Kerry Today

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

The Irish Examiner reports today that school bus drivers are warning that they've seen children leaving the vehicle and crossing the road before the bus has left. This is dangerous as other motorists may not see the children crossing the road and vice versa. Comment line caller Tom Wall says we need to adopt the mechanical stop arm system that American school buses have.

Storm Amy is scheduled to hit the country with status yellow wind and rain warnings for tomorrow and Friday. It’s timely then that Jerry spoke to Professor Peter Thorne, chair of the Climate Change Advisory Council’s adaptation committee. He believes urgent action is needed to ensure we are prepared for storms and extreme weather conditions.

Jerry spoke to Bernadette Orbinski Burke, chief executive of Childminding Ireland. She addressed childminders at a meeting in Killorglin yesterday about new regulations for the sector.

Since 2005, 2,100 pubs in Ireland have closed their doors, according to a recent Drinks Industry Ireland report. Alanna Kelleher’s father opened The Fertha Bar in 1988. She spoke to Jerry about her decision to close the bar. She said trading conditions were among the reasons for her decision.

Bauer courts correspondent Jamie O’Hara was in court in Cork yesterday for the case of a man who’s accused of falsely imprisoning a woman near Listowel last Sunday. Muhammad Ahsan is also charged with endangerment of the woman and intentionally or recklessly engaging in dangerous conduct while driving.

Lucy Dillon is the equine services manager at the Jack de Bromhead Equine Therapy Centre at Childvision in Dublin. The 1,375 square metre indoor therapeutic equine facility is named after 13-year-old Jack who died in an accident while taking part in the Glenbeigh Races three years ago. Jack, the son of trainer Henry de Bromhead, was a very talented amateur jockey. The centre was made possible through the generosity of Jack’s parents Heather and Henry, other family members, friends, and supporters, as part of a campaign spearheaded by Chris Jones. ChildVision is a dedicated national service for children with visual impairment and additional disabilities.

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.

With Kerry jerseys seen at yet another international sporting event, the Ryder Cup, does this point to the Kerry top being the most iconic and emblematic GAA jersey? Jerry got the view of Chris Mack, head geek with The Brand Geeks marketing agency.

Jerry spoke to Sean Long who’s Inland Fisheries Ireland’s director for the south west river basin district.

Michael Guerin wants to know why Listowel hasn’t been included on signs on the Limerick Greenway.

Jerry got the views of Sinn Féin councillor Deirdre Ferris and of Malachi O’Doherty, author, broadcaster and Belfast Telegraph columnist.

Brendan Jenkins, president of the Irish League of Credit Unions, David Malone, CEO of the ILCU and Joy Clifford-Vaughan, chairperson of the Killarney Credit Union spoke to Jerry. The president and CEO of the ILCU are meeting representatives of credit unions in the county.

Private developers are being asked to source their own water supplies to build multi-unit housing projects in the Kenmare area despite €40m being spent on waste water and water treatment plants in the town. Local independent councillor Johnny Healy-Rae is concerned.

16-year- old Rebecca O’Sullivan from Tuosist is the overall winner of the Lee Strand Kerry Garda Youth Achievement Awards 2025, for her efforts to assist and fund-raise for young people with additional needs. Rebecca, her mother Jean, Garda Cathy Murphy and Garda Mary Gardiner spoke to Jerry.

Cormac Flannery, general manager of Ceann Sibéal Golf Club in Ballyferriter and PGA professional, joined Jerry to discuss the Ryder Cup and the conduct of some US supporters.

The Irish Times reported on Saturday that gardaí asked American forensic experts to help them in their investigation into the murder of Kenmare farmer Mike Gaine. Barry Roche, southern correspondent with The Irish Times, wrote the story.

Gardaí arrested a man yesterday in connection with the alleged false imprisonment of a woman in Clieveragh, Listowel in the early hours of yesterday morning. Jerry spoke to local Sinn Féin councillor Tom Barry.

A symposium will take place in An Díseart, Dingle tomorrow which examines one of the worst massacres in Irish history. In 1580, 600 women, children and men were massacred by the English in Dún an Óir/ Smerwick. Dr Declan Downey of the school of history at UCD is one of the speakers.

The Fianna Fáil presidential candidate is also campaigning in Kerry today. He also came into the Killarney studio this morning before Kerry Today went on air and he recorded an interview with Jerry.

John Downing is away this week so Fionnán Sheahan, Ireland Editor of the Irish Independent at Mediahuis Ireland reviewed the week in politics. The presidential election campaign, of course, took centre stage.

The Fine Gael presidential candidate came into the Killarney studio this morning to speak to Jerry.

Cllr Tommy Griffin condemns illegal dumping of household rubbish in Ballygamboon Wood, Castlemaine. He says the council is investigating and progress has been made in identifying the possible culprit.

Magdalen Rogers, CEO of the Neurological Alliance of Ireland, says there’s a lack of inpatient neurorehabilitation beds for patients with brain and spinal conditions in the south west.

This is the second annual SNA Appreciation Day organised by the Fórsa trade union. Caroline McGrath is a special needs assistant at Coláiste na Ríochta in Listowel.

Tom Parsons, CEO of the Gaelic Players Association, is seeking an increase in player grants, from €1,400 to €2,500 to counter inflation and support players.

A 16-year-old boy has appeared in court accused of producing two machete knives in an assault of another person in Tralee on Tuesday. The teenager, who cannot be named by order of the court, was refused bail by Judge Catherine Ryan at Tralee District Court yesterday. Radio Kerry journalist Mark Lynch was in court for the hearing.

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

The HSE is encouraging parents and guardians to bring their infants to free clinics to immunise them against RSV. Jerry spoke to Dr Anne Sheahan who’s regional director of population and public health with the HSE South West.

December 31st is the date for the county’s inaugural Humanity Ball which is raising funds for three Kerry charities – Kerry Hospice Foundation, Tír na nÓg Children’s Foundation, and One4Humanity. Jerry spoke to the chairman of the event Stephen Stack who’s president of Tralee Chamber Alliance.

Since last Friday, if you’re affected by problem gambling, you may contact your bank to block your debit card from being used on gambling sites and apps. The Irish Banking Culture Board, along with its member banks AIB, Bank of Ireland, and PTSB, developed the voluntary card blocking initiative. Jerry spoke to Tony O’Reilly who’s a gambling addiction counsellor and educator. If you or a loved one needs support, Gambling Care may be of help

Jason Fleming is chair of the Kerry branch of the Irish Farmers’ Association. He says it’s been over 40 years since this county hosted the National Ploughing Championships which this year brought crowds of over 225,000 to Tullamore.

Survivors of industrial and reformatory schools are staging a hunger strike outside the Dáil. The four protestors – one of whom is in her seventies – began their picket on Sunday night. The group are sleeping in a tent near Leinster House. Maurice Patton O’Connell, Miriam Moriarty Owens and Mary Donovan were child inmates of Pembroke Alms Industrial School in Tralee. Mary Dunlevy Greene attended an industrial school in Limerick.

Ger Hyland, president of the Irish Road Haulage Association, says insurance companies need to be prepared to fight dubious motor insurance claims in the courts. Mr Hyland says insurers are far too willing to go for the easy option and agree a settlement with a claimant at a discount. He says this failure is keeping the cost of car insurance high.

Without any scientific evidence, Donald Trump and his health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr have advised pregnant women not to take Tylenol – which is paracetamol – as they’ve said there’s a link between its usage and autism. Jerry spoke to Dr Eamonn Shanahan from Farranfore – host of Medical Matters on TalkAbout every Wednesday – and to Castleisland pharmacist Jack Shanahan.

The Presidential election is on Friday, October 24th. Art O’Leary is chief executive of An Comisiún Toghcháin/ The Electoral Commission. He outlines what you need to do to ensure that you can cast your vote. https://www.electoralcommission.ie/

Jerry spoke to Ger O’Dea, who’s national community engagement manager with the National Ambulance Service. The NAS is recruiting paramedics and community first responders in Kerry and West Cork.

The automotive parts manufacturer has plants in Abbeyfeale and Mallow and is one of the biggest employers in the south-west. It employs more than 400 people in Abbeyfeale alone. There are concerns that there may be significant job losses with the news that some production is being transferred to China. Jerry spoke to SIPTU organiser Rory Hawkins.

Jerry asked the minister of state at the Department of Agriculture if there’s an inherent contradiction in his attempts to get Maria Steen on the ballot paper for next month’s presidential election while championing the Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys.

A director of Listowel Racecourse, Pat Healy, talks to Jerry about everything people can look forward to during the Listowel Harvest Festival 2025. The seven day ‘Harvest Festival’ from Sunday, 21st to Saturday, 27th September in is one of Ireland’s showcase racing events.

Jerry speaks ‘Tim’ about his frustration with the HSE’s recruitment process, which has seen his panel closed after two years without hiring anyone, meaning all would be HSE employees must reapply. Tim tells Jerry he is going to leave the healthcare sector altogether.

Kerry’s only opposition TD, Sinn Féin’s Pa Daly says the government has missed an opportunity to keep Tralee Court House where it has been for nearly 200 years, in Ashe Street. He talks to Jerry about his belief that it’s a mistake to prioritise the upgrade of Ashe Memorial Hall over the historic court house.

Limerick councillor Liam Galvin from Abbeyfeale talks to Jerry about growing concerns that workers will be laid off by Kostal. Production of On-Board Chargers for electric carsare to be transferred to Kostal China. He called on the government to intervene to minimise job losses in Abbeyfeale.