The Hard Shoulder

The Special Olympics World Games has started in Berlin after much fanfare at the Opening ceremony. Team Ireland have already got their name on the medal table... Henry McKean joined Kieran LIVE from Berlin...

The death of a man last month, who was undergoing a dental procedure, has brought the total number of Irish deaths from medical procedures in Turkey within the last two years to seven. With the rising trend in ‘Turkey teeth’ and the high costs of cosmetic procedures in Ireland, medical tourism is more popular than ever. Kieran was joined by Helen Heneghan, consultant surgeon at St Vincent’s Hospit...

The Republic of Ireland will face Gibraltar in their Euro 2024 qualifier tonight at the Aviva Stadium. Off The Ball's Nathan Murphy and former Ireland international David Connolly joined Kieran to discuss...

President Michael D Higgins has apologised to Professor Louise Richardson for questioning her role as chair of the Consultative Forum on International Security Policy. It’s as he says that Ireland, generally, is playing with fire with its foreign policy - remarks in an interview in the Business Post that have divided the nation. Kieran was joined by Michael Ring, Fine Gael TD for Mayo and John O’B...

The residents of Balbriggan have been gathering together and campaigning to bring attention to the poor water and pollution in the sea water surrounding the town. On Saturday, a peaceful protest, spear headed by local groups, including the sea swimming group, Balbriggan Swimming Socks, attracted a crowd of over 200 people, who are calling on local authorities to address the situation, before acces...

President Michael D Higgins has apologised to Professor Louise Richardson for questioning her role as chair of the Consultative Forum on International Security Policy. It’s as he says that Ireland, generally, is playing with fire with its foreign policy - remarks in an interview in the Business Post that have divided the nation. Kieran was joined by Independent Senator Gerard Craughwell and foundi...

Irish people are well known around the world for our nonchalant attitude to cursing. But is our habit of swearing a cause for concern? Kieran was joined by Claudia Carroll, author and actress and comedian and professional swearer Steve Cummins

The new Irish Wake Museum opened today in Waterford. But, what makes Irish attitudes and customs around death so unique? Kieran was joined by Clare Ann Irwin, Current Rose of Galway and Funeral Director at Irwin Funeral Directors...

Aisling Larkin, Mindful Eating Coach and TV Chef joined Kieran today to learn about the delicious elderflower and how to incorporate it into food and drink...

Proposed hate speech legislation is currently being debated in the Seanad, with some saying it doesn’t go far enough; others say it goes too far. Do we need this legislation? Green Party Senator Pauline O’Reilly and current affairs commentator Keith Mills joined Kieran to discuss...

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...

This Sunday is Father’s day, and while some are planning their gifts and are having meals out, there are some who are still trying to remember what their father sounded like. Saoirse Hanley’s father passed away when she was 12 and has spent her life since wondering about who he was, how he would react to situations and trying to remember his voice...

New figures released by Tusla show that the number of parents pulling kids out of school for holidays is increasing. Absences for holidays jumped from 60,000-65,000 in 2019 to 350,000 in 2021. Kieran was joined by Sinead O’Moore, parent and Host of the Stretchmarks Podcast  and Mark Candon, Principal of St. Laurence’s Senior boys National School in North Dock Dublin to discuss...

The Irish Wake Museum opened in Waterford today. Visitors will explore the history of Irish traditions related to death and funerals. We sent Newstalk reporter Josh Crosbie to get a tour of the Museum.

Today, June 16th, is commonly referred to as Bloomsday, named after the fictional character Leopold Bloom, from James Joyce’s Ulysses, voted the greatest novel of the 20th century. Each year on this day, Dublin City can be seen full of tourists and locals alike, taking part in tours, re-enactments and celebrations dedicated to the iconic book, but should we be taking our appreciation for this stor...

It was reported this week that Ukrainians are now to be offered modular homes worth €145,000 for at least 12 months. This is part of an effort to house the Ukrainians that are arriving here over the next month.  Brendan Ogle, trade unionist and housing activist and Paul Treyvaud, owner of Treyvaud's Restaurant in Killarney...

Cork County Council have written to bin collection companies in the county on the issue of bins being collected 'too early', causing unrest among people in the early hours of the morning... Henry McKean reports...

Shelbourne have agreed to release goalkeeper Scott van der Sluis so he can take part in ITV reality show Love Island. The club said the 22-year-old had requested early release from his contract so he could take part in the show. Kieran was joined by former Love Island contestant, Shannen Reilly McGrath to discuss life after the show... Image: ITV

The Government are set to hold a number of consultative forums on neutrality next week in Cork. Today, in Leinster House there was a spat or two in the Dail that involved Tánaiste Micheal Martin and People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy on the topic of neutrality. Kieran was joined by People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy and Lisa Chambers, Fianna Fáil Senator, leader of the Seanad, and spokesperson o...

Illegally parked cars on footpaths and cycling lanes can be a frustrating everyday experience. But is this a bigger issues than we know of? Kieran was joined by Green Party Councilor for Dublin City, Donna Cooney and Dr Robert Synott, Coordinator and founder of Voice of Vison Impairment Ireland

The European Central Bank has its raised borrowing costs by a quarter of a percent, to their highest level in 22 years. They’ve also left the door open to more hikes - citing the continued fight against inflation. Kieran was joined by Dan O’Brien, chief economist of the Institute of International and European Affairs to discuss

A new study from the University of Bath has found that women prioritise social status and financial prospects in potential partners while men are more focused on looks when looking for their significant other. But does this actually ring true? Kieran was joined by Co-Hosts of the ‘Is This Why You’re Single Podcast’, Lisa Brady, Irish Daily Mail Features Editor and Feargal Harrington, Owner of INTR...

This weekend Manchester City won their first ever champions league sparking huge celebrations amongst fans at home and abroad, but it was the celebrations of Jack Grealish which drew ire. Some feel Grealish’s celebrations promote drinking within sport and could be harmful to younger viewers. Kieran was joined by Tim Barry, former chairman of Rathdowney-Erril GAA in Co Laois and Luke Loughlin, West...

Psychotherapist Richard Hogan’s new book ‘Home Is Where The Start Is: How Your Family Made You, and How You Can Make Yourself Even Better’ encourages people to look into their family history to help with their own struggles. Richard joined Kieran in studio to discuss...

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 and Kieran take a look a some of the options for condoms on the shelves...