
The Hard Shoulder Highlights
The Hard Shoulder Highlights with Kieran Cuddihy on Newstalk.
Join Kieran every weekday afternoon from 4-7pm for a round-up of the day’s events, interviews with the people at the centre of the stories – and a bit of craic along the way.
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Latest episodes

Jun 25, 2025 • 6min
500 bird species could vanish in the next century - what can we do?
New research has found that more than 500 bird species, including the puffin and the European turtle dove, could vanish within the next century. Can it be stopped?Joining guest host Jonathan Healy to discuss is Niall Hatch of Bird Watch Ireland.

Jun 25, 2025 • 12min
How to do Stuff: Packing a Suitcase
Life can be full of confusing things, but no need to worry! Every Wednesday, Simon Tierney will be showing you ‘How to do Stuff’ - bringing his best tips for those things you might not think about.This week, Simon joins guest host Jonathan Healy to discuss how to pack a suitcase!

Jun 25, 2025 • 12min
What the future of An Post will look like
The Irish Postmasters' Union is calling on the Government to invest €15 million per year over the next five years to prevent a decline in post offices.It’s one of a number of issues brought up today at the Oireachtas Arts and Community Committee in relation to the future of our postal service.David McRedmond, CEO of An Post, was there, and joins Jonathan Healy to discuss.

Jun 25, 2025 • 11min
Tech Takeover: Do we need an AI clause in our wills?
With technology rapidly advancing, and artificial intelligence becoming more and more intelligent, should we be concerned about AI replicating us after death? Would we want our loved ones to talk to artificial models of us after we pass? Or is that something that we should be able to opt out of, like in our wills?Newstalk's Technology Correspondent Jess Kelly joins guest host Jonathan Healy to discuss.

Jun 25, 2025 • 6min
Why does Ireland have poor childhood vaccine coverage?
|reland has the third lowest childhood vaccine coverage among high-income nations globally.It also has the sixth lowest coverage among the countries on the European continent and the second lowest among western European nations.Why is this the case?To answer this and discuss further, guest host Jonathan Healy is joined by Professor of Experimental Immunology at Trinity College Dublin, Kingston Mills.

Jun 25, 2025 • 19min
Women’s Aid records highest number of calls ever in 2024
Women’s Aid recorded their highest number of calls ever in 2024, the organisation has confirmed in its annual report.Last year, the organisation was contacted 32,144 times - a figure 12% higher than the one in 2023 - of which 24,396 were made through the National Freephone Helpline.For more on this, guest host Jonathan Healy is joined by CEO of Women’s Aid, Sarah Benson. And later, Trina O’Connor, Criminologist and Pat Marry, former Detective join to discuss how well the Gardaí are trained for domestic violence calls.(Women’s Aid 24 Hour National Freephone Helpline: 1800 341 900)

Jun 25, 2025 • 7min
Hickory Dickory Dock gets trigger warning - a step too far?
First published in 1774, the classic nursery rhyme Hickory Dickory Dock has been given a trigger warning over 250 years since it was originally published.This comes after a theatre production of the kids’ classic Three Little Pigs was criticised for placing a similar trigger warning on its content.This begs the question, are we taking this trigger-happy approach to content warnings on children’s literature a step too far?Joining guest host Jonathan Healy to discuss this is Columnist with The Irish Daily Mail and Sunday Independent, Brenda Power.

Jun 25, 2025 • 10min
UNICEF says situation in Gaza is hitting “rock bottom”
UNICEF has warned that, with the world’s attention averted elsewhere, the situation in Gaza is hitting “rock bottom.”Famine conditions in the territory worsen as aid continues to be blocked, with hospital resources unable to accommodate the number of children being admitted for acute malnutrition.Over 500 people have been killed since last month, and almost 3,800 injured at Gazan aid sites, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry.Executive Director of UNICEF, Peter Power, joins guest host Jonathan Healy to discuss.

Jun 25, 2025 • 12min
Should vegan burgers be called burgers? - Henry McKean Asks
Irish farmers have welcomed plans by the European Parliament to restrict “cynical” vegetarian and vegan food producers from using words such as sausage and burger to sell their products.Henry McKean has been getting thoughts from the public, and joins guest host Jonathan Healy to discuss.

Jun 24, 2025 • 17min
The Ultimate Guide: Chicago
Every week for The Ultimate Guide 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 guest host Jonathan to give his travel tips for the windy city of Chicago!