Highlights From The Pat Kenny Show

This week, Kevin Dundon is here to chat through three delicious dishes for the perfect weekend meal with Curried Sweet Potato & Coconut Soup, a beef Bourguignon and a bread and butter pudding. 

A new national centre for inclusive higher education has officially opened at Maynooth University. This is Ireland's first national centre dedicated to inclusion, and access in higher education. Joining Pat the woman leading the centre is award-winning academic and author of the bestselling memoir 'Poor', Professor Katriona O'Sullivan. 

With the housing market ever-present in the news, we ask Rowena Quinn, managing partner at Hunters Estate Agents, when is the right time to sell and to buy a house? Rowena joined Pat in the studio now to discuss.

It’s no secret that anti-social behaviour is a problem here in Ireland. But over the last two months, a spate of vandalism and arson at Dublin’s parks and playgrounds have shocked locals and cost the council dearly. So, is anti-social behaviour really getting worse, and how can we stop it's escalation getting further out of hand?Newstalk’s Sarah Madden reports.

Have you paid your motor tax for this year? Well whether you have or not, the department of transport doesn’t even know.  Yesterday during a Public Accounts Committee, the department of transport admitted that there is no current system to check if drivers have paid their motor tax.  It was also revealed that the department received thirty-five million in surcharges.   

Ireland’s world cup dream remains alive as the Heimer Hallgrimsson's side defeat Portugal two nil last night. It was a drama filled game as Cristiano Ronaldo was given his first ever red card for Portugal. Meanwhile, it's the return of the Mack as Andy Farrell names his squads ahead of Ireland's game against Australia in the Aviva stadium this weekend.  And in golf, Rory McIlroy is hoping for a fourth consecutive race to Dubai title as he trails behind Michael Kim.All the sport with Shane Hannon and Keith Treacy, former Ireland International footballer.

Bestselling author and television presenter Dermot O'Leary joined Pat to chat about his new children’s book, ‘Toto The Ninja Cat, And The Pirate Treasure Hunt’. The book is the sixth in the series and follows Toto and her friends on their way to Ireland where the hunt for the a mythical pirate treasure is about to begin.

The BBC has apologized to Donald Trump over an episode of Panorama which edited his January 6th 2021 speech but will not pay compensation. More details are also emerging from the tranche of emails relating to Jeffery Epstein released this week.  Pat discusses this and more with Gina London, Former CNN White House Correspondent and Sunday Independent Columnist. 

The government is set to launch a statutory inquiry into scoliosis and spina bifida care at children's health Ireland. Yesterday the health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and Tánaiste Simon Harris announced they would be recommending the inquiry to cabinet next week. The announcement came after they met with Gillian and Stephen Morrison Sherratt, the parents of Harvey Morrison.  Harvey, who had scoliosis and other health issues tragically died in July after facing long delays for surgery. Gillian Sheratt, Mum of Harvey Morrison  spoke to Pat this morning.

The Government, this morning, launched its new housing plan: Delivering Homes, Building Communities’. The plan commits to over 300,000 new homes by 2030 and increasing social and affordable homes. James Browne TD, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Fianna Fáil joined Pat to discuss the new housing plan.

Ruth Lawrence was yesterday found guilty of the murders of Anthony Keegan and Eoin O'Connor between April and May 20214. Following the murders, Lawrence spent eight years under the radar in South Africa. She was arrested by an elite South African police unit in 2023 before being extradited in May 2024.Frank Greaney, our Courts Correspondent was covering the trial and joined Pat to discuss this further

The appetite for weight-loss drugs, known as glp-1 agonists, has been insatiable since they hit the market a decade ago. In 2024 global spending on them reached $54bn, a figure that is sure to rise in the coming years. As pharmaceutical firms elbow each other for a slice of the pie, the number of options will grow in 2026 All to discuss with Professor Luke O Neill , Professor of Biochemistry at the school of Immunology, Trinity College.

Johnny Smacks and Johnny B, who together, of course, are The 2 Johnnies. They’ve just announced they’re return to St. Anne’s Park in Dublin for ‘Pints in a Field 4’ on Saturday the 6th of June 2026, with tickets going on sale tomorrow. Johnny and Johnny joined Pat in studio this morning

As President Trump signed a bill last night reopening the government, a tranche of documents released yesterday further implicated the president with the deceased sex trafficker, Jeffrey Epstein. Joining us to discuss is Larry Donnelly, law lecturer at University of Galway, and a columnist with the Journal.ie.

The Gardai have charged 29 people as part of a major clampdown on retail crime. Operation Táirge is a garda investigation into theft, handling stolen goods, criminal damage and assaults on shop staff in Dubin's north inner city. In the face of this  'Dublin Town' are switching on their Christmas Lights tonight across 24 streets. Henry McKean reports on shoplifting and what shops have to cope with. He sent us this report.   

What are the health conditions women need to look out for at every stage of life? Dr Caoimhe Hartley takes us through the conditions to be aware of and tells us about Blackrock Health’s new women’s health clinic.

New speed limits are set to be introduced across Dublin city in an attempt to make the city safer. The 30kmh speed limit currently applies in parts of the city centre in Dublin 1, Dublin 2, Marino in Dublin 3 and Irishtown and Ballsbridge in Dublin 4. But will this work across our capital city?All to discuss with Olivia Kelly, Dublin Editor of The Irish Times.

Professor Nick Maynard has spent 15 years engaging in surgical volunteering in Gaza, including during the most recent conflict. Professor Maynard leading consultant Upper GI Surgeon based in Oxford, with more than 25 years of experience in his field. He is an Associate Professor of Surgery at Oxford University joins Pat this morning discuss his work in Gaza, and an upcoming fundraising talk for the Medical Aid for Palestinians Charity.

A Garden from Ireland for the White House, a proposal for a symbolic gift from Ireland to the United States.  It would celebrate the friendship between the two countries, their shared history. Diarmuid developed the idea while the US was enjoying the Obama administration, but President Joe Biden’s Irish heritage added an extra layer of possibility.Diarmuid told Pat all about this idea and journey.

Cooking healthy, balanced meals everyday can take up a lot of time for people, especially when you’ve a busy schedule. But Clodagh McKenna's new cookbook, Clodagh's Happy Cooking: 100 Easy, Speedy, Healthy Recipes for Good Mood Food, includes easy recipes with ingredients that you can find in your cupboard. From juices and teas, soups and breads to snacks and treats.