The Pat Kenny Show

Yesterday it emerged from a briefing document provided to Transport Minister Daragh O'Brien that the metro link project could cost more than €23 billion. Is it time call a halt to the metro link? To discuss with Ivan was Michael McDowell, Senator and Former Tánaiste and Minister for Justice.

Nepo baby term that’s become Hollywood’s inside favourite hot potato. But before we had today’s social media-fuelled debate over celebrity offspring, there were the originals stars like Jamie Lee Curtis, Drew Barrymore, and Michael Douglas, who proved that while a famous surname might open doors, talent is what keeps them open. Lisa Cannon tells us all.

We look at the car sales figures for 2025 across Ireland and Europe and ask why less people are opting for manual cars! We also hear why the EUs 2035 combustion ban is under threat! All to discuss with Geraldine Herbert Motoring Editor and Columnist with the Independent.  

Today An Taoiseach Micheál Martin meets US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office for the traditional ceremony handing over the bowl of shamrock. Séan Defoe, our political correspondent in Washington joins us to look ahead to the series of Irish American meetings this morning,

A new study has found rodents perform "mouse-to-mouse resuscitation" on each other, much like human CPR, when finding another rodent unresponsive. Also new research has found that solar farms that are built and managed with biodiversity in mind can host up to three times as many birds as crop fields. All to discuss with Dr Ruth Freeman in this week's 'Green Scene'All with thanks to Repak.

The Department of Public Expenditure recently reminded workers of their email tone and times they send them at. So what should your tone in email be? And should you be replying outside of office hours? Donal O’Donoghue of Sanderson Recruitment discusses.

When you think of a opera performance you may think its only for a certain kind of audience with these ideas of the artform many might be quick to write it off as a pastime for cultural snobs. Ahead of her lead role in Irish National Opera’s L’elisir d’amor, Claudia Boyle, leading irish soprano joins us to dispel some notions around operas. 

Ukraine has accepted a 30-day ceasefire with Russia put forward by the US. How Russia will respond to this is unknown. Following the agreement the US also agreed to resume intelligence sharing and military aid which it suspended last week. To discuss further with Ivan Professor Donncha Ó Beacháin joins us.

Newstalk Technology Correspondent Jess Kelly reviews the newly released Sky Glass Gen 2 but is does it trump the first one?

Grammy winning and Pulitzer Prize winning Jazz artist Wynton Marsalis joined Ivan on the show this morning. Wynton chatted about his long career and also the work as Artistic Director of Jazz at the Lincoln Centre.

What can you and can’t you say at a dinner party? And if you really, really want to know something that you shouldn’t ask, how do you get around it?Columnist for The Sunday Times and Irish Daily Mail Brenda Power joined Ivan to discuss further.

has begun his five day US tour for St Patrick’s Day, starting in the Lone Star State of Texas where he met with Governor Greg Abbott and attended SXSW. Seán Defoe is with him and brings us up to speed.

A group of 14 women are due to set off to the Arctic Circle on Thursday. They will trek the arctic for 6 days, braving the elements and camping in below-freezing conditions. They are raising awareness and funds for the ‘Her Heart Matters’ campaign. 1 in 4 women die from heart disease, the same as men, yet research on heart disease in women is majorly lacking. Judith Gilsenan joins us to discuss the women’s expedition.

Why is it that two items of clothing, of the same size, can fit so differently? Laura Jordan joins us to discuss the lack of standardised clothing sizes, the issues of inconsistent sizing and how best to navigate them.

Households could face being charged for using abnormally large amounts of water. With the charge anticipated to be capped at 500 Euro a year.  With more on this Ivan spoke to   Eoin O Broin Sinn Féin TD for Dublin Mid-West  and, party Spokesperson for Housing.

The fear of spiking is something that crosses every woman's mind. Whether it's clutching onto their drinks tightly or even taking their drink with them to the bathroom on a night out. As the number of spiking incidents continues to rise, fresh calls are being made to put pressure on the government to make spiking a specific criminal offence in Ireland, as it currently falls under poisoning laws. Laura Kelly reports for us. 

Our expert today is Dr. Bronagh Keane, general and cosmetic dentist aka Irelands Tooth Fairy. Bronagh answers listeners dentistry questions.All with thanks to Hidden Hearing.

Solicitor and Crime Novelist Catherine Kirwan joins us to discuss her newly published thriller ‘The Seventh Body.’ Set in Cork city, a routine excavation, in which six historical remains are found, becomes a crime scene when a seventh body is uncovered.

Today, former QuikPark reopens on Monday serving Dublin airport and also Minister Daragh O’Brien is set to have a meeting on regarding the ongoing issue of Dublin Airport’s passenger cap.

Consumers have been warned to avoid getting caught out by health insurance companies imposing much larger rises in the cost of their cover than the average price quoted. Dermot Goode from Total Health Cover explains more .

France beat Ireland 42-27 in their Six Nations face-off in the Aviva Stadium, Shamrock Rovers beat St Pats 1-0 in Tallaght Stadium, and Ireland wins three medals in just over half an hour in the Apeldoorn Athletics Championships. All to discuss with Colm Boohig, Broadcaster of Off The Ball.

This week is Brain Awareness Week.  Over the week, the Neurological Alliance of Ireland aims to promote greater awareness of the brain and brain conditions. Joining Ivan this morning on the show was Professor and a Clinical Neuropsychologist in Trinity College Dublin and Beaumont Hospital Niall Pender and also Bernadette Spellman  Widowed Carer for her husband Micheál who suffered from Huntington’s disease. 

Mary Lou McDonald has indicated that she will go before the Dáil and address the arrest of Sinn Fein TD Thomas Gould. We discuss this further along with other political news with Craig Hughes, Political Editor with the Irish Daily Mail.

Our Friday Forum looks back on the main new stories of the week. Joining Pat today in studio was Louise O’Reilly Sinn Féin spokesperson on Workers' Rights, Enterprise, Trade and Employment and TD Dublin Fingal West, Naoise Ó Cearúil Fianna Fail TD for Kildare North and also Harry Browne  Senior Lecturer in Journalism at TUD.

Relations between Europe and the United States are potentially at their most strained in living history. With the trump administration increasingly taking an isolationist approach to its foreign policy. Also with the present geopolitical situation threatening to tear up the international order. John Bolton, former National Security Advisor for the Trump administration and former United wtates Qmbassador to the United Nations joined Pat this morning to discuss this and more.

This Saturday marks International Women's Day and hundreds of women will take to the streets of the capital. One of the women speaking at the march is Paula Doyle who will be joined by her 4 children.Paula was raped by Aiden Kestell in September 2019 after he walked her home from a party in his house. Mr Kestell was found guilty in 2024 of raping Paula and sentenced jailed for seven-and-a-half years. Since waving her anonymity, Paula has spoken out against the use of counselling notes in cases of sexual assault and advocated for the rights of survivors.Paula joined Pat in studio this morning.

With only two weekends to go before the winner is crowned, pressuring is mounting on the Irish squad as they take on France in the 6 Nations. Things are heating up in the SSE Airtricity League as Shamrock Rovers face off St Pat’s tonight ahead of another action-packed weekend of sport. Colm Boohig, Broadcaster on Off the Ball looks ahead to the weekend of sport.

Talks between Section 39 pay and the government are to take place today with the threat of industrial action looming once more if an agreement can't be reached. Ashley Connolly, Forsa national secretary for health and welfare joined Pat to discuss.

Yesterday Micheal Martin and Keir Starmer finished up a major British Irish summit where the two leaders discussed defense, energy and investment among other things. Given the geopolitical situation in the present moment. Defense collaboration between the UK and Ireland may prove important in improving the overall security of our islands. Joining Pat this morning in studio was Paul Johnston, British ambassador to Ireland.

Young Europeans now get the majority of their news from social media, what are the consequences of this? Especially concerning is that the youngest groups rely on Tiktok exclusively! All this and more to discuss with Author and Disinformation Expert David Robert Grimes.   

Award winning author Colum McCann  joined Pat on the show to discuss his newly published book ‘Twist’.

American Murder - Gabby Petito. What happened in the final days of Gabby Petito's life? John Fardy reviews this gripping true-crime series.  

Five years on from the start of the pandemic, millions of people still face debilitating symptoms. We ask has long Covid been forgotte? All to discuss with Professor Luke O'Neill.

With Jervis shopping centre now on the market, and retail outlets such as new look exiting the market. We ask what does the future of retail look like in Ireland? All to discuss with Damian O'Reilly Senior Lecturer in retail management at the College of Business at TUD.

This week Cameron Hill from Off The Ball brings us the story of, Massimo Cellino the most eccentric of eccentric Italian football club owner

Fionnan Sheahan, Ireland Editor of the Irish Independent joined Pat this morning for the political roundup of the week. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Tánaiste Micheál Martin are set to meet in Liverpool today. After a chaotic week in global politics, they have much to discuss ahead of Martin’s visit to the White House. 

Social media influencers in Ireland issued with more than 450 letters by Revenue over gifts. This is the latest attempt in response to growth of earnings on social media.  But how many industries are avoiding paying their income tax?To discuss further with Pat was CEO of Fairstone Ireland and AskPaul.ie Paul Merriman.

In this week’s Commuter Slot we hear about the New RSA ad, how young Drivers 85% more likely to be involved in road accidents than older drivers and the penalty point loophole.

Conor Walsh, secretary of the Irish Waste Management Association (IWMA)  joined Pat on the show this morning. Topics up for discussion was how to tackle illegal dumping, the cost of water mangement and getting recycling.

Making controversial political speech at the Oscars. Necessary or sheer Nonsense? Lisa Cannon brings us some examples of the speeches that caused boos and scandal & those that garnered applause.

 After three years of war in Ukraine the devastation inflicted upon their communities is immense. With the scars of wars not just physically felt but also psychologically. Executive Director of UNICEF Ireland Peter Power is just back from Ukraine and he joined Pat to discuss the impact the war is having on Children in the war torn Country.  

In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Brian McCarthy stood atop a bare concrete roof in Cork city centre and envisioned a transformation. With limited gardening experience, he embarked on an ambitious project: converting this unused urban space into a thriving rooftop farm.Brian joined Pat this morning on the show to tell him all about his gardening journey.

Italia 90 heroes set for stage show honoring 35 years after iconic World Cup. To chat to Pat about the show and Italia 90 memories was Niall Quinn Former Republic of Ireland Footballer and also John Aldridge  Former Liverpool and Republic Of Ireland Footballer. Shows take place in the RDS Concert Hall, Dublin Friday 14th March and  Cork Opera House Sunday 16th March. 

Over 50 invited guests including 25 prospective employers from the hospitality industry gathered at the prison for a final exam like no other. Six prisoners who took part in an intensive eight-week culinary course served up a feast behind bars last night. It’s the fourth year of ‘The Open Door’ pop-up restaurant, which is a collaboration between the Irish Prison Service and Munster Technological University. Newstalk’s southern reporter Jamie O Hara went inside Cork Prison to speak to the people involved

On this week's Green Scene. Director of Science for Society at Science Foundation Ireland Dr Ruth Freeman is here to explain some watery skills. We hear how dancing baby sea turtles unlock the secrets of their navigational abilities, and impressive fish memories.All with thanks to Repak.

Urticaria is a skin reaction that causes itchy welts. Chronic hives are welts that last for more than six weeks and return often over months or years. What causes it and what the treatment? To discuss further Pat spoke to Selene Daly Tarpey, Nurse Tutor and Registered Advanced Nurse Practitioner.

Alastair Campbell writer, communicator, consultant, strategist, mental health campaigner joined Pat on the show this morning. Up for discussion Trump, Putin and how European leaders have got to understand that this is now a real crisis for Europe and for the Western world.

One of the UK’s leading beauty clinics who also operations here in Ireland has reported a 33% increase in men booking laser hair removal. Why more men are removing their body hair. To discuss further Pat spoke to Stephen McEvoy of Stephen Thomas Male Grooming and Skin Clinic.

Apple CEO Tim Cook teased the launch of a new device this week what is expected? Also it was announce that Skype will be no more from May. Newstalk's own Killian Ginnity brings us all the details.

Sarah Corbett Lynch, Author of A time for truth and award-winning bereaved children and victims’ rights campaigner joined Pat on the show this morning.Sarah recounts family life with her stepmother Molly Martens, her experience of the Martens’ trial and the grief she still carries over the loss of her father, which left her, and her brother jack orphaned.