Local Lens

Series two concludes with a one-on-one with the Chief Executive Kieran Kehoe.

He address the three main issues the public raised with the council and, for this particular episode, listeners had the chance to submit questions directly to the podcast team.

The top three issues were housing, community and climate action and he address each in detail.He outlines his priorities for 2027 and he highlights the role of the podcast as a platform and source of information about the work of the council, its services and the people who provide them.

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

Expanding housing delivery targets through strategic county development plan variations.
Investing state funding into crucial infrastructure across regional growth hubs.
Enhancing community amenities through local public participation networks.
Upgrading rural road networks and footpaths to improve safe connectivity.
Driving climate action initiatives to boost local employment and sustainability.

QUOTES

Going back to the quality of life, you need a place to call home. - Kieran Kehoe
Once you know that there is an issue, you go and solve the issue, and that's what we're working on behind the scenes. - Kieran Kehoe
The most successful projects are the ones that have buy-in from everybody, part of the community. - Kieran Kehoe

MORE INFORMATION

Local government affects almost every aspect of our daily lives, yet many remain unsure how decisions are actually made. We dive into the delivery of over one thousand services and the vital role of your elected representatives. Discover how local democracy functions behind the scenes in Meath. Listen to the full episode. Search “Local Lens” on your podcast app now.

Visit our website; meath.ie

This podcast was produced by dustpod.io

KEYWORDS

#MeathCountyCouncil#HousingDelivery#LocalLens#PublicParticipationNetworkFunding
#RuralRoadInfrastructureInvestment

The work of Meath’s Local Community Safety Partnership (LCSP) is explored with a particular focus on domestic violence.

Based in the headquarters of Meath County Council, Meath LCSP co-ordinator Gemma Ryan explains what it does, its priorities and why it is involved in an inter-agency conference on domestic violence being held in Navan this month. Joining the discussion is Frances Haworth, CEO Willow Domestic Abuse Services and Claudia Hegarty, Project Leader, Zero Tolerance Meath, a project by Willow.

The theme of collaboration continues including how everyone in the community can play a role in combatting domestic, sexual and gender based violence.

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

- Replacing joint policing committees with local community safety partnerships.
- Defining the key goals of the local safety plan.
- Examining the wide scope of Willow domestic abuse services.
- Understanding the economic and social costs of gender violence.
- Mobilising local residents through the zero tolerance project.

QUOTES

- No single agency can address complex social issues. - Gemma Ryan

- The language we use matters because it reflects and reinforces our own values or beliefs and social norms. - Claudia Hegarty

- We have to recognise it as a whole of community, whole of society problem, and then work together to ensure victims feel safe in coming forward for help and are met with that coordinated response. - Frances Haworth

MORE INFORMATION

Local government affects almost every aspect of our daily lives, yet many remain unsure how decisions are actually made. We dive into the delivery of over one thousand services and the vital role of your elected representatives. Discover how local democracy functions behind the scenes in Meath. Listen to the full episode. Search “Local Lens” on your podcast app now.

Visit our website; meath.ie

This podcast was produced by dustpod.io

KEYWORDS

#CommunitySafetyDomesticAbuse #LocalCommunitySafetyPartnership #ZeroToleranceMeath #WillowDomesticAbuseServices

Meath County Council’s longest serving councillor, Brian Fitzgerald, and it’s first black female councillor, Yemi Adenuga, join gender and politics researcher Claire McGing to look at participation and representation in local government.

Claire wrote, ‘Women Beyond the Dail: Access, Representation & Retention in Irish Local Government’ with Pauline Cullen, Professor of Sociology at Maynooth University.

The episode discusses how Meath County Council has changed since the 1980s, the obstacles to increasing participation by women in local politics, the different experiences women can face as candidates and after election, and what the contributors think would encourage more women to get involved in local democracy.

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

Forty years of local political evolution in Meath.
The role of women in challenging political status quo.
Why gender quotas are controversial yet potentially effective tools.
Intersectional barriers for migrant and diverse candidates.
Strategies to encourage participation through community level action.

QUOTES

I think they are probably, from a family perspective, I think women are bringing forward issues that maybe men would not do, and I think that is very important. - Brian Fitzgerald
It is an attempt to silence women. It is a form of backlash to their participation in public life, and it is a real threat to democracy. - Claire McGing
Representation is powerful by every standard. When people see that somebody who looks like them is there, issues that ordinarily would not have been raised will be raised for people. - Yemi Adenuga

KEYWORDS

#DiversityInLocalGovernment#WomenInIrishPolitics#LocalDemocracyParticipation#MigrantPoliticalRepresentation

July sees the start of Ireland’s six month term holding the Presidency of the European Union. In advance of a particularly busy time for her Department, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Meath TD Helen McEntee, recorded a special interview about the EU Presidency with Local Lens.

It touches on a wide range of topics including her priorities, the forthcoming EU Budget, Ukraine, tariffs and trade deals, and how she would like the people of Meath to remember the term.

As part of the Presidency County Meath has been paired with Italy so this episode also welcomed the Italian Ambassador to Ireland Nicola Faganello and, outlining what Meath County Council is doing and how the EU Presidency will not impact on budgets or services, is Elaine Daly, Senior Executive Officer for Corporate Affairs and Governance at Meath County Council.

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

Ireland's leadership role within the EU Council
Strategic focus on European competitiveness
Managing agri-food and trade relationships
Strengthening ties between Meath and Italy
Upcoming community events and school initiatives

QUOTES

Every six months one of the 27 member states essentially takes over as the chair of the council. - Helen McEntee

The EU presidency offers huge opportunities for Ireland but also for County Meath. - Elaine Daly

The presidency of the EU Council is an important opportunity to help shape the European agenda. - Nicola Faganello

KEYWORDS #IrelandEUPresidency#MeathCountyCouncil#Twinning #Diplomacy#EUAffairs#LocalLens

Celebrating the Boyne Valley in the context of tourism, heritage and the related drivers of economic growth and jobs in county Meath, are discussed in this month’s episode.

With topics ranging from Newgrange to Farmaphobia, from Púca to post-pandemic outdoor activities, this episode is full of information and conversation about the rich heritage and tourism offerings in the county.

Joining the discussion are Emma Gill, Tourism officer for Meath County Council,
Majella Farrell, Head of Economic & Business Development, Causey Farm owner Deirdre Murtagh and there is a collection of voices of visitors from many countries who had gathered in Trim to enjoy the Púca procession.

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

Experiential destination goal for Boyne Valley.
Encouraging visitors to stay longer in Meath.
Causey Farm offers interactive visitor experiences.
Púca Festival roots in Halloween's birthplace.
Future focus: business, coastal, equine tourism

QUOTES

Our number one aim is for the Boyne Valley to be one of the top experiential destinations in the world. - Emma Gill

They say, it's the welcome we got here that has really stood out to us. - Deirdre Murtagh

I suppose tourism is a huge economic driver for me. That's one of our most important business sectors, really, in Meath. So it's a huge focus for us - Majella Farrell

KEYWORDS #BoyneAdventure #MeathTourism #ExperientialTravel #HalloweenBirthplace #LocalEconomyGrowth

The future of Meath’s civil society hinges on the participation and democratic investment of its younger citizens. The engine of our society—Gen Z, born between 1997 and 2012—has often struggled to make the crucial connection between voting and the decisions that directly impact their lives.

With almost 70% of unregistered voters under the age of 34, there is a significant push to ensure every eligible young voice is heard.

This episode dives into the national perspective on engaging with this vital demographic, detailing efforts to modernize the electoral register and combat misinformation.

We explore how digital platforms like TikTok are being used to reach future voters and highlight the local work happening to nurture young democratic interest.
Joining host Elaine Keogh are Art O’Leary, the Chief Executive at the Electoral Commission, and the Meath County Council register of electors team members Sheila Sheridan and Sharon McElroy, who detail how young people are actively shaping their county.

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

Engaging Gen Z and the voting challenge
Digital engagement and pre-registration push
Combating electoral misinformation globally
Meath register team's role and data cleansing
Comhairle na nÓg's right to switch off

QUOTES

We want everybody who's eligible to vote to be on the electoral register. - Art O'Leary

People need to inform the registration authority about these changes... each person is responsible to ensure that they're registered to vote and that their information is up to date. - Sheila Sheridan

If we write to you inviting you to verify your registration details, please don't ignore this request, as you risk being removed from the register… - Sharon McElroy

KEYWORDS #YouthEngagement #VotingRights #ElectoralIntegrity #MeathDemocracy #RegisterCheck

MORE INFORMATION

Local government affects almost every aspect of our daily lives, yet many remain unsure how decisions are actually made.

We dive into the delivery of over one thousand services and the vital role of your elected representatives.

Discover how local democracy functions behind the scenes in Meath. Listen to the full episode. Search “Local Lens” on your podcast app now.

Visit our website; meath.ie

This podcast was produced by dustpod.io

How can we live our best and longest life? It is a question that we all ponder as we age.

This episode looks at what is happening in county Meath, and nationally, to help us to ‘age in place’ and as recommended by the World Health Organisation.

Catherine McGuigan, Chief Officer, Age Friendly Ireland which is a shared service across the 31 local authorities in Ireland and hosted nationally by Meath County Council, talks about her work and why the voices of older people are so important.

We also hear how Meath County Council is providing for older residents and what the council is doing to contribute to, and enable, a decent quality of life for our older people.

Also in studio are Valerie McHugh Age Friendly Meath Programme Manager and Brian Hora, Senior Executive Officer, in the Community Dept with Meath County Council.

And we hear from Darren Kelly, Branch Manager, Tirlán, Athboy about what it has done to be age friendly, and an older person visits the store and shares her thoughts on it.

The Meath County Council Community Department can be contacted by emailing [email protected].

As Local Enterprise Week approaches, this episode of Local Lens takes you inside Thrive – Meath County Council’s new Centre of Business Excellence and the county’s most ambitious step yet in delivering seamless, strategic support to businesses of all sizes.

Located beside Buvinda House, Thrive brings every major business support team under one roof. From Economic Development and the Local Enterprise Office to Climate Action, Broadband, Tourism Development and the Centre for Food Culture, it is designed to be — in the words of Director of Economic Development Dara McGowan — “not just a one‑stop shop, but a first and only stop shop for business supports in Meath.”

In this episode, host Elaine Keogh explores how Thrive is already strengthening Meath’s enterprise landscape, attracting new investment, and providing practical, responsive support to established businesses.

In This Episode

A tour through Thrive and what it means for enterprise in Meath
How Boyne Valley Flavours elevates Meath’s food producers and culinary heritage
Why peer networks matter — and how collaboration makes businesses stronger

The story behind the MeathMade creative cluster and its growing impact
How Thrive supports everything from FDI to micro‑enterprises through centralised expertise and sector‑specific networks

Featuring

Dara McGowan, Director of Economic Development, Meath County Council
Rebecca Meade, Food Development Officer, Boyne Valley Flavours
Áine Farrelly, Urbo Milk
Caoimhe Delany, Local Enterprise Office Meath
Anita Reynolds, Designer and Chairperson of MeathMade

Voices From the Opening of Thrive

This episode also includes highlights from the official opening of Thrive, featuring remarks from the Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment and reactions from Meath‑based businesses benefiting from this new centre.

Why Listen

If you’re a business owner, creative, food producer, investor or simply curious about how Meath is shaping its economic future, this episode offers practical insights, real stories, and a behind‑the‑scenes look at the county’s newest engine for growth.

Thrive is where services meet strategy — and where enterprise in Meath is being future‑proofed.

Being emergency-ready is a priority for Meath County Council. In this episode, listeners are encouraged to sign up to MapAlerter.ie to receive free text alerts from the local authority so they too can prepare for adverse weather, possible power outages and other unusual events.

Joining the discussion on being emergency-ready are the Chief Executive of Meath County Council, Kieran Kehoe, the Chief Fire Officer, Sheila Broderick, and the Civil Defence Officer, Shane Quinn. We hear about their respective roles, their responsibilities, and how they work together, and they share important advice so listeners can be as prepared as possible for emergencies.

Keith Leonard, National Director for Fire & Emergency Management, outlines the national perspective, including how they work with local authorities during emergencies.

The role of members in the community is also emphasised and a Civil Defence volunteer talks about how he changed career, and met his future wife, as a result of joining the organisation.

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

National emergency preparedness framework defined.
Climate adaptation for local authority response.
Council's speedy, local-knowledge crisis management.
Community response centres support vulnerable people.
Civil Defence's role and volunteer career change.

QUOTES

"The action happens through the local authorities. They lead at a local level." - Keith Leonard
"We are the principal response agency for severe weather across the country." - Kieran Kehoe
"If you do have a monitored alarm to make sure that you provide a number that you could be contacted on..." - Sheila Broderick
"One of the things that that happens in an event, is that we set up what we call a severe weather assessment team initially, but then when we get into that major emergency mode or there's a severe event, we have a crisis management team." - Kieran Kehoe
"We would advise people to keep some ascent to keep some essentials in the home, really about two to three days supply, just drinking water." - Sheila Broderick

MORE INFORMATION

Local government affects almost every aspect of our daily lives, yet many remain unsure how decisions are actually made. We dive into the delivery of over one thousand services and the vital role of your elected representatives. Discover how local democracy functions behind the scenes in Meath. Listen to the full episode. Search “Local Lens” on your podcast app now.

Visit our website; meath.ie

This podcast was produced by dustpod.io

KEYWORDS

#EmergencyPreparedness #MeathCountyCouncil #CivilDefence #FireSafety #ClimateAdaptation

The Meath electorate vote every five years and how those voters, and the forty councillors they elect, influence the decisions in county Meath are discussed in the first episode of Local Lens in 2026.

The Cathaoirleach, Councillor Wayne Harding, talks about his role and how there is no such thing as a typical day. He explains the way the public has input into committees that make recommendations which are voted on at meetings of the county council and he also discusses how social media plays a role in communicating important messages.

Cllr Sarah Reilly talks for the first time about being targeted on social media last year. It led to her address and phone number being published and while it is now in the past, she felt unsafe and is grateful her children are too young to have seen the hate expressed towards her.

Our final guest, who gives a national perspective and an engaging overview about social media, politics and just how precious our local elections are, is Virgin Media News Political Correspondent Gavan Reilly And yes, his creative and educational use of Smarties to explain proportional representation also gets a decent mention!

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

• Delivering over one thousand local services
• Roles and mandates of elected councillors
• Cross party collaboration in local districts
• Impact of social media on representatives
• Proportional representation explained using Smarties

QUOTES

"The council delivers over 1000 services, impacting various aspects of community life, from road plans to festival support." - Elaine Keogh

"There is no typical day in the life of a county councillor; the responsibilities are incredibly varied." - Wayne Harding

"The impact of online harassment on a family can make you question your safety in public roles." - Sarah Riley

"Proportional representation ensures that every vote has the potential to influence the final outcome." - Gavin Riley

"Local elections drive the consensus and stability required for effective national governance." - Gavin Riley

KEYWORDS
#LocalDemocracy #MeathCountyCouncil #PublicService #IrelandElections #CommunityLeadership

MORE INFORMATION

Local government affects almost every aspect of our daily lives, yet many remain unsure how decisions are actually made. We dive into the delivery of over one thousand services and the vital role of your elected representatives. Discover how local democracy functions behind the scenes in Meath. Listen to the full episode. Search “Local Lens” on your podcast app now.

Please get in touch if you have any feedback, questions and suggestions regarding the podcast by emailing [email protected]

Visit our website: meath.ie
This podcast was produced by dustpod.io

In a wide ranging conversation with Kieran Kehoe, the Chief Executive of Meath County Council, we hear about his vision to improve the quality of life for people who have made, or want to make, their home in county Meath.

How this can be achieved, who is involved in making it happen and why he believes so strongly that Meath is the best county in Ireland, all feature in an episode that brings the current series of Local Lens to a close.

We also hear from people enjoying the Samhain Festival in Kells and why, if the CE’s vision is implemented, the festivals in Meath will continue to feature on the global stage.

He also talks about his leadership style and why he values the work of all the council staff who, like him, chose to work in the public sector.

Did you know Meath has 9 decarbonisation zones? Or that for the first time in over thirty years Bettystown has Blue Flag status confirming it has the same amenities and standards as Blue Flag beaches found in other parts of the world including California?

In this episode we talk with Climate Action Officer Mary Darcy, Environment Education Officer Bernadine Cary, and Community Warden Alan Nolan.

We hear about a variety of climate action initiatives supported by the council to combat environmental challenges in our community including Navan Men’s Sheds and we also talk about the continuing issue of littering and explore its implications.

Join us for a busy but thought provoking episode that aims to inspire positive change and foster a sense of responsibility among residents in Meath.

Meath could have one of the most sustainable stretches of road in the country! On this episode we find out where it is and why it is part of the council’s response to becoming more sustainable in all areas of transport.

Senior Engineer Caroline Corrigan talks about the roads – and there are a lot of them - the impact of climate change, responding to those changes and how to do all of this in a sustainable way.

Cormac Ross, Senior Executive Engineer with Active Travel provides insight into their initiatives which aim to promote healthier, more sustainable modes of transportation.

We also hear about two families who have been able to embrace the joy of the greenways as Local Lens visited Park Beo, Wilkinstown.

Helping to provide homes is one of the most important areas of service of any county council.

This is a complex and complicated service area where there is a person or family behind every statistic.

In this episode Director of Services Fiona Fallon and Housing Settlement Officer Gemma Ryan from talk about their work, the successes and the challenges.

We also hear from two people who got their forever homes through different council backed schemes.

Why a podcast and why now? Communications Manager Ailish Shaw talks about Local Lens, what listeners can expect and how residents of Meath can get in touch.

The first guest is Dara McGowan, Director of Enterprise and Economic Development, who discusses the multifaceted topic of economic development in Meath.

From soft supports for start-ups to support mechanisms for FDI and the exciting new Centre of Business Excellence which will be a rich hub of supports for all businesses and entrepreneurs, he outlines the programmes and resources the council provides.

Two business owners also discuss their experiences of accessing economic development supports.

Meath is the Royal county and this episode looks at some of its cultural richness and how the council engages with the community in this area.

Librarian Aoife Carberry talks about the immense reach the library network in Meath in the online and in person worlds. She reveals some of the exciting elements of the new library in East Meath Civic Centre and we hear from one family on their love of books and the importance of their local library.

More exciting plans for the future of culture in Meath are discussed by County Archivist Patricia Fallon. The new county archive will form part of Navan’s Cultural Quarter.

Senior Engineer John McGrath, explains exactly what it will include and how it will transform the town. This ambitious initiative aims to create a dynamic space that, as well as being home to a much larger county archive, will be a vibrant community hub, encouraging cultural engagement and fostering connections among residents through art, history, and collaboration.

County Meath - The Royal County.

Home to over 220,000 people and where Meath County Council deliver more than 1,000 services and this is Local lens, a Podcast where you can find out more about those services and the people who provide them.

Local Lens by Meath County Council - Releasing February 25th on all Platforms.