The Hard Shoulder

How high should we build in Dublin? Yes the debate has been sparked again. Some say developments need to go up to increase housing stock others say it will ruin Dublin’s image. Newstalk reporter Josh Crosbie has been getting the pulse of the city.

Some 200 protesters held a demonstration bearing signs and banners featuring anti-immigration slogans outside Leinster House yesterday. Politicians, journalists and staff were verbally abused as they entered the parliament and those inside were advised by Gardaí to be careful when leaving. Kieran was joined on The Hard Shoulder by Razan Ibraheem, a journalist specialising in misinformation to...

What is the cost of contentment in each country? That’s what a recent study out of Harvard University focused on, finding the highest cost of happiness was in Iran at nearly €232,000 and the lowest was in Sierra Leone at just over 8 grand. Ireland was rudely left off the list of 173 countries, but our own reporter Sarah Madden has been looking into it for us instead.

The Dáil resumed following the summer break today. However, politicians, journalists and staff have been advised not to leave amidst protests that are happening outside Leinster House. Independent TD for Kerry Michael Healy Rae and Louise Burne, Political Correspondent with the Irish Daily Mirror joined Kieran to discuss...

Today marks 25 years since the establishment of TV3. To celebrate this and look back on the memories down the yers, Kieran was joined by Anna Daly, former presenter on TV3 and Virgin Media, former CEO David McRedmond and Aidan Cooney, former presenter on Ireland AM from 1999 until 2018, and now presenter of Q102 Breakfast...

A trans rights march took place at the weekend, and one of the images that caught some attention was the face of Vladimir Lenin on transgender flags.  Senator Michael McDowell has been writing about it in The Irish Times and he joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss...

Today is National Fitness Day in the UK and they’re encouraging everyone to get out and be active as much as possible. Do we need this same encouragement here? Particularly for young people, what are we doing to keep our kids fit? And what’s the difference between being fit and being physically active. Kieran was joined by Brendan O’Keefe, assistant professor of Physical Education in the Departmen...

As we have been hearing throughout the day, the proposed plans to the Leaving Cert examinations have been shelved.   One the cited reasons was the increased prevalence of GenAI, that’s your ChatGPTs, in examinations and school projects but how strong has the impact of AI been on education sector and is it too late to reverse the damage?  Kieran was joined by Michael Madden, Professo...

Finance Minister Michael McGrath has today asked all state owned bodies to continue to accept cash payments. It came following criticism of the NCT service for attempting to move to a cashless system.  One such body which has moved cashless in recent times is the GAA, a move which has garnered much criticism.  Two former Presidents of the GAA, Sean Kelly and Liam O’Neill joined Kieran on...

Tens of thousands attended the second day of the Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska, Co Laois, for what was a mostly dry day. There may be vintage tractors and brand new machinery on display, but one growing trend among young farmers is online content creation. Social media apps are now full of cows being milked, tractors baling silage and sheep being sold. Newstalk reporter, Josh Crosbie, is a...

From Vibrant pink shirts in the Dáil to Dublin football kits in Seanad – there has been a fair share of fashion faux pas in the government buildings.  But should there be a dress code? That’s not the thinking in the US, where Senators are now allowed to wear whatever they want to when debating or voting on bills.   Michael Healy Rae Independent TD for County Kerry and Gino Kelly, Pe...

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 a trip to the oldest of the Canary Islands, Fuerteventura...

Kieran Cuddihy was joined by Fine Gael Senator, Regina Doherty, and Socialist Party TD for Cork North Central, Mick Barry. Continuing the series, ‘Common Ground’, they will debate some of the biggest, most divisive topics around. The series continued with a debate on 'Are young people today better off than their parents?'

There has been a story that has dominated the headlines over the last couple of days, and that is Russell Brand.   The comedian faces allegations of controlling, abusive and predatory behaviour, following a joint investigation by The Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4 Dispatches.   Kieran was joined by Meirion Jones, former Editor of the Bureau of Investigative Journalism in the UK –...

The Central Bank has signalled caution ahead of Budget 2024, lowering its forecasts for growth in the economy, while also saying that the Government's spending plans for the upcoming Budget risk adding to inflation.  Kieran was joined by Michael McMahon, who is the acting chair of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council and Michelle Murphy Research and Policy Analyst with Social Justice&n...

The Clockwork Door Time House in Temple Bar has decided to not partake in this year’s Culture Night as a result of anti-social behavior in the capital city.  The venue took part in Culture Night last year and while trying to celebrate, their equiipment was sadly robbed.   Kieran was joined by owner of The Clock Work Door Time House, Ciaran Hogan to discuss... Image: Instagram via Th...

Gardai in Cavan and Monaghan are have launched a probe in to comments made by Sean Quinn. The complaint has been made by Mannok directors Liam McCaffrey and John McCartan following comments made on The Hard Shoulder on Newstalk. Kieran was joined by crime journalist with The Irish Independent, Paul Williams for more on this...

An Oireachtas Committee on Environment and Climate Action was held today on the importance of biodiversity loss across Ireland. Praising farmers for the work they have done to maintain a healthy environment were one of the topics mentioned by Dr Aoibhinn Ni Shúilleabháin.   Yet many changes still need to be made to maintain Ireland’s biodiversity and reduce the risk of extinction. Kieran...

Comedian Reginald D. Hunter joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss his upcoming irish tour and allegations against Russell Brand...

Kieran was joined by former Irish rugby international and Chairman of The One Small Step Campaign, Trevor Ringland, to discuss the Irish sporting anthem 'Ireland's Call' why it was ever needed in the first place and why we might need to hold on to it...

On 29th of September the Irish Cancer Society is holding their Relay for Life event. One of the society's ambassadors and manager of Shamrock Rovers Stephan Bradley joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss...

The HSE's commissioned an external review into aspects of orthopaedic surgery at Children's Health Ireland at Temple Street.  It follows a number of serious spinal surgical incidents there.  Roisin Shortall, Social Democrats TD and Health Spokesperson joined Kieran to discuss...

Are you aware that the majority of your bins can be traced to your weekly shop in the supermarkets?   That’s according to a new survey by Voice Ireland who found 66% of waste items in Irish recycling bins can be traced back to supermarkets and that 59% of these supermarket waste items were made from plastic.   This begs the question should we cut down on packaging and in particular our p...

The HSE's commissioned an external review into aspects of orthopaedic surgery at Children's Health Ireland at Temple Street.  It follows a number of serious spinal surgical incidents there.  Priscilla Lynch Clinical Editor with the Medical Independent joined Kieran to discuss...

Every year when rugby matches take over our screens again, and particularly around World Cup season this time around, there’s an age old debate of should we sing Ireland’s Call? Or should we just sing Amhrán na bhFiann. Or should we get a new national anthem altogether? Kieran was joined by Damien Tiernan, WLR FM Presenter, and John McGahon, Fine Gael Senator...