Highlights From The Pat Kenny Show

Joining Pat to chat through some of the main stories in the Sunday papers is journalist Brenda Power.

Ciara Noone moved from Monkstown to work in Beirut for six months. That was thirteen years ago, and she is still there. As the Israeli invasion of Lebanon continues to expand into all parts of that country, it is doing something remarkable to ensure its people and its businesses survive this war somewhat intact. Ciara joins Pat to discuss.

This week, we learned that the State prosecution case against three members of An Garda Síochána, accused of squaring away Fixed Charge Penalty Notices (FCPNs), will not proceed. Mick Clifford, Special Correspondent, The Irish Examiner, joins Pat to discuss.

The way we pay for things has fundamentally changed, from owning products outright to renting access, often indefinitely. Our daily lives now come with a monthly fee attached. Joining Pat to discuss how the financial system is nudging businesses toward subscription models and whether consumers are ultimately paying the price for that stability is Emma Howard, Economics lecturer from TUD.

Leo Varadkar stepped down as Taoiseach in March 2024, leaving politics at a relatively young age and at a time of significant global uncertainty. With conflict escalating in Iran, evolving Irish–US relations, and a new chapter in his own life underway, he joins Pat to reflect on leadership, legacy, and what comes next.

Ben de Pear is a BAFTA, Emmy-winning, and Oscar-nominated documentary producer whose films from Gaza include ‘For Sama’ and the controversial and celebrated ‘Gaza: Doctors Under Attack’, which was commissioned and then shelved by the BBC, before being shown on Channel Four. He joins Pat to discuss the ongoing attacks in Iran and Lebanon.

There have been some extraordinary developments in cancer research of late, from bacteria that can eat tumours from the inside to personalised vaccines designed using AI. Professor Luke O’Neil joins Pat to explain what this could mean for the future of treatment.

In this episode of Boxed, John Fardy, presenter of Screentime, chat about HBO's 'The Pitt'.

The state is failing some of its most vulnerable children, that’s the stark warning from the children’s ombudsman in a major new report out this week. The report describes a system under severe strain, with falling foster care numbers, growing reliance on private residential providers, and serious gaps in support for carers. So, what’s going wrong inside Ireland’s care system? Joining Pat to discuss is the Children’s Ombudsman, Dr Niall Muldoon.

With next week being Easter, it's time for some fish dishes that will suit all tastes. Gareth Mullins, Executive Chef at the Anantara Hotel, joins Pat to discuss.

Since the Trump administration intervened in Venezuela in January, Cuba’s access to fuel has been cut off due to the American oil embargo. What is sometimes lost in the current discourse is the once thriving relationship between America and its Caribbean neighbour, before Fidel Castro’s revolution, when it was a playground of the rich and famous, with enormous amounts of US business on the island. Simon Tierney has been exploring this for us and joins Pat to discuss.

Irishman, Barra Fitzgibbon, came very close to dying during the first weeks of the covid pandemic. He has since turned his experience into a darkly comic play, ‘Patient: Soldier’, that is soon to tour Ireland. He joins Pat to discuss.

China is rapidly emerging as a global technology superpower, outpacing the United States across most critical innovation fields. From AI and robotics to batteries and quantum communication, state-backed investment and strategic planning are driving an unprecedented surge in scientific output and industrial capability. Joining Pat to discuss is Denis Staunton, China correspondent of The Irish Times.

As households continue to feel the pinch from rising costs and the political agenda shifts both at home and abroad, there are big questions about priorities, pressures, and where parties stand. Pat is joined by Holly Cairns, leader of the Social Democrats, to discuss.

Mark Weiss, Irish Times Contributor Based In Israel, joins Pat to discuss the latest strike by Iran on Israeli territory & Craig Hughes, Political Editor of the Irish Daily Mail, also joins Pat to chat through some of the main stories in the Sunday papers.

The country is bracing itself for two games in the next ten days that could see the Irish men's soccer team qualify for June’s World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the USA. If the team does make it, what would a tournament hosted by Donald Trump look like? Joining Pat to discuss is Jonathan Wilson, Sportswriter with The Guardian and author of The Power and the Glory: A New History of the World Cup.

Gareth Mullins, executive chef at the Anantara Hotel, joins Pat with some mouth-watering Easter recipes.

Today marks 20 years since Jack Dorsey sent the first-ever tweet, a moment that helped spark a social media revolution that has reshaped how we communicate and see the world around us. But two decades on, the digital landscape looks very different. Joining Pat to reflect on this is Adrian Weckler, tech editor of The Irish Independent and host of the Big Tech Show.

How critical is the Gulf production of oil and natural gas to the world's economy? And are there any others who might pick up the slack? To explore all of this, Pat is joined by Ed Conway, Sky Economics Editor and Author of 'Material World', to discuss.

Máire Treasa Ní Cheallaigh, doctor and columnist with The Irish Independent, joins Pat to discuss the challenges she has been facing in enrolling her Irish-speaking daughter into the local Gaelscoil.