The Hard Shoulder

Live from Malmö, Newstalk Reporter Henry McKean speaks with Ireland's 2024 Eurovision entrant Bambie Thug ahead of their performance on the Swedish stage. Henry shares with Kieran all the emotions that the artist is feeling about competing, representing the non-binary community and Johnny Logan. Image credit: Image credit: Corinne Cumming/EBU

The Minister for Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue, is to bring in new regulations to ban the use of electric dog collars. Electric fences will not be included in the ban and pet owners who already use remote controlled electric collars will not be required to remove them. Kieran is joined by City Vet in Limerick Donal Ryan to learn more about shock collars.

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s catch-up on the day's news. Today, Kieran was joined by Nigel Dugdale, News Reporter at Live95, and Broadcaster Meghann Scully. Image credit: Rollingnews.ie

Every week Kieran Cuddihy will be joined by writer and broadcaster, Keith Walsh and the presenter of Weekend Breakfast on Today FM, Alison Curtis to look back on the week that was, but with a few twists…

A new study has found that beer is more enjoyable when served cold. That might seem obvious to you, but not everywhere serves it that way.  The report also says that we should be chilling red wines and warming whites a bit more...so what is the correct way?  Joining Kieran to give their expert guidance is Dean McGuinness, MD of Premier International Beer, and Brigid O’Hora, from @brideys...

Aisling Larkin, Mindful Eating Coach and TV Chef joined Kieran to chat about Tex-Mex! Not so much the authenticity, but the benefits you can get with the cuisine.

Off The Ball's Ger Gilroy joined Kieran Cuddihy on The Hard Shoulder to review the week in sport and look ahead to the weekend action…

An Taoiseach Simon Harris says people's families and homes should be out of bounds after protesters held up placards right outside his house last night.  16 protesters held signs which said 'South Dublin Says No Close The Borders'. Even though it was in Wicklow… To discuss further, Kieran is joined by Henry McKean.

Kieran is joined by Trisha Lewis (@trishas.transformation on Instagram) to talk about her own weightloss journey as well as what the ‘Wellfest’ event is all about. Image: wellfest.ie

Dating app, Bumble, made some changes this week which means women no longer have to make the first move!  But are Gen Z engaging with dating apps the way they used to? Joining Kieran to discuss is Newstalk’s own Sheila Naughton... 

Trinity students have been fined €214,000 over recent protests. The students, who did so in retaliation to increased programme costs, have been fined as Trinity says the disruptive protests held outside the Book of Kells results in a loss of income for them. Gary Gannon, Social Democrats Education Spokesperson, believes this is an attempt by TCD to “suppress” student protests. He joins Kieran to d...

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s catch-up on the day's news. Today, Kieran was joined by Ian Power,CEO of SpunOut and Sinead Ryan, Consumer Columnist with the Irish Independent and the Presenter of The Home Show on Newstalk.  Image: Alma Bengtsson / EBU

It's one of the world's fastest growing sports - with investors like Bill Gates and fans like Taylor Swift. But just what is pickleball and who are the growing community of Irish "picklers"? Newstalk's Sarah Madden reports

The Kuhner Report on WRKO AM680 Radio in Boston is hosted by Jeffrey T. Kuhner, "Liberalism's Worst Nightmare," he is a conservative nationalist, who champions God, country and family.  He joins Kieran to discuss US politics and to chat about the multitude of arrests made at Pro-Palestine college protests. Image: Wisconsin State Journal

The skies of Laois have been closed for air traffic - but why? There is a rocket launch competition happening in Emo Court! Students are taking part in this regional competition to build and launch CanSat's. Kieran is joined by Danielle Willcock, Telescope Operator from Blackrock Castle Observatory and finalist Justin Jahima to learn more.

A new survey from the University of Galway finds that while teenagers are more physically healthy (with less alcohol and tobacco usage), their mental health has gone down. We wanted to speak to the people that this survey represents and hear from them what it’s like being a teenager today.   Kieran is joined by Richard Hogan, Family Psychologist and Columnist with The Irish Examiner to d...

Summer is here! You might be thinking about doing up the house: a sky light in the kitchen or a gate in your garden... but what do we need planning permission for?   Joining Kieran to discuss is Managing Director for planning from CWPA in Swords and former Irish Planning Institute President, Joe Corr.

Now, an unannounced inspection conducted by HIQA (Health Information and Quality Authority) found that UHL (University Hospital Limerick) is not “fully managing” the risk to its patients in the hospital amidst overcrowding.  Melanie Cleary knows this situation well, when her daughter needed to attend the hospital after a fall. She died only hours after UHL discharged her.   Melanie...

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s catch-up on the day's news. Today, Kieran was joined by Shane Hannon, Presenter from Off The Ball and Jen Hogan, Columnist with the Irish Times.

Newstalk Reporter Josh Crosbie joins Kieran after going to Poland with Iarnród Éireann to check out their new fleet of electrified trains. They discuss what we expect to see from the Dart+ Programme.

Newstalk's own, Simon Tierney joined Kieran Cuddihy 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 brought a selection of milk alternatives.

An EU Ban on smoky flavourings could see us lose out on some of our much-loved foods and brands in ham, bacon and crisps. This ban could also have an economic impact on our food sector.  Jack Power, European Correspondent with Irish Times joins Kieran to discuss. Image: Tayto

This is The Soapbox. Today, Kieran was joined by Shane Ross, former Minister of Transport, to discuss road deaths.

Concerns are being raised about the lack of recycling of our electrical goods, as they impact our environment and pose a significant fire risk.   What can be recycled when it comes to your techy items, and what do you do with them?  Elizabeth O’Reilly Head of Environmental Compliance at WEEE Ireland joins Kieran to discuss.

Jess Kelly, Newstalk Technology Correspondent joined Kieran for the Tech Takeover. This week, Jess recommends the best way to print the photos contained in your phone. She also gives a TLDR on Elon Musk’s claims for Tesla’s self-driving capabilities.