The Hard Shoulder

The Citizens Assembly on Drugs has recommended the ending of the current prosecution of individuals caught with illegal substances for personal use, following the last meeting of the assembly yesterday  Chair of The Citizens Assembly On Drugs, Paul Reid  joined Kieran to discuss...

There were chaotic scenes in Offaly yesterday after referee Barry Tiernan was pushed to the ground by a spectator after Tullamore exited the Leinster club Senior Football Championship against Summerhill.   Is this treatment of a GAA official acceptable and do we have an issue in our game regarding respect for those who referee our matches?  Rory Hickey, Former GAA Referee and Aislin...

Pub group Wetherspoons is putting its regional pubs in Ireland up for sale. The British chain is to sell properties in Cork, Waterford, Galway and Carlow for a guide price of over €10 million. It got us thinking about the Irish pub and even though owners face many challenges, punters generally prefer the old-style pubs to the large franchise. Newstalk reporter, Josh Crosbie, has been in and out of...

Brendan Kelly, Professor of Psychiatry at Trinty College Dublin and Consultant Psychiatrist at Tallaght University Hospital and Dr Mary O’Kane, Lecturer in Psychology and Early Childhood Education joined Kieran to discuss how to talk to children about the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel...

Burt Young, who played Paulie in the ‘Rocky’ films has died aged 83. John Fardy , Presenter of Screentime on Newstalk joined Kieran to pay tribute and look back at the movie franchise...

Many parts of Cork have been damaged by extreme flooding. What was only meant to be a status orange alert, has turned into much more than that, with my homes and businesses destroyed by torrential rainfall. What needs to be done going forward to prevent further damage?   Kieran was joined by Fianna Fáil TD for Cork North Central, Padraig O'Sullivan, Cork City Cllr, Joe Kavanagh and Quali...

Technology has taken over the majority of what we do in our daily lives. With some schools wanting to implement technology into exam settings, students will no longer use handwriting at all. What does that mean for the future of handwriting.   To give us their thoughts on the topic, I am joined by Letter collector and curator, Lis Maguire and Today FM Presenter Louise Cantillon. &nb...

Children’s Ombudsman Niall Muldoon has warned the Government that history will not judge Ireland well for the way it has treated children in the Direct Provision system.  Niall Muldoon joined Kieran on the show following the publishing of a special report on the safety and welfare of Children in Direct Provision...

How do you feel about marriage? Apparently one third of 25 to 34 year olds don't believe marriage is relevant anymore. Kieran was joined by Mary McCarthy, Columnist with the Irish Independent  and Sarah-Jayne Tobin, Content Editor with Evoke.ie  to discuss...

Limerick’s new female prison opened today. The facility is part of a €70 million project, including the newly opened B Division at Limerick Prison. The design focuses on rehabilitation, which includes en suite rooms, fitted with phones and a greater emphasis on education and health. Newstalk reporter, Josh Crosbie, has been there and he brings us this report.

In 1973, over 50 years ago, the little island of Ireland took the brave step to join the European Union or the EEC back then.  To mark this achivement the CSO have released figures on what Ireland was like back then. Valerie Cox, journalist and author alongside John Kelleher, Producer and former Film Censor joined Kieran to discuss... 

Should Irish fans be supporting England in the Rugby World Cup now that Ireland have been knocked out? Kieran was joined by George Hamilton, Commentator and presenter with RTÉ and Craig Chalmers, Former Scottish Rugby International to discuss...

Today is day 12 of the conflict between Israel and Gaza and Kieran was joined by Jonathan Crickx, Spokesperson for UNICEF in Palestine to give us an update on efforts to get aid to people Thomas Pringle, Independent TD for Donegal also joined Kieran to discuss...

After sitting their state exams back in June, more than 70,000 students across the country received their Junior Cert results today. The new grading system for these exams was implemented two years ago, but how good is this system and is it putting students through unnecessary pressure?   Kieran was joined by Former Headmaster of St. Andrew College Dublin and Director of Godsil Education...

The new National Children’s Hospital will not open until the late spring or early summer of 2025, it is estimated. For more on this, Kieran was joined by Paul Davis, procurement lecturer at the School of Business in DCU and Catherine Murphy, Social Democrats TD for Kildare North and Deputy Chair of the Public Accounts Committee...

In 1973, over 50 years ago, the little island of Ireland took the brave step to join the European Union or the EEC back then.  To mark this achivement the CSO have released figures on what Ireland was like back then and we have arranged a few guests to help paint a picture for you at home too...  Terry Prone, Chair Of The Communications Clinic and Alice Leahy, From the Alice Leahy Trust...

Every week for Tuesday Travel on The Hard Shoulder, Fionn Davenport takes a closer look at some of the fantastic destinations to visit around the world. This week, Fionn joined Kieran to give him tips for a trip to down south to beautiful West Cork...

European Union leaders are currently meeting to decide on a united message on the ongoing Israel-Hamas war after days of mixed messages.  Series of social media messages, statements and visits by EU officials sowed confusion about the 27-nation bloc’s intentions after Hamas attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, triggering a new war in Gaza.  Kieran was joined by Shona Murray, Europe Corres...

Kieran Cuddihy was joined by Fine Gael Senator, Regina Doherty, and Socialist Party TD for Cork North Central, Mick Barry. Continuing the series, ‘Common Ground’, they will debate some of the biggest, most divisive topics around. The series continued with a debate on 'Has the war on drugs failed?'

Yesterday, President Michael D Higgins described Ursula von der Leyen’s comments around the Israel-Hamas conflict as "thoughtless and even reckless". Ursula von der Leyen visited Israel last week, and did not include a call for Israel's retaliation to Hamas attacks to conform with international law.  The Taoiseach says he told the European Commission President her response to the conflict in...

Smithfield in Dublin has been voted the 2nd coolest neighbourhood on the planet!  This is according to a new article by Time Out in which the Dublin 7 area has taken silver out a list of forty locations across the world.  For more on this Kieran was joined by Tomás Mulligan, Manager of Cobblestone Bar, Smithfield and Alice Black, Head of Cinema at Light House Group... 

Yesterday on The Hard Shoulder Kieran was was speaking about the fact that the number of alcohol breath tests carried out at Garda checkpoints has dropped by more than half compared with pre-pandemic levels.    For more on this, Kieran was joined by Jack Chambers, Minister of State in the Department of Transport...

The European Central Bank wants to ban 'no cash' policies in public areas for fear that we will reduce the value of the euro and make it harder for vulnerable people to do their shopping.   Kieran was joined by the CEO of the Convenience Stores & Newsagents Association, Vincent Jennings and Spokesperson for the National Private Hire & Taxi Association, Jim Waldron to discuss...

President Michael D Higgins has strongly criticised the head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.  It’s after she made comments on a visit to Israel last Friday, where she did not include a call for Israel's retaliation to conform with international law. John McGuirk, Editor of Gript and Labour Senator Marie Sherlock joined Kieran to discuss...

Unfortunately it was not to be Ireland’s year as the All Blacks have knocked out the Boys in Green in yet another quarter final exit.  Is the tournament viewing is now finished for fans? Sinead Ryan, presenter of The Home Show on Newstalk and consumer journalist with the Irish Independent and Ian O Doherty, Columnist with The Irish Independent joined Kieran to discuss...