Highlights From The Pat Kenny Show

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.

It was 50 years ago this week that Concorde flew its first commercial flights, with British Airways flying their aircraft from London to Bahrain and Air France debuting their route from Paris to Rio de Janeiro. Right up until tragedy struck in the early 2000s, Concorde became the personification of high-speed intercontinental travel for the wealthy and business elite.  To trace the story of this extraordinary episode in aviation history is reporter Simon Tierney, who has been investigating the archives.

One of Dublin's busiest roads is set to face a year of major traffic disruptions. Joining Pat to discuss the roadworks, and the disruptions that will follow, is Dublin Editor for the Irish Times, Olivia Kelly.

After the drama filled week in Davos. President Zelensky launches a scathing attack on European Leaders over their support for Ukraine. We get the latest on this with Shona Murray, Europe Correspondent with Euronews.  

It’s just over two weeks until the 2026 Winter Olympic Games get underway in Milano-Cortina in Italy. The Team Ireland contingent is yet to be revealed, for what will be their ninth appearance at the Winter Games. Ireland’s debut at the Games in 1992 is a fascinating story, all starting with a note left taped to a boat at the Henley Regatta. Off The Ball’s Cameron Hill can tell us more.

John Fardy, Presenter of Screentime reviews the His & Hers is the new Netflix mystery thriller on this week's Boxed.

With so much talk about the use of weight loss drugs, what is the origin of Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic drug? Aimee Donnellan Columnist with Reuters has charted the development of Ozempic in her new book Off the scales: The inside Story Of Ozempic And The Race To Cure Obesity.   

Are you the youngest, middle or eldest child? It turns out your place in the family doesn't define who you are. Researchers are calling it "The Birth Order Hoax." Middle child Henry McKean has been taking a closer look and he sent us this report. 

Positive thoughts may boost the immune system according to research that points to a connection between the mind and our body’s natural defences.  Scientists have found people who used positive thinking to boost activity in the brain’s reward system responded better to vaccination, with their immune systems producing more antibodies than others after having the shot. Prof Luke O'Neill brings us the details of this research.

Ireland is in danger of facing an electricity shortage event in the next two to five years due to the rapid energy demand.  The Commission for Regulation of Utilities published a new plan outlining how data centres are the primary source of the demand. But is there time to prepare for this?  To discuss further Pat was joined on the show by Eamonn O’Reilly, Chairman of the Energy and Climate Action Committee at the Irish Academy of Engineering and also Dr Muireann Lynch senior research officer at the ESRI.

A study by Strava, the fitness App, found that most resolutions die off on Jan 19th! According to a 2023 Forbes Health and One Poll survey, the average resolution lasts just 3.74 months.  So what are the green habits you can implement and keep in 2026 and beyond.  To tell us more was Jo Linehan, Climate and Sustainability Journalist.

What does a cashless bank really mean and who wins, and who loses when cash disappears? All to chat about with Paul Merriman, CEO Fairstone and Ask Paul online.  

US President Donald Trump addressed the World Economic Forum in Davos yesterday in a speech which confused Greenland for Iceland multiple times and contained many other errors. We discussed what took place at Davos with Sam Kiley, World Affairs Editor, The Independent.

Snowdrops, the harbinger of spring, symbol of hope and that winter is finally ending. It is the favourite plant of Paul Smyth Head Gardener at RHSI Bellefield, Shinrone, Co Offaly.