The Hard Shoulder

Germany has shut its last remaining nuclear power plant for the final time. It marks success for the anti-nuclear movement over there. Kieran was joined by author and environmental campaigner George Monbiot to discuss...

A new national demand strategy is set to be drawn up after Transport Minister, Eamon Ryan and cabinet have signed off on it today. The strategy will aim to free up roads and reduce congestion, by introducing more cycle lanes, better public transport infrastructure and more car free zones. Kieran was joined by Green Party Senator, Pauline O’Reilly and Keith Gavin, Chair of Irish Parking Association to discuss...

There were three horse deaths at the Aintree Grand National over the weekend. One of the horses to have died was Hill Sixteen. Sandy Thomson, owner of racehorse Hill Sixteen and Orla Coghlan, spokesperson for Animal Rising joined Kieran on The Hard Shoudler to discuss...

Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch has been found not guilty of the murder of David Byrne at a boxing event at the Regency Hotel in Dublin in February 2016. Kieran was joined by Paul Williams, crime journalist with the Irish Independent to discuss... Image: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie

The sun is back! Temperatures soared across Ireland today and over the weekend, with highs of 19 degrees. Are we a happier nation when the good weather arrives? Kieran was joined by Stella O’Malley, Psychotherapist and Author of ‘What Your Teen is Trying to Tell You’ to discuss what it is about the sun that makes us optimistic and puts us in good humour…

Gerry Hutch has been found not guilty of the murder of Davey Byrne during a boxing weigh-in at the Regency Hotel on 5 February 2016. Kieran was joined by Frank Greaney, Newstalk's Courts Correspondent to discuss...

The British Horseracing Authority has said that it will analyse the races of the Grand National meeting "in painstaking detail" following the deaths of three horses. Hill Sixteen died after falling at the first fence during the main Grand National race; and it followed the deaths of Dark Raven and Envoye Special earlier on Saturday and on Thursday respectively. Kieran was joined by Michael Healy Rae, Independent TD for Kerry and Aideen Yourell, spokesperson for the Irish Council against Blood Sports to discuss...

Newstalk's Henry McKean joined Kieran from Ballina, Co Mayo, where US President Joe Biden is expected to address some 20,000 people in one of his ancestral towns...

Aisling Larkin, Mindful Eating Coach and TV Chef joined Kieran today to discuss the in season vegetable, rhubarb...

A new survey has revealed that almost one in ten people have considered leaving their partner because they snore. Just over a quarter of people said they regularly left the bed and slept in another room because they just couldn't take it any more. Kieran was joined by Comedian Steve Cummins and Dr Phil Kieran, a GP based in Cork to discuss...

A cartoon in a UK newspaper, depicting the US President as a leprechaun, has been heavily criticised. The drawing appears in The Times of London, and shows President Biden wearing a green shamrock suit while holding a pint of Guinness and dancing. It also shows him with a speech bubble, which reads: "I just love Northern Ireland". Kieran was joined by Ronan McGreevy, Irish Times journalist and author, Brendan O’Neill, Chief Political Writer, Spiked Online and Mary Kenny, writer and journalist to discuss…

The first self driving cars have been given the go ahead for use in the United Kingdom. Shane O'Donoghue from Completecar.ie joined Kieran to discuss...

The Citizens Assembly on Drugs gets underway tomorrow. The former HSE Chief Executive, Paul Reid will chair the assembly. There have been some concerns raised about the direction of travel which the discussion will take. Kieran was joined by Dr Garrett McGovern, medical director and GP specializing in addiction medicine at Priority Medical and Dr Chris Luke, Consultant in emergency medicine and Columnist with the Irish Medical Times...

US President Joe Biden is in Co Mayo today. A major security operation is in place across the county as President Biden prepares to end his Irish visit in the west of Ireland. He visited Knock shrine and will address crowds in the town of Ballina later this evening. Kieran was joined by Mairead Melody, Manager at Mayo North Tourism and Father Richard Gibbons, the Rector at Knock Shrine… Image: Voice of America

The Angelus was not aired on RTÉ One yesterday evening due to US President Joe Biden's visit to Ireland. Kieran was joined by Michael Nugent Chairperson of Atheist Ireland and listeners Chris and Ciarán to discuss whether broadcasting the Angelus should be scrapped..

The 13th of April celebrates Scrabble Day. Alfred Mosher Butts, the man who invented Scrabble, was born 93 years ago. Since Covid the rise in popularity of all board games has been significant. Kieran was joined by 2011 All Ireland Scrabble Champion, Fergal Weatherhead, Cathy Maguire from Bray Board Gaming Club and Ruth Roberts owner of Coggs game shop in Stephens Green Shopping Centre to dicuss...

RTÉ dropped the broadcast of the Angelus to continue coverage of US President Joe Biden’s visit to Ireland, yesterday evening. The Angelus is usually broadcast at 6pm just prior to the broadcaster’s flagship news programme. Is it time the naitonal broadcaster got rid of the Angelus from it's daily broadcast? Kieran was joined by Jillian Brennan, CEO of Humanist Association of Ireland and Independent Senator, Ronan Mullen to discuss...

The INTO have condemned the Catholic Primary Schools Management Association for their remarks on teaching transgender issues in primary schools. In a letter sent to Minister for Children Roderic O'Gorman the CPSMA said that teaching school children about "what it means to be trans" would generate "unnecessary divisions in school communities". Kieran was joined by Eric Nelligan, Aontú Spokesperson on Education and Assistant Principal and Adam Long, Board Director with the National LGBT Federation to discuss…

Yesterday, US President Joe Biden visited Co Louth and met with business owners and took a tour of a Carlingford Castle. Today, he visited President Michael D Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin and watched juvenile hurling too. This evening, he will address TDs and Senators in Dáil Éireann. But, is the way we approach the presidential visit is all a bit twee? Kieran was joined by John O’Brennan, Political scientist, Jean Monnet Professor of European Integration at NUI Maynooth, Noel Cunningham, Ambassador for The Havey’s Point Hotel in Donegal and Anton Savage, Presenter of The Anton Savage Show to discuss...

Irish Rail has received complaints in relation to rowdiness on specifically marked "quiet carriages'' on the Dublin to Cork service. The initiative was launched in November last year to improve journeys for people with sensory issues and overall customer experience. Kieran was joined by Ken O’Flynn Independent Councillor in Cork City and Brianna Parkins, Irish Times Columnist and Broadcaster to discuss…

Sarina Bellissimo, host of The Bellissimo Files Podcast joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to take a look at some of the teen movies that took the leap from the big screen to the stage...

Yesterday on The Hard Shoulder, Kieran spoked to Linda, a mother who was highlighting the long waiting lists for a range disability services in Ireland and the impact this was having on families. For more on this, Kieran was joined by Fine Gael Senator, Mary Seery Kearney and Keith Enright, CEO of ASD Ireland...

Newstalk's own, Simon Tierney joined Kieran again 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 looked as some of the different kitchen rolls on our shelves...

Today, the FAI have jointly submitted along with UK Football Associations their final bid to host Euro 2028. The bid has caused some backlash as the FAI has chosen the Aviva Stadium as the host venue as opposed to the significantly higher capacity Croke Park. Kieran was joined by Sean Kelly, Fine Gael MEP and Newstalk Breakfast presenter Shane Coleman to discuss...

President Biden has arrived in the Republic and is now making his way to Dundalk in Co Louth. Newstalk reporter Josh Crosbie is on the ground there and he joins us live to tell us about the atmosphere.

Better Maternity Care campaigners are calling for less restrictions on partner and sibling access in the hospital's maternity services around Ireland. During the pandemic, partners were banned from appointments in order to curtail the spread of COVID-19 in clinical settings - and to this day, visitors are restricted to one 'designated support partner'. Kieran was joined on The Hard Shoulder by Better Maternity Care Campaigner, Linda Kelly...

Today, U.S. President Joe Biden was welcomed to Northern Ireland by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak today as he flew in for his visit to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. However, the DUP haven’t been as keen on the visit. Kieran was joined by Sammy Wilson MP and Chief Whip for the DUP to discuss…

Today The FAI has confirmed that along with UK football associations, they have jointly submitted their final bid to host Euro 2028. If the bid is successful Games will be played on the Island in the Aviva and a renovated Casement Park in Belfast. Kieran was joined by Thomas Byrne, Minister for Sport and Physical Education to discuss…

Every week, Tuesday Travel on The Hard Shoulder with thanks to Emirates, will take a closer look at some of the fantastic destinations Emirates fly to around the world. This week, Kieran Cuddihy was joined by Fionn Davenport, travel writer and broadcaster to take a look at the city that never sleeps, New York...

We received an email from a parent who feels let down by our government, and getting her autistic child the help he needs. It is a particularly upsetting email, when you read through the amount of time and energy, she, her husband and other families have put into campaigning for their children. Linda Whitmarsh joined Kieran today. She is the parent of two young children, and along with her husband Ronan, is the Chairperson for the Cavan-Monaghan Parents Committee for Children in Need of Disability Services.

With today's spoiler online on the TV show Succession, we ask the question: is it ever ok to spoil a movie or TV show for someone? And in a world of social media rife with spoilers online from the minute it appears on screen, can we not avoid them anymore? Joined Kieran was Newstalk's own John Fardy and pop culture and entertainment expert Deirdre Molumby.

If you have ever travelled by Train in the UK or mainland Europe, you will notice Digital tickets have become the norm. Here in Ireland, physical proof of a ticket remains the only option. With users having to go to the ticket desk or print tickets bought online at station printers. Here to talk about his frustrating experience with Irish Rail and their outdated Ticket System is Writer and Broadcaster Keith Walsh.

Pop icon Taylor Swift has announced that she has split with her long-term boyfriend Joe Alwyn. The breakup has got us thinking what are the greatest breakup songs of all time? Joining Kieran to discuss was Today FM presenter Louise Cantillon

Loneliness is as detrimental to your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. That’s according to the National Institute of Aging. The comments come as a recent study by AXA found more than half of men and women have felt lonely in the past month. Joined Kieran is Stella O’Malley psychotherapist and author of ‘What Your Teen Is Trying To Tell You’.

We’re into week two of the Easter Holidays, and I’m sure many of you have done all the ‘make and do’ you can possibly do, so how about something different to keep the kids entertained? Kieran's guest Jungle Dave takes his Educational Reptile Zoo on the road and has brought some of his friendly critters to the studio today.

Pre-tax profits at the main Irish subsidiary of iPhone maker, Apple last year increased by 2pc to over 63 billion euro. The figures recorded by the Cork based Apple Operations International Ltd and subsidiaries equate to daily pre-tax profits of over 170 million euro for the 12 months to the end of September 24th 2022. It begs the question - should we be collecting more tax from the likes of Apple? Mick Barry is socialist TD for Cork North Central and member of the Oireachtas Finance Committee and Alan Farrell is Fine Gael TD for Fingal joined Kieran to discuss.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a digital twin? Today's show's guest, Roger Highfield has explored just that in his new book Virtual You: How Building Your Digital Twin Will Revolutionize Medicine and Change Your Life.

Easter is a time where we indulge ourselves with chocolate eggs and alcohol leading us to often forgetting what the real significance of the holiday is. Here to explain to us the importance and meaning of Easter is Father Brain D’Arcy.

Stephen Donnelly has ruled out subsidised housing for healthcare workers. We were joined by David Cullinane, Sinn Feins health spokesperson and Dr. Rory Hearne Assistant Professor of Social Policy at Maynooth University to ask if minister was right to rule this out.

As you’ll no doubt be aware, it’s 25 years since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, and the impact of that agreement has been felt in the North, in the South and throughout the world. Enda McNulty is a former Armagh footballer, and Managing Director of McNulty Performance. He grew up in the midst of the Troubles, and was playing for Armagh at the time the Agreement was signed. He joined Kieran to explain the impact.

Should Dublin have a functioning fruit and veg market like many other European cities? Joining Kieran today to discuss was Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon and Travel Journalist Fionn Davenport.

In our monthly slot with Pete Lunn, founder and head of the ESRI’s Behavioural Research Unit, we discussed today the science behind lying.

Recent reports have suggested that RTE are considering replacing Operational Transformation. RTE refutes these reports but it brings about the question is it time for the 15-year-long programme to end? Joining Kieran was former medic on the show Dr Eva Orsmond and eating disorder advocate and head of News at Tipp FM Shelia Naughton.

In today's episode of Pod Couple, Darren Cleary, managing editor of Go Loud and Jess Kelly, Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent joined Kieran to chat about Detectives Don’t Sleep podcast.

The Garda Representative Association are once again calling for tasers as protection for Gardai. To discuss this Kieran was joined by Liam Herrick, who is Executive Director for the Irish Council of Civil Liberties, and John Dean-O’Keefe, who is a forensic criminologist and former communications manager for the GRA.

Newstalk reporter Josh Crosbie visited the town of Carlingford ahead of the upcoming visit of US President Joe Biden. We heard from Josh today on the show.

"I think it would be highly regrettable and unnecessary...' if there is a blue flu later this year", so says Simon Harris, addressing an action that Garda officers are considering to take during US President Joe Biden’s visit next week. Minister for Justice and Higher and Further Education joined Kieran today on the show to discuss the issue as well as the notion of arming guards with tasers.

Ireland's neutrality will be debated at a forum on our place in the world this summer. Tánaiste Micheál Martin has been telling his Cabinet colleagues about the forum, which will take place in June. Kieran was joined by Dorcha Lee is a retired Irish Army Colonel and peacekeeper to discuss..

Newstalk's own, Simon Tierney joined Kieran again 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 looked as some of the easter eggs on our shelves...

It all tees off tomorrow from Augusta National, the first golf major of the year is upon us, and it’s the one they all want to win. Off The Ball’s Joe Molloy joined Kieran to discuss the one's leading the pack heading into The Masters...