The Hard Shoulder

Mícheál Ó Foighil, manager of Coláiste Lurgan has criticized Norma Foley and the government for their neglect of the language. He said the level of Irish student acquire after 14 years of education just isn’t good enough. Kieran was joined by general secretary of Conradh na Gaeilge, Julian de Spáinn and Diarmuid Lyng, Owner of Wild Irish Treats to discuss…

Thousands of police in Germany carried out a series of raids today against suspected far-right extremists who allegedly sought to overthrow the state in an armed coup. Officials said 25 people were detained. Kieran was joined by Emmanuelle Chaze, Political Correspondent and reporter for Deutsche Welle and France 24.

Newstalk's own, Simon Tierney joined Kieran for the new 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 took a look a the different brands of cheese and onion crisps...

Today marks 50 years since Apollo 17. Gene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt were the last men to set foot on the moon, this day 50 years ago. Kieran was joined by Off The Ball Presenter, Shane Hannon to discuss...

Online platforms such as Airbnb will be fined up to €5,000 if they advertise lettings which have not been registered with Fáilte Ireland. Tourism Minister, Catherine Martin joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss this and also further discussions on suggestions around banning career breaks for teachers...

A protest has been taking place this afternoon to mark 5 years since the completion of the Oireachtas Housing Committee’s ‘Safe As Houses’ report on defective apartments. The Construction Defects Alliance says that people are living in up to 100,000 apartments that still aren’t totally safe. Kieran was joined by Pat Montague, Construction Defects Alliance spokesperson and Jill Kellegher, apartment owner and OMC director in The Granary, Dublin 8...

Career breaks could be suspended under plans being considered by Government in response to chronic teacher shortages. But would be this be an effective measure? Or just further demoralize an already stretched workforce? Kieran was joined by Peter, a primary school teacher in County Meath and Katrina in Clonmel to discuss...

A new report from the EPA has shown high levels of waste is making it difficult to maintain or increase recycling rates. The EPA said Ireland needs to move to a circular economy where resources are re-used, repaired or recycled as much as possible, and the generation of waste is minimised. Mindy O'Brien Chief Executive of VOICE and Claire Downey, Policy and Research Director with the Rediscovery Centre joined Kieran to discuss...

Kieran was joined on The Hard Shoulder by Clare McKenna, presenter of Alive and Kicking on Newstalk, to discuss the best wellness gifts to give loved ones this festive season...

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Netflix documentary 'Harry & Meghan' will air this Thursday on the streaming service. LBC Presenter, Shelagh Forgarty and Broadcaster Sophie Corcoran joined Kieran on the show to discuss...

Kieran Cuddihy was joined in studio 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 discussion around 'Is Europe a force for peace?'..

Brazil put the rest of the world on notice that they are worthy favourites for the World Cup after hammering Japan 4-1 last night. Today sees the final last 16 games play out to determine the full set of quarter finalists. Dion Fanning, associate editor with The Currency joined Kieran on the show...

Strep A is being “actively considered” as a possible cause of death after a four-year-old child passed away. Kildare Based GP, Brendan O'Shea joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss Strep A and how it presents in patients...

Kieran was joined on The Hard Shoulder by Sarah Kitchen. Sarah and her family planned the trip of a lifetime to Orlando, Florida after husband had been given the all clear after a cancer diagnosis. However, upon arriving at Belfast City Airport, Aer Lingus informed them that the connecting flight to London was overbooked and Sarah's two children, aged 16 and 18, would have to fly alone to Orlando on another flight...

Croatia has announced its intention to ban shopping on Sundays, so retail employees can have a break. Kieran was joined by John McGuirk, editor for Gript media and Richard Guiney, CEO, Dublin Town to discuss what it would mean to introduce this in Ireland...

Do you have a neighbour from hell or could you possibly be a neighbour from hell? We spotted something in one of the papers earlier of how one woman feels she is now this person. It turned out her neighbour had to call the police after her alarm was going off for five hours, while she was out. So it got us thinking what are some of the worst experiences out there for people and how can they be resolved. Newstalk reporter Josh Crosbie has been out trying to source some noisy stories and finds out the best advice.

This week, 100 years ago, the Irish state came into being… To discuss this in detail, Kieran was joined by Ronan McGreevy, Irish Times journalist and author of 'Great Hatred: The Assassination of Field Marshal Sir Henry Wilson MP'...

With the cost of living crisis still affecting many people, the Christmas season doesn’t offer a huge amount of respite. Conor Pope is the Pricewatch Editor with the Irish Times and he joined Kieran to discuss what saves you can make this festive period...

1 in 10 people in Ireland under the age of 35 have attempted to take their own life, new research has shown. The Healthy Ireland Survey, which engages over 7000 people every year, shows that figure drops to less than one percent for those 65 and older. The research also shows 32 percent of people who have consumed alcohol in the past 6 months have been binge drinking. Kieran was joined by the new Chief Medical Officer, Breda Smyth to delve a little deeper into the general health of the nation... Image: Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie

A poll from ARINS and The Irish Times has shown that Republicans would be unwilling to change either or national anthem or our flag in the event of a united Ireland. Kieran was joined by Fine Gael TD, Neale Richmond and Robbie Whyte, Editor of An Phoblacht and the former General Secretary of Sinn Féin...

The Government has received a recommendations for encouraging greater physical activity amongst women and children. Kieran was joined by Shane Smith, sports scientist and primary school teacher and Derval O’Rourke, author and Olympian to discuss the current offering of public sports facilities in Ireland and what can be done to improve them...

Labour would aim to abolish the UK's “indefensible” House of Lords “as quickly as possible”, ideally within its first term, UK Labour Party leader Keir Starmer has said. The debate around the idea of abolishing Seanad is ongoing for years in Ireland, with the failed referendum in 2013. So, should we get back to the idea of scrapping the upper house? Kieran was joined by Dr Eoin O'Malley, Lecturer in Government and Director of Public Policy at DCU and Tom Clonan, Independent Senator to discuss…

According to The Star 42% of people say sorting the Christmas dinner guest list is their most stressful task during Christmas. Kieran was joined by Ambassador for The Harvey’s Point Hotel in Donegal, Noel Cunningham to tell us how to be the host with the most this party season and eliminate the Christmas dinner anxiety...

Aisling Larkin TV Chef and mindful eating coach joined Kieran to dive into some winter salads to try your hand at for the festive season...

All ten hours of a secretly recorded conversation between Gerry Hutch and Jonathan Dowdall will form part of the deliberations in the Regency Hotel murder trial. It’s after the judges of the non-jury court decided to allow it into evidence, despite eight of those hours being recorded across the border in Northern Ireland. Newstalk's Courts Correspondent, Frank Greaney joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to give the latest update...

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...

Ireland is aging faster than anywhere else in Europe. That’s according to a new report from the Department of Health. Kieran was joined by Paul Cullen Irish Times Health Correspondent and Dr Barra Rowntree Economist at the ESRI

Pop Icon, Elton John has been announced as Glastonbury 2023’s Headline Act. He’ll join a long list of musical greats who have performed at the legendary English Music Festival. Kieran was joined by Journalist and Broadcaster, Pat Carthy to explain why the Rocket Man was the perfect choice for the main stage...

Green MEP Ciarán Cuffe is calling for more residential buildings on O’Connell Street as a way to prevent anti-social behaviour. He put forward the argument that more residents in the city would make it less threatening than it is already. However, is it a case of needing to move more people into the city centre or to improve the city for those who already live there? Kieran was joined by Dublin City Councillor Mannix Flynn and Kim who lives around the Arnott Street area of town to discuss...

Stress levels on Christmas Day reach boiling point at exactly 9:37am, a new study has found. Newstalk reporter, Henry McKean was investigating what stress levels are like on the streets of Dublin with just 21 days left of Christmas shopping...

Now as some of you might be heading off to buy presents in the lead up to Christmas, we must not forget the ongoing struggles many living in poverty are facing. Only last week we passed record homeless figures with more than 11,000 people accessing services. We still don’t know the actual extent of rough sleepers as many are not included in these official figures. Newstalk reporter Josh Crosbie has been along to the Grafton Street Kitchens to speak with volunteers and service users.

In the year that 'Home Alone 2: Lost in New York' celebrates it's 30th Anniversary, the Irish actress Brenda Fricker joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss her Oscar, filming in New York and meeting Donald Trump...

Hugh Wallace returns to our screens tonight with the finale of his new show My Bungalow Bliss. Hugh has travelled all over the country to transform four drab bungalows into dream homes. Hugh joined Kieran in studio to discuss the journey and the future of the pattern of housing in Ireland...

An anti-immigration protest was staged at the front gates of St Joseph’s Convent in Fermoy last night, with the organiser calling for asylum seekers inside to be deported. The protesters carried out their action despite local concern for the children among the refugees. Kieran was joined by Cork City North-East Councillor Ken O'Flynn to discuss...

Geraldine Leonard joined Kieran to speak about about her father, who is in his 80's. He was left waiting on a trolley in St Vincent’s hospital for almost 24 hours last weekend due to staff shortages. He had originally presented at Loughlinstown Hospital A&E where he was turned away as it was past 6pm. John Brady, Sinn Féín TD for Wicklow joined Kieran on the show to discuss...

The French baguette has been awarded UNESCO heritage status. Holly Dalton, Chef and Director of Conbini Condiments joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss what uniquely Irish foods are deserving of UNESCO heritage status... Image: Taste Atlas

After being joined on the show yesterday by Mary Rose Carroll, Assistant Director of Industrial Relations with the INMO to discuss the ongoing trolley crisis, listeners got in touch with their stories about the crisis. Geraldine Leonard got in touch about her father, who is in his 80's. He was left waiting on a trolley in St Vincent’s hospital for almost 24 hours last weekend due to staff shortages. Geraldine joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss...

A new trial will begin in Dublin City Council putting seagull proof sacks to use, to help end bin bags being teared open by birds. Kieran was joined by Keith Connolly Fianna Fail councillor on Dublin City Council and Niall Hatch, from Birdwatch Ireland…

Kieran was joined on The Hard Shoulder by Clare McKenna, presenter of Alive and Kicking on Newstalk, to discuss how to age well...

Newstalk's own, Simon Tierney joined Kieran for the new 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 took a look a the different brands of digestive biscuits...

Yesterday, Fianna Fáil TD for Clare Cathal Crowe spoke to Clare FM refugee crisis, and how Clare, as a county was coping. Cathal Crowe TD and Nick Henderson, CEO of the Irish Refugee Council joined Kieran on the show to discuss...

Physicians and experts in the realm of Alzheimer’s research have hailed the “beginning of the end” in the search for effective treatments after a new drug was seen to reduce memory decline among patients in the initial phases of the disease. To discuss the landmark findings and their potential significance, Kieran was joined by Professor Sean Kennelly, Consultant Physician in Geriatric Medicine at Tallaght University Hospital...

New rules for banks mean the cafes and restaurants may be forced by law to accept cash payments, with an increasingly cashless society what does this mean for businesses who have already taken the plunge to being card only? James Fegan, the owner of Fegans 1924 on Chancery Street joins us now to tell us about running a business completely cashless...

12,000 people were on trolleys in our hospitals this month, that’s according to figures from the the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation. The organization says it’s the highest figure ever recorded for November since records began. Kieran was joined by Mary Rose Carroll, assistant director of Industrial Relations with the INMO in Dublin and Mick Molloy, who is a Consultant in Emergency Medicine, as well as a Member of the IMO Consultant Committee and IMO Council to discuss...

The Hard Shoulder was live from the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards 2022 at the Powerscourt Hotel. Kieran was joined by Frank O’Keefe, EY Ireland’s Managing Partner and Bobby Kerr, Presenter of Down To Business on Newstalk to kick things off... Image: EY

New advice for the Department of Education will advise against the use of aerobic fitness tests in schools. In other words, they want to ban the bleep test. The move is aimed at trying to ensure that pupils with lower levels of fitness aren't discouraged. Kieran was joined by Professor Niall Moyna from the DCU School of Health and Human Performance to discuss...

Kieran Cuddihy was joined in studio by Fine Gael Senator, Regina Doherty, and Socialist Party TD for Cork North Central, Mick Barry. For the next few weeks, in a brand new series called ‘Common Ground’, they will debate some of the biggest, most divisive topics around. The series continued with a discussion around should the banks be nationalised?

The decision to delay road toll increases by six months will cost the taxpayer around €12.5m. Cabinet this morning officially agreed to delay the increase. Kieran was joined by Verona Murphy, Independent TD and Former President of the Irish Road Haulage Association and Hazel Chu, Former Mayor of Dublin and Green Party Councilor to discuss...

Those of you on social media will no doubt have seen Insta Fest - a new app allowing Spotify users to create their very own festival lineup! Like Spotify Wrapped, which is on the way this week, Instafest has been revealing everyone’s top artists but – more importantly - their guilty pleasures. But what constitutes a guilty pleasure? Do we all have them? Kieran was joined by Today FM’s Ed Smith to discuss all things guilty pleasures...

According to an ESRI study, over 90% of those between 16 and 24 are concerned about the environment, with over half willing to ban domestic non-essential flights and 3 in 10 saying they’ll eat a plant based diet long term. Kieran was joined by Patrick O’Connor from Extinction Rebellion Ireland and Caillum Hedderman, an environmentalist and social activist to discuss...