The Hard Shoulder

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s daily catch up on the day's news. Today, Kieran was joined by Liz Dunphy, Senior reporter Irish Examiner and Gráinne Ní Aodha, News Reporter with Press Association to discuss today's top stories...

As it is election year in the US, every Thursday here on the Hard Shoulder we are going to get the latest from the campaign trail. Next Tuesday sees the first major step on the road to the White House as the Iowa caucuses take place. Kieran was joined by Jeff Kuhner, Host of The Kuhner Report on WRKO AM680 Radio in Boston... 

Unions representing the public servants have rejected an offer of pay increases of 8.5 per cent over 2½ years, with lower paid workers offered 12 per cent. Paschal Donohoe, Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform joined Kieran to discuss...

As the war in Gaza continues, patients and medical staff suffer due to lack of workers, supplies and medication.  Nick Maynard is one of the few British doctors who has seen the issues firsthand as he travels back and forth between the UK to Gaza to help at their only functioning hospital. Kieran was joined by Professor Nick Maynard, leading consultant Upper GI surgeon based in Oxford and Shona Murray, Europe Correspondent, Euronews...

Thousands of students are taking part in this year's BT Young Scientist Exhibition.550 projects from 219 schools are being showcased in the exhibition hall at the RDS.Artificial intelligence, mental health and diversity are the common themes this year.Jess Kelly, Newstalk's Technology Correspondent visited the exhibition today and she joined Kieran on the show to discuss...

Unions representing the public servants have rejected an offer of pay increases for of 8.5 per cent over 2½ years, with lower paid workers offered 12 per cent. This got us thinking, what would be fair pay for the public sector given the amount of money the government has to play with Kieran was joined by Edgar Morgenroth Professor of Economics at DCU and Mick Barry, Socialist TD for Cork North Central...

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s daily catch up on the day's news. Today, Kieran was joined by Kieran Cunningham, Chief Sportswriter with the Irish Daily Star and Sinead Ryan, Presenter of the Home Show on Newstalk to chat through today's top stories...

This is The Soapbox. Today, Brendan Ogle, social commentator, trade unionist and activist joined Kieran to look at the limits to 'balance' in public discourse in the internet age...

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 new year. This week Simon and Kieran put a variety of microwavable burgers to the test...

Christopher Nolan, director of Oppenheimer, has pleaded with people to make the return to DVDs and Blu-ray. The director has said it’s important to own the film on Blu-ray so that “no evil streaming service can come steal it from you.”Jess Kelly, Newstalk's Technology Correspondent joined KIeran to discuss...

Dublin traffic has been named as the second slowest city centre in the world. According to a survey, last year on average a 10km journey through central Dublin took an average of 29 minutes and 30 seconds - a one minute increase from 2022’s average.  It’s clear that congestion issues can’t be solved overnight and a Minister for just Dublin isn’t feasible right now, so what can be done? Green Party Councillor Janet Horner and CEO of Dublin Town Richard Guiney joined Kieran to discuss...

Fourteen people, including two children, have been discovered in a refrigerated lorry at Rosslare Europort after a 999 call was made from inside the trailer to the UK.The discovery was made on Monday aboard a ferry from Belgium.They are all understood to be in good health and were medically assessed at the scene.Henry McKean met with truck drivers in Dublin Port who travel to Europe and The UK regularly...

Almost 3 in 5 of us have never attended a women's sports event – that's according to a new Red C research launched today by the Ladies Gaelic Football Association in conjunction with Lidl to mark the start of the Ladies Football National League. The survey also found that 46% of people said that men’s sport is generally better to watch. Kieran was joined by Nora Stapleton, Women in Sport Lead with Sport Ireland, she is also a former Grand Slam Winner with the Irish Rugby team and a former Donegal footballer and Aisling Maher, Dublin Camogie Captain to discuss...

Dublin traffic has been named as the second slowest city centre in the world. According to a survey, last year on average a 10km journey through central Dublin took an average of 29 minutes and 30 seconds - a one minute increase from 2022’s average.  Kieran was joined by Fianna Fail TD, John Lahart and Brian Caulfield, Professor of transportation at the School of Engineering at Trinity College Dublin to discuss...

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s daily catch up on the day's news. Today, Kieran was joined by Ciara Phelan, Senior Correspondent with the Irish Examiner and Michael Kelly, Journalist and Former Editor of the Irish Catholic to chat through today's top stories...

It’s Penneys, Hun! Penneys has invited the cameras in for the first time for a new six-part documentary. Inside Penneys will begin tonight on RTE 1 at 8.30pm. From just one shop in Dublin’s Mary Street, to more than 430 stores in 16 countries. Penneys has grown from humble beginnings to become an affordable trendsetter and global fashion giant. Henry McKean got a look behind the scenes in advance of the new TV show tonight...

This is The Soapbox. Today, Niall Breslin aka Bressie, singer and host of the hugely successful podcast 'Where is My Mind' joined Kieran to discuss the current state of mental health services in Ireland...

Terry Prone, author and Chairman of the Communications Clinic  joined Kieran Cuddihy on The Hard Shoulder to discuss some of her favourite books...

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly joined Kieran Cuddihy on The Hard Shoulder to discuss hospital waiting lists, CAMHS, housing for hospital staff and the future of Micheál Martin as leader of Fianna Fáil...

Operation Transformation returned last week and episode 2 airs tomorrow. This will be the 17th season of the show that aims to promote a healthier lifestyle. Kathryn Thomas, Presenter of Operation Transformation joined Kieran on the show...

Today, legislation was brought to Cabinet to enact the Government decision taken before Christmas to reduce welfare payments for new arrivals from Ukraine. Ukrainians arriving in Ireland in the coming weeks will receive an expense allowance of €38.80 a week, which is down from the current jobseeker's rate of €232 per week. Kieran was joined by Tom McEnaney, Media consultant and founder of Effective Aid Ukraine, Michael Baskin, From the Ukrainian Crisis Centre in Ireland and Nadia Dobrianska, Ukrainian in Ireland...  

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s daily catch up on the day's news. Today, Kieran was joined by Brianna Parkins, Columnist with The Irish Times and John Lee Executive, Editor Daily Mail Group Ireland to chat through today's top stories...

This is The Soapbox. Today, David Quinn, Columnist with the Irish independent joined Kieran to discuss public debate and how people are shutting down certain sides of the debate if it doesn’t suit a narrative...

The return to school after the Christmas holidays can result in many children catching the common cold, but what can appear to be a simple cold can become more serious.  Consultant Pediatrician, Dr. Niamh Lynch, joined Kieran to discuss what to do when a simple cold becomes more serious…  

Legendary German Footballer Franz Beckenbauer has passed away at the age of 78.  Nathan Murphy from Off the Ball joined Kieran to discuss...

There has been a record numbers of visas granted to young Irish people heading to Australia. Along with this, we’re seeing reports today of staff at the National Maternity Hospital  commuting 2½ hours to work due to Dublin living costs How can we address this and help people to live in our city and also encourage people to stay here in Ireland and lend their expertise and skills to our services rather than moving to the Austalia, Canada or the UK. Kieran was joined by Professor Shane Higgins, Master of the National Maternity Hospital and Aodhan O’Riordain, Labour TD for Dublin Bay North, as well as their Education and Justice spokesperson...

Ireland is in the midst of a cold snap at the moment with temperatures expected to drop as low as minus 5 degrees in some areas tonight. Met Éireann has issued a Status Yellow low temperature and ice warning for the entire country which will be in place from 9pm tonight until 10am tomorrow morning. Kieran was joined by Joanna Donnelly from Met Eireann and Shane O’Donoghue, Editor for CompleteCar.ie to discuss...  

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s daily catch up on the day's news. Today, Kieran was joined by Kevin Doyle, Group Head of News at Mediahuis and Ian Power, CEO of SpunOut to chat through today's top stories...

Whether it’s down to financial needs, the thrill of adventure, or just seeking a better way of life, the Irish have been flocking abroad for generations.Record numbers of visas have been granted for young Irish people heading to Australia.Newstalk reporter, Josh Crosbie was there himself and he’s been looking into this for us.

Every week Kieran Cuddihy will be joined by writer and broadcaster, Keith Walsh and Saoirse Hanley, Features writer with Sunday Independent and Sunday World to look back on the week that was, but with a few twists..

Aisling Larkin, Mindful Eating Coach and TV Chef joined Kieran today to chat through some of her top tips for Christmas dinner...

Off The Ball's Mick McCarthy joined Kieran Cuddihy on The Hard Shoulder to review the week in sport and look ahead to the weekend action...

The young are caught in a grotesquely unfair trap, those are the words from Gerard Howlin in the Irish Times today. According to his piece, more needs to be asked of the older generation as with declining birthrates and an increasingly ageing population, there is a going to be a massive financial burden place on younger generations. Gerard Howlin, Public Affairs consultant and Irish Times columnist joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder today...

Room to Improve is back for another season this Sunday on RTÉ One.Kieran was joined in studio by Dermot Bannon and Claire Irwin to chat about what to expect from the new season...Image: RTÉ

The Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue speaking to the Irish Examiner has said restaurants and food outlets need to cut down on the amount of food they put on customers plates to reduce waste. He also wants to ban the doggy bag. Newstalk's Henry McKean joined Kieran with this report...

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s daily catch up on the day's news. Today, Kieran was joined by Niamh Maher, Commercial Creative Director with Journal Media and Laura Donnelly, News Editor and Anchor with Baure Media Group... 

Details are continuing to emerge on what the upcoming review in to Ireland’s handling of the Covid pandemic might look like. The Irish Times today reporting that the inquiry is likely to hear from frontline health workers and families who lost loved ones. It also says the inquiry is expected to last around 18 months.Kieran was joined by Kingston Mills, Professor of Experimental Immunology at Trinity College Dublin and Mervyn Taylor, CEO of Sage Advocacy, National advocacy service for older people to discuss...

Kieran was joined on The Hard Shoulder by Dr. Harriet Treacy, founder of Beyond BMI, who believes that obesity management has been hijacked by the beach body industry rather than having a medical approach to the disease 

Court records that were used to prosecute Jeffery Epstein's girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell have been released  The documents detail the personal connections Epstain had to Prince Andrew, Bill Clinton and Stephen Hawking. Kieran was joined from New York by legal reporter with Bloomberg News Ava Benny Morrison...

Details are continuing to emerge on what the upcoming review in to Ireland’s handling of the Covid pandemic might look like. The Irish Times today reporting that the inquiry is likely to hear from frontline health workers and families who lost loved ones. It also says the inquiry is expected to last around 18 months. Kieran was joined by Professor Sam McConkey Infectious Disease Specialist at the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland and Michael McNamara - Independent TD for Clare and former chair of Oireachtas Covid Committee to discuss...

It appears 007 is about to come with a trigger warning.  At a new season of classic movies at the British Film Insititute in London, all Bond films have the following warning - “Please note that many of these films contain language, images or other content that reflect views prevalent in its time, but will cause offence today.” John Fardy, Presenter of Screentime on Newstalk

According to the National Car Testing Service, nearly half of all 1.5 million cars failed their NCT last year.  Why is this the case and does the NCT system need some revision or changes?  Kieran was joined by Conor Faughnan, Transport Commentator and Michael Collins Independent TD

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s daily catch up on the day's news. Today, Kieran was joined by Fionnán Sheehan Ireland Editor at the Irish Independent and Shane Hannon, Presenter from Off The Ball to chat through today's top stories...

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 new year. This week Simon and Kieran put a variety of non-alcoholic beers to the test...

That was the moment that 16 year old sensation Luke Littler reached the World Championship Darts final last night. Can he go one step further at the Alexandra Palace in London and beat World Number 1 Luke Humphreys to become the World Champion? Laura Turner, Darts player and Sky commentator joined Kieran to discuss...

Today the CSO released their year review of 2023 to paint a picture of Ireland and how it did overall with regards to personal finances, inflation, mortgage rates, housing, cost of living, gender-based violence...you name it Kieran was joined by Dan O’Brien, Chief Economist of the Institute of International and European Affairs and John Fitzgerald, Adjunct Professor in Economics at Trinty College Dublin...

It’s a new year so what better time to get your finances in order. Kieran was joined by Eoin McGee, Financial Planner and the presenter of new RTÉ TV show The Complaints Bureau... 

In 2018 the HSE recommended that hospitals should have a parking cap of 10 euros per day  2024 is upon us. And the introduction of the cap is set to be delayed even further  CEO of the Irish Cancer Society Averil Power and John Wall, Cancer survivor and advocate joined Kieran to discuss...

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s daily catch up on the day's news. Today, Kieran was joined by Aideen Finnegan, Podcast Producer with the Irish Times and Ian O’Doherty, Columnist with the Irish Independent...

Micheál Martin has said it is not feasible to ban children from using social media, but said the government could be stronger in warning of its hazards and spoke about social ‘contracts’ schools could adopt when dealing with the use of their students and social media Should social media be banned to certain age groups or what are the best ways to tackle the dangers that come with it to aid our children Kieran was joined by Stella O Malley, Psychotherapist and Author of 'What your teen is trying to tell you'...