The Hard Shoulder

5 years ago, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar marked the first lockdown for the Covid-19 pandemic. Cast your mind back to some of the weird and bizarre aspects to the pandemic - there’s too many to think ofJoining Kieran to discuss is Ruth Scott, Broadcaster and Celebrant, Jen Hogan, Irish Times Columnist and Conor McAllister, co-owner of Grafton Barbers.

TikTok has announced a new change to the platform to help teenagers shut down from the day – and walk away from their screens.Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent, Jess Kelly and Richard Hogan, Family Psychologist and Columnist with The Irish Examiner join Kieran to discuss what’s being introduced, and the impact it could have.

With the Dáil firmly in place, there is another race on the horizon, and the rumour mill is buzzing around who might replace Michael D Higgins.But, what will potential candidates be looking to do at this stage, and how does a presidential candidacy differ from regular elections?To discuss, Kieran is joined by former Campaign Strategist Derek Mooney.

Earlier in the show, Kieran spoke with Sports Journalist Daniel Hussey, who thinks the weekend defeat to France in the Six Nations could be a stark warning for the future…So, are we over-reliant on our school system?  Does the tightening of residency rules adversely affect us? Is Irish rugby in trouble?Gordon D’Arcy, former Ireland international, joins Kieran to discuss.

US President Donald Trump has announced that the month of March will officially be declared as ‘Irish-American Heritage Month’, but that begs the question on the eve of Micheál Martin’s White House Trip; is this just opportunism, or does Trump actually want to celebrate that heritage?Susan Garraty is a former MSNBC Producer, Writer and Freelance Journalist based in the US. She joins Kieran to discuss.

For this week’s Kids Health Check, Kieran is joined by Enda Murphy, Clinical Psychotherapist and Director of SeeMee.ie to discuss what to do when your child inevitably watches something a bit too scary for them!

A new survey has found that 40% of women have been harassed or felt threatened in sports or exercise…Joining Kieran to discuss this is Valerie Mulcahy, former Cork Footballer.

Syria's new authorities announced on Monday the end of an operation against loyalists of deposed President Bashar al-Assad, but it’s after nearly 1,000 civilians were killed in the worst violence since his overthrow...So, where does this leave things in a Middle East that seems to be ever-more fractured?Author, Comedian and Broadcaster Dom Joly, who born in Lebanon himself, but who knows the area very well joins Kieran to discuss.Image: Reuters

Actor and Comedian Ricky Tomlinson, and Artist and Songwriter Asa Murphy join Kieran to discuss their new show!‘In Conversation with Ricky Tomlinson’ is a show taking place on Thursday April 3rd in the Ambassador in Dublin, Friday April 4th in the National Opera House in Wexford, and Saturday April 5th in Crescent Concert Hall, Drogheda.

With a devastating 42-27 loss to France in the Six Nations this weekend, questions are being raised about the state of the Irish team.So, are we in a new era?Kieran is joined by Daniel Hussey, Sports Presenter, to discuss.

New Leaving Cert reforms could see Home Economics shift to a purely theoretical subject to help aid with busy teachers schedules, but would children miss out on the practical life skills this way?Holly Dalton, Chef and Director of Conbini Condiments and Clare Corrigan join Kieran to discuss.

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

Ireland will be facing off in a pivotal clash against the French tomorrow in what will be a crucial game for their Six Nations hope.To help preview the game, Kieran is joined by Denis Hickie, former Irish International and Phillip Saint-Andre, former French Head Coach.

Calls for the Molly Malone statue in Dublin to be elevated to protect her from the public and all that comes with that! So, should it be done?Newstalk’s Henry McKean has been out asking the public, and joins Kieran to discuss. Also joining to share her thoughts is former Dublin Lord Mayor and Green Party Councillor, Hazel Chu.

‘Grá ar an Trá’, Ireland’s answer to ‘Love Island’ in the Gaeltacht kicks off for a second season on Monday March 10th and will appear all though Seachtain Na Gaeilge next week.Joining Kieran to discuss the show is James Kavanagh, Presenter of Grá ar an Trá and The Simpler Life with James and William.Image: Ruth Medjber

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 topic of Early Childcare providers has been discussed on the show recently, covering the issues in the sector.Today, Kieran is joined by Mary Moloney, Associate Professor in Early Childhood Education and Care in Mary Immaculate College and Sonya Duggan, who runs early years educational facilities in Laois, to discuss pay issues in the sector.

You know Kieran’s guest from ‘This is England’ and ‘Line of Duty’, but in a change from acting, she brings her ‘Day Fever’ daytime night club experience to The Academy in Dublin this April!Vicky McClure joins to discuss!

With Ireland facing France in the Six Nations tomorrow, people may be thinking of their storied rugby rivalry, but what is the history of the relationship between the two countries?Joining Kieran to discuss is French Ambassador to Ireland, Céline Place.

When is enough enough? Some people find it hard to know the difference between the perception of their financial status, and their actual finances. So, how bad can it get, and what are ways to alleviate it?Conor Pope, Consumer Affairs Correspondent for The Irish Times & Pricewatch Editor and Leslie Shoemaker, Psychotherapist, join Kieran to discuss.

A new initiative is being rolled across England which will see supervised toothbrushing taking place daily in schools across the country. It’s hoped the Government backed campaign will save the NHS millions by reducing the number of children who require hospital care for tooth decay…Is this something that should be done in Ireland?Dr. Caroline Robbins of Kiwi Dental in Carlow joins Kieran to discuss.

Have you found yourself waking up with aches and pains? You’re probably not sleeping properly!Joining Kieran to discuss the best and worst sleeping positions for your neck and back is Chiropractor and Clinical Director at Chiropractix, Dr Paul Bradley.

If you saw children roaming the streets with their heads in books - don’t worry! It’s just World Book Day!Over 900 thousand book tokens have been given out to students to redeem a free World Book Day title.Joining Kieran to discuss the day and where it came from is Maria Dickenson, Chair of Bookselling Ireland and Author Helena Duggan to discuss.

The NTA’s Bus Connects’ Dublin Progress Report revealed today that contactless payment with card/phone on public transport won't be available here for another three years, even though it is readily available in other countries…In what other ways can public transport in Ireland be compared to systems abroad?Joining Kieran to discuss is Mark Paul, London Correspondent with The Irish Times and Freelance Journalist in Sweden, Phillip O'Connor.

Ireland is an increasingly secular society, so why are Dublin's Marina Grottos still some of the best maintained in the world? Newstalk's Sarah Madden reports.

Meghan Markles’ lifestyle show ‘With Love, Meghan’, released on Netflix this week.Has this marked the return of the ‘domestic goddess’? And is this something people still want to be?Joining Kieran to discuss Columnist with the Independent and Presenter of the Home Show, Sinead Ryan and Freelance Journalist, Niamh O’Reilly.Image: Netflix

Bus Connects’ Dublin Progress Report has revealed today that passenger boardings have increased since the new Bus Connects network has been implemented.Hugh Creegan, Interim CEO of the National Transport Authority, joins Kieran to discuss.

This morning on Newstalk Breakfast, Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers explained that we will not have anymore one-off supports toward energy costs…So, why are energy costs increasing, and is the Government right to not provide one-off supports?To discuss, Kieran is joined by Muireann Lynch, Energy Economist and Senior Research Officer with ESRI and Pearse Doherty, Sinn Féin Spokesperson for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, and TD for Donegal.

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 give advice on the perfect handshake!

For most of us, early retirement sounds like packing up the desk at 60.But a growing number of Irish people are devoting themselves to the FIRE movement - with hopes to retire at 50 or even just 40 years of age.So, how are they doing it? And can we do the same? Newstalk's Sarah Madden reports.

A new report aiming to kickstart a new era of preventative health is recommending a stand-alone national adult immunisation strategy.Karina Butler is Clinical Professor of Paediatrics at UCD, former Chair of The National Immunisation Advisory Committee. She joins Kieran to discuss why she thinks this is necessary.

Earlier in the programme, Henry McKean reported on the AXA Roadsafe Roadshow in UCD.The aim of the event was to encourage the next generation of road users to actively consider the importance of road safety and the impact that dangerous driving, speeding, substance use and distracted driving can have on themselves and others.So, are young drivers particularly unsafe?  Or are these problems for drivers of all ages?Joining Kieran to discuss is Shane O’Donoghue, Editor of completecar.ie as well as Newstalk Reporter / young driver, Alex Rowley.

From retro-inspired shirts to audiences with footballing legends replete with anecdotes and golden-era reminiscing, the commercialization of nostalgia in sport has become big business.Why is it that now, more than ever, our obsession with the rosy past is at its absolute peak?To talk football-nostalgia, Kieran is joined by Gavin Cooney, Sports Writer with The42.ie and Liverpool and Ireland legend, Mark Lawrenson.

For this week’s Tech Takeover, Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent Jess Kelly joined Kieran to discuss augmented reality glasses - and specifically, the pair that she is wearing: the Even Realities G1! What is the technology, and what can it be used for?

People across the country will be announcing what practices or activities they might be giving up for rent for the next 40 days, as it is Ash Wednesday. But, has the day become less popular?Wendy Grace, Broadcaster and Columnist is one of those who got their ash today, and joins Kieran to discuss.

A new report from the ESRI has shown that there has been a rise in school absenteeism in Deis Schools since the Covid period.So, what happened to allow this to happen, and have we failed to address issues on the return back to in person schooling?Joining Kieran to discuss is Noel Loftus, Principal at St. Attracta's National School and Louise Bayliss, Co-Founder of SPARK (Single Parents Acting for the Rights of Kids)...

What happens when a friendship feels more like a race than a bond? In ‘The White Lotus’, the reunion of Jaclyn, Kate, and Laurie shows just how toxic female friendships can become when rivalry and comparison take over. From body image to career success, their “support” for each other is laced with quiet jealousy and competition.How common are these types of friendships, and how do you know if you’re in one? Joining Kieran to discuss is Esther McCarthy, Lifestyle Editor and Weekend Magazine Columnist at the Irish Examiner, Holly Carpenter, Social Media Content Creator and Dr. Malie Coyne, Clinical Psychologist and Author…Image: HBO

Being a farmer is often noted as tough work, but one aspect which has been making the job harder is illegal trespassing. So, how big of an issue is it?Louise Crowley, Chair at the Limerick IFA and Dairy Farmer and Conor O’Leary, Munster Regional Chair at the IFA and Chair of IFA Countryside join Kieran to discuss…

Young drivers under the age of 24 are 85% more likely to be involved in road accidents than drivers over the age of 25, and 135% more likely to cause injury to another party, according to AXA.The Roadsafe Roadshow is an interactive real life immersive experience of what it's like for victims dying in a car crash, and their families left behind…Henry McKean has been learning more, and joins Kieran to discuss.

At almost the peak of the Celtic Tiger era, Ireland opened what could be considered its truly flagship shopping centre in Dundrum.To look back on that era, and the shopping centre’s time up to now, are Lisa Cannon, Entertainment Broadcaster and Producer and Darren Kennedy, Stylist and Presenter.

One of the legends from Italia 90, Andy Townsend, joins Kieran ahead of an event hosted by the RDS on Patrick’s Day weekend.Two special nights to mark the occasion as the heroes from Italia 90 will share memories of the time.

Tom Dunne joins Kieran Cuddihy to go through all the best music that’s come up on his radar this week, along with some chat about the Oscar's.

Former Detective, Pat Marry, Matt Carthy, Sinn Fein spokesperson on Justice, and Seamus Boland, CEO of Irish Rural Link join The Hard Shoulder to discuss a disturbing rise in burglaries, according to new CSO figures.Burglaries rose by 10% in the 12 months up to September last year with a reported average of more than 27 burglaries a day.

Actress and Model, Vicky McClure joins The Hard Shoulder.The Trigger Point and Line of Duty star, sits down with Kieran to discuss her new production Dayfever, which comes to Dublin’s the Academy in April.

It’s the Kids Clinic Q & A.Aoife Lee, Parenting Coach from ParentSupport.ie joins Kieran, so get all your questions answered here.

Lewis Goodall, co-presenter with the News Agents and LBC presenter in his own right, joins The Hard Shoulder to discuss the latest on a possible ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.But a chaotic few days in the White House may yet stand to be an obstacle.Get all the latest here.

Minister for Education and Youth, Helen McEntee sits down with Kieran on The Hard Shoulder.The Fine Gael TD for Meath East joined the show to speak, among other things, her new briefing as Education Minister and the anticipation toward a Patrick’s Day visit to the United States.

Former Mayo GAA Footballer, David Brady joins Kieran to talk through ambitious Government plans that could see a cure to rural isolation, and especially so for elderly people.

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

A heated argument broke out between Presidents Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenksy during a visit to the White House.Joining Kieran to discuss this exchange is Larry Donnelly, Law Lecturer at the University of Galway and Columnist with the Journal and Scott Lucas, Professor of US and International Politics in the Clinton Institute in UCD.Image: Reuters