The Hard Shoulder

Junior Agriculture Minister Pippa Hackett has said that she wants to see if the horse breeding sector can be incentivized as part of efforts to cut Ireland’s agriculture emissions. She has encouraged livestock farmers to think about the move. Kieran was joined by Pat McCormack is President of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association to discuss her proposal.

Music education must be available to every child regardless of geography and class,that is the view of Grace Tallon, Executive Director of Newpark Academy of Music in Dublin. She joined Kieran and Niall Breslin or ‘Bressie’, The Blizzards frontman and host of the Where Is My Mind Podcast, to discuss why musical education is so important for children.

On this day in 1982 Abba ‘The Visitors’, became the first CD ever produced. Colin Baker of Back From The Future joined Kieran to discuss how the CD music and technology forever.

Kieran was joined by Journalist and author Ronan McGreevy, to tell the story of Michael Collins as he cossetted with the Plunketts in Dublin.

Ireland's first Lego store is to open on Grafton Street tomorrow. Kieran went down for a behind the scenes look ahead of the opening.

Irish Catholics have called for major change in the church’s attitude to women, LGBTI+ people, those who are divorced or remarried, and single parents. It’s been hailed at the most ambitious attempt at reform in 60 years. Michael Kelly is Editor of the Irish Catholic Newspaper, and he joined Kieran and theologian, Gina Menzies, to discuss what it means to be a Catholic.

The Federation of Early Childhood Providers held a protest outside the Dáil this morning calling for increases in funding in the sector. This is the groups third protest, they say current funding levels are too low and 260 providers are at risk of closing by June 2023.Elaine Dunne, Chair of the Federation of Early Childhood Providers and Sonia Duggan, an Early Childcare Provider joined Kieran to discuss what need's to be done to address issue's in the sector.

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

A new west Dublin town with a population greater than Galway city, will be virtually car free under the new City Edge Project announced by Dublin City Council and South Dublin County Council. Independent Councillor and Former Mayor of South Dublin County Council, Peter Kavanagh, joined Kieran and John O’Hara, City Planning Officer with Dublin City Council, to discuss the finer details of the project.

According to figures released by Sinn Féin, more then twelve health service staff a day are subjected, physical, verbal or sexual assaults. There health spokesperson David Cullinane joined Kieran to discuss what can be done to address the problem.

When the Dáil returns from summer recess, it’ll all be all eyes on the Budget, which will be along in a few short weeks. With the top 20% of income earners paying 77% of income tax and USC collected, and the bottom 75% of income earners, contributing 18%, is our tax system progressive, Kieran was joined by Economist Jim Power, and People Before Profit TD for Dublin South West, Paul Murphy, to debate if more can be done to support low income earners.

Mark Sheehan, aged 26, has been left with serious facial injuries after an unprovoked homophobic attack took place on Dublin Bus last night. He joined Kieran to describe his horrific ordeal.

Back to school costs are rising and many parents are feeling the pinch as the school year returns. Eric Nelligan, Assistant Principal at St Munchins College, Limerick and Emma Desouza, Writer and Campaigner, joined Kieran to discuss if scrapping school uniforms could be a way of cutting down the cost.

It's a year to the day since the Taliban entered Kabul unchallenged and took control of Afghanistan, transforming the lives of millions of people. Kieran was joined by Barialai Khoshhal, photojournalist, joined Kieran to discuss what the country looks like after a year of Taliban rule.

All this week The Hard Shoulder is taking a look at all things digital. Newstalk's technology correspondent Jess Kelly, joined Kieran to take a closer look at the admin side of tech.

Further and Higher Education Minister Simon Harris is encouraging families to avail of the rent-a-room scheme that allows for income of up to €14,000 a year tax free. Tony Campbell from GetDigs.ie, joined Kieran to discuss the on going issues surrounding student accommodation in this country.

According to a report from the National Council for the Blind in Ireland,two of Dublin’s local authorities are among 11 countrywide to have issued no fines for dog fouling last year. Claire Byrne, Dublin City Councillor, Green Party and Jade McCormack, who is visually impaired, joined Kieran to discuss what can be done to tackle the issue of dog fowling.

Amazon have been granted planning permission for two new data center's in north Dublin. Environmental groups have long been opposed to data center's due to the fact they place further pressure on limited energy supplies and have an adverse environmental impact. Kieran was joined by Conor Skehan, Sunday Independent Columnist and Jennifer Whitmore, Social Democrat TD for Wicklow, to discuss if it's time to ban data centers.

With over 1 billion users, TikTok is quickly becoming the fastest growing social media platform in the world. Kieran was joined in studio by Ryan Mar, the Irish TikTok star, with over 1.1 million followers, to talk about the responsibilities that comes with having a large following and what life is like as a content creator...

The Institute of Professional Auctioneers & Valuers is calling for banks to be allowed to offer 50-year mortgages to give people on lower incomes a chance to own their own home. Kieran was joined by Trevor Grant, Chairperson of the Association of Irish Mortgage Advisors and Brendan Burgess, from AskAboutMoney.com to discuss the 50 year mortgage...

Former senior garda, Tony Gallagher says that Dublin is now rife with anti-social behaviour as retailers face threats, intimidation and assaults every day. Kieran was joined on The Hard Shoulder by Mannix Flynn, Independent Dublin City Councillor, Richard Guiney, CEO of Dublin Town and Newstalk Breakfast's Shane Coleman to discuss the increasing anti-social behaviour in the city...

Today marks the 100th Anniversary of the death of Arthur Griffith, founder of Sinn Féin, the man who led the Treaty negotiations in 1921 and President of the first Dáíl Government. Kieran was joined in studio by Robbie Smyth, Editor of An Phoblacht and Former Sinn Fein, General Secretary to discuss Griffith's legacy...

With the weather looking to remain warm, Newstalk's Simon Tierney joined Kieran to look back at the history of ice cream.

Teachers are threatening to strike if they don’t get a pay rise. They say the rise of inflation, announced today again at 9%, means they’ve taken a pay cut. Kieran was joined by John Boyle General Secretary of the Irish National Teachers Organisation, Barra Roantree ,economist at the ESRI and teacher Eric, about how likely there is to be a strike.

Seagulls in cities has become an issue of increasing concern. Cllr Keith Connolly joined Kieran to discuss why he feels they should be culled, even though they are a protected species.

For many women, becoming a mother is a life stage much of society still expects them to hit. Katy Harrington, Freelance Writer in the Irish Independent, joined Kieran to discuss her decision to be childfree by choice and the reaction it evokes in those around her.

An amber alert for the country’s electricity supply has been issued for the second day in a row. We’re told there is a “a generation shortfall in Ireland”. Gerry Duggan, Chartered Engineer and former advisor in the ESB, and Dermot O'Brien, General Manager of Shannonside Galvanising, joined Kieran to discuss what can be done about this and what we could see moving into winter.

The IRFU have carried out a review of their gender policy, and they have confirmed that they will ban transgender females from contact rugby competitions. Ciara O’Loughlin, news reporter with independent.ie, joined Kieran with her reaction on the news.

Earlier in the week Kieran discussed claims by Daniel O'Connell that Dublin has become a dirty and run city. Willie White, artistic director, Dublin Theatre Festival and Martin Harte, CEO, Templebar Company, joined the discussion today to debate if Dublin really as bad as it has been made out to be.

A report from Daft.ie today says that rents soared by the fastest rate on record in the second quarter of this year and availability of rental properties has reached an all-time low. Kieran was joined by listeners, both renters and landlords to discuss what can be done to address the situation.

TV Chef and Mindful eating coach Aisling Larkin, joined Eoin to take a closer look at figs.

Kieran was joined by Mick Mulvaney, Former Chief of Staff for Donald Trump, to discuss the raid on Donald Trump's Florida estate.

Tennis star Serena Williams has announced her plans to retire, although she's not quite ready to put a firm date on it. Kieran was joined by Rob Maul, Tennis Correspondent for The Sun, to look back at her incredible career.

Yesterday on the show we were speaking with Daniel McConnell, Political Ediotr of the Irish Examiner and Alice Leahy from the Alice Leahy Trust about the state of Dublin Streets, take a listen. Kieran was joined by two former Lord Mayors; Green Party Councillor Hazel Chu and Labour Councillor Allison Gilliland.

A professional cuddler has clients queueing up to pay £75, for an hour-long hug. Trevor Hooton, 30, who goes by 'Treasure' set up their business several months back ,which offers 'cuddle therapy'. He joined Kieran to explain what goes into to cuddle therapee.

Robots are popping up at restaurants around the country. The cat-themed robot ‘BellaBot’ greets and serves at various spots in Ireland, with the technology already massively popular in Japan. Kieran was joined by Paul Lenihan, President of the Restaurant Association of Ireland and Conor McGinn, Assistant Professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Trinity College, to discuss if this could be the answer to staff shortages.

It is 10 years since Katie Taylor won gold in London in a historic moment for Irish sport. Her win in London earn Ireland's first gold medal since 1996 in Atlanta. Kieran was joined by Ken Moore Coach at St Francis Boxing Club in Limerick, and Dr. Aoife Lane, Head of Department of Sport and Health Sciences at Technological University of the Shannon and Founder of the Women’s Gaelic Players Association, to discuss what her win meant for women in sports.

Sales of electric cars are up 80% year-on-year, and when the show covered this last week, there were plenty of concerns around the sustainability of them, and particular issues around the batteries. Kieran was joined by Motoring journalist Geraldine Herbert, Derek Reilly, who is the general manager at Nevo, and Kevin Sharpe, the director of New Electric, to discuss just how sustainable they really are.

Lucy Thackry, Travel Journalist at the Independent UK, joined Kieran and Fionn Davenport, Travel Journalist, to discuss if there is anything wrong with visiting the same spot every year on holiday.

More than 1,300 families have applied to live rent-free on Inis Meáin for a year under the new initiative run by Comhlacht Forbartha Inis Meáin.One couple, Claire de Haas and Brock Montgomery from the Netherlands and Canada are the current caretakers on the Blasket Islands and they joined Kieran to share their experiences so far.

Sinn Fein have called for a €50 weekly increase for the dole. Tricia Keilthy, head of Social Justice for St. Vincent de Paul, joined Kieran and Sara Singleton, Senior Researcher, for Social Inclusion for TASC, to discuss what increase should we consider, to make a fairer society during a cost of living crisis.

Daniel McConnell, Political Editor with the Irish Examiner wrote a piece at the weekend about the state of the streets of Dublin. He joined Kieran and Alice Leahy from The Alice Leahy Trust, to discuss why the city has fallen into such disarray.

Students at Munster Technological University in Tralee have been told a student village providing accommodation is no longer available to them. They have been told that the “owners have decided to take back their houses for the purposes of long-term letting”. This situation is not unique as students across the country are facing an accomdation crisis. Kieran was joined by Molly Greenough, UCD Students Union President and Alannah O’Connor, Welfare Officer, University College Cork.

As the summer of travel chaos continues, the risk of losing your suitcase at the airport is a terrifyingly real prospect. How to avoid the stress of lost luggage by packing more efficiently and still traveling to your holiday destination in style? We asked Julie Cobbe - style therapist and coach, owner of the Style Retreat with Julie, who joined Kieran Cuddihy on the show.

Over 2.000 schools across Ireland have more than 30 pupils in the classrooms- that's according to today’s Irish Mirror. The figures obtained by the paper show that in the last academic year some of the primary schools had to accommodate 30 or more pupils in their classes. The situation had been described by teachers as “shocking”. Simon Lewis, Principal of Carlow Educate Together National School joined Kieran Cuddihy on the show.

Kieran Cunningham, Chief sports writer with the Daily Mail joined Kieran Cuddihy on the show to preview the return of the premier league this weekend and more.

As Ireland reaches full employment we discuss if we need to lower our visa entry requirements for workers coming into the country. Adrian Cummins, CEO of the Restaurant Association, and James Lawless, Fianna Fail TD, Kildare North both joined Kieran Cuddihy on the show.

Enda Murphy, Psychotherapist, and Director of SeeMe.ie joined Kieran Cuddihy on the show to explain just exactly what it means to be a narcissist. It comes after Robbie Williams took a narcissism test.

“I wonder when a peace movement will start in relation to the conflict in Ukraine. Neither side seems keen to compromise or involve diplomatic efforts to broker a ceasefire leading to peace talks” - so says Conor Lenihan - former Fianna Fáil politician who served as Minister of State for Science, Technology, Innovation and Natural Resources. In his opinion the costs to people and the global economy are enormous and it seems nobody has foreseen the impact this conflict is having. So, will somebody shout “stop”? Conor Lenihan - former Fianna Fáil politician who served as Minister of State for Science, Technology, Innovation and Natural Resources joined Kieran Cuddihy on the show.

We’re going back to the issue of homeless now...we spoke to Ruth yesterday from Galway about her own housing situation, and Ronan has got in touch after listening to her.