Highlights From The Hard Shoulder

Kieran Cuddihy chatted with legendary actor Brendan Gleeson, who is supporting Bewley’s Big Coffee Morning Social for Hospice. They discuss Brendan’s life and career, and why hospice care is so important.Register to host a coffee morning on Thursday, September 26 – or on a date that suits you – at hospicecoffeemorning.ie or call 0818 995 996. If you cannot host or attend a coffee morning, you can make a donation at hospicecoffeemorning.ie/donate

Minister for Education, Norma Foley, and Minister for Special Education and Inclusion Hildegarde Naughton , have today launched the first year of a new scheme which will see free schoolbooks and classroom resources provided to Junior Cycle students in post-primary schools.To explain it all, Kieran Cuddihy is joined by Minister Norma Foley.

Hugs are often given to others as a wholesome display of affection, but can it be overused and have its meaning watered down? Freelance Journalist Niamh O’Reilly joins Kieran to discuss.

Today saw the loss of one of Ireland’s most prominent feminists and journalists, Nell McCafferty.Nell famously took part in the contraceptive train in 1971 and paved the way for legalisation of contraception here in Ireland. Eamonn McCann, Activist and Journalist and Ailbhe Smyth, Activist and Campaigner join Kieran Cuddihy to discuss her impact.

Saint Killian’s Cork is a school which provides education and care to children with acute, learning and neuro-developmental disabilities.Children with these conditions require therapeutic hours and this service is crucial for their development.However, since 2019 Saint Killian’s has been without any therapy services for their children and has been excluded from a recently announced pilot project bringing therapies back to schools.To discuss, Kieran is joined by Sue Linehan, Principal of St. Killian’s Special School in Mayfield Cork and Fiona Coughlan from Parents Unite, a group of parents advocating for their children with additional needs.

The RSA latest ad and campaign ‘Lose Your Licence, Lose Your Independence’ has come under fire, with claims of ableism.Joining Kieran Cuddihy to discuss is Neasa Hourigan, Green Party Finance Spokesperson and Louise Williams, Coordinator of Monthly Cycles.Image: RSA

If Irish rock star Phil Lynott was still alive, he would have been 75 today. Newstalk’s Henry McKean met Thin Lizzy super fans celebrating the date, remembering the Irish music legend.

Musician, Broadcaster and founding member of ‘The Hothouse Flowers’, Fiachna Ó Braonáin joined Kieran to put his favourite book on The Hard Shoulder’s Bookshelf!

Shamrock Rovers, in a statement yesterday, hit out against national TV broadcasters for failing to broadcast big European matches in recent weeks.They state that “The club exhausted every avenue” to get the games broadcasted.Kieran is joined by John Martin, Chief Executive of Shamrock Rovers F.C to discuss.

The curtains will soon be drawn, and the winner crowned, as Tralee prepares for the live final of The Rose of Tralee competition tonight. Steeped in tradition, and met with its fair share of scepticism, there is a lot to love about the show that has been aired across our television screens for decades. Here with me now to discuss is Chef and Radio Broadcaster Edward Hayden and Olivia Fahy, Editor of ‘Geek Ireland’.

Earlier today, Kieran Cuddihy was told that his son won’t be seen by the dentist until sixth class; he is currently in fourth class…This is due to the extreme staff shortages in dentists all over Ireland, causing a backlog so long some children aren't seen by a dentist until secondary school.Joining Kieran to tell more about the dentist shortages and waiting lists around the country is Chair of the GP committee of the Irish Dental Association, and owner of Kiwi Dental in Carlow, Caroline Robbins.

It has been a number of years since an Irish public figure took a British Honour title, like Sir Bob Geldof, but has Ireland fallen out of love with British titles? And should we consider implementing our own?To discuss, Kieran Cuddihy is joined by Gerard Craughwell, Independent Senator and John Gilligan, the Former Mayor of Limerick.

The Democratic National Convention gets underway today in Chicago. What can we expect?Joining Kieran from the DNC to discuss is Bob Mulholland, Delegate and Member of the Democratic National Committee for California.Image: Reuters

Is the requirement to fill out a personality test to secure a house viewing the latest bizarre element of renting in Ireland's housing crisis?To discuss, Kieran Cuddihy is joined by Meghan from Newstalk and Peter Dooley from the Dublin Renters Union.Later, Kieran is joined by Dr. Rory Hearne, Assistant Professor of Social Policy at Maynooth University to discuss how the market has gotten to this point, and what needs to be done to change things.

Now, the new gambling bill is set to be published this autumn and will hope to curtail advertising as well as protect children from gambling.Joining Kieran to help explain what the bill is and how it has gotten to this point having faced considerable lobbying is Minister of State Department of Justice with responsibility for International Law, Law Reform and Youth Justice and Fianna Fail TD for Wexford of Justice James Browne.

For this week’s Kids Health Check, Kieran is joined by Iseult White, Psychotherapist and Author to discuss whether or not you should use reward systems with your children.

With alcohol consumption in Ireland dropping by almost a third in the last two decades, a move towards sobriety is becoming a popular choice for many.But, with our deep-rooted drinking culture still so prevalent in the country - are there enough spaces for non-drinkers to socialise?Joining Kieran to discuss is Resilience Coach, Expert Psychotherapist and best-selling author Siobhan Murray.

Have superhero movies led to the death of cinema? Former Marvel actor and star of Succession Brian Cox seems to think so, despite the latest superhero movie, Deadpool & Wolverine becoming the second highest grossing movie of 2024.To discuss, Kieran is joined by Deirdre Molumby, Pop Culture and Entertainment Expert and Film Critic, Brian Lloyd.Image: Marvel

All eyes are on the Democratic National Convention as it starts in Chicago today, and who better to discuss presidential politics than Kieran’s next guest, American actor and ‘The West Wing’ legend, Richard Schiff!They discuss Biden’s decision to step out of the race, and how the election might shake out.Image: NBC

Electric Picnic has come and gone from another weekend, but one of the highlights for some would have been the Wolfe Tones playing the main stage yesterday.Was it okay for thousands of fans to chant “oh ah up the ra”? Or do we need to start having a mature conversation around rebel songs?To discuss, Kieran is joined by Ronan McGreevy, Irish Times journalist, author of 'Great Hatred: The Assassination of Field Marshall Sir Henry Wilson MP' and Ben Lowry, Editor of The Belfast Newsletter.