The Hard Shoulder

Today, March 20th is recognised globally as International Day of Happiness.  Neuroscientist and Professor of Psychology at Trinity College Dublin Professor Ian Robertson joined Kieran to shed light on what will really bring us long-lasting happiness.. 

Leo Varadkar has said his reasons for resigning as Taoiseach are ‘both personal and political’ in an emotional speech outside Leinster House.The 45-year-old has officially announced his resignation after the shock move caused ructions in political circles this morning.Kieran was joined by Mick Clifford, Special Correspondent The Irish Examiner, Pat Rabbitte, Former Labour Leader and Martin Heydon, Fine Gael TD and Minister of State...

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s daily catch-up on the day's news. Today, Kieran was joined by John Lee, Executive Editor Daily Mail Group Ireland and Meghan Scully, Broadcaster to discuss...

You may have seen the reports over the weekend of Asylum seekers being moved from the tented village on Mount Street.  Some have returned to the site and there is a demonstration taking place there this evening to call on the Government to do more to help the asylum seekers.  Newstalk's Chief Reporter Barry Whyte joined Kieran from Mount Street...

This is The Soapbox. Today, Kieran Cuddihy was joined by Comedian Julie Jay to discuss why it’s so tough for self employed people to get a mortgage...Image: Julie Jay

Author Liz Nugent joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss some of her favourite books...

According to a new Survey by Wickes the average kitchen has over 216 euros worth of unused appliances with 1/10 people having 550 euros worth of gadgets they never turned on. So, what do you do if that trendy airfryer you bought has been sitting on the kitchen counter and how do you get the most out of these goods? Kieran was joined by Ross Golden Bannon Member of the Irish Food Writer's Guild...

The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying is to launch a report tomorrow on assisted dying and its recommendations for introducing the legislation in Ireland.Kieran was joined by Kildare GP, Assistant Adjuvant Professor in Public Health and Primary Care at Trinity College Dublin, Brendan O'Shea and Columnist with the Irish Independent, David Quinn to discuss...

Kate Middleton has been missing from the public spotlight for about two weeks, with a more recent photo of the Princess of Wales appearing today. However, that hasn’t shut up the conspiracy theories on social media Kieran was joined by host of The Home Show on Newstalk and our own resident Royal Correspondent, Sinead Ryan to discuss...

Is Rip-Off Ireland Back with a bang?Over the next few weeks, we will be looking into the continuing rise in the cost-of-living, but also the price of socialising and leisure activities.Today, Newstalk reporter Sheila Naughton joined Kieran in studio to look at the price of going to the cinema...

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s daily catch-up on the day's news. Today, Kieran was joined by Lorcan Nyhan, Head of Training at The Communications Clinic and columnist with The Sunday Independent and Sarah-Jayne Tobin, Content Editor with Evoke and host of the Inspire Podcast...

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. Kieran was joined by Jeff Kuhner, Host of The Kuhner Report on WRKO AM680 Radio in Boston... 

Who would you like to see on an Irish Walk of Fame?Kieran was joined by Mike Bray, Meath County Councillor from Fordstown to discuss...

There have been several videos circulating on X, formerly known as Twitter of politicians such as Mary Lou and Aengus O Snodiagh being heckled and physically intimidated by ‘activists’.  Physical abuse and intimidation towards politicians seems to be on the rise and some are worried about it going too far.  Kieran was joined by Kieran Cunningham, Chief Sports Writer Irish Daily Star and Dan Boyle Green Party Councillor for Cork City South-Central   

After years of therapy my next guest has decided to write a book exploring the idea of too much therapy...  Author Rebecca Ivory’s book is a collection of short stories exploring the process of therapy and therapy speak...

Is Rip-Off Ireland Back with a Bang? Ciarán Nugent, Economist with the Nevin Economic Research institute joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss...

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 Valerie Cox, Journalist & Author...

This is The Soapbox. Today, Kieran Cuddihy was joined by Ronan McGreevy, Irish Times journalist and author of 'Great Hatred: The Assassination of Field Marshall Sir Henry Wilson MP' 

Jess Kelly, Newstalk Technology Correspondent joined Kieran for the Tech Takeover. This week Jess looked at Airbnb's new CCTV policy...

This year, and more specially this month marks the 40th anniversary of the start of the 1984 to 1985 miners’ strike in the UK.  The strike was a major industrial action within the coal industry that aimed to prevent mine closures which the Tory government under Margaret Thatcher was initiating. It divided communities, split families and changed the face of a nation. The ramifications of which can be felt today. Kieran was joined by Brendan Ogle, Social commentator, trade unionist and activist to discuss...

We are kicking off our Newstalk Goes Green project now by asking the question 'Are grants key and the way forward to achieving your dream home?'Kieran was joined by Dermot Bannon, Presenter and Architect on RTÉ’s Room to Improve and Claire Irwin, Quantity Surveyor on RTÉ’s Room to Improve to discuss...With thanks to SSE Airtricity, to find out more about Generation Green Home Upgrade, see sseairtricity.com. 

The CSO has launched its new gender equality database in which it has revealed a breakdown of all types of information on men and women in Ireland.  It reveals that women are more likely to work unpaid hours as carers, whilst men are less likely to be teachers. And there is a 10% difference in pay between a woman and a man.  Joining me now to discuss this is Saoirse Hanley, Features writer with the Irish Independent, Estelle Birdy, author and journalist and Fergus Finlay, former CEO of Barnardos and Irish Examiner Columnist...

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s daily catch-up on the day's news. Today, Kieran was joined by Laura Slattery, Journalist with the Irish Times and Paul Hosford, Political Correspondent with the Irish Examiner...

Last night the US Ireland Alliance hosted the 18th Annual Oscar Wilde Awards. How is the Oscar build up and how is Cillian Murphy coping with the huge international press pack?Henry McKean joined Kieran LIVE on The Hard Shoulder from Los Angeles...

This is The Soapbox. Today, Kieran Cuddihy was joined by Dr Eva Orsmond, specialist in obesity and Founder of Dr Eva's clinics to discuss the problem with type 2 diabetes in Ireland...

Social Media Content Creator Holly Carpenter joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss some of her favourite books...

Veteran broadcaster and journalist Charlie Bird has died aged 74. RTE's former Chief News Correspondent was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2021 and had been an active campaigner for a number of charities despite his ill health. Kieran was joined by Sean O’Rourke, Broadcaster and Journalist, John Kelleher, who was working with Charlie on a new documentary and Antoinette Keegan, Stardust Survivor...

Singer and actress, Lily Allen has come out to say that her two daughters have ‘totally ruined’ her pop career because she chose to prioritize them instead of work. The star insists that as a parent you simply can’t have it all. Are parents forced to make sacrifices after having children?  Kieran was joined by Tanya Sweeney, features Writer and Columnist for the Irish Independent and Comedian, Steve Cummins   

A survey in the UK has found that a third of drivers admit to hogging the middle lane on motorways. Tail-gating was also identified to be a common occurrence on the roads.  Has poor lane discipline become more common, with behaviour such as middle-lane hogging and tailgating becoming the norm? Kieran was joined by Brenda Bolger, owner of Bolger School of Motoring in Kilkenny and Shane O’Donoghue, editor of completecar.ie ...

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s daily catch-up on the day's news. Today, Kieran was joined by Conor Lally, Irish Times Crime and Security Editor and Mary McCarthy, Columnist with the Irish Independent  

This is The Soapbox. Today, Kieran Cuddihy was joined by Mick Barry, People Before Profit TD to discuss why he thinks Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is making a mistake by travelling to the US to meet Joe Biden for St Patrick's Day...

Cheltenham Festival gets under way tomorrow. One man who will be making his debut at the festival is Kildare jockey Tom Harney...Tom joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to preview the race.Former Jockey Davy Russell retired shortly after last year’s festival and he also joined Kieran on the show...

This week in our Kid's Health Check, Dr Suzanne Crowe Consultant in pediatric intensive care at Crumlin Children’s Hospital joined Kieran to look at how to spot hip issues in our little ones...

The referendum on the family and care amendments ended with the highest ever 'No' vote on Saturday. The care amendment was rejected by 74 percent of the voters, while the family amendment was rejected by 68 percent. Kieran was joined by John McGuinness, Fianna Fail TD and Chair of the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform who voted No/No and Matt Carthy TD, Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs & Defence...

It was a great night for the Irish at the Oscars with Cillian Murphy taking home the Best Actor award for his role in Oppenheimer  There was success for Element Pictures too picking up 4 Oscars for Poor Things, including Emma Stone picking up the Best Actress gong.Kieran was joined by Jim Sheridan, Irish film director, Natalie Britton, Actress and Actor Paul Meade to discuss...

Students in Transition Year are set to receive new lessons in empathy under plans for a redeveloped transition year.  How important is the skill of empathy and why is it key that young people start developing active compassion at a young age?Kieran was joined by Colum McCann Irish Author and Founder of Narrative 4 and Prof Pat Dolan, Unesco Chairman in Children, Youth and Civic Engagement at University of Galway...

The referendum on the family and care amendments ended with the highest ever 'No' vote on Saturday. The care amendment was rejected by 74 percent of the voters, while the family amendment was rejected by 68 percent. Turnout results were mixed across the country by the time the polls closed at 10pm on Friday.Should voting be mandatory in Ireland? Kieran was joined by Mick Clifford, Irish Examiner Special Correspondent and Ruth Coppinger, former TD and member of the Solidarity Group...

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s daily catch-up on the day's news. Today, Kieran was joined by David Hall, CEO of iCare Housing and CEO of Lifeline Serivces and Becca Fisher, Journalist with Extra.ie   Henry McKean, Newstalk Reporter also joined the conversation LIVE from LA after last night's Oscars Ceremony....

Tomorrow is International Women’s DayNew research from Irish Life finds that women are less confident than men when it comes to making financial decisions with 1 in 3 women not confident at all in making financial decisions. To advise those who may have apprehensions about financial planning, Kieran was joined by Laura Duffy, Certified Financial Planner from Irish Life  

Sarina Bellissimo and Sue Murphy joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to review the latest TV and movie releases..

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. Kieran was joined by Jeff Kuhner, Host of The Kuhner Report on WRKO AM680 Radio in Boston... 

With it being World Book Day, children will be celebrating the joy and magic that reading bringsBut what about children who struggle or may be reluctant to read? Are there ways and methods of helping them enjoy reading the same as everyone else?To give advice Kieran was joined by Lorraine Levis  Author ‘Once Upon a Reader: Raising Your Children with a Love of Books’ and Head of Sales for Bloomsbury Ireland.

A special Oireachtas committee has said that legislation should be introduced to allow for assisted dying.Although the recommendation states that any legislation should have limitations. The person must be diagnosed with a disease, illness or medical condition which is incurable and irreversible, advanced, progressive and will cause death and that death will occur within six months.Kieran was joined by Eric Kelleher, Consultant Liaison Psychiatrist and member of The College of Psychiatrists Human Rights and Ethics Committee and Tom Curran  Right To Die campaigner to debate and discuss.

Kieran was joined by Minster for Darragh O'Brien to discuss the row between government and opposition on the delay to the Planning and Development Bill, Housing figures and whether we are seeing any improvement in the housing crisis. And ahead of the referendum tomorrow the minister outlined his position on the family and care amendments.

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s daily catch up on the day's news. Today, Kiearan was joined by Sarah McGuinness, Assistant News Editor for the Business Post and Michael Kelly,  Journalist and Former Editor of the Irish Catholic.

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 Relishes to test.

This is The Soapbox. Today, Kieran Cuddihy was Jillian Brennan, CEO of Humanist Association of Ireland, to discuss and debate the legitimacy of secular schooling in Ireland.

With the public going to the polls on Friday to vote on the coming referendum.Does the public understand what they are voting for and on? There was a sense of confusion and indifference in the air around the referendum.Newstalk reporter, Bella Finn took to the streets of Dublin to get a sense of the public's attitudes towards the referendum

Jess Kelly, Newstalk Technology Correspondent joined Kieran for the Tech Takeover. This week Jess looked some of the most notorious times tech has failed live up to expectations.

With the Deposit Return Scheme around now for a month. And with many struggling to adapt to the scheme and some initial problems with it.Kieran was joined by Ciaran Foley, CEO of Return, to talk through and debate some of the issues and concerns around it.