The Hard Shoulder

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…

Tánaiste Simon Harris insists that Ireland avoided a “moment of catastrophe” thanks to the EU-US tariff deal.It’s as tariffs of 15% on EU goods entering the US are now due to take effect from next week.So, are Irish businesses being let down?Eoin O’Catháin, Director of the Irish Whiskey Association and Ciaran Mullooly, Independent MEP for Midlands North West, join Kieran to discuss.

Earlier this week, Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien confirmed that dedicated transport police will be rolled out across all public transport. Most notably, Officers will have powers of arrest and detention.Dublin Bus have been calling for collaborative security measures to be put in place for some time now…Their Head of Strategic Communications and Engagement, Cliodhna Ni Fhatharta, joins Kieran to discuss.

Ahead of his show this Bank Holiday Monday looking back on the year, Henry McKean joins Kieran to rewind the clock to 1985!

According to its CEO, gaming platform Roblox is proposing adding online dating to its platform. Should it exist on a platform whose user base consists mainly of kids and teenagers?Dr Nicola Fox Hamilton, Cyberpsychology Lecturer at IADT, joins Kieran to discuss.

In recent times, the RSA has come under increased scrutiny for their handling of the Irish driving test. At the start of the year, waiting times had reached an all-time high, leaving learner drivers across the country in outrage over the back log in the system.Since then, waiting times have fallen, allowing many prospective drivers to sit their test, and hopefully swap their L plates for N’s.But, what exactly is the experience of today’s learners sitting their test, and what exactly does it take to pass?Newstalk Reporter Dylan Hand has recently taken his own driving test, and joins Kieran to discuss how he got on.

Sarina Bellissimo, Broadcaster and Presenter of the Bellissimo Files Podcast and Dee Reddy, Entertainment Journalist and Podcaster joined Kieran Cuddihy on The Hard Shoulder to review the latest TV and movie releases…

As party campaigns kick off, The Hard Shoulder’s series learning more about the history of the presidential office continues.Patrick Geoghegan, Director of the Trinity Long Room Hub, Trinity’s Arts and Humanities Research Institute, and Presenter of Talking History joins Kieran to discuss the creation and evolution of the role of President in this country.

Former Minister and Columnist with the Irish Independent, Shane Ross, joins Kieran for this week's Thursday Interview!

Childcare providers say that they are being forced to pull out of a Government funding scheme...The Core Funding Grant was set up back in 2022 to help childcare providers with operating costs. However, to avail of this, providers had to commit to a fee freeze…Owners say that given soaring costs over the last number of years, along with wider challenges, they are now being forced to up their fees and in turn pull out of the grant scheme.Joining Kieran to discuss this is one of those making this decision - Rebecca Fleury, who runs six premises across Donegal, as well as Elaine Dunne, from the Federation of Early Childhood Providers.Later, Kieran is also joined by Claire Kerrane, Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Children and TD for Roscommon / Galway.