Best West Cork FM Podcasts (2024)

1
Do we need to fight legal battles for healthcare? 8:32

3h ago8:32

8:32

Legalese, language used in legal documents, has made navigating legal battles incredibly difficult for people who haven’t studied law. But now, some are saying that it’s entered into the healthcare sector. Joining Kieran to discuss is Dr. Suzanne Crowe, a Paediatric Intensive Care Consultant and President of the Irish Medical Council.…

1
The Bookshelf with Conor Faughnan 9:45

3h ago9:45

9:45

Transport Commentator Conor Faughnan joined Kieran Cuddihy to put his favourite book on The Hard Shoulder’s Bookshelf!

1
Male fertility advocate to address the Seanad 9:17

3h ago9:17

9:17

In 2017, Gareth Landy was told that he couldn’t have kids. He now has 2 children and a diagnosis labelling him XXY, meaning he has an extra X chromosome. But, what was his story, and why is he speaking before the Seanad today? Joining Kieran to discuss is Gareth Landy, a male fertility advocate.

1
Why is customer service getting worse? 7:45

3h ago7:45

7:45

Customer service in Ireland is getting worse with nearly half the top 150 brands performing poorly last year. That’s according to a new survey published today. Conor Pope is Consumer Affairs Correspondent with The Irish Times and joins Kieran to discuss.

1
US tipping culture creeping into Ireland - Henry McKean Reports 7:07

4h ago7:07

7:07

Has the American tourist influx put the native Irish customer under pressure to tip more? Have they influenced our tipping culture from rounding up to 10% and now, in some cases, 20%? Henry McKean visited Man O' War Gastro Pub in North County Dublin, where he met Irish staff and US customers, and sent in this report.…

1
More OPW overspending revealed - Children’s Science Museum 8:18

1h ago8:18

8:18

The OPW has landed in more hot water; it has been revealed that the OPW has paid more than €300,000 in legal fees in an arbitration case on the proposed building of a National Children’s Science Museum in Dublin. Joining Seán to discuss is Social Democrat TD and member of the Public Accounts Committee, Catherine Murphy...…

1
Cork University Hospital faces massive overcrowding 5:40

1h ago5:40

5:40

There are record levels of patients waiting on trolleys in Cork University Hospital the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation have said, with 98 patients waiting for admission to a bed. Overall in Ireland there are 641 patients on trolleys, with 444 of those in emergency departments. How can we tackle this and stop it from escalating? Kieran is jo…

1
When is the next general election? 10:41

21m ago10:41

10:41

There has been a lot of speculation as to when the next general election is going to be, but there do seem to be some signs that it’s sooner than you may think! Newstalk’s Political Correspondent, Sean Defoe, joins Kieran to discuss.

1
What is the Body ‘Roundness’ Index? 6:15

1h ago6:15

6:15

Recent studies have found that the famous ‘Body Mass Index’ is a flawed system. Instead, we should be using a new measurement: the Body Roundness Index or BRI. Simply, the process calculates how round you are, with high and low scores being dangerous. Joining Kieran to discuss is Diana Thomas from the US Military Academy in West Point, New York.…

1
Anna Geary returns to TV for Love in the Country! 15:02

30m ago15:02

15:02

Anna Geary has her cupid bow at the ready as she is back on our screens from tonight helping the men and women from rural Ireland find love once more. Season 2 of her show Love in the Country Airs tonight at 9.35pm on RTÉ 2, and Anna joins Kieran to talk about what you can expect.

1
What is the endgame for conflict in the Middle East? 5:45

1h ago5:45

5:45

A year on from the Hamas terror attack on Israel, the conflict in the Middle East is continuing to escalate by the day. But what, if anything, does the endgame to all of this look like? Walt Kilroy, Lecturer in International Relations at DCU and Co-Director of its Conflict Institute.

1
Kids Health Check: Clothing Choices 9:40

29m ago9:40

9:40

For this week’s Kids Health Check, Kieran is joined by Aoife Lee, Parenting Coach at ParentSupport.ie to discuss the clothes your children or teenagers might choose to wear, and having conversations around it.

1
Dublin Bus launches security pilot programme 9:39

43m ago9:39

9:39

Starting from today, Dublin Bus has launched a pilot program of security guards for their services. It will run for 20 weeks, and is aiming to curb 'antisocial behaviour'. Newstalk Reporter Josh Crosbie has been getting more information, and joins Kieran to discuss.

1
Do we need education on gender-based violence in schools? 12:03

1h ago12:03

12:03

There has been a “worrying regression” in some boys with increasing misogyny in recent years. So says Jason Poole, whose sister Jennifer was stabbed to death by an ex-partner in April 2021. Jason is calling for the introduction of standardised education on gender-based violence into our classrooms. He joins me now...…

1
Is ‘Let It Go’ actually a good song? 5:33

1h ago5:33

5:33

The actress who plays Princess Anna in Frozen, Kristen Bell, has apologised to parents for getting ‘Let it Go’ from Frozen stuck in their heads for years! But, is it an earworm, or just a great tune? Joining Kieran to discuss is Charlie McGettigan, Musician, Song Writer and Eurovision winner and Jen Hogan, Columnist with the Irish Times. Image: Dis…

1
One year since the October 7th attacks 17:19

31m ago17:19

17:19

Today marks one year of the October 7th attacks, when Hamas-led militant groups led incursions into south Israel, which was the catalyst to ongoing conflict in the region. Two men who are no strangers to the issues facing these communities in Israel and Palestine are Danielle Bett, a Scottish-Israeli who works for Yachad, a Jewish pro peace movemen…

1
Ukrainian families in Dublin face relocation 13:55

1h ago13:55

13:55

29 Ukrainians in a property in Blackrock are to be relocated to three separate hotels near Citywest, Liffey Valley and Temple Bar. The group have been living in Blackrock for almost two years, they have become a “big family”, they say. Joining Kieran to discuss this is Diana Tkachuk, Ukrainian mother, and part of the Blackrock community who is bein…

1
Winners and Sinners 25:15

3d ago25:15

25:15

This week Kieran Cuddihy was joined by Presenter of Weekend Breakfast, Alison Curtis and Elaine Burke, Presenter of the ‘For Tech’s Sake’ podcast to look back on the week that was, but with a few twists…

1
Astronaut Daniel Tani on Space Week! 13:04

18h ago13:04

13:04

The 4th of October marks the start of Space Week and the Explorium in Sandyford is hosting a range of special events this week in celebration. And someone who is taking part and is no stranger to space is former astronaut Daniel Tani, who joins Kieran to discuss.

1
You Are What You Eat: Lunches 16:23

18h ago16:23

16:23

Aisling Larkin, Mindful Eating Coach and TV Chef joined Kieran to look at the inspirations you can have to make the perfect lunch!

1
Sport with Ger Gilroy 10:49

19h ago10:49

10:49

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…

1
Lebanese families in Ireland waiting for Israeli conflict to end 13:15

19h ago13:15

13:15

Lebanese families living in Ireland are waiting on as the Israeli bombings escalate in their country… Israel bombed Beirut early again yesterday, killing at least six people and wounding seven, after its forces suffered their deadliest day on the Lebanese front in a year of clashes with Iran-backed Hezbollah. Kieran is joined by Roland Mansour and …

1
Do young people not recycle? - Henry McKean Reports 12:08

4d ago12:08

12:08

You might think that the young generation are better at recycling - not so, according to a new survey. Just 19% recycle all their paper and plastic compared to over 54% for the older generation. Henry McKean has been digging through all of this and sent in this report!

1
Do sports have too many gambling ads? 11:07

3d ago11:07

11:07

Declan Cregan, a former gambling addict and Officer at Gambling with Lives spoke to Ellen Butler on Breakfast Briefing this morning about this new report from Maynooth and Belfast that suggests that sports programmers are heavily saturated with gambling adverts. Does more need to be done to challenge this, and are some people vulnerable to harm her…

1
Is the e-scooter public transport ban fair? 12:43

3d ago12:43

12:43

As of Monday, e-scooters will be prohibited on public transport. The move has been made by the NTA as they claim it will be better for safety and ‘help prevent the risk of combustion on board buses and trains’. Joining Kieran to discuss whether or not this is fair is Colin Baker of Back from the Future IT Support and e-scooter user David Maloney.…

1
Remembering Mary O’Rourke 14:07

1d ago14:07

14:07

Former minister and Fianna Fáil TD Mary O’Rourke has sadly passed away at the age of 87. Joining Kieran to discuss her legacy is Mandy Johnston, Presenter of Taking Stock on Newstalk, Mary Hanafin, former Deputy Leader of Fianna Fáil and former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.

1
What is Boris Johnson’s new memoir all about? 3:43

2d ago3:43

3:43

Boris Johnson's memoir ‘Unleashed’ is set to be released next week, but Kieran’s guest has gotten his hands on an early copy. Joining Kieran to discuss what it contains is London Correspondent for The Irish Times, Mark Paul.

1
20 years since Rachel Callaly’s murder 12:38

2d ago12:38

12:38

The 4th of October marks the 20 year anniversary of the murder of Rachel Callaly, who was killed by her husband Joe O’Reilly. As possible parole hearings are on the horizon, Rose Callaly, Rachel’s mother joins Kieran to discuss.

1
Irish Rail rollback timetable changes 6:55

2d ago6:55

6:55

Iarnród Éireann has confirmed that train services in Dublin will go back to the previous timetable from the 14th of October. While the new timetables had increased some intercity services, it ultimately led to congestion and knock-on delays on routes. Iarnród Éireann has acknowledged the disruption, apologised to customers and spokesperson Barry Ke…

1
IFAC’s reaction to Budget 2025 7:31

2d ago7:31

7:31

On Tuesday, Minister for Finance Jack Chambers announced the government's budget and went against the advice of the budgetary watchdog The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council. Seamus Coffey, Chair of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council and Lecturer in Economics at UCC, joins Kieran to discuss the decisions made.…

1
Norma Foley responds to €9 million ‘phone pouches’ controversy 14:03

5d ago14:03

14:03

The government has come into criticism over the past 48 hours for its decision to allocate €9 million in the Budget for equipment to store students’ phones during the school day. Minister for Education Norma Foley joins Kieran Cuddihy to respond and discuss. She also discusses the passing of former minister Mary O’Rourke, and the controversy surrou…

1
The Shopping Trolley Hotline: Unrefrigerated Meat 10:46

4d ago10:46

10:46

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 compare different kinds of meat! Well, ones you don’t put in the fridge…

1
How common are earthquakes in Ireland? 7:13

2d ago7:13

7:13

Following news of an earthquake off the coast of Donegal, Kieran is joined by James Grannell from the Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies, who is a Seismic Network Data Analyst to tell more about it, as well as other earthquakes in Ireland.

1
Do IVF changes in the Budget go far enough? 13:12

3d ago13:12

13:12

Yesterday in the budget, the government announced that the free IVF scheme is to be expanded to include donor-assisted IVF and to assist couples experiencing “secondary infertility”. But, do these measures go far enough for couples seeking IVF treatment? Joining Kieran to discuss is Dr. John Kennedy, Medical Director at Thérapie Fertility and IVF p…

1
Beloved Cork chipper is closing - Henry McKean Reports 9:40

3d ago9:40

9:40

Well known Cork chip shop Jackie Lennox's is closing its doors after 73 years. Established in 1951 on the southside of the city, it fed generations of families. Newstalk’s Henry McKean visited and met owner Brian Lennox, who says it's like a death in the family. He sent in this report.

1
Tech Takeover: Free Now’s weird ‘Technology Fee’ 8:52

5d ago8:52

8:52

For this week’s Tech Takeover, Newstalk’s Tech Correspondent Jess Kelly joined Kieran to discuss the phone pouches being used in schools, as well as Free Now’s ridiculous new ‘technology fee’...

1
What's Beirut like following Israeli air strikes? 5:34

3d ago5:34

5:34

While Budget 2025 took up most of the news yesterday, multiple Israeli missiles hit Beirut overnight... Joining Kieran with the latest news is Freelance Journalist in Beirut, Clotilde Bigot. Image: Reuters

1
Were the Budget’s Inheritance Tax changes enough? 12:45

5d ago12:45

12:45

With Budget 2025 making all the headlines, a lot of the stories are being favourable to the Government. However, joining Kieran is Alan Shatter, the former Minister of Defence and Justice & Equality, who is now the Chairperson for the Inheritance Tax reform Campaign. He discusses his issues with this budget.…

1
How scrolling near a loved one damages relationships 9:44

3d ago9:44

9:44

Most people would admit to scrolling on their phone around their family or their partner. But, a recent article in the Guardian highlights how it can cause tension between people – possibly affecting those relationships. Comedian Jim Elliott and Columnist and Audience Editor at the independent, Saoirse Hanley join Kieran to discuss.…

1
Boy with serious scoliosis left in limbo for treatment 13:18

3d ago13:18

13:18

Darragh Higgins is almost 13 yrs old and has been left in limbo regarding his scoliosis treatment. His spine is currently at a 120 degree curve… His mother Keara is speaking out to give a voice to Darragh and get him the help he deserves, and joins Kieran to discuss.

1
Are ‘phone pouches’ a waste of government money? 13:37

3d ago13:37

13:37

The government has come into criticism for its decision to allocate €9 million in the Budget for equipment to store students’ phones during the school day. Is this really the best use of education funding? To discuss, Kieran is joined by Conor Murphy, English Teacher in Skibbereen and Paul Crone, Director of The National Association of Principals a…

1
Sinn Féin’s reaction to Budget 2025 11:08

4d ago11:08

11:08

You’ve heard today’s Budget 2025 from the government coalition, but what would the opposition do if they were in the hot seat? Eoin O’Broin, Sinn Féin TD and Housing Spokesperson joins Kieran to discuss his reaction to the announcements.

1
What do you think of Budget 2025? 17:29

4d ago17:29

17:29

Normally, listeners send in their thoughts at home via texts, but on a special day like the reveal of next year’s budget, it seems right to hear from some listeners directly. Kieran is joined by listeners Barbara Taylor, Tracey Carroll and Matthew Murphy to discuss their thoughts on Budget 2025.

1
Jack Chambers on Budget 2025 15:33

4d ago15:33

15:33

Following the detailing of Budget 2025 today, Minister for Finance Jack Chambers joined Kieran to discuss the plans of the budget further.

1
Was the tourism industry ignored in Budget 2025? 13:28

4d ago13:28

13:28

For budget day, Kieran is joined by a panel of experts to break down the most important aspects of Budget 2025, particularly, how the tourism industry has seemingly been ignored. He’s joined by Catherine Flanagan, IITIC Director and CEO of the Visitor Attraction Sector, Conor Skehan, Columnist with the Sunday Independent and Danny McCoy, CEO of IBE…

1
How families are impacted by Budget 2025 16:17

4d ago16:17

16:17

With today being the big reveal of Budget 2025, there’s a lot to dig into. For a breakdown of its content Kieran is joined by a panel of experts from across a wide field to discuss. Topics include benefits for families and tax. He’s joined by Danny McCoy, CEO of IBEC, Tanya Ward, CEO of Children’s Rights Alliance and Emmet Oliver, The Hard Shoulder…

1
What you need to know from Budget 2025 11:33

4d ago11:33

11:33

Barry White, Newstalk’s Chief Reporter joins Kieran Cuddihy to talk through the most important parts of Budget 2025 announced today.

1
Do we need HSE reform? 13:55

5d ago13:55

13:55

After spending 5 years on the board of the HSE, Fergus Finlay believes for the HSE to work, it needs to be broken into functions rather than regions. Fergus Finlay, Columnist for the Irish Examiner joins Kieran to discuss.

1
Murder She Wrote turns 40! 9:11

5d ago9:11

9:11

Can you believe it’s been 40 years since the legendary Jessica Fletcher first graced our screens on Murder, She Wrote? That’s right, four decades of solving crimes in the cosy town of Cabot Cove, where no mystery was too tough for the iconic sleuth! And, while Jessica's charm and wit hooked millions back then, we’re seeing a modern-day resurgence o…

1
Kids Health Check: New Parent Anxieties 7:45

5d ago7:45

7:45

For this week’s Kids Health Check, Kieran is joined by Psychotherapist and author Iseult White to discuss health and death anxiety, commonly found in new parents.

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