The Hard Shoulder

The festival season is beginning with Forbidden Fruit kicking off this weekend. Electric Picnic, All Together Now and Longitude are on the horizon and smaller festivals like Night and Day Festival in Roscommon are also taking place.  They’re much beloved by patrons, but how important are these festivals, and more importantly how important are they for the artists themselves? Artist Nialler9 j...

With summer well and truly upon us, and with BBQ’s and summer parties being planned, the Shame of having a messy garden may be playing on your conscience!   Joining Kieran to discuss summer garden maintenance is RTÉ’s Super garden Judge Monica Alvarez.

Off The Ball's John Duggan joined Kieran Cuddihy on The Hard Shoulder to review the week in sport and look ahead to the weekend action…

Aisling Larkin, Mindful Eating Coach and TV Chef joined Kieran to discuss all kinds of cheesecake!

The big news recently is that Donald Trump has been found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records - the first time a US President has been criminally convicted. This is the latest scandal on Trump's CV, with his viability as a presidential hopeful still seemingly intact.  But, what are the U.S presidential scandals that shaped US history?  Joining Kieran to discuss is Newstalk...

Have we lost all respect for our older buildings?   Over the years Dublin city’s skyline has seen sometimes rapid and often not pleasant alterations. As new buildings shoot up, some of the old ones come down.   Joining Kieran to share their thoughts are James Kavanagh, social media Influencer and Roisin Murphy, Architect and Broadcaster.

For the June Bank Holiday Weekend another warning has been issued by Gardai to take care on the roads.  A new addition to the garda checkpoints is mandatory drug testing. Those who are pulled over for dangerous driving will now be made to do a drug test, as well as for alcohol. Kieran is joined by Sergeant Gavin Coleman to discuss.

New research suggests that older people should be encouraged to be more sexual in nursing homes to look after their mental and physical health.  Kieran is joined by Sex Educator Mary-Jane Fox to discuss why she thinks it’s important for elderly people to be more sexual.

The Kuhner Report on WRKO AM680 Radio in Boston is hosted by Jeffrey T. Kuhner, "Liberalism's Worst Nightmare," he is a conservative nationalist, who champions God, country and family. Jeff joins Kieran to discuss the Trump hush money trail while the jury debates, as well as Robert De Niro’s press conference outside the courthouse, where he called the former president a threat to democracy. Image:...

Now, if you were wondering how you can get best out of your fruit and veg, then we might have the solution for you.   Amy Cross, a Cookbook Author and founder of the money-saving food website ‘The Cross Legacy’, joins Kieran to discuss. Amy has some good tips on how to get the most longevity out of your fruit and veg to keep it fresh for longer. 

The completion of the Children’s Hospital in Dublin has (once again) been pushed out to February of 2025, with the overall projected costs being 2.2 billion euro. The hospital was initally meant to be finished in 2020… How did we get to this point, and why does this project consistently face delays?  Kieran is joined by Paul Cullen, Former Irish Times Health Correspondent and Paul Davis, Proc...

In the lead up to the Local and European elections, we're going to be out and about with candidates as they are on the campaign trail. This week, Newstalk reporter, Josh Crosbie joined Tánaiste Micheál Martin going door to door. He also joined Sinéad Lucey Brennan, Barry Andrews on the trail.

Now, the VHI Women’s mini marathon is set to kick off this weekend with many people out in force to taking in the run.   I have two women joining me now who will be part of the run this weekend, Katja Mia, Virgin Media Presenter and Ambassador for VHI Women’s Mini Marathon and Newstalk’s Tech Correspondent Jess Kelly. Jess is running to raise money for the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, you...

It has been over a year since new laws were proposed that would make spiking with the intent to sedate or overpower for the purpose of engaging in a sexual act a stand-alone offence and would carry heavy sentences.  This bill is currently working its way through the Oireachtas. Joining Kieran to discuss this further is spiking victim Jess Rolland and Mary Crilly, CEO of the Sexual Violence Ce...

Newstalk's own Simon Tierney joined Kieran Cuddihy for the series 'The Shopping Trolley Hotline'. This series will give listeners pause when they’re filling their trolleys, to consider their options.  This week, Simon brought a range of ham!

Newstalk’s Henry McKean spoke to children in Turner’s Cross in Cork to get their thoughts on the European and Local elections.

Jess Kelly, Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent and host of ‘Tech Talk’ joined Kieran for the Tech Takeover. This week, Jess discusses how the National Broadband Plan isn’t actually near completion - as some articles may have you believe...

The 2024 Leaving Cert will kick off next Wednesday, but what is life like after the Leaving Cert? and is it the be all and end all?   Joining Kieran to discuss are Comedian Karl Spain, Elizabeth Oakes, Entrepreneur and owner of Pure Reflections and Marissa Carter, CEO and Founder of Coco Brown! 

The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly today has announced a Hospital Bed Expansion Plan, which will see 3,352 new beds around the country.   He joins Kieran to give more details and discuss.

If have used social media in the past few days you have probably seen the artificially generated image  “All Eyes on Rafah”   This image is being shared as apparently social media algorithms are suppressing politically sensitive content and the tame AI image can therefore increase awareness and reach.  Joining Kieran to discuss the implications of this phenomena are Stephen O'L...

Sean’s Bar in Athlone is seemingly the oldest pub in Ireland, saying it was established in 900 AD.  Supervisor Ryan O’Connor joined Kieran to tell all about how the history and life of the pub that’s still going stronger than ever over 1,100 years later. Image: Sean’s Bar

Kieran’s guest nearly died after suffering a cardiac arrest on the side of the pitch before a county semi-final.  When it happened, Cathal Joyce was a flying-fit 25 year old. One shock from a defibrillator at the venue revived him, and he was eventually fitted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) under his left collarbone.  Now, Cathal campaigns for more access to defibri...

The Hard Shoulder has been to Cork to meet candidates for the European Elections, last week we heard from Dublin – this week we are in Athlone to cover the rather sizable constituency of Midlands North-West.  The constituency was a four-seater, but this election will see it grow to five.  To discuss why they are running, as well as their platforms, Kieran Cuddihy is joined by:  Lisa...

The Hard Shoulder has been to Cork to meet candidates for the European Elections, last week we heard from Dublin – this week we are in Athlone to cover the rather sizable constituency of Midlands North-West.  The constituency was a four-seater, but this election will see it grow to five.  To discuss why they are running, as well as their platforms, Kieran Cuddihy is joined by:  Luke...

Kieran’s guest has written a comedy show all about his brain seizure. The result of which was that he discovered he had a brain tumour. He then takes you on his journey as he underwent neurosurgery to have it removed.   His tour ‘On I Bang’ is on at the Sugar Club on the 25th of June, with tickets on sale now. Miles Jupp joins Kieran to discuss.