The Hard Shoulder

Temperatures are set to get as low as –8 degrees tonight, with an orange weather warning in place from 6pm this evening for 25 counties…Kieran is joined by Tom Brosnan, Civil Defence Officer in Kerry to discuss conditions in his area, and Newstalk’s Henry McKean and Barry Whyte join to give the latest updates.

For this week’s Tech Takeover, Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent Jess Kelly joins Kieran after visiting the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas! She discusses some of the big things on show there.Image: Reuters

When you hear of an Irish stew, you may think of the traditional Irish dish, but it's far more than that! Instead, it's an award-winning podcast – shortlisted for another title at the Irish Pod Awards – made by Irishman Martin Nutty, and Irish-American John Lee about everything about the global Irish.The hosts, John and Martin, join Kieran to chat on what’s been happening stateside.

“The heart of rural Ireland has stopped beating and without a whimper of protest”… Those are the sentiments of Consultant Historian, Dr. Liam A. Heffron, who wrote recently in the Western People about his experience of rural decline in Ireland.So it begs the question: is rural Ireland in trouble?Dr. Liam A. Heffron joins Kieran to discuss. Also joining later is David Brady, former Mayo GAA footballer and Pauline O’Reilly, Green Party Senator.

Joining Kieran this week to put his favourite book on The Hard Shoulder’s Bookshelf is Conor Niland, former professional tennis player and author of the new book: ‘The Racket, On Tour with Tennis’s Golden Generation-and the other 99%’.

Temperatures continue to drop as the cold snap remains. While local authorities are doing everything at their disposal, people are having real trouble up and down the country.Joining Kieran to give an insight into how people are managing is Councilor Liam Galvin from Limerick, and Declan Gorman, the Director of Centre Ground Gritting.Henry McKean also joins Kieran from Charleville in Cork to discuss how the people there have been impacted.

For New Year's resolutions, people take a wealth of challenges to start running, maybe picking up an instrument, or even learning a language.Well, for the new year, Kieran is embarking on a new challenge called 100 days of Gaelige, in which will try to use cúpla focail every day for the next three months.To help Kieran embark on this journey, he’s joined by Louise Cantillon, Today FM Presenter and host of the How To Gael Podcast, Derek Hollingsworth, Creator of 100 days of Gaeilge and founder of Pobail Gaeilge 15 and Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh, RTÉ Presenter.

Elon Musk has called for Nigel Farage to be replaced as leader of Reform UK this weekend - just weeks after reports that he was in talks to donate to the party.He has also tweeted ‘Free Tommy Robinson’, as he continues to serve an 18 month sentence for contempt of court.Political Commentator Adam Boulton joins Kieran to discuss.Image: Reuters

It's a new year, and that means new rates for insurance companies – with health insurance in particular set to increase.Joining Kieran to discuss and give his top tips on keeping your premiums as low as possible is Dermot Goode from totalhealthcover.ie, a part of the Lockton Group.

Post-Christmas, getting your kids to sleep on a more regular schedule can become difficult. So, for this week’s Kids Health Check, Kieran is joined by Erica Hargaden, founder of Babogue & Expert Sleep Consultant to discuss what you can do to help the process.