Highlights From The Hard Shoulder

The Junior Cert is set to begin tomorrow, for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic began. Jen Hogan, journalist, author and columnist with The Irish Times thinks It shouldn’t be going ahead after the level of disruption these young students have had to their education, she joined Kieran to explain the focus should be on getting kids familiar with school and socializing again.

According to new research if you’re aged over 40, training for a marathon could age your body by a decade. Dominic Munnelly, Sports Scientist & Personal Trainer joined Kieran to explain the science behind this and share his tips for anyone who is thinking about or currently training for a marathon.

Apple products and other smartphone manufacturers will have to use the same charger under a landmark deal provisionally approved by European lawmakers. Technology Correspondent Jess Kelly joined Kieran to discuss how chargers for just iphones could soon be a thing of the past.

Last week saw Health Minister Stephen Donnelly say that an upcoming Assisted Human Reproduction bill was “not originally envisaged to include international surrogacy”. He also said: “And it would be law by now if we hadn’t stopped it.” Campaigners took exception, and after an overwhelming response, Kieran was joined by Dora and Amy, who have been directly affected by the current status quo.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has clung to power after successfully winning a no-confidence vote. Lord Robert Hayward, A Conservative Peer, former MP and political analyst joined Kieran to discuss what state his leadership been left in and, where it leaves his party.

Roscommon, Clare, Mayo and Kildare are all heading to Croke Park on Saturday for Round 2 of the All Ireland Senior Football Championship. It’ll be part of a double header that will be shown on Sky Sports. Former Mayo player Austin O’Malley joined Kieran to discuss why we are seeing so many empty seats in Croke Park and if the GAA needs to address inflation and a younger generation of fans.

A video has gone viral today of a group of people mocking the death of Michaela McAreavey. The PSNI and Orange Order are investigating, with the video being condemned from all sides. Joe Brolly, columnist with the Sunday Independent, joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss...

The Assisted Human Reproduction Coalition has described a comments by Health Minister Stephen Donnelly about legislating for International Surrogacy as "extremely disappointing." Cathy Wheatley from Irish Families Through Surrogacy joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss the comments and the future of surrogacy in Ireland...

For the Thursday Interview, Kieran was joined in studio this week by author Sinead Gleeson.

Time now for ‘The Pod Couple’. Sarah Madden from Newstalk Breakfast and Darren Cleary from GoLoud Selects joined Kieran on the show as ever, and this week focused on ‘Phoning It In’

The number of cases of an unknown mystery form of hepatitis has risen to 12, with a second child needing a liver transplant. GPs and pediatric consultants are aware of the increase in cases. Dr. Phil Kieran from Cork joined Kieran on the show.

An article in the Irish Times caught my eye - ‘Is the United States headed for Civil War’? It’s a pertinent question as the US heads towards midterm elections, halfway through a Joe Biden presidency, that has just come off the back of the presidency of Donald Trump. A book that delves into the question of America’s division is ‘This Will Not Pass’, co-authored by, Alex Burns of the New York Times who spoke to Kieran on the show.

Following on from Sean Moncrieff and Henry Mckean's report about peeing in the shower Kieran was joined by Dr. Alicia Jeffrey-Thomas, Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist to discuss if women should pee in the shower.

Tax cuts are to be made a priority in the budget later this year for the 'squeezed middle' which will also include reduced childcare costs according to Tánasite Leo Varadkar. Regina Doherty, Fine Gael Senator and Colette Bennett, Economic and Social Analyst with Social Justice Ireland discussed what exactly needs to be done to help those who are struggling.

Top Gun: Maverick, the long-awaited sequel to the 1986 Tom Cruise classic starring has smashed Memorial Day records to take $156 million dollars at the U.S. box office over the holiday weekend. Tom Cruise’s first-ever $100 million opening weekend – but what are the other movies that have topped the box office down through the years and were actually they any good? Film Reviewer, Deirdre Molumby joined Kieran to chat through some of the top-grossing films of all time

Jim Healy, Chair of the Meadowbrook Residence Association in Glanmire, and Ger Keohane, Independent councillor in Cork City both joined Kieran to discuss the soaring construction costs that could put Corks flood defense scheme in doubt.

The Amber Heard and Johnny Depp trial has been followed all around the world with opinions coming from everywhere. But while Johnny Depp was on trial, so was the way domestic abuse is spoken about in the media. What has global attention meant for the victims of domestic abuse that are watching? Ellen O'Malley Dunlop Former Chair of the National Women’s Council joined Kieran on the show to discuss.

Peter Feeney from West on Track and Dr. Ciara Murphy a rail user in the South East both joined Kieran to discuss Irelands train services.

We’re hearing daily about how things are become more of a struggle when it come to food prices and production. Marie Cronin, Food Bank Volunteer and President for the East Region of St Vincent de Paul joined Kieran to discuss how the need for food banks has increased and how cost of living has affected those who are really struggling.

A series of anti-monarchy billboards have been described erected in the UK ahead of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee this weekend. The Reading-based campaign group Republic are responsible for the billboards and their spokesperson Graham Smyth, joined Kieran and former BBC Royal Correspondent Jennie Bond, to discuss if its time to abolish the monarchy.