Highlights From The Pat Kenny Show

Maeve O’Connell Fine Gael TD for Dublin Rathdown, Louise O’Reilly TD for Dublin Fingal West and Sinn Fein Spokesperson on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development and Craig Hughes, Political Editor for The Irish Daily Mail were our Friday Forum this morning.

TV chef Erica Drumm talks through Irish Apple, brown butter and cardamom cake as apples are in season. We also here what veg are in season such as aubergine, kale, pumpkin and squash that are perfect to cook with. 

Today trump will meet with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the white house as Zelensky hopes to secure more American military assistance to keep up that pressure. Zelensky’s meeting come following his call with Russian president Vladimir Putin.We discuss this and more with Donnacha O Beachain, Professor of Politics at DCU.

Imelda May may be known worldwide as an Irish singer, but that is likely a language you have never heard her sing in, because, up until recently, you would have found Imelda hesitating to even say ‘go raibh maith agat’.Those days are now gone as the Dublin singer has taken a journey to find not just the confidence to speak as Gaeilge but to sing through it.Imelda joined us on the show this morning.

The United Rugby Championship starts up again this weekend and Leinster will once again host Munster in a derby match at Croke Park.  Elsewhere in the Premier League, old rivals Manchester United will face off Liverpool on Sunday in Anfield.  The Formula 1 returns for the US Grand Prix as the teams for next year were announced.Colm Boohig from Off The Ball looks ahead to a very busy weekend of sport.

The writing has been on the wall for some time with experts globally warning about a child’s unfettered access to a smartphone yet it doesn’t seem to be getting through. Today new research shows that now a majority of children aged eight to 12 have access to mobile devices overnight.To get reaction and to discuss further Pat spoke to Stella O’Malley, Psychotherapist and author and parent Adrian Barry, Managing Editor with Off The Ball.

Secret languages surround us from graffiti writers, gondoliers, and gym rats to spies, sneakerheads, and Swifties. Every group creates a private lingo of jargon and gestures that eludes the rest of the world. Best selling author and British writer, Ben Schott discusses his new book Schott's Significa, which is an indispensable field guide to the hidden lore and language of our modern age.Ben joined Pat on the show to chat further about his book.

Photos have emerged of independent presidential candidate Catherine Connolly meeting militia leader behind war crimes against Palestinians in Syria Catherine Connolly was on a trip to Syria in 2018. We get the latest on this with Ronan McGreevy Irish Times journalist and author,

Are young people less resilient these days than past generations? Does the increased availability and awareness of mental health support help young people? Or are young people being held back by overbearing adults who are ‘democratising’ parenting? All to discuss with our panel this morning. Joining Pat was Siobhán O’Neil White of Mums.ie, Newstalk researcher Meghan O’Halloran, who’s in her early 20s and also Brendan Kelly Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin, and Consultant Psychiatrist at Tallaght University Hospital.

Ireland has a proud tradition in the hammer throw dating back to ancient times. Cú Chulainn supposedly invented the sport long before Games took place in the religious sanctuary at Olympia. Ireland’s first-ever back-to-back Olympic champion Pat O’Callaghan claimed his golds in the hammer throw; but perhaps the most extraordinary episode in the sport’s history took place in Cork in 1984. Off The Ball’s Cameron Hill can tell us more:

The fragile peace in the Middle East could already be in jeopardy. President Donald Trump has warned Israel could resume fighting if Hamas breaches the ceasefire and neglects to return the bodies of Israeli hostages. Speaking to Pat this morning was military analyst, former fighter pilot, and co-host of the Red Matrix Podcast, Séan Bell, to examine the situation in the Middle East. 

Nuclear fusion is the process by which two or more light atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing a huge amount of energy in the process. It happens naturally in stars under extreme pressure and temperature. Scientists are trying to bottle that same process inside special machines (like tokamaks or stellarators). That’s why people call fusion “making a star in a bottle:. All to chat with Luke O'Neill Professor of Immunology at Trinity College Dublin.

Dunnes Stores is up there with Ryanair and Guinness as one of the most successful Irish enterprises created. Opening its first store in 1944 on Cork’s St. Patricks Street, its success spurred on by cheap clothing grew and grew until eventually in the 1960s it exploded in popularity as it brought the concept of the modern supermarket to Irish shoppers. Joining Pat this morning was Matt Cooper, Today FM presenter and author of a new book ‘Dynasty, Scandals, Triumph, Turmoil, and Succession at the Heart of Dunnes Stores’.

Gardaí are investigating the death of a seventeen-year-old at an emergency care facility in Dublin yesterday. In a statement, Tusla confirmed this facility provided care to those seeking international protection.   Joining Pat this morning was Tanya Ward, Chief Executive of Children’s Rights Alliance.

Have we dumbed down our maths curriculum for students too much? And have students lost the ability to do all mental maths as a result of calculators? All to discuss during Maths Week 25 with Oliver Murphy, Author of ‘Fundamental Applied Maths’ and Co-Author Of ‘Active Maths’.

Ireland has seen a 10% boom in men's grooming in 2025. With waxing, laser treatments and anti ageing tweakments (non-surgical cosmetic procedures) taking off.  Men want to feel better but is it a vanity move? Henry McKean tried some tweakments, he sent us this report.

The latest Irish Times Ipsos/B&A poll shows a commanding lead for Catherine Connolly in the Presidential Election, but shows a significant number unhappy with the choice for the presidency.All to discuss with Sean Defoe, Host of the 'Let Me Explain' podcast. Political Correspondent for Newstalk.

As winter is just around the corner, what does that mean for all your plants from the summer? And when is the last time you should cut the grass before the cold kicks in? Gardener and Field Worker at Crûg Farm Plants Paul Smyth joins Pat to answer listener questions.

The Thousand Madleens Flotilla was intercepted by Israeli forces last week while attempting to break the blockade and deliver humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. Among those detained aboard the flotilla was Independent TD Barry Heneghan. Barry joins me now to discuss the flotilla, his detainment, and release.

Number one bestselling author and award-winning playwright Michael Harding has a brand-new book out entitled ‘Midwinter, A Journey Through A Season’. The book is a meditation on winter, and follows Michael’s personal reflections of life and death, as well as the life of a fictional character, Martin, whose story ‘reflects the heartache and loss that so many families endure every year’. Michael joined Pat on the show this morning.