The Pat Kenny Show

As all living Israeli hostages are returned home, is this a new era of peace for the Middle East? All to discuss with Paul Rogers, Emeritus Professor of Peace Studies at Bradford University.  

Looking back over a busy weekend of sport. With an incredible Irish effort against Portugal that was unfortunately in vain, is it still possible for Ireland to qualify for the World Cup? Shelbourne FC deny Shamrock Rovers the league title. In Rugby, Munster continued their undefeated streak in the United Rugby Championship. Leinster also managed to reverse their poor fortune for their first victory of the URC.  All the weekend sport to look back on with Colm Boohig from Off The Ball.All with thanks to Visit Pennsylvania.

Bafta award winning actress Miriam Margolyes has lived quite an extraordinary life from Black Adder to Harry Potter to the cover of Vogue at the age of 83. All of this and so much more is documented from A - Z in her book 'The Little Book of Miriam'. Miriam joined Pat in studio to chat all about her book, life and more.

Israeli hostages are returning home after two years in captivity. All living Israeli hostages have now been handed over with the remains of last hostages expected to be next. We discuss this with Paul Kearns, journalist based in Tel Aviv.

Sinéad Gibney Dublin Rathdown TD, Social Democrats Spokesperson for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment; Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport; and Defence, Pat Leahy, Political Editor, Irish Times and Barry Ward - Dún Laoghaire TD, Fine Gael. All joined Pat this morning to look back on the news stories of the week.

Gareth Mullins talks us through some delicious baked goods with cinnamon buns and rum spiced fruit buns. 

Jenny Branigan chartered physiotherapist joined Pat this morning on the show to discuss some of the myths around injuries and running.

A big weekend ahead for Irish soccer as we gear up for a World Cup qualifier against Portugal, and Shamrock Rovers set to take on Shelbourne FC – with the first Shamrock Rovers double since 1987 in reach. In Rugby the United Rugby Championship progresses to round 3. Darts, the World Grand Prix continues over the weekend.  All with thanks to Visit Pennsylvania.

Broadcaster, Author and Presenter of ‘Unspun World’ on BBC World John Simpson gives his take on the Trump peace deal for Gaza.

Family influencers are almost exclusively female and aged between 25-35. We ask the question is posting your children, family fun and happy memories a good way for mommy to make money. Or is it child exploitation or worse? Sarah Madden reports on it...

Israel’s government have ratified a ceasefire with the Palestinian militant group Hamas, clearing the way to suspend hostilities in Gaza within 24 hours and free hostages held in the enclave within 72 hours after that.Pat discusses this development and more with Paul Kearns, Journalist based in Tel Avi and also James Elder, Spokesperson for Unicef.

The peace process continues as President Trump announced that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of the peace deal. Former FBI Director James Comey pleads not guilty to charges of lying to Congress. Trump calls for the Governor of Illinois and Mayor of Chicago to be jailed. And Pam Bondi testified in a confrontational hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. To discuss the latest US news is Larry Donnelly, a Boston attorney, Law Lecturer at the University of Galway, and political commentator. 

Has Joe Wicks bitten off more that he can chew, as he targets protein bars in his latest documentary. We discuss this and more with David Robert Grimes, Disinformation Expert. 

Jude Law and Jason Bateman are working-class brothers Jake (Law) and Vince (Bateman) Friedkin from Coney Island. They grew up in what we assume from relatively early on was a violent home, dominated by an alcoholic father. They became a Nirvana-lite rock group. Jake the handsome lead, Vince the drummer and creative force, until the latter’s taste for drugs and mayhem put paid to their success.John Fardy reviews 'Black Rabbit' showing on Netflix.

2025 Nobel Prize for Medicine or Physiology goes to immunology for the discovery of a key controller of the immune system that stops autoimmune diseases. American scientists Mary Brunkow and Fred Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi from Japan won the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine on Monday for work shedding light on how the immune system spares healthy cells, creating openings for possible new autoimmune disease and cancer treatments. Luke O’Neill, Professor of Immunology at Trinity College Dublin brings us the details.

Both Israel and Hamas have said they have agreed to a long-awaited ceasefire and hostage deal. We get the latest on this morning's breaking news with Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East Correspondent for The Economist and also Fawaz Gergez, Professor of International Relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science. 

“Picasso: From the Studio” opens at the National Gallery of Ireland, which offers a once in a generation opportunity to see this collection of work by one the most influential artists of the 20th century, Pablo Picasso, in Ireland. Joining Pat in studio to chat all about the exhibition was Dr. Caroline Campbell, Director of the National Gallery of Ireland.

October is dyslexia awareness month. Pat was joined on the by Rosie Bisset CEO of Dyslexia Ireland and senior cycle student Sive O’Brien to talk about dyslexia, the challenges faced by dyslexic students. Also discusses how Ireland is behind when it comes to extra time accommodations in exams.

Hellbrunn Palace garden surrounded by a wall with 60 hectares of park and less than 20 minutes by bicycle from the city centre of Salzburg. Art historians see a mannerist work of art in this park, a chamber of wonders of garden architecture: partly artistically laid-out park landscape, partly untouched natural biotope; partly fields, ponds, hills, partly children’s paradise. The name Hellbrunn means, among other things, ‘healing spring’ – all who come here will understand why.Diarmuid Gavin brings us the story of Hellbrunn Palace garden.

Lisa Cannon, TV Host & Executive Producer for ‘Spotlight' delves into the best horror movie on this week's Inside Hollywood.

Author and former state pathologist Marie Cassidy joins us now to discuss her newest novel ‘Deadly Evidence’, a sequel to her bestselling debut novel ‘Body of Truth’.

Two years on from the attacks of October 7th, could the end of the brutal conflict it sparked be in sight? President Donald Trump believes so, saying yesterday "there's a possibility that we could have peace in the Middle East".Is this achievable ? All to discuss with Paul Rogers, Emeritus Professor of Peace Studies at Bradford University.

As the government sets out our budget. We ask where does it fit into the position of the global economy? All to discuss with Martin Wolf, Chief Economics Commentator at the Financial Times.

Yesterday afternoon, Finance Minister Pascal Donohoe announced the details of Budget 2026. While last year’s pre-election budget was widely described as a giveaway, this year’s was anything but.  We get more reaction to Budget 2026 with Peadar Toibin, Aontú TD for Meath West and also Susanne Rogers, Research and Policy Analyst with Social Justice Ireland.

Scientists have discovered that biochar can actively break down pollutants without any additional chemicals. This could have major implications for the treatment of wastewater, as well as for global pollution control. In the week of the Nobel prizes, Researchers in Japan have won the satirical Ig Nobel Prize in Biology for research that revealed that painting zebra stripes on cows could repel insects.All to discuss with Dr Ruth Freeman Director of Research for Society For Research Ireland.All with thanks to Repak.

Using solar panels to provide your car’s charge. What can solar power do directly for you and your EV? Also how will the budget impact commuters and drivers. All to discuss with Conor Faughnan, Transport Commentator.

In the background of an upended Presidential Election, Ministers Pascal Donohoe and Jack Chambers presented Budget 2026. An Taoiseach Micheál Martin joined Pat in studio this morning to discuss this and more.

Newstalk Technology Correspondent Jess Kelly reviews the Oura 4 the ring fitness tracker and answers listeners tech queries.

What do the public want from Budget 2026? Josh Crosbie, Newstalk Reporter went out and about to ask the people on the street and in businesses.

Following the October 7th attacks carried out by Hamas and several other militant groups back in 2023, 251 hostages were taken by the Hamas led militants.  Now, on the two-year anniversary of the attacks, only 48 hostages are being held by Hamas, 20 of which are believed to be alive. Speaking to Pat this morning was Moshe Emilio Lavi, Brother-in-law of Omri Miran who was taken as a hostage by Hamas. Also joining Pat was Fawaz Gerges, Professor of International Relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science. 

Why do people steal other people's moments? What's going on? What dynamics?   Why do some people steal your thunder at life events like weddings, birthdays or graduations. All to discuss with Stephanie Regan clinical psychotherapist and cohost of the Tough Love podcast.

Comedian and bestselling author Bob Mortimer joined Pat on the show this morning to discuss his brand-new novel, ‘The Long Shoe’.

With just hours to go before the government announce their 2026 budget, political focus remains Jim Gavin's departure from the presidential election.  Pressure is building for Taoiseach Micheál Martin and his future as leader of Fianna Fáil hangs in the balance.All to discuss with Fionnán Sheehan, Ireland Editor with The Irish Independent. 

Australia’s second most populous state of Victoria is planning another groundbreaking move. A law giving workers in both the private and public sectors the right to work from home for at least two days a week. We ask should working from home be a legal right? Pat discusses this further with Damian McCarthy, CEO of HR Consultancy Firm, HR Buddy.

The Sunbed Association, who represent regulated sunbed businesses owners across the country, is calling on the Government not to impose a ban on regulated sunbed use as they believe it will push the sector underground and into unregulated and unsafe conditions as has happened in Australia.Pat discusses this further with Gary Lipman, Chair, The Sunbed Association.

Fallout for Fine Fáil and what to expect in this year’s budget. All to discuss with Sean Defoe, Newstalk Political Correspondent and Host of the Let Me Explain Podcast.

Frenchwoman Gilese Pelicot has returned to court as one of her rapists appeals their conviction. Catherine Porter is at the trial and brings us the latest along with news of the resignation of the French Prime Minister.

We speak to Fianna Fáil’s Billy Kelleher after Jim Gavin’s dramatic exit from the Presidential race. 

Norma Foley TD, Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Fianna Fáil, Kerry gives her reaction to the new that Jim Gavin is no longer running in the presidential race.

In 1967, then Priscilla Beaulieu married Elvis Presley. The couple shared one daughter, the late Lisa Marie. Priscilla Presley's long awaited memoir 'Softy, As I leave You' is a deeply personal story of what Priscilla lost and what she found when she walked away from the man she loved.Priscilla sat down with Pat to chat about her memoir.

n 2019 Bláthnaid Raleigh was out on a night out with her friends like most young people when her life changed forever.  After a night out with her friends, Bláthnaid headed back to a house party with people she knew from her hometown of Mullingar. It was back at this house party where she was raped by Jonathan Moran. It wasn’t until five years later when Bláthnaid finally got justice and Moran was handed down a nine-year prison sentence with one year suspended for raping her. Now one year on since the trial, she has written a memoir called aftermath and recounts about how she coped in the years following her attack. Bláthaid joined Pat in studio this morning.

With Jim Gavin out of the presidential race, what does that mean for Michael Martin’s leadership within Fianna Fáil? All to discuss with Derek Mooney, Derek Mooney, Former Fianna Fáil advisor and communications expert and Gary Murphy, Professor of Politics at DCU.

Time now to look back over a busy weekend in sport. With Cork City and Shamrock Rovers through to the FAI cup finals, Liverpool losing three consecutive matches for the first time since 2023. George Russell victorious in Singapore grand prix, and Leinster continue their poor start to the United Rugby Championship Season.All to chat to with Colm Boohig from Off The Ball.With thanks to Visit Pennsylvania.

As we hear more and more warnings about what young people are seeing online and the ease of access to disturbing material online, how can we help take young people away from their phones? The National Youth Council of Ireland is hoping that it can be achieved by more offline spaces for young people to take part in activities sans phone.To discuss with Pat was Kathryn Walsh, Director of Policy and Advocacy, National Youth Council of Ireland and also Franek Dobronski, NYCI Local Champion for Carlow Kilkenny Constituency.

Demand for quality property talent continues to outstrip supply. This is resulting in wage inflation and the requirement for employers to be more inventive. Avril Clare, Owner and Managing Director of Avril Clare Recruitment has the details.

Late last night Fianna Fail's candidate for president, Jim Gavin withdrew from the presidential election. It followed reporting in Saturday Irish Independent, that Mr Gavin was overpaid rent to the tune of 3,000euros due to a banking clerical error, which Mr Gavin did not return.Speaking to Pat this morning was Fionnán Sheahan who broke the story this weekend.

Hildergarde Naughton, FG, Galway West TD - Minister of State attending cabinet with responsibility for Disability, David Cullinane, SF, Waterford TD – Sinn Féin Spokesperson for Health and Jack Horgan-Jones, Political Correspondent with The Irish Times were our Friday Forum today. 

According to wealth manager Moneyfarm joint accounts are beginning to go out of date. Some 44% in a long term relationship thinking they are outdated. So, what is the best way to manage joint funds as a couple? 

Its National Potato Day so Gareth Mullins talks us through some of the best potato dishes. 

Russia will not stop until they are forced to do so – that was the opening remark from Danish Prime Minister at a European Leaders summit.  EU leaders have been calling to boost European defence after a series of Russian incursions into EU airspace, and days after drones targeted Danish airports.  But can the 27 EU countries work together as the threat of Russian aggression continues to loom over Europe?   Guest: Anand Menon, director of The UK in a Changing Europe and professor of European politics and foreign affairs at King’s College London.