The Hard Shoulder

Thousands of new road speed signs are being erected across the country, as reduced speed limits are due to come into force from this Friday. Gardaí are planning major enforcement campaigns in conjunction with the changes. Geraldine Herbert is the Motoring Editor for the Sunday Independent, and joins Kieran to discuss.

A first for iPhones, but not one you might expect, as a new app called ‘HotTub’, which contains adult content and pornography can be accessed on the device. So, how have we got to the point that pornographic apps are available on iPhones, and is this something that we should be concerned about? Richard Hogan, Family Psychologist and Columnist with The Irish Examiner and Adrian Weckler, Technology...

Hugh McElveen who lost his 13 year old daughter Eve to brain cancer in 2022 spoke to Kieran about his journey with grief.

Ger Gilroy from Off The Ball & Elaine Burke from the "For Tech Sake" Podcast joined Kieran to talk through the winners and sinners of the week.

Eoin Sheahan joins Kieran to preview Ireland v England in The Rugby Six Nations, The National Hurling & Football National League and all the Premiere League action taking place this weekend.

Kieran speaks to David Smith, Washington Bureau Chief for The Guardian. 

This week three time Olympian and Waterford native Thomas Barr announced his retirement from Athletics. The World Athletics Champion spoke to Kieran about his career and his decision to call it a day.

The speaking rights issue in the Dail is rumbling on and talks are continuing to try to resolve the row over speaking time rights in the Dáil. Kieran is joined by Brian Mahon, Political Correspondent with the Irish Daily Mail as well as Patrick O'Donovan, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media of Ireland and Fine Gael TD for Limerick County. 

One year on from the introduction of the Deposit Return Scheme, Kieran is joined by Noel McCarthy Fine Gael TD in Cork as well as CEO of the convenience stores & newsagents association, Vincent Jennings and Assistant Editor of Weekend Magazine at the Independent, Aoife Rooney to discuss if it has been a success. 

Kieran was joined in studio by Sarina Bellissimo, broadcaster and presenter of the Bellissimo files and John Fardy, Presenter of Screentime with all the latest recommendations for the big screen and small  

You often go to Lidl for all your shopping goods or your weird buys from the middle isle but how would you fancy a pint at Lidl. Well good news in the north as the Lidl in Dundonald, Belfast has won its bid to open a pub in it’s complex. Brenda Power, Columnist with the Irish Daily Mail and Sunday Times spoke with Kieran 

Efforts are still underway in the Potomac river, rescuing as many as 64 people believed to be dead after an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided with a commercial American Airlines plane. Kieran gets all the latest on the Washington DC plane crash

with the announcement that bin charges are on the rise, there have been calls for the councils to enter the market to take charge of bin collection.  Is this a worthy idea or is competition in the market best for value and service? Daithi Doolin, Sinn Fein Councilor and Conor Walsh, Secretary Irish Waste Management Association joined Kieran to discuss

As the Storm Éowyn clean-up continues, Cavan County Council has set up local community hubs where those affected by power cuts and water outages can come and avail of facilities such as charging, heat, wifi and tea and coffee. But, anger and frustration is growing. Some are desperate after 6 days of no electricity, water and broadband, describing it as a humanitarian crisis. Henry McKean sent this...

For the final Shopping Trolley Hotline, Newstalk’s Simon Tierney brings in three different offerings of bagels for him and Kieran Cuddihy to compare!

Counting has begun in the Seanad elections, with polls closing for the NUI panel and the Dublin University/Trinity College panels at 11am today. But, what powers will our new Senators have? And how do they compare with other powers of Upper Houses in other countries? Economist David W. Higgins and Associate Professor in Political Science at DCU Eoin O’Malley join Kieran to discuss.

‘Neven’s Portuguese Food Trails’ has kicked off on RTÉ, with Neven Maguire exploring Iberian nation’s food culture and history. You can catch it on Wednesdays at 8pm, and watch back on the RTÉ Player. To tell more, TV Chef Neven Maguire joins Kieran!

Sky News has unveiled plans for a complete overhaul of its programming and newsroom. Sky News 2030 aims to create a model of premium paid content, which they will say will safeguard its future. But, does this move say something about the future of linear television, and the future of news consumption? Dr Eileen Culloty is Assistant Professor at the DCU School of Communications and Deputy Director...

For this week's Tech Takeover, Newstalk's Technology Correspondent Jess Kelly joins Kieran to talk all things video doorbells, and what you should keep in mind in terms of your and others' privacy.

About 133,000 homes, farms and businesses are still without electricity and 7,500 premises remain without water following Storm Éowyn last week. One of the areas most affected has been Galway, and someone who has been in the midst of it is entrepreneur, Declan Ganley. Declan joins Kieran, as well as Oisin Coghlan Chief Executive at Friends of the Earth Ireland, to debate about what’s been happenin...

The highly anticipated documentary ‘Boyzone: No Matter What’ will be available on Sky this Sunday, February 2nd. Boyzone’s Shane Lynch joins Kieran to discuss! Image: Sky

You may have seen today that the Office of Public Works (OPW) paid €490k to build a wall in Dublin… To be exact: a 70 meter wall in front of the Workplace Relations Commission’s office. Peadar Toibín, Leader of Aontú and TD for Meath East joins Kieran to discuss.

A Twitter user shared their receipt from the Temple Bar Pub, showing that five pints cost them 49 euro! Has Temple Bar gotten too expensive? And will this put tourists off coming to Dublin? Joining Kieran to discuss is Travel Journalist Joan Scales and Ger Hough, owner of Hough's Pub in Bangher County Offaly.

The Taoiseach and Government Ministers are visiting the communities most severely impacted by Storm Éowyn. 180,000 remain without power around the country, and it might not be restored for some until next Friday… Micheál Martin has been visiting emergency hubs in the likes of Roscommon, as has the Minister for Housing James Browne. He joins Kieran to discuss.

Presenter and Broadcaster Anna Daly joined Kieran Cuddihy this week to place her favourite book on the Hard Shoulder Bookshelf!