Highlights From The Pat Kenny Show

Enda Brady, Presenter of TRT News on the latest on UK news and politics as Cork man, Morgan McSweeney has been appointed as Kier Starmer’s Chief of Staff, following Sue Gray’s controversial departure. McSweeney is considered to be one of Starmer’s top aides and was credited with Labour’s landslide general election victory.

A very drawn-out goalless draw at Villa Park puts more pressure on Erik Ten Hag but all the drama was at Brighton and Spurs .Ger Gilroy looks back on the weekend of sport.

Despite a lack of amenities and local public services, Fingal County Council has given the go ahead for the second phase of a housing development in Donabate.  Our reporter Josh Crosbie went to Donabate to talk to the community and local representatives about the issue 

Extensive assets and a weak security culture make Ireland ‘ground zero’ for hybrid attacks and influence operations by Russia. So says Cathal Berry TD Independent TD for Kildare and Former Army Ranger and Cathal joined Pat this morning on the show.

The Friday Forum brings you the biggest stories of the week – Election speculation and the crisis in the Middle East. All up for discussion with John Lee Executive Editor Daily Mail Group Ireland, Emer Higgins Fine Gael TD for Dublin Mid West. Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail and Richard Boyd Barrett TD People Before Profit TD for Dun Laoghaire.

We hear about the rise in personal injury claims and why it’s actually good news for businesses. Joining Pat to discuss all was Stuart Gilhooly  Senior Counsel and Solicitor at HJ Ward Solicitor LLP. 

Gareth Mullins will be here to talk us through a chicken, wild mushroom and shallot pie with carrot and parsnip crush. A winter warmer recipe to try this weekend.

George Hamilton was chief sports commentator for RTE for 40 years. In September he announced he was leaving RTE Sport and would join Premier Sports. He remains as a presenter on RTE Lyric. George joined Pat to talk about this transition, but also to discuss the highlights of his broadcasting career and personal life that are documented in his book The Hamilton Notes.

Sarah Binchy discusses the literary festival Echoes that celebrates the legacy of her aunt, Irish novelist and playwright, Maeve Binchy, alongside the best in Irish writing and contemporary writers.

How you fight this conflict matters, there must be a credible day after” . We speak to former US ambassador and diplomat Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley about the crisis in the Middle East.

From Monday, e scooters will be banned from public transport. Sarah Madden took to the streets to find out how it’s going to work.

An Taoiseach Simon Harris on election dates, Lebanon and the budget fall out. All up for discussion with Pat this morning on the show.

Adrian Barry Managing Editor, Off The Ball  takes a look at sports mascots and explains where the concept came from and how a modern day mascot can even be a business asset. 

You will Die in Prison, the new book by Bernard Phelan about his time spent as a hostage in an Iranian prison. Bernard who lives in Paris with his husband, Roland Bonello, was working for an Iranian tour operator when he was detained seven months ago on charges of spying. 

How Russia’s disinformation campaign backfired and the Florida surgeon who was an anti vaxer explained in this weeks disinformation slot with David Robert Grimes.

The long road towards America’s first woman president”.  We are on the precipice of history, if Kamala win, but whose shoulders is she standing on? The narrative would have you believe it is just Hillary but there are many other women too.Simon Tierney goes right back to the late 19th century when the first woman to run for president, Victoria Woodhull, ran for the Equal Rights Party in 1872. We hear about the story of Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman to run for the presidency in 1972 and other key examples, including Geraldine Ferrera running as VP in 1984. 

Whether it's going solo  on a date or out with the kids, Eadaoin Fitzmaurice gives us her tips on what to get up to this weekend.  

Sweden is implementing a national ban on begging. What does this really mean and how will it work? To explain Pat spoke to Philip O’Connor Irish Journalist based in Stockholm. 

Carl Widger, Managing Director of Metis Ireland joins to discuss Budget 2025’s impact on pensions, as Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphries states there is focus on older people in Budget 2025.

Ciara Carolan, Irish Journalist in Odesa gives us an account of how the city is trying to live ‘normally’ under Russian. A view into Ukraine as Zelensky tries to rally more support in the US.