The Hard Shoulder

With Budget 2026 revealed, what are your thoughts? Does it do enough, or does it miss the mark in key areas?Joining Kieran to discuss is Susan Hayes Culleton The Positive Economist & Presenter of Taking Stock, Danny McCoy CEO of IBEC, Tom McDonnell from  the Neven Economic Research Institute and later Carly Bailey, One Family Policy Manager.

All has been revealed today for Budget 2026. So, what’s new, and what should you look out for?Seán Defoe, Newstalk’s Political Correspondent, joins Kieran to go through the highlights of what has changed. Newstalk's Henry McKean also sends in thoughts from the public.

The deadline to register to vote in the upcoming Presidential election is tomorrow, Tuesday October 7th.To tell more, Kieran is joined by Art O’Leary, Chief Executive, An Coimisiún Toghcháin, the Irish Electoral Commission

Big news today is that the Irish members of the Global Sumud Flotilla are en route home after some reports suggested they were subject to violence and aggressive treatment. They are being flown to Greece, where they make plans to come back to Ireland.Joining Kieran to discuss and give the latest updates is Caoimhe Butterly, Human Rights Activist.Image: Reuters

For this week’s Kids Health Check, Kieran is joined by Optometrist John Weldon to discuss the importance of minding your child’s eyes, and general eye health.

As you will have heard, Jim Gavin has stepped down from the Presidential race.But, what now for Fianna Fáil, and what now for the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin?Joining Kieran to discuss and give their reactions is Seán Defoe, Newstalk’s Political Correspondent, Minister of State Niall Collins, Paidi O’Sullivan, Fianna Fáil TD for Cork North Central and Michael Regan, Fianna Fáil Councillor on the Galway County Council. Also joining later to give their thoughts is Conor Lenihan, former Fianna Fail Minister and David W Higgins, Independent Economist.

Why do so many young Irish people move to Australia?Reporter Brianna Parkins is visiting from Australia, and joins Kieran in studio to discuss what life is like over there.

Why do we feel ashamed to be scammed when it happens to so many of us? And what are some of the best ways to spot and avoid a scam?To chat about all this, Kieran is joined by the owner of Pretty Baked Bakery in Donegal, Róisín Gillen, and the Editor of tech website Goosed.ie, Martin Meany.

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…

Halloween season has started, so we buried Henry McKean alive, and he sent us his funeral! Henry got a sneak peek at the Nightmare Realm (with Fanta) which opens tomorrow in Dublin. The 7,000 square metre experience brings Halloween alive.Warning! This report has jump scares from the start!