Kerry Today

Every Wednesday, Tony gives his perspective on listeners’ dilemmas.

What may be found about Kerry in the newly released Virtual Treasury Project which was established to try to recover as much as possible documents that were lost in the 1922 fire at the Public Records Office. That blaze during the Civil War destroyed almost 700 years’ worth of records. Jerry spoke to historian Dr Owen O’Shea from Milltown. https://virtualtreasury.ie/

Yesterday, Jerry spoke to Ciara O’Mara, who made an appeal to find the woman who saved her husband’s life as she wanted to thank her personally. On June 17th, her husband, Terry, suffered a cardiac arrest while out on a run on the Fossa Way. Teresa Clifford from Faha was the mystery woman who performed CPR on Terry.

Jerry spoke to Kerry Independent Alliance councillor John O’Donoghue about two pilot schemes being introduced by Kerry County Council. One is a detection and alert system, which is to be rolled out in the coming weeks subject to GDPR approval. The second is a deterrence system using noise to discourage the deer from crossing roads when vehicles are present on the R569 and at Ballydowney.

A sunny day in West Kerry ended in tragedy after a 16-year-old boy died following a fall near the Conor Pass yesterday. The boy and his parents were visiting from their home in North Cork. A major multi-agency operation took place last evening after the boy fell near Pedler’s Lake. This operation included gardaí, the ambulance service, paramedics, the Coast Guard Rescue Helicopter 115, Dingle Coast Guard and Kerry Mountain Rescue Team. Jerry spoke to Gerry Christie of the Kerry Mountain Rescue Team.

This Friday, July 4th, a fundraiser in memory of Lily Anna Šebestová, who died from cancer at the age of 10 last November, will take place. Bikers from Eastbound and Down will cycle 24 hours non-stop across Ireland — from Dunmore Head to Malin Head, Burr Point, Mizen Head, and back to University Hospital Kerry. The event will raise funds for Kerry Hospice Foundation and the Cashel Ward Palliative Care Suite at University Hospital Kerry. Jerry spoke to Lily’s mother Lorraine and to Russell Aslett of Eastbound and Down. For more: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553809324496 and https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/32in321

Fianna Fail councillor Niall Kelleher is the new postmaster of Dingle.

Jerry spoke to Ciara O’Mara from Dublin. The family were in Killarney last month to mark Ciara’s dad’s 80th birthday. On the evening of June 17th, Ciara’s husband, Terry, went for a run on the Fossa Way and went into cardiac arrest. Ciara wants to find the woman who performed CPR and saved Terry’s life. After this broadcast, Radio Kerry was contacted by Teresa Clifford from Faha. She was the woman who performed CPR on Terry.

Jerry spoke to Cahersiveen’s Donie O’Sullivan, who works with CNN. Donie has just won an Emmy for News and Current Affairs for his show ‘Misinfonation’ which aired on the Anderson Cooper show in the run-up to last November's election in the US.

The new Mayor of the Tralee Municipal District is Labour councillor Terry O’Brien.

Jerry spoke to 17-year-old writer Esther Tyther from Castlemaine, who has won first place in the Mary Elmes Prize in the Holocaust Studies Literature category organised by Holocaust Education Ireland. Esther will be a youth reader at the National Holocaust Memorial Day annual commemoration which will take place next January. Lynne Murphy from Holocaust Education Ireland also spoke to Jerry. Esther's story ' The Haunting Whispers of Life and Death' may be read here:

Musician, spoken-word artist and occupational therapist Raphael Olympio came to Ireland at the age of six from Togo. He had no cultural references, obviously, to Irish institutions such as the GAA. Raphael became friends with the son of the late great Kerry footballer, John Egan. John who was a garda in Cork city mentored Raphael. He was 'a helping hand' that allowed Raphael and his family become part of the community in Togher.

Jerry spoke to Minister of State Michael Healy-Rae. Today's Irish Independent reports that he and other independent ministers are putting pressure on their Government colleagues, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, to abolish the means test for carers.

Jerry spoke to Fiona Reddan of The Irish Times about how the urban wealthy are availing of tax rules and loopholes aimed at farmers in order to avoid inheritance tax.

The funeral took place today of Isabelle O'Callaghan from Rockfield, Killarney. The 17-year-old died following a horse-riding accident. Cllr Martin Grady is Cathaoirleach of Killarney Municipal District.

Kerry have progressed to the All-Ireland Semi-Final after they beat Armagh yesterday by a score of 32 points to 1-21. Jerry spoke to Radio Kerry GAA commentator Tim Moynihan.

The success of the Gleneagle INEC Arena epitomises the saying, ‘If you build it, they will come.’ This month marks a quarter-of-a-century since the venue opened. Jerry speaks to Patrick O’Donoghue, managing director of the Gleneagle Group Companies. Daniel O’Donnell, Danny O’Reilly, and Nathan Carter also contribute as well as listeners who share their memories and wishes for the arena’s future development.

John Downing of the Irish Independent reviews the week in politics.

How is the Orchard County feeling ahead of Sunday’s All-Ireland Quarter-Final against Kerry at Croke Park? Jerry spoke to Kieran Lynch, sports reporter with The Newry Reporter and Armagh TV commentator. Jerry also spoke to Cllr Niall Kelleher who’s unhappy about the provision of trains for Kerry fans.

Tralee Pitch and Putt Club is hosting a free open day tomorrow, Friday, June 27th, from 3pm to attract new members, particularly young people and women. Treasa Murphy called up to the club in Collis Sandes and met PRO Tommo O'Brien. Tommo explains why the club means so much to him.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is urging holidaymakers to be aware of CITES regulations – the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora – which protect endangered plants and animals from illegal trade. Many people don’t realise that everyday souvenirs—such as ivory trinkets, coral jewellery, reptile skin products, certain orchids, and traditional medicines—can be illegal to bring into Ireland under CITES regulations. These items may seem harmless, but their trade threatens endangered species. Jerry spoke to Dr Noeleen Smyth of UCD.

In April, Gary O’Sullivan’s 24-year-old brother Sean Óg collapsed suddenly at the family home. His heart stopped beating, and his family, particularly his father, saved his life by performing CPR until the emergency services arrived. That week members of the Killarney family were fitted with pacemakers after tests confirmed they’ve the same genetic condition that caused Seán Óg’s heart to stop beating. In the past few days, a defibrillator has also been installed in the community.

James and Sheila Sexton say they are not able to pass tax-free the same amount of their fully taxed assets to their loved ones as that afforded to couples with children. James spoke to Jerry.

Kerry County Council received more than 4,400 pothole complaints in the last three years. Jerry spoke with Newstalk reporter Stephanie Rohan, who talks through the findings her station gathered from local authorities under a Freedom of Information request.

Jerry spoke to local Fianna Fáil councillor Michael Leane on the rescue of a woman from a fire in Ballyheigue yesterday.

Kerry take on Armagh in the All-Ireland quarter final this weekend. Tip off is 4pm on Sunday and as many fans prepare for the match, Amber spoke to Martin Leane of the Kerry Supporters’ Club about the match and how fans can travel safely too it.

Aontú’s Operation Shamrock which the party claims will allow essential workers – including nurses and other healthcare staff to come home - and work and make lives here. They say they want to offer payments of 12,000 euro to key workers who come back to Ireland from abroad. Amber spoke to Aontu Deputy, Paul Lawless of the Mayo constituency.

The map sets out to record the number of dog attacks reported to the local authority per townland over the past few years. It shows 37 dog attacks on livestock have been reported in the last four years. Amber spoke to Councillor Fionnán Fitzgerald, whose idea it was to establish this map, and Patrick O’Mahony, IFA Kerry Hill Farming committee chair.

Japanese pharma company Astellas announce investment of €129 million in its Irish operations in Kerry and Dublin over the next three years. The company began construction on the €330 million facility at the Kerry Technology Park earlier last year, which will operate alongside its Killorglin plant. Amber spoke to Minister for Children, Disability and Equality and Kerry Fianna Fáil TD, Norma Foley.

Every Wednesday, Tony gives his perspective on listeners’ dilemmas.

On the last Tuesday of the month, solicitor Miriam McGillycuddy answers your legal questions. If you’ve a query for Miriam, email in confidence to kerrytoday@radiokerry.ie.

Treasa Murphy spoke to Bill Gallagher, who is a member of the Portland Hibernian Society. He wrote a letter to the Irish Examiner in which he said the winner of Portland’s Rose Festival will be coming to Ireland shortly. Bill wrote: “Will the Government of Ireland demand access to her social media accounts? I kind of doubt it.” Bill was referring to the US Embassy in Dublin’s demand that future applicants for visas disclose all their social media usernames or handles from the last five years. He spoke to Treasa Murphy.

Fine Gael councillor Michael Foley has been elected the new Cathaoirleach – in other words, the new mayor of Kerry County Council. He’ll serve in this role for the next 12 months.

Jerry spoke to Christy Walsh, secretary of the Kerry branch of the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland about Sky’s warning that they will be getting tough on dodgy box users – the illegal access of streaming TV without paying the market rate.

That’s the message from Ireland South MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, who’s a member of the EU Tourism Taskforce.

That’s the opinion of independent Kerry County Councillor Brendan Cronin who represents the Killarney Municipal District. Since Friday, the whole country is being treated as a rent pressure zone which means that owners of short-term lets need to apply for planning permission. Prior to Friday, Killarney had been the only RPZ in this county. Cllr Cronin said owners of short-term let properties in the Killarney area have been very unhappy with this status since it came into effect there in 2020. He spoke to Treasa Murphy.

A listener works with people with additional needs. On Saturday afternoon, a service user had to be taken to SouthDoc – the out-of-hours GP service. This coincided with the Kerry-Cavan game in Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney. On two occasions, she received abuse from matchgoers. Mary, not her real name, told her story to Mark.

The champ in question is Eric Champ from Killorglin. He’s the manager of Clifford’s Centra, Shandon Street, Cork City – the shop that sold last week’s €250m EuroMillions winning ticket.

Mark spoke to Radio Kerry Sports commentator Tim Moynihan about Kerry’s win over Cavan in Saturday’s All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final. Kerry will now face All-Ireland champions Armagh.

Mark spoke to Kevin McPartlan, CEO of Fuels for Ireland, about increases in fuel prices at the petrol pumps. One listener reported that after the US launched strikes on Iran in the early hours of Sunday morning, petrol at their local service station increased overnight by four cent a litre.

An investigation has been launched after a white-tailed eagle was poisoned in Kerry. The National Parks and Wildlife Service is looking for the public's help with the investigation; the eagle had been released in Killarney National Park last year and was found poisoned in Glencar. Treasa spoke to Manager of Killarney National Park and divisional manager with the NPWS, Eamonn Meskell.

The launch of an anti-racism resource booklet and campaign took place this morning in Tralee. The campaign - Championing Inclusion: Building a Stronger Ireland Together - involves Kerry and Cork Children and Young People Services Committees, youth groups, as well as migrant support and integration forums. Treasa spoke to Claire O'Toole, co-ordinator of the Kerry CYPSC.

Cavan stand between Kerry and another All-Ireland quarter-final, as they face off in the preliminary quarter-final in Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney at 3:30pm on Saturday. Treasa spoke to Independent councillor in the Castleisland area, Charlie Farrelly, who's originally from Cavan.

John Downing of the Irish Independent reviews the week in politics.

The Irish Self-Catering Federation, which represents operators of short-term lets across Ireland, says there are huge issues with the designation of the entire country as a rent pressure zone, for people in the industry. Planning permission is required for anyone operating a short-term let in a Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ). Treasa spoke to CEO of the ISCF, Máire Ní Mhurchú.

Treasa spoke to Minister of State at the Department of Children, Disability and Equality Hildegarde Naughton, who is in Kerry today for a series of visits to disability services in the county.

Treasa spoke to Dr Michael Hall from Kerry, one of the conference organisers of the ISAPA Conference which is running at the Munster Technological University in Tralee this week, the International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity (ISAPA). Michael also explained how Irish charity Effective Aid Ukraine, of which he is a board member, is supporting the disability sector in transitioning to independent living models in Ukraine.

New regulations which classify the entire country as a rent-pressure-zone (RPZ) may have unintended consequences for people operating short-term holiday rental accommodation in areas that up to now, have not been RPZs. This means people in areas like Kenmare, Dingle, Tralee, may now need planning permission to operate short-term lets as they are all now classed as RPZs. Minister of State Michael Healy-Rae spoke to Treasa about his concerns over this.

Breda Lynch, who was aged in her 60s, sadly lost her life in a farm accident in Bonane, Kenmare, on Tuesday evening. Ms Lynch was a well-known shearer and won numerous All-Ireland titles over the years. Treasa spoke to Independent councillor Dan McCarthy.

Jerry spoke to Donal Cremin from Rathmore, who is president of the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI). The Government has denied doing a U-turn on its announcement last year that €9 million would be allocated for secure mobile phone pouches to prevent students accessing them during school hours. Education Minister Helen McEntee has now issued new guidance.