Highlights From The Hard Shoulder

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.

Disruption continues across the country thanks to the snow and cold weather.Newstalk Reporter Josh Crosbie joins Kieran to share what he’s seen and heard from mountain rescue services in Wicklow as well how passengers are dealing with train delays in Heuston Station.

Last week, it was agreed by stakeholders engaged in the construction of the national children’s hospital that it would be completed by June 2025. The project has been engulfed in controversy over its cost.Kevin Doyle, Group Head of News at the Irish independent has firsthand experience of how badly the children of Ireland need new healthcare facilities.He, as well as Paul Davis, Procurement Lecturer at the School of Business in DCU, join Kieran to discuss.

Following a conversation on the Pat Kenny Show last week on the European Commission tightening restrictions on Retinol, influencer Holly Carpenter hit back at host Jonathan Healy for saying that we were being “influenced by eejits”.So, what kind of advertising standards do influencers have? Joining Kieran to discuss is Holly Carpenter, Social Media Content Creator and Alexandra Ryan, CEO of Goss.ie.

This week guest host Adrian Kennedy was joined by the presenter of Fully Charged on Spin1038 Aisling Bonner and Saoirse Hanley, Features writer at the Independent to look back on the week that was, but with a few twists…

With the Christmas season over - you may find yourself with gifts that aren’t exactly to your liking. So, what do you do? Do you keep them out of politeness, or do you get rid of them?Henry McKean has been out asking the public, and joins guest host Adrian Kennedy to discuss.

A lot of people have been in and out of Dublin City the last few weeks, but does Dublin city need City Wardens, and what exactly would they do?Joining guest host Adrian Kennedy is Kevin Byrne, candidate for the Trinity Seanad Election.

In recent months, Elon Musk has been very vocal on X, formerly Twitter, about various political issues both in the US and Europe. But, is his behaviour on X dangerous?John O’Brennan, Professor in European Politics in Maynooth University and Eoin O’Malley, Associate Professor of Politics at DCU join guest host Adrian Kennedy to discuss.

It might be one of your New Year’s Resolutions to read more. Well, Ciara Treacy from Newstalk’s Digital Team joins guest host Adrian Kennedy to give her recommendations from books released in 2024!

Caroline Vakil, Campaign Reporter for The Hill, joins guest host Adrian Kennedy to discuss some of the biggest stories happening in the United States: the tragic attack in New Orleans, the Cybertruck explosion outside Trump’s Vegas hotel and the race for US House Speaker.Image: Reuters

Sexually Transmitted Infections, or STIs, were on the rise in 2024 – showing worrying signs. It follows a huge uptick the year before, with Ireland not set to reach its target of eliminating sexual diseases by 2030.Joining Adrian Kennedy to discuss the increase is Dr. Derek Freedman – a Specialist Consultant in Sexual Health and Sexually Transmitted Diseases based in Ranelagh.

Following on from the financial splurge of Christmas, many people are left wondering how to get their finances back in shape for 2025. Thankfully, we’ve got you covered!Joining guest host Adrian Kennedy to give his top tips is Robert Whelan, the Managing Director of Rockwell Financial Management.