The Hard Shoulder

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s catch-up on the day's news.  Today, Kieran was joined by Bethany Harbaugh, owner of Twisted Texas Tours  and Jess Kelly, Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent and presenter of Tech Talk.

It’s time for our Ultimate Guide and as ever, our travel guide Fionn Davenport, Travel journalist and Lonely Planet author, joins Kieran to look through the Lone Star State.

Gun control is a fiery issue here in the United States, with some citizens reluctant to give up their arms due to their constitutional rights.   However for one mother who lost her son to a gun tragedy, raising education around gun safety and storage is much more important.    Leesa Ross, Founder of Lock Arms for Life, joins Kieran to discuss.

Kieran is joined by more Irish living in Austin, Stephen Devine, Customer Success Manager for Crushing Tigers , originally from Mullingar and Corkman Noel O'Mahony, Dell Global Account Manager in Broadcom.

The annual Ireland: Gateway to Europe trip to the US is underway. Now in its 12th year, it comprises an annual trade mission of 50 business leaders and Irish media to key cities across North America – this year, it’s Atlanta, Austin and Boston and Kieran Cuddihy has travelled along with them. Two of the people behind the initiative, Adie McGennis, Chairman of Sigmar Recruitment and Robert MacGioll...

Every night, 1.5 million bats come out from under Congress bridge in Austin, Texas. Kieran is there with Newstalk’s Jess Kelly to witness the spectacle and also talk to a few locals about the city. Image: Austin City Guide

A topic of contention here in the US, and particularly here in Texas is Abortion   In 2022 Roe Vs Wade was overturned making abortion illegal again...   Joining Kieran to discuss the change since and the topic of abortion is Communications Director for Texas Alliance for Life, Amy O’Donnell.

As you may know there is a strong Irish community in Austin and it even has close ties to the city of Limerick...   Joining Kieran are some Irish expats in Austin: CEO and co-founder of Crushing Tigers, Pat Doab and Marketing Manager in Dell Technologies, Sarah Perry. 

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s catch-up on the day's news.  Today, Kieran was joined in Austin, Texas by Renzo Downey, Political Reporter with the Texas Tribune and Jess Kelly, Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent and presenter of Tech Talk.

While conversations around recruitment and retention in the Gardaí rage on at home, issues around police shortages in Austin are also an issue; with officers' numbers dwindling as the role is no longer as attractive as it once was.  Michael Bullock, President of the Austin Police Association joins Kieran to discuss.

Donald Trump made history today by being the first former president to go to trial over an alleged crime.   Trump is in court today over allegations that he falsified business records around hush money paid to adult film actor Stormy Daniels.   Anthony Zurcher, BBC North American Correspondent joins Jonathan to discuss. 

The Transport Research Arena is taking place in the RDS this week, where experts will discuss the future of travel and what more we could be doing in Ireland.  To speak more on the topic is EY’s Global Transport Leader, Tony Canavan, who joins Jonathan.

To encourage football fans to ‘talk more’ with one another, Three Ireland have reached out to former Republic of Ireland captain, former Chelsea footballer and pundit, Andy Townsend to talk about the importance of speaking out when it comes to mental health.   The campaign is called #TalkMoreThanFootball and Andy joins Jonathan to discuss. Image credit: Jonesy702 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0...

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 safe sleeping for babies.

Earlier today, Henry McKean chatted to Newstalk Breakfast about the nationwide issue of potholes. And continuing from that conversation, Jonathan is joined by the Director of Service Stop LTD in North County Dublin, David Corbally, to chat about the damages and costs that can be incurred through hitting potholes.

On Saturday, Iran launched an attack on Israel, escalating conflict in the Middle East and leaving the world waiting for how Tel Aviv will respond to the attacks.  Joining Jonathan with the latest is President of the U.S. / Middle East Project and Former Israeli Peace Negotiator, Daniel Levy & Middle East Correspondent for The Economist, Greg Carlstrom. 

A new study found that children who live near green spaces have less anxiety and emotional issues.   How important are green spaces to communities, and why do we need more of them? Joanna Fortune, Clinical Psychotherapist At the Solamh Clinic and Tom Magee, Liberty Saints Rugby Club President join Jonathan to discuss.

A further 900 schools have now been approved as a part of the Hot Meals programme.   With over 2000 schools now eligible to apply to this extension, it will see over 150,000 benefits from the programme. Heather Humphreys, Minister for Social Protection joins Jonathan to discuss.

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s catch-up on the day's news.  Today, guest host Jonathan Healy was joined by Brian Mahon, Political Correspondent with the Irish Daily Mail and Sinead Ryan, Consumer Columnist with the Irish Independent and the Presenter of The Home Show at Newstalk.

Every week Kieran Cuddihy will be joined by writer and broadcaster, Keith Walsh and the presenter of Weekend Breakfast on Today FM, Alison Curtis to look back on the week that was, but with a few twists..

Aisling Larkin, Mindful Eating Coach and TV Chef joined Kieran today to chat about alliums and Three Cornered Leeks…

How important is laughter to our general health and wellbeing?  Kieran was joined by Dr Sabina Brennan , Chartered Psychologist and Neuroscientist to discuss...

It is almost one year since Gerard ‘The Monk’ Hutch walked free from the Special Criminal Court after being acquitted of murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel.   Next Wednesday marks the anniversary of Gerard Hutch’s acquittal and Paul Williams, Crime Journalist with the Irish Independent joined Kieran to discuss…

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…

A Dublin pub has been getting a bit of flack online for its choice of name and shop front.   Biddy Mulligans Old Ale and Stale house, formally the Sackville Lounge, has been criticized online by Dubliners who feel the new signage and name is appealing to tourists which is a move away from its traditional pub roots.   Bobby Gainer Last operator of the Sackville Lounge and Roy Cu...