The Hard Shoulder

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 Kieran to give his travel tips for Sydney in Australia!

It’s never too late to get your finances in order, and when you’re getting into the later stages of your life, it becomes more and more important. Sinead Ryan, Consumer Journalist with Irish Independent and Presenter of the Home Show on Newstalk joins Kieran to give her top financial planning tips for those aged 60+. 

International pop icon Taylor Swift has announced her engagement to American footballer Travis Kelce. Newstalk reporter Emily Keegan joins Kieran in studio to discuss.

As the Dáil is set to return in the coming weeks, former Health Editor with the Irish Times Paul Cullen and Chair of the IMOs Consultant Committee Matthew Sadlier join Kieran to discuss how the Government can best prepare the healthcare system for the coming months. 

There has sharp rise in cocaine use in Ireland in recent months. The latest Health Research Board figures from 2024 show one-in-three cases of drug treatments were for cocaine. But how is the drug getting into the country? Investigations Editor with the Sunday World and host of the podcast Crime World Nicola Tallant joins Kieran to discuss.

Author, journalist and host of A Few Scoops Aoife Moore joins Kieran to place her favourite book on The Hard Shoulder Bookshelf! 

Legendary broadcast journalist Jim Acosta will be speaking at the Kennedy Summer School in New Ross in County Wexford. The Hard Shoulder will also be broadcasting from the same location this Thursday. Jim joins Kieran to discuss his thoughts on US President Donald Trump, US/Ireland relations, his Irish roots and more.

Are men mistreating women when they mansplain, or is it just the way they talk? One celebrity thinks men are being misunderstood, so comedians Jim Elliot and Katherine Lynch join Kieran to discuss.

Some customers of the waste company Panda have expressed unease at their bins being monitored. The company has rolled out a monitoring campaign to over 50,000 customers to try and get people to put their rubbish in the correct bin. But is this an effective way to change people’s behaviour? And are customers right to be concerned about privacy? Dublin Editor with the Irish Times Olivia Kelly and Secretary of the Irish Waste Management Association Conor Walsh join Kieran to discuss.

Following on from a discussion about crèche waiting lists, Chair of the Federation of Early Childhood Providers Elaine Dunne, and Principal of The Glebe National School in Donegal Town Alison Pasquier join Kieran to discuss the benefits of Early Childhood Education.