The Hard Shoulder
News & Politics Podcasts
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'.
Location:
Ireland
Genres:
News & Politics Podcasts
Description:
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'.
Language:
English
Episodes
Winners and Sinners
9/26/2025
This week, Kieran Cuddihy was joined by Off the Ball’s Ger Gilroy and Saoirse Hanley, Feature Writer with the Irish Independent, to look back on the week that was, but with a few twists…
Duración:00:26:12
Steelers Vs Vikings - who will win this Sunday?
9/26/2025
The big day is almost here. This Sunday, after a long time planning, Dublin plays host to its first ever official NFL regular season game, where the Pittsburgh Steelers go up against the Minnesota Vikings. Who will come out on top?
To discuss, Kieran is joined by Steelers Beat Reporter with PennLive & Host of Steelers Breakdown, Nick Farabough.
Duración:00:10:15
You Are What You Eat: Chicken Dinner
9/26/2025
Winner winner! Aisling Larkin, Mindful Eating Coach and TV Chef joins Kieran Cuddihy to discuss the different kinds of chicken dinners you can make.
Duración:00:16:54
Sport with Mick McCarthy
9/26/2025
Off The Ball's Mick McCarthy joined Kieran Cuddihy on The Hard Shoulder to review the week in sport and look ahead to the weekend action…
Duración:00:08:37
Children in Greystones still without school places
9/26/2025
Despite the school year being underway, there are a number of kids still without a school place, and are now being left behind by their peers…
Kieran is joined by the parents of two of those kids, Mairead Carty and Sinead O’Reilly, to discuss.
Duración:00:10:06
Jack de Bromhead Equine Centre opens - Henry McKean Reports
9/26/2025
Henry and Heather de Bromhead and their daughters Mia and Georgia, opened The Jack de Bromhead Equine Centre located on the campus of ChildVision in Drumcondra.
The new indoor equine therapeutic centre, is named after 13 year old Jack who died at a race meeting in 2022.
Henry McKean visited the new equine centre to see how Jack de Bromhead's legacy will help children for generations to come…
Duración:00:08:56
Is there any hope for health insurance costs?
9/26/2025
Health insurance continues to be an issue for many people, but what are the latest increases set to look like, and what can you do to keep costs down?
Kieran is joined by Health Insurance Expert with Health Insurance.ie, Dermot Goode, and Health Economist at UCC, Brian Turner, to discuss.
Duración:00:08:49
How do you get noticed in a Presidential election?
9/26/2025
If you’re one of the three Irish Presidential candidates, what is the best way to make an impact? How do you get the public excited to vote for you?
Paul Allen, a PR professional, who has worked on four Presidential campaigns, joins Kieran to discuss.
Duración:00:12:22
Does it matter if House of Guinness isn’t accurate?
9/26/2025
There’s been a lot of discussion over how accurate the new Netflix show ‘The House of Guinness’ is, or rather how inaccurate it is. So, we’re going to look into how close it is to real history, and whether or not that matters…
Joining Kieran to discuss is Historian, Dr Kevin Egan and Presenter of Screentime on Newstalk, John Fardy.
Duración:00:10:56
Movies and TV: Slow Horses, One Battle After Another, House of Guinness
9/25/2025
Sarina Bellissimo, Broadcaster and Presenter of the Bellissimo Files Podcast and David O’Callaghan from the Here and Back Again podcast joined Kieran Cuddihy on The Hard Shoulder to review the latest TV and movie releases…
Duración:00:16:12
Are we living in a ‘post-literate’ society?
9/25/2025
Has our reliance on technology and AI meant we have lost our literacy skills? Is this problem getting worse?
Joining Kieran to discuss is Aidan Regan, Professor in the School of Politics and International Relations in UCD and Thomas Kenny, of Kennys Bookstore in Galway, and later Terry Prone, Chairman of the Communications Clinic.
Duración:00:13:03
Will we see any tax relief in Budget 2026?
9/25/2025
We’re edging closer to budget 2026 but if you’re hoping for a bit of relief in terms of taxes, you should probably lower expectations….it is the first budget of the new Government term after all!
Joining Kieran to look into the crystal ball of what we can expect is Dr Tom McDonnell, of the Neven Economic Research Institute and Susanne Rogers, Research and Policy Analyst at Social Justice Ireland.
Duración:00:10:34
The dangerous side of the NFL - David O’Connor Reports
9/25/2025
There’s huge excitement in Dublin as the Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings face each other this Sunday in Croke Park. It’s the first regular season NFL game to take place in this country.
Newstalk Reporter David O’Connor has been looking at all aspects of the sport, including merchandising and safety, and joins Kieran to discuss.
Duración:00:08:50
Explaining the Angela Kerins saga
9/25/2025
Former Rehab CEO Angela Kerins has submitted €2.1 million euro in legal costs as a result of the court action she took against the Houses of the Oireachtas...
It’s a saga that, in total, has lasted for more than a decade now.
For more on this, Kieran is joined by Martin Wall, Public Policy Correspondent for the Irish Times.
Duración:00:10:07
Senator Chris Andrews on board the Spectre flotilla
9/25/2025
Chris Andrews, Sinn Féin Senator, is on board the Spectre boat in the flotilla that is destined for Gaza when it was attacked by Israeli drones and struck four times on Tuesday night…
Chris joins Kieran from the boat to discuss and give the latest updates. Also joining to discuss is Dr Muhamed Shaallan, a Surgeon who was in Gaza…
Duración:00:17:29
What’s the best way to budget for Christmas?
9/25/2025
It's definitely early to think about it, but as we enter the last quarter of the year, you may already be imagining the budget for Christmas... What are the spending tips to follow now, so you don’t end up feeling the effects in January?
Joining Kieran with her top tips is Sinead Ryan, Consumer Journalist and Presenter of the Home Show on Newstalk.
Duración:00:06:27
Should we boycott Obama’s Freedom of Dublin?
9/25/2025
Former US President Barack Obama will be awarded the Freedom of Dublin today, with some Independent Dublin Councillors calling for a boycott.
Dublin City Council voted in 2017 to grant him the honour, and he has decided to accept it in a ceremony in Dublin with Lord Mayor Ray McAdam and a number of councillors in attendance.
Do you think it’s good that this is happening?
Joining Kieran to discuss is Independent Dublin City Councillor Cieran Perry, as well as Fine Gael TD for Dublin Bay South and former Lord Mayor of Dublin, James Geoghegan.
Duración:00:08:51
Do we still need election posters?
9/25/2025
Ahead of the upcoming presidential election on October 24th, posters are popping up across the country, which raises the question: are they still necessary?
Joining Kieran to discuss is Shelly Heterich Quinn, former County Councilor and Ger Deere, Mayo County Councilor.
Duración:00:09:44
How to do Stuff: Breaking up with someone
9/25/2025
Life can be full of confusing things, but no need to worry! Every Wednesday, Simon Tierney will be showing you ‘How to do Stuff’ - bringing his best tips for those things you might not think about.
This week, Simon joins Kieran to discuss how you can (in the best way possible) break up with someone…
Duración:00:11:25
NASA is returning to the moon!
9/25/2025
“Thats one small step for Man one giant leap for Mankind”...
We may hear those words again in the coming years as yesterday Nasa announced its first crewed mission to the moon in 50 years is to take place next February, as they prepare for another lunar landing as early as 2027.
Joining Kieran to discuss is Leo Enright, Space Commentator and former Chairman of the Irish Government’s Science Awareness Program.
Duración:00:05:32