

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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Apr 14, 2025 • 23min
Rory McIlroy wins at the Masters! How did he do it?
Rory McIlroy has become the 6th golfer ever to achieve the career grand slam with his long-awaited win at the Masters.Joining Kieran to discuss this amazing moment for Irish sport is Newstalk’s Henry McKean from Rory’s hometown of Holywood and Enda McNulty, Performance Coach and CEO of McNulty Performance. Kieran also got some words from another Irish golfing legend, Padraig Harrington!

Apr 11, 2025 • 26min
Winners and Sinners
This week, Kieran Cuddihy was joined by the presenter of Weekend Breakfast on Today FM, Alison Curtis Off the Ball’s Ger Gilroy to look back on the week that was, but with a few twists…

Apr 11, 2025 • 8min
How will Ireland do vs England in the Women’s Six Nations?
England descended on Cork to face off against Ireland in the Women’s Six Nations championship. The red roses are considered heavy favorites for the game, so what can Ireland do to overcome this challenge?Joining Kieran to discuss is Grace Davitt, former Ireland International and Philippa Tuttiett, Commentator and former Welsh player.

Apr 11, 2025 • 13min
You Are What You Eat: Quick 5 Ingredient Meals
Aisling Larkin, Mindful Eating Coach and TV Chef joins Kieran to talk about how you can make quick meals with only 5 ingredients, especially handy when you don’t want to spend too much time cooking!

Apr 11, 2025 • 7min
How can you solve a Rubik’s cube blindfolded?
Earlier in the month Carlow played host to a speed cubing event, where competitors race against the clock to solve scrambled Rubik’s cubes - with some even doing it blindfolded!One of the competitors joins Kieran to discuss: Adam Bermingham, who is the national record holder of the fastest 5x5 blindfolded Rubik’s Cube solve…

Apr 11, 2025 • 9min
Sport with Mick McCarthy
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…Image: Reuters

Apr 11, 2025 • 9min
Is the Hot School Meals Scheme ready to expand?
The Government is to review the nutritional value of thousands of hot meals that are being provided to school children around the country.The meals scheme is already provided in more than 2,000 primary schools and Social Protection Minister Dara Calleary has said that will expand it by a further 713 to reach 475,000 children and 2,850 schools.The Minister joins Kieran to discuss.

Apr 11, 2025 • 6min
Where have headphones gone on public transport?
From packed carriages to dirty seats, taking public transport can be a challenging experience, but it is increased by the annoyance of passengers not using headphones – which is the thoughts of Broadcaster, Writer and Guardian Columnist Adrian Chiles.He joins Kieran to discuss!

Apr 11, 2025 • 9min
How big of a problem are rising measles cases?
Cases of Measles are on the rise globally, and anecdotal evidence from early childhood providers here would suggest that far fewer parents are vaccinating their children.With reports of a suspected case of measles in a Dublin creche this week, creche owners are calling on the Government to offer better guidance and policy on how to deal with this…Joining Kieran to discuss is Elaine Dunne from the Federation of Early Childhood Providers Professor Luke O’Neill, Immunologist at Trinity College...

Apr 11, 2025 • 8min
Is parental leave for men a career killer?
An IBEC conference heard this week how parental leave for male employees can be a career killer!A recent ESRI study showed that only half of father's avail of paternity leave, and only a quarter of men take parent’s leave compared with two-thirds of mothers.Newstalk’s Simon Tierney joins Kieran to discuss why more don’t avail of parental leave…


