Highlights From The Pat Kenny Show

For this Halloween weekend Gareth brings us a recipe for a pumpkin soup with parmesan and garlic croutons as well as pork chops with colcannon and kale.

Is the 3I/Atlas that is passing earth a comet or an alien? A Harvard University Professor reckons it could be alien technology because of its brightness, rarity and diameter but only time will tell if is just a natural comet or alien? We asked Frances McCarthy, Education & Outreach at Blackrock Castle Observatory what she thought of it all.

On Tuesday, voters in New York City will vote to elect the successor to the incumbent Mayor, Eric Adams. Three candidates remain in the race, after Mr. Adams dropped out: the Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani, the Republican Curtis Sliwa and former Democratic governor and now Independent candidate, Andrew Cuomo.Pat discusses this further with Brett Bruen, President of the Global Situation Room and Former Director of Global Engagement at the White House during the Obama Presidency.

Joining Pat on the Friday Forum was Malcolm Byrne TD, Fianna Fáil, Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence, Spokesperson on Climate, Environment and Energy, Wicklow-Wexford. Also on the panel was Peadar Toibin TD, Leader, Aontú, Meath West and Ellen Coyne, Political Correspondent, Irish Times.

King Charles has formally stripped Andrew of his royal titles, including his royal status as Prince. We get the latest on this with Enda Brady, International TV News anchor with TRT World.

Looking ahead to this weekend in sport, the Premier League returns with an exciting lineup as Chelsea takes on Tottenham in a London derby, in rugby Ireland play the All Blacks, and we look back over this week in soccer, with Shamrock Rovers finally winning the title, and Abbie Larkin securing a promotion for the women’s national team.All to chat with Off The Ball broadcaster, Colm Boohig.

Back at the end of august we revealed on this show that over the past 10 years the Director of Public Prosecutions chose not to prosecute over 67 percent of sexual offence cases submitted to it by gardaí. The information was received under a freedom of information request, and it showcased the burden of proof needed for justice, what it takes to build a case, and importantly, the thousands of people who don’t get the chance to take their attacker to court.Our reporter Jessica Woodlock has been looking into these figures and reported for us.

Despite international pressures, the Irish economy is projected to grow by almost 11% thanks to strong pharma exports and consumer spending. Joining Pat this morning was David McWilliams on Ireland's economic state .

Margie McCarthy, the Director of Research & Policy at the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, joined Pat to discuss the increasing investment in energy has been creating innovation jobs in Ireland’s green economy. 

The Dingle Distillery International Film Festival returns this winter to venues around Dingle from 7 – 9 November. Renowned Hollywood screenwriter, director, producer and acclaimed novelist Todd Komarnicki will appear at the festival for ‘Writing and Directing Your Way To Success’. Todd will talk his creative process, pitching tips and working in Tinseltown, from writing the screenplay for Clint Eastwood and Tom Hanks blockbuster Sully, to co-producing Christmas hit Elf, and his most recent Hollywood film in 2024, Bonhoeffer, the true story of pastor turned WW2 spy, Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Ahead of his appearance Todd spoke to Pat this morning on the show.

President Donald Trump has just completed perhaps the most consequential meeting of his Asia tour, a conference with Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party, Xi Jinping.  Joining Pat with more on this meeting was Professor and Political Analyst from the Clinton Institute, at University College Dublin, Scott Lucas. 

The Deposit Re-turn Scheme. It’s a resounding success. There has been a marked reduction in litter and an unexpected financial boost for community groups, clubs and enterprising individuals who have realised that discarded cans and bottles can be collected and money made.Is the deposit return scheme a success or headache for people? Our reporter Josh Crosbie reports for us.

Ireland take on New Zealand this weekend at Soldier Field in Chicago, a city famous for its close association with Ireland and Irish immigration. One of Chicago’s most storied sporting institutions is the White Sox baseball team, founded by Charles Comiskey, the son of an Irish immigrant. But Comiskey’s legacy in baseball is complicated, and he receives at least partial blame for one of the dirtiest scandals in the sport’s history. Off The Ball’s Cameron Hill can tell us more:

Former Irish International soccer and rugby player Jackie McCarthy O’Brien’s new memoir ‘We Made It Kid’ is out now.  The book follows Jackie’s journey from the Mount Saint Vincent Industrial school, to growing up mixed race in 1960s and 70s Limerick, to coming out as gay, to representing her country on the pitch in both soccer and rugby. Jackie joined Pat on the show.

A new garda station at Citywest is being considered following the recent riots and violence that’s been happening there. We get the latest on this story with Conor Gallagher – Crime and Security Correspondent of The Irish Times.

Earlier this month, a woman from west London was fined £150 for pouring the dregs of her morning coffee down a street drain! So in this weeks sustainability slot Jo Linehan shares the best way to manage liquids at home, the do’s and don’t of disposal.

Cheryl Fergison Eastenders actress and singer joined Pat in studio this morning to chat about her new memoir ‘Behind The Scenes’. Also we hear about her role in the new social drama series the ‘Centra Deli Drama’.

The Government has spent almost €450,000 on enticing builders back home to Ireland from working in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the US. But is it worth coming back for? And is it financially feasible for them?Pat discusses this issue further with Peter Flynn, Pete the Builder, Orla Hegarty, Architect & Assistant Professor at UCD School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy and also Sean Downey, Director of Education, Skills, Training, Construction Industry Federation.

The threat of toxic masculinity and the manosphere is really concerning especially when you see research showing how more than a third of young men who watch masculinity influencers, act on their advice.  But what actually is it?  What are the impacts that come with it? And how do we overcome it?  To discuss further Pat was joined on the show by Richard Hogan, Author, Family Therapist and Columnist with the Irish Examiner and Dylan Hand, Newstalk Reporter.

Elizabeth Day's new book ‘One of Us’, a sequel to her bestseller ‘The Party’, is a “compulsive story of betrayal, old bonds and buried scandals”. It follows “one British establishment family comes face to face with the consequences of privilege, and the true cost of power.”Elizabeth joined Pat in studio this morning.