The Pat Kenny Show

This week marks National Grief Awareness Week. it’s the sixth year the Irish Hospice Foundation are running this campaign, especially during January, a time which can be difficult for many people.  Broadcaster Venetia Quick, who you might know from ‘The Grief Pod' speaks about how her own experience when her husband Martin died in 2018. Also joining Pat was Amy Gibney, National Grief in the Workplace Lead at Irish Hospice Foundation.

This week Jess Kelly joined Pat to discuss why California Governor Gavin Newsom is carrying out a review of the now US owned TikTok. Newsom accused TikTok on Monday of suppressing content critical of President Donald Trump as he launched a review to decide if its content moderation practices violated state law, while the platform cited a systems failure. With thanks to Renault,

When it comes to transport here in Ireland, we always seem to be the last country to jump on the latest trends. We see some progression in the Metro Link, the Luas line has plans to expand and soon we will be bringing in contactless payments. but what's next? Pat discusses this and more with Tony Canavan EY's Global Transport Leader.

Who is Nelson Peltz? As the rift between Brooklyn Beckham and his family was made even more public last week, who is his billionaire father-in-law who calls himself the ‘matchmaker’ between Elon Musk and Donald Trump? All to discuss with Lorcan Nyhan, Head of Training with The Communications Clinic and Columnist with The Sunday Independent.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee will bring to Cabinet the over 50 destinations that Ministers will visit this St Patrick’s Day, headlined by the Taoiseach’s visit to the White House. But in the aftermath of two killings by ICE agents and talk of annexing part of a sovereign European nation, should Micheál Martin attend?Pat asked Malcolm Byrne TD, Spokesperson on Climate, Environment and Energy, Fianna Fáil, Wicklow-Wexford and Richard Boyd-Barrett TD, People Before Profit, Dún Laoghaire.

The impact of storm Chandra has caused major distributions this morning. Our reporter Josh Crosbie who is standing by in one of the worst affected areas of Dublin.

Most parents overprotect for the best of reasons. The world feels more dangerous than ever. We want our children to be happy, confident, unhurt. So we step in early. We smooth the road. We solve the problems. We shield them from disappointment, discomfort, and failure but it comes at a psychological cost. All to discuss with Steph Regan, Clinical Psychotherapist, and host of the Tough Love Podcast.

Ireland is among the few European countries who have bucked trends and have continued to increase public funding for the non-profit and charity sector. While the primary work of NGOS is to assist and advocate for some of the most vulnerable members of Irish society, recently public perception of NGOs are on the decline due to the rise of far-right rhetoric.  Pat discussed this further with Teresa Buczkowska from the Immigration Council of Ireland.

For many people who emigrate, the GAA becomes an important part of their life abroad. For decades now, the sport has been a way for people to find a community and settle in to a new city and country, especially one far from home, where things might be very different from what they’re used to. But, it’s now quickly becoming a new community for locals of the country to join too. Our reporter Emily Keegan was in China recently, where she met with players from the country’s biggest GAA club in Shanghai, to learn more about it.

Storm Chandra has brought rain, wind and flooding across Ireland especially in the East of Ireland. We get the latest on the situation with Aoife Kealy, Meteorologist with Met Eireann, Graeme McQueen, Media Relations Manager with Dublin Airport and Blake Boland, Spokesperson with Dublin Bus.

A former flight attendant who posed as a pilot to get hundreds of free flights and why did Air Force one stop in Shannon airport. All to discuss with Kevin Byrne, Retired Lieutenant Colonel and Airport Safety and Security Expert.

Back and joint pain are some of the most common injuries many of us face whether it's from playing sports, exercising in the gym or even from sitting at your desk!  So how can we prevent this? Ask the Expert this week was Lowry O'Mahony, Chartered Physiotherapist.

Federal immigration officers shot and killed another American citizen in Minneapolis on Saturday. Alex Pretti was a 37 year old ICU nurse who worked in the city’s veteran’s hospital. Pat was joined on the show by Scott Lucas, Professor and Political Analyst, Clinton Institute, UCD.

With a new documentary set to release on February 4th, Lucy Letby is back in the news. The upcoming Netflix documentary on the former nurse is set to feature exclusive footage of Letby’s arrest and interview. With more on this Pat spoke to Enda Brady, TRT World Presenter.  

it was another successful weekend for Michael Carrick at the helm of man united as they defeated arsenal 3-2 in emirates stadium.  Leinster secured their tenth win in a row in the URC against Connacht and in the Australian open, defending champion Madison Keyes is knocked out by fellow American Jessica Pegula. Colm Boohig from Off The Ball looks back on the weekend of sport.

The cost of accommodation for international protection applicants surpassed €1 billion for the first time in 2024. The new figures come as the latest deportation flight with Polish and Lithuanian citizens left Dublin Airport yesterday afternoon.Pat discusses this more with Matt Carthy TD, Spokesperson on Justice, Home Affairs, and Migration Chairperson of the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Sinn Féin, Cavan-Monaghan.

The Taoiseach Micheál Martin has faced some criticism because of the number of overseas trips he has been on in the last twelve months. But are these trips abroad simply unavoidable when you are the leader of the country? And how beneficial are they? Our Chief Reporter Barry Whyte has been looking into it.

Almost a third of primary schools have seen a sharp rise in the number of pupils absent for four weeks or more in the wake of the pandemic. In a new report, patterns around primary and secondary schoolchildren taking days off have grown worse over two recent academic years and show no signs of reversing course. So what is contributing to this?  All to discuss with Emer Smyth, Research Professor, ESRI and Anna Moya Ponce, Research Assistant, ESRI.

A 14-year-old girl died after being struck by a scrambler bike in Finglas in Dublin yesterday afternoon. With more on this Pat spoke to Kitty Holland, Social Affairs Correspondent.

The Friday Forum look back on the new stories of the week. Joining Pat this week was John Lahart, Fianna Fáil TD FOR Dublin Southwest AND Spokesperson on The European Union, Jennifer Whitmore Social democrats TD for Wicklow and Spokesperson for Climate, Environment, Energy and Transport and also Tabitha Monahan, Political Reporter with The Irish Independent.

For this week’s Friday Food, Gareth Mullins takes us through some afternoon cake favorites. A carrot cake as well as a lemon drizzle and blueberry cake.

2026 marks 30 years since the Divorce Act (1996) came into effect in Ireland. A milestone that offers a timely opportunity to reflect on how separation, divorce, and family breakdown have changed over the past three decades. We discuss this further with Michelle Browne, Divorce Mediator and family mediation specialist.

Microplastics panic shows the dangers of misinformation and distortion even in science!  All to discuss with David Robert Grimes, Author and disinformation expert.

It was 50 years ago this week that Concorde flew its first commercial flights, with British Airways flying their aircraft from London to Bahrain and Air France debuting their route from Paris to Rio de Janeiro. Right up until tragedy struck in the early 2000s, Concorde became the personification of high-speed intercontinental travel for the wealthy and business elite.  To trace the story of this extraordinary episode in aviation history is reporter Simon Tierney, who has been investigating the archives.

One of Dublin's busiest roads is set to face a year of major traffic disruptions. Joining Pat to discuss the roadworks, and the disruptions that will follow, is Dublin Editor for the Irish Times, Olivia Kelly.

After the drama filled week in Davos. President Zelensky launches a scathing attack on European Leaders over their support for Ukraine. We get the latest on this with Shona Murray, Europe Correspondent with Euronews.  

It’s just over two weeks until the 2026 Winter Olympic Games get underway in Milano-Cortina in Italy. The Team Ireland contingent is yet to be revealed, for what will be their ninth appearance at the Winter Games. Ireland’s debut at the Games in 1992 is a fascinating story, all starting with a note left taped to a boat at the Henley Regatta. Off The Ball’s Cameron Hill can tell us more.

John Fardy, Presenter of Screentime reviews the His & Hers is the new Netflix mystery thriller on this week's Boxed.

With so much talk about the use of weight loss drugs, what is the origin of Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic drug? Aimee Donnellan Columnist with Reuters has charted the development of Ozempic in her new book Off the scales: The inside Story Of Ozempic And The Race To Cure Obesity.   

Are you the youngest, middle or eldest child? It turns out your place in the family doesn't define who you are. Researchers are calling it "The Birth Order Hoax." Middle child Henry McKean has been taking a closer look and he sent us this report. 

Positive thoughts may boost the immune system according to research that points to a connection between the mind and our body’s natural defences.  Scientists have found people who used positive thinking to boost activity in the brain’s reward system responded better to vaccination, with their immune systems producing more antibodies than others after having the shot. Prof Luke O'Neill brings us the details of this research.

Ireland is in danger of facing an electricity shortage event in the next two to five years due to the rapid energy demand.  The Commission for Regulation of Utilities published a new plan outlining how data centres are the primary source of the demand. But is there time to prepare for this?  To discuss further Pat was joined on the show by Eamonn O’Reilly, Chairman of the Energy and Climate Action Committee at the Irish Academy of Engineering and also Dr Muireann Lynch senior research officer at the ESRI.

A study by Strava, the fitness App, found that most resolutions die off on Jan 19th! According to a 2023 Forbes Health and One Poll survey, the average resolution lasts just 3.74 months.  So what are the green habits you can implement and keep in 2026 and beyond.  To tell us more was Jo Linehan, Climate and Sustainability Journalist.

What does a cashless bank really mean and who wins, and who loses when cash disappears? All to chat about with Paul Merriman, CEO Fairstone and Ask Paul online.  

US President Donald Trump addressed the World Economic Forum in Davos yesterday in a speech which confused Greenland for Iceland multiple times and contained many other errors. We discussed what took place at Davos with Sam Kiley, World Affairs Editor, The Independent.

Snowdrops, the harbinger of spring, symbol of hope and that winter is finally ending. It is the favourite plant of Paul Smyth Head Gardener at RHSI Bellefield, Shinrone, Co Offaly.

In her new book, would you be well? Broadcaster and Health Coach Clare McKenna shows you how to cut through the overwhelm to help you discover the wellness habits that fit your life and that are easy to maintain. 

Is it time for world leaders to emulate David, The Prime Minister, from Love Actually and stand up to Trump? After weeks and months of staying silent or appeasing Trump, will they now stand up to President Trump. All to discuss with Gavin Megaw, President and Managing Partner, Hannover Communications.

Every year in Hollywood there’s one golden statue that matters more than any other. Not Best Actor. Not Best Director. Not even Best Original Song. The big one. Best Picture. Because this isn’t about one performance or one moment, this is the award that crowns an entire film the cast, the crew, the story, the music, the cinematography the whole cinematic machine working in perfect sync.We hear about the films that won big at the Oscars with Lisa Cannon, Head of Studio, DMG Media.

Gardaí are to be given new powers to ‘spy’ on mobile phones to monitor criminals’ activity. We find out what they are with Jess Kelly, Newstalk Tech Correspondent.

Today all eyes will be on Davos as President Donald trump is set to arrive to Switzerland later today. the conversation surrounding Greenland is set to dominate the day as trump ramped up the rhetoric yesterday.  When asked at a white house news conference last night how far he was prepared to go to seize Greenland, Mr Trump replied, "you'll find out". So is this the chance for Europe now stand up to Trump?Speaking to Pat this morning for more on this was Simon Harris, Tánaiste and Minister for Finance.

Dogs have evolved alongside humans for many years, and new research shows they may be able to learn new words through eavesdropping conversations, just like toddlers. Also the grey squirrel has been a threat to red squirrel populations for many years now. Scientists have been researching new ways to even the population numbers between to the two squirrels.All to discuss with Dr Ruth Freeman Director of Research for Society For Research Ireland on this week's Green Scene.All with thanks to Repak.

Musical roads, or "singing roads," use precisely spaced grooves in the pavement to create melodies when driven over at the correct speed. Conor Faughnan, Transport Commentator and Independent Motoring Expert for Carzone explains all. Also we hear why January 22nd is the busiest day of the year for Car Shopping.

President Donald Trump’s arrival to Davos has been delayed after an electrical issue aboard Air Force One forced the plane to return to Maryland. But in Davos, it appears to be becoming more of a Trump Show than a World Economic Forum.To discuss further with Pat was Kathryn Carlson, Financial Regulation Reporter, Politico.

TikTok plans to roll out its new age-detection system across Europe in the coming weeks amid heightened scrutiny over child safety issues. After testing its new age-detection system in Britain over the last year, TikTok will start rolling out the tech across Europe in the next few weeks, according to a new report from Reuters. The move comes amid increased regulatory scrutiny of the social video platform and its owner ByteDance, especially pertaining to the online safety of children.  Jess Kelly, Newstalk's Technology Correspondent, joined Pat Kenny to discuss and answer listeners' questions.

One of Ireland's best-known wild animals, the Sika deer, has been declared an invasive species in the European Union, raising questions around whether it must now be culled. The smallest of the country’s three wild deer, Sika was added to the EU list of alien invasive species of union concern last summer. Its inclusion means countries must eradicate the deer, control their populations or prevent their arrival in the first place.  Damien Hannigan, Irish Deer Commission Spokesperson joined Pat Kenny on the show to discuss.

With the rise of artificial intelligence, concerns are rising about whether or not AI will replace you in your job. Thankfully, the reality of AI in the workplace is more complex than either complete job displacement or simple augmentation. Pat Kenny was joined by Peter Cosgrove, Managing Director of Futurewise to discuss.

Thousands of family carers are being hit with tax bills going back years after Revenue got access to data on their payments. Charlie Weston personal finance editor with the Irish Independent, and Catherine Cox, head of communications and policy with Family Carers Ireland, both joined Pat Kenny on the show to discuss.

Every year new diets and food trends come around and that includes superfoods. But are foods really super or is it just a wellness fad? Sarah Keogh , Dietitian and Founder of Eatwell, joined Pat Kenny on the show to discuss.

US President Donald Trump will travel to Davos today to attend the World Economic Forum, where discussions are expected to be dominated by Trump’s threats to take over Greenland. Brett Bruen, President of The Global Situation Room and former Director of Global Engagement in the Obama Administration, joined Pat Kenny on the show to discuss.