The Pat Kenny Show

Jessie Buckley won Best Actress at last night's Golden Globes. Henry McKean visited Jessie's old school Ursuline Secondary SchoolThurles, Co -Tipperary and met the students and the drama teacher. 

Stromness whaling station, where Shackleton crafted the rescue mission of his men from Elephant Island, is now under restoration.  At the brink of collapse, Shackleton's South Georgia base has indelible ties to Ireland.  

As the new year is here and many are starting a set of new resolutions. Stephanie Regan looks at the 9-science backed small steps to feeling better in 2026. Some of these include to stop striving for perfection, practice self-compassion and invest in better friendships. 

Employment Law Expert and Chief Business Officer at Arachas Julie Galbraith answers listeners employment-related questions and what to do if the cold spell affects your work.

As Nicolas Maduro is set to face appear in court a New York City today after his capture by the us military for drug and weapons charges. But back in Venezuela, the country continues to revel in the disgraced leader’s ousting as neighbouring countries in Latin America raise concerns about any attempt at US governmental control of natural resources.  Pat discusses this further with Alan McPherson, Freaney Professor of History and Director of the Center for the Study of Force and Diplomacy at Temple University.

This week on our motoring slot, Geraldine Herbert discusses the danger of a maxed out M50,the Dublin traffic plan and how Tesla loses ev pole position.

Chronic kidney disease affects around one in ten people in Ireland and is on course to becoming the fifth leading cause of death globally by 2040. Despite the opt-out organ donation system, less people donated organs in 2025 compared to the previous year, Adrian Cummins, Head of the Restaurants Association of Ireland was diagnosed with kidney disease in 2019. He spends more than 10 hours a week on dialysis as he waits for a kidney transplant. Adrian joined Pat on the show the show this morning.

Early on Saturday morning, the United States carried out Operation Absolute Resolve, a raid which killed at least forty people and lead to the capture and removal of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores. We get the latest from on the ground in Venezuela from Víctor Amaya and analysis from Scott Lucas.

French President Emmanuel Macron is pushing forward with new first-in-Europe legislation to prohibit social media access for minors under 15 and a ban on mobile phone use in secondary schools, with implementation expected for the 2026 school year.Pat discusses this further with Elaine Burke, Host of For Tech’s Sake Podcast and also John Lichfield, Veteran Correspondent based in Paris.

Ireland will be confronted by a different world in 2026. A mixture of under-investment compared to European neighbours and concern over unidentified drones in the airspace, have placed defence atop the national agenda for 2026.Pat discusses this further with Cathal Berry, Former member of the Defence Forces.

If you are travelling this morning, you will feel the baltic weather and notice the heavy frost everywhere and if you are in Donegal, then you will be looking out at a blanket of snow. Some schools are set to close, and there could be more snow on the way for other parts of the country.  We get the latest on the weather with Holly O’Neill, Meteorologist with Met Eireann.

Joining Pat on today's Friday Forum was Louise Burne, Political Correspondent with The Irish Examiner, Harry Browne, Senior Lecturer in the School of Media at Technological University Dublin and also Eoin O’Malley, Lecturer in Politics at DCU.

It’s time to look across the pond for the latest US news. This week saw the new mayor of New York, Zohran Mamdani, sworn in on New year's Eve. His speech outside city hall signaled his unwavering ambitions for the city. All to chat about with Terry Sheridan, Senior Director of News at WSHU Public Radio.

 For this week’s Friday Food, the K Club's Gary O’Hanlon leaves behind the classic turkey and ham to try a mango chicken and vegetable Curry for your weekend dinner.

After Christmas, we often feel that looming anxiety or impending doom when it comes to our finances. Robert Whelan of Rockwell Financial explains how we can avoid financial stress, and plan for the year and beyond.

The EU has warned that Israel's threat to suspend aid groups into Gaza under new registration rules would block life-saving aid. What will this mean for the people in Gaza and how has the winter impacted those on the ground?  We heard from Kazem Abu, UNICEF spokesperson in Jerusalem.

Investigations continue into the tragic fire that tore through a bar in a Swiss ski resort that killed 40 people and injured at least 115 people.  Joining Pat with the latest on the tragic fire was Julia Hamilton a Switzerland based reporter.

After weeks of celebrations, late nights, and maybe one too many glasses raised, January often brings a moment to pause. Dry January encourages people to go alcohol-free for 31 days, raising questions about our drinking habits and the impact alcohol has on our health. Joining Pat to discuss further was Catríona Redmond, Columnist with the Irish Examiner and  Malie Coyne, Clinical Psychologist, Author, Broadcaster.

We look ahead to the weekend’s sporting action. The Premier League is back to the weekend after a series of stalemates on Thursday. Inter-provincial rugby action today as Ulster play Munster. all-Ireland club football semi-final. A final to look forward to on Saturday at the Alexander Palace.  Cathal Mullaney, Broadcaster with Off the Ball brings us all the details

Michael Healy Rae, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, is calling for the government to have a “serious rethink” of the planned crackdown on short-term letting. 

During the Christmas break, services through the channel tunnel resumed following power failure caused disruption for passengers. However, despite the major fault there more changes are set to come for the channel tunnel across Europe with different routes across a variety of countries. Eoghan Corry, Editor of Travel Extra.ie brings us the details.

Start the New Year with Henry McKean and special guests!

Emmet was joined on the show this morning by Colin O'Byrne Spokesperson for VOICE who gave advice on handling all the waste from the Christmas season. 

Dee Reddy Entertainment Journalist and Podcaster joined Emmet this morning to recommend some of the best podcasts of 2025.

Electoral changes and the political temperature heading into 2026. Emmet discuss this and more with Art O’Leary CEO of Electoral Commission.  

With January just a couple of days away, this is the time when many people are set to renew their health insurance. Companies are set to hike up premiums from later this week which is expected to impact over one point two million people. With advice on getting the best deal on health insurance Emmet spoke to Dermot Goode from Health Insurance Ireland.ie. 

With the new year just around corner, for some its time to start a fresh but with others there that its a time for anxiety and stress. So with all the pressure to live your best life, do we just need to fake it till we make it?All to chat about with Psychotherapist Enda Murphy.

Lisbon, Copenhagen and Bologna are just some of the cities across Europe offering the best food on the continent. But with a new bursting food scene in Dublin, is our capital city set to become a gastronomical hotspot?  Emmet Oliver chats to Russell Alford, one half of the Gastro Gays.

Henry's Christmas Cracker is a 2-hour special with special guests celebrating the festive season! Presented by Newstalk’s Henry McKean.

A trove of newly released Epstein files include emails that appear to involve Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, while another suggests Donald Trump travelled on the billionaire's private jet "many more times than previously has been reported". The US Department of Justice released at least 11,000 more files on Tuesday.  Scott Lucas, Professor and political analyst, Clinton Institute, University College Dublin, joined Pat Kenny to discuss.

The robots may be coming for your job but 2026 might finally show signs of what has been predicted for years, truly useful robots but also a new vista for entertainment and museums including plans for Ireland’s first National Children’s Science Centre. 2026 is predicted by several tech experts to be the year when robots truly enter public life. Stories of humanoid robots back flipping, robots playing competitive basketball, expressive theme-park characters and machines capable of walking marathon distances are dominating headlines. At the same time, researchers have pushed the boundaries of what robots can learn, how fast they can adapt and how safely and reliably they can operate in everyday spaces. Professor Luke O’ Neill joined Pat Kenny on the show to discuss.

It has been a very busy year for Irish politics, with our 10th President, Catherine Connolly taking to the Áras amidst the backdrop of a failed Fianna Fáil campaign. A two-finger salute from Michael Lowry while the Dáil rowed over speaking rights and the launching of the government’s National Housing Plan  Pat Kenny was joined by Pat Leahy, Political Editor, Irish Times, to look back on a busy year in Irish politics.

 From duck fat roast potatoes to brussels sprouts and leek gratin, Gareth Mullins Executive Chef of The Anantara Marker Hotel on what to cook this Christmas Eve.  

 Amidst the glitz and glamour of the most wonderful time of the year. We must remember those who are less fortunate than ourselves, those who will spend this Christmas sleeping rough on the streets across the country. Alice Leahy, of the Alice Leahy Foundation, joined Pat Kenny on the show to discuss.

Christmas is a time when many of us will try and take a break from the news and developments around the world, but very often, even at this festive time there are stories that have universal cut through. From the fall of Ceausescu to the enactment of our own constitution, some extremely significant events have happened over the festive period. So myself and our political correspondent Seán Defoe are going to take you on a trip to Christmases past and the news stories that grabbed the headlines like this one from December 26th, 2004…

Despite rising temperatures and changing weather patterns, important climate progress was made in 2025, including renewable energy becoming the source of electricity across the globe. Dr Ruth Freeman Director of Research for Society for Research Ireland joined Pat Kenny on the show for this week’s green scene.

For many people Christmas morning means opening presents, a big breakfast and for thousands around the country, a bracing dip in the sea. From organised charity swims to regular sea swimmers who go in every day of the year, the Christmas Day swim has become a festive tradition. Our Chief Reporter Barry Whyte has been finding out why it’s grown so popular and what people need to know before taking the Christmas Day plunge… 

If you remember the slogan ‘you cannot eat a better sweet’ then you will remember Lemon’s sweet shop on O'Connell Street, The Confectioner’s Hall. Famous for its use of safe, natural ingredients and its magical Christmas decoration window display.  Cormac O’Moore, co-author of the sweetness of lemons, joined Pat Kenny on the show to take a Nostalgic look back at the story of lemons and the history it lived through as it witnessed the famine, the two world wars, the Irish revolution, the Victorian era and the campaign for Home Rule. 

Conor Faughnan, Transport Commentator and Host of the Driving Life Podcast, joined Pat Kenny to discuss some of the biggest transport stories of the year.  

There’s been a lot of talk lately about blood on the streets of Silicon Valley and this time, it’s not just hype. Some of the biggest names in artificial intelligence have seen billions wiped off their market value in recent weeks, as investors start asking a blunt question: where’s the money?Adrian Weckler, Tech Editor with The Irish Independent, joined Pat Kenny on the show to discuss all things AI.

 Stephanie Regan, clinical psychotherapist and host of the Tough Love Podcast joined Pat Kenny on the show to discuss family rifts at Christmas, when to fix them and when to let them be.

The past twelve months have seen a drastic shift in the Middle East, while focus remains on Gaza and Israel, other parts of the region continue to deal with their own political crisis. Over the past year, the people of Syria continue to rebuild their country after the fall of Assad while in Lebanon marked the anniversary since a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. To reflect on all of this Sally Hayden, journalist with the Irish Times who has just arrived back from Lebanon, joined Pat Kenny on the show.  

We all know about the typical Irish traditions at Christmas time like the Late Late Toy Show or maybe heading to mass once a year, but what about those unofficial Christmas traditions? Like the tin of Roses that keeps getting recycled through the parish or the car park ballet that will have you furious trying to figure out whether someone is pulling out of a space or taking forever to straighten up. Comedian, author, and broadcaster Colm O'Regan joined Pat Kenny on the show to discuss those unofficial Christmas traditions. 

Christmas, among its joy and happiness, is also a time of health concern. Early next week we are set to reach the peak numbers of what is a severe Flu season. More than 1,000 people expected to spend Christmas in hospital as a result of the flu. As well as this, we must account for lesser injuries like cuts and burns commonly associated with the festive period. Dr Diarmuid Quinlan, GP and Medical Director of the Irish College of General Practitioners joined Pat on the show this morning.

Russia has launched airstrikes on Ukraine's capital early this morning. In response to the attacks, Polish and allied aircraft were deployed. The attacks come just days after US-led peace talks in Miami.  Emmanuelle Chaze, Ukraine Correspondent for RFI (Radio France Internationale) and France24 joined Pat on the show to discuss the latest on the Ukraine-Russian war as Russia launches airstrikes on Kyiv this morning, post peace talks.

Christmas is here and main streets across the country are flooded with those who have decided tactically or stupidly to leave their present buying to the last minute. But, for the droves who line the shopfronts today and tomorrow, what exactly should they be looking for? Is it too late to pick up something good? Niamh O’Reilly, Freelance Journalist, joined Pat Kenny to discuss.

 From hotel breaks to retreats, we find out what people who choose to go alone get up to for at Christmas with Newstalk Reporter Sarah Madden…

You might know him for being one half of the Rubberbandits or his podcast that has over 90 million listeners worldwide. Award-winning Author and Podcaster Blindboy joined Pat Kenny on the show to chat on what it was like to win a Grierson Documentary Award.

Flu cases are expected to peak this week which was expected and it brings up the question as to why the government decided not to take-up the enhanced jab for over 65’s.  Fionnán Sheahan, Ireland Editor of the Irish Independent, joined Pat Kenny on the show to discuss.

Under-recognised, underdiagnosed, undertreated, and under-researched heart health is not the same between men and women, and in turn the differences can often prove costly. When it comes to heart health, women’s bodies tell a different story, and it is time we listened.Dr Róisín Colleran, Consultant cardiologist at the Mater Private Network joined Pat Kenny on the show to discuss women’s heart health.