The Hard Shoulder

Sexual Consent is the subject of a new play launched recently in the University of Galway. The hour-long sex positive performance is aimed at secondary school students and will help teachers tackle trickier sex education topics too. Our reporter Sarah Madden sat in on a preview performance and she sent us this report.

Though the use of human bodies for anatomical study has been the cornerstone of medical training for over 400 years, precious few Irish people will decide to donate their own in 2022. What is the process, what are the benefits and what puts people off signing up for the scheme? Sarah Madden reports.

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 Presidency be abolished?

Rents in Ireland have risen by 14.1 per cent in just 12 months. One of the groups being affected by these high rents are teachers. John Boyle, General Secretary of the INTO, Heather, a teacher in Dublin and Cliona, a teacher in Kerry joined Kieran on the show to discuss…

The Government has agreed to place a cap on all market revenues of non-gas electricity generators. The cap will operate from next month until June 2023, with excess revenue being used to support consumers. Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe joined Kieran on the show to discuss…

Day 3 of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar is underway and Dion Fanning, Associate Editor with The Currency joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss the controversy and politics surrounding the abandonment of the OneLove armband...

A second protest was held in the East Wall area in Dublin over the housing of refugees in an empty ESB building. Kieran was joined by Gary Gannon, Social Democrats TD for the area to discuss…

Writer and broadcaster Keith Walsh joined Kieran in studio to discuss his recent diagnoses, with ADHD and autism...

Seven nations including England and Wales have decided not to wear OneLove armbands at the World Cup following threats from FIFA. Kieran was joined by Miguel Delaney, Chief Football Writer with The Independent and John Coary, CEO of the Dublin Devils, the LGBT+ inclusive club in Dublin to discuss...

The kindle is one of the most popular electronic devices, allowing users to download whatever book they might fancy getting stuck into without ever having to leave the house. This month marks fifteen years since its launch and Jess Kelly Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent and Author of 'What Eden Did Next?', Sheila O’Flanagan joined Kieran to discuss...

Home Alone 2, the sequel to the infamous Christmas movie ‘Home Alone’ marks it's thirty year anniversary this month we are going to be taking a look at some of the best Christmas sequels. Kieran was joined by Pop Culture and Entertainment expert Deirdre Molumby…

A Garda is being treated hospital after he and a colleague were seriously assaulted in Ballyfermot in Dublin. The two gardaí, a man and a woman, responded to a public order incident last night. Kieran was joined by Jim O’Callaghan, Fianna Fail’s Justice spokesperson and Antoinette Cunningham, President of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors to discuss...

New research from the ERSI has revealed that more than half of nine-year-old's now own a phone. Kieran was joined by Siobhán O'Neill White, founder of Mams.ie and Karl Hegarty, Principal of Leinster Senior College to discuss...

Twitter’s offices in Dublin are set to remain closed until next week. It comes as hundreds of staff are believed to have rejected Elon Musk’s “extremely hardcore” email ultimatum. Jess Kelly, Newstalk's Technology correspondent joined Jonathan Healy to discuss...

Aisling Larkin TV Chef and mindful eating coach joined Kieran to take a closer look at vinegar...

Robbie Williams' wife Ayda Williams has revealed that their sex life is 'completely dead' since having four children. Jonathan Healy was joined by Stephanie Regan, clinical psychotherapist, and author of Relationships on the Edge, to discuss

Qatar has banned alcohol from World Cup stadiums just days before the tournament gets underway. For more on this and what can be expected from the tournament, Jonathan Healy was joined by Kieran Cunningham, Chief Sports Writer with the Irish Daily Star...

Permanent TSB have become the latest bank to raise fixed mortgage and deposit rates. Jonathan Healy was joined by Conor Pope, Pricewatch Editor with the Irish Times and David Hall, from the Irish Mortgage Holders Association to discuss..

Cristiano Ronaldo's unprecedented sit-down with Piers Morgan seems set to spell the end of his days at Manchester United. Jonathan Healy was joined by football journalist, Philippe Auclair and Vinny Perth, former League of Ireland winning manager to discuss...

Earlier in the week we saw a ban of gambling adverts across the board, on TV, & online. Today there are further calls which echo the same sentiments with calls for a blanket ban of online junk food adverts targeting Irish teens after a study revealed over 57% of Irish teens say online junk food adverts influence their food choices. Jonathan Healy was joined by Chris Macey, Director of Advocacy at the Irish Heart Foundation who launched the ‘Stop Targeting Kids’ campaign and Executive of the Irish Coalition for People Living with Obesity Bernadette Keenan...

Off The Ball’s Nathan Murphy joined Kieran LIVE from the Aviva Stadium to preview Ireland's international friendly against Norway...

Kieran was joined on the show by world famous film director and long term Wicklow resident, John Boorman. Yesterday, he was honoured by Wicklow County Council with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Film director, Jim Sheridan also joined Kieran to discuss John Boorman's impact on Irish cinema...

John Fardy, presenter of Screentime on Newstalk, joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to chart the best movies of Martin Scorcese's directorial career on his 80th birthday...

Road tolls will increase to the highest charges permitted next year. Kieran continued coverage of this on The Hard Shoulder. He was joined by Michael Healy Rae, Independent TD for Kerry and Brian Caulfield, Associate Professor at the School of Engineering at Trinity College Dublin to discuss...

Today marks the one day of the year where being un-social on social media is encouraged. It’s World Unfriend Day - a day where we’re advised to cut ties with connections, cleanse our contacts list and purge any person who simply doesn’t bring us happiness. Newstalk's Technology correspondent Jess Kelly joined Kieran to tell him why she unfriends people on social media...

The lack of available places in general practices around the country is causing both GP’s and many people stress coming into the winter season. Kieran was joined by Dr Brendan O’ Shea, Newbridge GP and Assistant adjunct professor in general practice at Trinity College Dublin and Dr Ilona Duffy, GP based in Monaghan town to discuss…

Road tolls will increase to the highest charges permitted next year. Motorists can expect the cost of using one of Ireland's ten toll roads to rise by up to 60 cents for each journey. Kieran was joined by Caoimhe Moloney, Group operations director of Kavanagh Coaches in Kilkenny and Peadar Toibin, Aontu leader and TD for Meath West to discuss...

Sarina Bellissimo, host of The Bellissimo Files Podcast joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to take a look at some of the best and worst TV finales to grace our screens...

It’s International Fraud Awareness Week, and we’ve teamed up with Bank of Ireland to help educate and inform how to protect our online profiles. We’ll joined a number of anti-fraud experts to help cut through the jargon, drop the confusing terminology, and land the simple message: Stop Think. Check. Baz Ashmawy, Irish Radio and TV Personality joined Kieran to tell him more about how he was hacked...

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 fizzy cola options on the shelves...

We’re now just days away from the much-discussed [and maligned] Qatar World Cup, with the usual on-field anticipation largely overshadowed by the political, social & human rights issues within the host country. It is not the first time a World Cup has been used as a political device. The Independent’s Chief Football Writer Miguel Delaney has charted the competition’s history in that regard and he joined Kieran to discuss...

Although the exact responsibility for the missile strike in Poland is still being established, the Polish president has said it most likely was caused by a Ukrainian defense missile. When the news broke initially, discussions began about NATO Articles 4 and 5. But what are these Articles and what does it mean to invoke them? Scott Lucas, Professor of International Politics at the Clinton Institute at University College Dublin joined Kieran to discuss...

As children all around the world get ready to send their letters to the North Pole, is the art of letter writing amongst peers dying out? Kieran was joined on the show by Liz Maguire, letter collector and curator to discuss...

Today at a meeting of the Oireachtas Health Committee, members heard from the HSE Interim CEO and other representatives. They answered questions about the HSE’s winter plan, the effort to get more people into the health service and other challenges the health system is facing Sinn Fein’s Health Spokesperson and member of the Oireachtas Health Committee, David Cullinane joined Kieran to discuss…

A protest has taken place outside the Dáil today calling for a Gaelcholáiste to be established in an area of Dublin where there are five Gaelscoils. Parents and teachers are saying it is shortsighted of the Department not to have more options in place. So is there a need for more Gaelcholáisti and do parents want their children taught through Irish? Newstalk reporter Josh Crosbie has been down at the demonstration.

The Irish Dental Association is warning people to be aware of the possible risks of dental tourism. For some people, it can be life-changing while for others it can be a horror story. Newstalk reporter Josh Crosbie has been speaking with dentists and those who have travelled abroad about their experiences.

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 hare coursing be banned?

Music journalist, Niall Byrne joined Kieran on the show to discuss Kendrick Lamar's success off the back of his two headline gigs in 3Arena in Dublin...

Minister for Sport Catherine Martin and Minister of State for Sport Jack Chambers have brought a memo to Cabinet asking for permission to send a letter of support from Government to the FAI to be part of a joint bid for Euro 28'. Two stadiums in Ireland, Croke Park and the Aviva Stadium have been put forward as part of the bid. Former Lord Mayor of Cork, Councillor Colm Kelleher joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to make a case for Pairc Uí Chaoimh to be part of the Euro 28' bid.

Donald Trump is poised to announce his 2024 presidential campaign, he is expected to make the announcement in Florida at his Mar-a-Lago Club this evening. This announcement comes as Trump voters rejected his endorsed candidates in last week’s midterm elections. Kieran was joined by Anthony Zurcher, BBC North America Correspondent for the latest update...

Life Coach, Mark Fennell joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss how adults can deal with having to move back home with their parents...

The Rural Independent Group of TDs are set to bring a motion to the Dáil tomorrow aiming to reduce energy prices. The Rural Independents want the government to introduce “a rigid cap” on the market revenues of wind farm energy producers. Michael Healy Rae, Independent TD & Member of the Rural Independent Group and Barry Ward, Fine Gael Senator an Criminal Barrister joined Kieran on the show to discuss...

Minister for Sport Catherine Martin and Minister of State for Sport Jack Chambers have brought a memo to Cabinet asking for permission to send a letter of support from Government to the FAI to be part of a joint bid for Euro 28'. Jack Chambers, Minister of State for Sport joined Kieran to outline the bid process and the benefits for Ireland by being part of it. Daniel Lambert, Chief Operating Officer for Bohemians FC also joined Kieran on the show...

Kieran was joined on The Hard Shoulder by Orla O’Connor, Director of the National Women’s Council and Steve Wall from The Stunning to remember Vicky Phelan...

A promotional clip from Cristiano Ronaldo’s explosive interview with Piers Morgan has got the football world talking. The full interview will be aired later in the week, some have said it will spell the end for his time at Manchester United. Kieran was joined by football journalist, John Brewin and Al Foran, Impressionist and presenter of ‘Al Foran’s Goalmouth’ on GoLoud to discuss...

Cervical cancer campaigner Vicky Phelan has died at the age of 48. Vicky's work led to the public inquiries headed up by public health specialist Dr Gabriel Scally in 2018 and 2019. Dr Gabriel Scally and Fianna Fáíl Senator, Lisa Chambers joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder...

Conor Pope, Pricewatch Editor with The Irish Times joined Kieran on the show to discuss consumer's skepticism around Black Friday offers...

Tributes have been pouring in all day for Vicky Phelan and listeners have been highlighting the impact she had on their lives. We will be hearing some of these stories throughout the show but first our reporter Josh Crosbie joins us from Limerick where he has been getting some local reaction.

After watching the Steve Thomson Documentary ex-Munster player, Duncan Casey penned an article where he sketched out his worries about concussion following a career in rugby. Duncan Casey, retired Munster and Grenoble rugby player and columnist with the Irish Examiner, joined Kieran live in studio in Cork to discuss.. Image: Munster Rugby

Aisling Larkin TV Chef and mindful eating coach joined Kieran to take a closer look at the do's and don'ts of meal time...