Highlights from The Pat Kenny Show

Rory McIlroy heads into the final day at Augusta having relinquished a commanding lead on Saturday, but can he recover to go back-to-back and retain the green jacket? Philip Reid, Golf Correspondent of The Irish Times, joins Pat to discuss.

More than 300 children in Ireland are currently waiting for life-changing wishes. The figure comes as Make-A-Wish continues to expand its reach, granting 229 wishes in 2025 - its highest number to date - thanks to the generosity of the Irish public and corporate partners. This year's nationwide fundraising campaign is now up and running, which will culminate in a dedicated donation day on Friday, April 17th. To discuss, Pat is joined by Susan McQuaid O'Dwyer, CEO of Make-A-Wish & Emma Dempsey, Make-A-Wish fundraiser.

Even if a fragile peace holds, Lebanon now faces a long and deeply uncertain road to reconstruction, against the backdrop of wider regional tensions involving Iran and a ceasefire that many fear could still collapse. Joining Pat to discuss is Fawaz Gerges, professor of international relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

American Catholics form an important voting bloc in U.S. elections and, as mid-term elections approach, having the church onside is an important strategic goal for Donald Trump. However, in a high-level meeting between US Department of War officials and the Vatican's U.S. ambassador, a serious fallout appears to have occurred. Joining Pat to discuss is Elise Ann Allen, a senior correspondent in the Vatican for Crux, an independent Catholic news outlet specialising in Vatican and global church news.

Joining Pat to run through the main stories in the Sunday papers is Sinead O'Carroll, Editor at TheJournal.ie. Also joining Pat to discuss whether fuel protest talks can deliver de-escalation, or whether the crisis is set to deepen, is Timmy Dooley, Fianna Fáil TD for Clare, Minister of State in the Department of Agriculture, Food, and Marine.

One of the world's leading AI companies has abruptly withdrawn a powerful new tool over concerns it could be exploited for large-scale hacking. It's the latest sign of just how quickly this technology is advancing, and the risks that come with it. So what exactly triggered this decision, and how seriously is the cybersecurity world taking it? I'm joined now by Kevin O'Loughlin of Nostra, one of Ireland's leading cyber security firms, to unpack the story and what it could mean for the future of online security.

Hungary goes to the polls today in what many are calling a pivotal moment for the country and for Europe more broadly. The election is being closely watched in Brussels and beyond, with questions around democratic standards, media freedom, and Hungary's relationship with the European Union all at stake. Joining Pat to discuss is Martin Wolf, Chief Economics Commentator at the Financial Times.

Tech Talk's Jess Kelly joins Pat to go through some of the latest smartphones and laptops coming on the market.

Joining Pat to discuss some of the science that underpins the cold plunge and saunas is Dr Luke O'Neill.

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

Joining Pat to discuss the ongoing fuel protests and how we may see a way forward is economist Colm McCarthy.

With the Grand National and the Masters well underway, Off the Ball's John Duggan joins Pat to give him the latest.

Joining Pat to get the latest on the fuel protests taking place around the country are Josh Crosbie, Newstalk reporter in Dublin city centre; Sarah Madden, Newstalk reporter at Dublin Airport; Seamus Whelehan, Producer Reporter with the Neil Prendiville Show on Red FM in Cork; and David Raleigh, Limerick-Based freelance journalist in Foynes.

It was a week which began with a foul-mouthed rant threatening the complete destruction of Iranian civilisation but ultimately ended in a ceasefire. But how long will it last, and will Israel go along with it? Joining Pat to discuss is Scott Lucas, Professor of International Politics at the Clinton Institute, University College Dublin.

Joining Pat to talk about the ins and outs of the Government's new savings scheme is Kathleen Gallagher, Markets Correspondent at the Business Post.

Joining Pat to run through the main stories in the Sunday papers is Mark Hennessy, Ireland and Britain Editor of The Irish Times.

Dr Niamh Shaw joins Pat to discuss the crucial next phase in the Artemis II mission to the moon.

Donald Trump faces a sharp drop in approval amid rising fuel costs, war fatigue, and questions over strategy, all of which could have major implications heading into the midterm elections later this year. Joining Pat to discuss is Larry Donnelly, law lecturer at the University of Galway and columnist with thejournal.ie.

“Even if the US president is an idiot… he's still the most powerful man in the world.” is just one of the sharp-edged insights from Seán Lemass, a leader who believed in decisive action and wasn't afraid to provoke in the pursuit of progress. Pat is joined by Ronan McGreevy to unpack his book ‘Seán Lemass: The Lost Memoir', which is a remarkable reconstruction of Lemass's own voice drawn from 22 hours of recordings.

Nepalese authorities have charged 32 people over an alleged $20 million insurance scam involving helicopter rescues, hospital workers, and mountain workers on Everest trekking routes. Joining Pat to go through the details of the case is Simon Calder.

It was one of the most bitter planning battles in Dublin's history. Wood Quay, a priceless Viking settlement, was built over despite mass protests, court challenges, and 200,000 signatures. The result: Dublin City Council's civic offices, a controversial but now established architectural landmark on the banks of the Liffey, but just 30 years on, the council wants to walk away at a potential cost of half a billion euro - but why? Joining Pat to discuss is architect, Roisin Murphy.

From restoring sight to reshaping the very surface of the eye, laser technology has transformed modern ophthalmology. Joining Pat for this week's expert slot is Arthur Cummings of the Wellington Eye Clinic, to explain how different types of lasers are now used not just to treat eye disease, but to precisely alter, repair, and even stimulate the eye at a microscopic level.

This week, the Italians missed out on a spot at the finals for the third successive tournament, meaning the World Cup will once again be without those famous blue shirts. But why do Italy wear blue? It's one of the questions that Off The Ball's Cameron Hill has been exploring, and he joins Pat to discuss.

It's the end of another dramatic week in America and Israel's war on Iran. Threats, counter-threats, and plenty of missiles have flown in all directions. Joining Pat to discuss the latest developments is Professor Paul Rogers, emeritus professor of peace at Bradford University.

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

Joining Pat to discuss what the astronauts on the Artemis II mission can expect is Dr Luke O'Neill.

A case in the United States that raises serious questions about the use of artificial intelligence in policing - a Tennessee grandmother arrested at gunpoint, jailed for months, and accused of crimes in a state she had never even visited, all after being misidentified by facial recognition software. Joining Pat to discuss this case and the wider issues of using FRT is Dr Elizabeth Faries, tenured assistant professor in the School of Information and Communication Studies, UCD, where she serves as director of the UCD Centre for Digital Policy

Next week, the annual conferences of the TUI and the INTO will be taking place in Killarney, while the ASTI annual convention will be taking place in Wexford. On the agendas for each conference are issues affecting teachers up and down the country, from salaries and allowances to conditions of work and school resourcing. Joining Pat to discuss what will be coming up over the next week and what could and should be discussed is Brian Mooney, Guidance counsellor and columnist with the Irish Times.

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.

Pat is joined by historian, broadcaster and podcaster, Turtle Bunbury, to look back at the history of train travel in Ireland.

Google and Meta have been ruled liable for creating platforms that pose risks to children and teenagers, in a landmark decision that could compel tech companies to reconsider how they respond to safety-related claims. Joining Pat to discuss is Dr Johnny Ryan, Senior Fellow at the Irish Council of Civil Liberties.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.