The Hard Shoulder

Reduced speed limits are moving a step closer as the Cabinet is expected to approve the publication of a new bill to legislate for default limits.  The Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030 sets the target of reducing road deaths and serious injuries by 50% by 2030 - and one of those ways is by reducing speed limits across the road network.  But will it work?  Do speed limits make people go slo...

One of the biggest stories from this year was the visit the US President Joe Biden made to Ireland in April of this year  Biden checked a big item off his bucket list when he visited Ireland and his ancestral home, making it a deeply personal and wistful journey.  Kieran was joined by Mark Duffy, a Councillor for the Ballina Municipal District (Cathaoirleach during visit) and was a big p...

For many we are heading into holiday time but for lots of shops and restaurants it will be the busiest time of the year.  But, should shops should stay closed on Stephen’s Day? Kieran was joined by Conor Pope Consumer Affairs Correspondent with The Irish Times and Deirdre Walsh, Owner of Molly Fulton’s Bar and Restaurant in Sligo...

Every week for Tuesday Travel on The Hard Shoulder, Fionn Davenport takes a closer look at some of the fantastic destinations to visit around the world. This week, Fionn joined Kieran to give him tips for travelling around Ireland in 2024...

John Kelleher joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss some of the notable deaths that occurred in 2023...

 The UN’s security council is set to vote this evening on a call for a ceasefire in Gaza.   The vote has been delayed from yesterday and already follows a failed vote after a veto from the US.   Patrick Bury, Senior Security Lecturer at the University of Bath, Former Nato Analyst and Army Officer joined Kieran to discuss

Board games are always a fixture during the Christmas period, but they are also important for building certain skills for children not just for causing arguments over Monopoly.   Founder of Cog Toys and Games Ruth Roberts joined Kieran to chat about what value a couple games can bring to your family and some out of the box boardgames options....  

Thousands of energy customers must wait until the new year before the first electricity credit is applied to their bills.  Three energy credits totaling €450, or €150 each, were announced in Budget 2024 to help households facing high electricity bills due to inflation.  However, there is anger among householders as this credit has shown up on their accounts but not been applied to their...

Discussions continue here in Ireland around laws that would allow for assisted dying in this country.  Dame Esther Rantzen, announced today that she has signed up to Dignitas, so that if her cancer treatment doesn’t go to plan, she will have the option to do that.  Kieran was joined by her daughter Rebecca Wilcox on The Hard Shoulder to discuss...

Now, it is well and truly festive season and one thing you may not be ready for is a large number of guests.  TV Chef and Culinary Lecturer Edward Hayden joined Kieran to give some advice on how best to welcome people into your home....

It was a trial that gripped the nation earlier this year which culminated on the 17th of April with Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch being found not guilty by Special Criminal Court of the murder of David Byrne at a boxing event weigh in at the Regency Hotel in 2016.  Paul Williams, Crime Journalist with The Irish Independent joined Kieran to take a look back...

Have you most of your Christmas shopping done or are you like the rest of us and are leaving it till last minute? What about buying no presents at all, how would that go down in your house on Christmas morning? Well that’s exactly what the Fashion Editor of the Daily Mail has decided to do this year. It got us thinking are people cutting back on buying physical items as presents? Newstalk reporter...

Gardaí yesterday confirmed that they are investigating a ‘criminal damage incident’ after a fire broke out at the former Ross Lake House in Rosscahill in County Galway. The hotel had been selected to house 70 asylum seekers and protesters had gathered at the building on Saturday afternoon. Broadcaster and author, Emer O'Neill joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss

Philip Ryan, Political Editor, Irish Independent and John Lee, Executive Editor, Daily Mail Group Ireland joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to look back on the political year of 2023...

Gardaí yesterday confirmed that they are investigating a ‘criminal damage incident’ after a fire broke out at the former Ross Lake House in Rosscahill in County Galway. The hotel had been selected to house 70 asylum seekers and protesters had gathered at the building on Saturday afternoon. Kieran was joined by JP McMahon, Galway chef and restaurateur and Marian Harkin, Independent TD for...

Over the past few weeks, Kieran Cuddihy has been taking Irish classes as part of a 'Couch to Comhrá in 6 Weeks' challenge. To wrap up the challenge, Kieran was joined by Éamonn Ó Domhnaill, Co-Founder and Director of Education of Gaelteanga and Sibéal Davitt, Kieran’s múinteoir…

Eileen Gleeson has been appointed the permanent manager of the Republic of Ireland’s Women football team.   Gleeson who served as number two under Vera Pauw had been in the role as interim but after a string of great results has secured the position.   Off the Ball’s Kathleen McNamee joined Kieran to discuss...

All this week we will be looking back at the year’s biggest stories.   We’ll start back in September when a group of 200 protesters gathered outside the Dáil with a mock gallows and shouting abuse at politicians and Leinster House Staff.. In November we saw a riot break out on O’Connell Street after a tragic stabbing outside Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire.  Kieran was joined by Independ...

Dublin City Council has granted planning permission for the €100 million redevelopment of St Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre. The capital will lose one of its landmark buildings after the Council has granted planning permission to DTDL Ltd controlled by a fund operated by stockbroker and wealth manager Davy. Henry McKean met people around Dublin and asked them what they thought about it...

Aisling Larkin, Mindful Eating Coach and TV Chef joined Kieran today to chat through some of the top Viral Food Trends from 2023...

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...

Dublin Airport has sought approval to increase its annual passenger capacity from 32 million to 40 million. For more on this Kieran was joined by Eoghan Corry, Owner and Editor of TravelExtra and Padraig O’Ceidigh, Former Senator and former owner of Aer Arann...

Karl Spain is bringing his 'Well, What Did You Expect?' to Vicar Street next April. Comedian Karl Spain joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder...

Conor McGregor has been in the news a lot lately. His comments about the Dublin Riots, talk of running for president, building high rise flats in residential areas he grew up in, and now something more positive, secretly supporting a local soup run.  Henry McKean joined Kieran to discuss...

Newstalk’s new Christmas Amárach Poll is here and has revealed that:   Over half of Irish adults will have their main Christmas dinner in their own home this year  Two thirds usually have their Christmas dinner mid-to-late afternoon.  Turkey is the main roast typically served at Christmas dinner.  Kieran was joined by Newstalk's Simon Tierney and Sinead Ryan, Consumer Colu...