Pat Kenny Signs Off: Weekday Show Ends, Weekend Role Begins

When Pat Kenny signed off from his weekday Newstalk show on 30 January 2026, it marked the end of a daily radio ritual that had shaped Irish mornings for more than 40 years, but the 78-year-old broadcaster wasn’t retiring — he was shifting to weekends, with a new programme starting in March 2026.

Years on weekday radio: Over 40 ·
Years at Newstalk weekday show: More than 12 ·
New weekend show start month: March 2026 ·
Age at sign-off (2026): 78 ·
Replacement presenter: Claire Byrne

Eight key facts about Pat Kenny: one pattern – a broadcaster whose career spans from RTÉ to Newstalk with a major schedule shift in 2026.

Why did Pat Kenny leave RTÉ?

Pat Kenny left RTÉ in 2013 to join Newstalk, a move that reshaped Irish commercial radio. According to RTÉ (national public broadcaster), he had hosted the weekday 9am–12pm programme on Newstalk since his departure from RTÉ Radio 1. No public dispute accompanied the switch; the decision was described as a fresh opportunity at a growing station.

What were the reported reasons for Pat Kenny’s departure from RTÉ?

• The move was driven by a new opportunity at Newstalk, as reported by Adworld.ie (Irish media news).
• Kenny himself stated he hoped to make a big impact for the station with the changes (Adworld.ie).

How did Pat Kenny’s move to Newstalk affect Irish radio?

His arrival in 2013 boosted Newstalk’s mid-morning audience and set the stage for a competitive dynamic with RTÉ. The transition also paved the way for a later reshuffle that brought Claire Byrne to the same slot. According to RadioToday.ie (industry news), the weekday programme remained commercially dominant until the sign-off.

The implication: Kenny’s departure from RTÉ was a professional move to a growing commercial station, not the result of any falling-out.

Is Claire Byrne replacing Pat Kenny?

Yes. Claire Byrne, formerly of RTÉ Radio 1, takes over Pat Kenny’s weekday time slot from Tuesday, 3 February 2026. RTÉ confirmed that her programme will air 9am–12pm, the same slot Kenny held for 12 years.

• Byrne previously hosted a show on RTÉ Radio 1 before joining Newstalk (RadioToday.ie).
• Her move was announced in conjunction with Kenny’s schedule change in August 2025 (Adworld.ie).

What this means: Newstalk secures a familiar voice for weekday mornings while retaining Kenny’s audience on weekends.

The pattern: the station is safeguarding its audience share by offering both familiar voices in different slots.

What is Pat Kenny’s salary?

Pat Kenny’s exact salary at Newstalk has not been made public. During his time at RTÉ, he was consistently among the broadcaster’s highest earners, with figures available in RTÉ’s annual reports. Newstalk salary figures are not publicly confirmed, making comparisons speculative.

The pattern: like many high-profile presenters moving to commercial radio, salary details remain private – a contrast to the public RTÉ disclosures.

What was Pat Kenny’s salary at RTÉ?

RTÉ’s publicly available annual reports listed Kenny among its top-earning presenters, though current Newstalk earnings are unknown. No official confirmation of his Newstalk salary has been released.

How does Pat Kenny’s Newstalk salary compare to his previous earnings?

Without disclosed figures from Newstalk, direct comparison is impossible. However, the move to a commercial station often involves different compensation structures.

Where does Pat Kenny live now?

Pat Kenny resides in Dublin, Ireland. He and his wife Kathy own a family home in the Dublin area. His move from RTÉ to Newstalk in 2013 did not require relocation. For context on other Irish broadcasting figures, you might also read about Miriam O’Callaghan’s age and career.

The trade-off: staying in Dublin keeps him close to the station’s studios and his listener base.

How old is Pat Kenny and what is his net worth?

Pat Kenny was born in 1948, making him 78 years old in 2026 as he signed off from weekday radio. His net worth is estimated based on decades of broadcasting, but exact figures are speculative unless from reputable sources. No independently verified net worth figure is publicly available.

• Age: 78 (born 1948, per RTÉ)
• Net worth: not confirmed; estimates vary in unverified outlets

The catch: without public disclosures, net worth figures remain guesswork, but the career trajectory itself tells the story.

Timeline: Pat Kenny’s career in 6 steps

• 1948 – Pat Kenny born.
• 1970s – Starts broadcasting career at RTÉ.
• 2013 – Moves from RTÉ to Newstalk to host weekday show (RTÉ).
• August 2025 – Extends contract with Newstalk into 2026 (Adworld.ie).
• 30 January 2026 – Signs off from weekday Newstalk show (RTÉ).
• March 2026 – Launches new weekend programme on Newstalk, Saturdays and Sundays 10am–12pm (RTÉ).

Confirmed facts vs. what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

• Pat Kenny left RTÉ in 2013 (Adworld.ie)
• He signed off from weekday show on 30 Jan 2026 (RTÉ)
• He will host a weekend show starting March 2026 (RTÉ)
• Claire Byrne will replace him on weekdays (Adworld.ie)

What’s unclear

• Exact salary at Newstalk
• Exact net worth figure
• Specific personal details about his first wife
• Whether he will ever return to RTÉ

Quotes from Pat Kenny and Bauer Media

“I hope to make a big impact for the station with the weekend move.”

– Pat Kenny, on his decision to switch to weekend format (Adworld.ie)

“Thanks to the listeners for helping to make the show the biggest show on commercial radio.”

– Pat Kenny, on his final weekday show expressing gratitude (Adworld.ie)

“Pat Kenny will continue to be a central part of the station’s schedule with a new weekend show.”

– Bauer Media Audio Ireland, announcing the contract extension (Adworld.ie)

The pattern: Kenny’s own words emphasize continuity and gratitude, while the station frames the move as an evolution, not a goodbye.

What does Pat Kenny’s schedule change mean for listeners?

For Irish radio audiences, the shift marks the end of a weekday institution but the beginning of a weekend fixture. Claire Byrne’s proven broadcasting style offers continuity on weekday mornings, while Kenny’s weekend show promises a looser, potentially more feature-led format.

For Newstalk, the reshuffle reinforces its position as a serious competitor to RTÉ. For listeners, the choice is clear: stay with Byrne on weekdays, or tune in to Kenny on weekends – or both.

As Pat Kenny signs off from his weekday show, it’s worth reflecting on Pat Kennys radio career, which began during the Nixon era and spanned four decades.

Frequently asked questions

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