Politics & More

About Politics & More

Mairead Kenny here. Welcome to my Podcast! 🎙️ I'm speaking to guests with different political experience and backgrounds. 🫶 It's not just about Politics, there's More to it! 😉 Latest Episodes Promo - Ireland Budget 2027. What to expect? Promo - Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival 2026. Promo - Percy French Festival 2026. Promo - Connacht Gathering 2026. Promo - Kenneth Egan 🥊 + Tommy McDermott 🎤 at Percy French Festival 2026 Castlecoote House Roscommon🎼 Promo - Barry Heneghan, Independent TD in Irish Coalition Government and Bee-keeper 🐝. Promo - Basira Paigham, Afghanistan to Ireland, Dáil Protest June 2026. Promo - Ernie Draper (Independent, Monksland) - Roscommon County Council Co-Option 2025 - What really happened. This Irish Podcast series is created, produced, edited and promoted independently https://politicsmore.podview.com (https://politicsmore.podview.com/) @ MK MEDIA XO (https://maireadkenny.ie/podcast-politics-more/) 💖 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Publisher

Mairead Kenny

Category

news · news

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

12 Nov 2025

Latest episode

18 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

30 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   18 Oct 2026

   Politics & More - Budget 2027- Ireland - Cost of Disability

   Politics & More Podcast. It's not just about Politics. There's More to it! Ireland Budget 2027[1] (https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-finance/campaigns/budget/) (6 October 2026). Transcript (https://maireadkenny.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Politics-More-Ireland-Budget-2027-Cost-of-Disability.pdf). Mairead Kenny: The Budget should be about more than numbers. It should be about people and the pressures they are facing every day and reducing inequalities in Irish society. Mairead Kenny, Politics & More Podcast[2] (https://politicsmore.podview.com/). I’m here on budget day in Buswell's Hotel[3] (https://www.buswells.ie/en/) recording reactions to the Irish Budget 2027 new cost of disability payment. Mairead Kenny: Here’s The Minister for Social Protection (Dara Callaery) announcing the new ‘cost of disability’ payment. Minister Dara Callaery TD [5] (https://www.tiktok.com/@daracalleary/video/7693617913781259522): I'm extremely proud as Minister of Social Protection, to be introducing Ireland's first ever permanent cost of disability payment in 2027. I'm making a start with the €500 of disability payment in 2027. That payment will be paid in a lump sum as we begin our journey of designing what the permanent payment will continue to look like. Mairead Kenny: Here’s Colm on the new cost of Disability payment. Colm any views on Budget 2027? COLM FLOOD, Former Election Candidate [4] (https://www.instagram.com/colmfortd/): I do welcome the fact that the government recognised the additional cost of disability, but that recognition is not being matched by any meaningful, ongoing financial support, especially support recommended by the people who are working with disability regularly. As someone who lives with a disability and relies on disability allowance myself, I welcome the additional support that the government has proposed in budget 2027. But let's be honest here the budget doesn't go far enough. We continue to look at the measures taken by the government, which is a €10-euro weekly increase in the disability allowance, along with a €500 cost of disability payment. This support amounts up to about €1,020 euros per year extra to people with disability allowance Continued in the Transcript (https://maireadkenny.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Politics-More-Ireland-Budget-2027-Cost-of-Disability.pdf). [1] (https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-public-expenditure-infrastructure-public-service-reform-and-digitalisation/publications/your-guide-to-budget-2027/) 06 October 2026, Government Ireland. Your guide to Budget 2027 at https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-public-expenditure-infrastructure-public-service-reform-and-digitalisation/publications/your-guide-to-budget-2027/ (https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-public-expenditure-infrastructure-public-service-reform-and-digitalisation/publications/your-guide-to-budget-2027/) https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-finance/campaigns/budget/ (https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-finance/campaigns/budget/) Budget Guide at https://assets.gov.ie/static/docents/4131c603/BIB2027_Online_Interactive_Version_Final_V2.pdf (https://assets.gov.ie/static/documents/4131c603/BIB2027_Online_Interactive_Version_Final_V2.pdf) RTE Budget At a glance: Key takeaways from Budget 2027 at https://www.rte.ie/news/2026/1006/1594297-at-a-glance-key-points-from-budget-2027/ (https://www.rte.ie/news/2026/1006/1594297-at-a-glance-key-points-from-budget-2027/) [2] (https://politicsmore.podview.com/) Politics & More podcast at https://politicsmore.podview.com/ (https://politicsmore.podview.com/) Podcast series independently created, recorded, edited and produced by Mairead Kenny, https://maireadkenny.ie/ (https://maireadkenny.ie/) MK MEDIA XO. [3] (#_ftnref3) Buswells Hotel Dublin at https://www.buswells.ie/en/ (https://www.buswells.ie/en/) [4] (#_ftnref4) Colm Flood Instagram colmfortd (https://www.instagram.com/colmfortd/) https://www.instagram.com/colmfortd/ (https://www.instagram.com/colmfortd/) Politician, HSE Ambassador for Dementia | Independent Candidate for Bray, Wicklow + Dublin Community Support worker 1916|2016 Medal recipient| Irish Republican. Colm Flood Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/p/Colm-Flood-for-Bray-West-61558535810749/ (https://www.facebook.com/p/Colm-Flood-for-Bray-West-61558535810749/) https://www.thejournal.ie/section/by26/candidate/2154/colm-flood/ (https://www.thejournal.ie/section/by26/candidate/2154/colm-flood/) [5] (https://www.tiktok.com/@daracalleary/video/7693617913781259522) Minister Dara Callaery TD, Budget full update Cost of Disability payment at https://www.tiktok.com/@daracalleary/video/7693617913781259522 (https://www.tiktok.com/@daracalleary/video/7693617913781259522) The Budget should be about more than numbers. It should be about people and the pressures they are facing every day and reducing inequalities in Irish society. Full Budget 2027 episode coming soon! Politics & More It’s not just about Politics. There’s More to it! 😉 MUSIC & CREDITS Inspiring Dreams by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoon (https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoon) Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ (https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/) Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Politics & More podcast at https://politicsmore.podview.com/ (https://politicsmore.podview.com/) Podcast series independently created, recorded, edited and produced by Mairead Kenny, https://maireadkenny.ie/ (https://maireadkenny.ie/) MK MEDIA XO. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

2. 

   4 Oct 2026

   Politics & More - Budget 2027- Ireland - What Can We Expect?

   Politics & More Podcast. It's not just about Politics. There's More to it! Ireland Budget 2027[1] (https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-finance/campaigns/budget/) (Due 6 October 2026). Transcript (http://maireadkenny.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Politics-More-Ireland-Budget-2027-Promo.pdf). Ireland Budget 2027: What Can We Expect? Ireland’s Budget 2027 will be announced on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, by the Minister for Finance (Simon Harris) and the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (Jack Chambers). With the Budget approaching, Politics & More Podcast [2] (https://politicsmore.podview.com/) is speaking with politicians and non-politicians, members of the wider public to hear their views on the issues that matter most to people across Ireland. In this episode, Mairead Kenny speaks with Hilary Beirne, a Rossie, former Seanad candidate and resident of New York, who is back in Roscommon this week. Mairead Kenny: Mairead Kenny Politics & More podcast. You're based in the US in New York. You're back in Roscommon this week. The 2027 budget is coming up in Ireland Tues 06 October 2026. Any views on the budget? Hilary Beirne: The Budget needs to take care of people. When I say “take care of people,” I use that term frequently when commenting on social media because it sometimes feels like you only have to sneeze and there’s another form of taxation in Ireland. The average person is struggling to make ends meet because of the overall cost of living and taxation. People are under pressure, and I believe the Budget needs to recognise the difficulties families and individuals are experiencing. One of the biggest issues for me is the cost of fuel. The price of filling your car has increased significantly, and that has a knock-on effect for people who depend on their cars to get to work, bring children to school, travel to appointments or simply manage everyday life. When the fuel protests were in full swing, it became international news, and it certainly did not present Ireland in a positive light internationally. I believe the Government should look seriously at the level of taxation on fuel and consider whether reductions could provide some relief, particularly for people who are struggling financially. I have experienced the difference myself between Ireland and the United States. I recently filled my car in Ireland, and it cost me around €120. In the United States, filling the car would have cost considerably less, although fuel prices have also increased there. I was genuinely shocked by the difference. I was in Ireland at the end of June and remember paying around €70 to fill the car. By October, the cost had risen dramatically. That kind of increase puts additional pressure on ordinary people. Continued in the Transcript (http://maireadkenny.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Politics-More-Ireland-Budget-2027-Promo.pdf). The Budget should be about more than numbers. It should be about people and the pressures they are facing every day and reducing inequalities in Irish society. Budget 2027 — What Matters to You? Join Mairead Kenny with Hilary Beirne and many others as Politics & More Podcast examines Ireland’s Budget 2027 and reactions to the Irish Government's new budget. Full episode coming soon! Politics & More It’s not just about Politics. There’s More to it! 😉 MUSIC & CREDITS Inspiring Dreams by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoon (https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoon) Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ (https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/) Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) [1] (https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-finance/campaigns/budget/) Budget 2027. Measures will be announced on Tuesday 6 October 2026 by the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation at https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-finance/campaigns/budget/ (https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-finance/campaigns/budget/) [2] (https://politicsmore.podview.com/) Politics & More podcast at https://politicsmore.podview.com/ (https://politicsmore.podview.com/) Podcast series independently created, recorded, edited and produced by Mairead Kenny, https://maireadkenny.ie/ (https://maireadkenny.ie/) MK MEDIA XO. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

3. 

   23 Sept 2026

   Politics & More - Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival - Clare- Ireland - 2026 Promo

   Politics & More[1] (https://politicsmore.podview.com/) Podcast It's not just about Politics. There's More to it! Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival 2026.[2] (https://matchmakerireland.com/) Transcript (http://maireadkenny.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Promo-Politics-More-Percy-French-Lisdoonvara-Matchmaking-Festival-2026.pdf). * Mairead Kenny: Mairead Kenny Politics and More podcast. I’m in Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking festival in Co. Clare in Ireland. It’s an annual festival. I’m speaking to attendees and people involved in the festival. PJ Murrihy (Musician)[3] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P._J._Murrihy) Mairead Kenny: Mairead Kenny Politics and More podcast. I'm in Lisdoonvarna at the festival. I had a lovely drive down through Kinvara and Ballyvaughan. I've arrived here and I'm speaking to people at the festival, PJ? PJ Murray: Murrihy. Mairead Kenny: PJ Murrihy. PJ Murray: I've been here for years and years. And of course as you know Mairead it closed down for lockdown and all that and then the Ukrainians were here. It's back again and it's in full swing and it's great now. I'm here from every Saturday and Sunday from 12.30 until 3 o'clock. There's music every day from half past twelve until about 2 in the morning. Continued in the Transcript (http://maireadkenny.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Promo-Politics-More-Percy-French-Lisdoonvara-Matchmaking-Festival-2026.pdf).* Includes PJ Murrihy (Musician), Kathy Ward, John Condron, Evanje & Natalie, Aaron, Phillip. Thank you all. 💖 Politics and More. It's not just about Politics. There's More to it! Lisdoonvara Full Episode coming soon! MUSIC & CREDITS 1. Inspiring Dreams by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoon (https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoon) Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ (https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/) Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) [1] (https://politicsmore.podview.com/) Mairead Kenny, Politics & More podcast at https://politicsmore.podview.com/ (https://politicsmore.podview.com/) Podcast series independently created, recorded, edited and produced by Mairead Kenny, https://maireadkenny.ie/ (https://maireadkenny.ie/) MK MEDIA XO. [2] (about:blank) The Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival 2026 1st-30th September 2026 Ireland's festival of love, music and connection. One town, four weeks, and a matchmaker's ledger that has been open since 1860.’’ at https://matchmakerireland.com/ (https://matchmakerireland.com/) https://matchmakerireland.com/images/downloads/matchmaking-festival-hydro-lineup.pdf (https://matchmakerireland.com/images/downloads/matchmaking-festival-hydro-lineup.pdf) [3] (about:blank) PJ Murrihy at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P._J._Murrihy (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P._J._Murrihy) Patrick Joseph Murrihy is an Irish singer-songwriter from Mullagh (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mullagh,_County_Clare), County Clare (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/County_Clare), Ireland (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Ireland). When not working on his own farm in Clare (where he breeds Wagyu (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wagyu) cattle[citation needed (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)]) he tours Ireland with his own band.[1] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P._J._Murrihy#cite_note-farm-1)[2] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P._J._Murrihy#cite_note-2) Drawing Little Men in the Ashes - P.J. Murrihy (Official Music Video) at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wS8RmvU6V2o (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wS8RmvU6V2o) https://www.facebook.com/100002204456422/videos/co-clare-singer-songwriter-pj-murrihy-was-also-one-of-the-special-guests-on-mich/1634940124819270/ (https://www.facebook.com/100002204456422/videos/co-clare-singer-songwriter-pj-murrihy-was-also-one-of-the-special-guests-on-mich/1634940124819270/) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

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