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

“Protect Moore Street – Preserve Our History & Heartbeat of Dublin”

-      Preview Cllr Janice Boylan & the Moore Street Preservation Trust. Transcript. Full Episode coming soon!

Mary Lou Mc Donald: ‘’This is Moore Street, the heartbeat of Dublin City, a place of history.’’

Mairead Kenny: Janice Boylan, Councillor, Runner-up in the 2026 Dublin Central Bye-Election here.

Janice Boylan: I'm really so grateful that I got to meet so many of you during this election campaign. You've shared your stories with me, your frustrations, your struggles, and your anger with this government, but also your unshakeable hope for something better.

Mairead Kenny: Historic Significance of Moore Street. Moore Street is where the GPO garrison retreated at the end of Easter Week 1916. The leaders met in No. 16 Moore street and decided to surrender to avoid further civilian casualties. Numbers 14–17 are a National Monument owned by the Irish government (though restoration has been delayed).The surrounding area also has a long tradition as a vibrant street market.

Janice Boylan: ‘’Moore Street, it's much more than bricks and mortar for me. This place is home to me. Moore street means so so much for me, the buildings, the people, the traders. I will fight tooth and nail to make sure that this is developed the way that it should be and that the businesses and the traders can thrive.’’

Stephen Troy: The conditions we've been left in here in Moore Street by the current government, we've had a decade of neglect despite funds being allocated for the national monument to be restored since 2015.

Janice Boylan: Dublin's inner-city communities are proud and resilient and once again, and not by accident, they are being let down by this disastrous Fine Gael and Fianna Fail (coalition) government.

Mairead Kenny: Moore Street Preservation Trust, 1916 battle sites. Current Status, there are ongoing legal and political battles over redevelopment plans. Moore Street Preservation Trust, the Trust continues to lobby the Irish government to purchase the site and implement their vision instead of the Hammerson developer-led proposals. The Trust has been active for over 20 years in this campaign and remains a central voice in efforts to honor Ireland’s revolutionary history in the heart of Dublin Central.

Ian Noel Smyth: ‘’Winning isn’t necessarily everything, because you get the opportunity to run. It is an honor to run, you get to say what you think, and it gets out there into the public domain. It makes other things change. Winning is fantastic, it isn't everything. That's part of the reason I've ran a few times I have; it took Paschal (Donohoe).

Mairead Kenny: If it doesn't happen this time, it could happen the next time. It's important to keep going.

Ian Noel Smyth: ‘’It took Paschal a few times to get elected. 

Continued in the Transcript.

MOORE STREET—THE LONG WAR By Mícheál Mac Donncha https://historyireland.com/moore-street-the-long-war/

18 Sept 2024 Permission granted for controversial Moore Street development at https://www.rte.ie/news/dublin/2024/0918/1470723-moore-street-planning/

An Bord Pleanála has granted permission for a controversial development between Moore Street and O'Connell Street in Dublin city centre. UK property group Hammerson made three applications for a mixed retail, office and residential scheme. This was approved by Dublin City Council in January 2022.

Several groups, including the Moore Street Preservation Trust and the 1916 Rising Relatives Association, local businesses and Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, appealed the decision to An Bord Pleanála here.

Mairead Kenny: Politics & More. Full Episode coming soon.

Politics & More. It’s not just about politics. There’s More to it!

Music & Credits.

1.     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.

Ireland's PR-STV Election Voting system 🗳️ - Transcript With Dr. Cora Stack Mathematician.

‘’Hi. This is Dr. Cora Stack again. I'm still on a roll with my trying to explain the mathematics behind Ireland's PR-STV voting system.’’ 

Mairead Kenny: Hello everyone. Mairead Kenny, Politics and More podcast. I'm here with Dr. Cora Stack. We’re talking about Ireland’s PR-STV Electoral Voting System. That’s the proportional representation - Single Transferable Vote electoral system. Ireland uses a Proportional Representation (PR)[1] system[2] for voting in elections, with each voter having a Single Transferable Vote (STV). We saw this in action in the recent Dublin Central[3] and Galway West[4] Bye-Elections[5]. This podcast explains the operation and maths behind this. I’m talking to Dr. Cora Stack whose an expert in Mathematics! Welcome Cora.

Dr. Cora Stack: I will explain the mathematics behind the PR-STV system hopefully in a clear and logical way.

Mairead Kenny: PR-STV is a candidate-based system. This means voters can choose to vote for as many, or as few candidates as they like, in order of their preference. The voter’s first preference vote, the candidates they give their number 1 vote to is most important and is always counted.

A voter’s second and further preferences may be counted if their preferred candidate is eliminated at the end of a round of counting or if their preferred candidate is elected with a surplus. These are known as transfers. Transfers will be explained also in this podcast.

Continued in Transcript.

Dr. Cora Stack, The Mathematics Behind Ireland’s PR-STV System: Valid Votes, Quotas, Transfers, Surpluses, and Election Counts available here.

http://maireadkenny.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/The_Mathematics_Behind_Irelands_PR_STV_S.pdf

Dr. Cora Stack, Explaining PR-STV in Ireland: Valid Votes, Quotas, Transfers, Surpluses, and Election Counts available here.

http//maireadkenny.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Explaining_PR_STV_in_Ireland_Valid_Votes.pdf

Dr. Cora Stack, The Droop Quota in PR-STV: The Least Threshold Sufficient to Secure Election.

http://maireadkenny.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/The_Droop_Quota_in_PR_STV_The_Least_Thre.pdf

[1] https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/government-in-ireland/elections-and-referenda/voting/proportional-representation/

[2] https://www.electoralcommission.ie/irelands-voting-system/

[3] Dublin Central Bye Election, Notice of Poll, 14 Candidates at https://www.dublincityreturningofficer.com/index.php/dublin-central-bye-election-2026/78-notice-of-poll-may-2026

[4] Galway Central Bye Election, Notice of Poll, 17 Candidates at https://galwayreturningofficer.com/by-election-galway-west-2026/notice-of-poll-may-2026

[5] https://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/communications/education/2026/2026-05-19_what-is-a-bye-election_en.pdf

https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/government-in-ireland/elections-and-referenda/voting/proportional-representation/

https://www.electoralcommission.ie/irelands-voting-system/

https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/government-in-ireland/elections-and-referenda/voting/proportional-representation/

https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/publications/a-guide-to-irelands-pr-stv-voting-system

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/

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

BYE-ELECTION 2026 CONSTITUENCY OF Dublin Central

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

Malachy Steenson, Independent, Councillor Dublin City Council.

Councillor Malachy Steenson, Independent Candidate in the upcoming 2026 Dublin Central Bye-Election. Transcript .

''’I've been working since I was 10’’ - Malachy Steenson Independent .

Here’s Malachy raising concerns about Dublin City Council condition of housing, damp and deterioration and lack of maintenance followed by recent rent increases. 

Malachy said ‘’They increased people's rents and told us it was for maintenance, yet they expect people to live in these conditions. This is simply wrong on every level.’’[1]

‘’I’m Just looking at a video there of a house that is owned by the council. Some of you would have heard me talking last night about the state of Oliver Bond[2] (flats) and pointing out that the same problems are in every flat complex in this city almost, Ballyboc House, Courtney Place and others. Any complexes that we've been in have these similar problems. The (Dublin City) council put up people's rent and expect people to live in something like this. This is bordering on insanity. This is dangerous. People are having to breathe in these spores.

Is this why we have a huge increase in the amount of asthma in flat complexes? They put up people's rent, and they want people to live like this. Simply incredible in 2026 that we have Dickensian conditions again. They're no better than the tenement buildings that we took down. We took them down and we said, never again. Here we are and supposedly one of the richest countries in the world where we're supposed to be so progressive and this is what people have to live in.’’

Continued in the Transcript

Full Episode coming soon Dublin Central Bye Election with interviews combined.... 🎙️

Full Candidate Ballot at Dublin Returning Officer webpage. 14 candidates!

Malachy Steenson Cllr Malachy Steenson (@malachysteenson_cllr)  Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/p/DYRQnLiABHU/

https://malachy.ie/

Malachy Steenson, Canning Landy & Co. Dublin, Solicitor, Admitted 2009 Law Society Ireland. www.canninglandy.ie

[1] 06-05-2026 The Journal 'Shameful': Regeneration of Dublin's Oliver Bond flats scrapped as government funding pulled at https://www.thejournal.ie/oliver-bond-flats-7032316-May2026/

14 May 2026 Inside Oliver Bond: Residents describe mould and rat infestations | Prime Time at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3olvD0KfUP0

15-05-2026 RTE. Inside Oliver Bond flats: Mould and rats rampant, residents say at

 https://www.rte.ie/news/primetime/2026/0515/1573428-inside-oliver-bond-flats-mould-and-rats-rampant-residents-say/

18-05-2026 'The walls are crumbling down around me' - Oliver Bond tenants living in flats ‘not fit for humans’ Dublin Live at https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/the-walls-crumbling-down-around-33966478

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Bond_flats

Tuesday, 19 May 2026 Oireachtas Debate at https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2026-05-19/139/

Tuesday, 20 May 2026 Oireachtas Debate https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2025-05-20/544/

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.

BYE ELECTION 2026 CONSTITUENCY OF GALWAY WEST

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

Denman Rooke, People Before Profit PBP Candidate here, Artist & Designer, Galway. ⛵️ Transcript.

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

Denman Rooke: ‘’’I would like to be a thorn in the side to the government. Yeah’’

Mairead Kenny: OK, so you would like to join Paul Murphy and Richard Boyd Barrett in the Dáil and be there representing Galway and representing the rest of Ireland as well and holding the Government to account.

Denman Rooke: Yeah 100%.

’I’m an illustrator and designer for the last twenty years. I often work in kind of the creative, screen industries, games, animation, film and TV.''

Here’s Denman in action on his campaign in Galway.

‘Denman Rooke here with People Before Profit. It's kind of a shame that in Galway, the city Council refuses to see Palas as a public asset, a public amenity that should go to serve the people of Galway. As a city that prides itself in its cultural and arts, kind of nature, the idea that that, that we would let this building sit unused without the proper investment is, you know, a shame. It really is.

We in this campaign are calling on the city Council to publicly invest in making this a public cinema for use for the community and our arts workers and our arts creators to have the facility they need to create the kind of culture and art and film that we want to see.

Because life and living in a city is more than just the basic necessities. It's also about the creativity that we want to live and the enjoyment and entertainment we want to live together with the people in our city. That's why we're calling on the city Council to invest in this public asset and to bring new life into the Palas as a public theatre for the public good.’’ 19.05.2026 socialistdenman Denman Rooke at https://www.instagram.com/p/DYiGt7mO2gy/ ‘’We fully support the Save Pálás campaign to demand Galway City Council to reopen our art house cinema on a not-for-profit model. Living in a city is more than the bare necessities. We also need arts & culture.''

‘12-05-2026. ‘’Effort to reopen Galway's Pálás cinema abandoned as prospective operator withdraws’’ at https://www.rte.ie/news/regional/2026/0512/1573029-galways-palas-cinema/

As per Denman’s election leaflet

‘’Denman will stand up to the establishment parties – fighting for you, for real change. People Before Profit are the only party that will never do a deal with Fianna Fail or Fine Gael.’’

Denman has also stated:

‘’If elected I will fight for the people for Galway for a radical shift on housing and for an Ireland we can afford. I will also work to bring ordinary people together against attacks on our neutrality. We must resist the warmongers and those who want to spread hate and division.’’

Continued in Transcript.

Galway Bye Election (May 22, 2026). Full Episode coming soon. 🎙️

Denman Rooke, Artist & Designer, Galway, People Before Profit Candidate.

Galway Central Bye Election, Notice of Poll, 14 Candidates at https://galwayreturningofficer.com/by-election-galway-west-2026/notice-of-poll-may-2026

People Before Profit, Denman Rooke selection at https://www.pbp.ie/denman-rooke-selected-as-people-before-profit-candidate-for-galway-west-by-election/

Instagram, TikTok, X, Facebook, BlueSky

https://maireadkenny.ie/podcast-politics-more/ Apple, Spotify and other Podcast platforms. Hosted on Acast. 🎙️

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/

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

BYE ELECTION 2026 CONSTITUENCY OF GALWAY WEST

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

Denman Rooke, People Before Profit PBP Candidate here, Artist & Designer, Galway. ⛵️ PREVIEW

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

Denman Rooke: ''If rents were cheaper, if cost of living were cheaper, wages wouldn't be strained. We can't put the blame on workers who need a wage that is fair so that they can survive. We should be bringing the cost of living down, which includes rent and mortgages and insurance and all this stuff. A lot of those costs just keep on skyrocketing. What that does is it puts a strain on the wider economy of like, costs going up and up.

Really when you look at it, the people who are benefiting are these big corporate landlords, these investment funds, these big corporate landlords, they're doing great, they're making lots. There's plenty of money being made, but it's like the ordinary person, the worker, the carer, we're left with nothing.''

Galway Bye Election (May 22, 2026). Full Episode coming soon. 🎙️

Denman Rooke, Artist & Designer, Galway, People Before Profit Candidate.

[1] https://maireadkenny.ie/podcast-politics-more/ Apple, Spotify and other Podcast platforms. Hosted on Acast. 

[2] Galway Central Bye Election, Notice of Poll, 14 Candidates at https://galwayreturningofficer.com/by-election-galway-west-2026/notice-of-poll-may-2026

[3] People Before Profit, Denman Rooke selection at https://www.pbp.ie/denman-rooke-selected-as-people-before-profit-candidate-for-galway-west-by-election/

Instagram, TikTok, X, Facebook, BlueSky

Full Episode coming soon. 🎙️

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/

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

BYE ELECTION 2026 CONSTITUENCY OF Dublin Central

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

Ian Noel Smyth Aontú, Architect, Dublin.

Ian Noel Smyth, Aontú Candidate in the upcoming 2026 Dublin Central Bye-Election. Transcript .

Ian:

''’People are starting to realize that Ian is in it for the long haul, just because I lose once doesn't mean I'm not going to go again. Winning is fantastic, it isn't everything, that's part of the reason I've ran a few times I have’’ - Ian Noel Smyth, Aontú .

''If it doesn't happen this time, it could happen the next time. It's important to keep going.'' - Mairead Kenny.

‘’You know It took Pascal (Donohoe) a few times to get elected!’’ - Ian Noel Smyth, Aontú.

Here’s Ian in action in his campaign.

’'Hello, I'm Ian (Noel) Smith, a new candidate Dublin Central in the upcoming by election to replace Pascal Donohoe's vacant TD seat. I'm here at Dublin Road at the moment and there's plans by the NTA to turn this into a one-way system along with part of the Ballymun Road. I'm completely against this proposal and I'm also completely against any potential removal of trees along this beautiful road that is services a GAA club, also soccer and two schools. So please vote for Ian (Noel) Smith Aontú number one. Thank you.’’ 

Mairead Kenny, Politics and More podcast. I'm here with Ian Noel Smyth in Dublin Central... Continued in the Transcript.

[2] Ian Noel Smyth at https://www.instagram.com/p/DYUt-adsB2k/

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

Full Candidate Ballot at Dublin Returning Officer webpage. 14 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.

BYE ELECTION 2026 CONSTITUENCY OF GALWAY WEST

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.

’'Orla Nugent here the Aontú candidate for Galway West. I'm with the party leader Peadar Tóibín. A big issue coming up in the doors is housing. There's lack of affordable housing. People are finding it very difficult to get on the property ladder.’’ 

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.

BYE ELECTION 2026 CONSTITUENCY OF GALWAY WEST

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.

''We've had one hundred years of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. The government talk about a surplus and a rainy day fund. But the fact is it's raining in Galway now. - Cllr Mike Cubbard. Galway West Bye-Election Candidate May 22nd 2026.''

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/

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

BYE ELECTION 2026 CONSTITUENCY OF DUBLIN CENTRAL

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.

‘’This is what it's all about. Thirteen thousand people coming out to run the half marathon. And all their friends and relatives and cheers on, standing out on the streets of Dublin. This is what I'm about. Investing in sports and bringing communities together. This is what we can achieve by getting young people and old people as well. Sport is about everybody and it should be inclusive as well.

Come on ye good things. ‘’ Cllr John Stephens. Dublin By Election Candidate May 22nd 2026.

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/

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

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).

Micheal 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.''

Politicians should know there is much concern from the public, when people are writing songs about you!

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/

This podcast is produced independently by MK Media XO 💖

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It's not just about Politics. There's More to it! (Transcript)

''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.

Join me, Mairead Kenny. Full Episode coming soon.

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

MK Media XO 💖

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/

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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.’’

Miriam Moriarty Owens: September 23rd 2025 (‘Caught on the hop’) 

‘’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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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. 🎄 Transcript.

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.

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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Mairead Kenny Interview with Hilary Beirne. 🎄 Transcript

We are going to discuss many topics including:

• 2025 NUI Seanad Election.
• 2025 Post Seanad Election.
• Voting rights Irish Citizens Abroad and Northern Ireland.
• 2025 Irish Presidential Election.
• Irish National & Local Elections.
• Irish US relationship.
• Surprise Topic! Non-politics. 🤭

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They are Miriam, Mary, Maurice and Mary, also known as the Mightly Ms!

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

This audio is a sample related to the 2025 Irish Presidential Election.

The full Episode will be available Dec 2025.

Music by:

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.