Kerry Today

How on earth did an otter end up in Killarney town centre recently? Jerry spoke to Yasin Undre, the vet who returned the otter to his habitat, and Julie Cronin from Wildlife Rescue Cork. A special mention to Killarney gardaí John Curtin and Shane Lehane, who helped Yasin rescue the otter and return him to water.

Ronan Power, CEO of Solar Ireland, spoke to Jerry about concerns that there are too many renewable energy developments – including solar farms – being located in North Kerry.

Jerry spoke to Daithí Fitzgerald, chair of Sinn Féin Kerry, who was in Garvaghy Road earlier this week. He's also going to travel up to the protest tomorrow.

Killarney has been chosen as one of seven locations for new state-led early learning facilities. Jerry spoke to Frances Byrne, director of policy at Early Childhood Ireland, and Derek O’Leary, manager of Torc Community & Family Resource Centre, Killarney.

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

The Lasta Festival  will be kicking off in Siamsa Tire this Thursday, October 1st and runs until Sunday 4th. It is a nationwide initiative where seven venues across the country select young curators to programme events for the upcoming year's festival. This year's programme sees a wide array of shows, from Irish and Japanese folklore to film and creative workshops, all curated by young people. Our Youth Correspondent Nell Moore Ryan is one of the young curators at this year's festival. She spoke to Siamsa Tíre CEO Angela Ryan-White, as well as participants in this year's festival and some of the young curators. Funded by the News Reporting Scheme

Around a dozen families whose children received apologies for deficiencies in their care by Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in Kerry are being excluded from a State compensation scheme. They are now taking legal action. Jerry spoke to solicitor Keith Rolls.

The Climat Change Advisory Council published its annual report yesterday. Professor Peter Thorne is chair of its adaptation committee.

Jerry spoke to Diarmuid Pepper, reporter with The Journal about the controversy which has exposed the deep rifts between the nationalist and loyalist communities in Northen Ireland

Economist Sinéad O’Sullivan wrote a piece in today’s Irish Times about the State’s approach to speed limit reviews on our roads. She was critical of the Government approach of leaving it to each local authority to carry out submissions rather than introducing default limits on particular types and locations of roads. Jerry spoke to Anluan Dunne from Tralee who made a submission to Kerry County Council and whose observations are referenced in the article.

Jerry spoke to Cllr Jackie Healy-Rae and Farranfore businessman Dan Ahern about the issue of the bus stop and how it’s contributing to traffic difficulties.

On the last Tuesday of the month, solicitor Miriam McGillycuddy answers your questions. Email, in confidence, to kerrytoday@radiokerry.ie

Three recent reports into house prices and rent rates in Kerry indicate things are moving in the wrong direction: house prices are up 7% in year while rent is up 11% and Kerry is the most expensive county in Munster in which to build a new house. Meanwhile the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) said it expects the government to deliver just 39,200 home completions this year, far short of the 50,000 plus needed to keep up with demand. Jerry spoke to Paul Stephenson of Sherry FitzGerald Stephenson Crean estate agents in Tralee.

Jerry spoke to Caroline Clifford who’s a divisional organiser in Kerry for the Mandate trade union. Mandate says data from the Central Statistics Office shows the average retail worker earns half the average industrial wage and less than the living wage. Mandate wants changes to the 2018 Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act to improve workers’ circumstances and opportunities to earn more money.

Kate Carmody from Beale believes there are too many renewable energy projects being built in North Kerry. She says the concentration is too high. She shared her views and sugggestions with Jerry.

Jerry spoke to journalist Olivia Kelleher who was in Cork District Court yesterday for the appearance of Alan Browne. Mr Browne, who’s 37, has been charged in connection with a fatal hit-and-run in Listowel in which a teenage pedestrian died. Rory O’Connor, who was from Athea in west Limerick, was struck by a van shortly after 3am on Saturday on the N69 at Dromin Upper. Alan Browne, of Elmsdale Crescent, Birmingham, UK but who's originally from Skehenerin, Listowel appeared before Cork District Court.

The Kerry Mental Health & Wellbeing Fest begins on October 10th and continues until October 17th. Lisa Foley from the Maine Valley Family Resource Centre is a member of the steering group.

The High Court on Friday heard that hospitality entrepreneur Paddy McKillen Jr is to seek a personal insolvency arrangement (PIA) in a bid to deal with debts of more than €27m, claiming he has no work income and just €270 in his bank account. Jerry spoke to Ballybunion’s Shane Phelan who’s legal affairs editor with the Irish Independent.

Jerry spoke to Minister Patrick O’Donovan whose responsibilities include sport and the media.

A meeting was organised in Moate, Co Westmeath last night by many of those who led the fuel protests and blockades last April. Speakers at the meeting warned there could be a return to similar protests if the Government does not address the recent surge in fuel prices and other cost-of-living issues in next week’s budget. Neilus O’Connor from Moyvane was at the meeting.

As of midday, today, September 28th, members of the Orange Order remained at Drumcree in Portadown. The Parades Commission had given them permission to march down the nationalist Garvaghy Road yesterday morning with a limit of 35 participants. Residents on the Garvaghy Road took a legal challenge against the Commission’s decision but this failed. Residents had organised a gathering to blockade the march – such a gathering is illegal under parading legislation in the North. Stormont’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill of Sinn Féin was among those who took part. The Orange Order made several attempts to march but were prevented by the PSNI. There has not been an Orange Order parade through the area since 1998; the order had failed in its bid to get permission from the Parades Commission adjudication bid every year until now. Jerry spoke to Kerry Sinn Féin TD and front bench spokesperson Pa Daly.

17-year-old Rory O’Connor was killed after he was struck by a van on the N69 road at Dromin Upper near Listowel at 3 o’clock last Saturday morning. It had been the Athea boy’s birthday. A man had been due to appear before the district court in Cork today in relation to Rory’s death. Jerry spoke to Inspector Gary Carroll who’s head of roads policing in the Kerry Garda Division and West Limerick councillor Francis Foley.

Karol Kissane is head of public sector services and economics at ifac, the accounting and financial services firm. Rural communities are particularly exposed to rising oil prices, and he has looked at how people in counties like Kerry could be affected by the budget when it’s announced on October 6th.

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

Ireland deservedly lost to Kosovo in our opening game of the UEFA Nations League and now head into their most controversial and contentious match against Israel on Sunday - with another tie against the Israelis the following week. Jerry spoke to Tom O’Shea from Killarney who’s former grassroots director of football at the FAI.

A new English translation of an ancient text about St Brendan the Navigator, Kerry’s patron saint, was launched yesterday at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies. A medieval text, The Voyage of St Brendan, describes his sea journey to a land called the Isle of the Blessed – which some believe is evidence that he reached North America. President Catherine Connolly presented the new edition to US President Donald Trump on his recent Irish visit. Professor David Stifter is senior professor in Celtic Studies at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies.

The American Chamber of Commerce Ireland held its Southern Conference in Cork yesterday. Jerry spoke to its CEO Paul Sweetman.

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

Jerry spoke to Naser Al Swirki, who is a renowned Palestinian theatre and film director. He is the director of the Gaza Monologues, which will be showing tomorrow, Thursday, September 24th, at The Gleneagle Club in the Gleneagle, Killarney.

Jerry spoke to Ralph Riegel, southern correspondent, Irish Independent, who says a man who knew Jamey Carney continues to be detained in Jordan.

Jerry spoke to Sinn Féin TD Pa Daly who’s the party spokesperson on climate, environment, energy and transport.

Jerry spoke to MTU Students’ Union President, Cian McGrath, and MTU Kerry SU Deputy President, Patrick McGrath, about why students at MTU’s Kerry campus will stage a mass walkout from lectures tomorrow at noon.

The Traitors Ireland Season Two came to an end last night with Anna and Diego emerging triumphant. Jerry spoke to one of the contestants DJ O’Sullivan from Meelin, Newmarket.

Ken O’Sullivan is an ocean conservationist and documentary filmmaker. He’s filmed sharks for more than two decades. He says shark species are in danger and need our protection. He also addressed common misunderstandings about the fish.

Jerry spoke to Fine Gael councillor Michael Foley, who is calling on Kerry County Council to formulate a policy regulating how much development – including solar energy - can be in one area.

Jerry spoke to Grace McManus, policy and campaigns manager with the National Youth Council of Ireland. The RED C poll from the NYCI found 68pc of people aged between 18 and 24 are considering moving abroad.

Jerry spoke to Sinn Féin councillor Robert Brosnan who tabled a motion at yesterday’s full meeting of Kerry County Council, requesting that talks be organised and convened at the earliest opportunity to discuss establishing a soccer team to represent all of Ireland.

Jerry spoke to writer Keire Murphy about her piece in The Irish Times which addressed attacks on politicians, including Michael Healy-Rae. She also wrote about the findings of a poll which revealed considerable disillusionment with society – more than two in five respondents said they would let political and social institutions burn down, that they were not worth preserving.

The 2026 Lee Strand/Kerry Garda Youth Achievement Awards 2026 took place over the weekend. Seventeen-year-old Kayla McGaley from Castleisland announced as the Overall Winner. Kayla and Garda Mary Gardiner joined Jerry

Jerry spoke to Radio Kerry Sports commentator, Tim Moynihan, about the Senior Club Championship final win for Rathmore and on the weekends County Championship games.

Barry Kenny from Irish Rail spoke to Jerry about the installation and launch of level crossing cameras in Kerry.

Jerry spoke to Michael McCarthy, Chair of the National Oversight and Audit Commission.

Sinn Féin councillor for Tralee MD, Cllr Paul Daly, spoke to Jerry about the delays at the Fenit.

Jerry spoke to Fuels for Ireland CEO Kevin McPartland on the ever-increasing price of Petrol and Diesel at the pumps.

Jerry is joined by Dr Laurence McKeown ahead of The Struggle for Reunification’ Panel is taking place in Tralee featuring Dr Laurence McKeown, Eibhlín Glenholmes and Nicky Kehoe.

Professor Garry Murphy joins Jerry on the programme to discuss his new book ‘Brian Cowen - Anatomy of a Taoiseach’. The biography explores the life and career of the Fianna Fáil politician who was toppled from power amid the chaos of Ireland’s economic crash.

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