The Hard Shoulder

The Oscar nominations were announced at a special ceremony in Los Angeles this evening. There was a record 14 nominations for Irish films with 'The Banshees of Inisherin' receiving nine nominations. Kieran was joined on The Hard Shoulder by actor, comedian and star of The Banshees of Inisherin, Pat Shortt. He was joined alongside Louise Ryan from Screen Ireland to discuss…

Hundreds of people took part in a protest and counter-protest this past weekend over immigration. Around 200 people took part in a "Refugees are Welcome" protest across the road from the Shelbourne Hotel. It was deemed a counter-protest to an anti-immigration demonstration outside the hotel, with about 200 people also in attendance. It’s the latest in a long running debate over how to accommodate...

Dublin's Special Criminal Court has for the last 12 weeks held one of the most talked about cases in years, that of the murder trial of Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch. Paul Williams, Crime Journalist and author of ‘The Monk - The Life and Crimes of Ireland's most enigmatic crime boss’ joined Kieran to discuss the trial thus far and look ahead to closing arguments...

A new SPHE Junior Cycle curriculum is on the horizon which deals with topics such as gender identity and pornography and has left many parents looking to opt out of SPHE. Kieran was joined by Mary Creedon, an SPHE teacher and member of the Irish Education Alliance and Aontú Leader, Peadar Toibin TD to discuss…

Kilmacud Crokes defeated Glen in Sunday's All-Ireland club football final, however they did so with 16 men on the field during the final attack. The Derry club have contacted the GAA over the breach of the rules during Sunday's final. Kieran was joined by Joe Brolly to discuss... Image: Twitter @KCrokesGAAClub

'That 90's Show', the new spinoff of 'That 70's Show' was released on Netflix last week. Kieran Cuddihy was joined by Deirdre Molumby, Pop Culture and Entertainment expert to discuss some of the best and worst TV spinoffs out there...

Is there a way in which we can actually start ditching the car? Gabrielle Monaghan was writing about it on independent.ie, and pointed out that you could save €10,000 a year getting rid of your car. Does it make financial sense to just ditch it? Janey Horner, Green Party Councillor for North Inner City Dublin and Tim Cullen, Deputy Director General for the Society of the Irish Motor Industry joine...

A report by the Mental Health Commission has highlighted significant deficits in the Child and Adolescent Mental Health System.  It stated that many children and young people end up 'lost' in the system and in one catchment area, there were as many as 140 'lost' cases within the local CAMHS team.  Kieran was joined by Dr Brendan O’Shea, Kildare GP and assistant professor in Public Health and Prima...

Some of you listeners may remember back in February of 2021, we spoke with Meath mother Tracy Carroll. Tracy’s daughter Willow suffers from cerebral palsy, epilepsy and other medical needs. Her family has been struggling for the past two years to find Willow a school place. Well that day has now arrived, and Newstalk reporter Josh Crosbie has been down to Boyerstown school for Willow’s first week.

Another deadline has been passed with no updates on the Northern Irish Protocol. Will there be a government formed again in Northern Ireland any time soon, or will this issue continue into the future? Kieran was joined by activist and journalist, Eamonn McCann to discuss...

Aisling Larkin TV Chef and mindful eating coach joined Kieran Cuddihy to take a closer look at some of the expected food trends for 2023...

There was a huge reaction all week to our caller Mary, whose son doesn’t want to return to training because he gets sidelined on matchday every week. The conversation continued with Minister for Sport Thomas Byrne calling children being sidelined week on week a ‘child welfare issue.’ Kieran was joined by the manager of Cobh Ramblers and Games Promotion Officer with Portlaoise GAA, Shane Keegan to...

Colombian singer Shakira has revealed how she caught her husband and former Barcelona footballer, Gerard Pique cheating on her. She says she noticed jam missing from the jar when she returned home and he didn't like jam. She became suspicious and confronted him about it. Stephanie Regan, Clinical Psychotherapist and author of 'Relationships on the Edge' joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discus...

The Irish government  today faced criticism as refugee groups described the possibility of  asylum seekers having to sleep on the streets as “a new low” for Ireland. Kieran was joined by Enda O'Neill, the Head of Office with UNHCR Ireland and Jennifer Whitmore, Social Democrats spokesperson for Children and Youth Affairs...

A coalition of charities for people with access needs are calling on the Transport Minister to ban e-scooters on footpaths. The National Council for the Blind in Ireland, Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind and the Irish Wheelchair Association have come together urging the government to “protect pedestrians with access needs before it is too late”. Kieran was joined by John Fulham is the Public Engagem...

Dr Phil White is an engineer, former business consultant and a member of Patriotic Millionaires UK. He is currently in Davos where the World Economic Forum are meeting to discuss major economic concerns. Dr Phil White joined Kieran to explain why he is in Davos asking world leaders to tax the wealthy... Image: Fabrice Coffrini/Getty Images

Argos is set to close all of its stores in the Republic of Ireland. Some 34 stores and 580 workers will be impacted by the news. Kieran was joined by Senator Marie Sherlock, Labour Party's national spokesperson on Employment Affairs and Conor Pope, Irish Times’ Consumer Affairs Correspondent to discuss this news and the future of the retail market in Ireland…

There was phenomenal response yesterday to our guest on the show, Mary, whose teenage son is seriously thinking about not playing hurling this year because he can’t get a game. Is there an issue with over competitiveness in underage sport in this country? Thomas Byrne is the Minister for Sport and Physical Education, and he joined Kieran in studio to discuss…

Well there are lots of benefits to being part of a couple; companionship, cosy nights in and according to UK research a bigger bank balance. An article in the Guardian this week has highlighted how singles end up paying as much as 860 more a month than couples do. Leanne Hanafin Presenter of weeknights 4- 7 on 98FM and producer of the Hold My Drink Podcast is single and joined Kieran to discuss th...

The Hard Shoulder got a massive reaction on yesterday’s show, to Mary talking about her son, and daughter who were thinking about not playing GAA again because of not getting a chance to play in matches. Today on the show Kieran was joined by Pauline, mother and coach, Anne in Longford and Hilda Breslin, Uachtaráin of the Camogie Association to discuss this matter further…

Argos is set to close all of its stores in the Republic of Ireland. The UK retailer has 34 stores in Ireland and plans to close all of them by the summer. Newstalk's Chief Reporter Barry Whyte joined Kieran in studio with a report on the closure...

Sarina Bellissimo, host of The Bellissimo Files Podcast joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to take a look at the career of the Golden Globe winning White Lotus star Jennifer Coolidge...

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 toothpaste options on the shelves...

Mary, a listener, joined Kieran on the show today. Her son is seriously thinking about not coming back to GAA training this year because he gets left on the sideline for games every week. So does this ring true?  Is over-competitiveness at underage level an issue?  Should everyone get significant game time? Nickey Brennan, former President, GAA and Jen Hogan, contributor to the Irish Times joined...

Fianna Fáil TD Jim O’Callaghan has claimed the fitness test for people trying to join the Gardaí is too demanding – and said it was blocking the Garda recruitment drive. Figures released to Deputy O’Callaghan show that one-in-six Garda applicants failed the fitness test last year – 55 candidates out of 315. Fianna Fáil TD Jim O’Callaghan joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss…