The Hard Shoulder

A recent survey by The Sunday Times has revealed that there are over 1,000 teacher vacancies in both primary and secondary schools across Ireland ahead of the academic year. So, what is the cause for our lack of teachers across the country? Mr Aaron Wolfe, principal of Coláiste Éamann Rís secondary school in Cork, joins Kieran to discuss.

For this week’s Kids Health Check, Kieran is joined by Enda Murphy, Clinical Psychotherapist and Director of SeeMee.ie to discuss travel anxiety and a fear of flying with children.

With new terminology being used every day, how do we decide what makes the Irish translation? From individual to official requests, the process of adding new words to the Irish language is a lengthy yet fascinating journey. Dr Gearóid Ó Cleircín, Assistant professor at DCU’s Fiontar and Scoil na Gaeilge and Member of An Coiste Téarmaíochta joins Kieran to discuss.

Following a successful year for Irish athletes in Paris at this year's Olympic Games, it raises the question on the distribution of the state's funding allocations for high performance sports. Despite a €25 million state funding allocation for high performance sports in Ireland, some Olympic athletes continue to be reliant on second careers to fund their training and ­participation in world events...

Police have described Banksy’s recent artwork in London as ‘criminal damage’, which begs the question: is graffiti or art, or mere vandalism? Joining me now to discuss is Catherine O’Halloran: psychotherapist, youth worker and Founder of Draw Out Limerick and Street Artist Shane Sutton.

Death threats and abuse have become commonplace in the lives of our politicians, so says a new survey from the Irish Independent, which reported that 60 of 67 TDs surveyed have had threats made against them, with the threats ranging from being “threatened with a gun”, to a threat of being hanged. Seán Ó Fearghaíl, Ceann Comhairle and Hazel Chu, Green Party Councillor and Former Lord Mayor of Dubli...

The Paris Olympics have concluded, and celebrations are taking place all across the country, but for the first time in Irish sporting history - official homecoming celebrations are underway. O’Connell street in Dublin is shut for the day as the most successful Irish effort at the Olympics so far is honoured. Newstalk Reporter Josh Crosbie joins Kieran to share what he’s seen and heard so far, and...

It’s been an outstanding few weeks at the Olympic Games for Team Ireland - with our athletes providing incredible results for the nation and making us all so proud. Kieran is joined by former triathlete and Ireland’s Chef de Mission for Paris, Gavin Noble to discuss Team Ireland and their Olympic journey.

Our outstanding performance at the Olympics has prompted calls for further funding to improve our sports sector within Ireland. Kieran is joined by Ireland’s Minister for Sport to discuss Ireland’s Olympic journey, and what funding can be funneled into Irish sport.

The Centre Cultural Irlandais has become a home for Team Ireland during the Paris Olympics, especially when they have to leave the Olympic Village. Kieran is joined by Nora Hickey M’Sichili, Director of Irish Cultural Centre to discuss how the events have gone, and the role the centre plays outside of the Olympics.

Kieran is in Paris for the Olympics and caught up with Bantamweight boxer for Ireland, Jenny Lehane. Although Jenny didn’t get the ultimate outcome she would have wanted, they discuss what it’s like to reach the Olympics, and represent the country in boxing.

Rowing Ireland is on a high after Paul O’Donovan and Fintan McCarthy’s stellar gold cinch at the Men’s Lightweight Double Sculls final last week. The talent that has been shown thus far in the Olympics by the Irish rowing team has clearly been inspirational. Kieran is joined by the incredible rowers Philip Doyle, Paris bronze Medalist, and Aifric Keogh, Tokyo Bronze Medalist to discuss.

It’s never easy to admit to oneself that age is catching up on you. What do you do if your loved ones are at that point and might need to give up driving, or need help around the house? How do you approach those conversations with them? Tara Logan Buckley, Clinical Psychologist, joins Kieran to discuss.

Former champion National Hunt jockey Nina Carberry is a Fine Gael politician that has recently become elected by the European Parliament for the Midlands–North-West constituency. She joins Kieran to discuss her switch to politics as well as the recent release of her new children’s novel , ‘Pony Camp Chaos’.

New figures from the Residential Tenancies Board show that the rental market has grown with Landlords, who own over 100 properties, owning up to 22 percent of the rentals in Dublin City. Is this fair? And does more need to be done to stop this? Dr. Rory Hearne, Assistant Professor of Social Policy at Maynooth University and Author joins Kieran to discuss.

Following Rhasidat Adeleke’s qualification to the 400m Sprint, questions have been posed about her form and potentially illness or fatigue. Off the Ball’s Ger Gilroy joins Kieran to discuss, and preview the rest of the events Ireland is taking place in.

Croke park will see another huge match this Sunday, as Cork and Galway clash in the All Ireland Camogie Final… Joining Kieran to preview the game is Sarah O'Donovan, former Cork/Dublin player and Aislinn Connolly, All Star and former Galway player.

Kieran Duggan joins Kieran Cuddihy to tell how he ended up giving the two Olympic Rowing gold medalists: Paul O’Donovan and Fintan McCarthy, a lift home!

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Paschal Donohoe has today published his department’s Mid-Year Expenditure Report. He joins Kieran to discuss.

From people looking at their phone while driving to not using their indicators, we all have pet peeves that annoy us on the road. Kieran is joined by Former President now Spokesperson of the Irish Road Haulage Association Eugene Drennan, as well as Multimedia Presenter and Producer Meghann Scully to discuss their driving pet peeves.

Never has a presidential race been so dramatic and full of twists and turns then the one in the US. Comedian Jim Elliot is on the ground stateside in Utah and has been talking to locals, and mentioning those lesser-talked about stories: he joins Kieran Cuddihy to discuss how Independent candidate RFK Jr admitted to dumping a dead bear cub in Central Park…

It’s time for the Shopping Trolley Hotline! Where we review the same product from various stores and brands. Newstalk’s Simon Tierney joined Kieran to compare different olive oil offerings!

A recent survey by Girlguiding shows that insecurity among young girls is rising exponentially. Over one-third (34%) of girls aged 7-10 feel that societal expectations of their appearance are higher than for boys, marking an 11% increase from a decade ago. With more young people than ever interacting with social media content on a daily basis, there is a growing concern that girls are comparing th...

Kieran is joined by award winning author Donal Ryan to discuss his new book, ‘Heart, Be At Peace’ and why he is revisiting the characters from his debut novel. The book will be available from the 8th of August! Image: Penguin Books

For this week’s Tech Takeover, Killian Ginnity from Newstalk’s Digital Team joined Kieran Cuddihy to discuss why Elon Musk and Twitter/X is suing advertisers for not advertising on his platform. Yes, really.