Highlights From The Pat Kenny Show

There are growing concerns that the United States could remove financial backing from the UNIFIL mission in Lebanon this august. The Irish government are in talks with us officials to dissuade them from withdrawing their funding. Pat discusses this further with Declan Power, Security and Defence Analyst.   

Solicitor Keith Walsh joins us live in the studio for our Monday Ask the Expert. Keith specializes in family law and will be answering listeners' questions about divorce, civil separation and domestic disputes. He also teases out “big-money” divorce and why it made headlines last week.

Donald Trump announces plans to sell military defence weapons to Ukraine.He has not specified the type of weapons or the amount, but he did warn the EU that they will cover the cost. We get the latest on this and more with Scott Lucas Scott Lucas, Professor and Political Analyst, Clinton Institute, UCD.

Travel with Pol Ó Conghaile Irish Independent Travel Editor tells us about the delights of Madeira and the new route from Shannon.All with thanks to Ryanair.

Today, approximately 25,000 French people living in Ireland will be celebrating Bastille Day. We are joined live in the studio by the French Ambassador to Ireland, Céline Place, to discuss the holiday and relationship between both countries. We will also discuss Franco-Irish relations, French defence and migration policies, and much more

At the peak of the Irish missionary movement, in the 1960s, over 6,000 Irish Catholic missionaries were dispersed over 80 countries. Today, there are only about 450 Irish missionaries still scattered around the world and by the end of this decade, that number is likely to fall below 200.A new two part series on RTE called The Last Irish Missionaries with former RTE Presenter Bryan Dobson and Dearbhail MacDonald explore the history of Ireland's missions. Bryan and Fr Shay Cullen, founder the PREDA Foundation joined Pat on the show.

Over the next three months we will hear pitches from candidates as to why they believe they should be the next Uachtaráin na hÉireann.  But when it comes to those pitches…what can a President of Ireland actually achieve? What are their powers? PhD candidate at the School of Law and Government, Dublin City University Seán Rainford and , Law Lecturer, South East Technological University Dr Jennifer Kavanagh explained to Pat this morning.

EU ministers are to debate the bloc's approach to trade talks with the United States.  With Brussels scrambling to head off 30% tariffs threatened by US President Donald Trump. Pat discusses this and more with  Nora Strecker, Associate Professor of Economics at UCD and also Shona Murray, Europe Correspondent for Euro News.

As the government is expected to launch a new tax on vapes, will this actually lead to a decline in usage? There have been a number of measures introduced to help curb the number of people using vapes. Newstalk reporter Sarah Madden finds out if these measures really do act as a deterrent or are they simply ignored.

The government has spent 20 bn on walking and cycling projects since 2020. However, many people are still reluctant to cycle around the city.  Melanie Finn of the Irish Independent is one of those people and explained why to Pat this morning.

Joining Ivan for the Friday Forum today was Robert Troy TD, Minister of State at the Department of Finance with special responsibility for Financial Services, Credit Unions and Insurance, Fianna Fáil, Longford-Westmeath. Gary Gannon TD, Spokesperson for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Social Democrats, Dublin Central. Also on the panel was Jane Matthews, Political Correspondent, at the Journal. 

All this week we have been looking at how young people in Ireland socialise in 2025. With more people reducing their alcohol consumption and the cost of going out gen z are changing the way they socialise. But how is this impacting the nighttime industry in Ireland?  We discuss with Nialler9, DJ and Donal O’Keefe, CEO of Vinters Association.

As temperatures are set to hit the late 20s today, does the workplace need a maximum temperature limit? All to discuss with Peter Cosgrove, Managing Director of Futurewise. 

Gareth Mullins talks through barbequed beef burgers with crispy bacon, cheese, egg and tomato relish  and bbq chicken and pepper kebab, flat breads, garlic mayo and tomato salad.  

A new documentary airing this week This is Open Country, coming to Sky Sports Golf and NOW. Ahead of the Open arriving into Portrush next week, this one-hour special feature examines just how golfers from the island of Ireland have proved to be undeniably successful at this great tournament.  For the first time within one film, we hear from Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry, Pádraig Harrington and Darren Clarke, to understand what transformed these four men from young boys on the golf course to Major success. Ivan spoke to its Director Ross Whitaker.

Parades will take place across Northern Ireland this weekend to mark the 12th July. However, there has been significant controversy around some of the bonfires set up in advance of the parades. Amanda Ferguson brings us the latest with reaction from SDLP Leader Claire Hanna.

Our rapidly growing aging population is facing an immediate housing crisis. Census data showed an 83% increase in renters over the age of 65 and a decrease in home ownership. With the average rent rising and a lesser supply of housing, many of these older renters are at serious risk of homelessness. Seán Moynihan, CEO of ALONE, a national organisation that supports older people, joined Ivan to discuss this issue and the policies that could help address.

Djokovic and Jannik go head-to-head in the Wimbledon Semifinals this afternoon and the All-Ireland Football semifinals take place.  Shane Hannon looks a head to the weekend of sport.

How to apologise properly, when not to apologise and why and when a bad apology can be worse than none.. Sarah Madden reports/ 

European Commission is expected to receive a letter today from U.S. President Donald Trump disclosing the long-awaited tariff deal between the two trading partners. Suzanne Lynch, Brussels Bureau Chief with Bloomberg joins us to discuss this.