The Hard Shoulder

On a day where we're to celebrate the humble spud, food critic Tom Doorley gives Kieran some tips on how to best prepare them.

Roisin McCafferty, physio and Donegal goalkeeper joined Kieran to discuss suffering three concussions and how protocol can be improved in the women's game...

Writer and broadcaster Manchán Magan, joined Kieran to discuss his new book, ‘Listen to the Land Speak’, a book that sets out to trace our ancestors, uncovering myths that have defined the Irish identity...

Electricity demand from data centres here is expected to reach almost 30% by 2031. That is according to EirGrid, the semi-state company that manages Ireland's electricity transmission network. The largest growth comes from the data centre and new large energy users, and an increased uptake of electric vehicles and heat pumps. Kieran was joined by Conor Skehan, Sunday Independent Columnist and Rich...

More and more cafés, restaurants, bars and hotels are becoming pet friendly. In 2017 the Food Safety Authority of Ireland announced that rules banning domestic animals from food premises had been repealed. With dog ownership booming during the pandemic, many pet owners are welcoming a change in policies by some businesses to allow animals to enter. Newstalk reporter Josh Crosbie has been looking i...

Shane Ross, former minister for Transport and columnist with The Sunday Independent, joined Kieran on the release of his new book 'Mary Lou McDonald – A Republican Riddle'...

Purported "grievous breaches” of the Irish Dancing Commission’s code of conduct are now under investigation amid a slew of competition-fixing allegations. Kieran was joined by Sarah Burns of The Irish Times, Cora Somerville, former member of the CLRG for 40 years, as an Irish dancing teacher and adjudicator and Pat, a parent of a former Irish dancer...

Sarina Bellissimo, presenter of the Bellissimo Files on Spin 103.8 joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to chat through famous pop stars turned movie stars...

Last night viewers were moved by the ITV documentary ‘Putting up with Parkinsons’.  The veteran journalist opened up about his battle with the illness, after his diagnosis in 2011. To give an insight into the disease Kieran was joined by Padraig Barry who is living with Parkinson and Lisa Wynne, a specialist Parkinson's Nurse...

The Coronas’ new album ‘Time Stopped’ is released this Friday, and is available for pre-order from right now. It is their 7th studio album, and frontman Danny O’Reilly joined Kieran to talk about the new album, the pandemic and performing for home crowds...

Elon Musk has put is deal to buy Twitter back on the table. He originally intended to buy the platform earlier in the year before that fell through, but it seems after many legal battles he has made yet another U-turn. To talk us through the developments, Kieran was joined by Newstalk’s Tech Correspondent, Jess Kelly...

The Oireachtas Health Committee has heard today that the new National Children’s Hospital has so far cost over €1.1bn. Along with that, the completion of works is now expected by March 2024. Kieran was joined by the co-leader of the Social Democrats, Roisin Shortall, who is also part of the Oireachtas Health Committee...

Boy B has withdrawn his appeal against his conviction for the murder of Ana Kriègel. The now 18-year-old was just 13 when he became the youngest convicted murder in the history of the state.  Kieran was joined by Frank Greany, Newstalk's Court Correspondent to discuss...

Today, October 5th 2022, marks International Do Something Nice Day. Kieran was joined by Dr Mark Rowe, GP and author of ‘The Vitality Mark’ to discuss the benefits of being nice...

Tanaiste Leo Varadkar dismissed concerns from business and employers' groups over the government's plans to bring in paid leave for victims of domestic violence. Speaking at the Committee on Enterprise Trade and Employment this morning, he doesn’t see how evidence would be needed. Kieran was joined by Fianna Fáil Senator, Lisa Chambers and Richard Grogan, Employment Law solicitor to discuss...

The Brazilian elections are still running, with no winner yet decided. And one of the images of the weekend was the amount of Brazilians that took to the streets on Sunday to queue and cast their vote. Brazilians have been coming to Ireland for years, but why? Julia Tereno, Account Manager for ClearStory International and Edu Giusante, CEO and founder of E-Dublin joined Kieran to discuss why they...

TV Chef, Mindful Eating Coach and Wellness Advocate, Aisling Larkin joined Kieran to discuss all things mushrooms...

It’s under 50 days until the World Cup in Qatar. With human rights issues still being discussed, and the football calendar being turned on its head for the sake of it, why is the public seemingly accepting it? Author and journalist Dermot Lacey joined Kieran to discuss this further...

Anti-social behaviour orders go hand in hand with increased community policing, according to the Justice Minister. Helen McEntee has asked the Garda Commissioner to examine their effectiveness and how to improve the use of orders. Kieran was joined on The Hard Shoulder by Fine Gael Senator, Barry Ward and People Before Profit Councillor for Ballyfermot-Drimnagh, Hazel de Nortúin to discuss...

Life Coach, Mark Fennell joined Kieran to discuss work place relations and the importance of having boundaries and how to avoid and resolve conflict...

Taxi drivers are waiting up to 8 months to get their licenses. Despite a shortage of taxi's there is a 226-day wait, on average, between passing an S-P-S-V skills test and a license being issued. Kieran was joined by Timmy Dooley, Fianna Fail senator and member of the Oireachtas Transport Committee and Sunil Sharpe, Spokesperson for Give Us The Night...

One Dublin City Councillor attended a council meeting in Dublin last night, only to come out and see that his e-bike had been stolen. Labour Councillor Dermot Lacey joined Kieran alongside Conor McGrane, GP and cyclist to discuss...

Deirdre Molumby, pop culture and entertainment expert joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to chat through some of the best and worst movie sequels out there...

A growing number of young child-free men are getting vasectomies, according to doctors, with one clinic reporting a tenfold increase in patients aged under 35 during the past five years. Kieran was joined by Jonathan Balog, who spoke about why he got a vasectomy in his early thirties...

The Ballinasloe Fair and Festival in Co Galway has kicked off and is celebrating its 300th year. There’s everything from animals, music, food, and even fireworks but at the very heart of it, the fair is all about the horses. Newstalk reporter Josh Crosbie is in Ballinasloe to capture the atmosphere.