Kerry Today

The European Commission has established harmonised rules throughout the 27-member states of the EU regarding the content of vitamins and minerals in food supplements. However, the health food sector believes the rules are excessive. Jerry spoke to Hannah Dare of the Save Our Supplements campaign; she owns and runs the Organico health food store in Bantry.

Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty says the TV licence has to be scrapped. He says the Government must choose between chasing people through the courts for non-payment of the fee or funding RTÉ through the exchequer. Jerry got the views of Professor Emeritus Dr Colum Kenny, who’s a former chair of the Masters in Journalism programme at DCU.

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

Jerry spoke to Kieran Lynch from Armagh who’s a TV commentator.

Comment line caller Jimmy Adams says the GAA is getting unfair criticism for the fact that some matches are not available to watch for free on TV. He says there’s way more choice an way more games to watch compared to 20 years ago.

The European Parliament has approved a law aimed at speeding up the return of migrants with no legal right to remain in the EU – it received backing from centre-right and far-right political groups. Jerry spoke to Ireland South Fianna Fáil MEP Billy Kelleher.

A Sinn Féin bill to remove the requirement for a three-day waiting period for an abortion was passed by TDs last night. The Government parties Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael allowed their deputies a free vote. A majority of these parties’ deputes voted against the change. Paula Dennan of Kerry for Choice gave her reaction.

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

Folies Stream within the River Laune is in bad condition according to the EPA’s latest report into water quality. This stretch of water was one of three rivers nationally found to be in bad condition. The Cashen Estuary in North Kerry was found to be in unsatisfactory condition for phosphate. Jerry spoke to Cormac McConigley, senior scientific officer in the EPA’s Water Management Programme.

The new EU customs charges come into effect on July 1st. Consumers will have to pay a €3 customs duty charge on each item bought from non-EU retailers. VAT may also apply in some cases. Jerry spoke to Ray Ryan who’s the head of Revenue’s national customs policies and procedures branch.

Solicitors involved in criminal legal aid have decided to halt work on bail cases between now and Friday. This is over planned changes to the fee structure for criminal legal aid cases. The Department of Justice wants to introduce a flat fee. Jerry spoke to Tralee solicitor Pat Mann.

Jerry spoke to Minister for Children and Kerry Fianna Fáil TD Norma Foley about two projects that have the potential to delivery more than 2,300 homes in Tralee and Killarney. He also asked her how she will vote this evening on Sinn Féin’s bill to end the three-day wait for women considering an abortion.

Jerry spoke to Killarney councillor Niall ‘Botty’ O’Callaghan ahead of Kerry’s must-win game against Armagh this Saturday. The match will be held in Killarney’s Fitzgerald Stadium.

Last Saturday evening, at the Loreto Convent estate in Killarney, six people were injured following a fire pit explosion. Among those injured is a five-year-old boy who was brought to Crumlin hospital. Jerry spoke to Cathaoirleach of Killarney Municipal District, Cllr Martin Grady. Cllr Grady is also a firefighter.

Truly Irish launching Ireland’s first Bord Bia certified rasher range made without nitrites. There have been growing health concerns about nitrites. The company is led by Mike McAuliffe from Kerry. Mike’s farm is in Fahaduff near Castleisland.

The house on Rock Street in Tralee where legendary Kerry GAA footballer Joe ‘Jo Jo’ Barrett was born is to be demolished to make way for an apartment development. Number 67 Rock Street had previously been included on Kerry County Council’s register of derelict properties. He was the first Kerry captain to lift the Sam Maguire trophy in 1929. Jerry spoke to Dr Richard McElligott from Kilflynn who’s a lecturer in modern and Irish history, Dundalk IT.

Gardaí are continuing to search for the driver who fled the scene of a fatal crash which took place last Monday night, June 8th between Newcastle West and Abbeyfeale to come forward. The man who died in the crash was 33-year-old Axel Liebsch Morales who was armed and wearing a balaclava. Gardaí believe he was a hired contract killer. Jerry spoke to local councillor Michael Collins who’s Cathaoirleach of the Newcastle West Municipal District.

Kerry County Council is being asked to reveal the nationalities of people who are given social housing. Independent councillor Brendan Cronin says the move would help to 'kill off the false and untrue rumours' that most social homes are being allocated to non-Irish nationals.

Three Kerry schools have been recognised in this year’s Junior Entrepreneur Awards. St. Michael’s National School, Sneem received the Go Green Award for Horsepower Eco-firestarter – an eco-friendly fire starter made from horse manure. Murhur National School, Moyvane won the Digital Maestros Award for Murhur Mysteries – a box full of fidgets and fun, including fidgets designed and 3-D printed by the class. Scoil Mhic Easmainn, Tralee received the Finance Wizards Award for Yarn and Bead – hand-crocheted octopus toys and bracelets. Teacher Tracy Long and 5th class pupil Bradley O’Brien spoke from Sneem NS, teacher Alma Finucane and 6th class student Amber Fitzmaurice represented Murhur NS, and sixth class pupils Farrah McClure and Christopher Fusco spoke from Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn.

Jerry spoke to Kevin McPartlan, CEO Fuels for Ireland, about the peace deal between Trump and Iran that was announced overnight. Trump says, let the oil flow – but will it? And will a peace deal be really signed?

At today’s meeting of Kerry County Council, Cllr Charlie Farrelly is asking the local authority executive to provide details as to how much in rates was collected from windfarms last year.

The HSE got confirmation on Friday that the Health Information and Quality Authority will register the new Killarney Community Nursing Unit from today. HSE South West hopes a phased transfer to the new unit will begin on July 13th, pending the outcome of a ballot by INMO. Jerry spoke to Kathryn Courtney of the Irish Nurses’ and Midwives’ Organisation.

Kerry women and men both convincingly beat Kildare on Saturday. Kerry men will now face Armagh in round three of the All-Ireland Championship. The Kingdom will have home advantage. Jerry got reaction from Tim Moyihan, GAA match commentator for Radio Kerry. The question now is will Kerry’s game against Armagh be televised? Jerry got the view of Senator Mike Kennelly.

Last evening the Kerry branch of the IFA organised a meeting in Foilmore, near Cahersiveen to discuss issues arising out of the South Kerry Greenway. There have been a number of controversies including the issue of compensation paid to property owners whose lands were acquired by compulsory purchase order (CPO). Sari Houlihan attended the meeting and spoke to chief executive of Kerry County Council Fearghal Reidy and to solicitor Brian Harrington who represents many of the affected landowners. She also interviewed Morgan Lyne who farms near Kells Station and to Christy McDonnell who has a farm near Foilmore. This package is funded by the News Reporting Scheme.

Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council, Cllr Michael Foley was at a birthday party in King Charles’s honour in Dublin yesterday. The Fine Gael councillor who lives in Ballylongford, North Kerry has strong views on the controversy over Aughinish Alumina’s Russian links. The factory is one of the biggest employers in the West Limerick/North Kerry area.

Jerry spoke to Daragh Nolan of the Leinster Leader ahead of Kerry’s games against Kildare. Both matches will take place in St Conleth’s Park, Newbridge. At 3pm, the Kerry Ladies take on their Lilywhite counterparts in the TG4 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Group 2 Round 2 game. At 5.30pm, the men of the Kingdom Kerry play Kildare in Round 2B of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. Kerry must win to stay in the championship. Both games will be broadcast live on Radio Kerry.

John Downing of the Irish Independent reviews the week in politics. Jerry got John’s response to leading GAA figures addressing the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage this week. The GAA’s strategy, insights and innovation manager Dr Peter Horgan outlined how housing policy is so important in addressing rural decline and the impact this is having on the GAA.

On Monday night, a man aged in his 30s was killed in a crash on the N21 between Abbeyfeale and Newcastle West close to the Limerick/Kerry border. Journalist Jimmy Woulfe has revealed that the deceased is believed to be an international criminal who is wanted for two murders in Scandinavia.

Can men who are violent and controlling towards their partners and children ever change? Jerry speaks to the head of MOVE – Men Overcoming Violence. The programme’s aim is to support the safety and wellbeing of women and their children who are experiencing, or have experienced violence/abuse in an intimate relationship. MOVE is a programme whereby men take responsibility for their violence and change their attitude and behaviour. Jerry spoke to MOVE’s CEO Dr Michelle Walsh. https://moveireland.ie/

At Tralee Circuit Court this week, a young woman who suffered life-changing injuries when she was crushed by the wheels of a van expressed forgiveness towards the driver responsible. Twenty-four-year-old Molly Hegarty gave her victim impact statement during the sentence hearing of Caimin Sheedy of Rusheen, Firies. Radio Kerry journalist Breda Forrest was in court.

Sports writer and Irish Times columnist, Dave Hannigan, who lives in Long Island, spoke to Jerry about how the World Cup is being viewed in America in a land where as a kid you have to pay huge amounts of money to play soccer.

The jury at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Limerick has been discharged, for what they were told were legal reasons around disclosure. Father-of-one Gerard Kennelly was found with fatal stab injuries at Knockanure outside Listowel, in the early hours of Monday, May 27th, 2024. The three accused are Kieran Brady, who is in his mid-30s, from Upper Athea, Co. Limerick, 24-year-old Abigail Lynch of Woodview Place, Tarbert, and 29-year-old Kane Hornyak, of Doon Road, Ballybunion. Jerry spoke to Kerryman journalist Sinéad Kelleher.

Kerry Writers’ Museum will welcome artists from throughout the world from June 11th to 14th for a four-day Celtic Arts festival. Jerry spoke to event organiser Stephen Rynne, and Maui artist Hamish Burgess.

Rioters took to the streets of Belfast last evening after a serious knife attack in the city on Monday night. 30-year-old Hadi Alodid has been remanded in custody, charged with the attempted murder of Stephen Ogilvie. Mr Ogilvie has lost an eye and suffered other catastrophic injuries. The Sudanese man is also charged with possessing a bladed weapon, and making threats to kill an NHS worker on the same day. The attack has led to widespread violent scenes in Belfast. Families were forced to fleet their homes, and houses and vehicles were set on fire. Jerry spoke to SDLP Belfast City Councillor Séamas de Faoite.

A report by the Environmental Protection Agency has found that local authorities inspected 4,315 farms last year. Forty-three per cent of these were found to be non-compliant with the relevant regulations. Jerry spoke to Michael Martin who’s an EPA inspector.

The IFA is holding a public meeting in Foilmore tomorrow, Thursday the 11th, to discuss the South Kerry Greenway. The council executive, including the CEO Fearghal Reidy, are due to attend.

Jerry spoke to Kenmare independent councillor Dan McCarthy after it emerged Kerry County Council had investigated almost 200 complaints relating to overgrown hedges. Cllr McCarthy is also seeking an update from Uisce Éireann regarding Kenmare’s new wastewater treatment plant and access to water for new housing developments.

Jerry spoke to former Government Minister Shane Ross about his new book, titled "RTÉ: Saints, Scholars, and Scandals", which tells the story of the state broadcaster all the way back to the 1960s.

Jerry spoke to Social Democrats TD Sinead Gibney, who is visiting Kerry this week for a public meeting, about her party's motion in the Dáil this week calling for Ireland's game with Israel to be cancelled altogether.

New figures released from the Irish Road Safety Authority (RSA) to the Irish Road Haulage Association under FOI, reveal that there were 388,090 learner permit holders on Irish roads at the end of March 2026 - 6,219 more than at the same date in 2025 - one year ago. We now have more learner drivers in every county in Ireland, bar 4, since 2025, including here in Kerry. Jerry spoke to President of the Irish Road Haulage Association, Ger Hyland.

Miriam O’Sullivan had a fall last week while carrying glass to a charity shop in Killarney. Two residents of a nearby IPAS centre went out of their way to help her.

Kerry's double header with Kildare in the men's and ladies' football All-Ireland Championships on Saturday is now a sell-out. The game will not be televised, with live commentary available on Radio Kerry. Jerry spoke to Martin Leane, Kerry GAA Supporters Club PRO.

The Learning Waves Journalism Graduate Programme for 2026 is open for applications until this Friday, 12th June. Jerry spoke to Niamh O’Sullivan, Radio Kerry journalist and 2025 Learning Waves graduate, and Teresa Hanratty of Learning Waves.

Jerry spoke to Amy Forde, news editor, Irish Farmers’ Journal on the fall in the number of farmers in Kerry.

A major international gathering of undertakers took place in Kerry over the weekend. Jerry spoke to Graham Gleasure, of Gleasure Funeral Homes in Tralee and Listowel, who hosted the event, and are one of only two Irish funeral firms who are members of the American association, Selected Independent Funeral Homes.

Killarney has retained its place among Ireland’s cleanest towns in the latest Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) survey. Jerry spoke to Michael Gleeson, Killarney Looking Good Chairperson.

Yesterday marked the 30th anniversary of the killing of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe originally from Ballylongford. Jerry spoke to Jerry McCabe’s brother-in-law Pat Kearney, who’s originally from Castleisland. Pat married Jerry’s sister, Eileen. Jerry was Pat’s best man and Pat was Jerry’s best man.

Circus ringmistress and singer Marion Fossett has passed away aged 71. Jerry spoke to Mayor of Tralee, Labour councillor Terry O’Brien, about the Fossetts' long-standing link to Tralee.

Jerry spoke to Kathryn Courtney, Industrial Relations Executive with the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation. The INMO has served a notice of industrial action on the HSE over proposed staffing levels at the Killarney Community Nursing Unit, which has yet to open.