The Pat Kenny Show

With so much talk about the use of weight loss drugs, what is the origin of Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic drug? Aimee Donnellan Columnist with Reuters has charted the development of Ozempic in her new book Off the scales: The inside Story Of Ozempic And The Race To Cure Obesity.   

Are you the youngest, middle or eldest child? It turns out your place in the family doesn't define who you are. Researchers are calling it "The Birth Order Hoax." Middle child Henry McKean has been taking a closer look and he sent us this report. 

Positive thoughts may boost the immune system according to research that points to a connection between the mind and our body’s natural defences.  Scientists have found people who used positive thinking to boost activity in the brain’s reward system responded better to vaccination, with their immune systems producing more antibodies than others after having the shot. Prof Luke O'Neill brings us the details of this research.

Ireland is in danger of facing an electricity shortage event in the next two to five years due to the rapid energy demand.  The Commission for Regulation of Utilities published a new plan outlining how data centres are the primary source of the demand. But is there time to prepare for this?  To discuss further Pat was joined on the show by Eamonn O’Reilly, Chairman of the Energy and Climate Action Committee at the Irish Academy of Engineering and also Dr Muireann Lynch senior research officer at the ESRI.

A study by Strava, the fitness App, found that most resolutions die off on Jan 19th! According to a 2023 Forbes Health and One Poll survey, the average resolution lasts just 3.74 months.  So what are the green habits you can implement and keep in 2026 and beyond.  To tell us more was Jo Linehan, Climate and Sustainability Journalist.

What does a cashless bank really mean and who wins, and who loses when cash disappears? All to chat about with Paul Merriman, CEO Fairstone and Ask Paul online.  

US President Donald Trump addressed the World Economic Forum in Davos yesterday in a speech which confused Greenland for Iceland multiple times and contained many other errors. We discussed what took place at Davos with Sam Kiley, World Affairs Editor, The Independent.

Snowdrops, the harbinger of spring, symbol of hope and that winter is finally ending. It is the favourite plant of Paul Smyth Head Gardener at RHSI Bellefield, Shinrone, Co Offaly.

In her new book, would you be well? Broadcaster and Health Coach Clare McKenna shows you how to cut through the overwhelm to help you discover the wellness habits that fit your life and that are easy to maintain. 

Is it time for world leaders to emulate David, The Prime Minister, from Love Actually and stand up to Trump? After weeks and months of staying silent or appeasing Trump, will they now stand up to President Trump. All to discuss with Gavin Megaw, President and Managing Partner, Hannover Communications.

Every year in Hollywood there’s one golden statue that matters more than any other. Not Best Actor. Not Best Director. Not even Best Original Song. The big one. Best Picture. Because this isn’t about one performance or one moment, this is the award that crowns an entire film the cast, the crew, the story, the music, the cinematography the whole cinematic machine working in perfect sync.We hear about the films that won big at the Oscars with Lisa Cannon, Head of Studio, DMG Media.

Gardaí are to be given new powers to ‘spy’ on mobile phones to monitor criminals’ activity. We find out what they are with Jess Kelly, Newstalk Tech Correspondent.

Today all eyes will be on Davos as President Donald trump is set to arrive to Switzerland later today. the conversation surrounding Greenland is set to dominate the day as trump ramped up the rhetoric yesterday.  When asked at a white house news conference last night how far he was prepared to go to seize Greenland, Mr Trump replied, "you'll find out". So is this the chance for Europe now stand up to Trump?Speaking to Pat this morning for more on this was Simon Harris, Tánaiste and Minister for Finance.

Dogs have evolved alongside humans for many years, and new research shows they may be able to learn new words through eavesdropping conversations, just like toddlers. Also the grey squirrel has been a threat to red squirrel populations for many years now. Scientists have been researching new ways to even the population numbers between to the two squirrels.All to discuss with Dr Ruth Freeman Director of Research for Society For Research Ireland on this week's Green Scene.All with thanks to Repak.

Musical roads, or "singing roads," use precisely spaced grooves in the pavement to create melodies when driven over at the correct speed. Conor Faughnan, Transport Commentator and Independent Motoring Expert for Carzone explains all. Also we hear why January 22nd is the busiest day of the year for Car Shopping.

President Donald Trump’s arrival to Davos has been delayed after an electrical issue aboard Air Force One forced the plane to return to Maryland. But in Davos, it appears to be becoming more of a Trump Show than a World Economic Forum.To discuss further with Pat was Kathryn Carlson, Financial Regulation Reporter, Politico.

TikTok plans to roll out its new age-detection system across Europe in the coming weeks amid heightened scrutiny over child safety issues. After testing its new age-detection system in Britain over the last year, TikTok will start rolling out the tech across Europe in the next few weeks, according to a new report from Reuters. The move comes amid increased regulatory scrutiny of the social video platform and its owner ByteDance, especially pertaining to the online safety of children.  Jess Kelly, Newstalk's Technology Correspondent, joined Pat Kenny to discuss and answer listeners' questions.

One of Ireland's best-known wild animals, the Sika deer, has been declared an invasive species in the European Union, raising questions around whether it must now be culled. The smallest of the country’s three wild deer, Sika was added to the EU list of alien invasive species of union concern last summer. Its inclusion means countries must eradicate the deer, control their populations or prevent their arrival in the first place.  Damien Hannigan, Irish Deer Commission Spokesperson joined Pat Kenny on the show to discuss.

With the rise of artificial intelligence, concerns are rising about whether or not AI will replace you in your job. Thankfully, the reality of AI in the workplace is more complex than either complete job displacement or simple augmentation. Pat Kenny was joined by Peter Cosgrove, Managing Director of Futurewise to discuss.

Thousands of family carers are being hit with tax bills going back years after Revenue got access to data on their payments. Charlie Weston personal finance editor with the Irish Independent, and Catherine Cox, head of communications and policy with Family Carers Ireland, both joined Pat Kenny on the show to discuss.

Every year new diets and food trends come around and that includes superfoods. But are foods really super or is it just a wellness fad? Sarah Keogh , Dietitian and Founder of Eatwell, joined Pat Kenny on the show to discuss.

US President Donald Trump will travel to Davos today to attend the World Economic Forum, where discussions are expected to be dominated by Trump’s threats to take over Greenland. Brett Bruen, President of The Global Situation Room and former Director of Global Engagement in the Obama Administration, joined Pat Kenny on the show to discuss.

 It is argued that price tags are poor predictors of a garment’s actual longevity, and expensive pieces aren’t automatically more durable. Durability should be evaluated by design intelligence and how a product is made, not just where it sits in the market. Laura Jordan, Image and Brand Consultant and Owner of Style, joined Pat Kenny on the show to discuss.

 Is staying in education causing our housing crisis? Should young people just be going straight into the world of work to make buying houses easier? Pat Kenny was joined by Ray Cooke, CEO of Ray Cooke Auctioneers and Conor Sheehan, Labour TD for Limerick City and Spokesperson on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, to debate.

Last night, twenty-six-year-old Brooklyn Beckham broke his silence over his ongoing feud with his parents, David and Victoria. In a series of posts on Instagram, the eldest Beckham son claimed his parents have “been trying endlessly to ruin my relationship” with his wife Nicola Peltz. So how much has this tarnished the Beckham brand?Enda Brady, TRT World presenter and Stephanie Regan, Host of Tough Love Podcast and clinical psychotherapist both joined Pat Kenny on the show to discuss.

Ask the Expert. When you’re listening to the radio, music or a podcast do you opt for earbuds or headphones but which is better for your hearing? Dr Sandra Cummings, Consultant Audiologist at the Beacon hospital joined Pat Kenny on the show to discuss.

Thinking of a winter sun break? Cancún is a sunny option in the Caribbean, and Aer Lingus’s newest route out of Dublin. Pól Ó Conghaile, Travel Editor with The Irish Independent joined Pat Kenny to discuss.

In 2023, Martin Lynn was on his way home from town and had just gotten out of a taxi near his home when he was fatally punched in the head by Christopher O’Neill.O’Neill drove past and stopped his motorbike before approaching Martin. The attack was carried out without warning or provocation and while Mr Lynn had his hands in his pockets.Last week, criminal Christopher O’Neill of Larkhill Road in Whitehall, Santry, was jailed for six years for the manslaughter of Martin Lynn. In an interview with The Sun, Martin’s sister Sharon is calling for the State to appeal the leniency of the killer’s sentence, and she joined Pat Kenny on the show this morning.

Thousands of new homes are planned for North Dublin. One particular area is Dunsink, a location many Dubliners will know as formerly being home to the capital’s largest dump. What’s being described as a major new urban quarter has raised some concerns among travellers who have lived in the area for many years. Our reporter, Josh Crosbie has been meeting with those who support the development and also those who have some reservations…

100 Million Trees Project is about to hit its first million and maybe add another by end of 2026. Project Founder Richard Mulcahy joined Pat Kenny on the show.

 The European Union yesterday decided against immediate retaliatory measures to Donald Trump’s threatened tariffs against countries who have defended Greenland against the increasing takeover rhetoric from the US Administration. Suzanne Lynch, Brussels Bureau Chief with Bloomberg joined Pat Kenny on the show to discuss.

It was a day that will go down in history for Kerry Football Club, Daingean Uí Chúis, who were crowned All-Ireland champions yesterday. Meanwhile, Man United’s new head coach, Michael Carrick, led his side to victory against Manchester City at Old Trafford. And Leinster keep the hopes for an Irish win alight as they advance to the next round of the Champions Cup.Colm Boohig, Broadcaster with OTB joined Pat Kenny to review all he weekends sporting action.

Ireland was largely on the outskirts of World War two but the reality of the war hit home on 31st May 1941. At 2.05 am, a five-hundred-pound bomb exploded in Dublin's North Strand, and the shock was felt throughout the city. The damage and devastation were horrific. Twenty-eight people died, forty-five were seriously injured and hundreds more suffered minor injuries. Now over eighty years later, one Dublin councillor is calling for the names of those who died to be included on the memorial.Pat Kenny was joined by Alison Field Labour Councillor for Dublin Bay North, Clontarf to discuss.

Declining construction, a shortage of workers, a lack of infrastructure are all some of the many issues that we hear are contributing to our housing crisis. But how do we get over these roadblocks? Andrew Brownlee, CEO, Construction Industry Federation joined Pat Kenny on the show to discuss.  

At least 39 people have died in a train collision in southern Spain and dozens more have been injured in the country's worst rail crash in more than a decade. Richard Fitzpatrick, Spain based journalist joined Pat Kenny on the show with the latest.

We look back on the news stories of the week on the Friday Forum. Joining Pat in studio today was Shay Brennan, Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin Rathdown, Darren O’Rourke, Sinn Féin spokesperson on education and youth and TD for Meath East and Brenda Power, Columnist with the Sunday Times.

CBS news, the home of Walter Cronkite in the 1960s and 1970s when he brought the evening news to millions of viewers across America, including commentating on the historic moon landing in 1969. But in the past number of months, the face of CBS news has changed. Now headed by former opinion editor Bari Weiss and with changes to the personalities fronting coverage, the once venerable CBS News appears in decline. All to chat about with Lorcan Nyhan, Head of Training at the Communications Clinic.

Is sleeping in on weekends healthy self-care… or does it set you up for a rough Monday? For people who wake early all week, days off can feel like a chance to catch up. But shifting your sleep schedule too much can confuse your body clock kind of like a mini time-zone jump. With tips on managing your sleep Pat spoke to Lucy Wolfe, Sleep Expert.

One pan Cod with tomato, red pepper, olives and potato, Spanish Baked eggs with Tomato, ST chorizo and parsley and a Sweet potato, spinach and goats cheese frittata. One pan meals to try this weekend and Gareth Mullins talks us through these recipes.

World’s first research-backed intervention reduces harmful engagement with AI-generated explicit imagery. As the Grok AI-undressing controversy grows, researchers say user education must complement regulation and legislation. All to discuss with Dr Gillian Murphy, UCC School of Applied Psychology and research project Principal Investigator.

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.