Highlights From The Hard Shoulder

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…

In Northern Ireland, an online predator has been jailed for at least 20 years as part of the largest case of catfishing the UK has ever seen.Joining Kieran to discuss this case is Hannah Patterson, Reporter from Coolfm and Downtown and Shane Dunphy, Head of Social Studies and early childhood education in Waterford College of Further Education, Author and Child Protection Expert.If you were affected by anything discussed, please call:Childline on Freephone - 1800 66 66 66 or choose the ‘Live Chat’ button at childline.ie  Or the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre on Freephone: - 1800 77 88 88

The anonymous art curator known only as Art Riddler, is hosting his art exhibition in Dublin from this evening.He joins Kieran to discuss what his work is all about.Image: @artriddler on Instagram

The International Rugby Experience in Limerick City will cease business operations and close this December, after only official opening in May last year.The museum, which was built by the JP McManus Foundation, cost €30 million and was due to be given to the local council, but this plan has now fallen through.What happened here? And what effects does it have on Limerick City as a whole?Joining Kieran to discuss is Willie O’Dea, Fianna Fáil TD for Limerick and Fiona Hayes, Former Ireland International.

According to a new survey, 36% of adults say that the pub is the best place for talking about their problems. Is this really the case?Newstalk’s Henry McKean has been talking to pub-goers, and joins Kieran to share what he’s heard.

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.He joins Kieran to discuss how, with only 2 weeks left until voting day, Kamala Harris has changed her messaging to attack Trump.Image: Reuters

Gardaí today continued the search at the Durnin’s former family home in Dundalk for the third day, with Gardaí now focused on an area of wasteland to the rear of the back garden.After first being reported missing on August 30th, the Gardaí have since escalated the case to a murder investigation.Newstalk’s Chief Reporter Barry Whyte joins Kieran to give the latest updates.

The new Dublin city taskforce has declared we need 1000 new Gardaí in Dublin, but how can this number be reached if only 2 Gardaí have qualified since the last Garda recruitment drive?To discuss, Kieran is joined by Gary Gannon, Social Democrat TD and Stephen Moore, founder of Out of Blue Training.

Yesterday, the Irish Fiscal Advisory Committee met with the Oireachtas Budgetary oversight committee to talk about new EU economic rules, and they proposed introducing new legislation to cap the budgetary spending increases.Kieran is joined by Seamus Coffey, Chair of IFAC and Lecturer in Economics in UCC to discuss.

A number of toll charges across Ireland’s road network are set to increase from January 1st next year, with southbound prices in the Dublin Port Tunnel rising to €13 during morning peak hours, and a 10c increase for unregistered cars without a tag or video account travelling along the M50.Sean O'Neill, Director of Communications with Transport Infrastructure Ireland, joins Kieran to discuss.

It has been announced today that former MEP Clare Daly will be switching constituencies for the upcoming general election and running in Dublin Central.After losing her European Parliament seat, Daly will now run for the Dáil under the ‘Independent 4 Change’ banner.She joins Kieran to discuss the decision.

With the clocks going back by an hour in a few days, there have again been calls to abolish daylight savings time.Joining Kieran to discuss is Seán Kelly, Fine Gael MEP for Ireland South and Professor David Malone from Maynooth University.

Mother Mandy Kelly has launched a fresh appeal to get an Interpol arrest for her ex-husband who kidnapped her two children while they were on holiday in Egypt.Mandy Kelly joins Kieran from Egypt to discuss.

A new campaign, "Stop Crime Against Retailers", launched today at Fallon & Byrne in Dublin, is calling for immediate government action to combat the alarming rise in crime threatening retailers nationwide.A recent ShelfLife retailer survey has revealed that 100% of retailers have experienced criminal activity in the past year.Newstalk Reporter Josh Crosbie went out to ask these retailers for their thoughts on shoplifting, and what they would like to see done. He joins Kieran to share what he’s heard.

Labour TD Alan Kelly joined Kieran earlier to discuss how he begged his father to go to UHL when he was unwell.Alan mentioned that he wants clarity from Stephen Donnelly on when UHL’s new 96-bed block would open...Joining Kieran to discuss when we might see change is former HSE Director General and Columnist for the Sunday Independent, Tony O’Brien. 

For this week’s Tech Takeover, Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent Jess Kelly joined Kieran to discuss how the National Security Agency (NSA) have given out tips to better the security on your tech devices.

The Dáil is set to vote on the final version of the Assisted Dying Report tonight. This is the report which a committee on the issue last March called on the government to legalise assisted dying in certain restricted circumstances.The Bishops of the Catholic Church are calling on TDs to reject the report with the Irish Primate, the Archbishop Eamon Martin calling on members to get in touch with their TDs to express their views.Joining Kieran to discuss this is Kevin Doran, Bishop of Elphin and Chairman of the Bishops’ Council for Life.

Dublin City Council earlier today launched the Dublin Drone Innovation Partnership, which will look at what the future of drones could be.Joining Kieran to discuss what this future use may look like is Bob Foley, a licensed Aircraft Engineer and co-founder of Engineers with Drones.

The reports of overcrowding and staffing issues in University Hospital Limerick (UHL) are commonplace nowadays, with some in the region fearing engaging with those services.No one knows this better than Alan Kelly, Labour TD for Tipperary, who spoke in the Dáil yesterday about having to convince his own crying father to go into the hospital…Deputy Alan Kelly joins Kieran to discuss.

Cork has been named as one of National Geographic’s 25 best places in the world to visit in 2025!Cork is the only Irish entry in a list that includes destinations from across the world.So, what makes the Rebel County so special?Joining Kieran to discuss is Neil Prendeville, Presenter of the Neil Prendeville Show on RedFM and Anne Marie Cronin, Freelance Photographer & Owner of a Photography Gallery in Castletownbere, West Cork.Image: Ireland.com