The Hard Shoulder

With his show coming to Dublin in June, astronaut Chris Hadfield chatted to Des about the latest ventures people are making into space, and why he's coming back to Ireland.

Niall Breslin and broadcaster Keith Walsh joined Des to talk about why men find it so difficult to talk about their health.

Is the housing crisis in Ireland particular to Ireland? With crises happening all around Europe and further afield, Des asked author of 'Gaffs' Rory Hearne whether any country is capable of solving the issue of how to get more people into houses.

As the financial strain hits students, particularly in terms of accommodation, is it worse for students now than ever? Irish Independent columnist Ian O'Doherty and UCC Student Union President Asha Woodhouse discuss.

A man has been handed a life sentence for the capital murder of Detective Garda Colm Horkan. Stephen Silver, of Foxford, Co. Mayo, shot the detective eleven times during an attempted arrest in Castlerea, Co Roscommon in June 2020. Newstalk reporter Josh Crosbie travelled to Garda Horkan's hometown of Charlestown in Co Mayo to get some local reaction to the sentencing.

Every week, Tuesday Travel on The Hard Shoulder, Fionn Davenport and Kieran Cuddihy will take a closer look at some of the fantastic destinations to visit around the world. This week, Fionn and Kieran looked toward Fionn's favourite European city, Madrid...

Author and environmental campaigner George Monbiot says Germany’s shutting down of its nuclear plants was “absolute madness.” Is nuclear a good idea to get us away from fossil fuels, or do we need to do away with it? Kieran was joined by John Sodeau is Professor Emeritus of Chemistry at UCC and environmental campaigner Neil McCann…

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 Ireland a good place to grow old?'

The country has a surplus of more than €12 billion. That’s according to the latest Government report published this afternoon. For more on this Kieran was joined by Paschal Donohoe, Minister for Public Expenditure...

Today is the four year anniversary of the death of Lyra McKee. She was killed while observing riots in the Creggan area, with an extremist group styling itself as the New IRA previously claiming responsibility. Kieran was joined on The Hard Shoulder by her sister Nichola McKee Corner...

Germany has shut its last remaining nuclear power plant for the final time. It marks success for the anti-nuclear movement over there. Kieran was joined by author and environmental campaigner George Monbiot to discuss...

A new national demand strategy is set to be drawn up after Transport Minister, Eamon Ryan and cabinet have signed off on it today. The strategy will aim to free up roads and reduce congestion, by introducing more cycle lanes, better public transport infrastructure and more car free zones. Kieran was joined by Green Party Senator, Pauline O’Reilly and Keith Gavin, Chair of Irish Parking Association...

There were three horse deaths at the Aintree Grand National over the weekend. One of the horses to have died was Hill Sixteen. Sandy Thomson, owner of racehorse Hill Sixteen and Orla Coghlan, spokesperson for Animal Rising joined Kieran on The Hard Shoudler to discuss...

Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch has been found not guilty of the murder of David Byrne at a boxing event at the Regency Hotel in Dublin in February 2016. Kieran was joined by Paul Williams, crime journalist with the Irish Independent to discuss... Image: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie

The sun is back! Temperatures soared across Ireland today and over the weekend, with highs of 19 degrees. Are we a happier nation when the good weather arrives? Kieran was joined by Stella O’Malley, Psychotherapist and Author of ‘What Your Teen is Trying to Tell You’ to discuss what it is about the sun that makes us optimistic and puts us in good humour…

Gerry Hutch has been found not guilty of the murder of Davey Byrne during a boxing weigh-in at the Regency Hotel on 5 February 2016. Kieran was joined by Frank Greaney, Newstalk's Courts Correspondent to discuss...

The British Horseracing Authority has said that it will analyse the races of the Grand National meeting "in painstaking detail" following the deaths of three horses. Hill Sixteen died after falling at the first fence during the main Grand National race; and it followed the deaths of Dark Raven and Envoye Special earlier on Saturday and on Thursday respectively. Kieran was joined by Michael Healy R...

Newstalk's Henry McKean joined Kieran from Ballina, Co Mayo, where US President Joe Biden is expected to address some 20,000 people in one of his ancestral towns...

Aisling Larkin, Mindful Eating Coach and TV Chef joined Kieran today to discuss the in season vegetable, rhubarb...

A new survey has revealed that almost one in ten people have considered leaving their partner because they snore. Just over a quarter of people said they regularly left the bed and slept in another room because they just couldn't take it any more. Kieran was joined by Comedian Steve Cummins and Dr Phil Kieran, a GP based in Cork to discuss...

A cartoon in a UK newspaper, depicting the US President as a leprechaun, has been heavily criticised. The drawing appears in The Times of London, and shows President Biden wearing a green shamrock suit while holding a pint of Guinness and dancing. It also shows him with a speech bubble, which reads: "I just love Northern Ireland". Kieran was joined by Ronan McGreevy, Irish Times journalist and aut...

The first self driving cars have been given the go ahead for use in the United Kingdom. Shane O'Donoghue from Completecar.ie joined Kieran to discuss...

The Citizens Assembly on Drugs gets underway tomorrow. The former HSE Chief Executive, Paul Reid will chair the assembly. There have been some concerns raised about the direction of travel which the discussion will take. Kieran was joined by Dr Garrett McGovern, medical director and GP specializing in addiction medicine at Priority Medical and Dr Chris Luke, Consultant in emergency medicine and Co...

US President Joe Biden is in Co Mayo today. A major security operation is in place across the county as President Biden prepares to end his Irish visit in the west of Ireland. He visited Knock shrine and will address crowds in the town of Ballina later this evening. Kieran was joined by Mairead Melody, Manager at Mayo North Tourism and Father Richard Gibbons, the Rector at Knock Shrine… Image: Voi...

The Angelus was not aired on RTÉ One yesterday evening due to US President Joe Biden's visit to Ireland. Kieran was joined by Michael Nugent Chairperson of Atheist Ireland and listeners Chris and Ciarán to discuss whether broadcasting the Angelus should be scrapped..