The Pat Kenny Show

After nearly seven years of uncertainty, Kerry man Seán Binder has been acquitted on charges of people smuggling avoiding twenty years in a Greek prison. Binder was one of twenty-three defendants set to face trial after volunteering to save refugees from drowning in the sea off Lesvos in Greece back in 2018. 

The Premier League is back this weekend and all eyes will be on Michael Carrick and Man United. The 44 year old was confirmed as head coach for the remainder of the season ahead of the Manchester derby this weekend. Back home, the All-Ireland Club senior football final takes place as Dingle hopes to secure their first title.  Colm Boohig, Broadcaster with Off the Ball looks ahead to a busy weekend of sport.

The April 5 deadline is approaching for people living outside the UK to benefit from new rules for UK State Pension entitlements. If you have between 1 and 10 years of work in the UK, this is your last chance ever to get or top up a UK state pension.To bring us the details and information was John Ring Operations Director of XtraPension.

With Ireland two must win matches away from World Cup qualification, should pubs be allowed to stay open late to accommodate the late start of any potential Ireland matches? Pat discusses this with Barry Heneghan TD, Independent, Dublin Bay North

Researchers at the University of Limerick are currently looking into the effectiveness of ‘super spike’ running shoes for Ireland’s elite sprinters ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Technology has been at the forefront of athletics since the Ancient Olympic Games. But even the simplest of inventions have received pushback from the conservative powers that be. Off The Ball’s Cameron Hill can tell us more

Joining Pat this morning was the globally renowned, award-winning physician, Dr. Patrick Treacy. He joined Pat to chat about his new book 'Destinations, Medical Stories From Around The World. With a career spanning diverse roles across continents, the book shares captivating stories of vibrant cultures in both bustling cities and remote corners of the globe. 

A recent survey showed that never cleaning your phone and scrolling while on the loo were amongst the top ten phone habits people want to kick. But how unhygienic is a dirty phone in the bathroom? and what other germs are lurking around our everyday household items?  To tell us was Dr Orla Cahill, Lecturer in Microbiology and Allergen Management in Technological University Dublin. 

Married people are better off financially due to tax breaks. But what are your options if you are co-habiting and something goes wrong. We get tips and advice from Paul Merriman CEO of Fairstone Ireland. 

Everybody hates going to the dentist. So might it be possible instead to regrow teeth in your own mouth? Recent advances say yes. And also there’s a new toothpaste coming that is really effective at killing the bacteria in your mouth that cause gum disease.All to chat about with Luke O’Neill, Professor of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity College Dublin.

A new report from the ESRI shows that many people believe immigration is happening in Ireland on a larger scale than it really. People also misjudged why migrants come to Ireland and the focus on asylum-seekers in media coverage and public discourse “may contribute to these biases”. So how much does this stem from migration.Pat discusses this further with Dr Umar Al Qadri, Chairperson Irish Muslim Council.

Many of us will declutter and dump unused and unloved items this January. But many do not know where to recycle and donate post Christmas. With all the advice was Jo Linehan, Sustainability Journalist. 

With rising anxiety among people currently due to the alarming actions of Trump, Putin and other world leaders. It is more important now than ever we facilitate ways in which positive societal and political change can be actively brought about at a grassroots level. All to discuss further with Stephen Donnelly, Melbourne based community organising specialist and Host of the Socially Democratic podcast.

In 2023, 13 local authorities did not issue any derelict site levies despite having the power to do so. Almost €20.5m remains unpaid in derelict site levies ahead of a new derelict site tax in coming into effect in 2027. Pat discusses this further with Thomas Gould TD, Spokesperson on Urban Regeneration & Renewal, Planning, Public Realm & Local Government, Cork North-Central, Sinn Féin.

Diarmuid Gavin, award winning gardener joined Pat Kenny on the show to dicuss the gardens of Bournville in Birmingham.

As part of the Pat Kenny Show's focus on crime we are going to turn to Cork. A shoplifting gang has been caught by Gardaí following a raid on a home in Cork. €10,000 worth of stolen goods, including shoes, spirits, drills, hoovers and toothpaste were recovered. But does Cork have a shoplifting problem like Dublin and do people in Cork feel safe? Henry McKean met people on the streets of Cork and sent us this report…

Oil prices are shaped as much by politics as by supply and demand, and so events thousands of kilometres away can still hit close to home. In recent weeks, renewed action by U.S. president Donald Trump against Venezuela has once again put the country’s vast oil reserves at the centre of global attention.While Ireland doesn’t buy Venezuelan oil directly, moves in Washington can still ripple through European energy markets, influencing prices, volatility and fuel costs. So how could political decisions in the United States affect what drivers, households and businesses here in Ireland end up paying?CEO of Henderson Risk Group, Duncan Bullivant joined Pat Kenny on the show to discuss.

Yesterday TDs descended onto the Dáil after the winter recess, and issues surrounding Merscour and migration were all on the table. Today, the hot lunch meal scheme and Uisce Éireann are set to be addressed.Pat was joined by Harry McGee, political correspondent with The Irish Times to discuss all things politics.

Pat Kenny was joined by Conor Faughnan, Transport Commentator and Independent Motoring expert for carzone to discuss all things mororing and answers your motoring questions.

Greenland and Denmark will hold high-stakes talks in Washington today over US ambitions to annex the arctic island. US President Donald Trump insists his country will take over Greenland “the easy way or the hard way”, citing security concerns and mineral interests, and his administration has not ruled out the use of force to do so. Greenland's Prime Minister Jens Frederik Nielsen insisted on Tuesday his island, a largely autonomous part of the three-country kingdom of Denmark, “cannot be bought” and its future will be decided only by its people. Scott Lucas, Professor and Political Analyst Clinton institute UCD joined Pat Kenny on the show to discuss.

On this week’s Green Scene Dr Ruth Freeman Director of Research for Society For Research Ireland joined Pat Kenny to discuss the surprising evolutionary origins of sleep, and how time is running out for the world’s glaciers.All with thanks to Repak.

Next Tuesday, 20th of January, is the reduced application fee deadline for students applying to the CAO. If registered before then, students will only be charged €35. That increases to €50 before the traditional 1st of February deadline.These deadlines in the coming weeks will give students and guidance counsellors a chance to get first choices out of the way before turning their focus to the mock exams. For advice on the upcoming deadline and making choices, Brian Mooney, guidance counsellor and columnist with The Irish Times joined Pat Kenny on the show to discuss.

Niamh Smyth, Minister of State with special responsibility for trade promotion, artificial intelligence and digitalization, has said social media platform X should be banned if it won’t comply with online safety laws.Niamh Smyth, Minister of State with special responsibility for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digitalisation and TD for Cavan–Monaghan joined Pat Kenny on the show to discuss. 

Jess Kelly Newstalk's Technology Correspondent answers all your tech questions.

Has the tipping culture in Ireland become more like the US? Is that a good thing? What is the average tipping rate, and how important are your maths skills when deciding what to tip?Tanya Sweeney, journalist and author, and Adrian Cummins, CEO of the Restaurants Association of Ireland both joined Pat Kenny on the show to discuss.

Vincent Durac, Associate Professor, School of Politics and International Relations at UCD, joined Pat on the show to take a deeper look at what sparked the deadly protests in Iran. 

Ireland's recent exchequer returns showed that, despite concerns surrounding Trump’s tariffs, the State was unaffected - and you can thank the corporation tax for that. Corporate tax receipts, excluding the Apple tax money, amounted to a record €32.9 billion last year.  But are we too reliant on it to fund the state and what happens if it collapses? Pat Kenny was joined by economist Colm McCarthy to discuss.

Construction activity continued to decrease in December, according to the AIB Purchasing Managers’ Index. It marked the eighth straight month of decline, despite a slightly slower fall for the final month of the year. However, there were some brighter signs looking into 2026, as new orders increased for the first time in five months. Peter Finn, better known as Pete the Builder, joined us on the show to explain the figures further.

The past week stories of surrounding X and Grok AI have dominated the airwaves both in Ireland and abroad. Degrading images of children and women with their clothes digitally removed by Grok AI continue to be shared on Elon Musk’s X, despite the platform’s commitment to suspend users who generate them. A number of countries are now banning the AI Chabot to protect users and children, but can these heinous artificial images of children actually reach a prosecution?   Mick Moran, CEO of the Irish Internet Hotline and a former Garda, joined Pat Kenny on the show to discuss.

January is usually the time when many of us decide to embrace a healthier lifestyle, whether it's cutting out the booze, joining the gym or even going for a sauna.  Saunas have become increasingly popular over the last yea,r with more people trying to make healthier choices, but do they actually boost your health?  Pat was joined by Dr Heather Massey, associate professor of extreme environments and physiology at the University of Portsmouth, to discuss.

 It’s been over nine years since the UK voted to leave the EU, yet both parties are still working on various trade agreements. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is in the midst of negotiating an agricultural deal and while some see it as the UK edging closer to the EU, politicians worry what a Farage premiership will do to the already fraught relations between the two blocs.  Tim Bale, Professor of Politics at Queen Mary, University of London, joined Pat Kenny on the show to discuss.

: Dermatologist Dr Rosemary Coleman is our Monday Expert and tells us all about microneedling. T he procedure that involves creating multiple, controlled micro-injuries in the skin with devices embedded with fine needles.

On Saturday, 20 December 2025, Garmin’s emergency autoland was used for the first time in a real-world emergency situation. The emergency autoland system is designed to take control of an aircraft in the event of pilot incapacitation and safely land at a nearby airfield. We discuss further with Kevin Byrne, Retired Lieutenant Colonel and Airport Safety and Security Expert. 

We talk a lot about “support”, but what do we actually mean by it? We use the word support all the time, but rarely stop to define it. In real life, support isn’t a slogan or a phrase. It’s a set of behaviours, choices, and ways of showing up. And it looks different depending on what someone is going through.Stephaine Regan, Clinical Psychotherapist, and host of the Tough Love Podcast explains all.

In an age of an online world an increasing amount of people are looking to find love behind screens. Naturally enough, this is leading to burnout and fatigue when it comes to dating apps. But what is a single person to do? Pat chats to Emma Kehoe, Life Coach and host of All Of The Above podcast.

Helmets for e-scooter riders may become compulsory to reduce serious injuries. More than 9,000 people were 'no shows' for driving tests last year and what are the new car for 2026.All to discuss with Geraldine Herbert Motoring Editor with the Sunday Independent. 

Donald Trump's ambitions for Greenland are to be discussed at a meeting between the US, Greenland and Denmark this week. The US President ramped up his war of words in recent days, saying he will take the territory 'whether they like it or not' Our report Josh Crosbie is in Greenland and joined Pat this morning on the show.

The Minister for Justice is expected to bring a bill to cabinet to overhaul the states' asylum system.  One of the many new changes includes new plans proposed by Jim O'Callaghan that will see refugee families having to wait three years before bringing spouses and children to IrelandPat discusses this further with Gary Gannon, Social Democrats TD for Dublin Central and party spokesperson for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration..

  Problems for Manchester United continue to build as the club lost 2-1 against Brighton in the FA cup under Darren Fletcher. Meanwhile in rugby, Leinster managed to secure a win over La Rochelle in the URC after a dramatic eighty minutes. 

As Ireland moves closer to the introduction of the EU pay transparency directive, salary visibility has become one of the most pressing and unavoidable issues facing employers, recruiters, and jobseekers alike. We ask how will the issue of salary visibility be solved?All to discuss with Avril Clare, Founder and Owner, Avril Clare Recruitment Ltd Property and Asset Management Recruitment Specialists.

Jessie Buckley has been named best female actor at the Golden Globes for her role in Hamnet. The movie also picked up the award for the best motion picture in drama.We hear all about the awards night from Lisa Cannon, Head of Studio, DMG Media. 

After Donald Trump’s intervention in Venezuela, where is next? Lara Marlowe Paris based journalist and author discusses the potential next targets as Trump increases his rhetoric against Cuba and also Iran, following significant protests there in the past two weeks.

Friday Forum reviews the news stories of the week. Joining Pat this morning was  Regina Doherty MEP, Dublin, Fine Gael, Richard Boyd-Barrett TD, Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit and Harry McGee, Political Correspondent, The Irish Times.

Gareth brings us some slow cooker style recipes to try in January. Really healthy, not too expensive, freeze well so perfect for batch cooking, nourishing and packed with flavour.  

Garda figures show that more than 25,000 bicycles have been reported stolen across Ireland since 2019. However, campaigners estimate that up to three-quarters of victims never report their bikes as stolen. So, a question remains what needs to be done to keep bikes safe and keep your wheels moving?All to discuss with Una Morrisson, Spokesperson for Dublin Cycling Campaign.

Ireland’s first purpose built senior living community has opened its doors to new residents. The Heritage Village is based on an Australian model, with a community hub that provides a range of supports from medical care to home maintenance.   When finished it will have 160 homes, purpose built for over 55s with many still working. Supported living could help people downsize and help with the housing crisis. And keep the elderly out of nursing homes.   Henry McKean toured the Heritage Village at Killenard, County Laois and sent this report.  

Despite Ireland deciding to vote against the Mercosur trade agreement, a majority of European countries are expected to approve the agreement today. But will that mean more Brazilian beef in Ireland? All to discuss with Shona Murray, Europe Correspondent, EuroNews and Barry Kerrigan, Managing Director, Kerrigan Butchers.

The FA cup, the rugby Champion’s Cup and the upcoming GAA fixtures. Shane Hannon from Off The Ball previews the weekend of sport.

‘No matter how slow your pace is, you are still a runner’ is the message of Celina Stephenson, Content Creator, founder of Runner’s High Dublin and London and General Manager of Wicklow Way Wines. Celina chatted to Pat this morning.

As Donald Trump’s foreign policy manoeuvres shift from Venezuela to Greenland, much of his rhetoric has caused deep alarm within Europe and beyond. The Trump Administration has made it clear that they intend to acquire the Arctic territory one way or another. However, is the commentary around all this missing some historical context? Newstalk reporter Simon Tierney has been investigating.

A young scientist project has found a glaring gender disparity within math's based school subjects. Three first year students from Kinsale Community School found that from fifth class, girls lose confidence in their ability, thus making them less likely to study the discipline.Joining Pat to discuss their project which is part of The Young Scientist Exhibition was Cushla O'Reilly, Elise O'Sullivan and Caoimhe Ni Charrigan alongside Eoghan O'Leary, teacher at Kinsale Community School and Head of Math's at the Tuition Centre.