The Hard Shoulder

This week The Journal revealed that Ireland has only 3 hospital beds for adults with eating disorders. Why is this the case, and how does this affect people with eating disorders currently? Joining Kieran to give her experience is Lauren in Dublin, who suffers from an eating disorder and has been through HSE services. Also joining Kieran to discuss why this might be happening is Dr Art Malone, Co-...

People have been divided online after comedian Arj Barker kicked a breastfeeding mother out of a gig in Australia.   Was this the right thing to do and do mothers have fair rights to be allowed to go to gigs with their children? Kieran is joined by comedian Jim Elliot and Siobhan O’Neill White from Mams.ie to discuss.

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s catch-up on the day's news. Today, Kieran was joined by John Lee, Executive Editor with Daily Mail Group Ireland and Niamh Maher, Commercial Creative Director with Journal Media. Harriet Alexander, Senior Features Reporter at The Times also calls in to discuss Harvey Weinstein’s rape conviction being overturned. Image: Etienne Laurent, AP

Road safety is being highlighted as an area that needs to be seriously addressed as 69 people have died on Irish roads already this year. Campaign groups are calling for penalty points to be doubled and attention has also turned to enforcement by gardaí. Newstalk reporter Josh Crosbie has been asking people if they have ever been breathalysed and what they think deters dangerous driving.

Minister of Justice Helen McEntee has faced some criticism after being unable to give a clear answer to Independent Clare TD’s Michael McNamara’s question regarding the take back system for Asylum Seekers.  Michael McNamara, Former Chair of the Oireachtas Covid Committee and Independent TD for Clare joins Kieran to discuss.

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 soda breads…

This is The Soapbox. Today, Kieran was joined by Pat Carty from Hotpress to discuss what he’d cull from the internet.

Fianna Fail MEP Barry Andrews has said he would support a tax or levy on the purchase of fast fashion clothing.   Joining Kieran is Spokesperson for SPARK, Single Parents Acting for the Rights of Kids, Louise Bayliss to discuss.

Jess Kelly, Newstalk Technology Correspondent joined Anton for the Tech Takeover. This week Jess looked at the US potentially banning TikTok if their parent company ByteDance don’t divest the company within a year.

The increasing road death stats were discussed before the Oireachtas, and Kieran’s guest has seen first-hand the impact drink driving can have.  Stevo Timothy was the driver in a fatal motorbike crash killing his friend John Laffey back in 2005. The crash also left Stevo with two broken bones in his neck and seven in his back, leaving him in full paralysis from the upper chest down.  He...

Newstalk is partnering with Make-A-Wish Ireland to celebrate Wish Week. Join us all week as we talk to some incredible children and their courageous families, and hear how Make-A-Wish Ireland have been beacons of light for children facing the toughest battles of their lives.   Make-A-Wish Ireland is dependent on the generosity of the public. You can donate online at makeawish.ie/donate ....

Classic Hits Broadcaster and Candidate for the European election in the Dublin constituency for Independent Ireland Niall Boylan joins Kieran to discuss why he decided to make the decision to run for political office.

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s catch-up on the day's news. Today, Kieran was joined by Ellen Butler, Newstalk Reporter and Kieran Cunningham, Chief Sports Writer with the Irish Daily Star.

The new pedestrian bridge in Galway is set to have a new name! Droichead an Dóchais or Bridge of Hope has been chosen, and a naming ceremony will take place in a few weeks.  It seems a bit bland, doesn’t it? Do we need to have an honest question about how we name things here in Ireland? Newstalk’s own Simon Tierney joins Kieran to discuss how we as a country name things.  Image: Galway C...

This is The Soapbox. Today, Kieran was joined by Newstalk’s Sue Murphy to discuss the concept of ‘mom guilt’.

Over in Berlin a group of Irish Activists in Berlin have been told they are not allowed to speak Irish outside the Bundestag, even though it is recognised as an EU language...   Kieran joined by a member of the Irish Bloc in Berlin, Aodhán Donnelly, to discuss.

Dr Ciara Kelly, Newstalk Breakfast presenter, joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss some of her favourite books…

Should Bambie Thug boycott Eurovision? Over 400 Irish artists have written a letter to Ireland’s Eurovision entrant Bambie Thug asking the singer to boycott the competition. They say Bambie should stay “on the right side of history.”  Joining Kieran is Musician and Singer, Mary Coughlan to discuss. Image: Andres Poveda Ltd

Taoiseach Simon Harris has extended the Governments apology to the families of the victims of the Stardust tragedy.   Joining Kieran to give their takes on the apology are Newstalk reporter Stephanie Rohan and Sinn Féin senator Lynn Boylan. Also joining Kieran to discuss is one of those affected, Lisa Lawlor, who was 17 months old and lost both her parents in the tragedy.

With increased emphasis on recycling recently, it’s important to know what waste goes into which bin. And, since Kieran isn’t a bin expert, Colin O’Byrne, coordinator at VOICE joins him to answer all of your recycling queries.

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s catch-up on the day's news. Today, Kieran was joined by Paul Hosford, Political Correspondent with the Irish Examiner and Mary McCarthy, Columnist with the Irish Independent.

David Beckham caused a stir this weekend when he posted a video of the spice girls singing Karaoke at Victoria Beckham's 50th birthday party…   Is this a sign of a reunion?  Joining Kieran is Pop Culture and Entertainment expert AND Spice Girls fan, Deirdre Molumby to discuss.

Is chatting about finances causing a burden on your relationship? The Great British Bake Off’s Prue Leith has expressed concern over her husband's online shopping habits!  So, what is the best way to go about having those awkward financial questions?  Joining Kieran is Dating and Relationship Expert, Francis Kelleher to discuss the relationship side, with your financial questions being a...

It’s Earth Day, which is a day for celebrating our planet and highlighting what needs to be done to protect it. This comes as the EU climate survey demonstrates that this year’s climate had more heat, flooding and wildfires than the average of any other year.   Patrick O’Connor from Extinction Rebellion Ireland, joins Kieran to discuss.

This week in our Kid's Health Check, Dr Suzanne Crowe, Consultant in Paediatric Intensive Care at Crumlin Children’s Hospital joined Jonathan to chat about what to do when your child has croup.