Kerry Today

Many people are pondering their futures following last week’s Leaving Cert results and the release of CAO offers earlier this week. But it’s not just school leavers who are considering their career and education options. Applications are open for the Kerry College course in journalism, podcasting and radio which runs in partnership with Radio Kerry. Radio Kerry’s Joe McGill is lead tutor on the course along with fellow mentor and tutor Connie Broderick. Jerry spoke to Joe and to Phena Mulligan who’s admissions officer with Kerry College Admissions Office. Phena also outlines some of the other opportunities and courses on offer from Kerry College.

From today, if you post anything to the US that’s worth over €85 ($100), then the recipient will have to pay a tariff of 15%. Jerry spoke to Caroline Boland who’s tourism and marketing advisor for Dingle Peninsula Tourism.

Minister of State and independent Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae has been clear in his support for the front runner to win the Fine Gael nomination to contest the presidency, former minister Heather Humphreys. MEP Seán Kelly from Kilcummin who’s also hoping to be selected by Fine Gael has criticised Michael Healy-Rae. What’s the view of the other independent TD for Kerry, Michael’s brother Danny Healy-Rae?

Former Fianna Fáil minister Éamon Ó Cuív remembered his grandfather on the 50th anniversary of his death.

Jerry spoke to underwater cameraman Ken O’Sullivan, an underwater cameraman about his new nature series about cetaceans. ‘Dolphins: Wonders of the Ocean’ will be broadcast on RTÉ1 and the RTÉ Player this Sunday, August 31st, at 6.30pm.

Jerry spoke to Fianna Fáil councillor Jimmy Moloney about the passing of German businessman Henry Weber, whose family opened the Jowika knife company in Listowel in the early 1960s.

Tralee's Leah Shanahan has designed the world’s first fully accessible, multisensory pregnancy test for visually-impaired women. The UL graduate's project is a breakthrough in tackling healthcare inequality.

Ireland South MEP for Fine Gael, Sean Kelly, from Kilcummin spoke to Jerry about his bid to win Fine Gael’s nomination to run for the presidency. He gave his views on the Fine Gael's parliamentary party's seemingly overwhelming support for Heather Humphreys who is also vying for the party’s nomination. Jerry also asked him about Minister of State and independent Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae who has endorsed Ms Humphreys.

Almost 1,200 children in Kerry under the age of three are on waiting lists for childcare places as the new school year starts, according to Early Childhood Ireland. These figures are sourced from Pobal which administers early years programmes. Jerry spoke to Frances Byrne, who’s director of policy at Early Childhood Ireland.

Jerry spoke to Colette O’Connell who’s originally from Listowel. She is PRO for the Irish Beekeepers’ Association. For information on the Asian hornet: https://invasives.ie/app/uploads/2021/05/New-Fact-sheet-posters-2.9.21.pdf

The rise in the cost of living, including price hikes announced for health insurance, is stressful for many of us. Eamonn Foley is service delivery manager with Kerry MABS (Money Advice and Budgeting Service)

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

Jerry spoke to Brendan Mannix of Mannix Property Services.

Jerry spoke to Seamus Ryan who’s an industrial officer with Fórsa.

Sinn Féin councillor Robert Brosnan believes issues relating to school bus places – including uncertainty as when the Brandon service to Castlegregory would begin – can be attributed primarily to the shortage of drivers.

Sports Ireland is to spend €70,000 to help tackle the issue of abuse towards referees. Jerry spoke to Mark Griffin from Ballydonoghue who is chair of the Munster Referees Committee.

Last year, the last coalition government which included the Green Party passed legislation which would have allowed extensive changes to urban speed limits – specifically reducing speed from 50k to 30k per hour. The Department of Transport told the Irish Examiner that this legislation won’t be enacted at this time however. Instead, the department says it’s up to councils to reduce speed limits in town and villages through the use of special bylaws. The Green Party argues this means widespread speed reductions won’t happen as local authorities already have the power to change speed limits. Anne-Marie Fuller is a Kerry Green Party representative.

The HSE is set to launch a new online feedback platform for Kerry and Cork patients. The platform will allow the public to share their healthcare experiences in, what the HSE says, will be a more accessible way. Jerry spoke to solicitor Scarlett Griffin O’Sullivan, partner with Callan Tansey LLP, who outlined how her clients feel about the current feedback system.

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.

Martina Kenny, My Lovely Horse animal rescue, spoke to Jerry after gardaí made a number of seizures following a gathering of sulky racers in Fenit on Sunday.

Kerry manager Jack O’Connor is staying on for a new two-year term. Jerry spoke to Adam Moynihan, host of the Kerry Football podcast, and sports editor with the Killarney Advertiser.

Planning permission has been granted for a new cinema in Listowel. Jerry spoke to the man behind the project, Tom McElligott. Listowel’s last cinema, the Classic Movieplex, closed more than three years ago.

Yesterday parents and guardians of Brandon children attending secondary school in Castlegregory received an email from Bus Éireann informing them that there wouldn’t be a school bus to take them to school this Wednesday. Bus Éireann said a bus contractor had been sourced but that it could take two to three weeks before a bus could operate. Jerry spoke to Sylvia whose son was starting secondary school today and whose daughter is returning to school tomorrow. He also spoke to Fine Gael councillor Tommy Griffin. Bus Éireann later sent in a statement to the show. It said Bus Éireann has sourced cover at present and the route is operational again, and that all families have been notified.

Jerry spoke to Conor Horgan of Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) about its findings.

Karen Gearon was one of the Dunnes Stores workers who refused to handle South African fruit over 40 years ago in protest against that country’s apartheid regime. She spoke to Jerry about cutting links with companies with ties to Israel.

Membership of the rural organisation featured prominently in last week’s International Rose of Tralee Festival; indeed, the winner Kaitlyn Cummins is chair of North Kilkenny Macra. Jerry spoke to Mark Riordan, the Kerry Macra chairperson from Kenmare, who was also a Rose escort.

Sinn Féin TD for Kerry, Pa Daly, says the Department of Health and the HSE has failed to provide details of consultants commissioned as part of the review into the North Kerry Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services between 2016 and 2020, and the fees paid to them to date. The 2022 Maskey Report found that 46 children suffered significant harm while attending North Kerry CAMHS during that period. Two hundred and forty young people were also put at risk of suffering harm.

The Irish Independent reports that that Fianna Fáil senators and TDs may have approached former Dublin football boss, Jim Gavin, about running for the presidency for the party. Jerry spoke to Fionnán Sheahan, Ireland Editor with the Irish Independent, Mediahuis Ireland.

To the Leaving Cert students of 2025, we here in Radio Kerry wish you the very best. Entrepreneur, film-maker and photojournalist Jerry Kennelly shared his perspective on today. Later on in the show, Jerry read a social media post from Paula Silles whose son Luke died following a water accident in Fenit. Luke had been due to sit his Leaving Cert in June.

Some locals have expressed opposition to the Creamery Cross, Cahersiveen road safety project. Tomás Murtagh lives along the N70 route where the works are proposed. He says locals fear the safety works will increase the speed of traffic, not reduce it.

Darragh O'Brien, the energy minister, has told An Coimisiúin Pléanala that Ireland no longer bans importing fracked gas after the planning board sought his advice on the Shannon LNG case. Jerry got the views of the Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council, Fine Gael councillor Michael Foley who has been an ardent supporter of the liquefied natural gas project on the Tarbert Ballylongford landbank.

Comment line caller Gráinne Nic Gearailt, got in touch to share her story on climbing Mount Brandon, and meeting Sean, Gráinne and Winnie the pug!

Kerry County Council issued just two fines for dog fouling last year. That’s according to data gathered by Vision Ireland (VI), which shows only 48 dog-fouling fines were issued across all 31 local authorities in 2024. Jerry spoke to Kevin Kelly, head of policy, partnerships and external affairs at Vision Ireland.

Jerry spoke to Minister of State Michael Hely-Rae about his public backing for Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys’ presidential bid.

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

Fianna Fáil councillor and Cathaoirleach of Listowel Municipal District Michael Leane says he’d support the former Taoiseach if he’s a presidential candidate.

Jerry spoke to Cian McGrath who is president of MTU Students’ Union, Kerry.

Last night, Laois Rose Katelyn Cummins was crowned the 2025 International Rose of Tralee. The 20-year-old apprentice electrician from Kilkenny spoke to Jerry and to the managing director of the company she works for, John Dwan of Alpha Drives & Switchgear in Portlaoise.

This is the fifth summer in Dingle without Fungie the dolphin. We’ve been finding out how the community has dealt with this and exploring the legacy of the dolphin. The dolphin, who had been a fixture in Dingle since the early 1980s, was last seen in October 2020. On Friday, we heard from Jimmy Flannery of Dingle Sea Safari. Today we hear from the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group: Christina O’Mahony spoke to Dr Simon Berrow, CEO of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, about Fungie.

Jerry spoke to Caoimhghin Whyte of Cú-Chulainn Driving Lessons Cork.

Eddie Walsh is the Kerry representative of the Garda Representative Association (GRA). Last week, the official Crowe Report was published into road traffic policing. It found that some gardaí are unproductive and uninterested in their job.

Jerry was joined by Wexford Rose Cliona O’Leary, South Australia Rose Beth Mooney, and Boston and New England Rose Maeve Kelly. The 2025 Rose Escort of the Year Andy Rogers and his 10-year-old daughter Sophia also spoke to Jerry.

Ireland South MEP Sean Kelly from Kilcummin has confirmed he will seek Fine Gael's nomination for President. He spoke to Jerry about why he has changed his mind.

A new multi club sports complex is being developed at Direen, Killarney. When it is finished, the multimillion-euro sports complex will be a permanent home for St Paul’s Basketball Club, Kerry Judo Club and the Kerry Stars Special Olympics Sports Club as well as a resource for the local community. Jerry brings us this report.

The Rose of Tralee live television show takes place tonight from 8 o’clock. Jerry spoke to 3 of this year’s Roses - Dublin Rose Edel Cronin, Cork Rose Nancy Lehane, and Philadelphia Rose Shannon Emery.

Jerry spoke to Deputy Pa Daly who raised a number of issues including the amount being given to this county under the Local Improvement Scheme. Deputy Daly also addressed the news that residents of Ocean View nursing home in Camp are to be temporarily moved from the facility while works are carried out.