The Pat Kenny Show

Guest host Anton Savage talks to an Irish nun who has been changing lives in South Sudan through education and activism as well as a woman who has benefited from the Loreto Schools Programme. Sister Orla Treacy and Lawyer, Elizabeth Adak join the show.Image: Loreto Rumbek

Joining Pat this morning on the show was Theresa Fallon, Director, Centre for Russia, Europe, Asia Studies (CREAS) is in Dublin to speak at the DLA Piper Transatlantic Summit. Theresa is an expert on European security, transatlantic relations, Asian and Russian foreign relations policy.

Murdoch succession a battle over Rupert Murdoch’s Empire began yesterday in Reno. Lachlan is the favourite of his five children to take over, but the succession issue is contentious. We get the details from Larry Donnelly Law Lecturer at UCG and columnist for The Journal.ie.

Killian Ginnity Digital Content Creator for Newstalk joins us to discuss the showdown between TikTok and the US government began yesterday. Tiktok will try to convince a federal court that a law requiring the video-sharing app to divest from its Chinese ownership or face a ban in the US. 

Ursula von der Leyen has announced who has gotten the big roles in the EU Commission. We get the latest with Rosie Birchard, news correspondent and presenter based in Brussels covering life politics in Europe.

Seamus O’ Rourke writer and actor joined Pat in studio to discuss his second memoir, leaning on the gates, on young adulthood and life in rural Ireland. 

Hailed as "the manifesting queen" by Forbes and the Financial Times, Roxie Nafousi is a self-development coach, inspirational speaker, manifesting expert and two-time Sunday Times Bestselling author. Roxie joined Pat this morning on the show. 

Anthony Scaramucci, the former White House Director of Communications and co-host of the Rest is Politics US podcast joined Pat this morning live from New York to give us a peek behind the scenes of US politics. He talks Pat through Kamala’s debate performance and the frame of mind the former President Trump is in currently.

A new Garda lorry has been rolled out which is aiming to tackle dangerous driving from a higher vantage point. It follows news that speeding detections are down despite Drew Harris directing all uniformed gardaí to do 30 minutes of road policing per shift. Pat discuses this with  Geraldine Herbert  Motoring Editor at The Sunday Independent.

Bernard Walsh, PwC Ireland Director for Pensions and Investments joined Pat this morning to give advice on pensions and tax benefits.

Teenagers starting secondary school or moving on to college can be a difficult time for parents who suddenly become empty nesters. We speak to Stephanie Regan about how to cope with sudden free time and different focuses in life.

Now in its 26th year, MAMMA MIA! has been seen by over 11 million people and has played over 10,000 performances in London’s West End. The MAMMA MIA! International Tour has visited 42 countries in the past 20 years and performed more than 3,750 shows.  And now it’s coming to Ireland. Judy Craymer, creator and producer of Mamma Mia joined Pat this morning on the show.

The lights go out in Dublin airport and the billionaire spacewalker returns to earth. All up for discussion with Kevin Byrne Retired Lieutenant Colonel and Airport and Safety Auditor.

Shogun makes Emmys history, Andrew Scott misses out on the Emmy for lead actor while the Bear was the shock loss on the night. We speak to Brian Lloyd Entertainment Journalist about the Emmy award winners, losers and the big stories from last night. 

Charles Myers democratic donor and advisor to President Joe Biden joined Pat in studio to discuss working with Kamala Harris, the Ukraine war and and if Trump might drop JD Vance from the VP ticket.

So close but so far, disappointment for McIlroy and another win for arsenal in the premier league. Nathan Murphy looked back in the weekend of sport.

A proposed wind farm in Co Offaly is drawing heavy criticism from locals about the impact it could potentially have on the land in the area. Josh Crosbie visited the area to discuss what is proposed and to hear about the project.

Pat speaks to An Taoiseach Simon Harris ahead of his visit to  Derry. Up for discussion, the Apple tax bill, forthcoming budget and when the election will be?

Friday Forum looks back on the big news stories of the week. Joining Jonathan this morning was Fionnan Sheahan, Ireland Editor at the Irish Independent, Jennifer Whitmore, Social Democrats TD for Wicklow and also Colm Brophy, Fine Gael TD for Dublin South-West.

Ban on junk food TV adverts before 9pm to come in next year in the UK (TV and online). The pre-watershed ban was a pledge in Labour's manifesto during this year's general election campaign.. Should we do something similar here. To discuss this move further Jonathan spoke to Donal O’ Shea, HSE lead for Obesity.

Cork is experiencing more and more ‘no-go’ areas because of anti-social behaviour. We speak to a councillor who is looking for the Minister for Justice to get involved. Speaking to Jonathan this morning was Shane O’Callaghan Cork Fine Gael Councillor.  

You might have a bit of superstition around Friday the 13th but where does that actually stem from? And what other weird things do we traditionally think bring bad luck in Ireland?  We ask Michael Fortune, folklorist.

Gareth Mullins talks us through Chicken chasseur with creamy mashed potatoes recipe perfect to try this weekend.

Former CIA Officer Alexander Yuk Ching Ma sentenced to 10 Years for spying for China. A former CIA officer, who also worked as a contract linguist for the FBI, was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Wednesday for providing intelligence to China in exchange for money, golf clubs, and other high-end gifts.To discuss this story further Jonathan spoke to Larry Donnelly Law Lecturer at the University of Galway and Columnist with The Journal.ie.

Russian President Vladimir Putin warns the West it was at risk of entering into war with Russia. We discuss this and more with Duncan Bullivant Special Advisor to the Head of the Bosnia peace keeping mission, part of the UK mission to Kosovo in 1999 and CEO of the Henderson Group, an international risk management advisory.  

Eight people die in Ireland every single day from sepsis. That’s almost double the amount of people killed each year by heart attacks and yet most of us know very little about it. To mark Sepsis Awareness Day today Our Political Correspondent Seán Defoe has been speaking to some of the families affected.

Pension hikes and tax cuts on the cards in budget 2025’s pre-election giveaway. We discuss with Gabija Gataveckaitė Political Correspondent at the Irish Independent.

New Netflix mystery drama 'The Perfect Couple' has a star-studded cast including Nicole Kidman, Dakota Fanning and eve Hewson features in this weeks 'Boxed' with John Fardy.

Cameron Hill talks us through famous incidents where trophies were stolen/forged/lost off the back of a counterfeit Sam Maguire doing the rounds in Armagh.

A mass trial in France has left a village shocked. We hear how communities can some together in the wake of tragedy with Brendan Kelly Professor of Psychiatry, Trinity College Dublin.

Infertility is a major global health problem affecting one in seven couples trying to conceive. Infertility affects all geographical areas of the world, with some of the highest rates observed in south and central Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, north Africa, and central and eastern Europe.Air pollution and road traffic noises have been identified as cause of infertility Professor Luke O’Neill will explain why.

We are a couple of weeks back to school now, kids are gathering and gastro bugs, respiratory infections and head lice are out in force .We advice on dealing with illness from Dr Illona Duffy. 

The big lie; In today's disinformation slot we look at how we are lied to with numbers and the panic when we do get data wrong. All to discuss with David Robert Grimes.

Fine Gael are holding their ‘think in’ in Tullamore over the next two days, Sean Defoe tells us what to expect from the annual event next

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees says six of its employees have been killed in an Israeli air strike on one of the schools it runs in central Gaza. We get the latest on this with Scott Lucas  Professor & Political Analyst at the Clinton Institute at University College Dublin. 

Have you even been curious about investing your money but unsure where to start? Financial expert and founder of AskPaul.ie Paul Merriman is here to give advice to beginner investors.

CCTV to be used to catch Dublin’s dumpers but only if they have cars. New legislation will not allow Dublin City Council to pursue walkers who dump in the street. To discuss further Anton spoke to Olivia Kelly,  Dublin Editor, Irish Times.

Diarmuid Gavin joined Anton in studio to give some great gardening advice to our listener as we head into Autumn.

The first US Presidential debate between Democratic Nominee Kamala Harris and Republican Nominee Donald Trump took place last night in Philadelphia. We get reaction to the debate with Lorcan Nyhan  Head of Training at the Communications Clinic & Columnist with The Sunday Independent and Ian O'Doherty Columnist, Irish Independent. 

A conservation group has called for the introduction of a deer management plan after it recorded the dominance of the non-native Sika species. ReWild Wicklow has carried out the largest wildlife camera project in Ireland. For more on this Anton spoke to Adam Smith, a Phd student from Kildare and now just finishing his studies in Germany. Adam initiated project rewild Wicklow in Ireland back in 2021 and is the lead author on the report.

This week on Inside Hollywood, from Marisa Tomei to La La Land, we take a look at the most surprising Oscar wins. All to chat about with Dee Reddy.

We get advice on how to get your pearly whites ready for the big day your wedding day. With advice and guidance was Bronagh Keane, general and cosmetic Dentist aka The Tooth Fairy.

The red haired Irish, the 40 million euro dancing legs and the many health benefits of whiskey. We talk to Dr Ian Miller about his brand new book, 'A History of Ireland in Ten Body Parts'. 

On our Commuter Slot, we discuss car theft and vandalism and increasingly bad daily traffic around the city centre. Is the new traffic plan causing more hassle than it’s worth? All up for discussion with Anton and Conor Faughnan Transport Commentator.

Nearly 180,000 gorillas, chimpanzees and bonobos (more than a third of the entire great ape population in Africa) could be directly or indirectly threatened by mining now and in the near future, according to a recent study in the journal Science Advances.Also Scientist have found that in the next 50 years humans will have moved further into wildlife habitats - across more than half of Earth’s land – which will threaten biodiversity and increase the chance of future pandemics. All up for discuss on this week's Green Scene with Dr Ruth Freeman Director of Science for Society at Science Foundation Ireland.All with thanks to AIB Ireland.

Will the spending of the 14 billion apple tax become a central point in the election? Anton spoke to Gabija Gataveckaite, Political Correspondent Irish Independent to discuss further and also asked how will we spend the Apple tax arrears money?

Following another week of attacks in Gaza, we discuss the need for sanctions from Ireland on Israel and the need to take a stronger stance than we have to date with Caoimhe De Barra, CEO of Trocaire.

Proposals for restrictions on sales on vapes in Ireland but how will the implementation work? Minister Stephen Donnelly joined us in studio to discuss.

Anton was joined by Newstalk Technology Correspondent Jess Kelly to review the highly anticipated new iPhone, along with the latest Google Fold. Jess provided her expert insights on the features of these new devices and answered listeners' tech questions.

Anton was joined by celebrity chef Rachel Allen and Gary O’Hanlon, Executive Head Chef at The K Club, to preview their upcoming masterclasses at the Taste of Kildare Food and Drink Festival.