The Hard Shoulder

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!

Drinking in Ireland is changing, and fast. New figures show alcohol consumption is down over 4% in the last year, and it’s dropped by more than a third since 2001- which means for the first time, Ireland is in line with the European average.Has our relationship with drink changed over the years, and are young people leading that charge? Sean O Maoilchiaran, Journalist and Broadcaster joins Kieran to discuss.

The Madleen has been seized.The vessel, which includes activist Greta Thunberg among its crew of 12, was aiming to deliver aid to Gaza, and raise international awareness of the humanitarian crisis there.According to officials, it was boarded during the night by Israeli authorities, and is now heading to a port in Israel.So, what next?Francesca Albanese is UN Special Rapporteur to the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and joins Kieran to discuss.

Cadaver dogs – do we need one owned by the state?The question is being raised after Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan said it would be preferable for the police to have a cadaver dog – it's as he raised concerns over the length of time it took to uncover Tina Satchwell’s body, who was murdered by her husband Richard.Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has said that the gardaí will consider it.So, should we train dogs for this purpose, and if so, how would that go?Ralph O’Connor is Training Officer with the Search and Rescue Dog Association for Ireland North, and joins Kieran to discuss.

The Government is planning big changes to Rent Pressure Zones. Under the new proposals, the 2% cap on rent increases will stay in place for existing tenants, but landlords will now be allowed to hike rents between tenancies and charge more for newly built homes.Critics are warning that it may open the door to runaway rents and put renters at greater risk.Joining Kieran to discuss further is Paul Murphy and Karl Deeter, Director of Irish Mortgage Brokers.

Donegal County Council is asking the Government to create a new Bank Holiday in honour of St Colmcille.Joining Kieran to discuss the history of the Saint and why this is being asked for is Jimmy Kavanagh, Donegal County Councillor and DR Elva Johnston, Associate Professor in the school of History UCD.Image: Pope History

Tánaiste Simon Harris has confirmed that Robert Pether who has been held in jail in Iraq for over four years has been released on bail. The Australian national - who had been living in Elphin in Co Roscommon - was arrested in April 2021 and later jailed on fraud charges. His wife Desree joined Kieran to discuss her husbands release.

Thirty-five people, including 21 men, nine women and five children were denied asylum and have been deported from Ireland to Nigeria overnight on a chartered flight at a cost of €325,000. Jim O’Callaghan is Minister for Justice and Fianna Fail TD Dublin Bay South joined Kieran to discuss further

We’ve been hearing from many people across the station today, voicing their outrage and frustration at the state of care in some nursing homes in Ireland.  This comes in the wake of last night’s RTE Investigations programme, which exposed disturbing conditions in two nursing homes operated by Emeis Ireland. Kieran spoke to some those who have experienced the service in Ireland and what they had to say...

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 not to stifle a laugh in awkward moments!

The Government is preparing major changes to planning laws, including proposals to allow attic conversions, garden cabins, and home extensions for elderly relatives without planning permission.It’s a move aimed at relieving pressure on the housing system and speeding up development. But questions remain about the effectiveness of these plans and whether they will move the needle at all.Tom Philips, Managing Director of Tom Phillips and Associates and Adjunct Associate Professor of Town Planning at UCD and later James Browne, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and Fianna Fáil TD for Wexford join Kieran to discuss.

France will be making a big change in July, which requires people to upload a form of identification online to be able to access pornographic sites, which has prompted sites to preemptively shut down in protest.Newstalk's Technology Correspondent Jess Kelly joins Kieran to discuss this, and how it might be introduced here through the Online Safety Code initiative.

30 or so cars have made their way to the N7 for a protest that is being held around CityWest. Its aim is to stop the Government from buying the CityWest hotel in an expansion plan for asylum seeker accommodation.Newstalk Reporter Barry Whyte is there, and joins Kieran to discuss. Also joining is Linda de Courcy, Independent Ireland Councillor for Clondalkin LEA.

Today, Penneys launched the findings of its latest Pulse of the Nation Index, conducted by Amárach Research, which revealed that 40% of the general public believe that disabled people are treated unfairly in Ireland.Paralympian and disability advocate, Ellen Keane, says that disabled people should no longer be an afterthought in fashion conversation.She joins Kieran to discuss.

Dundalk Film Maker, Fiona Thompson was on board the MV Rachel Corrie aid ship en route to Gaza back in 2010, when the crew of 11 people was detained.She managed to hold onto footage recorded in secret while on board.She joins Kieran to discuss the experience…

As the phrase goes, don’t sweat the small stuff, but a new study says micro stresses like traffic or losing your keys can trigger the same exhaustion as a single major life event!To discuss further, Kieran is joined by Newstalk’s Henry McKean.

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 if you ever find yourself in Vietnam!

A new study has found that almost half of young people would prefer a world without the internet, with many even opting for a digital detox. But, what would a world without it look like for a generation who have never known a world without it?Joining Kieran to discuss is Jane Cowan, Student and Irish Examiner Columnist and Richard Hogan, Family Psychotherapist and author of ‘Home is where the start is’.

Comedian Tony Cantwell, who will be doing his first solo show in two years ‘You Cry Weird’ at the Dublin Fringe on September 12th, joins Kieran to place his favourite book on The Hard Shoulder Bookshelf!

In 2024, suspects in over 400,000 crimes were out on bail.Are Ireland's bail laws too lax?In high profile crimes, is the argument that the system sometimes prioritises the presumption of innocence, over public safety, a valid question?Joining Kieran to discuss is Independent MEP for Ireland South, Michael McNamara.

An aid ship has headed to Gaza from Sicily, aiming at breaking Israel’s blockade.Greta Thunberg is on it, and Kieran’s guest was in Sicily for a few days lending his support.Actor Liam Cunningham joins to discuss.

Calls have been made for a national database for dog microchip registration to replace the current four database system to aid a crackdown on dog breeding regulation, and enable dog wardens to identify the dogs involved in attacks on livestock…But, how essential is a central database?Joining Kieran to discuss is Maeve O'Connell, Fine Gael TD for Dublin Rathdown, who is calling for the change, and Limerick-based Veterinarian, Donal Ryan.

Pedestrians and Cyclists need to “Be Sound” to each other on shared greenways.Officials from Dublin City Council are soon to launch an information campaign to “remind all users of their responsibilities” along traffic free paths along Dublin’s canals and rivers.Joining Kieran to discuss this further is Green Party Councilor, Janet Horner.

Evan Fitzgerald was on bail for gun charges when he entered a Carlow shopping centre yesterday and fired shots, before fatally shooting himself.Last year, he was caught with guns and ammunition which he admitted to having bought on the 'dark web', a part of the internet where users operate through anonymity.But, what is the dark web, how common is it to buy guns here, and what can be done about it?Joining Kieran to answer some of these questions is Cyber Security Expert, Ronan Murphy, Chief Strategist for Forcepoint and Chairman of SmartTech247.

This week, Kieran Cuddihy was joined by the presenter of Weekend Breakfast on Today FM, Alison Curtis and Saoirse Hanley, Feature Writer with the Irish Independent to look back on the week that was, but with a few twists…

Comedian and Writer Gearóid Farrelly joins Kieran for a chat while he is on tour for ‘Gearóid Rage’!

Aisling Larkin, Mindful Eating Coach and TV Chef joins Kieran to discuss how you can make 7 (maybe 6) salads to cover 7 days!

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: @ChampionsLeague on X / Twitter

A jury has found Richard Satchwell guilty of murdering his wife Tina at their home in Youghal, Co Cork, in 2017.Now that the verdict is in, we can cast our minds back to all those interviews that he did after his wife’s death – and in particular, what those who spoke to him during those times made of him...One of those interviewers was Neil Prendeville of Cork’s Red FM. He joins Kieran to discuss.Image: Cork’s Red FM Facebook

France will ban smoking in all outdoor places that children visit, according to their Health and Family Minister.The ban will come into force from July 1st and will include beaches, parks, public gardens, outside schools, bus stops and sports venues. Ireland was a trend-setter on the indoor smoking ban back in 2004; should we follow France this time?Newstalk’s Henry McKean joins Kieran to share what he’s heard.

Gerry Adams has won €100,000 in damages over a BBC story about the murder of a British agent.The former Sinn Féin leader alleged he was defamed in a BBC NI Spotlight programme broadcast in 2016 and an accompanying online article, in which an anonymous contributor alleged he sanctioned the 2006 murder of Denis Donaldson.He denies any involvement.Journalist Amanda Ferguson joins Kieran to discuss.