The Hard Shoulder

Ciara O’Loughlin, News reporter with the independent.ie and Tara Logan Buckley, clinical psychologist both joined Kieran Cuddihy to discuss living at home as stats show that people are now moving out at the age of 28.

Former mayor of London Ken Livingstone joined Kieran for this week's Thursday interview.

Ronan McGreevy, Irish Times journalist and author of the book ‘Great Hatred: the Assassination of Field Marshal Sir Henry Wilson MP, joined Kieran for the final part of our series looking at the life and legacy of Michael Collins, ahead of the centenary of his death on Monday.

Budget 2023 is set to be announced on the 27th of September, and some of the proposals include social welfare changes. Kieran was joined by Regina Doherty,Fine Gael’s Seanad leader, and Claire Kerrane Sinn Fein’s Social protection spokesperson, to discuss the impact of a welfare increase.

Junior Agriculture Minister Pippa Hackett has said that she wants to see if the horse breeding sector can be incentivized as part of efforts to cut Ireland’s agriculture emissions. She has encouraged livestock farmers to think about the move. Kieran was joined by Pat McCormack is President of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association to discuss her proposal.

Music education must be available to every child regardless of geography and class,that is the view of Grace Tallon, Executive Director of Newpark Academy of Music in Dublin. She joined Kieran and Niall Breslin or ‘Bressie’, The Blizzards frontman and host of the Where Is My Mind Podcast, to discuss why musical education is so important for children.

On this day in 1982 Abba ‘The Visitors’, became the first CD ever produced. Colin Baker of Back From The Future joined Kieran to discuss how the CD music and technology forever.

Kieran was joined by Journalist and author Ronan McGreevy, to tell the story of Michael Collins as he cossetted with the Plunketts in Dublin.

The Federation of Early Childhood Providers held a protest outside the Dáil this morning calling for increases in funding in the sector. This is the groups third protest, they say current funding levels are too low and 260 providers are at risk of closing by June 2023.Elaine Dunne, Chair of the Federation of Early Childhood Providers and Sonia Duggan, an Early Childcare Provider joined Kieran to d...

Ireland's first Lego store is to open on Grafton Street tomorrow. Kieran went down for a behind the scenes look ahead of the opening.

Irish Catholics have called for major change in the church’s attitude to women, LGBTI+ people, those who are divorced or remarried, and single parents. It’s been hailed at the most ambitious attempt at reform in 60 years. Michael Kelly is Editor of the Irish Catholic Newspaper, and he joined Kieran and theologian, Gina Menzies, to discuss what it means to be a Catholic.

A new west Dublin town with a population greater than Galway city, will be virtually car free under the new City Edge Project announced by Dublin City Council and South Dublin County Council. Independent Councillor and Former Mayor of South Dublin County Council, Peter Kavanagh, joined Kieran and John O’Hara, City Planning Officer with Dublin City Council, to discuss the finer details of the proje...

Aisling Larkin TV Chef and mindful eating coach joined Kieran to take a closer look at aeroplane food.

According to figures released by Sinn Féin, more then twelve health service staff a day are subjected, physical, verbal or sexual assaults. There health spokesperson David Cullinane joined Kieran to discuss what can be done to address the problem.

When the Dáil returns from summer recess, it’ll all be all eyes on the Budget, which will be along in a few short weeks. With the top 20% of income earners paying 77% of income tax and USC collected, and the bottom 75% of income earners, contributing 18%, is our tax system progressive, Kieran was joined by Economist Jim Power, and People Before Profit TD for Dublin South West, Paul Murphy, to deba...

Mark Sheehan, aged 26, has been left with serious facial injuries after an unprovoked homophobic attack took place on Dublin Bus last night. He joined Kieran to describe his horrific ordeal.

Back to school costs are rising and many parents are feeling the pinch as the school year returns. Eric Nelligan, Assistant Principal at St Munchins College, Limerick and Emma Desouza, Writer and Campaigner, joined Kieran to discuss if scrapping school uniforms could be a way of cutting down the cost.

It's a year to the day since the Taliban entered Kabul unchallenged and took control of Afghanistan, transforming the lives of millions of people. Kieran was joined by Barialai Khoshhal, photojournalist, joined Kieran to discuss what the country looks like after a year of Taliban rule.

All this week The Hard Shoulder is taking a look at all things digital. Newstalk's technology correspondent Jess Kelly, joined Kieran to take a closer look at the admin side of tech.

Further and Higher Education Minister Simon Harris is encouraging families to avail of the rent-a-room scheme that allows for income of up to €14,000 a year tax free. Tony Campbell from GetDigs.ie, joined Kieran to discuss the on going issues surrounding student accommodation in this country.

According to a report from the National Council for the Blind in Ireland,two of Dublin’s local authorities are among 11 countrywide to have issued no fines for dog fouling last year. Claire Byrne, Dublin City Councillor, Green Party and Jade McCormack, who is visually impaired, joined Kieran to discuss what can be done to tackle the issue of dog fowling.

Amazon have been granted planning permission for two new data center's in north Dublin. Environmental groups have long been opposed to data center's due to the fact they place further pressure on limited energy supplies and have an adverse environmental impact. Kieran was joined by Conor Skehan, Sunday Independent Columnist and Jennifer Whitmore, Social Democrat TD for Wicklow, to discuss if it's...

Today marks the 100th Anniversary of the death of Arthur Griffith, founder of Sinn Féin, the man who led the Treaty negotiations in 1921 and President of the first Dáíl Government. Kieran was joined in studio by Robbie Smyth, Editor of An Phoblacht and Former Sinn Fein, General Secretary to discuss Griffith's legacy...

With over 1 billion users, TikTok is quickly becoming the fastest growing social media platform in the world. Kieran was joined in studio by Ryan Mar, the Irish TikTok star, with over 1.1 million followers, to talk about the responsibilities that comes with having a large following and what life is like as a content creator...

The Institute of Professional Auctioneers & Valuers is calling for banks to be allowed to offer 50-year mortgages to give people on lower incomes a chance to own their own home. Kieran was joined by Trevor Grant, Chairperson of the Association of Irish Mortgage Advisors and Brendan Burgess, from AskAboutMoney.com to discuss the 50 year mortgage...