Highlights From The Hard Shoulder

Just because the lights are on and the tree is up, doesn't mean fun and laughter for everyone in the audience. So, how can we survive the celebrations if we're not feeling festive this season and how can we can mind our minds this Christmas?Newstalk's Sarah Madden reports.

This week Kieran Cuddihy was joined by the presenter of Weekend Breakfast on Today FM, Alison Curtis and Saoirse Hanley, Features writer at the Independent to look back on the week that was, but with a few twists…

Aisling Larkin, Mindful Eating Coach and TV Chef joined Kieran to look at healthy meals you can have in December, before the inevitable indulgence on Christmas!Image: @aisling_larkin_ on Instagram

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has sealed a massive trade agreement with South America.The deal has been 25 years in the making and seeks to create a free-trade zone spanning more than 700 million people.It’s a deal that is opposed by France, which fears that an influx of cheap poultry and beef imports would undercut farmers.Denis Drennan, President of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association joins Kieran to discuss.

Off The Ball's Ger Gilroy joined Kieran Cuddihy on The Hard Shoulder to review the week in sport and look ahead to the weekend action…

Met Éireann have issued a red weather warning for 6 counties in the west, as Storm Darragh is set to bring stormy conditions across the country…Joining Kieran for more on this is Met Éireann Meteorologist Joanna Donnelly, Sean O’Neill Head of Communications, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, Graeme McQueen, Media Relations at DAA and Blake Boland, Spokesperson for Dublin Bus.

All this month the Hard Shoulder is looking back on 2024’s biggest moments in the news, and who were at the heart of it.You don't have to look back far to find one of the biggest stories of the year, and that was the election of the 47th President of the United States: Donald J. Trump.What led to that moment, and how has America settled into the prospect of four more years of Trump?Joining Kieran to look back is Martin Nutty and John Lee, hosts of the Irish Stew Podcast.Image: Evan Vucci / AP

The Irish Greens are hosting the 39th European Green Party Congress this weekend.The Green vote here was wiped this day last week, but this is a trend which is being  witnessed European wide…So what does the future hold for the Green agenda?Oisín Coughlan, Chief Executive of Friends of the Earth joins Kieran to discuss.

Up and down the country, trees and lights will be up in preparation of the biggest event (for some) of the year: The Late Late Toy Show!Do we love this institution, or is it a glorified advert?Joining Kieran to discuss are Comedians Jim Elliot and Julie Jay. And Newstalk’s Henry McKean got thoughts from the public!

For this week’s Thursday Interview, Kieran is joined by Donal O’Shea Consultant Endocrinologist and HSE National Clinical Lead for Obesity to discuss his concerns regarding the scale of processed food we are eating, how to tackle obesity and why he chose to dedicate his career to healthcare.

Dermot Whelan, author and Host of The Mind Full Podcast is about to go on tour with his new show Busy & Wrecked. He joined Kieran to discuss how his life experience and research have led him to undergo the mission of his tour to calm the Irish people's minds!For tickets to Dermot's new show "Busy and Wrecked" visit Dermotwhelan.com

Leaving Cert students will soon be allowed to use AI. From next year, Artificial Intelligence will be allowed for certain parts of project work.  How will this work and is it a good thing?  Joining Kieran to discuss was Elaine Burke, Host of “For Tech’s Sake” and “The Connected AI” podcasts and  Dr Eamon Costello  Associate professor of digital learning at Dublin City University. 

Gino Kenny, former People Before Profit TD and assisted dying rights activist joins Kieran to discuss whether or not the next Dáil will introduce assisted dying laws.

Following the conclusion of the 2024 General Election, there will be a massive change of the guard as regards to TDs. Leaving are the Haugheys, Cowens, Coveneys, and MacSharrys amongst others – stalwarts of Dáil life.Joining Kieran to discuss this phenomenon is Fergus Finlay, former Labour Party Adviser, Campaigner, and Columnist with the Irish Examiner.

A man in his 30s has been arrested after the death of eight-year-old Malika Noor Al Katib in New Ross, Co. Wexford…Newstalk’s Chief Reporter Barry Whyte joins Kieran to give the latest updates.

More than 300 hundred people attended the funeral of Mary Regan in Carlow after the Funeral Director Rory Healy made a public appeal to “not send off Mary alone” as she had no next of kin.But, what happens when there is no next of kin, and who tracks them down? Padraic Grennan, Managing Director of Irish probate genealogy firm Erin International joins Kieran to discuss.

Jess Kelly, Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent joins Kieran for this week’s Tech Takeover to discuss why the Spanish government is trying to introduce health warnings for smartphones and more.

The three main parties of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Sinn Féin met today as efforts to form a Government continue.While the speculation is that Independents will join Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, there are still plenty of unknowns.Craig Hughes, Political Editor of the Irish Daily Mail joins Kieran to discuss.

It’s been mere days since it was confirmed that assisted dying could become legal in England and Wales after the bill was backed by MPs.But, how far are we along the line here, and how far should things go?Gail O’Rorke, who was acquitted in 2015 of three counts of assisting in the suicide of her friend Bernadette Forde and patient advocate John Wall join Kieran to discuss.

The Healthy Ireland Survey reported that even though 80 percent of people report to be in good health, only 2 out of 5 people said they were moderately active for 150 minutes a week.How do we motivate ourselves to get up and get active, and why do we fall short when it comes to being physically active?Kieran is joined by Rory O’Connor, Sports Centre Manager at YMCA Fitness.