The Hard Shoulder

It’s time now for this week’s edition of the Hard Shoulder Bookshelf. Each week we ask the great and the good of Ireland to come in and to place their favourite read upon the Bookshelf. Last week, former People Before Profit TD Brid Smith place To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee on the bookshelf and this week is the turn of Neven Maguire, TV Chef & owner of MacNean House & Restaurant who joined Kieran in studio.

The consumer watchdog has written to schools, urging them to consider generic uniform options to help reduce back-to-school costs for families.    It follows a survey by the CCPC showing that 75 percent of primary and post-primary schools require at least one uniform item to be purchased from a designated retailer     Joining Kieran to discuss this is Louise Bayliss, Head of Social Justice and Policy at Saint Vincent De Paul & Co-Founder of Spark and Lisa O'Sullivan Shaw aka Modern Irish Mom on Instagram

From today, when a person dies, they will automatically be assumed to be an organ donor unless they have indicated an objection during their lifetime.It is hoped that this new opt-out system will reduce waiting lists and encourage more people to become organ donors.Our reporter, Josh Crosbie has been hearing from donor families and recipients about the changes.

People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy, who was detained twice in Egypt while participating in the Global March to Gaza, has returned to Ireland.He joins Kieran to discuss his experience.

Kieran is in Ireland's National Heritage Park, located just outside of Wexford Town, to travel back in time and walk through Ireland's past in what is one of Ireland's outdoor museums.Joining him to give the tour is Liam Dwyer CEO at National Heritage Park!Image: Discover Ireland

Wexford has produced plenty of GAA legends. So, what do the Gaelic Games mean for them?Joining Kieran to discuss is four-time All-Ireland winner and All-Star, Ursula Jacob, 1996 All-Ireland winning manager, Liam Griffin and former Wexford Captain, Diarmuid Lyng.

Have you ever thought about what it’s like to be a Conductor? How does the job actually work?Joining Kieran to discuss is Conductor Niall Kinsella, who will be playing in the National Operahouse in Wexford, and the National Concert Hall in Dublin in July.

Why is the Wexford strawberry so famous, is it the weather in the Sunny South East, the soil or the cold nights? Henry McKean has tried to find out and visited a strawberry farm in Enniscorthy this afternoon. He joins Kieran to discuss!

Many arguments lead to inspiration, but one such discussion in Castlebridge, Wexford kicked off one of the biggest books of all time, The Guinness World Records.Joining Kieran to tell more is John Ryan of Castlebridge Inspire.

A new report by CyberSafeKids has found that eight-year-old children in disadvantaged areas are more than twice as likely to have a smartphone at a younger age with fewer rules around their online activity, but what impact is that having on them?Joining Kieran to discuss this Trevor Murphy, Founder of Kids Coder Club and CEO of Cyberschool.ie and Vicky Barron, Labour Councillor for Wexford and Principal of CBS Primary School, Wexford.

For some summer lunch inspiration and wine pairings, Kieran is joined by Anthony, Head Chef and Jason, Sommelier at Wexford’s Green Acres restaurant, where the show is broadcasting from today!

Rosslare Europort is one of Ireland’s central hubs for freight, and it also happens to be in Wexford, where the Hard Shoulder is taking place for Newstalk’s Summer Tour!Joining Kieran to discuss its impois Glenn Carr, Director of Commercial Business at Iarnród Éireann and Bort Authority for Rosslare Europort.

As part of Newstalk’s Summer Tour, The Hard Shoulder is live from Wexford today!Joining Kieran to kick off the day, and discuss what makes Wexford so special is Paul Walsh from WexWalks Tours, Labour Councillor Vicky Barron and Chairperson of the Fleadh and CE of Wexford County Council, Eddie Taaffe.

This week, Kieran Cuddihy was joined by Saoirse Hanley, Columnist with the Irish Independent and Elaine Burke, Presenter of the ‘For Tech’s Sake’ podcast to look back on the week that was, but with a few twists…

Joining Kieran is Dublin-born Recorder and Baroque Cellist extraordinaire, Kate Hearne.Kate Hearne is with the Woodpeckers Recorder Quartet, and they will be performing at the West Cork Chamber Music Festival which takes place in and around the town of Bantry in West Cork from Friday, June 27th to Sunday, July 6th.So far so normal, you might say.The catch is, Kate’s home is 200km North of the Arctic Circle in a place called Kiruna, in Lapland!

Aisling Larkin, Mindful Eating Coach and TV Chef joins Kieran to discuss seasonal eating this summer!

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…

The issue of the use of smartphones by kids is back in the headlines, because the Department of Education has, from today, instructed primary schools to implement policies banning the use of phones…But, should we be delaying giving smartphones to older kids, up to the age of 16?Joining Kieran to discuss is Mary Lovegrove who has spearheaded the ‘Smartphone Free Childhood Ireland’ campaign and Fianna Fáil Education Spokesperson, Ryan O’Meara...

Walking Football is a slower-paced, low impact version of the beautiful game that is growing in popularity among older people looking to stay active and involved in soccer.This weekend, there is a walking football festival taking place at the National Sports Campus in Abbottstown.Joining Kieran to tell more is Derek O'Neill, League of Ireland Football & Social Responsibility Manager with the FAI and Paul Massey, a participant and father of former professional footballer Dane Massey.

So, you have your holiday paid for, and then you realise the added expenses you didn’t account for: the car park at the airport, a kennel for the dog and not to mention the last-minute panic buying duty-free.Joining Kieran to discuss the most common pitfalls when it comes to travel overspending is Consumer Journalist, Siobhain Maguire.

Israel has launched a major strike inside Iran, targeting nuclear and missile facilities in what they call a necessary move to eliminate an existential threat. Iran has since vowed to respond, calling it a declaration of war.The world is now watching closely, and asking what this means for regional stability and global security.Joining Kieran to discuss is Eylon Levy, former Israeli Government Spokesperson…Image: Reuters

Are you a digital hoarder? If you are a person who takes 20 pictures of your coffee, pictures of the dog, pictures of your dog and leaves them sitting on your phone to rot, you are a digital hoarder. But, what impact is it having on your phone and the planet?Newstalk Reporter Meghan O’Halloran took to the streets of Dublin to ask the public about the amount of pictures on their phones, and Kieran is joined by Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent, Jess Kelly, to discuss.

Biohacking is the latest thing people are implementing to reduce their biological age, but can our biological age truly be reduced, and are trackers and watches accurate at determining a person's biological age?Joining Kieran to discuss is Professor Rose Anne Kenny, Head of the aging research program at Trinity.

Children’s reading enjoyment has fallen to the lowest recorded level in the UK…An annual survey of young people’s reading habits, which began two decades ago, shows its lowest-ever result, most pronounced among boys aged 11 to 16.How do we encourage them to read when there is so much grabbing their attention?Joining Kieran to discuss is author Eoin Colfer.

John Fardy, Presenter of 'Screentime' and Sarina Bellissimo, Broadcaster and Presenter of the Bellissimo Files Podcast joined Kieran Cuddihy on The Hard Shoulder to review the latest TV and movie releases…

Actress Eilish O'Carroll joins Kieran for this week's Thursday Interview!

How would you like to take a ‘workation’? In this new world of remote working, a ‘workation’ combines work with a vacation.So, how prevalent is this practice, and what does it take to stay productive while sipping coconut water on the beach?One large multinational offering a ‘workation’ to employees is Deloitte, their Chief People Officer, Sinead Gogan, joins Kieran to discuss.

Over 200 people are now confirmed dead following an Air India crash, which was en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick. It plummeted into a hostel housing medical students, with casualties reported on the ground.The passengers included 217 adults, 11 children and two infants. Of them, 169 were Indian nationals, 53 were Britons, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian.Joining Kieran to discuss is Rahul Bedi, Journalist based in New Delhi and Sean Bell, former Fighter Pilot.Image: Reuters

1980’s Kids TV Presenter Timmy Mallett is cycling around Ireland, meeting people and painting along the way. Henry McKean brought along his old bike, met up with Timmy Mallett, and went for a bike ride!

Ryanair has introduced a €500 fine for disruptive passengers whose "unruly" behavior results in them being taken off the plane. The hope is that the fine will act as a deterrent for passengers who cause disruptions, but is this enough to stop this behavior?Joining Kieran to discuss is Eoghan Corry, Owner and Editor of Travel Extra and Michelle Walsh Jackson, AKA the Novel Traveller.

Weight-loss jabs like Wegovy and Mounjaro have been hailed as game-changers in the fight against obesity, but now, serious health warnings are emerging…Experts fear these drugs may interfere with common medications like the contraceptive pill and HRT, potentially increasing cancer risk. So, what do patients really need to know?Joining Kieran to discuss is Donal O’Shea is the Clinical Lead on Obesity for the HSE.

Beach Boys co-founder and frontman Brian Wilson has passed away at the age of 82...Joining Kieran to reflect on his legacy is Arts Journalist Pat Carty.

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 to discuss how to get down on one knee and propose!

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, or DMD as it is commonly known, is a progressive neuromuscular disease that causes the weakening of muscles over time.It affects almost exclusively boys, with symptoms typically appearing between the ages of one and three. In Ireland today, around 110 people are known to be living with DMD. Most of them are under the age of 18.Fianna Fáil Senator Teresa Costello has called on the European Commission, HSE and Minister of Health to regulate the drug Givinostat here for children with DMD.Joining Kieran to discuss is Senator Teresa Costello, as well as Úna and Eilish, both parents of children who suffer from Muscular Dystrophy.

Newstalk’s Henry McKean’s reporting today looked into devices that can transform the screen of a car to allow the use of video streaming services, even while driving.So, what should be done about these devices, and how can we combat this epidemic of distracted driving?Shane O’Donoghue, Editor of completecar.ie, joins Kieran to discuss.

Can the National Development Plan deliver on all its projects? With a €165 billion investment in transport, housing and infrastructure - will everything be met by 2040?Joining Kieran to discuss is Brian Caulfield, Professor in the School of Engineering at Trinity College Dublin.

Macra, an organisation that represents young people in rural Ireland, have said that young farmers are almost an “endangered species”, but are they really in decline, and what is it that is driving them out?Joining Kieran to discuss is Josephine O’Neill, National President of Macra and Limerick Dairy Farmer, Louise Crowley.

In recent weeks we have seen a rise in TVs in cars. Touch screens converted to TVs or TVs added to the dashboard playing videos. Driving around and watching TV. But is it allowed and is it safe? Henry McKean has been finding out for us.

What are your least favourite DIY jobs? And, what is your limit when it comes to being handy?Joining Kieran to discuss is Building Expert and TV personality Pete the Builder and DIY Educator and Content Creator Suzanne Armstrong.

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 Cuddihy to give his travel tips for the Isle of Man!

The Government today officially announced plans to implement a new national rent control system.The new rental regulations will mean that the current system, which caps yearly rent increases at 2%, or in line with inflation, will be retained for existing tenancies.Landlords will also be allowed to hike rents in instances where tenants leave homes voluntarily.To discuss, Kieran is joined by Daniel McConnell, Editor of the Business Post, Kate English, Deloitte Chief Economist and later Pat Davitt, CEO at IPAV.

Former People Before Profit TD Bríd Smith joins Kieran to place her favourite book on The Hard Shoulder Bookshelf!

Martin Scorsese has said that people talking, snacking and using their phones during a film has put him off going to the cinema, and a survey found that over 50% of Irish people agree with him.The debate over declining cinema etiquette has been in the spotlight recently, including when a viral TikTok trend saw teenagers erupting into chaos during a scene in the new Minecraft film.Joining Kieran to discuss is Dr Jenny O’Connor, School of Humanities in SETU PHD Film Studies and Chris Wasser, Arts Journalist and Sunday Independent Film Critic.

Everyday, communities are encouraged to be more and more autism friendly. The latest Autism Friendly Towns Initiative sees autism charity AsIAm join forces with PTSB to promote accessibility and inclusivity for autistic individuals.Adam Harris is AsIAm Founder and CEO, and joins Kieran to discuss.

Protests have been taking place in Los Angeles over the past few days.It’s after it emerged Immigration Customs Enforcement Officers were carrying out raids in areas of the city with prominent Latino populations.More protests are expected today, as US President Donald Trump deploys 700 marines into the area.Joining Kieran to discuss is Peter Bowes, Reporter with BBC North America and David Cruz, Communications Director with the League of United Latin American Citizens.Image: Reuters

As Dublin City Council gives the green light for the development of a food hall in the vacant St Andrew's Church on Suffolk Street, what will this add to the city, and is it a pipe dream?Joining Kieran to discuss is Frank McDonald, Author and former Environmental Editor of The Irish Times, Hazel Chu, Green Party Green Party Councillor and Presenter of Lunchtime Live on Newstalk, Andrea Gilligan.

Last week, a High Court Judge ordered that a County Wexford wind farm must fully shut down three of its six turbines and pay a total €360,000 damages, including €60,000 aggravated damages, to a couple over its adverse impact on them.Mr Justice Quinn said the plaintiffs’ expert evidence was that the nuisance was “one of the worst cases of wind farm noise impact”.This begs the question, are updated regulations needed if Ireland is to have a wind powered future?Joining Kieran to discuss this is Oisin Coghlan, former Director of Friends of the Earth Ireland and Richard O’Donoghue, Independent TD for Limerick County.

Tourists could be fined thousands of euro for rowdy/drunken behaviour in Albufeira this summer.New rules are set to come into effect in a bid to clean up the streets from drunken holidaymakers.Newstalk reporter, Josh Crosbie has been looking into this to see what tourists can expect.

With all the conflicting research on coffee, is it good for anti-aging, or will it kill you? Are three cups okay, or is it two cups too many?For all the facts, and to put the minds of coffee lovers listening at ease, Kieran is joined by Today FM Presenter and Registered Dietitian, Shelly Gray and Dr Robert Kelly, Consultant Cardiologist and Lifestyle Medicine Physician.

For this week’s Kids Health Check, Kieran is joined by Enda Murphy, Clinical Psychotherapist and Director of SeeMee.ie, to discuss how you can navigate sleep routines with your kids, especially when it comes to children sleeping in their own beds!