The Hard Shoulder

Irish Life Health and Laya Healthcare have both announced insurance  price hikes on plans in the space of a week  It comes as the trend we have seen in increasing the cost of health insurance seen in the past two years looks set to continue into the latter half of this year  Joining me now for more on this is Dermot Goode, Health Insurance Ireland.

Marais O'Sullivan, a passionate genealogy enthusiast and Producer of Talking History on Newstalk, dives into the fascinating journey of tracing Irish ancestry. She shares personal anecdotes about connecting with her grandmother and utilizing tools like Ancestry.com. Marais discusses the excitement of discovering family dynamics through historical records and DNA testing. Additionally, she highlights the challenges of accessing Irish records while stressing the importance of preserving family histories and engaging with the community to keep ancestral stories alive.

The Parents of Harvey Morrisons Sherratt are calling for a commission of inquiry into CHI’s treatment of children with spina bifida and scoliosis, many of whom have been denied timely corrective surgery. Harvey passed away last month. Harveys grieving Father Stephen joined Kieran to discuss his son and why he had to wait years for life saving surgery.

Vaping amongst teens is consistently linked to taking up smoking, marijuana and drink according to an umbrella review of existing research. To discuss further Kieran was joined by Newstalk Reporter Henry McKean.

Have you ever watched The White Lotus, and (in between all of the drama) wanted to have your own holiday like it? This is your chance!This week, Fionn joined Kieran to give his Ultimate Guide on having your own White Lotus holiday, and for different budget levels!

What are Labubu dolls? And why are people so mad over them?Kieran is joined by Jodie McCormack, Journalist with The Irish Sun, to talk about the Labubu craze…

As you might know, this Sunday was the start of the National Heritage Week. This year’s edition, focused on the landscapes and cultural activities of heritage, will be made up of over two thousand events.Joining Kieran to tell more is Anne O’Donoghue, the CEO of the Irish Heritage Trust.

Screenwriter and bestselling author of the ‘Skulduggery Pleasant’ series Derek Landy joins Kieran to place his favourite book on The Hard Shoulder Bookshelf!

You may have seen online a rise in people using tanning accelerators, essentially, they are lotions, sprays and supplements that claim to enhance the skin’s ability to tan.But, how do they work, and are they safe?Joining Kieran to discuss is Professor Nicola Ralph, Consultant Dermatologist at the Institute of Dermatologists.

The Hip Dysplasia Advocacy Group is calling on the Government to take accountability and for transparency over the delay in assessing children who may have had unnecessary hip surgeries.To discuss this, Kieran is joined by Amy, the Patient Advocacy Group’s Co-Chair.