the one who abused me and Frank and a lot of others, he was sent to Africa to Uganda. And while he was there, he became the head of the Scout Movement for Northern Uganda. I mean, that's ridiculous. So I said to the Holy Fathers, we call them, I said that when African countries, when they realize that European religious orders are dumping their pedophile priests on them, all hell's gonna break loose. There's gonna be an explosion. What did he say to that? Well, what? What did he say to that? Well, he was not, I said that this could have a major effect on the Catholic church in Africa. And he was looking at me and he was nodding his head as well and he saw up pointed his finger. You're like, I've taken this point. In terms of, did he ask you to forgive the church? No, he didn't. The only forgiveness, he apologized to us and he said he begged our forgiveness. Did you give him your forgiveness? Well, we didn't really answer that because he was talking at the time. So we just, I mean, it was very much appreciated. I mean, it wasn't him, it did it. But obviously, he feels as if your buck stops here, he's head of the church that caused it to happen to. And you're like, in terms of the advice, as I said, he took my points about the African. Understood, yeah? Yeah. So, and in terms of seeking to, did you mention broken a meeting with the Camboni order or what do you commit to in that regard? Oh, yes, yes. That was one of the takeaway points. He said that not only should he apologize to do something for us, he says today, this very day, I'm going to contact the Cambonis who are in Rome and he told them, he says, I'm going to tell them that they need to meet you. And he says, I'm also going to tell them that they should never send their pedophile priests to Africa again. And he says he was gonna tell the rest of the orders that. So it was great. And in terms of... I act on something that I advised him on. And you got a sense from the Pope that he genuinely finds sexual abuse of children abhorrent, how the church dealt with it, those that were responsible for it. It was very clear to him in strong terms that this is just completely and utterly unacceptable. See, they're abusing children like that and covering, it goes beyond sin. He says it's monstrous. He says it puts them in mind of the olden days when they used to make sacrifices of children to the gods. It's just completely monstrous. I mean, totally against. He did say a couple of years ago, I read that he said that when he was speaking to someone else, he says those that cover up the abuse of children which the Cambonis have done, he says they're caca, which I don't think needs to translate into English. No, he's used that phrase before as well. So, again, is it a personal question? I mean, you met, you know, the head of the church, the representative of God on Earth, depending on your belief system, has, did you get the sense that you were in the presence of something in particular? Has it had any impact on you in a religious sense? Not in a religious sense, because I'm a non-believer anyway. But in terms of the Catholic church, I mean, we all, we spoke afterwards, all of us felt that the Pope was extremely serious about this. And see, I think people think that the Catholic church is a very hierarchical organization. Well, it is in terms of dogma then, the rules, et cetera. But like, what I didn't know when we first started this was anybody can start a religious order. I could, you could. You don't need the permission of the Pope and they don't report into anybody. They only report into their own superior general. I mean, the Pope can't actually tell them to meet us. He could just call them up and say, look, I want you to meet them. They could turn them down if they wanted. Okay. Listen, Jerry, thanks for so much of your time. We'll see and hopefully we can follow with you to see if those commitments are followed through on. Yes. And again, thanks. Thanks so much for sharing that with us. I really appreciate it. No problem. Thanks very much for having me out. No, no, it's our pleasure. Okay, that was Jerry McLaughlin there and living in Meville for the last two decades. But you heard his story there, a shocking one. He met with the Pope on Monday. 08 660 25,000 WhatsApps and texts that number. Now, of course, the big event taking place in Donegal this weekend. It's going to be huge. Yes, the C-Sessions Festival. No, I'm only messing. That is also taking place this weekend and is going to be huge. But from our perspective, we're going to be focusing on the Donegal International Rally. It seems like it's going to be a cracker for a myriad of reasons. So we're going to be having a number of guests in studio to discuss that. And later on as well, we're going to be answering your gardening questions, by the way. So get the questions. I get your comments in on that as well. 08 660 25,000. That is the text line. 08 660 25,000. Or give us a call at 07 491 25,000. The Ninetal News Show is brought to you by Letter Kenny Credit Union, offering low-rate car loans with fast approval. Apply online at letterkennycu.ie or in office today. The band everyone is talking about, The Seeger Sessions Revival, the 13-piece band playing the music of Bruce Springsteen's Seeger Sessions at the Abbey Hotel Donegal Town on Father's Day, Sunday 19th of June, 3.05 p.m. Tickets available now at eventbrite.ie. New cap scheme to pay farmers 250 euro per hectare. For more on this week's Farmers Journal, is Paul Mooney. Farmers in the new scheme will also be offered priority entry to the new rep scheme. As the 1000 euro silage scheme is set to open, we reveal details on when you'll be paid. And former T-Shop John Bruton, Warren Zeiland, could have to enforce EU border. Plus, don't miss the Irish Farmers Journal, junior newspaper written for young farmers. Inside this week's Irish Farmers Journal, on sale now. House to Home, Bridgend, Donegal. Our modest front door opens on the two floors of Irish-made furniture, suites, beds, mattresses, dining, and occasional furniture. Step into our showroom and see how we can transform your house into a home. House to Home furniture, flooring, slide robes, and interiors, Bridgend, Donegal. I've got the power! Tesco Club Card has the power to lower prices on tasty nibbles like selected Pringles now three for five euro, and Marquis D'Albonne Reserve, a Bordeaux Superior 75CL, and Chateau Mazanne Rouge 75CL, both better than half price at eight euro 50 each. It can't stop you getting crumbs everywhere though. Nothing's that powerful. 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Join Highland Radio for live coverage of the Donegal International Rally on air and online at highlandradio.com in association with Voodoo Vinyu Letter Kenny. Donegal's premier entertainment venue for this Rally Friday playing live. It's Sailor Bill. OK, so the 2022 Jewel Donegal International Rally returns to the highways and the byways of Canton Donegal this weekend with a star-studded lineup of entries for an event which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. We're joined in studio now by a number of guests that will say hello first to Oshin Kelly, head of sport with Highland Radio Oshin. Thanks for calling in. Morning, Greg. Also, Inspector Seamus McGonagall's with us. Seamus, good morning to you. Morning, Greg. And we also have Brian Brogan, chair of the Donegal Motor Club. Brian, good to have you in. Morning, Greg. And Amy McGee, Clark of the course of the 2022 Jewel Donegal International Rally. So before we talk about, you know, what's going on around the guarder operation and, of course, the coverage, Brian, I'll start with you. You know, where does this line up in terms of, you know, the previous years of this rally in terms of the field, the way you feel you've got the course laid out, the organization that's in place. Is it up there? Certainly, as Greg is supposed to be, if you look back over the last two years, we had nothing. It's definitely better than last year's. Without a doubt, it's getting better. And believe it or not, we did prepare for the last two years, and then again, it was slowed down at the 11th hour. But being the 50th anniversary, it's a huge hype for us, and it's a huge role for Tecari, for Donegal Motor Club, and Amy and his team, and he has everything in tact too. So, you know, we have 208 cars of a field to get out on stages over the weekend, which is a massive job in its own right. And we've been working hard on it for months at this point now. And we're really looking forward to it. It's great for all of the people that are involved and that help, and that they're doing their own reach or when they're out, everybody has responsibility and responsible part to play, and they're happy to do it, delighted to be out. And over the last two years, we didn't see them, people, so we're delighted to be where we are now the day this morning. And every way you look in the various categories, I mean, there's a lot at stake here. There's a lot of people going to be landing here, you know, to do well, reflecting on other competitions and what have you as well. I mean, we're seeing the best of the drivers with plenty at stake. That's what you want in any sporting event, isn't it? Yeah, it doesn't go all as it does the pinnacle. There's no doubt in Ireland and far and beyond, because a lot of English people come here now that they keep coming back, and they just enjoy and they enjoy the hospitality of the people, the welcome that they receive, and the weekend is on it when you have three days, and a lot of them's coming for five and six days, which is very beneficial for the county too, and we welcome them at all, they have good fun, and it's a sport at the end of the day, it's volunteers that we have at hand that have to organise and manage it, so it's great for everyone that we're back on the road again. And then talk to us about, and for those who don't follow the rally intimately, all right, but maybe they're saying, you know, this year could be the year that I want to go and see what's going on. How does it work in terms of the various different types of cars, the various different types of competition? I know it's probably pretty complex, but how does that work? Well, as hardy, it's complicated, all right, but first of all, we probably have the first top 10 cars and you can get in British Isles at the moment, like the Irish boys and some of the English lads there, but they are the cream of Ireland at the moment, they're all here, and then the next section, then probably would be the, which most people come as the modified section, and we do have the cream of modified at the moment. Any driver that's worth the salt is here this weekend. But then again, there is also people down, class winners probably down the end of the field, they have their own wee battles, and they take as much enjoyment out of it as anybody else does, you know. And it's an expensive sport at all levels, these people are hugely passionate and there's a lot of bragging rights at all levels as well. But there is, even to the last carry, you know, he's probably in a class and if he wants that class, it's like first overall to him. And in terms of setting the course out, how is that done? You know what I mean, in terms of deciding the stages, where they start, where they end, what factors are included? Is it about, you know, how it might look, the challenge to the drivers, because you have to get it right, it's like setting up a golf course, you know. If you don't do that right, the top golfers are gonna say, you know, these greens are too quick or your fairways are too wide. So how do you sort of set the course up? Is that a big job? Well, it's not just on the year spent, like we would have, we have tradition, we know all the stages, we use them over the years and that. And then you kind of try, you don't want to be too same thing every year, like so we're gonna change it, chop and change it and you look at it and you say, how does that look? And then we have to watch, there's certain things you have to watch, you can't be too fast, you have to put in elements of to slow them down a wee bit and stuff, you know, so there's a lot. And then we work then with most of our errands for probably the last three or four months to get it on the safest way that it's safer for both spectating and competitors. Yeah, indeed. And Oshin Kelly, from a sports perspective, you know, I mean, this is up there, it's one of the jewels and the crowns in terms of the events that, you know, either Donagall is involved in, say for instance, with the football, but certainly in terms of what we host. I mean, this is renowned. This is like the All-Ireland final, Greg, basically the simplest way to explain is it's the All-Ireland final for the rally men. This is the big one, this is the one they want. It's part of a number of championships, primarily the Irish Tarmac Championship, which has been led at the moment by Josh Moffat. So it's a key part of that. But anybody who's involved in rallying, be it the top men that are competing in the series or the club man that Eamon alluded to there, there's some men that might do one or two rallies a year and this is one of them and they put every penny that they earn over the last 12 months and did. So there's certain dynamics and there's, everybody has a different story in it, but it's massive, it's huge for Donagall. It's the biggest event in rallying and when you see something like Matt Edwards, who's a three-time British champion, want to come do this event and take on the challenge. And we've had big names previously here before. We do, of course, in the way of Colin McRae here that Colin McRae and we had Sebastian Loeb. And there's always somebody who wants to come and take on this challenge because there's a challenge that is, there's nothing like it anywhere else in the world in rallying. You have Tarmac rallies elsewhere, but it's not to the same sort of spec or challenge of Donagall. It's not the road surface is totally different to what you would get in a Tarmac rally somewhere in Europe and to that extent, even in England as well. So it is a unique challenge, but it's one that everybody in rallying that wants to be a part of, Greg. And it's, if you can finish Donagall, even if you don't win your class, you're top three. You get to the finish ramp on the Sunday evening at the Mount Darragall Hotel. You've taken on that challenge and you've beat that challenge because you were able to get to the finish. It feels like driving to work in the morning. We all tease these roads. Before we bring the inspector in. So how does it play out over the three days? I don't know who's, do you want to take that one, Brian? It really kicks off Friday, Saturday and it's Sunday then, isn't it? Yeah, well, you have no the season on the main street in Lederkin. Now we have a ceremonial start and around a half, seven. Well, you'll have the first top 20 cars there with maybe 20 locals again too. That'll take part in that. So that's really officially where we start. Then we're off tomorrow morning, we'll be leaving the ramp at around 11 o'clock and then into service, heading for your first loop of stages. Then in the initial one direction, back to service then again around two o'clock and back to the same loop of stages repeated tomorrow. And then onto Saturday then you're heading for a service and you have your three stages on Saturday, being the Cairnhull, the Fannet and Nakhala, repeated twice. And then we're dropping the Nakhala stage on the final loop, which will leave eight stages on Saturday. And then if we're lucky enough to be on it again on Sunday morning, we head then to Gjärten, first stage, Glein, the second and the Atlantic Drive for the third one, service then and repeat again. So in between the first and second loop on Sunday, we have the past winners are taking part in that on Glein and Atlantic Drive. So that's where Oshin might want to come in and some of those guys where we have Aravadnan and Kehal Khorlein. Doesn't look too keen. Keen, I'm actually thinking you better mention Seamus McGilligan here, Ray. That's the point as well. He'll not be happy with one of the past winners. That's why you're a little dee-e-e-e-o, Seamus. I was watching an old video of Seamus McGilligan coming into Ladder County. I think I don't know how long ago it was, but the crowds, you know, the way the crowds were back in the day. It was a different time then. Inspector Seamus, we're going to go really, you know, obviously everyone has to keep the race in the place. These guys are all sort of, they've done this before. That's all well-organised and all that type of stuff. You know, I mean, I presume a lot of the guard of focus will be on those coming in to the county over the weekend. Yes, Greg. If I may first just compliment the Motor Club on reaching this milestone event and emphasise the fact that we have a very close rapport with the Motor Club and there's been huge plans put in place and an awful lot of work has been put in from our perspective and association with them, Brian and Amy and others. Yes, there is an emphasis right for us on the supporters coming to the town and coming to the county for the weekend. And we just like to get the message across to everybody coming to slow down, to respect other road users and to respect the residents. And that really encapsulates everything we want, to slow down and respect for others. Yeah, but in anticipation of, well, I mean, to enforce that, to police that, there is going to be a significant guard of operations. Perhaps what is probably the biggest of the year, is it? Absolutely, it's the biggest. It's a huge operation. You have colleagues coming up from Dublin, obviously as many of the, not Dublin, sorry, up from down the country. Obviously the guardies that are already here aren't about visible, making sure that people stick to the rules. There's a huge number of resources, but in terms of manpower and physical resources, we're going to be here over the weekend. Again, when you have a weekend like this, where there's huge numbers of people coming into the county, it's only natural that we're going to have to put a huge police and plan in place for it. And that has been done so. And in other years, things have gone very smoothly in other years. There's huge numbers come to town here in particular and the county is all. And yet there's never any great issues about it. But we're prepared for all eventualities. We've had the plans in place. We've got coordination and help with the motor club, as I said earlier. And we're ready to roll as the case may be. Yeah, indeed. Anna and your colleague in with us earlier in the week, Sergeant Walsett, you know, there is a zero tolerance policy to this. If courts are needed, they're there. I saw some advice being put out, even as it relates to modifications, as it relates to the likes of tinting on front windows. You know, that is the people can expect to, if they encroach on the law, if they break the law, they can expect to be found out for it. Yeah. Just to reiterate what Sergeant Walsett here on Tuesday, everything's in place to deal with all these issues that may arise. There's PSV inspectors and other inspect cars for any unlawful modifications, et cetera. We've got high visibility checkpoints and patrol out, but we also have a number of unmarked vehicles there. And everything should be in place to ensure that everything keeps safe. And as I say, all this, our mission statement is to keep people safe. And that's particularly important on a weekend like this, when there's such huge numbers around. And we just make that appeal to everybody to slow down, to respect others, and everybody will have a great weekend. Yeah, I mean, in terms of spectating, and a lot of the people that we've just been talking about, probably won't even do that. But for those who want to spectate, how do you know where you can stand, where you can park, where it's safe, where it's a good spot? I mean, obviously the regulars have an intimate knowledge of that. But again, I'm just thinking of those maybe, you know, their sons or daughters come into an age where they've been interested in this kind of stuff. So how do you know where you can go and watch and all that type of stuff? Well, a lot of people, like if you go and, if you check out the maps and you'll find out, like most of the way we side roads or somewhere that we have on the map, no spectator. Brilliant. And good viewing. And they come and they just, they'll find, but I would hate anybody that's come on if the marshals are on the location or whatever that they come to, like, you know, they hate them and they will make sure that you're standing safe. But again, one of the biggest points we've done as the likes of Inagala, anybody who wants to go down there early, that road's closing two hours prior on the front of the hill, they can be parked and bussed up to the top of the hill. There's a bus shuttle running, taking people up to the top of the hill for till whatever time that we call it then, whether we were about to start competing on it. So, you know, there is a good enough place for a family to come. They can get bussed up. There are plenty of viewing points up in the hill and it is one of the sustaining viewing points of the whole event. Yeah, even if there's no cars there, it's bloody beautiful. All right, I'm going to go to the news a couple of minutes late, Amazon, highly your horse is there. Brian, it's one of those, though, isn't it? Everything can be done, has been done now. You just hope the weather plays ball, which looks good. I don't know if it's good if it's rounded up, but anyway, it looks like it's going to be a good weekend. You know, everyone gets around safe, you know, and that it's a good competition and you can drop the shoulders on Monday and say, you know, Fantastic 2022 was another great year. It's probably a bag of emotions at the moment, is it? There's a lot going on and it's challenging, I suppose, but that's what makes it all special because you unfortunately will have a few days rain or a few showers and stuff like that, but that makes it more challenging for some competitors and tire choice and service crews and the wee rub of the green is very important in it too. So, you know, you're out on it it's three days at 15 or 20 degrees. Everybody has the same tire choice. Less mistake can be made. So it's more challenging when there is a shower rain and you want a different terrain where you need to be better prepared, better organized and as I said, the wee rub of the green means a lot over the period of 20 stages and three days, but the speed work is done now at this point and we're just looking forward to the drop of the flag now and get on with the race. Arsene, talk to us about how people can track what's going on. As our phone line, as the reception's improved back in the day, you know, it was tight to get reports back from different places. Hopefully, that's improved, but tell us what people can... I wrote an article for the program about the rally in the radio and back in the day that there was no mobile phone service. You had to go to the last house and fan it head. So you had just to get a report back to the station, but things have improved, Greg. And you can follow all the action in Highland. We'll be live on air and we'll have extra stuff online on our website and our social media channels. I'll be out and about on the road. Chris Ashmore's joining the team and he always does rally weekend. We're going to have Hammett's service situated in service. We've got the Highland bus out, though the broadcast unit's going to be sitting down there as well. So it's going to be action packed. Talk about looking about finishing a journey. Yeah, so it's going to be action packed and you can follow everything on Highland on air. Right across the socials on there. We'll be coming in to the score program tonight from the Main Street for the ceremonial start, which starts at 7.30. So we'll be talking to a couple of the drivers, some of the top contenders that likes the two maffits, Josh and Sam and Kellan Devine and Aleister Fisher and listen, the list goes on. There's loads of modified men and there's locals as well that will also be looking to make their mark this weekend, Greg. That's it. And finally, Inspector, you know, the last thing we want is to be having any conversations on Monday morning about, you know, an RTC, a fatal RTC. All of that's completely avoidable. If we just follow the simple bits of advice, keep the race in its place, go to organize events, stay off the back roads, you know, because I know there's numbers there available for locals to call in if stuff's going on. For crying out loud, if you're in the back seat of cars, put your seatbelts on the amount of videos you see in social media of young ones having the crack and there's not a seatbelt in the back of the car and in a high speed crash, it's horrific what can happen. So put your seatbelts on, please, please, please. But we don't want to be talking about anything on Monday morning. We don't want anyone on the obituary notices on Monday or Tuesday morning. People, ideally, the simple advice is to slow down and respect other road users. It nearly goes without saying at this stage that people should always put a seatbelt, not be drink driving, not be drug driving, as the case may be. But please just slow down, respect others and hopefully on the morning here, it'll be all about who won the rally and who came second or whatever and there'd be nothing negative or not on toward it all. Yeah, all right. Anything anyone wants to add, Brian, Aiman? I would just say in relation to the safety and obeying the marshals and officials is very important from a motor club point of view. And so we would more say it's maybe than the green cross code, you know, and the people, the marshals that are out there actually know what they're doing and if you're there and abide by them, they're looking after everyone's safety. So it's very, very important that all spectators what are here to whatever information they're given to buy the marshals and officials that they're there for everyone's benefit. Yeah, exactly, and they know what's what and they're there to keep people safe. That's the function, isn't it? Okay, listen, thank you very much, Josh and Kelly will be here in plenty of years. We always do offer at the weekends, of course. Best of luck with everything that you're doing. Inspector Seamus McGonagall. Hopefully yours is as quiet a weekend as is possible. Brian Brogan, chair of the Donagall Motor Club has always thank you. And last but not least, Amy McGlee. Clark of the course, Clark of the course of the 2022 Joel Donagall International Rally. Thank you very much indeed. Have a great weekend, everyone. Yes, thank you very much. All right, stay with us. Okay, it is five past 11 and we cross over now for the latest news headlines and say good morning to Emma. Thanks, Greg. Good morning. An engineer has again raised concerns about the defective concrete block scheme saying he doesn't believe the enhanced scheme agreed this week will adequately address the problem. Dr. Ambrose McCluskey says there is still not enough information about the exact nature of block degradation and previous recommendations that there will be more research have not been followed through. Guardi are appealing for information on a hit-and-run road traffic collision involving an Irish prison service van on the end to a Kilcrow Clonturbit County Monaghan yesterday evening. At approximately 6.45, a gold colored BMW X5 was in collision with an Irish prison services van. The full report is available on our website at HighlandVideo.com. A Donagall TD has called for the voting edge to be lowered to allow young people's voices to be heard in the climate debate. Deputy Thomas Pringle is bringing a bill forward next week on lowering the voting edge to 16. He says the voices of young people must be part of the climate debate as they are the ones who will be most affected by it. The PSNI is urging young people who have been sexually abused to come forward after a major case concluded in County Dairy last week. On Thursday, June 9th, a 26-year-old man from the Dairy area was sentenced to 10 years at Corian Crown Court. Joshua Alford was sentenced for a number of series of sexual offenses against children. He will be placed on the 6th Offender's Register for an indefinite period and will be subject to a sexual offenses prevention order for 10 years. Donagall County Council has been asked to consider allocating its vacant houses through a choice-based letting model which would involve advertising vacant properties and inviting people to register in interest. The change was suggested by Councillor Michael McBride who suggested it could speed up the letting process. And finally, parts of the country will see a mini heatwave before the weekend, but it will largely bypass Donagall. Temperatures will reach up to 22 degrees in parts of the country this afternoon, raising to almost 25 degrees tomorrow. However, the weekend will see cooler temperatures and more unsettled weather. That's all for now. We'll be back again with the headlines at 12 noon. Okay, I'm gonna thank you very much indeed for that. Back with more after the break, by the way, the poll's gonna be answering your gardening questions. Get them into us right now. We'll wait 60, 25,000. Two full-time and two part-time childcare assistants and a further two to cover maternity leave. An experienced cook for 15 to 20 hours per week. For further information, contact Paula on 074-9190151 or send your CV to info at rsgchildcare.com. Wet and wild, your one-stop shop for water sports is fully stocked with all the leading brands of wetsuits, bodyboards, kayaks, paddleboards, scuba gear, swimwear, dry robes, tow floats, UV protection, life jackets, sunglasses, pointy aids, picnic blankets, cool boxes, cool bags, cook sets, stoves, barbecues, and beach wind breaks. So if you're on and under or beside the water this summer, wet and wild can keep you safe and looking good. If you're having any hearing difficulties at Donegal Hearing Clinic, we can help. If your hearing loss is slight but you want to look into it or it's got to the point where you have no other choice, we'll do what it takes to resolve your problem. It may be as simple as a wax removal. Donegal Hearing Clinic, peer showed letter Kenny and Midtown Business Park, Bunkrana. Call us on 07491 88470 or visit donegalhearingclinic.ie. Life sounds brilliant with Donegal Hearing Clinic, letter Kenny and Bunkrana. All roads lead to Warehouse Bar and Kitchen, main street letter Kenny this rally weekend. Food and drink served all day, late night opening all weekend. Live music and DJs throughout the rally. Warehouse Bar and Kitchen would like to wish all the competitors good luck this rally weekend. Premier division football resumes this weekend after the summer break and Fin Harps swing back into action with the Derby Clash await us like a rovers this Saturday night. Join Jeremy Doherty and Declan Boyle for live match commentary from 7.45 kickoff at the showgrounds. Fin Harps live on Highland in association with B&S Credit Union, Bala Buffet, whose members only big card draw takes place on Wednesday the 6th of July. A beautiful high under I-20 and thousands in cash prizes will be given away. Save the date. B&S Credit Union Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. It's all happening at the Farmers' Home in Straban this weekend. Come along and enjoy live music in the beer garden with Thran O'Brien's. There's a free barbecue from 8 to 8. Don't miss it this Saturday the 18th. Celebrate the summer jam in Straban at the Farmers' Home. Is your home or motor insurance up for renewal? Now is the time to check if your policy still offers you the right cover and the right fit at the right price. To be sure you're getting the best deal, take this opportunity to shop around. It's easier than you think. Simply contact your insurer or broker today. Remember, don't just renew. Review. For more information, visit understandinginsurance.ie. Brought to you by Insurance Ireland. Okay, you're very welcome back to the Uncle Noon Show. And good to have Paul McLaughlin, gardener at Ballard or Garden Centre coming in answering your questions, Paul. When was the last time you were in? Two weeks. Time goes really quick. Is that it? Does he get older, I wonder? I don't know. I don't know. Can't believe it's thirsty already. Come here. We're in the throes of summer. It's great, isn't it? The weather, not playing ball. Maybe it's good for growth, is it? Very much. Any plants in the ground is thriving at the moment because it's actually not suffering far like a water, if you know what I mean. Just the cold one there has been soaring the wee bed and plants and that sort of stuff. But now anything, it's sort of people establishing hedges. That's just perfect conditions for that. All right, OK. Right, let's get to some questions. We'll get to some questions after we run through a few bits and bobs. Gives people the chance to have... Chance to have a text in. I heard a potato blight warning there. They were able to say specifically for Donegal and a few other areas. What is played... What weather factors play into a potato blight warning? Pretty much generally sort of dull, muggy weather. It's quite warm and humid. It's sort of perfect conditions for the potato blight to spread. It spreads from leaf to leaf and like sort of stagnant air that's not moving that much yet. Quite mild and damp sort of conditions. It's perfect for it. And can farmers do anything about that? Because it's all right having the warning, but what can you do to prevent it? Probably commercial farmers are looking to sort of sprays. Yeah. Chemical sprays pretty much. A lot of people are sort of going against that at the moment because it's a food crop so they want to go to sort of more organic ways of doing it. And it's another thing where people are actually getting back to old ways. You get a product your probably grandparents would use called blue stone. Actually keep the blight off, but it is sort of coming back into fashion now because it's still classes organic. All right. And is potato blights like a bacteria or an animal? What actually is it? Yeah, it's a fungus actually. It spreads by spores which sort of moves from field to field and settles in the leaves. And it's actually a good practice to get into good sort of hygiene around your garden too. If you do get sort of a blight, it's very important to remove the taps and actually take them away and actually burn them or something like that. So they don't sort of if they lay about in a compost heap they can actually reinfect next year. Yeah. And such as the nicest foods are the ones that are the most fattening. You can get blight resistant crops but they're not the tastiest. Well, that's my opinion. Now you do get their hungarian potatoes. They're called Sharples. They're a few different varieties of them now. And they tend to be quite watery sort of sort of waxy spuds if you know what I mean. So it's sort of a matter of taste I suppose. Yeah. Literally a matter of taste. Okay. June, what's June go for planting? It's still, it's actually a great time now that kids are off school or coming off school in the next week or two. So it's a great time to get planting even seeds. That take off quite well in June. Sort of stuff, excalions. That sort of stuff would go well and it's a good enough month to be planting pretty much anything into the ground. And it's probably easy. And you know, we probably think... Do you know the way we are? We probably think the weather's never going to improve but it is next week. It's actually looking to be quite good. We could see a fall off on rainfall, higher temperatures, not necessarily next week but certainly into July and August. So you have to be mindful of that as well. It's not going to be all rosy like it is now at the moment. Yeah, absolutely. I know once the weather comes good, it's great to get out and about. Now, judging by my social media, I'm the only person left in Dunningall. Everyone else is taking pictures of their toes beside a pool out far and somewhere. What advice have you got for those that are planning? Maybe if they're lucky enough to get away for a week or two weeks and wondering what they're leaving behind them? Probably if they are lucky enough to get away. It's supposed to be main concern along with pets would be people's house plants. A lot of people treat their house plants like a pet almost. So it's a good idea just to bear in mind. Probably the most reliable thing is just if you have a trusted neighbour or relative, get them to call in and give them a wee water. You'll have to cover their break down, but sure. Yeah, pretty much. But now there are a few other tips you can do. Like a lot of people would actually move, I see me in my other used house, move everything to the bath and put like a few bath towels, wet and bath towels in under like a wick almost. Put all the house plants in there. What about your outdoor stuff that you can't dig up and bring into the bathroom? The outdoor stuff, if it's in pots, that sort of stuff, generally what you would do would be to remove all your pots, say, wherever it's a sheltered spot, be it around the back of the house, around the back of the garage. Anywhere the one's not going to get at them and dry them out. Yeah. But the only problem with that there is to do that then, that sort of damp humid area you want to keep them where it keeps them watered is actually where the slugs and snails like to hang out to. And the conditions are perfect for them. Exactly. So you may have to put a few extra slug pellets around your pots or something like that. Just cancel your holidays. The only solution. Cancel the holidays. Stay at home with the plants. Stay at home with your plants. It's the only real solution. Right, let's get to some questions. Are the gardens sent to roadies the same as the ones you see in the wild? No, they're not. The ones you see in the wilds that are rooted under in Ponticum, which is a very bad reputation in terms of the purple ones. Bit of a drinker. Starts the odd row. What's? Pretty much. Generally, you want to get any badness you can get up to. All right. But, you know, it's very invasive and it spreads and spreads like Glenway down there. It's just riddled with them there. But the ones you buy in the garden centers are either bred for colour and they're all hybridised. So they're actually... They're class of stagnant plants in terms of you plant one plant and it'll stay one plant and won't sort of move itself along. What's the eating the leaves off my gooseberry bush and how can I prevent it? A gooseberry bush would be likely to be sort of... If it can do it at this time of year, our gooseberries tend to suffer very badly from the thing called safflite. Which, generally, once you're looking for some sort of chemical spray, I would say to get rid of some sort of insecticide. Safflites can actually be very hard to kill. Where my hydrangea plant is in a dry spot in my garden. When is the best time to dig up the roots and move it over? Yeah, generally, any time from but the 1st of December up to about St Patrick's Day. OK. That's probably the dormant season for us. Right, I'm trying to grow a hedge. How often should I feed and water it? Feeding it, if you're feeding it with some sort of... Like organic or a good old fashioned chicken poop. Good chicken poops. Pretty much. I feed it every three months. Start about around St Patrick's Day, 1st of April and then sort of do about three feedings from three month periods from then on. Because it's hungry. Absolutely, and if you're looking to establish it like obviously the better, the better fed it is, the better it's going to perform. All right, I'm living by the sea, but the land is not great. What would you recommend to grow? To grow generally what it costs. Anything, if you actually look at plants in the garden center, anything with a grayish tint of leaf is actually very much geared towards seaside growth. So if you get sort of the sea hallways, that sort of stuff, it's probably depends on your exposure and everything. Because wind is important, isn't it? Wind and the salt in there can be a problem. But once again, it's about sort of looking at your garden and stages. Maybe the one they said, get a house planted, get it established and that sort of creates only micro-climate behind it. You can actually grow much more stuff than you originally thought. Yeah, okay, if you protect it from the worst of the. The ground conditions itself, I mean, does the quality of soil by the sea vary to the quality of soil in land? It can do, sometimes around the sea, like... Sandy stuff, isn't it? Upround sort of downings in the very garden. That tends to be very sandy soil. Whereas you go for sort of more towards good orb on baggy, you can get pity soil right down to things. So it doesn't matter if you're sitting back and always for no matter what you're trying to grow, if you stand back and look at your neighbour's garden, sort of established gardens in the locality, you can see what has done well for them. Yeah, true. We'll call Rana for a cup of tea and ask them. Yeah, pretty much. Yeah, exactly. Cats keep making the way into my garden that I've just done up. Is there any safe way of deterring them? Once again, the cats, it's always a problem for people, it's one of the most common things you get asked in the garden centre. Do you have any of the most safe and... What harms do cats do, by the way? They're poo and pee, doesn't it? Pretty much. Is it harmful? It can be harmful, I think it carries a parasite, but the main problem with it is the fact that they dig out their natural instinctives to bury. Right, okay. So they dig up and they dig up plants and stuff like that, you know? So the most reliable thing is just persevere with them, get the hose. And if you see them, just give them a squirt. And they learn that when they land, they're gonna... They'll find somewhere better. Okay. I've just moved into an apartment and I miss my big garden at my home house. What plants would thrive best in a small plot of a small balcony and want to make it as green as possible? So they're looking in a small space to go big. Yeah, it's amazing what you can actually do in a small space like a balcony, you can make it look great. Someone like that, there are a lot of factors involved. First, the main factor would be the direction you're facing. If it's like a north-facing balcony, you're gonna be looking at more greenery, sort of stuff like even hostas, that sort of stuff. But you're not gonna get the impact from the flowers where if you have a south-facing balcony or even a west-facing balcony, you'll get actually decent flowers. Is that about how much Sonic gets? Exactly. It's just pretty much north-facing, it's gonna get very little sun, so that's where you're gonna be focused on your greenery. Garden-centred job, that sounds like it. But find out which way your balcony's facing or your space, depending on who's listening, your space is facing, because that's useful information. Yes, and how much wind it gets to, sometimes it can be very exposed. Horsetail grows all over my garden. I've used a horsetail spray using water. Is this good for preventing blight? It's a recipe from my grandparents. Right. I'm not too sure what they're referring to exactly, but the stuff for the maristails would be a herbicide. And like if it's gonna kill, the maristail's gonna be a herbicide, which is gonna kill... These are these little things that will go up for absolutely anything, and they've got the little green... Come through tarmac and everything, either like reels or the dinosaur you're looking for, almost, so they are a nightmare to get rid of. Yeah. But have you heard, I suppose, because we don't know what traditional spray they're using, have you heard of anything organic or homemade that works against these? Not really. You can do the whole vinegar epsom salts route, which will help to control them, but it doesn't actually kill the root. All right, okay. The main problem with them is the fact that they're so waxy and sort of shiny that don't absorb any chemical, so that makes them so hard to kill. And the nature has designed them like that? Absolutely. You know what I mean? This is not a coincidence. These things, like us, they've probably evolved more than we have. Two cavemen sitting here, but you know what I mean? Like this is nature's way of surviving. Yeah. It's terrible, but it's wonderful all at the same time. Millions of years. I think so, yeah. Okay, that's just the one in my driveway. Yeah. What's the right time to grow rocket? Can it be done in window boxes? And what about basil? Can it be grown too? Thank you kindly. Right, very good. Rocket's very easily grown. So it can be grown all year round, pretty much if you have even sort of on a one to sell. Generally, if you have a sunny one to sell, it'll fly along. So it will. And you can start it any time of the year. Probably winter time will be more chatting green house polytunnel. Basil can be, basil is a tough one to grow. So it is now. A lot of times you buy them in supermarkets, we plants, that sort of stuff. But generally it's an indoor job. So it has been the inside of the one to sell. I'll just show those watching on the website there, this image, you can see the plant there. I don't know what it looks like, pasta along the bottom of it. But this corner says, what is this around my plants? And will it affect my other plants? Could it be a fungus? Like we mushrooms, are they? Yes, it is. That's exactly what it is. Mushrooms. It's a type of a fungus. I'm not too sure exactly what type, but it looks to me in that picture like the bark, I'd say they're home made compster barks around the plant. And chances are the mushrooms spores are actually in the bark, as well as anything else. So it was imported in? It's quite possibly in the bark. The sort of encephalmium is the plant behind it there. And it's just a case of, that would be unlikely to produce mushrooms. So ignore them. Pretty much ignore them. They're kind of unsightly if you know what I mean, but they're not actually going to do any harm. What about lifting the bark out, the top layer of bark out and putting down a? Possibly could put down some fresh stuff. All right, okay. Well, that's your answer. It is a fungus. Okay. Pictures are always good. Send them into us. It's a very interactive. Is there any natural household thing that kills weeds on the pathway? I don't want to use chemical things. Even if it's safe to animals, I've tried the jug of washing powder. Yes. A lot of people, there was a big thing that you use in washing powder for a while. The most reliable one, like I say, is as a mixture of both vinegar, epsom salts and fair liquid. And you mix it up. And it does work to an extent. And when you do have a goat, the weeds, I mean, for a couple of days, it can look like nothing's happening. Yes, absolutely. It takes time, doesn't it? Even many chemical, actually weed killers actually boost on the weed for three or four days before it starts acting. Because it's important for the actual product, for the product you're into, the plant that's actively growing to bring it around the system, basically. So it almost promotes the growth for three or four days before it actually poisons it. And when I've used this stuff, right, you know, it takes a long time for the weeds to die. And you feel like, well, instantly new weeds are going to come. Does it have a long lasting effect in the area that you've sprayed? Or will it only kill what's there? And if something seeds there again, it'll just grow again. Pretty much most systemic weed killers will go down into the roots and kill them off in that sense. I love all the weed killers, just kill off the tap growth. So just kill off what you see in a few weeks. Time it'll be back up again. How do you get rid of weed in flower boxes? It chokes the rest of the flowers. It's string like clover weed. Yes, I know the kind of stuff I came to the life. I remember the name of it. No, but I know exactly the one. But now I just manually remove it. Put a pair of cloves onion, take it out to the middle. Get in, get in there. Yeah, pretty much. We've had this, I think in consecutive weeks, anything to kill ivy. I think you suggest you have to cut it off, but it's a long-term thing, isn't it? I cut it off and let it loosen its grip, basically on the tree, you're on the house, or wherever it happens to be attached to. And then whenever you have it cut off, you should be able to remove it that way. But any sort of life-ass based weed killer will kill it off. This scholar put tarmac down last summer. This summer weeds are coming up through it. Is that the weed taken hold in the holes in the tarmac? It's probably not coming from underneath the tarmac, is it? Once again, that could be your mare's tails. We'll actually bust through tarmac, no bother. So we'll... But it wouldn't be suitable for using a ground that you're going to do again. But on a tarmac driveway that they're from mare's tails, a lot of times actually grit and salt works quite well. That won't damage it because this is going to look lovely. It's going to be perfectly flan black. No, it won't actually damage it now. But unfortunately, the weeds pushing up through it will possibly create attacks on us. So they are coming from under it and through it? Generally, yeah. OK. My daffodils died off really early this year. Is it too soon to cut them down now? No, you should be all right. It's one of them things. The longer you can leave it, the better results you'll get next year. So you will bot ammute at this stage. You could probably cut them down if you'd have done their work. OK, and an old reliable question, but very welcome nonetheless. I'm looking to plant a hedge on an exposed site. What hedging would suit to plant now at the minute? I suppose it depends on your level of exposure, but our general go-to for that there is the grislinia. And if it's sort of more exposed, you think, than that there, we have one called Olyria Travertii as well, which is a sort of silvery green leaf on a similar to what I said about the seaside sort of stuff. All right. But we would send that to a lot of islands, like Toria and more there. Well, that's quite well out there. If they're going out there, they'll do well then. So right, that's Paul McLaughlin of the Balakdura Garden Centre. Paul and his colleagues, not just at the Balakdura Garden Centre, but at Garden Centre, it's around the region. They love, you landed in, plenty of help and stuff like that there. That's what you said there for. So we give you this example of some of answers. But if you want to speak, don't be shy, you can win, that's what they're there for. And they love chatting. Some would say, Paul, maybe you like to chat too much. Quite possibly. My father, the boss down there, tends to think she'll all right. Son. All right, listen, thanks very much, Paul, as always. I really appreciate it. Okay, that's Paul McLaughlin. Gardener there, as I say, at Balakdura Garden Centre. All right, we'll be back after this. Killy Beggs. Carl Cannon in Bonomy, he's 21 today. Happy birthday, Carl, from his granny and papa in Bonomy. To my dear friend, Theresa Harkin in Carandana, who's celebrating a big birthday today, not too big, I hear. Lots of love coming in from Sandra, Rick and Joshua in Carandana as well. And Frank McGettigan was on to us to say that a Samsung between AIB and the station round about Letter Kenny has been lost on Wednesday evening. If you've found a Samsung phone, let's get it back to its owner. Get in contact with us. We'll pass on the details. The Ninetal Noon Show is brought to you by Letter Kenny Credit Union, with monster loans available up to 60,000 euro for all occasions. Visit letterkennycu.ie. The band everyone is talking about, The Seager Sessions Revival, the 13-piece band playing the music of Bruce Springsteen's Seager Sessions at the Abbey Hotel, Donegal Town, on Father's Day, Sunday 19th of June, 3-5 p.m. Tickets available now at eventbrite.ie. Whatever the weather, night or day, Letter Kenny Driving Range is open to 10 p.m. daily. Are you a beginner or thinking of taking up golf? Our bays allow you to practice the good and not so good shots for as little as three euro. Practice makes perfect at Letter Kenny Driving Range. Open seven days. Find us on Facebook. For a great early season lawnmower deal, visit Gartley Sales & Hire, exclusive stock is of Stega in the Northwest, mowers, strimmers and headstrimmers, full trade and service available. At Gartley Sales & Hire, Gartley, Letter Kenny, call 9126276. Your specialty is quality tiles, bathroom suites and wooden floors. Who is the best range of tiles in Donegal? Grover Tays. The best wood flooring? Grover Tays. The best bathroom suites? Grover Tays. Five-day bathroom refits? Grover Tays. And who's been tampering with my questions? That'd be me. Grover Tiles, Castle Finn. That'd be them. 07491-43942. Signs.ie, creating signs that create business, from stationery to shop fronts, logo design to number plates and tending. Letter, in-house design team, create the best solution to your brandy needs. The specialist in vehicle graphics and motorsport delivery. Signs.ie, quality you can see. Choose your local Centra for great offers for Father's Day. Like Centra, Fresh Ars, Sirloin Steak, 454 gram, only 6 euro. Inspired by Centra, selected brunch range, any 3 for 6 euro. And last, Maraz, data wine range, only 8 euro each. Celebrate summer, choose Centra. Centra. Live every day. Enjoy alcohol sensibly. Years ago, I used to dread my motor insurance renewal. Then a friend told me about O'Malley Scanlon Insurance in Balibu Fe and Dunlow. They do all the hard work. They contact all the major insurance underwriters, and they get the very best possible quote for me. They have saved me a small fortune over the years, and they could do the same for you. When your insurance comes up for renewal, contact O'Malley Scanlon Insurance at their Balibu Fe office on 9131020, or they're done low office on 95 Treble 206. O'Malley Scanlon is regulated by the Central Bank. All right, this next stuff really pees me off. It's pointless. It serves no purpose other than to throw the hard work of community volunteers. And the community as a whole throws stuff in their face. Liam Maley's chair of the Convoy Community and Environmental Committee. Liam, thanks for speaking to us this morning. Good morning, Greg. I'm all right. I'm all right. Sick in this stuff, isn't it? I mean, on the scale of things, we know there's a lot going on, but still, these are our simple pleasures and a great deal of effort, and people disrupt it. Right, so tell us what's gone from Convoy. Well, and Convoy, we had the adventures out. Recycled plastic seat benches. We had numerous ones out in the town, but on the approach towards the Convoy, there was benches also there. And we noticed recently that, we noticed that the latter Kenny Road one had gone missing. And the next time we went to, we started to do a search and we noticed totally five benches had gone missing. These benches are of different colours, green, blue, browns and reds, and they're both are down onto the ground. So basically, it's very disappointing to find out that they have been stolen, like, you know. And this requires effort. This is not like someone jumping up and down on a wooden bench or knocking the back off it, or these have to be either unscrewed or cut from the ground. Well, stolen has been, well, you see what happens is there is a screw, a six inch screw, screws down the side of the panel or the side of the leg off the bench. And when it's fully intact, it's not visible. So like, I mean, how do you get onto them? I don't know how to get onto them, like, you know, because each of the holes then are filled with silicone, like, you know. So it definitely was, to me, it was a professional job. Someone would have to route out the silicone. Obviously, that's to stop the water getting down and rotten the screw. That has to be, firstly, they have to uncover where they're fixed, take off silicone, get in at the screw, you get the impression that they were actually unscrewed and removed rather than wedged off. Some of them, we noticed that someone has been an angle-grain or has on both of them and such, and someone has just been forced out of their sockets where they were located, like, you know. And how many seats are these? Like, say, one of the benches? Five in total. Right, and how many could sit on one of them, like, I'm trying to get an idea of the scale? An idea would be, you know, at least a two, if not three, you could get a push three at the push. If you're friendly enough, yeah. And a comfortable two, like, you know. Right, I get you. And of the total benches, how many are there? Five. Five in total. So all have been stolen or to some remain? Oh, no, no, they're stolen. The funny part about it, Greg, is the benches that have been stolen are on the outskirts of the town, on the approach roads. Yes. The ones in the town where they'll be located will be the commander, maybe, the scrutiny of a CCTV, right? So they haven't been touched so far, like, you know. That's terrible when you leave the house now in the morning or go up in the evening and have a wee walk around or a drive around and you're checking the shape of the benches are still there. You know, it's just so secondhand, like, you know. And these are distinctive, aren't they? They're high quality recycled plastic benches. Can you describe how they look to us? Well, how they look to you, they're... Actually, there's... There will be two legs, solid plastic legs, big, strong legs. And on the safe side of it, then, there will be three blocks of plastic ammitation, the ammitation timber. And they could be anything with poor batteries, like, you know. Yeah. And there's no back on these now. We have ones with bags on them, but these ones that they store, they have no bags on them. Can you frame it into the mind of the personal responsible? What do you think they're stealing them for? For sale on the internet? Do they think they look good in there? Hard to know. It's hard to know what the idea was, like, you know. But, I mean, most have had a reason to steal them, like, you know, whether it be for their own use or for the resale again, like, you know. But, like, as cost-offs, those five states there to replace them now would cost us anything in the region of 2,000 euro. Right. And at this point, you would be reluctant to put them out again because these people clearly know what they're at, like... Have a serious consideration of where we put them out again or where we put them again because where they had been located are nice areas, like the... Because of the town parks there, there were two, one on the south library, half way up the south library, beside the church, the old graveyard, the gate. And the second one was the top of the hill there, beside the open-airy side, Sir Bridges School. That's a holly area, like, but a lot of old people walk up and down to the housing states. So it was nice for them to sit back and relax, you know. Yeah, perhaps. The one where Kenny Road was up beside the Brunney Manor and the footpath beside Brunney Manor. It's just confusing. I mean, for the money that they're expensive, new, obviously, because they're high-quality. But how much... For the effort that someone put into this, how much are they getting on the secondary market for tomorrow? You know, like... It's, you know, for... It just... It is pointless clearly, but even commercially for these... Whoever's responsible, it seems pointless. Right, so people keep an eye out on, you know, the different online markets and stuff as well. Yeah, and also maybe highlight the fact to all our community groups and the community and the surrounding areas, because what happened to us, it could easily happen to them, too. Oh, we've seen it often with conversations like this, Liam. People go, oh, that happened in our area. So over what period of time do we think they were taking? Because it's obviously we don't know when they were noticed. No, it's not. For me, if I had a time on it, it wouldn't be. But I just noticed that the first one was mustn't last Monday night. And up until last night, we'd know the cumulative five. But people will have passed a van or a car that had to have been parked there for a period of time to get the angle grinder out, to lift it, throw it into the back of the van or the back of the car. Like, people have seen this happening, whether they realize it or not. It may have been on a night like, you know... Someone's... Yeah. I could have been a night time driver, like, you know. Right. Well, the less people are under that time, like, you know. OK, well, we need to get to the bottom of this. We just want to highlight it to other community groups just to be aware, like, you know. For sure. Exactly. I mean, if you're... Well, let's say, for instance, they're not going to be sold in convoy, right? So we presume that the market's elsewhere. If you can get them on the outskirts of convoy and feel you can get away with it, why would you stop there? Why wouldn't you go to the next townover or the next townover? So I think community groups really need to check their stock. Very much so. I mean, we were so familiarised with them, like, you know, we were there, friends, before COVID. And we just were taking... They were just part of the town, like, you know. But then when they went missing, like, it was a different story. We started to look around us and have them in our community. And unfortunately for us, there were five of them. I'm totally listening. Right, OK. The ones still intact are in the town centre. They've been scrutinised with CCTV, like, and all. Right, well, we've officially put out the bench warrant now. So if anyone... I think it was just like in the call. Yeah, OK, if anyone wants to pass on any information, get on to the guardie, get on to us, whatever we'll pass on. The guards are involved, too, like, and all. The eyes of the public are going to solve this one, I think. Yeah, very much so. Right, Liam, listen, it's a signal for you and the rest of those involved. Yeah, our committee works hard, like, and all. That's exactly what I was just about to say, and this is a slap in the teeth. Liam, thanks. That's a really good kick in the teeth for a joy. All right, take care of yourself. Four, wait, 60, 25,000. Hey, if it's happened in your area, too, let us know. The Ninetal Noon Show with letter Kenny Credit Union, now offering myCU current account and debit mastercard, bringing full banking features delivered with the same local trustworthy service of your Credit Union. New cap scheme to pay farmers 250 euro per hectare. For more on this week's Farmers Journal, is Paul Mooney. Farmers in the new scheme will also be offered priority entry to the new rep scheme. As the 1,000 euro silage scheme is set to open, we reveal details on when you'll be paid. And former T-shirt John Bruton, Warren's Ireland, could have to enforce EU border. Plus, don't miss the Irish Farmers Journal, junior newspaper written for young farmers inside this week's Irish Farmers Journal on sale now. Pet value have a brand new store at St Mary's Row, Bunkrana. I called in at the weekend, the animals are incredible. Plus, they have so much on offer. They know a lot about what is best for your pets, from the smallest fish to the largest dog, Pet Value Bunkrana. 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Would you like to find out how your company could be doing big business with TransLink? On Wednesday, the 22nd of June, at Titanic Belfast, InterTrade Ireland is holding a Meet the Buyer event with TransLink. On the day, you'll find out about a pipeline of contracts valued at 60 million euro and over. Make game-changing connections to one-to-one meetings with key TransLink decision-makers. Plus, you'll receive invaluable advice and guidance on how to successfully tender for TransLink contracts. And more, register now at intertradarland.com. Okay, what a wonderful interview. This is our interview earlier on with the gentleman that met the Pope on Monday. The man is so lucid, he's not bitter or angry. I practice my faith and I feel so emotional when I think how evil men did terrible things and that supposedly good men covered it up. And thanks for your comments on the interview as well, which I won't read out, but thank you for them nonetheless. County by county, how many customs checks points are there? I travel through Ireland for work, you only see them in Donegal, no one has any issues with it. I just never see them anywhere else. Well, I presume it's targeted because we're a border county. Right, now, you might remember that we were speaking to a gentleman a few weeks ago and we were talking about a new thing that was being unveiled, fully fitted changing places in a step-down facility officially opened later in Narn. And we said, come back on close to the time and we'll talk about it. Those chickens have now come home to roost. Paul, good morning to you. Good morning, Greg, how are you? Good to have you on the program. This is Paul Dawson, right? You worked with the council to get these facilities opened up at the beach in Portnute. They're pretty unique. There's very little like this anywhere, right? So talk to us about why we felt that the need was there, that the journey and then what's gonna be the result. Yes, certainly. Basically, it was, again, all about accessibility. We have a beach wheelchair down here and a lot of the county's beaches have, but it was only accessible for really people that could walk or something. If you're actually in a chair, you require a hoist to get into it. So we noticed this when I first moved into the area. So there was basically two choices, either to purchase a mobile hoist as a community or go for the changing places facility. So we went for that and we did a lot of fundraising local businesses, local politicians from all over Donegal at all levels gave to it very kindly on a personal level because it was non-political, it was just for the community and we managed to achieve, as you said, the first in the Northwest and the first, I believe, at a beach location anywhere in Ireland. And I stand to be corrective, but I'm nearly certain of that. Yeah, and what does this mean then? Do you think that, you know, those who would love to have gone to the beach previously but felt they couldn't will be beating a track now to Port Nou, obviously it's gonna service the local community. Paul, what do you think that the consequences of this development will be? Well, yes, it has fantastic implications. In actual fact, we've opened the official opening today and senior members of the MS Society and the Irish Wheelchair Association have attended themselves, which again brings out out there, it's obviously the informational permeate throughout the MS Society, throughout the Irish Wheelchairs and other disability groups. So yes, definitely it's a very relaxing day out now for many people in wheelchairs to visit the iron. Yeah, and we don't want this to be a one-off. We don't want to be perpetually unique here. Let this be an example to other communities what can be done if the will is there? Precisely, that's what we hope for it to be held up as a kind of best practices. We wouldn't like everyone in the whole world coming here to your heart. Oh, Phil, they have to, yeah, as beautiful as it is, Paul. Yeah, exactly, exactly, but as beautiful and all as it is, like, you know, but yeah, it's fantastic. We hope this to be the start of something and I'm kindly assured from Mr. McGarvey of the County Council that it is the beginning of something that you wish best throughout the county. Leonard Malloy, chair of the Dolman Centre. Good morning to you, Leonard. Good morning, how are you? I'm great, it's a great day. Is this a really significant day, I think? Yes, it's a fabulous day for the area here and as Paul has alluded to, you know, the fact that this is the first change in places of sight in the Northwest, I think, it's the beginning of a process. Michael McGarvey today mentioned the fact that, you know, there's plans afoot for Twin Towns, for Letter County, for Bomb Doran, for Burton Port, because these are all new developments so that these change in places type facilities and hopefully they will be at that standard because that is the premier standard for a facility, a disabled toilet facility and that that'll be available throughout the county. Yeah, because people have to, as it stands, and you know this, Paul, people have to plan journeys around facilities. A lot of people, I know people that have to go around about to get somewhere to try and find facilities that have adequate space or a hoist or whatever it might be. Like that's the reality of, for a lot of people, a lot of people in this country. That's in fact what Mary McGrenner from the Irish Realtor Association was saying to me prior to the opening today, she was saying that they, when they're planning their days out, have to plan where their toilet breaks are going to be. And she said, fortunately in a lot of situations, they had to use their own facilities. So, you know, just the simple thing that, you know, we all think of going to the beach for a day, that makes that a reality for a lot more people now. So, you know what I mean? It's inclusive. I mean, it's stuff that we should have already done. And that's not in any way to limit this. Leonard, it's great to be part of something that's a first as such, as far as we can determine, but we don't want to be first for too much longer too. Well, we'll always be first. But you know, we want to see these plans progressed right around the county and country. Yes, exactly. And you got that comment. Cheers, Leonard. Well done for your involvement. Paul, so for those listening, as an education, but also so people can sort of determine if it fits their needs, can you describe what has been established? What's it look like? What's in it? What, who can use it? Yes, certainly, it's basically, as I say, fully accessible and fully inclusive. It has an adult changing bench, an overhead hoist system for transfers, a privacy screen, just numerous pieces of equipment, everything in the whole health and safety of users needs has been taken into consideration. And we've actually started a first, I believe, again, I believe a lot with changing places. A lot of our equipment is actually braille marked up and I know it's just an over-the-top thing, but we thought it would be excellent. Well, if you're going to go, yeah, if you're going to go inclusive, go all-inclusive, it's fantastic, I think. Yeah, brilliant. And then what it does is it sets a standard for the future, Paul. Precisely, yeah, exactly, Greg. Is it secure and stuff? I mean, generally speaking, people visiting the area, we don't want these facilities to be unavailable to people that need them. I'm not trying to be negative, but I'm trying to sort of, you know, cut stuff off at the past, so to speak. In terms of access, respect for the facilities and what have you, for the general population, Paul, is there a message there? Yes, well, our particular facility is open from nine o'clock in the morning to nine o'clock in the evening, and then there'll be a number provided, there is a number provided for out of hours, if you like, accessibility as well. So that's the normal system that's changing places with operating a radar key system that they call a skeleton key system for these type of facilities. But as you have quite right pointed out, a lot of these facilities, the changing places, are more or less concentrated around the urban areas, like Dublin, they have them in Dublin University, Dublin, sorry, bigger part of Trinity University, Dublin Airport, the National Museum, places like that. So that's why it's so great to have it in such a rural... That's brilliant, Paul. Listen, I'm delighted to have you back on, like we said we would. It's great that the days arrive fair play to you and all the agencies and people that had to work with you and others to get this over the line. It's a monumental day, it's brilliant, I think. And it's good that we're the leaders in a particular area, but let's not just be on our own for very much longer. Paul, thanks so much and well done. Thank you, Greg. All right, take care of yourself. Have a nice day. Bye. You too, thank you. Brilliant development there. Okay, 08, 660, 25,000. The Ninetal Noon Show is brought to you by Letter Kenny Credit Union, with monster loans available up to 60,000 euro for all occasions. Visit letterkennycu.ie. Have you bought your NCBI radio bingo book yet? Contribute to this fantastic charity and be in with a chance to win daily cash prizes of 400 euro. Books are now available from your local retailer. Premier division football resumes this weekend after the summer break and Finharp swing back into action with the Derby clash await us like rovers this Saturday night. Join Jeremy Doherty and Declan Boyle for live match commentary from 7.45 kickoff at the showgrounds. Finharp's Live on Highland in association with BNS Credit Union, Bala Buffet, where they have the perfect holiday loan for you. Don't delay, get your holiday loan today. Visit BNSCU.ie or free phone 1800 290 390. BNS Credit Union Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. 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Bonner on 087 2899 232. Getting value on your shopping has never been more important. That's why at Supervalue, we have great offers like, selected fresh Irish barbecue meats like pork sizzlers, any three for 10 euro, signature taste breakfast deal, only five euro, and get new weekly money off vouchers on the Real Rewards app. For no prices that compete with anyone, it's got to be Supervalue. Eye Motors, your local Kia and Nissan dealer in both letter Kenny and Mallon would like to wish all participants in this year's Donegal Rally a safe and successful 2022 championship. From all the staff at Eye Motors, we wish to thank all organisers and ask all spectators to help make this year's Donegal Rally a major success. OK, this is an important issue, and we will return to it when we have more time, but we're going to have a quick appeal now from Fintan McGraw, who's PRO of the We Care Letter Kenny Food Bank. Good morning to you, Fintan. Good morning, Greg. The reality is now and into the future, people who never thought they'd need to call on the services of the likes of the Food Bank, those unemployed, those employed, it's leading to an increase on demand on your services, and donations are going in the wrong direction. Is that correct? You know, we're new customers coming to the Food Bank for help. We've also noticed that it's being a bit more difficult to get donations of non-personal foods into the Food Bank, so it's been... It continues to be a busy time. There's been no options dependent. What is your ask of people if they're out shopping, if they can pick up a few tins of stuff, or are you looking for businesses to donate? How can the public help right now? Well, we've got... I mean, it's the basic non-personals we need, you know, the pasta, rice, spaghetti, the sauces, all the normal things that people would put in their Food Bank. And the Food Bank is open, operates two days a week on Tuesdays and Fridays, from 10 until 2 o'clock, so people could leave their food at the Food Bank, or we've got the collection points at Solo and the Community Centre in Simpson's. They could leave it at the Food donation centre there. What about the cost of getting this stuff to people? Obviously, those are increasing with the way fuel prices are going. Can people assist in that regard? We have a very old van which we use for delivering food around the county. It's held together with some of the sticky pastures just about past the DMCT. With petrol prices up, you know, it's our biggest cost because we don't have anyone on a payroll, so everybody's... We're all volunteers, and that's one of our biggest cost items. I mean, there's bound to be a company out there that could sponsor a vehicle. You're not looking for a 221, just something that's reliable and more economically easy to run. We would love to retire our existing van and I think break us out in the sky. Right, listen, Fintan, unfortunately, we have to go to the end of the show. You've mentioned what people can do, where they can do it, look at businesses, can get involved in this too. Some of the huge employers, if they organise something through their workers, a load of people could do a little and make a huge difference. And what an amazing gift to anonymously help someone else in your community that needs it. But, Fintan, we'll come back to you, hopefully, if you're available, to talk in a bit more detail as to how people can help. I just wanted to give it a quick mention today if that's OK. Thank you very much. Right, thank you. Fintan McGraw there. Thanks to Donna Marie and Caroline Orr, who worked on the show. We're back with you tomorrow morning at 9 for the Friday panel and all the usual crack. John Breslin's coming up around the North West after the news at 12. 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