The Hard Shoulder

Evelyn Cusack, Former Head of Forecasting Met Éireann joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss some of her favourite books...

RTÉ will be back infront of the media oireachtas committee tomorrow afternoon.   The committee will be looking at the issue of the TV licence...  Josh Crosbie, Newstalk's Reporter asked people if they would be paying their TV licence. Kieran was then joined by Fianna Fáil Senator & Member of the Oireachtas Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media, Malcolm Byrne...

It’s midterm break for some children out there, but do we have adequate play spaces for kids in our built up towns?   Kieran was joined by Sinéad Ní Bhrádaigh, Teacher in Galway Educate Together National School, Dr Anne Keogh, Senior Clinical Psychologist and Chartered Member of the Psychological Society of Ireland  and Dr Carol Baron, Associate Professor in DCU...

Paschal Donohoe, Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform joined Kieran to discuss public sector pay, the cost of the National Children's Hospital, the TV licence fee and more...

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s daily catch up on the day's news.  Today, Kieran was joined by Niamh Maher, Commercial Creative Director with Journal Media and Brian Mahon, Political Correspondent with the Irish Daily Mail...

This is The Soapbox. Today, Kieran Cuddihy was joined by Brendan Ogle, social commentator, trade unionist and activis to discuss how communities are fighting back against the far-right...

A warning has been issued by the British Association for Dermatologists suggesting children as young as eight are using skincare products and it could leave them with irreversible skin problems.  Jennifer Rock, The Skin Nerd joined Kieran to discuss...

Today, Simon Harris has launched an incentive to encourage Irish construction workers to return home from working abroad. The campaign has a budget of €750,000. Kieran was joined by Financial Analyst, Karl Deeter, Dermot Carey, Director of Safety, Education and Skills for the Construction Industry Federation Ireland and Binny Folan, who is a Brick Layer in Perth 

Valentines Day is around the corner, but for new parents it can be difficult to find that spark after having children..   How can young and new parents find time for eachother and avoid tiffs? Kieran was joined by Newstalk's Own, Simon Tierney, Chef and Director of Conbini Condiments, Holly Dalton and Family Psychotherapist and author, Dr. Richard Hogan to discuss...

A petition to reopen the A&E departments in Nenagh, Ennis and St John’s was before an Oireachtas.   The petition by the Midwest Hospital Campaign Group looks to see these centres reopen to help alleviate the constant overcrowding facing University Hospital Limerick.  Conor Reidy, Spokesperson for the Midwest Hospital Campaign Group joined Kieran to discuss...

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s daily catch up on the day's news.  Today, Kieran was joined by Fionnán Sheehan, Ireland Editor at the Irish Independent and Laura Donnelly, News Editor and Anchor with Bauer Media Group. Kieran was also joined on The Hard Shoulder by Seamus Mulrooney and 8-year-old Stevie Mulrooney, who sang Ireland’s Call in the Aviva Stadium yesterday... Im...

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..

Ireland look to take the latest step on their quest for back to Grand Slams as they welcome Italy to the Aviva Stadium this Sunday.  Andy Farrell has made 6 changes to the team that beat France with Caelin Doris captaining the team  Kieran was joined by Mike Prendergast, Munster Coach and Marco Bortalami, Former Italy captain and the current head coach for Benetton to preview t...

Ireland were beaten yesterday in the controversial Eurobasket 2025 qualifier against Israel in Riga.   The team refused to partake in the traditional pre-match handshake with their Israeli opponents following allegations of anti-semitism from the Israeli camp.   John Feehan, CEO of Basketball Ireland joined Kieran to discuss...

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, Aisling Larkin, Mindful Eating Coach and TV Chef joined Kieran today to chat about food to get you in the romantic mood...

Father Declan McInerney, parish priest of Eyrecourt, Clonfert and Meelick in Galway has has slammed Cork Eurovision hopeful Bambi Thug from the pulpit.  Is Fr McInerney’s view a fair representation of the church’s views or should we just dismiss them?  Father Iggy O’Donovan, Parish Priest in Fethard, County Tipperary joined Kieran to discuss...

Off The Ball's Mick McCarthy joined Kieran Cuddihy on The Hard Shoulder to review the week in sport and look ahead to the weekend action...

The value and volume of personal loans and car loans surged by 40% according to the Banking & Payments Federation Ireland.  But what is the real reason for this? Is it consumer confidence? A stabilisation in high interest rates, or people just don’t have money in their back pocket because of the cost of living crisis? Henry McKean joined Kieran with this report...

Over in the UK, Parkrun, have decided to remove data about records and speeds from their website. They say it is to encourage new runners to take part.    However, Parkrun has been criticized online, as they believe the move allows trans runners to take records in men and women's categories.   Kieran was joined by former elite marathon runner and two-time Olympian, Mara Ya...

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s daily catch up on the day's news.  Today, Kieran was joined by Valerie Cox, Journalist & Author and Gina London , Leadership communications expert and Sunday Independent columnist...

Do you know what can and cannot be recycled? Do you clean and dry everything before putting them into the recycle bin? According to the Newstalk Amárach Poll, over half of Irish adults would recycle more if there was a refundable deposit charged on all recyclable items.  Henry McKean visited the Fingal recycling facility in Swords Dublin, to get people's views...

As it is election year in the US, every Thursday here on the Hard Shoulder we are going to get the latest from the campaign trail.  Kieran was joined by Jeff Kuhner, Host of The Kuhner Report on WRKO AM680 Radio in Boston... 

Over the weekend Mary Lou McDonald made a comment that a United Ireland is now ‘within touching distance’ now that Sinn Féin’s Michelle O'Neill is First Minister. Kieran was joined by Kevin Meagher, Former special adviser at the Northern Ireland Office and author of ‘A United Ireland: Why Unification is Inevitable and How It Will Come About’, Robbie Smith, Editor of An Phoblacht and the former Gen...

In Australia, it looks like the right to disconnect will be introduced into law.   The bill will ‘prevent employees being punished for refusing to take unreasonable work calls or answer emails in their unpaid personal time’.   Should we be bringing in similar legislation here?   Kieran was joined by Peter Cosgrove, Managing Director of Futurewise  and Mark Bell, Regius Pro...

A new report was released today by the joint committee on the Irish language and Gaeltacht calling on Minister for Education Norma Foley to scrap the system which allocates exemptions on Irish language in schools.   The focus will be to provide extra school supports and resources for children who would traditionally search out the Irish exemption.  Aisling, Mother to 11-year-old Cha...