The Galway West Bye-election takes place on May 22nd following the election of former Independent TD to the President of Ireland Catherine Connolly. 🏛

Orla Nugent, Aontú, Teacher, Galway. ⛵️

Orla Nugent, Aontú Candidate in the upcoming 2026 Galway West Bye-Election. Transcript.

Orla has previously said, sending her into the Dáil Éireann to sit alongside Peadar Tóibín and Paul Lawless would be a major wake up call for the government. Orla wants to join Peadar and Paul in the Dail. They might be a bit lonely in the Dáil (Irish Parliament)! Orla's aim s to ‘’inject accountability’’ in the Dail.[1]

Here’s Orla in action in her campaign.

Mairead Kenny, Politics and More podcast. I'm here with Orla Nugent in Galway City. Thanks, Orla, for meeting. I really appreciate because your very busy now with the Galway Bye-Election. Continued in the Transcript.

[1] 05-02-2026 Irish Independent ‘’Galway teacher is revealed as Aontú’s by-election candidate’’ at https://www.independent.ie/regionals/galway/news/galway-teacher-is-revealed-as-aontus-by-election-candidate/a1706044177.html

[2] Vote Orla Nugent No 1 in Galway-West at https://www.instagram.com/p/DYPFz4utRE3/

Full Episode coming soon with interviews with some other candidates also.... 🎙️

Full Candidate Ballot at Galway Returning Officer webpage. 17 candidates!

Music & Credits.

Inspiring Dreams by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoon

Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

Creative Commons CC BY 4.0

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Galway West Bye-election takes place on May 22nd following the election of former Independent TD Catherine Connolly as the President of Ireland. 🏛

Mike Cubbard, Independent, Politician, Councillor and Mayor of Galway. ⛵️

Mike Cubbard Councilor & Mayor of Galway, Independent Candidate in the upcoming 2026 Galway West Bye-Election. Transcript PREVIEW

Here’s Mike in action in his campaign.

Mairead Kenny: Politics and More podcast. I'm here with Mike Cubbard in Galway City. Thanks, Mike, for joining. How are you doing today?

Mike Cubbard: I'm good in the height of the campaign now. It's a balancing act between being Mayor of the city and the campaign being in full flow.

Mairead Kenny: For this bye-election, 17 candidates, hotly contested. What would you like to achieve if you're elected as a TD?

Mike Cubbard: I'm very proud to be from Galway, I’m very proud to be a Galwegian with my roots here in the Claddagh in Galway City. I'm very proud to be Mayor of the city for the 3rd time. With this campaign in particular, I make no apology for using the tagline Galway first in terms of Galway being left behind in many instances. I've said it only recently in media that ‘We're a wealthy country and we're quite poor in terms of infrastructure’. That's even worse here in the West Coast and worse in Galway. I make no apologies for saying Galway will be and will always will be first when it comes to my campaigns.

Full Episode coming soon with interviews with some other candidates also.... 🎙️

Full Candidate Ballot at Galway Returning Officer webpage. 17 candidates!

Music & Credits.

Inspiring Dreams by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoon

Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

Creative Commons CC BY 4.0

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Mike Cubbard Instagram ‘’The Government sits on its Rainy-Day Fund while it’s raining in Galway. Change The Dial. Change The Dáil. Keep Galway Independent. Vote no.1 CUBBARD’’ at https://www.instagram.com/p/DYHi0I3C1k6/

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The Dublin Central by-election takes place on May 22nd following the resignation of former Fine Gael TD Paschal Donohoe.

Preview. John Stephens Councilor & Deputy Mayor, FIANNA FÁIL, Dublin City Council. Candidate in the upcoming 2026 Dublin Bye Election.

Mairead Kenny: It's hard to get everyone. They’re so busy at the moment. I probably should have started this a few weeks ago. How do you think he'll do?

AN Other: He could be a bit of a dark horse. He could be suddenly picking up transfers off everybody. I’d say he’ll surprise a lot of people.

Mairead Kenny: Hello John, Mairead Kenny Politics and More. Thanks for meeting and happy to see you out on the canvass. How is it going for you?

John Stephens: Very good. I’m getting very good response at the doors. Obviously we're getting the issues on the doors as well. I'm very supportive of people. I like talking the talk and finding out what their concerns is. Overall, I'm getting a very good response. I'm very well known. I’m 25 years working in the Mater (Hospital).

Full Episode coming soon with interviews with some other candidates also.... 🎙️

Full Candidate Ballot at https://www.dublincityreturningofficer.com/index.php/dublin-central-bye-election-2026/78-notice-of-poll-may-2026

Music & Credits.

1. Inspiring Dreams by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoon

Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

Creative Commons CC BY 4.0

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

John Stephens Instagram 'Dublin City Marathon' at https://www.instagram.com/p/DX38s0dNQok/

Podcast produced independently MK Media XO ❤️

https://maireadkenny.ie/podcast-politics-more/

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Ireland's Fuel Protests - What a week! ⛽🌾🚜☀️🚛👮🐎🚁♫⋆

The Right To Protest  is an essential feature of any democratic society, which is protected.

The Irish Constitution (personal rights) has 3 elements in Article 40.6. including:

1° The State guarantees liberty for the exercise of the following rights, subject to public order and morality: –

i     The right of the citizens to express freely their convictions and opinions. (Article 40.6.1 i)

ii    The right of the citizens to assemble peaceably and without arms. (Article 40.6.1 ii)

iii   The right of the citizens to form associations and unions (Article 40.6.1 iii).

Music Credits.

(1) ’A letter to Micheal Martin by Sarah Hession Music at Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sarahhessionmusic

(2) 'Hold The Line' by Jack Colbert Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/DXhXnG1CIwh/ East Cork/West Waterford. 

(3) 'The Wild Rover' (Irish traditional song) by Rhys Mc Phillips @ Dublin O'Connell Street Protests Performance here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lXGfkOJatE

(4) Welcome from the Dubs @GPO Dublin O'Connell Street by onlyanto89 at Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/DW-_BFoACP-/

(5) Fuel Protests Humour by Evan Traynor Galway Video at Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/DW8ji0YN21P & Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@evan_traynor.

(6) Meitheal by Donal Byrne (Galway) video Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/DW8_uhPgt1X/

Full Episode coming soon... 🕊️

Citizens Information – The right to protest at Link. https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/government-in-ireland/human-rights/right-to-protest/

Irish Constitution Art 40.6 at Link. https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/cons/en/html#article40

Irish Civil Liberties Know Your Rights - The Right To Protest at Link https://www.iccl.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Know-Your-Rights-Protest.pdf.

Other Music Used:

(6) Lovely Day by Roa | https://roa-music.com

https://www.youtube.com/RoaMusic

Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

Creative Commons CC BY 3.0

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

(7) Inspiring Dreams by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoon

Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

Creative Commons CC BY 4.0

• https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

''Right outside the GPO. 🚜🚗🚜🚛🚛🚜🚚🚜🚛🚜🚚🚜 The boys are not messing yeah. The boys are not messing.

What does that mean like ‘Can’t Afford to Move’ ? Can’t Afford to Move... He’s right isn’t he. Video on Instagram.

'' I’m not going to lie, lads. What is actually going on at the moment? Fuel gone through the roof, tractors everywhere. You’d swear we're in Fast and Furious, Me O' Drift or something. No, but genuinely boys Fair F’s to the boys and the tractors. The whole of Ireland crying in group chats and them boys are like, ‘we'll do something about it’. Half of us then are throwing a score in the tank, hoping it'll last next week. Afraid to look at the dashboard. The dashboard like a Christmas tree. The light's been on since last week. Driving around like it's a suggestion and still up at 6AM in the morning. Tea in the hand. Going into work like nothing's happening. We're a different breed altogether. Fair play to anyone actually standing up as well. That's the Irish, isn't it? We laugh, we'll struggle, but we still get up for work. Get on the Irish.'' Video on Instagram.

John Dallon (Dublin Protest Leader - O’Connell Street): Micheal Martin the Taoiseach and the Tanaiste, Simon Harris. We have numbers growing and growing every day. This problem is not going away. The only people can put this to bed is the government. How dare they come out and say that these people that are protesting are holding the country to ransom. It's the government that's holding this country for ransom, not the protesters, not the people. The people should have a voice.

Micheál Martin (An Taoiseach Ireland): Anybody who just simply parks a truck in the middle of nowhere, there should be penalties and there will be penalties.

Chris Duffy (Protest Organiser): You cannot put a slurry tanker on a bicycle. (Explainer you need a Tractor to pull a Slurry Tanker. Trackers are Diesel only... Green Diesel, Carbon Tax ('Pay as you pollute') Increasing annually..)

Taxed Into Extinction guys: Taxes in the likes of farming. We are being taxed into extinction, it's the only way to put it. Like if you take, for example, this tractor here, when this tractor was bought, there was tax paid on this tractor. When we bring this tractor home, we have to put diesel in the tractor. We are taxed heavily on the diesel. That's why we're here today protesting. We are being taxed 60-65% percent on the tank of diesel. (Post €505M package now approx. 48% mid April €2.14 average diesel price).

You have to put tax on the windscreen (Road Tax) so that it's road worthy. To go on M50 another tax to put a tag on it. Income tax. Another expense you're putting AdBlue. That's another gimmick, another tax. This does absolutely nothing. That truck has to be tested very regularly for regulations. That's another tax. Tires tax. When you go to put a brand new set of tires on these. A set of tires for tractor could be in the region of anywhere from €10,000 to €15,000 for a full set of tires. We're paying crazy tax on tires too. We're paying crazy tax on absolutely everything. Anything that you see here in front of you, basically, it's just one big heap for tax.

• Continued in Transcript here.

Thanks to Instagram, Instagram, Tiktok, Instagram, Instagram and many others... 

 https://maireadkenny.ie/podcast-politics-more/     

Lovely Day by Roa Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

Creative Commons CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ https://roa-music.com

Inspiring Dreams by Keys of Moon | Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/                                                                      *

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Politics & More Miriam Moriarty Owens Promo. Politics and more. It's not just about Politics. There's More to it!

Miriam Moriarty Owens, a Survivor, Author and Dail (Irish Parliament) Hunger Striker, 51 days hunger strike (fluids only) with 3 other Industrial & Reformatory School Survivors.

‘’Goodnight from me (Miriam) and Mary, Maurice and Mary, we’re the 4 Ms, the mighty 4.’’

‘’We’re on hunger strike since 10 o’clock on Sunday night (September 21st) and not one minister, elected minister and Danny (Healy Rae TD) I have to say, we’ve contacted you, you’ve not contacted us and you’re a Kerry man, I’m very disappointed in you.’’

Mairead Kenny: Miriam, How did you guys come together to plan that or decide to do the hunger strike?

Miriam Moriarty Owens: It wasn’t really planned. We didn't intend to go on hunger strike; we were forced into doing something drastic for the government to listen to us.

Two of my fellow hunger strikers (Maurice & Mary) were in consultation talks with the government for the past, since 2019. There were so many recommendations put in, they ended up getting none. Not one was passed.

Mairead Kenny: There were four thousand or more survivors (and survivors who had died as well). You were representing all of them.

Miriam Moriarty Owens: We gave them notice in July (4th approx.), just the day before the close of the summer break. We said, in an email to them and handed them the letter in the Dail. We said we were going to put you on notice. We didn't give them the date. Naturally they went on their summer break.

Mairead Kenny: OK, you gave them notice then, email and you hand-delivered it as well, that you were going to go on hunger strike, the four of you.

Miriam Moriarty Owens: Yeah, we hand delivered them.

Mairead Kenny: And you got no response?

Miriam Moriarty Owens: Not one. Every TD, you get these automated responses. I don't want to speak to a machine.

Mairead Kenny: Out of office.

Miriam Moriarty Owens:  Out of office, yes and I'm going, oh my God. We decided then together the four of us (hunger strikers) that we we'd start our hunger strike on the 21st of September (2025).

Mairead Kenny: OK.

Miriam Moriarty Owens: We’d give them a week.

Mairead Kenny: Were they just back in the Dail?

Miriam Moriarty Owens: A week.

Mairead Kenny: They were back a week. OK. And they still hadn't responded to any of your emails?

Miriam Moriarty Owens: No.

Mairead Kenny:  And did you email them a few times then about the hunger strike?

Miriam Moriarty Owens: Quite a few times. They’re inboxes must have been.

Mairead Kenny:  Exploding

Miriam Moriarty Owens: Exploding. Or else they blocked us coming in. ‘Oh, not another one’. But even making phone calls to them. I think it was just the disrespect.

Miriam Moriarty Owens: We asked could go in, they said oh you can but only one of you are allowed into the Dail. We said we’re here the 4 of us. Nobody was willing to help.

Mairead Kenny: Ye should have been top priority to get that sorted out.                                                                 

Mairead Kenny: Join me, Mairead Kenny, my interview with Miriam Moriarty Owens on the 51-day hunger strike. Full Episode coming soon.

Politics and More. It's not just about Politics. There's More to it!

AUDIO 23.09.2025 ‘LIVE FROM THE OUTSIDE LEINSTER HOUSE DAIL IRISH PARLIAMENT’ – MARIA STEEN PRESIDENTIAL Media + Miriam Moriarty Owens ‘Caught on the hop’ here

AUDIO 03.11.2025 Darren Devereux Hungerstriker The 4 Hunger Strikers song here and here.

AUDIO 05.11.2025 Miriam's update from the camp after 1st meeting with Mediator assigned here

AUDIO 08.11.2025 Letters From Secondary School students in Meán Scoil Nua, Tríúigh, Castlegregory Kerry To the Four Survivors on Hunger Strikers here.

Thank you to all in the school for your wonderful kind letters to the Mighty Ms, 4 Hunger Strikers Industrial Schools Survivors and the Taoiseach & Tánaiste. Great work there! 🥰

https://maireadkenny.ie/miriam-moriarty-owens/

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Politics & More - Music Interests

This podcast is the Music Interests convos from the interviews with guests in Politics & More, with guests to date, Hilary Beirne & Dr. Cora Stack.

Plus future Guest mentions.

Transcript at http://maireadkenny.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Transcript-Politics-More-Transcript-Mairead-Kenny-Guests-Music-Interests-only.pdf

Music Credits.

(1) HILARY BEIRNE REMARKS AT ST PATRICK'S DAY FOUNDATION ANNUAL GALA 2022

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agN-lVYdXlA

(2) Lovely Day by Roa | https://roa-music.com

https://www.youtube.com/RoaMusic

Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

Creative Commons CC BY 3.0

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

(3) Inspiring Dreams by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoon

Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

Creative Commons CC BY 4.0

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

(4) Flight of the Bumlebee - Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

https://www.classicals.de/rimsky-korsakov-bumblebee

License terms (Standard - Non-Commercial)

CC BY-NC 4.0

Creative Commons - Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International

(5) Horslips - Trouble with a Capital T! Celtic Note. (Referenced only)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Whf2OXc8dSI

(6) Keys to the Universe – David Vaughan – Ten Centurions

https://tencenturions.bandcamp.com/track/keys-to-the-universe

With Permission to use Track in Podcast.

(7) INPLUSMUSIC JAZZ

https://pixabay.com/music/cafe-jazz-jazz-music-469468/

Hi, I'm Andrii, a music producer and founder of INPLUSMUSIC. I believe quality music should be accessible to everyone, that’s why I release my tracks for free. Enjoy!

(8) Beethoven Sonata # 14 "Moonlight"

Ludwig van Beethoven Moonlight, Wood Island Light (1894) by Winslow Homer Piano Sonata No. 14 - Op. 27, No. 2 here.

Beethoven Sonata # 14 "Moonlight" Op. 27 No. 2 Valentina Lisitsa here.

License terms (Standard - Non-Commercial)

CC BY-NC 4.0

Creative Commons - Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International

https://www.classicals.de/beethoven-piano-sonata-no-14

www.classicals.de

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Episode 1: Mairead Kenny Interview with Mr. Hilary Beirne, both Seanad 2025 candidates. 🎄

It's not just Politics, there's More to it!

Both are 'Rossies' and were NUI (National University Ireland) Seanad candidates January 2025.

Interview & Discussion on topics including the 2025 NUI Seanad Election, Post Seanad Election, Voting rights Irish Citizens Abroad and Northern Ireland, Irish Presidential Election, Irish Local Politics, US relationship and non-politics Topic Musical Interests!🤭

The Interview Transcript is available at https://maireadkenny.ie/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Transcript-Politics-More-Transcript-Mairead-Kenny-Hilary-Beirne-Interview.pdf

Music Credits:

HILARY BEIRNE REMARKS AT ST PATRICK'S DAY FOUNDATION ANNUAL GALA 2022

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agN-lVYdXlA

Lovely Day by Roa

https://soundcloud.com/roa_music1031/roa-lovely-day

https://open.spotify.com/track/62kRght3xYYddFBjIbNYu5

Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

Creative Commons CC BY 3.0

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

https://roa-music.com

Inspiring Dreams by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoon

https://www.youtube.com/c/keysofmoonmusic

Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

Creative Commons CC BY 4.0

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Flight of the Bumblebee - Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

https://www.classicals.de/rimsky-korsakov-bumblebee

License terms (Standard - Non-Commercial)

CC BY-NC 4.0

Creative Commons - Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International

Horslips - Trouble with a Capital T! (Referenced only)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Whf2OXc8dSI

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Interview with Dr. Cora Stack discusses many topics including:

• POLITICAL PARTY CONTROL, LOCAL DEMOCRACY AND THE IRISH CONSTITUTION
• DEMOCRACY & PLURALISM
• PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATIONS PROCESS
• POLITICAL PARTIES
• STANDARDS IN PUBLIC OFFICE SIPO
• DEMOCRATIC CONSEQUENCES 
• DONE DEALS, SUPER MONDAYS & CUSTARD CREAMS
• MATHEMATICS
• MUSICAL INTERESTS...

Transcript is available at https://maireadkenny.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Transcript-Dr.-Cora-Stack-Interview-2026.pdf

Credits.

(1) Gript Media - Ben Scallon (Journalist) Video Interview with An Tainiste Ireland Simon Harris Fine Gael.

Harris defends councillors not nominating Independents

https://gript.ie/cllr-aras-candidate-refusal-dark-day-for-democracy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJ9cdGS0ev0

https://www.facebook.com/GriptMedia/videos/harris-defends-councillors-not-nominating-independents/1351710006617757/

(2) Lovely Day by Roa | https://roa-music.com

https://www.youtube.com/RoaMusic

Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

Creative Commons CC BY 3.0

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

(3) Inspiring Dreams by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoon

Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

Creative Commons CC BY 4.0

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

(4) Keys to the Universe – David Vaughan – Ten Cenurions

https://tencenturions.bandcamp.com/track/keys-to-the-universe

(5) Jazz Piece by INPLUSMUSIC

https://pixabay.com/music/cafe-jazz-jazz-music-469468/

https://pixabay.com/users/lnplusmusic-47631836/

Hi, I'm Andrii, a music producer and founder of INPLUSMUSIC. I believe quality music should be accessible to everyone, that’s why I release my tracks for free. Enjoy!

(6) Ludwig van Beethoven Moonlight, Wood Island Light (1894) by Winslow Homer Piano Sonata No. 14 - Op. 27, No. 2

https://www.classicals.de/beethoven-piano-sonata-no-14

Beethoven Piano Sonata

License terms (Standard - Non-Commercial)

CC BY-NC 4.0

Creative Commons - Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Politics and More. It's not just about Politics. There's More to it. 🎙️

Promo - Extracts for the upcoming Full Episode February 2026.

2025 Irish Presidential Nominations

Mairead Kenny: Cora, What motivated you to seek Presidential Nominations ?

Dr. Cora Stack.. Presidential Speech Extract.

''I stand before you today with clarity of purpose, independence of mind, and no compromise of principle. As president, I will be the guardian of the Constitution.''

Mairead Kenny: Once the Presidential Order was signed by the Minister (James Browne) on September 3rd 2025, that engaged Ireland's Local Authorities (31 County and City Councils).

Dr. Cora Stack: It was chaos and it was a disaster.

Mairead Kenny: The requirement for 4 councils (nominations), that is, to ensure that not everybody can get on the Presidential ballot. No unsavory characters. Not every Tom, Dick and Harry.

Dr. Cora Stack: It's a threshold. Super Mondays there were a few Super Mondays.

Mairead Kenny: Non-transparent.

Dr. Cora Stack: There was no transparency, no written guidance. I mean, I never saw for such a responsible position. I never came across. If you were going for a junior post in the Civil Service you would have more guidance.

Mairead Kenny: Parties had their own candidate. The council nominations are for hopeful candidates outside Political parties.

Dr. Cora Stack: 5 minutes, you were given in some cases five minutes to make your case why you should be the president five minutes answers. You were lucky to get 10 minutes.

Mairead Kenny: The president is apolitical, is meant to be above Party Politics!

Dr. Cora Stack: Going around you felt you were a nuisance. It wasn't just me. Everybody else felt they were a nuisance and you weren't welcome. It was only after the event that was very clear that the agenda was no one was to be nominated.

Dr. Cora Stack: I don't know what got into me to take the (legal) challenge. I suppose I was going around and seeing the humiliation of all the (independent) candidates.

Politics and more. It's not just about Politics. There's More to it.

Stay Tuned... Full Podcast Episode Mairead Kenny Interview with Dr. Cora Stack Jan 23 2025.

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