The Hard Shoulder

New CSO figures have shown that Ireland has hit a ‘technical recession’. The economy grew by 0.3% in GDP terms in the final three months of last year, which was not as much as expected - while Modified Domestic Demand, which ignores the impact of multinationals, declined by 1.3%. So where is our economy at? Seamus Coffey, former Chair of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council and Professor of Economics...

With the Academy Awards just 10 days away, Henry McKean sat down with Dubliner and Oscar hopeful, Richie Baneham to discuss his work on 'Avatar: The Way of Water'...

People Before Profit will not enter into any future coalition with Labour because the party 'betrayed their working-class base.' The party has written to Sinn Féin, The Social Democrats and Left Independents in the hopes of a left government following the next election. Kieran was joined by Joan Burton, Former Labour Party leader and Brendan Ogle, Senior officer for UNITE trade union to discuss th...

Hair restoration surgery are increasingly en vogue, but rather than venturing to far-flung parts of the world for a full-blown transplant – what about hair tattoos? The practice has become a more and more popular alternative, and is known in technical terms as Scalp Micropigmentation . Lorena Peschechera of Scalp Aesthetics in Dublin joined Kieran to discuss…

Kieran was joined by LBC Radio Presenter and Author Iain Dale to discuss his new podcast series ‘The Irish Taoiseach’...

AIB were in front of an Oireachtas Finance Committee today to address it's debt write-down policy. It comes in the wake of recent revelations that hurling legend DJ Carey’s €9.5 million debt to the bank was written down by an estimated 80 per cent. Kieran was joined by John McGuinness, Fianna Fáil TD for Carlow-Kilkenny and Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Finance to discuss this and

Nicola Peltz and Brooklyn Beckham are reportedly planning their second wedding just one year on from their original big day. It comes after her father filed a lawsuit against the original wedding planners after their “nightmare” first ceremony. Have weddings become too over the top and do they cost more than they're worth to attend in the current climate? Kieran was joined by Jessica O’Sullivan, E...

Sarina Bellissimo, host of The Bellissimo Files Podcast joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to take a look at some of the best high-school TV shows...

On Monday, Rishi Sunak announced the new ‘Windsor Framework’ as part of the new Northern Irish Protocol. Many here seem pleased with the new developments but what is the feeling like over in Great Britain? LBC presenter Shelagh Fogarty joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss the reaction in the UK...

Brooke Scullion of Dancing with the Stars and Eurovision fame joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss her strenuous rehearsal schedule, going on tour and her partnership with Discover Northern Ireland...

Newstalk's own, Simon Tierney joined Kieran again 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 took a look a the different options of Chicken Kyiv on the shelves...

NFL legend Tom Brady has announced he is to delay becoming a sports analyst in favour of pursuing a new career in stand-up comedy. To discuss career u-turns further, Kieran was joined by Aideen Finnegan, Host and Producer of the How To Pivot podcast

The new leader of the Social Democrats, Holly Cairns TD joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss her plans and priorities for the party...

The European Transport Safety Council has called for speed limits of 20km/h and a minimum age restriction of 16 for the use of electric scooters on our roads. Kieran was joined by Shane O’Donoghue, who is the Editor of CompleteCar.ie … as well as Green Party MEP Ciaran Cuffe to discuss…

Safety fears are preventing women from enjoying sport and three in ten have been harassed whilst exercising. There is an ‘enjoyment gap’ between men and women driven by safety concerns when it comes to running after dark. Research by This Girl Can also found one in five are concerned by sexual harassment when working out. Newstalk’s Henry McKean met with both men and women to get their response…

Dr Tara Logan Buckley, Clinical Psychologist joined Kieran for a new segment where they will dig a little deeper into the mysteries of the mind and mental health.  The series continued by taking a look at why being a bit of a psychopath can be a good thing...

Every week, Tuesday Travel on The Hard Shoulder with thanks to Emirates, will take a closer look at some of the fantastic destinations Emirates fly to around the world. This week, Kieran was joined by Fionn Davenport, travel writer and broadcaster to look at Japan...

It has been confirmed today that the changes to the Leaving Certificate papers for Irish and English have been delayed in order to allow further reflection. Education Minister Norma Foley joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss this further…

Kieran was joined in studio 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 'Should the eviction ban be extended?'

It’s 25 years today since the untimely death of actor and comedian, Dermot Morgan. Kieran was joined by Patrick McDonnell aka Eoin McLove to discuss his memories of the legendary actor…

The Government intends to establish an inquiry into the states handling of the Covid-19 pandemic to inform future responses to public health emergencies. Key decisions in relation to the format of the inquiry has not yet been made but they hope to have the inquiry set up by the middle of this year. Peadar Tóibín TD and Aontú Leader, Craig Hughes, Political Correspondent with the Irish Daily Mail a...

The Children’s Rights Alliance 15th annual report card evaluates and grades the Government's progress on actions for children. For the second year running, youth and adolescent mental health received an E, the lowest grade. The report described recent reports on the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service as “the tip of the iceberg of serious failings Tanya Ward, CEO of Children’s Rights Allian...

Joe Brolly joined Kieran to give his views on the new Windsor Framework and whether the DUP will accept the new protocol deal or not...

It was reported today in The Irish Times that Dublin Bus wrote a letter to the National Transport Authority in November saying a lack of taxis was leading to passengers stranded on the side of the road and anti-social behaviour due to the increased demand. Kieran was joined by David Hammond, who is one third of Fully Charged on Spin 103.8, Feljin Jose, Chairperson of the Dublin Commuter Coalition...

The Windsor Framework, the new post Brexit Deal has been struck between the British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and European President Ursula Von der Leyen. But does this satisfy the Grass Roots DUP? Henry McKean has visited Sandy Row in Belfast a DUP stronghold to get reaction...