20-05-2025
‘He'd get my vote' says Pat Kenny as he backs ‘well able' Joe Duffy for drastic career swing after Gay Byrne backing row
PAT Kenny has backed his pal Joe Duffy for a tilt at the Aras and said: 'He'd get my vote.'
The
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Joe Duffy has been backed for a run at the Aras
Credit: Tony Kinlan
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Pat Kenny said he would vote of Joe to become the next President of Ireland
Credit: Brian McEvoy
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Micheal D Higgins will be departing Aras an Uachtarain later this year
Credit: Getty Images - Getty
And
Pat told
'Right now I can say if Joe was running for President, I would give him my vote. I can say that before he becomes a candidate.'
Pat said he had 'no idea' what Joe wants to do when he
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Pat told us: 'Joe is a man of the people, look at his background. A humble boy from 'Ballyer' who made it good against some significant odds.
'He was a probation officer, then a broadcaster. He has authored several acclaimed books on subjects, including children who lost their lives in the
Pat's public endorsement for Joe as President is significant as Pat got into hot water with several politicians back in 2011 when he went public to say his long-time pal
Gay then later ruled himself out of the Presidency race.
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So he explained that he could only voice his endorsement of Joe now before he entered the race for the Presidency, if that's what he decided to do.
Pat told us: 'He may run for the Park. But I don't know what he wants to do.
Joe Duffy fights back tears on air
'Joe is away on holidays for a couple of weeks.
'I also know he wants to paint more because he is a very fine artist.'
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Quizzed on who might replace Joe on RTE's Liveline, Pat refused to comment on the suitability of front runners including regular stand-in,
He told us: 'I am not going to speculate in respect to all those who would aspire to that job.
'It will be difficult because it takes years for people to become familiar with a host and Joe came up on the Gay Byrne show and then had his own morning programme.'
However, Pat, whose morning show on Newstalk pulls in 224,000 listeners each day, speculated that RTE bosses may decide to axe the Funny Friday slot on Liveline.
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He told us: 'They (RTE) may decide to abandon Funny Friday because Joe is a bit of a stand-up.
'If you saw his interview with
The 2025 Irish presidential election must take place by Tuesday, November 11 this year.
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Joe and Pat together during their time as RTE colleagues
Credit: PA:Press Association
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Joe's last show on Liveline is on June 27
Credit: Handout
