The Hard Shoulder

Temple Bar has been named as the third worst tourist trap in the world – only behind Fisherman’s Wharf in the US, and Las Ramblas in Barcelona in Spain.And, while many will complain at how expensive the likes of Temple Bar is, are tourist traps just part of a thriving city?Joining Kieran to discuss is Elaine Cobbe, CBS Correspondent in Paris and Ana Rosa Butler, Writer based in Spain.

Travel journalist Fionn Davenport, a Lonely Planet author, shares insights on cruising adventures that go beyond the ordinary. He explores the captivating Irish waterways, showcasing the breathtaking scenery of the Shannon River and unique experiences like traditional boat tours enriched with local folklore. Fionn humorously discusses unconventional cruising destinations and hints at luxury options while highlighting family-friendly activities. Whether it's a Viking ship replica or a wildlife tour, he paints a vivid picture of cruising through Ireland's diverse and enchanting landscapes.

Blood Bikes, a nonprofit that delivers medical essentials to healthcare facilities across Ireland, is advocating for its volunteers’ right to use bus lanes.The Department of Transport does not support this request, and claimed in a statement that having more vehicles in bus lanes will reduce the lanes’ efficiency.Ambulances are able to use bus lanes and are exempt from road tolls. However, Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh tabled an amendment to the Road Traffic and Roads Bill to extend this exemption to Blood Bike services.Regional Coordinator and Founder of Blood Bikes Leinster, Fergus Lennon, joins Kieran to discuss.Image: bloodbikes.ie

Scientists have detected the biggest ever merger of two black holes. Astronomers have recorded gravitational waves that have caused ripples within space and time.The black holes, each more than 100 times the mass of the Sun, began circling each other long ago and finally slammed together to form an even more massive black hole about 10 billion light years from Earth.The merger was detected by the gravitational wave detector network LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA (LVK) on November 23rd 2023, during the fourth observing run of these three sensitive laser interferometers located in the US, Italy, and Japan.To discuss more, Kieran is joined by Danielle Willcocks, a Telescope Operator from Blackrock Castle Observatory in Cork.

One of the memos brought to Cabinet today was to approve the making of the ‘Team Ireland’ trade mission, an annual event to be held every October in a key market.It’s as multiple senior Ministers are set to travel this October to a trade mission.Peter Burke is the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, and Fine Gael TD for Longford-Westmeath, and joins Kieran to discuss.

After Tánaiste Simon Harris’ calls for asylum seekers with jobs to pay towards their accommodation, Kieran was joined by Cathal Malone of Thomas Coughlan & Co Solicitors to learn what asylum seekers actually get when they arrive in the country.Today, Cathal returns to discuss what rights someone has after they have been granted asylum.

Off the Ball’s Eoin Sheahan joins Kieran to place his favourite book on The Hard Shoulder Bookshelf!

The 77th Emmy Awards will take place on the 14th of September this year, but who is up for the awards?The nominations are hot off the press, and Brian Lloyd, Entertainment Journalist and Film Critic joins Kieran to break them down.Image: HBO

New figures released show that the number of abortions in the state rose to 10,852 in 2024, which is the highest they’ve had since abortion was first legalised in 2019.With 10,711 of these being early terminations and 108 terminations were due to a diagnosed fatal foetal abnormality, where there was a condition likely to lead to death of the foetus.A further 24 pregnancies were terminated due to risk to the life or health of the mother, while nine terminations involved an emergency intervention.Even with abortions being legal in Ireland, it's reported that 240 people still chose to travel to the UK to access abortion care.To discuss, Kieran is joined by Dr Madeleine Ní Dhálaigh, Vice Chair of the GP Committee of the IMO and GP in Castlerea, Roscommon.

Ireland has the strictest nightclub curfews in all of Europe, with bars and nightclubs closing by 2:30 a.m. Though it’s common for club-goers to party until sunrise in other major European cities, licensing laws prevent Irish nightclubs from staying open as late. Should that change?Joining Kieran to discuss is Dublin’s first Nighttime Economy Advisor, aka the “Night Mayor” Ray O’Donoghue and Chair of Alcohol Health Alliance Ireland and former President of the Royal College of Physicians Ireland, Frank Murray.