The Pat Kenny Show Highlights

Solicitor Keith Walsh joins us live in the studio for our Monday Ask the Expert. Keith specializes in family law and will be answering listeners' questions about divorce, civil separation and domestic disputes. He also teases out “big-money” divorce and why it made headlines last week.

Travel with Pol Ó Conghaile Irish Independent Travel Editor tells us about the delights of Madeira and the new route from Shannon.

All with thanks to Ryanair.

Donald Trump announces plans to sell military defence weapons to Ukraine.He has not specified the type of weapons or the amount, but he did warn the EU that they will cover the cost. We get the latest on this and more with Scott Lucas Scott Lucas, Professor and Political Analyst, Clinton Institute, UCD.

At the peak of the Irish missionary movement, in the 1960s, over 6,000 Irish Catholic missionaries were dispersed over 80 countries. Today, there are only about 450 Irish missionaries still scattered around the world and by the end of this decade, that number is likely to fall below 200.

A new two part series on RTE called The Last Irish Missionaries with former RTE Presenter Bryan Dobson and Dearbhail MacDonald explore the history of Ireland's missions. Bryan and Fr Shay Cullen, founder the PREDA Foundation joined Pat on the show.

Today, approximately 25,000 French people living in Ireland will be celebrating Bastille Day. We are joined live in the studio by the French Ambassador to Ireland, Céline Place, to discuss the holiday and relationship between both countries. We will also discuss Franco-Irish relations, French defence and migration policies, and much more

Over the next three months we will hear pitches from candidates as to why they believe they should be the next Uachtaráin na hÉireann.  

But when it comes to those pitches…what can a President of Ireland actually achieve? What are their powers? PhD candidate at the School of Law and Government, Dublin City University Seán Rainford and , Law Lecturer, South East Technological University Dr Jennifer Kavanagh explained to Pat this morning.

EU ministers are to debate the bloc's approach to trade talks with the United States.  With Brussels scrambling to head off 30% tariffs threatened by US President Donald Trump. Pat discusses this and more with  Nora Strecker, Associate Professor of Economics at UCD and also Shona Murray, Europe Correspondent for Euro News.

As the government is expected to launch a new tax on vapes, will this actually lead to a decline in usage? There have been a number of measures introduced to help curb the number of people using vapes. Newstalk reporter Sarah Madden finds out if these measures really do act as a deterrent or are they simply ignored.

The government has spent 20 bn on walking and cycling projects since 2020. However, many people are still reluctant to cycle around the city.  Melanie Finn of the Irish Independent is one of those people and explained why to Pat this morning.

Joining Ivan for the Friday Forum today was Robert Troy TD, Minister of State at the Department of Finance with special responsibility for Financial Services, Credit Unions and Insurance, Fianna Fáil, Longford-Westmeath. Gary Gannon TD, Spokesperson for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Social Democrats, Dublin Central. Also on the panel was Jane Matthews, Political Correspondent, at the Journal. 

All this week we have been looking at how young people in Ireland socialise in 2025. With more people reducing their alcohol consumption and the cost of going out gen z are changing the way they socialise. But how is this impacting the nighttime industry in Ireland?  

We discuss with Nialler9, DJ and Donal O’Keefe, CEO of Vinters Association.

As temperatures are set to hit the late 20s today, does the workplace need a maximum temperature limit? All to discuss with Peter Cosgrove, Managing Director of Futurewise. 

Gareth Mullins talks through barbequed beef burgers with crispy bacon, cheese, egg and tomato relish  and bbq chicken and pepper kebab, flat breads, garlic mayo and tomato salad.  

A new documentary airing this week This is Open Country, coming to Sky Sports Golf and NOW. Ahead of the Open arriving into Portrush next week, this one-hour special feature examines just how golfers from the island of Ireland have proved to be undeniably successful at this great tournament.  

For the first time within one film, we hear from Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry, Pádraig Harrington and Darren Clarke, to understand what transformed these four men from young boys on the golf course to Major success. Ivan spoke to its Director Ross Whitaker.

Parades will take place across Northern Ireland this weekend to mark the 12th July. However, there has been significant controversy around some of the bonfires set up in advance of the parades. Amanda Ferguson brings us the latest with reaction from SDLP Leader Claire Hanna.

Djokovic and Jannik go head-to-head in the Wimbledon Semifinals this afternoon and the All-Ireland Football semifinals take place.  Shane Hannon looks a head to the weekend of sport.

Our rapidly growing aging population is facing an immediate housing crisis. Census data showed an 83% increase in renters over the age of 65 and a decrease in home ownership. With the average rent rising and a lesser supply of housing, many of these older renters are at serious risk of homelessness.

Seán Moynihan, CEO of ALONE, a national organisation that supports older people, joined Ivan to discuss this issue and the policies that could help address.

How to apologise properly, when not to apologise and why and when a bad apology can be worse than none.. Sarah Madden reports/ 

European Commission is expected to receive a letter today from U.S. President Donald Trump disclosing the long-awaited tariff deal between the two trading partners. Suzanne Lynch, Brussels Bureau Chief with Bloomberg joins us to discuss this.

How to talk to those affected by misinformation.  Dealing with the consequences of those affected by misinformation Conspiracy theorists tend to operate in polarised echo chambers, closing them off to other source. Approximately 25% of the population are susceptible to conspiratorial ideation, something many of us realised during the pandemic in family Whatsapp Groups.

Speaking to Ivan this morning was Dr David Robert Grimes, Author and disinformation expert .

John Fardy looks at Apple TV’s latest series Smoke This new miniseries by Dennis Lehane, starring Taron Egerton and is based on a true crime podcast. Egerton plays Dave Gudsen, a former firefighter who became an arson investigator after a traumatic callout put an end to his original career.

After 40 years in the property sector, Pat Davitt is stepping down as CEO of IPAV. His long career has seen him defend auctioneers on national radio, highlighting why small builders are vanishing from Irish towns, and shedding light on the challenges shaping Ireland’s housing market today. Creating a statutory obligation for a seller’s pack to be prepared in advance of a property going on the market is still on his agenda. Pat joins us in the studio to discuss all of this. 

Cameron Hill tells us about Irelands dominance of the Wimbledon in the 1890S. We look at the interesting figures of Willougby Hamilton and Joshua Pim- Hamilton is also allegedly responsible for introducing football to Dublin. 

In the 18th century, the average global lifespan was just 28.5 to 32 years. It's now between 72.6 and 73.2. The questions is how can we go and do we really want to?  Professor Luke O’Neill Professor of Immunology at Trinity College Dublin discusses all with Ivan.

A recent study on intercountry adoption by the Adoption Authority of Ireland, shared the experiences of a group of people who were adopted from a foreign country by an individual or couple in Ireland. The study highlighted the importance of supporting intercountry adopted people, while also bringing awareness to a system that needs reform.

Ivan this discusses this further with Orla Traynor Chairperson of the Board at Adoption Authority of Ireland.

We hear about the global movement of plastic free July. All to discuss with Jo Linehan, editor of the climate supplement at the Sunday Times Ireland.

Despite a commitment in the Program for Government to work towards lifting the passenger cap at Dublin Airport as soon as possible, the cap remains in place and is set to be breached again this year. Michael O’Leary, Group CEO of Ryanair joined Ivan to discuss this and more.

French President Emmanuel Macron is on his final day of a three day state visit to the United Kingdom today. Along with attending a state reception at Windsor Castle hosted by King Charles, there has been plenty of political discussions too around migrants crossing the Channel and nuclear deterrence. We discuss this further with Mark Paul, London Correspondent, The Irish Times.

Minister of State, John Cummins joins us on the show today to discuss housing and planning issues in the country. From costly judicial reviews stalling housing development, staff shortages in local authorities, and delays in measures like modular housing.

There’s so much more to orchids than the showy specimens in supermarkets. See them in a new light with these 10 fascinating orchid facts with Paul Smyth, head Gardener at RHSI Bellefield, Ireland. Gardener and Plantsman Author and Podcaster.

All with thanks to Tirlán.

A Limerick couple is calling for change to the current inheritance tax rules, calling it discriminatory and inequitable. James Sexton and his wife Sheila got married in their forties. With no children, they discovered that there are significant legal and financial disadvantages that they face when trying to plan the future of their estate.

Ivan spoke to James James this morning.

As part of our series looking into how young people socialise our reporter Emily Keegan has been looking into the claim that young people are ditching the nightclubs and late bars.    

  She took to the streets of Dublin City on a Friday night, to see what the crowds were like, and speak to the Gen Zs who made it out to the pubs.

Christian Horner has been sacked as team principal of Formula 1 team Red Bull with immediate effect. He was the longest serving team principal in formula one but there has been lots of changes in the Red Bull Camp in the past 18 months. Newstalk's own Rory Galvin brings us up to date.

As the weather is expected to heat up this week and many of us will be out enjoying the heat,it can also cause some issues on the road.  So, when the sun is shining, what dangers do we need to look out for when driving? Also, more than €4 billion has been awarded in compensation for personal injuries over the past two decades. All to discuss with Conor Faughnan Transport Commentator.  

As Michael Douglas announces his retirement we look back at the stellar career of this two time Oscar winning actor for this weeks 'Inside Hollywood'.

In the Green Scene this week, Dr Ruth Freeman looks at an innovative idea from scientists to prevent the slowdown of the Atlantic current. Also we hear how engineered bacteria might protect us from mercury in fish.

All with thanks to Repak.

Figures released today from the Irish Cancer Society show a significant variation in access to cancer treatment across the country which it says is causing avoidable deaths. Full analysis from Professor John Armstrong, President, Irish Society of Radiation Oncology and Radiation Oncologist, St Luke’s Hospital.

43 million litres of milk may have been produced for human consumption in May. But with more and more milk alternatives available, do we need to be careful of cutting out dairy? Dietician at eatwell.ie Sarah Keogh busts the myths around dairy. 

Anti-immigration protests blocked the main entrance to Leinster House yesterday evening and who are the likely runners and riders for the Presidential Election? Political Correspondent with the Irish Times  Harry McGee discusses all.

U.S. President Donald Trump met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a second time this week to discuss the “close” progress of the 60-day ceasefire in Gaza. We get the latest on this with Paul Rogers, Emeritus Professor of Peace Studies, Bradford University.