Highlights From The Hard Shoulder

Between navigating social cues and dating apps, trying to find a partner is a difficult endeavour.That mission isn’t easier if you are trying to get back out there after a divorce. So how do you get back on the horse? Frances Kelleher, Life Coach and Dating Expert, joins Kieran to discuss.

Research released earlier this summer showed that seat belt wearing rates have decreased among drivers and on top of that, drivers have been buying devices called ‘beep stoppers’ aimed at disabling car systems that beep when seat belts are not worn while driving.Is driving behaviour and attitudes at an all time low?Geraldine Herbert is a motoring editor and columnist with the Sunday independent and joins Kieran to discuss.

It’s been five years since the proposed White Water Rafting centre hit the public eye.Is the idea still a dud? Or should we consider it in light of our recent conversations around investing in sports infrastructure?To discuss, Kieran Cuddihy is joined by Donna Cooney, Green Party Cllr and Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin and Dermot Lacey, Labour Party councillor on Dublin City Council.Image: Dublin City Council

Pharmacists should be able to prescribe for a range of common conditions.  So found a new report published today by the Expert Taskforce to Support the Expansion of the Role of Pharmacy.   Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly joined Kieran on this....

Electric Picnic is upon us as the gates of Stradbally Hall open up to 75,000 people from Thursday.Newstalk reporter, Josh Crosbie got a sneak preview of what people can expect. Hear from the organisers, stage creators and those performing.

Once upon a time the dinner table was the focal point of a family home where we all gathered to talk about the day and share our food together. But these days, the TV pulls our attention instead or we eat on the go. Should we revisit the dinner table and make a point of sitting together, sharing experiences and connecting? Joining Kieran is Tara O’Connor, Event planner and Table-scapist from the Designed Table and Michelle Harding, founder of School of Life ....

Kieran is joined by Broadcaster and Presenter Sarina Bellissimo.She’s been glued to the TV since the Paris Olympics began, and shares the best moments she’s found as a viewer from home.

Ahead of this year’s inevitable general election, Newstalk’s Political Correspondent, Sean Defoe, has been taking a look at what the major parties actually stand for.This week, he joins Kieran Cuddihy to profile Fianna Fáil, finding out what makes them different to the other party with Fianna in its name.

A recent survey by The Sunday Times has revealed that there are over 1,000 teacher vacancies in both primary and secondary schools across Ireland ahead of the academic year.So, what is the cause for our lack of teachers across the country? Mr Aaron Wolfe, principal of Coláiste Éamann Rís secondary school in Cork, joins Kieran to discuss.

For this week’s Kids Health Check, Kieran is joined by Enda Murphy, Clinical Psychotherapist and Director of SeeMee.ie to discuss travel anxiety and a fear of flying with children.

With new terminology being used every day, how do we decide what makes the Irish translation? From individual to official requests, the process of adding new words to the Irish language is a lengthy yet fascinating journey.Dr Gearóid Ó Cleircín, Assistant professor at DCU’s Fiontar and Scoil na Gaeilge and Member of An Coiste Téarmaíochta joins Kieran to discuss.

Following a successful year for Irish athletes in Paris at this year's Olympic Games, it raises the question on the distribution of the state's funding allocations for high performance sports.Despite a €25 million state funding allocation for high performance sports in Ireland, some Olympic athletes continue to be reliant on second careers to fund their training and ­participation in world events.However, horse racing and greyhound racing together received €95 million in state funding this year, significantly more than all other sports. Should this fund be reviewed?Kieran is joined by Micheal Healy Rae, Independent TD for Kerry and Gary Gannon, Social Democrats TD for Dublin, to discuss.

Police have described Banksy’s recent artwork in London as ‘criminal damage’, which begs the question: is graffiti or art, or mere vandalism?Joining me now to discuss is Catherine O’Halloran: psychotherapist, youth worker and Founder of Draw Out Limerick and Street Artist Shane Sutton.

Death threats and abuse have become commonplace in the lives of our politicians, so says a new survey from the Irish Independent, which reported that 60 of 67 TDs surveyed have had threats made against them, with the threats ranging from being “threatened with a gun”, to a threat of being hanged.Seán Ó Fearghaíl, Ceann Comhairle and Hazel Chu, Green Party Councillor and Former Lord Mayor of Dublin join Kieran Cuddihy to discuss.

The Paris Olympics have concluded, and celebrations are taking place all across the country, but for the first time in Irish sporting history - official homecoming celebrations are underway. O’Connell street in Dublin is shut for the day as the most successful Irish effort at the Olympics so far is honoured.Newstalk Reporter Josh Crosbie joins Kieran to share what he’s seen and heard so far, and Sinead O’Carroll, Editor of TheJournal.ie joins to discuss as well.

It’s been an outstanding few weeks at the Olympic Games for Team Ireland - with our athletes providing incredible results for the nation and making us all so proud.Kieran is joined by former triathlete and Ireland’s Chef de Mission for Paris, Gavin Noble to discuss Team Ireland and their Olympic journey.

Our outstanding performance at the Olympics has prompted calls for further funding to improve our sports sector within Ireland.Kieran is joined by Ireland’s Minister for Sport to discuss Ireland’s Olympic journey, and what funding can be funneled into Irish sport.

The Centre Cultural Irlandais has become a home for Team Ireland during the Paris Olympics, especially when they have to leave the Olympic Village. Kieran is joined by Nora Hickey M’Sichili, Director of Irish Cultural Centre to discuss how the events have gone, and the role the centre plays outside of the Olympics.

Kieran is in Paris for the Olympics and caught up with Bantamweight boxer for Ireland, Jenny Lehane.Although Jenny didn’t get the ultimate outcome she would have wanted, they discuss what it’s like to reach the Olympics, and represent the country in boxing.

Rowing Ireland is on a high after Paul O’Donovan and Fintan McCarthy’s stellar gold cinch at the Men’s Lightweight Double Sculls final last week.The talent that has been shown thus far in the Olympics by the Irish rowing team has clearly been inspirational. Kieran is joined by the incredible rowers Philip Doyle, Paris bronze Medalist, and Aifric Keogh, Tokyo Bronze Medalist to discuss.