Kerry Today

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.