Highlights From The Pat Kenny Show

Who is Nelson Peltz? As the rift between Brooklyn Beckham and his family was made even more public last week, who is his billionaire father-in-law who calls himself the ‘matchmaker’ between Elon Musk and Donald Trump? All to discuss with Lorcan Nyhan, Head of Training with The Communications Clinic and Columnist with The Sunday Independent.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee will bring to Cabinet the over 50 destinations that Ministers will visit this St Patrick’s Day, headlined by the Taoiseach’s visit to the White House. But in the aftermath of two killings by ICE agents and talk of annexing part of a sovereign European nation, should Micheál Martin attend?Pat asked Malcolm Byrne TD, Spokesperson on Climate, Environment and Energy, Fianna Fáil, Wicklow-Wexford and Richard Boyd-Barrett TD, People Before Profit, Dún Laoghaire.

The impact of storm Chandra has caused major distributions this morning. Our reporter Josh Crosbie who is standing by in one of the worst affected areas of Dublin.

Ireland is among the few European countries who have bucked trends and have continued to increase public funding for the non-profit and charity sector. While the primary work of NGOS is to assist and advocate for some of the most vulnerable members of Irish society, recently public perception of NGOs are on the decline due to the rise of far-right rhetoric.  Pat discussed this further with Teresa Buczkowska from the Immigration Council of Ireland.

Most parents overprotect for the best of reasons. The world feels more dangerous than ever. We want our children to be happy, confident, unhurt. So we step in early. We smooth the road. We solve the problems. We shield them from disappointment, discomfort, and failure but it comes at a psychological cost. All to discuss with Steph Regan, Clinical Psychotherapist, and host of the Tough Love Podcast.

For many people who emigrate, the GAA becomes an important part of their life abroad. For decades now, the sport has been a way for people to find a community and settle in to a new city and country, especially one far from home, where things might be very different from what they’re used to. But, it’s now quickly becoming a new community for locals of the country to join too. Our reporter Emily Keegan was in China recently, where she met with players from the country’s biggest GAA club in Shanghai, to learn more about it.

Storm Chandra has brought rain, wind and flooding across Ireland especially in the East of Ireland. We get the latest on the situation with Aoife Kealy, Meteorologist with Met Eireann, Graeme McQueen, Media Relations Manager with Dublin Airport and Blake Boland, Spokesperson with Dublin Bus.

A former flight attendant who posed as a pilot to get hundreds of free flights and why did Air Force one stop in Shannon airport. All to discuss with Kevin Byrne, Retired Lieutenant Colonel and Airport Safety and Security Expert.

Back and joint pain are some of the most common injuries many of us face whether it's from playing sports, exercising in the gym or even from sitting at your desk!  So how can we prevent this? Ask the Expert this week was Lowry O'Mahony, Chartered Physiotherapist.

Federal immigration officers shot and killed another American citizen in Minneapolis on Saturday. Alex Pretti was a 37 year old ICU nurse who worked in the city’s veteran’s hospital. Pat was joined on the show by Scott Lucas, Professor and Political Analyst, Clinton Institute, UCD.

With a new documentary set to release on February 4th, Lucy Letby is back in the news. The upcoming Netflix documentary on the former nurse is set to feature exclusive footage of Letby’s arrest and interview. With more on this Pat spoke to Enda Brady, TRT World Presenter.  

it was another successful weekend for Michael Carrick at the helm of man united as they defeated arsenal 3-2 in emirates stadium.  Leinster secured their tenth win in a row in the URC against Connacht and in the Australian open, defending champion Madison Keyes is knocked out by fellow American Jessica Pegula. Colm Boohig from Off The Ball looks back on the weekend of sport.

The cost of accommodation for international protection applicants surpassed €1 billion for the first time in 2024. The new figures come as the latest deportation flight with Polish and Lithuanian citizens left Dublin Airport yesterday afternoon.Pat discusses this more with Matt Carthy TD, Spokesperson on Justice, Home Affairs, and Migration Chairperson of the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Sinn Féin, Cavan-Monaghan.

The Taoiseach Micheál Martin has faced some criticism because of the number of overseas trips he has been on in the last twelve months. But are these trips abroad simply unavoidable when you are the leader of the country? And how beneficial are they? Our Chief Reporter Barry Whyte has been looking into it.

Almost a third of primary schools have seen a sharp rise in the number of pupils absent for four weeks or more in the wake of the pandemic. In a new report, patterns around primary and secondary schoolchildren taking days off have grown worse over two recent academic years and show no signs of reversing course. So what is contributing to this?  All to discuss with Emer Smyth, Research Professor, ESRI and Anna Moya Ponce, Research Assistant, ESRI.

A 14-year-old girl died after being struck by a scrambler bike in Finglas in Dublin yesterday afternoon. With more on this Pat spoke to Kitty Holland, Social Affairs Correspondent.

The Friday Forum look back on the new stories of the week. Joining Pat this week was John Lahart, Fianna Fáil TD FOR Dublin Southwest AND Spokesperson on The European Union, Jennifer Whitmore Social democrats TD for Wicklow and Spokesperson for Climate, Environment, Energy and Transport and also Tabitha Monahan, Political Reporter with The Irish Independent.

2026 marks 30 years since the Divorce Act (1996) came into effect in Ireland. A milestone that offers a timely opportunity to reflect on how separation, divorce, and family breakdown have changed over the past three decades. We discuss this further with Michelle Browne, Divorce Mediator and family mediation specialist.

For this week’s Friday Food, Gareth Mullins takes us through some afternoon cake favorites. A carrot cake as well as a lemon drizzle and blueberry cake.

Microplastics panic shows the dangers of misinformation and distortion even in science!  All to discuss with David Robert Grimes, Author and disinformation expert.