The Hard Shoulder
Newstalk
The Hard Shoulder Podcast with Ciara Kelly and Shane Colman is your essential drivetime companion—bringing fresh perspective and energy to your drive home. CONVERSATION THAT COUNTS | Ireland’s national independent talk station for news, sport, analysis and entertainmentListen to Newstalk at http://newstalk.com/listenlive | Download the GoLoud app now, the new home for Newstalk
Episodes
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Jun 16, 2025 • 15min
What Gaelic Games mean to the people of Wexford
Wexford has produced plenty of GAA legends. So, what do the Gaelic Games mean for them?Joining Kieran to discuss is four-time All-Ireland winner and All-Star, Ursula Jacob, 1996 All-Ireland winning manager, Liam Griffin and former Wexford Captain, Diarmuid Lyng.
Jun 16, 2025 • 6min
What is the life of a Conductor like?
Have you ever thought about what it’s like to be a Conductor? How does the job actually work?Joining Kieran to discuss is Conductor Niall Kinsella, who will be playing in the National Operahouse in Wexford, and the National Concert Hall in Dublin in July.
Jun 16, 2025 • 12min
Picking Wexford strawberries - Henry McKean Reports
Why is the Wexford strawberry so famous, is it the weather in the Sunny South East, the soil or the cold nights? Henry McKean has tried to find out and visited a strawberry farm in Enniscorthy this afternoon. He joins Kieran to discuss!
Jun 16, 2025 • 8min
The Wexford origins behind the Guinness Book of Records
Many arguments lead to inspiration, but one such discussion in Castlebridge, Wexford kicked off one of the biggest books of all time, The Guinness World Records.Joining Kieran to tell more is John Ryan of Castlebridge Inspire.
Jun 16, 2025 • 14min
What age should a child be before they get a phone?
A new report by CyberSafeKids has found that eight-year-old children in disadvantaged areas are more than twice as likely to have a smartphone at a younger age with fewer rules around their online activity, but what impact is that having on them?Joining Kieran to discuss this Trevor Murphy, Founder of Kids Coder Club and CEO of Cyberschool.ie and Vicky Barron, Labour Councillor for Wexford and Principal of CBS Primary School, Wexford.
Jun 16, 2025 • 9min
The best summer food and wine pairings!
For some summer lunch inspiration and wine pairings, Kieran is joined by Anthony, Head Chef and Jason, Sommelier at Wexford’s Green Acres restaurant, where the show is broadcasting from today!
Jun 16, 2025 • 13min
The importance of Rosslare Port for Ireland
Rosslare Europort is one of Ireland’s central hubs for freight, and it also happens to be in Wexford, where the Hard Shoulder is taking place for Newstalk’s Summer Tour!Joining Kieran to discuss its impois Glenn Carr, Director of Commercial Business at Iarnród Éireann and Bort Authority for Rosslare Europort.
Jun 16, 2025 • 19min
What makes Wexford so special?
As part of Newstalk’s Summer Tour, The Hard Shoulder is live from Wexford today!Joining Kieran to kick off the day, and discuss what makes Wexford so special is Paul Walsh from WexWalks Tours, Labour Councillor Vicky Barron and Chairperson of the Fleadh and CE of Wexford County Council, Eddie Taaffe.
Jun 13, 2025 • 28min
Winners and Sinners
This week, Kieran Cuddihy was joined by Saoirse Hanley, Columnist with the Irish Independent and Elaine Burke, Presenter of the ‘For Tech’s Sake’ podcast to look back on the week that was, but with a few twists…
Jun 13, 2025 • 10min
Life as a classical musician abroad
Joining Kieran is Dublin-born Recorder and Baroque Cellist extraordinaire, Kate Hearne.Kate Hearne is with the Woodpeckers Recorder Quartet, and they will be performing at the West Cork Chamber Music Festival which takes place in and around the town of Bantry in West Cork from Friday, June 27th to Sunday, July 6th.So far so normal, you might say.The catch is, Kate’s home is 200km North of the Arctic Circle in a place called Kiruna, in Lapland!
