The Hard Shoulder

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

An Taoiseach Simon Harris says people's families and homes should be out of bounds after protesters held up placards right outside his house last night.  16 protesters held signs which said 'South Dublin Says No Close The Borders'. Even though it was in Wicklow… To discuss further, Kieran is joined by Henry McKean.

Kieran is joined by Trisha Lewis (@trishas.transformation on Instagram) to talk about her own weightloss journey as well as what the ‘Wellfest’ event is all about. Image: wellfest.ie

Dating app, Bumble, made some changes this week which means women no longer have to make the first move!  But are Gen Z engaging with dating apps the way they used to? Joining Kieran to discuss is Newstalk’s own Sheila Naughton... 

Trinity students have been fined €214,000 over recent protests. The students, who did so in retaliation to increased programme costs, have been fined as Trinity says the disruptive protests held outside the Book of Kells results in a loss of income for them. Gary Gannon, Social Democrats Education Spokesperson, believes this is an attempt by TCD to “suppress” student protests. He joins Kieran to d...

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s catch-up on the day's news. Today, Kieran was joined by Ian Power,CEO of SpunOut and Sinead Ryan, Consumer Columnist with the Irish Independent and the Presenter of The Home Show on Newstalk.  Image: Alma Bengtsson / EBU

It's one of the world's fastest growing sports - with investors like Bill Gates and fans like Taylor Swift. But just what is pickleball and who are the growing community of Irish "picklers"? Newstalk's Sarah Madden reports

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.  He joins Kieran to discuss US politics and to chat about the multitude of arrests made at Pro-Palestine college protests. Image: Wisconsin State Journal

The skies of Laois have been closed for air traffic - but why? There is a rocket launch competition happening in Emo Court! Students are taking part in this regional competition to build and launch CanSat's. Kieran is joined by Danielle Willcock, Telescope Operator from Blackrock Castle Observatory and finalist Justin Jahima to learn more.

A new survey from the University of Galway finds that while teenagers are more physically healthy (with less alcohol and tobacco usage), their mental health has gone down. We wanted to speak to the people that this survey represents and hear from them what it’s like being a teenager today.   Kieran is joined by Richard Hogan, Family Psychologist and Columnist with The Irish Examiner to d...

Summer is here! You might be thinking about doing up the house: a sky light in the kitchen or a gate in your garden... but what do we need planning permission for?   Joining Kieran to discuss is Managing Director for planning from CWPA in Swords and former Irish Planning Institute President, Joe Corr.

Now, an unannounced inspection conducted by HIQA (Health Information and Quality Authority) found that UHL (University Hospital Limerick) is not “fully managing” the risk to its patients in the hospital amidst overcrowding.  Melanie Cleary knows this situation well, when her daughter needed to attend the hospital after a fall. She died only hours after UHL discharged her.   Melanie...

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s catch-up on the day's news. Today, Kieran was joined by Shane Hannon, Presenter from Off The Ball and Jen Hogan, Columnist with the Irish Times.

Newstalk Reporter Josh Crosbie joins Kieran after going to Poland with Iarnród Éireann to check out their new fleet of electrified trains. They discuss what we expect to see from the Dart+ Programme.

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

An EU Ban on smoky flavourings could see us lose out on some of our much-loved foods and brands in ham, bacon and crisps. This ban could also have an economic impact on our food sector.  Jack Power, European Correspondent with Irish Times joins Kieran to discuss. Image: Tayto

This is The Soapbox. Today, Kieran was joined by Shane Ross, former Minister of Transport, to discuss road deaths.

Concerns are being raised about the lack of recycling of our electrical goods, as they impact our environment and pose a significant fire risk.   What can be recycled when it comes to your techy items, and what do you do with them?  Elizabeth O’Reilly Head of Environmental Compliance at WEEE Ireland joins Kieran to discuss.

Jess Kelly, Newstalk Technology Correspondent joined Kieran for the Tech Takeover. This week, Jess recommends the best way to print the photos contained in your phone. She also gives a TLDR on Elon Musk’s claims for Tesla’s self-driving capabilities.

St David’s, an all boys school in Artane, is to start accepting girls this September.  But what is the transition like into a co-educational school from single sex?   To discuss, Kieran is joined by Aaron Wolfe, Principal of Colaiste Eamonn Rís in Cork, whose school began accepting girls in 2019.

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly joins Kieran to discuss safe access zones, protests and hospital appointment no-shows.

As the election cycle comes into full swing for the local, European and mayoral elections in Limerick, we are going to be bringing you tons of coverage over the next coming weeks.   To kick things off, we wanted to ask the question about our local government here in Ireland. How does it shape up to modern Ireland, and do we need to do more to empower local councils and authorities? ...

The tents outside the International Protection Office on Mount Street have been removed and asylum seekers have been moved to Crooksling and City West.   Kieran is joined by Newstalk Reporter Stephanie Rohan and Newstalk’s Chief Reporter Barry White to discuss what they learned at Mount Street, Crooksling and CityWest.

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s catch-up on the day's news. Today, Kieran was joined by Brian Mahon, Political Correspondent with the Irish Daily Mail and Brianna Parkins, Journalist and columnist with the Irish Times.

Demand for parking at Dublin Airport has soared ahead of the May Bank Holiday weekend. Spaces are now at a very limited capacity ahead of a surge in travel. The issue has frustrated both passengers and nearby Swords residents alike. Joining Kieran to discuss is Swords councillor Joe Newman, who says there is a dire need for a privately owned car park at Dublin Airport.