The Hard Shoulder

In July of this year, the All-Island Rail Review included plans for a LUAS line that connects Mahon to Ballincollig. However, in recent months it has faced some obstacles and opposition on numerous grounds, most recently due to the prospect of demolition work for the route to work. Kieran was joined by Peter Horgan, Labour representative for the City to discuss...

Today, Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris and Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe have launched the Public Service Apprenticeship Plan 2022-2025. The plan aims to double the Number of public service apprenticeships to 750 by 2025. Minister for Further and Higher Education, Simon Harris joined Kieran to discuss...

Standing at 120 meters tall in the heart of the capital, The Spire is a source of contention among the Irish public. For some, it is an impressive piece of art that’s both stylish and elegant. For others it is an ‘uninspiring’ waste of space. Kieran was joined by Michael Kelly, Editor with the Irish Catholic and Documentary Maker, Luke McManus to discuss...

Last week on the programme we heard about the different types of lab-grown meat that will be coming to a shop near you soon. But today we turn our attention to the great debate of our time. How do you like your steak? Newstalk reporter, Josh Crosbie has been meeting with diners and chefs to find out what makes the perfect steak.

There have been reports today that the Government could move up to €8 billion from their Sovereign Wealth Fund into housing. The money, it is suggested, would go to the Land Development Agency. Kieran was joined by former Chair of the Land Development Agency, John Moran to discuss...

40 years ago today Eamonn Coghlan became a World Championship gold medalist in Helsinki in the 5000m. He joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss the historic win... Image: Athletics Ireland

Over the last two weeks Kieran has been joined by parents from Families for Reform of CAMHS to discuss the ongoing crisis and staff shortages in the service. For more on this, Kieran was joined by Children’s Ombudsman, Niall Muldoon and Independent TD for Clare, Violet-Anne Wynne to discuss

Hollywood remains at a standstill today as the ongoing strike which has paralysed all major TV and movie productions has hit the one-month mark. Members of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) have been on strike since 14 July, after negotiations over new contracts Kieran was joined by Tim Gray Variety’s senior VP and awards editor and Nat...

Pro-IRA chanting was clearly heard during a Wolfe Tones gig on the closing night of Féile an Phobail. Around 10,000 fans attended the festival finale in the Falls Park in west Belfast last night. Kieran was joined by Wolfe Tones’ musician Brian Warfield and the Editor of the Belfast Newsletter, Ben Lowry to discuss...

Parts of Ireland could soon be facing up to a week in delays before burying their loved ones due to priest shortages. A declining amount of priests means that fewer will be available for more immediate funeral ceremonies and could lead to Ireland embracing uncharacteristically long times between the passing and burying of a loved one. Kieran was joined by Fr. Tim Hazelwood, parish priest at Killea...

Aisling Larkin, Mindful Eating Coach and TV Chef joined Kieran today to learn about the delicious cuisine of France...

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...

Children aged six and seven will be able to gain access to free GP visits from today. Kieran was joined by Colm Burke TD, Fine Gael Health Spokesperson to discuss...

The FSAI this week has said that Lab Grown Meats being available in Ireland is only a matter of time Kieran was joined by Robert Jones, Vice President of Global Public Affairs for Mosa Meat and President of Cellular Agriculture Europe to discuss...

From today, parents can now register their 6- and 7-year-olds for free GP care, through a new medical card scheme, and those with children under 6 will automatically have their medical card extended. Should we continue this trend of making GP care free for everyone? Kieran was joined by Monaghan based GP, Illona Duffy, and People Before Profit TD, Paul Murphy to discuss...

Parents can discipline their children in many ways. Is it acceptable to comment on how a person should discipline and raise their children? Kieran was joined by Newstalk’s own Simon Tierney and Journalist and Columnist with The Irish Times, Jen Hogan to discuss...

Yesterday the Farmers’ Alliance, have decided to form a political party and will run candidates in the upcoming local and national elections. The group will be a completely independent party with no connection to either the Rural Independent Group of TDs or to Michael Fitzmaurice’s new rural political party. Kieran was joined by Liam McLaughlin and Helen O’Sullivan, both farmers and members of the...

Schools, especially those in the Dublin area, are struggling to fill vacant teaching positions for the coming year. This issue is set to make returning to the classroom very problematic in September. Kieran was joined by John Boyle, general secretary of the Irish National Teachers Organisation and Eoin Dolan, principal of Mother of Divine Grace primary school in Finglas...

Ahead of Irish Heritage Week, it is has been announced that Luke Kelly, Christy Moore, the GAA and a bowl of stew are considered the biggest representatives of Ireland. What do you think when you think of this beautiful country? Kieran was joined by Presenter, Activist, and Author, Emer O’Neill, Newstalk Reporter, Henry McKean and Former Lord Mayor of Dublin, Hazel Chu to discuss...

Eviction notices have increased by almost a thousand in the second quarter of 2023 while rent prices have stabilised in the capital according to the latest Daft report. Is the housing crisis worsening or taking a turn for the better? Kieran was joined by Maurice Deverell from the Irish Property Owners Association and Eoin Ó Broin TD, Sinn Fein Housing Spokesperson to discuss…

Clare County Council have proposed to introduce year-round paid parking in tourist hotspots such as Kilkee, Lahinch, Doolin and Spanish Point. This will see a minimum charge of €2 applied to every car park space and residents and business applying for €50 car permits. Michael Vaughan, Owner of the Vaughan Lodge Hotel in Lahinch joined Kieran to discuss...

It's the 148th RDS Dublin Horse Show. 1,600 horses and ponies will compete in over 168 classes and competitions, over the next five days, with a total prize fund of over €1.3 million. The RDS Dublin Horse Show is worth €50 million to the Irish economy. Henry McKean went along and tried to capture the magic of summer, the sights and sounds. He sent this report...

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 and Kieran take a look a some of the options for hot sauce on the shelves...

Over the last two weeks The Hard Shoulder has been speaking to parents from Families for Reform of CAMHS. Today, Kieran was joined by Hannah from Families for Reform of CAMHS and Sinn Féin Mental Health Spokesperson, Mark Ward...

Anyone running the Dublin Marathon like will have received an email today detailing how they can enter into the non-binary category of the race. This is the first time the category has been made available to participants Kieran was joined by Mark Armstrong, Chairman of the Dublin Front Runners Club