The Hard Shoulder

Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Paschal Donohoe joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder the launch of the Public Sector Performance Report, hotel price gouging for Taylor Swift gigs and Leo Varadkar's leadership of Fine Gael...

Dublin City Council may have a new way of solving the scourge of seagulls and rubbish on the streets of Dublin. Following the successful trial of Bagbin, a collapsible waste container which prevents birds from getting near the bags inside. Bagbins are set to be phased in to residential and commercial locations all over the city. Kieran was joined by Hazel Chu, Green Party Councillor and Former Lor...

The Government has confirmed this evening that historic convictions for consensual sexual activity between men are to be disregarded. At least 941 Irish men were convicted of “homosexual acts” until it was decriminalised in 1993 by the European Court of Human Rights. Kieran was joined by archivist, activist and writer Tonie Walsh to discuss...

All this week there are events taking place around the world to mark World Refugee Week. Today in particular is a day when communities pay attention to the challenges those who are fleeing places of war are facing. Newstalk reporter, Josh Crosbie, has been meeting with some of the thousands who have come to Ireland in search of safety and he meets with those who have become hosts.

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 discussion around 'Is there a place for boarding schools in modern Ireland?'

An ongoing search is underway in the North Atlantic by the US coast guard for a missing submersible which is carrying five passengers. The Polar Prince research vessel was exploring the site of the Titanic when it lost contact with the Titan sub an hour and 45 minutes into its dive. The search and rescue team are under serious pressure to locate the sub, as it is believed there may only be around...

Justice Minister Helen McEntee today told Cabinet that Garda Commissioner Drew Harris is set to begin the process of buying long-awaited bodycams for frontline gardai. Kieran was joined by Doireann Ansbro Head Of Legal and Policy at Irish Council for Civil Liberties and Garda Representative Association President Brendan O’Connor to discuss…

It’s been reported today that 11 operating theatres within the new National Children’s Hospital require additional work. This has led to concerns that it could mean additional costs and further delays. The board of the National Children’s Hospital has dismissed the warnings, claiming any alterations are “minor”. Kieran was joined by Paul Davis, procurement lecturer at the School of Business in DCU...

A standalone Bill allowing for the use of facial recognition technology by An Garda Síochána will be brought forward later in the year. It’s as Cabinet today approved legislation allowing body-worn cameras for gardaí, and the force will immediately begin procuring the devices, albeit without the ability to use facial recognition. Why the delay on that technology? Ossian Smyth, Minister of State fo...

Irish singer Dermot Kennedy has been urged to apologise after using an offensive term usually aimed at members of the Travelling community during a live interview with the Canadian music channel Much. The videos have since been deleted but the discussion rages on amongst concerned groups and online Senator Eileen Flynn, who is a member of the Travelling community, joined Kieran in studio to discus...

The Special Olympics World Games has started in Berlin after much fanfare at the Opening ceremony. Team Ireland have already got their name on the medal table... Henry McKean joined Kieran LIVE from Berlin...

The death of a man last month, who was undergoing a dental procedure, has brought the total number of Irish deaths from medical procedures in Turkey within the last two years to seven. With the rising trend in ‘Turkey teeth’ and the high costs of cosmetic procedures in Ireland, medical tourism is more popular than ever. Kieran was joined by Helen Heneghan, consultant surgeon at St Vincent’s Hospit...

The Republic of Ireland will face Gibraltar in their Euro 2024 qualifier tonight at the Aviva Stadium. Off The Ball's Nathan Murphy and former Ireland international David Connolly joined Kieran to discuss...

President Michael D Higgins has apologised to Professor Louise Richardson for questioning her role as chair of the Consultative Forum on International Security Policy. It’s as he says that Ireland, generally, is playing with fire with its foreign policy - remarks in an interview in the Business Post that have divided the nation. Kieran was joined by Michael Ring, Fine Gael TD for Mayo and John O’B...

The residents of Balbriggan have been gathering together and campaigning to bring attention to the poor water and pollution in the sea water surrounding the town. On Saturday, a peaceful protest, spear headed by local groups, including the sea swimming group, Balbriggan Swimming Socks, attracted a crowd of over 200 people, who are calling on local authorities to address the situation, before acces...

President Michael D Higgins has apologised to Professor Louise Richardson for questioning her role as chair of the Consultative Forum on International Security Policy. It’s as he says that Ireland, generally, is playing with fire with its foreign policy - remarks in an interview in the Business Post that have divided the nation. Kieran was joined by Independent Senator Gerard Craughwell and foundi...

Irish people are well known around the world for our nonchalant attitude to cursing. But is our habit of swearing a cause for concern? Kieran was joined by Claudia Carroll, author and actress and comedian and professional swearer Steve Cummins

The new Irish Wake Museum opened today in Waterford. But, what makes Irish attitudes and customs around death so unique? Kieran was joined by Clare Ann Irwin, Current Rose of Galway and Funeral Director at Irwin Funeral Directors...

Aisling Larkin, Mindful Eating Coach and TV Chef joined Kieran today to learn about the delicious elderflower and how to incorporate it into food and drink...

Proposed hate speech legislation is currently being debated in the Seanad, with some saying it doesn’t go far enough; others say it goes too far. Do we need this legislation? Green Party Senator Pauline O’Reilly and current affairs commentator Keith Mills 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...

This Sunday is Father’s day, and while some are planning their gifts and are having meals out, there are some who are still trying to remember what their father sounded like. Saoirse Hanley’s father passed away when she was 12 and has spent her life since wondering about who he was, how he would react to situations and trying to remember his voice...

New figures released by Tusla show that the number of parents pulling kids out of school for holidays is increasing. Absences for holidays jumped from 60,000-65,000 in 2019 to 350,000 in 2021. Kieran was joined by Sinead O’Moore, parent and Host of the Stretchmarks Podcast  and Mark Candon, Principal of St. Laurence’s Senior boys National School in North Dock Dublin to discuss...

The Irish Wake Museum opened in Waterford today. Visitors will explore the history of Irish traditions related to death and funerals. We sent Newstalk reporter Josh Crosbie to get a tour of the Museum.

Today, June 16th, is commonly referred to as Bloomsday, named after the fictional character Leopold Bloom, from James Joyce’s Ulysses, voted the greatest novel of the 20th century. Each year on this day, Dublin City can be seen full of tourists and locals alike, taking part in tours, re-enactments and celebrations dedicated to the iconic book, but should we be taking our appreciation for this stor...