The Hard Shoulder

The annual Ireland: Gateway to Europe trip to the US is underway.Now in its 12th year, it comprises an annual trade mission of 50 business leaders and Irish media to key cities across North America – this year, it’s Atlanta, Austin and Boston and Kieran Cuddihy has travelled along with them.Two of the people behind the initiative, Adie McGennis, Chairman of Sigmar Recruitment and Robert MacGiolla Phádraig, founder of the Talent Summit and CEO of SkillStack, talk to Kieran.

Every night, 1.5 million bats come out from under Congress bridge in Austin, Texas. Kieran is there with Newstalk’s Jess Kelly to witness the spectacle and also talk to a few locals about the city.Image: Austin City Guide

A topic of contention here in the US, and particularly here in Texas is Abortion  In 2022 Roe Vs Wade was overturned making abortion illegal again...  Joining Kieran to discuss the change since and the topic of abortion is Communications Director for Texas Alliance for Life, Amy O’Donnell.

As you may know there is a strong Irish community in Austin and it even has close ties to the city of Limerick...  Joining Kieran are some Irish expats in Austin: CEO and co-founder of Crushing Tigers, Pat Doab and Marketing Manager in Dell Technologies, Sarah Perry. 

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s catch-up on the day's news. Today, Kieran was joined in Austin, Texas by Renzo Downey, Political Reporter with the Texas Tribune and Jess Kelly, Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent and presenter of Tech Talk.

While conversations around recruitment and retention in the Gardaí rage on at home, issues around police shortages in Austin are also an issue; with officers' numbers dwindling as the role is no longer as attractive as it once was.  Michael Bullock, President of the Austin Police Association joins Kieran to discuss.

Donald Trump made history today by being the first former president to go to trial over an alleged crime.  Trump is in court today over allegations that he falsified business records around hush money paid to adult film actor Stormy Daniels.  Anthony Zurcher, BBC North American Correspondent joins Jonathan to discuss. 

The Transport Research Arena is taking place in the RDS this week, where experts will discuss the future of travel and what more we could be doing in Ireland. To speak more on the topic is EY’s Global Transport Leader, Tony Canavan, who joins Jonathan.

To encourage football fans to ‘talk more’ with one another, Three Ireland have reached out to former Republic of Ireland captain, former Chelsea footballer and pundit, Andy Townsend to talk about the importance of speaking out when it comes to mental health.  The campaign is called #TalkMoreThanFootball and Andy joins Jonathan to discuss.Image credit: Jonesy702 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=86533444

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 safe sleeping for babies.

Earlier today, Henry McKean chatted to Newstalk Breakfast about the nationwide issue of potholes. And continuing from that conversation, Jonathan is joined by the Director of Service Stop LTD in North County Dublin, David Corbally, to chat about the damages and costs that can be incurred through hitting potholes.

On Saturday, Iran launched an attack on Israel, escalating conflict in the Middle East and leaving the world waiting for how Tel Aviv will respond to the attacks. Joining Jonathan with the latest is President of the U.S. / Middle East Project and Former Israeli Peace Negotiator, Daniel Levy & Middle East Correspondent for The Economist, Greg Carlstrom. 

A new study found that children who live near green spaces have less anxiety and emotional issues.  How important are green spaces to communities, and why do we need more of them?Joanna Fortune, Clinical Psychotherapist At the Solamh Clinic and Tom Magee, Liberty Saints Rugby Club President join Jonathan to discuss.

A further 900 schools have now been approved as a part of the Hot Meals programme.  With over 2000 schools now eligible to apply to this extension, it will see over 150,000 benefits from the programme. Heather Humphreys, Minister for Social Protection joins Jonathan 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 Brian Mahon, Political Correspondent with the Irish Daily Mail and Sinead Ryan, Consumer Columnist with the Irish Independent and the Presenter of The Home Show at Newstalk.

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..

Aisling Larkin, Mindful Eating Coach and TV Chef joined Kieran today to chat about alliums and Three Cornered Leeks…

How important is laughter to our general health and wellbeing? Kieran was joined by Dr Sabina Brennan , Chartered Psychologist and Neuroscientist to discuss...

It is almost one year since Gerard ‘The Monk’ Hutch walked free from the Special Criminal Court after being acquitted of murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel.  Next Wednesday marks the anniversary of Gerard Hutch’s acquittal and Paul Williams, Crime Journalist with the Irish Independent joined Kieran to discuss…

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…

A Dublin pub has been getting a bit of flack online for its choice of name and shop front.  Biddy Mulligans Old Ale and Stale house, formally the Sackville Lounge, has been criticized online by Dubliners who feel the new signage and name is appealing to tourists which is a move away from its traditional pub roots.  Bobby Gainer Last operator of the Sackville Lounge and Roy Curtis, Sportswriter Sunday World joined Kieran to discuss...

Kieran was joined by Michael McGrath, Minister for Finance and Fianna Fail TD for Cork South Central ahead of the Fianna Fáil Árd Fheis…

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s catch-up on the day's news. Today, Kieran Cuddihy was joined by Gerard Howlin  Public Affairs consultant and Irish Times columnist and Laura Donnelly, Bauer Media Group News Editor…

Today mark’s World Parkinson's Disease Day, an illness that effects more then 15,000 people in Ireland.  Kieran was joined by Shane O’Brien CEO of Parkinson's Ireland and Sinead O’Kane who was diagnosed at the age of 39...

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 wheat breakfasts cereals...

More than 1,600 students attended a road safety event in Co Mayo today.Frontline workers and survivors highlighted the impact road deaths can have at the AXA Road Safe Roadshow at the TF Royal Theatre. Newstalk reporter, Josh Crosbie spoke to the students and those taking part.

Jess Kelly, Newstalk Technology Correspondent joined Anton for the Tech Takeover. This week Jess looked at the crackdown on password sharing by Disney+...

It is setting up to be a bumper here for elections in Ireland but it is the same story here in the US with Trump and Biden set to battle it out for the US Presidency in November.  What are some of the issues which will play the most important part in this coming election cycle and what roadblocks lie ahead for the candidates? Kieran is joined by Niall Swan, an Irish Democrat in Austin, to discuss.

This is The Soapbox. Today, Kieran was joined by Sadhbh O’Neill, Senior climate advisor for Friends of the Earth to discuss why the electorate is now caring more for climate...Image: Sadhbh O’Neill

Mick Clifford, Special Correspondent The Irish Examiner joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss some of his favourite books...

Simon Harris was elected Taoiseach earlier this afternoon. Kieran was joined by Political Editor with the Irish Independent, Philip Ryan, Fine Gael Justice Spokesperson and senator, Barry Ward and Sinn Fein Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Defence, Matt Carthy...

This week there has been much talk of this new airport to be build in Arklow. Middle Eastern investors have secured 600 acres at the Wicklow site with plans to build the East Leinster International Airport   What other mad ideas have people tried to build in Ireland? Newstalk's Simon Tierney has been looking in to this and he joined Kieran to discuss...

Outgoing Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in his farewell speech made some interesting comments around Ireland’s defence strategy.But how prepared is Ireland for such an attack and is our Defence Forces up to scratch if needs be?  Kieran was joined by Conor King Lieutenant Colonel, and General Secretary of RACO and Patrick Bury, Senior Security lecturer at the University of Bath, former NATO analyst and army officer...

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s catch-up on the day's news. Today, Kieran Cuddihy was joined by John Lee, Executive Editor of the Irish Daily Mail and Stefanie Preissner, writer and broadcaster to discuss...

This is The Soapbox. Today, Kieran was joined by Shane O'Donoghue, Editor of CompleteCar.ie  to discuss why the rules of the road are important...

It's International Romani Day. Henry McKean met the Roma community up and down the country to find out about their culture...

This week in our Kid's Health Check, Lucy Perrem, Paediatric Respiratory Consultant with Children’s Health Ireland and Member of the Asthma Society of Ireland’s Medical Advisory Group joined Kieran to chat about asthma in children...

Today is Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s last day in the role.  Minister Simon Harris is set to take the hot seat tomorrow but what challenges lay ahead for the incoming Taoiseach Kieran was joined by Alison O'Connor Columnist with Sunday Times and Broadcaster and Fionnan Sheahan Ireland Editor with the Irish Independent joins me now... 

The Dublin Fruit and Veg Market is set to reopen in August 2026 according to Dublin City Council chief executive Richard Shakespeare.The building has only been used since private events since 2018. Does Dublin need a commercial food market and how will it compare to those abroad?  Kieran was joined by Social Democrat TD, Gary Gannon and CEO of The Temple Bar Trading Company, Martin Harte... 

Tomorrow is a seismic day for Ireland as Simon Harris gets set to take over as Taoiseach and if his speech at this past weekend’s Ard Fheis is anything to go by he is hoping to achieve big things in his short tenure. He also spoke about law and order, health and  a lot more – however today marks Leo Varadkar’s last day as Taoiseach as he prepares to resign this evening. Today he was undertaking his final engagements in the job as the North South Ministerial Council. He says Stormont shouldn't be impacted by such disruptions.For more on this, Kieran was joined by Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to discuss...

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s catch-up on the day's news. Today, Kieran Cuddihy was joined by Kieran Cunningham, Chief Sports Writer with Irish Daily Star and Wendy Grace, Broadcaster and Columnist...

It's been 30 years since the world lost one of its most iconic and enigmatic figures, Kurt Cobain, the frontman of Nirvana.Buzz O'Neill, the nightlclub promoter and Morty McCarthy, from The Sultans of Ping joined Kieran to discuss...

Aisling Larkin, Mindful Eating Coach and TV Chef joined Kieran today to chat about lamb...

It is 10 years since An Garda Síochána went through one of its most turbulent times that saw the then Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan resign from his top position.  Many will remember he stood down due to his handling of information from whistleblowers Maurice McCabe and John WIlson, and the controversies over the wiping of driver penalty points.  Mick Clifford, Special Correspondent with The Irish Examiner joined Kieran Cuddihy to discuss...

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...

Blind Date is set to make a return on the BBC, with Claudia Winkleman set to present. Kieran was joined by presenter and architect on RTÉ’s Room to Improve and former Blind Date contestant, Dermot Bannon to discuss his time on the show. Dermot also discussed the RIAI Simon Open Door campaign... 

Storm Kathleen is set strike tomorrow morning with Orange Weather status set for several counties accross Ireland.  It seems like there has been no let up for farmers across the country as the poor conditions hit hard on their work.  Kieran was joined by Ivan Curran, Broadleas Farm, Stamullen, Co Meath, Hannah Quinn Mulligan Journalist and farmer and Edward Hayden TV Chef and Culinary Lecturer...

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s catch-up on the day's news. Today, Anton was joined by Meghan Scully, Broadcaster and Conor Lally, Irish Times Crime and Security Editor... 

As it is election year in the US, every Thursday here on the Hard Shoulder we are going to get the latest from the campaign trail. Kieran was joined by Jeff Kuhner, Host of The Kuhner Report on WRKO AM680 Radio in Boston... 

A new study has revealed that a United Ireland will cost €20 billion a year for 20 years. That is according to a new research paper by the Institute of International and European Affairs think-tank.  But are these figures accurate and is unification worth the cost? Kieran was joined by Editor of An Phoblacht and the former General Secretary of Sinn Féin, Robbie Smyth and Newstalk Business Editor, Joe Lynam to discuss...