Kerry Today

Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke is in Kerry today.

He is visiting various projects in Killarney, Tralee and Listowel.

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

CEO of Sanctuary Runners, Michael Darragh Macauley, eight-time All-Ireland winner with Dublin, will lead short, relaxed runs and walks in Tralee and Killarney along with some Kerry footballers to help raise the profile of the Sanctuary Runners in Kerry. Runners is a solidarity-through-sport initiative which uses running, jogging and walking to bring together asylum seekers, refugees, migrants and all Irish residents. It was founded by Graham Clifford from Glenbeigh, a former Radio Kerry journalist. Jerry spoke to Michael Darragh and to Kerry footballer, Stefan Okunbur.

February is Oesophageal Cancer Month. Jerry spoke to Carmel Doyle is CEO of Oesophageal Cancer Fund. Her husband Gerry survived this form of cancer after he was diagnosed with it almost 14 years ago. Carmel urged Gerry to go to the doctor after she became concerned about his persistent heartburn. On February 28th and March 1st, the lollipop fundraisers will take place to raise money for research and awareness.

One listener brought up this morning how Tánaiste Simon Harris made reference to Donald Trump being ‘an awful gowl’ in 2020.

At that time, Mr Harris said he was willing to call Mr Trump an “awful gowl”. Jerry asked is being called ‘an awful gowl’ the worst insult out there? Jimmy Adams got in touch with some of his favourite put-downs.

Jerry spoke to Fine Gael councillor Michael Foley about the concerns for Aughinish Alumina because of Trump’s tariffs on aluminium.

Fire fighters spent over seven hours battling a gorse fire in South Kerry last night and it’s understood the fire broke out Monday afternoon in the Castlequin and Cloghanelinaghan areas of Cahersiveen.

The fire service was called to control the fire and members of the Cahersiveen and Killorglin crews attended the scene just after 9.30pm.

Jerry spoke to Hugh Horgan, whose home was very close to the fire and Alan Landers, who witnessed the fire.

The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association (ICMSA) says farmers should be trained in basic maintenance of hedgerows and trees that overhang power and communications cabling. The ICMSA argues that in the event of another Storm Éowyn, this would reduced the likelihood of thousands being without power for days or even weeks. Denis Carroll is president of the ICMSA.

The impact of Storm Éowyn has led to a debate about whether we should re-examine how we live in rural Ireland, often in dispersed, one-off housing. Eimear Ní Mhurchú is manager of Forbairt na Dromoda Teo in Dromid and she has strong views on this.

Jerry spoke to Killarney councillor Niall ‘Botty’ O’Callaghan.