The Hard Shoulder

We are celebrating Irish small businesses on The Hard Shoulder, and it’s all with thanks to Square – helping businesses run and grow. Henry McKean met Rascals, a local brewery in Inchicore Dublin 8... With thanks to Square - helping businesses run and grow. See square.com for more...

The Government are considering pre-budget tax breaks for the rental sector in order to keep landlords in the market and encourage more to join the market. Mike Allen, Director of Advocacy, Focus Ireland and Lorcan Sirr, Senior Lecturer in Housing at TU Dublin joined Kieran to discuss...

Comedians and Broadcasters Neil Delamere and Dave Moore joined Kieran to discuss “Why Would You Tell Me That?!” their podcast in which they will take turns seeking out incredible things they think everyone should know…

US President Joe Biden has confirmed he will visit Ireland to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. Security analyst Declan Power joined Kieran in studio to discuss the security provisions that would be put in place for a trip like this...

A well-known Belfast restaurant banned kids for being messy eaters from its premises. Should small children be allowed into restaurants, or should there be a minimum age for kids to enter? Kieran was joined by actress and mother of two, Amy De Bhrún and Claire Nash, Owner of Nash 19 Restaurant in Cork and Chair of the Cork Business Association to discuss… Image: Amy De Bhrun - Instagram @amydebhru...

TV legend, Brian Dowling and Dancing With The Star’s judge Arthur Gourounlian have a documentary airing tonight on RTÉ chronicles the ups and downs of their surrogacy journey. Brian and Arthur joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss... Image: RTÉ

Henry McKean joined Kieran live on The Hard Shoulder from LA. Henry was rubbing shoulders with A-listers on the red carpet of the Vanity Fair Oscars party last night, he even met some of the winners...

Dan O’Brien, Chief economist at Institute of International and European Affairs joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank...

Gary Lineker will return to Match Of The Day this week after he was taken off air over his tweets criticising the government's migration policy. The BBC has also apologised for the episode and announced an independent review into its social media usage guidelines. Kieran was joined by Lord David Puttnam to discuss...

Medical and health journalist, June Shannon has wrote in The Irish Times today that she is saying goodbye to Dublin and hello to lovely Limerick. Dublin seems to be pushing people out with its housing costs. Has Dublin officially become unlivable? Kieran was joined by June Shannon and Roisin Cullen who has recently moved from Dublin to Vancouver...

Jennifer Whitmore, Social Democrats TD for Wicklow has been posting about the lack of difference in advertisements for Guinness and Guinness 0.0% that she had spotted during the weekend's 6 Nation's rugby coverage. Jennifer Whitmore TD and Founder of NewWorld and brand specialist Pat Kinsley joined Kieran on the show to discuss...

It's the 95th Oscars but will this year really be an Irish Academy Green wave? Henry McKean joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder live from Hollywood. All with thanks to Aer Lingus, flying the Irish stars to Hollywood.

As we continue to look for ways to address our global climate crisis, sustainable fashion has been something we are hearing more and more about. So how do you get your hands on pre-loved clothes and make your wardrobe a little more sustainable?   Kieran was joined by Aisling Byrne, Founder and CEO of NUW and Rhoda McDonagh, Founder of the Designer Room With special thanks to Square – helping busin...

On the week of International Women's Day, Aisling Larkin, Mindful Eating Coach and TV Chef joined Kieran to celebrate some of the women who revolutionised food with the home...

The new Garda Station on O'Connell Street in Dublin will crack down on anti-social behaviour in the area, according to the Gardaí. Kieran was joined by Ciaran Cuffe, the Green Party MEP for Dublin and Ciaran Cannon, Fine Gael TD for Galway East to discuss...

Kieran was joined by former Ireland rugby international, Alan Quinlan and former Scotland rugby international, Craig Chalmers to preview the 6 Nations Ireland vs Scotland clash this Sunday...

A nationwide crackdown on ‘dodgy boxes’ is underway and cease and desist letters are being distributed to those running the illegal streaming sites. Adrian Wreckler, Irish Independent’s Technology Editor join me to discuss what this means for dodgy box users.

A senior official from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland has played down the need for more public chargers for electric vehicles at a public accounts committee, stating 'most charging takes place at home.' Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy and Philip Nolan Motoring Correspondent with The Irish Daily Mail joined Kieran to discuss...

The Oireachtas Agriculture Committee chairperson has warned that native species will be “decimated” if the issue of mink is not addressed. Fianna Fáil TD, Jackie Cahill and Andrew Kelly, Former ISPCA CEO and current Director of Freedom for Animals joined Kieran to discuss...

Met Éireann has issued an Orange Weather warning for snow and ice for a number of counties, following reports of heavy snowfall and traffic disruption in parts of the country on Thursday morning. Patrick O'Donovan, Minister with Responsibility for Emergency Planning has joined Kieran to discuss the government response. Six people were also rescued from Carrauntoohil in Co Kerry overnight amid the...

The Talent Summit is taking place in Dublin today at The Convention Centre, where it’s showcasing the latest thinking on talent and bringing the biggest and best minds together. Kieran was joined on The Hard Shoulder by Michael G Hess, deputy director of NASA...

There has been a sharp decrease in the number of taxi drivers working at night-time over the past year, according to the results of a new survey. Research by the National Transport Authority found just 50% of all taxi drivers reported working 6-8pm at the end of 2022, compared to 59% in 2023. Kieran was joined by taxi driver James Cullen to discuss…

A new Ernst & Young report released this morning has found that free public transport would mean a 7% reduction in walking and a 13% reduction in cycling – but only 1% less car journeys. Kieran was joined by Paddy Comyn, Head of Communications at AA Ireland and Geraldine Herbert, Motoring Editor with the Sunday Independent to discuss...

UK TV astrologer Margaret Lake, better known as Mystic Meg, has passed away aged 80. She was a well-known TV figure in the 1990s, appearing on the National Lottery, and writing horoscopes for the Sun for more than two decades. So what is it that we like about gazing into the stars?  Broadcaster Lousie Cantillon joined Kieran to chat about what she enjoys about reading her horoscope...

President Michael D Higgins has said that schools should provide “basic information regarding sexuality in the fullest sense”. His comments come just days after the Catholic Primary School Management Association (CPSMA) wrote to ministers voicing its opposition to teaching transgender issues to primary school children. Kieran was joined by Peadar Toibin, Leader of Aontu and Brid Smith, People Befo...