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 21, 2025 • 8min
What the Government needs to do for carers and assessment
Yesterday on the show you may have heard Kieran speaking to Cara Darmody during her 50-hour picket outside Leinster House.She is calling for the Government to address the large number of children awaiting an assessment for a disability or autism for six months or longer.Joining Kieran today to discuss this is Jane Johnstone, mother and carer to Evan and Daniel to tell her own story and Catherine Cox, Head of Communications and Policy at Family Carers Ireland.
May 21, 2025 • 15min
More than half a million drivers have penalty points - Henry McKean Reports
New figures from the department of justice show that 60,0000 people were caught by Gardaí driving while using their phones between 2022 and 2024.There are currently more than half a million drivers with penalty points on their licence, of which 866 have 12 points, meaning they are under an automatic six-month ban.Newstalk’s Henry McKean joins Kieran to discuss.
May 21, 2025 • 15min
Are kids' attention spans impacting their ability to read?
Author Anthony Horowitz has said he believes that social media is impacting children's attention spans and it’s causing them to no longer be able to concentrate on longer novels.But, are their attention spans getting worse, or do we need to change how we approach reading?Joining Kieran to discuss is Lorraine Levis, Author ‘Once Upon a Reader: Raising Your Children with a Love of Books’ and Head of Sales for Bloomsbury in Ireland and Derek Landy, Author of the Skulduggery Pleasant series.
May 20, 2025 • 12min
Should the voting age be lowered to 16?
Should young teenagers have a say at the ballot box? Today, Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly is bringing forward a bill that could shake up Irish democracy, proposing the voting age be lowered to 16.Is this a good cause to increase political engagement in our system, or is this too much responsibility, too soon?Social Democrat TD for the Kildare North, Aidan Farrelly, and James Geoghegan, Fine Gael TD for the Dublin Bay South join Kieran to discuss.
May 20, 2025 • 14min
The Bookshelf with Martin Beanz Warde
Theatre Maker and Television Presenter Martin Beanz Warde joins Kieran to place his favourite book on The Hard Shoulder Bookshelf!
May 20, 2025 • 4min
Uncertainty this summer as school places are in short supply
Schools across the country will be wrapping up their final classes and exams ahead of the summer break, but some 6th class students will be finishing up in the coming weeks not knowing what secondary school they will be attending in September…This is particularly a problem in areas which have seen high population growth in recent years.Rachel Harper, Principal of Saint Patrick's National School Greystones joins Kieran to discuss.
May 20, 2025 • 15min
Cara Darmody on why she’s staging a 50 hour protest
Disability Rights Campaigner Cara Darmody is staging a 50 hour protest over the long waiting lists for special needs assessments.Cara has been fighting for these issues for her two brothers, Neil and John, who have autism.Kieran spoke with Cara outside the Dáil, as well as Claire Kerrane, Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Children, Disability and Equality and TD for Roscommon–Galway.
May 20, 2025 • 8min
Do we have a ‘do-nothing’ government?
We have had our new government now for a few months, but given the controversy surrounding the speaking rights row, it took a while for the 34th Dáil to get up to speed.But, Kieran’s guest believes that our current government is turning the Dáil into a 'do-nothing' parliament.Fergus Finlay, Columnist for the Irish Examiner, joins to discuss.
May 20, 2025 • 11min
New calls to lower the age of voting - Henry McKean Reports
People aged 16 and 17 are as civically informed as their peers aged over 18, but are “unjustly restricted”, according to Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly.Today, they will table a bill seeking to reduce the voting age in Ireland from 18 to 16.Newstalk’s Henry McKean has been asking the public for their thoughts, and joins Kieran to discuss.
May 20, 2025 • 7min
What is the best way to tackle rising motor insurance premiums?
New figures from the Injury’s Resolution Board show that motor accident claims over the past 6 years are down 30%, and the value of those awards paid for claims are down over 40%.Yet, insurance premiums remain stubbornly high…So, what’s the best way to get the best deal on your motor insurance?Shane O’Donohue, Editor of CompleteCar.ie, joins Kieran to discuss.
