Highlights From The Hard Shoulder

County Clare has been included in Condé Nast Traveller's list of the 25 best places to visit in Europe, and features alongside Marseille and Vienna!Condé Nast notes traditional Irish music as a selling point as well as County Clare becoming the hub of a grassroots revival of other skills, and an inspiring example of ecotourism along Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way.Joining  Kieran to discuss all the amazing things about Co. Clare are proud Clare people Marcus Horan, former Munster Player and country music star and Presenter of Country Music Hits on Today FM, Clodagh Lawlor.

US officials are saying that President Joe Biden has given the green light for Ukraine to use long-range missiles supplied by the US to strike Russia.What impact could this have on the war in Ukraine? And should we be worried about Russian vessels in the Irish sea?Joining Kieran to discuss is Jason Corcoran, journalist and Russian analyst, and Donnacha O’Beachain, Professor of Politics at DCU.

Unless you have been living under a rock, you will know that on Friday, November 29th, voting will take place for the general election.But, what issues are facing students at this current moment, and what do they want to see resolved?Joining Kieran to discuss is Jenny Maguire, Student Union President of Trinity College Dublin.

This week Kieran Cuddihy was joined by Saoirse Hanley, Columnist and Audience Editor for The Independent  and Niamh O'Reilly, Freelance Writer and Journalist to look back on the week that was, but with a few twists…

This day two weeks we will be going to the polls, and all sectors of society are looking to see what party will deliver for them. We've heard from the publicans, the farmers, and plenty of others, but what about the hairdressers. What are the customers telling their hairdressers they want to see come out of the election? Newstalk reporter, Josh Crosbie has been visiting salons right across Dublin today to find out...

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…

Newstalk reporter Henry McKean met TV presenter Gráinne Seoige in Kylemore Abbey, to discuss running in the General Election for Fianna Fail in Galway West . Henry sent this report from a park bench.  

Kieran was joined by Dave Moore, presenter of The Dave Moore Show on Today FM to discuss his new book 'Dave's Bad Jokes'.

Now that we're coming into the Christmas season Kieran was joined by Alexandra Ryan, CEO and Founder of Goss.ie and Brian Lloyd, Entertainment Journalist to debate if there is still a need for Christmas adverts.

Rory Fitzpatrick, CEO of SUAS Aerospace, plans to launch rockets from the west coast of Ireland, where his company will operate two commercial spaceports, by next year.Rory is convinced this project will be worth billions, and is therefore opportunistic for Ireland. He joins Kieran to discuss.

The Kuhner Report on WRKO AM680 Radio in Boston is hosted by Jeffrey T. Kuhner, "Liberalism's Worst Nightmare," he is a conservative nationalist, who champions God, country and family.This week, Jeff joins Kieran to discuss Trump’s picks for cabinet when he begins his presidency next year, and why Democrats aren’t happy about them.Image: Reuters, AFP

In the lead up to the General Election, big debates are being held on the Hard Shoulder. Today: the cost of living.With it being an issue for the majority of voters, how will the candidates tackle it and reduce costs?Joining Kieran to debate is Pearse Doherty, Deputy Leader of Sinn Féin & Party Spokesperson on Finance, Paul Murphy, People Before Profit TD for Dublin Southwest,Barry Ward, Fine Gael Senator, Spokesperson on Justice and General Election candidate in Dun Laoghaire and Kate O’Connell, Community Pharmacist, Former TD and Independent General Election candidate for Dublin Bay South.

Former MP and Olympian Sebastion Coe has been out canvassing for the role of President at the International Olympic Committee. One belief they have said is that the protection of female sports is important, which suggests that transgender athletes may not be allowed to compete in female categories.Is this fair, and would female Olympians welcome this change?Joining Kieran to discuss is former Olympian, Sharron Davies.

It's time for ‘Henry's Front Bench', where Henry McKean meets an election candidate on a park bench and has a chat.Today, Henry meets former Justice Minister and now independent candidate, Alan Shatter, in Dublin Rathdown.

It’s time for the Shopping Trolley Hotline! Where we review the same product from various stores and brands.Newstalk’s Simon Tierney joined Kieran to try different offerings of prunes!

The CEO of Hugg, Fiona Tuomey joined the show to speak about the lack of support for children's mental health...So, how can we reform children's support services in this country?Joining Kieran to discuss is Dr. Kieran Moore, Medical Paediatric Consultant Liaison Psychiatrist and an Associate Professor of Psychiatry in UCD, who spent 16 years working in Child and Adult Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

Over the coming weeks, politicians will be canvassing, knocking from door to door, and you may be left facing a politician cluelessly, unsure of what to ask them.Dr. Jennifer Kavanagh, Lecturer in Constitutional Law at South East Technological University, joins Kieran to discuss what you should ask a politician when they land on your doorstep.

Jess Kelly, Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent joins Kieran for this week’s Tech Takeover to discuss how Donald Trump has appointed tech mogul Elon Musk to head a new ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ in the United States, and what impact that may have.Image: AFP

In the lead up to the General Election, the Hard Shoulder is doing the Campaign Trail Tracker, a daily update of what you need to know before the big voting day on November 29th. It can be hard to keep up with all the news. This is your daily catch-up.Today, Kieran discusses more reports of poster vandalism, and accusations of mudslinging between parties.

The civil case taken by Nikit Hand against Conor McGregor has been ongoing in court today. Nikita Hand has taken a civil action against Conor McGregor and James Lawrence, claiming she was sexually assaulted in a Dublin hotel in December 2018.Today, Conor McGregor took the stand and gave evidence.Frank Greaney, Newstalk Court’s Correspondent joins Kieran to discuss.