The Hard Shoulder

Kieran was joined in Toronto by Adie McGuinness, Co-Founder of Ireland Gateway to Europe and Chair of Sigmar Recruitment and Clare Kelly, Head of Partnerships and Growth at Sigmar to set out the scene for this year's Gateway to Europe trip!

He’s played the long game, mastered the middle, and now, after nearly 70 years, JJ Walsh, Irish Times Chess Columnist, is making his final move by retiring. The Chess Columnist has written close to 16,000 puzzles, outlasting famous grandmasters like Bobby Fischer and Cold War tensions from his first column written back in 1955. JJ Walsh joins Kieran to discuss.

May is Coeliac Awareness Month, but what are the symptoms to look out for, and how does the diagnostic process work? Joining Kieran to discuss is Dietician and Nutritionist with the Coeliac Society of Ireland, Sarah Keogh and Marina Corrigan and her daughter Shona, who were both diagnosed with Coeliac disease.

Michael McDowell, Independent Senator and author of ‘The Definite Article: Collected Writings of Michael McDowell’ joins Kieran to place his favourite book on The Hard Shoulder Bookshelf!

We have all done it - opened the fridge or press and wondered: “What will I cook tonight?”. Well, have no fear, Chef Mark Moriarty is here to help! Mark is back with his new series ‘Mark Moriarty: Cook Like a Chef’ and will show you how to make delicious restaurant quality food in your own kitchen with some basic ingredients you are sure to have at home. Mark joins Kieran to discuss.

A new survey by Laya Health has found a stark increase in the cost of raising a child, with the average cost per child at over €169,000, up 60% in a decade. But, is it actually putting people off having kids, or do we simply deal with the costs as they arise? Joining Kieran to discuss is Conor Pope, Consumer Affairs Correspondent, Wendy Grace, Columnist and Journalist and later Sinead Ryan, Consum...

A Dubliner has led his team to victory on one of the toughest quiz shows on TV! Oscar Despard, a PhD student at Cambridge, captained Christ’s College to their first-ever win on ‘University Challenge’ beating the University of Warwick by just five points in a tense final last night. Oscar Despard joins Kieran to discuss the win. Image: BBC

Many of us are more conscious of where we are buying, with a move away from fast fashion to more sustainable and environmentally conscious brands, but do we give the same level of thought when it comes to buying tech? Joining Kieran to discuss is Dr Sinead Sheehan, Climate Activist.

Rachael Blackmore has retired this afternoon after a glittering racing career, which included a famous success in the 2021 Aintree Grand National. To reflect on her retirement, Kieran is joined by former Jockey Davy Russell...

Ciara Mangan, a woman who was raped at a house party in Co Mayo more than 10 years ago, spoke of the psychological stress following the 22-month long trial appealing the sentence of perpetrator Shane Noone, which a court ruling rejected. She has since founded a charity, Beyond Surviving, which supports victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence. Ciara joins Kieran to discuss.

We have all fallen victim to subscriptions we had forgotten to cancel taking money from us for months, but what about the ones that were just too hard and too costly to get out of, how can we end them once and for all? Siobhain Maguire, Consumer Journalist joins me now with her advice…

For this week’s Kids Health Check, Kieran is joined by Aoife Lee, Parenting Coach at ParentSupport.ie , to discuss how you can navigate the difficult transition of regular showing and deodorant when your kids hit puberty.

One of the biggest names in music is now at the centre of one of the most explosive trials as opening statements are set to begin in the federal sex trafficking case against Sean 'Diddy' Combs. Harriet Alexander, the US Based Journalist, joins Kieran with more details…

Should RTÉ set up a dedicated TV channel for sport? Fianna Fail TD for Kerry Michael Cahill believes the station could be commercially viable, and he also believes that this would end the practice of having to pay for streaming platforms to see some of the big GAA games. He joins Kieran to discuss, as does former Commercial Director for RTÉ, Willie O’Reilly.

The US and China seem to have agreed on a tariff deal, while Volodomyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin may meet on Thursday in Istanbul over a potential ceasefire. This begs the question: are Trump’s tactics working? Has this been a good few days for the US President? Democratic Strategist James Carville joins Kieran to discuss. Image: Reuters

Just five minutes. That’s all it takes for junk food ads to tip the scales for young children. That’s according to research in the UK, which suggests that even watching a couple minutes of junk food advertising will lead to significantly more calories eaten in a day. If that is the case, should we crack down harder on junk food marketing in Ireland? Orla Walsh, Dietitian at Orla Walsh Nutrition an...

Much is said about the decrease in Irish tourism numbers, but what about the companies trying to bring them back up? Spud provides bespoke experiences to tourists all across the world, with a big focus on Americans. Kieran is joined in Boston by its Founder, Robert Walsh, to discuss. Image: Spud

Ireland: Gateway to Europe, in its 13th year, comprises an annual trade mission of 50 business leaders and Irish media to key cities across North America – this year, the group made their first visit to Toronto, Canada, as well as in Boston. To wrap up the Hard Shoulder’s broadcast stateside, Kieran is joined by two founders of the group: Adie McGennis, Executive Chairman of Sigmar Recruitment and...

Ireland is to get its first winter sports arena in Dublin, and joining Kieran to discuss how he’s going to get this project over the line is Dermot Rigley, CEO of Prime Arena Holdings.

In a quiet revolution reshaping Irish sport, Leader Kicking is emerging as an unexpected launchpad for Irish GAA and rugby players chasing dreams in American football. Two of the brains behind the operation join Kieran to speak about the business and why so many Irish people are trying to break onto the gridiron. Owen Cahil, Director of US Operations and Business Developments at Leader Kicking and...

Kieran has escaped the makeshift studio to check out one of Boston’s neighbourhoods with a strong Irish connection: Dorchester. Ed Forry, Dorchester Reporter, joins to tell more.

Joining Kieran in Boston to discuss the business landscape in Ireland, ever changing with the proposed tariffs, is Entrepreneur Sean Gallagher!

A social media ban in Ireland for under 16s is under "serious consideration", with similar efforts being made in Australia already. Should it happen? Joining Kieran to discuss is Aisling O Connor, Psychologist from Connections Child Psychology and Jess Kelly, Newstalk's Technology Correspondent.

Kieran has popped out of the makeshift studio in Boston to visit the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. Library Director Alan Price joins to give a sense of this historic building and its contents!

From world champion in the ring to championing Irish culture, high performance, and youth sport, Kieran’s guest is in Boston with thanks to Ireland Gateway to Europe and has popped in for a chat at the Hard Shoulder makeshift studio in the Seaport Hotel. Former WBA Super Bantamweight World Champion and pundit Bernard Dunne joins to discuss.