Podcasts about irish rail

What does it take to modernize HR systems in a complex, highly operational organization without damaging trust, culture, or employee engagement along the way?In this episode of the HRchat Podcast, host Bill Banham sits down with John Kennedy, HR leader at Irish Rail, to explore the realities of HR transformation in organizations where legacy systems, long-standing processes, and deeply embedded ways of working have become part of the culture itself.John shares practical insights from leading large-scale change initiatives, including the implementation of Oracle Cloud HCM, and explains why successful transformation requires much more than simply replacing technology. Together, Bill and John discuss how HR leaders can redesign work, build stakeholder trust, and create the conditions for sustainable change.Drawing on his background in operational leadership, John also offers a refreshing perspective on HR service delivery, emphasizing the importance of understanding frontline realities and delivering support when leaders need it most.In this episode, listeners will learn about:Why legacy HR systems often become intertwined with organizational cultureThe challenges of modernizing HR processes in complex and unionized environmentsHow Oracle Cloud HCM implementations force organizations to rethink how work gets doneThe importance of openness, transparency, and honest communication during transformationBuilding trust through listening and providing clear reasons behind difficult decisionsDelivering HR services that create tangible value for employees and leadersLessons from operational leadership that can improve HR effectivenessWhy HR credibility depends on understanding the business, not just the people functionThe role of continuous improvement and lifelong learning in modern HR leadershipWhat great leadership could look like in a workplace increasingly shaped by AIKey Takeaways"Legacy systems don't just store data—they store habits, workarounds, and decades of organizational history."John explains why many transformation projects fail when organizations attempt to automate outdated processes rather than redesign them.The conversation also highlights the importance of psychological safety and creating environments where employees feel comfortable challenging plans, raising concerns, and contributing ideas.Looking ahead, Bill and John explore how AI may reshape work and discuss the leadership qualities that will become increasingly important as technology handles more routine tasks.About John KennedyJohn Kennedy is an experienced HR and business leader at Irish Rail. Combining extensive operational leadership experience with deep expertise in people strategy, John is passionate about building effective HR services, supporting organizational transformation, and helping leaders navigate change. He is also actively involved with the HR profession through his work with the CIPD and his commitment to continuous learning and professional development.Support the showFeature Your Brand on the HRchat PodcastThe HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score. Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here.Follow us on LinkedInSubscribe to our newsletterCheck out our in-person events

Reports from Una Kelly; Alex Thomson, Channel 4 News; Danny Shaw, RUSI Senior Associate Fellow; Deirdre Heenan, Prof of Social Policy at Ulster University; Blake Boland, Dublin Bus; Barry Kenny, Irish Rail

Graeme McQueen, media relations manager with the DAA, our North West Correspondent, Shane Ó Curraighín on the garda roads policing operatiion taking place throughout the weekend and John Larson, Internal Communications manager with Irish Rail.

Videos circulating online today show huge queues for the DART in Howth as thousands headed to the coast during the warm weather, with public transport struggling to cope with demand…With Iarnród Éireann regularly carrying out line closures during busy weekends and Bank Holidays, is it time to reassess how rail services are scheduled and managed to better accommodate surging passenger demand?Joining guest host Anna Daly to discuss is Barry Kenny from Irish Rail, as well as listeners.

The death of Yves Sakila on a Dublin street - is this the Irish version of George Floyd, but do enough people care? Brendan Ogle joins Matt, and they have a wider conversation on the impact of migration on Ireland, Brendan's personal experiences of listening to racist comment, and they discuss work visas for non-EU citizens. What are the real issues in the latest RTÉ hoo-ha? Reaction to Israel's illegal kidnapping of flotilla members and why a football international with Israel cannot take place in Dublin. As a former train driver, Brendan reacts to Irish Rail's failed €50 million IT investment, and Matt asks if the DAA should be allowed to spend €5 billion on extending Dublin Airport.Brought to you by The Greenman Group.PTP+To enjoy early access, ad-free listening and weekly bonus episodes, sign up at pathtopowerpodcast.comGet in touch: mail@pathtopowerpodcast.comFollow Matt:https://twitter.com/cooper_mhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cooper-615a1317https://www.instagram.com/mattcooperlastword/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Iarnród Éireann has admitted that there are 'significant issues and concerns' with the delivery of a new IT system to control the movement of trains. For more on this The Irish Times Policy Correspondent, Martin Wall.

Irish Rail is to scrap new €50m IT system for trains. It has written down the €50 million value of the project in its accounts. Martin Wall Public Policy Correspondent with the Irish Times has the story this morning and explained the details to Ciara.

Irish Rail has concluded that a new IT system to control the movement of trains across the country is unlikely to be used and has written down the €50 million value of the project in its accounts.Joining Ciara to discuss this is Chair of the Public Accounts Committee & Sinn Fein TD John Brady…

Irish Rail is to scrap new €50m IT system for trains. It has written down the €50 million value of the project in its accounts. Martin Wall Public Policy Correspondent with the Irish Times has the story this morning and explained the details to Ciara.

Barry Kenny, Corporate Communications Manager at Irish Rail

A Clare senator is calling for an audit of vacant State-owned properties. Ennistymon Senator Martin Conway is seeking an assessment of buildings owned by the likes of local authorities, the OPW, HSE, Irish Rail and Bus Éireann as a means of making more units available for housing. As of April 20th, Clare County Council is dealing with 380 derelict properties across the county. Speaking in the Seanad, Senator Conway says leaving buildings lying idle in a housing crisis in unacceptable.

For this week's Ask the Expert, Andrea is joined by Barry Kenny from Irish Rail to answer any of your train-related questions!

Barry Kenny, Irish Rail, discusses the temporary train station being planned for Adare village for the Ryder Cup.

Once again, public transport options are limited for the bank holiday weekend. For DART users, there will be no dart from Connollly to Malahide to Howth, with a number of stations closed, and no additional buses being put on…Do these closures impact your weekend plans?Joining Andrea to discuss is Social Democrats TD for Dublin Bay North Cian O'Callaghan, Alex Garvey, Committee member of Dublin Commuters, Barry Kenny from Irish Rail and listeners.

PJ talks to Cllr Noel O'Flynn about the news that Irish Rail are developing a rail station in the Blackpool area to serve Cork Commuters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Members of the Dáil Public Accounts Committee have expressed concern over the delivery of a €270 million contactless transport ticketing system by IT Contractor Indra. Indra are also developing Irish Rail's train traffic management system, which was described at the committee as a ‘slowly developing shambles.' Joining Anton to discuss these concerns is Brian Caulfield, Professor of Transportation at Trinity College Dublin.

Members of the Dáil Public Accounts Committee have expressed concern over the delivery of a €270 million contactless transport ticketing system by IT Contractor Indra. Indra are also developing Irish Rail's train traffic management system, which was described at the committee as a ‘slowly developing shambles.' Joining Anton to discuss these concerns is Brian Caulfield, Professor of Transportation at Trinity College Dublin.

Ireland's new rail traffic management system is facing serious criticism, after costs rose from an expected €19.5 million to more than €31 million with no part of the system delivered yet. Concerns have been raised at the Dáil Public Accounts Committee, where the project has been described as a “slowly developing shambles.” Grace Boland, Fine Gael TD for Dublin Fingal West joined Shane Coleman on the show to discuss.

Irish Rail will increase security on board its services after incidents of racial abuse, violence and drunken behaviour were reported by passengers last year.Jane Cregan, Deputy Corporate Communications Manager at Irish Rail, joins Will O'Callaghan on The Last Word.Hit the ‘Play' button on this page to hear the discussion.

Irish Rail is increasing security patrols on board its services after over a thousand complaints including drug use, indecent exposure, and drunken behaviour were reported by passengers last year. Speaking to Anton was Mark Gleeson, Spokesperson for Rail Users Ireland.

Irish Rail has been increasing security to tackle antisocial behaviour on their services. What are these issues with antisocial behaviour, and how necessary is a greater amount of security?Newstalk's Josh Crosbie has been looking into these concerns with locals in Limerick, and joins Seán Defoe to discuss.

Irish rail is increasing security on board to tackle the widespread antisocial behavior on trains across the country.It comes as incidents including passengers brandishing knives and drug users ‘shooting up' in carriages were reported to the company last year.We want to hear your thoughts, have you ever experienced this behavior on Irish rail and would you welcome more security on board?Joining Andrea to discuss is Company Spokesperson for Iarnród Éireann, Jane Cregan, as well as listeners.

Irish Rail is increasing security patrols on board its services after over a thousand complaints including drug use, indecent exposure, and drunken behaviour were reported by passengers last year. Speaking to Anton was Mark Gleeson, Spokesperson for Rail Users Ireland.

Organisational strategy often looks clear on paper — but translating that strategy into a structure that actually works in practice is where many organisations struggle. In this episode of The HR Room Podcast, Dave and Mary are joined by returning guest John Kennedy, Head of HR Organisational Development at Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail), to explore how HR leaders can move from high-level strategy to effective, real-world organisational design. The conversation examines why structure is not just an operational detail, but a critical enabler of strategy. John highlights the importance of alignment — ensuring coordination, coherence and communication across the organisation — while Mary emphasises the risks of poorly thought-through changes, including unintended consequences and organisational friction. Together, they explore the realities of organisational change, from the need for continuous adaptation (rather than one-off transformation) to the human challenges that often derail even the most well-planned initiatives. The discussion blends practical insight with real-world experience, including examples from Irish Rail's large-scale transformation and investment programmes. A key theme throughout the episode is that successful organisational design is not just about structure — it's about people. From gaining buy-in and addressing resistance to understanding the psychology behind change, HR leaders play a central role in ensuring that strategy translates into meaningful outcomes. Guest John Kennedy — Head of HR Organisational Development, Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail) Topics include: Why organisational structure is critical to delivering strategy The shift from episodic change to continuous organisational evolution Common pitfalls in organisational design and unintended consequences How poor structure can restrict communication, innovation and decision-making Translating strategy into practical, actionable structural decisions Why change initiatives fail despite strong planning The importance of employee buy-in and bringing people along the journey Real-world insights from Irish Rail's transformation and people strategy Linking HR initiatives to measurable business outcomes The role of curiosity in navigating change and organisational design Key Takeaways for HR Leaders Organisational structure must be intentionally designed to support strategy — it won't happen by default. Alignment across teams and functions is essential for effective execution. Change is no longer a one-off event — organisations must be designed for continuous evolution. Poor design can create duplication, confusion and communication breakdowns. HR must focus on translating strategy into practical, people-focused actions. Resistance to change is natural and often rooted in fear, stability and habit. Leaders must address emotional and psychological barriers — not just operational ones. Curiosity varies across individuals — and must be nurtured, not assumed. Get in Touch If you're not already following us on LinkedIn, please do. If you have suggestions for future episodes, or if you'd like to join us as a guest, reach out to Dave Corkery at dcorkery@insighthr.ie or connect with him on LinkedIn. About The HR Room Podcast The HR Room Podcast is brought to you by Insight HR — where we speak with HR leaders, experts and practitioners across Ireland about the issues shaping the world of work today. If you're enjoying the podcast, please share it with colleagues or friends and leave us a review. We love to hear your feedback, we take requests, and we're always here to support you with your HR challenges. Immediate HR support

Irish Rail offers passengers a flexible ticket option, allowing them to change their booking up to one hour before departure. However, one traveler was left extremely frustrated after being denied boarding a train to Cork, despite arriving just one minute after missing his original service.So, are these flexi-tickets worth the money, and are they even flexible?Andrea is joined by Barry Kenny, Head of Communications with Irish Rail, Lochlann Gallagher, Chair of the Galway Commuters Coalition and listeners.

Barry Kenny, Corporate Communications Manager with Irish Rail

Iarnród Éireann has paid out almost €150,000 in compensation to passengers in the first 10 months of 2024 alone due to issues such as late trains, rude staff, cancellations or cleanliness issues.Joining Shane to discuss this is Barry Kenny, Head of Communications with Irish Rail and Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, European Transport Committee MEP, who obtained these figures.

The Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien has said he would rather invest the money that could be spent on train catering carts on new transport lines, querying Irish Rail's stated cost of around €2 million for bringing back the tea trolley on the Belfast and Cork lines after Covid.Should the tea trolley be rolled out across the country once again?Joining Shane to discuss this is Newstalk's own Shane Beatty and Barry Kenny, Corporate Communications Manager with Irish Rail.

Jerry spoke to Barry Kenny of Irish Rail about the news that Kerry route rail journeys have hit a new record high.

Now it's time to look over to Milano Cortina to catch up with the Winter Olympics. We have plenty to chat about between sports and scandal.Barry Kenny, Corporate Communications Manager with Irish Rail and Olympics superfan, joined Shane to discuss

Has your train line been closed for a few months? Or maybe there's a new one due to open near you and you're wondering when?Joining Andrea to answer all your rail-related questions was Barry Kenny of Irish Rail.

As day three of the Winter Olympics is well underway and Shane was joined by Barry Kenny, Head of Communications with Irish Rail to give us an insight for all the events that we can look forward to in the week ahead.

Mark Bowe, meteorologist with Met Éireann, highlights the various Status Orange and Yellow weather warnings. Reporter, Andrew Lowth is in Dublin; Jane Cregan, Irish Rail outlines the impact on rail services; Petula Martyn, Mid-West Correspondent reports on Waterford and Wexford; Laura Hogan, North East Correspondent, reports from Louth.

The latest on the weather around the country! First we head to Aughrim where Barry Whyte, Bauer Media Chief Reporter. We also heard from Newstalk reporter Sarah Madden is in Dundalk at the moment and reporter Josh Crosbie was in North Co Dublin.The rain has caused disruptions to commuters right across Dublin and surrounding areas. To get the latest with regard to the rail and bus network Anton spoke to Blake Boland from Dublin Bus and also Jane Cregan, Deputy Corporate Communication Manager with Irish Rail.

Blake Boland, spokesperson for Dublin Bus and Barry Kenny of Irish Rail

Marc O'Driscoll, South-East Correspondent, reports on the latest in the region in the aftermath of Storm Chandra. Jane Cregan of Irish Rail discusses how services are being affected. Holly O'Neill, Met Éireann forecaster, outlines the potential impact of today's Status Yellow rain warning across six counties.

Today is one of the busiest days of the year for people travelling home for Christmas. For the latest Graeme McQueen, Media Manager, Dublin Airport Authority, Barry Kenny from Irish Rail and Bus Eireann's Head of Corporate Affairs and Communications, Mark Mulqueen.

Irish Rail's Christmas schedule adds late night services for revellers.Irish Rail will operate on a reduced schedule from Christmas Eve to New Year's Day, some extra services have been added for this weekend for any Christmas party goers.The question is: should late night services be run all year?Joining Ciara Doherty to discuss is Ray O'Donoghue, Dublin's night-time economy advisor, Barry Kenny, Corporate Communications Manager with Iarnrod Eireann and Feljin Jose Dublin City Councillor for Phibsborough, Glasnevin, Drumcondra, Cabra and Ashtown, Green Party Spokesperson for Transport.

With the support of Personio, we're bringing Disrupt back to Dublin with a format built for action: five-minute lightning talks, auto-advancing slides, and zero fluff. After years of webinars and multitasking, Dublin gets a night where ideas hit hard, conversations move fast, and the network you build matters.Ahead of the festive break, Bill Banham sat down with Disrupt Dublin co-organizer Ben Geoghegan to unpack why now is the right moment to relaunch, what makes the format so effective, and how a curated mix of voices can shift the future of work. We spotlight an early lineup featuring leaders from Google, Irish Rail, and Mazars; a chartered psychologist from the Royal College of Surgeons; and founders pushing new recruiting tech. Each speaker brings one tight message and one practical move you can test - no drawn-out slides, no corporate spin, just clear ideas with real outcomes.We also dig into why the crowd is the secret sauce. Senior HR execs, consultants, operators, and technologists share the floor, cross-pollinating approaches to AI, learning design, leadership, culture, well-being, and hiring. That diversity turns quick talks into immediate experiments: pilots you can run with your team, metrics worth tracking, and conversation starters for your leadership table. Expect energy, focus, and dozens of new connections by the time the Personio-hosted event wraps at 8:30.If you care about building better workplaces in 2026, this preview delivers the what, the why, and the how. Hit play to hear the format breakdown, the themes to watch, and the speakers to meet. Enjoy the show, then subscribe, share with a colleague, and leave a quick review so more HR pros and people leaders can find us.Support the showFeature Your Brand on the HRchat PodcastThe HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score. Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here. Follow us on LinkedIn Subscribe to our newsletter Check out our in-person events

We hear from those affected across the country as well as Barry Kenny, Corporate Communications Manager with Irish Rail; Siobhan Wynne, Regional Manager at the ESB; David Martin of the RSA; and Blake Boland of Dublin Bus

Storm Bram is sweeping across the country today with warnings being upgraded. The public have been advised to be “very careful”.Joining Andrea to give the latest updates is Carlow Weather's Alan O'Reilly, Graeme McQueen, Media Relations Manager with the DAA, Barry Kenny, Corporate Communications Manager with Irish Rail. Listeners also join to give their experiences so far…

PJ chats to Michael Beecher of the East Cork Railway Alliance who knows Irish Rail want a line to Youghal that would ease traffic and housing problems but it's not in the Transport plan. Sample letter here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Government-backed not-for-profit Business For Biodiversity Ireland has opened up its membership for 2026 to Irish businesses now and said there is no time to lose for the private sector to start factoring nature into decision-making to maintain a sustainable society and economy for Ireland. BFBI is partnering with global experts Business For Nature, Deloitte WorldClimate and KPMG Sustainable Futures Teams as they deliver a Nature Strategy Accelerator Programme, including an online information hub, step-by-step guidance and workshops to help Irish businesses of every size and sector to be prepared and understand the steps they should be taking regarding nature-related risk. Nature initiative for Irish businesses to boost biodiversity BFBI Executive Director Dr Maria Fitzpatrick said: "It is clear that 'business as usual' is not an option anymore, as the 2025 WWF Global Risks Report warns, four of the top 10 risks in the 10-year forecast are environment-related risks. With our Nature Strategy Accelerator Programme, we support our members to understand the risks ahead, build resilience in the face of those challenges and find ways to adapt to what's in store." BFBI offers expert guidance and peer support, with long-term members including Bank of Ireland, Iarnród Éireann/Irish Rail, ESB and SAP Landscapes involved since soon after BFBI's founding in 2021, with seed-funding support from National Parks and Wildlife Services and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. "Their feedback as they navigate the evolving sustainability reporting landscape has helped shape the BFBI Nature Strategy Accelerator Programme which incorporates international best practice, leading science-based frameworks and updates to help businesses to stay abreast of ESG regulation. "The members currently in our Strategy Track have been working closely with us since close to our inception and have been developing and honing their Nature Strategy and feeding back to us in workshops about the challenges and opportunities involved in navigating stakeholder engagement, environmental reporting and monitoring and assessment of their biodiversity actions in an ongoing, iterative process. Their testimonials feature on our website and our new brochure, available at businessforbiodiversity.ie" Many more businesses are joining each year, and BFBI has been undertaking research and educational collaborations with Irish institutions including Trinity College Dublin and Bord Iascaigh Mhara, and fellow initiatives including Horizon Nua and Go Nature Positive, and now various local authorities as they lead the movement to a Nature Positive Economy for Ireland. Maria adds: "We are collaborating on an upcoming free webinar with Waterford City & County Council. The overall aim of all our work is to support businesses in the move to a Nature Positive Economy for Ireland. This is a concept that emerged as a global goal, via a collaborative forum of business and nature institutions of which BFBI is a member, which aims to ensure, put simply, more nature in the world in 2030 than in 2020 and continued recovery after that. We advocate for ensuring that all of our economic and policy decisions are made with this goal in mind." BFBI has also collaborated with National Parks and Wildlife Services on the Biodiversity Duty for Public Bodies - a guidance document on how to assess and report on their biodiversity impacts and actions, launched earlier this year by Minister for Nature Christopher O'Sullivan, Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage. What is the Business For Biodiversity Ireland Nature Strategy Accelerator Programme? The Nature Strategy Accelerator Programme consists of four stages to progress through at the businesses' own pace. Discovery Track: The free introductory 10-step Discovery Track is a great way to swiftly learn how to make the business case for nature with access to online resources and webinars. Action Track: Paid members will then advance th...

Barry Kenny, Corporate Communications Manager with Irish Rail

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair this week is Jim Meade, outgoing Chief Executive of Irish Rail.

Barry Kenny of Irish Rail, involved in works between Mallow and Cork, explains why the Mallow to Tralee rail line is not included on the programme of works.

Barry Kenny, Corporate Communications Manager with Irish Rail

Barry Kenny from Irish Rail outlined the changes to rail timetables and travel times, that will increase the commuter belt around Dublin.To catch the full conversation, press the play button on this page.

The National Transport Authority should provide clarity on its budgetary requirements and decision-making process regarding the re-instatement of catering services on all Irish Rail intercity routes. That's the call from Mark Duffy, Fine Gael Senator, spokesperson on Transport in the Seanad and Member of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport.

Get ready for an unmissable week at the KPMG Women's Irish Open! On the PaddyTalks Golf Podcast, powered by ForeGolf Custom, I'm bringing you the definitive, in-depth preview for the KPMG Women's Irish Open 2025! Mark your golf calendars for Thursday, July 3rd to Sunday, July 6th, 2025, as the world's finest golfers take on a true championship test at the magnificent Carton House in Maynooth, County Kildare, Ireland.This comprehensive episode is your essential spectator playbook to navigate and fully appreciate Ireland's premier Ladies European Tour (LET) event. We're breaking down every aspect that a dedicated golfer wants to know:The Championship Venue: Carton House & The O'Meara Course Deep Dive: Logistics for the Golfing Enthusiast: Beyond the Ropes: The Spectator Village for the Golf Community: The Powerhouse Field: Who Will Lift the Trophy? Leading Irish Professionals and Promising Irish Amateurs Global Golf Superstars & Major ChampionsThe Architects of Success: Forefront SportsEssential Event FAQsPaddy's Insider TipsThis podcast episode is your ultimate pre-tournament caddy for the KPMG Women's Irish Open 2025 at Carton House.Tune in, get informed, and do join us at the event itself next week!Essential Links for Every Golfer & Fan:Official KPMG Women's Irish Open Website: www.kpmgwomensirishopen.ie (Secure your tournament tickets and explore all details!)Ladies European Tour Official Entry List: https://ladieseuropeantour.com/reports-page?url=tmentry&id=2025&code=2028&title=Tournament%20EntriesForefront Sports - Experts in Irish Golf Events: https://forefrontsports.ie/case_study/kpmg-womens-irish-open/Irish Rail (for convenient train access to Maynooth): www.irishrail.ieConnect with Paddy Join the Conversation:Visit www.PaddyTalksGolf.com for more information and the full episode back catalogueShare this episode with your golfing foursome, your club members, and anyone passionate about Irish golf!Follow PaddyTalks Golf on social media: @PaddyTalksGolf on X/Instagram/Facebook for more golf chat from Ireland!Leave a review! Your feedback helps us grow the podcast and connect with more golf enthusiasts across Ireland and beyond. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.