The Hard Shoulder

A meeting between the ESRI and the Oireachtas Committee on Housing to discuss housing supply for the coming year has just finished up.Joining Kieran to discuss the latest is Newstalk Reporter Jessica Woodlock.

The food safety watchdog is proposing a measure that would see all food premises publicly display signage to show the level of cleanliness and food safety standards of the business.How would the roll out work?Joining Kieran to discuss is Adrian Cummins, CEO of the Restaurant Association of Ireland and Gail Carroll, Director of Regulatory Affairs and Compliance at the FSAI.

Gordon D’Arcy, former Irish International and co-author of ‘Let’s Play Rugby!’, joins Kieran to place his favourite book on The Hard Shoulder Bookshelf!

Police and emergency services urged the public not to share footage online after a car hit pedestrians during Liverpool's English Premier League victory parade in the city centre yesterday.Why is our instinct to take and share videos in tragic circumstances? Is it our responsibility or the job of social media companies to hold people accountable?Joining Kieran to discuss is Stephen O'Leary from Olytico and Brendan Kelly, Psychologist...

Governance and oversight issues at Children’s Health Ireland dominated leader’s questions in the Dáil today, we’ve also learned that three members of the CHI board have resigned following further fallout from the controversy surrounding unnecessary hip operations at CHI.To discuss this further, and the health service more widely, Kieran is joined by former HSE Director General, Tony O’Brien…

Gardaí are now being rostered on at Mercy University Hospital in Cork due to rising levels of violence towards staff. The INMO have stated recently that 60% of these assaults are directed toward nurses and midwives.Joining Kieran to discuss is the INMO’s Assistant Director of Industrial Relations for the Southern Region, Liam Conway…

More people are now opting for prepaying and pre planning for their funeral before they die, some even opting to be involved in the ceremony virtually on the day.Joining Kieran to discuss more is Undertaker Colm Kieran, owner of My Farewell Wishes, which have been connecting with their customers through their TikTok videos…

Transport for Ireland is losing €20 million a year to fare evasion. Nearly 7% of Dart passengers do not have a valid ticket, and fare evasion rates jump to 15% on the Dublin to Drogheda and Dublin to Longford routes.What is going on? And are you a fare dodger?Newstalk’s Henry McKean joins Kieran to discuss.

The next phase of the Dublin City Transport Plan has come into effect.The new restrictions will be in place 24/7, and they will mean that only public transport, taxis and cyclists will be allowed to turn left from Westland Row onto Pearse Street.Joining Kieran to discuss the impact of this change is Paul Woodborne, Sales Manager at Sweeney & O’Rourke, catering showroom located on Pearse Street.

Today is Celebration Day in the UK, which is a time for communities to take a special moment to pause and remember those important in their lives who may no longer be with us.Is this something that Ireland should emulate, or are we too scared of having opening conversations about grief?Joining Kieran to discuss is Sallyanne Clarke, Restauranter and Author and Ruth Scott, Broadcaster and Wedding and Funeral Celebrant.

You may have heard of creatine, which is popular among athletes and fitness influencers, but does it have any benefits, and is it even safe?Joining Kieran to discuss is Shelly Gray, Today FM Presenter and Registered Dietitian and John Belton, Personal and Wellness Trainer.

For this week’s Kids Health Check, Kieran is joined by Aoife Lee, Parenting Coach at ParentSupport.ie, to discuss how you can handle rebellious teens as they grow up, while also giving the privacy and freedom they want.

Gardaí have said that there has been a significant decrease in robbery, burglary, violent disorder, crimes against the person and theft offences this year.Provisional Garda figures for the first three months show a decrease across all property crimes, but an increase in organised crime and fraud offences, compared to the same period last year.Is this being felt on the ground? Will Monaghan, owner of One Society, and Martin Harte, CEO of the Temple Bar Company join Kieran to discuss.

A Michelin star chef in London, Gorgio Locatelli, has blasted people using their phones in restaurants, claiming that people should get off their phones and enjoy the moment.Does he have a point? Have phones gone too far in restaurants, or are we allowed to enjoy our food as we wish?Edward Hayden, TV Chef and Culinary Lecturer at the Southeast Technological University and Saoirse Hanely, Journalist at the Irish Independent joins Kieran to discuss.

A fresh call has been made to reintroduce 100% mortgages for first time buyers.Independent Ireland leader TD Michael Collins has said there is a clear need for targeted, responsible mortgage products that reflect today’s economic realities.Despite there not being enough supply for demand, hearing 100% mortgages for many will strike PTSD of the Celtic Tiger days…Joining Kieran to discuss is John McGuirk, Editor at Gript.ie and Rory Hearne, Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson and TD for Dublin North-West.

Gardaí have upgraded the missing persons case of Fiona Pender, who was pregnant when she went missing in 1996, to a murder investigation as a new search operation is set begin this week for the Offaly woman.Stephen Breen, Crime Editor with the Irish Sun, joins Kieran to discuss.

Is the lack of male teachers causing a lack of male role models for children in school?Joining Kieran to discuss this is Simon Lewis, Principal of Carlow Educate Together and Host of the 'If I Were The Minister for Education' podcast and Micheal Kelly, Director of Public Affairs with the Papal Foundation Aid to the Church in Need.

This week, Kieran Cuddihy was joined by Ger Gilroy from Off the Ball and Jess Kelly, Newstalk's Technology Correspondent to look back on the week that was, but with a few twists…

He’s taken on governments, grilled broadcasters, and championed workers with that unmistakable calm fire. From the picket lines of London to his family roots in Cork and Armagh, Trade Unionist Mick Lynch has never been far from the fight.He is in Dublin for the Tressel Festival, which kicks off this weekend and he is taking part in a discussion tomorrow at 3pm in the Liberty Hall Theatre on his political hero, Irish Revolutionary James Connelly.Mick Lynch joins Kieran to discuss!

Aisling Larkin, Mindful Eating Coach and TV Chef joins Kieran to discuss how you can cook a beautiful steak in the summer sun!

US President Donald Trump has said he is recommending a 50% tariff on all goods from the European Union being imported to the United States.It marks an escalation in the continuing trade wars…Shona Murray, Europe Correspondent with Euronews, Fine Gael MEP Regina Doherty and later Joe Lynam, Newstalk Business Editor and Presenter of Breakfast Business join Kieran to discuss.Image: Reuters

At least 1,800 children who had hip dysplasia surgery are to be medically reviewed following an audit which found surgeons in Cappagh & Temple Street hospitals were carrying out a high number of unnecessary operations…Marie Sherlock, Labour Party TD and Spokesperson on Health, Shauna Bowers, Health Correspondent with The Irish Times and later Elaine Flanagan, Mother of Harlow and David Cullinane Sinn Féin Spokesperson for Health all join Kieran to discuss.

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…

One in four people in Ireland are ‘clinging on’ when it comes to their finances, according to the Credit Union.Over half of us are financially ‘comfortable’, but 20% of us are just ‘coping’. To discuss further, Kieran is joined by Newstalk’s Henry McKean.

With their folded ears and big eyes, the Scottish fold cat is beloved by many celebrities including Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift. However, there are calls in the UK to ban the breeding of Scottish Folds due to painful genetic deformities.So, what are these problems with this breed and why are they so popular?Clare Meade, Cat Vet with Cat Hospital joins Kieran to discuss.

Tonight, in Croke Park, a vote will be taking place that could change camogie forever. That is the vote to allow players the decision to choose whether they would like to wear shorts instead of skorts.So, will the vote come to pass? And what will happen to camogie if it does not?Karl O’Brien, Chairperson of Dublin Camogie and Aislinn Connolly, former Galway camogie player and all star join Kieran to discuss.

TikTok Comedian, Musician and Influencer Garron Noone joins Kieran for this week's Thursday Interview!

Students and households across the country are preparing for their state exams which kick off in two weeks (on June 4th), but what is the best way to approach the paper when it is put in front of you to get the maximum marks you can?Joining Kieran to give some practical advice is Aoife O'Driscoll, English teacher in Cork CBC, textbook author and webinar deliverer at Tralee ED Centre.

10 years ago today, Dublin Castle was the scene of celebrations after the historic victory for Marriage Equality.One of the people involved in the campaign and who was there on that day 10 years ago was Fine Gael TD for the Cork South-Central Jerry Buttimer.Kieran escapes the Newstalk studio and joins him to discuss.

Over 17 hundred complaints were made to the Ombudsman for Children’s Office last year, with almost 600 of those relating to education.So, where do we go from here?Joining Kieran to discuss is Ombudsman for Children, Dr Niall Muldoon.

The UK is considering introducing chemical castration for sex offenders as a means of reducing reoffending and also dealing with prison overcrowding.Is this an acceptable form of punishment in 2025, and does it work for its intended purpose? Also, is it something Ireland should consider?Joining Kieran to discuss this is Dr. Patrick Randall, Clinical and Forensic Psychologist and Director of Forensic Psychological Services…

According to a new survey by Currys, which has cracked open Ireland’s fridges, one in four of us has a mystery tupperware in the fridge we’re too afraid to open, with nearly half of our fridges containing leftovers we’ll never eat.So, how dirty are our fridges if they contain leftovers, and how best can we manage our fridges to make sure they're clean and tidy?Joining Kieran to discuss is Laura De Barra, Author of Gaff Goddess, Decor Galore and Garment Goddess and Dr Amalia Scannell, Microbiologist at UCD Institute of Food and Health.

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 Tea Day to discuss how to make the perfect cup of tea!

Kieran is joined by ultra-runner, Stephaine Case.Stephaine took part in a recent ultra marathon, which she not only won, but she did so while stopping throughout the 100k to breastfeed her six-month-old daughter!

The latest update from the Department of Housing has said that the number of homes being completed will have to rise substantially for the remainder of the year if the Government is to have any hope of meeting its annual target of 41,000 units.This comes as growth estimates have shown that population growth slowed in Ireland during 2024, but is still growing.Are housing issues possible to solve in this context?Dan O’Brien is Chief Economist of the Institute of International and European Affairs, and joins Kieran to discuss.

For this week’s Tech Takeover, Newstalk's Technology Correspondent Jess Kelly joins Kieran to discuss how bin collecting is about to get a lot smarter. Waste disposal company Panda is rolling out surveillance during collections, which will identify any mix ups when it comes to recycling and contamination - but is it a GDPR issue?

As many companies now have a hybrid system of remote working, is it leading to poor communications and the need for too many meetings?Are we having too many meetings in our day, and just doing too little work?Life Coach Mark Fennell joins Kieran to discuss, and give his meeting-efficiency tips.

Tánaiste Simon Harris has said that the two Irish diplomats were among the delegation that Israeli soldiers fired at in the vicinity of in the West Bank…Journalist Hannah McCarthy joins Kieran to discuss the latest, and Independent Senator Frances Black joins to discuss the new Occupied Territories Bill the Tánaiste will be bringing before the Cabinet, which includes a ban on imports from those territories.Image: Reuters

Yesterday on the show you may have heard Kieran speaking to Cara Darmody during her 50-hour picket outside Leinster House.She is calling for the Government to address the large number of children awaiting an assessment for a disability or autism for six months or longer.Joining Kieran today to discuss this is Jane Johnstone, mother and carer to Evan and Daniel to tell her own story and Catherine Cox, Head of Communications and Policy at Family Carers Ireland.

New figures from the department of justice show that 60,0000 people were caught by Gardaí driving while using their phones between 2022 and 2024.There are currently more than half a million drivers with penalty points on their licence, of which 866 have 12 points, meaning they are under an automatic six-month ban.Newstalk’s Henry McKean joins Kieran to discuss.

Author Anthony Horowitz has said he believes that social media is impacting children's attention spans and it’s causing them to no longer be able to concentrate on longer novels.But, are their attention spans getting worse, or do we need to change how we approach reading?Joining Kieran to discuss is Lorraine Levis, Author ‘Once Upon a Reader: Raising Your Children with a Love of Books’ and Head of Sales for Bloomsbury in Ireland and Derek Landy, Author of the Skulduggery Pleasant series.

Should young teenagers have a say at the ballot box? Today, Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly is bringing forward a bill that could shake up Irish democracy, proposing the voting age be lowered to 16.Is this a good cause to increase political engagement in our system, or is this too much responsibility, too soon?Social Democrat TD for the Kildare North, Aidan Farrelly, and James Geoghegan, Fine Gael TD for the Dublin Bay South join Kieran to discuss.

Theatre Maker and Television Presenter Martin Beanz Warde joins Kieran to place his favourite book on The Hard Shoulder Bookshelf!

Schools across the country will be wrapping up their final classes and exams ahead of the summer break, but some 6th class students will be finishing up in the coming weeks not knowing what secondary school they will be attending in September…This is particularly a problem in areas which have seen high population growth in recent years.Rachel Harper, Principal of Saint Patrick's National School Greystones joins Kieran to discuss.

Disability Rights Campaigner Cara Darmody is staging a 50 hour protest over the long waiting lists for special needs assessments.Cara has been fighting for these issues for her two brothers, Neil and John, who have autism.Kieran spoke with Cara outside the Dáil, as well as Claire Kerrane, Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Children, Disability and Equality and TD for Roscommon–Galway.

We have had our new government now for a few months, but given the controversy surrounding the speaking rights row, it took a while for the 34th Dáil to get up to speed.But, Kieran’s guest believes that our current government is turning the Dáil into a 'do-nothing' parliament.Fergus Finlay, Columnist for the Irish Examiner, joins to discuss.

People aged 16 and 17 are as civically informed as their peers aged over 18, but are “unjustly restricted”, according to Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly.Today, they will table a bill seeking to reduce the voting age in Ireland from 18 to 16.Newstalk’s Henry McKean has been asking the public for their thoughts, and joins Kieran to discuss.

New figures from the Injury’s Resolution Board show that motor accident claims over the past 6 years are down 30%, and the value of those awards paid for claims are down over 40%.Yet, insurance premiums remain stubbornly high…So, what’s the best way to get the best deal on your motor insurance?Shane O’Donohue, Editor of CompleteCar.ie, joins Kieran to discuss.

Would you let your four-year-old go for a walk alone?Are we protecting them from danger, or are we hindering their development by not allowing them to be independent?Joining Kieran to discuss is Dr Clare Moriarty, Postdoctoral Researcher working at Trinity Research in Social Sciences in Trinity College Dublin and Jen Hogan, Journalist with the Irish Times.

In 2015, Ireland made history becoming the first country to legalise same-sex marriage by popular vote. A decision that sent waves across the world.As we look back on its 10th anniversary, we want to look at the ripple effects of the vote and how it influenced another nation, Australia, to get its people to vote for marriage equality...Tiernan Brady, Global Director of Inclusion and Clifford Chance and the Director of the Australian Yes Campaign, joins Kieran to discuss.