Pat Kenny facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pat Kenny
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Kenny in 2011
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Patrick Kenny
29 January 1948 Dublin, Ireland
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| Education | University College Dublin Georgia Institute of Technology |
| Occupation | Broadcaster |
| Employer | Newstalk TV3 |
| Known for | Today Tonight Kenny Live The Late Late Show Today with Pat Kenny The Frontline The Pat Kenny Show Pat Kenny Tonight Eurovision Song Contest 1988 |
| Spouse(s) | Kathy |
| Children | 3 |
Patrick Kenny (born 29 January 1948) is a well-known Irish broadcaster. He currently hosts a daily radio show called The Pat Kenny Show on Newstalk. He also presents a current affairs show called Pat Kenny Tonight on Virgin Media One.
Before joining Newstalk and Virgin Media One, Pat Kenny had a long career of 41 years at RTÉ. RTÉ is Ireland's national public service broadcaster. For many years, he was one of their highest-paid presenters. He hosted the radio show Today with Pat Kenny on RTÉ Radio 1 every weekday morning until 2013.
Pat Kenny also hosted The Late Late Show from September 1999 to May 2009. This is a very popular Irish talk show. He also presented The Frontline, a current affairs program, from 2009 until 2013. He was a co-host of the Eurovision Song Contest 1988. He has worked on many other TV and radio shows over five decades.
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Pat Kenny's Early Career and Education
Pat Kenny went to the O'Connell School in Dublin. In 1969, he earned a degree in chemical engineering from University College Dublin (UCD). After that, he studied at Georgia Institute of Technology. He then became a lecturer at Bolton Street College of Technology in Dublin.
He started his broadcasting career while still teaching in the mid-1970s. He worked as a continuity announcer on RTÉ radio. This meant he introduced programs and told listeners what was coming next. Later, he became a radio disc jockey, playing music and talking to listeners.
In 1986, Pat Kenny won a Jacob's Award. This award recognized his amazing ability to host different types of radio shows. He presented Saturday View on RTÉ Radio 1 and The Kenny Report and The Outside Track on RTÉ 2fm.
Pat Kenny's Television Journey
Pat Kenny became a television presenter on RTÉ's Today Tonight in the mid-1980s. This was a program that discussed important news and events.
Hosting the Eurovision Song Contest
In 1988, Pat Kenny took on a surprising role for a current affairs presenter. He co-hosted the Eurovision Song Contest 1988 with Michelle Rocca. The event was held in Dublin. He continued to be involved with Eurovision, providing commentary for Irish viewers from 1991 to 1999. He faced some criticism for comments he made during the 1998 contest.
From The Pat Kenny Show to Kenny Live!
He presented The Pat Kenny Show on television. Later, he had a guest spot on a weekly chat show called Saturday Live. He eventually became the main host of this show, and its name changed to Kenny Live!. There was a friendly competition between Kenny Live!, which aired on Saturday nights, and The Late Late Show, which aired on Friday nights.
Leading The Late Late Show (1999–2009)
Gay Byrne retired from hosting The Late Late Show in 1999. Pat Kenny was chosen to replace him on 24 May 1999. He was 51 years old when he took over this very important role.
During his time as host, Pat Kenny received some criticism for his style. However, he also had many memorable moments. One highlight was his Toy Show interview with comedian Jerry Seinfeld. Another notable interview was with musician Pete Doherty. Kenny asked many questions about Doherty's personal life, which made the musician uncomfortable.
On 27 March 2009, Pat Kenny announced he would leave The Late Late Show at the end of that season. His final show included special guests like the band U2. They gave him a special guitar and sunglasses as a gift. Kenny thanked the show's crew for their hard work during his ten years as host.
Presenting The Frontline and Prime Time (2009–2013)
In September 2009, Pat Kenny started hosting The Frontline on RTÉ One. This was a debate show where Kenny, his guests, and an audience discussed current topics.
In July 2012, Kenny also hosted Prime Time, another current affairs program. This was seen as a return to his roots in news broadcasting. The Frontline ended in January 2013. In February 2013, Kenny became a co-host of a new version of Prime Time with Miriam O'Callaghan. He continued in this role until he left RTÉ in July 2013.
On-Air Challenges and Interruptions
Pat Kenny faced some challenging moments while hosting The Late Late Show and The Frontline.
- In November 2006, a person entered the set of The Late Late Show during a live broadcast. This person confronted Kenny and his predecessor, Gay Byrne. The person later faced legal issues.
- In November 2009, during an interview on The Frontline, a guest suggested taxing "trophy houses." When asked to explain, the guest said, "A house like yours, probably." Kenny responded, "I built my house in 1988. How is it a 'trophy house'? I don't want this stuff coming at me!" The guest apologized soon after.
- Also in November 2009, an audience member on The Frontline criticized Kenny about his salary. The audience member compared Kenny's earnings to the President of the United States. The person kept interrupting Kenny, and the discussion lasted several minutes before a commercial break.
Leaving RTÉ and New Beginnings
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On 31 July 2013, it was announced that Pat Kenny would leave RTÉ after 41 years. He decided not to renew his contract and instead joined the radio station Newstalk. He started hosting a current affairs show there on weekdays from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM, beginning on 2 September 2013.
His departure surprised many at RTÉ. Other presenters, like Gay Byrne and Miriam O'Callaghan, said it was a big loss for the national broadcaster. Miriam O'Callaghan said she learned a lot from Kenny, calling him "an incredibly talented broadcaster."
Returning to Television
In August 2014, it was announced that Pat Kenny would return to TV screens in 2015. He was set to host a new show called Pat Kenny in the Round on UTV Ireland. However, this show was cancelled in September 2015.
In 2016, Kenny joined TV3 (now Virgin Media One). He hosted the current affairs show Pat Kenny Tonight with Colette Fitzpatrick. Later, Pat Kenny hosted the series by himself. A new series called Pat Kenny's Big Debate was launched. In 2021, it was announced that Pat Kenny was no longer working with Virgin Media TV.
Pat Kenny's Views and Public Support
Pat Kenny has shared his opinions on various topics.
- He supported Miriam O'Callaghan when she was criticized for questioning Martin McGuinness during the 2011 Irish presidential election campaign. Kenny said he would not criticize her actions.
- He also criticized Seán Gallagher after the presidential candidate complained about a message Kenny read on The Frontline. Kenny told Gallagher to move past the issue.
- In 2018, Kenny supported a campaign to educate the public about reducing harm from certain substances. He used his radio show to give practical advice. He also warned listeners that using these substances supports criminals.
- Kenny has spoken against Ireland's past rules about who could be shown on TV. He called these rules "unsuccessful."
- He considers American politician John F. Kennedy and actor Paul Newman to be his personal heroes. As a child, Kenny saw Kennedy during the President's 1963 visit to Ireland. He described Kennedy as "the epitome of power and charisma."
- He has also criticized efforts to promote gender balance in European politics. He believes that people should be chosen for their talent, regardless of gender.
Pat Kenny's Earnings
Pat Kenny was the highest-paid presenter at RTÉ in 2008, earning €950,956. His pay was reduced to €729,604 in 2009 due to the economic situation. The Director General of RTÉ, Cathal Goan, said that by today's standards, these salaries were very high. He explained that they were set at a time when there was more competition for talented broadcasters.
Kenny stated that he was working harder than ever. He said he had "done his bit" and would never "put a gun to RTE's head." In March 2013, it was revealed he earned €630,000 in 2011. Pat Kenny Media Services Limited, his private company, had accumulated profits of €1.52 million in 2018.
Awards and Recognition
In September 2012, University College Dublin awarded Pat Kenny an honorary Doctor of Science degree. This was for his "exceptional contributions to public service broadcasting." In 2016, he received a lifetime achievement award from the Irish Film and Television Awards (IFTA).
Comparing Pat Kenny and Gay Byrne's Styles
Pat Kenny's career has been very varied. He has been a radio announcer, a disc jockey, a current affairs presenter, and a chat show host. His early radio career was similar to that of Gay Byrne, another famous Irish broadcaster. However, Byrne always focused on entertainment, while Kenny also worked in current affairs.
One critic once said that Pat Kenny was not suited for light entertainment, unlike Gay Byrne. However, Kenny described his own style: "Do you want bland television where everything you hear reinforces your own view, or do you want to be challenged? I favour the latter. I like to challenge people." He believes that if people get angry or complain, it means they are involved in the discussion.
For a long time, Gay Byrne was strongly associated with The Late Late Show. Pat Kenny faced a lot of media attention when he took over from Byrne. In 2003, The Late Late Show had a competitor on Friday evenings, The Dunphy Show, on TV3. However, The Dunphy Show did not attract enough viewers and was cancelled after 14 episodes.
In October 2011, Gay Byrne said that the idea of him and Pat competing was "bloody rubbish." However, a book about RTÉ Television mentioned that RTÉ's chief executive once said Kenny believed he was "better than Gay Byrne."
Pat Kenny's Personal Life
Pat Kenny is married to Kathy. She has publicly defended him against criticism about his salary from RTÉ. They live in Dalkey, Dublin, in a house built in the early 1990s. They have two daughters. Kenny also has another child from a previous relationship, whom he sees regularly and supports.
Kenny's family home was on Infirmary Road, Dublin. His father, Jim, passed away in 1982. When his mother, Connie, passed away in 2008, her burial received media attention. This was because it meant Kenny could not appear on The Late Late Show that evening.
Off-Screen Personality
An RTÉ employee who worked with Kenny in the 2000s said he was "really good at what he does" and "works very hard." They also said he was "very good at doling out praise and encouragement," especially to younger staff members. When he was confronted live on air in 2006, Kenny comforted the daughter of the person who confronted him, as she was a researcher on the show.
2008 Property Case
In April 2008, Pat Kenny and his neighbor went to court over who owned a nearby field. Kenny claimed he had the right to the land, known as 'Gorse Hill,' through a legal concept called adverse possession. This is sometimes called 'squatters rights.' During the case, it was claimed that Kenny put a lock on the field without telling his neighbor. It was also claimed that Kenny had a physical disagreement with his neighbor. Kenny also sought damages for an alleged assault. The case was settled with Kenny buying the land for an undisclosed amount. Both sides paid their own legal costs.
Fake Online Advertisements
In February 2019, Pat Kenny became a victim of fake news. Unauthorized advertisements for health products, using his image, were spread online. On his Newstalk radio show, Kenny called these adverts "a scam." He advised listeners not to buy products based on his "imagined recommendation."
Reaction to "Golfgate" Controversy
During the COVID-19 pandemic, a controversy known as "Golfgate" involved a gathering that broke public health rules. Pat Kenny defended his former RTÉ colleague, Sean O'Rourke, who was affected by the scandal. Kenny, who enjoys golf, called the reaction to O'Rourke's involvement "ridiculous." He has also criticized the Irish government's overall response to COVID-19. He accused those in power of trying to please different groups, like publicans, farmers, and hoteliers.
See also
- List of Eurovision Song Contest presenters
Images for kids
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Kenny in 2011
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Kenny at the 2014 Dublin Web Summit.
