The Hard Shoulder

The first day of the Dáil today saw new TDs take their seats, as well as attacks on the Government’s record on housing, as well as their response to Storm Éowyn.To discuss, Kieran is joined by Daniel McConnell, Editor of the Sunday Business Post, as well as the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs with Responsibility for International Development and Diaspora, Neale Richmond.

Research in the UK suggests that Gen Z are the most spiritual group in society - which includes religion.Is this true? And how religious are Gen Z?Wendy Grace, Broadcaster and Columnist and Ciara Lawless, Singer and Songwriter join Kieran to discuss.

Customers can expect more price hikes to their bills, as TV, broadband and mobile packages are set to increase.Newstalk reporter, Josh Crosbie has been looking into this, and he joins Kieran in studio with the details.

‘Saturn’ by SZA won a Grammy award for Best R&B Song, which means that Irishman Cian Ducrot won his first Grammy as co-writer of the song!Cian joins Kieran from Los Angeles to discuss the achievement.

Singer and Actor Mary Byrne joined Kieran this week to place her favourite book on The Hard Shoulder’s Bookshelf!

Trump’s tariffs have caused outrage across the world, especially in Canada.But, what impact will they have, even with the recent 30 day pause?Tyler Meredith, Partner of Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips Policy Advisors and former Economic Advisor to Justin Trudeau joins Kieran to discuss.Image: Reuters

Thousands of new road speed signs are being erected across the country, as reduced speed limits are due to come into force from this Friday.Gardaí are planning major enforcement campaigns in conjunction with the changes.Geraldine Herbert is the Motoring Editor for the Sunday Independent, and joins Kieran to discuss.

A first for iPhones, but not one you might expect, as a new app called ‘HotTub’, which contains adult content and pornography can be accessed on the device.So, how have we got to the point that pornographic apps are available on iPhones, and is this something that we should be concerned about?Richard Hogan, Family Psychologist and Columnist with The Irish Examiner and Adrian Weckler, Technology Editor with the Irish Independent, join Kieran to discuss.

Hugh McElveen who lost his 13 year old daughter Eve to brain cancer in 2022 spoke to Kieran about his journey with grief.

Ger Gilroy from Off The Ball & Elaine Burke from the "For Tech Sake" Podcast joined Kieran to talk through the winners and sinners of the week.

Eoin Sheahan joins Kieran to preview Ireland v England in The Rugby Six Nations, The National Hurling & Football National League and all the Premiere League action taking place this weekend.

Kieran speaks to David Smith, Washington Bureau Chief for The Guardian. 

This week three time Olympian and Waterford native Thomas Barr announced his retirement from Athletics. The World Athletics Champion spoke to Kieran about his career and his decision to call it a day.

The speaking rights issue in the Dail is rumbling on and talks are continuing to try to resolve the row over speaking time rights in the Dáil. Kieran is joined by Brian Mahon, Political Correspondent with the Irish Daily Mail as well as Patrick O'Donovan, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media of Ireland and Fine Gael TD for Limerick County. 

One year on from the introduction of the Deposit Return Scheme, Kieran is joined by Noel McCarthy Fine Gael TD in Cork as well as CEO of the convenience stores & newsagents association, Vincent Jennings and Assistant Editor of Weekend Magazine at the Independent, Aoife Rooney to discuss if it has been a success. 

Kieran was joined in studio by Sarina Bellissimo, broadcaster and presenter of the Bellissimo files and John Fardy, Presenter of Screentime with all the latest recommendations for the big screen and small 

You often go to Lidl for all your shopping goods or your weird buys from the middle isle but how would you fancy a pint at Lidl. Well good news in the north as the Lidl in Dundonald, Belfast has won its bid to open a pub in it’s complex. Brenda Power, Columnist with the Irish Daily Mail and Sunday Times spoke with Kieran 

Efforts are still underway in the Potomac river, rescuing as many as 64 people believed to be dead after an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided with a commercial American Airlines plane. Kieran gets all the latest on the Washington DC plane crash

with the announcement that bin charges are on the rise, there have been calls for the councils to enter the market to take charge of bin collection.  Is this a worthy idea or is competition in the market best for value and service? Daithi Doolin, Sinn Fein Councilor and Conor Walsh, Secretary Irish Waste Management Association joined Kieran to discuss

As the Storm Éowyn clean-up continues, Cavan County Council has set up local community hubs where those affected by power cuts and water outages can come and avail of facilities such as charging, heat, wifi and tea and coffee.But, anger and frustration is growing. Some are desperate after 6 days of no electricity, water and broadband, describing it as a humanitarian crisis.Henry McKean sent this report this evening from a Virginia Cavan hub.

For the final Shopping Trolley Hotline, Newstalk’s Simon Tierney brings in three different offerings of bagels for him and Kieran Cuddihy to compare!

Counting has begun in the Seanad elections, with polls closing for the NUI panel and the Dublin University/Trinity College panels at 11am today.But, what powers will our new Senators have? And how do they compare with other powers of Upper Houses in other countries?Economist David W. Higgins and Associate Professor in Political Science at DCU Eoin O’Malley join Kieran to discuss.

‘Neven’s Portuguese Food Trails’ has kicked off on RTÉ, with Neven Maguire exploring Iberian nation’s food culture and history. You can catch it on Wednesdays at 8pm, and watch back on the RTÉ Player.To tell more, TV Chef Neven Maguire joins Kieran!

Sky News has unveiled plans for a complete overhaul of its programming and newsroom.Sky News 2030 aims to create a model of premium paid content, which they will say will safeguard its future.But, does this move say something about the future of linear television, and the future of news consumption?Dr Eileen Culloty is Assistant Professor at the DCU School of Communications and Deputy Director of the Fujo Media Institute. She joins Kieran to discuss.

For this week's Tech Takeover, Newstalk's Technology Correspondent Jess Kelly joins Kieran to talk all things video doorbells, and what you should keep in mind in terms of your and others' privacy.

About 133,000 homes, farms and businesses are still without electricity and 7,500 premises remain without water following Storm Éowyn last week.One of the areas most affected has been Galway, and someone who has been in the midst of it is entrepreneur, Declan Ganley.Declan joins Kieran, as well as Oisin Coghlan Chief Executive at Friends of the Earth Ireland, to debate about what’s been happening.

The highly anticipated documentary ‘Boyzone: No Matter What’ will be available on Sky this Sunday, February 2nd.Boyzone’s Shane Lynch joins Kieran to discuss!Image: Sky

You may have seen today that the Office of Public Works (OPW) paid €490k to build a wall in Dublin… To be exact: a 70 meter wall in front of the Workplace Relations Commission’s office.Peadar Toibín, Leader of Aontú and TD for Meath East joins Kieran to discuss.

A Twitter user shared their receipt from the Temple Bar Pub, showing that five pints cost them 49 euro! Has Temple Bar gotten too expensive? And will this put tourists off coming to Dublin?Joining Kieran to discuss is Travel Journalist Joan Scales and Ger Hough, owner of Hough's Pub in Bangher County Offaly.

The Taoiseach and Government Ministers are visiting the communities most severely impacted by Storm Éowyn.180,000 remain without power around the country, and it might not be restored for some until next Friday…Micheál Martin has been visiting emergency hubs in the likes of Roscommon, as has the Minister for Housing James Browne. He joins Kieran to discuss.

Presenter and Broadcaster Anna Daly joined Kieran Cuddihy this week to place her favourite book on the Hard Shoulder Bookshelf!

Google has confirmed that it would add the label of ‘Gulf of America’ to its maps following the political action made by US President Donald Trump.But, how common is it for a location to have two contesting names, and what other examples are there?Pádraig Carmody, Professor of Geography at Trinity College joins Kieran to discuss.

According to figures from Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, less than half of men believe that people make up accusations, with 25 percent believing that consent is not as big an issue it is made out to be.Is there an issue with how men see consent and sex and what can be done to help educate men in this endeavor?Eve McDowell Communications and Engagement Officer with Active Consent and David Hall, CEO of Sonas Domestic Violence Charity join Kieran to discuss.

The names of the 29 victims, including a woman pregnant with twins, were read aloud and a minute's silence held as a public inquiry into the 1998 Omagh bombing got under way.Chairperson Alan Turnball said those who listen "will be shocked at a level of grief imposed on ordinary decent members of society doing nothing other than living their daily lives".Campaigner Eamonn McCann joins Kieran to discuss.

It is being reported today that extra Senior Ministers are being sent to the US this St Patrick's Day in an attempt to prevent any dramatic policy decision from Donald Trump. Is this the right move, or is it time to scrap the Government trip to the states?Joining Kieran to discuss is Dublin MEP, Regina Doherty and People Before Profit TD, Richard Boyd Barrett.

Anyone can be scammed, and the proof lies with Kieran’s guest.Consumer Expert Brendan Burgess was done out of a significant amount of money. He joins Kieran to discuss what happened.Adrian Weckler, Technology Editor for the Irish and Sunday Independent also joins to give his advice so you don’t get scammed yourself.

With the passenger cap being temporarily lifted for 2025, Fionn Davenport, Travel Journalist and Lonely Planet author joins Kieran to tell us how airlines are adapting to the changes…

For this week’s Kids Health Check, Kieran is joined by Iseult White, Psychotherapist and author, to discuss how you can best deal with separation anxiety with your children.

Amongst protests and walkouts, President Michael D. Higgins read at a ceremony yesterday marking Holocaust Memorial Day.It comes as the Chief Rabbi Yoni Wieder had asked the President not to attend the ceremony due to comments he made in the past. So, should he have listened to this request?To discuss, Kieran is joined by Lior Tibet, Jewish-Israeli woman based in Dublin, and one of the protesters at the event.

100,000 people are to be without power until February, and over 109,000 are still without water after the damage caused by Storm Éowyn.What are the latest updates on when things should return to normal, and what has the Government response been like?Kieran is joined by Head Of Water Operations with Uisce Eirinn, Margaret Arterage, Siobhán Wynne, ESB Networks Regional Manager, Michael Horan from Insurance Ireland and MEP for Midlands North West, Ciaran Mullooly.

With the new Cabinet being announced recently, you may have noticed the gender imbalance in particular, with three women at the Cabinet table: Helen McEntee, Jennier Carroll MacNeill and Norma Foley.Is this something to be concerned about?Frances Fitzgerald, former Fine Gael Tánaiste and MEP, joins Kieran to discuss.

This week Kieran Cuddihy was joined by Chef Edward Hayden and Journalist Eimear Ní Bhraonáin to look back on the week that was, but with a few twists…

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…Image: Vincent Thian / AP

Aisling Larkin, Mindful Eating Coach and TV Chef joins Kieran to look at all the ways you can incorporate lentils into your meals!

You’ll have likely heard the news yesterday evening that former soldier Cathal Crotty has been jailed by the Court of Appeal for two years for his “brutal and unprovoked” physical assault on Natasha O’Brien in Limerick city.Natasha joins Kieran to discuss.

Most partnerships are built on a list of promises, to take care of them and support them through thick and thin.But, there is one act so grievous that it will destroy that trust… watching ahead of your shared TV show!Is it the worst thing imaginable? Or a bit overblown?To discuss, Kieran is joined by Social MEdia Content Creator Holly Carpenter and Commercial Creative Director with Journal Media, Niamh Maher.

With weather warnings still around the country, the worst of Storm Éowyn is over, but what damage has it left behind, and what can be expected tonight and tomorrow?Kieran is joined by Alan O’Reilly from Carlow Weather to discuss.

The Kuhner Report on WRKO AM680 Radio in Boston is hosted by Jeffrey T. Kuhner, "Liberalism's Worst Nightmare," he is a conservative nationalist, who champions God, country and family.This week, Jeff joins Kieran to discuss Trump’s first actions in his second term as President, including the pardoning of January 6th rioters.Image: Reuters

Storm Éowyn is predicted to be the worst storm to ever hit the country, and is making its way - with a red weather warning on from tonight.To give the latest updates on services, Kieran is joined by:Linda Hughes, Meteorologist at Met EireannJeremy Ryan, Director of Public Transport Services at the National Transport AuthorityKeith Leonard, Director of Fire and Emergency Management at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local GovernmentBarry Kenny, Corporate Communications Manager with Irish RailSean Daly, Master of the Rotunda Hospital

At 2 o’clock, Micheál Martin was voted Taoiseach by the Dáil. He then travelled to Áras an Uachtaráin to get his seal from Michael D. Higgins. With his Cabinet coming together, Kieran is joined by The Irish Examiner’s Special Correspondent Mick Clifford, Sinn Féin TD for Dublin Mid-West and Housing Spokesperson, Eoin O’Broin, and Mandy Johnston, Presenter of Taking Stock on Newstalk to discuss what this next Government looks like.