The Hard Shoulder

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

Off The Ball's Ger Gilroy joined Kieran Cuddihy on The Hard Shoulder to review the week in sport and look ahead to the weekend action…

Aisling Larkin, Mindful Eating Coach and TV Chef joined Kieran to look at snacking - and why it doesn’t necessarily have to be unhealthy!

One name has been cropping up again and again in the news, and that is Elon Musk. The billionaire has caused a stir in the UK with his promotion of individuals like Tommy Robinson, and criticism of what he sees as inaction of the Labour Government to address grooming gangs in the UK.His father Errol Musk, joins Kieran to discuss.

The wildfires in California are still burning, with constant updates about the carnage continuing to pour in.Joining Kieran to give his experience of the fires is Teddy Leonard, owner of the Reel Inn in Malibu, California, as well as Riva Duncan, Executive Secretary of the Grassroots Wildland Firefighters and TV host Darren Kennedy also join to discuss.Image: Reuters

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 the most destructive wildfire ever to hit Los Angeles and if anyone, Like Governor Gavin Newsom as Trump suggests, is to blame. They also discuss the funeral of former US President Jimmy Carter, and Trump’s comments on Canada and Greenland.Image: Reuters

Ryanair have just announced that they’re going to be suing a passenger after their behaviour forced a flight from Dublin to Lanzarote to divert and stop in Porto. The company is seeking damages of €15,000 to pay for costs associated with the unexpected stop. But, should they take the passenger to court?Joining Kieran to discuss is Padraig O’Ceidigh, the former owner of Aer Arann and Aer Lingus Regional and Marisa Mackle, a former Air Hostess and author of ‘Confessions of an Air Hostess’.

After the owners of RIP.ie announced that they would start charging people to put up funeral notices on their website, a few smaller new sites began to spring up around the country offering the service for free.Jennifer Whitmore, Social Democrat TD for Wicklow, is now calling for a state-run funeral service to centralize funeral notices. She joins Kieran to discuss.

As Christmas is a time for relaxation and over-indulgence, you may have fed your pet more than usual - one or two walks may have been forgotten about… But, should you put them on a diet?Joining Kieran to discuss is Pete Wedderburn, also known as ‘Pete the Vet’!

It’s time for the Shopping Trolley Hotline! Where we review the same product from various stores and brands.This week, Newstalk’s Simon Tierney joined Kieran Cuddihy to try different kinds of porridge!

Ahead of his ‘An Evening with Michael Harding’ tour, Author and Columnist with Irish Times, Michael Harding, joins Kieran to discuss the value you can gain from conversations…

Firefighters in California are struggling to contain wildfires burning around Los Angeles.A state of emergency has been declared, as around 30-thousand people have been ordered to leave their homes in the exclusive suburb of Pacific Palisades…Executive Vice-President of the Golden Globes, Tim Gray, joins Kieran to discuss what it’s like on the ground.Image: Reuters

Temperatures are set to get as low as –8 degrees tonight, with an orange weather warning in place from 6pm this evening for 25 counties…Kieran is joined by Tom Brosnan, Civil Defence Officer in Kerry to discuss conditions in his area, and Newstalk’s Henry McKean and Barry Whyte join to give the latest updates.

For this week’s Tech Takeover, Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent Jess Kelly joins Kieran after visiting the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas! She discusses some of the big things on show there.Image: Reuters

When you hear of an Irish stew, you may think of the traditional Irish dish, but it's far more than that! Instead, it's an award-winning podcast – shortlisted for another title at the Irish Pod Awards – made by Irishman Martin Nutty, and Irish-American John Lee about everything about the global Irish.The hosts, John and Martin, join Kieran to chat on what’s been happening stateside.

“The heart of rural Ireland has stopped beating and without a whimper of protest”… Those are the sentiments of Consultant Historian, Dr. Liam A. Heffron, who wrote recently in the Western People about his experience of rural decline in Ireland.So it begs the question: is rural Ireland in trouble?Dr. Liam A. Heffron joins Kieran to discuss. Also joining later is David Brady, former Mayo GAA footballer and Pauline O’Reilly, Green Party Senator.

Joining Kieran this week to put his favourite book on The Hard Shoulder’s Bookshelf is Conor Niland, former professional tennis player and author of the new book: ‘The Racket, On Tour with Tennis’s Golden Generation-and the other 99%’.

Temperatures continue to drop as the cold snap remains. While local authorities are doing everything at their disposal, people are having real trouble up and down the country.Joining Kieran to give an insight into how people are managing is Councilor Liam Galvin from Limerick, and Declan Gorman, the Director of Centre Ground Gritting.Henry McKean also joins Kieran from Charleville in Cork to discuss how the people there have been impacted.

For New Year's resolutions, people take a wealth of challenges to start running, maybe picking up an instrument, or even learning a language.Well, for the new year, Kieran is embarking on a new challenge called 100 days of Gaelige, in which will try to use cúpla focail every day for the next three months.To help Kieran embark on this journey, he’s joined by Louise Cantillon, Today FM Presenter and host of the How To Gael Podcast, Derek Hollingsworth, Creator of 100 days of Gaeilge and founder of Pobail Gaeilge 15 and Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh, RTÉ Presenter.

Elon Musk has called for Nigel Farage to be replaced as leader of Reform UK this weekend - just weeks after reports that he was in talks to donate to the party.He has also tweeted ‘Free Tommy Robinson’, as he continues to serve an 18 month sentence for contempt of court.Political Commentator Adam Boulton joins Kieran to discuss.Image: Reuters

It's a new year, and that means new rates for insurance companies – with health insurance in particular set to increase.Joining Kieran to discuss and give his top tips on keeping your premiums as low as possible is Dermot Goode from totalhealthcover.ie, a part of the Lockton Group.

Post-Christmas, getting your kids to sleep on a more regular schedule can become difficult. So, for this week’s Kids Health Check, Kieran is joined by Erica Hargaden, founder of Babogue & Expert Sleep Consultant to discuss what you can do to help the process.

Disruption continues across the country thanks to the snow and cold weather.Newstalk Reporter Josh Crosbie joins Kieran to share what he’s seen and heard from mountain rescue services in Wicklow as well how passengers are dealing with train delays in Heuston Station.

Last week, it was agreed by stakeholders engaged in the construction of the national children’s hospital that it would be completed by June 2025. The project has been engulfed in controversy over its cost.Kevin Doyle, Group Head of News at the Irish independent has firsthand experience of how badly the children of Ireland need new healthcare facilities.He, as well as Paul Davis, Procurement Lecturer at the School of Business in DCU, join Kieran to discuss.

Following a conversation on the Pat Kenny Show last week on the European Commission tightening restrictions on Retinol, influencer Holly Carpenter hit back at host Jonathan Healy for saying that we were being “influenced by eejits”.So, what kind of advertising standards do influencers have? Joining Kieran to discuss is Holly Carpenter, Social Media Content Creator and Alexandra Ryan, CEO of Goss.ie.

This week guest host Adrian Kennedy was joined by the presenter of Fully Charged on Spin1038 Aisling Bonner and Saoirse Hanley, Features writer at the Independent to look back on the week that was, but with a few twists…

With the Christmas season over - you may find yourself with gifts that aren’t exactly to your liking. So, what do you do? Do you keep them out of politeness, or do you get rid of them?Henry McKean has been out asking the public, and joins guest host Adrian Kennedy to discuss.

A lot of people have been in and out of Dublin City the last few weeks, but does Dublin city need City Wardens, and what exactly would they do?Joining guest host Adrian Kennedy is Kevin Byrne, candidate for the Trinity Seanad Election.

In recent months, Elon Musk has been very vocal on X, formerly Twitter, about various political issues both in the US and Europe. But, is his behaviour on X dangerous?John O’Brennan, Professor in European Politics in Maynooth University and Eoin O’Malley, Associate Professor of Politics at DCU join guest host Adrian Kennedy to discuss.

It might be one of your New Year’s Resolutions to read more. Well, Ciara Treacy from Newstalk’s Digital Team joins guest host Adrian Kennedy to give her recommendations from books released in 2024!

Caroline Vakil, Campaign Reporter for The Hill, joins guest host Adrian Kennedy to discuss some of the biggest stories happening in the United States: the tragic attack in New Orleans, the Cybertruck explosion outside Trump’s Vegas hotel and the race for US House Speaker.Image: Reuters

Sexually Transmitted Infections, or STIs, were on the rise in 2024 – showing worrying signs. It follows a huge uptick the year before, with Ireland not set to reach its target of eliminating sexual diseases by 2030.Joining Adrian Kennedy to discuss the increase is Dr. Derek Freedman – a Specialist Consultant in Sexual Health and Sexually Transmitted Diseases based in Ranelagh.

Following on from the financial splurge of Christmas, many people are left wondering how to get their finances back in shape for 2025. Thankfully, we’ve got you covered!Joining guest host Adrian Kennedy to give his top tips is Robert Whelan, the Managing Director of Rockwell Financial Management.

Despite any excitement when it comes to the potential for snow, this upcoming cold snap can have serious effects – especially on older people. ALONE, the charity that helps older people age at home, has called for older people to seek all available supports during this period.Joining guest host Adrian Kennedy to discuss is Sean Moynihan, the CEO of ALONE, and to give an update on what we should expect from the weather is Joanna Donnelly, Met Éireann Meteorologist.

Has Ireland become too woke? Guest host Adrian Kennedy’s guest argues that Ireland is now the epicentre of wokeness.Irish Independent Columnist, Ian O’Doherty, joins to discuss.

It’s the Rewind 1990 with Henry McKean, where he speaks to the change makers from that year, and looks back on its biggest moments.

Christmas, as we know, is harmonious with the turkey and the Christmas trifle… but also, for the cheese board!Kieran is joined by Julie Walker, Area Sales Manager for the Traditional Cheese Company, to discuss how you can make the perfect cheese board for Christmas.

For this week’s Kids Health Check, Psychotherapist and author Iseult White joins Kieran to discuss how you can handle sharing with your children. With Christmas looming, you can run into issues of toys being hoarded!

It is officially Christmas, and you will know Kieran’s guest from some of the most iconic family movies, including Miracle on 34th Street and Matilda…Mara Wilson joins Kieran to chat!

Christmas is just around the corner, and joining Kieran to discuss Pagan and early-Christian Christmas is Blindboyboatclub!

With only two sleeps left until Christmas, you are sure to hear the likes of Last Christmas and many other festive songs everywhere you go. So, do they become annoying? Or are you all for the seasonal sounds?Joining Kieran to discuss are comedians Katherine Lynch and Steve Cummins.

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

A US government shutdown is fast-approaching after the House of Representatives voted against a Donald Trump-backed spending bill last night.If no deal is agreed by midnight local time tonight, some federal services will begin shutting down from the early hours…Spokesperson for Republicans Overseas UK, Jennifer Ewing, joins Kieran to discuss.

With only a few days to go, Aisling Larkin, Mindful Eating Coach and TV Chef joined Kieran to give her top tips for the perfect Christmas dinner.

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…

It's set to be the busiest day of the year in Dublin Airport today, with 93,000 passengers travelling through both terminals. However, the total number of travellers is down by 90,000 this festive season due to the passenger cap. Will we see the passenger cap lifted in the next 12 months?Joining Kieran to discuss is Travel Journalist Eoghan Corry and Ulick McEvaddy, Aviation Entrepreneur and Businessman.

According to recent research, your Christmas tree decorations harbour 5 times as many germs as your toilet seat!Joining Kieran for more on this is Dr Amalia Scannell, Microbiologist in the UCD Institute of Food and Health…

With singer Daniel O’Donnell issuing a warning over people impersonating him for money - there are scams going around this year that you should look out for.Sinead Ryan, Journalist with the Irish Independent and host of the Home Show on Newstalk joins Kieran to give her top tips.

It’s only a few days away until Christmas, and it’s getting down to the wire of last minute presents, the food shop and getting the house ready. But, who is doing the brunt of this work?Tanya Sweeney is writing about this today in the Independent, and says the woman still takes on the burden of all of this, but is that true?Comedian Jim Elliott and Aideen Finnegan, Journalist and producer of the Conversations With Parents Podcast join Kieran to discuss.

Jacqueline Smyth, Tusla National Lead for Foster Care joins Kieran to discuss the shortage in foster care they are experiencing…