The Pat Kenny Show

This week on the show Diarmuid Gavin takes a look at the history of the Chelsea Flower Show.All with thanks to Tirlán.

For over 45 years the truth about the sex abuse scandal at Kincora Boys’ Hostel in Belfast has remained beyond reach. Award winning former BBC journalist Chris Moore has doggedly investigated this story for over four decades. His new book Kincora exposes the rampant sexual abuse of young boys that took place at the Belfast Boys’ home.Chris joined Pat in studio this morning.

Rising rents, less rental properties available and small landlords leaving the market leaving the market. But just difficult is it now to find an affordable place to rent in a location near your place of work?Our Chief Reporter Barry Whyte has been finding out, he has been speaking to estate agents and renters.

We go inside Hollywood to look at The saddest tearjerker movies and why we need them. All to discuss with Lisa Cannon , Entertainment Presenter and Producer.

Searches are continuing on the farm of Michael Gaine near Kenmare as Gardaí continue their murder investigation. We get the latest on this with Gerry O'Sullivan , Presenter of Radio Today on Radio Kerry.

Rachel Blackmore joins us to talk about her surprise retirement after her 16 year career, her new children’s novel Granny National and being named one of the ambassadors for the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta, Ireland’s largest sailing event of the year. 

Today we’re talking about 2025’s must-have fashion accessory: the world’s first T-Rex “leather” handbag. The first product could be available by year’s end and the creators claim this next-gen material could be a high-quality, cruelty-free and eco-friendly alternative to standard leather. Also overfishing is causing issues with herring as, younger fish haven’t been able to find traditional spawning ground.All to discuss with Dr Ruth Freeman Director of Research for Society For Research Ireland.All with thanks to Repak.

One4Humanity has been working in both Ukraine and Gaza in order to help the victims of both wars. Last year on the show we heard from Shane Leahy about their container which was to be used as a surgical unit that had just arrived in Gaza. We hear about their latest work from on the ground in Ukraine from Shane Co Founder, One4Humanity and their work in Gaza with Ross Kelly Director of Gaza Response, One4Humanity.

Are we getting closer to driverless cars? Well the UK certainly is. UK driverless cars are expected to arrive in 2027. But Uber says it's ready now. All to discuss with Newstalk's Technology Correspondent Jess Kelly.

More and more homebuyers are paying way over the odds to buy second hand properties in Dublin. Exclusive research carried out for the Pat Kenny Show has found that one in ten second hand homes in the capital are now selling for €100k or more over their asking price.Bidding wars are becoming the norm, with many pointing the finger at Estate Agents for inflating prices. Our Chief Reporter Barry Whyte has been looking into the current second hand home market in Dublin.

On the 13th of June 2019, mother of three Valerie French was cruelly and violently murdered by her husband at her own home just outside of Castlebar in Co. Mayo. David French, Valerie’s brother, is here today to discuss his new book titled “For Valerie”, in which David recounts his sister's death and its devastating aftermath on his family. 

The Funny Woman Awards are an annual celebration that looks at some of the best women comedy performers and creators in the industry. This year its taking place in Dublin. The list of past winners and finalists is Katherine Ryan, Roisin Conaty, Sarah Millican, and Rosie Jones. Pat was joined this morning on the show by Writer and Broadcaster  Barbara Scully and Comedian and Producer Val Troy. 

Dublin Bus has over 4,000 staff on it’s books and more than a thousand buses in it’s fleet, but the company is also home to hundreds of thousands of bees. Our reporter Emma Tyrrell went down to one of its depots to find out more as part of World Bee day today

The United Nations have confirmed that five trucks carrying basic aid and nutritional supplies have been permitted to enter Gaza from the Kareem Shalom crossing. We get the latest on this with Juliette Tuoma, Director of Communications, UNRWA

Why are there so few offshore wind farms? Are objections to wind farms harming our energy security? All to discuss with Hannah Daly, Professor in Sustainable Energy at University College Cork.

The UK and the EU have reached agreements in a post-Brexit deal. The deal, however, has been met with criticism from Brexiteers. Analysis from Ireland’s former Brexit negotiator and Tánaiste, Simon Coveney.  

It’s Coeliac Awareness Month and Dr Deirdre O’Donovan, Consultant Gastroenterologist is our expert to answer listeners gut related questions.All with thanks to Hidden Hearing.

The obsession with air force one through the ages is explained by our reporter Simon Tierney.

We hear about the surprising ways that siblings shape our lives with Stephanie Regan, Clinical Psychotherapist.

it’s time to look back at the weekend’s sport with Off The Ball’s Oisin Coyne. This weekend was packed full of action, with Limerick’s brutal dismantling of Cork, Scottie Scheffler securing his third major championship, notable wins for Dublin and Cavan in the senior football championship, and Everton play their last game at Goodison Park.

Israel will now allow a basic’ amount of food into Gaza hours after a deadly airstrike. The decision comes just hours after Israel “extensive” new ground operations in the Gaza strip. We get the latest on the situation there with Duncan Bullivant, CEO of the Henderson Risk Group, an international risk management advisory. 

All this week on The Pat Kenny Show we are looking at the housing crisis. Today we are looking at the impact it is having on the younger generation; young adults living at home, paying extortionate rents and a generation now considering emigrating. Our Chief Reporter Barry Whyte has been speaking to young people about how they feel like that the housing crisis is stunting their development.

This week marks the 10 year anniversary since the Marriage Equality referendum was passed. It was a day of joy and celebration but a decade on there are still a number of barriers facing same sex couples, especially when it comes to starting a family. Sarah Stone McDevitt and and Shane Lennon De Miguel reflect on the momentous occasion.

Rents continue to rise, passing and average of two thousand euros for the first time. This is according to Daft.ie’s latest quarterly report. Pat discusses these findings with Maurice Deverill, Committee Member, Irish Property Owners Association.

We take a look back on the stories of the week on our Friday Forum. Joining Pat in studio this morning was Emer Currie, Fine Gael Dublin West and Assistant Government Chief Whip, Roderic O'Gorman, Green Party TD Dublin West  and Harry McGee, political correspondent with the Irish Times.   

With the leaving cert just around the corner, lots will be asking are we putting our children through too much stress? But is it important to still have a certain amount of stress in our children’s lives so that we expose them to normal stress and anxiety they may experience in adulthood? Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist Colman Noctor discusses.

Since last November, there has been over 54 tonnes of dumped waste removed from the upland areas of Dublin and Wicklow. This waste equates to over 1,700 bags of rubbish. The group responsible for this removal is the Pure mile environmental and community initiative.Joining Pat this morning was Ian Davis, PURE project manager.

The Irish Dental Association are hosting their annual conference this week. Dr Mairead Browne Dentist and Facial Aesthetic practitioner  joins us to talk about the latest trends in facial aesthetics.

The technique ‘spatchcock’ chicken is simple once mastered, a great and cheap way to cook a whole chicken on the bbq, a Simple Ceasar salad and tomato sald is a winning combination. Gareth Mullins, Executive Chef of The Anantara Marker Hotel tell us how to prepared the perfect weekend dish.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will today head to Istanbul for peace talks on Ukraine. Is there hope of progress towards peace talks? All to discuss with Paul Rogers, Emeritus Professor of Peace Studies, Bradford University.

Crystal Palace are looking to secure their first trophy in over 32 years in the FA cup final this Saturday. In rugby, Munster are in action tonight in the URC, and in Gaelic games the first fixtures of the senior All Ireland Football and Camogie championships start this weekend. 

Disappointment and reflection as Ireland fail to qualify for Eurovision final. Henry McKean reports live from Eurovision 2025 on a night that didn't go well for Ireland,

New figures from the Central Bank show that a record €2.5 billion was taken out in personal loans by Irish households. A large amount of loans for car and house loans. We discuss these figure with Paul Merriman, CEO of Fairstone Ireland aka Ask Paul.

This week sees the anniversary of the first-ever Formula One race and we learn about Joe Kelly, the only Irish driver involved that day. Cameron Hill from Off The Ball tells us all.

Brian Johnson, known by his online alias Liver King, is an American fitness social media influencer and businessman. He is known for promoting what he calls an "ancestral lifestyle". He features in a new tv show called 'The Liver King' and John Fardy tells Pat all about it.

The extraordinary story of the Irish POW who survived Japanese Capture on the River Kwai. Fergus  Kennedy author of 'Ballybunion To The river Kwai joined Pat this morning on the show.

Backlash brewing from some TDs on inheritance tax for childless couples. Taoiseach is in Tirana for the European Political Community on Friday – the political version of Eurovision. Newstalk’s political correspondent Sean Defoe joins us to discuss calls to reform the current inheritance tax and more. 

A recent study published in the eminent medical journal Annals of Medicine says that the damage that smoking, heavy drinking and lack of exercise does begins in your mid 30s. It’s not surprising that a lifetime of these things is damaging. Professor Luke O Neill , Professor of Biochemistry at the school of Immunology, Trinity College tell us more.   

Donald Trump is continuing his Middle Eastern tour, traveling today to the USA. On his first leg in Saudi Arabia, Trump signed an arms deal with the gulf nation and met with the Syrian leader before travelling onwards to Qatar. Full analysis of the trip and more with Lorcan Nyhan Head of Training with The Communications Clinic, Columnist with The Sunday Independent.

Jo Linehan Editor of CLIMATE, Sunday Times Ireland and Sustainability columnist Irish Country Magazine takes a deep dive into the beauty industry. We hear which animals are still tested on, how to identify beauty and personal care items that aren't tested on animals and Irish companies leading the change for cruelty free products.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he will not travel to Turkey today for peace talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. It comes after Putin himself first floated the idea of a Turkey peace meeting. Donncha Ó Beacháin Professor of Politics, School of Law and Government, DCU discussed this further with Pat.

Building Dreams in the Dublin Mountains This week on Garden Stories, we meet a man who took a winding path home and found a way to turn design, craftsmanship and a touch of geometry into a thriving garden business. Pat spoke to Seamus Daly Founder of Geodesic Domes.All with thanks to Tirlán.

In cinema, some directors burst onto the scene with a film so iconic, so culturally seismic, that it seems certain they’re destined for greatness. Then nothing or worse a spectacular unraveling. Lisa Cannon brings us some extraordinary examples where the promise of genius gave way to artistic exile, industry politics, or sheer bad luck.

Long waiting lists for the driving tests, Ford fire risks and why The European Union’s plan to phase out sales of gas and diesel cars by 2035 could be in trouble. All to discuss with Conor Faughnan, Transport Commentator.

This Sunday the 11th of May a new state-of-the-art hospital will open in Valencia, Spain. This new hospital will be able to accommodate patients waiting on orthopedic treatments in Ireland as part of the EU Cross Border Directive. Speaking to Pat this morning was Paul Byrne, Chief Operating Officer, Healthcare Abroad and also Lisa Corcoran, Fitness Instructor, Maynooth, Co. Kildare  who recently had a operation. 

The first of the two Eurovision semi-finals took place in the Swiss city of Basel last night; Henry McKean joins us with all the highlights.

Dr Ruth Freeman Director of Research for Society For Research Ireland discusses chocolate and how the compound that is lethal to dogs might be healthy for humans and lab grown chocolate. Also we hear about a new universal anti-venom for snake bite.All with thanks to Repak.

Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is tasked with supporting the most vulnerable in society. But what is its full remit? Does it meet up to what it is supposed to do? All to discuss with Kate Duggan, Tusla CEO.

Tax cuts and cost of living measures are all unlikely in this year’s budget if no deal is reached between the US and the UK on tariffs. Harry McGee Political Correspondent, The Irish Times explains all to us this morning.

Israeli American hostage Edan Alexander returns to Israel after 19 months of Hamas capture. To discuss this and more Pat spoke to Dana Erlich, Israeli Ambassador to Ireland.