Radio: Newstalk presenter mercifully ditches the flat gags, subjecting the Minister for Health to an onslaught
Kieran Cuddihy is far better at landing punches than punchlines, which is bad news for Stephen Donnelly, weekdays), he shouldn’t give up the day job any time soon. Broadcasting from Athlone on Tuesday, the host larkily introduces the manager of the town’s marina as the man “in charge of keeping things shipshape”. Cue cymbal crash.
If Cuddihy’s witticisms are more flat than sparkling, it’s not really a problem: his drivetime show has enough fizz to compensate. He approaches his brief with reliable verve, whether cheerily chatting with guests or crossing swords with Ministers. And while his interview with Minister for HealthThe Minister appears on Wednesday’s programme to promote his plan to deliver more than 3,000 hospital beds by 2031, but his wonkish enthusiasm isn’t shared by the host.
The skirmishing continues, with Cuddihy highlighting failures in the health system, while the Minister gripes that little attention is paid to falling waiting lists. “We’re not in the business of giving rounds of applause to the pilot when they successfully land the plane, that’s their job,” the host snaps. “We’re in the business of focusing on all the children in this country who are being failed horribly.
That said, Cuddihy is an equal opportunities bruiser, vigorously tussling with politicians of every stripe. During Tuesday’s debate with European election hopefuls, he ends up clashing with pretty much every candidate, though his exchange with former RTÉ reporter and Independent Ireland contender Ciaran Mullooly stands out.
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