The Hard Shoulder
Newstalk
The Hard Shoulder 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. Listen and subscribe to The Hard Shoulder on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify. Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App. You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jul 9, 2025 • 4min
Model of migrant boat placed on top of Tyrone bonfire
A model of a migrant boat with more than a dozen life-size mannequins has been placed on top of a loyalist bonfire in Co. Tyrone. All of the mannequins are dark-skinned and wearing life jackets. Below the boats, placards read: “Stop the boats. Veterans before refugees.”Matthew O’Toole is the Member of the Legislative Assembly for South Belfast and the Social Democratic and Labour Party’s Leader of the Opposition at Stormont. He joins Kieran to discuss.Image: @GildernewColm on Twitter
Jul 9, 2025 • 14min
Why the RSA is bringing more disturbing ads back
Chair of the Road Safety Authority, Anne Graham, is coming up to 6 months in the role – and it has been yet another year where the issue of road safety has been an issue that has repeatedly hit the headlines.What’s changing under her leadership, and how can this growing issue be tackled?Anne joins Kieran to discuss.Image: RSA
Jul 9, 2025 • 7min
Should public spaces be more dog friendly?
A topic of debate for many years now – should Ireland be more dog friendly?From pubs to shops to offices – should public spaces be more inclusive for our furry friends?Emily Brew, Radio Presenter at Radio Nova, and Andrea Smith, Freelance Journalist join Kieran to discuss.
Jul 9, 2025 • 8min
Is it time to get rid of automated voice messages?
If you have ever sat in a virtual queue only to be met by a dead end and an automated voice, you know how frustrating it can be. Is it time to do away with them?Joining Kieran to discuss this is Shelagh Fogarty, Journalist and Consumer Journalist, Siobhain Maguire.
Jul 9, 2025 • 15min
Are supermarkets price gouging?
When it comes to the price of groceries, can there be more transparency when it comes to the price hikes that are being experienced in retail chains across the country?Jennifer Whitmore, Social Democrat TD for Wicklow, has brought a motion to the Dáil, and joins Kieran, along with Vincent Jennings, CEO of the Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association, to discuss.
Jul 9, 2025 • 14min
The Ultimate Guide: Kalkan, Turkey
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 a hidden gem in Turkey: Kalkan!
Jul 8, 2025 • 12min
Do we fully understand epilepsy?
Earlier in the show, Kieran spoke with John Verling and Mia Scully about epilepsy, and the different ways in which they have suffered from it over the years.Joining Kieran to discuss what we do and don’t understand about epilepsy is Dr Colin Doherty, Consultant Neurologist and Director of the Epilepsy Services at St James's Hospital.
Jul 8, 2025 • 14min
The Bookshelf with Ciarán Cuffe
Green Party MEP for Dublin Ciarán Cuffe joins Kieran to place his favourite book on The Hard Shoulder Bookshelf!
Jul 8, 2025 • 6min
Why are we so bad at queuing?
Research shows that Gen Z are four times more likely than previous generations to skip queues.So, why do people behave this way, and what has caused the increase in impatience with queues?Brendan Kelly, Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin, joins Kieran to discuss.
Jul 8, 2025 • 24min
What it's like to live with epilepsy
Over 45,000 people in Ireland have epilepsy, making it one of the most common neurological conditions.Yet, for the multiple types of epilepsy and multiple ways in which they present, it is often misunderstood.John Verling, father of Freddie Verling, who has Dravet Syndrome, and Mia Sherwood Scully who has temporal lobe epilepsy join Kieran to discuss their experiences.
