The Hard Shoulder

Aisling Larkin, Mindful Eating Coach and TV Chef joined Kieran today to chat through some of her top tips for Christmas dinner...

Off The Ball's Mick McCarthy joined Kieran Cuddihy on The Hard Shoulder to review the week in sport and look ahead to the weekend action...

The young are caught in a grotesquely unfair trap, those are the words from Gerard Howlin in the Irish Times today. According to his piece, more needs to be asked of the older generation as with declining birthrates and an increasingly ageing population, there is a going to be a massive financial burden place on younger generations. Gerard Howlin, Public Affairs consultant and Irish Times columnist joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder today...

Room to Improve is back for another season this Sunday on RTÉ One.Kieran was joined in studio by Dermot Bannon and Claire Irwin to chat about what to expect from the new season...Image: RTÉ

The Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue speaking to the Irish Examiner has said restaurants and food outlets need to cut down on the amount of food they put on customers plates to reduce waste. He also wants to ban the doggy bag. Newstalk's Henry McKean joined Kieran with this report...

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s daily catch up on the day's news. Today, Kieran was joined by Niamh Maher, Commercial Creative Director with Journal Media and Laura Donnelly, News Editor and Anchor with Baure Media Group... 

Details are continuing to emerge on what the upcoming review in to Ireland’s handling of the Covid pandemic might look like. The Irish Times today reporting that the inquiry is likely to hear from frontline health workers and families who lost loved ones. It also says the inquiry is expected to last around 18 months.Kieran was joined by Kingston Mills, Professor of Experimental Immunology at Trinity College Dublin and Mervyn Taylor, CEO of Sage Advocacy, National advocacy service for older people to discuss...

Kieran was joined on The Hard Shoulder by Dr. Harriet Treacy, founder of Beyond BMI, who believes that obesity management has been hijacked by the beach body industry rather than having a medical approach to the disease 

Court records that were used to prosecute Jeffery Epstein's girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell have been released  The documents detail the personal connections Epstain had to Prince Andrew, Bill Clinton and Stephen Hawking. Kieran was joined from New York by legal reporter with Bloomberg News Ava Benny Morrison...

Details are continuing to emerge on what the upcoming review in to Ireland’s handling of the Covid pandemic might look like. The Irish Times today reporting that the inquiry is likely to hear from frontline health workers and families who lost loved ones. It also says the inquiry is expected to last around 18 months. Kieran was joined by Professor Sam McConkey Infectious Disease Specialist at the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland and Michael McNamara - Independent TD for Clare and former chair of Oireachtas Covid Committee to discuss...

It appears 007 is about to come with a trigger warning.  At a new season of classic movies at the British Film Insititute in London, all Bond films have the following warning - “Please note that many of these films contain language, images or other content that reflect views prevalent in its time, but will cause offence today.” John Fardy, Presenter of Screentime on Newstalk

According to the National Car Testing Service, nearly half of all 1.5 million cars failed their NCT last year.  Why is this the case and does the NCT system need some revision or changes?  Kieran was joined by Conor Faughnan, Transport Commentator and Michael Collins Independent TD

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s daily catch up on the day's news. Today, Kieran was joined by Fionnán Sheehan Ireland Editor at the Irish Independent and Shane Hannon, Presenter from Off The Ball to chat through today's top stories...

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 new year. This week Simon and Kieran put a variety of non-alcoholic beers to the test...

That was the moment that 16 year old sensation Luke Littler reached the World Championship Darts final last night. Can he go one step further at the Alexandra Palace in London and beat World Number 1 Luke Humphreys to become the World Champion? Laura Turner, Darts player and Sky commentator joined Kieran to discuss...

Today the CSO released their year review of 2023 to paint a picture of Ireland and how it did overall with regards to personal finances, inflation, mortgage rates, housing, cost of living, gender-based violence...you name it Kieran was joined by Dan O’Brien, Chief Economist of the Institute of International and European Affairs and John Fitzgerald, Adjunct Professor in Economics at Trinty College Dublin...

It’s a new year so what better time to get your finances in order. Kieran was joined by Eoin McGee, Financial Planner and the presenter of new RTÉ TV show The Complaints Bureau... 

In 2018 the HSE recommended that hospitals should have a parking cap of 10 euros per day  2024 is upon us. And the introduction of the cap is set to be delayed even further  CEO of the Irish Cancer Society Averil Power and John Wall, Cancer survivor and advocate joined Kieran to discuss...

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s daily catch up on the day's news. Today, Kieran was joined by Aideen Finnegan, Podcast Producer with the Irish Times and Ian O’Doherty, Columnist with the Irish Independent...

Micheál Martin has said it is not feasible to ban children from using social media, but said the government could be stronger in warning of its hazards and spoke about social ‘contracts’ schools could adopt when dealing with the use of their students and social media Should social media be banned to certain age groups or what are the best ways to tackle the dangers that come with it to aid our children Kieran was joined by Stella O Malley, Psychotherapist and Author of 'What your teen is trying to tell you'...

Alice Leahy, from the Alice Leahy Trust joined Kieran Cuddihy on The Hard Shoulder to discuss some of her favourite books...

Investigations are continuing into a fire at a disused pub in Ringsend in Dublin that had been earmarked for use for homeless accommodation. Speculation in the area had suggested the site could be used for refugee accommodation while local councillors have criticised the lack of communication from the Dublin Region Homeless Executive. Kieran was joined by Teresa Buckowska, formerly of the Immigration Council of Ireland and migrants rights expert...

Micheál Martin has said it is not feasible to ban children from using social media, but said the government could be stronger in warning of its hazards and spoke about social ‘contracts’ schools could adopt when dealing with the use of their students and social media Are the government doing enough? Are we at a crisis point when to comes to our children and their access and usage of social media? Kieran was joined by Jen Hogan, Journalist and Columnist with The Irish Times and Philip Arneill Head of Education at CyberSafeKids...  

Israel has confirmed it is pulling some of its forces out of Gaza but it does appear there is no end in sight for the war with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggesting the war will last “many months.” Kieran was joined by General Sir Richard Barrons who previously served as one of the six ‘Chiefs of Staff’ leading the UK Armed Forces and is now the co chairman of Universal Defence and Security Solutions...

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s daily catch up on the news. Today, Kieran was joined by Daniel McConnell, Editor of the Business Post and Sean O’Regan, Newstalk reporter.... 

Kieran Cuddihy was joined by writer and broadcaster, Keith Walsh and the presenter of Weekend Breakfast on Today FM, Alison Curtis and Comedian Jim Elliott to look back on the year of 2023...

Aisling Larkin, Mindful Eating Coach and TV Chef joined Kieran today to chat through some of her top tips for Christmas dinner...

As we wind up for the Christmas period, it’s good to spend the festive season reflecting on the year and looking ahead to 2024. To offer a Christmas message at this is a spiritual time of year, Fr Brian D’Arcy, Author and Broadcaster joined Kieran on the show today...

Yesterday on the show we were talking about the big pop culture moments of 2023 and you could not omit Taylor Swift from that list. From her Era’s tour, to her box office hit movie and being named Time Person of the Year, it’s fair to say 2023 was Taylor’s year. But not everyone agreed. We got this text in “Taylor Swift-the rebirth of bubble gum, junior infants songwriting laced with mediocre melodies”. So...clearly not a fan That text got the attention of none other than Dave Browne, From Picturehouse, who joined Kieran today to speak in defence of poor Taylor...

We are just 3 days away from the big day but for many on the day they will be looking for their local Christmas Day Swim.  Bríd Graham Owner and Director of Splash Swim Schools Ireland and a swimming teacher joined Kieran on the show to discuss...

Now 2023 has been an impactful year for news between conflict, riots and politic ongoings.  However, we are going to put that to one side for now and take positive look back at some of the good news stories of the last year... Rachael Ryan From 98fm joined Kieran on the show to discuss..

Tom Doorley, Food and wine columnist with the Sunday Times is here to talk us through his own dinner plans and how other countries celebrate Christmas...

Emmet Oliver, The Hard Shoulder’s Business Correspondent joined Kieran on the show to take a look back at the year in business...

Golfer Padraig Harrington joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss how to get more kids involved in sport and what the future looks like for world golf...

Author, podcaster and playwright, Michael Harding joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder today for a catch up...

Miguel Delaney, Chief Football Writer for the Independent in the UK joined Kieran to discuss a court of justice ruling on the European Super League project...

There has been a wealth of wins, losses and plenty of gaffs along the way when it comes to the culture events this year.   We take a look back at some of the moments which really captured the news at the time.  Brian Lloyd Movies Editor with Entertainment.ie joined Kieran to discuss...

The Irish public have spoken about what animals and flowers should appear on the Irish passport, with the Irish Wolfhound and Shamrock topping their respective lists. But should we just be considering just animals and flowers, and if so, what symbols should be picked to best represent Ireland.  Saoirse Hanley, Features writer with the Irish Independent, Steve Cummins, Comedian and co-founder of ZoomParty.ie and Claire Ronan Broadcaster joined Kieran to discuss...

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss record overcrowding in hospitals in 2023, work underway on the new National Maternity Hospital on Vincent’s Campus, funding for adult hospices and Mary Lou McDonald's calls for Robbie Keane to resign as Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C. manager...

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 festive season. This week Simon and Kieran put a variety of Christmas Puddings to the test...

Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald has hit out at former Irish international footballer Robbie Keane over managing Israeli Club Maccabi Tel Aviv FC claiming that sports and genocide don’t mix. Are these statements fair and should Robbie Keane be criticized for working for an Israel team? Cllr David McManus Fine Gael Councilor for Rathfarnham-Templeogue and Bríd Smith, People Before Profit TD for Dublin South Central joined Kieran to discuss...

Three quarters of workers will respond to work emails over Christmas, according to a new study. Henry McKean joined Kieran with this report...

Reduced speed limits are moving a step closer as the Cabinet is expected to approve the publication of a new bill to legislate for default limits. The Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030 sets the target of reducing road deaths and serious injuries by 50% by 2030 - and one of those ways is by reducing speed limits across the road network. But will it work? Do speed limits make people go slower? Brendan Kelly is Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin and he joined Kieran to discuss...

One of the biggest stories from this year was the visit the US President Joe Biden made to Ireland in April of this year Biden checked a big item off his bucket list when he visited Ireland and his ancestral home, making it a deeply personal and wistful journey. Kieran was joined by Mark Duffy, a Councillor for the Ballina Municipal District (Cathaoirleach during visit) and was a big part in the set up of the visit to Ballina and also Larry Donnelly, Director of the Kennedy Summer School and Law Lecturer at the University of Galway who covered the visit extensively at the time...

For many we are heading into holiday time but for lots of shops and restaurants it will be the busiest time of the year. But, should shops should stay closed on Stephen’s Day?Kieran was joined by Conor Pope Consumer Affairs Correspondent with The Irish Times and Deirdre Walsh, Owner of Molly Fulton’s Bar and Restaurant in Sligo...

Every week for Tuesday Travel 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 to give him tips for travelling around Ireland in 2024...

John Kelleher joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss some of the notable deaths that occurred in 2023...

 The UN’s security council is set to vote this evening on a call for a ceasefire in Gaza.  The vote has been delayed from yesterday and already follows a failed vote after a veto from the US.  Patrick Bury, Senior Security Lecturer at the University of Bath, Former Nato Analyst and Army Officer joined Kieran to discuss

Board games are always a fixture during the Christmas period, but they are also important for building certain skills for children not just for causing arguments over Monopoly.  Founder of Cog Toys and Games Ruth Roberts joined Kieran to chat about what value a couple games can bring to your family and some out of the box boardgames options....  

Thousands of energy customers must wait until the new year before the first electricity credit is applied to their bills. Three energy credits totaling €450, or €150 each, were announced in Budget 2024 to help households facing high electricity bills due to inflation. However, there is anger among householders as this credit has shown up on their accounts but not been applied to their bills. Sinead Ryan, consumer expert and presenter of The Home Show joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss...