Highlights From The Pat Kenny Show

We hear about the US’ new national security strategy that’s worrying allies and being welcomed by Russia. Speaking to Pat about this was David Dunne, Professor of International Politics, University of Birmingham.

Geraldine Herbert, Motoring Editor with the Sunday Independent explains the best and most sensible way to finance a car, explains why the driving test waiting time is still up as high as 22 weeks in some areas. Also we hear how hauliers may protest. 

Women are twice as likely as men to get stuck in and organise Christmas. A survey found 76 per cent of women took responsibility for prepping most of the Christmas workload. Doing it by themselves and also buying most of the presents. By Christmas Day they feel wrecked. Henry McKean met Christmas shoppers and sent this report.

Amidst the drone and missile strikes in Ukraine, music and the arts are still managing to survive and helping many, including kids, during the trauma of war. Chloe Craft, a reporter with HotPress is just back from Ukraine where she visited the Ukrainian Suzuki Association. 

We were speaking to our own reporter Kyle Butler a little earlier on the show of the tragic events that took place in Offaly over the weekend.  After a petrol bomb aimed at a house in Castleview park, Edenderry tragically claimed the innocent lives of two, four-year-old Tadhg Farrelly and his 60-year-old great aunt Mary Holt. We get reaction from John Clendennen, Fine Gael TD for Offaly 

McLaren driver Lando Norris has won the World Drivers Championship after a close fight across the season, the first to win it for the team since Lewis Hamilton in 2008...Joining Pat to look back on the biggest stories of the season, and what to get excited for in 2026 is Newstalk's Rory Galvin.

It was a dramatic weekend of Liverpool as Mo Salah hit out at Arne Slot for benching him at the weekend. The 33-year-old claimed he was ‘thrown under the bus’ by the club, as he was benched for Liverpool away game to Leeds United. In rugby, the Champions cup returned with a bang as Bath dominated against Munster. Also in F1 McLaren's Lando Norris won the Formula One championship in Abu Dhabi.  All to chat with Cathal Mullaney with Off The Ball and Newstalk's own Rory Galvin.

Local residents of Brittas in Dublin are seeking orders to remove a set of modular homes that were allegedly built in the area without any planning permission. The developer is claiming the project is exempt from needing any sort of planning permission. To discuss this further was Mary Carolan Legal Affairs Correspondent of the Irish Times and Orla Hegerty Architect and Assistant Professor at UCD School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy.  

Gardaí have opened a double murder investigation after a young boy and his great-aunt were killed in a suspected petrol bomb attack on a house in Co Offaly. Pat was joined on the show by Newstalk reporter Kyle Butler who was in Edenderry yesterday morning.

A look back on the stories of the week on our Friday Forum. Joining Pat this morning on the panel was Fine Gael TD for Louth Paula Butterly,  Labour TD for Dublin Fingal East and spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Defence Ducan Smith and Christina Finn, political editor with Thejournal.ie.  

The Government is launching a new research programme to determine the risk of Russian sabotage on our undersea cables. With a rise in Russian ships visiting our seas, the project hopes to map out all or Ireland’s subsea cables, offshore windfarms and energy pipelines to assess how vulnerable we would be to an attackJoining Pat to discuss the research programme is Conor Gallagher, Crime and Security Correspondent of The Irish Times.  

Friday Food Creamed Celeriac soup with toasted walnuts and garlic croutons, Classic Prawn cocktail and Roasted king scallops, black pudding, apple salad.  Some tasty Christmas starter recipes with Gareth Mullins.

A Nobel prize winning economist has said there is no true European single market. Phillipe Aghion says Europe is falling behind the US in terms of innovation because the market is over-regulated and punishes failure at every turn. If the EU is to keep up with Washington and Beijing, the barriers to entry need to be lowered. Economics lecturer from Technical University Dublin, Emma Howard joined Pat in studio to discuss whether a “true single market” is possible in Europe. 

Is Panto the highest artform? Up and down the country Pantos are showing. Henry McKean visited the Helix Panto in Dublin and this year they are putting on the Snow Queen. Henry sent us this report. 'Oh no he didn't, Oh yes he did.'

Taxi drivers will now protest for six days next week over Uber’s fixed fare system.  After four weeks of warnings and protests, taxi drivers have decided to escalate matters. They feel they have been ignored, dismissed and pushed to breaking point. Pat spoke to David Mitchell, Taxi Driver and Protestor coordinator.

It was a disappointing game for Man Utd last night as the Red Devils disappointingly drew against west ham. the results left former player and pundit Roy Keane has taken aim at Manchester United's subs for "bringing down the level".  in rugby the champions cup returns as Leinster face harlequins and Munster play Bath. And in Formula 1, drivers' championship will be decided in a three-way showdown that takes place this weekend on Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina circuit.To look ahead to the busy weekend of sport was Colm Boohig from Off The Ball.

Barretstown aims to rebuild the lives of children affected by cancer and other serious illnesses through its camps at its kildare campus and also through its outreach services in hospitals. All of their services are provided free of charge to families who use them. One of the families who have seen the importance of their services is the family of Fióna O’Reilly who was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer at just 14 months.Sarah O’Reilly, mother of Barretstown camper Fióna chatted to Pat this morning.

With many people heading out shopping this weekend, some will Blanchardstown Shopping Centre. But there’s a chance you won’t be able to get in. Tomorrow protestors are staging a blockade over the introduction of parking charges.  An official complaint has been lodged to An Comisiúin Pleanála by Solidarity TD for Dublin West Ruth Coppinger who has praised the protest and who joined Pat on the show.  

Netflix psychological crime thriller TV series The Beast in Me  starring Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys features in this weeks Boxed with John Fardy.

“Next year marks 100 years of the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters, whose players dazzle crowds with their amazing skills and mischievous antics on the court. While times have changed and left the team behind somewhat, they played an important role in desegregating basketball in the US – even if some in the civil rights movement felt the Trotters didn’t foster change but inhibited it. To give us the full story, Cameron Hill from Off The Ball joined Pat.