The Hard Shoulder

Rolling Stones’ contentious new list of 200 Greatest Singers of All Time has been released with some notable omissions. Kieran was joined by Pat Carty of Hot Press to discuss some of the rankings and those who missed out...

50 years ago in January 1973, Ireland formally joined the European Union. Kieran was joined by EU Special Representative for Human Rights and former Labour Party Leader and Tánaiste, Eamon Gilmore to reflect and analyse on Ireland's EU membership, the legacy of the European Union and Ireland's place in it...

Jill O'Mahony, Sociology Lecturer at South East Technological University joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss the findings from the review of the year by the Central Statistics Office...

An Bord Pleanála have given the green light on the country’s first ever drug injection facility on Merchants Quay. Will this clear up drug usage on the streets of Dublin’s City Centre? And will we see it implemented across the country? Kieran was joined by Labour Party TD for Dublin Bay North, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin and Independent Councillor for Dublin City Council Mannix Flynn to discuss…

People have been urged to consider alternatives before going to A&E as the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation counts the highest number of patients waiting without a hospital bed since 2006. Kieran was joined by Frances Watkins, journalist with the Limerick Leader whose sister was on a trolley last year and Geraldine Leonard, whose father spent time on a trolley last year too…

Ukraine President Volodomyr Zelensky has had what seemed to be a very successful visit to the White House over the last 24 hours. A massive aid package has been pledged to the country in order to help continue the fight against Russia. Jim Townsend was the deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO during the Obama administration, and he joined Kieran on the show to discuss…

Hundreds of mourners made the trip to County Donegal this afternoon, where Private Seán Rooney was laid to rest. The young soldier who was killed in Lebanon last week was buried with full military honours in Newtowncunningham this afternoon. Aoife Kearns, Newstalk reporter was at the funeral mass and joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder from Donegal...

Dr Colm Henry, Chief Clinical Officer with the HSE joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss the pressure on hospitals and the recent spike in Covid 19 cases...

In an image obsessed society, how you present yourself to the world holds a lot of currency. How you look is important but how you smell is equally crucial. We’re all keen to oust the odour but more and more people are turning to more natural alternatives in a bid to protect the environment and safeguard their health. Former Wexford Hurler and owner of Wild Irish Retreat, Diarmuid 'Gizzy' Lyng has...

With many shops and restaurants opening now on St Stephen’s day, is it time that trains operate on that day too? Kieran was joined by Adrian Cummins, CEO of the Restaurant Association of Ireland and Barry Kenny, corporate communications manager with Irish Rail…

'The Shopping Trolley Hotline' will give listeners pause when they’re filling their trolleys, to consider their options. This week Simon and Jonathan Healy took a look at how to come up with the most cost saving Christmas dinner...

The Government’s updated Climate Action Plan has been published this afternoon Eamon Ryan, Green party leader and Minister for the Environment and Transport joined Jonathan Healy on The Hard Shoulder to discuss some of the key details of the plan…

This time of year is normally a busy one for Doctor practices and hospitals as flu, chest infections and now COVID spikes as we socialise more. Jonathan Healy was joined by Mick Molloy, Consultant in Emergency Medicine and Dr Maire Finn from Ennis Centric Health…

Dave Hanratty, Host of the ‘No Encores Podcast’ joined Jonathan Healy on The Hard Shoulder to discuss which music artists are making the most money from songs at Christmas...

The Government’s updated climate action plan has been published this afternoon. Jonathan Healy was joined by Sean Defoe, Newstalk’s Political Correspondent and Peter Thorne, Chair of the Climate Change Advisory Council’s Adaptation Committee to discuss…

Christmas is around the corner and Santa will be bringing the boys and girls all over the country gadgets, phones and videogames. Columnist for The Irish Times and mother of 7, Jen Hogan joined Jonathan to discuss managing young peoples screen time around the Christmas holidays...

Jonathan Healy was joined on The Hard Shoulder by Clare McKenna, presenter of Alive and Kicking on Newstalk, to discuss her Christmas survival guide...

Violence broke out in the town of Rathkeale last night, rival gangs have left the town in disarray. Fianna Fáil Councillor, Kevin Sheahan joined Jonathon Healy on the show to discuss...

Workers could have their wages taxed at 40pc to pay for a new universal basic income. This would be under proposals examined in a new ESRI report today. But, is it feasible? Senator Regina Doherty and Colette Bennett, Economic and Social Analyst for Social Justice Ireland joined Jonathon Healy on The Hard Shoulder to discuss...

The ending of free workplace parking along with a minimum parking charge in all urban areas are among the measures Government could look at to cut transport carbon emissions. Jonathan Healy was joined by John Fitzgerald Former chairman of the Climate Change Advisory Council to discuss…

My next guest has a two-part series coming to your screens over the next couple of nights exploring the relationship between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, and Civil War politics. Two Tribes will air tomorrow night and Thursday night on RTE 1, and the spearhead of it all is none other than broadcaster Sean O’Rourke. Sean O’Rourke joined Jonathon Healy on The Hard Shoulder…

693 patients are waiting for a bed at Irish hospitals today. University Hospital Limerick is the worst affected with 94 people on trolleys, followed by 71 in Cork. Jonathan Healy was joined by Stephen McMahon Spokesperson with the Irish Patient Association and David Cullinane Sinn Fein’s Health spokesperson to discuss…

There are only five more sleeps until the big day arrives, for those who are fortunate, there will be presents left under the tree. But have we reached peak consumerism when the animals in our lives are receiving toys? Newstalk reporter Josh Crosbie has been speaking with those who will be spoiling their furry friends.

Twitter users have voted for Elon Musk to step aside as the company's CEO. The eccentric billionaire posted a poll on the social media site last night giving two options. Over 17.5 million users voted with 57.5 percent saying he should stand down as head of Twitter. Emmet Oliver was joined by Adrian Weckler, the Irish Independent’s Technology editor…

It’s been 25 years since the release of James Cameron’s Titanic. Emmet Oliver was joined by Irish actor Jason Barry who starred in the film as Tommy Ryan...