The Hard Shoulder

Live from Malmö, Newstalk Reporter Henry McKean speaks with Ireland's 2024 Eurovision entrant Bambie Thug ahead of their performance on the Swedish stage.Henry shares with Kieran all the emotions that the artist is feeling about competing, representing the non-binary community and Johnny Logan. Image credit: Image credit: Corinne Cumming/EBU

The Minister for Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue, is to bring in new regulations to ban the use of electric dog collars. Electric fences will not be included in the ban and pet owners who already use remote controlled electric collars will not be required to remove them. Kieran is joined by City Vet in Limerick Donal Ryan to learn more about shock collars.

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s catch-up on the day's news. Today, Kieran was joined by Nigel Dugdale, News Reporter at Live95, and Broadcaster Meghann Scully. Image credit: Rollingnews.ie

Every week Kieran Cuddihy will be joined by writer and broadcaster, Keith Walsh and the presenter of Weekend Breakfast on Today FM, Alison Curtis to look back on the week that was, but with a few twists…

A new study has found that beer is more enjoyable when served cold. That might seem obvious to you, but not everywhere serves it that way. The report also says that we should be chilling red wines and warming whites a bit more...so what is the correct way? Joining Kieran to give their expert guidance is Dean McGuinness, MD of Premier International Beer, and Brigid O’Hora, from @brideys_wine_chats on instagram.

Aisling Larkin, Mindful Eating Coach and TV Chef joined Kieran to chat about Tex-Mex! Not so much the authenticity, but the benefits you can get with the cuisine.

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…

An Taoiseach Simon Harris says people's families and homes should be out of bounds after protesters held up placards right outside his house last night. 16 protesters held signs which said 'South Dublin Says No Close The Borders'. Even though it was in Wicklow…To discuss further, Kieran is joined by Henry McKean.

Kieran is joined by Trisha Lewis (@trishas.transformation on Instagram) to talk about her own weightloss journey as well as what the ‘Wellfest’ event is all about.Image: wellfest.ie

Dating app, Bumble, made some changes this week which means women no longer have to make the first move! But are Gen Z engaging with dating apps the way they used to? Joining Kieran to discuss is Newstalk’s own Sheila Naughton... 

Trinity students have been fined €214,000 over recent protests. The students, who did so in retaliation to increased programme costs, have been fined as Trinity says the disruptive protests held outside the Book of Kells results in a loss of income for them.Gary Gannon, Social Democrats Education Spokesperson, believes this is an attempt by TCD to “suppress” student protests. He joins Kieran to discuss this, as well as the recent protests occuring outside politicians' homes.

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s catch-up on the day's news.Today, Kieran was joined by Ian Power,CEO of SpunOut and Sinead Ryan, Consumer Columnist with the Irish Independent and the Presenter of The Home Show on Newstalk. Image: Alma Bengtsson / EBU

It's one of the world's fastest growing sports - with investors like Bill Gates and fans like Taylor Swift.But just what is pickleball and who are the growing community of Irish "picklers"?Newstalk's Sarah Madden reports

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. He joins Kieran to discuss US politics and to chat about the multitude of arrests made at Pro-Palestine college protests.Image: Wisconsin State Journal

The skies of Laois have been closed for air traffic - but why? There is a rocket launch competition happening in Emo Court! Students are taking part in this regional competition to build and launch CanSat's.Kieran is joined by Danielle Willcock, Telescope Operator from Blackrock Castle Observatory and finalist Justin Jahima to learn more.

A new survey from the University of Galway finds that while teenagers are more physically healthy (with less alcohol and tobacco usage), their mental health has gone down.We wanted to speak to the people that this survey represents and hear from them what it’s like being a teenager today.  Kieran is joined by Richard Hogan, Family Psychologist and Columnist with The Irish Examiner to discuss and also speaks with Luke, Aoibhinn, Lenus and Ciara, who are all transition year students.

Summer is here! You might be thinking about doing up the house: a sky light in the kitchen or a gate in your garden... but what do we need planning permission for?  Joining Kieran to discuss is Managing Director for planning from CWPA in Swords and former Irish Planning Institute President, Joe Corr.

Now, an unannounced inspection conducted by HIQA (Health Information and Quality Authority) found that UHL (University Hospital Limerick) is not “fully managing” the risk to its patients in the hospital amidst overcrowding. Melanie Cleary knows this situation well, when her daughter needed to attend the hospital after a fall. She died only hours after UHL discharged her.  Melanie joins Kieran to discuss.

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s catch-up on the day's news.Today, Kieran was joined by Shane Hannon, Presenter from Off The Ball and Jen Hogan, Columnist with the Irish Times.

Newstalk Reporter Josh Crosbie joins Kieran after going to Poland with Iarnród Éireann to check out their new fleet of electrified trains.They discuss what we expect to see from the Dart+ Programme.

Newstalk's own, Simon Tierney joined Kieran Cuddihy for the series 'The Shopping Trolley Hotline'. The series will give listeners pause when they’re filling their trolleys, to consider their options. This week Simon brought a selection of milk alternatives.

An EU Ban on smoky flavourings could see us lose out on some of our much-loved foods and brands in ham, bacon and crisps. This ban could also have an economic impact on our food sector.  Jack Power, European Correspondent with Irish Times joins Kieran to discuss.Image: Tayto

This is The Soapbox. Today, Kieran was joined by Shane Ross, former Minister of Transport, to discuss road deaths.

Concerns are being raised about the lack of recycling of our electrical goods, as they impact our environment and pose a significant fire risk.  What can be recycled when it comes to your techy items, and what do you do with them? Elizabeth O’Reilly Head of Environmental Compliance at WEEE Ireland joins Kieran to discuss.

Jess Kelly, Newstalk Technology Correspondent joined Kieran for the Tech Takeover. This week, Jess recommends the best way to print the photos contained in your phone. She also gives a TLDR on Elon Musk’s claims for Tesla’s self-driving capabilities.

St David’s, an all boys school in Artane, is to start accepting girls this September. But what is the transition like into a co-educational school from single sex?  To discuss, Kieran is joined by Aaron Wolfe, Principal of Colaiste Eamonn Rís in Cork, whose school began accepting girls in 2019.

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly joins Kieran to discuss safe access zones, protests and hospital appointment no-shows.

As the election cycle comes into full swing for the local, European and mayoral elections in Limerick, we are going to be bringing you tons of coverage over the next coming weeks.  To kick things off, we wanted to ask the question about our local government here in Ireland. How does it shape up to modern Ireland, and do we need to do more to empower local councils and authorities?  Conor Skehan, Sunday Independent columnist and former Chair of the Housing Agency and Hazel Chu, Former Lord Mayor of Dublin and Dublin City Councillor join Kieran to discuss.

The tents outside the International Protection Office on Mount Street have been removed and asylum seekers have been moved to Crooksling and City West.  Kieran is joined by Newstalk Reporter Stephanie Rohan and Newstalk’s Chief Reporter Barry White to discuss what they learned at Mount Street, Crooksling and CityWest.

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s catch-up on the day's news.Today, Kieran was joined by Brian Mahon, Political Correspondent with the Irish Daily Mail and Brianna Parkins, Journalist and columnist with the Irish Times.

Demand for parking at Dublin Airport has soared ahead of the May Bank Holiday weekend. Spaces are now at a very limited capacity ahead of a surge in travel. The issue has frustrated both passengers and nearby Swords residents alike. Joining Kieran to discuss is Swords councillor Joe Newman, who says there is a dire need for a privately owned car park at Dublin Airport.

This is The Soapbox. Today, Kieran was joined by Mick Barry, Socialist TD for Cork North Central to talk about why we should keep rent pressure zones.

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform of Ireland Paschal Donohoe joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss some of his favourite books…Favourite Book: Solar Bones by Mike McCormack  Honourable Mention : On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder Currently Reading: Yellen by Jon Hilsenrath 

Tensions are still rumbling on today between the UK and Ireland on the number of asylum seekers coming to Ireland through the north Should the UK accept the return of asylum seekers?Kieran is joined by Former UK MP and minister, Edwina Currie to discuss.

If you can believe it, it’s been 30 years since Riverdance first debuted on the Eurovision stage in 1994. Kieran is joined by composer Bill Whelan to discuss the impact it has had.

In France it has been proposed that those missing GP appointments should be fined €5.  According to figures we have gotten from the HSE, 513,343 outpatient appointments went unattended last year. Joining Kieran to discuss is Consultant psychiatrist, Chair of the IMO’s Consultants Committee, Matthew Sadlier and former HSE Director of Digital Transformation, Professor Martin Curley. 

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s catch-up on the day's news.Today, Kieran was joined by Michael Kelly, Journalist and Former Editor of the Irish Catholic and Mary McCarthy, Columnist with the Irish Independent.

Do you often forget where you last put your keys or wallet? Well, the good news is that you are not losing your memories! According to two scientists, it’s just how our brains work.  So how do memories work exactly?  Brendan Kelly, Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin and Author of “Resilience: Lessons from Sir William Wilde on Life After Covid” joins Jonathan to discuss.

A study suggests that we inherit surprisingly little of our parents personality, and we are only slightly more likely to have the same temperament with our siblings than a stranger walking down the street. To discuss further, Jonathan is joined by Henry McKean, who was asking public if we truly are like our parents.

This is The Soapbox. Today, Jonathan was joined by the Artistic Director of Dublin Theatre Festival to talk about people illegally parking around Dublin City.

This week in our Kid's Health Check, Dr Suzanne Crowe, Consultant in Paediatric Intensive Care at Crumlin Children’s Hospital joined Jonathan to chat about why helmets are important for children.

A “robust” age verification system for social media companies needs to be introduced and enforced. That is the call in a letter from Education Minister Norma Foley to the Online Safety Commissioner Niamh Hodnett. Jess Kelly, Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent joins Jonathan to discuss.

It appears the row between Ireland and the UK over migration has deepened after a planned meeting over the issue today between Justice Minister Helen McEntee and UK Home Secretary James Cleverly was cancelled. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has told ITV today he has no interest in any migrant return scheme with Ireland. To discuss Jonathan is joined by John O’Brennan, Professor of European Politics at Maynooth University and Dermot Murnaghan, Journalist and Broadcaster.

At Aontú’s Ard Fheis over the weekend Peadar Toibin made calls for Ireland to have an ‘...international city in Ireland beyond the M50’.  So, what would attract international companies to cities outside of Dublin ?  Joining Jonathan to discuss is Economist and Co-Director of the Spatial and Regional Economics Research Centre at Cork University Business School, Dr Frank Crowley.

The Department of Education has removed ‘Complex Needs’ from the criteria for the allocation of special education hours for schools. This has caused outrage among parents and school staff as students’ allocated hours have been cut.  Jonathan is joined by Primary school principal and host of the ‘If I Were The Minister for Education’ podcast, Simon Lewis and Director and Co-Chair of NeuroDiversity Ireland, Nessa Hill to discuss.

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s catch-up on the day's news.Today, guest host Jonathan Healy was joined by Senior Reporter with the Irish Examiner, Liz Dunphy and Presenter of The Neil Prendeville Show on Red FM, Neil Prendeville.

Today is Wish Day! Newstalk is partnering with Make-A-Wish Ireland to celebrate Wish Week. Join us all week as we talk to some incredible children and their courageous families, and hear how Make-A-Wish Ireland have been beacons of light for children facing the toughest battles of their lives.  Make-A-Wish Ireland is dependent on the generosity of the public. You can donate online at makeawish.ie/donate.  Kieran is joined by Catherine and her son Billy. Billy is a 15 year old Boxing fan whose wish to see Katie Taylor fight in person was made true.

Kieran Cuddihy is joined by comedian Steve Cummins and Features Writer with the Irish Independent Saoirse Hanley to look back on the week that was, but with a few twists…

The traditional catholic wedding is on the drop! That’s according to the CSO figures for weddings in 2023. But, why are people choosing alternative options for their big day? And what are the benefits of weddings outside the church? Ruth Scott, Radio Presenter and Humanist celebrant joins Kieran to discuss.

Newstalk reporter Josh Crosbie joins Kieran from Newtownmountkennedy following the protest that occurred at a site earmarked to accommodate international protection applicants. He spoke with people in the town to hear their takes.