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
May 27, 2025 • 7min
What’s behind the violence at Mercy University Hospital?
Gardaí are now being rostered on at Mercy University Hospital in Cork due to rising levels of violence towards staff. The INMO have stated recently that 60% of these assaults are directed toward nurses and midwives.Joining Kieran to discuss is the INMO’s Assistant Director of Industrial Relations for the Southern Region, Liam Conway…
May 27, 2025 • 7min
How far ahead would you plan your funeral?
More people are now opting for prepaying and pre planning for their funeral before they die, some even opting to be involved in the ceremony virtually on the day.Joining Kieran to discuss more is Undertaker Colm Kieran, owner of My Farewell Wishes, which have been connecting with their customers through their TikTok videos…
May 27, 2025 • 15min
€20 million lost from fare dodging last year - Henry McKean Reports
Transport for Ireland is losing €20 million a year to fare evasion. Nearly 7% of Dart passengers do not have a valid ticket, and fare evasion rates jump to 15% on the Dublin to Drogheda and Dublin to Longford routes.What is going on? And are you a fare dodger?Newstalk’s Henry McKean joins Kieran to discuss.
May 26, 2025 • 7min
Are the new transport restrictions on Pearse Street worth it?
The next phase of the Dublin City Transport Plan has come into effect.The new restrictions will be in place 24/7, and they will mean that only public transport, taxis and cyclists will be allowed to turn left from Westland Row onto Pearse Street.Joining Kieran to discuss the impact of this change is Paul Woodborne, Sales Manager at Sweeney & O’Rourke, catering showroom located on Pearse Street.
May 26, 2025 • 12min
Should we have something like the UK’s Celebration Day?
Today is Celebration Day in the UK, which is a time for communities to take a special moment to pause and remember those important in their lives who may no longer be with us.Is this something that Ireland should emulate, or are we too scared of having opening conversations about grief?Joining Kieran to discuss is Sallyanne Clarke, Restauranter and Author and Ruth Scott, Broadcaster and Wedding and Funeral Celebrant.
May 26, 2025 • 11min
Is there any benefit to using creatine?
You may have heard of creatine, which is popular among athletes and fitness influencers, but does it have any benefits, and is it even safe?Joining Kieran to discuss is Shelly Gray, Today FM Presenter and Registered Dietitian and John Belton, Personal and Wellness Trainer.
May 26, 2025 • 8min
Kids Health Check: Dealing with rebellious teens
For this week’s Kids Health Check, Kieran is joined by Aoife Lee, Parenting Coach at ParentSupport.ie, to discuss how you can handle rebellious teens as they grow up, while also giving the privacy and freedom they want.
May 26, 2025 • 11min
Crime rates are going down - is that being seen?
Gardaí have said that there has been a significant decrease in robbery, burglary, violent disorder, crimes against the person and theft offences this year.Provisional Garda figures for the first three months show a decrease across all property crimes, but an increase in organised crime and fraud offences, compared to the same period last year.Is this being felt on the ground? Will Monaghan, owner of One Society, and Martin Harte, CEO of the Temple Bar Company join Kieran to discuss.
May 26, 2025 • 6min
Should we put away our phones in a restaurant?
A Michelin star chef in London, Gorgio Locatelli, has blasted people using their phones in restaurants, claiming that people should get off their phones and enjoy the moment.Does he have a point? Have phones gone too far in restaurants, or are we allowed to enjoy our food as we wish?Edward Hayden, TV Chef and Culinary Lecturer at the Southeast Technological University and Saoirse Hanely, Journalist at the Irish Independent joins Kieran to discuss.
May 26, 2025 • 4min
1996 Fiona Pender missing persons case now a murder investigation
Gardaí have upgraded the missing persons case of Fiona Pender, who was pregnant when she went missing in 1996, to a murder investigation as a new search operation is set begin this week for the Offaly woman.Stephen Breen, Crime Editor with the Irish Sun, joins Kieran to discuss.
