Highlights From The Hard Shoulder

Earlier today, the ‘Grace’ Report was published.This is the final report of the first phase of the Farrelly Commission, which examines the 'Grace' case allegations and why she was placed in the home and not removed until 2009.Speaking at the publication of the report today Norma Foley, Minister for Children, Disability and Equality said that “It goes without saying that what Grace experienced was both intolerable and utterly unacceptable…"Minister Foley and Elaine Loughlin, Political Reporter with the Irish Examiner join Kieran to discuss.

Home is where the heart is, but what if your home was the heart of the cultural revival? Well, that’s what Diarmuid Lyng, Owner of Wild Irish Retreats and former Wexford Hurler is offering with his new fundraiser to buy a space in Kilkenny.Diarmuid Lyng joins Kieran to tell more.

Kieran has left Newstalk headquarters and is in Buswells as the Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Paediatric Advocacy Group and Scoliosis Advocacy Network are holding a press conference calling on action in continued failures on paediatric care.Una Keightley, Co-Lead Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Paediatric Advocacy Group, and Claire Cahill Co-Founder of Scoliosis Advocacy Network join to discuss.Image: @mulvanypeopleb1 on Twitter

Research from the ESRI today has shown that workers in the Republic of Ireland pay over twice as much as those in the North, with the quality of life still better in the Republic.Whether that’s surprising for you or not, we did want to ask the bigger question today: can we afford Irish unity? Or would the financial responsibility of the North be too much?Joining Kieran to discuss is TalkTV Presenter Peter Cardwell and Rose Conway Walsh, Sinn Fein Spokesperson Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and TD for Mayo.

Should there be a register for convicted domestic abusers? Jason Poole believes so, as his sister Jennie Poole was killed by an ex-partner in 2021…He has since been campaigning for it since, and launched a petition two weeks ago, urging the Minister for Justice to implement it.Jason joins Kieran to discuss.

For this week’s Kids Health Check, Kieran is joined by Aoife Lee, Parenting Coach at ParentSupport.ie to discuss how you can support your teenagers while they are doing their Junior and Leaving Cert exams.

There was a big reveal today for Cork’s long-awaited Luas line: an 18km light rail, stretching from Ballincollig to Mahon Point, is officially on the table. With public consultation now open, some are calling it a transformational step for the city, but many in Cork are meeting it with scepticism, pointing to years of promises that went nowhere.Joining Kieran to discuss is KC from RedFM and TodayFM and Pauline O’Reilly, former Green Party Senator.Image: Luas Cork

The day has finally come for Rory McIlroy after he achieved the career grand slam with a win at the Masters.Who better to talk to now than another Irish golfing legend: Padraig Harrington!He joins Kieran to discuss the historic moment. Also joining to discuss is Nathan Murphy from Off the Ball.Image: Reuters

Kieran’s guest is an up and coming businessman, and just managed to bag Lord Alan Sugar’s phone number as he aims to grow his many businesses!Jordan Dargan came third in this year’s series of The Apprentice, which is now into its 19th year, and at only 22 years old was the youngest contestant on the show…He joins to discuss.

According to research from PTSB, the increasing pressure on those trying to access the housing market has led to many younger professionals opting to go towards social housing options, in hopes of gaining a home of their own.To discuss this research, Kieran is joined by Rory Hearne, Social Democrat TD and Aran McDonnacha, a young professional who applied for the social housing list.

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!

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…

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.

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!

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…

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

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.

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!

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...

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…