Highlights From The Pat Kenny Show

Ireland's top Google results for 2025 have been revealed and top of the list is Storm Eowyn. To chat about the results was Newstalk own Ciara Treacy.

Ireland will host the EU Presidency from July of next year and, ahead of it, cybersecurity experts are warning of the potential risks to Ireland for cyberattacks from hostile nations. All to discuss with Richard Browne, Director of the National Cybersecurity Centre and Raluca Saceanu, CEO, Smartech247. 

The MyFutureFund portal officially opened for employers this week. Any employees that aren't already contributing to a pension through their payroll will be auto enrolled into the MyFutureFund pension scheme, with payments set to start on the 1st of January 2026. Joining Pat in studio to discuss the new scheme as well as the bonus payments available this winter is Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most fatal malignancies, with most patients diagnosed only after the disease has already spread. For those with metastatic cancer, the five-year survival rate sits at just 2–3 percent, and median survival is typically measured in months. A breakthrough study from researchers at UCLA could be a pivotal shift in treatment.Professor Luke O’Neill, Professor of Biochemistry at the School of Immunology, Trinity College brings us the details.

The Irish people are no strangers to emigration, in fact last year nearly 14,000 of us moved to Australia alone. The majority of those emigrants will have been young, but data now shows emigration is on the rise among older people too. So, what's behind this wave of middle-aged emigration and is it a cause for inspiration or concern? Our report Sarah Madden finds out.

There’s plenty of time to plan for a low-impact festive celebration so this week Jo Linehan looks to trees, crackers, food waste, table settings and secret Santa as areas we can all be more sustainable.  

On December 10th, Australia will become the first country in the world to introduce age restrictions on social media. Communications Minister, Anika Wells, has stated she is not intimidated by major technology companies and is prepared for scrutiny from the United States.  Author and Disinformation expert  David Robert Grimes looks at Australia’s social media ban and the CDC delivering vaccine misinformation.

A lot of people tend to reconsider their career choices this time of year. January might seem like the perfect time for a fresh start but is “new year, new career” really a good idea at the moment. We asked Donal O'Donoghue, Managing Director at Sanderson Recruitment.  

Talks between us and Ukraine resume today following Tuesday’s meeting between US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Vladimir Putin in Moscow. It comes as Putin visits India today and French President Emanuelle Macron visits China.Pat discuss this further with Denis Staunton, China Correspondent, Irish Times.

Jacques Majorelle grew up in the soft industrial light of Nancy in north eastern France, the son of Louis Majorelle, a celebrated Art Nouveau furniture designer.Young Jacques was supposed to follow a respectable path into architecture, but painting pulled more strongly. He studied at the École des Beaux Arts in Nancy, then at the Académie Julian in Paris, and began to exhibit as a promising Orientalist painter. The world he painted, however, was not yet his own. Then, illness and chance carried him south, across the Mediterranean, to Morocco.Diarmuid Gavin tells us about the La Majorelle, an iconic garden in Marakaecch. 

With player salaries, Saudi investment and commercial licensing, the premier league deals with an astronomical amount of revenue every year. Recently, premier league clubs have agreed a new set of financial regulations to replace the divisive profit and sustainability rules (psr) with a new squad cost ratio system, but how does it work? and, how does the money flow down throughout clubs? All to discuss with Kieran Maguire, Lecturer in Football Finance at University of Liverpool. Author of ‘The Price of Football’.

This week on Inside Hollywood, Why Santa on Film Matters. Santa Claus has appeared in more than a hundred films, but only a handful have shaped the global image of who he is: jolly, generous, slightly mischievous, and always arriving just in time with a sleigh full of hope. Movie Santas carry a responsibility they must be real enough for children, nostalgic enough for adults, and magical enough for everyone in between.All to chat about with Lisa Cannon, Head of Studio, DMG Media.

The Kennedy dynasty is the equivalent of American royalty. From presidents to wealthy philanthropists, the Kennedys have left their mark on every part of American society. But what does the Kennedy reputation look like today?  Joining Pat on this was Larry Donnelly, NUIG law lecturer and columnist with the journal.ie.

Campaigners in the UK have urged ministers there to allow schools to pilot a four day work week in order to tackle worsening teacher burnout and recruitment and retention issues. The 4 Day Week Foundation says it’s not about doing less, but doing work smarter to ensure staff wellbeing. So should it be done here too?Pat spoke to James Reeves, Campaign Manager, 4 Day Week Foundation and Eric Nelligan, Assistant Principal, St Munchin’s College. 

Volodymyr Zelensky's whirlwind visit to Ireland is coming to a close. Yesterday he met with President Catherine Connolly before delivering his very first in-person address to the Oireachtas, thanking the Irish people for their continued support. We look back on visit and discuss the ongoing peace talks with Sean Defoe, Newstalk political correspondent and host of the Let Me Explain podcast and also Donnacha O Beacháin, professor of politics at DCU and author of Unfinished Empire: Russian Imperialism in Ukraine and the Near Abroad.

Scientists have discovered that consuming food and drink that is high in flavanols may lead to increase vascular health over prolonged periods of sitting regardless of fitness levels. This in turn can decrease the risk of cardiovascular problems including heart disease, strokes and heart attacks. Also Scientists have created a wheat plant capable of producing its own fertiliser. All to chat with Dr Ruth Freeman Director of Research for Society For Research Ireland.All with thanks to Repak.

Three Austrian nuns, all in their 80s, have absconded from their retirement home residence to return to their former convent. Sister Bernadette, Sister Regina, and sister Rita, are now the last three nuns at the Kloster Goldenstein convent in Elsbethen, just outside Salzburg. For more on this Pat spoke to Kate Connolly, Berlin Correspondent with The Guardian.

A new survey from the Children’s Ombudsman has found that 63% of young people come across extremist views online, when only 6% of them come across those views in real life. The content seen by younger people of secondary school age include negative commentary on immigration and views that society should reverse to ‘traditional’ gender roles. However, children still say that parents or guardians are the biggest influence in their livesWe discuss this all further with Colman Noctor, Child and Adolescent Psycotherapist.

TII has admitted that the M50 is ‘maxed out’ and that there are no interventions or upgrades planned that will fix it. All to discuss with Conor Faughnan, Transport Consultant. 

On this week’s Tech, Jess Kelly is continuing the gift guide. Today Jess brings us details of  Photo prints, books gifts, STEM gifts for kids. An affordable laptop for teen and much more. All great suggestions for Christmas.With thanks to Renault.