 You're a rude boy. No, I try not to be. Well, you were yesterday, I had a call from a lady who, and I'm not taking the hand, either, because I take all listeners' contact seriously. Okay, yeah. But a lady said it was immature and beneath us, so. Well, we're only saying what we saw. I know, but I agree with her, and I apologize. We shouldn't have been talking about Christmas and stuff. No, I was talking to a member of staff in here yesterday, and I says, she says, no, I'm not going to even say it. Say it. No, I'm not going to get the right story now. I'm thinking on top of my head. But I said to her, basically, she says, do you not think I wear frilly knickers? I says, she says, maybe they were mine because she was up on Sunday. And I says, no, they wouldn't be yours because they were frilly. And she says, do you not think I would wear frilly knickers? Well, that's a really inappropriate workplace comment. I want to completely distance myself from that one. I know, I know, I say, but that's. Good point, I want to share a lesson. Anyway, the moral of the story is right. You and Lee went up the hill. We had a brilliant time. Had a brilliant time. And the experience will always remember, because you know, sometimes you say, what did we do last St. Patrick's weekend or whatever? And you'd be thinking, can't remember. Little memories? Yeah, that's what it is. Because we claimed the amount, and we say it is called Crocker Tree. And we always remember that. And now, so we're the next mountain now. What would you claim next? I'd just leave it at that. I would say, right, that's my claim. Probably Mockish. But you've claimed the highest one. But you claim, well, I put your... I told them there's an old tractor up there. Is there an old tractor up there? Mockish, I haven't a clue. There was... Go on, find that out. There's an old airplane crashed on the Blue Stack Mountains. That would be interesting to go up. Yeah. World War II, plane crashed there. Yeah, we could do that. But is there still... There was rumors there was a tractor or a digger up there that was left up on Mockish. Is that still... Having a clue? Because I told Lee there is. Well, we'll find out. So he's going to go up... Me and him's going to go up Mockish. Listen, I guarantee you within the next five minutes, we'll know if there's a tractor or a digger up Mockish. Now, this is going to be its rust bucket at this stage, obviously. Oh, I know why. They got it up, but they couldn't get it down. What is the story behind that? Well, we'll see if we can find out. That's so sad, doesn't that make sense? Exactly. All right, but listen, again, at least that was not child-assured or mature, which is very important, Lee. OK, take care of yourself. Have a good show. Keep it handy. Yeah, we'll make it funny. All right, today's nine o'clock. News update time, well, it's a minute past. Let's go over to Donald Kavanaugh. Thank you, Greg. Good morning. A major report on proposed assisted dying laws will be published later today. However, divisions have emerged in the committee overseeing it. With more, here's Stephanie Rowan. The Erachtis Assisted Dying Committee has been examining whether to introduce voluntary assisted dying laws here, which has been described as complex and extremely sensitive. The report recommends allowing for assisted dying in very strict circumstances, including that the person has a terminal illness with only months to live, and their pain is to a level that they can't tolerate. The report will be presented this afternoon, but it's understood committee chair Michael Healy-Ray is actually dissenting against it and will hold a press briefing with Senator Ronan Mullen afterwards. This has caused division among the committee who feels the report's being undermined. In any case, it's unlikely any legislation will be introduced in the lifetime of the current government. A Liffords-Trunor councillor says there must be more focus on the need for improvements to the core compends on the N15 between Stronor and Kili Gordon. The 1.5-kilometre stretch to the east of Stronor has been identified as substandard and in need of realignment. A public consultation ended in December with Donegal County Council hoping to move to preliminary design stage within the next few weeks. However, councillor Patrick McGowan's been told at the current rate of progress, it'll be the second half of 2027 before the council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland are ready to appoint a contractor and commence construction. He says that's not acceptable. This is very dangerous. Even though it's a national primary road, the N15 from Stronor to Kili Gordon, it's quite narrow and very, very twisty, and it's quite hard for even two lorries to pass at that location. So it's totally unacceptable. It's going to take this long. It's been done in design for at least two or three years, and I'd hope that maybe next year that they'll be able to go to construction. But here now it's going to be 2027. It's totally unacceptable. There are claims that EU militarisation will have serious implications for Ireland. A dull protest takes place today against any move toward a European army. Independent Donegal to the Thomas Pringle believes there's been an intensification in efforts to militarise the EU bloc. Someone might think that everybody in Ireland should be very concerned about it because we're rapidly seeing... I think it's intensifying over the last while, was the attack on Israel and that they were rapidly seeing the wish to move towards a militarised Europe where Germany and France are pushing for a European Defence Forces, and that's going to be very serious. A man is due in court today after a cocaine with an estimated street value of £200,000 was seized in South Tyrone and approximately half two yesterday afternoon officers from the PSNIs organised a crime branch stopped a vehicle travelling on the Oma Road in Dungannon. A search uncovered the suspected cocaine, along with cash in both Euro and Sterling, with a combined total value of around £50,000. A 41-year-old man arrested at the scene has been charged and will appear in court in Oma later today. And what a forecast, largely dry with sunny spells developing this morning. Cloud will increase as we head toward the evening. Top temperatures this afternoon, 9 to 11 degrees Celsius, with a light to moderate, northerly wind. That's Island Radio News. We're back with news again at 10 o'clock. Good morning. Sorry, you wouldn't have a table, please. Oh, sorry, do you want to sit down? Irish people can be very polite, but sometimes it pays to be direct. Come direct to energy for our best rate on electricity and gas with Ireland's cheapest fuel-fuel bundle, as well as real-time energy insights to help you manage your usage. It means you're getting a better deal. And we're not sorry. Switch today at Energia.ai. Energia Smart Data Plan, EAB 2490 Euro, standing charge PSO Levy, carbon tax and discounted unit rates apply. Full details including associated terms and conditions at Energia.ai. And now it's time for the talk of the Northwest, the 9 to noon show with Greg Hughes on Highland Radio. Hello and a very good morning to you. You're very welcome along to Wednesday's 9 to noon show. It's Wednesday, the 20th of March, 2024. Six minutes past nine. How are you all keeping out there in Radio Land? It's good to have you on board. Hopefully you'll stick around for the next three hours. And why wouldn't you? Because we're going to keep you informed on everything that's happening across the region, across the country, and beyond. And we really value your input into the conversation. If you want to have your say on anything we've lined up for you or the issues you wish to raise or comments or stuff, if you wish to get off your chest, this is how you do it, 086 6025,000. That's the WhatsApp and text number, 086 6025,000. You can send you WhatsApp voice notes for that number as well. You can give us a call 2107 491 25,000. If you're calling from outside the Republic, 0035 37491 25,000. And emails, comments at HighlandRadio.com. Feel free to watch the show if it suits your lifestyle or what you're doing this morning. You can watch us on your smart TV or your Firestick by going to YouTube, Highland Radio Ireland, and watch us there. We're on the X platform at Highland Radio and also on Facebook, Highland Hub, Highland News and Sport. No excuse if you want to watch us on the move. Right, okay, lots to get through. So let's start with a look at the newspapers and the front of the Finn Valley Voice this morning. Refold Community Playgroup has received the devastating news that their building will be condemned due to defective blocks at the end of June 24. The playgroup has been in operation since 1982. Manager Fiona McCrabb said, thousands of children and their families have availed of our service over the years. In 2009, we were the first group in Donegal to be awarded a Quality Assurance Award. Together with our committee, we fundraised over the years and in 2000, we're delighted to move into our beautiful new building. But unfortunately, the building that they fought hard for has been tested for defective blocks. And following a meeting on Saturday with the engineer, they were given the devastating news that it is to be condemned. Shocking stuff. And this is the extent of this defective concrete crisis and how far it reaches. What supports are there for that group there and for that building. On to the Irish Independent this morning and Finnegal members are concerned about the number of departing TDs as Mayo Poll Topper Michael Ring last night refused to rule out standing down at the next election. At least two other party TDs are also known to be weighing up their options with health and age significant factors. Meanwhile, Mr. Ring admitted he hasn't yet decided whether to run again after Galway East TD, Kieran Cannon became the 10th party TD to signal his departure, 10 of them. Contacted by the Irish Independent last night, Mr. Ring said, at the moment I'm going again, contesting the election, but I haven't made up my mind one way or other and that's all I'm saying, which sounds like he's wobbling. Finnegal members yesterday admitted to low morale in the ranks and speculation that more government party members will step down before the next election. Deputies privately conclude that it was a blow that the number of departing colleagues, 10 who won seats in 2020 had now reached double figures. So that's not these, I mean obviously some of them are veteran politicians in inverted commas, but a lot of them are what may have been seen as the future of the Finnegal party, but a lot of them now are choosing not to go again. On to the Irish Times this morning and a row has broken out between members of the Special Arctus Committee on assisted dying with the chairman accused of seeking to undermine its final report on the eve of its publication. So they're plowing on with this, no doubt, but a lot of this happens. We discussed this on the show a number of times, but really sometimes you don't be fully aware that these plans are progressing as quickly as they are. Two Finnegal members of the committee said its chairman, independent TD for Kerry, Michael Healy Ray, was seeking to undermine the credibility of their court after he wrote TDs and senators saying he would launch a minority report following its publication yesterday. So it's on the way. Look at what's happening in other countries. I think last year it was like 13,000 people in Canada applied for assisted dying. Reasons included depression. One person sought to avail of assisted dying because he was evicted from his shelter, his homeless shelter. So obviously we're being told it's about a certain set of criteria that'll allow it, but very often the criteria gets expanded. So just so you know that that is a train that is moving forward really with a great pace. Now, do you remember my people called me anti-government and cynical? I'm certainly cynical, I'm not anti-government, but do you remember we read about these plans to pump money into 10 areas that had been given the most asylum seekers? I'd love to dig out the tape. And I was reading the article at the time because it was at the time where there was a lot of unrest. So this was released that there'd be money spent on health and education and all this kind of stuff. And I read it at the time and I says, well, how is this implemented? What does this mean? Are they gonna parachute GPs in? Are they gonna parachute more stuff into the ED? What does this look like? Because to me, it seemed unworkable. It seemed like there was nothing to it. As it transpires, maybe that was the case. On the front page of the Irish Daily Mail today, albeit they're asking these questions two or three months later, a plan by Leo Radkar to pump extra resources into the 10 districts that have taken in the most asylum seekers is unworkable cabinet sources have told the Irish Daily Mail. The Taoiseach announced in January that his department would coordinate a special response package in areas of the country that have taken in the most refugees. This came amid heightening tensions in communities over the influx of immigrants and ugly scenes as protesters descended on the Rackett Hall Hotel in Rosscray County, Tipperary as asylum seekers were moved into the building. So this was right at the peak, I think, of the time of the public face of protest. However, several cabinet sources have told the Mail the proposal will not be implemented. Not gonna happen. I don't see how it could work, especially as the situation is fluid. So an area could be outside the top 10 one month. And let's go in a bit further. And in the top, the next. But be excluded, it just wouldn't work, one cabinet source said. Mr. Vradkar indicated the additional resources would be in the areas of health, justice and education. However, locations were never chosen, nor was a framework for how they would be selected. So, I mean, you would presume Donegal would have been in line for that because we've taken proportionately, certainly in the top three, if not one of the top counties. The Finnegar leader said in January, I think we need to do more to help out communities to increase resources around health, around education, around policing, and to respond to the genuine concerns that people have when there is a large increase in the population. There's been a massive increase in Donegal. But as I say, at the time, I thought, how does that work? What does that look like? And as it turns out, even the government itself, through its cabinet ministers, don't see how it can be implemented. Globally, the UN Weather Agency sounding a red alert about global warming, citing record-smashing increases last year in greenhouse gases, land and water temperatures, and melting of glaciers and sea ice, and warning that efforts to reverse the trend have been inadequate. This is the star. The World Meteorological Organization in the state of the Global Climate Report released yesterday ratcheted up concerns that a much-vaunted climate goal is increasingly in jeopardy that the world can unite to limit planetary warming to no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius with pre-industrial levels. Do you know what we need to fix this? Every world leader and about a delegation of 100 people flying around the world in jets to try and figure out how we, on the ground, can save the planet. The sun this morning, RTE star Ray Darcy, very popular in Donegal, I'd imagine, has signed a new megabooks deal with RTE, but the freshly transparent state broadcaster won't tell the public how much the Irish sun has learned that Ray, 59, penned a new contract in January to present his afternoon show on RTE Radio 1, while RTE would not say if Ray had taken a cut in his 250,000 euro a year salary, 250,000 a year salary. A spokesperson said that the troubled station was committed to reducing the cost of its highest-paid presenters to ensure no contractors or employees will earn more than the director general. Do you not see newspapers where they put the writing, the article, around someone's head and body and they cut a ton of words and you're trying to read three-word sentences? It's 2024, folks. Stop putting articles around pictures. Makes it very difficult to read. It's not enjoyable to read either. Well, anyway, that move appears to fly in the face of D.G. Kevin Backhurst's recent vows of a commitment to transparency. Yesterday, the radio boss who turned Ray into a star has said, in terms of keeping their audience, RTE has made the right move to tie him down. I'd say there was a huge demand for Ray Darcy, both nationally and internationally. Ex-Ted AFM boss Willie O'Reilly told that Irish Sun, Ray has a very good track record. If RTE put someone new and untested in there, they could lose 20% of their audience in just simply three months. A mass exodus. I wonder how, what the figures are like for the Irish stations now, that, what's his name? I can't remember his name. He used to present the late, late show. Ryan Toberdeith, sorry. Ryan Toberdeith, what the figures are like for his weekend show. Finally, in the Irish Daily Mirror, J.K. Rowling, who is, I don't know if you follow her on Twitter, very vocal on transgenderism and has been involved in a very public row with a broadcaster, India Willoughby. And I kind of find myself watching the exchanges, the conversation, just to see how extremes of one side or other interact with each other and the words that are used. And I think J.K. Rowling's going to come out on top in this one anyway. But she insists she will not delete social media posts, even though they could breach hate laws. The Harry Potter author, Miss Gendered broadcaster, India Willoughby, during a trans rights row, and she does it routinely, she will not refer to India as a woman, she will only refer to her as a man. Miss Rowling said on X, India is cosplaying a misogynistic male fantasy of what a woman is. Miss Willoughby, 58, who is transgender, replied, she knows I'm a woman and she calls me a man. And India Willoughby generally refers to women who were born women as cis women or cisgendered or cis females. And that she is a woman in by law and also that she's not biologically, biologically a woman as well anyway. A law in Scotland takes effect on April 1st, which makes it an offense to stir up hatred against protected characteristics, including gender identity. But Miss Rowling, 58, insisted, if you genuinely imagine I'd delete my post calling a man a man, stand by for the mother of all April fools jokes. Okay, that's a look at the papers today, 08, 6, 60, 25,000. If there's anything in there that you wish to opine about, we're happy to get your views, however you wish to share them with us, okay? Let us take a quick break and our first guest will be joining us just after these. The newspapers are courtesy of Kelly Centra, Mountaintop Letter Kenny, the C-Store National Large Forecourt of the Year for 2022. Are you tired of waiting for treatment or surgery? Did you know you can receive immediate treatment across the border under the new N.I. Planned Healthcare Scheme at potentially no cost? Donegal patients are still being treated with us at Kingsbridge Private Hospital Northwest Post-Brexit. 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Search National Trust N.I. and start planning your family's adventure. Your smartphone is a wonderful tool, opening amazing ways to connect with friends, family and even businesses all over Ireland and across the world. Whether it's chatting to your family and friends on WhatsApp, grab in a bargain by safely online shopping or even doing all your daily banking needs through an app. Your phone or tablet can help you do it all. If you wanted to learn how to use all these features on your device, now you can with High Digital, a free online skills course designed with older people in mind, available in person and online. So if you're ready to unlock your smartphone's potential or know someone who's always wanted to learn more online skills, go to highdigital.ie or call 1800-20-30-30 for more information. Brought to you by Vodafone Foundation and alone. OK, we are joined on the programme now by Gemma. Gemma, how are you keeping? Are you OK? Yeah, yeah, I'm OK. OK, good stuff. Right, listen, thanks very much for speaking with us. You're the mother of we, Millie Wilson. Tell us what happened whilst you were away. Yeah, so we came to Benidorm on the 4th of March for our family holiday with myself and my husband and Millie and Kobe. And yeah, we were having a good week, a good few days. Then on Friday, the 8th of March, we were getting ready to go to the shops in Benidorm and Millie actually fell in our hotel room and it gets tiled floors, but she was OK. You know, she cried and she was fine then. And we headed off to the shops and Millie, she actually fell asleep. She normally sleeps for a couple of hours, like so it was normal, but we noticed that she was getting really warm. So we took her out of her pram and she actually got sick. So alarm bells kind of went off and we were over an hour away from our hotel. So we literally ran back and we took her clothes off to get her into the bath and stuff, you know, trying to get her to cool down. And we noticed that there was like a, what we thought was a bruise on her left shoulder. So we went to the hospital in Benidorm and she got an x-ray and they were happy with her. And they wanted us to come back on the Saturday morning just to look at it again and to see a pediatric doctor. So on the Saturday morning, then we got up and we noticed that the mark on her shoulder was worse. And whenever we pulled back the curtains, like her eyes, she started blinking really funny. So that kind of panicked me. I knew I read something before, you know, about a child, especially if they're sensitive to light. Yes, yes. So we headed back to the hospital and they were so quick. You know, the pediatric doctor came, saw Millie and straight away, she sent her for a CT scan, another x-ray on her shoulder, an x-ray on her chest and then they done bloods. So we were waiting and they came back to us and said that everything was clear by the blood. They said that the components in her blood wasn't good. And then they made the decision that they wanted to transfer me and Millie to the hospital here in Valencia. So me and Millie came here that evening and Ben and Kobe headed back to the hotel in Benidorm to start packing the bags. And so we came here and the pediatric doctor had got an email from the hospital in Benidorm and straight away she was hooked up to antibiotics and fluids and I didn't really know what was going on. I was still kind of convinced that maybe she was gonna cost her something. So the doctor then spoke to me and said that she was very sick. I didn't really know what she was trying to say, but within an hour she was admitted into ICU. I was told just to wait outside. I was thrown in my husband and stuff, didn't know what was happening. But when I went into ICU then I saw that she was hooked up to every machine going. She was on a heart monitor. That must have been incredibly difficult, Gemma, to say. It takes a while to get over something like that. I was unbelievable. You know, when I went into the ward there, I was met by two pediatric doctors and five nurses just standing beside her. And I still didn't really know. And I just was saying like, what's happening? Thank God they had really good English. And the nurse just told me that Millie had sepsis. And they were pretty sure that she had meningitis, but she was very weak. They had to pump plasma transfusions and let the transfusions to try and get her strong enough to do a lumbar puncture. So I just asked, was she going to be okay? And at that time they just said that she was critical and they didn't know. And they were so good. Is the fall that you talked of earlier on, is that linked to her getting the bacterial meningitis or sepsis or is that part of the story because you thought that maybe was what causing her ill health? No, as the doctors had said to us, it was nearly like a blast in that Millie shell because it nearly brought the sepsis to your head on her shoulder. Aha, I get you, it bolted to the surface. Yeah, it literally just looked like a bruise. So then also I rang my husband and then we decided then to start making phone calls home. Then mum and sister then actually flew out to us on the Sunday, I think, that Sunday evening. They kind of took over watching Colby and stuff for us and we were just at the hospital and they were so good, like they gave us a room just on the same corridor as ICU. So we were right beside the ward. And yeah. So he was back. How is Millie responding now to the medicine, to the treatment, Gemma? Unbelievable. I think the doctors have said and they keep calling every day that they come in, they just call her a little miracle because they basically told me and Ben a couple of days ago that they didn't think that she would be here. Oh, wow. So they just, they can't believe it. They said that they're honestly, they're amazed at how far that she has come in such a short space of time. Mm-hmm. How long is it expected and please God and all that's holy that she continues on the right path, Gemma. But have you been given any indication from the hospital as to how long her stay might be there or what's the, you know, what is the progression of her treatment and so on? So normally they have said that for a case like Millie's, it's 21 days on antibiotics before they can talk about us going home. At the minute though, she's responding so well to it, you know, and they don't want to get our hopes up. Like that there is a possibility that she could continue a few days of the treatment orally from home. But because of the seps is starting in her shoulder, they're focusing on the shoulder at the minute. And so there's like a skin specialist and stuff that has come to see it. And I think they're coming back today or tomorrow to look at it just to see if and when it starts to come off, if there's any damage done to the skin underneath and if there's anything else that we're going to have to do to the shoulder. Yeah, no, I mean, obviously look at it. I think lots of us are in the same situation. You know, you gather up the money for the holiday but you can't necessarily be account for, you know, maybe loss of earnings or having to stay there, hotels or what have you now. But I think the Cora set up a GoFundMe page with a modest goal of 500 euro. Since that was launched, 375 people donated over 14,000 euro. I think we're always sort of, we're always uncomfortable with receiving stuff of other people. So I don't know if that's how you feel Gemma, but you know what I mean? Cause it's kind of like, but at the same time, what the important thing is here, what an expression of support and love from all of those people that have donated over 14,000 euro so far. It must be nice. It's honestly like that's one of the main reasons then that I think the family, when I was talking to them this morning, when I said I would come on because like me and Ben will never ever be able to thank everybody for the kindness and the generosity. Like it's honestly, like it's really overwhelming. It's just, it's literally unbelievable. And like we'll never be able to thank everybody individually, but we are like so, so grateful for absolutely everything and the support from back home. But we have been in contact with the Men and Gyrus Research Foundation and we're going to make a donation to them and we're also going to make a donation to the Pediatric ICU unit here before we come home because they've never ever seen anything like the care that Millie has received and the support that they've given us. You know, it's unbelievable. But it also gives you, I think that's lovely as well. And it's a lovely thing to do, but I think that the initial generosity gives you and Ben the space to just deal with the emotional journey and the physical journey for Millie and getting her better and getting her home. And I would say you're at the point where about you'd love to get a home, but you don't want to take any risks either. If it is best that she stays on the drip of antibiotics will then so be it. You don't want to rush it, do you? Exactly. No, exactly. Like as much as we're missing home and friends, family and especially Kobe, as long as she's okay and she comes home with us, that's all that we want. And there's a big loads of ads out at the moment here at home about sepsis and looking out for the signs and all of that. And I look at you's out on your family holiday and it's sepsis and bacterial meningitis. I'm not exactly sure how she acquired that or you. Do you know that they've been able to tell you like did this something she probably caught off someone else or is there any indication in relation to that? We don't actually know. No, like we did have to let a form and like they're trying to obviously go back themselves just to find out what they did. They do think that it was from somewhere in Benidorm. But we don't know. Right, Gemma, I won't take up much more your time. I'm really, really pleased that Millie is responding so well to the medicine and hopefully she continues on that same path. And listen, it's nice when we need each other that we're all there for each other. And that's a really positive thing as well. And as you said already, helping you and Ben through this situation and hopefully you have Millie home soon. Yeah, and I just, I just want to say thank you again. Honestly, thank you. Doesn't seem like much at the moment, but we really, really do appreciate absolutely everything. Great stuff. I'll let you go. Thanks so much, Gemma. God bless you. Thank you. All right, take care of yourself. That is Gemma there. Mother of Millie Wilson and thankfully, Millie is responding well to the treatment. And any surplus money, as you heard from Gemma, will allow them to make a donation to the local pediatric ward, which the care has been absolutely amazing. And meningitis Ireland, I think she mentioned. So as I say, you can never tell with things like that. The doctors love to keep a good close eye on her, but hopefully all the positive signs are there. Isn't that a mixture of a story? I think any parent you can imagine going into the, I remember, I remember, but I'm a, I'm a weakling, but I remember Lee was, had to get grommets in years and years and years ago, but they had to knock him out for it. And I know this sounds ridiculous, really when you hear what they're going through, but it was tough to see it, you know? So I can only imagine, I can only imagine what Gemma and the family were feeling seeing Millie wired up to everything in the hospital it would seem, but it's all working seemingly well. Things are going the right direction. I've come across this one myself before. We had a question in from a listener, or a comment in from a listener. Hi, Greg, I was wondering whether your listeners would know if a school has the authority to restrict a child from going to the bathroom. My child is in second year of secondary school and is in the process of getting additional support which had been in place in primary school even without an official diagnosis. This support hadn't been brought into place by the secondary school and some problems had arisen due to this. We've applied for movement breaks as these have helped in the past. My child has a few health issues and feels unwell a lot of the time. We have results pending from the doctor. They felt unwell at school and asked to go to the bathroom and the teacher told them there is a note in place in their file not to let child out of class to the bathroom. They take the scenic route to and from. This resulted in me having to collect them earlier and take them to the local chapel so they could use the toilet there before they went home. Is it legal to deny a child their basic human rights of using facilities? That's the question we put out there. Listen, I have no of cases. Let me just say that. I have pretty recent cases where a child was not allowed to go to the toilet for 40 minutes. And this is a child that had no additional needs. Let me put it like that. But there's a note on the child's file where this came from, I don't know. Not to let the child out of class to the bathroom because they take the scenic route to and from. But the question is from the listener. Is it legal to deny a child their basic human rights of using facilities? We put that upon our social media so we have a few responses in already but we're throwing that out to Radio Land and hopefully you'll have your say there too as well. The playlist front door opens onto 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, bridge end, Donegal. Despite low temperatures and high energy costs, it's important everyone stays warm and well through the colder months. It's also important to understand that saving energy where possible saves money and helps reduce the impact on our climate. Simple steps can make a big difference, like turning down the thermostat by one degree, limiting the use of high energy appliances like tumble dryers or ensuring we don't heat rooms that aren't in use. 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We have a number of the students in and teacher, Keith Alfari. Good morning to you. Thank you so much for joining us. Keith, I'll say good morning to you first. Good morning. Thanks for having us here. Right. Now, we've got some unit here in front of me. I've done interviews about robotics before. This is quite the yoke. Talk to us and I'll speak to the students about its development in a moment, but talk to us a little bit about sort of how you got involved in this competition and started to develop and design a robot. Well, about six years ago, John Conahan and Gary Collin, lecturers at the ATU set up a programme to encourage primary and secondary schools to participate in robotics competition. So teachers from the schools in Donegal were invited to a training day in the college and every school that participated got a free basic robot package. So from there, I set up a robotics club at school, mostly focused on transitioning your students and where there was plenty of interest in the robotics. And during this class, the students learned then how to design, build and programme the robots, how to work in teams, problem solve and document the work. And from there, what the ex robotics, they have a world tournament every year and we participate. So last year was the first Northwest tournament and we were fortunate enough to one last year's tournament and we travelled to Cork then for the Ireland tournament and we did quite well there last year. We got just through to the quarterfinals and after that then... Was it the Donegal team one it last year? There was a primary school. Right, okay. So it's split. That's right, okay. It's in a different category, right? I had the primary school in, whose name will come to me in a moment, but anyway. Go ahead. Sturmore. Sturmore National School that got through last year for the primary section. But the secondary section, as I said, we got through to the quarterfinals last year and that gave the students, we have two from last year on the same team this year and that gave them the encouragement to basically start last summer and once the new game was released, they started working and to have an all fairness to them, have a lot of our spirit in designing and building this. Okay, Jan, so were you involved in this last year? Yeah, so last year was my first year doing Vex Robotics, me and Molly Sharkey, who are on the team now over the senior members. We took the team last year as captains and we got really great experience. So what's the name of this yoke we have in front of us here? So the robot's called Koo and it's basically Irish for a small dog who runs around and chased after a ball. And what does it have to, what did it have to perform in the last competition you were in? Because everyone has to set challenge, don't they? Yeah, so this year it's a game called Over Under and there's a game objective that's called a Trial Ball and the aim of that is to score as many as possible. So it's like a game of football. There are two teams made up of two robots. So what do you need the robot really to be able to do? What skill, was the most difficult skill sort of to be able to program it to do or to be able to physically do as part of this game? We don't ever have to make it as fast and as lightweight as possible because it's a very strategy based game. So we spent a lot of time doing trial and errors making to see what would work and what wouldn't work. We had problems with our programming but we got around that together. Molly, you were on last year's project as well. How different is this year's robot to last? Oh, I think it's just a lot more competitive this year. We've put in a lot of research like since the game was first announced. Me and myself and Yanto have been watching all the games. I've come out from it and noticed what we could do better. So it's just a lot more competitive this year and I think we're a lot better than we were last year. Brilliant stuff. Now this year, through your achievements, you have been invited or you can represent Ireland at the Vex Robotics World Championships in Dallas, Texas, USA next month. Yeah, oh, it's insane. We're so excited for it. OK. And would all of you go with the team of four? Seven of us are going to be here. Seven, all right, fantastic stuff. Kerry, what's your role in all of this? My role is that whenever mid-game, Enny and I are two match-loaders, it's the game objective is the tri-balls. We load the tri-balls onto our cali-pot kicker and it flings the tri-balls over in the match mid-game. So we have to load 22 of the tri-balls onto it. So you're running around like agents. Well, we're not moving, we're just kind of moving. The robot's the one moving. We're the ones putting the tri-balls onto the cali-pot there. And what about you, Kerry? What's your role? Well, is it... Sorry, Anja, thank you. I've only just met you as I'm struggling here. It's both me and Kerry that both load the robot and me, Kerry and Molly. We go round and more and as well with the other girls. We go round and we ask the other alliances. We go round to their tables and we find out what their robot can and can't do. So that's where the strategy comes to it, OK? So it's more complex than just the robot itself. And Anja, have you been surprised... I'm sorry, had you any interest in sort of mechanics, robotics before? Is this just something you thought, right, I might get interested in that. I'm just wondering how your interest has grown over this whole process. Well, Kerry and Moran were already on the team and I would be good friends with them and we were doing Young Scientist and it was Keith that helped a lot with the project as well. So he offered to let me join the team. So I said to go for it and it was a good decision. Haven't looked back since, yeah. And what about you, Yanto? Is this an interest that you always had or something that's developed over the last couple of years? Yeah, since about second year, Keith has been teaching me robotics through other competitions like Tech Failure, involving programming, 3D printing and all sorts. And where is your expertise in terms of the development? Is it in programming or do you have to sort of be a jack of all trades? Ah, yeah, there's a lot going on. So I would mentor the new team members in programming and building because you know, what good is programming with a poor build. So yeah, there's a lot going on. Because there's reliability in everything. You know, you don't want to head out there or head to any competition and it's fail early on. You have to have a machine that's reliable as well as clever. Keith, in terms of heading out to, taking the team out to Dallas, Texas, USA from the 25th to the 27th of April, obviously, it's an expensive old trip. Are you looking for sponsorship or donations or maybe you're already sorted in that regard? Yeah, we started a fundraising campaign where we set up a GoFundMe page, which we have linked to our school website, www.psgd.ie, and our school's Facebook page, Public Sculkey Door. And I have to say, everyone has been so generous and so kind. And I'd like to take the opportunity to thank everyone that has contributed so far. The support that we have received from different companies and businesses has been absolutely fantastic. But they're investing in the future as well, aren't they? Do you know what I mean? It's competitive now in the hiring area, in a lot of areas that this sort of fits into. So it's in the company's interest, I suppose, to invest in the future, isn't it? Yeah, the way robotics and technologies are advancing is immense and it's happening very quickly. And it's important that we encourage these students to take part in robotics and to be creative and to come up with their own designs and be innovative. I suppose, Molly, too, what we don't know really in next year's competition, the year after, or even in this year's competition, what role AI might have in all of this as well. Oh, yeah, it's interesting to see. Actually, if you look at other teams, they have these vision sensors, which are the wee bit of the AI in it, I think so. Yeah, I'll stop that. We'll only say that if we're going against them, if we're with them, it's fine. Exactly. We're using them happy days. Exactly. No, I think we searched to find it for ourselves, but no, we couldn't find it. But it just points to how, like, even just to stand still, you have to keep innovating in competitions like this. Oh, yeah, definitely. No, we've all had our own wee troubles getting everything. Don't have new ideas sorting everything. All right, Kerry, you've enjoyed the whole process. You're enjoying it as well, of course. I love it. It's been really interesting to see everything come together and work is together. And do you find this is sort of like, you know, an interesting distraction from school, albeit you're learning at the same time? Or do you see, Kerry, as maybe, you know, making you think about different career paths or going in different directions or...? Well, I think there's... It does help you think there's other options in the career path. There's doors always to be opened with this. I think it's really good to start in school and you can see what you find interesting and what you don't find interesting and really help you find your way. Yeah, exactly, because it can be hard. And we ask 16, 15-year-olds to make such big decisions about what they might want to do with their lives. Crazy, really, when you think about it. Anya, what's the sort of makeup of the students down there? Is there a gender balance? Is it more boys than girls? Or what's the competitions you've been at so far? Well, our team, we have four girls and three boys on the team. And when we were in Cork, there was a good mix of girls and boys as well. Yeah, because there are deficits, particularly from women in some of the areas that this touches into Keith, isn't there? Yeah, it's important to try and encourage them and to show that it's just not all male-dominated and that they can contribute as much as any other person, you know? Brilliant stuff. Anything else you want to add, Keith? We also, just to thank everybody that has been encouraging us so far, have been giving us the donations and everything. We're going to also set up a draw live on our webpage where you can go in and buy tickets to one prices that companies have generously donated for the cause. So really looking forward to taking this group of students to Dallas and where the school and myself are very proud of the work and what they have achieved to date. And of course, yes, it's brilliant. And we're just delighted to be able to get the funds to take them that extra step to the world championship. Fantastic. Is Karen Sharkey any of your mums? Yeah, that's my mum there. She's very proud of you. She's working on it for a bit of a move to see if she can get a look at you one second. Where is it? There she is. She's watching Malay. Malay, I was calling you Molly. Oh, no, it is Molly. It's just spelled the O. M-O-L-L-A-I. That's nice. Actually very good. OK. Right. So we've said hello to Karen. Does anyone else want to say hello to anyone that might be watching or listening? No, that's good. Yanto, come on, don't be too cool for school. Say hello to everyone. Ah, no, I just said hello to everyone. See how you guys run a boom in school or friends or stuff like that. I want to mess and I want to mess. And listen, Keith, thanks so much for calling in. Best of luck. Hopefully we get great news. We'll touch base with this. Hopefully when you're over there, I think we were able to do that last year, which was school, so we'll figure it out. It is from... It is for the VEX Robotics World Championship in Dallas, Texas from the 25th to the 27th of April, 2024. And I think anyone... You know, it's great to go over and take part. But if you're interested in this stuff, it's going to be amazing to see what other people are doing and achieving and what have you. So it's a wonderful experience. Yanto, Karothar, thank you so much. For calling in Kerry Manga. Thank you. That's correct pronunciation, is it, Kerry? Magno. Say it again. Magno. But try... Have a look at that. This is what I was given. Thank you for looking at that. People think I get names wrong, right? OK, so you can see that that's worked completely wrong. No, it's right. That's what I see. Wait, no. No, you're wrong. Is it G and Anna the wrong way round? Yes, it is. Don't get a pen out and start correcting me all the time. Are you looking on to be a teacher? Not really. Molly Nehaarken. Nehaarke, yeah. Nehaarke, I said. And Anya Neferi. And, you know, there's like an Anya works here and I know lots of Anyas. And of all the names, it was A-N-Y-A that they put out for me, you know. If no faith in me at all, folks. All right, thanks so much for calling over. It's fantastic that the yoke, or what if you might call it, looks brilliant and we can't wait to track how he's got on over in Dallas, Texas, USA. All right, thank you so much indeed and thanks, Keith, for coming over. Really, really appreciate it. And just let us know the GoFundMe in case anyone wants to hop on board. Yeah, we have it on the Pubbyscullgidore Facebook page. So if you check Robotics Pubbyscullgidore, you'll be able to find the GoFundMe page. Excellent. Okay, thank you all. We'll be back with more after the break. Are you struggling with ill-fitting dentures? Are you tired of avoiding the steak menu and going straight to the softer options? Blue Poppy's special implant-assisted dentures can help restore your full bite sensation. Call today for a free consultation with doctors Ihor and Amit, Blue Poppy's new implant team and explore our attractive payment plans. Find contact details for our letter, Kenny and Donegal Town Practices at blupoppedental.com. Spring into savings at house-browed furnishings with big brands at small prices. This is a sale you don't want to miss, like sofas from her Elevate range starting from 399. By now, pay later. Finance available. Visit our flagship store at Abercorn Square, Straban and House Brow Doma or shop online at housebrowdfurnishings.com. Fancy a free glass of prosecco while admiring one of Donegal's best views? Join us on our first wedding fair at the Waters Edge Rathmullen on Saturday the 23rd of March from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. We will be joining forces with ultimate touches and other vendors to showcase the Waters Edge Rathmullen as your dream wedding reception. With free entry and great prizes to be won, it's a day out not to be missed. Kia is now making it easier to go green, offering 0% finance on the all-new Kia Nero. With an impressive 460-kilometre range on a single charge, the Nero ensures you can go to distance without compromise. Visit iMotors.ie today and avail of this limited offer. Experience total relaxation in the Spad Orchids at the Hollywood Hotel Bondoren. Recently awarded Best Hotel Spa Getaway at the RSVP Spa Awards. Enjoy luxury spa baths, revitalising facials, rejuvenating massages, pampering body treatments, outdoor hot tub and tranquil Japanese garden. Visit on a luxury spa day, pop in for some me time or buy the perfect present with a gift voucher. Relax and let the Spad Orchids transport you to another world. See HollywoodHotel.com. Highland Radio weather updates with Ireland West Airport. You don't visit Liverpool for the weather, but it does rain goals at Anfield. Fly to Liverpool Daily with Ryanair. Ireland West Airport. Don't just take off, take it easy. All right, let's have a look at the weather forecast and I clicked into the wrong day. Today largely dry with sunny spells developing later in this morning, although cloud will increase again this evening. Highs temperatures of 9 to 11 degrees with light to moderate northerly wind. It is going to get a bit chilly again, but hopefully by the end of March heading into April, don't want to wish one's life away, but wouldn't it be nice to see some nice weather? We are reading a couple of comments in relation to the parent or guardian whose child was not allowed to go to the toilet. There was a note on their file because apparently they take the scenic route to and from the toilet, but there could be awaiting a diagnosis I don't know how they phrase it, they say, other issues. The bathrooms are a huge problem in schools. They're used as smoking vaping rooms in the break times and so much bullying going on in there that kids are afraid to go. It leaves them with no alternative, but to go during class or not go at all. This would have been me here. I would have avoided the crowds at break time, to be honest with you. I know the schools do their best, but no one should ever be denied a bathroom when needed. If they would supervise the bathrooms during breaks, half the kids wouldn't need to go in class and all this rubbish of needing a note to go could be stopped. Common sense, comment there from me, or in my opinion. I personally would be telling my child to ask to use the toilet out of respect and if this basic human right is denied to go anyway and tell the teacher to call the parents if there is an issue, especially for young girls dealing with periods, etc. It can be challenging enough without having teachers dictate when the bathroom can and can't be used. No one has the ability to time when they need to use the bathroom, so waiting until break time isn't always feasible. Yeah, again, that's a very practical comment. Caller says, absolutely not. It's a human right, not a privilege to use a toilet. I had this with the Department of Education over 15 years ago and I won my case. A teacher denied my son the right to go to the toilet and I brought the department up on abuse of human rights. Needless to say, he was never denied the right again. It goes for any human, even prisoners cannot be denied the right to use the toilet. Whether there is an additional needs or not, no one should be refused using the bathroom. I'd be telling my child to get up and walk out the school, would soon change their tune once they deal with me after. Yeah, I get exactly what you're saying. It's the parent, by the way, that brought in the issue of additional needs there, but I understand where you're coming from. Greg, there is no such thing as a trans woman. You're either a man or a woman, regardless of what you want to be or how you dress, stop pandering to a minority. I'm not pandering to a minority. I read an article in the newspaper for crying out loud. That's how they refer to themselves. So, you know, what do you do there? Right, I don't have any time for more comments, but keep them coming into us because we will have time in the next hour. It's time for us now to take a break on the Ninetown News Show. We're gonna bring you the very latest local and national news and the obituary notices. So, stay with us and we'll be back just after those or them. Is it those or them? Anyway, we'll be back after them. Did you know, tinny's toys stock top toy brands like the Care Bears, VTEC, LeapFrog, LeMaz, Playmobil, Tonka and much more. We also have a massive range of outdoor toys like swings, slides, swing ball, GoPosts and Rebounders. And don't forget, we're still Ireland's largest farm toy superstore. Open Monday to Saturday, Lack Road, Latter-Gerry or online at tinnystoys.com. Skoda cars are made for exploring Ireland, but let's add more style, more sexiness, more French. Skoda, Fabia, Scala and Kamek models are available in the Monte Carlo range. Black exterior details, excuse-moi. Sports seats and bumpers. Enchante. And carbon deco. So chic. Order your new 2024 Skoda with more je ne sais quoi at skoda.ie. Skoda, let's explore. Your local Skoda dealer is DMG Motors Clairod Dunigaltown. Telephone 074 9721396 or visit DMGMotors.ie. From family feasts to cozy date nights and everything in between, discover the Curry Cottage Indian restaurant and takeaway in St. Orlor. Indulge in award-winning top quality food whether you dine in or order online for takeaway convenience at thecurrycottage.ie. With our doors open seven days a week with tasty food and a warm welcome, taste the excellence at the Curry Cottage today. Join me, Marty, for this and every Friday night from 8 for Rockin' Hits on Highland Radio in association with Arena 7 Letter Kenny. If you're celebrating a birthday or a work night out, Arena 7 Entertainment Complex has it all. Check out arena7.ie. The life of a Charlie's chip is never dull. Once they're selected, they're off to Charlie's where they lose their jacket, have a nice wash, and get into shape. Before going out, there's always a few nerves totally unnecessary because, let's face it, they always go down well. Enjoy Charlie's chips to sit in or take away. Daily from 12 to 8 at Pierce Road Letter Kenny when the hunger hits, pull into Charlie's. At C.S. Architectural Salvation a fine reclaimed wide plank floorboards, polished beams, pine and oak beams sought the customer's requirements and waxed finish, Belfast street lamps and garden furniture. C.S. Architectural Salvation Camps the Industrial Estate Eglinton call 04871-812-TREBLE-9. 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 News Desk. A major report on proposed assisted dying laws will be published later today. Divisions have emerged in the committee which is overseeing it. With more, here's Stephanie Rowan. The Erachtis Assisted Dying Committee has been examining whether to introduce voluntary assisted dying laws here which has been described as complex and extremely sensitive. The report recommends allowing for assisted dying in very strict circumstances, including that the person has a terminal illness with only months to live and their pain is to a level that they can't tolerate. The report will be presented this afternoon but it's understood community chair Michael Healy-Ray is actually dissenting against it and will hold a press briefing with Senator Ronan Mullen afterwards. This has caused division among the committee who feels the report's being undermined. In any case, it's unlikely any legislation will be introduced in the lifetime of the current government. A Liffords Renauder councillor says there must be more focus on the need for improvements to the Corcom Benz on the N15 between St. Renauder and Kelly Gordon. The 1.5 kilometre stretch to the east of St. Renauder has been identified as sub-standard and in need of realignment. A public consultation ended in December with Donegal County Council hoping to move to preliminary design phase within the next few weeks. However, councillor Patrick McGown has been told at the current rate of progress it'll be the second half of 2027 before the Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland are ready to appoint a contractor and commence construction. He says that's much, much too late. This is very dangerous. Even though it's a national primary road, the N15 from St. Renauder to Kelly Gordon is quite narrow and very, very trusty. And it's quite hard for even two lorries to pass at that location. So it's totally unacceptable that it's going to take this long. It's been designed for at least two or three years and I'd hope that maybe next year that they'll be able to go to construction. But here now it's going to be 2027. It's totally unacceptable. The family of a young girl from Redcastle who became very ill while on holiday in Benidorm say they're blown away by the support they've received from the public. Millie Wilson, who turns two next month, was hospitalised after becoming very ill. She was subsequently diagnosed with bacterial meningitis and sepsis to help the family cover medical costs. The friend has organised a fundraiser on GoFundMe which has now raised over €14,000 to support the family who are still in Spain. On today's 9-2-noon show, Greg Hughes spoke to Millie's mother, Gemma. Really overwhelming, actually unbelievable and I will never be able to thank everybody individually, but we are like so, so grateful for absolutely everything and the support from back home. We have been in contact with the meningitis research foundation and we're going to make a donation to them and we're also going to make a donation to the paediatric ICU unit here before we come home. There are claims that EU militarisation will have serious implications for Ireland although protests will take place today against any move toward a European army. It's after the EU set out proposals for European defence industrial strategy. Independent, Tony Gold, Deputy Thomas Pringle believes there has been an intensification in efforts to militarise the EU. Someone that I think that everybody in Ireland should be very concerned about because we're rapidly seeing, I think it's intensifying over the last while with the attack on Israel and that we're rapidly seeing the wish to move towards a militarised Europe where Germany and France are pushing for European defence forces and that's going to be very serious. Our address scheme for survivors of mother and baby homes opens for applications today. The mother and baby institutions payment scheme will provide financial and health supports to those who spent at least six months in a home. The limit to those who can apply for the supports has been criticised by campaigners who were calling for the scheme to be expanded. They're asking for supports to be made available to all survivors that spent time in a home or were abused in aborting out or adoptive placement. And a man is due in court after cocaine with an estimated street value of £200,000 was seized in South Tyrone. Yesterday afternoon officers from the PSNIs organised a crime branch stopped a vehicle travelling on the Oma Road in Dungalan. A search of the vehicle uncovered the suspected cocaine and cash worth around €50,000 in both Euro and sterling denominations. A 41-year-old man arrested at the scene has been charged and will appear in court in Oma later today. With the workhouse largely dry with sunny spells developing later this morning, cloud increasing again this evening. Top temperatures today 9 to 11 degrees Celsius with a light to moderate northerly wind. Tonight cloudy with outbreaks of rain and drizzle developing. Lowest overnight temperatures 2 to 5 degrees Celsius with light and variable winds becoming southwesterly and increasing moderate to fresh occasionally strong toward the West Coast. Tomorrow it'll be breezy and mostly dull. Outbreaks of rain or drizzle in the morning and afternoon. It will become drier though during the evening. Top temperatures on Thursday 10 to 12 with a moderate to fresh southwesterly wind occasionally strong near the coast. And that's Hyde and Radio News. We're back with news headlines again at 11 o'clock. Check all of today's news on our website, Hydeandradio.com. But for now from the news team, good morning. The obituary notices for this Wednesday morning, the 20th of March. The death has taken place in Blackburn of Michael Quinn, formerly of Faheen's Swinford County Mail. His remains will arrive at Belfast Port tomorrow at approximately quarter to two, travelling onto Comiskey Funeral Premises Clonmani, reposing there from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. Funeral from there on Friday morning at 20 to 11, going to St. Mary's Church Clonmani for Requiem Mass at 11 o'clock with burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery. The funeral mass can be viewed live on churchservices.tv. The death has taken place of Anthony Dunworth, Clooney Remelton, reposing at his home from 2 o'clock this afternoon. Funeral mass on Friday morning at 11, in St. Mary's Church Remelton, burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery. The funeral mass can be viewed on churchservices.tv. Family fires only please donations if desired to the oncology ward, Letter Ken University Hospital, care of any family member or Patrick Sweeney funeral directors. The death has occurred of Trevor Melly, Letter Mac Award. His remains will repose at his father and mother's home at Lengesh, Ardra, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. today. Removal from there tomorrow morning at 11, going to his late residence in Letter Mac Award, where he'll repose from 12 noon until 11 p.m. Funeral mass in St. Bridget's Church, Letter Mac Award on Friday at 12 noon with interment afterwards in the new cemetery. Family time please on the morning of the funeral. Family fires only please donations if desired to Pieta House, care of Derek McCabe, funeral directors. The death has to come place of Pierce Macaulay, formerly of Fountain Street, Straban, reposing at his sister Siobhan Doherty's home at 16 Brookvale, Straban. Funeral from there tomorrow morning at quarter past nine for Rockweal mass in the church of the Immaculate Conception, Straban at 10 o'clock. Interment afterwards in Straban Cemetery. Family time please from 11 o'clock tonight. The Rockweal mass can be viewed live via the parish webcam. The death has to come place of John Fisher, Umla Carrigart. His remains are reposing at his late residence, Umla House Carrigart, from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. today. Funeral service at his home tomorrow afternoon at two, followed by removal to Carrigart Presbyterian Church for service, followed by interment in the family burial ground. Family flowers only please, donations in lieu of desired, to the Donegal Hospice, care of, and a family member. The death has occurred of Bridget Boyce, name Murray, the Pans, Cranford. Her remains are reposing at her late residence, funeral at 11 o'clock tomorrow morning in the church of the Immaculate Conception, Kool, with interment afterwards in Milford Cemetery. At Bridget's request, the house is private, please. No flowers, donations in lieu if desired, to the Donegal Hospice. The death has occurred of Sally Kelly, Liz Mulleduff, Crossroads, Kelly Gordon, reposing at the family home. Funeral from there tomorrow morning at 20 past 10 for Rockweal mass at 11 o'clock in St. Patrick's Church, Crossroads, Kelly Gordon, with interment afterwards in the adjoining church yard. Family flowers only please, donations in lieu of desired, to St. Joseph's Hospital, St. Honor, care of, and a family member. The death has occurred of Terry Smith, 39, Retreat Park, Athlone, West Meath, formerly of Bridget and Donegal. Terry will repose at his residence in Athlone this evening from five until nine. Rockweal mass in St. Mary's Church, Athlone, tomorrow morning at half past 10, followed by cremation in Lakeland's crematorium, cavern at three o'clock. Family flowers only please, donations in lieu of desired, to the Irish Cancer Society. The death has taken place of John O'Neill, Boyer, Port Hall, Donegal, formerly of Camus Road, Straban. Funeral from his late residence this morning at half past 10 going to St. Baton's Church, St. Johnson, for 11 o'clock Rockweal mass with burial afterwards in Derry City Cemetery. House Private, please, before the funeral. And the death has taken place of Niall Carberry, Pound Street, Rathmullen, formerly of Minadone, Fintown. Rockweal mass at 11 o'clock this morning in St. Joseph's Church, Rathmullen, with burial afterwards in the local cemetery. Family time, please, before the funeral. The funeral mass will be streamed on mcn.live. Family flowers only please, donations in lieu of desired, to the Donegal Hospice care of any family member. For family information and more details regarding wakes and funerals, please go to highlandradio.com. And now, in Rose 2023, best local original news programme, The Voice of the Northwest, The Nine Till Noon Show, with Greg Hughes. And you are very welcome back to the programme. Thank you very much, chef, for joining us or sticking with us, whichever applies to you. It's good to have you on board. Right, some comments before we head on with the next item on the show. Came down Largy Brack into the left lane for Letter Kenney. I had to turn right for Bonagie. Car behind me, down Largy Brack, was in the right-hand lane. They turned for Letter Kenney as well. As soon as I came on two lanes of traffic, I need to turn right straight away because I'm a lorry. Next thing, horn goes on the car. Am I wrong? I would have thought the right lane is for going into Bonagie, to be honest with you. Left lane is for only Letter Kenney, right lane not for Letter Kenney at all. I would have thought the right lane is for heading out towards the NTC, place or out towards Derry. You're a lorry driver, professional driver, but left lane for me is Letter Kenney only, right lane, because the turnoff is after 12 o'clock, right lane for going into Bonagie, if I know the area correctly, or heading out the Derry Road. So I'm not gonna say you were wrong, but there are also people that use the right lane to turn left to Letter Kenney, which you shouldn't do either. That right lane is not for turning left into Letter Kenney, because there's people who have to turn right quite soon as they get onto the four lanes. So if I were driving a lorry, and correct me if I'm wrong, I'd be in the right lane going to Bonagie. Now, if you're not from Letter Kenney, I don't know where we're talking about my apologies. Neutrality believes a listener should be respected and held onto even if it means having to leave the European Union, okay? Hi there, back to the rows. It's just a query on the Polestar roundabout. I drive it every day, but I've noticed the last couple of weeks. People coming past the Mount Ergal Hotel using the right lane to go out the Derry Road. No, that's that they can't do that. That's not what that lane is for. To go out the Derry Road and skipping past the traffic, they sometimes kind of get away with it if the light on the roundabout is green. Also same thing coming from the Clannery using the middle lane to go out the Remalten Road and cutting people off. You usually know these drivers as they're weaving in traffic. My question is, are there cameras on the roundabout that can be used to catch these drivers and find them as there will be accidents from this? I'm not really quite sure. And I'm not sure what kind of an offence using the wrong lane is, but the left lane is for going out to Derry. The middle lane is for, I don't know the names of the roads. Heading out by the council offices, the right lane will be for going in past ATU. The right lane only is for going out the Remalten Road coming from the Clannery roundabout. So those people are using the roundabout wrong, but if you have never used that roundabout, I think there might be reasonable to be confused a little. There used to be a sand quarry on Mukesh. There are remains from it still up there. Okay, Lee Gooch actually, this is off the back of a comment Lee Gooch made earlier. Him and Lee, he's suddenly have climbed Mount Aragle. They're looking for the next challenge and Mukesh was mentioned and Lee said that he thinks there's a tractor or a digger on the top of Mukesh. And he wasn't sure if that's true or not. Someone out there knows, I know that. But a sand quarry on Mukesh, I'm not sure how far up that might be, but there are remains from it still up there. On to school toilets and the use of school toilets. Some schools having huge problems with students vaping in the toilets and loitering in the toilets and break times. Oh, I've read that one. Okay, they've read that one. Okay, it's not quite a long one, so no point going through it again. And I've got that one for a third time. Someone really likes that comment. Radio, you are tuned to the 9-Till-Noone show here on Highland Radio. Lo's coming up in the show over the next hour and 45 minutes, so please stay with us. We're going to take a quick break, though, for the Bingo numbers. It's time for Vision Ireland Bingo on Highland Radio. It's Wednesday, the 20th of March. You're playing on the blue sheet. The reference number is S18. It's game number 12. The numbers are... 17, 59, 19, 31, 50, 25, 84, and finally, 68. Phone your claim to 9104833 before 8 tonight. Leave in your name, contact number and the name of the shop where you purchased your book. And we'll call you back the next working day. Get all your Vision Ireland Bingo information at highlandradio.com. Hi, Paddy here at Shea and Conley Cars in Donegal Town. Are you looking to upgrade your car? With Shea and Conley Cars, you'll find mix and models for every budget. Great finance options and may also accept trade-ins. Check out sheaandconleycars.com or call onto us at Shea and Conley Cars from down her road, Donegal Town. Donegal County Council has published the Draft Residential Zone Land Tax Annual Map for 2025 in line with national requirements. Any interested individuals or parties may make submissions in respect of land on the draft map. The first deadline for making submissions is Monday, 1st of April, 2024. For further details and to view the map, please visit consult.donegal.ie. The map can also be viewed at the council's area offices. For all homeowners, the Highland Radio is now offering the chance to transform your space with a 10,000-euro home makeover draw plus an extra 5,000-euro in cash brought to you in association with Florian Company. Imagine the possibilities. What could you do to your home with 10,000-euro? Get your tickets now at highlandradio.com for a chance to make your dream home a reality. Enter today, visit highlandradio.com. Petrol stations will soon have to display price comparisons with electric vehicles. The new regulations have been introduced by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland for court owners must display the price on a poster or screen to travel 100 kilometres in a petrol, diesel, or electric vehicle. I wouldn't like to figure out how you might go about doing this. Let's see if Shane Adonahu, a motoring journalist and editor of Complete Car and World Car Award juror has to say good morning to you, Shane. Thanks for joining us. Hi, Greg. Right, so I can see the logic. Are we talking all electric? Are we talking hybrids? Are we talking Nissan's new type of hybrid? Do we know what this looks like in reality yet? Yeah, the poster is very simple, which is a great idea to try and make it easy for people to understand it. And in theory, it's a great idea to try and draw attention to the fact that electric cars are way cheaper to run. But as you alluded to at the top, there's so much variability even in electric cars. And even in a single brand's electric cars, it depends how the person drives everything. But even everything that out is impossible to do. And even if everybody just drove the same electric car, if there was one electric car only and everybody drove the same way, then electricity rates are changing all the time. And it depends on where you're charging. Everybody has a different kilowatt hour rate at home. And each charging station you go to, depending who's operating it, the rate varies as well. So I think it's actually misleading and it's going to do the opposite to what SEAI are intending. Yeah, and let's just say electricity prices happen to go up again. And petrol and diesel prices begin to come down. Will they be so keen to see these signs up if it doesn't seem as attractive to drive electric? I don't think we see dramatic enough changes in both liquid fuel and electricity prices for that to happen because the difference is so big. But as you suggest, it does change. The SEAI are talking about changing the figures, I think once a quarter, which is just ludicrous. There's a reason we have fuel stations with digital signs that can be changed daily. It's because fuel rates, prices, everything changed that quickly. And to have an information poster that changes quarterly, which is supposed to give people information, I just think it's a waste of time. And I actually feel for the owners of the petrol stations that are basically being forced into doing this too at their cost. Also too, I'm not sure the approach of getting people to transition to sort of try and make out it's about money is really fair because there's an awful lot of other costs. Theoretically, I mean, the outlay often for an electric car versus a petrol car can be more expensive. That's kind of not factored in. The infrastructure at the house potentially, that's not factored in. I think really, if they want people to genuinely transition, it needs to be for more reasons than just money, I think. This smacks to me of a little bit of desperation, if you know what I mean, because look at electric bikes, right? No one is having to flog them the benefits of them, but people are buying electric bikes left, right and centre. Anyway, I'm mixing up two points there, but again, I just don't think to try and convince people it's about the money side of it, that to me smacks a little bit of desperation at this point. I'm not so sure. I think, I don't know how else we convince people, how else I should say the government convince people that we should be moving to more electric cars. People choose... Well, you put in a proper infrastructure though, Shane. Do you know what I mean? Yes. You know, I've covered so many announcements of 20 million, 20 million, 30 million invested in this, that and the other. Next thing you know, there's going to be a super fast charger in every corner and every highway. We have the exact same pretty much infrastructure here in Donegal as we had going back four or five announcements. Half of them don't work. There's petrol cars in the parking spaces. You know what I mean? I think those are the barriers. That's why people are giving up electric cars. Because if you've ever driven an electric car, they're fantastic. You know, you've got instant power. If you sort of manage the charging and everything else, they're fantastic and fun to drive. But people, a recent survey showed people are giving them up because of range anxiety and nowhere to charge them. That's probably a better point I was trying to make or make it a better way, Shane. No, absolutely. That's a really good point. You'd like to be seeing the SAI, you know, spending their time on helping get the rollout of chargers and infrastructure 100 percent agree with you on that. And that should be a far bigger focus on on that. Putting a few posters up in garages, even if they were 100 percent accurate, that's going to have almost zero effect on the situation. And we need to have the infrastructure that's fit for purpose. And as you say, in certain counties around the country, Donegal, et cetera, and other more rural counties, it's it's it's no different to how it was. And, you know, we hear all these announcements from Maaman Ryan saying he's investing this, that and the other and everybody, you know, will either be driving electric or cycling to work or whatever. That's fine. But it's not happening. And it's not happening at quick enough pace. And then and then we have this dominating the headlines, a poster, a poster, which basically shows you that in theory, an EV is cheaper to run. And it is cheaper to run. Let's be very frank about that. It's not just the fact that the cars are nice to drive. You know, and you're being good to the better environment with zero emissions and better to the local and local community with zero pollution. They they are much cheaper to run if you can charge them at home. And of course, if you can charge them. Yeah, I think to if I were marketing, I would actually have kind of throw in myself from time to time. And this is not a criticism or anything that you've said, Shane. But zero emissions at the exhaust, I think, is a good way of phrasing it. And it's more honest, because obviously there are emissions in the manufacturing of these vehicles, but certainly there are zero emission at the exhaust. So also to it would be interesting if they use, you know, real world driving figures or manufacturers that figures as well. I think they're not going to get away with the manufacturing figures actually being an ice engine or an electric engine. Yeah, we still have an issue. A few years ago, we changed the standard fuel economy test over to a newer system called WLTP, and that was supposedly to make it more realistic, but it's turned out not to be. Now, you kind of can't blame the car makers too much for that because they, by law, have to publish what the range is an electric car or the fuel economy in a petrol diesel car on that WLTP cycle. But it's very unrealistic, unfortunately. And I'd like to see a lot more car makers come out and as well as doing the WLTP figures, which they have to do also publish realistic real world figures and for electric cars, perhaps publish real world winter figures as well, because that makes a big difference for some of them. Yeah, because you do get a decent range. But if you tell someone it's 500 kilometres and then two weeks into driving, they realize it's 280. You know, you don't want to lose a customer there. I think honesty with the customer is better than sort of trying to sell the cars with with unrealistic expectations. Where do you what do you see with the future of electric cars? Do you I mean, obviously, we're certainly not going to meet 2030 2030 targets. But do you think they will eventually replace the ice engine over what period of time they are becoming more affordable? You know what I mean? You can get an electric car for under 30 K, you know. Oh, absolutely. I think in the short to medium term, it is going to happen. I know there's a lot of rhetoric around anti-EV rhetoric around right now in this very moment in media, but but honestly, it's happening. There's been billions invested in it around the world, especially in Europe. And in the short to medium term, they are going to replace internal combustion engine. I don't know. I don't know for sure. I don't believe they're a long term solution to personal transportation, shall we say, because there's still a lot of issues you still have to mine materials such as lithium, you know, batteries are big, heavy things. We have to generate the electricity as well. You know, it's already saying 30 percent of our electricity comes from wind power at one stage or another. But it's it's a little bit like the car chargers. We keep talking about, you know, generating more green energy. But where is that at the moment? It might be zero emissions at the exhaust, but, you know, we're burning gas or whatever it might be to create that energy in the first place. No, that is one of the arguments that's put out there. I mean, that that is improving, too, though. And I guess the big point there is that when we do get to a point where Ireland is carbon neutral in terms of producing its electricity, which we should do, even if it does take decades, you know, if we're all driving electric cars, at least the cars are ready then. So you're right. You know, right now in here today, Joe blocks down the street, which is home charger. He might just be charging it up from a coal fired plant. Yeah, for sure. OK, World Car Awards juror, have you done that work or is that ongoing? Or is it annual? Effectively, my next question is, what's the best car in the world? It's really that's not a simple question. How long have we got? Yeah, this is actually my first year on the jury representing Ireland and the awards itself is 20 years old this year. But it's an ongoing thing. You don't become a juror to drive cars. You become a juror because you drive all the cars. Yeah, it's the other way around. So it is an ongoing thing in my daily job. I drive and test cars all the time. And because of that, I'm eligible to vote on the awards. And yeah, it's going to be announced next week, actually. At the New York Auto Show, we're going to announce all the winners. We did our voting already. So it's interesting. And even though it is World Car Awards, and there are cars small over the world that are eligible, but not sold in Ireland. Yeah, the top three, the final finalists, all are sold in Ireland. They're the key of EV9, which is a big electric SUV. That's the big chunk you want. It is a beautiful looking car. It is huge, but it is a really excellent car. Who's that? What's the big player in the electric car market again? The three the three letters, the China Chinese company. B.Y.D. B.Y.D. I mean, they've they've a huge SUV. It looks very much like a Land Rover. It can do pirouettes. That's right. It's got a lot of attention. It's got a tank turn. It's called one piece of machinery. That must be sorry. What's the other two? You got me just I got you got me distracted. I got me distracted. What's the other two? Actually, one of them is from B.Y.D. It's called the B.Y.D. seal, but it's a little sports are a midsize sports and kind of like a Tesla Model 3. That's a really nice car, actually. And then the third one, which I suspect might win it either this or the Kia is the Volvo EX30. So it's a new smaller Volvo electric crossover. So in my opinion, it'll be the Volvo or the Kia, but I could be wrong. B.Y.D. might surprise me. A caller says I know a few. Sorry, it's actually on this one. Does anyone take into account the price of replacing a battery? Now, I think the manufacturers are starting to switch on to this because is it Toyota? They're giving a quite a long guarantee on the battery. But I mean, like ice engines have to be changed as well. Do you know what I mean? I'd now like in the engine went in its and I had to go and source one for two or three thousand euro. We're not seeing I'm not an electric car advocate here, but I'm just you have to go by what you see. I mean, they tend to you generally they tend to hold the capacity as much as you generally tend to charge them, even over a long period of time. And I don't think there's a massive amount of people changing batteries all of the time. Is there? I mean. No, no, there's been quite a bit of hysteria about this recently and some bad press reviews. And again, I'm not an EV advocate either. I'm very neutral on the subject. But the fact is that just like as you were saying, a petrol diesel engine, there are occasions where this complete failure of a petrol diesel engine, certainly later in the car's life and that costs quite a bit to replace it fully. It's the same with an electric car battery. If you had to replace the whole battery, it would be very expensive. But that is number one, very rare. And number two, you can repair or replace the cells or parts of the battery. You don't replace the whole battery every time. But the key thing here is that it's a rare issue. You know, batteries and electric motors are inherently. You see, you'll get one post you'll get one post from and it's normally screen-shotted where a person went into the local garage to get a price for the battery. It was twenty five thousand euro or something. And then that screen-shotted and then it becomes it becomes as if that is the norm when it's not the norm. I'm not saying it never happened. Why don't you mention the massive loss you suffer when you buy? People think I love when people texting is if I'm not going to mention it. Of course, I'm going to mention it if you text in. Why don't you mention the massive loss you suffer when you buy an EV? Social media is full of user relating users relating how their vehicle has lost half its value even after a few months. I'm not quite sure about that. In some in some instances, garages won't take an EV as a trade-in. That's certainly there was one lady down the country that was on news talk talking about this. She has backpedaled a little bit and has now joined an EV EV Facebook page because she's on the way to seeing the light, I think. But anyway, in some instances, garages won't take an EV as a trade-in unless it's at a ridiculously reduced price tag. Well, I'm not this is a really interesting point. Something we've been discussing a lot recently and this is true. But it's of the moment, I feel. Now, if you go back a year and actually I own an EV, even though I'm not pro-EV, I would say, but I have an EV because it suits our life. We have it for three years now. And last year, we could have traded it in and made a profit on it because there was there was less supply, more demand. So that in that moment of time. That was the chip shortage and all those things. Yeah, OK. But this year, yeah, it's changed. It's gone the other way. There's a massive supply and demand is waning a little bit. But I very strongly feel that it's a temporary situation. And then by next year, I think things are going to stay. Well, you need a strong secondhand market, don't you? And you need a you need a sufficient supply of used EVs, presumably. 100 percent. And this is this is I think is the focus here and the worry about batteries that when cars come out warranty and everything. But it should be said as well that all modern EVs, they come, their batteries and motors come at long warranties, usually at least eight years, 150, 160,000 kilometres, sometimes up to 10 years. Some very few ones say a million kilometres, you know. But on average, most are eight to 10 year warranty on the battery. And that's that's more than you'll get in any engine. All right, I forgot why we invited you on to talk. Oh, yeah, it was about signage outside. Garages, we sort of went down an EV rabbit hole there. But very, very interesting. And I appreciate your time, Shane. And thanks so much. Lovely to chat to you. I agree. All right, take care of yourself. Shane O'Donohue, Motoring journalist, editor of Complete Car and World Car Awards. Now, if you've had an EV, like maybe one of the old Nissan leaves, I had one of them. And you're still driving around in it, as I say, just to to strike a balance or to get real world experiences. Please let us know of your long term EV owner, how it's holding up for you and what have you. I know a few people who got rid of electric cars, said it cost too much. Another I hope to be driving an automatic diesel car in the next two years. You will. I mean, listen, they're certainly not going to meet the 20, 30, one million electric cars on the road. Maybe the chucking hybrids, they might or soft hybrids or whatever it might be. But your diesel car is still going to be around for quite some time. I am pretty confident of that. All right, this is again, thanks to Shane. It's always an interesting conversation. I think the EVs and always sparks quite a bit of debate. Watch the show live now on YouTube, Facebook and at HighlandRadio.com. Hold that door. Where are you going with all that gear? I'm applying for a community heritage grant. Maps, a scanner, night vision goggles for the nocturnal animals. But you don't need all that stuff, do you? Not at all. All you need is a worthy project, but the grant covers so many heritage projects. You can never be too prepared. Well, good thing we're going up. So give your project a lift. Apply for a community heritage grant at heritagecancel.ie forward slash funding. Applications close March 25th. Supported by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The Lotto Jackpot is an estimated 5.2 million euro. Play responsibly in store, in app or at love.ie. The National Lottery, it could be you. When it's time for confirmation or first communion, it's time for a trip to Watson Men's Wear, Letter Kenny. Choose from a great selection of top label, casual and formal wear. 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Century Play will also be sensory friendly from 5pm to 7pm on the day to let the little ones explore. Now we're joined on the programme by Fiona McCrabb, manager of Folk Community Play Group. Thanks for your time, Fiona. I do appreciate it. I wish we were speaking under different circumstances, but here we are. Sorry, Fiona, you're muted. If you don't mind, just unmuting. That's fine, because I want to hear what you have to say, of course. So whilst we wait on Fiona to do that, just let you know you can text or WhatsApp 0866025000 or call 07407491-25000. Right, let me see. How do we do that? Oh, have you, Fiona? Hello? No, I still can't hear you. Let me kick you out and bring you back in again. I know that sounds harsh, but it's meant with love, because I do want to be able to hear what you're saying. Right, yes, we're going to be talking now about the Folk Community Play Group. It is going to be condemned at the end of June, they've been told, because of defective concrete. And a lot of effort, of course, went into getting it into the situation. It was a beautiful facility, but all that work could be on done. I just wonder, yes, Fiona, I have you now. Good morning to you. Good morning, Greg. And thanks for having me on and highlighting our struggle. No, and as I said in the preamble and I meant it, I wish I was speaking to you about something else, more positive. Talk to me about the building, Fiona, and the history of it before we sort of get to the point where we learn that there could be, and there is defective concrete. Yeah, we moved into this building after years of fundraising in the Millennium. It was opened by President Mary McElise. Prior to that, we were in a series of prefabs. So this building was funded with money from the International Fund for Ireland, along with a lot of fundraising. So we've been here just over 20 years. The cracks have been apparent for a good number of years and we've been monitoring them. We've been, you know, doing some work. We've been doing some maintenance. We did, we were going to build an extension. So we had the building surveyed by an engineer and he recommended that we have a mica test, which we did. So about 18 months ago, I think we realized that the mica is in our foundations and our rising walls. It's not, our walls are quite solid, they're quite strong, but with the foundations moving, you know, the cracks are now appearing and more so in the inside of the building. All right, which is different to what we sort of often hear in residential property, but in your case, it's the rising walls and the foundations, which are clearly showing the signs of defective material, which it's got wrenching as much as it is in a private home also in a brilliant facility like this. Talk to me about the role the RFO community play group and this building has in the community and the importance of it. Well, I think, I think we're in my opinion where RFO is greatest asset. We're totally into denominational. We welcome children from all walks of life, all abilities. We have never turned a child away from here. We've taken children that haven't had their needs met in other settings. You know, the staff here go above and beyond to give every child that's come through our doors the best early years education that we can give them. Okay, so you can no longer continue in that building. What is the situation that's led to? I mean, obviously it's defective concrete, but the process that's led to the building actually being condemned, which means beyond use. Does that mean by the end of June? Yeah, I know we're probably erring on the side but we've had an engineer monitoring the situation. We have markers on the cracks that are a monitoring movement. He's been gauging that, you know, first of all, it was a six-monthly basis and now it's, now we're down to two weekly basis. So he came on Saturday week ago when I met with him and he just said, I knew he was going to tell me, you know, Fiona, this building is not, it won't be safe. Is it easy to explain how he explains that movement or interprets the readings? It's beyond me. No, if I would have thought so, not that I wouldn't have thought it's beyond you, Fiona, but I imagine it's just really quite technical from an engineering point of view, that's okay. It's actually visible to the naked eye. I can see the cracks getting bigger. Yeah. And there's bits of plaster falling off the wall, just this last couple of weeks. And as you quite rightly say, you have to err on the side of caution. It's unimaginable, isn't it, that the beautiful town of Raffault could be out, be without this facility, heading into the long days of the summer? Yeah. I mean, I've made a promise to the families that are enrolled to come here in September. I will have somewhere for their children to go. We've had an offer from a community group in the town and just this morning we've had an offer from a businessman offering his premises. So we will have somewhere just... But that's lovely, and that's fantastic local generosity, but you're moving out of your house effectively. Yeah, it is. That an awful lot of effort and love has gone into, but also an awful lot of people have gone through that. It holds an important place in the heart of the local community as well. We have children here that their parents came here and their grandparents set up this play group, back in 1982. You know, nearly every family in Raffault has some connection to the play group, and they're fantastic. They're always supported as in the past, but we're asking the same people again that helped to fund this building. Now we're going back. We have an I Donate page. We're asking the same people, and it's not their responsibility. I get you, and we're going to talk about that a little later on, because we'll finish on that, but the reason you might have to fund raise again is because with all the talk of a redress scheme and what have you, this is not Raffault Community Play Group's fault or anyone associated with this. They fund raise sought the funding and built in good faith this building for a lifetime and beyond, but because of defective materials, it is now going to be condemned at the end of June. It is not the Community Play Group's fault, but the redress scheme that is there takes no account of your situation. Now we understand private residents, people's homes, yes, really important, but this is really important as well, but you have no redress through any scheme to help with the rebuilding of this property. None whatsoever, and I do feel the people that have Nicar in their homes, but this affects 50 families this year. The children are very enrolled and have nowhere to go. So, I mean, as I say, I'll finish with the fundraising, but it's very important, I think, that the community, the wider community, not just Raffault, but the wider community too, raise this issue with local public representatives, so they get on board to try and get some sort of a justice here. Yes, just over a week ago, I emailed Roderick O'Gorman, who is the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. I added every TD and councillor that I could think of. I have had one response from our local councillor. The rest haven't acknowledged my e-mail at all. Who responded to you? Frank McBrady. Frank McBrady, Jr., which is very important to point out. So, of all the people you sent that to and all that you see-seed in it, local councillor Frank McBrady was the only one that replied to that email. That's shocking, isn't it? Well, in fair play to Frank, I don't mean that part of it shocking, but the fact that only one replied is shocking. He's the only councillor. We've had a couple of TDs that, you know, the generic response, thank you for bringing this to our awareness, we will raise, you know, and I think P.S. Doherty's raised a question in the D'Oil, so we're waiting for a response from there, but it's not responses that we need. It's... It's not platitudes. It's actual help here. Stay where you are. I want to bring Holly in. Holly, are you there still? Yes, I'm here, yes. Thanks for joining us, Holly. I mean, you work in childcare, not at this facility, but you do understand and recognise the importance of this type of facility in the local community. Oh, of course I do. Like, I've been working in childcare now 10 years, and I've seen a lot of change happening, and I think this is... It's just beyond ridiculous that the government aren't helping at all, they've not even put one penny towards it. Like, this is the start of the children's educational journey. You know, we're there to help aid them in their learning through play, and my children attend the Riffle play group, and so has my nieces and my nephew, and she will be start mayor as well. So, like, my eldest niece, she's come in 17, so, like, that just shows how long this is going, what Riffle needs, this play group, you know, as well, too, so, yeah. Past, current, and future generations, Holly. Yeah, yeah, that's it, and my husband, he attended that play group, too, as well, so it just shows how long it's been going on, like, it's vital that we have this play group, and the parents need it, too, and it's the start of the children's education, as well, to get so much out of it, so, so much. Yeah, it is ironic that it is the building blocks here that are under threat, but these type of facilities provide the building blocks for people in life. Yeah, that's true, that's very well said, and, you know, we're, as our town, we're all united together, but we need, it's just getting that extra, extra help, too, as well, from the government, and it's just, I think it's absolutely shocking that they will not give anything, Joe, and we're just really now trying to put the pressure on the government and TDs and stuff, as well. Yeah, OK, Holly, listen, fair play to you, thanks for helping us highlight this story, and Fiona, you know, it's like, it's just that you need, right, because you have been wrong, this is happening through no fault of your own. I mean, you're only looking for justice here. The purpose of the I Donate, I haven't actually seen it, so I don't know what the target is. Talk to me about the I Donate fundraiser. OK, so the fundraiser, we're hoping to raise a million pounds, a million euro. We were applying for funding, there was, funnily enough, it's called Building Blocks Grant, and we were encouraged to apply for that, so we were getting prepared, we had, with plans drawn up, they're almost ready to go for planning permission, and when the Building Blocks Grant was published, we don't meet the criteria, it's so stringent, we don't meet the criteria, so we're not eligible to apply for that funding either. So we decided, you know, we've got the I Donate page, people are being so generous, but it's not up to the people and the families and the parents to fund, it's supposed to be a free education. The government have accepted, they have responsibility to homeowners to have a redress scheme and, you know, help the homeowners, well, they have a responsibility to all community groups that are facing the same struggles we have. You know, even if they don't have a responsibility to the building, and we know they do, there's a responsibility to the community and the children. Yes. And the parents and families and guardians and what have you. Listen, I mean, it's a huge target, Fiona. I hope it's achieved, but at least it does put it out there that this is how desperate people are to retain a facility here. Let us not forget, you did nothing wrong, you, in good faith, used materials which you would have presumed had the correct oversight to ensure that they were fit for purpose. You were failed by the system, you were failed by that oversight, and yet here we are, having to go back to the public again. But we won't fail the children, we will fight and we will shout and we'll shout loud, and we won't fail the families of Revoke, we will have somewhere for their children to go. I've no doubt about that, I've no doubt. Okay, but it's just heartbreaking, you had it all there, and now to see this building being condemned and it will quickly fall into, God knows what state, once it's not being used regularly. All right, Fiona, listen, keep in touch with us, let us know if there's any developments or if there's anything further we can do to help. Thank you so much, thank you. You know the email address, all right, thank you, take care of yourself, bye-bye. That's Fiona McCrabb, their manager of a full community playgroup, as I say, there's no point reiterating it all, but they are effectively being made homeless come the end of June. The foundations and rising walls are being destroyed, or are destroyed, with defective concrete, and you can imagine the weight that's sitting on them, they've got monitors on, it was six monthly tests then bi-weekly, such is the speed of the deterioration there. Oh wait, 60, 25,000, if you have a comment in relation to that, Colin says three out of four of our children have attended Refoe Play School, and the fourth child will be starting this incoming year, and we see how much it has helped our children starting out. We cannot afford to lose this essential role in our kids' life. Here, here, Colin. All right, back with more shortly. Keep out the cold, cold, cold, and ring-flemming for their full range of garage doors, agri-doors, insulated doors, milking-pala doors. Flemming, 91, 48, 234. Classic waterproof jacket and trousers in store and online at homeland.ie. Nationwide delivery available, offers available until March 31st. Century Complex is the perfect destination for your family to out this Easter, with lots of options in backstage bar and grill, a selection of movies and Century Cinemas, and don't forget our Easter Party and Century Play on Sunday the 31st of March from 10.30 a.m. to 12.00 p.m. For that final hurrah before our extensive renovations begin, check out our website at centurycinemas.ie. A Highland Radio weather update with Ireland West Airport. Time to book that business trip to London. Fly daily to London's Dansted and Luton, with Ryanair and London Heathrow with Erlingus. Ireland West Airport, don't just take off, take it easy. Now, the weather forecast for today, today will be largely dry with sunny spells developing later this morning, although cloud will increase again this evening, highest temperatures of 9 to 11 degrees with a light to moderate, northerly wind. Joseph O'Neill's committee member of Letter Kenny Against Genocide is with us now. Hi, Joseph. You're muted there, Joseph. Sorry if you just got on mute, so I couldn't hear what you're saying. My fault. It's okay. No problem. Many thanks for inviting us back again. Very much appreciate that. All right. You're part of Letter Kenny Against Genocide. You hold weekly demonstrations at the Tesco roundabout and have for some time, pre-dates the current media attention on the Middle East. Yes, we've been doing, we started doing it on first Fridays over a year ago because we were aware that this is a genocide a long time ago, even before October. And we were asked by local Palestinians to increase the regularity of our witnesses. We don't call them demonstrations, we call them witnesses. So we have them every Saturday, midday till two at the Tesco roundabout in Letter Kenny. And we get a great response. We hold up signs saying a hunk or bleep for Palestine and we get an excellent response from people passing by. You know, even though perhaps this would have been flagged on what have you in the past, but pre the awful massacre early October and the events that followed, I don't think anyone could have predicted the terrible situation we're seeing being inflicted on the innocent people, the women and children in Palestine. No one could have predicted the extent of it. The fact that it's happening in broad daylight in front of the world's eyes and just continues. And every morning you wake up, 30 people killed on a roundabout this morning who had been gathered together to try and get the food that is needed to the right people in the absence of Hamas. They would have had a role in that in the past, I would imagine. Just 30 people wiped out like that one bomb. Another bomb went off in a refugee camp and another 15 people the last time I checked just obliterated. We don't know what they are, but the likelihood is that they are women and children for the most part. We can't allow ourselves to be desentercised, can we? No. Thank you, Greg. I feel I hardly need to say anything because you're obviously very well informed about the issue and have taken the right approach to us. I'm very grateful to Highland Radio and I'm very grateful to the Irish people because we wouldn't be having this conversation on an English radio station, I don't think. Yeah, but it's important we're on the right side of history too. Yeah, but of course, as they say, it's a no-brainer. It's a no-brainer, there's a genocide going on. It's well documented. It's been in front of the International Court of Justice who said the end of January, come back to us in the month of Israel and show us, stop doing genocide and come back in the month and they continued. And as you say, the numbers are atrocious. It's at least 200 people a day, mostly women and children, and the figure has now gone above 30,000. Talk to me about this poster that's appeared at the foot of Ergal. We can see it there for those watching the show. I was delivering an exhibition for a friend of mine. He's a Jewish Israeli Holocaust survivor. He's a famous artist called Zohar. And I was delivering the exhibition to Guidor. It's a series of Palestinian paintings, which he did back in 2017. Anyway, I passed by this poster. I'd seen it a few times before, and it's on the way when you're driving from Guidor towards that lovely view up to Erigal, the iconic view. And this time I thought, I've got a better time. It's sunny. I'll get out and photograph it. I don't know who made the poster. It's a big poster. There's no sign as to who made it. I mean, it's probably some local Palestine spark group. And I think they use a cartoonist called Latuff. He's a well, L-A-T-U-W-F, a well-known, I think, Chilean cartoonist who does very, very, to-the-point cartoons about what's happening. And what it has is an Israeli soldier sort of leering over a poor Palestinian woman whose child is bleeding to death in her arms. And there's a picture of an Israeli jet with a star of David on his dropping bombs down in Gaza. And the signs of the woman, it's all in Irish. So I had to translate it for the English audience. The lady's saying, help us. And the strap line at the bottom says, eject the Israeli ambassador now. So I was impressed. It's very powerful. And I mean, listen, that's a call that's been there for quite some time, but really, the international community have a response. This is almost now gone beyond what individuals can do. And that is not to discourage anyone from doing what they choose to do. But as I say, I think people are pretty aware as to what's happening now. No one could ever justify the attacks in Israel in early October. It was absolutely disgusting. But unfortunately, it seems a survey of Israelis shows that many of them believe that the response has been proportionate, which is quite concerning. It's shocking. I mean, the research shows quite clearly most Jews live in Israel and in America. And the research shows quite clearly that almost all rabbis, all synagogues, and almost all Jews support the genocide. It's quite shocking, really. It's almost like a whole group of people have been brainwashed. Yes, but we'd hope that's not reflective of Jewish people, though. I mean, that is a survey of what have you. I don't know enough Jewish people to know myself. But I can't imagine that we certainly couldn't suggest that all Jewish people are of that view. No. I mean, the facts are that most are we have moderate Jews in our group and Israelis, several Israelis. They're quite clear that what's happening is absolutely shocking. In fact, several members of our interfaith group for Palestine, Jewish people, have felt the need to leave Israel if done what they can. They've had to leave and go into permanent exile because their voices are not being listened to. And the fact is that almost all Jews worldwide are supporting genocide. Well, according to surveys, we can't go. I get you. I understand. I'm not disputing it. I'm not going to sound like a Jewish group. Understood. And the fact is the evidence is quite clear from Israeli TV and society and their leaders and their people and the soldiers showing themselves laughing as they bomb Palestinians. The evidence is quite clear, is that most Jews in Israel support the genocide. And many of them take part in it joyfully. OK. It's sad. It's a sad thing to say. It's a fact. Yeah, OK, Joseph. Listen, I actually do have to go for the news at 11. I appreciate your time. Good news. The leaders in good news. Good news is that many doctors in Latter-Kennie are joining our Saturday protest. And they've now started having vigils at the hospital, organized by Tom McBride, retired psychiatrist. So the medical profession in Latter-Kennie is fully on board with the Palestinian people. Joseph O'Neill, thank you very much for your time today. Have a good day. All right, it is the 9th till noon show. Now, let's take a news update at 11 o'clock. And it's over to Donald Kavanaugh. Thank you, Greg. Good morning. The RFO community playgroup has confirmed it's moving to a temporary premises at the end of June because its building has been condemned due to the presence of MICA in the foundations and rising walls. A major fundraising campaign is being launched to raise money for a replacement building. A major report on proposed assisted dying laws is to be published later today. However, divisions have emerged in the committee overseeing it once the report has been published, the committee's chair, W. Michael Healy-Ray, is to hold a private press conference along with Senator Ronan Mullen. Aliford Stronowner-Councillor says there must be more focus on the need for improvements to the cork and bends on the N-15 between Stronowner and Kili Gordon. The 1.5-kilometer stretch to the east of Stronowner has been identified as being in need of realignment. A public consultation ended in December. Donegal County Council hopes to move to design stage shortly. It had been hoped works might start next year. However, the indications now are it'll be late 2027 before a contractor is appointed. Councillor Patrick McGowan says that is far too late. The family of a young girl from Red Castle who became very ill while on holiday in Benidorm say they're blown away by the support they've received from the public. Millie Wilson, who turns two next month, was hospitalised after becoming ill and was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis and sepsis. A GoFundMe page established to support the family has raised over 14,000 euro. And the head of the GRA says he's confident members will back proposals to end the Garther roster dispute. The National Executive of the Garther Representative Association has accepted a new proposal. A ballot of members will take place at the height of the dispute. Rank and file Gardie voted no confidence in Commissioner Drew Horace. GRA President, Donegal based Garther Brendan O'Connor says the latest plan should put the issue to bed. And we're back with news headlines again at 12.00. Donald, thank you very much indeed. And we'll be back with more on the 9.00 noon show. We're into the last hour of today's programme after we take this break. Don't miss the BAFTA award-winning comedian Michael McIntyre's brand new show, Magnificent, at the SSZ Arena Belfast on Friday, the 31st of May, 2024. As always, Highland Radio make it easy for you as we look after all your needs. We will provide luxury transfers, overnight stay at the Clinton Hotel Belfast on a B&B basis, your ticket to the show, shopping time in Belfast City Centre. For more information, go to the outlet at highlandradio.com or give us a call on 07491 25,000. Michael McIntyre in Belfast. McDade's Bathroom, Plumbing and Tiles showroom in Bonkranagh is your one-stop solution for all your bathroom, plumbing and tile needs. We offer a wide range of top-quality plumbing fixtures, tiles and accessories, all at the best possible price. Our experienced plumbing experts will help you choose the right products for your bathroom, renovation, new construction or remodeling project. Visit McDade's Bathroom, Plumbing and Tiles in Bonkranagh and see why we are the best choice for all your bathroom and plumbing and tile needs. Creative landscaping works are the donning-all distributors of millboard, cladding and decking. Thanks to its unique polymer resin construction, this decking and cladding doesn't deteriorate like natural wood and won't be beaten for durability. It also has superb slip resistance, even when wet and every board is produced using recycled materials. Live life outside with Millboard at Creative Landscaping Works listening in Lederkenny. See CreativeLandscapingWorks.com Craving a taste of bliss by the water, diving into deliciousness at the water's edge in Rathmullen. Our coffee and snack bar offers a daily dose of freshness and flavour from scrumptious light bites to tasty snacks and freshly brewed coffee. Serve daily from 10am to 3pm and delicious fresh pizza served daily from 12pm. Opening Thursday the 14th of March, see you soon at the water's edge. TFI Local Link operates evening and weekend services throughout rural Ireland to help you stay connected 7 days a week. We know life doesn't just happen 9 to 5, so if you're commuting, shopping, visiting family or going out in the evenings or on the weekends, let TFI Local Link take you there. Visit transportforarland.ie At C.S. Architectural Salvage you'll find made to measure traditional cast iron radiators, exterior garden ornaments, original Belfast brick and decorative brick, granite cobbles, quarry tiles, natural stone flag, wheelie sleepers and much more. Log on to C.S. ArchitecturalSalvage.com Let's join Steve live for the build-up. What's your prediction? I've been watching this team for a very long time, Gary, and I can tell you now, the score will be 3-1. There will be our annoying partners and the French lad will score a header. Very specific, Steve. Bet Builder from LiveScoreBetPull. You can combine markets from thousands of options to create your own bet. Or if you can't make up your mind, choose from the pre-built QuickBet options. Which is exactly what you did, isn't it? Bet Builder from LiveScoreBet. Building a bet just got easier. Full account terms apply. Bed responsibly. 18plusgamblingcare.ie Now, Chris Hashmull is going to join us a little later on with Business Matters News and a preview of the podcast, but now we're joined in studio by Trudy Daherty from Movil. Thank you so much for joining us, Trudy. It's a pleasure, Greg. It's great to have you. It's great to have you in board. Now, does this story start last April? Not really. It sort of starts maybe in the August before that. All right, talk to me. Pick it up wherever you want to. I suppose it started at the very beginning. I started, you know, when I was wiping after going to the toilet, I noticed blood and left it for a while. And I thought, right, you know what? I'm going to be a big girl. I'm going to go to the doctor. So I went to the doctor. Now, you know yourself. It's not easy getting a doctor's appointment, but I managed to get one with the locum and Movil. So when I went and said that I was passing blood, he says, and what do you think it could be? And I said, well, it could be hemorrhoids or that. He goes, that's probably what it is. So he sent me packing with suppositories and laxatives. That was the end of the consolidation. I never took them with temperature. So I came out and I was feeling really frustrated and angry. I just thought, I've been totally dismissed and have self-diagnosed and handed over a 45-year-old marriage. So my anger subsided and I thought, you know what? It probably is just hemorrhoids. But there was a wee voice in my head. I kept saying, what if it's not? I keep hearing about this wee voice that people need to listen to. Yeah. So I listened to the wee voice until February and I thought, do you know what? I'm going to make an appointment with a doctor that I know. Yeah. So I made an appointment with her. I said to her, look, I was here in August and I was totally dismissed. And she goes, I'm really sorry. She says, because of that tradition, she says, I'm going to send you for a colonoscopy straight away. Now, she took my bloods and she'd done a poo sample. Now, in a funny sort of way, it wasn't nearly as well that the first doctor didn't do anything right. Because I'll explain now. My blood was all coming back and my fur was all coming back and there was absolutely no markers that there was anything wrong. Interesting. When I went to colonoscopy, you're awake and you can see it on the screen. And I could see the mass on the screen when they were doing the colonoscopy. Now, I didn't know that it was cancer or a tumor in it. Maybe it was a bowel or a Crohn's disease or something like that. I didn't for a second think that I had cancer. So in the first consultation that you had, albeit unsatisfactory, you may not have at that point been referred for a colonoscopy. It could have just been the stool and blood samples. And it would have come back negative. And that would have come back negative. And I would have never been sent for a colonoscopy. And you probably would have continued down the route of treating something else that it wasn't. Absolutely. So when you get a colonoscopy like that there, do they give you an indication? I mean, obviously they're seeing stuff that they don't want to be seeing, right? But I presume there could be other reasons for it. It could be benign or whatever it could be. At that point to take tissue samples, I had imagined. But did they relate anything to you at that time of the colonoscopy? When they were doing, I was fully awake and looking at it on the screen and I could see them like cutting off like small polyps. Polyps, that's the name I was looking for. And I felt fine. I did not feel sick. The only symptom I had was I was passing, I couldn't even say I was passing blood. There was small bits of blood in the toilet tissue. OK. And I felt fine. So I got the colonoscopy done and then myself and my husband were sitting in the wee room and the doctor and the stillman or the cheeky man. And I was handed two leaflets. One was tuberculosis or something like that and I was crooned or whatever. And I thought, I said to Noel, I said like, I've got one of these because I saw it on the screen, I saw it. So when the doctor came in and she goes, yes, there's a tumour and I sort of... Well, she's able to dramed like that. I was like, what are you talking about? Like, I've got this here, like... So I stopped listening. So there was a lot to take in and stillman or stillman and she was there and she says, I'll explain all to you now. OK. So when the doctor left, she explained all and she was like, I know it's a big shock, like I've been told. But I said, right, it's a tumour. It's not cancer, it's a tumour. I'm going to operate, take the tumour out and I'll do biopsy and then we'll know then. So that's what happened. I've got my operation at the gym and six weeks later I got the results from that. So you had 3B colorectal cancer. So what is that versus different? Like, why is it 3B colorectal? What does it mean? Right, well, there's four stages of cancer. So you've got one, two, three and four and then the letters then stand for like, spread to different parts of the body. So my cancer was in the colon and it spread to eight lump notes. So it took 19 lump notes and 14 tests positive. So that's what I mean then, that's high stage. Now the only thing with colorectal cancer is that it's very hard to get it detected at an early stage because it can find lumps. But it also spreads quite quickly, doesn't it? Yeah. It can spread quite quickly. So I would say to anybody if they've any kind of signs or symptoms at all to go to your doctor straight away and if the slightest doubt at all don't think it could be hemorrhoids. It could be cancer. Okay. Well, did you have to get a stoma or anything like that? Yeah. I've had a stoma. Is it a permanent one or reversible one? It's temporary but I'm sort of thinking I just spent a full year like, you know, of my life not being me. I don't want to spend now. I'm supposed to go in June for the reversal but I think I'll give it another six months just to you. Why? Because I want to get back to my life and get back to work and do the things I enjoy doing. So the reversal would mean you're out of action for a bit longer? Yeah. Okay, I get to you. I'll be six weeks of recovery for the reversal and that's better. Okay. So what is the prognosis now? Obviously they've removed the lymph nodes. They've removed the tumour. Did you have to get any radiotherapy or chemotherapy? I've had 12 rounds. Well, I've had 10 rounds of chemotherapy so far. I have two more to go. Okay. I had my second scan there just last Monday passed and it came back clear. So everything's going in the right direction for me today. But the only thing is like, you know, a shadow is going to be hanging over me for the next four years at least. You know, I'm going to be checked every first of all, every three months, every six months and every year. But you talked about how it's hard to get it early. The one advantage of the regular checks is that hopefully we pray it wouldn't happen and I'm sure it won't. But if there were any sort of red flags, hopefully they'd be spotted really, really quite quickly. Well, I think it's up to the individual. If you've got unexplained diarrhea or constipation, get it checked out. Yeah, I mean, for you though, go forward with the regular check-up. Yeah. Yeah. For sure. And also to, you know, I think there are some sort of, you know, myths out there about, about colon cancer. You want to use this opportunity to dispel as well. Well, now I was taking this as a compliment, Greg, right? Because my surgeon, who's really, really lovely. I know where this is going and I agree with your surgeon. You look young and beautiful. Mr. Zian said to me, he says, because you're so young, you're going to have to get chemotherapy if you're clean up in that. And I was like, so yeah, keep talking, keep talking, you're saying all the right things. But it wasn't until later that I realised the impact of what he was saying, the fact that there is a national screening that you get in the post, like a packed test report. Yeah, yeah. What age is that kicking up? 59. Now, they're taking it down a year, each year, until it gets down to 50. But I've joined a Facebook group. It's the Irish Colorectal Cancer Support Group. I'm probably the oldest on it. Yeah. Right? There's young mothers that are stage four. Wow. See that haven't been sent for colonoscopies. So I think, like, you know, we need to sort of change the mindset of the medical profession as well to say this isn't an old person's disease anymore. This is now affecting young people. So no matter what age you are, if you see a change in your bowel movements, if you see any spotting or blood, or, you know, it kind of is so innocuous that the first doctor thought it could have been piles as it turns out it wasn't. But at self-advocate, go and get it checked out. Yeah. And if there's something saying, no. The wee voice is talking to you. Yeah, the wee voice, the gut, or whatever you want to describe it, you have to sort of go, no, I actually would like, this has ramifications to presumably treat it for those around you. I don't know if you have any siblings or what have you, but now they have to keep a close eye on things presumably. Well, that's, I will definitely be advocating if I've got three children. Yeah. And I would be saying that I would like them to have a regular colonoscopy behind their 40. I'd be sure, wouldn't it? That would be clever, yeah. You know, that's, I know that if they start having symptoms at all now, that because I've been tested positive that they'll automatically be offered a colonoscopy because of me, which is sort of reassuring to know, like, they wouldn't have to take us through the whole just wait and see. So at the moment, just because the national screening program isn't for under 59s, don't for a second think that this is not a condition or a disease that can affect people under 59. I think, you know, that could be a message that goes, that could be misread there, but also to even push for a colonoscopy. Yeah. Push for a colonoscopy. Yeah. Like, even if it turns out to be hemorrhoids, so what? Yeah. And as well as that, like, you know, there's a lot of people that have polyps and, like, they're harmless. Mm-hmm. But you can get them in remotes and they'll not turn into cancerous polyps. Yeah. Exactly. How have you found the chemotherapy side of the treatment? I would honestly put my hand in my heart and say that the chemotherapy is worse than the cancer. Yeah. So she didn't know you had cancer, did you, really? Absolutely not. But I bought this bottom, like, yeah. And I mean, like, I had no experience with chemotherapy, like, I had nobody close to me. Yes. They asked about chemotherapy or anything. So I think when I went through the operation and everything, I thought, right, once it's cut out of me, that's it gone. Mm-hmm. And then I told them, oh, you have to get 12 rounds of chemotherapy, just as a cleanup and all the rest. But I remember then going to meet the oncologist and staffed my husband and, you know, he was saying, like, you know, right, you know, it's, you know, it's a good chance of reoccurrence and all the rest. So I took it out and take it bloodstone and he goes, like, it'll be a regular route that could be taken down to the bloodstream. How does that make you feel? But I remember walking down when all, and I was like, I still have good cancer. Mm-hmm. It was the first time because of oncology. The penny dropped. Yeah. But I acknowledged that, yes, I have cancer and that I'm at the start of a journey. And the rest of the family, as well, of course. Yeah. And how do you, have you sort of worked out dealing with the possibility of it coming back? In this day and age now, I don't think, like, we all want reassuring words from our doctors and consultants and all that kind of stuff, but I think because of, you know, liability and litigiousness and what have you, you know, they have to be really quite frank with us, you know. Well, to be honest with you, Greg, I would prefer to deal with the truth than to deal with the flecky kind of... We can manage truth, can't we? Absolutely, yeah. Yeah, we're really good with that. I think as humans, most of us are. Yeah. Realistically, we've been willing to... I sort of had one, I know, I genuinely have, sort of like, you know, positive outlook. Yeah, good. There was one day I was up in, I can't even remember what it was, I was up in A&E, waiting all day long, and there was all these people in, and I thought, I think it was after my second infusion. And like, I had all these scary stories, like, you know, you need to protect yourself from infection because it could turn into septicinal. And I'm sitting in the middle of A&E, going like, oh my god, I'm in the middle of all these sick people, I'm just getting blood stung, and I'm so terrified that I'm going to end up with septicinal. I remember coming home and I'm down to the bedroom and I just burst into tears. And I think it was a relief. It felt vulnerable in that moment, didn't you? Absolutely. It felt vulnerable, yeah. So I think that's another, like, obviously my first journey in cancer here, like, you know, I think for a cancer patient, especially at the early stages of chemo, like, after listening, like, you know, protect yourself from all infections and, like, wrap yourself up and all that. To go into A&E and sit with all these people that you know are, oh my god, like... You went in there for blood, so why do you have to sit in A&E? No, I was so terrified. It was scary. Are you the type that put a name on your stomach? Your... It's my bellybutt. Ha ha ha ha ha ha. Ha ha ha ha ha. Ha ha ha ha ha. Ha ha ha ha ha. Ha ha ha ha ha. Ha ha ha ha ha. Ha ha ha ha ha ha. Ha ha ha ha ha ha. Ha ha ha ha. Ha ha ha ha. And... It's quite interesting, actually. And it's funny how we work as humans, Trudy, in that you're actually you're considering holding onto it for a further six months to get back into life and then sort of... Cause, I mean, I can understand that. I really... Cause, like, for the last... For the last year, because I was diagnosed on the 4th of April. That's when I had the colonoscopy, so it was 4th of April, last year. When I've got my basically every two weeks. Yeah. Because like Kimmel's every two weeks. Fortnight cycle of time. Every two weeks. So you sort of miss a week out of your... Yeah for sure. Of course. And a lot of people have to get stomas and for permanence forever and and people react differently. I don't want to sort of you know judge people of all the same but the you know for some people when they're told they think oh that's the end of it then so I can't do this and I can't do that and I can't travel and I can't swim and I can't you know not always the case though obviously you know. I think you need to sort of just like accept I've accepted the stoma as as part of me getting on with my life you know I can go swimming and stuff do you know what annoys me most actually Greg is my pick line. Your what? I have a pick line you know forget me Kimmel one. Oh right. So if I get up in the morning to go for a shower I have to wrap it in cling film and then put a sleeve over it half before I go into the shower. No I do. Skip the shower. I'd be half in my shower or something truly. You know the stoma bag it's not a problem. It's not a problem. It's interesting it's interesting that that's not the thing it's the... I can't wait to get rid of the pick line I don't know. Hi Greg my partner went into his GP four years ago and only three went back twice. It wouldn't have been picked up that he had cancer of the bowel at only 40 years of age. Dr Zee Shans was amazing. If he hadn't gone back to his GP he wouldn't be here. It's not remarkable. Can I just agree with that caller there Dr Zee Shans is absolutely amazing. Now a lot of people were saying to me go to Galway. Galway is the centre of excellence go to Galway and I thought why would I go to Galway? Well like if everybody goes to Galway we'll lose whatever we have in Latter County and I have absolutely no regrets going to Latter County. I know Latter County hospitals sometimes get very bad press. I've absolutely not a negative to say by Latter County they have been absolutely amazing. The thing more is me Trudy too though is you know with with misdiagnosis or missed diagnoses we don't know how that's affecting families here so we've got you right sitting in front of us thank God Trudy but it was thanks to your little voice that you continue to listen to right and then we've got Robert's partner there who went back again to the GP like that's two people that that went back because they didn't like what they heard the first time I don't think I would. I think I I think I'd walk out of the GPs with a skip in my step because I heard what I wanted to hear yeah do you know what I mean well I walked out I walked out mad because it cost me 45 That's just because you're tight Trudy. That's just that going on towards the holiday. Exactly. I just want to say fair play to Trudy on talking about colon cancer making awareness for everyone else she sounds such a brave woman but I asked you about the braveness so we won't talk about that again. CRC Awareness is April you've got your diagnosis in April your official diagnosis though you I think you'd self diagnosis yourself that's a colorectal cancer awareness month so we're a little early but that's okay too there's a 5k coming up a walk stroke run yeah talk to me about that well I decided you know I I knew nothing about colorectal cancer before I got my diagnosis absolutely nothing never heard of it and I thought if I can help one person get diagnosed early then my journey will be worthwhile so I decided right I'll get blue balloons and we'll do a 5k walk ensure any shown hospice is just like baby steps I thought I'll raise a wee bit of money for them too so on the 6th of April I'm gonna have an awareness campaign down in the community central green castle just to get people to talk about their poo basically yeah do you know your philosophy is the same as mine when we talk about stuff on on this programme all that the only thing well firstly awareness is good anyway right but if one person identifies or connects with that and goes to the GP or gets something checked out or goes for a diagnosis then that's I consider my work done here so if we between ourselves truly uh there could be someone who's come out of the GP's feeling like you did and hasn't gone back yet you know if we even if they go back in and and they go down the colonoscopy route it's all fine that's grand yeah absolutely you've nothing to lose it just means that one person gets that diagnosis before things start getting you know worse than than mean you were doing a job so 5k walk run Saturday 6th of April refreshments served afterwards in the centre it's the green castle centre yeah okay and uh you want as many people as possible to come along and get involved why not my dogs are free you can take your dog with you as well um Elaine Doherty says can you please wish truly good luck thanks I'm not sure if you know Elaine or not but she wanted to pass on to you anything else you want to talk about Trudy I'll mention whilst we're here just I'd like to sort of thank my family for the support this is the tough bit maybe you know yeah keep seeing me close up here that's okay take your time Trudy the husband's been amazing like I get breakfast and bed every morning I don't know how I'm gonna get up and go back to work and stuff like that now reality hits on and my daughter do you know that it's the small things because every Tuesday when I've gone up for my chemo and stuff like that I've come home and she said fresh sheets and David covers the bed which I absolutely love then getting into bed so it's we small things it makes huge difference yeah yeah that's a nice welcome home yeah absolutely and then there's other wee things that can niggle you as well because the different chemo's affect you in different ways I think the chemo for breast cancer you lose your hair and it's a huge thing for people who lose their hair but the chemo that I've been getting I've full head of hair and it purposes to me like cut your rucksack told you you've got your hair and I was like yeah but I'm pooing into your bag God gives me one hand with the other is that what you're saying okay Trudy's such a courageous and uplifting lady friend and colleague whose glasses always half full and inspiration for us all so I presume that's your work colleagues well I'm hoping from the glass to be full very shortly I'm still recovering from St. Patrick's and I'm only joking I was a good boy right so Noel's your hubby isn't he yes Noel okay well done to you Noel and your family as well and your friends and stuff absolutely and I think even too Trudy today even even if it's not if it doesn't if people don't need to go to the doctor or anything like that there I think even just in the way you've spoken about it you've you'll have lifted people's spirits and all that kind of stuff do you know do you know what talk about your poo how does it don't be embarrassed to talk about your poo yeah of course poo is good to check on and stuff how does it feel about being uh do you you know how you said you you have had no sort of exposure to cancer or such thank god with family and all how does it feel to sort of be a cancer survivor is that something that you're comfortable with uh or how do you frame it in your life in your mind I'm literally ticking one scan at home Greg and that but I'm on about sort of the label of it if you know what I mean because it wasn't there before and now this is you now and you've got your bum bag and was it your bum bag or your belly belly belly but your belly but no I'm sorry I don't want to say that I'm a cancer survivor I've had cancer yeah exactly so far it's behind me yeah the next scan might be different and I'll deal with it then excellent no so it's subjective and I think I just it I kind of got a sense of that from you right and I thought it'd be interesting to ask because everyone deals with it differently and you go all right you know I've beaten it this time and now me again yeah I want to get back to work I want to get back to my life and all right well Trudy listen the best of luck with the last couple of treatments great news on the the most recent scan long may those continue and back to work and what have you really really soon I hope it's been absolutely lovely talking about you it's been lovely talking about your poo right let's talk let's talk about poo we have to talk about number two's all right okay listen thanks so much Trudy for everything thanks for getting in touch with us and please go out on Saturday the 6th of April to the Green Castle community centre there's going to be refreshment served afterwards in the centre it's a 5k walk run bit of information and what have you and it's happening in April which is colorectal cancer awareness month Trudy thank you so very much for your time and it's been lovely having you in studio and delighted you're doing so well thanks for having me that's Trudy Doherty from Mulville the county's number one talk show the 9 till noon show on Highland radio hop to it with Easter savings at Tesco with our board be approved finest Irish Angus fillet barrel now half price cross our finest hot cross bonds off your shopping list for two euro 50 now two euro and crack open large Easter eggs like Cadbury twirl was five euro now three euro enjoy a bigger and better Easter save time shop online or click and collect Tesco every little helps club current required subject to availability available in most stores prices varying express stores see tesco.ie the effects of personal debt problems often go beyond just financial what we don't want to face can cause us to unravel stress eats at you relationships unwind it can feel like life's falling apart but support is available get back on track with the insolvency service of Ireland an independent organization that helps untangle personal debt problems see back on track.ie supported by the government of Ireland 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with just one evening per week on campus open up your future by contacting the faculty office on nine one eight six two zero six or visit atu.ie today right now the business matters podcast from highland radio is available for you right now to stream on our website and listen listen at your leisure or your leisure sorry its presenter is chris ashmore and he's in studio with me this morning good morning chris good morning greg right okay so are we gonna start with some news here yes company yeah there's a company called european green transition now its chairman is a dunigal entrepreneur cattle freel and they're planning to float on the london stock exchange the company it basically focuses on assets and businesses that are connected with the whole move towards green energy and its portfolio includes a number of exploration projects two of them are in sweden one's in germany and it's all about looking for things like lithium which we many of us may know is used for electric vehicles so there's big demand for that and there's also metals called dysprosium and terbium not i'm not familiar with them which i'm told are used in the manufacture of wind turbines now in europe there's a big push on to source these materials for the green energy sector and to lessen the reliance on supplies from china so an area of growth and shares in this company are set to trade after easter so one of the options for lithium is scraping the seabed the european seabeds which obviously could be problematic i'm not saying that that's what this company is involved in but that's one of the alternative sources of lithium because obviously the way it's mined at the moment is a little controversial right okay we were talking earlier on about these new posters that don't go petrol stations and others might have to put up but an angle on this is the the compulsion to do so yeah now it's going to be interesting to see how it pans out fergus scharkey the head of business supports and transport with the sustainable energy at ardy varland he's saying that you know there will be compliance checks representatives of the petrol station saying look there needs to be a bedding in process for the consultation but the bottom line is in the near future you will be driving into your petrol four court now it applies to his four courts with more than three pumps and you will see a screen and it'll say 100 kilometers of petrol will cost you x and diesel and green you know what it's not a bad idea gives you an idea of the cost how you aggregate it there will be interesting look it's like these yeah it'll what want to watch want to watch um scala yeah scala and this used to be known as scale x local enterprise office it's basically a a program run over 11 weeks targeted at startup entrepreneurs who are in a good place to go for global growth might have a great idea in dunigol but has a potential elsewhere so you go through the local enterprise office deadline for application is April the fourth and there's all sorts of advice and mentoring there and worth looking at if you have a big ambitions yeah a lot of effort is required and some would say he's happening to try and get you know more property back into use be it commercial or derelict and there's a new funding stream for the council that's going to work in that direction yeah we've heard quite a lot about this basically four million euros being provided to dunigol county council under what they call the urban regeneration and development fund they have identified some 44 vacant or derelict properties in the the center of letter kenny there's a number of grants available to support people and the whole idea is to get these vacant properties back into part of the housing stock or indeed maybe to purchase some of them and then sell them on but it'll be certainly a better scenarios and having a lot of vacant run down properties no problem now you keep an eye on wind what does yeah what happened in february well february we keep an eye on this yeah the wind energy report wind energy provided 41 percent of ireland's electricity in february and if you take the first two months this year it was 38 percent of the country's power so those figures gradually going up as as time goes on it's a great it's a great high figure is that electricity generated because we've heard that a lot of it can be lost on the network i wonder is it electricity used or electricity generated it says energy provided so i must must check that out and actually on a not unrelated matter and on the farming program last week we were talking with about the subject of using these big batteries to store electricity and there's a number of companies already in negotiations with farmers about leasing land and that's something that we're going to see more of because as you say it's stored we can use it yeah i mean the wind can be blowing all night and i know we're going to look at other things but the wind can be blowing all night but people aren't using electricity so it's a waste it's about what's being what's being how it's being used rather than generated okay uh i love myself a traditional full Irish breakfast i'm actually really quite boring because i don't eat out terribly often right but even if i go for lunch if it's an all-day breakfast you can't be someone else cooking you a fry it's it's hard to beat i knew you'd like this one yeah you have that sort of all-day breakfast look about you yeah you're on about my physique no no just those just i can i can imagine you tucking into the fry anyway the reason we're talking about his weight shaming me the central statistics office does many things one of them is uh it provides these quirky little stats now and again and they've just come out about the cost of the traditional full Irish uh so they actually look at the cost of bread and butter which have fallen slightly in price compared to this time last year but eggs tomatoes pork sausages the best back rashes as well as mushrooms are up in price milk is very expensive yeah they've gone up a good bit but you can keep the mushrooms milk has dropped a little bit tea's gone up a bit overall the ingredients for your much-loved fry Greg are 2.3% dear now than they were last year what is your price limit for a fry up now that's a very good question because they do vary i won't and this i i this is i'm going to come across as really tight here i would be uncomfortable going over 10 10 year old to me 10 or less is the now ceiling yeah i think 10 12 which is quite common out but doesn't include the coffee some places do and that makes a big difference anywhere i go includes it yeah and that makes some lovely breakfast but normally it's under right there's a price point uh i was in a hotel in belfast and it was 18 sterling for breakfast and i was there not included in my overnight stay and i thought 18 sterling i could just couldn't get around the corner it would need to be very good maybe it maybe as much as you can eat nice top-end breakfast i don't think you know i think the quality they need to serve with breakfast here sausages you know the white pudding and the bacon i don't know you can go any more top-end than that do you know what i mean like um but funny enough uh i would be a place i used to go uh but they changed their bacon and that was enough for me to go somewhere else yeah no it wasn't price wise it was just actually the type of the and and the black and white pudding i mean the difference between the cheapest the cheap and the really good stuff i've noticed too that uh obviously people update their menus but a lot of menus i've seen have the black pudding scribbled out because not a lot of people eat it now i think that's a crime against food not to eat black pudding it's delicious in fact i would say it's nicer than white pudding but i've noticed a lot of uh the restaurants had black pudding scribbled out there could be a survey in the making and yet they keep the tomato there and i have never eaten the tomato i always say right i'm gonna try it last do you know the half of tomato never got round um yet i eat tomatoes okay but not like that uh right okay so the cost of at least the the source cost the materials cost of an irish breakfast uh up to a three percent what is the upper limit that you'll pay for breakfast to me it's a tenner uh but if it's really nice you know i'll go 12 maybe but you know as i say i don't get to do it very often treat yourself right okay so i'm just thinking about food now new development at the letter candy community centers this our last piece of news yeah yeah and big development work on a major 1.4 million pound new building set to begin uh next week at letter candy community center uh in fact it's next wednesday the the sod first sod will be turned by the mayor uh kevin bradley and it's a new community building state of the art dressing rooms and it's basically to cope with the demand if anybody who knows it passing by there's a lot of people there all the time and they they've run out of uh dressing rooms i can't handle the number of people going through so it's a it's a big development for them so i've been speaking with philip o kennedy the chair of the management and also to leah mow donnell manager at the center who has been giving details about the project and just why it's needed yeah well suppose the letter candy community center is a multi-purpose facility we cater for all sports and probably we are a victim of our own success we have to try and facilitate all the different groups that are using the center on a on a day a weekly monthly yearly basis but we're going to build here adjacent from the astro pitch here is a community room and two dressing rooms the reason for it is it's the lack of changing facilities within the center especially when we built the astroturf facility here we have only two small dressing rooms in a small room and as time is going on we just saw that there was a need for extra space for teams that are traveling from all over the country now here to give them the area that's needed philip o kennedy there um no sorry that's leahm sorry that's leahm oh donnell and you also talked to philip o kennedy okay sorry about that chris my word you'd swear i'd uh said something terrible i haven't ever seen you move so so uh with such vigor and uh full of energy after me morning fray come here we were listening intently to leahm there now of course you know chris has already listened to leahm but chris actually can tell me where his favorite breakfast ever was you know you like donnell you hold on to the information yeah it was not only in a you know the hotel but also where it was your best breakfast in the world ever was in well actually since i told you another one was coming to mind but number two was the it was formerly the uh raddison in the cavern which has since been renamed i'm not sure what they call it now uh but it was basically a massive buffet and you know any of that smoked salmon oh yeah yogurt and i just went to town went to town on it um which is number one then number one uh was the ritz carlton in parscourt in county wicklow uh greg he's just what a memory okay brilliant stuff incredible okay brilliant chris now uh that podcast is available for you right now to stream uh all download from our website spotify our itunes i believe it's there too i've never actually checked but i imagine it is because i'm told to say every single week and if people want to listen to on the radio chris yes uh after the six o'clock news on sunday and if you want to contact me about the show it's business matters at highlandradio.com i must dash because the all-day breakfast finishes at 12 the all-day breakfast finishes 12 it's a bit Irish isn't it it's a full irish back after these watch the show live now on youtube facebook and at highlandradio.com Deardre's at the diamond carrandona are having a one day only mega stock clearance sale in a greening hotel bird on sunday 24th of march starting at 10 a.m come and grab some amazing bargains many brands flash to clear do not miss this great sale discover comfort with eye heating and cooling your trusted heat pump engineers and mitzvah be she approved service providers in dunny gall we design install and maintain cutting-edge heating systems build a lasting relationship with us through annual service and comprehensive after sales support contact us for a free consultation on low-cost low carbon heating solutions visit eye heating and cooling dot ii today mns has a hot cross bun for everyone this Easter for the traditionalists they have luxury fruited hot cross buns for the chocoholics there's the extremely chocolatey hot cross buns for the cheeseheads extremely cheesy hot cross buns and for those who need no invitation to indulge the new extremely caramely hot cross buns and they're all two for four euro 50 and for those who don't like hot cross buns uh try a crumpet or something these are not just hot cross buns these are m and s hot cross buns selected stores subject to availability teas and seas apply join the team at homeland letter kenny this weekend friday 22nd and saturday 23rd of march for our big paint event with exclusive offers running all weekend chat with our experience paint center team and special guests meet and greet with the joel ox dog from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. on saturday 23rd for more information visit homeland dot ii at michael murphy sports and leisure we know a good pair of trainers makes all the difference whether you're running marathons or training for your first 5k we stock all the leading brands including asex brooks and new balance with different styles and features to suit individual running needs call in store or shop online at michael murphy sports dot ii for new perspectives and a fresh vision join me greg hughes on the nine till noon show every thursday at 10 15 for your voice your community okay you're very welcome back to the nine till noon show uh just interesting something popping up on social media uh from uh kevin dole who is the group head of news uh executive editor with the irish independent uh he has posted uh told this closely guarded secret will be significant people being uh contacted six six a.m. to coordinate but for now it's all being kept within government buildings a political earthquake major announcement expected from the irish government at noon uh so obviously something to that because uh you wouldn't go public with that uh unless there was something there we'll keep an eye on that about 15 minutes away having a clue what it's about if i'm honest with you right we crossed to the united states of america and mary zeigler is there i hope i pronounce your surname correctly mary you did thank you lovely to have you with us so you are uh born and raised in allenstown pennsylvania you're living just outside washington dc but you have strong connections to donagall and you want to pursue uh pursue those further i do i have a grandmother uh who was born in donagall near the little village of duery um my grandfather's people also came from donagall near the lock salt area of dunlow um so i have been i think as i've gotten older i've gotten more and more curious about their background of course i grew up with my irish born grandmother she left dunagall when she was a young child um so now i will be visiting dunagall in the fall in september and i've decided to start putting together the pieces that i can so your mother's uh sorry your grandmother's name uh this is the lady that was born near dukery uh in 1889 her name was anna cannon and she was the daughter of frances cannon and mary or donald cannon um and you believe a lot of their immediate family emigrated uh to pennsylvania uh do you believe any remained none i don't believe any of the immediate family that stayed i believe that my grandmother her parents and her siblings all emigrated i do understand that my great grandfather was one of 12 sons so i wouldn't be surprised if there are some distant cousins right okay and this is intriguing you don't have an awful lot of detail uh and i think understandably you don't expect anyone to remember the family because so much time has passed but listen let's not rule anything out okay uh but you have a hand drawn map that gives an approximate location of the family home what a what a wonderful thing to look forward to it's like something out of an adventure isn't it uh but was this map handed down how did you acquire it this is a map that was drawn by my uncle father robert brown uh one of my my grandmother's youngest son uh he visited ireland several times visited dunagall visited the duery here can i just uh pause you just for one moment because it's quite significant news here from ireland our t-shock uh leo virad car is to stand down as t-shock and finagall leader uh this is just for the listeners um so we'll have more details on that in a moment but leo virad car is standing down as t-shock and uh finagall leader now i'm not sure what has triggered that uh but stay with us we'll keep you updated on that um mr virad car will stay on as t-shock pendant the election of a loon leader of finagall attention will now turn to his replacement with a contest expected among several ministers of course pascal donna who's simon harris simon coveney heather humpfries are among the names uh speculated upon the race but what we know at this time is he is to announce at noon from government buildings that he's stepping down as t-shock so we might actually roll the show over we'll see what's what's going on there in the meantime uh mary i'm very sorry to trouble you but uh it's a really quite significant bit of breaking news there that's big news he was just he just here a few days ago what did you do to him in washington dc anyway we'll get more to that in a moment sorry i got distracted because of the significance of that news um your the hand drawn map how did you acquire that sorry that was a map that was drawn by my uncle father robert brown the youngest son of that irish born grandmother uh he visited ireland and dunagall many times and so he put together this little roughly drawn map for the rest of us so that if we visited we could find the family homestead and of course also you'd like to visit the church uh your uncle father robert brown sadly passed away said mass there when he visited uh there's an altar bell in grade with his name or with the name of your great uncle patrick canon he donated it to the church in dookery uh so if anyone's in the area that would like to sort of meet with you chat you talk about the history tease some of this out uh is that kind of what you're interested in mary yes i would love it as you said i certainly don't expect anyone to remember the family but i would love to know more to understand more of the history of that area during those years lovely stuff it's been lovely speaking to you we have contact details anything you wish to add mary no i know you have big news to take care of today so thank you for taking the time with me no problem we really do appreciate that time and just to recap on that breaking news and i'm not really quite sure as to the reason why but we can tell you that t-shock leo of radcar is to stand down as t-shock and finnegale leader he's due to make the announcement in a planned photo call at noon in the courtyard of government buildings the wider public force became aware of the pending announcement after reports of frantic meetings in government buildings this morning the cabinet met this morning for the first time since the defeat of the referendum ministers were also away in st patrick's day duties last week ministers were alerted to expect the announcement following a cabinet meeting so that's a developing story there as a say i'm just thinking on my feet here hopefully if that were to start directly at 12 noon we might try and bring you the audio of that so don't tune away we don't know exactly why he has decided to make this decision at this point but as i say stay with us and we will bring you that information if we can 08 660 25 000 is the 08 660 25 000 is the whatsapp and text number or you can give us a call on 07 4 9 1 25 000 so what kind of questions might be asked with leo of radcar due to make this announcement it's at midday as i say during a press conference will this trigger a general election well the sense is that it will not trigger an election so they might actually just sit tight and see what comes from there apparently there'd been extensive speculation or intense speculation about leo of radcar's future as t-shock i wasn't really ill-fated with that because you know i know there are people that are maybe dissatisfied with with some of the work he's doing or what have you but i wasn't aware that there was a big push on for him to be replaced it's really quite significant news is it off the back of the referendum defeat is there something else going on i simply don't know and there's no point speculating but we will try and get someone to comment on that and also hopefully if that starts at 12 i would like to bring you if possible i'd like to be able to bring you that announcement from the t-shock it doesn't happen in this country very very often that we will see someone the leader of the country stepping down but as you say we heard from mary he was just over in the united states a lot of ministers were away i'm not sure if the pressure is coming from the ministers or within the party or within the coalition i don't know simply we don't know because we're only speculating stay with us we're going to take the 12 o'clock ad break the one we'd normally play as we head towards the news ad set 12 just to give us a little bit of space to see if we can get further reaction to this news which has literally just been sprung upon us refresh your shoe wardrobe with the latest 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about the t-shock's future john macketeer editor of the trochanal tribunes with us john um uh what do you think is triggered this good morning to you i think it's the the referendum results we've been writing about us we're writing about again this week i and many others read the referendum results as a massive vote of no confidence in the government and the matter of which way they seem to spin it that is more and more coming to be a reality plus the fact that barracuda has lost in a very important td's those seats will not all be held quite easily he has he has he has done a specific course he has he will be seen staging off on monday i was writing an editorial about the fallout from the from the referendum and we're just saying that leo radker will be seen as a loser he lost the double and paid by election he has he has lost quite 14 or 16 seats in the last year in the election and now he has lost two referendums so the knives i would imagine were out in the long grass of the finnegale grass which was been talked about but not seriously nobody would have expected this because we're so close to a series of elections the local and the european elections and obviously well that's precipitate a general election and who will take over in finnegale who will take over as leader well where does that go or do we go right into a general election i'm not too sure the news has come as quite a shock there's no point in saying otherwise because he's a very young man a pretty pretty experienced nowadays there's going to be a lot of a lot of speculation about who will replace him and about the exact reasons why he is going but obviously his time is up and that's that's about it it's just not the type of accountability that we're familiar with in irish politics and i don't mean that cynically at all it's just not something we see very often to the point whereby i'm actually a little bit shell shocked that it could be for those reasons but i suppose when we talk about who is to say what the td's who are choosing to no longer stand finnegale who's to say what they're saying as they're heading out the door is that has that increased pressure on him i think really greg the issue is they're all relatively young maybe there's one or two returning health grounds or age related but relatively speaking the the gendron griffons and garrick and his forties joe mcqueen and his eric swifties and don't at all those are two seats that they could last uh they could lose numbers of seats in dobblant uh leo ratka probably they've done internal polling as they continuously do but i'd imagine they've had a long hard look into the abyss of what the general election could be for them and it just does not look good okay donal calvinist with us as well stay where you are job market here donal calvin i like yourself been covering politics for a long time i listen i don't want to sound like conspiracy theories but it seems like is there anything else there because this type of accountability in irish politics just seem incredibly rare donal i i suspect greg and and like you i'm i'm i'm i'm not really shocked by this and i'm guessing too i i suspect leo ratka has been sat down by some colleagues and told here's the deal leo jump or get pushed um kiran canon announced that he is is is not running in gallway again as jormsey another young man we have this is 20 i think finnegale to lees now not running in the next election the referendum loss was huge i mean if ever there seemed to be an open goal in terms of getting a referendum victory this one would appear to have been it and uh they they managed to blow it and i think yeah it's uh accountability in the sense that leo ratka is is heading a government which has been seen to have had the biggest referendum defeat in the history of referenda on an issue that on the face of it should have been should have been a gimme and it's being seen as as leo ratka's failure and he you know has uh the user term birdie the teflon he shook back in the day and like birdie leo would have had that slight aura of um invincibility about him but just like birdie too that slight aura of invincibility has now been lost i suspect he's been sat down by colleagues and given the ultimatum jump or be pushed yeah it's just with with some of the investigations that have been ongoing and looking into sort of elements of his uh political career in dealings i obviously maybe it's nothing to do with that and is simply down to to uh what we're speculating on john can you stay with us for the announcement there's no bother no bother stay where you are don't stay there too we're going to take a quick break john will be uh with john bresnan just in a couple of moments we're going to see how uh timely this press conference is at noon with a high digital online skills course you'll feel a real difference i can listen to all the music i like the boss app that's coming out and it's brilliant anything you want and all it's at our 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long-term church dairy presents to internationally acclaimed acts the priests and soprano margherike's ensing columns all dairy on palm sunday 24th of march tickets just 25 pound sterling to book tickets call long tower pro kill house on 0287 126 2301 or check our facebook or website for online sales okay this is the 9th till noon shall we're running a little over 12 and we appreciate john brezning allowing us the time because we are waiting for t-shirt lee of rad car to step outside government buildings and to deliver the news that we know now that lee of rad car stepping down as t-shirt and finnegale leader john macketeer if it is because of the departure of finnegale td's or pressure from within finnegale or indeed the outcome of the referenda do you think he'll reference that in his speech in a way i'll do but i think this has come in such a shock who ever expected a headline news like like like that just days after he had gone from a very successful trip to the u.s. and they would seem to have been coasting along down to the local election day and on the 7th of june and the u elections but the referendums have have have floored finnegale they're not floored finnegale but they have floored a raptor in particular the finnegale grass roots couldn't give a hoot you know because i hold hold hold the view that people did not go out to vote for the referendums they went out to have a whack at the government to have a whack at the leader and i think there's a donal there says he was just sat down and said look you go or you're pushed and i mean i suppose in a way the same happened to end the kenny really you know and there's no easy way around politics you know he's there seven years the party hasn't improved in this time the last season 2016 from that high of 73 in 2011 uh 16 and then they've lost over 30 seats like in that time and we're actually new leadership just didn't work for them in 2020 even though you're there again i i take everything what you're saying on board but uh and i'll go to donal on this one i still can't believe that he wouldn't if it's for those reasons just ride it out uh you know it was a relatively poor showing in the last election he talked of being content to go into uh opposition and indeed he said it might be good for finnegale to have a period in opposition it's just again not the level of if i was not on there i would definitely be saying there has to be something else too this whether it's relieved revealed today or not but again you know maybe that's just my initial reaction to really quite a bit of a shocking announcement today i was listening to ivan yates's podcast the pats to power podcast that he does with um matt cooper and indeed ivan was on the program with you a couple of weeks back promoting that and it's a really interesting podcast and he did say on the last edition of it when they were discussing the the the followed from the referendum that ivan yates believes a former finnegale cabinet minister himself he believes finnegale could go to as low as 28 seats after after the next general election now when you as as john was saying when you look at how many seats finnegale there were in the 70s uh under end to kenny you know less than 15 years ago when you look at those figures i mean to go from that down to 28 is is a huge plummeting and i think again maybe who it is we we're not sure yet potentially simon harris i mean you know who's seen as the new the new generation of finnegale but if it's someone like simon harris has sat down and done the sums and said look whatever chance we have of implementing a change now and rebuilding before an election if we just let it slide and just sort of vaguely float into an election with the expectation of opposition that's going to show a party defeat and is that going to get is that going to go to support but how did they keep it a secret if that's the case i mean this is not a government renown for being watertight in terms of information you know there hasn't been a broad there hasn't been i don't think even i mean there's been some commentary but there hasn't been broad speculation about liov rag car's opinion uh you know of discontent within the coalition or sort of within uh you know within within the cabinet so it's just again the two things surprise me a accountability but b the fact that this information seemingly has been kept quiet but i think that's because it's internal within the party if it was within the coalition at the cabinet table that's differently the cabinet table is always going to leak a coalition is going to leak because you're going to have different political forces this doesn't seem to me i don't get the sense that this is coming from within the coalition i mean me me hall martin is probably sitting back licking his lips now thinking this is wonderful this potentially is playing right into me hall martin's hands i'm playing into fina false hands because finna guile this is someone within finna guile and this is my and i could be further out than fan of lighthouse here but my take is this is someone in finna guile says the only chance we have of any kind of a decent election showing whenever the next general election may be is that if we have a new leader in place now and we start three building and i am not questioning you and if that's coming from within finna guile they're they're going to keep that tight and again they've they've gone to leo and they've given leo an ultimatum and he's seen the way the wind is blowing i just i just uh i just don't see how he gets the hammering for that result when it was a government decision to hold a referendum because this effectively could be him saying right i've gone lads uh now it's time for you aim and ryan and you me hall martin to go as well uh that's what's making me wonder what the motivation behind this is is and what that pressure that puts on the remaining uh the the remaining leaders of the government you take that point john like why i can't imagine that i can't imagine that leo vratkar wants to be the full guy for this referendum and that for to be his uh that to be his uh you know his last political act why should he be the full guy well as donal was suggesting a little while back there they've got to find a fall guy somewhere it wasn't in finna fall aim and ryan probably not because he doesn't rate that highly in in the polls so leo vratkar was the obvious one uh it was a non-campaign uh nobody was out on the doorsteps there was a very little on television he had a long freeze never appeared once and i suppose it was just the biggest mess up in politics probably for 50 years that he led them into a referendum that that the thought that the one point they were thinking of winning at 75 25 percent against you know that evaporated and he had no response to it and i think that failure of the tisha and he's the leader of the country he had no response as as as as that campaign swung the probably totally must read it as well and he is tisha's probably most guilty of that right but like at the end of the that his time was up we're still waiting on him to come out i don't know really how much longer we can waste because we'll be covering extensively extensively in the one o'clock news but the the podium is that again donal i just don't like again what does this say to sort of you know ruddery called gorman who was effectively the person that led this out i mean if the leader of filigale is going kind of the green minister stay in situ if this is the reason that leo fred car stepping out of politics well i can't wait till here what he has to say because if it is over that and i'm sure it is right fair play for calling it but i i'm i'm a gut person and i just can't see that that's the reason but as i say i'm starting to sound like a wild conspiracy theory if this is it i mean it raises a couple of questions i mean does he stay on as caretaker of t-shirt or does he sit down does he step down now and just somebody takes over apparently he's taking he's staying on and staying on as a caretaker until another t-shirt now does that mean that means then presumably a new leader of finneguel is elected and then that new leader of finneguel is proposed as the new t-shirt in the doll because i mean the the other option would be perhaps the tarnish to taking over which i mean you know finneguel is not going to take that in the month of sundays um it's i i i don't know i'll be honest greg i'm i'm i'm just taking it back as as most people are as as as you are um i certainly wasn't expecting this to be what i'd be doing a quarter past 12 today um and you know it's it's really a matter of what leo says and i mean you know we're going to have to wait until he says what he says okay well listen he could he could this could be deferred to one o'clock so what we will do is that we waited just perhaps as long as we could don't are you doing headlines are you i can do headlines now yeah okay right okay listen the polity is again to uh to john breslin uh who we've delayed his program but the t-shirt was due to come out at one and it would have been uh 12 sorry and we could have brought that but uh it's just not happening um john macketeer listen thank you very much indeed for that i appreciate it thank you all right thank you yourself but before we go to those headlines uh kathryn noon is a former finneguel senator a regular contributor to this show as well uh kathryn you like uh we perhaps looking at a tv screen waiting for the t-shirt to explain why he's taken this decision how shocked are you i'm really scared to be honest um i thought the news flash up like it's definitely why do you think he's taken this decision can you hear me okay yeah it was breaking up a little there but i think it's cleared up why do you think he's taken this decision here and the coverage is never great but um yeah why don't you just touch me there did it am i surprised by it yeah i mean do you think this is because of the outcome of the referenda do you think this is because uh it was i'd say it's a combination of factors gregg i'd say you know speaking from personal experience politics has become a very toxic career to be honest and uh the referendum won't have helped the fact that there are 10 tvs outstanding in the next election who've decided just not to not to go forward i think it's a combination of all of that uh do you think he'll it'll be interesting to in his comments what you know how pointed he is as to the reasons behind his decision i'd say he will give the reasons he never holds back you know um i was just waiting to hear like everyone else is um there in in the sitting room just to see you know the rationale behind it but as you know from watching him on the media over the years he's likely to be quite clear and um straightforward in his comments about why he's not going forward i heard speculation there on rt1 that he might take commissionership you know there's a new commission that hadn't heard anything about that so really my guess is as good as yours as to why exactly you know if he's got a new role in europe which they're speculating about on rt or um if he's got another role lined up to go to he won't have any difficulty getting a job but um yeah it's a it's a shock yeah do you think he was pushed no i don't yeah okay i think i think he i think i don't think he has been i mean i was challenged a few colleagues recently you know finnegale hasn't been doing as well as they you know they might like to be in the polls but you know it's difficult for a party that's essentially been in government for three years with or without others so you know it's um it's that's likely to be a factor as well and how difficult the next election is going to be um for the government parties um as i said the lots of colleagues strong supporters deciding that they're not going to go for the next election and then i think probably the overarching feature of just politics is does it leave the government though it's a well-paid job but it's difficult yeah of course it is yeah we've talked about many times but does this just yeah say for instance this is about accountability and the referendum does this not then put pressure on you know the green party maybe even roderker gulman and finna fall who also you know are as responsible you could you could say is finna get it makes them kind of lame duck does it not if that is the reason for his announcement yeah potentially i mean i don't think it'll be a singular reason for us i think it might it'll have added to a lot of other things that have you know that are on the horizon or have happened that are adding to his reason for deciding that would be my god honest he's about to take to the podium so i'll let you away i'm sure you're as interested in this as well as i can chat to you again about all right thanks thanks kathryn okay we will stay with this because uh he's about to make uh his announcement everyone i'd like to uh thank you for coming i'd like to read a brief statement um i've had the privilege to serve for the past 20 years as a public representative 13 is a member of cabinet seven as leader of my party and most of those is t shook of this great country it has been the most fulfilling time of my life working with colleagues i've had the honor of helping to lead Ireland from unemployment to full employment from a budget deficit to budget surplus from austerity to prosperity through a pandemic in which we saved lives and livelihoods through brexit when we prevented a hard border between north and south and protected our place in europe i'm proud that we've made the country a more equal and more modern place when it comes to the rights of children the lgbt community equality for women and their bodily autonomy more recently we've read led the country through an inflation cost of living crisis the worst of which is now thankfully behind us we've made significant steps towards affordable child care and universal health care making access to both more affordable for more people we've made work pay better with the implementation of a national living wage statutory sick pay lower personal taxes improved family leave allowing parents to spend more time with their children in those crucial early years i'm happy that during my time is t shook we were able to honor my commitment to double spending on the arts culture and sport and this is making a real difference now and we'll continue to do so into the future fostering and assisting the artists and the sportsmen and women of the future we provided leadership by increasing our spending on international development and we've expanded our diplomatic footprint around the world building on Ireland's already considerable soft power the national broadband plan is underway bringing fibre-based internet connections to every home school business and farm and community in Ireland which the critics said shouldn't be done we've established the technology universities and the rural development fund and since 2011 we've quadrupled overall annual investment in public infrastructure that's meant considerably more investment in priorities like housing health care facilities school buildings and climate action and i am deeply proud that we as irish people welcomed over a hundred thousand ukrainian refugees to our shores when they needed our protection notwithstanding the challenges the springs in my time as t shook we reduce consistent poverty and income inequality housing construction is more than doubled with 500 people becoming homeowners each week for the first time the highest number in almost two decades of course there are areas in which we have been much less successful and someone which we have sadly gone backwards but i hope you'll forgive me if i leave it to others to point them out on a day like this they will receive plenty of airtime and column space when i became party leader and t shook back in june 2017 i knew that one part of leadership is knowing when the time has come to pass on the baton to somebody else and then having the courage to do it that time is now so i am resigning as president and leader finnegale effective today and will resign as t shook as soon as my successor is able to take up that office i've asked our party general secretary and executive council to provide for the new leader to be elected in advance of the aidesh on saturday april 16th thus allowing a new t shook to be elected when the doll resumes after the easter break i know this will come as a surprise to many people and a disappointment to some and i hope at least you will understand my decision i know that others will how shall i put it cope with the news just fine that is the great thing about living in a democracy there's never a right time to resign high office however this is as good a time as any budget 2024 is done negotiations have not yet commenced on the next one the institutions of the good friday agreement are working again and our trading relationship with the uk in the post brexit area is settled and stable the new t shook will have a full two months to prepare for the local european elections and up to a year before the next general election my reasons for stepping down are both personal and political i believe this government can be reelected and i believe my party finnegale can gain seats in the next all most of all i believe the reelection of this free party government would be the right thing for the future of our country continuing to take us forward protecting all that's been achieved in building on it but after careful consideration and some soul searching i believe that a new t shook and a new leader will be better placed than me to achieve that to renew and strengthen the team to focus our message and policies to drive implementation and after seven years in office i don't feel i'm the best person for that job anymore there are loyal colleagues and good friends contesting local european elections and i want to give them the best chance possible and i think they've a better chance under a new leader i am standing aside in the absolute confidence that the country and the economy are in a good place and that my colleagues in government from all three parties finnegale finnafall and the greens and the rocked us will continue to work hard for the nation's best interests on a personal level i've enjoyed being t shook leader and a cabinet member since march 2011 i've learned so much about so many things met so many people who i'd never got to meet been to places i would never seen but home and abroad and i am deeply grateful for it and despite the challenges would wholeheartedly recommend a career in politics to anyone who's considering it however politicians are human beings and we have our limitations we give it everything until we can't anymore and then we have to move on i will of course continue to fill my juices of t shook until a new one is elected and will remain as consistency td for double and west i know inevitably there will be speculation as to the quote unquote real reason for my decision these are the real reasons that's it i have nothing else lined up i have nothing in mind i have no definite personal or political plans but i'm really looking forward to having the time to think about them i'd like to take this opportunity to thank my party my college and partners particularly miho and aimin my constituents colleagues and staff for their loyalty and their phenomenal work and i'm going to thank them all in person in the near future most of all i want to finish by thanking the people of ireland for giving me the opportunity to serve them and i promise i'll keep working for ireland and my community in any way i can in the future thank you very much okay and now you have it it's as if he was listening to our speculation actually in advance of that announcement he doesn't have another job it doesn't have another job lined up he simply is had enough he says he's making he's making the decision for public reasons to give his local election european election candidates the best chance of reelection to give his party the best chance of reelection and also for personal reasons which i think quite interesting uh that kathryn uh mentioned or referenced there in her piece okay that was the big breaking news it doesn't happen too often so we extended the nine till noon show for an extra 20 odd minutes again our thanks to john breasant for accommodating that we'll be back tomorrow with i'm sure more reaction to that news