Pat Kenny signs off from Newstalk weekday show

Ottoline Spearman

Pat Kenny has signed off from his weekday programme The Pat Kenny Show, after more than 12 years.

He will now present a programme at the weekends, starting on Saturday, March 7th.

Former RTÉ presenter Claire Byrne will take over his slot from next week, with The Claire Byrne Show, which will run from 9am to 12pm every weekday.

Speaking on the final episode of The Pat Kenny Show on Friday, Mr Kenny said: “Well, I have to say we've been overwhelmed by texts coming in from listeners, but I won’t read them all out because my late father used to quote the proverb: ‘Self-praise is no praise’.

“But on the other hand, he used to also say: ‘If you want to be a somebody, you've got to bang, bang, bang on the drum’. Bit confusing for a young lad.

“I will read, and I have been reading the texts that are coming in, and to be quite honest, I'm a bit overwhelmed. But the time has come to thank a few people.

"Going back over the years to reporters and producers and researchers who have worked on the show, I have to say to one and all, thank you very much.

"Of course, most of all to you, the listeners, for moving the dial 12 and a half years ago and staying with us."

Mr Kenny started hosting The Pat Kenny Show on Newstalk every weekday in 2013, after he moved from RTÉ after 41 years.

Throughout his career, he hosted several radio and TV shows, including The Pat Kenny Show on RTÉ Radio 1, The Late Late Show, and The Frontline.

Tánaiste Simon Harris is among those paying tribute to the broadcaster, with a post on social media recognising the "insight, balance, and thoughtful discussion" he brought to the programme.

"Your voice has been a constant and trusted presence in Irish broadcasting," Mr Harris wrote.