The Hard Shoulder

It’s a nervous day for families across the country as students receive their CAO offers – 6 in 10 have received their first preference.  There has been criticism this year for the continued use of grade inflation in the Leaving Cert with has kept points for many courses high. Kieran was joined Pól Ó Dochartaigh Deputy President and Registrar of the University of Galway who was previously served as chair of the CAO... 

The Electoral Commission has published its constituency review, recommending an increase of 14 TDs to 174 deputies in the next Dáil  In this scenario, the number of constituencies would increase by four from 39 to 43.  So what impact does this have around the country?  Kieran was joined by Shane Coleman from Newstalk Breakfast, Sean Defoe, Newstalk’s Political Correspondent and Claire McGing, who is an academic specialist in gender and politics in IDT Dun Laoghaire to discuss...

School season is back into full swing, and the dreaded conversation of homework is back in households once again. In a recent exclusive Newstalk poll, carried out by Amárach, we asked our listeners if it’s time to ban homework from schools once and for all. 35 per cent of those who responded said it was a thing of the past for primary levels and it’s time to get rid, while 18 per cent think it should also be banned in secondary schools. Kieran was joined by Jennifer Horgan, teacher and Irish Examiner Columnist and Mary McCarthy, columnist for the Irish independent to discuss...

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 Vancouver...

Should wolves be reintroduced to Irish wildlife? Kieran was joined by Killian McLaughlin, founder of the Wild Ireland Wildlife Park and John Joe Fitzgerald, vice president of Irish Natura and Hill Farmer’s Association to debate this...

There are only days to go before 70,000 people will take to the fields around Stradbally for Electric Picnic.Newstalk reporter Josh Crosbie got a sneak peek of the festival and spoke with Kieran about what people can expect.

There is great concern that Irish Horseracing could be under threat due to the proposed Gambling Regulation Bill which would ban ads between 5:30am and 9pm.  Paul Hensey, chief executive of the Association of Irish Racecourses and Aodhan O’Riordain is Labour TD for Dublin Bay North, as well as their Education and Justice spokesperson joined Kieran to discuss...

Green Party Leader Eamonn Ryan previously called for wolves to be reintroduced in to the wild in Ireland.  What exactly would happen if this did happen?  Kieran was joined by Kilian Murphy Quantitative ecologist with UCD who has been crunching the numbers... 

Yesterday, Enoch Burke returned to Wilson's Hospital School, where he formally worked and believes he has a right to be there. He says he is standing up for what he believes in.  Diarmuid Lyng, Owner of Wild Irish Retreat and former Wexford Hurler joined Kieran to discuss...

There have been calls on the Government to scrap plans to increase excise on fuel next week.  From this Friday, September 1st, excise duty rates will increase by 7 cent for petrol and 5 cent for diesel.  Peadar Toibin, TD and the leader of Aontú and Fine Gael Senator Barry Ward joined Kieran to discuss...

Michelle Obama has been voted the most inspirational woman of all time. A new poll of parents of girls aged between 6 and 10 put the former first lady at the top, with Harry Potter actor Emma Watson second, while Nobel-winning scientist Marie Curie third.   To drill down into the list and see who made the cut, I’m joined by Barbara Scully, author and broadcaster, Saoirse Hanley, Features writer with Sunday Independent and Jess Kelly, Newstalk's tech correspondent 

Spain prosecutors have opened a preliminary sex abuse investigation into Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales.  Rubiales has refused to step down from his role despite criticism of his kiss with Spain forward Jenni Hermoso following the country’s World Cup final win last Sunday.  Miguel Delaney Chief Football Writer at The UK Independent joined Kieran Cuddihy on the show...

Enoch Burke returned to Wilson's Hospital School in Co Westmeath today as the new school year got underway. It is understood Mr Burke entered the school building and set up in a corridor. He is is locked in ongoing legal proceedings against the school after he was dismissed following alleged gross misconduct.  To give us an update Kieran Cuddihy was joined by Shane Phelan, Legal Affairs Editor with the Irish Independent...

Change is on the way to Ireland’s electoral system is due to be revealed this Wednesday which could be set to be one of the most radical overhauls of the system in generations.  Our political correspondent Sean Defoe has the details... 

Eoghan Corry, Travel and Aviation journalist and Editor of Air and Travel Magazine joined Kieran to discuss the cancellation of flights from Irish airports following problems with Air Traffic Control in Britain.

David Quinn, in his article in the Sunday Independent yesterday, questioned if Down Syndrome was disappearing from the world.  David details that because of ever more sophisticated screening tests, conditions such as Down syndrome can be detected in the womb at ever earlier stages of pregnancy. David stated that in almost every case where the condition is detected, the baby is aborted. Former Professor of the Rotunda, Professor Fergal Malone provided statistics in late 2022 that stated 95% of cases in the Rotunda, the mother traveled to the UK for an abortion  Why is this and are people with Down syndrome disappearing from our society? Former Mayor of Drogheda, Michael O’Dowd, father to Conor (27) who has Down syndrome and is an Aontu representative in Louth joined Kieran Cuddihy on the show.

Fine Gael TD Colm Burke has been calling for the age limit to buy tobacco to be raised to 21 years of age. He wants the change in order to help Ireland meet its public health target of a less-than-5 percent smoking rate by 2025. John Mallon, spokesperson for Forest Ireland and Professor Des Cox is chair of the Policy Group on Tobacco at the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland and Consultant in Paediatric Respiratory Medicine at Children’s Health Ireland in Crumlin both joined Kieran Cuddihy on the show to discuss...

“I feel like Chicken tonight! Chicken tonight!” What autumn dinners did your hard-working parents serve up night after night growing up? And what did they make for your packed lunch?Newstalk reporter Henry McKean joined Kieran Cuddihy on the show...

Aisling Larkin, Mindful Eating Coach and TV Chef joined Kieran today to back to school lunches...

More than 40,000 international visitors have descended on Dublin for an American football game on Saturday.Notre Dame will take on Navy at the Aviva Stadium in an event that is thought to be worth more than 140 million euro to the Irish economy.Tours and accommodation are booked out with US tourists enjoying what’s on offer.Newstalk reporter, Josh Crosbie has been meeting with them to see what they think of the Emerald Isle.

Access to the HPV vaccine is being expanded to include young men aged 21 and under. That vaccine is named after Laura Brennan, who campaigned for higher uptake of the vaccine, and her father Larry joined Kieran to discuss...

Leaving Certificate results will be available from Friday morning, with first round CAO offers out next Wednesday.To discuss grade inflation and Leaving Cert reform, Kieran was joined by Eric Nelligan, Assistant Principal at St Munchins College Limerick and Aontú spokesperson on education alongside John Walshe, Former Advisor to Education Minister Ruairi Quinn...

Fine Gael TD Emer Higgins has suggested a streamlining of the process for licenses for taxi drivers to help tackle the ongoing shortage in Dublin City and around the country. Kieran was joined by Fine Gael TD Emer Higgins, Jim Waldron, spokesperson for the National Private Hire and Taxi Association and Kieran Harte, General Manager for Uber…

The fallout is continuing in Russia from the apparent death of the head of the Wagner Group and orchestrator of an attempted coup in June Yegveny Prigozhin.  Prigozhin was listed as a passenger of the private jet which crashed 185 miles north of Moscow.  For more on this, Kieran was joined by General Richard Barrons, former head of the UK’s joint forces command & leading UK Defence expert... 

Ahead of Leaving Cert Results being announced tomorrow, there have been calls that we should have harsher grading for the Leaving Cert.  Calls have been made by some universities that post-pandemic measures for students have led to grade inflation which has been attributed to high dropout rates for first year students.  Carl O’Brien, Education Editor with Irish Times joined Kieran to discuss...

There was lots of reaction on the show yesterday to the new Fair City, Fergal, who was introduced last Sunday. He seems to be a conspiracy theorist with views that lean to the right.  Kieran was joined on The Hard Shoulder by Killian O’Sullivan, director and producer, and former actor on Fair City to discuss...

Earlier this week, Mary Earps, the goalie for the English Women’s team was criticised for swearing in a moment of passion during the World Cup final. She was called disgusting and un-ladylike.   In 2023, is swearing still frowned upon and seen as unladylike if a woman swears?  Kieran was joined by Holly Carpenter, Former model and social media influencer and Michelle Harding, Founder of the School of Life Etiquette school...

Yesterday we saw the UK's first-ever succesful womb transplant. It was hailed by doctors as 'dawn of new era' in fertility treatment.  The recipient's sister, who already has children, donated her womb to her younger sibling, who was born without a uterus.  Kieran was joined by Dr. Peter Boylan, former master of the National Maternity Hospital...

Over 100 public houses have closed their doors permanently so far this year.  That number is expected to increase by the end of the year, as an average of 152 pubs have closed annually since 2019.  Kieran was joined by Adrienne McCarthy, owner of McCarthy Bar is Castletown Bere in West Cork and Independent TD for Tipperary, Mattie McGrath...

Kieran Cuddihy went to Powerscourt Hotel in Wicklow to meet with the legendary journalist and broadcaster, Charlie Bird and his wife Claire, who is looking to help raising funds for Together for Hospice, the National Hospice Movement.   Anyone or any businesses can register now to host a coffee morning on September 21, or on a date that suits them, at hospicecoffeemorning.ie or call 0818 995 996. If they can not host or attend one, a donation can be made at hospicecoffeemorning.ie/donate. 

A new survey out today says four in five Gen Zs, aged between 9 and 24, rate it as the ultimate decade. But is it?Henry McKean went to find out what people think...

The space race is back!  India has today become the first country to land in the lunar south pole region of the moon.  The Vikram lander from Chandrayaan-3 successfully touched down just after half 12 today making India just the fourth country to reach the moon.  Space Commentator Leo Enright joined Kieran to discuss...

Business owners in Dublin City have been meeting with senior Gardaí today to discuss tackling crime.  It is because of concerns about an increase in shop-lifting, aggression and anti-social behaviour.  Kieran was joined by Alan Campbell is the owner of The Bankers Bar and former Assistant Garda Commissioner, Pat Leahy to discuss...

Fergal, the newest addition to the cast of Fair City, a conspiracy theorist believes that the pandemic was planned to aid the banks and 'the country is full.'  John McGuirk, editor of Gript and Stefanie Preissner, writer and broadcaster joined Kieran to discuss... Image: RTÉ

Every week for Tuesday Travel on The Hard Shoulder we take a closer look at some of the fantastic destinations to visit around the world. This week, travel journalist, Nicola Brady joined Kieran to give him tips for a trip to the Beehive State, Utah...

Have you seen noticed an increase in the use of recreational drugs like cocaine? The use of the drug has been suggested to be commonplace and cocaine use in society is 'mind-blowing.' That’s according to Rory O’Connor of Rory’s Stories who joined Kieran to discuss...

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 'Could we use our Garda force better?'

One of the UK’s most prolific serial killers Lucy Letby was sentenced to 14 whole life sentences for the murder of 7 babies however she was not in court for the sentencing or to hear any of the victim impact statements. And indeed, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has suggested the UK will potentially change the law to compel those found guilty to be in court to hear the statements when they are read out to court. But what is the value of those statements in terms of the perpetrator hearing them or indeed for the families of the victims of crime getting to have their say. Kieran was joined by Kathleen Chadha who lost her two boys Eoghan (10) and Ruairi (5) when they were murdered by their father in 2013 and by Andrew Furlong, who’s daughter Nicola (21), was killed in 2012 in Tokyo…

Race organisers of the Youghal Ironman did not have clearance by Triathlon Ireland Technical Officials to go ahead with the race. The race saw the deaths of two men, Brendan Wall and Ivan Chittenden after they got into difficulties in the swim element of the event. Kieran was joined by Lisa Shine, a spectator at the Ironman in Youghal who was there supporting her sister, Fiona....

New figures provided by the HSE to the Irish Independent show that the Cork and Kerry community healthcare organisation still had the longest ­CAMHS waiting list in the country. 976 young people are currently waiting for help there, with that figure being around 4,300 nationwide. Kieran was joined by Gary Stack a GP in Killarney, and Matthew Sadlier, who is a consultant psychiatrist, and Chair of the IMO’s Consultant Committee...

Since the pandemic, gig etiquette has been called into question more than ever, as fans find new and outrageous ways to interact with their idols. Is this the end of gig etiquette as we know it? Today FM’s Ed Smith joined Kieran to discuss...

The Rose of Tralee returned last night and the finale will be taking place later at the Kerry Sports Academy. Some say it’s stuck in the past but there have been changes to the event over the years. Newstalk reporter, Josh Crosbie is in Tralee speaking with previous winners and locals about the evolvement of the festival.

The Rose of Tralee festival returns to our screens tonight and Newstalk reporter Josh Crosbie joined Kieran from Tralee where he met with those on the street and behind the scenes...

A man has been charged in connection with an alleged assault on Grafton Street yesterday morning. It’s the latest incident of its kind to take place in the capital over the last couple of months. Kieran was joined by Jim O’Callaghan, Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin Bay South and their spokesperson for Justice and Richard Guiney, CEO of Dublin Town to discuss…

The rock band Queen have removed 'Fat Bottomed Girls' from their greatest hits on a universal music streaming service aimed at kids. But the song will still be available on other streamers and to buy on old fashioned records. Many have said this is so called ‘woke cancel culture’ or is modernisation and diversity? Kieran was joined by Newstalk's Henry McKean to discuss this further....

Post mortem examinations are to be carried out on the two men who died during an Ironman event in Cork yesterday . 44-year-old Meath man Brendan Wall, who lived in the UK, and 65-year-old Ivan Chittenden from Toronto in Canada after they got into difficulties in the swim element of the event. Kieran was joined by Tom, who was at the Ironman event yesterday and has done triathlons so is experienced in this whole world...

Over 27,000 students enrolled in private post-primary schools for the last academic year, a record number. It represents a 6 per cent increase in the number of students attending private schools over the last five years. Kieran was joined by Michael Clark, Fianna Fail County Councillor for Killiney-Shankill and Sorca Clarke, Sinn Féin Education spokesperson and TD for Longford-Westmeath to discuss...

Sentencing has occurred of the nurse Lucy Letby who was found guilty of killing seven infants in her care and the attempted murder of six babies. Justice James Goss at the Manchester Crown Court handed down the most severe sentence possible under British law. Kieran was joined by Vincent McAvinney, journalist and broadcaster to discuss...

The England Women's World Cup dreams were dashed after a 1-0 loss to Spain in the final yesterday. Across social media it was clear that Irish fans were delighting in their loss. Why do we support the downfall of English sports teams? Kieran was joined by Off the Ball’s Adrian Barry 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...