The Pat Kenny Show

Donna Cambridge’s son Jaxon was due to start pre-school at Before 5 Family Centre in Cork next week. However, on Wednesday night, parents received an abrupt text message to say the northside facility would be closing with immediate effect, leaving almost 100 children and 14 staff members in limbo. Donna spoke to Pat this morning.

With the potential addition of 20 new TDs in the new Electoral Commission, and with some top politicians at risk of losing a seat we discuss what the Electoral Commission recommendations might bring with Adrian Kavanagh Geography Lecturer at Maynooth University. 

Now that the dust has settled and leaving cert students have had time to digest their results from Friday, what’s next for these would-be freshers? To discuss with Pat was Brian Mooney, Guidance Counsellor and Irish Times Columnist.

Do we need more camera surveillance on our bus and cycle lanes, we discuss with Conor Faughnan Transport Commentator and CEO of the RIAC.

A look back on the stories of the week with our Friday Forum. Joining Anton today was Jack Power News Reporter at the Irish Times, Emer Currie Fine Gael Senator, and Jennifer Whitmore Social Democrats TD for Wicklow and Spokesperson on Climate.

Gareth Mullins has a recipe for chicken, ham, and leek pie with glazed carrots – a back-to-school comforter!

The class of 2023 got their Leaving Cert results this morning. The 71,000 students who have never taken a state exam before because of Covid, will see grade inflation continue. Henry McKean visited Trinity Comprehensive in Ballymun Dublin. He sent us this report: 

Author Miriam Mulcahy joins us to discuss her latest book, This Is My Sea.

With Donald Trump handing himself into authorities in Georgia and having his mugshot taken, we get the latest news from the US with Marion McKeone US Correspondent with the Business Post.

We delve into the fraught topic of unpaid internships and their legality with Caroline Reidy Managing Director of the HR Suite, and HR & Employment Law Expert. 

Legislation is being drafted that would enable local government bodies to use Body Cameras, CCTV, and even drones to combat prolific dumping across Ireland. Speaking to Anton with more on this was Liam Herrick Executive Director of the Irish Council of Civil Liberty and also Malcolm Byrne Fianna Fail Senator.

548 days into the war in Ukraine, Lara Marlowe joins us with an update from Ukraine as she visited President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's hometown. 

Grade Inflation will have some students smiling this morning but is it damaging the integrity of the CAO system? We speak to TJ Hegarty, the founder of Breakthrough Maths.

With Republican nominees candidates going face to face in their first presidential debate last night, we discuss how the debate was won and lost with Larry Donnelly Law Lecturer with the University of Galway, and columnist with the Journal.ie

We look at the work of the Kevin Bell Trust which repatriates loved ones back to their grieving families. Speaking to Anton this morning was Colin Bell co-founder of Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust. 

Our reporter Josh Crosbie asks if remote working is here to stay and how it impacts productivity.

Luke O’Neill joins us to talk about the latest moon landing, a huge development in space travel

As 10 die in a plane crash over Moscow including the Wagner leader chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, we discuss the impact of this on the Ukraine war with Duncan Bullivant Special Advisor to the Head of the Bosnia peacekeeping mission, part of the UK mission to Kosovo in 1999 and CEO of the Henderson Group, an international risk management advisory.  

We discuss the issue of shortages in perinatal mental health care and the importance of maintaining good perinatal health with a HSE Clinical Psychologist and mother of two Sue Murphy.

Starting on the road to securing a mortgage and purchasing a property can sometimes seem like a minefield. Margaret Barrett, Managing Director at Contracting Plus Mortgages gave us some valuable advice to first-time buyers.

A new Covid variant, BA.2.86, is causing concern due to its potential increased transmissibility, while the Health Protection Surveillance Centre says that Eris is spreading quicker than other recent variants. We get the latest on Covid with Professor Paul Moynagh Head of the Department of Biology and Director of the Kathleen Lonsdale Institute for Human Health Research at Maynooth University.

With the leaving cert results due out tomorrow morning for thousands of students, we discuss the options and key dates for students with Brian Mooney Guidance Counselor and Irish Times Education Correspondent.

Ireland Contemplates Outdated 'Women in the Home' clause as Referendum Nears. We discussed this with Karen Kieran CEO of OneFamily and also Ivana Bacik Labour Party Leader.

Paraic joined us today on the show, with loads of gardening tips and advice and also recommended some plants that love this wet mild summer weather.

We take a look at the wonderfully varied career of Irish director, Neil Jordan with our own Sue Murphy.

Thinking of making a will or claiming your inheritance, we tell you what you need to know about those processes with Sinead Glynn Senior Solicitor with MHP solicitors.  

Solas Cancer Support Centre’s annual fundraising event, Run and Walk for Life. It celebrates its 15th anniversary and takes place on the 14th of October in Dungarvan and on the 15th of October in Waterford City.   Peter Wittle Cancer Survivor and Spokesperson for the Solas Cancer Support Centre explained to Anton the great work the support centre does.

In this week’s Green Scene, Dr Ruth Freeman Director of Science for Society at Science Foundation Ireland discusses if fake whale poo can help restore ocean biodiversity and how saving the ozone layer helps with the climate challenge.All with thanks to AIB.

Armed officers, riot police, and dog units are to be deployed to the city centre under a new policing plan. We discussed the plan details with Tony Gallagher Former Garda Inspector & risk security and event manager with Ashtree Risk Group and also Conor Lally Irish Times Security and Crime Editor.  

Driverless taxis go fully operational in San Francisco but not without causing some mayhem for the city. Transport Consultant Conor Faughnan brings us all the details.

We look at the impact of widespread wildfires on air travel for the Irish holidaymaker with Eoghan Corry Travel and Aviation Journalist.

We catch up with Josh Crosbie after the New York Rose took home the Rose of Tralee title.

With households here paying as much as €900 more than some of our EU neighbors, we discuss the current situation of our energy prices here with Aoife Foley Chair of net zero infrastructure at the University of Manchester.

As more drone attacks are launched and defended in Moscow overnight we get the latest on the Ukraine with Jason Corcoran Journalist and Russia Analyst and Specialist on Russia. 

Up for discussion in our Big 11 debate, is the growing trend of climate change skepticism in Ireland's rural farming sector. We hear from Jackie Cahill Fianna Fail TD for Tipperary Chair of the Oireachtas Agriculture Committee and also John Gibbons Environmental Journalist.

We discuss the challenges of hair loss and the various treatments available with Dr Maurice Collins Consultant Surgeon, Medical Director, and Team Principal of Hair Restoration Blackrock, and also Mark Fennell Performance and life Coach who recently had a hair transplant.

Alliance of Dublin Businesses says Dublin Tourist trade is threatened by a lack of a post-covid plan. We get a reaction from Adrian Cummins CEO of the Restaurant Association of Ireland and also Stephen Kennedy Owner of Copper+Straw.

Motoring Editor with the Sunday Independent, Geraldine Herbert, on her experience of ‘Mansplaining’.

How can art be used to escape reality and express how we feel? We speak to artist Kevin Sharkey about his early life and his journey into art.

Newstalk Reporter Josh Crosbie was in Tralee to see how night one of the festival went and he reported for back for us this morning.

We discuss the risks to consider about parental phone use in front of children, from infancy to adulthood. Speaking to Anton this morning was Sabina Brennan Chartered psychologist, neuroscientist and author, and also Claire Crowe Clinical pediatric Psychologist and mother of three under the age of 5.

Ask The Expert: Dr Arthur Cummings, Wellington Eye Centre on all your eye relating queries.

In US news, Donald Trump refuses to attend the first Republican primary debate on Wednesday, Las Angeles is facing extreme weather conditions and Joe Biden is set to visit the people of Hawaii after the devastating forest fires in Maui. We get all the details with Larry Donnelly Law Lecturer with the University of Galway and Columnist with the Journal.ie.

We discuss the large number of prisoners serving terms in Irish jails for minor offences with Kathleen Lynch Professor of Equality Studies Emeritus at University College Dublin Member of Irish Humans Rights and Equality Commission and John Cuffee Former Prison Officer.

Aer Lingus has announced new routes from Dublin to Denver, and Lonely Planet is celebrating its 50th anniversary. All the travel news with Pól O Conghaile Travel Editor with the Irish Independent.

Wildfire tourists and drone users have been urged to avoid visiting and flying drones over the ongoing wildfires in Canada. The Canadian wildfires displace over 200,000 people and joining Anton this morning on the show was Ben Hendriksen, Yellowknife City Counsellor who gave us an update on the situation there.

Are our towns and cities being overrun with obstructive bollards? Speaking to Anton with more on this are Independent Dublin City Councillor Mannix Flynn and also Brian Caulfield Professor of Transportation at Trinity College Dublin.

How can first-time parents navigate their way through childcare? We’ll be discussing all that you need to know with Elaine Dunne Chairperson of the Federation of Early Childhood Providers and also Miriam Burke Editor of Rollercoaster.ie.

In the UK today, Lucy Letby will be sentenced for the murder of 7 babies, and on 7 counts of attempted murder relating to 6 other babies. Shaun Lintern, Health Editor with the Sunday Times explained the case to Anton this morning.

Kathleen McNamee Co-Presenter of the Off the Ball looks back on a busy and exciting weekend of sport.