Kerry Today

In a bid to encourage more of us to move to electric vehicles, the government has announced a scheme whereby vehicle owners will be offered €8,500 EV grants under a new State scrappage plan. Jerry got the reaction of Tim Kelliher of Kellihers, Toyota in Tralee.

At 7 o’clock this evening in Dromid in the Inny Tavern, Senator Frances Black and Éamonn Meehan, who’s chair of Sadaka – the Ireland Palestine Alliance – will speak at a public meeting. Jerry spoke to Senator Black.

Yesterday, Tánaiste, Minister for Finance, and leader of Fine Gael Simon Harris was asked about Michael Healy-Rae.

In April, the Kerry Independent TD resigned as a junior minister following the fuel protests; he also voted no confidence in the government.

On Tuesday’s Kerry Today, he told Jerry that he’d been effectively forced into this position; he said his brother fellow TD Danny had dragged him overboard when he, Danny, had called on Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael TDs to topple the Taoiseach and Tánaiste in April.

Jerry got the views of Fine Gael councillor Teddy O’Sullivan Casey.

Every Wednesday, Tony gives his perspective on listeners' dilemmas. A listener sent in a letter about her who has become distant, barely contributes to the grocery bill and gives nothing towards other bills, and has left her feeling very lonely.

If you’re affected you may contact https://www.samaritans.org/samaritans-ireland/

Last week, a buoy was found on Inch beach. It was once the lifebuoy for a vessel called the Jo-Dan. The Jo-Dan was owned by Mally Toms, a well-known fisherman, angler and businessman in Cornwall, who died four years ago.

The discovery of the lifebuoy set in motion a series of fortuitous connections. Jerry spoke to Mally’s grandson, Joe Toms who lives in Guernsey, and to Saoirse and Morgan Lyne from Kells, who are deeply involved in efforts to unite Joe with his grandad’s lifebuoy.

Jerry spoke to Damien Hannigan of the Irish Deer Commission.

11% of reported cases where a vehicle was damaged but no one was injured, after hitting or swerving to avoid a deer, were in Kerry.

The director of research at the Road Safety Authority Michael Rowland said seven years of Garda collision data had been assessed to determine the prevalence of deer-related collisions on our roads.

Yesterday afternoon, Kevin O’Connor, who operates Valentia Island Sea Sports, and Garret Guirey, a surfer from Renard, saved the lives of four children.

Jerry spoke to independent councillor from Tralee, Sam Locke about Michael Healy-Rae confirming to Jerry yesterday the split with his brother Danny.

Cllr Locke is an ally of the Healy-Raes and has received the backing of the family’s political machine in previous elections.

Mick Clifford, special correspondent with the Irish Examiner, has also analysed the significance of the rift. Michael Healy-Rae’s interview on Radio Kerry has made the national headlines.

Last month, film-maker Bertie Brosnan highlighted how a sign for the landmark near Tralee, which indicates the alleged grave of the mythical Queen Scotia had gone missing.

Scotia’s grave is a rock feature located on the Short Mountain route between Tralee and Castlemaine .

According to mythology, the site is the burial place of ancient Queen Scotia who died there in battle with Tuatha Dé Danann.

Bertie is back to tell Jerry that a new sign has been installed.

Jerry spoke to Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, about the €11 million in funding for Valentia Transatlantic Cable (€6m) and Kerry FC (€5.2m) under the Department of Justices Immigrant Investor Programme.