The Pat Kenny Show

Billionaire tech tycoon Jeff Bezos and Laura Sanchez are set to hold an opulent three-day wedding in Venice this week. However the wedding is being met with protests from locals. Nick Pisa, Senior Global Reporter with the Daily Mail tells us more.

Going to cabinet this morning, there is a new bill to expand HIQA’s authority over public and private hospitals, the Occupied Territories Bill that will ban the importation of west bank goods and Minister Jack Chambers is set to warn his cabinet colleagues that they’re responsible for ensuring value for money in their departments.  Pat was joined on the show by Sean Defoe, Newstalk's Political Correspondent to give us the latest. 

After a brutal assault by a serving soldier and a court ruling that favours her attacker’s career over her trauma. Limerick woman Natasha O’Brien becomes the face of a national reckoning. This documentary tells her story confronting a broken justice system and uniting with fellow survivors to demand change. Natasha O'Brien joined Pat in studio this morning.

Following on from the RTÉ Investigates programme that discovered the alleged abuse and neglect in nursing homes run by Emeis Ireland, over 230 allegations of abuse were made against the two nursing homes featured in the programme.Lisa O'Connell is a Founder and Managing Director of Forus training and she has seen a surge in care homes using forged documentation to enroll unqualified individuals. Lisa joined Pat this morning on the show.

As Israel accuses Iran of violating the ceasefire agreement announced overnight, both countries are still recovering after the overnight attacks before the ceasefire was announced. The latest from Tel Aviv with Journalist Paul Kearns. 

A new HSE deal has been made where healthcare staff will be set to work weekends to reduce pressure on hospital trolleys and beds.  We get reaction to this with Dr Chris Luke, Retired Consultant in emergency medicine and host of the Irish Medical Lives Podcast.

The leaving cert holiday, a word that parents fear the most. After a stressful few weeks of exams for sixth-year students, they can finally start to relax. and one-way students like to destress after exams is by going on their ‘sixth year holiday’, a rite of passage for most students.Travel expert Sarah Slattery and Jen Hogan Irish Times Journalist and mother of seven to talk about the worries and stress that comes with their child going on their leaving cert holiday and also the tips everyone going abroad should be aware of. 

Donald Trump has just said in a post on Truth Social: "The ceasefire is now in effect. Please do not violate it! As a reminder, Israel has not publicly accepted the ceasefire proposal. Iran state TV announced earlier that a ceasefire had been "imposed" on Israel.All to discuss with Scott Lucas, Professor and Political analyst at the Clinton Institute, University College Dublin.

Our expert, Dr. Bronagh Keane is our expert today and she gives advice on how to get your teeth wedding ready.All with thanks to Hidden Hearing.

As global tensions rise with Iran, are we secure here in Ireland? We discuss  Lieutenant Col. (Ret.) Marie Gleeson, Managing Director of Namvar Leadership and Blue Economy Advocate and also Cathal Berry, Former Army Ranger and Member of the Defence Forces.

With the registration for 252 cars, what new cars can we expect in the summer months? Motoring Editor Ger Herbert talks through some of the brand new cars hitting dealerships this summer like the Hyundai IONIQ 9 or the Kia EV4.

Can a name shape your future? Florence Knapp's debut novel ‘The Names’ explores the different possibilities a name could give someone. Speaking to Pat all about her new book was author Florence Knapp.

In recent years big service stations have popped up across Ireland's road network. In the past before motorways, you would stop in a village for a break and find a pub. Now it's all change. With petrol pumps and as many EV charging points and multiple restaurant choices. Henry McKean met travellers from across Ireland at Junction 14 Mayfield in Kildare. He sent this snapshot in time at one of Ireland's busiest service stations.     

Lot’s of action from the weekend starting off with Dublin with a double win beating limerick in the hurling championship quarter final and getting the better of Cork in the football knock-out stages while Damien Duff makes a shock exit from Shelbourne.Off The ball’s Colm Boohig looks back on the weekend of sport.

After the United States struck Iran’s nuclear sites on the weekend, there has been a spectrum of reaction within the United States from those who support the action to those who are vehemently opposed. We get the latest from Senior Director of News, WSHU Public Radio Terry Sheridan and with analysis from Emeritus Professor of Peace Studies at the University of Bradford and Global Security Consultant with Oxford Research Group Paul Rogers.

Frustrated house buyers in Dublin are once again turning to commuter counties as first-time purchasers search for affordability. That’s according to the latest Irish independent REA average house price index.Seamus Carthy, REA spokesman discussed the findings with Pat this morning.

Tensions in the middle east have reached an all time high after us military strikes destroyed three Iranian nuclear sites. We discuss the events of the weekend with Alastair Campbell, Host of The Rest Is Politics and Former Downing Street Director of Communications and Strategy for Tony Blair and Shashank Joshi, Defence Editor with The Economist.

We take alook back on the stories of the week on our Friday Forum. Joining Pat today was Mary Fitzpatrick Senator in Dublin Central. Seanad Spokesperson on Dublin, Dublin City Taskforce, Local Government and Heritage, Peadar Tóibín, Aontú TD for Meath West and John Lee, Executive Editor Irish Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday. 

Israel and Iran enters its second week of conflict as the Israeli military issue another warning of incoming missiles from Iran this morning. With the latest on the situation we heard from Paul Kearns, journalist based in Tel Aviv and Gershon Baskin former Israeli hostage negotiator.

The Lions face Argentina in the Aviva stadium tonight before travelling down under to take on the Western Force. A round of fixtures in the League of Ireland also kicks off tonight with bohemians facing Waterford FC.  And it’s a football championship weekend which means lots of fixtures to look forward to. Dublin play cork in the preliminary quarter finals while the Tailteann cup semi-finals take place in Croke park.  Off The Ball’s Colm Boohig looks ahead to the weekend of sport.

New research shows that Ireland is now the second most expensive country in the European Union. We discuss this research with Emma Howard, Economist and Lecturer at TU Dublin and Emily Keegan, Newstalk Reporter.

This weekend will be 6 months since Ireland’s first medically supervised injection centre opened in Dublin’s south inner city. Operated by Merchant’s Quay Ireland, it’s been used more than 4-thousand times. Our reporter Emma Tyrrell visited the Riverbank Centre to find out more about the 18 month pilot.

From 27 weeks to 18.4 weeks, the driving test wait list has finally been reduced. The RSA action plan set out a series of actions to bring the average wait time down. This included expanding testing hours, training new testers and even building new driving test centers in Drogheda and Sandyford, which are due to be open soon. All to discuss with Brendan Walsh, chief operations officer of the RSA.

Donald Trump has approved attack plans for Iran, but for now is holding back on a final decision to go ahead with any attack according to sources who spoke to CBS news who also earlier reported that trump was weighing a strike on Iran’s subterranean uranium enrichment facility in Fordo. Analysis on this and more from Scott Lucas Professor and Political Analyst, Clinton Institute, UCD

You might know him from being the Horslips drummer and lyricist or from his journalistic career with the Herald in 1989. Eamon Carr, writer, musician and art historian released his new book ‘Pure Gold: memorable conversations with remarkable people’. 

Hot flushes; insomnia and loss of libido for women and for the men flagging libido, shrinking muscles and growing body fat. Luke O’ Neill on the latest science around menopause and “manopause”

Sky Ireland are warning people that they will face consequences if they’re caught using dodgy boxes. we discussed this further with Larry Bass, CEO of production company ShinAwil.

As the GAA season hits full swing here at home. we turn our attention to France where one of Europe’s oldest GAA clubs in is celebrating a major milestone. Paris Gaels GAA marks it’s 30 year anniversary. Oisin Coyne from Off the Ball tells us more.

Israel's ambassador to Ireland Dana Erlich join Pat this morning on the show as it is becoming more likely that the US will enter the conflict between Iran and Israel.   As the conflict escalates, the death toll in Gaza only mounts, as civilians continue to starve and be attacked, while their hospitals cannot cope.   

Jo Linehan Editor of CLIMATE, Sunday Times Ireland and Sustainability columnist Irish Country Magazine  tells us about the Circular Economy how to keep materials, components, and products in use in the economy for as long as possible.

Issues in a Tipperary graveyard, where large headstones are being erected under nightfall, were the subject of a public meeting last night Josh Crosbie attended the meeting and is here now to tell us all. 

Minster for Health Helen McEntee today launched Education Plan 2025 which included provision for more therapists in special schools. We discuss this and more including AI and phones in schools as well as a follow up to yesterday’s interview on schools catering for students with mild general learning disabilities.Minister McEntee joined Pat in studio this morning.

This week’s Garden Stories turns to the quietly revolutionary figure of Humphry Repton (1752–1818), the last great name of the English landscape tradition and the man who bridged the classical sweep of Capability Brown with the rising tide of the Romantic and Picturesque. Though he came late to his career—only styling himself a “landscape gardener” in his mid-thirties he left a lasting legacy through over 400 commissions and, most notably, through his extraordinary invention: the Red Books,

Special schools who cater for students with mild general learning disabilities are being put under pressure by the government to change their classification.  This means children with mild general learning disabilities would be pushed back into the mainstream schools that have already failed them.Debbie O’Neill is the Principal of Scoil Eoin in Crumlin who caters for students with mild general learning disabilities. Debbie has been a teacher in the school for the past 24 years and Principal for the past 3 years. She fears that students in the special schools are at risk now following the circular letter that was issued to her school recently.  Debbie spoke to Pat this morning.

Following on from a series of successful debut shows, the rock theatre production ‘moonlight: the Philip Lynott Enigma’ will return to Vicar Street and joining the cast is renowned Irish singer songwriter Brian Kennedy.  Brian known for his hit singles such as ‘you raise me up’ and ‘crazy love’ will be portraying literary icon Oscar Wilde joined Pat on the show this morning.

Record-breaking €250m EuroMillions jackpot has been won in Ireland.But what should you actually do when you get that big cheque? Should you splurge it on a holiday? Give it to friends or family? All to chat with Paul Merriman, CEO of Fairstone Ireland and Founder of AskPaul.

Making a film isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s for the dreamers who sleep on floors, max out credit cards, sell body parts to science (yes, really), and beg, borrow, or hustle their way to the big screen. Hollywood and indie film alike are full of stories where directors stopped at nothing to get their passion projects made.All to chat about with Lisa Cannon Entertainment presenter and producer.

Soaring fuel prices, and a milestone for the Cork Limerick motorway. All to discuss in this weeks motoring slot with Transport Commentator Conor Faughnan.

The Government yesterday announced that it was to purchase the Citywest Hotel in Dublin to become a permanent international protection facility. Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O’Callaghan joined us to discuss this and more including our bail laws and prison spaces.

Iran has fired hypersonic missiles at Israel on their sixth day of fighting. This follows Donald Trump’s warning of US’ protentional involvement, and his demand for Iran to surrender.   Sally Hayden, Irish international correspondent reports live from Beirut gave Pat an update on the situation.

For years, scientists have warned us about ocean acidification often called the "evil twin" of the climate crisis. But a new report suggests we've underestimated the danger. The health of our oceans may have already passed a critical tipping point. Also we hear about a new study has found that dehorning rhinos reduces poaching by 80%. The visual of a rhino being dehorned may sound brutal for the animals, but the experts say that cutting off the animals’ horns is more effective than traditional protection methods such as rangers and it costs less. Most of all, it can be done without causing pain for the animals.  All to discuss with Dr Ruth Freeman Director of Research for Society For Research Ireland.With thanks to Repak.ie.

With 40 million book sold globally in 120 different countries and a hit tv series on Disney plus, Karin Slaughter is one of the most successful crime fiction writers in the world. She returns with a new book part of series we are all guilty as part of a brand new the in which local two girls go missing and it sends the town of north falls into chaos. Karin tells Pat all about 'We Are All Guilty'.

Every morning Christoph Schwitzer gets to wake up between a South African hornbill and a red river hog. But why wouldn’t he it's the standard accommodation for the Director of Dublin Zoo. Dr Christoph Schwitzer was appointed to the position just 5 years ago and he joins Pat to tell all his day-to-day life in the Zoo and his passion for animals.

The Phoenix Park is one of the largest enclosed public parks in any capital city in Europe and is home to around 600 deer but when it comes to holding concerts, events and even sporting events, how is the park managed and what goes on behind the scenes? Paul McDonnell is the Chief Superintendent of the Phoenix Park for nearly 10 years and he joined Pat to answer those questions and to tell us what his day in the life looks like as the Park’s Superintendent.The show today  was live from Dublin Zoo as part of Newstalk Summer Tour 2025 with thanks to ESB’s 1600 EV chargers across Ireland giving you the freedom to go further.

The Coronas will be headlining Kaleidascope in July but next week they play Live At The Marquee in Cork as part of their tour to celebrate their latest album ‘Thoughts and Observations’. Danny joined Pat to talk everything about making music, touring the world and what they’ve been getting up to lately.The show today  was live from Dublin Zoo as part of Newstalk Summer Tour 2025 with thanks to ESB’s 1600 EV chargers across Ireland giving you the freedom to go further.

trump leaves the G7 while lamenting the absence of Vladimir Putin. The Trump family have a new business venture. All to discuss with our panel, Gina London, Former CNN White House Correspondent and Columnist with the Sunday Independent and Larry Donnelly, Law Lecturer at the University of Galway and Columnist with The Journal

Henry McKean went out first thing with the zookeepers and met the red pandas, sea lions and penguins just as Dublin Zoo opened its doors to the public.The show today was live from Dublin Zoo as part of Newstalk Summer Tour 2025 with thanks to ESB’s 1600 EV chargers across Ireland giving you the freedom to go further.

Now that we are well and truly into summer, its the time of year when businesses all preparing for the influx of visitors far and wide.  But despite CSO figures showing a drop in tourism earlier this year, industry experts are expecting a boom of North American visitors this summer.But how is the tourism sector preparing for their busiest time of the year? All to discuss with Lorraine Sweeney Hotelier and business woman and Eoghan O'Mara Walsh, Chief Executive of the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation.The show today  was live from Dublin Zoo as part of Newstalk Summer Tour 2025 with thanks to ESB’s 1600 EV chargers across Ireland giving you the freedom to go further.

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to look after the elephants at Dublin Zoo? From training them to giving them pedicures, elephants can be very high maintenance. Christina Murphy is the Elephant Team Leader at Dublin Zoo and she told Pat what that’s like.  Also joining us is Jenny Dunne, Head of Commercial Operations who is going to talk to us about all the upcoming events happening here at Dublin Zoo from the Zoorassic Trail Takeover to their first ever Run for Wildlife.The show today was live from Dublin Zoo as part of Newstalk Summer Tour 2025 with thanks to ESB’s 1600 EV chargers across Ireland giving you the freedom to go further.

The origins of the expansive Phoenix Park date all the way back to its founding as a Royal Park in 1662. In the centuries since its founding, the park has seen masses and murders, trenches and turf, allotments and animals and amongst all that, plans to turn the entire thing into an airport! John A McCullen, the park’s former superintendent takes us through some of the park’s history.