Kerry Today

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

Today is World Suicide Prevention Day Donnagh Hennebry is the resource officer for suicide prevention at HSE South West. He’s also a member of the Kerry Mental Health and Wellbeing Fest interagency committee which is finalising this year’s event, which begins on October 4th. If you have been impacted by anything you’ve heard, you may contact The Samaritans any time on 116 123.

The Republic of Ireland’s hopes of qualifying for the World Cup have been dashed after losing to one of the world’s worst teams, Armenia. Jerry spoke to Tom O’Shea, former grassroots director with the FAI.

Former Dublin GAA football manager Jim Gavin is Fianna Fáil’s presidential candidate. Yesterday, the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party supported his nomination; Jim Gavin received 41 votes and MEP Billy Kelleher got 29. Billy Kelleher got more votes than expected. Party leader Micheál Martin has been very clear that he wants Jim Gavin to represent Fianna Fáil. Jerry spoke to Kerry Fianna Fáil TD Michael Cahill.

Jerry spoke to Fine Gael presidential candidate Heather Humphreys. He asked her if she thinks she will be impacted by the fact that MEP Sean Kelly who’d hoped to get the Fine Gael nomination is from Kerry, and that there’s a feeling that he was treated badly by the Fine Gael leadership.

That’s the view of Shay Kavanagh who spoke to Treasa Murphy about his experience while driving in Brittany in the North West of France. The speed limit in the region’s urban areas – including villages – is 30 kilometres per hour.

Jerry visited the Diamant Linen company in Farranfore. The business went up in flames on July 27th on the day of the All-Ireland Football Final. Conor Hennigan, managing director and Eileen O’Leary, commercial and sales manager, spoke about the damage the fire has caused and what they hope to achieve in the next few months.

Jerry spoke to Sinn Féin councillor Tom Barry from Listowel about this morning’s route 272 from Ballybunion to Tralee. Bus Éireann said in response, it operates the 272 service (Listowel-Tralee) as part of its Public Service Obligation (PSO) under direct award contract to the National Transport Authority (NTA). The NTA determines the timetables, fares and routes for PSO services.Bus Éireann wishes to apologise to passengers who were unable to be accommodated on this morning’s Route 272 service to Tralee, due to the large number who presented for travel. However, we will allocate additional resources to Route 272, and will have a second bus in place on this service, each morning, Monday to Friday.

Yesterday, Kerry County Councillors met 14 potential presidential candidates at Áras an Chontae who are seeking a nomination from the council that could allow one of them appear on the ballot paper in next month’s election. Amber Galwey reported on the event from County Buildings. Jerry also spoke to Fianna Fáil councillor Tommy Cahill.

Radio Kerry and leading accounting, audit and tax firm CSG have joined forces to support Kerry businesses. The Working Together promotion allows your business to win a CSG Starter Services Package and €1,500 in radio and digital advertising with Radio Kerry. All businesses need to do is register at radiokerry.ie/workingtogether Then you need to keep listening to Radio Kerry, if we call out your business’s name, call us back within the hour to qualify for the final draw. CSG’s practice development partner Úna McShane and its financial accounting and advisory David Moran, plus Radio Kerry general manager Fiona Stack spoke to Jerry.

Louise Collins from Tralee spoke to Jerry about her son, Daniel, now aged 15, who has had three scoliosis operations this summer in June and July. Louise said Daniel was listed for surgery in February 2024 but because of the delays, he had to have 3 procedures instead of one, as had been originally planned.

This afternoon, Kerry County Councillors are due to hear from at least 12 potential candidates seeking their backing to run in the Presidential election today. One of those is Presidential candidate Gareth Sheridan, who spoke to Jerry about why he believes it’s important Independents go forward. Potential candidates need the support of four local authorities to get on the ballot paper. Wexford County Council is also holding a similar process today. Jerry spoke to Kerry County Councillors Michael Foley of Fine Gael, Labour’s Marie Moloney, and Breandán Fitzgerald of Fianna Fáil.

Brendan Mannix found a Manx Shearwater in Castleisland recently and with the help of birdwatcher Ed Carty the bird was brought to safety. This was one of a number of rescues of these types of birds in recent times, as explained to Treasa Murphy.

Lillie Kelliher from Lohercannon turned 100 yesterday (September 4th). Lillie’s granddaughter is Radio Kerry’s Niamh Daly and she spoke to her about turning 100 and the secret to such a long and healthy life.

The strike by school secretaries and caretakers is continuing as unions urge the Government to intervene. The dispute centres around access to public service pensions and other entitlements. Declan Dowling is the head caretaker of Mercy Mounthawk in Tralee. He spoke to Treasa Murphy about why he’s supporting the strike.

Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Niall Collins and Kerry Fianna Fáil councillor Michael Leane give their reaction to Bertie Ahern’s decision not to seek the party’s nomination to contest the Presidency.

Jerry spoke to Tralee Municipal District councillor Mikey Sheehy about morning traffic delays in Listellick.

Nearly half a million euro was collected in fines from Garda speed vans in Kerry in the last two and a half years. Figures obtained by Ireland South MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú show €482,000 was collected in fines from speed vans in Kerry since January 2023. An Garda Síochána issued a statement: “An Garda Síóchána has consistently stated and highlighted that mobile safety camera vans are not about raising revenue, they are directed for deployment in high collision prone zones on a recurring basis in order to change driver behaviour in order to make those designated zones safer. In 2023, in direct response to rising road fatalities, An Garda Síochána provided additional funding for an increase in GoSafe monitoring hours. In 2024 and again for 2025 this increase in annual monitoring hours from 6,000 hours to 9,000 hours every month has been sustained, directly demonstrating An Garda Síochána's and GoSafe's commitment to making our roads safer.An overall reduction in the number of fixed charge notices issued by mobile safety camera vans is an indication of increased compliance with speed limits. The locations of safety camera zones are reviewed by An Garda Síochána on a regular basis.”

Lar Doyle, co-founder of Clubber TV, spoke to Jerry about the impact the widespread use of ‘dodgy boxes’ potentially has on his business.

Jerry spoke to Kerry Sinn Féin TD Pa Daly about the disruption to the hot schools meal service. Deputy Daly believes there needs to be more clarity from the providers, the Government and the departments involved.

Minister for Children Norma Foley spoke to Jerry about concerns over child protection services highlighted by the search for a child in Donabate, County Dublin. The little boy, who’s believed to be dead, would have been seven years old now. He was last seen five years ago.

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

Peter O’Toole found a stone cobble hammer – believed to be over 4,000 years old – on the shores of Lough Leane on the Muckross shoreline. This hammer would have been used to break heated limestone in the search for copper.

Sinn Féin senator Chris Andrews is part of the Samud Global Flotilla. He and the other activists intend confronting the Israeli siege of Gaza.

Jerry spoke to Independent councillor Charlie Farrelly about the likelihood of Kerry County Council giving a nomination to a candidate who wishes to run in the Presidential election and doesn’t have the backing of the major political parties.

FACT - Federation Against Copyright Theft - chairman Kieron Sharp spoke to Jerry about the 15 shops in nine counties – including Kerry – ordered to stop selling ‘dodgy boxes’.

On Monday afternoon, Radio Kerry visited Ogham Rian estate in Tralee after residents contacted the newsroom. They said there was a problem with people who are not residents coming into the estate and openly taking drugs. Kelly O’Brien showed Treasa Murphy the evidence at the entrance to Ogham Rian.

Jerry spoke to comment line caller Mirella. Her Hitachi digger 135 was stolen at the start of August. It was last seen in the Bushmount area of Firies. Gardaí are investigating.

In the 1950s, John B Keane and his friends created a fictional election candidate called Tom Doodle. Jerry plays a clip of the late author and playwright discussing this with another North Kerry writer and poet, also sadly passed, Brendan Kennelly. All this hasn’t been lost on Stephen Murphy who lives in Glenbeigh who’s behind the wannabe presidential candidate, Barry Wheely Row.

A story that began 13 years ago on an island off Newfoundland had another chapter written yesterday in Spillane’s Bar and Restaurant in Castlegregory. It was there that Brad and Anita Squires, who wrote a message in a bottle and threw it into the sea off Bell Island, got to meet the couple who found the bottle, Jon and Kate Gay, as well as the community. Jerry went there to catch up with the Canadians, now married with children and talk to them about the journey the message in the bottle has taken them on.

Jerry spoke to Frank Coffey of Frank Coffey Shoes, High Street, Killarney.

Ireland South MEP Sean Kelly from Kilcummin has withdrawn from the contest to become the Fine Gael presidential candidate.

Jerry spoke to Ray Crowley from Laharn and Johnny Porridge O’Connor from Ardmoniel in mid-Kerry. This month, the two men along with John O’Connor from Caragh Lake will join the 23rd aid convoy organised by Scottish charity Pick Ups For Peace (P4P). The charity supports humanitarian efforts in defence of Ukrainian independence. If you’d like to support: https://www.justgiving.com/charity/pickupsforpeace

This Wednesday, September 3rd from 5 to 7pm, members of the Indian community are invited to the Tom Crean Brewery in Kenmare. Aileen Crean O’Brien and Bill Sheppard who run the brewery have organised the event in response to racist attacks carried out on members of the community across the country. Aileen and Bill met and fell in love while travelling in Goa. They said they were always treated so well by the residents in the Indian state. Aileen spoke to Jerry.

Jerry spoke to Ireland South MEP Billy Kelleher who’s hoping to win the Fianna Fáil nomination to contest the presidential election.

Jerry spoke to Sean Murphy, CEO of Murphy’s Ice Cream, about their expansion into China.

David Walsh from Cordal is the Kerry Person of the Year as chosen by the Kerry Association in Dublin. He is a successful businessperson who established The Beatrice Pembroke Walsh Foundation, to fund research into LMS (leiomyosarcoma) an extremely rare and aggressive cancer which affects just six in one million people and mainly women. The Kerry senior football team, management and Kerry GAA have been selected to receive the Laochra Chiarraí award, which recognises exemplary leadership in community activity in the county. Jerry spoke to Mary Shanahan, chair of the Kerry Association in Dublin, David Walsh and Patrick O’Sullivan, chairperson of Kerry GAA.

Fine Gael councillor Teddy O'Sullivan Casey is a school caretaker. He supports the industrial action taken by school secretaries and his fellow caretakers.

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)