The Hard Shoulder

Dublin City Council have rejected plans for a 24-storey office tower close to Tara Street. For more on this Kieran was joined by Eoin O’Malley DCU Associate Professor in political science at the School of Law and Government at DCU and Frank McDonald, author and journalist, to discuss

To mark the death of Angela Lansbury, who portrayed Jessica Fletcher in Murder She Wrote - Sarina Bellissimo, entertainment journalist and broadcaster, joined Kieran to chat through some of the best murder mysteries out there...

Over the past three years, there has been a 600% increase to the Samaritans helpline. Many of the callers have been from Irish prisons, and today Samaritans is celebrating its 20th anniversary of the Listener Scheme. This involves dedicated prisoners being available to chat with other inmates about their worries or concerns. Our reporter Josh Crosbie has been to the Midlands Prison today and covers issues which some listeners may find upsetting.

Newstalk's own, Simon Tierney joined Kieran for a new series 'The Shopping Trolley Hotline'. The series will give listeners pause when they’re filling their trolleys, to consider their options. Are we paying more for things when we could be paying less, but for a similar quality product? We want to explore the provenance and environmental impact of the everyday things we buy. To kick off the series, Kieran and Simon were discussing tea bags...

The FAI this afternoon apologised after a video of the women's national football team singing ‘Ooh ah, up the RA’ was shared widely on social media. Kieran was joined by Ciaran Cannon, Fine Gael TD for Galway East and Kieran Cunningham, Chief Sports Writer, Irish Daily Star...

Stoneybatter has been named as one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world by Time Out. Kieran was joined by Martin Quigley of the Dublin Ukulele Collective, Anthony Farrell, Publisher of The Lilliput Press and Katie Quinn, manager of Lilliput Stores to discuss…

A video emerged today showing the Irish women’s team’s celebrations upon reaching the World Cup next year, with the squad singing ‘Up The Ra’. The FAI, and the team’s management and players have since apologised. But what effect does this sort of chant have on those who have been victims of IRA attacks in the past. Colin Parry’s son Tim was killed in Warrington in 1993, and he joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder...

The transit centre at Citywest is nearing capacity and the possibility of a pause on entry to new arrivals to Citywest due to a nationwide shortage of accommodation cannot be discounted.’ That’s according to Roderic O’Gorman the Minister for Integration. For more on this, Kieran was joined by Regina Doherty, Fine Gael senator to discuss...

One bus driver has been threatened with rape while driving her bus between Cork and Carrigaline. She shared this harrowing story at yesterday's National Bus and Rail Conference in Cork. Unfortunately, it is one of many experiences of anti-social behavior in public transport and reason to finally tackle this issue by establishing transport police. Kieran was joined by Kieran, an Irish Rail worker and James Lawless TD, Oireachtas Justice Committee Chairman to discuss...

Jen Hogan wrote a piece in the Irish Times today, where she spoke to parents of kids being kept on the sideline during sporting games. Kieran was joined on The Hard Shoulder to discuss this further by Shane Smith, Sports Scientist and Primary School Teacher...

Kieran was joined on The Hard Shoulder by Clare McKenna, presenter of Alive and Kicking on Newstalk, to discuss the latest craze of manifesting...

Aisling Larkin TV Chef and mindful eating coach joined Kieran to take a closer look at comfort foods; the most popular ones, ones from around the world and her favourite..

“Elderly” and “pensioner” are offensive ageist words that should be scrapped. That’s according to recommendations recently adapted by University of Manchester, where the staff was asked to use “mature individual” or “older people” terms instead? Is it another example of political correctness gone too far? John McGuirk, writer and political commentator, joined Kieran to discuss...

Ireland's 29 emergency departments will each be given individual plans by the HSE, to prepare them for the winter months. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has brought the overall Winter Plan to Cabinet today, that'll cost approximately 168 million euro. Kieran was joined by Priscilla Lynch, Clinical Editor for the Medical Independent and Tony O’Brien, former Director General of the HSE and Columnist with the Business Post to discuss...

Dublin South County Council and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Council have both opted to maintain reductions in the Local Property Tax. Kieran was joined by Cllr Oisin O’Connor, Green Party Councilor and Cllr Melisa Halpin, People Before Profit Councillor for Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown to discuss...

The issues of keeping children on the sideline has cropped up again today, it comes off the back of a piece by contributor to this show, Jen Hogan in the Irish Times today, where she spoke to parents of kids being kept on the sideline. Kieran was joined by Shane Coleman, Newstalk Breakfast presenter and Siobhán O'Neill-White from Mams.ie to discuss...

The Happy Pear, a healthy Living platform launches today on iOS and Android, with the aim to support users on their journey of becoming healthier and happier people. The app will offer leading advice from experts and lifestyle practitioners. How will it support and inspire its users on the journey to healthier living? Kieran asked David and Steve Flynn, twin brothers, authors co-founders of the Happy Pear app, both joined Kieran on the show.,

An Post and the Irish Red Cross have opened a fund for the community of Creeslough, called the Creeslough Restoration Fund. Across the An Post network, there have been reports of people all over the country in the 920 post offices queuing up to give to the fund. Henry McKean visited The GPO in Dublin and sent us his report. Kieran was also joined by Barry Whyte, our chief reporter, who caught up with some locals, speaking outside St Michaels Church in Creeslough, where they were signing book of condolence.

Car lanes will begin to be phased out of College Green from next year as part of plans to remove traffic from Dublin city center. That’s according to the Green Party leader and transport minister Eamon Ryan. For more on this Kieran was joined by Hazel Chu Green Party Councillor and Jim Waldron of the National Private Hire and Taxi Association.

Massive explosions have hit Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities today. They were apparently Russian revenge strikes as President Vladimir Putin declared retaliation after an explosion on the bridge to Crimea. They have been the most intense attacks since the beginning of the war. Oleksiy Goncharenko is a Ukraine MP and Vice President of the PACE Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons and Garrett Mullan, from Balbriggan, whose sister-in-law has been back in Ukraine for the last few weeks had both joined Kieran on the show.

On a day where we're to celebrate the humble spud, food critic Tom Doorley gives Kieran some tips on how to best prepare them.

True Crime content is never too far from our screens these days, and many are in the throes of the new Jeffrey Dahmer series on Netflix. But how accurate is the show’s portrayal of the notorious case? Anne E Schwartz – then working as a crime reporter for the Milwaukee Journal - broke the story back in 1991. She has since authored the book: "Monster: The True Story of the Jeffrey Dahmer Murders", and she joined Kieran to talk about the case.

Roisin McCafferty, physio and Donegal goalkeeper joined Kieran to discuss suffering three concussions and how protocol can be improved in the women's game...

Writer and broadcaster Manchán Magan, joined Kieran to discuss his new book, ‘Listen to the Land Speak’, a book that sets out to trace our ancestors, uncovering myths that have defined the Irish identity...

Electricity demand from data centres here is expected to reach almost 30% by 2031. That is according to EirGrid, the semi-state company that manages Ireland's electricity transmission network. The largest growth comes from the data centre and new large energy users, and an increased uptake of electric vehicles and heat pumps. Kieran was joined by Conor Skehan, Sunday Independent Columnist and Richard Boyd Barrett, People Before Profit TD, to discuss if a ban on these centres would be the best way to avoid a crisis...

More and more cafés, restaurants, bars and hotels are becoming pet friendly. In 2017 the Food Safety Authority of Ireland announced that rules banning domestic animals from food premises had been repealed. With dog ownership booming during the pandemic, many pet owners are welcoming a change in policies by some businesses to allow animals to enter. Newstalk reporter Josh Crosbie has been looking into this trend.

Shane Ross, former minister for Transport and columnist with The Sunday Independent, joined Kieran on the release of his new book 'Mary Lou McDonald – A Republican Riddle'...

Purported "grievous breaches” of the Irish Dancing Commission’s code of conduct are now under investigation amid a slew of competition-fixing allegations. Kieran was joined by Sarah Burns of The Irish Times, Cora Somerville, former member of the CLRG for 40 years, as an Irish dancing teacher and adjudicator and Pat, a parent of a former Irish dancer...

Sarina Bellissimo, presenter of the Bellissimo Files on Spin 103.8 joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to chat through famous pop stars turned movie stars...

Last night viewers were moved by the ITV documentary ‘Putting up with Parkinsons’. The veteran journalist opened up about his battle with the illness, after his diagnosis in 2011. To give an insight into the disease Kieran was joined by Padraig Barry who is living with Parkinson and Lisa Wynne, a specialist Parkinson's Nurse...

The Coronas’ new album ‘Time Stopped’ is released this Friday, and is available for pre-order from right now. It is their 7th studio album, and frontman Danny O’Reilly joined Kieran to talk about the new album, the pandemic and performing for home crowds...

Elon Musk has put is deal to buy Twitter back on the table. He originally intended to buy the platform earlier in the year before that fell through, but it seems after many legal battles he has made yet another U-turn. To talk us through the developments, Kieran was joined by Newstalk’s Tech Correspondent, Jess Kelly...

The Oireachtas Health Committee has heard today that the new National Children’s Hospital has so far cost over €1.1bn. Along with that, the completion of works is now expected by March 2024. Kieran was joined by the co-leader of the Social Democrats, Roisin Shortall, who is also part of the Oireachtas Health Committee...

Boy B has withdrawn his appeal against his conviction for the murder of Ana Kriègel. The now 18-year-old was just 13 when he became the youngest convicted murder in the history of the state. Kieran was joined by Frank Greany, Newstalk's Court Correspondent to discuss...

Today, October 5th 2022, marks International Do Something Nice Day. Kieran was joined by Dr Mark Rowe, GP and author of ‘The Vitality Mark’ to discuss the benefits of being nice...

Tanaiste Leo Varadkar dismissed concerns from business and employers' groups over the government's plans to bring in paid leave for victims of domestic violence. Speaking at the Committee on Enterprise Trade and Employment this morning, he doesn’t see how evidence would be needed. Kieran was joined by Fianna Fáil Senator, Lisa Chambers and Richard Grogan, Employment Law solicitor to discuss...

The Brazilian elections are still running, with no winner yet decided. And one of the images of the weekend was the amount of Brazilians that took to the streets on Sunday to queue and cast their vote. Brazilians have been coming to Ireland for years, but why? Julia Tereno, Account Manager for ClearStory International and Edu Giusante, CEO and founder of E-Dublin joined Kieran to discuss why they moved to Ireland and the growing population of Brazilians throughout the country...

TV Chef, Mindful Eating Coach and Wellness Advocate, Aisling Larkin joined Kieran to discuss all things mushrooms...

It’s under 50 days until the World Cup in Qatar. With human rights issues still being discussed, and the football calendar being turned on its head for the sake of it, why is the public seemingly accepting it? Author and journalist Dermot Lacey joined Kieran to discuss this further...

Anti-social behaviour orders go hand in hand with increased community policing, according to the Justice Minister. Helen McEntee has asked the Garda Commissioner to examine their effectiveness and how to improve the use of orders. Kieran was joined on The Hard Shoulder by Fine Gael Senator, Barry Ward and People Before Profit Councillor for Ballyfermot-Drimnagh, Hazel de Nortúin to discuss...

Life Coach, Mark Fennell joined Kieran to discuss work place relations and the importance of having boundaries and how to avoid and resolve conflict...

Taxi drivers are waiting up to 8 months to get their licenses. Despite a shortage of taxi's there is a 226-day wait, on average, between passing an S-P-S-V skills test and a license being issued. Kieran was joined by Timmy Dooley, Fianna Fail senator and member of the Oireachtas Transport Committee and Sunil Sharpe, Spokesperson for Give Us The Night...

One Dublin City Councillor attended a council meeting in Dublin last night, only to come out and see that his e-bike had been stolen. Labour Councillor Dermot Lacey joined Kieran alongside Conor McGrane, GP and cyclist to discuss...

Deirdre Molumby, pop culture and entertainment expert joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to chat through some of the best and worst movie sequels out there...

A growing number of young child-free men are getting vasectomies, according to doctors, with one clinic reporting a tenfold increase in patients aged under 35 during the past five years. Kieran was joined by Jonathan Balog, who spoke about why he got a vasectomy in his early thirties...

The Ballinasloe Fair and Festival in Co Galway has kicked off and is celebrating its 300th year. There’s everything from animals, music, food, and even fireworks but at the very heart of it, the fair is all about the horses. Newstalk reporter Josh Crosbie is in Ballinasloe to capture the atmosphere.

Louise Bayliss, Spokesperson for Spark (single parents acting for the rights of kids) and Keith Walsh, Writer and Broadcaster joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss some newly released statistics that found Ireland ranks 2nd worst in the OECD for parental leave...

The Special Criminal Court has heard a former Sinn Féin councillor has implicated others in the Regency Hotel murder and is willing to testify at the upcoming trial. Jonathan Dowdall was also due to stand trial for the murder of David Byrne but pleaded guilty to a lesser charge last week and is now in protective custody. For more on this and the trial of Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch, Kieran was joined by Paul Williams Author of ‘The Monk: The Life and Crimes of Ireland's Most Enigmatic Gang Boss’...

In his latest column for the Irish Examiner, Bernard O’Shea has described journaling as one of the ‘best things he’s ever done’. What are the benefits? And could we all do with doing a bit of journaling? Clinical psychologist Tara Logan Buckley joined Kieran to discuss the benefits of journaling...

Krissy Gibson, Ireland AM Baker & Owner of Take The Cake and Jackie Buckley, Owner of Jackie B’s Cafe in Wicklow Town joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss making the decision to close their businesses due to the rising cost of living...