The Hard Shoulder

On Sunday morning, President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina confirmed their dog Bród passed away at the age of 11 years. The death of the much-loved Bernese Mountain Dog immediately made headlines and their was sympathetic messages posted across social media. Newstalk reporter Henry McKean has been getting the public's reaction…

As the coronation of King Charles draws closer Newstalk Simon Tierney and Fine Gael Senator Barry Ward discuss if President Michael D Higgins should attend.

Chief sports writer and current affairs columnist for the Irish Daily Star Kieran Cunningham joined Kieran to talk about the fallout from the Gerry Hutch verdict this week, and Daniel Kinahan's subsequent move to Iran.

The three day wait for an abortion and the limit at 12 weeks could be about to change. A new review into the States abortion laws is recommending the changes, as well as the decriminalisation of doctors. Kieran was joined by Eilís Mulroy Spokesperson for Pro Life campaign and Karen Sugrue, from Together for access to debate the changes.

People who suffer from hay fever are being warned of high pollen levels across the country. Met Éireann says there are high levels of tree pollen at present, which can be a trigger for those who are symptomatic. Newstalk reporter Josh Crosbie has been meeting with those who suffer from hay fever and those working to provide treatment.

TDs and senators will be able to claim up to €5,000 towards the cost of CCTV and alarms if they want to increase their security. The Department of Public Expenditure has sanctioned the spending following consultations with TDs and senators. People Before Profit TD Gino Kenny was the victim to online abuse and intimidation and joined Kieran to discuss his experience.

How much should you give for a communion? According to Ulster Bank the average amount a child gets for their First Holy Communion is €600. But how much should you put in the envelope? Henry McKean reports.

Kieran was joined by Brett Christophers author of Our Lives in Their Portfolios to discuss large global groups like vulture funds buying up properties in Ireland and if it is inherently wrong to be a landlord.

As we heard earlier the lifting of the mask mandate in healthcare is welcome news for many who remember the tough restrictions of the pandemic. But the decision has caused concern for some of our most vulnerable members of society. Trudie Gorman, Writer and Disability Activist, joined Kieran to discuss the fears she has for her health if the mask mandate was lifted.

The universal mandatory wearing of masks in hospitals and other healthcare areas by patients, visitors and staff has come to an end this week. It follows recent advice from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre. It will now be a matter for each hospital to decide on how this should apply in practice. Sam McConkey is an infectious Disease Specialist at the RCSI University of Medicine and Jack Lambert is Professor of Infectious Diseases at the UCD school of Medicine.Joined Kieran to discuss their reaction to the news.

With his show coming to Dublin in June, astronaut Chris Hadfield chatted to Des about the latest ventures people are making into space, and why he's coming back to Ireland.

Niall Breslin and broadcaster Keith Walsh joined Des to talk about why men find it so difficult to talk about their health.

Is the housing crisis in Ireland particular to Ireland? With crises happening all around Europe and further afield, Des asked author of 'Gaffs' Rory Hearne whether any country is capable of solving the issue of how to get more people into houses.

As the financial strain hits students, particularly in terms of accommodation, is it worse for students now than ever? Irish Independent columnist Ian O'Doherty and UCC Student Union President Asha Woodhouse discuss.

A man has been handed a life sentence for the capital murder of Detective Garda Colm Horkan. Stephen Silver, of Foxford, Co. Mayo, shot the detective eleven times during an attempted arrest in Castlerea, Co Roscommon in June 2020. Newstalk reporter Josh Crosbie travelled to Garda Horkan's hometown of Charlestown in Co Mayo to get some local reaction to the sentencing.

Every week, Tuesday Travel on The Hard Shoulder, Fionn Davenport and Kieran Cuddihy will take a closer look at some of the fantastic destinations to visit around the world. This week, Fionn and Kieran looked toward Fionn's favourite European city, Madrid...

Author and environmental campaigner George Monbiot says Germany’s shutting down of its nuclear plants was “absolute madness.” Is nuclear a good idea to get us away from fossil fuels, or do we need to do away with it? Kieran was joined by John Sodeau is Professor Emeritus of Chemistry at UCC and environmental campaigner Neil McCann…

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 discussion around 'Is Ireland a good place to grow old?'

The country has a surplus of more than €12 billion. That’s according to the latest Government report published this afternoon. For more on this Kieran was joined by Paschal Donohoe, Minister for Public Expenditure...

Today is the four year anniversary of the death of Lyra McKee. She was killed while observing riots in the Creggan area, with an extremist group styling itself as the New IRA previously claiming responsibility. Kieran was joined on The Hard Shoulder by her sister Nichola McKee Corner...

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...

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