Highlights from The Pat Kenny Show

Few figures in Irish sport have cast as long a shadow as Roy Keane. To some, he's the embodiment of elite standards and uncompromising honesty. to others, he represents something else - a kind of cultural hard edge that's seeped far beyond football. New book argues that keane's influence didn't just shape teams but helped to shape modern ireland itself.We need to talk about Roy: The Keaneification of Modern Ireland, the author of which joins Pat, Dave Hannigan, contributor with the Irish Times based in New York

President Catherine Connolly paid tribute to the approximately 20,000 Irish people living in Spain at an event in Barcelona yesterday evening.Newstalk's Tom Douglas reports on the visit

UK Prime Minister Starmer to face MPs tomorrow as he returns to Parliament, as fallout continues on his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to the US. Pat was joined by Financial Times Political Editor, George Park to discuss

Bassam Aramin and Rami Elhanan are fathers from either side of the Palestinian Israeli conflict, united by each having lost a daughter to the conflict. Despite their loss, they work together to promote peace and reconciliation in their region, and their organisation, parents circle families forum, has been nominatated for the 2026 Nobel peace prize.

Joining Pat to run through the main stories in the Sunday papers is Political Correspondent with The Irish Times, Ellen Coyne

Irish dancing has long been seen as one of Ireland's most recognisable and wholesome cultural exports, but in recent years, that image has been shaken by allegations of cheating and corruption at the very highest levels of competition. In her new book dirty dancing, journalist Ellen Coyne traces how a so-called “feis-fixing” scandal exposed deep-rooted issues within what many describe as an insular and intensely competitive world, where the line between cultural tradition and elite sport has become increasingly blurred.

Joining Pat to go through what has been a tumultuous week for Michael Martin and the government more broadly is Kevin Doyle, Group Head of News at Mediahuis Ireland.

Forty-one years ago, John Corcoran was murdered in West Cork. Corcoran was an IRA member and a secret garda informer. No one has ever been charged with his murder. No inquiry has been held. J.P. O'Sullivan was the special branch detective who recruited Corcoran as an informer, and he believes there has been a huge cover-up of garda involvement in Corcoran's murder at the highest level. J.P. has written a book about it called 'Veil of Silence', and joins Pat to discuss.

As volatility grips global energy markets, a stark divide has opened up across Europe's electricity prices. Ireland now finds itself at the very top of the cost table, while Spain, once equally exposed to energy shocks, has emerged as one of the cheapest. So, what's driving this growing gap? Naomi O'Leary, Europe correspondent of The Irish Times & Lisa Ryan, Professor in Energy Economics in the School of Economics at UCD, join Pat to discuss.

What's the connection between the fuel protests and young people emigrating to Melbourne? Sinead O'Sullivan is an Irish business economist, formerly of the Harvard Business School, who posted her theory online, and it was soon being discussed by Steve Bannon on his podcast. She joins Pat to discuss.

Pat is joined by Billy Hann, CEO of Dublin, to look at where the service stands - from their current recruitment drive to plans for expanding routes and fleet capacity, alongside the challenges of rising fuel costs, decarbonisation, congestion in the city, the misuse of bus lanes, and ongoing concerns around antisocial behaviour.

While a ten-day ceasefire has been agreed to by Lebanon and Israel, the humanitarian situation is still deteriorating, with more than a million people displaced and critical infrastructure under strain. On the ground, overcrowded shelters are becoming flashpoints of a different kind of crisis, where access to basic care, particularly for older people and those with disabilities, is increasingly out of reach. What's emerging is not just a story of conflict, but of a system struggling to cope with the scale and complexity of human need. Sally Hayden, award-winning journalist with The Irish Times, joins Pat to discuss.

Joining Pat to discuss some promising advances in treating pancreatic & ovarian cancer is Dr Luke O'Neill.

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.