Highlights From The Pat Kenny Show

‘This is likely the largest child abduction since world war two comparable to the Germanification of Polish children by the Nazis.’  This is what Nathaniel Raymond Nathaniel Raymond, Executive Director, Humanitarian Research Lab Yale  has to say about the mass abduction of Ukrainian children into Russia. Pat discussed the ongoing war with Nathaniel and also Emmanuelle Chaze, Ukraine Correspondent for RFI (Radio France Internationale) And France24.

There comes a time in every dog’s life when a walk in the park doesn’t cut it anymore and the dog only wants one thing to do – get pregnant or more commonly known as entering heat! Now anyone who has a dog know the trials and tribulations when a female dog enters heat, so what should when your dog is in heat and what can you expect during it?  For advice Pat spoke to Elise O' Byrne White, Veterinary Director at the DSPCA.

As traditional banks consolidate their market share, digital-first global players, known as neobanks, are taking over the Irish market. neobanks are said to provide more accessible, more innovative and faster financial services. But what are neobanks, and why are they gaining more popularity?  All to discuss with Robert Whelan, Managing Director of Rockwell Financial. 

Construction Industry Federation are expected to meet with the government today. They are urging the government to prioritise funding in water and electricity infrastructure in Budget 2026. Speaking to Pat this morning was Conor O’Connell, Director of Housing and Planning at the Construction Industry Federation.

A new campaign at UCC aims to make health research more inclusive, to include under-served groups like women, ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ individuals, older adults, and people with disabilities. Pat hears about it with Frances Shiely, Director of Education and a Professor in patient focused research at the HRB Clinical Research Facility at UCC and a Senior Lecturer in Epidemiology in the School of Public Health.

It's twenty years since Starbucks arrived here in Ireland, sounding the death knell for local coffee shops nationwide. But just when we thought every corner cafe was done for, the independent coffee shops began to rise and rise. Newstalk’s Sarah Madden went on a coffee crawl around the capital to find out: 

The average waiting time for the driving test has hit its 10-week target but in some centres the waiting time is still higher and the number of no-shows for the test is increasing. All to discuss with Geraldine Herbert, Motoring Editor and Columnist for the Sunday Independent,

The new aviation service, operated by Bristow Ireland under a 10-year contract and includes six purpose-built AW189 helicopters based at Sligo, Waterford, Dublin, and Shannon. The Coast Guard will also deploy a 24-hour fixed wing service, provided by two Beechcraft B200 King Air aircraft, also based at Shannon. All to discuss with Kevin Byrne Kevin Byrne, Retired Lieutenant Colonel, & Airport Safety and Security Expert .

Houses are crumbling due to the presence of pyrite or mica in concrete blocks from certain quarries. The Defective Concrete Block Grant Scheme is meant to help homeowners repair or rebuild, but only 7% of the nearly 2,900 applicants have had their homes fixed since the scheme began in 2020. To discuss this further Pat was joined on the show by Founder of the Clare Pyrite Action Group and a lecturer at the Technological University of the Shannon and grant recipient. 

If you’re exhausted and having trouble getting your child to bed, then you might be desperate for a solution. A simple Google search will turn up hundreds of sleep gimmicks, but how do you know what will actually be effective?  All to chat with our expert this morning Lucy Wolfe sleep consultant and author.

After weeks of political pressure over Donald Trump’s relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffery Epstein, the US Justice department has released a transcript of an interview with Ghislaine Maxwell. We discuss this and more with Terry Sheridan, Senior Director of News Public Radio and also Greg Swenson, Chair of Republicans Overseas UK and Ireland.  

The weekend was packed full of action, It was a successful opening game for Ireland in the women’s rugby world cup. Co-captain Edel McMahon's return from injury helped with Ireland's impressive 42-14 win against Japan.  As the Premier League continues, Everton fans enjoyed a first win in their brand-new stadium with the help of former man city star Jack Grealish. However, Man United continued with a winless game in a draw against Fulham. Cathal Mullaney, Broadcaster with Off the Ball looks back on the busy weekend of sport.

Many young farmers are feeling forgotten as the IFA and the ICMSA call for the reopening of the long established Young Farmers Scheme. To discuss this with Pat was Dennis Drennan, President of the ICMSA.

Some small primary schools could remain closed from Thursday this week as caretakers and secretaries are set to begin an indefinite strike for parity in public sector pensions and employment conditions. Andy Pike, Head of Education at Fórsa

Volodymyr Zelensky has vowed to “to push Russia to peace” as Kyiv marked its Independence Day yesterday.  Barry Ward, FG TD and Chair of EU Affairs Committee is currently in Kyiv at the invitation of Verhova Rada, the speaker of the parliament, he is due to meet president Zelensky later today. Barry Ward spoke to Pat ahead of this meeting.

Gary Gannon, Social Democrats TD and Spokesperson for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Tabitha Monahan, Political reporter for Irish Independent and Presenter on The Indo Daily Podcast and Neale Richmond, Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora all joined Pat for this week's Friday Forum.

Today over 65,000 students got their Leaving Cert Result. Henry McKean visited St Mary's Girls Secondary School Baldoyle Dublin as students got their results.

Gareth Mullins talks through multi seeds flapjack, banana bread and carrot and walnut cake. A great lunch box fillers just in time for the kids heading back to school.

Molly Martens and her father made international headlines when they beat Molly’s Irish husband Jason Corbett to death in his own home. 'A Deadly Marriage' the true story of Corbett’s killing and the aftermath. It's Author Brian Carroll joined Pat this morning.

The anticipation of receiving your leaving cert results is stressful, and the results themselves can be disappointing, especially if you hold yourself to a high standard.  Adding to the pressure is the fact that grades have been “deflated” post-Covid, which will impact deferrals. We get all the detail and advice from Brian Mooney Guidance counsellor and columnist with The Irish Times.