The Hard Shoulder

According to a new survey, a quarter of Teenagers from 14-16 in North Dublin drank alcohol last year.  The study by the North Dublin Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force, also claims that attitudes to drink have changed with more young girls engaging with drinking than boys. Newstalk's Henry McKean met with people in Dublin and asked them about their drinking habits growing up.Kieran was then joined by Paula Leonard, CEO of Alcohol Forum Ireland to discuss...

There have been mixed reactions about the Oscar nominations. Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig missed out on major nominations, while Ryan Gosling earned a nod for his supporting role as Ken.  Kieran was joined by Alexandra Ryan, Founder and CEO of Goss.ie and Chris Wasser, Arts journalist and Sunday independent film critic to discuss...

 Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has confirmed that Libmeldy – the world’s most expensive drug has been approved for use in Ireland. The drug is used to treat Metachromatic leukodystrophy - or MLD, a rare and life-threatening disease that affects the metabolic system in children. Les Martin’s eldest son, Cathal, died from the MLD three years ago at the age of six, his younger son Ciaran also suffers from MLD but has benefitted from the drug. Les joined Kieran in studio to discuss...

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s daily catch up on the day's news. Today, Kieran was joined by Laura Donnelly, News Editor and Anchor with Bauer Media Group and David Hall, CEO of iCare Housing and CEO of Lifeline Serivces...Image: RTÉ

This is The Soapbox. Today, Dr. Jennifer Cassidy, Lecturer in Diplomatic Studies at Oxford University joined Kieran Cuddihy on The Hard Shoulder to discuss the role of social media during conflicts...

Caroline Morahan, Irish actress and presenter joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss some of her favourite books...

New measures are being introduced to ensure that cash payments are accepted at supermarkets and pharmacies. This comes with the Access to Cash laws which will aim to keep physical money in the economy as well as availability of ATMs in Irish communities. Kieran was joined by Seamus Boland CEO of Rural Link and Paul Dolan, who runs The Barn gastropub in Glanmire, Cork and Sinead Ryan, presenter of The Home Show on Newstalk...

Despite a nurse and garda with combined salaries of €89,000, new research by the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland. Has found they are still €60k short to be able to buy a three-bed semi detached home in the Greater Dublin Area Karl Deeter is CEO of OnlineApplication.ie and Financial Analyst and Susanne Rogers, Research And Policy Analyst Social Justice Ireland joined Kieran to discuss...

Writing on X, Content Creator Holly Carpenter says: 'I will never understand why so many lads go around Dublin just casually spitting everywhere? In broad daylight without an ounce of shame. Are you alright It makes me feel ill & I literally never see women doing this'Is spitting in public places becoming more common? And although it's not a crime should it be treated the same way dropping litter on the street is? Kieran was joined by Dr. Orla Cahill Microbiologist and Lecturer in allergen management and Social Media content creator, Holly Carpenter...

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s daily catch up on the day's news. Today, Kieran was joined by Ellen Butler, Newstalk Reporter and Fergus Finlay, Columnist for the Irish Examiner to discuss...

Today in the Irish Times and on Moncrieff Fianna Fail TD Niamh Smyth has called for the traditional Irish Pub to get Unesco recognition, to help them survive. Henry McKean went on a pub crawl and visited a traditional Irish pub which is over 400 years old. 2000 Irish pubs have closed since 1995...

This is The Soapbox. Today, Orla O’Connor, Director of the National Women’s Council of Ireland joined Kieran Cuddihy on The Hard Shoulder to discuss the upcoming referendums on both woman's place in the home and the definition of the family...

As toddlers and young children get more curious about their surroundings, this often leads them to putting various items, ranging from sweets and toys to even more hazardous objects like coins or batteries, into their mouths.  Kieran was joined by Dr Suzanne Crowe, consultant in paediatric intensive care at Crumlin Children’s Hospital...

If you have tuned into the news since the turn of the year one issue has dominated the airwaves and that is immigration. One common trend amongst these stories are the same narratives such as Ireland is full and single unvetted men coming into our country. We want to dedicate some time to challenging these talking points and dispel some myths around them.  Ciaran O’Connor, misinformation analyst at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue joined Kieran to discuss... 

Government needs to take action on the spiralling cost of doing business in Ireland. That’s the call from Ibec in a letter to government who have asked government to suspend further increases to the minimum wage and other government scheme while the issue is addressed. Kieran was joined by Danny McCoy, CEO of Ibec and Owen Reidy, General Secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) 

The news broke yesterday that murder suspect Ian Bailey has died. Bailey was a suspect in the 1996 murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier and maintained his innocence in that case until he died. He passed away in his home town of Bantry yesterday after suffering a heart attack.  An Irish cold case investigation has been underway recently into the 1996 West Cork murder and a French court found Bailey guilty of the murder and sentenced him to twenty five years in prison in absentia in 2019.  Jean Pierre Gazeau is the uncle of Sophie Toscan Du Plantier and he joined Kieran on the Hard Shoulder this evening...

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s daily catch up on the day's news. Today, Kieran was joined by Michael Kelly, Journalist and Former Editor of the Irish Catholic and Kieran Cunningham, Chief Sportswriter with the Irish Daily Star...  

Every week Kieran Cuddihy will be joined by writer and broadcaster, Keith Walsh and the presenter of Weekend Breakfast on Today FM, Alison Curtis 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 all things Protein and Plant Based Protein for a Flexitarian Lifestyle...

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...

A poll released today by the Irish Times suggested that Republic of Ireland voters would be against the idea of joining the commonwealth in hopes of creating a united Ireland. But is this something worth considering? - is it a small price to pay for Irish unity. Kieran was joined by Gerard Craughwell, Independent Senator and Ronan McGreevy Irish Times journalist and historian to discuss...  

Madonna is being sued by two fans after she turned up two hours late to one of her shows. Being fashionably late is a common trait by many, but are Irish people fonder of being late than most? Kieran was joined by Saoirse Hanley, features writer for The Sunday Independent and the Sunday World, Aideen Finnegan, podcast producer for The Irish Times and Patti Shields, Chairperson of Democrats Abroad to discuss...

Simon Harris, Minister for Further and Higher Education joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss the Government's new policy strategy on student accommodation and an Irish Times poll regarding Ireland rejoinging the Commonwealth...

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s daily catch up on the day's news. Today, Kieran was joined by Gerard Howlin, Public Affairs Consultant and Irish Times Columnist and Sean O’Regan, Newstalk Reporter...

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... 

Justice Minister Helen McEntee joined Kieran in studio to discuss protests regarding the housing of asylum seekers, Gardaí presence in Dublin City and changes to CAB...

Getting your children to do their homework can be an everyday struggle for many parents. For many children they’ll pout and complain so figuring out how to make homework fun can be a tricky task.  Kieran was joined by Siobhan O’Neill-White from the parenting website, Mams.ie and TJ Hegarty, Founder of the online maths school, Breakthrough Maths to discuss...

A €10 million plan to increase policing in Dublin city centre, after a number of violent attacks, has not been renewed. It was brought in to make the Dublin streets feel safer. Is Dublin safer and are business thriving as a result?  Kieran was joined by Will Monaghan, Owner of One society on Gardiner St and Michael O’Sullivan, the proprietor of a "convenient shop” on Talbot Street...

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s daily catch up on the day's news. Today, Kieran was joined by Ian O’Doherty, Columnist with the Irish Independent and Craig Hughes, Political Correspondent with the Irish Daily Mail...

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 nappies to the test...

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 look at a trip to Copenhagen...

This is The Soapbox. Today, RTÉ presenter and activist, Emer O'Neill joined Kieran to discuss

Newstalk's Technology Correspondent, Jess Kelly joine Kieran to discuss what happens to your digital accounts after you die...

People Before Profit have called on the Taoiseach and Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald to boycott the annual St Patrick’s Day visit to the White House to meet Joe Biden due to the US President’s continued support of Israel. TD Paul Murphy believes that this action would “have an impact symbolically in the US and around the world,”...

A record number of people took public transport last year. There were 308 million passenger journeys taken in 2023 across trains, buses and trams. Henry McKean went to a train station and a bus stop and asked passengers, are you happy with the service and how it could be improved?Kieran was also joined by CEO of the National Transport Authority to discuss...

Today, Families for Reform of CAMHS went before the the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health to express their concerns that children across Ireland are being failed and that families were not receiving adequate support at a time when they need it most. Kieran was joined by Hannah Ní Ghiolla Mhairtín, spokesperson for Families for Reform of CAHMS, Grainne Morrison and Emer Deasy who are both parents of children who have had to engage with the service...

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s daily catch up on the day's news. Today, Kieran was joined by Elaine Loughlin, Political Reporter with the Irish Examiner and Niamh Maher, Commercial Creative Director with TheJournal.ie...

Travel journalist, Nicola Brady joined Kieran to give him tips for travelling to Tahiti...

This is The Soapbox. Today, Broadcaster and author, Barbara Scully joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to tell us to not to worry, because the best years are still ahead of you, even in your 50s and 60s

Hugh Wallace, Director with Douglas-Wallace Architects joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss some of his favourite books...

A motion has passed unanimously by Mayo County Council today, to cease cooperation with the Department of Integration over the housing of Asylum seekers and refugees in the County. Protests have also continued outside Racket Hall in Roscrea today, where 17 international protection applicants have been housed since yesterday. Minister Roderic O’Gorman met with some local representatives today to discuss the concerns of locals. Kieran was joined by Cllr Michael Kilcoyne, Independent Councillor Mayo CC and Deputy Jackie Cahill, Fianna Fáil TD for Tipperary to discuss...

Some of you may have seen the programme on RTÉ The Last Priests in Ireland.There is also a programme airing which is titled The Last Nuns in Ireland.We sent our reporter, Josh Crosbie to meet with some of those who have chosen this way of life.

SuperValu Park – that is the potential new name for the home of Cork GAA Páirc Uí Caoimh. The county board is meeting tonight to ratify the potential deal with reports suggesting the deal could fetch the cash strapped board between €250,000 and €300,000 annually. Kieran was joined by Larry Tompkins Former Cork Footballer, Kenneth Collins Sinn Féin councillor and John Hayes, All Ireland winner with the Cork footballers in 2010... 

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s daily catch up on the day's news. Today, Kieran was joined by Ellen Butler, Newstalk Reporter and Mary McCarthy, Columnist with the Irish Independent to wade through today's top stories...

This is The Soapbox. Today, Fergus Finlay, former CEO of Barnardos joined Kieran to Post Office Scandal in the UK and how this is not the first time or perhaps the last time we will see stories like this...

With so many types of vitamins on the market it can be difficult, and even overwhelming, to decide which ones are best to buy for your kids. Dr Suzanne Crowe, a consultant in paediatric intensive care at Crumlin Children’s Hospital joined Kieran to discuss which vitamins are essential for your little ones...

People caught with a small amount of drugs should not end up in the criminal justice system – that was the view of Junior Minister for Drugs Hildegarde Naughton speaking in an interview with the Irish Independent. Kieran was joined by Dr Austin O Carroll Founder Safetynet and Clinical Director Granby GP service for Homeless and Michael O’Sullivan, Former Garda Assistant Commissioner & Former Head of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau...

Sarah Irvine was diagnosed with a progressive form of multiple sclerosis back in 2019. The condition causes the body’s immune system to attack cells in the brain, optic nerve and spinal cord which can have a significant impact on an person’s mobility. Sarah Irvine is now hoping to travel to London to get StemCell treatment which is hoped will slow or even stop the effects of her MS...Image: Sarah's MS Hope Trust

Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan has suggested that free parking for public sector workers could be scrapped to help cut down on congestion in the city centre. Is this a reasonable thing to do or is it unfair to the public sector workers? Kieran was joined by Jen Hogan, Columnist with the Irish Times and Keith Gavin, Chair of Irish Parking Association to discuss...

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s daily catch up on the day's news. Today, Kieran was joined by David Davin-Power, Journalist and commentator and Jack Power, News Reporter with the Irish Times...