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“Rising costs in Ireland are affecting every home” Mayor
“Rising costs in Ireland are affecting every home” Mayor
Mayor of Killarney Cllr Martin Grady, joined demonstrators in Killarney on Sunday, where he expressed his support for the community while acknowledging the growing financial pressures facing households across Ireland.
“I want to sincerely thank the protesters for keeping the demonstration peaceful and respectful,” he said. “I also commend An Garda Síochána for their assistance in ensuring traffic management and public safety throughout the event.”
Cllr Grady highlighted that the ongoing fuel crisis and rising cost of living are no longer abstract concerns, but daily realities for families in Killarney, across Kerry, and throughout the country.
“This is impacting everyone, from young families trying to make a start in life while having a serious impact on hauliers, fishermen, and farmers which will have knock on effects on groceries and building materials. It affects parents commuting to work, families dropping children to school, and individuals simply trying to manage everyday expenses.”
While acknowledging that measures have been introduced at national level, he stressed that they are falling short of what is needed.
“Measures have been taken, but they are not enough. If people were seeing clear benefits through improved services, housing, and healthcare, there would be greater acceptance. People need to feel they are getting real value for the taxes they pay.”
He pointed to Ireland’s position as one of the highest-taxing countries in Europe in terms of carbon taxation.
“Ireland now has one of the highest and fastest-rising carbon taxes in Europe, currently reaching €71 per tonne of CO₂, with plans to increase to €100 per tonne by 2030. This places us among the highest in Europe, second only to countries such as Sweden and Switzerland.”
Cllr. Grady also raised concerns about the burden of electricity costs on Irish households.
“Ireland continues to have some of the highest residential electricity costs in the EU, often ranking alongside Germany and Denmark. Irish households are paying between 30% and 48% more than the EU average, amounting to hundreds of euro extra per year.”
“The people of Ireland deserve fairness. They deserve to see that the taxes they are paying are being reinvested in a way that supports their daily lives. Right now, too many families feel the pressure without seeing the return.”
Great Southern to host 20th Women’s Enterprise Day
Female entrepreneurs and budding businesswomen from across Kerry and Cork are being encouraged to register for this year’s National Women’s Enterprise Day, which marks its 20th anniversary with a flagship Southwest regional gathering at Killarney’s Great Southern Hotel.
Organised by the Local Enterprise Offices (LEO) in Kerry and Cork, the full-day event takes place on Thursday, 15 October, as part of a nationwide series of 16 events celebrating female entrepreneurship, sustainability, innovation, and networking.
The Killarney event features a keynote address by Oonagh O’Hagan, pharmacist and award-winning entrepreneur. Radio Kerry presenter and RTE Today Show panellist Elaine Kinsella will act as master of ceremonies for the day.
A major highlight will be an interactive “Leading Lights” panel discussion featuring Christina Foley, founder of Kenmare-based wellness brand Inish Living; Claire Morgan, owner of McWilliam Bags in Crosshaven; Shannen O’Reilly, founder of food allergy management app TrustDish; and Virginia O’Gara, co-founder of My Goodness and the Cork Urban Soil Project.
Proceedings will open with a warm-up session led by wellbeing professional Paola Kennedy. A new “Homegrown Hero” segment will feature a fireside chat between Elaine Kinsella and Louise Quill, founder of the Tír na nÓg Children’s Foundation.
Fiona Leahy of Kerry Local Enterprise Office highlighted the milestone anniversary for the region’s businesswomen, stating: “For two decades, National Women’s Enterprise Day has been about more than one day of events. It has been about creating space for women in business to connect, learn, share their experiences and access the practical supports that can help them move forward with confidence.
“Across the Local Enterprise Office network, we see every day the ambition, creativity and resilience of women entrepreneurs in every county. Our role is to help turn that ambition into sustainable businesses through mentoring, training, funding, expert advice and connections. As we celebrate 20 years of NWED, we want to recognise the businesses that have been supported along the way and encourage even more women to take the next step, whether they are starting out, scaling up or looking to reach new markets.”
Peter Burke, T.D., Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, noted the significance of the national initiative, saying: “National Women’s Enterprise Day is a hugely important date in the enterprise calendar. It is an opportunity to recognise the real progress that has been made in supporting women in business across Ireland. It is also a celebration of the ambition, innovation and resilience of female entrepreneurs who are building successful businesses in sectors from agtech and manufacturing to fashion and food.
“These are business leaders with the drive and confidence to grow beyond Ireland and compete on the global stage. As we look ahead, we must continue to ensure that women entrepreneurs have access to the supports, networks and opportunities they need to start, scale and succeed.”
Further information and ticket bookings for the Great Southern Hotel event are available online at www.LocalEnterprise.ie/NWED.
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