The Hard Shoulder

Have you found yourself waking up with aches and pains? You’re probably not sleeping properly! Joining Kieran to discuss the best and worst sleeping positions for your neck and back is Chiropractor and Clinical Director at Chiropractix, Dr Paul Bradley.

If you saw children roaming the streets with their heads in books - don’t worry! It’s just World Book Day! Over 900 thousand book tokens have been given out to students to redeem a free World Book Day title. Joining Kieran to discuss the day and where it came from is Maria Dickenson, Chair of Bookselling Ireland and Author Helena Duggan to discuss.

The NTA’s Bus Connects’ Dublin Progress Report revealed today that contactless payment with card/phone on public transport won't be available here for another three years, even though it is readily available in other countries… In what other ways can public transport in Ireland be compared to systems abroad? Joining Kieran to discuss is Mark Paul, London Correspondent with The Irish Times and Free...

Ireland is an increasingly secular society, so why are Dublin's Marina Grottos still some of the best maintained in the world? Newstalk's Sarah Madden reports.

Meghan Markles’ lifestyle show ‘With Love, Meghan’, released on Netflix this week. Has this marked the return of the ‘domestic goddess’? And is this something people still want to be? Joining Kieran to discuss Columnist with the Independent and Presenter of the Home Show, Sinead Ryan and Freelance Journalist, Niamh O’Reilly. Image: Netflix

Bus Connects’ Dublin Progress Report has revealed today that passenger boardings have increased since the new Bus Connects network has been implemented. Hugh Creegan, Interim CEO of the National Transport Authority, joins Kieran to discuss.

This morning on Newstalk Breakfast, Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers explained that we will not have anymore one-off supports toward energy costs… So, why are energy costs increasing, and is the Government right to not provide one-off supports? To discuss, Kieran is joined by Muireann Lynch, Energy Economist and Senior Research Officer with ESRI and Pearse Doherty, Sinn Féin Spokesper...

Life can be full of confusing things, but no need to worry! Every Wednesday, Simon Tierney will be showing you ‘How to do Stuff’ - bringing his best tips for those things you might not think about. This week, Simon joins Kieran to give advice on the perfect handshake!

For most of us, early retirement sounds like packing up the desk at 60. But a growing number of Irish people are devoting themselves to the FIRE movement - with hopes to retire at 50 or even just 40 years of age. So, how are they doing it? And can we do the same? Newstalk's Sarah Madden reports.

A new report aiming to kickstart a new era of preventative health is recommending a stand-alone national adult immunisation strategy. Karina Butler is Clinical Professor of Paediatrics at UCD, former Chair of The National Immunisation Advisory Committee. She joins Kieran to discuss why she thinks this is necessary.

Earlier in the programme, Henry McKean reported on the AXA Roadsafe Roadshow in UCD. The aim of the event was to encourage the next generation of road users to actively consider the importance of road safety and the impact that dangerous driving, speeding, substance use and distracted driving can have on themselves and others. So, are young drivers particularly unsafe?  Or are these problems...

From retro-inspired shirts to audiences with footballing legends replete with anecdotes and golden-era reminiscing, the commercialization of nostalgia in sport has become big business. Why is it that now, more than ever, our obsession with the rosy past is at its absolute peak? To talk football-nostalgia, Kieran is joined by Gavin Cooney, Sports Writer with The42.ie and Liverpool and Ireland legen...

For this week’s Tech Takeover, Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent Jess Kelly joined Kieran to discuss augmented reality glasses - and specifically, the pair that she is wearing: the Even Realities G1! What is the technology, and what can it be used for?

People across the country will be announcing what practices or activities they might be giving up for rent for the next 40 days, as it is Ash Wednesday. But, has the day become less popular? Wendy Grace, Broadcaster and Columnist is one of those who got their ash today, and joins Kieran to discuss.

A new report from the ESRI has shown that there has been a rise in school absenteeism in Deis Schools since the Covid period. So, what happened to allow this to happen, and have we failed to address issues on the return back to in person schooling? Joining Kieran to discuss is Noel Loftus, Principal at St. Attracta's National School and Louise Bayliss, Co-Founder of SPARK (Single Parents Acting fo...

What happens when a friendship feels more like a race than a bond? In ‘The White Lotus’, the reunion of Jaclyn, Kate, and Laurie shows just how toxic female friendships can become when rivalry and comparison take over. From body image to career success, their “support” for each other is laced with quiet jealousy and competition. How common are these types of friendships, and how do you know if you...

Young drivers under the age of 24 are 85% more likely to be involved in road accidents than drivers over the age of 25, and 135% more likely to cause injury to another party, according to AXA. The Roadsafe Roadshow is an interactive real life immersive experience of what it's like for victims dying in a car crash, and their families left behind… Henry McKean has been learning more, and joins Kiera...

Being a farmer is often noted as tough work, but one aspect which has been making the job harder is illegal trespassing. So, how big of an issue is it? Louise Crowley, Chair at the Limerick IFA and Dairy Farmer and Conor O’Leary, Munster Regional Chair at the IFA and Chair of IFA Countryside join Kieran to discuss…

At almost the peak of the Celtic Tiger era, Ireland opened what could be considered its truly flagship shopping centre in Dundrum. To look back on that era, and the shopping centre’s time up to now, are Lisa Cannon, Entertainment Broadcaster and Producer and Darren Kennedy, Stylist and Presenter.

One of the legends from Italia 90, Andy Townsend, joins Kieran ahead of an event hosted by the RDS on Patrick’s Day weekend. Two special nights to mark the occasion as the heroes from Italia 90 will share memories of the time.

Tom Dunne joins Kieran Cuddihy to go through all the best music that’s come up on his radar this week, along with some chat about the Oscar's.

Former Detective, Pat Marry, Matt Carthy, Sinn Fein spokesperson on Justice, and Seamus Boland, CEO of Irish Rural Link join The Hard Shoulder to discuss a disturbing rise in burglaries, according to new CSO figures. Burglaries rose by 10% in the 12 months up to September last year with a reported average of more than 27 burglaries a day.

Actress and Model, Vicky McClure joins The Hard Shoulder. The Trigger Point and Line of Duty star, sits down with Kieran to discuss her new production Dayfever, which comes to Dublin’s the Academy in April.

It’s the Kids Clinic Q & A. Aoife Lee, Parenting Coach from ParentSupport.ie  joins Kieran, so get all your questions answered here.

Lewis Goodall, co-presenter with the News Agents and LBC presenter in his own right, joins The Hard Shoulder to discuss the latest on a possible ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. But a chaotic few days in the White House may yet stand to be an obstacle. Get all the latest here.