The Hard Shoulder

Threats to politicians are on the rise, with some recently made to Tánaiste Simon Harris and his family and the murder of right-wing commentator Charlie Kirk in the United States last week. While the majority of people, politicians and the public, condemn and speak out against these threats, we are still left asking how can they be prevented?Dr. Peter Boylan wrote a letter to the Irish Times condemning the threats made to Tánaiste Simon Harris, saying they are “completely unacceptable”. However, he points to the failure of Irish politicians to unequivocally condemn Kneecap for a 2023 performance, when they say to the crowd “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.”Dr Peter Boylan, former Minister of National Maternity Hospital and Chairman of Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and author of ‘In the Shadow of the Eighth’ joins Kieran to discuss.

This week, Kieran Cuddihy was joined by the presenter of Weekend Breakfast on Today FM, Alison Curtis and Off the Ball’s Ger Gilroy to look back on the week that was, but with a few twists…

The World Athletics Championships will be held in Tokyo, taking place from the 13th to 21st of September. What are Ireland’s hopes for success?Joining Kieran to discuss is Freelance Sports Journalist, Cathal Dennehy.

Aisling Larkin, Mindful Eating Coach and TV Chef joins Kieran Cuddihy to discuss apples, and the lovely things you can make out of them!

Off The Ball's Eoin Sheahan joined Kieran Cuddihy on The Hard Shoulder to review the week in sport and look ahead to the weekend action.

“We got him” was the message from Utah Governor Spencer Cox earlier today, as 22-year old Tyler Robinson was taken into custody, who is suspected of killing Charlie Kirk on Wednesday.US-based Journalist Harriet Alexander joins Kieran with the latest updates.

The Association of Catholic Priests are calling for golfers not to take part in next year's Irish Open, which will be held at Trump International in Doonbeg, saying it is “shameful” and “another example of appeasing Donald Trump”.Joining Kieran to discuss is one of the association's Co-Founders, Father Tony Flannery.

A new report from the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) shows that the number of evictions facing renters has increased by 17% compared to a three month period last year.Why is this happening, and how is it affecting people?Newstalk Reporter Josh Crosbie has been investigating and joins Kieran to discuss.

Ireland’s rugby game against France takes place this Sunday, as the tournament reaches knock-out stages. How will they fare?Joining Kieran to look ahead to the fixture is Allison Miller, former Irish rugby player and Fiona Hayes, former Ireland international, and two-time Six Nations winner.

Bord Gáis Energy customers are facing electricity price hikes of more than €200 a year after the company became the second provider to announce increases in less than a week. So, should you be making a switch or is there even any savings left to be made?Joining Kieran to discuss is Consumer Affairs Correspondent, Conor Pope.

Last week, a man in Kildare who has recently found out that his car could split in half at any moment contacted the show. Gareth Landy, a concerned motorist from Kildare, bought a car in Northern Ireland, but has now had to shelve out for another as the Irish NCT and Northern Irish MOT deemed the car roadworthy, despite being structurally unsound.Gareth joins Kieran to discuss.

Sarina Bellissimo, Broadcaster and Presenter of the Bellissimo Files Podcast and Dee Reddy, Entertainment Journalist joined Kieran Cuddihy on The Hard Shoulder to review the latest TV and movie releases…

Charlie Kirk, a 31-year-old conservative activist and influential ally of President Donald Trump, was fatally shot on Wednesday while speaking at a University in Utah.A manhunt for a lone shooter is still ongoing, and joining Kieran to discuss is Harriet Alexander, US-based journalist and Jerry McDermott, owner of McDermott Realty Associates and former Sheriff of Norfolk County. Also joining later to discuss is Erol Morkocs, Spokesperson for Republicans Overseas.

As party campaigns kick off, The Hard Shoulder’s series learning more about the history of the presidential office continues.Patrick Geoghegan, Director of the Trinity Long Room Hub, Trinity’s Arts and Humanities Research Institute, and Presenter of Talking History joins Kieran to look back on stories of people who didn’t quite make the cut for the role of President.

Former Green Party Leader and Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan joins Kieran for this week's Thursday Interview!

RTÉ has said that Ireland will not take part in this year’s Eurovision, unless Israel is removed…If Israel does take part, should RTÉ stand its ground and boycott the competition?Joining Kiernan to discuss is Musician Steve Wall and Writer Yankey Fachler, and later Patrick O’Donovan, Minister for Arts, Culture, Communications, Media and Sport and Fine Gael TD for Limerick County.

John Kelly’s new book ‘The GAA Covered’ is out this Friday, and examines the history of the sports association through the provided match programmes throughout the years.He joins Kieran to discuss!

The latest Freedom Flotilla is making progress towards Palestine to break the aid blockade implemented by Israel.So, what is the latest?Activist and Actor Liam Cunningham join Kieran to discuss this, and how the tide may be turning in multiple areas.

Yesterday on the show Kieran spoke with Eric Nelligan, who is a teacher, Assistant Principal and Aontú Spokesperson on Education and Richard Hogan, Family Psychologist and author of ‘Home Is Where The Start Is’, who debated whether phone bans would work.It’s after the Ombudsman for Children’s Office said blanket bans on phones are not in the best interest of children.Today, Kieran is joined to discuss by Fionn McWeeney, who was a member of the Youth Advisory Group in the Ombudsman for Children Office, who helped in an advisory role with the Smart Phone Ban report.

Life can be full of confusing things, but no need to worry! Every Wednesday, Simon Tierney will be showing you ‘How to do Stuff’ - bringing his best tips for those things you might not think about.This week, Simon joins Kieran (on International TV Dinner Day) to discuss how you can make the perfect TV dinner!

It’s been noted that the Irish football team is unable to hire a Sports Psychologist.Boss Heimar Hallgrimsson has previously spoken of how heavy the Irish jersey can weigh, and maybe a bit of that was seen yesterday, as they fell to Armenia in their World Cup qualifier.So, does the team need help with their mentality, and would a sports psychologist help?Sports Psychologist Aoife Quinn joins Kieran to discuss.

40 years after Ireland's first heart transplant took place at the Matter Hospital in Dublin, Kieran is joined by Professor Freddie Wood, the surgeon who was central to the development of the heart transplant programme in Ireland.

For this week’s Tech Takeover, Jess Kelly, Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent joins Kieran to discuss how traditional banks are taking on Revolut’s instant money transfer features with their own ‘Zippay’ system. When will this get implemented, and how much of an impact will it have?

Over the past few months, concerns have been raised over staffing issues at Oberstown Children Detention Campus.It was also revealed that, at times, that there are not enough beds for referrals from the Children’s Court.To find out what goes on inside Ireland’s detention centre for children, Newstalk Reporter Josh Crosbie goes inside Oberstown and hears from the staff, as well as interviews a teenager who spent time there last year.Listeners may find some of the content distressing.

Poland shot down Russian drones over its airspace early today.It marks the first time Poland has directly engaged Russian assets since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.Joining Kieran to discuss is Christopher Berenda, Reporter with RMF FM and Cormac Smith, former Special Adviser to Ukraine’s Foreign Adviser.Image: Reuters

As the winter season comes in, so do the spiders and the silverfish. How can you get them out? Does peppermint oil or conkers on your windowsill work as a deterrent, or is it simply an old wife's tale?Collie Ennis, Biodiversity Officer at Trinity College Dublin joins Kieran to discuss.

Despite the school year being underway, there are a number of kids still without a school place, and are now being left behind by their peers.Kieran is joined by the parents of two of those kids, Mairead Carty and Sinead O’Reilly, to discuss.

The Ombudsman for Children's Office has said that a blanket ban approach on phones is not in the best interest of children, and it does not effectively protect them from potential online harm.Joining Kieran to discuss is Eric Nelligan, Teacher, Assistant Principal & Aontú Spokesperson on Education and Richard Hogan, Family Psychologist and author of ‘Home is Where the Start Is’.

Every week for The Ultimate Guide on The Hard Shoulder, Fionn Davenport takes a closer look at some of the fantastic destinations to visit around the world.This week, Fionn joined Kieran to give his travel tips for Albufeira and the Algarve!

Following the first Irish satellite’s journey in space concluding, we’re going to look back on what it achieved.To talk more on this, Kieran is joined by the Director of UCD’s Centre for Space Research, and the Endorsing Professor for EIRSAT-1, Lorraine Hanlon.Image: European Space Agency

Focus Ireland has released their report today for 2024, where they report a record number of people facing homelessness…What can be done to curb this number?Kieran is joined by the CEO of Focus Ireland, Pat Dennigan, to comb through the report.

Local Gardaí in Donegal have stated that the days of leaving doors unlocked are well and truly gone, following the theft of a car, trailer and calf from a farm over the weekend. Is it true?Kieran is joined by retired Garda Sergeant Christy Galligan to discuss.

Louise Cooney, Content Creator and Podcast Host joins Kieran to place her favourite book on The Hard Shoulder Bookshelf!

Israel has launched an attack on Doha in Qatar, in what they claim was targeting Hamas leaders.Joining Kieran to discuss and give the latest updates is The Independent’s Chief International Correspondent, Bel Trew.Image: Reuters

The Scottish government has supported a new bill looking to ban greyhound racing.Scotland are following the lead from Wales, New Zealand and Tasmania, who have all made moves towards banning the sport.Does Ireland need to look at a similar ban?Joining Kieran to discuss is Independent TD for Limerick, Richard O’Donoghue and Katie Corcoran, Co-Founder of Greyhound Awareness Cork.

Last night has been described by Traitors Ireland fans as the best reality TV moment ever! But what makes a great liar?Henry McKean has been asking the public, and joins Kieran to discuss.

For this week’s Kids Health Check, Kieran is joined by Ollwyn Moran, Neuro Development Therapist and Founder of Cogni Kids, to discuss what to do when your child gets fussy about what they wear.

As Met Éireann predicts a drop in temperatures coming in from this week, but how can you best prepare for the heating costs in advance?Joining Kieran to discuss is Caitriona Redmond, Consumer Columnist with The Irish Examiner.

The Gardaí are investigating a number of phone calls to garda stations relating to threats against the home of the Tánaiste Simon Harris and his family.Harris and his family were not present in the house at the time but were allegedly advised by Gardaí not to return until security checks had been completed.Former Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan joins Kieran to discuss.

Restaurant owners have blamed the disruption caused by a nearby International Protection Office (IPO) for the closure of their restaurant after 16 years.Ruth and Clint Hamilton’s run Mamma Mia restaurant on in Grattan Street in Dublin City Centre, and announced the closure on instagram saying “unfortunately due to the ongoing IPAS and IPO situation… we have been forced to close”.Ruth Hamilton joins Kieran to discuss.

The Kinder Bueno bar has been reduced from four squares per finger to three, and while it’s smaller, the price isn’t. Yet another bar victim of shrinkflation…Joining Kieran to discuss is Edgar Morgenroth, Professor of Economics at DCU.

This week, Kieran Cuddihy was joined by the presenter of Weekend Breakfast on Today FM, Alison Curtis and Off the Ball’s Ger Gilroy to look back on the week that was, but with a few twists…

A new tourism initiative is launching this month, based on island hopping along the Mayo coast.To tell more about it, Kieran is joined by Carl O’Grady of Clare Island Whiskey.Image: Clare Island

Aisling Larkin, Mindful Eating Coach and TV Chef joins Kieran Cuddihy to discuss damsons, and what you can do with them!

News has emerged today that James Lawrence, who was Conor McGregor’s co-defendant in the Nikita Hand case, has taken legal action against her.Joining Kieran to discuss this is Senior News Reporter with The Irish Sun, Michael Doyle.

Off The Ball's Mick McCarthy joined Kieran Cuddihy on The Hard Shoulder to review the week in sport and look ahead to the weekend action…

The shocking story of a search for a missing and presumed dead child in Donabate, north Dublin has entered its fourth day. But, where are we now, and are we any closer to finding out what happened?Joining Kieran with the latest is Newstalk’s Chief Reporter, Barry Whyte, and to discuss, Caroline Strong, Chief Operations Officer at the Irish Association of Social Workers.

Ahead of Ireland's game against New Zealand this Sunday, Kieran is joined by Allison Miller, former Irish rugby player to discuss and give a preview on what to expect.

Does Ireland's current inheritance tax system discriminate?Joining Kieran to discuss is Karl Deeter, Financial Advisor and Analyst, and Thomas Hubert, Editor with The Currency.

Today is International Day of Charity, and to coincide with the event a report has been published that looks at the public’s attitude towards charities. To discuss the report, Kieran is joined by Advocacy & Campaigns Manager at The Wheel, Guillaume Jacquinot, and Co-Founder of Hygiene Hub, Sorcha Killian.