Kerry Today

A meeting was organised in Moate, Co Westmeath last night by many of those who led the fuel protests and blockades last April. Speakers at the meeting warned there could be a return to similar protests if the Government does not address the recent surge in fuel prices and other cost-of-living issues in next week’s budget. Neilus O’Connor from Moyvane was at the meeting.

As of midday, today, September 28th, members of the Orange Order remained at Drumcree in Portadown. The Parades Commission had given them permission to march down the nationalist Garvaghy Road yesterday morning with a limit of 35 participants. Residents on the Garvaghy Road took a legal challenge against the Commission’s decision but this failed. Residents had organised a gathering to blockade the march – such a gathering is illegal under parading legislation in the North. Stormont’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill of Sinn Féin was among those who took part. The Orange Order made several attempts to march but were prevented by the PSNI. There has not been an Orange Order parade through the area since 1998; the order had failed in its bid to get permission from the Parades Commission adjudication bid every year until now. Jerry spoke to Kerry Sinn Féin TD and front bench spokesperson Pa Daly.

17-year-old Rory O’Connor was killed after he was struck by a van on the N69 road at Dromin Upper near Listowel at 3 o’clock last Saturday morning. It had been the Athea boy’s birthday. A man had been due to appear before the district court in Cork today in relation to Rory’s death. Jerry spoke to Inspector Gary Carroll who’s head of roads policing in the Kerry Garda Division and West Limerick councillor Francis Foley.

Karol Kissane is head of public sector services and economics at ifac, the accounting and financial services firm. Rural communities are particularly exposed to rising oil prices, and he has looked at how people in counties like Kerry could be affected by the budget when it’s announced on October 6th.

John Downing of the Irish Independent reviews the week in politics.

Ireland deservedly lost to Kosovo in our opening game of the UEFA Nations League and now head into their most controversial and contentious match against Israel on Sunday - with another tie against the Israelis the following week. Jerry spoke to Tom O’Shea from Killarney who’s former grassroots director of football at the FAI.

A new English translation of an ancient text about St Brendan the Navigator, Kerry’s patron saint, was launched yesterday at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies.

A medieval text, The Voyage of St Brendan, describes his sea journey to a land called the Isle of the Blessed – which some believe is evidence that he reached North America.

President Catherine Connolly presented the new edition to US President Donald Trump on his recent Irish visit.

Professor David Stifter is senior professor in Celtic Studies at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies.

The American Chamber of Commerce Ireland held its Southern Conference in Cork yesterday. Jerry spoke to its CEO Paul Sweetman.