The Hard Shoulder

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is hosting European Union chiefs today for a landmark summit to usher in a closer relationship, in the first meeting of its kind since the UK formally left the European Union more than five years ago…But, what will this mean for Ireland?Joining Kieran to discuss is Britain's Ambassador to Ireland, Paul Johnston…

For this week’s Kids Health Check, Kieran is joined by Dr Sandra Cummings, Consultant Audiologist Consultant Audiologist at the Hearing and Balance Center at the Beacon, to discuss what to do when your child gets an ear infection.

Kieran’s guest is playing the Ambassador Theatre on June 11th, with tickets on sale now from Ticketmaster.Rhys Darby, one of New Zealand’s greatest comedy exports, joins the show!

Average rents in Dublin have risen to above €2,000 euro for the first time.The average rent in 2011 would have cost you €765 euro - now it’s €2,053, and they’re continuing to rise right across the country…Joining Kieran to discuss is Eoin O’ Broin, Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Housing and Marian Finnegan, Managing Director of Sherry Fitzgerald.

Gary Lineker has confirmed he will leave the BBC early and has apologised for a controversial social media post which led to his premature departure.He presented Match of the Day for over 20 years, and was due to front the BBC’s coverage of the 2026 World Cup, however this now won’t be the case…Joining Kieran to shed more light on the situation is Martin Lipton, Chief Sports Reporter with The Sun...

Last week on the show, Fine Gael Senator Evanne Ní Chuilinn joined Kieran for the Thursday Interview and one of the things she spoke about was girls' participation in sports, and why getting rid of school uniforms could help them get involved in sport more easily.So, should we rethink the school uniform to encourage kids to stay active?Joining Kieran to discuss is Sonia O’ Sullivan, Irish Gold Medalist and Sophie Doolan, Women in Sport Lead and Sport for Business 30 Under 30 recipient.

A man in his 50s remains in custody this morning on suspicion of murdering Kerry farmer Michael Gaine.The 56-year-old sheep farmer has been missing from his farmyard near Kenmare in County Kerry for eight weeks.The man was arrested yesterday afternoon after Gardaí confirmed on Saturday that materials found on Mr Gaine's farm are partial human remains.Joining Kieran to discuss the latest is Anne Lucey, Journalist in Kerry.

100,000 primary schoolchildren were denied dental screening appointments last year. Under the HSE, primary school children should be seen by a dentist three times throughout the course of their primary school years.Joining Kieran to discuss why this is happening is Emer Tóibín, Aontú Cllr in Meath and Dr Bridget Harrington Barry, HSE Dentist based in Galway and President-elect of the Irish Dental Association.

This week, Kieran Cuddihy was joined by Saoirse Hanley, Columnist with the Irish Independent and Ger Gilroy from Off the Ball to look back on the week that was, but with a few twists…

On a beautiful day like this, Kieran has escaped the regular studio to seek refuge on the Newstalk to bask in the lovely summer sun that has blessed Ireland this week.Joining him for a chat in his makeshift summer studio is Writer and Playwright, Amanda Brunker!

Aisling Larkin, Mindful Eating Coach and TV Chef joins Kieran to talk about foods and recipes you can use to help with sleep!

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…

Last month, the UK’s top court made a decision that’s left many trans people in Ireland feeling hurt, angry, and scared. It ruled that when the law talks about women, it only means so-called 'biological' women.For trans women, this isn’t just legal language, it’s a step backwards. It sends a message that their rights and their safety might be in question, and one person who has felt that is Jenny Maguire, Trans Activist and Trinity College Dublin Student President. She joins Kieran to discuss.

Los Angeles wants air-taxis to be in place by the time they host the Olympic Games in 2028.They are planning their third Summer Games, and want the service to help spectators avoid the infamous LA traffic.Joining Kieran to discuss is Russell Vickers, CEO of Future Mobility Campus Ireland and Technology Journalist Emmet Ryan.Image: Archer Aviation

Are you listening from work, or did you pull a sickie because of the good weather? Apparently, you’re not alone if you did...Joining Kieran to discuss all things skiving off is Comedian Jim Elliot and Alexandra Ryan, Founder of Goss Media.

Is climate change a man's world?That’s apparently the case according to a new study from France, that claims that men contribute 25 percent more than women due to their love of red meat and fast cars.So, do men need to do more to pick up the slack and should they ditch the car keys and steaks to help contribute more positively to climate emissions?Ian O’Doherty Columnist with the Irish Independent and Dr Éanna Ní Lamha, Environmentalist and PRO of the Tree Council of Ireland, join Kieran to discuss.

Meghan Markle has said she doesn’t always have the time to cook every day, but when she opts for a takeaway, she demonstrated to viewers of her new Netflix show, ‘With Love Meghan’, how to present it beautifully.But, if even Meghan Markle can admit to not having the time in her day to cook, should we really be so hard on ourselves for the weekly take away?Joining Kieran to discuss is Cooking Expert, Catherine Leyden.

In a world where there is a growing influence of artificial intelligence – how do we navigate that? Does it bring unavoidable uncertainty?Kieran is joined by Margaret Heffernan, author of ‘Embracing Uncertainty’, to discuss.

Fine Gael Senator and former Broadcaster Evanne Ní Chuilinn joins Kieran for this week's Thursday Interview.

An independent report commissioned by the OPW says there was no value-for-money assessment before work began on Leinster House's infamous €336k bicycle shed.According to the report by Deloitte, the OPW did not tell the Oireachtas what the shelter would cost.Joining Kieran to discuss is Newstalk’s Political Correspondent, Seán Defoe and Mairéad Farrell, Sinn Féin TD for Galway West/South Mayo, Chair of Oireachtas Finance Committee and Spokesperson for Public Expenditure.

The latest figures from the Central Statistics Office show that Irish inflation rose again in April, up by more than 2% on the same month last year.It doesn't come as a surprise, since a pound of butter now costs nearly five euro.But, how can you shop wisely to deal with inflation?Joining Kieran to discuss is Consumer Journalist, Caitriona Redmond.  

With the second Eurovision semi-final on tonight, how will Ireland fare against seemingly tough competition?Newstalk's Henry McKean joins Kieran backstage from Basel to discuss, and share what he's heard from Ireland's representative EMMY, Marty Whelan and more!

How are people around Ireland enjoying this beautiful week of weather?Joining Kieran to discuss how it is impacting them is John McCarthy, owner of Lahinch Surfing, Yasmin Khan of TEDDY’S Ice Cream Dun Laoghaire, Gary Anderson from the Seafood Shack on the Pier in Killybegs and Karen O’ Neill, Senior Operations Manager from Beyond the Trees Avondale.

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 handle one of the most difficult debates you can have: picking what to get for a takeaway!

A lot is said about how AI impacts our daily lives, but how will it change our music, and will it hinder artists’ creativity?Joining Kieran to discuss is Dr. Martin Clancy, Senior AI Research Fellow at DCU and Policy Fellow at Trinity College Dublin.

One downside of the beautiful summer weather is that when it’s time to hit the hay, it can be quite uncomfortable to fall asleep in the heat.Joining Kieran is to give her tips on how to not lose sleep during warmer weather is Sine Dunne, Sleep Professional and Founder of SiEST Sleep.

For this week’s Tech Takeover, Newstalk's Technology Correspondent Jess Kelly joins Kieran to discuss the Gardaí’s warning of misinformation online following the tragic death of Kevin Flatley, and the bad actors surrounding it.

As the Government is scrambling to come up with plans to increase housing delivery, Kieran’s guest claims not only to have the best ideas to solve the housing crisis, but that he’ll do it in 100 days to boot.Ronan O’Reilly is the Managing Director of NewKey Homes, and joins to discuss.

Newstalk Reporter Henry McKean is in Basel Switzerland for this year’s Eurovision! He joins Kieran to discuss what things are like on the ground, including his chat with Ireland’s Eurovision representative EMMY.

Has remote working destroyed Ireland’s work ethic?At a recent Mansion House event, businessman Denis O’Brien said he thinks that it has, and claims that an “entitlement culture” has come, where employees feel they can dictate terms to employers.Peter Cosgrove is the Managing Director of Futurewise, and joins Kieran to discuss.

The Leaving Cert is set to change in the next school cycle with more projects, portfolios, and fewer final exams.Some say it’s a long-overdue fix to a high-stress system while others say it’s rushed, unclear, and wide open to problems like AI and unfair marking. So, what’s the assessment?TJ Hegarty, Founder and CEO of Breakthrough Maths and Eric Nelligan, Assistant Principal at St Munchin's College Limerick join Kieran to discuss.

Kieran was joined in Toronto by Adie McGuinness, Co-Founder of Ireland Gateway to Europe and Chair of Sigmar Recruitment and Clare Kelly, Head of Partnerships and Growth at Sigmar to set out the scene for this year's Gateway to Europe trip!

He’s played the long game, mastered the middle, and now, after nearly 70 years, JJ Walsh, Irish Times Chess Columnist, is making his final move by retiring.The Chess Columnist has written close to 16,000 puzzles, outlasting famous grandmasters like Bobby Fischer and Cold War tensions from his first column written back in 1955.JJ Walsh joins Kieran to discuss.

May is Coeliac Awareness Month, but what are the symptoms to look out for, and how does the diagnostic process work?Joining Kieran to discuss is Dietician and Nutritionist with the Coeliac Society of Ireland, Sarah Keogh and Marina Corrigan and her daughter Shona, who were both diagnosed with Coeliac disease.

Michael McDowell, Independent Senator and author of ‘The Definite Article: Collected Writings of Michael McDowell’ joins Kieran to place his favourite book on The Hard Shoulder Bookshelf!

We have all done it - opened the fridge or press and wondered: “What will I cook tonight?”. Well, have no fear, Chef Mark Moriarty is here to help!Mark is back with his new series ‘Mark Moriarty: Cook Like a Chef’ and will show you how to make delicious restaurant quality food in your own kitchen with some basic ingredients you are sure to have at home.Mark joins Kieran to discuss.

A new survey by Laya Health has found a stark increase in the cost of raising a child, with the average cost per child at over €169,000, up 60% in a decade. But, is it actually putting people off having kids, or do we simply deal with the costs as they arise?Joining Kieran to discuss is Conor Pope, Consumer Affairs Correspondent, Wendy Grace, Columnist and Journalist and later Sinead Ryan, Consumer Journalist and Presenter of The Home Show on Newstalk and Financial Expert Karl Deeter.

A Dubliner has led his team to victory on one of the toughest quiz shows on TV! Oscar Despard, a PhD student at Cambridge, captained Christ’s College to their first-ever win on ‘University Challenge’ beating the University of Warwick by just five points in a tense final last night.Oscar Despard joins Kieran to discuss the win.Image: BBC

Many of us are more conscious of where we are buying, with a move away from fast fashion to more sustainable and environmentally conscious brands, but do we give the same level of thought when it comes to buying tech?Joining Kieran to discuss is Dr Sinead Sheehan, Climate Activist.

Rachael Blackmore has retired this afternoon after a glittering racing career, which included a famous success in the 2021 Aintree Grand National.To reflect on her retirement, Kieran is joined by former Jockey Davy Russell...

Ciara Mangan, a woman who was raped at a house party in Co Mayo more than 10 years ago, spoke of the psychological stress following the 22-month long trial appealing the sentence of perpetrator Shane Noone, which a court ruling rejected.She has since founded a charity, Beyond Surviving, which supports victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence.Ciara joins Kieran to discuss.

We have all fallen victim to subscriptions we had forgotten to cancel taking money from us for months, but what about the ones that were just too hard and too costly to get out of, how can we end them once and for all?Siobhain Maguire, Consumer Journalist joins me now with her advice…

For this week’s Kids Health Check, Kieran is joined by Aoife Lee, Parenting Coach at ParentSupport.ie, to discuss how you can navigate the difficult transition of regular showing and deodorant when your kids hit puberty.

One of the biggest names in music is now at the centre of one of the most explosive trials as opening statements are set to begin in the federal sex trafficking case against Sean 'Diddy' Combs.Harriet Alexander, the US Based Journalist, joins Kieran with more details…

Should RTÉ set up a dedicated TV channel for sport?Fianna Fail TD for Kerry Michael Cahill believes the station could be commercially viable, and he also believes that this would end the practice of having to pay for streaming platforms to see some of the big GAA games.He joins Kieran to discuss, as does former Commercial Director for RTÉ, Willie O’Reilly.

The US and China seem to have agreed on a tariff deal, while Volodomyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin may meet on Thursday in Istanbul over a potential ceasefire.This begs the question: are Trump’s tactics working? Has this been a good few days for the US President?Democratic Strategist James Carville joins Kieran to discuss.Image: Reuters

Just five minutes. That’s all it takes for junk food ads to tip the scales for young children. That’s according to research in the UK, which suggests that even watching a couple minutes of junk food advertising will lead to significantly more calories eaten in a day.If that is the case, should we crack down harder on junk food marketing in Ireland?Orla Walsh, Dietitian at Orla Walsh Nutrition and Mimi Tatlow Golden, Professor of Interdisciplinary studies in Childhood and Youth at the Open University join Kieran to discuss.

Much is said about the decrease in Irish tourism numbers, but what about the companies trying to bring them back up? Spud provides bespoke experiences to tourists all across the world, with a big focus on Americans.Kieran is joined in Boston by its Founder, Robert Walsh, to discuss.Image: Spud

Ireland: Gateway to Europe, in its 13th year, comprises an annual trade mission of 50 business leaders and Irish media to key cities across North America – this year, the group made their first visit to Toronto, Canada, as well as in Boston.To wrap up the Hard Shoulder’s broadcast stateside, Kieran is joined by two founders of the group: Adie McGennis, Executive Chairman of Sigmar Recruitment and Matt Mohan Group Executive Chairman at The FKM Group to discuss how this year’s event has gone.

Ireland is to get its first winter sports arena in Dublin, and joining Kieran to discuss how he’s going to get this project over the line is Dermot Rigley, CEO of Prime Arena Holdings.