The Pat Kenny Show

Epizody

• From JFK to Trump: The politics of airport names 18.07.2026 11min

  A few days ago, Palm Beach Airport in Florida was officially renamed Donald J Trump International Airport, adding to the growing list of buildings that now bear the president’s name. While a tradition exists in the states of naming airports after former presidents, the naming of one after a sitting leader is unprecedented. Our reporter Simon Tierney has been investigating and he joins Pat to discuss.
• Trump’s election claims as the Midterms loom 18.07.2026 14min

  Donald trump has never been one to let an election go quietly, and now, in a primetime address from the White House, he has once again claimed that America's voting system is fundamentally broken - alleging Chinese interference in the 2020 election despite officials, intelligence agencies and even members of his own former administration saying there's no evidence votes were changed. With the 2026 midterms on the horizon, critics say he's laying the groundwork to challenge the result if republicans fall short. So, what is the political strategy here, and what does it mean for confidence in American democracy? Caroline Vakil, Campaign Reporter at The Hill, joins Pat to discuss.
• Luke O’Neill on Alzheimer’s 18.07.2026 8min

  Joining Pat to discuss the latest developments in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease is Dr Luke O’Neill.
• Nepalese cooking with Lina Gautam from Monty’s of Kathmandu 18.07.2026 7min

  Pat is joined by Lina Gautam from Monty’s of Kathmandu, a stalwart Nepalese restaurant in the Temple Bar where they talk through two dishes to get your tastebuds going for the coming weekend.
• E-Scooters: What have other European countries done about them? 18.07.2026 17min

  E-scooters have become a familiar sight on streets across Europe, offering a quick and convenient way to travel around cities but they have also brought a new set of challenges, from pedestrian safety and reckless riding to illegal parking and questions around enforcement. Here in Ireland, the debate continues over how best to regulate their use, with calls for stronger controls and clearer rules but other European cities have already been navigating these waters and putting measures in place to manage their impact. Joining Pat to discuss is: Philip O’Connor, freelance journalist living and working in Stockholm Elaine Cobbe, Paris-based journalist
• Blúirí Oileánda – Island Pieces with Diarmuid Ó Drisceoil 18.07.2026 14min

  Visiting Ireland’s islands, especially those in a Gaeltacht area, is a great way to imagine how our recent ancestors lived. Diarmuid Ó Drisceoil was born in Cork City, but spent a lot of time on Oileán Cléire, where his grandparents and extended family lived. Now he has compiled an eclectic record of items, places, and events into a beautiful book that paints a vivid picture of island life over time. Diarmuid joins Pat to discuss.
• Coming up on The Pat Kenny Show July 18th & 19th 17.07.2026

  This weekend on The Pat Kenny Show: Pat finds out how Washington has responded to Trump’s cynical speech;We get a brief history of the naming of American airports with Simon Tierney;Prof Luke O’Neill has good news about Alzheimer’s from the WHO; The NHS doctor who has admitted to shortening the lives of his patients; We get some delicious Nepalese recipes from the owner of Monty's of Kathmandu;Pat asks if a PR voting system could make the UK great again;All that and more, plus the latest in all the weekend’s sports and news headlines;That’s The Pat Kenny Show, on Saturday and Sunday mornings, from 10am
• What does the future hold for Unionism? 12.07.2026 12min

  It’s July 12th, the highlight of Northern Ireland’s marching season. Traditionally it is a day of celebration for the loyalist community, but following a tumultuous couple of years, culminating in last month’s conviction of former DUP Leader Jeffrey Donaldson for the gravest of sex offences, many unionists feel they have little reason this year to bang the drum. To consider what this all means for the future of unionism, and for politics more broadly in Northern Ireland, Pat is joined by Deirdre Heenan, Professor of Social Policy at Ulster University and political commentator.
• Pat's Sunday Paper Review July 12th 12.07.2026 15min

  Joining Pat to run through the main stories in the Sunday papers is Mark Hennessy, Ireland and Britain Editor for ⁠The Irish Times.
• Irish Gardaí on peacekeeping duty in Cyprus 12.07.2026 10min

  Newstalk reporter Alex Rowley reports from the UN “Green Line”, the buffer zone that still separates the Greek Cypriot south from the Turkish-controlled north, and explains how the crossing points work and what life is like along the line.
• Author Jane Casey on ‘Everything She Didn’t Say’ 12.07.2026 8min

  Jane Casey has garnered millions of fans for her detective fiction series of books featuring the character Meave Kerrigan but her new novel ‘Everything She Didn’t Say’, which hits the bookshops on July 16th, steps away from Meave’s world. Jane joins Pat to discuss.
• Ukraine War: Is Russia finally on the backfoot? 12.07.2026 7min

  Russian advances on the battlefield are slowing, casualties are mounting, Ukrainian drones are striking deep inside Russia, and even Moscow’s ability to sustain the war effort is being questioned. So, is the momentum beginning to shift against Putin, or is this simply another chapter in a long and brutal war of attrition? Joining Pat to discuss is Emmanuelle Chaze, Ukraine Correspondent for France 24.
• The sporting weekend with OTB’s John Duggan 12.07.2026 9min

  The World Cup semi-finals are now set after a weekend packed with drama, Mayo are through to the All-Ireland Football Final with Dublin and Kerry still to battle for the other spot this afternoon, and Ireland continue their Nations Championship campaign with another bonus-point win. To look back on another packed sporting weekend, Pat is joined by Off the Ball's John Duggan.
• What is killing Dungarvan Bay’s Oysters each August? 11.07.2026 8min

  Water is central to life in Ireland but keeping it clean is proving a growing challenge. Pat speaks to Cliona Mhic Giolla Chuda, general manager of Waterford Oysters in Dungarvan & Caroline Doherty, Irish Times Science and Climate Correspondent, as the industry faces possible ruin after three catastrophic die-offs in the last seven years.
• Boxed with John Fardy: Alice & Steve 11.07.2026 7min

  Screentime’s John Fardy joins Pat to talk about the new comedy series, Alice & Steve.
• US-Iran ceasefire in limbo: What happens next? 11.07.2026 19min

  The ceasefire that ended the U.S.-Iran war now appears to be hanging by a thread after fresh American strikes, Iranian retaliation, and president Trump's suggestion that the peace agreement may be dead, all of which comes as Washington also faces a political battle over funding the conflict and questions about whether the United States can avoid being drawn into another prolonged Middle East crisis. To help Pat make sense of these fast-moving developments, he is joined by Professor Scott Lucas of UCD's Clinton institute.
• Neither Confirm Nor Deny: British Intelligence, Lawless Agent Running and the Suppression of Truth 11.07.2026 18min

  John Ware’s introduction to the Troubles in Northern Ireland was as a local newspaper reporter from Worcester in the 70s, sent to report on the ‘local lads’ stationed in Ulster. Over the years his reports on BBC’s Panorama delved into the darker side of the war. His new book 'Neither Confirm Nor Deny: British Intelligence, Lawless Agent Running and the Suppression of Truth' focuses on the murky world of intelligence gathering  by UK agencies and the use of high level informers within both republican and loyalist groupings. John Ware, joins Pat to discuss.
• Ryanair window blowout: How did it happen? 11.07.2026 8min

  What began as a routine Ryanair flight from Greece to Germany turned into a mid-air emergency when a cabin window was dislodged after an apparent engine failure, causing rapid decompression and leaving one passenger partially sucked out of the aircraft before fellow travellers pulled him back to safety. The incident has raised fresh questions about aircraft safety, maintenance, and just how close this came to being a major aviation disaster. Joining Pat to get the latest is Kevin Byrne, retired lieutenant colonel & airport safety and security expert.
• Luke O’Neill on Gastritis 11.07.2026 6min

  Joining Pat to discuss the auto-immune disease ‘Gastritis’ is Dr Luke O’Neill.
• Ann Widdecombe murder investigation: What do we know? 11.07.2026 7min

  The shocking death of former Conservative cabinet minister, broadcaster, and Reform UK figure Ann Whitticombe has sent shockwaves through British politics, with police treating the case as murder while stressing there’s no evidence of a terrorist or political motive. Pat is joined by Financial Times political editor George Parker with the latest on what’s known so far.