The Hard Shoulder

It’s Wish Week here on Newstalk, and we are highlighting the incredible work Make-A-Wish do in helping create life-changing wishes for children with critical illness.Kieran is joined in studio by Ciara Dunne and her son Eli, who had his wish granted.If you would like to donate to Make-A-Wish, you can go to makeawish.ie/donate.

Trump’s trade tariffs will be revealed soon, and it could mean a lot for the Irish economy…What might it mean for the average consumer?To dig into this a little deeper, Kieran is joined by Catriona Redmond, Consumer Columnist with the Irish Examiner and Aidan Regan, Professor of Political Economy at University College Dublin...

The free school meal scheme has been welcome by many, but does it need to pay more attention to certain areas? Chef, Author and Founder of Ballymaloe Cookery School Darina Allen was on Newstalk Breakfast this morning, and gave her take on the reaction of those she’s spoken to, saying that children were bringing home “half-eaten” meals.To get the thoughts of farmers, Kieran is joined by Denis Drennan, President of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, to discuss.

Online reviews are now part of our everyday shopping routine, but with the rise of bots and fabricated feedback, how can we know what's real? Conor Pope, Consumer Affairs Correspondent with the Irish Times and later Miriam Simon, Business Strategist at One Foot In The Future, join Kieran to unpack the growing issue of fake reviews, and the impact they’re having on consumers and businesses alike.

US President Donald Trump is set to announce a range of reciprocal tariffs tomorrow. What effect will they have?Joining Kieran to discuss is Economist and former Minister of Finance for Greece, Yanis Varoufakis.Also joining to discuss the impact it will have on Irish business is Stuart McNamara, Director of Portmagee Whiskey and Chair of the Irish Craft and Artisan Distilleries Association.Image: Reuters

Noeline Blackwell, Human rights lawyer, Consultant and Online Safety Coordinator with the Children’s Rights Alliance joins Kieran to place her favourite book on the Hard Shoulder Bookshelf!

It’s the eve of Liberation Day – when US President Donald Trump is set to announce a range of reciprocal tariffs.What he has to say will likely impact Europe, and could have a profound effect on Ireland…Joining Kieran to discuss is Danny McCoy, CEO of IBEC and Gerald Storch, the CEO of Storch Advisors in the US and former CEO of Toys R Us.Image: Reuters

It was announced today that there will be four new biopics about the Liverpool group starring Ireland’s own Paul Meskill as Paul McCartney and Barry Keoghan as Ringo Star.RTÉ Broadcaster and Beatles fan Dave Fanning joins Kieran to discuss!Image: Sony Pictures

The Cabinet met this morning, and Kieran’s guest brought a couple of measures in an effort to ease some of the pressure on household bills.Paschal Donohoe is the Minister for Finance, and joins to discuss.

The grand stretch in the evening has come with the fine weather right behind it!Adrian Barry from Off the Ball and Jen Hogan, the Irish Times Columnist join Kieran to discuss how we can make the most of the upturn, and how to keep the small ones entertained…