The Hard Shoulder

Newstalk's own, Simon Tierney joined Kieran for the new 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 looked at toilet roll...

Leo Clancy, CEO of Enterprise Ireland joined Kieran LIVE in studio in London...

Comedian, Patrick Kielty joined Kieran LIVE in studio in London to discuss his new tour, the current state of British politics, the 'Up the Ra' chants by the women's national team and the future of a united Ireland...

The Central Bank has eased mortgage lending rules for first-time buyers. First time buyers will be permitted to borrow four times their gross income from January, an increase from the current 3.5 times rate. Second time buyers will now need a 10% deposit when purchasing a property, down from the previous threshold of 20% Kieran was joined by consumer expert and presenter of The Home Show on Newsta...

Newstalk is proud to partner Gateway to Europe, a not-for-profit collective of Irish service providers hoping to showcase Ireland as Europe's premier location for foreign investment. Kieran was joined on The Hard Shoulder LIVE in London, by Robert Mac Giolla Phadraig, from Sigmar Recruitment and Gateway To Europe, Neil Naughton, President of Glen Dimplex and also with the Boston College Ireland Bu...

Kieran was joined on The Hard Shoulder by Clare McKenna, presenter of Alive and Kicking on Newstalk, to discuss the wonder of childbirth...

Kieran was joined in studio by Fine Gael Senator, Regina Doherty, and Socialist Party TD for Cork North Central, Mick Barry. For the next few weeks, in a brand new series called ‘Common Ground’, they will debate some of the biggest, most divisive topics around. The new series kicked off with a discussion around the Government jet and the question is, should we keep it or get rid of it altogether?

Eoin Ó Broin, Sinn Féin's Housing Spokesperson joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss the Government's proposed eviction ban and cuts to the concrete levy introduced in Budget 2023...

The BBC celebrates its 100th birthday today. Esther Rantzen, broadcaster and former host of ‘That’s Life’ on the BBC and Dylan Haskins,executive producer leading the commissioning team running the BBC Sounds and BBC Radio 5 Live podcasts joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to look back on the past 100 years of the BBC and what the future holds...

The Government will know in January how to expand the summer programme for children with special educational needs. Education Minister Norma Foley and the Minister of State for Special education and Inclusion, Josepha Madigan, said next year's €40m programme will reflect the growing number of children seeking to avail of it.   Minister of State for Special education and Inclusion, Josepha Madigan...

Online flashing is set to be made a criminal offence in a move that aims to make the internet a safer space. Cabinet ministers are today expected to approve amendments to legislation that will ban 'cyberflashing' under the new Online Safety Bill. To discuss this further Kieran was joined by Dr. Caroline West, sex educator and Host of Glow West podcast…

In the last century, Ireland has undeniably undergone quite the transformation. Many moments have been tense, awe-inspiring or controversial and many have planted a small island firmly on the international stage. But what is the island's greatest moment of the last 100 years? Over the next few weeks, The Hard Shoulder will look at some of the 20 shortlisted moments and discuss why they deserve the...

Have you ever felt a deep regret of not opening up to someone, expressing what you really felt in a moment, whether to a loved one or a friend. Are there still unspoken words or conversations not had that are still on your mind? Kieran was joined by Irish author Michael Harding, who reveals all in his new book 'All the Things Left Unsaid: Confessions of Love & Regret'...

Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien is drawing up proposals for a winter eviction ban. Kieran was joined by Pat Davitt, CEO of the Institute of Professional Auctioneers & Valuers to discuss...

Today is National Clean Your Virtual Desktop Day. Jess Kelly, Newstalk's Technology Correspondent joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to give some advice on how best to clean up your screens from laptop to phone...

There has been an alleged assault on a child at a children’s sports event in Tipperary on Saturday. Former President of the GAA, Nickey Brennan joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss the culture change that is needed in the game going forward...

UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced a new mini-Budget earlier today, making a u-turn on pretty much everything Kwasi Kwarteng and Prime Minister Liz Truss announced a couple of short weeks ago. Former Conservative MP Edwina Currie joined Kieran on the show to discuss...

On the 50th anniversary of the release of Michael Jackson's 'Ben'. Pat Carty, from Hot Press joined Kieran to discuss the MJ's catalogue, accusations against him and his impact on the music industry...

Ger Gilroy joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to review the week in sport and look ahead to the weekend action...

The best place for households renting in the private market to live is in a property owned by a vulture fund, the chair of the Residential Tenancies Board has said. Speaking at the launch of a report published by housing charity Threshold and the Citizens’ Information Board Tom Dunne said there was “enormous resistance in our society” to institutional landlords, which he has “always been curious a...

A driver in the UK was fined for using a bus lane to allow an ambulance pass. Following this, we took a look at the use and misuse of bus lanes in Ireland. Newstalk reporter Josh Crosbie has been speaking with those who are allowed to use the lanes legitimately and those who are not.

'Dermot Bannon’s Incredible Homes' returns to our screens soon with an insight to the quirky homes of his hosts from castles in Scotland, to the coast havens in Spain & an insight of some of the world’s most famous architects. Dermot joined Kieran to give an inside scoop to the new series...

Plans for the Galway Ring Road have been quashed by An Bord Pleanála after admitting they had not taken the state’s climate action plan into account. The €600 million euro plans have been met with some mixed reviews. Regardless of who is for or against it, it’s now back to the drawing board to push the plans forward. Kieran was joined on The Hard Shoulder by Green Party Senator Pauline O’Reilly an...

The UK Prime Minister, Liz Truss has sacked her chancellor after just 38 days. Kwasi Kwarteng was asked to resign three weeks after his mini-budget unleashed chaos in the British economy. LBC presenter Shelagh Fogarty joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to give her reaction...

Lauren Barrett from Tralee was only 21 years old when she found a lump in her breast. Lauren joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month and tell us her story...